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

[She looks startled by even the thought of feeding it, as if it had never occurred to her that it would have any other way of eating other than just finding things and consuming them in its path (... like her...)]

How does it eat? Can we feed it?

[It this bird goes hungry, there will be an ungodly amount of moody child sulking in the Institute.]

Mother birds usually go off to find food, and bring it back to the nest for the little ones to eat.

I imagine that if they return to an empty nest expecting a hungry little bird and find that it has disappeared without warning, they might be very worried. [ If Laura has allowed Ororo to take her hand, she gives it a squeeze as they make their way. ]

But someone will help the bird back. Just like we are doing now, yes?

[That makes sense. Families are supposed to take good care of their children.

Walking with Ororo, she squeezes her hand back.]

I don't want to worry the mom.

... It sounds scary to take care of someone who can die so easily.

... It can be very scary. [ Not unlike taking care of Logan back when he'd lost his healing factor, but ran headlong into fights like he still had it. She remembers the worry clutching at her heart then, every time he was somewhere that she couldn't follow. The devastating grief, when he'd finally gotten into something that had claimed his life. The regret, thinking of how she should have been with him. ]

You just want to help, but at the same time - that someone wants to be free to make their own choices, too. Maybe this little bird wanted to see if they were ready to fly on their own.

[ Said bird chirps out at them anyway, probably pretty annoyed. Hungry, too. ]

I think it might need a little more help and time, and that is perfectly fine. It will be ready to try and fly again soon, and it will do better then.

[She makes a face at the bird.]

The bird was being an idiot. It's too naked to fly.

[Those little wings? Those aren't getting it anywhere.]

Do you think it has learned its lesson? If it jumped out on purpose.

Not an idiot. It just does not know better, and is testing its own limits to see what it can do.

[ Ororo finally reaches over to try and get a feel for the bird. It pecks at her fingers - either by accident, or on purpose - and Ororo might cluck her tongue (tsk!), but she doesn't falter until she can stroke it gently on the head. ]

I think it will think twice before trying again. Hopefully its mother is still around to help it until it is ready. [ Speaking of... She looks up as they approach the diner - and she starts searching for what might look like a nest in any high trees and little corners. ]

[She supposes that's a better way to put it, than 'idiot'. She isn't sure she's wholly convinced, but... she is someone who likes to test her own limits. She has to relent, knowing that about herself.]

It's mother...

[She says it thoughtfully, as she walks alongside Ororo.]

Maybe its mother is dead. Lots of people have dead mothers.

[ It's true, lots of people have dead mothers - Ororo, too. But Ororo just nods. ]

Well, what do you think we should do if its mother is no longer around to help it?

[ She is not suggesting to keep it. She's also not not suggesting to keep it. ]

[Not having moms is a crisis for way too many characters in dwrp.

Laura looks entirely caught off-guard by the question, having never needed to consider such a thing for another living soul outside of her. Biting her lip, she thinks about her own situation.]

It will... need to learn how to save itself, or die.

[That's what she's learned, with Logan dead.

That's how to make it, because parents do not always make it with you.]

Finding ways to survive can look like different things. [ She arches an eyebrow over at Laura, then switches to looking around them for a possible nest. She notes that the square they're in is pretty empty for the time of day and doesn't think twice about doing a little confession of her own. ]

When I was very young, I was a little like this bird. My parents were taken from me when I could barely read. I didn't know that I had to find people to take care of me. I eventually did, but if I didn't... I suppose that I, too, would have died.

[ The bird finally quiets down between them. Maybe it's gotten tired? ] But I hope this one is lucky, and that its mother is still around to help it.

[Laura frowns, trying to imagine Ororo as a small girl like her. Everyone had been small at some point, though, hadn't they? And they find ways to survive, when their parents can't or won't save them from harm.]

I'll look up there.

[She knows that Ororo can fly, so it won't be any difficulty for her to follow with the baby bird. But Laura feels like she has to look. She found the bird, and she has to try and save the bird. So as she claws her way up the tree, she surveys each branch with a keen eye and focus.

It takes a little time scaling and looking, but-]

I think this is it!

[ To Ororo, Laura seems to adjust and carry on from the conversation pretty quickly and naturally, so she doesn't press the matter further. She just nods and follows her lead - very much appreciating that she trusts Ororo to go after her because she knows she can fly. That's smart thinking, Storm is very proud!

She's even prouder when Laura does, indeed, find a nest that she can float up to, box with baby bird carried carefully in her arms. She sets a hand on the lid and opens it up to her. Little bird is awake and flapping about, but no longer as loud and agitated as it was before. ]

Can you put it back? It is probably tired from chirping all day.

JUNE MINGLE.

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