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⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Holy reaction.

Except--Gorgug kinda gets it, in a sympathising way. Especially when he hears what he assumes to be her name, sees the poor cup of cocoa that he feels more sorry for, than anything else. He'd been getting one himself (out of how ever many--he doesn't care about tea, but he loves hot chocolate), and caught sight of the woman, but hadn't thought to stop or anything until the commotion.

And swivelled up in knitted layers himself and with his drink, he approaches her. Maria, we hope you don't mind a green, 6'6" half-orc teen speaking up to you in this stressful time, his black eyes with white pupils filled with an awkward kind of concern. ]

You good? You okay?

[great, she looks crazy. but well, she can work with this! who wouldn't be going a little crazy in this situation?

and yes, she absolutely does look up at him and is a little stunned. just a little. she'd been told there were different kinds of people here. well. "people"? she's not sure how to refer to them but she assumes that it is rude to stare no matter what.

excuse her, though, from going to only having one person to talk to to having multiple people and also a half orc.]

I'm okay. Just stressed. I swear, I'm not a crazy lady that usually does that.

[ He's used to the staring, and truthfully, he's worried for a second what her reaction will be than any offence. But it's only for that second, or half a second, that she's stunned--and then after, Gorgug shakes his head-- ]

No, it's okay-- it's good stress relief. I get angry too. I want to smash things all the time. A lot of people do.

[ He is attempting to make it sound very normal, and even sounds sincere in doing so. ]

Are you new?

[ It would be a good reason to feel very stressed. It's usually not just about a cup of hot cocoa, after all. ]

I appreciate your attempt at trying to make me not feel like a crazy lady. [but she absolutely overreacted and she knows it. her smile is sincere and she shrugs.]

I am new. And I just...don't like being called Mary. [that isn't a lie.] Between that, being cold [she motions to her short dress and bare legs], and the cup saying Mary? Crazy lady.

[ He follows her gaze down (not that he hadn't noticed before, the short skirt of her dress, but--check, still short), but then looks back at her, though taking a second to think about it. ]

Well, you got rid of the cup, [ he says finally with a nod, then looks towards a distance, pointing out. ] There's a clothes store that way, about ten minutes. I can take you there. Everything's spaced out and all over the place, and it's annoying, but there's a store next to it with drinks that don't say Mary. Some of them.

[ He looks back at her, his subtler expressions sometimes hard to tell with his eyes nearly all black. But he pulls his lips into what's a brief smile, and concludes encouragingly, ]

Then you won't have to be a crazy lady anymore.

[at least he's being friendly and she doesn't need to understand much more than that. that translates well. though everybody here has been friendly and she appreciates that more than anybody can know.]

You'd think those robots give me a coat instead of these scarves. [she had taken them though. happily.]

It seemed like this was the place to be. Supposedly. We're all here, right? But I guess nothing's stopping me from leaving and coming back.

I think it's so we get to know each other. [ The daybeds, the piles of scarves and all-- Gorgug looks back at it, once. ] They had a get-together in a café when I showed up. And then they had another one after a mission, with photos.

But I think... I think they would take the suggestion if people told them. They're nice-- we can tell them when we get back.

[ He thinks to start walking, to lead her, but-- he's also aware of himself, and points to himself, first. ]

I'm Gorgug, by the way. [ ... ] They got my name wrong, too.

[ He turns his papercup, and on it reads...'Gorbugs'. ]

Why wouldn't they pick the cafe now? What I wouldn't give to be in a cafe than this. [she had been able to tell the robots were not exactly all there but did that include everything else as well?

well, she'll definitely be complaining.

she does smile at the name on his cup.] Makes it seem silly I got annoyed over Mary and other people are getting 'bugs' in their name. I'd tell you my name but you heard me shout it. [she still feels so awkward over that.]

Yeah. Maria. Not Mary. [ As if he needs to confirmed that he heard it, or that he's listening. But he's got a small smile as he says it, the embarrassment of the situation going pass him. ] The name annoys me too, but I-- I want my hot chocolate.

[ He is holding it so carefully now as he begins to walk, so they can get to the store that hopefully still stocks trousers, and hasn't been replaced by more scarves and hats, or something. ]

They're dumb in some ways, but-- we could make a fire, maybe. Add clothes, and a fire. [ Not on each other. ] The café might be too small for everyone now, but it's nice. It's actually close to where we were, and the apartments. I can point it out when we get back.

[if the store is stocking more knitwear, and only that, then she truly might be yelling again and nobody will be able to stop her. she thinks she'd be absolutely allowed that at much.]

A campfire and we can sing about world peace. Honestly I would have been happy to have hot chocolate. After the tea stuff. I don't think I'm much of a tea drinker.

[ He holds out his drink of hot chocolate to her, mindful to not have his steps make it spill. ]

Was the tea bad? I'll share. I liked the seats, but the tops were small. I'm a little too big to sit up in them comfortably.

[ It's hard being 6'6"...being able to reach up on high shelves...this is the true tragedy taking place. ]

But... I know it's cold, but I like having the excuse to see everyone. Things were pretty crazy for a while. Everything still sucks when, you know, you're trapped in a test to save your universe, but I hope everyone's doing better now.

[yeah, she can only imagine how much of a struggle it would be being that tall.]

Enjoy your hot chocolate. [she didn't want to take his hot chocolate from when when she had quite literally thrown hers away.] And really, it's just as simple as I don't think I'm a tea drinker. Too fancy. [tea isn't fancy.]

How were things crazy? Crazier than all this?

[ Fair enough on the tea, and Gorgug holds the hot chocolate close back to himself. After taking a tiny sip. And then another. ]

It was a mission that went bad. Have you heard about any of them?

No, nothing. Most of what I've heard is just your basic 'this place is crazy' sort of deal but not what makes it crazy.

Oh, yeah. What gets people is how we're here to keep our universes safe, and the missions they give us are really-- we just had one where we had to build vehicles to race against each other. And another, people got given toy bears that made people obsessed over them if they kept them too long.

One guy even said his blew up. He was pretty rattled by it.

Build vehicles? Like cars? [she makes a face that clearly says she's very confused by that.] How are we supposed to know how to do that? Sorry I didn't pay attention to that in high school.

[she shakes her head.] The bear thing is even more confusing. Were we supposed to take care of them?

I don't know, [ he admits, nose wrinkling as he tries to remember, a squint to his eyes. ] I wasn't there for that mission, but they all got messages about the bears, but only some of them were told to throw them away after a while?

That's what I remember about it. Everyone got the same message, except not everyone got told to get rid of them. [ It was the biggest point that stuck out to Gorgug about it.

But, before he finishes: ] And yeah, if you didn't know how to build a car--

[ He shakes his head and waves out his hands in a very 'who knows, shit outta luck' gesture. ]

This whole thing just sounds like a wild goose chase. You just hope for the best and try to be smart. Which is what matters here. Being smart.

Or sounds like it to me.

Mmm... that's a pretty good way of putting it. I think they want us to learn to work together and to be careful so far, but-- I don't know if that's just trying to find something out of nothing, with the missions.

But I don't doubt they'll turn us against each other at some point. [ He pauses, and then shakes his head quickly. ] N-not to sound weird. Or a downer? Is that too heavy?

[ For a newbie? Too much? ]

Sounds about right to me. Build us up, have us work together, and then test it. [nah, she's not affected. she's already been part of the horrors. WAS the horror. so it truly makes sense they do it.]

Put people in a horrible situation, make us work for it together, and then see what we do when sacrifice means each other. [she smiles at Gorgug] I don't know about your world but mine isn't known for being too compassionate.

[ Well, even if a statement like that has clear connotations, Gorgug's glad that in this moment, explaining the potentials of their future missions isn't being taken poorly. He's gotten a bad reaction from being too callous in the past... he's trying at this helpful thing! ]

I'm an adventurer, so-- killing and dying comes up. Every day life isn't so bad... but I guess I've tried thinking about what I would do if it came up in missions. [ In a slow, awkward way of admitting it. ] But I put it on the backburner. I mean, I'd understand it if someone tried to kill me. If it was a test.

[ He guesses? Depends on how they did it. ]

That's a bit self-sacrificing, don't you think? How old are you? [she looks at him and realizes age might be a bit different to them both.] Well, scratch that question. Are you young? Old? [he seems young to her. at least too young to be saying things like that.]

Youn...old? [ 'Old enough'? Wait, just let him- ] I'm seventeen. But, I-- I wouldn't let someone just kill me, but-- if there's a test and it happens... we come back, and-- I get people trying to protect their universes. People think their universes are in danger if they don't do the missions.

[ He's hurrying his words some now, wanting to explain--because he knows how bad that sounded now, but there's good reasons behind it, right? And they come back, and new people don't usually know that. ]

[seventeen is not old enough in her opinion. though as he tries to explain, she does understand his point.

she smiles.] Don't worry, not gonna nag you about self-confidence or something. I get it. We're in crazy circumstances. What do you mean 'come back', though?

[ There is a small, appreciative nod of his head as she reassures him--mainly, because he's glad she gets it, that it's not so much a self-sacrificing thing. ]

Oh, we come back, like--alive. Like a resurrection spell? I don't know how they do it, but-- if you do die, you'll come back at a cost. Something missing? I'm not sure about that part...

[ But the rest of it is fairly easy for Gorgug to explain. The idea of resurrection isn't entirely foreign to him. ]

close-knit

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