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

[hypnagothic]

[ at that, he finally raises his head fully from his book to regard her more directly, not looking particularly offended. ]

I was agreeing with your assessment.

[redheadcarrier]

[ Asuka's expression looks pinched. And probably very cranky. ]

OK. So explain the names for me then!

[ Demanding, isn't she? ]

[hypnagothic]

I already have.

[redheadcarrier]

You didn't explain anything!

[ Oh, boy. She looks more than a little irritated.</small. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ for his part, he still looks unperturbed. ]

My siblings and I are as we are named. I am Dream, just as my sister is Death.

[ he says it simply, but there's also an emphasis in his words now, drawling the phrase with a slow pace to convey the weight behind them. the last two words are especially elongated. ]

[redheadcarrier]

...like literally?

[ She's being sarcastic. Although she can almost imagine that it might be a thing in this crazy place. ]

[hypnagothic]

Yes.

[ again, said simply and completely serious. ]

[redheadcarrier]

...so what does that make you? Do you control dreams or something?

[ She kinda gets that but remains skeptical. ]

[hypnagothic]

I do.

[redheadcarrier]

Uh. How does that.... work? Exactly?

[ Her drink is forgotten for a moment. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ with that question, he gracefully closes the book he's holding. he's clearly not going to return to it for at least the next few minutes. ]

I am also of dreams. It is what I am as well as that of my realm that I rule, the kingdom where dreamers go when they close their eyes. They are my purpose and my function, and I guide the dreams of all living things that sleep.

[redheadcarrier]

That's, uh, a lot.

[ She regards him for a long moment, as if she's still not quite sure whether to believe him. ]

...so if that's true, why are you here?

[ He seems like he'd be busy. ]

[hypnagothic]

Presumably for the same reason that you are here, as told by the entity responsible for our presence in this place.

[redheadcarrier]

Right, but I figured if you're in charge of dreams youd'd be a little more... I dunno... resistant to this kinda thing.

[hypnagothic]

Which speaks to the power of what brought us here, does it not? As well as the severity of their claim.

[redheadcarrier]

Right...

[ She finally lifts her cup and takes a drink, trying to figure out how to approach this. It's totally out of her realm of experience. ]

...and your sister is, uh, Death? [ Which is an awkward, touchy subject, but she's curious. ]

What's she like?

[hypnagothic]

Many would consider her to be far kinder than myself.

[ said with a light amusement, almost like it was a private joke. ]

She is the eldest sister of our family.

[redheadcarrier]

Death being kind... Ha.

[ She snorts, a bit skeptical. Although maybe she shouldn't be. ]

Guess she would be. There's always been death, right? Older than dreams, probably...

[hypnagothic]

Indeed so. When the first beings came to life, and then I was there when the first living things became capable of dreaming.

[redheadcarrier]

...so how old are you, then?

[ Without being asked she just drops into one of the seats and stares at him. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ he makes no comment on it, nor does he look annoyed. he just meets her eyes as evenly as his tone has been. ]

How old would you imagine me to be, that I was there for the first things in existence?

[redheadcarrier]

...billions of years old. Maybe trillions.

[ She puts her chin in her hands and stares at him. ]

If we're even counting correctly.

[hypnagothic]

You are.

[ he sets the book that he was holding onto the edge of the table without looking away from her. ]

[redheadcarrier]

...so you don't age? At all? You've just... been like this forever?

[hypnagothic]

You presume the form you see before you is my only shape?