etrayalogs | MAY MINGLE

MAY MINGLE

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⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's tempting to help herself to the espresso machine, but one doesn't want to make a scene (at the moment), so she keeps her order to a green tea and a canned soda. She can't help but cautiously smell the green tea once received, but the subtle flavor would be difficult to successfully drug. Would that even work on an Endless?

The placard is glanced at while she sets the cup of green tea down, chosen in case he should feel like something once spotting her pop the tab on her can of orange soda. Tucked under her arm is a copy of The Shadow over Innsmouth, which she for now rests on the table's edge when taking her seat across from him.

A placard had been arranged elsewhere for her, which she's stolen away by now, but she isn't surprised that Dream is merely ignoring his. One shouldn't humor Aurora more than they already have, yet she can't help but inquire. ]

Gimp mask?

[ he looks up to regard her in quiet welcome, his gaze only for her rather than for the drink she brings him. for now. ]

I believe it refers to my helm of office.

[ That only furthers her confusion, given her understanding of the term. Trying to work out the slang it must imply does little to help, but it's an easy 'in' for inquiry into his life, which Vanessa is always eager to seize. A much better distraction than any book.

Arms folded on the table once her own drink is set down, she squints while trying to work it out. She's mentally going over the other versions of him she recalls seeing in a hall of enchanted mirrors. ]

Does it do anything special? Like one of your tools?

It is more of a tool of ceremony rather than of practical use. It serves as my sigil, and I wear it when visiting other realms in an official capacity of the Lord of the Dreaming and also into battle. I crafted it eons ago from the spine and skull of an unnamed god who sought my realm for themselves.

[ Of course, the description of how he crafted it draws a little smile out of her. ]

How brutal.

[ Now she is doing her best to picture that engagement instead. Did the god bleed? ]

I would like to see it one day.

Perhaps you shall, my love.

[ it's said quiet and low, only loud enough for her to hear the endearment. ]

[ It's unfair that they are in a public venue, leaving her unable to steal a proper kiss from across the table, but that won't halt the pointed manner in which she gazes at him. Even with the endless trials between cities leaving her nearly at wit's end, she isn't without her little pleasures, such as listening to him. Watching him watch her in turn.

Though, some may confuse her stare for something almost aggressive. ]

In a dream, perhaps?

Or in the waking world, after this trial.

[ If her smile falters, it's only for a moment, but the stare breaks for her to glance to her book. Hope is still so fragile, even with a supernatural tenacity. ]

In your world?

In ours, perhaps. That we arrived here together lends to hope.

You know that I would walk with you in any world.

[ She can have a world like that in her dreams, but in the waking world? Beyond these 'cities'? Is that still something she should pursue?

'Should' and 'want' are always so conflicting. Even should she want it, nothing has ever really been hers. Nor has she known an ours. ]

I have often felt that I did not belong in the world that I came from. As though I were a broken puzzle piece that could not quite fit...or perhaps meant for an entirely different puzzle. A different image, one that I didn't know how to imagine.

[ Her own voice is kept low, as well, never concerned for his lack of hearing. ]

There was a time when I had fooled myself into thinking there was a corner there for me, after all, with other misbegottens...but I am not so certain of that, any longer. I wonder if I am not instead made for these places forever outside of the puzzle.

There is the possibility of different layers within the puzzle, as well. Different planes. You already know of one that you shared with me early in our acquaintance.

[ Her ghost of a smile tilts as she nods. ]

Mm, another space to seemingly belong where no one is meant to.

[ That was all less than a year ago, but it feels like it's been so much longer. Any such recollections bring back memories of those she knew during that time, and she misses them—those others who she had foolishly hoped to belong with, or even help. ]

What of the Dreaming? Perhaps I am meant to find my way to your home there, after all is said and done.

Mortals are not meant to be in the Dreaming for any extended time.

[ his head tips down slightly at that, a hint of an apology at the denial. ]

A human cannot live in dreams.

[ He's said as much before, to which she offers a light shrug. ]

I believe we have established that I am not like any other human.

[ As much as she revels in the carnal ways of life, it is a difficult thing to imagine abandoning it for something else. That hasn't stopped her from doing so, however.

Or perhaps she is forever meant to exist betwixt. That wouldn't stop her, either. ]

If for nothing else, my power grows. Mr. Crowley was showing me other ways to use my power, and that was with the City's limitations. I am only left wondering how much more these recent entrapments may actually be constraining, and what could be possible if such limitations are overcome. I do not think these tests will end well for our captors.

It is true that you are more than a mere human, and your power can indeed grow without the chains that held it back within that world we escaped. Yet in this life that is yours, you began as human.

[ What does that speak to where she will end up? A different denial has her clinging to that humanity in her, with or without the soul she was born with.

Again, she shrugs, undeterred, if her perked brow is any indication. ]

And humans have surprised even you, isn't that so? You may yet be surprised again, beloved.

[ his expression shifts subtly, a hint of a smile on his lips. ]

You surprise me quite often, my venomous one.

[ Her smile comes easier once more, and there's a hum of satisfaction when taking a quick sip of her soda. ]

On the subject of surprises [ —and venom— ], I discovered a scorpion yesterday, shortly after dusk.

[ Which she meant to tell him, but she's easily distracted when they're alone, and it's hardly important in light of everything else.

And yet. ]

It was blue! [ Her tone lifts slightly, giving way to her excitement as her eyes widen in wonder at the memory. ] Utterly stunning. I consider myself fortunate, having witnessed it without ruining its hunt. It tore a spider into shreds before eating it. Does such a creature exist on Earth, I wonder? Or is it native to this world?

I believe it may, though I'm uncertain if it was the same creature without having seen it. Was it near your chosen residence?

[ She shakes her head slightly. ]

Nearer to the woods, outside of the city. There seems to be even more varied fauna about than before we were forced into the labyrinth. The sight of new buildings suddenly arriving feels similar as before, but this place feels so very different from the last, what with all the wild creatures freely roaming.

[ Not to mention there being 'service' in establishments, to which she'll glance to the robot tending the espresso machine. She isn't as excited about those, but it's difficult to sense anything from them. ]

I've had the thought that one purpose of the foray into the labyrinth was to distract from such changes made to this place, where the work would be unseen.

[ he glances to where she looks, curious of her attention. ]

And miss out on watching their experiment? That is rather difficult to imagine.

[ If there's a sourness to her words, one can hardly blame her. She's been forced into enough experiments for one lifetime, thank you. Even still, it's offered with something of a dark humor when looking back to him. ]

But then I struggle to understand much of what they truly hope to gain from this. I still do not believe the reasonings they claim for our being here. More has been revealed to us than the beginnings of our last city, yet those only lead to more questions.

[ With arms once more folded across the table's edge, she leans in a bit with a curious gaze. ]

Do you think it still possible that this is merely another iteration, or a new realm entirely? That city in the sky has me wondering...

Oh? And what is it you wonder?

[ he's not avoiding her question, exactly, just sidestepping it for the moment, as he often does. he wants to hear what she thinks first. ]

If this is something similar as before, a...simulation, as was claimed, it makes so little sense to be revealing these things to us. Another world made so visible? For a moment, I had wondered if it could be the very city we came from, or where they plan to next test us. Something else of their creation. But the intent there makes even less sense than anything before. It does nothing to further the cause of the City's iterations as we formerly understood them.

Could it be beyond their control, then? Beyond their boundary? Someone we may be able to engage with outside of their influence? If so, that could mean this to be an entirely different realm, after all, and not a...simulation, as I first thought.

[ It's disquieting that she can't entirely tell the difference.

It's nothing more than musing, but she may be wondering just how far her power can reach at this point... ]

Or...I am speaking madness, and it is merely another setting for their next experiment, as first considered. Something I can't yet understand.

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