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

[ castiel watches without comment. he assumes the goggles are necessary and related to his craft, and besides, mortal fashion is another thing that's passed him by to the point of incomprehensibility. who knows what's trend or ceremony or practicality, these days? ]

Yes.

[ he looks between gorgug and his things. ]

I don't need to sit.

[ This might get awkward, but Gorgug pauses, thinking about it for a second, and: ]

Do you prefer to stand? I wanted to ask more questions.

[ Is that okay. Did he explain that well, he never knows if he explains things well. ]

You're welcome to ask whatever you'd like.

[ he looks around at both day beds and finally finds a place to perch, a little awkward in his stiffness, feet flat on the floor, knees parallel, his hands folded in his lap. ]

Okay. Thank you. I wanted to learn about the kinds of places people come from, and what they're used to, and how it's different from Etraya. [ He pauses, looking at Castiel in a way that's assessing, and: ]

Not that I've been to Heaven, but's gotta be really different for an angel. [ A very simple (and obvious) conclusion. ] Do you still live there?

I understand.

[ when he notes, specifically, that he wants to know how these places are different from etraya, he thinks he begins to understand what he's looking for by asking. they all come from different worlds, but some are more like than others, and aurora and echo seem to have a level of bias. it would help to know where their differences lie, so they can better aid each other.

the line of questioning, he expects. he offered himself. but it still hurts a little to admit the truth. his fingers twist together, and his voice softens. ]

... No. I don't. But it is very different. I'm not sure I can explain it... in exact words. You wouldn't see it the way I do. Angels are incorporeal. We don't hunger or tire. Nor do we age or die. We don't require the trappings of mortal civilization to live out our lives. But heaven is a part of us, and we of it.

For humanity, it's paradise. What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined. But for us... it's home.

Edited 2024-11-25 03:26 (UTC)

I'm sorry about that. [ What else can he say? His sympathy is sincere, his tone as such, a small nod as he says it. ] I think, the one thing we can all understand is losing our homes. Losing the places we belong-- it's not great. My van is some kind of angel who got kicked out from a specific place somewhere around heaven, and now he's my van.

[ This is all said with the same sympathetic tone that he started with, and there's no ill intent in his words.

Though, he does think to clarify: ] He's a gem in my van. But, I know it happens.

[ Which is why he even thought to ask it in the first place, despite it possibly not being the best thing to ask a stranger straight off. Gorgug went with familiarity. ]

There's an... angel in your van?

[ what.

but, uh. curious as he may be, he's meant to be the one sharing his experiences, isn't he? he gives gorgug an odd look, like he suspects he might have misheard, and then carries on. ]

But I'm sure you're right. We're all here, after all.

[ he shrugs, making a halfhearted gesture to encompass the whole of etraya. ]

[ Gorgug does nod to the clarification (correction of his own words, even), but since the angel guy continues... who is Gorgug to go back and explain?

So: ]

Yeah. I feel out of place a lot of the time, but- I have a few friends from the same world. [ A pause, and- ] Did you find anything to like about where you were staying after?

[ they're going to come back to that. but he feels beholden to answering these questions.

it is a kind of barter, after all.

that's good, that he's not alone, though he doesn't comment. ]

It's... not that there's nothing to like. I do like it. But I don't belong there.

[ Huh. Gorgug's thinking back on what he just said, the differences between the angel's home and the mortal realm, and... ]

So-- can you go back? You're waiting until you can?

There's a... chance, if 'upper management' changes, that I could be forgiven.

[ but only a chance. if the host collectively decides his rebellion is unforgivable, there'll be no recourse. ]

Oh... that can't feel great, waiting on someone to judge if you get to go back home or not.

[ Granted, that's sorta the situation they're in here now. But... ]

Maybe if you find out what's going on here, and it turns out this is actually a danger to everyone back home, they'll be fair to you. Do you think they would be?

[ the familiarity of the situation has made it easy to acclimate, in a sense. it's even easier in some ways. they're being guided along, task to task, and don't have to worry about coming up with their own solutions.

which makes him suspicious, naturally. nothing is ever that easy. ]

If the reason for this problem is what we've been told, then I'm certain they already have some idea of what's happening.

[ and there could be any number of reasons why they aren't reacting now. ]

It could be something else too, right? It feels like there's something else going on with the missions we get. A secret second thing.

Still could be dangerous when they can grab whoever they want and put them into bubbles like this. Then again, I heard it isn't rare for just anybody to do something like this...

[ So maybe it isn't a danger to universes, per se. Just the individuals. Would gods or other angels care, in that case? ]

Suppose Echo really does want to pick those who are most worthy? The missions don't seem to have any practical purpose beyond such a thing, even if Aurora said there were "no losers" in that race.

But they are, without a doubt, hiding something from us.

[ what, though? that's the question. suppose that their worlds aren't in any dangers at all, and echo needs them for some other purpose?

castiel shrugs one shoulder. ]

Is there anything else you'd like to know?

[ Gorgug considers it, the last that the angel asks, looking aside with that thought that--truthfully, maybe a celestial is the worst kind of individual to have "asked" this line of questioning in the first place... ]

I guess...there isn't anything you can think would be useful for a guy who can put magic into items to offer, is there? I was really trying to make a list. [ A beat. ] Someone asked for nightvision glasses.

...

Angels don't seem like people who need nightvision glasses. Or bullets. [ Or much of anything else.

Truly....what does an angel need than a home... ]

[ frankly, he is much better at doing practical. he tilts his head back, tracing lines through the sky as he considers the question. ]

No, I prefer to use my blade. [ though he's been without it since he arrived here. ] Anti-possession charms are always useful.

[ he looks down at the spread again, still considering. ]

I'm here for a gift.

[ Anti-possession charms.... can artificers make anti-possession charms? This is a thought that has Gorgug stuck for a moment, especially as even the sound of that sounds...useful....

He wants to look into books. It sounds far too wizard-y for him, but he tries to pull himself out of his own head when they remark on a gift, and Gorgug looks at the wire animals too. ]

A gift for yourself?

For my friend.

[ he knows he shouldn't talk too much about it. it's... unwise to give people that kind of personal information. unfortunately, he also owes his loosened tongue to the tea he was drinking earlier, so he doesn't presently have a choice in just how much he divulges. ]

He wanted to win the race. [ he didn't, obviously. he's aware gorgug is from the winning team, and so will know this. ] I wanted something to...

[ make him feel better? cheer him up? he doesn't know how to say it in a way that doesn't sound stupid to his own ears. ]

Oh. [ Oh.

Awkward. Should he say something? Maybe... but for the same reason he feels like he should maybe mention he was one of the winners, Gorgug asks first, ] What does he like?

[ You know, maybe there's something he can offer them. And then reveal who he is...... but the idea of cheering up someone who's bummed out kinda feels a little what he'd like to help out with today, isn't it? ]

Um. Cars, mostly.

[ and music and food and pornography. tv shows. books. killing monsters. but none of that strikes him as particularly helpful. ]

Edited 2024-11-27 03:04 (UTC)

[ Ohhh- ] Did he get to keep the car? Vehicle? Whatever he made? Is it busted up?

[ He doesn't know how much interest angels have in fixing up busted vehicles, but that's kind of Gorgug's thing, and the possibility of unfucking up a car might have a hopeful glint in Gorgug's black eyes. ]

I believe it's repairable, but Dean has his own car. I don't know if he plans to keep the one they made...

[ he taps his fingertips against his knee. ]

He may have given it to Junior.

Oh. [ Well, that's a bummer. It would've been an easy solution to help fix it up, buuuut. ]

If he likes cars, there's probably upgrades he might like, and-- was he excited about anything he got for putting on the car? They let you have anything. Anything you could think of.

[ Kinda bewildering what they let them have, and for what. ]

Ah, well...

[ dean's relationship with his car isn't one that castiel truly understands. the idea of being emotionally attached to an inanimate object is completely foreign to him. however, he recognizes it despite not understanding it, which means he unfortunately has to shoot down gorgug again.

it almost makes him feel bad. ]

Dean's car is a... vintage 1967 Chevrolet Impala. I don't think he'll allow modifications, though you could ask.

[ he points to the little animals again. ]

That's why I wanted one of these. Unless you have weapons?

[ dean likes weapons. ]

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