etrayalogs | MISSION 001

Entry tags:

MISSION 001

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: March 29th-April 20th
WHERE: Everywhere on Etraya
WHAT: Mission 001!
NOTES\WARNINGS: Potential violence, death.

⏵ mission prep ⏴
On the morning of the 29th, characters will receive a notification from Aurora to come to the hospital’s ground floor to prepare for their first mission. On this floor, pairs will be given slips of paper with matching numbers. If characters have chosen their partners, they too will receive small slips of paper with matching numbers, as these numbers match the room assignment they will be asked to please step inside.

The rooms themselves are bare. There’s a cot, two chairs pushed up against a small table, a miniature fridge set up below a sink, and a television that only plays static. On the table is a note, which simply reads:

Welcome. To prepare you for your first mission, we are giving you time to get to know your partner. You have a twelve-hour time limit to discuss your lives together. We recommend talking about moments throughout your life that have defined the person you have become. In addition, we have included several ingredients inside the miniature refrigerator. You must, without telling your partner specifically what it is, create their favorite drink using the ingredients within and above the refrigerator.

Do not attempt to cheat. Do not make your own drink.

If you pass, you will both be given two points and the door will unlock. If you fail, you may try again with the same partner or a new partner may be reassigned to you.

Good luck.

Within the mini fridge will be numerous ingredients - these ingredients could be anything, from Bantha milk to dragon fruit - whatever their favorite drinks are, they will find all the correct ingredients to make them. There will also be numerous extra ingredients. Maybe a character’s favorite drink is a nice cup of peppermint tea. The kettle, and the tea bags, will be present on top of the mini fridge, but there may also be soda bottles inside the fridge and various milk substitutes. Cheating by making their own drink will result in the game being reset, and a new partner being assigned or no partner at all being assigned and they will simply be removed from this part of the exercise.

⏵ the secret's out⏴
Numerous notes can be found throughout Etraya’s populated areas - falling from the sky, taped to doors, slid under them, or perhaps being handed out by a few of the companion bots who will eagerly note how these are meant to help, but a quick read may show that they’re not things anyone wants to be given out so freely.

After all, on the notes are secrets, untold truths, things that were never meant to be shared nor wanted out in the open. Some of these aren’t notes at all, but small packages that are not addressed to anyone in particular, or addressed to the incorrect party. Inside the packages are items that may be associated with a particular event: a knife that had been used to betray a friend still stained with blood, a mask meant to conceal identity, a picture featuring a moment in time that had best been left forgotten.

The goal of the game becomes clear by the notes written on the back or thin slips within the packages: match the secret to the person. You could simply ignore them, but the note also includes an addendum: more notes will continue to be sent until the person is matched to their secret.

⏵ cracked reflection ⏴

Every person is an intricate mosaic, composed of numerous facets that shape what makes them - themselves.

After all, one person is not simply one picture, but rather, a puzzle comprised of myriad pieces. These pieces may shape their strengths, their sense of humor, the influences of their upbringing, and who they admired in their formative years. Together, these fragments coalesce into a singular form: you.

But what if those pieces were rearranged? What if the fundamental aspects that define who you are simply… didn’t exist? What if, rather than being a courageous hero, you were cast as a formidable villain? What if, instead of pursuing the path that led you to greatness, you veered in a different direction?

A new dawn breaks over Etraya. The artificial sun rises over the horizon, accompanied by the melodic chirping of birds. As the denizens of Etraya awaken, they sense... a shift in the air - a feeling of dissonance, as if a piece of themselves has suddenly gone missing. Because it has.

Doubles of every current inhabitant of Etraya roam the corridors of the apartment building and the surrounding facilities. They let themselves into Roxx to get a few new outfits, get themselves a meal at the hospital cafeteria, or maybe they’re raiding the snack shelves at Kwik Trip. They may bear a striking resemblance to their counterpart and act very similarly, but there is something off about them. A quality that sets them apart. Remember that step you took, that led you to your current career? The step you’ve kept secret for so long, that has defined your actions ever since? They didn’t take it. They went down a different path, something darker, or perhaps something lighter. They took the path you most feared, the one you knew would turn out terribly. And they in turn - turned out for the worst.

Characters will find they are facing one of their worst fears: themselves, but their worst selves. The version of them that they fought so hard not to become, that they strove against rather than towards. And the mission? They need to take out their worst selves.

But there’s a twist: interaction with their doubles isn’t possible. Both halves are cognizant of each other’s existence, yet they are incapable of verbally or physically interacting with each other. And while the double understands what they are, the original? Well… how do you truly know you are who you’re supposed to be? What if you were the double all along? What if you are your own worst self?

There is one way to be sure: the color of the copies’ blood is slightly darker than what it should be. Running closer to a red-black than the red you would anticipate. Or for some, perhaps their blood is red where it should be running black. While they feel and look real, driving a unique blade straight through where their heart would be will cause doubles to dissipate into nothing once the knife penetrates deep enough. As for the genuine articles, well, the blade is sharp—and it’s going to hurt.

A blade is provided for every authentic copy. Those who were sleeping through the night will find it beside them upon awakening. As for those who remain vigilant throughout the night, the blade will manifest beside them in the early hours of April 2nd.

Guess someone is going to have to kill your double.

⏵ quicksilver has no sense of tact ⏴

Aurora’s announcement left out several crucial details: the existence of the doubles, for one. But also the looming deadline to take care of the mess that has been dropped onto Etraya. Inside the characters’ wrists, they will discover a timer gradually counting down. The timers are only visible for the person who dons it, as is the amount of time given. Every person is given an individual time limit, but it cannot be longer than two weeks. As the numbers dwindle, more black marks appear going up the inside of their arms toward the inside of their elbow. And what are the black marks?

With each additional black mark, they begin to feel… less like themselves, and more like their doppelgangers. In the beginning, maybe they barely notice the change. Maybe it’s a favorite food they loved that they now hate, or perhaps it’s an event that has shifted: something small but important - a decision to save a life changed to taking one. Maybe they’ll feel like a piece of themselves is no longer the same, replaced with another feeling or sensation. Where something would have usually made them empathetic to another's blight, now they find their suffering funny. Regardless, the longer their doubles are around, the longer they slowly begin to become their doubles - and their doubles begin to become just like them.

If their doppelganger is not taken out at the end of their provided time, it will simply dissipate and the original will remain changed. The only way to return to normal is to kill the original. After death, the character will remain dead for twenty-four hours before returning to their normal selves as if the death had never occurred. While killing them to return them to normal is information Aurora will readily share, no one will inform them that they will simply return to normal by April 20th.

⏵ OOC ⏴
Welcome to the first mission! For any questions relating to this mission please reply below. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

Please note that while ICly, characters are not given a choice, players can choose which missions they wish for their characters to participate in. They may have missed receiving room assignments, or their secrets may not have been dropped, or a copy may not have shown up for them. This may not always be an option in future missions!

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yeah, I do."

She definitely sees what he's saying and she agrees. There's something about this that just doesn't sit right. All the pieces are fitting together and that bothers her.

These people had obviously known enough about them to bring them here. So, why play these games to make them save their worlds?

"I half wonder if they've already made their decisions on us. And this is just toying with us."

He considers lighting another cigarette. He has pretty much a lifetime supply behind the counter of the Kwik Trip, even with the pace he's been going through them. If certain things are true, a lifetime supply doesn't even have to last that long.

He'll wait.

"If it is, I have to say - the ratio of resources expended vis-à-vis levels of messing with seems a little off to me. There has to be a more efficient way of fucking with people's heads. But then, I wouldn't invest my time in screwing with random nobodies from other dimensions, so maybe the appeal is lost on me."

"I want to know who's doing it."

But she has a feeling that's not going to be possible. Whoever it is is going to sit in some ivory tower and look down on them and make them dance like puppets.

She thins her lips.

"But doubt they're going to show their faces anytime soon."

"Can you blame them?"

From Krouse's tired half-smirk, he's assuming she can, and she's right to do it.

"They don't exactly have an enthusiastic fan club down here. I mean, are you planning on asking them some polite questions over brunch?"

Maybe if brunch involves a knuckle sandwich, a joke so corny he almost cringes at himself without even having said it aloud.

"I might."

Yeah, right. She shrugs.

"You'd think they'd be expecting a little anger, though. After doing all this, taking people and making them dance around for their amusement? People are gonna be pissed."

Can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. And she doesn't mean Murdock, the gimp suit wearing vigilante.

Stranger things have happened than someone exercising a little self-control in a confrontation. Krouse lets it slide unchallenged.

"It's not the most congenial welcome," he agrees, "Which brings us back to assuming they've got some other way of keeping people in line."

He hesitates on the next thing, but it's nothing that other people won't find out sooner or later. Might as well.

"I opened up one of the robots and got a visit from Aurora. She was polite about it, but they're obviously paying attention to the treatment of infrastructure." An innocuous revelation, so it's maybe a little odd that he's cagey about it. "Something to keep in mind."

"You did?"

Damn, he was a step ahead of her. Hmm. She huffs, crosses her arms over her chest and taps her foot a little.

"Did you see anything before she came by and said something? Or not enough time?"

Krouse thinks about it, and pulls his pack of cigarettes out of his pocket after all.

"I didn't see much." The bite of the lighter's teeth in his thumb as he strikes it, the flare of fresh paper into an ember.

"I'm not exactly an expert on robotics, but from what I did see, they're just robots. Very advanced robots, but that's it. No sinister clues, no glowing weak points. Not in the head, anyway."

And he'll never be able to get a better look at what's inside, even if he wanted to. That borrowed technical proficiency has leached out of him with the rest of his conditioning, and all he did was waste it when he had it. Fucking typical.

"What I can tell you is that I don't think it's worth taking one apart unless you have an actual expert and a specific idea of what you're looking for."

"Not something I'n very proficient in either."

And it doesn't sound like something she could just punch and make better either. Not that she hasn't thought about trying. She still might try. It could make her feel better, if anything.

"Flunked robotics in school."

Hadn't ever taken robotics in school.

"I'll leave them alone unless they start shit with me. I tried to punch one guy who looked like some robot already. Dented his armor but didn't really do much more than that."

"Sorry," Krouse says, cigarette paused on the way back to his mouth, "Mind running that by me again?"

He heard her the first time. It's just another of those almost funny things that takes a second to sink in. It certainly re-contextualizes her confidence about being able to knock his teeth out; it also makes him feel the tiniest bit smug about a passing intuition.

"You dented metal armour? With your fist? Were you tussling with the Aluminum Avenger?"

"I don't think so. Didn't recognize him from any Avengers that I know of."

But hey, maybe they'd been recruiting or something. She shrugs.

"But yeah, with my fist. I'm strong."

She realizes that he hadn't seen that because they hadn't gotten into a fight when they'd first met. And she hadn't stabbed him with all her strength either.

The super-strength is less surprising than the off-hand reveal that he thinks neither of them could have expected to be a reveal. He'd almost wonder what the chances were, if it didn't line up with a few other things.

"So, first thing. I'd like to restate my appreciation for you not throwing a punch my way," because that seems prudent and polite, in addition to being just a little funnier in hindsight, "And second - Avengers? As in, Hawkeye and Captain America Avengers?"

Krouse doesn't know that's not the order most people from her world would probably list those heroes in, but Krouse has met Hawkeye. She was all right. Captain America is just a vaguely flag-shaped concept.

"Hmm, yeah."

Those guys. She's not a huge fan of them but she knows them. It's hard to live in New York and not know them. Trish had, once or twice, suggested she try and join them. Jessica had just laughed.

Jessica glances over at him.

"How do you know them?"

"I don't."

Krouse pulls out his pack of cigarettes yet again, as if he doesn't have a fresh one hanging from the corner of his mouth. He taps another loose and holds it between two fingers, contemplating it with odd seriousness.

"I heard about them from someone else here. We've got different capes in my world." He plucks his first cigarette from his mouth and holds it in his other hand, lit and unlit held in parallel.

"So is private investigator your full-time gig, or...?"

It's not easy to picture her in technicolor, but that's kind of the point of a secret identity.

"Not that you have to tell me. Just curious."

"I don't do that shit."

That cape shit. That hero shit. That's not her thing and that's never going to be her thing no matter how much Trish thinks she should lean into that. Jessica scoffs, shakes her head.

"I don't want to be a hero. I'm not."

So, private investigator is and will always be her full time gig. That's what she says, at least.

"I definitely don't put on some gimp suit and run around at night, helping people."

Krouse half-smiles at 'gimp suit', his gaze flickering to her for a moment before returning to his cigarettes.

"Me either."

Then the cigarettes swap places.

It's an instant, seamless reversal of place. One second, the lit one is in his right hand, and the next it's in his left, replaced by its unlit counterpart, the nearly invisible trail of smoke broken into two across the distance without a single wisp of connection.

"Teleporter," he says, by way of explanation, "Since I'm guessing it'll come up eventually, and I'd hate for you to think I was holding out on you."

He's not being honest for the sake of honesty. It's just easier to get this out of the way before it has the potential to become a whole thing about witholding relevant information.

"Teleporter?"

She repeated the words because it's not unfamiliar, it's just...she hasn't met a teleporter before. Her eyes glance from one hand to another and then back to the first one before she looks up at him.

"That all you can do?"

He lets out a short breath as he tucks the unlit cigarette back into the pack.

"That'd be a fun party trick. The Amazing Cigarette Man. Marvel at his mastery of small cylindrical objects."

He shakes his head as he stretches his legs out in front of him, idly, scanning the area for possibilities. There's nothing that's a particularly good fit. It doesn't matter. She gets the picture.

"I can do bigger things, if that's what you mean. Otherwise, that's it. Not quite as impressive as bending metal with my bare hands."

"Handy, though."

The cigarette trick was interesting, at least. She's sure there's a lot of people that have the ability to do what he does but it's new to her. Interesting.

"Can you teleport yourself?"

"Mm."

He nods, taking a slightly longer drag on his cigarette as he eyes her speculatively.

"If I have something to swap with. That's the catch." A flicker of another slight smile. "I could demonstrate, if you want."

A handful of people go for the demonstration. Most of them don't have powers of their own. Capes, or cape adjacents, tend to be a little warier about letting someone else use their abilities on them. He wouldn't be surprised or offended if she said no, for what he's assuming would be the same reason he's not asking her to bench press him.

Jessica's definitely wary. She knows this is something completely different than Kilgrave and his powers. Krouse is asking to do what he can do. Kilgrave never asked.

And she's kind of curious.

"What would I need to do?" Jessica eventually asks him. "Just stand here?"

"Yep."

So they're doing this. It's not a big deal, but it is sort of nice to know he's managed to earn this small degree of allowance.

"You won't feel anything. It just happens. Sometimes it's a little disorienting if you're moving while I do it, so don't take off into a sprint." He shrugs. "Or do, if you want. Just let me know when you're ready."

"Thanks for the warning."

She's not going to run unless she absolutely has to. Instead, she just stands there, hands in her pockets.

"Whenever you're ready."

So is she. Not that she's sure how it's going to feel but she's ready for it.

Krouse rocks up off the bench and pivots to face her squarely, sizing her up. They're about the same height, and not that far off in build, which makes it that much easier.

He tags her with his power, nods, and swaps them.

True to his word, it doesn't feel like anything. There's no moment of disconnection from the world, or any sensation of travel. She's standing in one place, and then she's a few feet forward in another, facing the same direction with her feet firmly on the ground.

"See?" He says behind her, turning around. "Nothing to it."

He's right, it's jarring. She actually rocks a little bit because there's a feeling of strangeness that sweeps over her for just a moment and then she's fine. She looks down at her boots and then up at him before she nods.

"That's..."

Yeah, that's a thing. She could see why it might be useful in a variety of situations. She could have used it herself but instead, she just punches her way out of situations.

"How'd you find out you could do that?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject