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

[ Not going to check the shops is a normal thing when you have tea. However, what has Gorgug looking confused (at this specific time of this day) is: ]

Is that weird?

[ To be a helpful green person? ]

[There's a short pause.

And then a nod.]

I've never met someone with green skin before. Sorry, was that rude?

It did sound like being helpful and green wasn't usual. One of my best friends is green, and he's very helpful.

Lately, he's even been too helpful.

[ You see. You see? Green people can be helpful too. ]

[So all green people are helpful? Hmhm, he's learned something new today.]

How helpful is too helpful?

Hm, well... do you know the kind of person who, if something bad happens and their friends are feeling down, they go out of their way to do anything they can to make them feel better? Even if they had a hard time too.

[ Very specific. As it is about one green person. ]

...That doesn't sound overly helpful. I'd do the same thing.

[He folds his arms and nods as he says this.]

Like when I decided not to pull that sword out of my gut because the blood might bother my brother. [are these really the same thing]

[ Guy??? ]

What?? Was the sword keeping the blood in??

[What???]

Mostly. It was really inconvenient to move with.

Exactly, the blood keeps coming out even with the sword in! You need to get a cleric, then you can wash up the blood later!

[ That's like, basic getting stabbed 101 procedure!! It's in the books!! ]

A what?

A cleric? A healer? They make the stabbing wound go-- bye bye.

[ Watch as he moves a hand to go up into the air...goodbye, wound! ]

[...Oh!!]

Don't worry, my brother's a doctor. I'm all healed up now.

[He'd show you the lack of a scar but his clothes are a bit too complicated for that.]

Wait, is that the same brother who doesn't like blood?

[ That's the same thing as being bothered potentially by blood, right. ]

That's right.

[...wait the little hamster wheel in his head actually turned for once.]

I know he can handle blood. It's more that I didn't want to worry him by bleeding freely in the middle of a battle. [Makes perfect sense, right?] Though in the end I had to ask him to pull the sword out anyway...

[ Nodding. ] Yeah, he can't do anything about your wound if you have the sword stuck in you. I guess... you don't bleed as much if you keep the sword in there until he gets to you...

But, I don't know... I'd probably take the sword out. It'd freak me out, sitting in there. I'd just- [ Another motion, and this time? He's taking a sword out from his gut. ] Right out.

[ Because this is the time to consider the pros of having a sword stuck inside you, apparently. ]

[Hm, a fair argument!]

I was still in the middle of the fight though, so I'd be bleeding all over the place...though they were strong enough opponents that it was really slowing me down too much to fight them properly.

[A pause.]

Also it came in from behind, so I couldn't reach it to pull it out myself.

They stabbed you from behind? That's so rude.

[ So, so rude. ]

But... [ .... ] I don't know if this has anything to do with being too helpful. Is not bleeding out too helpful?

[ Is it more polite to die? ]

...I was thinking of other people's feelings? That's helpful.

[And he didn't die, so.]

I wanna think about other people's feelings too-- [ um, err ] Maybe I just need to make sure he doesn't bleed out, then...

[ Is this the lesson? ]

He?

[More importantly, he looks Gorgug over, gives a nod, and continues with--] The best stance is to avoid letting anyone but your enemy bleed in the first place. My companions' safety comes first over my own. If you have strength, protect them with it.

[ Can you tell his strength through his lanky physique, Chu. ]

I do-- [ so he starts, but... ] But...

[ Hold on....he needs to think.... ]

...What do you do if you can't protect them? How do you make it up to your brother when you bleed?

[ We'll get to that 'he', maybe. Maybe. ]

[Not really but he can acknowledge that you've got the spirit.]

If I can't protect them...I'll do anything I can to save them, and make sure I don't fail next time. And if I end up bleeding, there's not much I can do about that.

[At his level of strength it's extremely rare for him to end up with a sword in his gut anyway, so.]

[ Hmmm.... ]

....Okay. [ Nodding. ] I'll try and do that, if it comes up. I haven't had to save anyone or protect anyone since I've been here. I don't think so.

[ He can't remember off the top of his head, anyway.... ]

[Hm!]

That's good. I won't have to worry too much if this place is safe.

[Short pause.]

Do those shops also have swords? I seem to have lost mine.

Huh? I haven't seen one if they do. They don't look like the kind of shops that would have swords, but-- you could check. There aren't many shops, there's just...

...two? And one's a clothes shop. And the other's mostly food, but-- that's the one that has the brushes. I know it's got that.

[ Absolutely the kind of brushes anyone would want! ]

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