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

[ Par of the problem, generally, is that Rosie tends to not know what even she wants. Well, that's not true. What she wants is often times on a whim, fleeting and the most fun thing. What she needs are the things she tends to be averse to. Maybe in time she'll learn how to work more towards the latter than the former, but for now- She's just glad to be here.

Glad to be told, to listen. She prefers to listen, she thinks, than speak of herself but knows that it should go both ways. ]

Yeah, she did. I didn't... do a lot myself, so- Don't feel too bad. [ She doesn't have an excuse other than just being rattled and not wanting to be reminded of everything. Some might argue that was valid, too, but she wasn't incapable of helping.

It makes sense though. She understands that drive to help in different ways. It's part of why she did the job she did back home, which is something she'll talk about another time. Maybe. Before she can consider it too deeply though, she's taking in the dog with a soft, sincere sort of smile. ]

Aw, it's adorable! [ Her hands move to touch it but then she refrains; it might be delicate, she realizes, and she doesn't want to ruin his hard work. ] You made it? That's so sweet. So is wanting to do it to, like, see where you can help.

[ And while she doesn't want to talk about it all, as mentioned, she does feel it prudent to at least address: ] You're really sweet, Gorgug. So don't think otherwise because of what happened, yeah?

[ Her compliment is nice. About his niceness, what he's doing, who he's being--it's the kind of reminder his friends have been giving him, reassuring him as to his real personality than who he was for that span of time. It sits strangely with Gorgug; he doesn't dismiss it, or doesn't want to, but-- he doesn't know. If he shouldn't be trying so hard, or if it's something he needs to truly remember. There's more than just the guilt that followed after those events: there was the numbness. A disconnect from his sense of self, worse than after he died.

He holds out the dog to her, though says, first: ] You're nice, too. To me-- you let me have those two beads for my friends when we met, and I like it when we talk...

You can have it. [ The animal, he means, looking to it briefly. ] Or-- I can make a different one. If you want.

[ Maybe someday, she'll talk about her own worse moments. Ones where she wasn't herself, but the very monster everyone wanted to believe she was. While those moments didn't - don't, still - define her, she still gets the... uncertainty. If she could reach that point then, what's to say she couldn't again? She doesn't want to. But then again, she hadn't wanted to then either.

A lot of it was circumstantial, sure, but she does still wonder. Worry. ]

I do too, [ she agrees. As for the beads, well- He's really just proving her point about his niceness, isn't he? That he still remembers such a small thing. ]

I- Oh, [ she starts, then softens. She takes the dog in her hands gently, carefully. So carefully. ] No, I love it! I mean, you know, I wanted a dog. I actually. Since we won the race, I finally had enough, like, influence to ask for something. So I did get one! He's around here somewhere, I think, but got distracted by a snowball fight and playing.

[ Oh? Gorgug blinks, eyes widening with some surprise, and then-- he's looking around, or attempting to without actually moving away from her. So he's not doing more than turning his head around as- ]

Is he okay? You can let him walk around on his own? He's trained for that?

[ He might sound worried, and he is a little, but he's also...surprised still, because guess who doesn't understand how dogs work? Aren't they meant to follow their owners everywhere or something??

What kind of magical dog is this. ]

Welllll, I'm no dog trainer but-! They tend to listen to me pretty well. [ This is because as a canine-yokai, she technically can cheat. While Rosie can't speak dog or anything, she does understand them to a level most humans can't and vice vers through body language and little tells.

She keeps herself leaning against Gorgug as she keeps the wire dog in one hand carefully but then brings the other to her mouth. With a couple of fingers popped past her lips, she lets out a brief, sharp whistle. It takes a moment or two but then the tktktk of claws on cold concrete and snow can be heard before a lanky, wispy black-coated Borzoi turns the corner of the daybed.

Tail wagging, it snuffles Rosie to make sure she's alright and then turns its long snoot to sniff at Gorgug. Hello, new person! ] Ta-dah! Meet Smokey. He's a very good boy.

[ Rosie has a magical dog touch...or voice. Gorgug doesn't know her secret, but he's willing to believe her, since why would she lie about it? He doesn't have his own history with dogs, unless werewolves count... but he also wonders if anything will appear just because Rosie whistles. Is it really that much of a good boy?

Apparently, it is. Gorgug blinks when the creature appears, and...look at it. Its appearance to Rosie's call is as surprising as its actual....appearance itself. Gorgug's just staring at the thing even as it goes over to its master first, before seemingly turning to Gorgug.

There is a certain body part he is staring at. And when it sniffs, Gorgug reaches out a hand... ]

It's so........long.

[ ....and he's going to boop its snout, palm flat. boop. Hello, long nose. ]

Long, [ he repeats as a whisper to himself. ]

[ They'll have to swap werewolf stories someday. Rosie was friends with one, which- Her experience and appreciation of them probably differs from Gorgug's. But still! She's a fan.

His befuddled wonderment over Smokey sees her let out a squeaky little laugh. Not at him, really- Okay, maybe a little. It's a fun reaction though. ] He sure is, [ she agrees. ] Like a furry Slinky.

[ The canine in question doesn't seem to bothered by this assessment. His tail wags still and he doesn't draw away from that boop against his snout with a large palm. Actually, Smokey decides to give it a 'mlem' as his tongue drags over Gorgug's green skin. ]

[ Gorgug's hand flinches at the wet greeting, the half-orc nearly pulling away but then leaving it there, knowing this is something that dogs do. It's like getting a sloppy high-five from a tongue, he guesses... ]

Ticklish-- [ And it's with that thought, and continuing to see the big pub's beady eyes that a thought occurs to Gorgug, and he looks at Rosie. ] My friend's motorcycle is a hellhound. You wanna see if he likes your dog? Then they can hang out.

[ Why wouldn't a thousand year old hellhound not want to hang out with a borzoi?? ]

A... hellhound? [ she questions, which- Look, it's not judging! Really! It's just that the word 'hellhound' has weird connotations for Rosie.

That's what her kind are known as, so it's. Strange, mostly, to hear someone else say it so offhandedly. Usually, it came with a lot of fear and uncertainty. ]

I mean, uh. Sure!

Wait. How is a motorcycle also a dog? I think I'm a little lost.

[ Gorgug only nods, not catching onto there being any worry or potential concern coming from Rosie that some might be able to. Instead: how is a motorcycle also a dog? Well. ]

I think it got joined with a motorcycle...and now it can switch between the two when it needs to? You can put a soul in a vehicle, and it...runs on that soul.

[ Cue Gorgug holding up both his hands, and just...bringing them close together. Two things joining. ]

I haven't made a vehicle that can do that, so I'm-- I only understand the basics.

Oh, [ she says, like she understands.

She doesn't. At all. That makes even less sense to her, actually, since where she's from souls didn't power much of anything. They had the potential to, but no one (yet) had figured out how to harness their power or anything. So, she tries to make sense of it in a different way: ] So, like...

The soul animates the motorcyle? Does that mean it's trapped there now?

[ Gorgug, that's concerning!!! ]

No, [ he says it a little hurriedly, ] he is a motorcycle too, so, he controls everything. He can turn from a dog to a motorcycle.

[ However, he then pauses, and thinks about that some. ]

Though, I guess in a sense, he is trapped.... but I don't know that he'd call it being trapped. He really likes being a motorcycle. More than a dog. He said so.

[ Rosie, did you ever imagine your life leading you to this conversation. ]

[ Okay, well that's

strange. But it's not as bad as she was imagining! It's definitely not where she thought this conversation was going or that it was one she'd ever have, no, but she doesn't mind either. ] Well, I guess- If that's what it wants, then it's a good thing it worked out?

I can't imagine wanting to be anything other than a dog. I-if you are one! Dogs are great, after all. Huh? [ that last little bit is directed to Sokey, whose ears perk up and tail thwumps the table excitedly at the shift in tone.
Yes! About what? He doesn't know, but yes! ]

[ Oh, is Sokey being alert? Which means Gorgug looks at him, and decides with his long nose turning towards Rosie... that Gorgug must give him another gentle pat on the end of it.

But he'll actually follow it up by ruffling his head. ]

You want to be a dog?

[ What kind of person would ask such a question. But Gorgug asks that, with the same kind of casual curiosity he asks anything. Not with any large surprise, but, you know. After all: ] Dogs are great.

[ She just said so herself! ]

[ Once he's pat, Smokey's attention turns back to Gorgug. The ruffle sees him huff in a playful way, shaking his head after as his long ears flop.

Meanwhile, Rosie is... contemplating that question. Maybe more than she needs to, but- It's important that she is. As they talked about then and today, there's a lot she's keeping from people. Gorgug, too. He doesn't need to know everything right now, no, but she thinks of all people he deserves to know one very important thing.

She imagines he won't judge. How could he, even, being so tall and green? Honestly, Ocrs - even half-ones, it seems - remind her a little of Oni but without the horns. Knowing that, it does make it a little easier to decide. Okay. Okay, ]

Well, who wouldn't?

[ When he looks over at Rosie next, he'll still see her. But she's different now. Hair of white like the snow around them with tall wolf ears atop her head to match and a tail curving alongside her where she sits. Her nails are pointed into 'claws' and teeth much sharper as she smiles somewhat sheepishly. ]

Maybe I'm a bit biased though since I already am one. Kind of! Partly? It's complicated, actually.

[ Rosie, how is he supposed to pay attention when Smokey is being cute and actually getting Gorgug to think about fussing him now. Look at the way his ears flop! Or, really, Gorgug likes that long stretch of nose, even if it doesn't feel right to use his full hand when he strokes it. His hand is too big for the snoot. Perhaps he only needs to use a few fingers to stroke it??

But Gorgug does look back when Rosie speaks up, as is polite to, and his reaction is--delayed. Where nothing about his demeanour changes, but then he sees the white of her hair, and he's thinking: has her always been that white? It makes him miss some of what she's saying, as his brain is kinda catching up to what his eyes are seeing, and as he finally recognises the shift that's taken place here. Wait. Oh?

Oh!

He goes from confusion to further confusion, and then his eyes blinking open to surprise. His hand starts to reach towards her, but doesn't get anywhere before his brain goes no, don't pet Rosie, and he snaps that hand back next to his chest-- ]

...did I forget you're part dog?

[ Oh no, did he forget that? Or did he just not know? ]

[ She knows, it's difficult. Who can really pay attention to her when Smokey is right there? She understands. The Borzoi is oblivious though to his conundrum of how to properly pet. The point is that he is being pet, which is all he wants.

She waits as Gorgug processes. It takes... longer than she thinks it should, maybe, and starts to get a bit nervous. Was this a bad call? He looks confused, which- Sure! That's a valid reaction! So is, she knows, the instinct to reach out. While it is a bit of a sore spot, she also does enjoy a good scratch behind the ears now and again.

He draws back though and she blinks. Then, he asks that and- ] Hee, [ she peeps, ears beginning to wiggle in time with her shoulders shaking as she laughs. ]

No, I never... It's not something most people know here still, so- You're good! I promise you didn't forget.

Oh.

[ There's relief. Relief that he didn't forget that comes out from his chest and in that sound, showing on his face. ] Okay, okay, that's good. I would've been sorry-- I don't normally forget if people are part something, I think.

[ He thinks. But also, speaking of. ] You're a lot less furry than some people I know back home. You're not... like a werewolf? You don't change with the moon?

[ Because clearly, if she's not furry all over, all the time = not a werewolf, right? ]

[ Here she was worried about him knowing at all while he was worried he just forgot. Ah, that's... something. Isn't it? Like she imagined though, he isn't bothered at all by it. ]

Not a werewolf, no, though I do know one! He could change whenever too, but the shift was forced on the full moon. [ Usually, that was the one day a month that Misto took over on security detail for him. ] My kind are called yokai, actually. People also call us 'demons' and that's not wrong, exactly, but also not the Hell kind a lot of folks imagine.

[ It occurs to her that yokai might not mean anything to people here, which- That would be nice. ]

[ It certainly means nothing to Gorgug, who's taking in this information as Rosie gives it. ]

So, you're not from Hell... [ Hmm, but if she's not from Hell and she's called that-- he's slightly squinting, as he asks-- ] Is it a slur? Do people hate you?

[ She's been hiding this part of herself, people call her kind demons-- she says they're not wrong, but is that true? Because Gorgug knows about discrimination like that, and despite his tone otherwise being in that curious and direct way it is... there's some concern in there, too.

If that can be heard, under the question of 'do people hate you?' ]

[ There is something so... direct and yet innocent about his question that strikes her strangely. He doesn't know. How could he? He isn't from her world, but- She suspects he knows what discrimination is, maybe, if he's able to question that in the first place. Had he faced it too? It hadn't even occurred to her, really. Huh. ]

Demon is, yeah, [ she does confirm. ] And it's... complicated. Yokai are, like, a really broad species! All kinds of us. My specific kind though, the okuri inu, are known for, uh. Hm.

[ There's no way to put it nicely, is there? Ah, well. ] Eating people who travel alone at night on mountain passes. The thing is though, we're... made by people, almost? My kind exist because of that fear of mortals being so powerful it manifested us. Not all of us are like that, but- A lot of us are. Born of human fears or joys, kind of.

I never ate anyone though! [ Which is important to note, she thinks. ] I can't say I never hurt anyone, but the only time I did was a bad situation I didn't want to be in and was trying to get out of. But, well, people were already afraid of my kind and doing that kind of proved I was dangerous to hunters at least so- Yeah. Some people definitely hate me.

[ And as she explained, her posture changed a little. Her ears are drooped low and tail curled in tight around her like she is actually afraid. ]

[ When Gorgug lifts his hand this time, he does reach out, coming to put his hand to rest on her shoulder farther from him. Because they're already close, and it's the easiest for him to put a hand on, and--Gorgug thinks she could do with the comfort, first and foremost. ]

I'm sorry, [ he says, earnestly. Lets the words sit in the air between them first before he continues. ] I know...there's a lot of history between people and different races, and-- it never seems to be good. Most of the stories I've heard about orcs are bad, and... I never lived through any of that. But I get that, things aren't simple, and people have a lot of ideas about each other, even where I'm from where a lot of us live together. My friend, Riz-- he gets a lot of comments, being a goblin. And he's one of the best guys I know? He's smart. He's really awesome.

But people can suck. Bad. [ He squeezes her shoulder gently, and even leans a little closer to her, trying to add to that support, that comfort. Because people can suck, and do. And it's not fair, it's not nice.

...but Gorgug does continue, sharing in a quieter voice. ] But you know, my friend....he did eat our principal who was a dragon this one time, so-- I don't think I could judge you, if you ate someone before. 'Cause you were hungry, or--because you were made to do that. If you did.

[ He wants to say, Not saying that you did, but hopefully she'll understand what he's really trying to say. Unless it's weird to admit you're willing to understand a person eating another person? It might be hypocritical, since he has feelings about a certain dinner party in Etraya.

But also, the menu was his fake dad. ]

[ They are close, which- It's not something Rosie minds usually. The physical is often times easier than the emotional; however, she has to admit this is one of the rare times it's both and she isn't bothered.

He has nothing to be sorry for, she knows, but appreciates the sentiment all the same. It's strange when she thinks on it, she can't remember the last time anyone sympathized with her in that way. ] Yeah, [ she agrees. ] It's mostly humans, I think, but my kind aren't... They don't like humans a lot of the time either, so- It goes both ways for us. Most folks don't even know about werewolves or vampires or anything either because they're just too afraid to let themselves be known.

Riz does seem awesome. And you are awesome. Definitely one of the best guys I know, so- If anyone tries to tell me anything bad about Orcs or half-Orcs or anything I'll. [ 'Bite them' seems like the antithesis of her point here about not wanting to be a violent, man-eating creature so: ] I'll have some words!

[ One of her ears swivels to catch those quieter words. It's kind of comical, really, that the worst part about her to most people is something he wouldn't even mind. ] Well, hopefully it'll never come to that but- Still. Good to know.

Your life sounds really crazy sometimes though, I gotta' say.

Thanks. I know you'll give them good words.

[ ...he's sincere even in the face of Rosie's words giving, which he doesn't look at her weirdly for, or take poorly. It's the opposite, Gorgug nodding with a look of appreciation on him. But then, when doesn't he approach people as sincerely as he can?

He does grimace some at her remark about his life though. ]

I didn't know how crazy it'd get going to adventuring school. I just thought I'd be smashing shit, but-- our school's crazy. Our principal, the actual principal... you could call him an eccentric guy...

[ But, even saying that... ]

...we're all weird.

[ He can't even deny it. :( ]

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