APRIL MINGLE

[etrayamods]

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⏴

Comments

[sabigoe]

... [ Fio puts on a faint smile. A little discouraged that he doesn't want to join in with her activity, but she should have expected that answer. She's happy enough for his company, at least. ] Okay then.

[ Her eyes scan the area once more, taking in the variety of color. Despite the many other options, it's in the same patch of white primrose that she decides on her own little grassy area to sit, though not too close to him that the hedgehog would feel uncomfortable or wary. She remembers how his reaction when she tried putting the wildflower in his quill.

She sits, only several feet across from him. While he does his thinking, she'll quietly set off to work, unpacking the books in her bag. ]

[thelightshines]

[This is good enough. She can have his presence while leaving him be. He will observe her as she settles nearby, taking out her books once more. The other hedgehog seems to tolerate this one. She hasn't spoken cruelly of the other at least. Or maybe she's incabable of that.

His eyes fall to the flowers before him, in thought. The other hedgehog can show constraint towards others, he has seen it. This one isn't Maria though, and a complete stranger they're willing to tolerate...]

Did he give you a hard time? [Did he want to get an answer?]

[sabigoe]

[ Once she has a couple of books set out in the grass, she places her fingers on a stem, preparing to pick it. The growth is abundant enough in these parts that she can pick as much as she can, but she only really needs a few. A pause, a surprised gaze lifting when she hears Shadow speak. Surprisingly she's not the one to first interrupt the silence. Even more surprising when he mentions the other one, which had been a subject that she's been trying to avoid. ]

...I'm the one that gave him a hard time 'cause I didn't want to leave him alone. I wanted to get to know him better. [ She wanted to become friends. While she speaks, she resumes her work, plucking a single flower. They may have both given each other a hard time that day. ]

He's mean and scary. We helped each other get points, back in the other place. He'd call it... trans- trans-ac-tion-al. [ Transactional. A nod, smiling a little. Yes, that's the word the other Shadow taught her. ] But I think he can be kind... in his own way.

[thelightshines]

[He's a little surprised himself. After all the pain, he never wants to see the other with his face again. But a small part of him still wishes things had been different. And here's this girl. Getting stupidly involved when the other clearly didn't want it. And she comes out saying he can be kind....he knows the other can, but he was never given a chance.

He absently plucks a few flowers, looking at them with a distant expression.]

Do you force yourself onto everyone you meet? [Just making an observation, even if it came off harsh. That behavior can be a danger in itself.]

[sabigoe]

...Force myself?

[ She innocently repeats.

His observation doesn't strike her as harsh, though maybe she doesn't immediately comprehend his words. Maybe she is a little more determined towards certain kinds of people... she's especially drawn to those who seem alone in the world, eager to help because she doesn't want others to suffer the same pain that she did. Those kinds of individuals can also be a challenge to connect with. The Administrator did lash out at her with violence and hostility... despite everything, Fio kept trying to reach out to that girl.

A thoughtful hum as she continues, slipping the little flower in between two spare sheets of paper. ]

I don't think I'm forcing myself if I really wanna become friends. I hope we can become friends too. [ She routinely deposits the sandwiched flower within the book, then flips over to a different, empty page. ] When I asked Darkie if he had friends, he told me he had nothing. Is it the same for you?

[thelightshines]

[The older one says they had nothing, but then he thinks about those other three who arrived from their world. They didn't act hostile to him, so by extension they think the other is something. Maybe. Still, he isn't surprised the other would say that.]

I prefer it that way. [The flowers in his hand are crushed. People have hurt him, he has hurt others. His trust had been manipulated and destroyed. It's better to depend only on himself, that he can control and not get hurt again.] You can't expect others to want what you do, just because you talk nice.

cw: child death references/just nier things

[sabigoe]

[ She has her own painful memories of being abandoned, betrayal from those who she thought loved her—how she was left to die alone. No one came for her. Even in the Cage, a world that allowed her to exist in some form after death, it took long for her soul to truly find peace. It was only until another intervened that she was able to find salvation. It wasn't without difficulty, however. Because she kept running away, lashed out, and fought the one who helped her.

With how she is now, probably no one would believe she'd let sadness overcome her once upon a time.

...No, she doesn't expect others to want the same as she does. Not so easily. ]

...That's sad. [ She reaches for another flower, the last she'll take from this patch. She doesn't need many. ] I think... maybe you just need time to understand how much better it is to have others.

#nierthings

[thelightshines]

[She can say whatever she feels about it. Without any context, she wouldn't understand.]

Don't act like you know what it is I need. [A defensive response. He already let someone into his heart once, and it was just as quickly taken from him. The pain of loss continues to cling on, haunt him. He never wants to experience that again. He won't allow himself. He tosses the crushed flowers, moving to stand back up.] There are plenty of other people here you can make friends with.

[sabigoe]

[ She would like to understand. Doubtful he would tell her anything though, even if she asked. ]

...I know there are. And I wanna be your friend too.

[ She's likely to stand in a moment and start following after, but for now, she remains sitting and watches him. Her sad eyes drift over to the crumpled white primrose. Letting sadness or anger overwhelm a person can be dangerous... ]

I'm worried about you.

[thelightshines]

We only just met. [Why is she worried for him? None of this makes sense to him and only irritates him further. Tapping his foot. What is their end goal? There's always something somebody wants from him. Use him for something. These words that try to reach his vulnerable side, they're poison to him.]

What do you really want? You can pick anyone else who actually want to be friends with you. Why do you keep insisting when I already said I'm not interested?

[sabigoe]

I can worry about you even if we just met.

[ She's the kind of person to worry for a stranger that's exchanged fewer words. And even someone that she's never met. There isn't any malice behind her actions. This is just how she is. But if Shadow is blinded by negative emotion—perhaps her purehearted intentions are being twisted into looking like something else. ]

I've already told you. I wanna become friends. What else would I want to do? [ She sits calmly, but the concern is written across her face. Tilting her head slightly. ] ...Are you afraid to make friends?

[ While it is the same question that she asked the other Shadow back on the other planet, they're not the first ones to hear her ask it. He's growing increasingly irritated with her, yet Fio refuses to back down. Maybe she needs to be persistent to get through to him... and she disregards how unsafe it could be. ]

[thelightshines]

...That's a lie. [He says it, but he doesn't believe it. He can tell by her voice she means what she said. She meant nearly everything she's been saying, he just refuses to let her in. She...reminds him too much of her. How she unconditionally became his friend without thinking of him as some lab specimen, a monster. It's too soon. It's his fault.

Are you afraid to make friends?

He shakes his head, anger on his face, hiding the growing pain in his heart. He can't let it happen again.]

We will never be friends. [In a flash, he was gone. He doesn't care anymore. She made the foolish choice to wander the woods on her own. She can continue to wander it alone. He wants to get somewhere far away, the pain overwhelming him. He couldn't take it anymore. It had to be let out. There's a sound like an explosion going off in the distance, of wildlife scurrying away. A small crater had been formed where the source of the sound had come from. Shadow at it's center, everything obliterated around him. Yellow sparks coming off his body, hands gripping his head as he breaths heavily, staring at the ground. He doesn't need to look, he knows what's there, or not anymore. Why does he continue to exist? When all he does is destroy?]

[sabigoe]

...Dusky?

[ Just as he vanishes, Fio finally pushes herself to her feet, whirling around frantically, searching for the hedgehog. She doesn't understand what just happened. Shadow's no longer in sight, not anywhere nearby anyway. She doesn't see a trail to follow. At a loss on what to do next, she bends down, picking the crumpled flowers left behind, gently holding them in the palm of her hands. After a moment, she decides to tuck it away between the pages of one of her books. Judging from how defensive he was, she begins to wonder if she's finally learned something—that he truly is afraid.

And then another surprise after the next. She jumps, hearing the explosion in the distance and the shaking of the trees from the impact. It would be wise to seek out shelter or follow the direction of the fleeing animals. No matter how shaken she is, she decides to do the opposite. Shadow could still be nearby. What if he's in danger? ]

Dusky!

[ She'll call out his name a few times. She isn't fast. No special abilities to allow her to move any quicker. But she'll keep wandering through the woods towards the source of the explosion... it's too far for her. And exhaustion will eventually force her to stop and rest before she reaches the crater. ]

[thelightshines]

[If she ever did reach the crater, she'll find no one at it's center. No sign of life anywhere. Shadow has long since moved on, too far now to even hear Fio calling for him. He has shut the world out, finding someplace to himself until he's forced to face it again with this cursed existence.]