MAY MINGLE

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: May 17th-31st
WHERE: On Etraya
WHAT: A mingle log!
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A, please note any needed warnings in threads.

⏵ a hero's return ⏴ As champions exit the Labyrinth, they’ll find that their environment has gone through some fairly drastic changes. Where there used to be larger bodies of water is now thinner rivers going through land; the amount of bridges connecting landmasses has decreased, given what had been individual islands are now much more connected. In addition, Etraya is significantly more green; flowers bloom, birds chirp cheerfully, and there are numerous additional species of insects, mammals, and aquatic creatures throughout the lands. Baby foxes roam through forested areas, bees pollinate the flowers to spread them more thoroughly around the inhabited areas, and it feels brighter. Or perhaps that’s just in comparison to how the Labyrinth had been. There are more areas to explore, new facilities, animals, and Etraya feels significantly more settled than it had before. Aurora’s promise of renovations had been true. And if one looks up, they may notice a city bubble visible on the closest planet that hadn't been visible before. ⏵ coffee break ⏴ After hearing Clarke’s suggestion, Aurora sets up a new cafe close to the apartment complex, and sends out notices to individuals with mandatory coffee hour times listed for them to come to Corrine's Cafe and make a few friends. While the note does state that it is mandatory, there will be no follow-up from Aurora nor the companion bots to ensure those who receive notes do show. Given this is Aurora trying to take suggestions in mind and see how successful they are among the citizens of Etraya, however, following directives may not be a terrible idea. It's up like a modern-day, smaller cafe. One walks in through the front door, and is greeted by a companion bot behind the counter who offers a wave of their hand and a friendly “Welcome! Let me know when you’re ready to order”. The menu offers lattes, mochas, espresso, black coffee, several different kinds of teas, and a few drinks that are a little odd to find in a cafe; ale, canned sodas and coffees, numerous bottles of wine, but only pinot noir. Soft music plays in the background, impossible to place but it sounds as if it may be based on tracks that were popular in the early 90s. Tables and booths are set up to seat two to four, with packets of sugar and small containers of creamer set out towards the middle. There are charging stations set up at every table, which may seem strange considering phones and laptops aren’t widely available, but Aurora’s doing her best. There are also a few bookshelves full of the classics, a few historical fiction, and several written by H.P. Lovecraft. Each seat has a placard in front of it, with a name, and a ‘fun fact’. One might say “Hello! My name is Joe, and I like to paint!” Another may say “Hi, I’m Jill! My sister died tragically in front of me and I’ve never gotten over it.” ⏵ new horizons ⏴ Several of the new bridges found in Etraya now have signs posted just outside of them, and on those signs is a QR code that the earpiece’s HUD can scan. Scanning this with the HUD will bring up a scavenger hunt, listing several items and circling areas where they can be found. Some of these objects will be obvious: find Corrine at Corrine’s Cafe - the companion bot who runs the counter, find a delicious meal at Bangsan Market, break into S.T.A.R Labs, or find room 87 at Point Blanc Academy. Some will be less obvious, like locating a bat, becoming friends with an archer, find a pink shirt, open bagged milk without making a mess, or get a drink at the mutant-friendly pub. Please feel free to make up your own items to find around Etraya! ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Welcome to our mid-month mingle! Please feel free to use this to explore Etraya, put up wildcard prompts (you don't need to use the above!), or use the open prompts to assist in jumpstarting cr. This mingle covers the period from May 17th to May 31st. Our next mission (and next mod log) will not go up until June 7th. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

mod queries.

[etrayamods]

Re: mod queries.

[michiho]

Are any of the new insects/mammels/etc ones that would've been rare and/or extinct on normal earth? Obviously I'm not thinking like, dinosaurs, but are there dodos running around or things like that?

damian wayne | dc comics

[brat]

⏵ coffee break ⏴

( sitting at one of the tables in the cafe is a boy - one who is leaning forward so his chest is pressed against the table, arms stretched across it and hands holding what appears to be an old gameboy color.

which is all that is visible of him, given his hoodie's pulled up over his head, cheek squished against his upper arm, and eyes narrowed as he focuses on switching through the attack menu available on screen. it's pokemon yellow; those familiar might notice he's still very close to the beginning of the game, still fighting a pidgey close to pallet town.

further in front of him is a placard, that reads:

"Hello! I'm Damian, and I have no social skills."

or

"Hi, I'm Damian! I'm a polyglot."

unless he's already removed it and ripped it to shreds, in which case there may be no note, and simply the hot chocolate he'd settled down with to the right of his arms. either way, he's not exactly inviting conversation, but he probably won't growl at anyone who decides to settle in front of him.

probably. )

⏵ wildcard ⏴

( outside of the cafe, damian robin can be found lurking on top of the rooftop of the apartment building, or perhaps exploring shinra hq, or catching fish just off the border of ramsey farm. damian can be found inspecting the snack shelves at kwik tripp, eyes narrowing at the selection before he throws several into a dark backpack thrown over his shoulder. he's often in wayne manor, keeping an eye out for anyone who decides to be reckless enough to try exploring around his home. )

( ooc: hit me up at crowbars, or throw whatever at me and i'll run with it! )

➵wildcard, apt. rooftop

[westcoasts]

( the newspaper headline that clint had read shortly after arriving, the one he can't remember the exact phrasing of but definitely mentioned a flying, brightly coloured toddler, had stuck with him. it'd stuck with him because it was hilarious and ridiculous, and up until now, he'd assumed there was zero basis in fact.

up until now, when he goes up onto the rooftop of the apartment buildings, the one he still spends some time at despite his own building having mysteriously, uncomfortably turned up while they were all stuck in the labyrinth.

his gaze settles on THE CHILD and all at once, it makes sense. all at once, he laughs. it's simultaneously delighted, pleased and smug, and it therefore takes a moment for the 'R' on the outfit to register. when it does, his eyes widen, a question sitting in the lines of his face before his lips curve up into a grin, and— )

You're the kid that wants to shoot me! ( he's so small! ) You know you're famous, right?

Hayan Park | Unholy Blood

[thorncrown]

[I] COFFEE BREAK;

[Hayan might not need much more than blood to fuel her but the sound of a mandatory coffee hour makes her think it might be in her best interest to go anyhow. You know, after a shower since she more or less just stumbled out of the labyrinth.

Once she's at the cafe she looks only mildly surprised. Her friend group in college liked to meet up at places like this when not indulging at a bar or food place. Quickly her shoulders relax out as she steps further into the shop and up to the companion bot itself for a drink.

She apparently didn't expect the choice of wines.]

So what's the difference between pinot noir and other wines?

[Not that the companion bot has an answer of course.]

[II] NEW HORIZONS;

[The QR code is what gets her attention first. Scanning it though and seeing one of the objects to be found -- well, she freezes in place there.]

... Bangsan Market?

[And here she thought nothing from home could possibly follow her.]

[III] WILDCARD;

[When not at Corrine's Cafe for the mandatory coffee hour Hayan can be found through the rest of May and the beginning of June:

* At Bishop Publishing taking advantage of the hangout. She's not a superhero and maybe at 20 she's outgrown being a teenager but the training room is too tempting to turn down. Particularly when it comes to getting more practice on the proper way to punch / kick / block. She does her best to keep her strength on check so she doesn't destroy anything.

* At the Bangsan Market looking very somber indeed. Particularly when it comes to the Rabbit Hold Street Food store inside.

* Harry's Hideaway Pub attracts a lot of her interest too, mostly for the Canadian and German beers. She'll likely ask for recommendations to try to anyone who seems familiar with them.

* The Sector 5 Church is another place she'll frequent, sometimes settled in a pew or now and then enjoying the lilies. Even if she didn't know the church before now it nostalgically reminds her of Father Michael and somewhere she considered 'home'.

Feel free to hit me up at goodluckstarfighter or Discord (goodluckstarfighter) for any plotting!]

iii. wildcard at harry's

[agoddessonce]

[ Ororo is somewhat of a regular sight at Harry's. She doesn't go there to drink, but she does help the companion bots with the clean up, sometimes, and has a penchant for sitting at a specific table by a window alcove facing the street. She doesn't order the beer too often, opting for water or some kind of wine, but today - she hears when someone is asking about the beer in stock.

Ororo heads over to the bar with a little smile. ]

Did you want something specific, my dear?

clark kent | dceu

[anewhope]

( i. coffee break with superman )

[ he's not sure what he was expecting, but it wasn't this. still, he doesn't seem all that perturbed. his placard reads: ]

Hi, I'm Superman! I'm an alien from another planet with superhuman powers.

[ he calmly sips the coffee without blinking when someone joins him. ]

It's good. Surprisingly.

( ii. flying around )

[ clark is just flying around, taking note of the new locations. he pauses briefly at STAR labs with a faint frown. he knew STAR labs back in Metropolis. what were they doing here? he hovers in the air, unaware of everything as he ponders this. ]

( iii. network — as clark kent )

Is anyone willing to debrief about the labyrinth? Anything notable?

( iv. wildcard )

[ got a different prompt you’d like to do? ping me on timmtams / pm this journal ]

ii

[agoddessonce]

[ The Labyrinth had kept her flight very limited, so it's refreshing to be able to spread her metaphorical wings once they're all out. It's a way for her to get her head on straight, especially since it's a surefire way to be alone with her thoughts, but... well, she would have run into someone up here sooner or later.

Ororo floats on over when she realizes this man is just in this one spot, eying up one of the large, new places. ]

... Something interesting caught your eye? [ Also, why are you hovering in place, friend, you'll cause air traffic up here. ]

Ororo Munroe (Storm) | ota

[agoddessonce]

› Corrine's Café;

[ Ororo can be found at the café during a few mandatory coffee hours. She establishes a 'regular' (ginger and honey tea), examines the charging stations, and spends time reading the back of the books on display. When she ends up actually reading one, it's some Arthurian legend.

The cards get a passing glance, but she has no issue with them. She doesn't mind talking about herself, whether it's to explain whatever is printed there, or to correct it.

Depending on the day, her card may read any of the following:
a. Hi! My name is Storm, and I like to garden.
b. Hello, my name is Ororo, and I am the queen of Mars.
c. Hi! My name is Ororo and I sleep under the stars.

When someone comes up to sit at her table, she offers them a smile. ] Hello. I'd advise against trusting the cards on principle, but mine have been some measure of accurate so far.

› Harry's Hideaway;

[ The mutant-friendly pub is found a little hike away from the center of everything, and has become Ororo's chosen pitstop. There was a very brief time when some friends had to use the original one as a hideout, at home, and she uses it in much the same manner here. She is seen there regularly, afternoon to evening, and only leaves because there isn't (yet) a proper bedroom there.

She fiddles with the jukebox while she's there, rifling through the music that's available. She glances up at whoever is with her in the small bar. ]

I hope you like some rock and roll?

› Camping;

[ Despite the renovations and generously provided apartments, something about them feel alien and unfamiliar. Harry's has been a nice reminder of home and of simpler times, but it's not a proper place to rest. On the nights that the strange new buildings still feel odd and uncanny, she packs up the mat and sleeping bag she took into the labyrinth with her and flies off. It's a good way to explore the new "renovations" that was promised, but also... she just needed to sleep in the open, sometimes. After all, she's not worried about animals, or evening rain.

Catch her in the air, setting up her sleeping spot, or just stargazing! ]

› Wildcard;
[ hit me up via PM or plurk (almondlychee) if you'd like to do something else! I'm easy ♥ ]

Coffee

[smallbat]

[Mandatory meeting of strangers sounds like the absolute nightmare to Cassandra. She's really unsure if her adoptive family even likes her some of the time, okay that's must mostly Damian but it's fine. She brings her sketchbook that she's started here on the chance that no one chooses her to sit by. It's just a plain notebook that she's been doodling on.

Of course she's not actually here in time to get an empty table so she looks over the choices of partners and spots queen of Mars.

Well that seems cool enough that she's at least got to find out? Perhaps this place had the right idea anyways.

Her own sign today reads Hi I'm Cassandra Cain and I ran away from home as kid.. Which is a little awkward but maybe she can avoid that topic too much. ]

I didn't know that Mars had a queen? That's very cool, Your highness.

clarke griffin | ota

[skaikru]

cw for underage drinking mentioned.

i. a hero's return

( she doesn't win. and that is going to be very disappointing until someone relays exactly what helping to decide the next mission actually consisted of, because if it's not the ability to pitch entirely original, purposefully non-violent, safe options, clarke doesn't want it. but her drive and determination to push through the maze and make it out in a timely fashion pays off in that, on the early evening of the 17th, she rounds one last corner and walks out into a fresh, green open space that isn't bordered by stone walls.

at first clarke can hardly believe her eyes. her shoulders drop a full two inches, like the marionette chords of stress have just been severed. but when she looks around and doesn't immediately spot any familiar faces, that's when her face buttons up; relief immediately replaced with more stress, and turning right back around to try and go back through the exit. when that proves frustratingly impossible, she kicks at the edge of the stone archway hard enough for her foot to go numb, then moodily retreats to sit beneath the nearest tree and wait.

and for however many days it takes, she waits. the overstuffed backpack she'd entered with had been lost to a stream of dragon fire, but the multiple pockets of filthy cargo pants and survival jacket still contain a few snacks, and clarke's far from hungry after the whole ordeal. so she sits. occasionally stands to pace, occasionally chews on a stale protein bar with the consistency of cardboard. and she glowers, and she waits, and will have absolutely no appreciation for the blossoming beauty of etraya until her friends are spit out of the labyrinth as well. )

ii. coffee hour

( someone once said the profound words: my mandatory coffee hour, my responsibility. or — something similar, that might not have been the correct quote, but the sentiment stands!

after finally returning to the city and spending a solid few days alternating between scrubbing her skin raw in the shower to shuck off the last bits of labyrinth dust, or sleeping so fitfully it hardly even counted as rest, she's fine. totally and completely fine. back to normal. good to go out and be around people and definitely not slam her head into the nearest hard surface the first time her communicator pings to life with an invitation to corrine's cafe.

she is morose looking at first glance and visibly bitter as hell upon closer examination. but she's here. and will show up at every one of her appointed times, without so much of a peep of complaint at usually ending up at the four-top cafe tables. despite any desire to flip over or pocket the placard in front of her, it stays put. reads something along the lines of:

"hi, i'm clarke griffin, and this (like a lot of things) is my fault!"

or —

"my name is clarke, i was born in a utilitarian space colony. ask me about the apocalypse!"

or —

"i'm clarke, the best gift i ever received were colored pencils!"

and sometimes there's no name card in front of her at all, because this wasn't her scheduled time. but if enthusiastic participation means a higher chance of aurora listening the next time she has a suggestion, well. clarke can at least participate. her coffee order never varies, to the point the companion bot behind the counter eventually starts to ask the usual? like a scripted unlocked achievement: black coffee, two creamers, and a questionable amount of sugar packets ripped open and bunched together on the tabletop. except the one time she tries for the wine, takes one sip, makes an egregiously unimpressed face and almost dribbles it back into her cup. )

iii. scavenger hunt (wildcard)

( this particular task clarke chooses not to complete. there'd been no mention of a prize, and thus zero desire to drain her already limited emotional energy in playing along. but she can be found around town scanning the qr codes and at least reading the prompts.

can also be seen in and around new locations, a notebook and pen in hand, religiously mapping out the new additions like the provided navigation isn't good enough. maybe even spotted watching a baby fox sleep in a particularly tall clump of grass, completely distracted and for once not looking so perpetually angry at the world. maybe stumbled upon in the dark of early night, seemingly stargazing but actually just staring really hard at the backlit bubble city of a distant planet.

a little more casually, clarke can be spotted: exiting big belly burger with a thing of french fries and a vanilla shake with the lid popped off. poking around the outside of s.t.a.r labs, hands cupped and peering through the glass windows, or else deep in the odd cosplay section (is this a weird gift shop? are there flash merch shirts? if so, snagging two). or else in harry's hideaway pub, scanning the bottle options and immediately ordering a shot of rocketfuel moonshine.

the only task to be followed through on is attempting to open a thing of bagged milk. simply because she was already at the kwik trip "buying" another pocket knife, decided to test its sharpness, and figures it would be easy. (spoiler: this does not end well.)

—

ooc: byoadventure! all of these are the dreaded "come bother her" style prompts, but just use them as a jumping off point, i'm super flexible. OR plot with me, hit me up on inb4circlejerk or discord by the same name! )

not the milk

[relished]

[acquiring his home alleviates some of the unwanted feelings that Hannibal previously felt about being stuck on Etraya. that isn't to say he feels any less of the negative feelings about it, but being able to pry himself away from those wretched apartments and into a solace allows some form of control.

he's idly walking through the grocery section of the kwik trip carrying a basket of the finest ingredients he can find for lunch when he sees the familiar hardened expression of Clarke as she prods at bagged milk with a knife.

he's almost struck by her determination to do so without first going home, or literally anywhere but here to avoid spillage. it looks ... well, it doesn't look smart.]

Clarke-

[an interjection, possibly too late.]

hannibal lecter | ota

[relished]

𝒂 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐❜𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 ↠ 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒏𝒔

[he emerges from the labyrinth dirtier than he's ever been before. his clothes are somewhat tattered, stained and bloodied. he is alone and exhausted, far from his usual well-kept appearance. he doesn't spend any time lingering around the exit. his new surroundings are refreshing, and while he does appreciate the new-found flora and fauna, he desperately wants a shower.

it's not that he gets turned around. a few extra pathways end up leading him somewhere completely different. that difference is all he needs, because it's minutes to an addition he's sure was not there before: his home. he stands before it, lips parted, the only indication of awe. all that time in the labyrinth allowed for an entire house, and he's sure even more, to appear. the first thing he does is shower and dress himself in yet another immaculate suit, then he is out grocery shopping, wandering through the kwik trip (with much disappointment at the selection) and bangsan market. he purchases only the best selection of meats, herbs and vegetables -- not to mention a bottle of red wine -- he can find before returning home to make himself a home-cooked meal.]

𝒄𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌

[the notification for the coffee hour is one that he decides to follow up on only after a full 24 hours worth of rest. the cafe itself isn't terrible, he decides, but it's not one that he'll be found at very often unless he has a sudden knackering for it (he doubts he will). he is refreshed, relaxed. he doesn't seem at all affected by the previous days spent in the labyrinth and thanks to a young woman, the bite on his right forearm, though hidden by his shirtsleeve, has healed much faster and already begun to scar. his motor function has also completely returned.

the placard with his name on it is a distasteful little addition that his fingers find to adjust, but not remove: "Hello, my name is Dr. Hannibal Lecter: I am an excellent cook." it seems the little note has left much to the imagination and encouraged his ego, unlike a few of the other placards that reveal what may be uncomfortable facts.

he's brought a sketchbook from home with him, along with a few pencils, in hopes to sketch the creatures he encountered in the maze from memory. once he's nicely settled in his seat, sketchbook and pencils laid out neatly, he orders a cup of earl grey tea.

the music is somewhat grating to him, so he won't be sticking around for too long. as time goes by, his talents emerge on the paper. it's as if he's sketching from a model, each line so straight, every detail paid attention to.]

𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒅

( or make up your own scenario! he'll be spending a lot of time in his home (finally) and also kind of turning his old apartment into an office space. he'll definitely be taking more strolls, noting new locations, etc. literally bump into him anywhere, figuratively or literally, the world is your oyster folks. feel free to message me on turnt or pm his journal if you're unsure about something :) )

→ new horizons

[onlychildsyndrome]

[ there is a dirty, bloodied young man sitting on the floor in the snacks aisle at the kwik trip. the companion bots are cleaning the track of mud he left behind him, but he still stinks.

he's obviously fresh out of the maze, tearing open lunchables and sodas and eating them like he hasn't had any food in days. there's a bloodied butcher knife on the floor next to him and he grabs it and wields it at the companion bots that dare to approach him, like some hissy, feral cat. ]

Dream of the Endless | The Sandman

[hypnagothic]

i. coffee break

[ despite coming to the café to see what the notice claiming to be mandatory is about, there's a man in a long, dark robe over equally dark yet casual clothing who may look out of place in the modern and relaxed setting with his upright posture and confident poise, be it sitting or standing.

his interest doesn't seem to be in the menu though, his eye caught more by the shelves of books to which he finds his way closer. someone might come upon him there while he considers the choices, or they might find him at the table with a choice already made, a book in hand though with no drink to accompany it. though instead of a cup is the placard nearby, with one of the following phrases on it:

"Hello, one of my names is Morpheus, and I am bad at small talk!"
or
"Hello, my name is Dream. One of my sister's name is Death, and she's the closest sibling I have."
or
"Hi, I'm the Dream Lord, and you should ask me about my gimp mask!"

... Dream may have noted the phrase on the placard when first seeing it but is now otherwise ignoring it. ]

ii. wildcard

((feel free to comment with another prompt or send a PM if you'd like to plot something out! I'm open to pretty much anything~ ♥))

[redheadcarrier]

...your sister is named Death? And your name is Dream? Your parents must have been weirdos.

[ Asuka is just passing with a cup of some hideous mocha whip combination, but the sign catches her attention. She trails to a halt and speaks to the man who's probably deep in his book. Sorry, Dream. ]

What kinda names are those, anyway?

➵ clint barton, marvel comics

[westcoasts]

➵ coffee break

( clint doesn't attend because it's mandatory — the message had come through, he'd thought about ignoring it ("mandatory"), and then curiosity got the better of him. curiosity about why it's (supposedly) mandatory, and curiosity about all the rest of them here that he hasn't encountered yet, and those he's heard are here but still hasn't seen (steve).

plus, it's coffee that isn't from the diner and coffee he doesn't have to bother making himself. he'd got back from the labyrinth and immediately slept, only bothering to shower and change clothes after he'd rested. (for some six hours, enough time to not completely feel like he's been hit by a truck). he looks, therefore, somewhere between fine and a little terrible, evidence of bruising visible here, a wrist wrapped in a bandage there, but none of it anything he looks to be especially bothered by.

his coffee is black and there's a solid chance he's cradling it like it's his baby, leaving little room for interpretation if his placard is the one that happens to read—

"HI, MY NAME'S CLINTON AND FOR MY HEALTH, I SHOULD RECONSIDER MY CAFFEINE INTAKE!"

shockingly, he doesn't seem to be a fan of it.
(there's nothing that's untrue about it, however.)

otherwise, there's a chance it's

"HI, MY NAME'S CLINT AND I LOVE COWBOYS!"

which clint has evidently picked up at some point and decided it's neither here nor there (it's true, actually) and dropped back on the table with little care in favour of sitting with his legs (long, he's tall—) outstretched, ankles crossed, inevitably in the way of anyone trying to slide into the seat opposite him.

his coffee's still black, no sugar.

or else—

"I'M HAWKEYE AND SOME PEOPLE DESCRIBE ME AS A HIMBO!"

and that one means he's sat there, still with his black coffee, still with his black-and-garishly-purple clothing, with his purple bow resting against the table—.
(there's a lot of purple—.)
—still stretched out, a little obnoxious but not uninviting, and he'll offer a— )

I don't know what that word means.

( does he not? is he just being a bit of a dick? who knows! it's a mystery. )

➵ new horizons

( clint barton hasn't made it especially difficult to gather he's an archer, what with the (very unhelpful, given there are two of them) 'hawkeye' username, and the fact that he is very frequently seen with his bow (it's a comfort thing, okay—.) what he hasn't missed but is choosing to alternately ignore and acknowledge depending on his mood, is that one of the tasks is to befriend an archer.

perhaps, if it's your task, you find him on a day where he's decided to make a game out of it for himself, taking time out on a rooftop somewhere — he might be sprawled out, he might be napping (or pretending to, it's hard to say with those awful purple shades), or he might be sat on the edge of the rooftop, legs dangling over the side and eating a burger (from big belly burgers, natch). either way, his quiver will be slung over his back and his bow will be within easy grasp.

at the sound of footsteps, he might turn around, or else he'll just lean back and rest his weight on his hands, gaze shifting sideways, and— )

—D'you know how long I've been up here?

( or else it might be a day where he's decided to ignore it, that kate can shoulder the befriending thing and is completing tasks of his own, in which case he can be found having a beer (or two—) at harry's hideaway. that task is terrible and he's clearly having an awful time of it—.

still human (or at least, non-robot) company is evidently appreciated because as soon as the door opens, as soon as someone enters, he looks over. appraises, just for a second, and his lips will quirk into a smile that's not not presumptuous, and—. )

You can't be friends with me unless you buy me a drink first.

( or he'll be at the kwik trip, carrying around a bag of milk with an arrow shoved through the top of the bag. it's an inelegant solution that may or may not work, depending on how the barton luck's going. if it's not working and he's leaving a dotted trail of milk about the store as he walks around the store, as he stands there spending some time deciding on what colour sticky notes to take, he clearly hasn't noticed.

and sometimes he's at bishop publishing, despite quite clearly being older than the stated age group, but he's mostly there for (his, his—!) lucky. the dog. the one that he and kate have shared ownership of. he's probably — probably — on the couch with said dog. asleep. leaving no room for anyone to play video games.

alas.

whatever the case, he's not hard to miss — there's a consistent, obnoxious theme of purple at all times, like clint had fixated on the colour at some point as a child and decided he was never gonna give it up. )

➵ wildcard

( i am absolutely open to alternatives, fam!! if none of these quite work for you, feel free to hmu via pm or at spandex and i can come up with something more tailored. or if you just want to ask for some more details or whatever! )

coffee break

[agoddessonce]

At least the coffee is no longer terrible? [ As opposed to the so-called terrible coffee he said could be found at the diner. Ororo takes a seat near his, picking up her card for this visit. She'd been here before, always at the stated hour, and has come to be entertained by these little signs.

Today it reads, Hi, I'm Ororo, and I'm a divorced queen!, if he had a moment to see it before she'd frowned and promptly fried it in her hands.

... So, okay, maybe not entertained. She automatically changes the subject, dusting the ashes off her hands-- ]

Tell me, what is a himbo, again?

[shabuir]

i. coffee break

[ In some ways, being required to sit in a cafe and talk to people isn’t entirely new territory for Fett. Beviin and Mirta had managed to persuade him to make semi-regular visits to one of the more popular tapcafs in Keldabe for the same purpose, and it’s a testament to Fett’s regard for both people (or, he thinks, his growing senility) that he’d actually heeded their advice on more than one occasion.

Doesn’t mean he likes it, and at least he mostly knew where he stood with the people of Keldabe; they knew not to expect any warm-hearted, dazzling conversation from their Mand’alor and he knew to expect a characteristic unflinching pragmatism from his people. Here, the stakes are arguably lower but the lack of a familiar script to fall back upon increases the likelihood of awkward or unpleasant interactions.

Still, when the person with the hand on the throat of your entire galaxy says something is mandatory, it’s a good idea to show up. So there Fett is, sitting at a table, doing his best to avoid eye contact or any expression of interest at all in the people around him, lest some fool take it as an invitation to slide into the booth opposite him.

Depending on the day, there may be one of the following placards set before him:

a. “Hello! My name is Boba Fett and I can curse in Mando'a!”

b. “Hello! My name is Boba Fett and I enjoy stargazing!”

c. “Hello! My name is Boba Fett and I work for brutal fascist dictators and depraved crime bosses!”

The last one has been somewhat altered, with the last half of the sentence having been crossed out and replaced with small, handwritten words reading: the highest bidder. ]

ii. wildcard!

[ Outside of the cafe, Fett will be spending much of his time post-Labyrinth securing and supplying the Beviin-Vasur farm on the outskirts of Etraya—and trying to keep strangers out! Feel free to have your character come poking around, whether out of plain curiosity or because it ended up as an item on one of the city scavenger hunts. ]

i.

[bad_habit]

[Angel had much the same thought, if someone says you have to and they just went through apparently an awful lot of work to put up some torturous fucking maze in play that it's probably just best to do what they say.

He didn't fucking sleep in a curled up ball on the ground for fucking weeks just to get smoked out now cause he wont have coffee.

But he has definitely put something stronger in his coffee than just creamer, since they strangely had it. This place is so weird, it's like it doesn't know how to be at all.

Crime bosses huh? Well that's a nice change, everyone else he seems to be meeting here has... apparently made a whole ass career of dressing up and being a fucking hero. This guy seems a little more, normal. At least by his standards. Though with the getup he probably is one too or some shit, but being interactive with the residents here had paid off the last time, so why not reach out and meet more. Especially if it was apparently mandatory.]

Hey, whatever pays the bills. Right? [He points to the others scratched out placard.]

aerith | ffvii

[anciently]

❀ daffodils (sector 5 church)

[ To say that the labyrinth had been challenging - in any sense of the word - is an understatement. Having been quickly separated from anyone she'd attempted to partner up with, denied consistent use of the magic she relied on, and nearly impaled by a giant drill, Aerith is very grateful to see the end of it. The sweet freedom they'd earned while inside is made even sweeter by all of the greenery, the flora and fauna that definitely hadn't been there beforehand, and she takes a long time just standing outside in it all, breathing deep and...doing a bit of compartmentalizing.

After that, she starts to make her way back to the city proper, to the apartment she's currently calling home. ...Except, along her path is something too distracting to ignore, and she slows in front of it as if hypnotized.

An old church, perhaps not indistinct from others in some of the worlds of her fellows, here. But the facade is unmistakable to Aerith, whose huge green eyes reflect how deeply surprised she is to see it.

(She'd hoped, though. Because she knew it could be possible, but...well. If there are to be rewards for making it out of the labyrinth alive, this is one of the best possible results.)

Once she shakes herself from her stupor, the florist moves inside, trailing her hand along the doors, the broken pews, as if memorizing it again through her fingertips. Her flowers are there, too, all bright whites and yellows, healthy as when she'd left them behind in Sector 5.

It strikes her, suddenly, that before this, she hadn't been sure if-...when the next time she'd seen them again would be.

Alone - or, at least, thinking herself alone - she crouches in their midst. Listening. Maybe murmuring. ]


❀ back in town (coffee break)

[ After spending quite a lot of time in the church, Aerith does venture back out into the city, and comes across one of the other new additions. The smell alone draws her in, and before long she's settled into a two-person table with a placard. Anyone there when she arrives who watches closely will see her read it, causing the cheery expression to slip considerably, before she stows it in her jacket with a sigh.

Fortunately, it's easy to bounce back when there's coffee and croissants. At the counter, she places an order for a latte, which is presented with an adorable cat in the foam - ]

This is so cute! Wish I could do that. Though, I should probably start with how to make a latte to begin with.

[ - and a scone - ]

It's hard to pick just one, so I'll be back for sure!

[ - before returning to her spot and enjoying the treats. Based on the way she's glancing around the room, curiously and happily taking note of those who come and go, there's basically a neon sign saying "feel free to join me." ]

daffodils

[thinkerseven]

[ Lisa enters the church after Aerith does, and she doesn't expect to stay long. The plan is to survey the scene, draw what inferences she can, then move on to the next new building.

The place is beautiful, in the way old places are beautiful, although judging by the disrepair, it strikes Lisa that it isn't really being cared for. That's something to note. She doesn't really feel sentimental about it, one way or another. It makes those flowers stand out more. There's something about them - something to investigate. Maybe she'll stay here for a while and see what happens.

Lisa takes a seat in one of the more-intact pews in the back, and that's when the murmuring starts. It's something that Lisa would expect to aggravate her headache, but it doesn't. It's peaceful, something that Lisa can't figure out, and so she doesn't try. Instead, she draws her knees up to her chest, and before she realizes what's happening, closes her eyes.

If there's a break in the murmuring, Lisa will interject, her voice heavy with exhaustion. ]

Don't stop on my account.

rufus shinra | ffvii (remake)

[unionized]

— was a time when that shit might've worked;
COFFEE BREAK.

[The thing about this coffee bonding business is, Rufus knows they're being played. It's a fairly straightforward attempt at psychological manipulation — break down the populace through enforced isolation, unpredictability, and extended duress, and then suddenly put them back into conditions of hospitality and comfort in a manner designed to be social. After weeks of situations where survival often hinged on having others present, interspersed by abrupt periods of long loneliness, who wouldn't be primed to take full advantage of that newly-conditioned impulse to read the presence of others as safety?

It irks him, of course. He knows he's being played. It doesn't mean he doesn't still turn up to the coffee shop, anyway. Notably, he's not dressed in white for once — but instead is wearing a dark Oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled, khaki-ish pants, and a pair of aviator sunglasses that are doing a great job at concealing the fading black eye he's still sporting. Darkstar is, as ever, at his side; don't try to tell him that there are no animals allowed in here, she's his emotional support killbeast. Or something.

The available food and drink are a welcome relief, at least, after nothing but water and MREs and only whatever minor comforts they might've risked bringing with them. He finds a booth and orders one of those drinks that makes Starbucks employees ask "Are you...okay?", then peruses the bookshelves and digs up a few books at random to read while he waits and broods at his table.

(For those getting close enough to spy on him, it appears he's got The Great Gatsby, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and somewhat unfortunately, a Regency-fiction bodice ripper that boasts some sort of title like The Marquis and I, which he probably thought was similar to The Prince except that it is, uh. Most definitely not.)

When he's not drinking his horrible coffee beverage, reading, or staring out the window, he's also doodling on napkins — some sort of round, wheel-like image divided into wedges delineated by spokes that cut from the center to the perimeter, as well as a sort of dark blob shape that might, with some squinting, resemble a figure in a hood.

His placard reads: Hello! My name is Rufus Shinra, and I'm a lonely brat with no friends!

In another time and place, he might've torn it up or sought to scribble it out or throw it away. Right now, it just seems to bring him a measure of very sardonic amusement, and he leaves it where it is, preoccupied as he is by other things.]

— was a time when i just threw a match and let it burn;
SCAVENGER HUNT.

[It's not that he really means to participate in the scavenger hunt, outright; that said, Rufus is certainly interested in all the new architecture that's gone up in the city in their absence, so playing along with the game isn't overly burdensome when frankly it gives him even more of an excuse to be nosy about the new buildings — plausible deniability says he can just blame it on the hunt.

The first code he gets, however, demands a flower from the Sector 5 church, and for a second it stops him in his tracks, because that...can't be right. Only — well, on further thought maybe it does track, all things considered. They'd recreated Shinra Headquarters for him. It only follows that they'd accommodate others from Gaia, as well — however strange it might seem, given how few Gaians are here by comparison, next to all the people from "Earth".

Well. He's heard a lot about this church, though he's never been there himself. Evidently there are...flowers. In it.

(He wonders, idly, how you're supposed to get at them without breaking what he presumes will be the pneumatic glass, safeguarding them from people precisely like him who might try to touch them without authorization.)

Only one way to find out, he supposes.]

— now i'm grown, i know what i deserve;
NETWORK.

un: shinra | text

I'm looking for the services of a medic.

[...WELL, YOU CAN'T FAULT HIM FOR BEING CONCISE, I GUESS.]

— i still like dancing with the lessons i already learned;
WILDCARD.

[OOC: If none of the above prompts work, feel free to hit me up with something else, or message me to plot or discuss! I'm available in the game disco as alex | rufus shinra.

Additionally, if your scavenger hunt happens to be taking you to Shinra Headquarters and you'd like an encounter with Rufus / more specifics about what you might encounter there, please feel free to let me know!]

coffee break }

[matermali]

[ Vanessa's attention is drawn to the man and his unusual feline companion. Something like a jungle cat from another world. After watching them for a stretch of time, she sets aside her collection of Lovecraft's stories, and rises from her seat in the cozy corner of the café. With measured steps, she approaches their table, her dark silk and lace dress blending into the shadows passed through. Her movements are graceful and unhurried—nothing that should frighten a fellow hunter.

As she draws near, her focus shifts entirely to the magnificent beast at the man's side. A hint of a smile tugs at her lips, equal parts intrigue and admiration for the beast's unearthly beauty. The animal could be dangerous.

She hopes so.

Vanessa always had a unique resonance with predators, just as prey animals would panic and attempt flee. Perhaps they could smell the monster within her.

She loves them all, but the dangerous ones will always keep most of her favor. The ones that so few understand. ]

A stunning creature.

[ Vanessa's voice is low, something that creeps and drags through the shadows and beneath the lighter sounds of the café. Her gaze flickers briefly to the man's face, taking in the attempt to hide a fading bruise with his guarded expression behind sunglasses, then pausing on the sad state of his placard, before returning to his companion. ]

Does she have a name?

Bobbi Morse | Marvel Comics

[mockingbirdy]

☕Coffee Break☕

[Bobbi likes people so she probably would have likely come to the events even if they weren't mandatory. Something about them being mandatory somehow makes the entire thing slightly more uncomfortable for her then it would otherwise be.

She orders a tea. Probably because she typically has enough coffee in the time she spends around Clint and adds enough sugar to satiate her sweet tooth. She plays with the bag while it steeps.

Depending on the day her sign may say the following:

A. Hi my name is Bobbi Morse and I was abducted by aliens.
B. Hi my name is Dr Barbra Morse and I like corgis.
C. Hi my name is Bobbi Morse and I don't age.

Depending on the plate her mood changes slightly but genuinely she tries to not think about just how much these people know about them.]

🍹New Horizons🔮

[Bobbi spends her times exploring the new areas of the city. You may catch her enjoying at tropical beverage at Harry's Hideaway looking a little down into whatever drink she's currently drinking but she perks up with conversation. She drops by Big Belly Burger to stave off some of the cravings tied up with the super serum that cores through her veins and makes her constantly hungry. And she spends some time looking around trying to find some furniture or something else big and heavy to throw around to get out her frustration.]

🃏Wildcard🃏

[Want something custom hit me up at endtrasmission or drop me something here. I'm down for whatever! ]

Coffee - sign C

[furiousfists]

[ Adaine slips into the seat across from this woman, cup of hot chocolate in one hand, and her own name card in the other. Hers reads I'm Adaine, and I'll outlive all my friends! As she reads the woman's card, she lets out a hollow chuckle without much of any mirth. ]

Hah. Seems like we have something in common.

Rita Mordio | Tales of Vesperia

[myagic]

1. Hero's Return

[Rita hates a labyrinth, thanks. She doesn't make it out very early--she's straggling a little--but when she does finally find the exit, there's no triumph. Only annoyance, exhaustion, and one hell of a headache. Not normally the type to bemoan needing a bath, but, well-]

Ugh. I need a bath.

[She is kind of covered in dirt and grime, not to mention a not-so-healthy level of blood staining the clothes under her jacket. She is making a beeline for the apartments to wash up and collapse for a while, though the sight of friends will be met with relief.]

2. Coffee Break

[She shows up for the ~mandated~ coffee hour a time or two, partially just to see if anything important happens, tiredly dumping sugar into a latte already flavoured with caramel syrup. Her plaque might read:
Hi, I'm Rita. Believe it or not, my heart's almost as big as my mouth!
or
Hi, I'm Rita, and somehow I still haven't learned to stop trying to solve problems with fire!
or maybe even
Ask me about the difference between science and magic!

However, she soon eschews the mandatory coffee hours to get her latte fix whenever she feels like it. Always with copious sugar.]

3. Genius at Work

[Hey, you know what Rita's never seen before? An electrical outlet. While drinking one of her sugary concoctions, she eventually notices the outlet for charging, and idle curiosity sets in. It's an odd shape--almost like a surprised little face--but it's clear something's meant to be inserted into those slots. Hmm...

Catch her rotating a fork in her fingers while eyeing up that outlet, maybe.]

4. Wildcard
(Feel free to hit me up with something different!)

3

[agoddessonce]

[ Storm has seen that look on enough young adults (and, fine, older adults too) to know that nothing good was being planned there. She follows her gaze and shakes her head as she speaks up from her own table. ]

That outlet is active. If you want to test it, it's best not to do so with a fork.

Natsuno Yuuki | Shiki

[neverleave]

A. Coffee break

[After the labyrinth, Natsuno is tempted to ignore another mandatory activity and skip the cafe altogether. However, this was Clarke's suggestion, and Aurora does seem to put in more effort in considering their wishes, so eventually he decides to attend. It's all set dressing, of course, and they're still trapped in some egomaniac's game. But if he plays along, maybe they will look more favorably upon his suggestion to exchange points for perfect revivals.

Natsuno is always there in his designated hour, reading a detective novel or a collection of H.P Lovecraft's stories over his drink. He seems determined to ignore his placards, which read:

Hi, I'm Natsuno and I hate my name(s)!

Or:

My name is Natsuno, ask me for tips on grave desecration!

Or:

Hi, I'm Natsuno and I have no idea what to do with the rest of my immortal existence!

There's also a stuffed doll floating behind and above him. If follows him as he gets up to get another book. He definitely didn't have it when he left the labyrinth.]


B. Scavenging... for something

[You might think Natsuno is simply highly invested in the scavenger hunt. He's scanning every code he comes across, and can be found exploring locations all over Etraya, both older and newer addition. Should one pay closer attention, though, he doesn't seem to be trying to fulfill any suggested tasks.

If it's a particularly massive building, he's looking for fuse boxes or electrical boards, and will try to mess with them. Maybe he's examining a glowing neon sign in the Bangsan Market market or a big projector in the Clubhouse. And once he succeeds in the "break into S.T.A.R Labs" challenge, he's definitely poking around anything weird looking to see what he does.]


C. Shine a light

[It doesn't look much at first, just small lights flickering in Etraya's darker areas in the night. But if you know morse code, you might notice a few patterns, like:

.... .. ("HI")

or

.... . .-.. .-.. --- ("HELLO")

and after a few days:

.. ..-. / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. .- -. / .-. . .- -.. / - .... .. ... / -... .-. .. -. --. / ..-. .-. .. . ... ("IF YOU CAN READ THIS BRING FRIES")

(Look, if he's gonna check how many people get it, he might as well get something out of it)

Investiage, and you will find Natsuno is a dark patch of trees or a construction site, shooting small glowing spheres from his palm into the air.]


D. Wildcard

[Hit me up at sillysymphony or on discord. For prompts B & C, Natsuno's thinking about ways to communicate with the new bubble city.]

b. bangsan market

[equivo]

[ There wasn't any indication if the scavenger hunt was related to points or not, but being given the challenge of 'finding a delicious meal' is really its own reward after weeks of subsisting off packaged and scavenged food in the labyrinth. The tteokbokki he walked away from the Rabbit Hole with is spicy, warm, and obtained without having to kill anything, which puts it right at the top of recent culinary options.

To-go container in hand, he wanders the market as he eats, not looking for anything else in particular. There's no telling if or when he might stumble across something useful.

Natsuno, on the other hand, seems to have honed in on whatever he's searching for. Krouse weighs leaving him alone and heading in another direction, but ultimately settles on sidling up to a reasonable distance to his left as he also eyes the neon sign. ]

Thinking of redecorating your apartment?

lisa wilbourn | worm

[thinkerseven]

i: coffee break.
[ As soon as she leaves the labyrinth, the normally-gregarious Lisa Wilbourn speaks to no one.

Instead, she makes a beeline for her apartment, locks the door, and does not turn the light on. At first, she doesn't even take a shower. Instead, she takes out the notebook she'd carried throughout the maze, tears out each of the pages, and lets down the walls holding back her reactivated power.

A few hours later, Lisa has an updated red string wall, additions to her database, and a killer migraine.

The notice that she's expected to report to a mandatory coffee hour just adds insult to injury. But Lisa knows what mandatory means, and the implicit promise of violence behind it. Fine. She's used to operating without a choice.

Lisa arrives wearing large, round sunglasses, a fuzzy blue sweater and loose jeans, her hair pulled up in a loose, messy bun. She does not take off her sunglasses when she enters the shop. Instead, she orders a drip coffee with three shots of espresso and four pumps of vanilla, sits at a table in the back, and pretends to read a story.

A few placards are placed in front of her. You might find:

Hello! I'm Lisa, and my favorite restaurant is Fugly Bob's or Hello! I'm Tattletale, and I'm a homewrecker!

Lisa gets up and leaves just before a bot sets down at her table a placard that reads: Hello, my name is Sarah Livsey. Ask me about my brother! ]

ii: wildcard.
[ Message me on plurk @ moonlanding or in the game discord to plot! Lisa will also be helping out with Natsuno's project, and I'm up for some scavenger hunt stuff as well. ]

(not here)

[ontologically]

[Amy is sat miserably against the wall. Waiting for her "date" to arrive and bother her with more conversations with a stranger. It helps that Tattletale is in sight, and she can just watch whatever she's doing - in case she looks at Amy like she's going to reveal something.

Sometimes she'll order something up at the counter just to not so subtly take a peek at her cards. The homewrecker one gets something between a grimace and a huff of amusement. It's not wrong.

She avoids any direct conversation until Lisa suddenly leaves, and the bot puts another card down.

She should leave it. But her curiosity gets the best of her and she has to find out what it says.

"Hello, my name is Sarah Livsey. Ask me about my brother."

She's not sure what she should be feeling. Vindication? Confusion? Sarah Livsey... of course, she knows nothing about Lisa's origins. She knows about Alec Vasil's origins - everyone does. And Rachel Lindt too. And Taylor Hebert. But nothing about Lisa.

Ask me about my brother.

She stares at it. Stares at the door that Lisa left through.

Each and every one of them is a freeze frame of a moment that broke them. Never growing older, never moving on. Amy's shard feeds her terror every time she thinks about Victoria. What terror that isn't already there.

What happened to Lisa's brother?

She remembers Lisa's face when she realized what Taylor Hebert had done. She remembers the way that Riley told Taylor Hebert they should talk to Lisa - To Tattletale, first, and the way that Taylor had looked at Lisa with an expression of... guilt. Lisa's speech once she was done rubbing salt into Amy's wounds.

What happened to Lisa? To Sarah Livsey?

It doesn't matter. Amy's under no obligation to feel sorry for her.

It's not sympathy that moves Amy to take the card and rip it up before anyone sees. It's just... professional courtesy.]

Marik Ishtar | Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters

[thetombkeeper]

[May 21st - May 27th]

[Apartments]

[After having been carried out of the maze by Tianlang-Jun, Marik remains mostly cooped up in his apartment.

It's his new habit of wanting to bite people that keeps him to himself, you see.

Residents can catch a glimpse of him walking through the halls from time to time, scales around his neck, eyes a soft green instead of the striking lavender they normally are, and overall strange posture. Approach with caution.]

[May 28th and Onward]

[Coffee Break]

[The Egyptian decides to check out the new cafe once he's been relieved of the effects of the sirens' bite. Those passing by will find whatever was written after his name has been scribbled out with a kohl stick but is still somewhat legible:

"My name is Marik Ishtar. I used a cursed relic and Egyptian God Cards to try and become Pharaoh of the world."

He's been half tempted to just throw the nametag out entirely, glaring down at it as he stirs some honey into his tea. Despite his somewhat sour expression, the boy is very happy to be back in the city. Makeup, hair, and clothes on point as usual.]

[Catacombs]

[Certain events in the maze have left an impression on the teen. So much so that he stumbles across the catacombs and begins exploring them, finding a strange but familiar peace amongst the dead.

As much as he hates that he was forced into the life of a Tomb Keeper, he still tries to uphold the ancient traditions and beliefs of his clan. He can be found sitting on the steps halfway down, or walking among the ossuaries and muttering things under his breath in an unfamiliar language to most.

It's a good place to meditate and balance himself. Someplace that reminds him of home.]

[Wildcard]

[Whatever goes here! If you want to meet him around the city or go on a scavenger hunt with him, I'm up for anything. Just reply here or shoot me a PM!]

Coffee Break

[onlychildsyndrome]

[ Junior slides into the seat across from him, his own tag reads "Hi, I'm Junior, I'm an orphan!" ]

S'up?

[ He's clean, uninjured and seemingly in good spirits. A very different picture than the last time Marik saw him. ]

[furiousfists]

i. mandatory coffee hour (cw: patricide mention)

[ Adaine sits at a cafe table, drumming her fingertips nervously on the side of her cup of hot chocolate. She does not look happy to be here, but the fact of the matter is that she is far too much of a rule follower to ignore something that is stated to be mandatory.

The small card in front of her reads, Hi, I'm Adaine! I killed my dad! which may or may not be the reason for the anxious, somewhat displeased look on her face. Sure, it's true, but it's not exactly Adaine's idea of a good icebreaker fact.

Whoever sits down across from her will be greeted with a curt, ] If you tell me you've got a tea-based cortado in that cup, then this [ air quotes ] "coffee date" is over.

ii. scavenger hunt

[ This next distraction seems relatively harmless, so Adaine will give it a shot. She fulfills a couple of the objectives easily enough on her own: sneaking a human bone out of the catacombs, taking a selfie while bouncing on the bouncy castle. But some of them require the participation of others, which makes them a bit more tricky.

Which is how you'll find Adaine standing outside the Kwik Trip or the apartment building, pulling aside passers-by and asking them questions. ]

I'm sorry, but you wouldn't happen to be into archery, would you? Or... Do you know where I could find a bat around here? I tried looking under some of the bridges, but I didn't see any.

[ She may or may not be under the impression that the scavenger hunt instructions are referring to bats the winged animals. ]

iii. wildcard

[ If you want something else, HMU @ millennialfalcon or objectpermanence on discord! ]

i!

[stresstokens]

[ Riz has, predictably, been at the coffee shop often enough to realize from others' reactions that their placards are more or less accurate, by their own admission. Riz's own have been somewhere between embarrassing - Hi, I'm Riz, and I throw up when I get too excited! - and damning - Hi, I'm Riz, and I shot off my classmates' fingers! - but they've all been true. Not that he sits where he's meant to, preferring to stick with Adaine and Fabian instead when he's either run into them or dragged them into aiding and abetting in his rapidly worsening caffeine addiction.

Today, his placard is conveniently placed in front of Adaine's with a cheerful, Hi, I'm Riz, and I go dumpster diving! which he finds neither damning nor embarrassing. He offers her a nod and a smile as he sets down his own black coffee, visibly about to launch into some tirade or another (trustworthy old Adaine is always up to joining in on a good old-fashioned tirade) when his eyes flit past her placard and they widen with shock. ]

Wait, you did what?! That's --

[ Awesome, actually. Not Adaine having to do it. But her Dad's a real piece of shit who probably deserved to get murdered about a hundred years ago if it weren't for the unfortunate fact that Adaine wouldn't have existed that way. But he doesn't know how she feels about it, so his mouth wobbles from its smile into the expression of someone who isn't entirely certain what his face is supposed to look like, lips pulled back in an awkward grimace.

He holds up a thumbs-up, then lets it sag indecisively to the side. ]

Okay, you have to tell me how we feel about this. That's-awesome-I'm-sorry?

[ He'll at least establish that he's pro-patricide right off the bat, in case it's something Adaine feels bad about. But he won't celebrate if she feels a certain kind of way about it.

Okay, correction: he won't celebrate in front of her if she feels a certain kind of way about it. But he'll definitely celebrate it. ]

Angel Dust | Hazbin Hotel

[bad_habit]

[CW; Potential talk of sexual subjects depending on placard option chosen.]

Freshly Brewed;

The labyrinth had been tough for Angel.

This place had seemed fairly easy to deal with at first and he really thought that it was gonna be a bit of a cakewalk but as it turned out it was far from it. He was still tired and even though he had showered and soaked and brushed he still felt dingy after weeks of being tortured by this place. It was hell and he should know.

And the last thing on his mind was a mandatory coffee date.

But the coffee did smell good and well it was just nice to have something more normal to do again but now it felt a little like how was this place gonna dick you around this time.

After he orders and settles to enjoy he takes a look at the small little placard on his table. It reads one of several things, depending;

'My names Angel, and I've been dead for over 70 years.'
'My names Angel, and I was a porn star.'
'My names Angel, and I have a real problem with being truthful.'

"Are ya serious?"

Wilderness explorer;

After getting some much needed rest and being in a generally better mood because of it. He takes some time to explore the new arrivals in the geographical sense there are a bunch of new buildings that look well, different. This whole place had done an overhaul over the last month or so but the arrival of these buildings seemed very different.

Not all of them seem like places Angel can go, which is weird. But some of them are so he's going to take the time and see each and every one. Especially somewhere he can find a drink or two or something good to eat. On his way though he does find the little QR codes, and signs up for the odd little scavenger hunt. He's not entirely sure that he wants to go on a hunt for anything this place has to offer however if someone else were interested in helping he'd be inclined to help.

[[ooc; I am still INCREDIBLY slow with IRL stuff (lots of things are happening all at once and we still have family visting) but I wanted to get this up before the weekend ended! I am more than willing to explore just about anywhere and left the scavenger hunt one open in that sense.
Or if you want something else just let me know! I am truly very open~ Discord is always easiest to reach me on at 'Manoant' but Plurk is also always an option at Pissant]]

dean winchester | supernatural - ota

[venatoris]

coffee break;
cw: daddy issues/parent death. any others will be marked

[ He'd 'won' the labyrinth race, but he's not sure he's actually happy about that. Telling people isn't something that's on his agenda either, and Dean is tight lipped and irritated when he shows up at the coffee mingle. He's too tired for this shit, but the word 'mandatory' got his attention and so he is there with a cup of black coffee cupped in his hands, head dropped over the top of it as he breathes in the bitter scent of it.

The little table for two is small and a little cramped, though it'll seat himself and another well enough. He doesn't exactly look approachable, but this is where his name card is and he's resigned himself to his current fate. A book by Lovecraft sits on the table by his cup, a piece of apple pie sitting on top.

The placard that sits in front of him can say anything from the below;

Hi! I'm Dean Winchester, and I killed Death!

My name is Dean Winchester. I'm an Aquarius, I enjoy sunsets, long walks on the beach and frisky women.

I'm Dean, and my father treated me like shit!

(( ooc; open to everyone!! if you have anything specific you wanna do pm me or pp cirtuously ))

[agoddessonce]

[ Ororo glances up from where she'd already been seated. Her placard is still cheerfully proclaiming her claim to Mars, but she's since amended it. (It now reads "-- and I am Queen Regent of Mars Planet Arakko."

She tips her head at his, though, and gives Dean a wry smile. ]

I danced with Death, once. He was not too bad.

dick grayson | titans

[cohero]

⏵ coffee break ⏴
[After all that Dick had gone through in the labyrinth, he was slightly loathe to relinquish himself to any invitation sent out by Aurora, even if it's mandatory. This one didn't threaten to take away his oxygen, but there were no guarantees there wouldn't be punishment either.

Safe than sorry wins out, and Dick ends up with an espresso while he waits for whoever is supposed to be joining him. Dick fingers his placard with a short shake of his head.

Hi, I'm Dick Grayson, and I was in the circus.

there was another, and it read

Hi, I'm Dick Grayson and I've been feeling alone for months now, far before I got here, ever since my 'family' went their separate ways.

That one died a quick death and ended up in shreds behind him. Fingering through one of the books left on his table. Dick reads of Yog-Sothoth and waits, hoping that the person who sits is amenable enough. They've all been through enough trauma lately for it to be anything else.]

⏵ a hero's return ⏴

Finding the end to the labyrinth was the first joyous occasion Dick experienced since arriving. It was an experience of ground kissing epic proportions. Dick never knelt of course, but he did thank the sky above that allowed him exit and moved with haste back to his apartment. The very first thing he did was shower for days, and then sleep.

a. Wayne Manor.
After that, a person might find him moving his possessions into Wayne Manor. He had agreed that he would consider it with Bruce, and told Damian that the considering was done and he'd be there. It was with only a tiny bag of belongings that Dick switched living spaces. It was odd to be back in a manor once more. Dick lowered his belongings upon the bed in the space Bruce had shown his the night he'd been drunk on rain and danced around like a fool. He was lucky there was kindness and not ire. After words in the labyrinth Dick felt slightly ashamed. Thus, Dick didn't want to be too taxing on the occupants already there, and thus kept mostly to himself.... as much as possible.

b. Henry's Hideaway Pub.
Another place Dick found himself many an evening after the city's renovations was Henry's Hideaway Pub. Where there was good beer and spirits, Dick was happy to go and find a fantastic way to feel a little less and douse his busy mind with something that might possibly slow it down to a dull roar. It was a never ending merry-go-round at times, and alcohol was always a great way to turn down the volume, and possibly meet a few friends in the mean time.


⏵ wildcard ⏴

Dick will be out and about checking out many of the locals in the evening, and even late night. He's particularly curious about the catacombs, because of course he is. I'll be more than happy to set up a scene anywhere at anytime. Feel free to toss a wildcard this way, or PM to talk about anything.

manor.

[batsymbol]

( bruce is there in the kitchen. fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. hunched over an empty glass with a bottle next to it. a bottle that contains an amber coloured liquid... alcohol, yeah. he seems tired. more mentally and emotionally than physically and he's carding fingers through his hair before he pours himself another shot. eyes the liquid in the glass. then knocks it back, a sigh to leave him after.

he's rubbing at his eyes. considering another shot when he spots dick between his fingers and he drops his hand away from his face. licks over his lips. then looks back down to the counter, leaning on a hand as he does.

clearing his throat: ) Settling in ok?

Kate Bishop | Marvel 616

[notthatstraight]

⏵Coffee break⏴

[Did someone say coffee?

Kate can be found face down on a table with a cup of pure black life before her. She's covered in bruises of various colors and a wide selection of bandages, the number of which might alarm some people. Depending on the time, the card in front of her might read:

"I'm Katherine. I have a crush on my best friend."

It may be noted that the Katherine has been crossed out and Kate is written over it. It may also be noted there is no editing of the second part of that card.

Another time the card might read:

"Hi, I'm Hawkeye. Previous boyfriends have included a super solider, a mutant, and a cockroach."

If she hears someone approach, she's quick to note.]

It's not like it sounds. Honestly.

⏵new horizons⏴

[If someone is looking to make friends with an archer, well Kate is easy to find at the building formerly known as Bishop Publishing making use of her own private archery range -- unless of course she's playing video games, or just lazing around since she lives there.

She may also be found at Roxx looking for something in purple, because a girl can never have enough purple in her life.

If your hunt requires a mutant friendly pub and either dancing or a game of pool, Kate will definitely be up to both at Harry's Hideaway. Just remember not to bet against someone who can play the angles.

Or maybe she's just out walking her dog Lucky. That she sometimes shares with Hawkeye.]

⏵Wild Card⏴

[ooc: add your own or let me know and I'll write something.]

coffee break

[fourthwalled]

[Sitting across from Kate, he sets down his sugar filled frozen coffee drink with an absurd amount of whipped cream on top. He sips the straw with his mask half-pulled up.] It's not? Damn. Because it did sound interesting...

So, tell me, was the cockroach hot?

[Wade's own card reads in bright colors and glitter, 'I'm Deadpool. I act like this to cover up all the unceasing pain and trauma. Yay!']

Tim Drake - Pick a card

[mostdangerousbird]

[ Tim arrives fashionably late, arguably the only time he manages to be in fashion, and waves obnoxiously at the companion bot, calling her Botte repeatedly as he waits for his black coffee.

Once he has it, he does a quick circuit of the room, inspecting the note cards from the furthest distance possible. Some are innocuous, some curious, and some he wouldn't ask about if you paid him in secrets. They seem designed to mortify, and he wants no part of it.

And then... he finds his card. Tim stands staring at it, sipping his coffee for a long moment. So it's like that is it. He wonders what he's done to deserve this.

(It's right there on the card.)

Tim spins the chair backwards and takes a seat, arms over the back of the chair a challenge on his face, just daring anyone to ask about it.

The card says "Hi, I’m Tim, and I fall asleep on roller coasters."

Or maybe "Hi, I’m Tim. Ask me about how to break up with people by text."

Then again, it could be "Hi, I’m Tim, and my friends are banned from sleeping over."

But it's "Hi, I’m Tim. Ask me about my murderboat." ]

[cohero]

[One of the few things that Dick knew once he moved into the manor was that Tim was living adjacent to it, and that Dick "shouldn't bother him." -- of course that came from Damian.

Thing was, beyond a wave and an exchange of names, Dick didn't know Tim at all. He had been hesitant about getting to know the others at first, but he knew it was time to extend his olive branch. This seemed like the best place to do it.

Setting down his coffee next to Tim's cards, Dick picks one up and tips his head to the side.]

I've never broken up with anyone by text, but I've fucked up a ton of relationships. The last one was the best.

[He laughs a little, and sets down the card with a smile.]

Thought I'd say hi since I'm living in the manor now and I figured we might run into one another.

[her_own_rules]

⏵ a hero's return ⏴

[ Aside from those who know expressly how and where to find her, Barbara Gordon wasn't seen much for the week after she (and hers) got out of the labyrinth. She'd been in worse shape than she'd found herself in a long time, but then, being stuck in a maze without a bed, regular food and water, anything at all with consistent reliability, while spending the whole time engaged in fights and puzzles—well, that was bound to do it to anyone.

But she wasn't anyone, and her body had flaws even the least trained child here didn't have. For the most part, Barbara tries to focus on the fact that she's lucky that the experimental tech in her spine didn't overextend itself and turn off entirely. Without a bed, chair, wheelchair, pain meds, or anything for around twenty days. Just the stubborn refusal to sit down and let the overwhelming pain win.

There'd been a lot of rest after it. And a visit to the hospital.
And the acquisition of two different wheelchairs ].

⏵ coffee break ⏴

[ Barbara does go to coffee, if still, and even more so now, unenchanted with what this place and Aurora deem mandatory. Barbara makes her way there in her wheelchair, which already has had the back handlebars removed. She's not impressed when she gets to the table with her own little placard, which on different days reads:

→ My name is Barbara, but I have two others.
→ My name is Barbara, and I know most of the secrets in my world.
→ My name is Barbara, and I can take over almost all tech worldwide in less than 12 minutes.

Often, they get crumpled and shoved in a pocket, but maybe you caught one before that happened or before she made it to her table that day. (Similarly, if you want to antagonize me without your own, wildcard that, too!). Barbara settles in to drink a coffee. Often, it's black if she's by herself, but sometimes she gives in and has something nicer.

Occasionally, she can be found there, sans note cards,
working on her laptop, building a brand new code language. ]

⏵coffee

[cohero]

[Wandering around the coffee shop after sitting in his spot for too long with no one bothering him, Dick spots red hair he can't ignore. His gut twists. They didn't leave things on great terms and he knows that it was his fault. He hadn't wanted to tell her things about the other Barbara, especially right before they went running through the labyrinth-- and it drew a rift between them.

She should be a stranger to him, but she still mattered a little more to Dick than he wanted her to. Sighing at himself he stepped forward and read one of the cards in front of her. ]

You have two more names, huh? I only know of one of them.

[His dark eyes looked to hers, apology heavy.]

Listen. I'm sorry for being such a ... an idiot before we left. You. you were right to call me out, and I don't ever want us to be closed off to each other if we can help it. I mean, yeah, we're still getting to know one another, but I want to get to know you. If you're still open to it.

[Humble pie wasn't always the easiest thing to chew down, but Dick did it-- and he did it while not saying a word about how rough she must have had it, and how he noticed that she was in her chair now. It was notable, and twisted him up good. still, he figured that was better left unsaid. If she needed things to be talked about, she'd bring it up.]

vanessa ives | penny dreadful (ota)

[matermali]

{ coffee break
/ and at last I resolved to scale that tower, fall though I might /

[ While she is loathe to humor Aurora's attempts at corralling them, there is no getting around what an easy way this would be to sum up many of the others also trapped in this realm. There is also no getting around how starved this woman has been for some decent reading material.

At the table's edge is a half-finished mocha, or perhaps an orange soda, and a little stack of books chosen from the nearby shelves—mostly classics. She may currently be thumbing through "The Outsider" or "The Cats of Ulthar" in a book with Lovecraft's shorter stories, or enjoying some classical poetry, although her attention is split by keeping acutely aware of her surroundings. It may be difficult to sneak up on her, what with her senses leaning toward the supernatural, but nothing is impossible.

From behind her book, pale blue eyes remain unflinching should she catch anyone's eye during her scan. Even while she may be as pale as a ghost, it could be be easy for her to blend into the shadows of her 'cozy' corner, given her dark hair and darker dress of silk and lace.

However, there is a weight to her gaze that may be difficult to ignore—even more-so for those who are accustomed to a life where others turn away. For any who are seemingly more than human, or of particularly dark inclinations, Vanessa's attention will especially be drawn. She doesn't seem to ever blink. Should anyone draw near enough, she's polite enough to lower her book. Any smile she may offer is as carefully manicured as the rest of her appearance, and she'll even nod to a chair in invitation, whether or not they have a placard of their own in place.

Depending on when she's approached, her placard will vary. Some claims following her name may be heavily blacked out with a marker (but still somewhat legible should one squint).

'Hello! I'm Vanessa Ives. I have another name, but you'll need to ask the Devil for the details.'

or

'My name is Vanessa Ives and I'm an excellent dog trainer. I may charge extra for werewolves.'

or

'Hello. I'm Vanessa Ives. Ask me to read your fortune if you feel like tempting fate.' ]

{ wildcard
/ since it were better to glimpse the sky and perish, than to live without ever beholding day /

[ Vanessa doesn't like to stay idle for long, so one may catch her using blood magic to test various points of the barrier beyond the outskirts, wandering about the catacombs, staring at the sector 5 church like a frightened cat, or coming and going from a distinctly Victorian mansion near the apartments. If there happens to be an exotic animal or plant nearby, expect her to linger and stare.

ooc; There are few places Vanessa won't investigate, so find her anywhere! Feel free to hit me with a PM, Disco, or at cherto if you want to plot a thing. Have an opt-in if you want to run into her weirder side. ]

coffee

[fourthwalled]

[Wade is used to people averting their gaze, and usually he acts like he doesn't notice or care. Of course, he does care. He's got no worse critic than himself. There's a reason he seldom walks around this place without his mask. Even now, he's wearing the mask, along with a Golden Girls T-shirt and a pair of Hawaiian shorts. It means that the scars on his arms and legs are visible. Scars that seems to have no end to them. His suit had taken something of a beating in the Labyrinth, so it needed mending before he could wear it again.

He notices her staring as he takes his 'coffee' to find a seat. Can it really be called coffee when it's more sugar than anything else? He approaches, setting down his own placard, taking her unblinking gaze as invitation.

His reads, 'I'm Wade Wilson. AKA Deadpool. AKA a mutated lab rat who talks too much!

Anybody sitting here? Couldn't help but notice you looking at me. I know I'm hot and all but that's no reason to stare... [Her staring is different from some-- it's not cruel, or careless, but penetrating. It's a little unsettling, actually. Wade doesn't actually like being seen. Actually seen. He likes it better when people just think he's an idiot. It's easier that way.]