etrayalogs | MISSION 004 (part 1)

MISSION 004 (part 1)

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⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Connor relies on scanning humans for hints of behavior or health. some are better at hiding their expressions than others - he sees anger a lot - but vitals never lie.]

That was wise of you.

[showing self control impresses him, but mostly because he's seen how reactive Accelerator can be outside of a classroom. he glances down at him as they wind a corner and reach his classroom.]

I said that you missed an assignment and I'd like to give you the chance to finish it.

[he lied! with a small smile, he opens the door for Accelerator and heads in behind him. with just barely looking at one of the computers, Connor boots it up should he decide to use it.]

[Accelerator just gives a small shrug in response. He knows how important it is for someone like him to have a lot of self-control, so he's willing to exercise that skill when he needs to.]

I guess that works, as long as that teacher isn't planning on seeing if I've actually done an assignment.

[Do teachers check for that kind of thing? Normal ones wouldn't, he imagines, but it's not like he knows much about how teachers function beyond working with students.

He follows Connor into the computer lab, just thinking Yomikawa would know the answer to that.]

... You know, before I went to prison my legal guardian was both law enforcement and a teacher. [Since she's on his mind now, and all.] Anti-Skill was made up of teacher volunteers instead of being a dedicated police force. I know that's not how it works outside of that piece of shit city, so I didn't expect to see that kind of thing here. Is there any actual skill overlap between wrangling brats and solving crimes, or are you having to bullshit your way through teaching?

[He's going to go ahead and drop into the chair in front of the booted up computer.]

They won't.

[it's (another) new environment for Connor, but he's picked up the patterns of the other staff members and they kept to themselves. no one checked up on other assignments unless they were brought to them or if they asked. he could easily make a mock-up finished assignment if it came to that.

he takes a familiar position, one he took too many times in the department, leaning against the desk with his hands loosely gripping the edge.]

I've never taught before, but I'm equipped with enough knowledge to understand how to. It's pretty straightforward for me. I think the most challenging is understanding that everyone learns a bit differently, but I'm enjoying it. My students like coming to class, too. I can see why some may choose this profession - it's fulfilling.

[At least one person is enjoying this. That's got to be a good thing, Accelerator can imagine how tough a mission focused on fitting into society would be for someone who's only had full agency for a couple of months.

.... But then, maybe his bias is showing. It would, given how much he dislikes being back in school.

Ugh, whatever. He absently rubs his crutch arm.]

If you're finding it fulfilling then the kids must be getting something out of it, too. Adults in positions of authority of kids always rub off on them, for better or for worse. [He knows this from personal experience!]

[he looks amused at Accelerator's answer, tilting his head.]

Am I rubbing off on you, Accelerator?

[his attempt at making a joke. he did follow him into his classroom, even if it was only to avoid being in the actual detention-assigned room.]

[Of course, Accelerator wasn't considering himself when he said that. He's used to being a stupid, special case where normal things don't apply, so Connor's remark reflexively makes him open his mouth and nearly say Fuck no.

Buuuut he looks and oh, he's joking. He's joking, right? He squints a little.

That's fine, he can joke, too!! He shrugs.]

... I guess that depends on whether my diplomatic immunity trumps you being law enforcement. Being a convicted criminal in prison didn't stop me from running my damn city, so I might technically have more authority than you.

Edited 2024-08-19 22:29 (UTC)

[Connor emits what some would interpret as a chuckle, but it's nearly a laugh. a smooth, unpracticed sound that has a charming ring to it. his head dips to hide a more prominent smile. since being in Etraya, his movements have become more human - or, more like he's practicing how to appear more human. what someone does when they're pleased, when someone is taken by surprise.

when a kid doesn't know if he's joking.

meeting his eyes once more, the smile is barely noticeable.]

Maybe, but I don't think diplomatic immunity is transferable to other worlds.

[Connor laughs, and while Accelerator doesn't go as far as cracking a grin (god forbid), his posture relaxes. Getting more comfortable in his chair, he slouches a little.]

That'd be just my luck, being stuck as a regular damn student. It's been years since I've had to deal with that nonsense, I don't know if I even remember how to be one.

[Accelerator's shift in posture is easily noticed, especially since he's so used to scanning an uptight teenager. it's what he thinks is relief that washes over him. his joke got him somewhere.]

Adults often go back to school, I don't think it's something you forget. Like riding a bike.

[he's on a roll.]

[Having casual conversations isn't something Accelerator is used to, especially when it's outside his very tiny found family, but this isn't too bad or anything. It's kind of nice to gripe about school, he's never really gotten to do it before.

Maybe that's why he keeps on talking instead of clamming up or just cursing at nothing in particular.]

My other previous guardian wants to do that, but I don't have much hope for her. I never had any intention of going back to school myself, the last place I was registered at that wasn't just a fucking cover story was the one that ran the experiment with the Sisters.

[So, y'know, he isn't eager to hop back on the student wagon and undergo more testing like that.]

From what you've told me, your upbringing has been ... difficult. [there are a lot of words he'd used to describe it, but difficult feels the most tame.] It makes sense why you wouldn't want to return to a similar environment.

[he moves from leaning on the desk to straight up sitting on it, hardly making a sound as his weight shifts.]

I assume with your talents, you get bored easily in typical classes. Am I correct?

['Difficult' is definitely one way of putting it. Accelerator lets out a little snort at his word choice, not arguing with him.]

Yeah. [He nods slightly, sounding more bitter than anything as he folds his arms, a little uncomfortable and not wanting that to be particularly obvious. This has never been a subject he's proud of.] The material in the classes here is basic compared to what I'm used to.

Maybe I can help you with that. They don't offer advanced classes, but I can alter the curriculum in my class for you.

[his LED pulses a few times and the computer that Accelerator is sitting in front of opens a program similar to python. it's outdated for Connor, and he's sure it's outdated for Accelerator.]

Are you able to make an application?

[That's a very strange offer, one that most kids would balk at.]

..... I can.

[Noting the change in Connor's LED, Accelerator's gaze travels over to the monitor as the program opens up. He doesn't dismiss the idea immediately, though he's cautious. Back home, teachers didn't interact with him very often. Outside of experiments and assigning coursework he was left alone, so Connor encouraging him, even though he isn't technically a teacher, is new and kind of strange.

He isn't sure what to think of this. Connor doesn't have to bother with him, it's not like any of these roles are real, and their time in Moorcroft is temporary. Still, he does like learning.....

He purses his lips pensively.]

What did you have in mind?

Great.

[he's taking the hands-off approach with this. he stays sat on his desk, watching Accelerator with an eagerness he's trying to hold back.]

What about writing a GUI application? Something others can interact with on daily basis.

Fine. I don't have anything better to do.

[If he tries to leave the school before detention is up and a teacher sees him chances are he'll just get another day of it, and he wants to avoid that.

... Besides, it might be fun. At the very least, it won't be mind-numbingly boring.

He turns in his chair and starts typing away at an absurdly fast speed.]

I'd say this won't take me very long, but typing's a lot slower than directly interfacing with this fucking thing.

[That's a cool ability, he wishes he could do it via vector manipulation.]

[no you definitely don't have anything better to do, it's detention!! which is why Connor's trying to lead more than usual here. he was right about him. Accelerator is - advanced, for his age. the rushed clicks of the keyboard don't surprise him, but it's kind of ... funny. he doesn't laugh, but he does make a sort of amused sound. huh.

whatever amusement on his face falters when Accelerator mentions interfacing.]

You can interface with technology?

[he's assuming it isn't how androids interface, but-]

[Accelerator keeps on typing rapidly, not pausing or slowing down even as they continue having this conversation.]

Not really. I'm not an electromagnetic esper.

[Like the Sisters. He doesn't have to clarify with that bit of information.]

... I can detect the presence or absence of an electrical signal and move electrons around, but that's about it. Kind of like only being able to look at the surface of a CD, it's not like I can hear the music from it in my head just by looking at it. That means to do something like programming using my ability I'd need an external blueprint first, so I can understand what I'm working with.

[Vector manipulation! It's really versatile, except for the times when it's not.]

[he looks past Accelerator, processing what he's just heard. his eyes dart back and forth quickly, like he's searching for something - because he is. he hadn't considered it possible, but there are a lot of things around Etraya he wouldn't have thought possible.]

If I gave you something similar to a manual on androids, what types of communication would you be capable of? I've only seen you use your ability during a hostile engagement.

[communication meaning anything involving interfacing, because to Connor, it's blanket terminology.]

[That question makes Accelerator pause typing. His ability has a lot of uses, and due to his own laziness he's barely scratched the surface. He hadn't known he could create plasma until he fought Kamijou Touma, he hadn't known he could rewrite brains until he did it with Last Order, and he hadn't known he could break magical contracts by manipulating leyline energy until he did it for Qliphah.

Most of what he's used his ability for was for violence. ]

... Overwriting or rewriting data. I've done that before so I know I can do it, but I'm not sure what else. I also need to be touching whatever I'm rewriting, I don't have a lot of range.

[Unless he pulls out his wings, but that's tough to do.]

[he clocks the change, the sudden lack of click-clacks of the keyboard. it gives Connor the impression that Accelerator may not know what his limits are. with some apprehension, he slides off the desk and walks to Accelerator's side.

he holds his hand out, as he would for a handshake, except his synthetic skin begins to melt away from his fingertips. a habit of interfacing.]

I'd like to know.

[mostly in case of an emergency -- Accelerator might be the only one able to help in a pinch. but also, he's curious.]

[Accelerator's hands remain resting on the keyboard as he looks over at Connor, gaze traveling down pensively to his hand. It's a little strange to watch, and it never occurred to him that Connor could remove or alter his skin, but it makes sense. Of course androids would have that level of customization.

More importantly, he's trying to decide if this is something he should dismiss or if he should indulge Connor. The thought of being able to connect with someone using his power is laughable, honestly, and he should just tell Connor that.

But....

But he's never actually tried this before with someone. The closest he ever came to it was fixing Last Order's brain, and that had all worked out. He had saved her, and she's perfectly fine now. So... it at least can't hurt to try, right? Maybe this'll work, too.

Uncharacteristically, there's a mixture of emotions on Accelerator's face. He's still feeling a lot of doubt - his ability harms people more often than not - but there's still that small sliver of hope that maybe it can offer a way for him to connect with someone else.

He reaches up, switching modes on his choker, temporarily whitelisting Connor. Then he reaches out, and takes his hand.]

[Connor doesn't receive anything that he would normally while interfacing with androids or technology. he does pick up on the choker's wireless information, but it isn't because he's physically connected to him.

Accelerator, on the other hand, will be able to see the base of every signal that are constantly traveling through Connor's body. the thirium that pumps through his synthetic veins to electronic information and energy, new signals to alert Connor of Accelerator's connection, all sensory input and output, power, and his cyberbrain that processes it all. he does try to send basic information out, but there's nowhere for it to truly go. he's able to tell that Accelerator is connecting to the very basics, but the basics are a lot for an android of his caliber.

the connection is all very underwhelming. not that he'd been expecting anything in particular; androids can't interface with humans. Accelerator isn't a normal human, though. he operates differently, so he has to wonder what he was able to pick up.]

Well?

[Connor won't even need to touch Accelerator to pick up on the uptick of his blood pressure. He's keeping an incredible straight face, enough that even someone with experience reading expressions would clock him as only mildly interested and mostly indifferent, but there's an undeniable spike in both that and brain activity that isn't entirely related to his ability.

It's honestly pretty overwhelming, from Accelerator's end of things. Androids from Connor's universe are really advanced, Connor even moreso, and Accelerator is working with less than half of his original processing power. It takes him a few moments to properly process all of this new data - and more importantly, dig around for any kind of message or interaction beyond what's basically the equivalent of a medical scan.

But there's nothing. The thirium is similar to blood flow, Connor has his own version of a human's bioelectricity, and there's movement of biocomponents like internal organs. Nothing like the connection the Sisters have. Nothing like the connection androids have. Just a bunch of data that - and this realization is coming with a sinking feeling in his gut - gives him insight on how to rip an android apart.

It's disappointing. It's really disappointing.

Accelerator carefully maintains his expression, even as his blood pressure continues spiking. Even his tone sounds flat.]

Nothing.

[And then he smirks. It's rare for Accelerator to manage any kind of grin, and this isn't a happy one. It's rueful. He really hates this.]

My ability doesn't function that way, and I'm the only one with it. Even the experiment those fucking scientists ran to recreate 'Accelerator' in other kids failed, so I'm the only one who's still around who understands how the fuck it works. I knew it wouldn't.

[He waves his hand dismissively, a very deliberately teenage whatever, and resumes typing on the keyboard.]

That was fucking pointless.

[he prolongs the scan, noticing not just the blood pressure spike, the expression and tone that betrays Accelerator's feelings. his flippant attitude doesn't come across the same way. adrenaline, excitement. Connor doesn't quite understand, but something else is happening between them, with him.

Connor looks lost for a moment, hand hanging in the air briefly before silently falls back to his side, brow furrowed, LED blinking yellow. he feels like he's at fault for some reason and he can't place why. he'd considered all of the outcomes, this one being the most plausible. the experiment wasn't pointless, not to Connor. he's still able to understand Accelerator's abilities a little bit more, even if interfacing didn't work in the traditional sense.

gently, testing the waters-]

Are you all right?

MISSION 004 (part 1)

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