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

[anciently]

[ When Aerith sees Angel seemingly entranced by the flowers, enjoying the quiet of the church, she doesn't interrupt. Not at first. In fact, she smiles, unseen, and keeps as still and quiet as she can to avoid disturbing him. People come to this place for a lot of reasons, and she's learned that though she can sometimes help, sometimes...they just need an environment to work stuff out themselves.

So, she'll give it a bit before making an approach, though still keeping a respectful distance. ]

Hey. You okay? [ The labyrinth had been rougher than anyone expected, and she knows Angel had been dreading it to begin with, when they'd been thinking of it as something more akin to a "camping trip." The florist tilts her head with the question, searching his face, then glancing down to where he's holding a few flowers in his hands.

Her smile grows. ]

They're pretty, right? [ She asks gently, before crouching down beside the nearest blooms. ] Being here always cheers me up.

[bad_habit]

[There was a part of him that knew the start of their labyrinth adventure was going to be easy, but he just didn't realise just how easy it was going to be in comparison to the rest.

It had ruined him a little and as she asks if he's okay all he can to is release a huge amount of air he hadn't realised he'd been holding back and just sort of work the flowers around in his hands.]

Y-Yeah. I could use some cheerin' up. [A pause, and then a meeting of gazes.] I can't remember the last time I seen flowers...

[anciently]

Well, [ Aerith begins, looking up at him from her position. ] you're welcome here whenever you want. It doesn't belong to me or anything, and the flowers love company.

[ Assuming you're not an absolute jerk, or Shinra. ]

And take some home to cheer you up there! They'll grow back. [ She doesn't know that 100%, since she doesn't know for sure the way the church came to be transplanted here in the first place, but she does believe her own words.

Aerith straightens up again, linking her arms behind her back. ]

Wanna talk about it, or just hang out? I can also give you some space if you want: just say the word.

[bad_habit]

[Well Angel is usually a jerk. But not right now. Right now he just sort of looks lost.]

I forgot what they looked like. Flowers and all. [Its a good thing he has permission cause even without it he was planning on running off with a couple of handfuls. His room is boring and sad.]

Are these from your world? What kind are they?

[anciently]

Well, I'm glad you've got the opportunity to be reminded, then. [ Sensing there might be some unpleasantness from home beneath the surface, she doesn't push and ask why he'd nearly forgotten what flowers look like. ]

Mm-hmm. Where I live, flowers...have a tough time growing. Except these, really, and the ones at my mom's house.

[ Thanks, Lifestream! ]

They're lilies. [ She replies simply. ] If you're into this kind of stuff, they're supposed to symbolize-...well, a lot, actually, but 'rebirth' is a common theme.