etrayalogs | APRIL MINGLE

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: April 25th - Early May
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers, spring activities, and feathered friends!
NOTES\WARNINGS:

⏵ arrival ⏴
Welcome to Etraya!

Arrival goes as expected - characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital.

However, if they are arriving from Aphaia, it's a little different, though mostly through means and familiarity. They will still show up in the hospital of course, but how can vary. Either through Aurora offering a portal for escape, their own demise (however it might have happened), or even a simple blink of their eyes and they're in the hospital. They had been given the briefest explanation last time they were here, but at least Aurora can better answer their questions now. No time constraints nor rushing them off to a dying world, this time!

In the hospital's lobby are several party tables set out with miscellaneous baked goods: croissants, cookies, breads, cake slices, as well as tea and coffee to accompany them - or hot chocolate, for those who are opposed to the other offerings.

Outside the hospital, spring is sprung, it is warm and comfortable. Flowers have bloomed, and everything is in a sharp contrast to Aphaia—there is life within the bubble, and even the myriad wildlife seems to be basking in the glow of it all. Almost as if a celebration of that life itself.

Bees are buzzing, birds are—warking?

⏵ Birds of a Feather ⏴

Etraya has always had its interesting assortment of critters, but there seems to be a particularly colorful array of birds wandering around. Those familiar would know they are named Chocobos, those less so familiar, well, these are some strange looking ostriches, or whatever large bipedal bird equivalent fits. While the birds all seem to be of the same species, there are certainly some variety in their features. Some with friendlier faces and others looking a bit more eagle-like.

They are not particularly congregated in any one spot within Etraya, seeming to stick to groups, while others don't, yet even some are accompanied by newly hatched chicks. The observant might be quick to notice that their colors dictate some level of behavior, or even where their little groups mingle:

Colors	Behavior and habitat
Yellow	Can be found just about anywhere in Etraya, they don't necessarily stick to self-made groups, and typically are more likely to be friendly to people. However, if they are in the company of a newly hatched chick, they can become wary, though easily won over with some greens.
Green	These Chocobos are mostly found in grassy or woodsy areas, almost always in pairs, and sometimes found in the trees themselves. They are more wary than their yellow brethren, though if they see someone struggling or in danger, they are quick to offer assistance in what way they can. Doting like motherhens.
Blue	Most often found by bodies of water, these Chocobo seem content to keep to themselves. Three to a group, they are not so easy to approach without being noticed. Their skill and love of water is clear, however, and it's not unusual to find them flapping about or swimming. Though they may flee to the water if you spook them.
Brown	The most skiddish of the Chocobo, they can be found throughout Etraya, though further away from anything occupied by people. They stick to groups of four, though they have a clear leader who sports blue and green feathers, but seemingly is not of the other two types. Should they catch sight or sound of someone approaching they are like to run off, or they might attempt to defend themselves.
Red	There seems to be only one of these running around. Highly aggressive to anyone who dares to approach it. Best to avoid it. Very likely to hurl comet-like balls of fire your way. Untamable.

The birds all favor these strange cabbage looking plants that can be found out and about in the wilds of Etraya. Some proving a little overeager in their voracity to eat the leafy greens. One should be careful, with those large beaks of theirs.

⏵ Gift Hunt ⏴

It isn't only the birds that have shown up out of nowhere. Small to medium sized boxes, wrapped as if they should be under a tree, and maybe not hidden in a tree, have also appeared. For whatever reason (possibly the same reason eggs were given out over winter) there seems to be gifts hidden all over Etraya! Some in more difficult to find locations (in trees, on top of a roof, on snake island), while others look as though whoever "hid" it gave up halfway through and simply dropped it on the ground and put a leaf over it.

For those who need a little extra help, well, certainly your fellow Etrayans could lend a hand, however there are also perfectly capable birds about for those still left wanting. Certainly that blue chocobo could assist with crossing the river to obtain that perfectly balanced gift on a rock! Or what about that green chocobo roosting in a tree not too far from that gift stuck in the branches because it has entirely too many ribbons?

With that said, there might also be some dangers in trying to take one of the myriad gifts from a chocobo's nest, especially if there's a chick presently sleeping next to it. Perhaps befriending them would be a good idea first, besides, isn't friendship with a big bird the truest gift of all?

On the tag of each and every gift box says the same thing:

To: You
Love: 💋

Each gift has a random assortment within. Some contain candy, others contain alcohol, make-up...maybe even a pair of socks, very perfunctory gifts with very little thought or feeling put into them. However, there is at least one gift that is personally relevant to each character in Etraya. This item will be the equivalent of a 5 point AC reward, and does not have to be found by the person it is intended for.

What better way to break the ice than to give someone their gift which you opened!

⏵ NOTES ⏴

Welcome to Etraya newcomers and happy spring to everyone!

It appears that someone is trying to correct her previous mistake of handing out eggs during the winter holidays, and now there's a hunt for gifts accompanied by a bunch of lovely birds to help out!

Some notes in regard to Chocobos:

-Each color can be tamed except for the red one, he's a free spirit. Should someone wish to harm or attack this chocobo, let us mods know. There is only one of him, after all.

-The others will just take various amounts of work to win over, however, but they are loving and cute companions for those who are willing to put in the effort! And who knows, maybe more colors could arise with time and patience...

-Feel free to pull from all the designs of chocobos throughout the Final Fantasy series. If you fancy FFXII's, for example, there are some that look like that. Variety is the spice of life!

Concerning the personal item, be sure to plot out and get permission when finding someone else's item. This is meant to encourage possible new CR and mingling, but the choice of the item should ultimately be within the hands of the player who is receiving it.

If you are uncertain if your item is appropriate for the reward cost, feel free to ask here!

For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Harold checks the thrift store himself from time to time, mostly to make himself get out of the house and away from his computer on a regular basis, but he does occasionally find something worthwhile. Today, he's over in Quiverfield mostly to get away from the bulk of the crowds cooing over the chocobos; he's gotten back into birdwatching lately and he prefers to observe them away from human interaction.

Even dressed for birdwatching, though, he's in a proper suit and a classy hat, just one on the more sedate side, and he's holding a discreet pair of binoculars. Dressed as he is, he's a sensible person for Inara to make the comment to. He's standing outside the store, having already made his rounds inside, and is now assessing the landscape for the best place to post up for watching chocobos.

It only takes a quick momentary glance to assess that Inara is used to a higher standard of clothing, just like him. Also just like him, the lack of his usual wardrobe was one of the things he'd found most annoying when he'd first arrived. ]

It's at least an approximation of civilization, [ he allows, giving her a tiny, sympathetic smile. ] Though I'm afraid there's usually nothing in there adequate to my preferences, and I imagine not to yours.

[ This is perfectly polite and deferential, not a come-on. ]

( posh and refined, he immediately caught inara's attention. harold's manner of dress from down to his shoes all the way to his top hat truly set a proper mood, one that drew her right back to him. he was a friendly face in a sea of confusion and uncertainty and while they had failed in finding the flash drive, that was in the past. at least that was the vibe inara got when it came to this place—

one mission after the other. perhaps she was wrong but eventually she would learn the true inner workings. )

Observant as always Harold, good to see you again.

( and much like his own polite tone, she was equally respectable with no indications of anything more than wanting to be his friend. with a soft smile she looked up at his hat. )

Did you happen to find that here out of sheer good luck, or how did you manage to find something so posh?

Not hardly. Returning my wardrobe to me cost participation points. They're awarded for helping in missions and engaging with Etraya as a whole, I believe. You may have some already yourself.

[ It's never been explicitly explained anywhere how that works, but Harold can put clues together.

He also words this carefully so he doesn't have to indicate that it wasn't he himself who spent points on his clothes -- John did. John buying him his wardrobe was entirely frivolous and very personally meaningful. It's second nature to hide his close acquaintances, and even more so to hide John. Spending a few years at home since he last spoke to Inara makes it doubly true; he's still adjusting to being back in Etraya, and the relative freedom of information that entails.

Harold inclines his head politely at her greeting. ] It's good to see you well, Ms. Serra. I hope you find Etraya more hospitable than Aphaia, if no more fashionable.

( sharp and well dressed, harold clearly was a good source of information [even if she had yet to learn he was also the one running the library]. that immediately made her more inclined to turn to him for any future inquiries she might have had—

but for now inara simply pocketed that tidbit of information he dropped as she made a mental note to come up with a list of important items she should ask for when the time was right. )

Thank you, I appreciate it and yes it's at the very least more peaceful than Aphaia. Although those birds....now that's something quite different than what I'm used to in my world. Are these common or are we just fortunate this time to share a space with them?

( now was the time to see what else he may have been willing to spill. )

[ Harold is a font of information so long as the topic isn't something personal, so he's the right person to ask. ]

As an amateur birder, I assure you the chocobos are new, [ he answers, sounding a little dry. They're completely absurd and Harold isn't shy about implying it. He's been watching them because it's something to do, not because he's particularly a fan. ]

I have no idea if they'll be sticking around. They're certainly... loud.

[ All the wark, wark, wark is egregious and not at all on the soothing end of the spectrum. Far from being birdsong. ]

( to his words all she can really do is smile brightly and nod in agreement. as adorable as they were, they were still a mystery to her and they certainly were rather unique.

still, the information he was of some use to her. that meant that even a seasoned veteran like himself was still surprised by the unexpected— and it seemed this place was full of the 'unexpected'. )

I see, that's quite alright. An amateur birder, my aren't you full of interesting hobbies. I don't suppose this place allows you such a large amount of time to be able to do bird watching though?

( for now she'll put a pause on her thrifting to speak to him more, still observing and gauging his level of interest in this conversation. )

[ Does he count as a seasoned veteran by now? Something of a depressing thought, even though he'd recently decided to stay here permanently if he can. That decision has implications and repercussions he hasn't totally come to terms with, and Harold isn't rushing himself through those realizations.

He's a little flustered at the implied compliment -- aren't you full of interesting hobbies -- and accordingly becomes a bit stiff in his reply. ]

There's more downtime than you might expect, [ he answers, diplomatic. ] My first mission here was building cars for a road race. It's not all mortal peril and dramatics.

( while inara wasn't trying to analyze and observe every single person she encountered here— at least not more than what she needed for her own self-perseverance, it didn't escape her just how stiff his answer seemed to become.

she wasn't too sure on what to think of harold beyond just seeing him as a kind, sophisticated kind of gentleman but it seemed much like herself, they were the kind of people to have their own reservations about things.

so she simply smiled, nodding and accepting his answer at face value before she looked around and seemed to agree with him. )

Well we all need some downtime to keep our sanity right. It almost seems like this place was built to encourage that, though the availability of items is rather....rough.

( given they weren't really offered much luxuries it seemed. )

Really? A race car? Did they supply sticky glue and popsicles for the endeavor?

( a little joke to help ease tensions. )

APRIL MINGLE

thrifting + a bit of wildcard

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