etrayalogs | JUNE MINGLE.

JUNE MINGLE.

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: Late June into Early July
WHERE: On Etraya
WHAT: A mingle log!
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A, please note any needed warnings in threads.

⏵ arrival ⏴
Maybe your arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in the pristine, new hospital, greeted by Aurora and potentially getting a rundown of what's happening depending on their approach to being dropped somewhere new. The door to their room opens, and new arrivals are left free to explore their new environment.

Or perhaps you started in space. Perhaps you were stuck on a space station, trying to escape a black hole for who knows how long. Time isn't consistent there, not like it's meant to be.

And then you're here. Maybe you stepped foot into an odd hallway, which broke off into an escape pod which promptly disappeared entirely and ended up docking on the Southeast part of the city. Perhaps you had been walking through the hallways when suddenly you felt a pull. A tugging sensation in your gut, moments before the floor dropped away and the air was stolen from your lungs. It almost, almost feels like dying - like drowning but without the water. Stars flash before your eyes, and a warm sensation begins spreading from that tug. Right when it feels like it's beginning to get too hot, you're suddenly too cold.

And standing in front of Corrine's Cafe, drenched in fluid that's a little too gooey (don't put it in your mouth, Connor) to be considered water. Maybe don't think about that too hard.

A few companion bots swarm the area before long, bringing towels and apologies for newcomers. This isn't how you're meant to arrive, but at least they got you off that ship! They'll hand over an earpiece, but rather than earpieces that are not yet programmed with names, the companion bots have taken it upon themselves to give names out to the newcomers. Some may be closer to an average name, like "Jimmy Smith", or "Arthur Pendragon" (that's normal, right?), or they may be something a little more nonsensical, like "CHEESE IS DELICIOUS".

If they make their way to the hospital, Aurora will give something closer to her normal spiel. Those who don't may want to ask some of their newfound friends because there's no explanation given by the bots working the cafe or those who have come to help. Maybe the others who have been here longer will have a better explanation.

⏵ friendship bracelets ⏴
On July 1st, Aurora sends out a message to everyone through their ear pieces:

Hello, Citizens of Etraya.

I am glad that you enjoyed your coffee break. Given the success of this previous endeavor, I have opted to try another experiment. This mission is optional, you are not required to complete it. However, the successful completion of this mission may aid in assisting me in assigning similar missions in the future. I would recommend, if you enjoy the task, to make an attempt.

My companion bots will be handing out ten beads to each participant along with a piece of string. You will each receive one red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, pink, silver, and black bead. The goal of this mission will be to assemble a bracelet that is one color, by exchanging beads between participants. You may choose what finished color you would like to aim for. Given the limited quantity of beads, you will want to ensure you are choosing a color that has not already been widely chosen.

I would like to see twenty completed bracelets. Once completed, you may return them to any companion bot. I have set up the Diner to accommodate this, but you may participate from anywhere on Etraya.

If I receive at least twenty bracelets, I will provide two of those who complete theirs the opportunity to assist me in choosing not the next mission, but the one after that.

Thank you,
Aurora

As stated in Aurora's announcement, the Diner has been set up with numerous "friendship" themed party banners. There are cookies and cakes out on the tables, although they may not be to everyone's tastes: some of the flavors are a little outrageous, while others are more generic. Just don't expect that cookie that looks like it has pickles in it instead of chocolate chips to be anything but a pickle cookie. Because it is one.

⏵ nova city ⏴ The Southeast of Etraya had been relatively empty; Wolf Cove has overtaken the southernmost bit of land with its own little environmental set up: instead of the green grass featured in the rest of Etraya, it's covered in snow. But Wolf Cove isn't the only new addition: Nova City has overtaken a large portion of two massive islands. Numerous skyscrapers stand tall enough that their rooftops almost hit the atmospheric bubble Etraya has surrounded itself in.

The buildings themselves, however, are empty. There is no furniture, no signs of life, no dust, even. These facilities were not put here to use the insides of the buildings, but for the sake of having buildings.

But like with all new additions to Etraya, new buildings also mean an array of new creatures. Birds of all shapes and sizes flock to the empty city, enjoying standing on top of street lamps, stray cats wander through alleyways, rodents of all shapes have begun appearing and making themselves comfortable. But those aren't the issue.

It's the massive snakes that take up almost entire alleyways as they make their way between buildings, attempting to devour any creature small enough to fit into their mouths that happen to come across them. The green dragon that has built a nest on one of the taller buildings, and has a habit of swatting at anyone who comes near her - or worse yet, when she's particularly in a foul mood, breathes fire on them.

Aurora has asked for those capable, to try and handle at least the snakes. They're fine while they're in the city, but there is no guarantee they will stay there. The dragon at least seems content staying right where she is.

⏵ NOTES ⏴

To report a completed bracelet, please reply to the bracelet turn-in comment. Given the fifth mission is scheduled in September, we will continue to accept submissions for this through the beginning of August, at which point we will randomly select two characters.

For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please reply to our mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nice to meet you.

[He's got manners and uses them. It's been bred into him, and there are times he forgets, but rarely.

Dick doesn't really mind the puns so much anymore. They were really off-putting at first since they came out of a mouth that was so familiar and yet so different at the same time. It's really odd having another person that's got a lot of the same upbringing, but so many different experiences and has been shaped into a very different person.

For a while Dick compared himself, and then he realized how pointless and stupid it was. Now it's far happier and back to being one hundred percent Dick Grayson from his universe alone. ]

He's something else. I've only spent a little time with him, back when that labyrinth thing was here if you were here for that. It was unnerving at first, but I got used to it.

[Accelerator doesn't return the sentiment, because he's a rude kid raised by ruder adults.

He can only imagine how awful it would be if some other universe version of himself showed up. Would that version have stopped the Level 6 Shift Project? Or would he have seen it through to the end? It's repulsive to think about, but either way, he's pretty sure if another him showed up they'd be fighting until one of them was dead.]

I was. [The labyrinth sucked. He's not the kind of person who has a lot of survival training.]

I don't know how you could get used to it. I wouldn't.

[Is Dick actually used to it. He can't exactly say that. Maybe he's just letting it exist as it is. He's not thinking so much about it, because there's not a whole lot he can do anymore.

The other Dick is here, and he's got a whole shit ton of people that support and love him. Dick can't compare to them, and he's not a part of that little group. It doesn't matter if they share the names of people he knows. Strangers. He gets that, and has from the beginning. It's much easier now.

He's always hated being alone, but he's striking out, forming his own bonds. It's easier this way.]

I don't have a choice, do I. I have to accept it, and get used to him being here. He's got friends. I'm... here. I'll make due with finding my own way. It's strange, but we don't even look alike under the masks, so that works in our favor as well.

[There's a tiny shrug, but Dick's more interested in other things, like figuring what the purpose of this new city is and why it's got a dragon. ]

Hm. [Yeah, not exactly anything he can do, so taking it in stride is at least a less stressful option than getting worked up over it. And most other people wouldn't have his own levels of self-loathing going on, which would make it a little more tolerable.

Or at least less terrible.]

And the mask thing makes you a superhero, right?

[Accelerator is guessing the answer is 'yes', because why else would anyone be out here in a mask and costume?]

[There's a snorted laugh at the assumption that Dick could actually be a superhero. That's really the last thing he'd ever consider himself. Maybe others might think of it, but really in his world, he's partly revered, partly despised.

He's saved his universe, but he's also done a lot of shitty things. Dick doesn't find anything all that heroic about himself. He does the best he can with the skills he's trained up.]

I'm a vigilante. I try to take out the assholes who cause problems with varying levels of success. I don't have powers or anything like that. I don't think I'm a hero, just someone whose been trained to do their best.

[Superheroes aren't really a thing in Accelerator's world outside of tv and comic books. Heroes and villains in general? Kind of, it's complicated, he went through a whole villain phase and thinking back on it is thoroughly embarrassing.

There's just the whole mask thing, presumably a secret identity to go with it (definitely not normal back home), so he'd at least like to know how it works in other universes.]

That sounds a lot more realistic than claiming to be a hero and leaving it at that.

[He's not a fan of the label, or labels in general, so that answer doesn't sound like ridiculous nonsense to him.]

You got a lot of people like you where you're from?

[A plain hero is one thing that Dick would never claim to be outright. He was raised in the business, but he's not Superman and he never will be. He's not a bright shinning example to all the people out there.

He climbs into the trenches and does his best to take out the lowest dregs of society, and to fight back against the monsters of Gotham, and a few other places. He'll take on those that even the police force can't because he was trained to.]

I think that there are some heroes out there, but I'm not one. I think even the greatest heroes are allowed to have flaws though. We fight because we were trained, and want to help, to offer hope.

[Thinking about it for a second, Dick shrugs]

Not a whole lot, maybe a handful when you think about it in comparison to the billions of people that populate my world. I can't say I know them all, but I know there have been normal people and extraordinary ones fighting for both sides for the majority of our history.

[... Okay, that's a little idealistic. Or maybe he's just a huge grump. Who knows.

(It's the latter. It's totally the latter.)

Either way, this talk is really making him think about that Level 0. He wasn't trained, aside from all the irregular things about him he's a regular high schooler. He does it because he wants to help, though, that part is right. He supposes that Kamijou is hopeful too, in his own weird, violent way.

Accelerator can't picture him in a mask and costume, though. That's way too ridiculous for that idiot, even in a place as nuts as Etraya.

For what has to be the zillionth time, he wonders how Kamijou would handle this. The dragon, all the kids here, saving the universe.... everything.]

Hmm.

[Anyways.]

You feel like you should be here, then? Assuming what Aurora's told us about saving our fucking universes is true.

Be here to save my universe?

[There's a snort, then a laugh. It would be louder if they weren't sitting here on a roof watching a fucking dragon of all things. Dick doesn't have a great opinion of his life or what he's got to show for it. He's worked his ass of saving his universe several times, but that doesn't mean he thinks he's worthy of being a representative.

He thinks he's probably the last person that should be standing here. He'd do it if that's what they were really here for, but he doesn't think that's true either. ]

No. Hell no, and I don't think this shit is about saving our universes is true either. It makes no sense, the sample sizes they've pulled from some universes and not from others is completely unequal. Then they've chosen actual people who can fly and shoot lasers from their eyes from one universe and then someone whose best feature is that they have four arms and can pole dance from another. I don't see how they can actually say they're truly attempting to pull any qualitative data. It's ridiculous. They are studying something, but it's got nothing with saving some over crowded multiverse in my opinion. That's just me.

[Yes, he knows he's opinionated on this. He's been pushed too many times about it. ]

[Someone's got a healthy amount of skepticism! Not that Accelerator disagrees, he thinks all of this is bullshit too, but it's a bit harder to feel like he can rage against the machine when the need to feel responsible for the safety of all the Academy City kids back home is constantly looming in the back of his mind.

He draws in a short breath, deciding against agreeing or playing the devil's advocate.]

..... Then what's your opinion on Aurora and Echo?

[He's actually far more interested in this guy's views on the former rather than the latter. Echo is a completely unknown quantity and based on his skepticism towards this whole mission business, he can guess that said opinion isn't going to be anything positive. Aurora, though, is more complicated. She's a known presence - at least, she's willing or able to speak with them - and they know what she is. It's easier for people to have varying opinions of someone when they can interact with them, or see that person interacting with others.]

[There were quite a few people that Dick cared for back in his homeworld, but he honestly couldn't find a place in his mind that took any of this seriously. No matter how he tried to put the pieces together, they really didn't fit. He tried, he really did. It wasn't like he did much sleeping, and this place didn't have a ton of crime for him to fight, so Dick did far more thinking here than he did back home, and that was probably a record.

The next question caught him a little off guard. He hadn't thought too much about the AI, and 'creator', other than the fact that they must be powerful enough to reach into the multiverse and pull other extremely powerful beings from their worlds. Well, he had done some thinking... ]

Honestly, Aurora is a mouthpiece. She's a computer, an interface somewhere for this Echo. She gives out only enough information to be annoying, nothing is quite as it seems in my opinion. Echo, is powerful, or whatever force it truly is that brought us here. That's part of the reason why I don't really think that they're using us to decide how to cull the multiverse. If they truly needed to do that, they'd be able to look out and see it. They can see us well enough to bring us here, to force us to play tricks for treats. They don't need anyone to decide for them. If they're that powerful they'd have done it already. God's don't need people to verify their actions. They want worshipers. They want puppets. They want ants to study. That's my opinion, for what it's worth.

[It's hard to really know what's going on, but Dick feels a lot more like a rat in a maze trying to find the cheese at the end, than some great savior for his planet. It's completely unbalanced. ]

[He can't say he agrees with that assessment about Aurora and it may just be because of his own experiences regarding AI, but he's keeping that to himself for now. Maybe he should poke around a little more to see what people think about her, so far he's really only read the public messages available over the network.

Anyways, he sighs a little. Being incredibly suspicious of Echo is something he can get behind.]

Assuming Echo is a god, that kind of fucking annoying behaviour would line up.

[He's had to deal with gods before. They sucked.]

[There hasn't been a lot of AI in Dick's world so far. He spends most his time around computers hacking into them, and digging up information he probably shouldn't have. He's come close to something similar, but it was shut down before it could really begin to think for itself.

If Dick thought about it, he might realize that Aurora has thoughts of her own that are independent of Echo, but in accordance to their plan-- whatever that might be. It's a difficult distinction, however it works. His mind is limited in it's ability to grasp any larger concept of AI yet.

However, he's starting to form an idea about Echo. It's not well shaped or formed yet. He's got a lot more thinking to do. All of this is a lot, obviously.]

I'm not sure it's an actual god, but it is powerful. That much is certain. It might have been, or could be worshiped as one. This is the behavior of someone who has power and wants to use it to their own means and ends, and I'm very familiar with that type of a person.

[Echo is enough of an unknown quantity that Accelerator is inclined to go with Dick's opinion. It's a lot easier to, when he's never seen nor talked to them, and has only gotten vague secondhand information from Aurora like everyone else.]

I am, too. Every time I think I'm getting a break from someone like that, another one pops up.

[Aiwass, Aleister, Coronzon, Nepthys, now Anna Sprengel and CRC and the Transcendents. That's not even getting into the scientists, or the board of directors. There's been too many of this kind of person in his life to count.]

It's like that game with the mallet and moles.

[That gets a laugh from Dick. He feels that statement to his core. Too bad he doesn't have a giant mallet right now, he could use one. It might make life a little easier.

He recently rid his world of Trigon for the second time, and his son-- both gods, and want to be gods, both set to take over the universe. It had been quiet for several months before Dick got yanked onto this beautiful, abysmal planet and told to save his fucking universe. ]

You're preaching to the choir as they say in my world. Meaning, I hear you loud and clear. I wish they would all get a bunch of balls and entertain themselves with them, learn to juggle or something and not with our planets.

Hmm.

[What kind of hobby would a godlike being even be interested in? Tropical fish? Crocheting? Hopefully not something that involves messing around with people, because that would be annoying.

Accelerator holds the binoculars back out for Dick to take, before grabbing his crutch and hauling himself off the edge of the roof to his feet.]

Well, I don't think this fucking dragon is going to do anything.

[Taking the binoculars back, Dick watches as Accelerator stands back up, noting the crutch. He doesn't think much about it, because while the young male might have a crutch, he's still up on a rooftop.

Standing as well, Dick dusts himself off and looks back toward the exit of this little highrise jungle.]

I don't think it's doing anything more today. Thanks for the conversation. You've given me more to think about. Take care, alright? If you ever need anything, feel free to look me up. If not, I'm sure we'll eventually run across one another again knowing this place.

Edited 2024-08-03 17:37 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JUNE MINGLE.

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