etrayalogs | 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

You got it, [ she confirms, giving a little nod and pocketing her new acquired bead. Just a few more to go now... Would she actually finish? Who knows!

And if this is the only place that serves beer then they're about to become fast friends. ]

My entry was gooey. Which, like, would have been fine if I'd been warned. The helper bots at least cleaned me up pretty quick.

[ Gooey. Definitely one of the new arrivals. Ororo's smile turns sympathetic. ]

I'm sorry to hear it. I'm not sure what is going on of late, but typically one's arrival is a little less... gooey. I'm glad it wasn't so traumatizing for you. [ If, you know, she claims it would have been fine. ]

My name is Ororo, by the way. I've been here a little over two months, in considerably less goo, but I suppose that's not much of an improvement. All things considered.

[ It's both reassuring and unfortunate to know that her gooey surprise was unique to this arrival. On the one hand, no one else will have to suffer through that in the future hopefully. On the other, why her. ]

Lucky me, I guess! But there could have been worse things, so... If a little goo is all, probably got off easy. [ Maybe. Hopefully. ]

Nice to meet you, Ororo! I'm Rosie. Two months... That doesn't seem like a long time, honestly, but I guess when you're away from home, it might feel like it.

Oh, it has truly felt like an age. Why do you think I am in here? [ That's a joke, she isn't an alcoholic. But she goes around the bar to reach into a little fridge... Aha, a beer.

She hands it over. ] It's been a useful place for getting to know people. Some are just looking for a little drink to take the edge of a new and unfamiliar place off, but I find conversations are easier to have, when people are feeling more comfortable.

[ Rosie wouldn't call herself an alcoholic, but... Well, she doesn't have to. Her frequency here will probably speak for itself. Also, her excitement at free alcohol. ]

Yeah, I imagine! Nothing like bartending, I imagine, to learn all you can about folks. I've never done it but it is a job I've always been interested in... [ A small sip of her freshly cracked open beer. ]

So, any words of wisdom for a newcomer?

If you are prone to avoiding people, you must find a way to curb the impulse. [ She smiles symapthetically. Not because she thinks that of Rosie, but because it's a habit that might feel tempting, depending on how missions shake out. Ororo knows she struggles with it herself. ]

The missions are not as individualistic as they make them sound - they say we must 'save our own universe', but the things that they have us do often require working or interacting with others. You might feel like there should be some kind of competition, based on what we are told... But I have yet to see evidence of the competition among us. It serves us better when we can all work together.

[ ... Well, she asked for advice, didn't she? That's her advice. ]

There are also stretches of downtime between the missions... During which, I think, it would be good to find something to occupy yourself with. Bartending might actually be a decent idea, if you do not mind the poor pay. [ Spoiler: there is no actual pay. ]

[ Well, damn, if she wasn't read for filth immediately. While she had been planning to play nice and socialize to start... It's difficult for Rosie, admittedly, to be stationary. Static. Even with Charlie, it was about as settled as she'd been for most of her life but she still never saw many of the same people twice beyond him and a select few. ]

Good to know, thanks, [ she answers, sincere even as she takes another sip. ] I did wonder about competition since they made it sound like there was only so many spots, y'know? Interesting that they're more about cooperation.

[ Interesting here means 'misleading,' actually. ]

Guess I'll have to pick up a hobby though. Or maybe get back to my roots as a musician and find somewhere I can play some gigs.

If you can find your instrument of choice here, I'm sure you can find a place to play. [ Ororo looks around the very bar they're at. Harry's Pub isn't big, but it's not tiny either. ]

There's no stage here, but... It is not as if the eponymous Harry is around to stop us from doing a little renovation.

I know I would prefer to listen to a little live music every now and then.

And I'd be happy to provide! [ she agrees, giving an excited kick of her feet where she sits. Music is one of the few things that really gets her going, it seems. ]

I'm sure it won't be hard to find a guitar... Those are pretty universal, right? Or, uhm. Multiversal, I guess. Still getting used to that, honestly.

Even if they were not so multiversal - it seems that Etraya and Aurora favor quite a lot of things from Earth. I'm sure it will be no trouble finding or requesting one.

[ She flashes Rosie a warm smile, encouraging ~~and not at all flirtatious~~. ] In any case... I look forward to hearing you play.

JUNE MINGLE.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject