TDM 006

[etrayamods]

⏵ arrival ⏴ Arrival is absolutely not normal this month. Instead of a hospital bed, you wake in a tunnel with a large group of other people. These are the residents. A woman’s voice in an earpiece hurriedly clues you in with an apology. I apologize; I had not planned to introduce you this way, but we are low on time. Please proceed down the hallway. An image of a shattered pearl pops up on your personal HUD and rotates. I am Aurora. You are joining many others on Etraya in order to save your world from destruction by completing missions. Your current mission is to find the pieces of this object that have become scattered in the library ahead of you. For everyone else, coming in is much the same. The instruction goes out to head to designated areas immediately, where companion bots will escort the residents of Etraya down into the depths, the area beneath where much the same is explained. ⏵ disrobing ⏴ The tunnel eventually opens directly into the foreroom of an expansive library, painted in marvelous hues and patterns with skylights far above. There are wizards milling about, bearded and holding tomes, quietly chatting amongst themselves. The reception area of the library has tall ceilings with equally tall doors Before you get too caught up in the scenery, a voice directs you forward. A gentleman, hunched and bespeckled craws out. "Make a line! Make a line, everyone! You cannot enter the library dressed as you are... Come forward and give me your name." The receptionist asks your given name and then hands over a box from underneath his counter. You can give him any name you want, he doesn’t seem to mind. It is tied with a tagged ribbon- labeling it accordingly. “The _____ robe of _______.” (First Letter of Given Name) (Last Letter of Given Name) A Controlling N Helpful A Melodies N Light B Glimmering O Floating B Discretion O Mind-Reading C Wet P Handsome C Growth P Climbing D Gruesome Q Gullible D Grasping Q Jumping E Observant R Ratty E Flying R Hurting F Powerful S Adhesive F Reading S Guiding G Psychedelic T Sweltering G Dancing T Bug-Speaking H Swift U Cheerful H Shouting U Exploding I Voracious V Anxious I Extracting V Complaining J Soft W Likeable J Punishing W Dividing K Keen X Ruthless K Creeping X Slapping L Fabulous Y Dramatic L Walking Y Charming M Fair Z Demonic M Listening Z Combustion As you read what the contents of the box may be, they form inside- Looking and behaving as your character expects them to. After all, magic is all in the wielder’s mind. Don your robes and enter the library. ⏵ unfamiliar familiars ⏴ For those without a familiar (like one hatched from an egg not too long ago) you may borrow one from the library counter. They all have strengths and weaknesses, but they will all assist in the very important mission. As you roam the library, they will make little indications that you are closer or further from finding a piece of the pearl. Pro • Hardworking • Gives correct directions 75% of time • Won’t run away from you • Very affectionate • Gives correct directions only when paired with another rat, toad, or personal pet. • Gives correct directions 90% of the time Con • Must feed bookworms • Will run away if too close to a cat • Does not care for you • Sleepy • Will run ahead • Gets distracted by rats ⏵ the task at hand ⏴ With robes donned and creature in hand, you must now complete your mission. Find the pieces of the shattered pearl. As you enter the library, you may notice that it’s all very dim. There’s oil lamps around the place that may be moved with you to assist in your journey if your robes do not already emit light. Break off and search the library. There is a directory at the front to point guests to all the different sections. Wings of the Library A General Works B Music C Philosophy, Religion D Fine Arts E History, Auxiliary Sciences F Language and Literature G Magic, General H Science J Geography, Anthopology K Medicine M Agriculture N Hobbies, Recreation P Social Science Q Military R Political Science S Practical Arts T Law W People X Education Y Spiders Each section looks enough like the last, though the books within have immense power. Pick up the wrong book, and you might conjure a dragon or a historical figure! You must persist and avoid making too much noise or breaking too many things. Or else the Librarian, a tall mass of knotted fabric will confiscate your robe and usher you back outside. Your name will be struck from the list, and you must pick a new one to re-enter the library to continue the search. You can try to fight back against him- he may be set alight with the lamp. But should you be starting fires in here? ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Any thread with 15 comments between you and another may be submitted to find a piece of the pearl. There are 20 pieces altogether, and we will determine if the mission was successful by March 28th. A post will go live on the OOC comm for this! This mission occurs out of time, similar to how the spaceship had. Meaning, those currently in game can experience these events any time between now, and March 14th. Please direct all questions to our mod queries comment! ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[copsormasks]

There's nothing left to save, Bruce.

[Jason rolls his eyes, pressing his lips into a line.]

Just a shit world with shit people.

[batsymbol]

Gotham's a lot like us. Angry and scarred. But there's still good people within it. I wouldn't have taken someone in if I didn't think they cared.

( He hasn't yet, but. He likes to think this other version of him more or less feels the same way and, judging from the others here he's come to interact with, he feels confident in being right about that. )

[copsormasks]

[Jason rolls his eyes again.]

Did you forget the part where I got fired because I was having some nightmares?

[Another eye roll. But the topic is clearly a sensitive spot for Jason.]

[batsymbol]

You didn't elaborate on why.

( And he wasn't about to press for it if Jason didn't want to talk about it. )

[copsormasks]

[Well, Bruce knows now. Jason tilts himself away from Bruce.]

I was having nightmares, okay? Like anyone else in the fucking city. Who hasn't been fucked up one way or another by Gotham.

[batsymbol]

( He doesn't look over — focuses on the road, but. He can feel the way Jason turns away some and he lets him. Quiet. Until he finally speaks, soft. )

I'm sorry. I know what it's like.

( All too well, unfortunately. )

[copsormasks]

Yeah, but you didn't throw in the cowl because of them. No one forced you to step back from doing what you love to do.

[Jason stares out the window as they pass various structures.]

No one told you you were a fucking mistake.

[batsymbol]

( That's an... interesting word there used for doing what they do. Love. )

You love it? ( He glances over for just a moment. ) Being Robin?

[copsormasks]

Of course I do. [Jason looks over at Bruce.] Take down bad guys? Being Robin is total freedom.

[batsymbol]

( He licks over his lips. Keeps looking ahead as he makes a turn. )

I don't love it. I do it because I have to. Because no one else will.

( And it often leaves him tired, both physically and emotionally. Never mind frustrated and angry. )

[copsormasks]

You sound like him. [Jason turns back toward the window.]

[batsymbol]

Did you think he loved it?

( Because he has to wonder now. )

[copsormasks]

I don't fucking know. [Jason shakes his head.] He can't bother to be around me any more.

[batsymbol]

For what it's worth and I imagine it won't mean much to you, but... I'm sure it's not that easy for him.

( At least, he believes it wouldn't be for him — from conversations he's had with the older version of himself here. )

You know why I started, don't you?

( Why he took up the cape and cowl to begin with. )

[copsormasks]

He fucking took away the only thing that mattered in my life! Then he flew off to London and left me behind.

[Jason pulls into himself, arms crossed tighter.]

Yeah, your parents were murdered in Crime Alley. You're an orphan like me.

[batsymbol]

( At that, he glances over. )

Is that what happened to you?

[copsormasks]

Drugs took my mom. Two-Face, my dad.

[Kid has been Through It.]

[batsymbol]

( He doesn't know Two-Face — hasn't yet met many of those who will go against The Batman, but. He keeps his gaze on him, blue eyes sympathetic, then looks back ahead. )

I'm sorry.

[copsormasks]

[Jason shakes his head.]

Doesn't fucking matter.

[batsymbol]

( The apartments coming into view, he doesn't bother to speed up, but doesn't slow down either. Rather, he keeps it at the speed he's currently going, fingers squeezing at the steering wheel. )

I meant what I said earlier. ( A beat. ) If you need anything, I'm around. You can probably find my contact on the ear piece.

[copsormasks]

[Jason shakes his head, but doesn't look ready to leave. As much as he hates Leslie Thompson, it's oddly refreshing to take the shit out of a Bruce, even if it's not his Bruce.]

Don't count on it.

[batsymbol]

Just letting you know.

( Another turn, he lets himself drive with one hand then, gently cruising towards the apartments. )

[copsormasks]

Look, if you're anything like the Bruce I know, you'll barely pick up my phone calls and then you'll remind me how disappointed you are every fucking second. I'm not holding my breath.

[Jason can see the apartments approaching and curls up on himself even more.]

[batsymbol]

I answer texts when they come in to me.

( He doesn't always reach out himself, but. He does answer. Just like he always keeps an eye on the networks, even if he doesn't reply to ninety-nine percent of them. )

If I knew a Jason back in my own Gotham, would you want me to assume everything about you from my experiences with him?

[copsormasks]

[Jason is about to retort that he'll believe when he sees it, but then Bruce asks about a Gotham with another Jason Todd.

Another him that he could possibly help.

He's caught off guard and he hesitates for a moment.] No. I'd want want you to give him a fair shot.