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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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. ]

I can make weapons? [ He looks at the animal-shaped wire figurines. ] I don't think one of those will make a car guy feel better about losing a car race. [ Because while Gorgug's a different kind of car freak, he can understand that much. ]

...and I don't know that he'd want me to touch it anyway, if he's a car freak. [ Said, with no judgment. Only understanding. ] But he might get excited if you asked him, or... [ ... ] Got him car wax. But, if he likes weapons-- I can give some ideas, if you or... if he'll give me something for it? I don't know if we can swap points...

[ ... ]

Can you make a weapon holy?

[ He may or may not be looking at Castiel in a 'could I make a cool weapon/item with celestial power????'

Respectfully. As much as a teen can, whose brain works on 'I want to make cool shit' and no other thoughts. ]

Oh.

[ he seems disappointed. maybe more disappointed that this situation warrants. his shoulders sag, and he drops his pointing hand. ]

You don't think he'd like it? Harold told me people like when you do nice things for them, as a surprise.

[ and really, the bunker is full of anything dean could want weapons-wise, though he'd probably appreciate a cool knife.

somewhat distracted, he answers: ]

No, no one is allowed to touch the car but Dean.

And I can.

[ though in his world, that doesn't amount to much. a priest could do the same thing. ]

[ Well now. Gorgug likes the idea of a weapon, but that reaction? The guy sounds sad. And so as cool as the idea of making a weapon imbued with celestial power in it was 1 second ago, he's caught on the guy's reaction. He's looking at the animals again.

... ]

...we can make a model of his car, if you get me a picture. [ So he says first, but: ] People like surprises, and they can appreciate the sentiment no matter what you get them, as long as it doesn't offend them. But if you can show them you really know them, then--it's more special. Some things have special meaning to them.

Gift giving can be really hard because of it.

[ In Gorgug's opinion. He is very bad at gift giving, and he explains his own understanding regarding it slowly, and thoughtfully. ]

But if he loves his car...that might cheer him up. Do you think he would? I can even make it-- [ he makes a motion with his hand ] --move. And we can keep it secret.

[ castiel sighs. he can appreciate that it's difficult. ]

Most of the things he would really want are difficult to come by here, like the music he enjoys. And everything else he could want is already available to him, since his home was brought here with him. I was planning to bake him a pie...

[ also harold's idea. but he saw gorgug's wares and thought something else might be nice to have alongside it. he feels a little stupid now, even if gorgug's idea is very good. ]

I think he would like that. But wouldn't it be a lot of work?

[ as careless as he can be, he recognizes that gorgug has other things to do with his time. ]

[ Gorgug considers it, even if it's not something that needs a lot of thought. He's trying to think up reasons not to do it, but if he's honest... ]

I like making things. I wanted to talk to people because I wanted to make things... people would like. Helping you cheer up your friend doesn't sound bad, even if I'm the reason he feels sad in the first place.

[ He doesn't feel like he owes the guy it. It's more for Castiel he wants to do it. ]

Get me the pictures, [ he says again, nodding--a sign that he's fine with it. ] I'll make sure I have fun with it, too.

[ A beat. ] --but you should definitely bake a pie, too. Pies are great.

[ Very, very important. ]

Okay. I'll get the pictures.

[ he realizes as he says this that he doesn't have anything to take pictures with. he'll have to look through the stores to see if he can come by a camera. everything in the bunker is antique, so there's no way to say if a camera sourced from the men of letters would work.

he dips his head at the mention of pie, acquiescing to the fact that a love of pie is something dean and gorgug share. maybe he'll give gorgug one of his test pies when he starts trying to make them from scratch. (that is not what's happening this time. he is buying a pre-baked crust and pie filling.)

he fiddles with the straps on his sleeves. another thought has occurred to him, something to ask for in the meantime. ]

But until then... Could you make, um, a Jackalope?

[ dean seemed to like them, when they were sent hunting by the bots earlier in the week. ]

There's quite a robust population in Etraya, you know.

There are? [ Gorgug blinks, a flash of surprise...that then leads into a wrinkling nose and a small grimace. Even so, Gorgug checks for his animal book. ] Do they sit around and stare at you here, too? They really... I always see them around my tree, my side of town. They always sit there and... look at you.

[ Creepily.

But he is trying his best to not say that in case the angel really likes them?

In the meantime: Hmm, weird that this Earth book doesn't seem to have jackalopes in the back of the book so far... ]

Do they?

[ interesting. maybe gorgug has something they want to eat? aren't they meant to have a taste for whiskey? hm, he can see why dean has a fondness for them. ]

We took our pictures from the car. We were assigned the task by the helper bots for parts.

[ his eyes track gorgug's hands as he pages through the animal encyclopedia. ]

I still have the pictures, if you need one.

[ Gorgug's nodding at Do they?, with an assertion that's very--sure. But nevermind how creepy he thinks of them-- ]

Yeah, it'd help-- so I know they look the same. [ Plus, he's better off not using his mind to shape something. ] Did you get a lot of good parts for really stupid tasks, too? I can't believe the stuff they gave us. But then we don't know what we have to do for points.

[ He should've tried asking for more parts for dumb tasks and then putting them aside... if only he'd had the mind for it. ]

[ he seems to feel very strongly about jackalopes. but he won't have to interact with any, so surely it's all right? castiel nods offhandedly and begins digging in his pockets, turning out several incongruent items: a few smooth round pebbles, a shiny coin, a long, glossy black feather, and then several smaller feathers. and also, a handful of wrinkled photographs, which he sorts through until he finds what he's looking for.

he hands it to gorgug. the animal pictured looks like a jackrabbit with horns. it stands on its haunches, ears swiveling — it seems to have had some inclination that it was being watched. ]

[ He takes the picture, flipping it to be the right way around and...sure enough, that looks close enough to the kind of jackalopes he sees in the bushes around his tree to have the grimace stretch along his mouth. But even with that look, Gorgug sets it down onto the book he'd opened to search for a picture in there, taking another of the miniature figures to pin it in place, in case of a stray breeze. ]

Okay. [ He looks up from all that. ] I can work on this now if you want to... you don't have to stick around. If you wanna hang out with your friends, or something else.

[ You know... because Gorgug isn't sure if angel guy wants to talk with him more, and he's content with what he's shared with him. ]

I need a camera.

[ he doesn't have the one they were using anymore. and he doesn't have a smart phone, or even the flip phone he was using back home. he gathers his things back into his pockets and stands.

and just like that, he's gone. with a flap of wings, he disappears.

he'll return later to check on gorgug's progress. ]

[ ....perhaps he has gone to his angel abode to get his camera...

Regardless, Gorgug gets started on the figurine work, defining first a base of the torso, head, limbs and even the tiny tail, and then wrapping up the extra wire to make it more 3D from there. The antlers will come later, once he's happy with the amount of wire used to make up the body of the creature, coming to the decision to use a thicker metal to make the antlers stand out a little more.

After he's happy with the body of that jackalope, that is. He uses one of his artificing tools to fiddle with its pose, dousing it a small portion of his magic to make small dents where eyes would be, and seeing how well its body would move with its simple structure. It's messing around, really, a distraction he would give himself between schoolwork when he didn't have much time to do anything else. He can mess around a little now, can't he?

Gorgug leaves it in a pose similar to the photo, with the metal creature raised on its haunches, before Gorgug finally gets to work on those antlers. Though, the way that little face looks at him now is... ah, he should turn it around and work on it from the back. ...except, making it move its head to work on the finer twists of the antlers does make the job easier, so-- maybe dousing it with some more magic around its head will be fine. Just for the time that it takes to do the antlers--and that is a finickier side of the job.

...

This will definitely not curse the jackalope figure into somehow being able to turn its head abruptly to look at others, no matter which direction they come at it from. And to never be seen moving, since it shouldn't be moving on its own: it's a figure. But jackalopes are always watching you, is the opinion of one Gorgug Thistlespring. And opinions have a nasty habit of stick in the most peculiar of places...

Good luck finding a camera, angel man... ]

[ it's a few hours before castiel returns.

he spends a considerable chunk of that time looking for a camera but also, inevitably, gets waylaid by various individuals in the process, most of those individuals being very helpful helper bots, and by the time he gets back to gorgug he also has about five knitted scarves weighing him down (which he's in the middle of tucking into his pockets). he stops in the middle of unwrapping a colorful pink and white scarf from around his neck, and thrusts it toward gorgug. ]

Do you want this? They wouldn't listen to me.

[ When Castiel returns, Gorgug has moved on from his request to tackling some of the palm-sized metal fish he's been meaning to put together (like so, but without the stands). One is currently wiggling its little fins in Gorgug's hand, much to the half-orc's chagrin, who's whispering 'alright, alright already' as he attempts to fix...something inside its open mouth with a tool.

Or so he was, before there's a scarf being thrust at him, along with the appearance of an individual in his space from nowhere. Who happens to be, oh, angel man--except that detail comes after the scarf he's suddenly looking at. ]

Huh? Who? [ Oh. Scarf. He's grimacing, since while he feels bad saying no to a gift...(?) ] I-- already have too many. I got told off.

[ For accepting them. Sorry, sorry. ]

"Told off"?

[ he considers the scarf in his hand for a moment before tucking it into his pocket, on end trailing. he'll have a lot to leave around the bunker, though he's never seen dean wear a scarf. maybe junior will take one. castiel doesn't even need them. he doesn't get cold. and he doesn't like to think about how someday soon, he will.

his focus moves to the to the metal creature in gorgug's hand. he watches the way it moves for several moments, but chooses not to pry. ]

I couldn't find a camera.

[ the model car will have to wait. ]

For accepting them. I have too many-- I live with my friends.

[ Hopefully that clears that up, or explains it a little better as to how or why he might've been getting told off.

He continues twisting the tool some more, and then takes it out from the mouth, settling it and the fish down, which continues to flop now and then. ]

Oh-- you can use your earpiece. You can send me a video of it to my username, and I can make it that way.

[ That should be easy, right? ]

Oh.

[ he gathers by the context clues what's meant, even if he doesn't truly understand. he just doesn't know much about owning possessions, or the difficulty of managing a limited amount of space to store them. he doesn't own anything, not even his own body. ]

This... can do that?

[ he pulls the ear piece out of his pocket. he generally keeps it on his person, but it's clear from the way he's holding it that he isn't fond of this piece of technology. ]

Yeah, do you... I can show you? [ Um. ] Do you know how to message someone? How to get to the contact list?

[ How much does he need to go through explaining... he should be able to do this much, at least! ]

Yes.

[ he was taught how to use the messaging features, at least.

he hands the ear piece to gorgug. ]

But I didn't know it could take pictures.

It's a video, so it's... it's a moving picture. [ Does he need to explain videos to an angel? Gorgug takes the earpiece, but between looking at his own and the angel's, um...

God, why is the interface for these things so finicky? Gorgug's frowning, figuring how to do this. He swaps between his and Castiel's earpieces, so he can bring up the contact list and find his own username... ]

Wait... [ No, hold on. He takes it off and goes back to his own. ] --I'll send you a video, and then you can see the file, and I'll tell you what you have to select to make a video.

[ Do you have anything to ask or say before or as Gorgug does that, angel man? ]

I know what a video is.

[ but he hasn't used the video feature. he hasn't any reason to learn until now, and watching gorgug swap the pieces back and forth is making him dizzy. why must human technology be so complicated? he supposes it's necessary. there are reasons angels never developed the same.

he nods slowly, taking his ear piece gingerly between two fingers once it's handed back. he does have something to say, though. a suggestion to make.

mortals are... particular about these things. he's been well educated. but it would be so much easier. ]

I could just show you one of my memories.

[ Gorgug looks at him with the suggestion, but the way his gaze moves upward as if he's thinking, mouth tilting askew to add to that, there's no shock and awkwardness to the suggestion. Only... ]

We could, but... a reference is better, so I can look back at it. [ His voice is apologetic. ] I don't know about your memories, but my head is-- I forget things. Unless I can...

[ He's trying to think: is there a way he can capture it and release it? He looks over at the simple picture frame he took with its visual picture effect, and reaches over and plucks it. ]

--I can try recording it as you give it to me? I've never tried recording a memory before, but... maybe since you're a celestial, I dunno...

[ It might help? Because celestials have a bunch of power and 2+2=maybe 4??? Assuming that Gorgug and Castiel are both 2's in the first place. ]

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