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etrayalogs2025-12-19 02:17 pm
etrayamods) wrote in etrayalogs2025-12-19 02:17 pm
december mingle.
❬ ARRIVAL ❭
Welcome to Etraya!
Arrival goes as expected for precisely one man - Leon S Kennedy, who awakens on a hospital bed and is offered an explanation of his situation: that he has arrived in the city of Etraya, and he is his world's only hope. He is welcome to wander the hospital if he 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.
In the hospital's lobby are several tables set out with winter holiday baked goods and treats: gingerbread cookies, individual slices of yule log cake, peppermint fudge squares, Stollen, and so on. To drink there is hot cocoa, tea, mulled wine— even ice cold milk to go with those cookies and all that fudge. It is a rather impressive display for apparently a single man.
Outside of the hospital continues to carry the winter and festive spirit. Snow covers the ground, enough to play in easily, though the pathways have been neatly maintained by the companion bots. Colorful lights wrap the trees of the plaza outside the hospital and trim the eaves of buildings. From each hangs a variety of ribbon-wrapped, berry and pinecone decorated wreaths in pine, holly, and ivy.
For both those exiting the hospital or those returning through Aurora's portal from Auriel, they will notice the companion bots, hard at work constructing little arts and craft workshop spaces with a modest overhang to help with the lightly falling snow. They will only offer the briefest of explanations for them when asked, for it seems that whatever they are for will be revealed the following day after everyone has gotten settled (or resettled as it the case may be for some) into Etraya properly.
Arrival goes as expected for precisely one man - Leon S Kennedy, who awakens on a hospital bed and is offered an explanation of his situation: that he has arrived in the city of Etraya, and he is his world's only hope. He is welcome to wander the hospital if he 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.
In the hospital's lobby are several tables set out with winter holiday baked goods and treats: gingerbread cookies, individual slices of yule log cake, peppermint fudge squares, Stollen, and so on. To drink there is hot cocoa, tea, mulled wine— even ice cold milk to go with those cookies and all that fudge. It is a rather impressive display for apparently a single man.
Outside of the hospital continues to carry the winter and festive spirit. Snow covers the ground, enough to play in easily, though the pathways have been neatly maintained by the companion bots. Colorful lights wrap the trees of the plaza outside the hospital and trim the eaves of buildings. From each hangs a variety of ribbon-wrapped, berry and pinecone decorated wreaths in pine, holly, and ivy.
For both those exiting the hospital or those returning through Aurora's portal from Auriel, they will notice the companion bots, hard at work constructing little arts and craft workshop spaces with a modest overhang to help with the lightly falling snow. They will only offer the briefest of explanations for them when asked, for it seems that whatever they are for will be revealed the following day after everyone has gotten settled (or resettled as it the case may be for some) into Etraya properly.
❬ HOLIDAY HORSIN' ❭
As promised, the dawn of the following morning the workshops have been finished. These small shelters made from green lumber can comfortably fit two or three people, depending on their size. They are equipped with various crafting tools, fabrics, baubles, notions, and an assortment of crafting supplies on the far end, while sporting small overhead heaters for warmth, as well as a workbench where one can put all of that to use to decorate their very own horse-skull hobby horse!
These skulls may or may not be real, some seem more real than others, some look more real than they feel, while others feel more real than they look. It is truly almost random what quality of skull one is given, but everyone will be given their very own skull to personalize for the mini-task being assigned! The companion bots will inform the Etrayans that they are to decorate these fine steeds and become them to become Horse Spirits and go and visit others' homes throughout the following week.
They will be instructed (and perhaps compelled by the season) to challenge hosts in a battle of wit and rhyme to convince the host to allow the Horse Spirit inside for hospitality to earn a reward! However, the host is likewise compelled to deny this whimsical Horse Spirit entry, for each time they succeed in winning in a battle of wit and rhyme, they too gain their own reward!
Yet, should the host meet defeat, it need not be so sour. While some may say being a gracious host is its own reward, should one prove themselves worthy of the distinction, one might still gain the reward their defeat otherwise lost them. After all, it is one thing to invite someone inside, it is quite another to feed, share in their company, and come to know them! Earning their equine guest's blessing will likewise earn them their reward.
Summary of Game for Horse Spirits
Summary of Game for Hosts
Point Breakdown
These skulls may or may not be real, some seem more real than others, some look more real than they feel, while others feel more real than they look. It is truly almost random what quality of skull one is given, but everyone will be given their very own skull to personalize for the mini-task being assigned! The companion bots will inform the Etrayans that they are to decorate these fine steeds and become them to become Horse Spirits and go and visit others' homes throughout the following week.
They will be instructed (and perhaps compelled by the season) to challenge hosts in a battle of wit and rhyme to convince the host to allow the Horse Spirit inside for hospitality to earn a reward! However, the host is likewise compelled to deny this whimsical Horse Spirit entry, for each time they succeed in winning in a battle of wit and rhyme, they too gain their own reward!
Yet, should the host meet defeat, it need not be so sour. While some may say being a gracious host is its own reward, should one prove themselves worthy of the distinction, one might still gain the reward their defeat otherwise lost them. After all, it is one thing to invite someone inside, it is quite another to feed, share in their company, and come to know them! Earning their equine guest's blessing will likewise earn them their reward.
Summary of Game for Horse Spirits
While carrying your decorated horse skull, knock on homes of Etrayan residents. May we suggest the nearby and densely populated apartment buildings to start?
Engage in your best efforts to rhyme up reasons to be allowed inside to eat your host's food and drink their beverages.
Summary of Game for Hosts
In rhyme, attempt to repel the Horse Spirits with reasons they cannot enter.
If you cannot outmatch the Horse Spirit, you should let them in.
If you let them in, you had better do your best to be a gracious host!
Point Breakdown
Make Your Hobby Horse: 2pt
Defeated the Host, Invited Inside: 1pt
Repelled a Horse Spirit: 1pt
Received the Spirit's Blessing: 1pt
❬ YULEGANS ❭
Since the return of the Etrayans and others from Auriel there seems to been strange things that continue to happen.
One might notice a spoon they were just using has gone missing after they put it down and took their eyes off it. Perhaps they saw someone looking at them through the foggy glass of the window—but when they looked more directly nothing was there. A door slams in the middle of the night, yet upon investigation, no culprit can be found.
Sausages go missing without explanation, but only one at a time and only when no one is looking. One might hear sniffing and snuffling by a door, but when they open it, nothing is there. One might also find a bite taken out of any candles they have, but any made from actual animal product will be missing entirely.
Small and strange inconveniences continue at random, though mostly when one least expects it. Nothing terrible or dangerous, but certainly inexplicable and annoying. As if one's periphery is playing a trick on them, or maybe it's just their memory failing them. It might as well be the wind for as elusive as it proves to be. That, or maybe a fellow Etrayan is causing this bit of mischief... There is no explanation to be found. Could they be going mad?
To top it all off, occasionally one may run across a single, utterly solitary cat's paw print in the snow outside, though enormous in size. It shows up in only a few locations at once, but soon they fill and fade with the falling of the snow. However, at each sunset, fresh ones can be found by a person's home or anywhere people dwell.
Ominous, but inscrutable.
There is one thing that seems to be spared whatever mysterious mischief has been plaguing everyone else, and that is a giant straw goat that the companion bots have put together. It stands proud and tall not far from the main hub of Alcyone's Wake. Of course, while mysterious, trouble-making forces see fit to leave this straw goat be, that does not mean that it is truly impervious. But, who would ever want to destroy such a cute and flammable decoration?
Who would want to crush the heart of its hardworking artisans? Maybe someone who has lost one too many spoons, and consequently, their mind. Who could blame them, really?
Though, perhaps others might think enough has been lost, and maybe they will protect this goat and what it stands for. What, exactly, does it stand for? Well, that is up to the viewer, the companion bots will explain with misplaced sagacity, even if they weren't asked. Which is to say, they don't know, they just wanted to make a cute goat.
One might notice a spoon they were just using has gone missing after they put it down and took their eyes off it. Perhaps they saw someone looking at them through the foggy glass of the window—but when they looked more directly nothing was there. A door slams in the middle of the night, yet upon investigation, no culprit can be found.
Sausages go missing without explanation, but only one at a time and only when no one is looking. One might hear sniffing and snuffling by a door, but when they open it, nothing is there. One might also find a bite taken out of any candles they have, but any made from actual animal product will be missing entirely.
Small and strange inconveniences continue at random, though mostly when one least expects it. Nothing terrible or dangerous, but certainly inexplicable and annoying. As if one's periphery is playing a trick on them, or maybe it's just their memory failing them. It might as well be the wind for as elusive as it proves to be. That, or maybe a fellow Etrayan is causing this bit of mischief... There is no explanation to be found. Could they be going mad?
To top it all off, occasionally one may run across a single, utterly solitary cat's paw print in the snow outside, though enormous in size. It shows up in only a few locations at once, but soon they fill and fade with the falling of the snow. However, at each sunset, fresh ones can be found by a person's home or anywhere people dwell.
Ominous, but inscrutable.
There is one thing that seems to be spared whatever mysterious mischief has been plaguing everyone else, and that is a giant straw goat that the companion bots have put together. It stands proud and tall not far from the main hub of Alcyone's Wake. Of course, while mysterious, trouble-making forces see fit to leave this straw goat be, that does not mean that it is truly impervious. But, who would ever want to destroy such a cute and flammable decoration?
Who would want to crush the heart of its hardworking artisans? Maybe someone who has lost one too many spoons, and consequently, their mind. Who could blame them, really?
Though, perhaps others might think enough has been lost, and maybe they will protect this goat and what it stands for. What, exactly, does it stand for? Well, that is up to the viewer, the companion bots will explain with misplaced sagacity, even if they weren't asked. Which is to say, they don't know, they just wanted to make a cute goat.
❬ MINGLE NOTES ❭
📌 — Welcome to Etraya and Happy Holidays! Please enjoy the silly festivities of the mingle!
📌 — As stated above, characters can earn 5 points total by taking part in these activities. These points count towards your monthly total. You do not need to turn in or have a full thread of every instance, but it is preferred if you do at least play some of these threads out. After all, it's about mingling!
📌 — If you wish to defend the Yule Goat, comment 🛡️HERE!
If you wish for a chance to be the one to destroy the Yule Goat, comment 🔪HERE.
Which ever side has more will be the one who wins out, and then we will RNG who of the two sides were the last ones standing, as well as who was the one that either got to be the destroyer of the goat, or its most ardent guardian. Maybe this will result in a future prize...
📌 — For all questions relating to this mingle, please refer to the mingle queries comment on this post. Other questions can be directed to the FAQ.
📌 — As stated above, characters can earn 5 points total by taking part in these activities. These points count towards your monthly total. You do not need to turn in or have a full thread of every instance, but it is preferred if you do at least play some of these threads out. After all, it's about mingling!
📌 — If you wish to defend the Yule Goat, comment 🛡️HERE!
If you wish for a chance to be the one to destroy the Yule Goat, comment 🔪HERE.
Which ever side has more will be the one who wins out, and then we will RNG who of the two sides were the last ones standing, as well as who was the one that either got to be the destroyer of the goat, or its most ardent guardian. Maybe this will result in a future prize...
📌 — For all questions relating to this mingle, please refer to the mingle queries comment on this post. Other questions can be directed to the FAQ.
mingle queries.
Cat?
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more of a general query re: winter/holidays, but would there be anything, say, shiney and valuable that might be an interesting target for someone with sticky fingers? if so, can it be stolen and will there be consequences if it is?
thanks !!
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DEFEND the yule goat.
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LAST ONE STANDING
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Re: DEFEND the yule goat.
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DEFENDING SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
DESTROY the yule goat.
DESTROY the yule goat.
Editing to add some brainstorming:
Sciel would like to apply some “Foretell” to the goat. These are basically little magic landmines that she can come back to later and activate to do greater damage. Visually, they look like purple beams of light stuck into the target’s body like pins; they’re made of dark magic, and could theoretically be removed by anyone else who can use dark magic. (Or by, you know, dying.) If I can figure out a place for it, could she do this in case she’d like to come back to it later or otherwise add to Team Destroy’s efforts by amplifying someone else’s damage to it? >:)
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LAST ONE STANDING
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Re: DESTROY the yule goat.
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DESTROYING SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
scott summers, xmcu.
yulegans.
wildcard.
( catch scott also checking out xavier's school for the gifted because, you know. if you'd rather something else, feel free to pm or toss a suggestion on his cr comment here. also open to prose if that's more your style. no worries, i'll match. )
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[He doesn't know. He's also from Eberron, not Earth, so isn't even used to operating off of the Earth calendar.]
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yulegans.
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Sciel | Expedition 33
Sciel answers the door.
She’s dressed for a lazy day at home, in sweatpants and a cropped shirt so loose that the neck falls down one shoulder. Her hair is piled in a messy bun, and she leans into in the gap between the door and the frame, a hand on each.
The look in her eyes says: ready?
2. Can You Lose Things If You Don’t Know What You Have? Let’s Find Out!
The trolley trundles down the tracks even slower than usual, given the weather. Sciel thinks it’s a wonder it can make it at all, given the snow, but she’s glad it does: she has no desire to trudge through that much snow over that distance. It’s warm in the trolley, too, and she sets down her shopping bag on the seat next to her so she can unzip her coat.
The trolley hits a bump on the tracks, just enough to shift the contents of her shopping bag, and then the whole thing tips off the seat and to the floor, sending things flying everywhere. And they do go everywhere –– Sciel’s bag is full, and completely disorganized.
“Oh,” she says, like she might have cursed, but she doesn’t, as she slides down to her knees to start gathering things up: keys, sunglasses, nail clippers, cosmetics, hair ties, snacks, receipts from San Francisco, a compact mirror, a little drawstring bag…
3. Goat
The tension, in Sciel’s opinion, is the best part.
It would be boring to let it live, she thinks. No one builds a massive straw sculpture just to let it rot until it falls into a sad heap. What would the point of that be? It is much more enjoyable, then, to let the will-it-won’t-it play out.
She approaches the goat, casual, relaxed, and when she makes eye contact with another Etrayan she… smiles.
“Beautiful day,” she remarks.
4. Thief (closed to Apt 303)
Sciel is a decent cook. Passable, by French standards. Pierre was always the better of the two of them, a real natural in the kitchen, but she would have been left hopelessly behind without practice, so for years, she’d served up what she could: unmemorable fish soups, baked potatoes with a little too much cream, cooked coq au vin just lightly too chewy. Edible, inoffensive, fine. A little bit better every time, at least until she had no more reason to be.
She misses those days less now that she lives with Lune and Gustave and Maelle, and makes food to bring out to Verso. She’s a better cook now, sticking to it most nights of the week, and what better use of her time than feeding her team?
She’s glad to get back to it, too, after a number of weeks off in Auriel. Sciel opens the refrigerator to take out the chicken she’d been marinating only to notice it’s… gone. Entirely. The dish holds just a puddle of oil and lemon and herbs. She looks at it for a moment, confused, and then pulls the dish out, as if there could be another behind it. Nothing, of course.
She stands in the kitchen for a moment, holding the dish and feeling kind of stupid.
“Did someone borrow the chicken?” she calls, into the apartment.
4 😡
They're close enough to chat, and Maelle expects conversation, but Sciel's question makes her look up from her book.
What?
"... did you say borrow the chicken?"
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Vivi Ornitier l Final Fantasy IX
I guess everyone seems to be doing this? Decorating with these?
[So it's....normal? Right? To use these skulls? Vivi assumes. It isn't like he has really celebrated much in the way of holidays before. So he is still learning how this all works. What might be normal or not. How to celebrate it and what to expect or do. He's just rolling with what others might be doing, following their lead, so he reaches for a hat for the skull, placing it on the head, debating how it looks with the antlers and all.]
Does that look okay?
Yulegans
I thought I heard something?
[Vivi says more to himself, confused when he checks the door that he was sure he heard and saw open a little just before. His hat shifts as he peers around the door, and he would be frowning and pouting in confusion before he shuts it. That pout would only deepen when he gets back to the table where he had left his cookie he'd been about to eat and finds that there's a bite taken out of it already.]
H-hey? My cookie...!
Wildcard:
[Want something else relating to the season? Shopping? Snowball fights? Making snowmen together? Teaching him about s'mores? I'm down.]
Holiday Norsin'
[ Junpei answers to Vivi's question about the hat, still staring at the skull he'd picked up -- a bit weirded out by the whole thing to be honest. He pokes at the horse head with a yard stick, half expecting it to spring to life at any moment. Geesh, what the hell kind of holiday celebration is this?? ]
Is this sorta thing normal for this place? 'Cause where I'm from, Christmas time was more a chance to go out on a date with your girlfriend, maybe get a present or two -- we didn't decorate freaky ass skulls.
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norsin'
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holiday norsin'
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maelle | expedition 33
2. SNOW
3. GOAT
4. WILDCARD
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He's laughing as he reaches out to brush ineffectually at her hair. ]
Your ponytail is going to freeze solid. Planning to use it as another weapon?
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goat;
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snow.
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gustave | clair obscur: expedition 33
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You know what would be fun? A totally unfair snowball fight. She'll have to put the balls together by hand, but he will soon get to see them dancing in glowing pink energy in front of him as the invitation for battle.)
You versus me, darling? Winner chooses dinner?
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i.
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snow!
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snow
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snowwwww
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knife 🗡️ an oc 🗡️
2. horse sacrilege
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[Ranvir has no problems making commentary. He's only in rough homespun wool and leather, but his fingers are covered in turquoise paint as he daubs it in thoughtful patterns on his horse skull, brow furrowed in concentration, voice rumbling in return. He looks up, and his brows arch to see a green fellow, but if he has any commentary on that, it does not escape him.]
Though were it necessary, yes. I could do it. [As if he were simply talking about the weather.]
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Return
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Return
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daenerys targaryen | game of thrones
+ arrival
+ holiday horsin'
+ yulegans
+ wildcard
holiday horsin';
He hadn't expected a visitor and hearing the knock at the door only earned a low, grumbling sort of noise from him and he might have ignored it if they hadn't knocked a second time. A louder, more frustrated sound escapes him then as he limps across the floor.
Pulling the door open, he's greeted with an unfamiliar face and a terrible rhyme.
Viktor shifts his weight off his right leg and he just looks at her. In his annoyance, he'd neglected to place his mask back on, so she is met with the full force of his amused and equally confused and slightly commiserating look. ]
I am not going to rhyme and you are free to stop. [ A pause. ] Please do. That was... [ Viktor makes a drawn out noise. ] Terrible.
Come in and you can tell me why you are looking for dragons.
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yulegans;
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arrival
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holiday horsin'
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Mal Durrish | Star Wars: Legends (OC) | OTA - Will match formats!
The truth of the matter is, she never had any intent of going about doing rhymes. She has many talents, but being a wordsmith? Well, that's never going to be one of them. She gets tongue-tied just trying to explain being a Jedi, sometimes, trying to find ways to get people from outside her universe to understand it.
But the idea of being a good host? Well, that's very Jedi-like, in the end. So when things get going, once she understands the rules - she just leaves her apartment door unlocked and slightly ajar. It's warm inside, and her enormous Irish Wolfhound, Luke, is dozing on the couch nearest to the heater. And rather completely filling it, since he's rapidly starting to reach the stage where he might be mistaken for a furry horse.
As for her, she's sitting at the apartment's small table, which she has filled with small snacks, two empty cups, and a hot pot of tea. A sign left on the door welcomes everyone.
Better to meet and share cheer, she figures. Seems more the Jedi way.
Yulegans
She stands, looking up at the goat, hands in the pockets of her short jacket. She stands with her hip canted, lightsaber on her hip. Her head is tilted, and she's quiet for a long moment before addressing the person next to her.
"I mean, it's here, so I figure there's either weirdness or a catch involved," she says, with a slight shrug. "This place is like a giant land mine that way. But it's also, y'know, a giant goat."
She's had things disappear, here and there - it's unusually aggravating, which sets off her internal alarms. Not a Jedi thing so much as a Mal thing. In terms of age, she's somewhere in her twenties (long story) - but in bitterness and cynicism, she is significantly older.
"Thing is," she says. "The urge is to harm it if you're losing stuff, dealing with the weirdness and so on. I mean, I kind of want to kick it, and that tells me something. And if I were an absolute bastard - and I suspect this place is run by bastards in some way...I'd load all the stolen stuff inside the goat, then plant the subliminal thought."
She sighs, chuckling a bit. That's the kind of thinking you can understand, growing up how she did, under the thumb of the crime cartels on Nar Shaddaa. And under the Empire.
"Whiiiiich means I'm having to help protect a big, stupid looking goat. If I ever get home, they're never going to believe me."
Gift Exchanges
[OOC: Wanna do a gift exchange? Let's do it! Custom threads ahoy!]
yulegans!
With a small smirk, Noctis finally looks at her. "I can help. Sounds like a good cause." He isn't visibly armed at the moment, but that doesn't mean he has no weapon. Turning to put his back to the goat, he eyes their surroundings for a minute, half-amused he found himself in this situation. How many people would try burning this thing? It was hard to tell.
After a moment, he glances back at the goat, trying to peer inside. The straw is too tightly packed, though. There was no way to tell if their things were actually inside. Pity.
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The whole ordeal in Auriel was incredibly stressful for Kyoko. As soon as she steps through the portal into the Hospital lobby, she gives a heavy sigh and stretches her arms over her head. Upon scanning the lobby, she spots the table of food and practically dies in, grabbing a paper plate and piling up a bunch of cookies as she shoves a gingerbread man in her mouth. Once she's claimed a meal's worth of cookies, she's going to find a nice pillar to lean against as she slides into a sitting position the plate in her lap. She hasn't really slept or done much for her hair, so she's looking a bit feral at the moment but mostly tired.
Exploration
Kyoko hadn't really slept since the whole Auriel thing started, and had been running on fumes for the most part. After checking with one of the bots and finding an empty room to nap in, she emerges looking far more refreshed the following morning. Her hair isn't as well kept as she'd like, but right now she's more at least feeling better. She steps out of the hospital entrance and sticks her head into the arts and crafts tent, but very quickly backs out. Horse skulls were very much not something she wanted to deal with right now, and her skirt was not helping with the cold. For now, she's more concerned with finding a place to get some more weather appropriate clothing. She will be ducking into random buildings and exploring what all they have to offer before moving on to the next building. Once she finds some clothes though, she will spend quite a bit of time picking out a nice fleecy outfit, but even as she assembles one, she's going to start looking worried as she pulls her wallet out and opens it with a sigh.
Arrival
Junpei comments with a mix of amusement and approval. It's always impressive when a girl can pack away a lot. From the looks of her, she's been through it, too. She deserves cookie mountain...and don't mind if he's fixing a similarly tall plate himself!
"They really should've met us here with a feast, just saying. The sweets are nice and all, but maaan could I go for a nice, juicy burger. Oh! Or some ramen...or maybe even a beef bowl!"
He takes a bite of his cookie, lamenting all the savory foods that could have been.
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Roronoa Zoro | One Piece
[While it took Zoro time to actually find Nyx, before the mission, now that they're back he's been making an effort to go there and find sparring partners more often. Snow be damned, he had to keep his hands in his pockets and swords in their sayas for way too long while they were among the fae courts and his need to exercise has him outside more than inside. It's best to prevent collateral damage to the building. It also means that any of his practice sessions out in the snow can be seen by any passers-by, so if anyone wants to call "Next" they sure can.
One interesting thing that may be witnessed, if Zoro is alone, is the way he stands holding one of the three swords now and then: drawn, held up, with his eye focused on the blade. He appears to be deeply concentrating, and anyone with the ability to sense power will know his haki is active, fluctuating. Enma is hard to control, after all.]
Second
[Several times over the period, on his way to and from practice, Zoro can be found crouched next to the giant cat's-paw print in the snow. It's always in a different place, of course, and whenever he finds one, he's keen to check it out. After hunting weird creatures in Auriel, this is a puzzling twist.]
Huh.
[more a statement than a question, a sign of a train of thought that can be derailed]
Go Wild
[ooc: hit me up at my plotting post for specific scenarios or throw me a curveball. Prose or brackets either way, I'll follow the lead]
one
Three swords...!
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sunday | honkai: star rail
YULEGANS
WILDCARD
Yulegans
... Mostly because the halo grabs him. This isn't the first time he's encountered someone with something like that, though back home those people were angels (with the exception of himself). He isn't sure if this is the same, or if it's just some weird fashion choice, but he eyes it warily as he leans on his crutch.]
I doubt any of 'em are going to listen to you.
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wildcard;
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Shiraki Mayuko | Fruits Basket (CRAU)
[It is a huge relief stepping back into Etraya after the sojourn in Auriel. Mayuko finds herself weary. Not in the body, thankfully, not like after the train or the Etrayan summer camp. But after dealing with the heightened emotions from the Aestus Court for a month and a half, it is an odd pleasure to look out over the drifting snow and not be swept away by sentiment.
What's even better than that is watching the scenery from the steps of the library with a 7-11 container of warm broth and hearty ingredients in her hands. The weather is decent and the robots are bustling about doing some kind of construction. She takes an appreciative sip of the broth as she observes the goings-on of Alcyone's Wake. It is good to be back.]
Holiday Horsin'
[Mayuko wanders her way through the workshops, not knowing what she's looking for. Every so often, she stops and stares at the horse skull she's carting around. Decorating this relic is going to be... a complex task, to be sure. But she'll give this the ol' college try.
It takes going to one of the workshops with a surplus of ribbon for inspiration to strike. Her eyes are drawn to the purple spools--perhaps because her fae glamour included different shades of the color--and then the recollection hits her like a bolt from the blue. Of all the media to recall from the other Earth. (
Except they're llama girls in Earth-2, not horse girls.) Fine. Why not include a double-homage to the past year in gussying up the skull? In any case, she's got the color scheme in mind now.She can be found in one of the workshops fashioning horseshoe charms out of wire. Different sized charms sit alongside her horse skull--some plain, some wrapped in ribbon.]
Did you want a set of shoes? While I got the pliers at hand.
Yulegans
[Blame the Aestus fire magic she had been given, but Mayuko sees the straw goat structure and pictures it alight. How fast and how brilliant the blaze would be.
Sadly, those powers are gone. At least for the moment. Not to worry--she can be found practicing her archery at Camp Etraya, just in case someone comes around with fire arrows.
But maybe fire is only the ultimate step, given the vigilance around the structure. Maybe an aerial assault would soften the defense. All they need is some birdseed and patience for Operation Birdfeeder... if there's any in stock. A good hunt through the stores for some wouldn't hurt.]
Wildcard
((YES PLEASE, if you have any additions to the above topics or any other wintery ideas, do put them below! Plotting comment here!))
Aliarra Landsritter | OC (D&D)
[Is the knock at the door old hat by now, or is she the first to challenge? Either way, the figure outside is just as the holiday demands: a horse skull bedecked in copper and crimson, bearing a crown that looks passably like spiked iron. Orange-white flame flickers in its eye sockets and jaw, courtesy of Aliarra using her own guisarme and its magical crystal as the pole that holds it up.]
[From beneath the red cloth hanging from it, a faintly muffled voice emerges.]
Stand back, stand aside, and let me in.
Hospitality shan't wear thin.
Dare not deny, commit no such sin.
No other means shall quiet this din.
[The Charisma-boosting part of her belt's enchantment is getting a workout today...]
[Fire and light descend from the sky like a falling start, slamming into the ground with a violent, pure metallic note that really, really seems like it should have been a dull thud, but definitely was not. A gauntleted hand grabs the half of the guisarme before it can stop quivering from the force of its descent, yanking it free to Aliarra can point it at whoever looks at the goat with malice aforethought. The holy flame on it barely seems to light her armor, though it certainly does a good job of casting the wicked spikes on it into sharp relief.]
[Aliarra has a lot of ranks in Intimidation.]
Don't think it.
[Of course, Intimidation so rarely works... but she won't complain if it doesn't. A good skirmish to defend a goat will be a welcome diversion from her general ennui.]
The Goat
He should be intimidated, knowing Aliarra is far more experienced and powerful than he is, but intimidation doesn't work quite as well when he thinks she's playing a game. For a moment, though, he stops, clasping his hands together, not moving any closer to the goat he plans to destroy.]
I'm not!
[Then a grin spreads across his face.]
Actually, yeah. I am thinking it.
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Junpei Iori | Persona 3
[ Junpei's time in Auriel hadn't been ideal and when the end is in sight, he damn near cries in relief. Upon stepping out of what seemed to be the wilds and into civilization (maybe a little more than civilized considering the bots out and about), he whistles low and impressed. So this is Etraya. And it seems to be Christmas time as well. Makes sense in a way. He'd gotten the best present yet by being allowed to step through that portal.
It's still so strange to have gone from what felt like record-breaking summer heat to this colder weather -- and even a light dusting of snow. It left him woefully underdressed, but hell. He'll take this compared to the impossible heat any day! Although exhausted and very much in need of a nap, Junpei manages energy enough to scoop up a tiny bit of snow and pack it between his fingers. Seeing an unsuspecting someone, Junpei gives only one warning: ]
Yo! On your left!
[ Before tossing the snowball at them with a grin. ]
Holiday Horsin'
[ The making of the horse had weirded him out. Why a skull? What kinda morbid tradition is this?? But convincing himself it was only a replica and focusing more on the social aspect of decorating it with others, he managed to put a little something together. He made it a little felt baseball cap, a Christmas baseball cap if you will -- red, green and glitter. And as for decorations, he'd gone ahead and painted a variety of baseball logos for the Yomiuri Giants all across it...not exactly Christmassy, but hey. It works.
It's the next part of the project -- the door knocking that Junpei jumps into with much more vigor. Armed with his horse and a wide toothy smile, whenever anyone opens the door they are greeted with zero shame and the cheesiest rhyme: ]
This might not be a rap battle...
[ Junpei gently nudges the horse skull's cap into a sideways position. ]
But why not go ahead and feed some grub to this cattle?
[ Jazz hands. ]
Yulegans
[ Junpei hadn't had anything strange happen that he noticed. Then again, he's scatter-brained at the best of times, so it could very well be something he thought he misplaced had really been moved by something else. However, it's impossible not to notice something was happening to others. Every day, he would come across someone complaining or searching for something. And when he happens across the latest victim of the mysterious mischief, Junpei places a solemn hand on their shoulder. ]
Items disappearing. Strange and unusual inconveniences occurring seemingly at random. Multiple victims of this modern day mystery and no culprits in sight. This looks like a case for...
[ Striking what he thinks is a cool gumshoe pose, thumb swiping across his bottom lip. ]
Junpei Iori, ace detective.
Wildcard
[ Choose your own adventure! Junpei can be on the receiving end of your own equine rap battle or he will be defending the honor of the Goat if you want to run into him there. Otherwise you can either contact me at
Yulegans
But when the newbie she asks doesn't merely say nope, sorry about it--well, even if it's not 100% the answer she wanted to hear, she still perks up.]
Ace detective, huh? In the case of the purloined sweatshirt? Awesome!
So, Detective Junpei, what's the first step?
[She does not actually think he is an ace detective but this sounds like fun.]
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Dwayne ir'Dorn | OC
Dwayne is sitting there, affixing a pair of large, gold eyes into the horse skull, when he decides to comment.
"You know, I'm pretty sure I got a real skull."
He then licks it, to see if it tastes real.
"Yep. It's real."
Which was completely unnecessary, because his sense of smell could have told him that without licking to confirm, but licking and chewing bones is fun, so it was as good of an excuse as any. Once that moment passes, he continues to go on decorating it like nothing happened.
Holiday Horsin' Part Two
Anyone could open their door to see a horse spirit, or rather, Dwayne dressed up as a horse spirit, ready to rhyme at them at any point during the week.
Once the door is open, he begins.
"Would you answer me this riddle
To show your mind is fit as a fiddle?
If you guess triumphantly
Your prize is my company
But if you are wrong
Then my mind is strong
And my reward is a stay in your home.
Would you agree to the terms of my...challenge...dear gnome?"
Yes, he knows he's not talking to a gnome, but he talked himself into a corner and needed to rhyme, so he's calling them a gnome now. He hopes they're okay with that.
The Goat
Dwayne is staring at the goat. Thinking. Contemplating. Then, finally, he asks someone who happens to be nearby.
"So...if I tried to destroy it...would you stop me?"
He hopes the answer is yes. He doesn't want to destroy it to destroy it, after all. He wouldn't even think of doing so if he hadn't seen people try earlier only to be stopped. Now that he's seen that, though, the whole thing has just turned into a fun challenge in his mind, and he wants a turn to take a crack at it.
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Jean isn't all that interested in making a Mari Lwyd, but she doesn't mind the idea of letting people take a turn at trying to convince her, in lyrical merit, that they should be allowed into the Mansion as guests. Like carolers, but it's a Welsh bone horses, missing their Maypoles and teams, but maybe it'll be cute as is. Perhaps some of the kids—both around Etraya and in the house—will want to get into it.
Dressed in light winter wear, but warmer than the heart of a million stars simply by being, Jean takes a seat outside on a handful of nights after the crafting workshop to welcome any holiday challenges. (There's even a table laden with holiday goodies and warm drinks laid out just inside the door. It's all in good fun, after all, and making the rounds of the island is a lot of work.)
YULEGANS & WANDERINGS | OTA
It started with the occasional door slams in the Mansion—a not unheard of event with the ages of the kids (young adults; a better phrase for it when sledom were mutants allowed to simple b children) living throughout, but these were happening where no one was. In empty halls, and even on lower levels that were not in use now or recently.
Then, it shifted to the ghostly faces in the windows when she was drawing back rooms on rooms of curtains to let the morning sunshine in, and then the oddest single cat prints in the snow around the grounds. A solid massive one that appeared in new locations around grounds not long before sunset, and hung around, thawing or filling with snow so very slowly in the dark.
Given the proliferation of European Holiday Haunts cropping up everywhere in Etraya—and how so much more has come out of so much less in this place before—she is all for leaving the large Yule Goat alone.
Still, it does get a little annoying when whatever it is out here with them for the season makes her fourth cup of hot chocolate vanish (each with less than two sips taken) while she's admittedly a touch distracted writing Christmas Cards in the Cafe. There's an exasperated sigh, and she raises her hand to flag down the bot again.
OLD AQUAINTANCES & NEW || Locked to Clark
Among the many things Jean has missed during this long, long time she's been on Etraya (if one still achingly shorter than her time in The Future or the Victorian Era), it's the new appreciation and connection she feels to the endless expanse of space in the universe. But there is, of course, the bubble.
She can feel it, and for a strange definition of the words, hear it.
But it's outside of here, of her,
and there are reasons not to destroy the bubble.
Which is how she puts herself floating up at the pinnacle center of the bubble, eyes closed and legs crossed, her own much smaller bubble of fiery brilliance around her, same as the outfit that is so much more than that, when a simple close look at it reveals millions on millions of stars brilliant and burning, fading in and out.
Aerith Gainsborough | FF7 Remake / Rebirth
Enigmatic Happenings
Now that they're back in Etraya, everyone is falling back into (relatively) normal patterns, though some silliness is going on with rhyming, which reminds him more of the fairy realm again. Maybe they took a little of the fairy's behavior back to Etraya with them. It's likely to wear off, eventually.
Rather than be bothered by it, Vincent has tried to occupy his time with trips around town. He's returning from some hours spent at the museum when he notices Aerith and makes his approach, speaking from a polite distance. ]
Missing something?
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Enigmatic Happenings
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Mizu | Blue Eye Samurai
❄️ A Horse Girl
❄️ Hospitality, Please
❄️ Thief, a Thief, or a Case of Mistaken Identity
❄️ Caprine Combat
Caprine Combat
"It's a game! Kind of like hrazhak. There's a goat totem, and one side tries to destroy it, the other side tries to defend it. Would you like to play? I was going to try to destroy it if you'd like to stop me."
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Caprine Combat
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Hospitality, please
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Młynar Nearl | Arknights
[The workshops are rather hard to miss. Młynar has no intention of participating, but it can hardly hurt to observe one. It can be valuable to know about local traditions. Or, in this case, what someone wants to turn into a tradition. So he stops across the street from one, watching with his ears perked forward as the companion bots recruit more participants and restock their craft supplies.
The skulls aren't necessarily ominous. He can easily imagine some origin to do with the dying old year giving way to the new. What's less clear is why these particular beast skulls are used. He's pondering this question when one of the bots walks up and hands him a skull of his own.]
No, thank you. [Młynar hands the skull (and that is definitely made of bone) back. But he can't help asking-] What is it?
[The bot, seemingly hoping he will change his mind, holds it out again.] It's a horse skull.
[Młynar blinks.] What's a horse?
[Asks the man with horse ears and a tail.]
2. News on the March
It's not that Młynar places particular trust in newspapers. If anything, he regards them with great skepticism. It's just that whether or not a newspaper accurately describes places and events, it certainly tells you about the priorities of whoever funds the newspapers. And, honestly, it's too much of a habit. It feels wrong to have his coffee in the morning without a paper in hand.
This quest has brought him to the Kwik Trip, where at last he finds piles of papers and magazines. He obtains a coffee and sips on it while examining the selection. Some have complete nonsense titles. Others seem like they might have arrived from other worlds, with headlines describing political developments in regions he's never heard of. And then he stops and picks up a tabloid titled Red Wine News with an expression of mixed astonishment and disgust. This drivel has somehow followed him? Of all things?
He balances his coffee on top of one of the racks and begins flipping through it.