etrayalogs | FEBRUARY MINGLE

Entry tags:

FEBRUARY MINGLE

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: February 14th - March
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers, a mini mission, and some new city features!
NOTES\WARNINGS:

⏵ arrival ⏴
Welcome to Etraya!

Arrival goes as expected - characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they 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 party tables set out with miscellaneous baked goods: croissants, cookies, breads, cake slices, as well as tea and coffee to accompany them - or hot chocolate, for those who are opposed to the other offerings.

Outside the hospital, the last remnants of snow are melting in the sunlight as the weather begins to warm up. It's still chilly enough one might want to put on a coat, but not so cold a jacket is necessary for wandering around without freezing off one's fingers.

We hope you enjoy your stay.

⏵ heroes return ⏴

As the Quantum Rail train glides to a halt, returning passengers step out onto familiar ground - the train station, right where they had initially begun their mission. When exiting the station, their earpieces vibrate, indicating the automatic download of a detailed map which highlights key locations, transit paths, and notable landmarks. As Aurora promised, she had been working on a few renovations around Etraya! A sleek trolley system now winds through Etraya, following clearly marked pathways through the city bubble to make travel across the city smoother. However, the trolley only moves one way, eternally following the loop Aurora has set it on. And because of this, it takes six hours to complete it's loop all the way around. Don't miss your stop!

Pets and animals have been returned to their usual preferred areas, some awaiting the arrival of their owners, and others keeping to themselves in the forested areas throughout Etraya.

Beyond the small upgrades, things seem relatively unchanged - until one familiar sign catches the eye. One marked by four vertical lines, methodically crossed out one by one: the final slash has now been drawn through. The tally is complete. What it indicates has yet to be made clear, but it has to mean something, right? No one would go through the effort of making an ominous-sounding sign without following through.

⏵ love in the air ⏴

This Valentines Day, Aurora and the companion bots have opted to try something a little different: they have scattered mystery valentines across the city. Hidden within mailboxes, tucked into cafe menus, slipped under doors, on the outside of high windows for those wall-crawlers to spot. There are countless of these little slips of papers, strewn throughout the city. And within each valentine, is a challenge or gesture to complete. Please feel free to make these up yourselves as long as they fit in with the theme!

Some examples include:

Deliver a flower to a stranger.
Write a heartfelt poem for someone.
Share a box of chocolates!
Confess your feelings for another.
Play matchmaker for two people - this can be platonic, or romantic!
Gift a friend with a stuffed animal.
Give five different people a genuine compliment.

While not mandatory, completing five tasks will earn an individual an additional ten points to use towards anything they would like!

Each little Valentine is signed "Your Secret Admirer. ♡", and some of them may even be addressed to specific individuals. Don't be surprised, Eddie, if you see one or two that are specifically addressed to you lurking around your collection of chicken friends!

And while most of these are harmless, some of the valentines cards come with effects for those who come into contact with the paper. Perhaps they thought it was a piece of garbage, or were just kicking it out of the way rather than intending on taking part. It doesn't matter! They get to join in on the fun, too.

Heart Eyes - your pupils literally turn into hearts for a few hours, making it hard to focus on anything other than things (or people) you find attractive.
Love-Struck Stammer - You can only speak in poetic compliments or romantic declarations, regardless of whom you're speaking to.
Chocolate Bliss - Everything feels good. Simple. Easy. As if there's nothing in the world to concern yourself with. You feel happy, without any concerns or worry.
Rose-Tinted Vision - everything looks soft and romantic, as if you're in a romance novel. You know the ones.
Magnetic Attraction - regardless of what you had been doing, you suddenly find yourself unable to leave the side of the person closest to you. Had you been eating chocolates while walking down the street? Well, have fun getting stuck to the guy who'd been out for a jog!
Serenade Syndrome - you find it impossible to resist the urge to sing your words, turning all conversations into love ballads.
Heartstrings - A thread appears, connecting you to someone close by who you share many similarities too. Perhaps you had never met this person before, but the threads tied around your pinky fingers that refuse to let go until you allow yourself to open up to them clearly means you should be a little more familiar with them.

Love is in the air—or maybe just a bit of well-intended chaos! 💕

⏵ NOTES ⏴

Welcome back from the mission, and welcome to Etraya for our newcomers! We've tried to keep this log simple for an easy introduction, as well as some downtime for our mission-goers who worked hard to solve the Quantum Rail mystery.

There is something else going on, but. . . well, no one seems to know what! The computer that had been on the lower floor of the hospital is now missing, and Aurora may seem a little flustered as she flits around Etraya, in search of something.

For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

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( talis.

his nose scrunches up in response to the name, but from the little he has personally witnessed of talis, he does know things. whether it's useful to fixing an arm is something else entirely, but. again: sevika does seem very capable, and while she may not know she was working alongside robin before, he knows.

but the sword gets his attention, and pulls it away from the idiot named jayce talis. there's a snck, and damian's eyes widen behind the domino mask. not because he's surprised there's a sword, but because that's a nice looking one. he has his own that extends out, mildly similar but not quite the same. )

Are you any good with that, or did they take your sword arm?

[His real name is Max, Dylan. He is still undeniably dog-coded.]

Hn. That guy your dad?

[He points toward the pocket where Dylan's phone went. Truthfully, he's mostly trying to scout out more information about that dirty face-snatcher (derogatory). But. Being social is apparently something people prefer out of him, even if he's as rusty as an eradiated tin can from the 80's.]

[ One does catch more flies with honey than vinegar, so they say. Ardyn though was only sweet on the surface. Thankfully, that's all that most people got to see. ]

Maria, [ he echoes, committing it to memory. ] I admit, I historically have a weakness for blondes. Not for the reasons of they have more fun or any such thing though, no, but- Ah. Well, it might be a bit foolish now that I'm thinking of how to put it.

More lively as in the place is having bar fights, good music, or good company? So many different ways a bar can be lively. Have to admit I prefer the latter. More of a lover than a fighter. [considering she can't fight and all that.] I'm really taking control here when you put it like that. If you have any complaints you should let me know. [not that she thinks he'll have any.]

A play date? Sounds like we're kids off to go play than you coming to teach me self-defense and put your hands on me. [she's laughing as she says it.]

You're a man who knows his way around a good date. What tips could I give? Though you can tell me how you've been doing on the hobby search. I admit I've gotten nowhere.

[ It'll be something Sevika will find out. Whether or not Piltover's golden boy can forge parts for a chemtech arm is yet to be seen, but he swears he can, and so...

But the sword is a far more appealing topic than her swallowing her damn pride. ]

"Good" is relative. Not a lot of people with swords in Zaun or Piltover, so they don't expect it, meaning I don't have to be particularly great with it. I am left-handed, though, so, yeah, I'm sure I'd be even worse trying to use it right-handed.

I'll need to update your notes.

( two years worth of world-ending nonsense, of lazarus demons, of his father managing to screw over todd in ways damian would have never anticipated from him. for a man who insists he would never harm those under his care, he had made todd significantly more useless in the field while failing to remove the stubborn will and courage that drives him to continue being the red hood. damian understood the thought process behind it, even if he disagrees entirely with how it was handled. and that he'd targeted one of their own. that serum would have been significantly more useful if injected into their enemies, rather than their comrades.

but bruce hadn't been thinking clearly. nor had he in the aftermath. and it helps no one to dwell on it now.

instead, damian pulls himself up to his feet. looks around the mess around them. )

What supplies? ( - was he looking for in the junkyard. he's here, he'll help. )

( When Damian pulls away, he lets him — rolls his shoulders back some as he takes a moment before he's getting up himself. A glance to his backpack there on the ground, he looks around the pile closest to them. )

Scrap metal. Durable, preferably. Also anything I can use to modify a bike.

( Slim pickings some days, but. Not always the case. )

The others know about your growth spurt yet?

Drake knows. I haven't run into anyone else yet. ( intentionally so. but damian says that first on purpose, so he can go onto the second, clearly more important bit. ) I have enough points to request a bike. ( not parts, a whole bike. mostly so damian can pull the entire thing apart and put them back together.

but he does start climbing up a particularly high pile of junk, so he can start digging through it. this would have been better to do in uniform, given all the padding. but with a lack of knee pads available, it's not as if damian has an issue dropping down onto his knees. they're calloused enough to avoid much damage. )

Or the Batmobile. The current iteration contains a medbay in the back, which would likely prove useful.

( He looks over at that. He likes his car, thanks.

Glancing down to whatever piece of scrap he has there in his hand, he scrunches his face up some before he's tossing it back into the pile and makes his way up towards where Damian is. )

Asking that for Dick? Since you still don't have a license.

Normally. [This is all terrible and he is already starting to dislike this place. ]

I do not want to be following you. [See, they agree on something at least!]

I'm fifteen, Father. I'm old enough to drive in numerous countries, and old enough to have a learner's permit.

( not that the law has ever been permitted to tell damian what to do regardless. )

It would be good for both of us to learn together.

[She's not really sure why a grown-up would not play a lot more games, but who is she to judge? Either way, it's nice to have someone in a similar boat. Learning together can be fun.]

... We can find some games at the Kwik Mart. That's what I've heard.

( At that, he gently smiles, a little more to himself. )

Right. Not so little anymore.

( robin's eyes follow the sword for a moment, before he - diverts his attention to gutting the arm, as requested. he'll repair anything he can with minimal supplies while he's at it, but given the intention is to redo most of it, he assumes most of the parts are going to be recycled anyway. )

We'll work on it. I've needed someone capable to spar with, so I may as well teach you how to utilize your tools correctly while we're at it.

( look at this nice piece of scrap metal he has in his hands. or had in his hands, because he's tossing it straight at bruce with a scowl on his face. )

I was never little.

( It's easy enough for him to dodge and he does so with that gentle, just barely there, smile on his face. )

I could always ask Dick.

( Teasing, obviously. )

W-well...

[He rubs the back of his neck.]

I only just started living on my own, so — its all kind of new. For me. [Translation: he has been swinging around from light post to light post as a minor who did not have to worry about these things.] Besides, I'm super durable! I don't usually worry if I get hurt, because I heal pretty fast.

Edited (oop typo) 2025-02-28 22:43 (UTC)

I grew three inches between the ages of ten and thirteen, and an additional three between now and when I had last been here. I was half a foot shorter when I first met Grayson.

( he'd add on a line about how he had been significantly less nicer when talia had first left him in bruce's care, but bruce is smiling and damian is relatively certain he's teasing, so he'll - avoid spoiling that for him. for now. )

( The amusement he wears is gentle and slowly fading, but. It's there. Fleeting as it is. )

You really keep track of everything, don't you?

( Looking over to him, he offers him a quiet smile that disappears almost instantly, making his way down the pile towards his backpack. )

That's enough for today.

[If nothing else, the man has a point. They did need to learn how each other fight, ideally every single high end combatant available--]

... If I can get the President to agree, I may know a location that is safe to not hold back and fight with nearly any opponent you've come in contact with previously. It's ... decent to practice in, and I wouldn't mind seeing what a standard Astartes augment is capable of. While it's technically a simulation, the wounds are real if you're not careful.

[Well, that is, assuming Shinra HQ still HAD that technology.]

Of course I do.

( he won't specify that he keeps track of his height with purpose, given his - smaller stature. damian has no problem with being on the smaller side; he's mastered fighting enemies several times larger than him, and uses his stature to his advantage. it's the comparisons that irritate him: his mother is on the taller end, his father is tall, and damian is -

well. damian.

bruce says it's enough, but damian grabs onto what looks like part of a car door, and also a crank handle from the pile. the car piece is - for what it looks like it should be. the crank? damian spins it idly while he walks his way back down the pile. )

I met Father's parents. They were fond of Titus and Alfred the cat.

Fascinating. The orbit of a star, and how they affect planetary weather as well as native flora and fauna, is not my expertise...but it is intriguing to see how sapient life flourishes regardless. [ He's never seen it in his universe, though. ]

I do not know what an ice cream is, but I will accompany you to observe it.

( If there were ever a sentence to completely confuse him...

He's dropping the strap of his backpack onto his shoulder when Damian goes and says that and he stares to him. Dumbfounded. Until he can find the means to say words that make even an ounce of sense. )

What do you mean? How?

That would be a good place to start.

If they brought us here, they might also bring our enemies here. [An eightcage or a greater sorcerer of Tzeentch would rip a hole in this place with almost no one to stop them. Unless they prepared.

[He shrugs.] I heal fast.

How do we arrange this?

Time-travel. They were pleasant. And surprised. They told him they were proud of the man he had become.

( that's the comment he wanted to share. but damian opts to - backtrack a little, too. so bruce isn't left with that being the last spoken word between them. ) Grandfather stated the family name will thrive with me as it's future. He's right, of course.

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FEBRUARY MINGLE

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