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

[anewhope]

I think it's fair to call them restrictions.

[ like arcane laws, in a manner of speaking. they've yet to be grasped. even clark is not quite sure what would happen if they break. would they take this entire place with them? ]

[her_own_rules]

[ Barbara's well past redy to take so many chances. That's what happens when someone makes Dick decide committing suicide is the better of two truly horrible choices. Barbara is unwilling to lose him again. To have lost him the first time.

And that is a restriction that she can hate, too. ]

Encouraged ones, at least.

We've yet to see anyone punitively taken to task.

[anewhope]

With so much on the line, I don't blame anyone.

[ but it does make him wonder what this place would do. ]

[her_own_rules]

[ Barbara wonders much the same.
It's her job—Oracle's—to be prepared. ]

Do you think people should only look to their own?


[ There's something considering in her question. Not of her opinion, but of him. Which would be normal with anyone.
But Clark Kent isn't anyone, and he'd be the worst threat she's spotted thus far if he pitted himself as only for one world. ]

[anewhope]

[ clark blinks, a little puzzled. ]

No? Just that I don't blame them for doing so. They're concerned about their worlds. It's hard not to be and think of others.

[her_own_rules]

[ Barbara doesn't entirely agree.
Or she does, but she's not as charitable.
She thinks they should all still choose each other. ]

I don't know how much time we'll have for that here.

[anewhope]

We have to give them time. If we force things, it'll be worse.

[ people might be grieving. clark certainly is. and while he'll put himself aside whenever necessary, it doesn't feel right to ask people to do the same. ]

[her_own_rules]

And if, in that time and the continued rollout of this macabre game, people lose, or god forbid, a whole planet does, before they make up their mind, what then?

[ Yes, she's here to be the devil's advocate. She has to be. Oracle has to be. Prepared. Ready. For the worst. Before anyone else can be certain it's coming. (Don't even ask what that means she's having to mentally juggle for her family once they all realize they can jump on a grenade for any innocent person and come back from even death here.) ]

[anewhope]

[ ah. that kind of question. clark remains unperturbed. ]

Why don't you tell me? It sounds like you've planned multiple steps ahead.

[her_own_rules]

[ The thing is, it's not at the same moment. Devil's advocate. Because she cares. She cares so much, deep into her bones, about even the slimmest fingernail of a chance that someone will lose or a planet will, no matter the circumstances or choices or people around it. And she might be sitting here in a wheelchair looking the furthest thing from it in most people's blanket assumptions, but she is already three weeks into a plan. She's already gathering things for it. She already building the first blocks.

But she's not sure she can just drop that on the table.

So she chooses something adjacent of it.]

You don't know this, but I feel it's only fair to inform you I know you.
Well, not you. Obviously. I know the Clark Kent of my world.

[anewhope]

[ sounds like he got his answer. he doesn't tense up, but a wariness slips into his expression. he had a feeling. ]

Am I being tested?

[her_own_rules]

[ Barbara's expression doesn't change,
but her head tilts just slightly. ]

Should you be?

[anewhope]

[ he's not stiff. but he is implacable. ]

That is your decision to make, not mine. And I'm not commenting on people's judgements.

[ because he is superman. he doesn't get a say. he's learned that the hard way. if he wants to keep being superman, he has to subject himself to that. ]

[her_own_rules]

The Clark Kent in my world is beyond reproach.
He is the person that every hero trusts.



[ And because it bears saying. ]

And he's the best friend of someone dear to me.

[anewhope]

[ that . . . is startling to hear. ]

Who?

[her_own_rules]

[ His surprise registers, and she has to wonder what exactly the world is like he comes from,
if any of what she just said is not something he expected to hear. ]

I believe you've already met one version of him here.
Has a prominent penchant for black in all his clothes and toys.

[anewhope]

Best friends might be pushing it.

[ friends in itself is pushing it. this batman is very different from the one clark knows, but he likes to think he can make friends with people who don't attempt to kill him. ]

[her_own_rules]

No. Not where I'm from.

[ Her expression doesn't waver.
Bruce, Clark, and Diana would forever be thick as thieves.

And, yes, some of this is a strategic choice. But it's also a defense.
In something pure and special in Bruce's life. In Clark's choice of him. ]

Certainly, that's not a word he would use because that would involve the kind of emotional confessions that aren't his style. But they are. Sure, they've had their share of differences and even a few rifts, but they've stood back-to-back in hundreds of fights. They've pulled each other back from the brink and having fallen far beyond it. They trust each other.

Their families know and trust each other.

Their sons are best friends.

[anewhope]

[ trust, huh. maybe if clark had lived, they would have reached that point. bruce did save his mother. he pulled back from the brink. clark does give him credit for that. when it mattered, he found himself.

but this. multiverses and clark kents is far too much for him. it's a bitter fruit she's offering. ]

He chose differently.

[her_own_rules]

Maybe he did.

[ And Babs will be sad for both of them about it later. ]

But this isn't as much about him as it is about you. Because you are here. Right now. With me. In this place. That man—the man I just described—I would trust him with most, if not all, of the things I know and the people I hold dear. With the fate of worlds.

I have never had cause to doubt his worth or where his heart lay.
Truth. Justice. The American Way. A Better Tomorrow. So on.

[ Bruce's best friend. Dick's mentor. Superman.
Barbara folded her hands. ]

So, I'm going to ask you again, with that context—is there a reason I shouldn't consider you the same way?

[anewhope]

It's easy to say no.

[ but. clark shakes his head. ]

But I leave that up to people. If I, as Superman, unilaterally make those calls, with my power . . . it's not right.

So. I don't. It would benefit me to do so, but this kind of power belongs with people.

[her_own_rules]

[ There's an edge of Barbara's mouth that flickers.
Not quite like it's trying to be a smile.
But it's something,


And there's a small hmmh, more high note than anything else.

Because isn't that just so very Clark Kent of him? ]

[anewhope]

At any rate, that will have to do.

[ he's not going to tell anyone how they should feel about superman. not that he did before, but the situation he went through has made that clear. it's a world he lives in. ]

[her_own_rules]

It will just.

[ For now.

She sees no reason to push it.

She hasn't forgotten what Damian said, too.
But Damian, for all he's capable of, is still a child.

And Barbara sees no option other than the one already before her. ]

[anewhope]

That's all I have to say about it.

[ so she can do with it as she pleases. ]