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

[matermali]

[ If her head tilts, it's only for a moment lost to her own imagination, and then to memory. There's no reason that the admission should offend her. Men hunt, do they not? Sir Malcolm had taken down his share of dangerous predators when in Africa. She had loved those stories, even as a child.

Yet, she can recall more intimately the frenzy of how a beast feels when consuming Man.

There is still a lingering memory of muscle tearing and warm blood trickling down her throat as Sir Geoffrey Hawkes screamed under the assault of his own dogs, and yet she was nowhere near the gory scene. By the time her compulsion had eased and her mind had settled back into her own body, Vanessa was stricken by the shock of how it had felt. Peace had not followed, but she felt no regret.

He hadn't deserved any honor.

She does blink then, only to right herself back into this reality, and she'll slowly straighten back into something more of a delicate posture. ]

Had you saved the head, I may have been able to mount it for you. I am not quite so practiced in the larger animals, but I always favored the hunters in my taxidermy.

[relished]

[he wonders where she goes, watches as she briefly loses herself in a memory.

her comment earns a small chuckle. yes, he had thought about trophies, but had nothing to assist in carrying them back out. between the sirens, dryads and stag, many of those creatures (he feels) deserved to be seen. what other chances will they have to experience them firsthand? when else would he have a chance to dissect what he thought was fantasy?]

I'm afraid that would have put me at a great disadvantage, to carry the head of such a beast. Not to mention, I did not have the proper tools.

[matermali]

Hm, of course. I would also be lacking in the proper tools myself, but it never hurts to imagine.

[ That isn't at all true—it can hurt quite a bit. But it's inevitable, all the same. ]

If your art is any indication, and the beast was as delicious as you say, then your cooking must be as adept as the claim.

[ She nods in the direction of his placard. ]

If we are to be trapped here for any length of time, perhaps I ought to ask after lessons. My own skill in the kitchen still leaves something to be desired, unless it's rabbit stew that you're after. Or a latte.

[ Yes, lattes, of all the things. One might be impressed by her latte art. ...Or embarrassed that she bothered to take the time to learn such a skill, but the City was a strange time, and her acquaintances were so excited to teach her. ]

There may even be something that I could teach you, in turn.

[relished]

No?

[as if he reads where her mind wanders, but does not expect a response. she brushes his ego gently with her compliment and he is pleased by her assumption. there's little recognition for him here and he enjoys what is genuinely given.]

I wouldn't mind offering you a lesson, or as many as you may like. Cooking is a great passion of mine. [a slight tilt of his head at her offer] I'm sure there is.

[matermali]

[ To the former, she does keep her response at bay, but notes his own. Of course, she ought to know better around doctors, and keep caution, especially if they are of the alienist variety. She has already been locked away for supposed madness, and she doesn't desire to give such an impression again, even without any asylums nearby.

Perhaps the only doctor she could think to be fond of was Dr. Frankenstein, but he was not the sort to study the mind. He'd had his own demons. Far too many to judge her for keeping her own so close.

The ease with which Dr. Lecter agrees to her suggestion has her lean forward again just a touch, a trace of excitement for the acknowledgement. She loves learning, and while she would never have the desire to attempt the role of a meek homemaker, one does grow tired of relying on instant dinners and basic meals. What little she had learned from Sembene has carried her only so far.

And Morpheus is so very finicky, even when he does care to humor her attempts. ]

Mm. I do promise that I can be a swift learner.

[ With anything aside from her love life, that is. ]

Do you consider cooking to be more of an art, then, or a science?

[relished]

[of course he would like to have someone praising his meals again, and even more, a protege to encourage. too many people ate food that never nourished or had any form at all. he assumes that it is even harder to start here for those that never had the chance to experiment. for as put-together as Vanessa made sure she looked, it's all about that basis of immediate control. there is little that he sees as organized inside of her.]

I'll hold you to that.

[a brief pause, lips parted. he is intrigued by her.]

More art than science, but there is such thing as scientific art. I can appreciate that it is sometimes both, and I take pride in what I do.

[matermali]

[ Vanessa doubts she will ever gain that sort of passion for cooking. It may be more of a means to an end than anything. However, the way he talks about it does have her feeling nearly wistful. She may often skip her meals, what with so much else occupying her thoughts or time, but she had always appreciated what was offered by Sembene when he could convince her to settle down.

To think she will never enjoy his food or company again, even if she does return home, leaves a lump in her throat. She is careful not to let it show too much, but such fondness for family missed can't be completely withheld behind a poker face. ]

You sound like a friend I had in London, in the house I was living before being summoned away. The house belonged to someone else, but...Sembene still made it feel like a home. He did not need to do all he did for us, but he had his reasons. In his own way, he spoke of the pride he took in his work, within the home and beyond. I would watch him cook at times, but he was quite particular in the kitchen, and preferred to do everything himself. I do think he considered it something of an art. And a gift—something for us and no one else.

[ She now regrets skipping so many meals. But as bittersweet as it is, she can't help but smile for the memories. ]

I was often so busy in the evening, but he would always set aside some dessert for me, for breakfast the following morning.

[relished]

[should Hannibal ever hear of Vanessa skipping important meals (and honestly, all of them are important) he may begin to show up with tupperware for her so that she may eat more regularly.

her tone is fond and Sembene sounds like someone whom Hannibal would enjoy the company of. he isn't entirely sure of her taste of people yet, but this person clearly made an impact. he hasn't met anyone as passionate about food as himself an considers it a rarity. if she truly had little knowledge of the kitchen, it's no wonder he wouldn't want any interference. Hannibal likely just as particular, but did entertain some help, especially with Alana, who knew how to be delicate.]

Food for the soul. Sembene spoke to you in ways that only you would understand through his cooking.

[matermali]

[ Sembene's skills extended far beyond cooking or housework, but discussing another's talent for violence may seem a bit out of place in this context. Vanessa is also aware that Sir Malcolm had him keep an eye on her evening wanderings from time to time, but one could hardly blame either of them, given the trouble she kept finding.

At least she shouldn't be able to get up to much trouble with cooking lessons.

The concurrence on Sembene's love language has her nodding in agreement, even while straightening to fold her hands in her lap. Just enough distance and propriety to keep herself gathered and not too emotional. ]

His chocolate raspberry torte is something I will miss. There has been nothing like it since my departure.

[ She speaks as though it has been quite a bit longer than her time in Etraya. ]

Is baking included in your tutelage?

[ A recipe with love can't be precisely replicated, but it may be better than nothing. ]

[relished]

[he is sure he'd be able to replicate any meal she may describe, and if she wanted him to, he would be able to make a splendid chocolate raspberry torte for her. he isn't very satisfied with the selection of food here, however. there are no true butchers, no farms specifically for meat and vegetables.

perhaps he can make a request to Echo. she did provide him his home.]

What is dinner without dessert?

[a very obvious yes. Hannibal's devotion to his food may be as close to Vanessa can get.]

[matermali]

[ That draws an airy chuckle from her, which truly is scarcely a single breath and lift of her shoulders before it vanishes and her smile is something more polite once more.

She isn't certain why she had brought up Sembene to someone she doesn't know very well. Vanessa hasn't spoken of him with anyone but Dream, not since learning of what will happen to him. ]

So long some is set aside for breakfast. One can never know how one's day will end, after all. Why not start it off with something sweet?

[ So it goes with a woman so accustomed to death. She can't always expect to live through the day.

Vanessa can't help but wonder just how accustomed to death Dr. Lecter may be. If he was able to take down such a dangerous looking creature, then he must be formidable. That sort of strength, both in body and mind, can't only be attributed to luck, can it? ]

I assume that wasn't your first kill? [ She speaks of animals, doesn't she? Of course. Like him, she is also thinking on the lack of proper food supply around here. ] Hunting may be something I can help with. I know my way around rabbit traps. I am also a decent enough shot for bigger prey, but I'm afraid I've no gun.

[ She's actually a crack shot for never having owned one, but a lady mustn't brag. ]

[relished]

They do go exceptionally well with coffee, especially chocolate.

[a hint that he will be glad to try his hand at that torte. it's been too long since he's had someone in his kitchen. a shame he can't add his usual, unique flair to it. but he's been able to gather a fair amount of herbs, meats and vegetables.

so easily does she intertwine a meal with a kill. they're usually one in the same for him, and it's a language he speaks fluently.]

No, it wasn't. I used to hunt often.

[he hasn't touched the tea since he sipped it. it doesn't meet his standards and now it sits, heat quickly disappearing from its cup.]

Maybe you can show me how you trap your rabbits. [he knows how to, of course-- but she doesn't have to be privilege to that information.]

[matermali]

[ Former experience in hunting makes perfect sense, as suspected, and she has a feeling that the wound sustained in his labyrinth encounter wasn't his first serious injury, either. He carries himself well, under the circumstances.

While she has been wondering how she can possibly repay him for any cooking lessons, showing how to catch rabbits and other small prey seems like a sorry show, but it's a step in the right direction. ]

I would be glad to. We need only find some wire. Nature can provide the rest.

[ If he's experienced at hunting any game, and given his cooking skills, she doubts she'll need to show him how to skin and butcher an animal, but it may be a decent way to show him that she's competent enough to become his student in the kitchen.

Vanessa can't help but take note of how his tea grows cold. Morpheus didn't seem fond of it, either, but she can't blame either of them. Poor coffee is much easier to make up for when it comes to sweeter additions. ]

I am only sorry that I have yet to happen upon tea leaves in the wild.

[ A joke, though a poor one, given how much would need to actually be harvested for even one cup of tea. But given how seemingly random establishments keep appearing, she wouldn't be overly surprised if a tea plantation one day appeared out of nowhere. ]

[relished]

Luckily wire is easy to come by or make, if need be.

[and if they end up really desperate, he did see rope at the Kwik Trip. he's sure that he could fashion a trap (or two) from that. but he's willing to let Vanessa guide them on this front. he may learn something new from her.

dark eyes glance down to his nearly untouched tea and his smile is empty as he looks at it. he didn't expect there to be many quality items on the planet, but tea is one of the easier items to create. to provide such low quality is ... well, it's low effort and frankly, rude.]

I may have to start making my own. I'm sure there are some berries now that the wildlife has begun to flourish. I have experience growing my own plants and I'm lucky that my house is here now -- I have the room to grow more.