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

[adorabrawler]

—Hm?

[ Mizuki looks up from where she sits, eyes the placard, then takes a moment to size up the girl standing before her. ]

Easily.

[redheadcarrier]

No offense, but you don't look that strong.

[ She's... small. ]

[adorabrawler]

[ Quite. In response, Mizuki slips out a short, wry 'heh'. ]

Yeah, I get that a lot, but it's fine. It's better when no one sees it coming, anyway.

[redheadcarrier]

I can get that. It's nice to surprise people. Especially when they underestimate you, right?

[adorabrawler]

Heh heh, yep.

[ She scoops up a small serving of whipped cream with a spoon as she speaks. ]

When someone grows too confident... That's how you get 'em.

[redheadcarrier]

It's not a bad strategy, lulling someone into a false sense of security.

[ She hums and then nods. ]

I'm Asuka, by the way.

[adorabrawler]

Oh—I'm Mizuki.

... Which you probably figured by now.

[ Her name is on full display, after all, but it's only polite to give it anyway. ]

[redheadcarrier]

Well, I made a guess.

[ She arches a brow at her. ]

...I don't remember seeing you around before, but maybe I shouldn't be that surprised by that. When'd you get here?

[adorabrawler]

[ A beat follows, then a shake of her head; Mizuki helps herself to the whipped cream first, then responds. ]

It's... probably been a few hours by now, I think. [ Difficult to tell time without a watch. ] I just woke up here out of nowhere.

Is that—normal?

[redheadcarrier]

Normalish. I got here... almost two months ago? You missed the crazy death maze they made us run.

[ She waves a hand carelessly. ]

It's been weird. But so is competing to save your universe from getting pruned, huh?

[adorabrawler]

[ "Crazy death maze"? Mizuki files this away, though she wonders if she truly wants to ask further. ]

Probably one of the more insane things I've heard lately. [ Which says a lot, but that goes unsaid for now. ] I feel like I'm getting pranked for one of those lame game TV shows.

[redheadcarrier]

Oh, it's not a prank. We got put into a maze and had to dodge monsters and traps and stuff. It was nuts. All for the sake of proving who's universe gets to live, I guess.

[ She scoffs. ]

As miserable as it was, it was still real...

[adorabrawler]

—Monsters? For real?

[ As someone from a monster-free world, she finds this hard to buy. ]

Like what kind?

[redheadcarrier]

Oh, different kinds.

[ Asuka doesn't particularly want to remember all of them, but- ]

Little slimes, a giant goddamn cat... a weird man-eating plant thing. A whole goddamn zoo!

[adorabrawler]

... Huh.

[ A nonchalant response; Mizuki simply presses an eyebrow upward before shrugging. ]

Guess that might as well happen, wouldn't it. Whatever.

[redheadcarrier]

Might as well.

[ Asuka agrees with a sigh. ]

So, that's the kinda crap you can look forward to.

[adorabrawler]

If that's the worst of it, then I could probably deal with monsters just fine.

[ Said with all the confidence of someone who hasn't actually had to fight any before. ]

Is that all there is to it?

[redheadcarrier]

...hell if I know, it was one month! I have no idea! Next month they could decide we're doing duels to the death or something!

[ Asuka waves a hand. ]

Feels like we're just getting started.

[adorabrawler]

Oh.

[ She takes a sip of coffee in lieu of knowing how to respond. ]

Well... It doesn't seem like there's a lot going on right now. I see people around, but it feels—quiet.

[redheadcarrier]

Well, yeah, we just got outta that place. I guess they decided to give us a break before something else happens.

[ Asuka scoffs. ]

Trust me, they'll throw another curveball at us before too long.

[adorabrawler]

[ Dryly: ]

Great. Something exciting to look forward to.

[redheadcarrier]

Oh, yeah, we all love being on edge while we wait to find out what new and exciting competition they're gonna run us through.

[ The sarcasm is strong with this one. ]