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

They're the spider, [ Gorgug replies, nodding to the one and only Spider Guy in the immediate vicinity, the half-orc nodding to them. As if Fabian needs the help. ]

You can hang like them, right? That's easy for you. You do moves all the time.

[ With his sheet.

His sheet that Gorgug isn't actually considering if Fabian would have on him (and why would he have it on him right now, Gorgug--). ]

[OH MY WORD IT'S ✨FABIAN.✨

Peter very nearly breaks secret identity rules and calls out like he knows the guy — before realizing that he should not know who the other person is. And so, with great suffering on the inside, he acts inconspicuously unaware.]

I'm the Spider! Spider-Man. He/him, actually. But I guess them works for a guy in a onesie, too. Hello. [Good job, loser. Anyway.] Your pal here says you like challenges. I could use some challenge myself, y'know? To keep myself active, since there's not a lot of crime to stop around here.

[ Guess who has two thumbs and absolutely does not recognize who's inside that spandex costume: it's also ✨ Fabian ✨!

Don't worry, Peter. Your secret identity is safe. If even regular people can't recognize you, then these two numbskulls will certainly never figure it out. ]

.. you stop crime? [ Apparently Fabian does have some commentary though, blinking for a moment as he seeds Spider-Man there like that, before adding: ] Wearing that?

[ Sorry, Peter.. Apparently it just isn't fashionable, even in fantasy land..

But there's no need to full on stop this entire thing just over said onesie! Especially since the guy seems very self-aware over said onesie. In fact, Fabian is already raising his arms, starting to stretch himself. He sure doesn't have his battle sheet on him, no, but that's not going to stop him from taking on a challenge. Challenge is practically Fabian's middle name-- after Aramais, anyway. ]

But-- Sure. I can do that. [ He's even grinning, like he thinks the idea is kind of fun. ] If Gorgug wants to see me win, then-- hey, who am I to deny a friend anything, huh?

[ Yeah, Gorgug, now he's grinning at you. You're part of this now, pal! ]

Are you going to be my cheerleader? [ Come oooon, Gorgug, how is he supposed to do sports without a cheerleader-- ]

[ Stop crime? Is this a cop???

Because they (no, he--he/him Spider-Man, like he said) sound like a cop saying it like that, but Gorgug won't let his mind jump to that far an assumption. Maybe he'll ask, later, but let it be known that Gorgug has jotted down all these new notes (he/him Spider-Man) and falls already in the spot of Spectator to this upcoming challenge, even before Fabian turns that grin onto him.

His energy is far from the typical cheerleader, but to his friend's question, he gives him a very serious nod! ]

Hoot growl. [ And give him a second, but he can dig into his jean pockets, and pull out from one a blue, rectangular crystal that's pointed on the upper side: also known as a Solace cellphone, as Fabian might recognise it. ]

Whoever loses gets recorded losing.

[ The same goes for winning, funnily enough. But which of the two outcomes holds the real threat here? Exactly. ]

[Cops wish they were this cool.

He touches a hand to his chest, mildly offended.]

This is an awesome suit! I sewed it together myself, thank you. And do you know how hard it is to walk upside down on stuff wearing a normal shirt? It gets in your face!

[Now you've done it, Fabian. He's gonna show you just how sticky a boy he is.

... You know what that means, don't be weird about it.]

I accept your challenges! Bring it on!

[ That is a definite threat. Because, you know, Fabian has never been publicly embarrassed. Ever. In his life. He has clearly only ever done things in public that he can be proud of, so being recorded for the first time while doing something embarrassing will hurt his entire reputation!

And yet it doesn't stop him. If Gorgug thinks it's a good idea, then Fabian - teenage boy to the core - is of course willing to go along with any dumb old idea. He even grins as he looks over at Spider-Man over here. ]

Alright, then tell me how we're going to do this! Show me your hanging, and then I will join you! And then we shall see who can hang best!

[ He stands there.

Ready for the demonstration..! ]

[ Surely this is the smartest, most creative set of feats that are about to take place. It's okay though, guys, if you or one of you (you, Spider-Man (he/him)) need to figure out how this is going to go: Gorgug has set his crystal phone to record, and he has a lot of space to put into this. Thus, he's already got the crystal angled, and he's backed up to get them both in frame.

He is your cameraman. Let's see who is the coolest of them all!!! ]

[Finally, his weird bendable-ness comes in clutch! He's never had a swing-off with someone else like this, and it feels kind of nice? Likeminded gymnastics, who'd of thunk it?

Jumping up in the air, he thwips a web up and into the light fixture he'd been sitting on precariously just minutes beforehand, then proceeds to hang there with his feet on either side of his web.]

Think you can get up here? I can give you a boost if you need it!

[It is a pretty tall light pole.]

Hah! Who would need a boost for that?

[ Fabian sounds so pompous as he says it that it's like he's almost begging to fall flat on his face here..

But he doesn't. Mostly because he seems to be casting a sort of spell - not one that's very obvious to see, but there might be some sort of light to his feet as he starts moving. Another indication is the fact that he's definitely moving faster than any normal human could. He leaps up, and with dance-like steps he somehow seems to actually be able to run up the light pole.

The trick is not losing momentum, since that would definitely send him falling flat onto his face, but Fabian manages to make it all the way up there, moving to sit down on the upper horizontal part of the pole. ]

See? Easy!

[ If anything, the only thing he actually has to think about here is the hanging part. He doesn't have his battle sheet with him, so that's out of the question..

So after that moment of thought, he just allows himself to drop backwards until he's actually hanging off the pole, still holding onto the top with his legs, the bend of his knees wrapped around the pole there. It means he's not hanging quite as low as the other is, since he's hanging off that web, but he's hanging all the same!

Fabian moves his hands into thumbs up - or.. actually, they're thumbs down from Gorgug's point of view, but it's the intent that matters. ]

You're capturing us well from over there, right?

[ Does he need to apologise when it turns out that Gorgug turned his crystal's camera onto Spider-Man after he shot that web, and then zooooommeeed in on said web to get a clearer visual on the material? It's going to be in the playback, he's sorry. His mind is wondering if this guy is really part spider or if that substance is something interesting. He's a nerd.

It does mean he loses a few seconds when Fabian moves into action: mainly because he's still too zoomed in, and has to hit the controls to come back out. Fabian's already at the top by the time Gorgug directs the camera back onto him proper. But he doesn't miss the hanging part, and hey, it's cool to Gorgug, even if there's no chemical component he's trying to question from his point.

He's got them both in view, nodding vigorously when his attention is asked for.

Does he need to add hurdles into their competition? Maybe he can, but for now he'll stay silent, giving them both a thumbs up. He's a very quiet cheerleader, see..... ]

Make sure you get my good side!

[Man, he's facing a magic using type. He totally should have known that! But he's faced off with Dr. Strange, so this isn't anything new if he thinks about it too long. As he slowly ascends upward on his web, still upside down but moving to be more on Fabian's level.]

Hey, bendy bards first! I insist. Let's see some graceful moves up here!

[ Fabian is going to be so mad when he sees that footage.

Right now he's blissfully unaware though that half his coolness here didn't even get captured. Besides, there's opportunity for more coolness - especially now the other guy is challenging him even further. And Fabian never let a good challenge go.

So even though he's definitely going to risk dropping to the ground and losing the challenge entirely here, he can't resist upping the stakes. Hence why he grins without even seeming to worry or second-guess taking on this extra challenge, just saying: ]

Just watch!

[ And right as he says that, he moves to - non-magically, this time, it's just pure acrobatics, baby!! - sling himself around the top of the light pole he's hanging on. First he uses his knees to swing himself upwards, flipping over the top, grabbing onto it with his arms in order to swing his knees over too and then grabbing onto the pole again with his knees to be hanging upside down once more--

Which.. mostly goes well, thankfully. For a moment he does seem like his grip almost slips, but the boy manages to recover in time before he would have dropped far enough to possibly break his neck from the fall.

He smiles. Like he didn't almost slip up. Only a little bit of sweat here, guys! ]

H-- Hah!

[ He's definitely breathing heavily, whether it's from the effort or the realization he almost just fell. ]

I would love to see a spider guy do that!

[ Nodding!! Nodding at Spider-Man!!!

You know what one can appreciate while being the camera phone for these antics? The flexibility of the two. Gorgug knows he isn't going to go around hanging upside down or looking all lithe. Should he build some gadgets so he could? Imagine if he was hanging upside down...............

So maybe his mind wanders a little in all this, but it doesn't stop him from following the motions. But his camera focus does nudge towards Spider-Man when Fabian calls him out, even if it doesn't need to (he can fit them both on screen). But, speaking of seeing what a spider guy can do... ]

Are you actually part spider?

[ Very important in the middle of all this!! ]

[Dude! Please don't fall to your death, Peter will be tortured about it forever.]

Man, that's... I thought about that! The part spider thing. [As he talks, he stands up while upside down, his feet sticking to the bottom of the fixture Fabian's sitting on top of.] It definitely did something to me, but I've been kind of nervous to ask scientists to check it out under a microscope, 'cuz they would totally figure out my identity and maybe lock me in a room to experiment on me. You know, like in those freaky movies with freaky governments...?

Oh! Check this out!

[He proceeds to do this shit, like it's not the weirdest thing to break into while upside down sticking to a light pole.]

That is cheating, actually. [ Fabian comments as Peter does his own cool thing.. Not that it doesn't look cool, but-- look, Fabian can't just stick to the bottom of the light fixture like that! If he'd attempt to put his feet on there, he'd just fall off. He doesn't even think he's got a spell that could make him stick to there..

So it's cheating!!

Even if no other complaints come after that. He'll let Peter do his cool thing. It's just also cheating.

Besides, he's also kind of interested in the line of questioning Gorgug just started, so Fabian chimes in: ]

Do you really think they do all the things you see in movies though? [ .. a slight pause, and then a realization hits Fabian as he adds: ] Well, the government does suck.

[ Papa taught him!!

And, really, they've never been helped by it very much in any of their adventures.. ]

I think it's up to you and other spiders if you're a spider, not a government. But you should-- if you think you're a spider, that matters too. You can't let people get you down about that.

[ Just saying!! And Gorgug might have a few feelings about not feeling adequate to what you are, even if he does better about those these days. But sorry, Fabian, Gorgug is paying attention to you, and... ]

He's beating you, by the way. Sorry. I think you need your blanket.

[ Betrayal, bro... ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JUNE MINGLE.

slips in one more time because i can--

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject