APRIL MINGLE.

[etrayamods]

❬ ARRIVAL ❭

Welcome to Etraya!

Arrival goes as expected- characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital.

In the hospital's lobby are several tables with baked goods and treats: strawberry rhubarb muffins, lemon-blueberry muffins, strawberry shortbread cookies, and so on. To drink there is Earl Grey tea, milk, or coffee.

Outside of the hospital the previous decorations from festivities are gone, and all seems relatively normal for those familiar. For those new, this area acts a little as a central hub, with the apartments not far away and the trolley with its two lines similarly nearby. With spring in the air, the temperatures are mild, but warm, and flowers are blooming all around.

The bots will suggest that the newcomers should take the trolley to Bramble Valley, where there are even more awe-inspiring flowers in bloom along the grassy lowlands, but flowers won't be the only thing blooming.

Once they have arrived, further instructions will be given.

❬ FLOWERS WITH A FEELING ❭

While the newcomers are directed in person by the bots to come to Bramble Valley, current residents of Etraya will receive a message urging them to come to a specific location not far from the trolley stop in the area.

The lowlands are covered in various blooms of all types, a veritable kaleidoscope of petals surrounding picnic baskets resting upon blankets in the heart of it all. A single bot awaits within this clearing to give instructions for those arriving for this mini-mission.

While the flowers are plentiful and of vibrant colors, there is a particular type of blossom that everyone is tasked with finding: a type of solitary poppy with petals as clear as glass, which stains with color once touched by a person, forever changed by this connection. This color means something about them, it symbolizes a truth—a deep feeling within them. One might stain red for the love that drives them, but just as likely this could be one's hatred, or anger. How this color represents or defines them is unique to them, but whether or not they understand what it means is another matter.

This flower will serve as the centerpiece of the flower bracelets everyone is expected to make, but the task is only complete when one has likewise spoken to another over what they think their respective colors might mean. This is, fortunately, made all the simpler with the flowers having a somewhat calming effect, making conversation a bit easier for those who might find it difficult otherwise.

Once the task is completed participants will earn 5 points.

❬ PICNIC PALS ❭

Of course all that foraging for elusive flowers will work up an appetite, and what better way to talk about one's feelings and satiate that hunger in one fell swoop than to have a picnic? There are plenty of picnic spots set up to accommodate all the Etrayans, and while one might have their idea of what a picnic basket should have inside of it, not every picnic basket is exactly... predictable.

Some will have sandwiches like ham and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, roast beef—very standard affair. There are others a little unorthodox, pizza in particular filling one basket to the brim, another with steaming bowls of ukha. However, there are those which stray further yet: vials of blood, raw organ meat, solar light, brains, even small crystallized yet alive (and violent) creatures.

While this non-exhaustive list might seem random to some, it isn't quite to others. Maybe someone will want to trade baskets?

❬ MINGLE NOTES ❭

📌 — Welcome to Etraya and happy spring!

📌 — The 5 points are towards the monthly maximum of 25, characters only need to do this once to earn them.

📌 — The flowers themselves do not radiate any detectable magical properties, even the calming effects are something more natural to the flower, even to those of supernatural ability can still be affected by it once they touch the flower.

📌 — A slightly unrelated note, but as it has roughly been a year since their introduction, those who have taken towards training or raising chocobo will find their efforts rewarded! All chocobo colors will be available from any domesticated chocobo hatchlings, except for gold. Rarer ones like black, white, and silver should be rnged for (5% chance) and only come from cross color pairings. The red chocobos won't be able to cause the same destruction as Red Comet (the red chocobo that is currently running free around Etraya), but they have a high chance to have a similarly fiery temperament!

📌 — For all questions relating to this mingle, please refer to the mingle queries comment on this post. Other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

🔵FULL NAVIGATION🔵

Comments

mingle queries.

[etrayamods]

[thantagonist]

Flowers with a Feeling

[He knows completing whatever they ask is of utmost importance. So he feels a little absurd when he comes up and realizes it’s a field of flowers. Doubly so when he’s instructed to make a flower bracelet. He has never actually made one, considering the activity below him even as a child.

When he approaches to investigate, the flowers around him saturate into a deep red. His heart pounds in his chest to regard them at all. His hands are at least used to delicate work… he very seriously constructs a bracelet with suture thread and flowers as he meditates on what the blood red color might mean.]

Why don’t you go first? I’m still constructing mine.

Picnic Pals

[He looks sort of out of place here. In a big, black leather coat with panels of snakeskin leather for the arms. He leans over baskets, peering inside. Bags of Blood. Oh dear. Curiosity has the best of him as he seems determined to check them all.

Fried fish? And this one piled with triangular slabs of flat bread?]

This is surely no way to pack a basket. Are we meant to eat this? There was blood in the one over there.

Flowers with a Feeling

[unalienated]

[ The man Daniil has accidentally addressed is done making a bracelet. In fact, he has made several of them, as well as a necklace and a flower crown.

He's in the process of making a second flower crown currently and he seems to be having the time of his life. ]

Mine turned yellowish? Yellowish green? I think it means friendship.

[ He is mistaken, but there's no rule that says he has to be right. ]

That's a nice shade of red. It reminds me of arterial blood.

[thantagonist]

[Daniil looks up to regard this… man completely adorned in flowers. He clearly had none of the trouble Daniil did with just weaving them together. He frowns at that yellowy-green color.]

Friendship looks like sickness to you?

[It does indeed look like arterial blood. Which begs the question—]

How come you’re familiar with such a thing?

you asked for this ✨

[numinousname]

[by contrast, the flowers where Tristan has knelt keep their varied array, save for the particular breed that they were tasked in finding: that one, carefully being cupped against a burst of wind, seems rather dark. but it can be hard to see with the wind kicking up and scattering petals about.

the man's voice carries on that breeze, too, however, and Tristan lifts their head to scan about for sight of the source. they blink, brushing bangs out of their face as they straighten and, upon realizing they don't recognize the face, smile wanly.

Go first, he said?]

Ah... Do you mean in searching? I've found one of the target plants already, I believe. Come see. It can be yours, if you need one in a hurry.

[thantagonist]

[This fellow with unnatural colors. He’s not even sure what all they are, genderly speaking, but he notes the pointed ears and the peculiar hair. A very beautiful and strange person, that’s for certain. Daniil trips over his words as he regards the other.]

Oh, no— I’ve found mine… [He looks down to his hands where he’s pierced its base with needle and suture thread to make a bracelet.]

I’m just not sure what to make of it. The sight of it… makes me uneasy, I suppose. But I’m in no great rush otherwise.

Picnic Pals

[godsandbats]

[Kirk also oddly sticks out. Except with him, it's because of the red sunglasses, dark brimmed hat, and matching dark clothes. Naturally, the mention of blood gets Kirk's attention. He takes a peek at that basket as well]

Some of these are probably not meant for the general population.

[Him on the other hand...]

[thantagonist]

Don’t tell me it’s for the “vampires”.

[He had already been through this with Antigone.]

Someone here already tried to see what I wouldn’t swallow. I’m no fool.

[He looks the man over and squints. He’s just fashionable, right?]

flowers!

[ornithologist]

[ Harold has chilled out quite a bit by now in terms of how he feels about the urgency of their duties. He still does them all, of course -- no need to take senseless risks for what are mostly silly, if overly personal, assignments -- but he's far more sanguine about it than he was in the first few months of his stay in Etraya.

Flower bracelets are new to Harold, but simple mechanical tasks are not, and he appreciates the chance to be outside in nature after the worst of winter has ebbed. He's a well-dressed older gentleman with a proper brimmed hat to shield his eyes as he eases flower stems around each other, weaving them together. He glances up at Daniil's arrival, eyebrows quirking as the petals around him take on a crimson color like a splash of blood. Harold's feelings are contained, kept close to him, the flowers in his hands the deep blue-green of middle ocean, but none spreading to the unplucked plants beyond the perimeter of his picnic blanket.

It's the color of grief. Perfectly obvious to him. ]

I can't say I've finished, either. Perhaps I should be following your lead and using thread.

[ It's a paltry deflection, but he's not about to leap into discussing his grief with a stranger. He might not fulfill the task at all if that's his only option. ]

[thantagonist]

[Daniil is a young, handsome man who has worn wrinkles into his brow by scrunching it at everything. He wears a red cravat at his neck with a pin, a red vest, and a big black coat accented with snake skin.]

There’s nothing that says it needs to be beautiful.

[He ties the knot off with forceps and snips the thread with a sharp little pair of scissors. It could be worse. A blood red flower with other dark blossoms paired with it. Despite seeming uninterested or uncomfortable in this task, he at least cares to do nice enough within his ability. He seems to really care about his appearance.]

I have enough to share. [He holds out the spool of suture thread as he eyes the other man’s flower, drawing his own conclusions.]

I’m Bachelor Daniil Dankovsky. And you are?

Renoir | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

[betenoir]

OTA | The Artist

cw: painting without a license

[Renoir studies the world as sterile apartments and streetlights are replaced by verdant fields and trees. These surroundings lack the picturesque colour and untouched beauty of the continent, but there are scenes to appreciate. He unwinds once the trolley heads outside the city and opens his sketchbook to remember what he sees. Be that the land flying by or fellow passengers.

Blooms and blossoms. Leaves and stems. Their destination overwhelms the senses with a magical and aromatic scent; a heady combination of citrus and honey or sugar and spice. He establishes himself on the border of a meadow, inhaling the scent of lavender while erecting an easel and canvas, and begins drawing everything and everyone in view.]

OTA | The Flower

cw: criminal foraging

[One flower, solitary and special, with a distinctive appearance. This poppy grows one meter out the ground - thriving and alive - but is plucked at the stem and broken in a second. White and milky sap coats old and wizened fingers, which roll the thin and hairy stem between calluses earned across a lifetime of painting, while five petals stain a deep red.

His throat rumbles in consideration before he speaks.]

What force can lift one from the heights of despair or drive them into madness?

[The answer is love.]

OTA | The Basket

cw: afternoon drinking

[Renoir stretches across a woollen blanket; a crimson throw detailed with patterns of golden flora. He murmurs while kneading his thigh, loosening snarled and tangled muscle, before loosening the knots around his knee. He begins sorting the basket with one hand, packing cheese and tapenade, withdrawing one glass together with a green bottle of chartreuse.

Opposite is an empty plate littered with crumbs, beside which is a bowl of unfinished stew. One handful of peas and beans soaking in a light broth, together with a couple of chunks of lamb.

He looks at his glass for one second before gently tossing it onto the blanket. He then unscrews the bottle and drinks from the neck.]

basket

[rudelanguage]

[Oh, sure - when other people eat on the ground, it's no big deal, but when I mind my own damn business having a snack, it's "Antigone, noooo, think of the diseases," or "Pending, nooooo, that's expired."

the thought hits some seconds after stopping and noticing that the old man wasn't sitting there because he hurt his leg or something. it was a choice. and now she has a choice as to whether to continue the cycle of nagging about ground-eating or not.

she doesn't so much take the high road as like...a parallel road so it feels somewhat different even if it's in the same direction.]

The giant birds're gonna jump you for leavin' all that on the ground, y'know. [she pads over, the red riding hood skirts she'd been forced into at the park stuffed into a disorderly wad in her arms (shoulda kept the basket).]

[betenoir]

[Renoir tilts his head back and lowers the bottle from his mouth. He was aware of her passing by till she was not - and now like her he has a choice to make. He could respond with a blunt and honest truth. I have faced worse creatures. But the weather is good and liqueur has him in a warm and stubborn mood.]

I will sit where I want and leave when I please.

[This is a public space and the space on the opposite side of the blanket offers enough room for his guest to do the same.]

the flower

[halfshit]

[Shirley has mostly spend this little 'mission' standing about squinting in the sun. She's lived in London for years and years now; she's not used to the countryside. And even if she were, looking for one particular flower in a whole field of the things like searching for a needle in a haystack is her idea of a bad time.

Finally, she spots one of the clear ones and plucks it, watching as its petals turn a warm, rich brown. The exact shade of that stupid fucking god damn fucking fuck of a coat that Marcus was wearing.

She wants to chuck the thing away. Maybe step on it. But before she can, somebody near her starts speaking.]

Dunno, [she says dryly. The answer he's looking for is probably something like True Love or whatever, but she's not in the mood.] A really good lamb oggie?

Vax'ildan Vessar (Vox Machina) - OTA (will match format)

[twin_blade]

Flowers (A)

[ When things change in Etraya, Vax is always holding his breath, waiting for something to go wrong or for it to get fucking weird. It's been really quiet lately, though. Dull, even, for a champion who would rather be tested in a fight than flower picking.

And yet, in the field of blooms, the half-elf sits, surrounded by colors. A breeze stirs his hair and the surrounding blossoms in a gentle wave. A handsome elf sitting among flowers would be practically picturesque were it not for the stark contrast of his darker clothing. He isn't wearing his matron's armor, instead, opting for a black linen shirt that opens in a V against his chest and rolled sleeves. Tan, casual trousers are tucked into comfortable leather boots.

One of his knees is drawn up, his arm resting loosely over it, and in his hand, he slowly twirls a single flower whose color is unique. Its delicate petals are black but with threads of gold that spring out from the center. It was translucent before he claimed it.

As he sits there moving the flower between his fingertips, his gaze is distant, fixed on some far off point with the weight of his thoughts. That is, until he gets the sense he's no longer alone and turns his head to look. ]

Flowers (B) - (appearance same as A scenario)

[ The soft silkiness of petals is handled with care as another stem is woven into what's becoming a circular pattern in Vax's hands. A flower crown. There's a stillness in nature around him as he concentrates on his work; a stillness interrupted only by the occasional soft 'hum' in thought as Vax looks over the blooms that surround him where he sits. Once he decides on another, he picks it and adds it to the project.

What would she like? It was becoming too plain. Something bolder. Brighter. Daring. Already, he can hear the sharp quip of his sister's words in his ear. Teasing him over his work but settling on not hating it. Secretly liking it because he made it for her. Were Vex here in person, he’d be weaving the flowers into her braid, instead. This trinket will have to do.

Even if it's not perfect, and he has to stop and adjust the presentation now and again, the quiet moment of concentration makes Vax feel more at peace than he has in a while. There was no one to argue with. The anxiety he buried deep down about being in Etraya eased. The scope of the world narrowed, and his hands, which were best suited for holding sharp daggers or picking locks were used for something more delicate.

Next to him sits a small collection of blue feathers, one of which he reaches for to weave into the circle. He's so focused, he hardly notices when an observer comes near. ]

Wildcard

[ Insert your own starter! ]

Izuku "Deku" Midoriya | My Hero Academia

[wannasmash]

Arrival

Waking up in a hospital bed is nothing new for Izuku Midoriya. It's the events immediately preceding this that have him bolting out of the hospital ("Excuse me, sorry!!") at super speed, the harmless sparks of his power dancing around him. He has no time to listen to an AI. He has to rendezvous with Bakugou because otherwise his team will be in dire straits. He has a battle to get back to, a country to save. Everything is shut down in a state of emergency. He would have been preparing for finals, summer camp, and his 17th birthday otherwise...

At the edge of the city where land meets bubble, the sound of something hitting the barrier with the force of a train frightens birds into the air above a park. A young Hero in a dark green jumpsuit and tattered yellow cape drops to one knee and dispels the energy of his power, his punch damaging but unsuccessful at breaking through the panels.

"Barrier's regenerated already... Ugh—here comes the recoil..." he mutters to himself, hair sticking to the sweat on his face. He collapses roughly with his limbs shaking. A few minutes to wait it out—

"Who's there?"

Picnic

After scouring the city trying to find a way to get out of this place or contact home, Midoriya wanders despondently into Bramble Valley. What the robots keep telling him can't be true, can it?

He ignores the task given, but he can't ignore all these baskets strewn around. What gives? Did an entire group of people get scared away by something? There isn't any threat here now... He peeks inside one of them, hoping to glean a clue about the owner.

"Raw meat?!" he blurts out. "It's not even in a container!" Gross!

Arrival

[levelshift]

It's hard to avoid the sound of someone messing with the Etrayan barrier. It makes Accelerator cringe, and he isn't sure if there's anyone around here who can take care of that. The companion bots aren't exactly reliable, and outside of Harold and John he isn't sure if there are any Etrayans currently present who understand the importance of the barrier. John, Harold, Jon and Jayce are the only ones he's shared his analysis with, and of them John, Harold and Jayce are regular humans, and Jon is a kid, he shouldn't have to be forced to deal with some idiot breaking things.

That's why he sighs and switches modes on his choker. With the sound of a sonic boom, he races on over to where this jerk has landed, and as he skids to a halt he realizes that he recognizes him. Not well, mind you, but they did fight once, and that stuck in his memories.

"Hey shithead," he starts abrasively, switching modes on his choker again and leaning on his crutch. "We need the barrier, so don't go breaking it. You should know better than this."

[wannasmash]

The barrier really needs to work on its public relations if only a handful of people trust in it. Right now Midoriya only sees it as an obstacle to getting back home.

Midoriya is intimately aware of the specific sound of a sonic boom. He broke the sound barrier himself when he traveled faster than a speeding bullet to save the life of a former enemy and the heart of another. He turns on Danger Sense and tucks one foot under him to crouch. It's the only Quirk he has that doesn't have a visual manifestation. He could make himself look scary, but that could be perceived as looking for a fight. Heroes are trained to deescalate too.

Midoriya looks at him like a stranger. He has no idea who he is, only that (at the moment) he's not looking to hit him. He analyses him. Someone confident enough to tell someone with great strength to cut it out. Can he back it up? Well, he is someone who appeared just after a sonic boom. Someone who uses a crutch for regular walking, a thing that reminds Midoriya of Gran Torino, the old-timer who is plenty fast.

"Can you tell me what you need it for?" he asks between short breaths, his usual polite but casual way of speaking at odds with the guarded way he eyes Accelerator and his muscles coiled like springs. Sure, he can't move much in this state, but he's rapidly thinking of a few ways he might change that if he really needs to. (He doesn't want to have to need to.)

arrival!

[nimbuster]

If there's one thing Cloud remembers about Izuku's powers, it's that they're not subtle. He recognizes the very particular way superhuman speed manifests for this kid, as opposed to any of the other superhuman people here - it's distinct.

So when he spots those sparks flashing at a bit of a distance, he dismounts the chocobo he's riding with a leap and takes off, hoping to intercept the kid. As a SOLDIER, his top sprinting speed is nothing to sneeze at, but he can't come close to keeping up with Izuku. He doesn't get close enough to call out to him until the resounding boom of that smash tells Cloud exactly what's happening in that park.

He finally catches up while the kid is recovering. He learned his lesson once about approaching too fast and startling him, though, so he slows down and stops before he gets close enough to potentially register as a threat.

"Hey, kid. You're back." It sounds casual, but there's a certain warmth to it, and Cloud's smiling just a little. Anyone who knew him would know it means he's legitimately pleased, but it probably doesn't register as anything much to someone who doesn't.

Izuku does, though...right?

A second later, though, his brow furrows. "What are you doing?"

[wannasmash]

Cloud addresses him familiarly. It's strange. Midoriya looks at him like a stranger. Cloud seems capable. Of what, Midoriya can't be sure. He turns on Danger Sense, the only Quirk he has that doesn't have a visual tell. Nothing sensed, so there's that. Though, why does he feel like he was just caught doing something in class he shouldn't? He's not even the delinquent type, but he sure is Aizawa-sensei's problem child.

"Sorry for the trouble. I was just leaving."

Leaving the park? Trying to leave to go back to his homeworld? Sure. His polite words are at odds with his muscles tensed like coiled springs and fixed gaze ready for anything. He shakily adjusts his crouch, but he's not up to standing just yet, not without some serious help from his Quirk.

picnic

[newsbeat]

Clark is less of a picnic guy than one might expect. He doesn't hate it, but there's dust and dander and animals (well, most places there are animals) and you have to take all that into account, plus have the right setup...it absolutely requires the right company or he's not likely to bother. But this is sort of like a mission, and the safety of his world is always in the back of his mind.

Sounds like the bots have a skewed idea of what's appropriate for a picnic, though. Ew. "Maybe they're going for steak tartare?" Yeah...not likely.

spoilers

[wannasmash]

"Who's 'they'—" Several things crash through Midoriya's mind when he turns his head to look at the speaker. Hero. English-speaking (American?). An adult, a Pro Hero. He springs to his armored feet, all confusion about steak tartare gone. By now Midoriya knows that everyone has the benefit of auto-translation, so he'll leave stumbling through the English he learned in school for another time.

"I'm Deku. I need to get back to Japan immediately. We're experiencing a national emergency with the most powerful Villain the world has seen and we've mobilized every Hero we can, Pro or not. What country are you with? I need to get out of here now."

Everything and everyone Midoriya has encountered in this city thus far tells him that leaving is not possible, but this is a guy in a suit and cape. That's the uniform of someone who will help others. That's the uniform he himself bears, and he earned it with blood, sweat, and tears, not to mention several broken bones.

"Please," he adds at the end even though he doesn't need to, and a slight gutturalness of emotion escapes into what is otherwise a tightly clipped report.

Claire Redfield | Resident Evil

[letmelive]

[ happy to match brackets or prose! ]

arrival

This wakeup is a little less jarring than the one in the amusement park. Claire is able to sit and take in the information about what is going on a little more easily. She's not any happier about it than she was the first time around, but she's had food and sleep so she can process it, at least.

She doesn't linger long in the room she wakes up in, but she does stop in the lobby and snag a few cookies. Knowing that Sherry isn't here gives her a little reprieve from the panic she'd felt before, though there is guilt settled deep in her belly. The cookies don't much help with that, but she lingers in the lobby all the same, looking to see who else emerges from the hospital rooms.

flowers with a feeling

Flowers aren't exactly high on Claire's priority list as far as things go, but the little robots are annoyingly persistent, so she relents and rides the trolley to Bramble Valley.

Finding herself roped into looking for some magic clear flower is maybe not the most insane thing that's happened to her in the past few days, but it is getting on her nerves.

"This is so stupid," she mutters to herself more than once as she steps through the flowers, eyes scanning the ground as she goes. The flowers are pretty, she can concede that much, but like hell she's saying it out loud. When she spots the right flower she huffs out a breath, picking it with the aid of her knife. The petals are stained a deep rose hue as she straightens with it, twirling it in her fingers.

"Okay, that's kinda cool I guess."

flowers

[fieldtrip]

"Is it?"

Toph doesn't sound annoyed so much as bored. Yet another thing she can't complete without someone else's help. Ugh.

She's a small barefoot girl dressed in loose and tomboyish modern clothes, copious amounts of black hair tucked up into a headband, her eyes the blank milky-white of someone born totally blind.

The confidence with which she moves, though, might make someone second-guess the assumption that she's unable to see. Reaching down, she takes the same kind of flower she sensed Claire picking and straightens up with a single stem. The crystal-clear petals are immediately swept across with a vibrant orange.

Toph holds it up insistently to her new companion. "What color is this? It's green, isn't it?"

Okay, so she's definitely blind.

[letmelive]

When Toph appears, Claire can't help but be angry for a moment because here is yet another defenseless little girl being pulled into this strange place. She doesn't know how it's fair for an entire universe's reality to be placed on such a small girl's shoulders. That feeling doubles when she realizes she's blind. Still, she doesn't seem helpless, and that is the only thing that keeps Claire from immediately adopting the gentle tone she used with Fio.

"Oh, it's... definitely orange. Why did you think it would be green?"