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

It mostly made me curious as to why you told me to avoid him.

(betting aside, because wanting to capitalize on something is not something he thinks to be so horrific in the first place. what is it exactly that bonds these two, he does not know.

but, it's fine she doesn't take the arm. his hands hide in the pockets of his jacket instead.)

I....

( at the time, when she had first arrived she wasn't sure what to expect from vincent. things were different now, and while she didn't like him, she didn't outright hate him anymore.

so she sighed softly and placed her hand against her forehead, eyes rolling to the side as they walked. )

I told you that at the time because you were nice to me and I wanted to protect you from his craziness. I guess it can't be helped, I mean...things between him and I have changed too. I don't think I feel the same way about him as I did before.

Did you find out the root of the craziness?

(if she cares, that is. if she told him to avoid vincent, and that she was not supposed to talk about their world according to him, well, there has to be a deeper connection in there than she let it seem.)

( oh she knew very well the source of vincent's craziness-

and while she had spent more time with him, she soon saw he wasn't hiding it either. in fact, it almost seemed like he was looking to recruit new members. so what she will share now with chrollo, is because she trusted him. because she didn't care about protecting who vincent was. because she wasn't trying to speak poorly of him.

he was a member of a cult from such a young age, she truly did understand and see that in a way, he too was a victim. )

Vincent is from the same world as me, and he's a member of a cult there....

A cult that has been after me my entire life.

... Why would they be after you?

(not that kids can't be monsters, mind you, but he can't imagine a reason why anyone would want to take heather. he doesn't sense anything off, she's just a kid, or did he let something pass him by? his eyes go from her toes to the top of her head, as if he was scanning for something.

whatever something could be.)

( that stare doesn't escape her by any means-

in fact, during her travel through the mall and the 'other world', a world of darkness where monsters sprang up, she felt like all eyes were on her at all times. from the monsters looking at her, to something seemingly more menacing watching her. she was always under a microscope it seemed.

but to chrollo, she won't say anything about it. instead she decided to keep things simple, in a way that he could understand and without divulging too much. )

Since when do cults let people leave without wanting them back?

( she turned to him, scoffing a bit. it was partially true- back when she was alessa, she had been born into it. technically now, reincarnated as this person, she had left it. )

Most cults do not let people leave, period. That said, to go through the trouble of getting them back, they must be important somehow. Perhaps, you know too much?

(there's very little intonation in his words, his voice low and centered as he mused what it might mean. what would a teenage girl mean to a cult is what he is getting at with his thoughts.)

If you were unimportant, it would be much easier to dispose of you rather than bring you back.

Clearly I do....

( that's all she can really say for now-

if she told chrollo the real reason [that the order saw her body fit to birth their new god], she wasn't sure what would happen then. for some strange reason or another, she cared about what he thought about her. she also didn't want to burden him with her problems.

unfortunately for her, she only knew the side of him that he had shown her. )

Ah, I feel like I've been talking too much. I don't even know much about you when I think about it. Have things been okay with you? Here in Etraya?

How would a kid be important to a cult?

(it's more to himself rather than her, a moment in which he thinks aloud. even chrollo himself has a child in his organization - kalluto is much younger than heather, but the kid is extremely skillful, obedient, and proficient. he wouldn't have enlisted a child otherwise, so he assumes there are things she can do that no other can if she's being fought for.

mhm.)

... No.

(because he opened the book. he opened it, and there's a page missing. a page that is dear to him, that should not be gone, could not be gone.)

A comrade of mine at home is dead.

( she isn't going to comment on the fact that he just called her a kid because to her, she was somewhere in between all of that. she had spent years stunted as her past self and never quite got to enjoy life and youth for what it was, so now she was doing just that.

as for his thoughts, he wasn't far off. after all, the order viewed her as their 'holy mother' to put it bluntly. as a vessel to birth their god. perhaps someday she would share that with him, if she still trusted him by then. )

I'm sorry to hear that....I know what it's like to lose someone you care about. I hope you've had some time to grieve?

I just found out.

(he won't tell her how, it would make very little sense to explain what he can do and why he knows, and if he does, it will be vague. a part of him has been severed, and it aches and hurts as it always does, even if it isn't the first time it happens.

not knowing how helps very little.)

... I need you to do me a favor. If I show you a picture, would you keep an eye out for this person and send them my way?

( whatever affection she had denied him before, now she was feeling an urge to comfort him-

much like he had when they first met. heather stopped in front of chrollo and looked at him with soft eyes. she made sure no one else was around and she nodded her head at him, trying her best to assure him. )

You don't even need to ask, I'm more than happy to help. Show me?

(having her look at him so upfront... there nearly nothing that is recognizable as the person he pretended to be. his face lacks the easy-going smile, the laughter and it's a distant, cold one, almost like he's intangible and untouchable in aura. from thin air, he summons the bandit's secret, but before he shows her, he taps his ear where the translation lies.)

Would you remove it? There is sensitive data here that is not mine to show.

( to heather this was the expression of a man going through a difficult time, certainly not one dropping their facade. at the very least, chrollo was still on her good side and she wanted to help him.

so while it stunned her a bit to see him use his powers in front of her, she felt more shocked about the fact that she didn't know this about him. )

Uh sure...

( she moved immediately to do as he asked, giving him a rather puzzling glance for the time being. )

(speaking to her for the time being would be useless, his language seems to be rather exclusive to his world, but he doesn't need to speak as he opens the page on shalnark's ability.

a picture of a muscular man, with bright blonde hair, green eyes, and an enthusiastic smile is shown to her and he allows her to take a look for as long as she would like before the book disappears.)

He is hard to miss.

( much like himself, she remained silent as she took a good look at the photo. in her mind she could only focus on one thing-

memorizing this person and keeping an eye out for her friend. )

I can tell....is he a childhood friend of yours? Or I guess you don't need to tell me. I'll keep an eye out. I promise.

... How do you know? He is.

(although a time when they really were children feels like almost another life for him. at least shalnark remained... playful. surely he treats anyone who isn't part of the troupe like toys, but there's still some kid-like qualities on him. that smile almost never quits.)

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.

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.

( his words seem to get to her, enough to make her wonder if he just needed some time alone. she had worked at a youth crises center back home and often times people just needed to vent and have someone to listen to them-

without providing much of a response. so she felt that was probably the right move here, so heather simply nodded her head and waved at him, as if to part ways. )

Alright then, you can always reach out to me anytime if you need something. I'll keep an eye out for your friend.

See you later?

Thank you. It is imperative that he finds me if he comes.

(and that goes for the entire troupe, but shalnark is the one whose face is easier to show clearly on his book. there are 13 troupe members, and having just chrollo around would be... interesting, to say the least.)

I'll see you, Heather.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

November Mingle

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what a sad and fitting icon

I'm not crying, you are!

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