JUNE MINGLE.

[etrayamods]

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⏴

Comments

[revengeisalie]

[ Sorry, that completely passes Rin by. She figures Rosie would know from history books. ]

Yeah? What would you say that is?

[hasitsthorns]

[ No need to be sorry, Rin, Rosie doesn't want anyone to know anyway! But she's not as good at lying as she thinks, unfortunately. ]

Hm, I think- Soul, maybe? Fallen away for the sake of convenience. A lot of stuff is automated or mass-produced and, sure, it makes life easier but you lose the personal touches and meaning to things.

[revengeisalie]

Hmmm...

[ Rin considers that. ]

Yeah, I guess it's less personal if it's not hand-made.

Is it similar to this world?

[hasitsthorns]

Kind of! Japan did a good job of trying to encapsulate the past, I think, but it's still not quite the same as it used to be.

It's closer to here though than what you might remember.

[revengeisalie]

Well, here is definitely very different from home. Very different. I think the most these places have in common is that there are trees and rivers and buildings and shops. But some of those things are different, too.

[ She kind of ranted there, oops. She takes a breath. ]

Sorry. It's been an adjustment.

[hasitsthorns]

[ Honestly? It's kind of refreshing to Rosie. Everyone's overall been so even-tempered and composed, she's felt a bit... unhinged getting emotional as she has about some things now and again. ]

No need to apologize! I can only imagine. Going from what I remember of Edo, I'd definitely have been way more lost arriving here directly from there versus Tokyo.

[ It's also not the first time she's been completely displaced in such a way, but-! Details. Learning how to be human was... definitely a trial, in the beginning, but she thinks she did okay. ]

[revengeisalie]

[ See, now that catches her attention. ]

You remember Edo?

1/3, lmfao

[hasitsthorns]

-Uh!

[hasitsthorns]

Yeah, I mean, from like. Textbooks. And things. In history class. At... school.

Yes.

[hasitsthorns]

That's, uh. That's what I meant by remember.

[ Saved it.

(No.) ]

[revengeisalie]

[ HMMMM. Looking a bit nervous there, lady. Two parts of Rin are in conflict within her: the part that's a polite young woman who should not pry... and the other is her curiosity.

She turns to eye the selection of cupcakes. ]

Say, have you heard of the legend of the eight hundred year old nun?

[hasitsthorns]

[ Hm, well- While Rosie thinks she knows where this is going, she decides to see what happens. ]

Yaobikuni, right? Ate some cursed seafood, ended up immortal or- Something like that. I don't know all the details, but I have heard the tale.

[revengeisalie]

[ There's another small pause as Rin ponders whether to keep going.

Her decision is in the affirmative. ]

Mmh, yes. I have met her. Or someone who claimed to be her, at any rate. I don't know if she was the same one.

But she's immortal.

[ There! Now she's let slip that she's familiar with the concept of immortality without specifically revealing her bodyguard's immortality. Y'know, in case he should ever show up here.

She shoots Rosie a surreptitious glance. ]

[hasitsthorns]

Wha- You met her? [ Incredulously: ] Man, lucky.

[ Granted, Rosie has met other important figures like- ]

I came across Zennyo Ryūō once. Honestly? Kind of a dickbag. [ Most immortals - and dragon deities, in particular - are though, she thinks. After so long of living, you get tired and cranky.

But also, she does see what they're doing here. Dropping little hints, testing the waters... With all the non-humans here, it probably shouldn't be something she's worried about. After all, Gorgug is a green orc walking around and no one seems to mind. Old habits die hard, of course, but what's the real harm in letting people know she's a little more than mortal? ]

[revengeisalie]

Really?

[ Now it's Rin's turn to be surprised. Her eyes widen, and she musters Rosie with a clearly interested expression. ]

What happened?

[hasitsthorns]

[ Flat, annoyed: ]

He tried to drown me. [ Which isn't Rin's fault by any means, but

Ugh. What a dick. It makes her mad all over again thinking about it. ]

[revengeisalie]

[ Her expression turns incredulous. ]

Well, that's not good!

[hasitsthorns]

I mean, I... might have called him a shriveled up fossil.

But that doesn't warrant trying to drown me!

[ No, it doesn't, but also most deities weren't known for their mercy and especially not when directly insulted. ]

[revengeisalie]

[ A bemused look adorns Rin's face. ]

Ah... I don't think it does, no.

[hasitsthorns]

[ She expected a verbal clapback, not a literal thunderous one and a torrent of rain sweeping her away. ]

Yeah, so-! He's just kind of a dick, in my opinion, but that's been one of my only experiences with any one important in mythos myself.

[revengeisalie]

I do hear the gods and spirits tend to be quite capricious.

[ There are numerous tales in Japan of supernatural beings just messing with people because they felt like it, or people simply getting caught in the crossfires of their conflicts. ]

[hasitsthorns]

[ Considering a lot of yokai are born of human fears, well- She'd argue it can't be helped in some cases.

Shed' be proving her own point wrong though since, well, here she is as an okuri inu who doesn't eat people that trip on mountain passes at night. Nor does she want to. All she wants, really, is to live. ]

That's definitely a word for it! Kitsunes were always my favorite though. Mischievous little guys. They made things a lot more fun whenever they were around.

[revengeisalie]

Oh, so you've met them! What kind of stuff did they get up to?

[hasitsthorns]

A few, here or there!

Mostly harmless pranks like misplacing people's clothes when they bathed anywhere or turning people around and getting them lost out in the woods.

[revengeisalie]

[ That elicits a giggle from Rin, which she conceals behind her hand. ]

That about sounds like what people tell of them!