etrayamemes | TDM 002

Entry tags:

!tdm

TDM 002

⏵ arrival⏴
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.

When the first round of citizens arrived, Aurora and the companion bots had been largely unprepared. This time? They made sure to put up welcome banners, even if the sentiment isn't quite right. There are cupcakes and cookies set out in the hospital's lobbies, and a digital map has been placed just in front of the entrance of the hospital, telling others how to reach the various locations throughout Etraya. Companion bots wander throughout the city, some carrying construction equipment to half-built facilities while others act as nurses, servers, or sales associates throughout the constructed buildings.

⏵ rainy awakenings ⏴

Many concepts are new to Aurora, including rain. She is familiar with how it functions, and its purpose, but rain has never been present on the lands of Etraya. Given how new it is, that may not be all too surprising - but the method of how it’s being introduced is… a little much. Rainfall commences in the early days of April, a persistent downpour that waxes and wanes in intensity but never ceases entirely.

Most nights in Etraya are characterized by a soothing patter of rain against rooftops. Yet, some nights leave the grounds flooded come morning. Rivers begin to swell, the current much too strong to justify trying to go for a swim. These showers also bring a new assortment of plants blooming across the green lands: bright blossoms whose petals spread wide when the yellow sun shines down on them, while numerous cherry blossom trees have grown out of nowhere, flourishing despite the rainfall. Clover carpets the grassy expanses of the islands, weaving a beautiful tapestry of color across the grounds.

⏵ Getting drenched by the rain can trigger a surge, followed by a slump. Initially, individuals will feel giddy, excited, full of energy, and ready to take on the world. However, in the subsequent days, they’ll find themselves feeling depressed, lacking the energy and motivation to move forward. Aurora advises that these effects are only temporary and should fade within the week, but they can be resolved more quickly by embracing a stranger. Attempting to hug anyone they already know well will not produce the same effect.

⏵ With the rain comes a significant increase in the greenery around Etraya that isn’t fake. Most of these plants will resemble ones originally found in the characters' universes.

⏵ A couple of these plants contain magical properties:

The Emberloom is a bright red, fiery flower that only inhabits smaller land masses. Those exposed to its pollen will experience heightened aggression and impulsivity.

Shadowbloom resemble tulips during the day, but during the night the petals open and it looks more like the night sky: dark petals with specs of white throughout them. Growing too close to the apartment building for comfort, those who look at the petals after nightfall will fall into a deep sleep. Worse yet: the dreams they find themselves in are not their own, but are the dreams of other residents. Ones who had not looked into the Shadowbloom, but had drifted off to sleep elsewhere on the planet. The one who looked into the Shadowbloom will find they cannot awaken until the person whose dream they have entered does.

These flowers will continue to bloom through April, after which the companion bots will search for and remove them from the atmosphere bubble.

⏵ If there is a specific, unique plant that those in game (or those accepted during the next round!) would like to add, please comment to the LOCATIONS page! We’ll add mentions of these to the Outskirts section.

Along with the botanical resurgence, numerous new animals appear: glowing fish swim freely through the waters. In the canopy above, new species of birds and critters flit among the branches. Some diligently construct new nests in anticipation of the coming spring, while others seek refuge in the shelter of trees, retreating from the weather.

Not all the creatures are so small, or so peaceful.

⏵ Small critters make themselves comfortable in the forested area around Etraya, staying mostly out of the way. There are the occasional visitors that will let themselves in through windows for a quick visit, or maybe a snack, but they’re mostly harmless.

⏵ Several larger beasts make their way into the city to try and find land that’s more habitable for them. Giraffes navigate gracefully through the areas designated for new arrivals, using their elongated necks to reach for the foliage near the hospital when they aren’t finding new places to make themselves comfortable. An eclectic array of cats, ranging in all sizes and breeds, brazenly saunter into buildings they don’t belong. Hopefully, the lioness lounging in the apartment complex's common area does not prevent residents from reaching their rooms, because she has no intention of yielding.

⏵ The leopard adorned with a rattlesnake tail in the hospital's cafeteria may be difficult to ignore, given his determination to devour everything in sight and attack anyone in his way.

⏵ Cat scratches and bites pose a significant risk of infection. In the event a character is injured, individuals can expect the companion bots to quickly seek them out and approach them with a special antibiotic cream developed specifically for these cats. Refusal of treatment may result in severe symptoms, including high fevers and itching. In extreme cases, individuals may begin to exhibit cat-like characteristics, ranging from physical alterations to changes in mental traits.

⏵ Numerous other creatures of all shapes and sizes will be coming and going through the city. You may play with this as you wish!

While the uproar caused by these guests doesn’t particularly bother Aurora, she does send out a message to everyone wearing an earpiece to request their assistance in capturing the larger animals that her companion bots may not be able to handle themselves. She has converted an island to the East into a temporary holding area until the companion bots can set them up with something a little more permanent.

⏵ network ⏴

Welcome to Etraya! Upon your arrival, Aurora provided an earpiece, a device to make communication with others stuck in the same situation more simple. The device connects to an internal network, which is accessible by everyone else currently residing on planet. Whether you’re looking for guidance, camaraderie, or want to see if there are any familiar faces around, this is the perfect place to do it! Please feel free to post any questions, offer your name, ask for assistance, or maybe complain to the powers that be about how you’ve got better things to be doing than sitting around here completing their missions. Maybe they’re listening. Maybe they’re not.

⏵ NOTES⏴

⏵ During April, Etraya’s getting a little wet! Those who spend too long in the rain may experience a few unfortunate effects.

⏵ The rain brings in new flora, including a couple that may cause characters to experience aggression and impulsivity, or take a stroll through others’ dreams.

⏵ New animals also appear! While many of them are friendly, others… are less so. The cats specifically seem to be a little grumpy. Characters scratched or bitten by these cats may find themselves becoming just as catty.

For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please reply below. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. The TDM is game canon, meaning everything happening above is occurring within the game properly. Those who apply to join in the April application round may keep their TDM threads as game canon.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( it's damian.

even more surprisingly: it's damian and not robin, as he has insisted on dressing as since the moment he arrived here. the influx of familiar faces left him with little choice, given their habit of being themselves rather than their alter egos, and while damian is perfectly comfortable pretending not to know anyone (prefers it sometimes), it can be an inconvenience. at least, with the influx, he can excuse damian wayne's arrival as arriving with the new crowd.

which is why an irritated looking teen in a black turtleneck is making himself comfortable in the booth across from stephanie, after hitting his palm against the table to get her attention. )

Brown.

( welcome to the party. or something like that. )

[ Steph blinks at him for a moment. Then blinks again, just to be sure. It's not that there's anything wrong with him being here, she just really wasn't expecting it. Or for him to approach her, or acknowledge her in something almost resembling a friendly attitude. ]

...Damian?

[ She didn't mean for that to come out as a question, really. ]

Um. Hi.

( oh, good, she recognizes him. that's one question answered that he doesn't need to dig into any further. as does the question in her tone. the scowl on his face only grows, but there's no malice behind it. he's irritated, exhausted, but he isn't directing it her way. yet. )

Who have you run into?

( straight to business. he isn't here for a friendly chat. )

[ It takes a second for her brain to catch up with the question. Her mind was in another world, another place and time when she had let everyone down and all the people who had died because of it. The memories were so sticky lately, refusing to let her go. ]

Uh, Babs and Cass. I swung by the... house... [ it feels too weird to say she swung by the mansion. ] But I didn't go in.

[ She takes a sip of her coffee as if she's not even aware she's doing it. ]

( when bruce showed up, damian didn't tell him about anyone. vaguely mentioned the existence of four other robins, but offered no other details. it had been intentional: this bruce is far too young, doesn't recognize any of them, and damian isn't giving him more information than he needs. yet.

stephanie recognizes both damian, gordon, and cain. it's enough. )

Don't go downstairs ( the cave. ) without Gordon, Grayson, or myself. Goliath is guarding it.

Oh. Okay.

[ Steph frowns, considering that, when her thoughts are interrupted by a huge shudder. Getting a little rain on her hadn't seemed like such a big deal when she'd been caught out too far to get to shelter without running, but now she's thinking she should invest in an umbrella.

She downs another big gulp of coffee, telling herself that it's warming her up. ]

That's not a problem, I guess. I wasn't really planning on hanging out. I know how you boys like your personal space.

[ 'You boys' being Damian and Dick, who made his opinion on Steph in the Bat Cave very clear after the whole 'freezing Damian solid' incident. ]

( the freezing incident was long ago damian doesn't even - stop to consider it. he's fine. he's in one piece, all of his limbs are still attached. stephanie shudders, and damian - raises a brow, but doesn't bring it up yet. )

Father is here, too. As are Drake and Todd.

Edited 2024-04-22 18:05 (UTC)

[ She stares at him for a moment, even more surprised than before. ]

Isn't this supposed to be some kind of universe test? It kind of seems like cheating if we're all here...

I hadn't said it was fair.

( it wasn't as if damian was responsible for the crowd that had shown up. and given it's only gotham's crowd that has shown - well. maybe it's less cheating in their direction and more against. )

Supposedly, there are other similarly populated planets close by.

[ Multiple planets, and the whole team wound up not just here but together? There's something wrong here. In Steph's experience, if the odds are in her favor it's usually because she's doing the math wrong.

She doesn't say that, though. She has to be careful around Damian. Any opportunity for mockery and he'll pounce like a rabid hyena. She may feel incredibly down on herself right now, but she's not that masochistic.

Instead she sighs, propping her chin in her hand and staring into her coffee again. ]

Not like there's anything I can do about it either way.

[ There's another noticable shudder, though not as bad as the last. She drinks more coffee in response. ]

( he doesn't like the look of that.

less her statement, stephanie can be as dejected as she pleases about their situation, it doesn't matter to damian regardless as long as she steps up into the role given to her. but the shudder, the way she signs - it's not like her.

and so he raises a hand, and offers it palm-up against the table. )

Give me your hand.

[ She stares at him, horrified for a moment by what she can only interpret as a dog trick. But no, this is Damian. Surely there's some other meaning to this. So she finally gives in, cautiously placing a cold hand on top of his. ]

O...kay?

( it's a trap, but not as bad of one as it could be. her hand is cold, too cold, but that's not why damian had asked for it. she places her cold hand on top of his, and his fingers curl in to hold onto her hand.

his other hand raises, a small blade in between his index and middle fingers. he presses it down against the side of her palm where it won't be too bothersome, leaving a very, very small cut along her skin just to confirm she doesn't bleed black like the.. imposters had.

scrunches his nose up after. )

We need to get you out of here.

( she's not his responsibility, but she is his problem currently. they're all here for the same thing, and damian's not--leaving her out here like this. )

[ Damn! He caught her. ]

Ow, what the hell!

[ She yells louder than necessary considering how little it hurt, but Damian getting stabby is always worth a certain level of concern. She tries to yank her hand back. ]

I needed to ensure you weren't something else.

( stephanie can have her hand back, he's done with it. damian's getting up to his feet instead, and inclining his head in a way that's clearly meant to mean follow me. )

What- Where- [ She sputters before groaning her frustration, chugging the rest of her coffee and sulking off after him. ]

( where is over to the diner's exit, but damian doesn't just waltz out of it. no, he reaches for the side where he had tucked away a large black umbrella, and opens it up just as he takes a step outside.

stephanie can bend down if she wants to get under it, he's not holding it up high. that would just be ridiculous. )

The Manor.

[ Steph glares at him. Hell no, she's not going to walk next to him hunched under his umbrella. She's already soaking, it can't really get much worse. ]

And why are we going to the manor?

You're ill.

( is damian the only rational one around here? does he have to do everything for all of you? why is this not the first time in the last few weeks he's ended up carting off one of theirs to be cared for because they're too stupid to do it themselves?

despite the fact he would do the same. he's not admitting to anything. stephanie chooses not to use the umbrella which is fine with him; damian will just keep leading them off north east of the diner. )

[ She stops dead in her tracks. ]

What?

[ That might be one of the most insane things she's heard since coming here. He sounds like he's actually concerned about her. And besides, she's shivering from the cold, not because she's sick-

Wait. Is she sick? She lays a hand on her forehead to check her temperature. Yes, she knows, that's not how that works, but it was an impulse. It does tell her that her hands are freezing, even compared to the rain. And now that she thinks about it, should she be this tired? Is she a little dizzy, or just really confused? How in the hell did Damian know she was sick before she did?

She jogs to catch up to him, but now she's so stunned she can't think what to say. So she says nothing, shoves her hands in her pockets (for what little good that will do) and follows with an expression somewhere between shock and a pout. ]

( he dislikes the surprise on her face, but understands where it comes from. it's why, while damian looks irritated, he doesn't say anything about it. just gives her a moment to raise her hand to her forehead, to try and check her temperature, to fall behind while she contemplates what's gotten into damian, since that seems like where she's stuck.

because clearly damian doesn't care about her. or drake. or any of them.

when she catches up, he offers a short, )

This isn't our home. We're in unfamiliar waters, the last thing we want to do is to end up with one of ours compromised.

( ours. placing stephanie brown and the rest of them into the inner circle of people damian labels as part of his. he'll give her a moment to get over her shock at that, too. )

Right, of course.

[ That makes sense. Much more sense than Damian worrying about her on a personal level.

...

Wait, did he just call her "one of ours"? She is Batgirl, but she didn't think he'd actually admit to her being part of the team. Maybe it was a slip of the tongue.

She keeps her head down to hide her smile. She might be poised to let down an entire universe, but at least she was Batgirl. Nobody could take that from her any more than they could take having been Robin from her. ]

( she looks significantly too pleased with herself. damian almost, almost opens his mouth to tell her if she hadn't been so idiotic, she wouldn't have found herself in this mess to begin with. that unknown areas come with unknown consequences, and she clearly hadn't readied herself to deal with any of this mess; she's not even wearing her gear while out among the people, which. well. damian isn't wearing most of his either, but that's for strategic purposes.

instead, he looks over towards her with a mildly annoyed expression before tipping his chin up and focusing forward. he'll keep a close eye on her, in case she is more ill than she appears to be. )

There are timeline differences between us and others from Gotham who have made themselves known. ( to start with. ) What had you been up to before awakening in the hospital?

[ He'll be delighted to hear that she doesn't have any gear. It only takes a couple of steps for her smile to fade, washing away with the rain. She feels heavy again, almost too tired to bother moving, and the rain feels like ice on her skin. ]

Yeah... Cass mentioned.

[ And there's Babs without her chair. That was her first hint. ]

I was... Uh... Do you remember when I was in the hospital because of the Black Mercy? That was like, a month ago.

That was roughly three years ago for me.

( ish. with everything that's happened since, timelines merging, and memories becoming messy, damian can't give an exact number. but he was - ten, at the time. he's thirteen now. three years ago is a decent estimate.

stephanie's smile fades, and damian keeps a close eye on her, just in case she falls or stops in place. he isn't continuing without her. )

You're more behind than most of us.

diner.

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