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

He got upset with you?

[Oh, he makes a face. The vibes are off with that guy for sure, especially with this new information.]

...I think you're right. We will. I'll try, anyway.

[His track record for keeping people safe is not a very good one. In fact, it's the inverse of good. But he has to do better. Not just for the sake of being here, of being judged... but for his own penance, and for Mary.]

I mean, not with me. Kind of at me. I made a comment about his religion and he just sort of ranted. I didn't feel threatened or anything. He seemed shocked he got so upset. [not that it didn't feel off. kind of weird. it definitely had been. but she hadn't worried he was gonna hurt her or lash out at her.]

I like her. She was nice to me and I don't know, I just felt kind of drawn to her. Like she needed someone. I guess I could understand her. Being here all by herself. She's not a little girl but she is young, isn't she?

Well, if he's really with a cult—and I don't see why Heather would lie about that—it makes sense he'd have strong religious opinions. Especially if they clash with what he's been taught.

[God, he doesn't know, though. He assumes that's what cultists do. Argue about religion. Make dread sacrifices.]

Heather's still a teen I think, yeah. I can't imagine being that young, stuck here all by yourself... So I guess she took a liking to you?

She told me she wasn't worried about him and he talked about the message being misconstrued. So I don't know. I asked her if he was a creep and she said no. [she didn't think Heather would lie about that.]

Funny, right? [that Heather would like her.] She helped me and she seems like a good girl. I feel bad for her.

[From what Heather told him about the cult, James would assume anyone in it would be a creep. But he doesn't know the details, he'll admit that much.]

What, funny that she took a liking to you? I don't think so.

[He and Maria might have a..... complicated, strained relationship, and sure, she did try to kill him that one time, but James knows that at her core, she's helpful. She can be kind. It's not surprising to him that Heather would gravitate towards that.]

What are her other choices from her world? Some cultist and... me?

[i mean,]

[Silent Hill didn't really offer Maria many options. she'd say it wasn't personal when she tried to kill him but well, it was.]

Give yourself some credit. You were my only choice and look how well that turned out. [at least she can joke about it and really, that was one of her more redeeming qualities. she was playful.]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Joke or not, Maria's probably the best choice for offering Heather some comfort and solidarity both, and he'll not argue that point.]

You two can talk about... I dunno. Girl stuff.

[Girl stuff. That's bonding, right?

They near a trash bin and James will walk over, with the intent on throwing these shards of mug away.]

"Girl stuff". [she huffs a laugh and doesn't say anymore on that topic. really, she doesn't know if she is good companionship. in reality, she isn't very sure of much about herself.

but oh well.

she follows after him and nicely says:] If you did want to keep it, it wouldn't be the strangest thing. Or the worst. [being outside of Silent Hill is curious for her. she may still be drawn to James but it's not the near obsession. and the parts that she's sure were Mary's wishes are there more clearly.

she can't help but feel some pity.]

I could turn my back right now and wouldn't even know what you did with those pieces. [and she does, giving him privacy. keep the pieces, James. seriously not the weirdest thing.]

[He isn't sure he expected that encouragement from Maria, to keep these broken shreds of the Mary mug, but he shakes his head.]

I know. But I'm not choosing to toss them just because you're here. It's more like... I'd feel like I'm still clinging to something that I shouldn't.

[A notion that he doesn't really deserve any longer. It's truly as simple as that.]

Trust me, I don't think you're doing anything because of little old me. [he made it clear okay!]

But I can't lie and say it isn't a little sad. To throw it away. It makes me feel...I don't know. Like I'm being tossed away too. Which sounds crazy. [she's grateful her back is turned to him still because seriously why does she feel sad about it? she's not Mary, she made a huge show of that multiple times.

she laughs.]

We're nuts, aren't we? Throw the stupid thing away. It's an ugly mug anyway.

[NO NOW HE'S GOING TO FEEL BAD ABOUT THROWING IT AWAYYYYY

Honestly, maybe they are a little nuts at this point. Silent Hill definitely changed his brain chemistry, and not always in good ways. Having been so adamant on throwing the mug away, now James hesitates. He glances aside at her, though he can't see her face since she has her back turned.

He's already made Maria feel "thrown away" before; and there's simply no changing that. Does he have to do it a second time, albeit in a much smaller way?]

Okay.

[ ... ]

Then let's hold onto it.

[help]

[WHY ARE THEY GETTING WORKED UP OVER A BROKEN MUG

this is why she should just avoid James. he does things like this and it isn't like it means anything. he'd told her no and she understood it.

but he's keeping the mug pieces and this is so silly. dumb behavior but she turns to him, looking surprised.]

What, we each hold onto a piece like some weird best friends necklace? [she's joking, trying to make light of how insane this is.]

[THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE A SILENT HILL CHARACTER, YOU OVERTHINK EVERYTHING]

No, nothing like that.

[He tries to skew his tone lighter, because he, too, knows that this is silly. But he manages to sound strained instead.]

We'll just glue it back together.

And do what? [she turns back to him, hand on her hip.] We can't drink out of it.

We just hold onto this broken thing we can't even use? It's just a mug.

[maybe this damn mug is symbolic for something.]

[Yeah this mug feels like he's holding the equivalent of a hand grenade now, too, in a way.]

Just because it broke once doesn't mean we can't put it back together and appreciate it.

[she laughs but it sounds broken. she's not about to cry but this is bizarre and so stupid. James keeping this damn mug means so much to her and it isn't even her name on it. she was the reason it was smashed in pieces in the first place.]

I think we've lost our minds but okay, we keep the mug. We taking partial custody? You get weekends?

[A huff.]

Sure, I'll take it on the weekends. I'm sure I can find the perfect shelf space for it.

[Well. With that, at least some of the awkwardness and uncomfortableness has dispersed, and James frees up an extra large scarf around his neck to use as a makeshift bag. He puts the broken pieces in the middle and then wraps them up with the knitwear so he can carry them without cutting his fingers.]

But we'll worry about that later. Come on, let's find you a coat and another mug. We should be close to some shops now.

[she offers the pocket of the coat James gave her. it should have big enough pockets. just so James doesn't have to carry them the whole way. kind of awkward.]

You want a mug, too? We can match. Make it a whole thing. Maybe they have etourists ones or something. Always wanted one of those.

[How kind of her. He steps forward and gently stuffs it into her coat pocket.]

If I'm getting a mug with my name on it, I'm not going to ask one of those bots. It'll probably read "Jums" or something stupid.

[he's keeping the stupid thing because of her. might as well help.]

We can go to a shop and get one that we're sure says your name. Maybe have a cute little dolphin on it or something.

A... dolphin?

[?????

is this his new spirit animal--]

Like, with the sparkly rainbows and everything? Yeah, that suits my personality real well.

I don't know, isn't that something they put on tourist junk? Or city landscapes. Not like I'm well-traveled here.

A dolphin just seems like something cute for you to enjoy.

[enjoy yourself for once]

Edited 2024-12-05 01:15 (UTC)

[oh my god now they HAVE to find that mug specifically]

I... guess?

[He isn't against it, despite not being the type of person to seek out kitschy designs on his ceramicware.]

If you really want me to scream "tourist."

[Somewhere, Vincent is probably twitching.]

[surely it'll fit in with the rest of his apartment? bare walls and nothing else?]

Better "tourist" than anything too true.

[she gives him a smile and walks on ahead.]

I'm only teasing. As always. I think you'd prefer me joking right now than anything else. [you know, like how they last left off.]

[If nothing else, it'll be a conversation starter.

And give his room the "personality" that it so desperately needs.]

...Yeah.

[To both. What's he supposed to say to that, really?]

Figured you'd want some time to settle in before we talk about anything too heavy.

[Not that they've managed that so far, what with the mug and its crisis.]

November Mingle

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