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

[Her eyes will open wide at the realization!]

That's so smart! Why didn't I think of that?

[She does feel bad for the color yellow though. It doesn't deserve to be the least favorite color. A detail she won't admit out loud.

Mirroring the other boy, she'll offer her own yellow bead for the pink one.]

I'm Nuvia! It's nice to meet you. Did you arrive to this world today?

[ Riz grins at her. ] I'm glad you didn't, or else my job would've gotten a little harder.

[ He hasn't run into anyone else collecting yellow beads. He was right! It is unpopular! ]

Nice to meet you too, Nuvia. I got here a couple months ago. Did you just get here today?

[ If she did, she's handling it a lot better than Riz did. He'd freaked out for, like, a full two days before he was up to having any ordinary conversations with other people, let alone cheerfully making friendship bracelets. ]

[Nuvia couldn't help laugh at his response because he wasn't wrong. His job would have gotten harder if they were both searching for the same color. Good thing they weren't or else how would they become friends?]

You're right. I did arrive today. To this city. I was up at the space station for a while.

[She isn't completely certain the length of time she was there for, but it was fun to explore. There were clowns to fight and mysteries to try to solve.]

If you don't mind my asking, how did you arrive to this world? Did you have to go through the icky way?

The icky... oh, you mean getting all covered in goop and stuff? No, that's not how it worked for me. Me and everyone who came in with me all woke up in the hospital, which was -- a different kind of bad? Way better than that whole killer clown stuff, though.

[ He looks at her, curiosity in his gaze. ]

You really jumped straight into the friendship bracelet thing, huh? Hasn't this whole thing been really weird to you?

[She'll nod her head in agreement the minute he mentions over being covered in goop. As he explains the way he first arrived, Nuvia didn't know if being awakened in a hospital was any better.]

What was different about it other than no clowns being involved?

[Softly shaking her head, Nuvia will quickly explain in a calm tone.]

No. Back home we have something similar happening too. An ancient alien species is trying to collect 1% of the inhabitants to their collection. There is a war going on due to it because humanity doesn't want to be trapped or destroyed by them. So, this whole friendship bracelet exercise is.....a lot of fun in comparison.

[Not just that, but...]

...I don't have many friends back home right now. All of them died not too long ago. The recent being Dr. Voss before arriving here...

[On the very same day, in fact. Nuvia couldn't help realize how much has happened to her in a single day that she hasn't had time to mourn her dear friend. All the more reason she could already feel the tingling sensation in her eyes and nose.]

Oh, [ Riz says softly, brow creased. He'd stumbled right into that one, hadn't he? His kneejerk assumption had been that this girl was simply the happy-go-lucky type, taking each day in stride -- and perhaps she is, but not without having gone through immense tragedy. Recent tragedy, even. For once, he knows how to still his tongue when it comes to prying (even though he'd really, really like to know what the hell is going on with alien invasions in everyone else's worlds), and instead looks at her with clear sympathy, brow creased. His own life has been largely untouched by tragedy, he knows. His Dad died when he was a kid, sure, but a lot of kids' Dads have died when they were kids.

To lose all of your friends to some horrific war is something he can't well imagine. He's quiet for a little longer than is strictly proper, clearly at a loss for words. ]

I'm sorry for your loss. [ He reaches into his briefcase and produces a packet of tissues, silently handing one over. ] I'm here with a bunch of my friends, and -- shit, sorry, I don't mean to like, put salt in the wound?

[ Hey! Your friends are dead? Get a load of my friends! Riz winces. ]

I meant, um. If this whole friendship bracelet thing is fun for you, you could always come hang out with us, if you like?

[ Being forced into overtures of friendship might make for a nice change, but it's kind of lame. Actually making friends might help more. ]

[The silence was appreciated because Nuvia's mind was now on the friends that are no longer with her. Anything he would have said before, handing her the tissue, would have fallen on deaf ears. A soft, sincere smile will appear on her lips appreciating his kindness even though her eyes were now turning red from holding back tears. She'll use the handkerchief to dry them with as she silently begins to sob.

When he begins to express his condolences, Nuvia will nod her head as she tries to calm herself down by cleaning her face with the tissue before blowing her nose. She'll nod her head with sheen eyes, but when he begins to scold himself Nuvia will shake her head.]

Don't! It's okay! [Holding onto the tissue tightly, she'll admit a little loudly.] I'm glad you have a lot of friends!

[Realizing her volume, she'll place a hand on her lips and offer a whispered apology before adding.]

Being alone in the world is the worst thing. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

[So when he invites her to hang out with his group of friends, Nuvia will look touched by his genorosity.]

Do you mean it? Can I really!?

[She didn't find the invitation to be lame at all. If anything, she found it to be very thoughtful of him.]

[ She's crying.

Which is normal after a friend dies, but Riz doesn't know what to do about it. He feels a little like he should get up and pat her back and say -- there, there, maybe? Does she want a hug? Riz doesn't like being hugged much while he cries, but he's aware that many people appreciate that, but they just met and he's pretty sure that that would be weird? That would be weird.

So Riz does what he often does when he feels like doing the right thing would come across as strange, which is to simply sit there awkwardly, claws clacking anxiously together, but it turns out he said something right.

Which isn't that strange, actually. That's about how Riz feels when someone wants to be his friend too. He mouth splits into a crooked smile, brow still creased with concern. ]

Yeah! Yeah, of course! I wasn't -- I mean, you're right. Being alone's the worst.

[ So if you could stop someone - especially someone who seems nice - from being alone, why wouldn't you? ]

So maybe you don't have to be alone anymore.

[ ... ]

Do you, um... want to talk about it? Or we could just go play video games or whatever. I'm pretty done with these nasty cookies anyway.

[His clacking claws and hesitant words, though unsure, conveyed a genuine interest that was both comforting and surprising. It was a rare experience for Nuvia to receive such kindness without the usual indifference or distance she was accustomed to. The fact that Riz was willing to stay quietly with her, rather than brushing off her emotions or making her feel like a burden, meant more to her than she could articulate. It was a small but significant gesture that eased some of the weight from her heart.]

I really appreciate that. It's nice to know someone is willing to just be here with me.

[When he offered to either talk or play video games, Nuvia’s interest was immediately piqued. The idea of playing video games sounded like a welcome distraction and a way to bond, but her concern about the cookies lingered.]

Playing video games sounds great! But... do you want to take some cookies with us? I wouldn’t want to be a burden.

[Her smile was soft, reflecting her gratitude and her eagerness to connect. She felt a growing sense of comfort around Riz, recognizing that his awkwardness was simply part of his genuine effort to be there for her. This moment, though simple, was a meaningful step toward finding a place where she felt understood and valued.]

Nuvia? I'm gonna look you in the eyes when I say this.

[ He stares solemnly at her. ]

These cookies are terrible. Even I don't like them. You'd actually be freeing me of the burden of trying to eat more of them.

[ Why was he eating them if they're so bad? Good question. Because he's stupid, that's why. Still, he grins at her as he slides out of the booth, revealing himself to be towering at roughly three and a half feet, brushing crumbs off of his tidy little suit and tie number, dress shoes tapping against the linoleum floors. ]

C'mon, I'll lead the way. [ As he gestures for her to follow him, he pauses, glancing at her. It's probably really rude to ask what she is. He's gonna do it anyway. ]

Hey, if you don't mind me asking... are you an Elemental, or something?

[Nuvia meets Riz's gaze without hesitation when he insists on speaking to her directly. She finds herself curious—just how bad must those cookies be for him to openly admit it? She wonders if he was eating them out of boredom, though she doesn’t judge him for trying. At least he had the courage to do it.

However, she can’t share in his suffering since she lacks both taste and smell. When Riz reveals his height, standing a bit over three and a half feet tall, Nuvia can't help but find him adorable, especially in his formal attire. It’s not every day she sees someone dressed so nicely, and she thinks it suits him well.

As Riz leads the way, his question catches her slightly off guard, though she isn’t put off by it. Others have asked before.]

I'm a human hybrid, my DNA is split between a human and an alien pairing. [A slight pause as she begins to feel genuine curiosity.] What’s an Elemental? It’s the first time I’ve heard of that.

Oh, an alien...?

[ He's heard a lot about aliens since he arrived here -- which is something that hadn't been on his radar at all up until now. He feels like he should ask her what sort of alien, but if Nuvia wants to tell him, he figures that she'll do it on her own. He just doesn't know enough about extraterrestrial life to get into all of that.

It always seems a little less important when you're dealing with as many planes as they do back on Spyre. ]

I guess who the alien is just depends on your perspective, though, huh? [ He laces his fingers together and loops them behind his back as he walks. ]

An elemental... they're from a place called the Elemental Plane. Their races embody different elements -- like an air elemental will be made up of clouds and wind, or an earth elemental is made up of dirt and stone. [ He tugs at a piece of his own hair, the bit that had escaped a prodigious amount of hair gel falling in a loose curl over his forehead. ] Your hair looks like an Air Elemental's hair. That's why I asked.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JUNE MINGLE.

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sorry for late reply, i had to work overtime this and last week. Dx

no worries at all!!