MISSION 004 (part 1)

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: July 19th-July 27th.
WHERE: Moorecroft Village
WHAT: Enjoy life in your new suburban neighborhood!
NOTES\WARNINGS: Potential death.

⏵ welcome home ⏴ Welcome to Moorecroft Village, where the sun casts a gentle glow through soft white clouds. Pavement paths wind around the village, adorned with wildflowers in every hue. Birds sing a soothing melody, while a few content cats lounge in sunspots or on benches along the streets. Cars hum by, ferrying residents to work, the store, or back home after a busy day. It looks almost perfect. The ideal little village, occupied by individuals from all over. Orcs, elves, faeries, werewolves, vampires, and dhampirs coexist harmoniously, each contributing to their quaint little town. Despite their varied backgrounds, they appear to embrace this place as their own. They take their baby carriages out during the day for a stroll, chatting with friends and neighbors about current happenings, discussing their most recent mission (a ‘game’ of Whodunit, in which one of theirs, Theo, was tasked with killing one of their own each day and they all had to figure out who had killed them before they could come back to life) and the difficulties therein, new job assignments, weird things the teens in their houses are getting up to... generic, neighborly conversations. The village is full of life. There are numerous facilities to wander and things to do! The library houses a vast collection of books spanning history from countless other worlds and whimsical children's tales. Teens gather at the ice skating rink, while the movie theater screens films spanning generations. An aquarium full of wonders: glowing rainbow fish, miniature great white sharks, a colorful octopus with patterns running over it that almost look like ivy, and numerous others. In the daytime, everyone can explore clothing stores, indulge in gourmet cakes from the grocers, and partake in leisurely pursuits without financial concerns; just like on Etraya, money does not exist here. ⏵ help wanted ⏴ Moorecroft surpasses Etraya in its development, offering attractions and activities to engage its inhabitants throughout the day. But with these advancements come additional responsibilities. By day, at least one adult from every household is expected to fulfill their shifts at 'day jobs', lasting anywhere from four to eight hours. Meanwhile, the youth are expected to go to school, absorbing knowledge in various disciplines. Each job duty requires different skillsets, but whether or not those required skillsets are matched to those who are expected to work them... well. They’ll have plenty of time for training, won’t they? Or perhaps they’ll get dropped right into their job and be expected to figure it out all on their own. For the younger residents, education is structured into two main institutions: "Sandalwood Lower" for those twelve and under, and "Maplewood Upper" for older students. These schools offer a broad curriculum encompassing Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education, Technology, Fine Arts, and a diverse array of Foreign Languages. Electives range widely, from specific sports to Survival Training, Creative Writing, Journalism, and Sociology. At lunchtime, the school cafeteria presents an array of choices. Options range from standard fare like school pizza to other offerings such as vampire's blood, brains, and hearts—just in case an unexpected guest should drop in. After all, one never knows who might show up in Moorecroft. ⏵ honey do's ⏴ But life extends beyond work and school. A structured routine of what is expected of each household is kept on digital calendars, and installed on the wall in the kitchen of each house. These calendars update daily with smaller tasks, and weekly with larger ones, detailing what is expected of those residing within its walls. Typical tasks include simple activities such as: Take the child(ren) for a walk outdoors. Visit the local park. Bake a pie for the neighbors. Tell your spouse(s) how important they are to you. Share a secret. Shop with your child(ren). Mow the lawn. Don’t forget to attend your child’s school’s PTA meeting! Help with homework. Take family photos. Go on a date. More complex tasks are found under weekly checklists, and may involve: Host a neighborhood barbeque competition. Volunteer at the hospital. Teach your child a sport. Start a soccer league. Create a garage band. Get a part time job. Join a club. Eos will check off each task as it is completed. At the bottom of each calendar, a tally records the completion of tasks, providing a visual measure of productivity and community involvement. ⏵ night watch ⏴ As the sun lowers over the horizon, everything shifts. Every long-term resident understands the consequences of curfew and the threats within. They retreat to their homes, urging those unfamiliar to them who may not understand the rules just yet that they, too, need to return indoors for the night. Within the confines of their houses, life continues under a fragile veil of normalcy. A peek into some of the homes of long-term residents will find them playing board games with their family units, completing homework or work assignments they were unable to finish during the day, watching a few family-friendly shows on their couches, or enjoying a late dinner. Eventually, they’ll return to their beds and wait for the sound of their alarms. In Moorecroft, no friendly companion bots roam the streets during the day. In their place, highly advanced robots emerge to enforce curfew once the time comes. They silently make their way through the streets, sweeping away anything that isn’t part of Eos’ design: trash left out on the street, bugs left by suspicious men wearing cowls that have ears on them, graffiti, new decor that Eos decides she doesn’t like. No winds shake the trees, there are no cars on the road, but noises can be heard coming from outside that don't sound... normal by any means. Croaks, whispers, scratches against doors and walls alike. Those who defy curfew will be asked, once, to return to their homes. If they opt not to listen, they are met with force: physically restrained, subdued, and dragged back to their homes. If they decide to fight, the bots are not above killing them and dropping their limp bodies just inside the front door of their houses. They will revive after 48 hours but not without cost. Each return carries an absence—a missing memory, a lost skill, or a fragment of their very essence, stolen away in the process of their revival. Even those who manage to evade capture will awaken in their beds with no recollection of their death or what they may have witnessed before dying. They will instead have a vague feeling that something horrifying happened. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Daily and weekly tasks can be chosen by players! We won't be listing these out for each household, but relying on players to choose what's most fun for them to play with within their households. As noted on Mission Plotting, we're open to one group successfully staying out past curfew, but would like to keep this to one thread. We have a separate log for NPC interactions for this mission! For any questions relating to the contents of this log, mod queries thread on the initial plotting post to assist us in keeping all mission-related information in one place. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[levindicated]

[Cid thinks he’s referring to the top thing on his mind: the task for the day.]

[Item number eight: Kiss your spouse.]

Fine, then!

[He watches him continue in silence, thinking, roiling. He lets him finish the yard. He doesn’t want this to be any stupider than it has to be. He stands and stares at Barnabas, hawklike.]

[odinpusrex]

[Barnabas knew there was a good chance that comment might give Cid pause, but he was anticipating more than his acquiescence. However, Cid stays put and allows him to finish his work, and as he gets closer to the end of his task, he grows in his suspicion. Turning the mower off and elevating the blade, he makes his way back over towards Cid, his brow furrowed slightly as he stares at him in focused scrutiny.

Truly Cid had more of a fight in him than that? Or was his age and poor health killing his spirit too? No...the way he had been staring at him belied something, but what he did not know.

As he approaches, he stops a pace or so from Cid, staring at him just as intensely, but saying nothing.]

[levindicated]

[Cid approaches this task like he’s ripping off a bandaid. Something to get over with. A decisive viper strike of a grab from his right arm, hauling Barnabas in by the front of his shirt for all he’s worth.]

[odinpusrex]

[The action is met with abrupt and unwavering resistance as Barnabas roots himself in place. Naturally this means between the two of them his sweat-soaked t-shirt doesn't stand a chance, and it ripped clean open exposing a moderate amount of his chest (and his scar) for all to see.

Which is mostly Cid, and maybe Sandalphon's household if they are watching these two making a scene in their yard.

However, Barnabas misreads what it is that Cid is trying to do—did his comment anger him so? The thought simply fuels his reaction. With an inhuman swiftness, he reaches through that opening the torn fibers of his shirt granted him, so he can then grab Cid by the jaw—squeezing hard. His gaze a threat, but his hand a promise of follow-through should Cid attempt something well below his intelligence level.]

[levindicated]

[Cid grunts and tries to pull back to no avail. Cid speaks through the iron squeeze of Barnabas’ grip.]

Wait, wait- Hold on. I’m just trying to do what you said. Let go of me, would you?

[His speech is far more casual than it might be from another man. He pats the inside of Barnabas’ arm to prompt him to let go.]

[odinpusrex]

[Barnabas' stare does not lessen in its intensity, but after a moment Barnabas does release Cid, letting his hand rest on the handle of the mower. His brow furrows slightly as he scans over Cid's face for some trace of a lie in his words.

Do what he said?]

Explain yourself.

[levindicated]

[Cid lets his jaw go slack as he rubs his poor, bruised masseters. He groans and turns away for a moment, taking a quick lap to relax himself.]

That’s on me- I put your guard up. I really thought I’d be able to move you. Damn. Forgot how immovable you can be.

[Cid presses his hand to his forehead, screwing up the courage. If this was what stood between him and ever seeing Mid again, wouldn’t he do more? Wouldn’t he do anything?]

[Cid turns back, approaching slowly this time, like he was trying not to spook a great beast with a thorn in its paw. He pulls off a work glove and places a hand on his jaw- gently, before leaning in close enough to dampen the spot where his shirt ripped- to press a kiss to his opposite cheek.]

There. Was that so bad?

[odinpusrex]

[Barnabas watches Cid the whole time as a wild animal might something it is presently taking the measure of. Even as Cid takes his lap, as he barely explains himself, has his little moment to try to find his courage, then as he moves closer to him once again but much more slowly. His gaze is unblinking, his eyes tracking him and the grey-blue of them intense as ever. Serving almost as a blade to Cid's throat if he moves even remotely out of line again.

However, as he pulls off his work glove, placing the nearly exposed hand upon his jaw, the air begins to feel much more tense. Nearly palpable, but not near as palpable as Cid is against his mostly bare chest, even barer lips press to the stubble of his cheek; and finally that gaze pulls away from the other man. His focus forward, yet unfocused on anything before him.

The moment feels entirely too long, and Barnabas' jaw clenches slightly as Cid pulls away and asks him that question which he cannot hear despite the silence otherwise. Without a word and with eyes forward, he pushes past Cid, pushing the mower forward as he makes his way towards their next task: the car.]

[levindicated]

Suppose it was. Good grief.

[Cid sighs and turns to walk after Barnabas. This was easier though, he knows how to deal with the dark king’s brooding. Cid takes a deep breath, feeling back on his feet.]

Hold on, let me release the brake… though I doubt I need to for you. [He mumbles after him. He puts the other glove in his pocket and hurries to push tools out of the way.

Ready?

[odinpusrex]

[After putting the mower away, Barnabas joins Cid by the car as he moves the tools out of the way. Putting his hands on the vehicle, he nods at Cid's question, choosing not to speak. He will wait for Cid to release the brake and give him the go ahead. When he does he will push the car inside with absurd ease, holding it there for Cid to set the brake again.

Once that's done, however, Barnabas is set to just go inside without a word. Silent treatment, it seems!]

[levindicated]

[Cid sighs as he throws the garage door closed. It was about time to make some dinner, wasn’t it? The kids would be home- or were already home. He wasn’t tracking them that closely, honestly.]

[Cid pops into the kitchen, walking past Barnabas as he checks the screen. Kiss your spouse has indeed not been fulfilled. Neither has “Cook dinner for your family”. But Barnabas didn’t seem to always eat, though he could catch him in the bedroom. But that was less ideal.]

[He wouldn’t be clothed. It would be much more awkward.]

[So there was a timeline on this. He needed Barnabas to not walk away.]

Hey, what do you want for dinner?

[odinpusrex]

[Having removed his own shoes before entering the house, leaving them by the garage door, Barnabas took note of the sound of Cid's shoes on the floor as he walked past him. It's nearly enough to give him pause as he begins to make his way towards their shared bedroom—he was in need of a change of clothing, but so too a shower perhaps—but Cid calling after him about dinner is what truly stops him.

He does not look back, and he nearly chooses to ignore Cid outright. Especially considering he saw that the task was not checked off, which was...troublesome, but that was not Cid's fault for not knowing the degree of commitment they wished for the act.

That has nothing to do with dinner. Barnabas lets out a soft breath.]

I care not what you prepare.

[levindicated]

[Cid sighs with a swear. He doesn’t even wash his hands before he pulls open the fridge and gazes mildly into it. He pulls out some ready made meals and starts to prick the clear film protecting the saucy chicken and rice. He pops one in the microwave, tentatively staring at the checklist to see if this will be enough.]

…You heading to the room for the night?

[odinpusrex]

No.

[Though upon hearing the microwave beeping—horrible thing, that—he decides he should continue on his way. He has no interest in wearing these sweaty, newly tattered clothes.]

Ere you continue, take off your shoes and clean yourself proper. You are bringing mess into the home.

[And also the one child that eats food probably doesn't need motor oil in his food, among whatever else is on Cid's hands.]

[levindicated]

…Fine.

[He looks around. That was… true. He sighs as he balances, one foot at a time, to take off his work boots. He slings them over towards Barnabas’ shoes and they clatter in a heap.]

[He goes to wash his hands, doing a half-acceptable job before wiping them on his jumpsuit legs, dirtying them again. He frowns. He takes off his jumpsuit and turns it inside out, standing there in the kitchen as he realizes he’s just in his boxers now. He walks towards the room, whether or not Barnabas is doing this also.]

[odinpusrex]

[By the time Cid starts towards the room, Barnabas has already made his way there. Peeled from his sweaty clothes, discarding them into the hamper, he runs himself a bath. He doesn't care to figure out the shower at the moment. Though the bathroom door is open slightly. Even as he hears Cid's footsteps draw nearer he doesn't care to close the door, figuring that Cid will know better than to try to disturb him.

Hopefully.]

cw: theyre naked. Uh.

[levindicated]

[Cid sheds all of his clothes into a wad and deposits them on the floor before noting how dirty his hands and nails are. He pokes his head into the bathroom.]

I just need to wash my hands.

[Cid presses the door open with his shoulder, not looking at Barnabas as goes to the sink to wash his hands again. The oil was really sticking to him…]

cw: disaster (its just these two)

[odinpusrex]

[Barnabas is standing stark nude before the bathtub as he watches it slowly fill. He does not look up from this as he hears Cid behind him.]

For what purpose have we a scullery if you will not use it?

[Cid is really pushing his luck today, isn't he?]

[levindicated]

What purpose do we have a basin in the bedroom if not for this?

[He scoffs.]

I’m undressed! What if one of the kids comes back? You’re the one who told me to wash up. Which is it?

[Cid presses in to wash his hands in the sink, not looking over at the other man skulking by the bath.]

[odinpusrex]

[Barnabas audibly draws in a slow and measured breath. For a long moment it seems as if Barnabas will allow Cid to continue without comment. However that is short lived as he answers him.]

Very well, do as you please.

[It is not as if bathing between men is so strange, and if Cid was choosing to be stubborn then Barnabas could not care to argue this point any further with him. Turning off the water, he then steps into the bath, settling into it as he likewise settles into ignoring Cid.]

[levindicated]

[Cid washes his hands. He really could always do a better job. Oh well. He dries his hands on Barnabas’ towel, leaving a big smudge.]

…I’ll be back. [Hopefully he could deal with the kids and then deal with his own checklist. This was such a pain in the ass, but what choice did he have? He redresses in fresh clothes over his sweaty body, sighing as he goes.]

[He looks at the list. Microwaving those meals apparently counted- so why hadn’t that kiss? It was all that was left of the daily tasks at this point. Cid takes a smoke break before heading back upstairs with a beer. He drops himself into bed and turns on the television to some sports rerun.]

[odinpusrex]

[The bath doesn't help Barnabas relax, but that is mostly because he is in a constant state of forced calm. The routine of washing himself at least keeps him physically busy, even if that does not still his mind. Despite he becalmed heart, he can feel some of those accursed emotions begin to surface when Cidolfus is around. It is maddening, but that was how it always was, wasn't it? Even after he gave himself to his Lord, around Sleipnir and Cidolfus he could feel some measure of something. Nothing near as potent when he laid his eyes upon her, and yet they did not get swallowed whole by the yawning chasm that filled him otherwise.

The ache of regret tightened his otherwise steady heart, the stab of loss twisting within it, and every other complicated emotion that those gentle waters were meant to smother and obliterate would surface from the wound it created.

His failure to be made fully pure, his inability to shed every attachment, to shake loose the remaining chains which tried to bind him. Perhaps here he might—

Barnabas' thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the TV in their shared room, a clamorous reminder of Cid's unwelcome presence and the burden he continues to prove himself to be. Finishing up with his bath since he is not one to luxuriate in such things, he drains the water and reaches for his towel—only to see the smear that Cid has left upon it.

His eyes narrow and his mouth thins into a tight line. Still, he grabs it, making sure the smear is away from him as he dries off and eventually emerges from the bathroom. Though the towel is not around his waist when he does so, thinking nothing of his nudity as he makes his way to his dresser. Crossing in front of the TV to do so. Wordlessly finding clothes to wear while ignoring Cid outright.]

[levindicated]

[Why must this place torture him so? Whoever was in charge must find themselves very funny. All of this was the last thing he wanted to do, but he’s aware that it’s a test. So why wouldn’t it be this? He would have no problem kissing Ororo, or nearly anyone else. But with Barnabas, it was difficult and unpleasant.]

[Cid watches the action, though he does not yet know all the rules. Still, something about it captivates him. He sips his beer, allowing it to fuzz his mind. He rearranges his legs to splay apart, laying with absolutely no dignity on the bed. He rearranges his nuts without thinking about it, eyes glued to the screen as Barnabas dresses.]

[Honestly, Cid is just grateful that he’s redressing. He’s seen Barnabas undressed a million times in platonic contexts. He refuses to think about it any further. Cid lays in the bed, still sweaty and stinking from the day. His eyes stay on the television.]

Hey.

There’s only one thing left to do on the list.

Let’s get it over with.

[odinpusrex]

Truly your persuasive talents are without equal.

[Barnabas speaks in monotone as he buttons his pants closed. He doesn't spare him a glance as he puts a shirt on next.]

You know well how to sell to a man with no interest in purchasing your wares.

[levindicated]

...So you can mow unnecessary lawns, but fuck me for trying to finish the household tasks?

[He sighs as he sits up and finally looks squarely at the other man. ]

I'm sorry, did you want me to seduce you?