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

[myagic]

[She glances to Natsuno, brow knitting. He makes a good point, even through her seething anger towards Krouse, and she starts to relent--

But then the jerk opens his mouth.]

Nobody asked you!

[And he has the nerve to smile? Oh, she's had enough of him--for Natsuno the red glow fades, but it's replaced just as quickly by a pale blue one at her feet as a small magic circle lights up.]

Wipe that smirk off your face before I do it for you!

[Naturally, she isn't going to leave it at that, her hand sweeping in a gesture towards him as she finishes the spell--a smaller version of Splash, the magic coalescing at the ground underneath him to create a brief jet of water strong enough to launch someone off their feet. He won't be so smug once he's drenched, she thinks!]

[equivo]

[ There would be a certain poetic justice in throwing Rita in the path of her own spell. Unfortunately, Krouse doesn't have time for poetry. Rita is small enough that it'd take too long to make up the difference between them.

Natsuno, on the other hand, is a closer match. Krouse doesn't think it through further than that. The reflex kicks in as soon as Rita makes the gesture, and Natsuno is standing at the epicentre of the spell as it goes off. ]

You asked me!

[ Krouse snaps, looming at Rita's side as he flicks his cigarette to the ground. ]

[neverleave]

[One moment Natsuno's standing next to Rita, watching the glow change colors, and the next thing he knows he's on the bleachers getting soaked by an upstream jet poweful enough to launch him to a lower levels. He's so disoriented by the switch and raging water he ends up falling through the gaps. There's a thump as Natsuno grabs the bench, sputtering, hanging on with his legs kicking at empty air.]

You - don't get me involved, asshole!

[myagic]

What the hell do you think you're doing?!

[Simultaneously incredulous and raging at Krouse suddenly being at her shoulder where Natsuno was a moment ago, Rita whirls on him, fist clenched, though the thuds and clangs followed by Natsuno's shouting stops her from immediately punching him.]

You...how dare you--you think you can just swap places with anyone you please?!

[Natsuno's earlier reasoning be damned; she's absolutely casting a fireball at Krouse this time.]

[equivo]

[ Krouse's hands shoot out to close over Rita's, his eyes tightened with apprehension. The gestures might not be necessary. For all he knows, she's about to melt through his fingers for having the temerity to not want to be incinerated. ]

I'm trying to be civil.

[ He says, icily, seeming to ignore Natsuno for the moment. He's not. Keyed up as he is, he's sharply aware of the third party to their dispute, and how much he's leaving himself open to retaliation on two fronts by not taking a more aggressive tack. ]

Can you go two minutes without trying to kill me? Think that's on the table? Because this is really starting to get old.

[myagic]

Hey! Let go--you stupid-!

[The red glow fizzles out and she tries to yank her hands back, glaring hotly at Krouse.]

Hey, I was being civil, but you just keep running away like a coward!

[After another tug, she punctuates "coward" with a swift kick at his shin.]

Besides, putting Natsuno in the line of fire is unforgiveable! Period!

[equivo]

[ Krouse hisses when Rita's foot hits home with an impressive amount of vehemence directed against his shinbone. He tightens his grip on her hands short of hurting her, but gives her a little more space to hold herself away from him. ]

Maybe you should think about bystanders before you start shit.

[ He'd made the switch on impulse, but he's not going to admit that. He made the call, so he owns it. ]

And civil clearly means something else where you come from, because where I'm from, it doesn't include trying to set people on fire.

I don't want to fight you. Do you get that? Because if you don't, I'm really not sure what's not clicking for you. [ Under his veneer of chilly calm, there's a note of strained frustration. ] Call me whatever you want. Kick me, throw punches, I don't care. But I don't want to do whatever this is, all right?

[myagic]

Me-?! You're the-

[Naturally, she tries to interrupt him, but he keeps going, and her scowl deepens. She's not looking for a fight, exactly--but he just keeps making her blood boil, and getting lectured by him of all people isn't helping.]

Oh, but it includes abandoning and betrayal? [Seeing as he is a DIRTY TRAITOR and all.] Like I'd want any part of whatever you think is civil!

[equivo]

[ Krouse narrows his eyes at her, muscles jumping on either side of his jaw as he clenches his teeth around a whole series of uncivil responses. His nostrils flare as he breathes in, then sieves the exhale out slowly through his teeth as he works the tension out of his jaw. ]

No. It doesn't.

[ He lowers her hands, giving her even more slack. ]

I'm sorry I left you. It was a shitty thing to do, even if you were being a pain in the ass.

[ Against all of his better judgment, he lets go of her hands, taking one quick step back with his hands raised palms out. ]

And sorry about making you dunk your boyfriend. [ He turns his head slightly Natsuno's way, not taking his eyes off Rita. ] Seriously. My bad, man.

[myagic]

[After watching the tension rise in his face, her own frame poised and ready to aim another swift kick if he's pushed over the edge-

Admittedly, the apology comes as a surprise. Her mouth hands partly open, though she closes it indignantly at pain in the ass, because no way he's still trying to put it on her...but. He actually lets go, and even though she's seething... Well!! What's she supposed to do now, set him on fire and look like the bad guy here?! ]

...Hmph! [She turns away from him, huffily crossing her arms.] How sincere of you.

[...But seeing Natsuno draped and soggy over the bleachers, she realizes something far more important she needs to do-]

Hey, Natsuno. You okay?

[neverleave]

[He climbs out of the gap and stands on the bleachers, watching as Krouse grabs Rita's hands. Natsuno tenses, ready to leap - petty or not, he's NOT going to anyone hurt her - but fortunately they calm down, even if Rita is clearly unhappy about it.

He huffs and climbs down. Dim glow starts pulsating under his skin and the air around him distorts as he draws on the sun magic in his blood. Hopefully it'll make him dry off faster.]

I'm fine. So glad you two worked it out.

[Why don't people ever do that before they cause collateral damage is beyond him. Natsuno is going to give Rita a piece of his mind about this - when they're alone.]

[equivo]

[ This isn't how confrontations that started this badly tend to resolve. Krouse pulls a slight face at Rita's scoffing before he turns to watch Natsuno descend, picking up a glow on the way, and flexes his fingers in his pockets.

His heart starts to slow from its jumpy lurching as he takes a deep breath. He almost smiles, but thinks better of it. ]

I am sorry. [ He stresses, although he doesn't sound as contrite as he could. ] Do you want me to head back for a towel, or something?

[ Natsuno is - or was, potentially - more neutral ground. Trying to use him as such didn't work at the beginning, but maybe the turn in his luck will persist. ]

[myagic]

[Ah. He's pissed. She shoots Krouse a sidelong glare, because he definitely doesn't sound anywhere near as sorry as he ought to, before her glance flickers back to Natsuno, now faintly glowing. But also still very wet, his soggy and dripping clothing clinging to his frame like a wet cat, and she glances down sheepishly.]

Sorry...

[Even though she might think Krouse shares most of the blame here, it's not like she didn't have a hand in it. Make no mistake, though: she's going to remember that terrible apology of his.]

Hey--hey, what are you kids all doing out here? Class is in session!

[And the fight might be averted, but an adult from the school has caught them anyway. Did he see the geyser from further away? Who knows! But he's now approaching, looking quite stern indeed.]

[neverleave]

[To Krouse:] Forget it.

[He's exasperated, but there's no particular hostility in the dismissal - Natsuno's just sick of the whole thing and would like to move on. He returns to Rita's side as she mumbles her apology, and huffs another quiet sigh.]

Just - don't drag me into these fights.

[Petty squabbles, a waste of time and energy. He's certain Rita knows he will be by her side against any actual threat, but right now all he wants is to find a place to dry off and calm down.

And apparently right now means this instant, because someone's coming. Great, just they needed. Natsuno doesn't even snap at the other two for drawing attention - time to clear out.]

[equivo]

[ This has ended about as well as it probably could have. Krouse still has his skin intact, Natsuno seems like he wants this whole thing over with more than he wants revenge, and he even gets to see Rita experiencing the concept of regret. It'd be nice if it was on his behalf, but he'll take the secondhand version just as well.

So, of course, this has to be when an authority figure shows up. He breaks into a slanted smile as he turns to evaluate the approaching teacher, rolling his shoulders back. ]

Why don't you two get out of here?

[ He suggests, airily, quick to seize an opportunity when it presents itself. If or when Clarke finds out about this, he'd like to be able to point to something in his favour. ]

I'll talk to him.

[myagic]

[And because she's learning to sometimes keep her mouth shut, Rita for once has the sense to not say who really dragged him into the fight. She'd rather they go and find some dry clothes for Natsuno, anyway.

--Which is just as well, because oh, great, it's a busybody with nothing better to do. And at Krouse's suggestion, Rita immediately shoots him a suspicious look.]

You? [...Not that there's much time for argument, even if she doesn't trust Krouse not to blame everything on them. She has no desire to hear a stupid lecture or get into a useless argument with the teacher, so she gives a sharp sigh, and turns to take off with Natsuno.] Fine--but you know what'll happen if you even think of trying anything funny!