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]

If you consider only the effects the labyrinth and nothing beyond it.

[relished]

[a brief pause, barely a second of a flurry of curiosity in his expression.]

Then there is much to consider.

[he motions to the seat across from him,]

Would you like to join me?

[hypnagothic]

[ his eyes flick down to the indicated seat, his head barely moving with the downward look. he stays still for only a moment before he does move toward it, taking the invitation with a slow grace one might ascribe to a dancer, settling into the chair with the same upright poise as he held while standing. ]

[relished]

[clearly not a man of many words. no matter to Hannibal, he doesn't mind it. he does not need unnecessary chatter or fake small talk. he's observing as much as he would a patient who sits opposite him. most may feel unsettled by silence, but he appreciates it. he wonders about Morpheus' history, it isn't often he comes across someone who moves with such fluidity.]

Have you been here long?

[he isn't referring to the cafe.]

[hypnagothic]

[ Dream seems to be observing him in return as they sit, or at least his gaze doesn't wander to the cafe around them. ]

Not overly long, mere weeks. Just before the labyrinth was opened. And you?

[relished]

The same.

[he isn't sure what to make of this man, if he is a man at all. he folds his hands over the table, relaxed.]

Are you also from Earth?

[something is telling him that the answer is no.]

[hypnagothic]

[ the first flicker of some emotion shows in his expression at that, edging towards amusement. ]

I am not. Rather from some while before it.

[relished]

[he catches that tiny shift in expression and latches onto it, a hook slicing into the lip of a great fish. he's found something interesting and that response, however little, gives him nearly everything he needs.]

You predate humanity.

[hypnagothic]

[ the amusement remains, however faint. ]

By some while, yes.

u didnt see anything i am very sleepy

[relished]

[Hannibal attempts to recall as many books as possible, running over the possibilities of, well-- nearly everything. mythology, gods, demons. Morpheus is what is on the man's placard.

he's quick.]

In Greek mythology, Morpheus is son of Hypnos, sleep itself. [a pregnant pause,] Are you the god of dreams?

[if that is the case, he has to wonder if the man before him knows who Hannibal is, or has seen into his mind. does he know where it takes him? however intricate his mind palace, he can't control his unconscious and the cold places it has taken him in the past. if he knows him, is he choosing to look past everything? is his so-careful, perfect person suit needed here? so many questions he's never had to consider before. there is also the great possibility that Morpheus didn't exist in his universe, and therefore, was not able to access him. but that posed another question of whether or not gods could breach another universe altogether. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ if he can read Hannibal's mind, there's no indication of it, nor of any outright rejection or acceptance of what he might have found there. just that same cool confidence, the amusement fading naturally back into familiar solemnity. ]

Myths can vary and change across the ages, stories rewritten in the retelling. But I am no god. Gods are born within my realm.

[relished]

[a delicate dance has begun between them, between carefully chosen words and odd, palpable energy. any onlookers would surely be able to feel it. this is no ordinary conversation. Hannibal isn't sure the two of them will ever be able to have one. they are both beginning to recognize each other, if Morpheus hadn't recognized him from the start. he isn't sure if this strange man counts as a threat to him or not.]

To have a realm gods are born in would indicate you are above one.

[hypnagothic]

As I said, I am not a god.

[ well, the placard did say that this man, this being, is bad at small talk. he is good at choosing his words though, sounding as if he had already chosen them centuries earlier, with the utmost self-assurance and with a drawling pace because he has no need to rush them. ]

But you have already touched upon what I am and upon my realm, if only the details are wrong.

[relished]

[he had meant above a god, past one, further into the depth of the unknown. what came before gods, if not another creator? his eyes narrow briefly and he leans back into his chair. there is a lot to consider here.]

Feel free to enlighten me.

[hypnagothic]

[ it was meant an an agreement, but in that vague and slightly infuriating way that doesn't convey any other helpful information. bad at small talk, indeed. ]

You have a number of elements to enlighten yourself. Perhaps you might dream of your answer.

[ also maybe a bit of a bastard to go with it. ]

[relished]

[that answer is unsatisfactory and it annoys him, but there is some comedic value to it. the placard wasn't lying, and while Morpheus technically hasn't lied, he is skirting around any form of directness.]

I'm sure that would be the most convenient for you.

[truthfully, Hannibal hadn't dreamt much since his arrival, and if he did dream, it was only of Baltimore. this place held little value to him, so little that it hardly touched his unconscious. what affected him was how he was trapped here against his will, with little information to go off of, no one to trust, and the lack of quality food. he would like to leave. but he can't, so he's making do.]

[hypnagothic]

[ there's a slight movement of his head, a turning and tipping barely an inch that implies a gesture like a shrug. it's very slight and small compared to anyone else, but with how still and unmoving as Dream has been, it's a very obvious and purposeful movement of conveying how little it matters in his view. ]

It is as one to me, whether you realize your answer or not.

[relished]

[a dangerous consideration, if Morpheus is the one who provides the dream. his previous feelings were correct -- they are two different creatures, one very human without parts of humanity and the other above humanity entirely.]

What have you seen?

[a blanket, vague question that could be referring to his own dreams, or even mind, as well as the dreams of others here.]

[hypnagothic]

You ask of others? Or perhaps of this place and that which brought us here? No ...

[ another subtle gesture is made, a raising of his chin. they're of a height while both sitting across from each other, but the movement only conveys the sense that this man, this being, is looking down on Hannibal now. ]

You ask of yourself.

[relished]

[that ever subtle gesture rouses something in Hannibal. he resists the urge to ball his hand into a fist, keeps his body still. there is a burning of anger behind his eyes, but only because of the lack of control he has in this situation. he's been trying to keep it leveled, but the energy is too thick. they are both expelling such waves that no longer does it feel odd, but now dangerous, eerie. a snake coiling before a strike.

a twitch in his eye, a barely seen micro expression of a frown. eyes are locked and unblinking.

yet he is the one to reel it back in with a thin breath; a release, a disarming smile, a twinkle in his eye. he can do nothing here.]

I'm sure many of us would be curious about just whom doled our dreams, and what they saw there.

[hypnagothic]

[ if Dream feels any sort of satisfaction at coming out on top of that little test of wills, he shows no indication of it. there's no smug reaction to it, and really, there's hardly any reaction at all. only the continued meeting of eyes so that he doesn't miss any of Hannibal's reactions.

It is as one to me. maybe because he's so far above it all. ]

Curious ... perhaps. Though not all dreams are governed by my hand. Each consciousness plays a large role.

[relished]

[the absolute, primal rage that he has to swallow. it never makes it past that brief flicker of fire in his eyes and twitch of disgust of his lips; no, it settles uncomfortably in his throat. forced to be held back with a clenching of his jaw.

he can see it in Morpheus' face. he may not be able to smell it off of him, but he can see it, sense it at least. it's not hard to miss. this thing in front of him wanted to make sure he knew he was superior. a rude thing to do in such an obvious way.]

Of course. I wouldn't expect you to be everywhere at once, that would leave you spread quite thin.

[as though the man isn't thin enough.]

Do you dream, or is there somewhere else that you go?

[hypnagothic]

[ why so angry, Hannibal? his being bad at small talk is already known now, but really it should say that Morpheus is just bad at being human. or at least interacting with them. or ... with anyone, quite frankly. ]

I do not. I am of dreams. Though having been brought here, I admit that I am unable to enter the realm that I have created and shaped. The collective unconscious in this place is pale by comparison.

[relished]

[Morpheus knows exactly what he did and why, and Hannibal knows exactly what he himself didn't do and why. all these years, he has delicately created a form for others to interpret so he is as human as he can be, and here is this creature before him, neither human nor god, so unapologetically superior. not only that, he wanted to make sure Hannibal knew that. and he hates that.

but that is indeed a weakness, to not be able to access what Morpheus usually could. he takes note of that.]

A museum lacking its precious artwork. I wonder if Echo has the capabilities to return that to you, or perhaps you've settled into accepting you may never get that back.

[hypnagothic]

[ he tilts his head slightly, considering the comparison. whatever rudeness he's (unconsciously) shown up to this point, he doesn't seem to actually dismiss anything Hannibal says or the man himself. he does seem to ignore the subtle insult of his supposed acceptance though. ]

It is more that the curator has been called away from their museum to be placed in another, smaller location; another museum in concept only. The skills and experience from being the curator of my realm are still mine to wield, only the plane of existence has changed.