etrayalogs | November Mingle

November Mingle

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: November 22nd - Early December
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers, and an unexpected guest!
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A, please note any needed warnings in threads.

⏵ arrival ⏴
Welcome to Etraya!

Arrival goes as expected - or it would, except it is not just Aurora that greets the newcomers as they arrive. Certainly they receive their earpiece so they can communicate with one another as those before them have, however there is what seems to be a woman waiting for them that is of a more flesh and blood persuasion as they leave the hospital. She carries an air about her that isn't quite like the newcomers themselves, but she is decidedly not one of the companion bots, nor Aurora.

She has bone-straight blonde hair reaching past her shoulders, with a straight-cut fringe hanging above her eyes. The black dress that ends just before her mid-thighs also has a rather revealing neckline, though the sleeves which cover her arms almost feel like a mockery of modesty considering the rest. She is also wearing black stockings and black pumps, and the red of her lipstick is striking against the extreme contrast in shades she otherwise holds.

As each newcomer independently files out of the hospital, she makes certain to garner their individual attention, either with a wave of her hand, a wiggle of her fingers, or directly calling them over. She is persistent, and with being so new, it is wise to heed her. Not that anyone can force one to, if they choose to walk away, nor does she seem interested in trying to, but she has her means for those proving stubborn.

However, those who aren't...

“Hey! I know you’re not just walking past me. I’ve got- you know, plot relevant, written all over me. I picked this dress out just for you, you know?’

“C’mere, listen up. Mama’s got a little bit of homework for you, but it’s gonna help you, too, okay? I need you to go find the hot goss, the piping hot tea on the street for me. Find out what everyone’s saying about the people we’re stuck with, okay? People are a lot more relaxed and honest when they talk about others, right? This is about efficiency.

Efficiency, honey.

Don’t worry, I’ll be in the trenches, too. But make sure you come find me again. I’ll be around here, okay? I know you’re as confused as I am. Well no. I’m much less confused than you are. But if you can tell me about the people here, I’ll tell you more about where you are and what this is about.”

For those who ignored her, or those not newly arrived, they will receive a message through their earpiece:

“Girl. Hey. Listen. I’m kind of in a pinch, okay? I need like… a little favor. But its a fun favor! I need you to get your girl some info. I need the word on the street, honey. I need the tea piping hot- I need you to go talk to your friends, enemies, frenemies, butt buddies, cousins, and have them tell you about anyone they know. I need straight facts and good gossip on everyone here. And then get back to me. Kisses.

And this isn’t something for nothing. If you bring me some good goss, you’ll get some good info in turn about your whole situation. Cause that’s what you’re missing most besides home, right? Context.”

⏵ spill the tea ⏴

Tatianna having now tasked everyone (new and old) with finding out more about their fellow inhabitants—if not for their sake, for her curiosity—and in exchange she will give them valuable information that may aid them with acclimating here, or something far more valuable depending on how hot the goss is! However, she will not just hand out her secrets so easily, and so she will need one piece of gossip about each inhabitant. So she expects everyone to get mingling and talking, she isn't a charity here!

To assist in this, the companion bots have set up cozy little wicker daybeds around the main hub of the city. All of which are suspiciously cozy and warm once you have sat down on them, but especially so with the accompanying aroma of the tea wafting from the kettle which rests on the center table, accompanied by sweetmeats. The tea itself also stays warm despite the cool autumn air, and so long as you stay within the daybeds, the biting chill won't reach you either.

However, the tea is not only perpetually the right temperature, but it seems to have a way of loosening one's tongue. Especially the more one imbibes it. Did you mean to share that secret that might not have been yours to begin with? Or that personal detail about your best friend that wasn't meant to be known by anyone but who they themselves have told? Probably not, but the cat is out of the bag now, isn't it? Well, hopefully word won't get around...after all, it isn't likely who you are talking is going to tell everyone else, right? Right?

Adding to the oddity of it all, the tea one drinks might not be the same tea that their companion is drinking, despite it pouring from the same kettle. What might be one person's earl grey, is another's pumpkin spice chai. Whatever it may be that pours out, it certainly seems to be to one's liking, or its closest approximation. There's probably some deeper meaning in that, some sort of symbolism one might surmise from the nature of sharing gossip and it being tainted by personal bias, but who cares about navel gazing about such a thing?

After all, this is meant to be an enjoyable endeavor! Getting to know your fellow inhabitant should feel as comfortable as catching up with an old friend. What better way than to do it by sharing tea you both will enjoy? ☕

⏵ close knit ⏴

As the tail end of November draws nearer, people will have already begun to see the first flakes of snow. It grows colder, and while there isn't quite a blizzard or a snow storm happening, the snow does not seem to let up with its descent. It doesn't quite get so cold that it is untenable, of course, but it would be advisable to bundle up! In fact, the companion bots seem to be on the case with assisting in just that!

Around the city people will find groups of companion bots busily knitting sweaters, scarves, gloves, hats, and so forth. In fact, the moment they see someone they clock as not quite bundled enough, they will insist on supplying them with whatever they deem as being without. Are you already wearing a scarf? Well, clearly you need two of them! How about the gloves? Couldn't hurt to have several pairs!

However, that isn't all that's available to people, after all there are cafes out and about where one might get a hot beverage to help fight off the cold, but for those less inclined for such establishments, the companion bots are here to serve! There is at least one companion bot per knitting group that seems to have hot cocoa on hand. If they see someone who is looking particularly cold (almost everyone is, the companion bots aren't particularly keen on the signs of successful temperature regulation), they will have a paper cup of hot cocoa imposed upon them that has their name on the side.

Or, sort of. It is at least a close approximation of their name, or maybe it is an alternate spelling? Really, who can blame the bots for getting confused, there are so many of you!

⏵ snow more games ⏴

The snow is here to stay, but that doesn't mean that it has to be a bad thing! With everyone well supplied in their winter garb, the companion bots have set up spots for fun activities! Perhaps the inhabitants would enjoy a fun snowball fight, or some sledding? Some of the waters have frozen over, so ice skating is always a possibility too. Though one might want to be careful if they are to venture past what the companion bots have marked as safe.

Some of the companion bots are trying their best at making a snowman, but all their efforts seem to come out rather...square. They're trying their best, but maybe they can learn by following the inhabitant's examples. There are others that will offer gold star stickers to those who seem to dominate in the snowball fights, but unfortunately the stickers don't stick too well with all the snow. Well, they tried!

People will still find bots out and about with nice warm beverages available to fight off the cold, too. That service will continue to be available for the foreseeable future. Similarly, if someone comes out who is a little too under-dressed for the weather, the bots might have to pick up those knitting needles again, so be sure to put on your winter clothes..!

⏵ NOTES ⏴

To report information to Tatianna, do so here! She will only give each person their rewarded information once she has a bit of information on each character in the game. Each bit of gossip does not require a thread to count though it should be IC knowledge gained through IC means. Try to check what gossip has been given to her already, because doubling up will not yield results! Good luck!

For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

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( at his command, she remained as still as possible and faced forward. her eyes were the only thing that moved as she watched him circle her. heather was still curious about all of this and while her initial contact with him was really to check up on him-

gorgug had opened a can of words when he said he could do magic. it was only natural that she was curious. so when he returned back to face her, she smiled at him and spoke up. )

So like....you're pretty handy with stuff huh? What came first, the magic or tinkering with stuff?

[ Maybe he does like John. John thinks that was an honest statement. John also thinks Carver isn't the kind of person to let sentimentality bog him down. He knows what it's like to cut out pieces of yourself like that, to make those decisions that will hurt. That's what makes Carver dangerous, makes him unfit to be a dependable ally, though this place is somewhat short on those in the first place.

John decides to take a risk here. He raises his book back up and turns his attention away from Carver and to it. A little vulnerability. Showing that he doesn't think Carver is a threat to him (in this moment). ]

Nice meeting you. Good luck settling in.

( there's that awkwardness again in seeing the way john gave a rather strained, twitchy smile and all heather can do is rub her arms as she thought of what to say next.

thankfully, he gave her something to work with and on she was, wanting to learn more about harold and john. it was a truly innocent endeavor, born from the fact that he had been so kind to her. it reminded her of the kindness her father showed her time and time again-

to love someone who wasn't even their flesh and blood. harold reminded her of that kindness. )

So how long have you two known each other for anyways? Did you both arrive here at the same time?

[ That's deliberate. Someone with that much training wouldn't turn their back on a potential threat without some assurance of survival. Maybe he thinks Carver wouldn't really go for him. Maybe he thinks he could handle it regardless. Probably the latter.

Or maybe it's just deescalation. An end to the moment, one way or another.

Carver just hums in vague acknowledgment. His gaze flicks briefly to the book, and then he's just gone. ]

Lucky guess...

( the way he had spoken about him, the request-

it seemed like it was the kind of behavior best reserved for childhood friends. while she didn't know of his powers beyond what he had shown her and of the 'spider', she could sense there was something else beyond grieving the loss of someone he cared about. )

I'll keep an eye out, but are you going to be okay? I'm worried about you.

[ It was a genuine smile, but John isn't very in practice these days so it's not a surprise that Heather doesn't pick up on that. He gives enough fake smiles out as is. He's not super pleased at the turn of conversation either; he doesn't like talking about himself, but he doesn't have a good way to get out of it and he wants her to feel comfortable with him. If something bad happens here he wants to be someone she can rely on. ]

A few years. We arrived at the same time but didn't find each other for a few days. Do you know anyone here?

Oh, well... I guess technically, the tinkering led to the magic? I fixed my friend's motorbike, who's a kind of magic, so- I unlocked some of my magic that way. I have to tinker to get magic to work, mostly. It's how I learn.

[ And he... well, he does mind answering about his magic or skills, mainly because he feels like he does a bad job of it. But if he didn't have that hang up, he wouldn't mind so much right now, but still, she's made him realise something. ]

Do you have something you like? A hobby, or-- a skill you're learning? I don't know what you like to do.

[ Except put on shows for companion bots. ]

[ Oh no, he's not at all prepared for this question. Harold doesn't get a deer in headlights expression because he's too practiced at maintaining his composure, but he does swiftly try to think of the best way to get out of it. ]

Computers, mainly. Unless you'd like to be a dog walker.

[ Harold glances over at Bear. ]

Bear likes a faster pace than I'm capable of maintaining. [ He knows Bear loves him and will protect him, but he's under no illusions that he could provide for all of his needs on his own. Belgian Malinois need an extremely high level of activity. ]

[ Harold thinks he would never be so indiscreet as to do something that results in an angry mob. It is fairly alarming that he can't just fade into the tumultuous woodwork of Manhattan anymore, effectively disappearing into the chaos of humanity, and he understands that most people don't like being spied on. (Indeed, as he doesn't.) But he still carries with him a fundamental sort of innocence that disbelieves anything he does could lead to violent retaliation. He's not naïve, not anymore, not at all -- but it just never stops surprising Harold somehow when someone wants to hurt him. ]

Yes, that is the dilemma. I doubt we'd ever achieve real certainty in our security measures, but I'm not going to not try.

[ He's been presented with a challenge squarely in his expertise and he's not going to shy away from it without even trying. Harold isn't even capable of giving up on a puzzle before he's started. ]

[ It brings a small smile to John's face to hear him say that. Of course he'll try. In the privacy of their setting, John doesn't feel the need to still his face, to hold it back from creeping into his voice. ]

If anyone can do it Finch, it'll be you.

"Sometimes it's nice to be a monster." Not that they do much around here.

( she listened to him carefully, thinking of other questions she had for him. however the swift way he immediately turned things back around on her had her surprised for a moment.

'i don't know what you like to do'

it was an interesting statement, did he truly care about her like that? it was awkward to say the least. she felt like she had been talking about herself a lot these days, meeting new people and introducing herself, but she hadn't been quite upfront with anyone about what she truly did or enjoyed. remnants of being followed by a cult her entire life. )

Oh well uh....I mean I enjoy things most people do I guess. I used to work at as a babysitter back home before joining a youth crises hotline.

Aside from that I mean I enjoy just hanging out with friends, playing games, going shopping...I'm pretty boring in comparison to someone like you, who does magic and builds things.

[Accelerator nods at the description. Yup, same Hank.]

Fine. [Vincent is, one hundred percent, better off not knowing a teenager's detailed opinion of him. Most people are.

Accelerator closes his laptop, moving to get to his feet.]

I'm gonna go send this shit to that person, then.

Be worried over everything else.

(whatever that means - he doesn't know how, but he will eventually need to express that loss, and it's never a pretty sight. a moment will come, no matter how far in the future, and while he will ensure the safety of the people who surround him - he cannot promise anything else.)

I will be okay.

It can be.

[Yeah, his eye is twitching now. He's getting to his feet.]

It's a great way of making my blood pressure skyrocket.

[ Vincent nods along after.

It is hilarious to him to be in a situation where there is only one Hank in the world. Honestly, it tickles him in a way that he isn't sure he can put into words. ]

All right. I'll send mine in, too, then.

[ He should say something. ]

Stay safe.

Whatever you like.

[ He waves his hand, dismissively!!! ]

You asked me what people ask about my town, and I answered.

That's no reason to attack. Just because we aren't from the same place doesn't mean we're enemies.

[Perhaps the idea hurts a little more now than it otherwise might. Perhaps the memory of Vi walking away through the rain, saying they could never work out because they come from opposite sides of the river is too fresh. Her shoulders stiffen, her hands clench, before the tension in her body releases and something like anger gives way to intense, ironclad conviction.]

I'm not your enemy.

[ You're young, Carver thinks but doesn't say. You're a kid and you think the world will arc the right way because people will do the right thing, eventually. And he ought to scoff but he doesn't, he just watches her. He believed that once, too. ]

You will be one day.

[ This, he says almost gently. ]

These things happen.

[ He makes a soft affirmative noise and tips his chin down. ]

Yes.

[ Although, he has complicated feelings about the whole matter. He recognizes the brainwashing done in the more severe cases, but in terms of his own or the other members, he believes to have been treated quite well. ]

Well, I wouldn't expect you to feel it here.

[ How could anyone? A person could turn on someone after months of buttering them up (is that pun too on the nose for Hannibal?). ]

If there is one positive to being alive, it means I might.

[ Funny how he puts it like that, however. But it is true.

He lives in a city where he doesn't need to worry about money; he can create whatever persona that he wants; he can live without ever telling anyone what he witnessed; make friends; find love; however temporary that it all is, he could live a life of a simpering fool who only desires to get along with people around him.

Vincent lived that life and didn't find any happiness. He ran rat race after rat race without feeling a hint of happiness. People around him were happy; people around him might tell him they were happy knowing him, but he wasn't happy knowing them. They didn't know who he was; they didn't like who he actually was.

And he likes who he is! His rotten, terrible personality is something he likes about himself. He accepts that he is a selfish, self-centered person but what of it? Acceptance and liking oneself never brought him happiness, either, but at least he has that over everyone else who claims to want to change because of how unhappy they are.

So. There. ]

What's there to doubt?

[...does Chu Wenshan want something? He has no idea.

Unable to figure it out, Ouyang Duyu decided to just ignore it! Instead, he scoots closer, so their arms were pressed against each other and when Ouyang Duyu leans over, his cheek rests against Chu Wenshan's shoulder.]

I'll go over the basics.

[Blah blah blah, insert explanation here!]

[so he did decide to tell her. she can't imagine why, though. her eyebrows raise to him.] Considering a murderer, though, to be a better potential than anybody is a little worrying. Surely you can see that? Especially if he did it in the name of the beliefs, like some do.

[calling them idiots had been on the tip of her tongue but she stops herself.]

The faith means a good deal to you. Shouldn't you want a better example? Especially to someone like me? Who isn't part of it. You know how minds jump to conclusions.

I do like a nice walk.

[He can’t help but grin, even faced away like this. He fidgets a lot, though fluidly- and the candle light illuminates his form through the shower curtain of him swaying, lifting his drink, and taking a sip.]

[He chuckles in a self-satisfied way.]

Well… Poor thing, you were freezing half to death, weren’t you? I hope you came from somewhere warm, at least.

"It's a good defense," Jason agrees. Why expose that gooey soft center to everyone?

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November Mingle

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