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

It's definitely not for everyone, she knows. Being made a mess of though was always on her favorite parts of her previous job. Having the proof of a good time on her body so plainly... Okay, girl, calm down. It's been, like, less than a day since she got here and she honestly figures it's going to be an adjustment at first.

"Aw, you're sweet," Rosie says, to that. "But no need to go to anyone's manager or anything for me." Who even is the manager here? Aurora? She thinks that's right. That's who everyone kind of refers to as the main authority figure, at least.

"Sure," the blond agrees, turning over the beads she has in hand. "I was gonna' go for red but, really, any color is probably fine."

"I still have red," said Nuvia next with an excited smile forming on her lips. She was glad no one had asked for red. Not yet, anyway.

She'll carefully pull the red bead out of her wrist before handing it to Rosie.

"Is red your favorite color?" she'll ask next hoping to use the opportunity to get to know her better.

"Hell yeah," answers the woman excitedly. As she takes the red, she turns over the other colors that she has.

"Nah," she answers, easily. "I don't think I have a favorite color, actually? But red is a power color, so... Why not?" She likes to feel powerful.

"What color do you need?"

"What does a power color mean?" asked Nuvia next, not really understanding the importance of it. Whatever it meant, it seems to make her happy though.

"Pink, if you still have it, please," responded Nuvia without a second thought as she shows Rosie most of her collected pink bead bracelet.

"Power colors are ones that convey strength. Red is one! Purple is, like, for royalty. Regal? So, kind of..." She mostly knows colors as they relate to floriography but, well, some meanings are universal.

"Let's see- Pink, pink. Aha! I do still have pink. Here you go," she says, handing her one with a nod.

"Royalty...?" she'll as next not quite understanding the meaning of the word. The term no longer exists in the 30th century due to the uprising against the Old World's political and religious landscapes by the end of the 20th century.

A big smile will appear upon noticing the pink bead in Rosie's possession. "Thank you so very much," she'll say as Nuvia gently accepts the bead with a grin now appearing because... "This makes our friendship official, right?" she'll ask hoping Rosie was just as excited at the thought as she was.

Honestly? That would track. Rosie isn't a fan of most royals herself, but it also isn't a huge impact to her personally. She's not the best at keeping up with politics though. It's not her fault daytime soap operas were just so much more entertaining than news.

"Oh, uh- Yeah, I guess so!" It's as good a merit of friendship as any.

Nuvia tilts her head slightly, curiosity piqued. “That makes sense. I was wondering, Rosie, does your world have any special practices or traditions for finding and making friends? I’d love to hear how people connect with each other there.”

Does her world have such traditions...? It's actually hard for her to think of any on the spot, she realizes. Granted, she isn't the best at making friends to begin with so even if there were more known ways she might not be aware of them.

"I don't think so," she admits. "In my world, a lot of people connect online through apps to find friends - or more - and go from there. People used to just meet in local places like coffee shops or bars, but... Nowadays, that's kind of out of style?" Her line of work as a roadie lended itself to ending up in dive bars and unexpected places to meet other folks more than it didn't. "Usually though, people find common interests - like music, for me! - and others who are into that too. Then, you just... keep hanging out, I guess, and become friends."

Nuvia looked impressed at all the advice Rosie had given her about friendship. She hadn’t known that people used to meet publicly in places like coffee shops or bars, or that they connected online. She’d heard of those terms but had never used them herself.

“That’s really interesting,” Nuvia said, her sky-blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I’ve never tried meeting people online or in public places like that. What kind of technology do you use in your world? Do you still use desktops, or is it more advanced, like teleconnect?”

She paused, thinking about what Rosie had said about music. “And you’re into music? What kind of music do you like? Do you sing?”

"Smart phones, mostly," she offers, thinking to her own back home. While Japan sometimes could be considered behind the times and technologically innovative in the same breath, she will admit: she does adore the ability to have a cute little charm on her phone a lot of other places don't anymore. "We do still have desktops, but a lot of people are using laptops more because they're convenient." It's her, she's people. How else can she lay in bed and watch trashy sitcoms?

"I used to sing! Not professionally or anything, we didn't make it that far, but I was in a band for a while. Then, it was just working for them and traveling. We're called roadies." While she didn't do that anymore, she did enjoy it. Yet, the promise of 'safety' and a place to settle was... too strong to pass up at the time.

"I can also play some instruments. Guitar and piano are my best, but I know a little violin and can play the drums or bass if I have to."

Nuvia’s eyes widened with admiration as Rosie talked about her musical talents. She would never have guessed that Rosie was so dedicated to the craft. "Wow, you must have an amazing voice to sing in a band! That’s such an honor, and it sounds like you were really passionate about it." Nuvia's curiosity piqued as she continued, "I’d love to hear you sing or play an instrument someday. In my world, other people don’t really play instruments anymore—they let computers do it. But hearing someone play live, especially someone with your talent, would be incredible. And your roadie days sound like they must have been full of adventure! I’d love to hear stories about that too."

"Hah, nah! Anyone can sing in a band if they try, I think. Sometimes a unique voice is just as interesting to a crowd as a 'nice' one." She thinks to Metal singers or other genres where their harsh tenors or gruff baritones tended to be the appeal. "Computers are helping musicians where I'm from but haven't replaced them entirely." She doubts that'll ever happen in her timeline too; the arts are too important. Or so she hopes, anyway.

It's a part of her life she isn't shy about. Music gave her meaning when she hadn't thought there was any; although she knew now there was more to live for than back then, well- Her love of it remained. Despite Charlie saying there was a reason she didn't become a true musician or should give up the silly notion, well- Fuck him. He wasn't here now, right? She could sing all she wanted.

She's no Kiki Dee, but Rosie still hums a couple bars of one of her most famous songs before singing proper: "They say that life is a circle but that ain't the way that I found it. Gonna' move in a straight line, keeping my feet firmly on the ground. I heat up, I cool down- I got words in my head, so I say them! Don't let life get me down. Catch a hold of my blues and just play them. I got the music in me, I got the music in me. I got the music in me, yeah."

Well! Now Nuvia can say she's heard live music here, at least. She's no professional or anything, but her voice is nice. A lovely, steady mezzo-soprano on the higher end of the octave but able to go low where she's able to.

Nuvia sways to the rhythm of Rosie’s song, clapping her hands in time with the music. Her eyes sparkle with admiration as she listens, clearly impressed by Rosie’s talent. She’s captivated by the high notes and the energy in Rosie’s performance, even if she’s not quite sure she could ever sing like that herself.

As Rosie finishes, Nuvia beams with genuine excitement. “Wow, you are amazing! I love your voice. I think I now have a better idea of what you mean by having an interesting voice over a nice one.” She continues to clap enthusiastically, hoping others around them will join in to show their appreciation for Rosie’s performance.

Anyone could sing, Rosie would argue, but she understands better than anyone the reservations around it as well. It isn't always easy to put one's self out there like she just did; thankfully, she's gotten used to being an object of attention - desire, namely - and doesn't mind having eyes drawn her way. The blond beams proudly at her efforts getting applause before settling back down into normalcy.

"Yeah, right? Sometimes just having the right energy or tone can make all the difference, which is one thing I love about music too! The variety, the fun of it all."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JUNE MINGLE.

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