TDM 012

[etrayamods]

Event Summary

Genre: Comedy/Romance

Premise: A horse-loving bot has devised a way to transform people to have horse features in order to participate in horse-themed activities and engage in speed-dating.

Tone: Lighthearted, silly, absurd

Objectives: Go to the Fairgrounds either transformed or not and have five dates.

❬ ARRIVAL ❭

Arrival has gone as expected. Newcomers awaken in a sterile hospital bed in a clean, white room to the hum of machines under the unnatural lighting common to well-kept institutions.

The door swings open, revealing a hallway that stretches out ahead of them adorned with photographs of romantic scenery in snowy weather. There’s commotion from outside, but the lobby has a welcome table with treats and refreshments. Today, there are oat cookies, carrot cake, apple cider, and a bowl of sugar cubes.

Helpful companion bots also await at the welcome table to distribute bouquets of flowers to newcomers.

❬ LOVE IS A HORSE ❭

It starts slowly. If you are somewhere less central, you might not even notice it at all until it’s taken over Etraya. They look like love letters, handwritten on pretty, perfumed paper and stamped with wax seals. They are not for any particular recipient, but they espouse love for horses. There’s drawings, facts, copies from books, poems.

Soon, bills are posted around town advertising a wondrous machine purported to bring you closer to love in this romantic season.

A bot is stationed directly outside the hospital next to this purported machine. He introduces himself as Ser Equus Esquire the Third and is dressed in excellent quality riding gear. A banner above the machine calls it “The Love Finder”.

”Any who step inside shall soon learn the true meaning of love!” reads the sign board beside it.

On it is a dial and a switch. The dial is labeled, but covered with a bit of tape and maxes out at 100. The switch is unlabeled, but it’s clear enough that this executes the desired level of whatever the dial is set to.

Should you step inside, the dial will be adjusted and the switch will be flipped. The machine will transform the target into a horse or horse hybrid, and transport them to festival grounds.

Note: How horselike you are can vary greatly. Everything from simple Umamusume ears and tail to centaur to full on horse— Or something awful and in between is fully acceptable. To access the event, it is not necessary to step into the Horsifier Machine. You can simply find the fair grounds on your own.

❬ HORSIN’ AROUND ❭

Whether you are transported there or find your way by yourself, a sprawling, elegant backdrop is here to meet you. In front of the wintered Louvre, the grounds stretch out to give plenty of room to roam and explore. There are tents set up with dressing rooms for an outfit change. It’s all finery and frock, regency era costuming befitting of the mood. There’s food in stalls, all served as dainty bites on toothpicks or in little paper wrappers to mind potential mess. Overall, it looks like a medium-budget Brigerton themed county fair.

Activities and trials have been laid out to help Etrayans understand the true meaning of love. Ser Equus Esquire the Third would like you to complete three activities to prove that you have fully explored the ways that horses can teach us to love.

It is not strictly enforced who does what part of each task, though someone with no horselike qualities may find it more difficult to pull a carriage or carry someone attempting to do archery.

Activities

• Carriage Rides - Take a jaunt through the park with your companion leading the way. Love is about trusting another to lead sometimes.
• Brushing and Braiding - With an assortment of materials to assist, fancy up your partner! Love is helping others look and feel their best.
• Racing - Push yourself to your limits! Love requires focus and dedication.
• Horseback Archery - Hit targets while galloping on horseback (or in horsearms). Love is working together for goals that cannot be accomplished alone!
• Trail Riding - Explore the less trodden paths together in the woods. Love is about discovery and adaptation.
• Dancing - Either mounted or astride, teach or practice moves together. Love is about being able to move in tandem.
• Saddling & Dress Up - Get fitted for a saddle or find some new clothes to match your partner. Love is finding what fits!
• Barrel Racing - Run in clovers around placed barrels. Love is coordinating and avoiding hazards together.
• Jumping - Run and jump hurdles of various heights. Love is about carrying one another sometimes!
• Desensitizing - Use all sorts of objects to help desensitize your partner! Love is about being able to stay calm when things get tough.
• Feed and Treating - Share treats with your partner. Love is about nourishing one another!

But all of this is the backdrop for…

❬ OFF TO THE RACES ❭

Speed play dates! Once you are dressed and fed, you will be presented with a stack of Speed Dating Cards. Turn in three of them to prove you have understood what this was all trying to impart upon you, and Ser Equus Esquire the 3rd will allow you to change back— If you like. You are welcome to stay like this for the duration of the event.

Speed dating cards have a suggested topic at the top ranging from everything as simple as “Colors” to “Ideal Date” to some truly strange ones like “Warcrimes of Insects”.

Otherwise, they expect you to rate your companion like so:

🐎 Make My Heart Race 💘

My Date With Cidolfus

Activity: Swan boats

Topic: Carrot-based foods

Green Flags:
✅ Dad
✅ Good at flirting
✅ Amano design inspo

Red Flags:
🚩 Not over his celibate bro
🚩 Maybe not actually a dad?

Equinity

❤️❤️❤️❤️🩶

Manners

❤️❤️🩶🩶🩶

Humor

❤️❤️❤️🩶🩶

Chemistry

❤️❤️❤️❤️🩶

Conversation

❤️❤️❤️🩶🩶

Overall Rating
❤️❤️❤️🩶🩶

The code for this can be found below and edited to your liking if you wish to make in-character date reviews. Please feel free to change any particular rated stat to suit your preferences!

<!--- START NOTE ---><lj-raw><div style="width:70%;padding:25px;"><div style="background: url(https://etrayamods.dreamwidth.org/file/86245.jpg);background-size:80%;width:75%;padding:25px;"><div style="background-color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.65);padding:15px 15px 5px 15px;font-family:Garamound,Georgia,serif;text-align:left;"><center>🐎<span style="font-family:serif;font-size:18px;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:2px;"> Make My Heart Race</span> 💘</center> <div style="padding:5px 0px 25px 0px;width:100%;text-align:center;"><span style="font-family:Garamound,Georgia,serif;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase;">My Date With <U>!CHARACTER NAME</U></span></div> <div><div style="width:50%;float:left;display:inline;"><B>Activity:</B> !ACTIVITY HERE</div><div style="width:50%;float:right;display:inline;"><B>Topic:</B> !TOPIC HERE</div> <div style="clear:both;padding-top:15px;width:50%;float:left;display:inline;"><B>Green Flags:</B></lj-raw> ✅ !GREEN FLAGS HERE<lj-raw></div> <div style="width:50%;padding-top:15px;float:right;display:inline;"><B>Red Flags:</B></lj-raw> 🚩 !RED FLAGS HERE<lj-raw></div></div> <div style="padding-top:25px;clear:both;"><div style="text-align:right;padding-right:5px;width:50%;float:left;display:inline;">Equinity</div><div style="padding-left:5px;width:50%;float:right;display:inline;">❤️🩶</div> <div style="text-align:right;padding-right:5px;width:50%;float:left;display:inline;">Manners</div><div style="padding-left:5px;width:50%;float:right;display:inline;">❤️🩶</div> <div style="text-align:right;padding-right:5px;width:50%;float:left;display:inline;">Humor</div><div style="padding-left:5px;width:50%;float:right;display:inline;">❤️🩶</div> <div style="text-align:right;padding-right:5px;width:50%;float:left;display:inline;">Chemistry</div><div style="padding-left:5px;width:50%;float:right;display:inline;">❤️🩶</div> <div style="text-align:right;padding-right:5px;width:50%;float:left;display:inline;">Conversation</div><div style="padding-left:5px;width:50%;float:right;display:inline;">❤️🩶</div></div> <div style="clear:both;text-align:center;width:100%;padding:25px;"><span style="font-family:serif;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:2px;">Overall Rating</span><br> ❤️🩶</div></div></div></div></lj-raw><!--- END NOTE --->

🔵FULL NAVIGATION🔵

Comments

[destroyedstatues]

Something like that.

[Alex listened as best he could but universes and multiverses are a little over the head of a kid that has spent the better part of his high school years in solitary confinement. Alex follows his new guide as he leads the way away from the hospital.]

Thanks.

[And then he pauses before nodding a greeting,] Alex.

[redvisor]

( alex. hm. )

Scott.

( he nods in reply — looks back ahead as he leads them out of the hospital. now where's the closest place he can take this kid to for a new set of clothes... )

Before you ask, no, this isn't a dream and if you don't believe me, feel free to pinch yourself.

[destroyedstatues]

[Scott. Alex stops mid-step to turn back to Scott. His brow furrows deeper as he takes in the sight of the man next to him again. It can't be. This guy is old. It has to be some kind of coincidence.

Has to.]

I have a little brother Scott.

[Who Alex hasn't seen in a while, granted the prison sentence, but can't possibly have grown up this much in the time he's been gone.

Right?]

[redvisor]

( when alex stops, scott stops, and he looks back to him with a thoughtful expression there on his face. there's been weirder things that have happened here — he's dealt with a number of them in the times he's been on etraya, but. this is a little... different than what he's used to.

if this is what he thinks it is. )

Wouldn't happen to have the last name of Summers, would he?

[destroyedstatues]

Yeah. He's Scott Summers. [Which means Alex is Alex Summers. He studies Scott further, his eyes getting wider the longer he does.

And then he shuts it all down. This isn't possible. This can't be his little brother. Time and universes and multiverses don't go so wacky that his little brother is this much taller and bigger than him.]

[redvisor]

( so this is... definitely a thing that's happening now. right. because winding up in a place where some alternate younger version of yourself also resides wasn't strange enough as it is, now his brother is here. his brother who is staring at him in a way that he can't even fault him for.

in response to that, he tilts his head some — brows furrowed and allowing himself to get a slightly better look at him. )

Alex?

[destroyedstatues]

Yeah. Maybe. [Alex is freaked out. There's no hiding how much he dislikes the scrutiny from the other man, even if Scott might actually be his brother-- older or younger. He leans back, the frown deepening and gives Scott a look like he's just seen something horrible.]

C'mon. This isn't-- [Alex shakes his head slowly.] Scott?

[redvisor]

( that's just his face. you'll get used to it. however, right now it looks a little more concerned with all this, especially what with there being two scott summers here and all. )

Yeah. I... didn't think you'd end up here.

( or anyone he knows— "knows" for that matter. because whether or not this is the alex summers he's personally grown up with... well. that's the not-so-fun part of figuring out. )

[destroyedstatues]

[I didn't think you'd end up here. Alex apparently has more room to frown because he does. What, does Scott think he'd stay in prison his entire life? It's not the weirdest thing he's heard all day, but the words sting beneath his skin.]

Right. 'Cause I was in prison.

[It's said with a heavy note of derision. It's true. He didn't go to juvie, he went straight to adult prison. Maybe Scott assumes his brother was going to rot and die behind bars.]

[redvisor]

( there's a look of confusion there when he goes and mentions prison and it's a difficult thing to wipe off his face. time to start trying to see what pieces of this puzzle fit together. )

Why were you in prison?

( a shake of his head, he raises a hand then. )

Wait. Can we just have this conversation while we get you something to wear?

[destroyedstatues]

[Alex isn't about to tell this guy with his brother's name about his powers, or being a mutant. So when Scott holds up his hand, Alex is more than fine with them making clothing a priority.]

Yeah. I need a shirt.

[Some jeans would be nice, too, but he's not counting on this sort of place playing nice with him.]

[redvisor]

Come on. I know a place nearby.

( to at least get him into some basics and it gives him something to focus on while he tries to figure out how to go about all this because... there's a lot of layers to it. to say the least. but he gestures for alex to follow and doesn't wait for him to as he starts walking. )

[destroyedstatues]

[Alex follows in silence as he wracks his brain to figure out just what is going on. If this is his younger-older brother, then he's lived a while. His lack of recognition could mean that Alex has been indisposed for a while.

Did he go back to prison? Is he... dead?

As soon as he sees the store, he realizes he doesn't have any cash on him.]

I don't have any cash.

[redvisor]

That's not a thing here.

( he glances back over his shoulder to the blond. )

Little point in having to work and pay for things when your purpose for being here is trying to show your world is worth being saved.

[destroyedstatues]

[Right. Saving the world. He steps through the door of the store, but he's reluctant to touch anything. Accidents happen and he remembers what happened the last time he accidentally went off.

He keeps his arms crossed as he keeps to the borders of the store.]

[redvisor]

( he wanders around the place — takes a look at a couple things to consider for others before he's looking back over to the blond and he notices how closed off he seems to be. he gets it, sure. but knowing who they are and who this is, he's thinking there's something else to it.

again. there's a lot of layers to all this.

so he comes up to him, relaxed yet curious as he looks him over — looks over the state of his suit. )

You having a hard time with control?

[destroyedstatues]

[Alex is busy minding his own business, glancing at a few options but touching nothing, when Scott comes over. Alex regards him with a frown before he sighs and nods.]

I did have something-- [He gestures to the hole in his suit.] Got damaged. Without it, I don't--

[He presses his lips into a line and his gaze grows distant.]

[redvisor]

( he nods as a means to show he doesn't need to explain any further. that he gets it, basically. )

Yeah. Helps to have something make it a little easier.

( his glasses and visor for himself. )

I find it's usually emotional. What sets it off and makes it difficult to control.

[destroyedstatues]

[Alex nods, stiffening further. If his brother is a mutant, Alex would hate for him to go through the same struggles.]

Yeah. Sometimes it's getting too close to people.

[Or it used to before Charles trained him.]

[redvisor]

( again, he nods, looking down a bit as he does. )

Yeah. I know the feeling.

( looking up, he figures he might as well tackle one part of these many layers. )

Happens when you're a mutant. Happens to a lot of us.

[destroyedstatues]

[Well that seals the deal. His little-older brother is a mutant too. There's a pang in his chest that his little brother might have experienced the same issues as him. He never wanted that for anyone.]

I guess.

[He looks away and down. Some people have powers that are easier to control and him, well. He got a teammate killed.]

[redvisor]

( scott's dealt with his own losses, but. he's not about to get into any of that. instead, he reaches out and gently places a hand on the blond's shoulder. )

Hey. We'll figure it out here. We're not the only mutants here and there's a school that you can stay at. A school for mutants.

[destroyedstatues]

[Alex's gaze snaps back up to Scott's when he hears about the school.]

The school's here? Is the professor here?

[Because the professor could help him re-train his abilities.]

[redvisor]

( so he knows the professor. alright. well there's something aside from being unable to control his mutation for the most part. )

No. Far as I'm aware, he's never been here. But that doesn't mean he can't ever show up. A version of him anyways.

[destroyedstatues]

[Alex tries not to look too disappointed by the mention of the professor never arriving, but his body sort of deflates on the spot. Figures. The one person who could really help him isn't here to do so. The talk of the school seems so much less important now.

His gaze goes back to the middle distance, as he pretends to study one of the flannels on the rack.]