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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[ There is a small, appreciative nod of his head as she reassures him--mainly, because he's glad she gets it, that it's not so much a self-sacrificing thing. ]

Oh, we come back, like--alive. Like a resurrection spell? I don't know how they do it, but-- if you do die, you'll come back at a cost. Something missing? I'm not sure about that part...

[ But the rest of it is fairly easy for Gorgug to explain. The idea of resurrection isn't entirely foreign to him. ]

[this is not something she's unused to. really, she herself had kept coming back. so Gorgug telling her about it kind of makes her a little uneasy. what was going on with this place that it could do it here?]

That's a little worrying. Best to try to stay alive. Including you.

[ Again, he's nodding a little quickly, reassuringly. ]

I absolutely do not have a death wish.

[ Scout's honour! If he were a scout. But fortunately, the cluster of buildings they're walking to are now in better sight, enough for Gorgug to look out. ]

Oh, there-- [ he points. ] The two in front, those are... the one on our right's a convenience store, and the other is a burger joint. But it's pretty weird to go in when it's so empty. [ Save for some companion bots, now and then... ] The clothes shop's at the back.

I don't know why they built them so far back. Everything's spaced out.

If you did, almost the right place to have one. [save for the whole you don't come back all right but she gets it.

she looks at the buildings and looks back, like seeing how spaced out everything is.]

Are we sure we weren't chosen to be punished? It feels more like that.

[ Gorgug thinks about that, maybe more than he needs to. ]

I think there's worst people out there to punish.... [ But he also thinks her comment isn't meant to be that deep, so- ] You think this is how someone would punish you?

[ It's not asked seriously, but even for the parts about Etraya that he dislikes (most of it), it being a Gorgug-defined punishment is... hard to imagine. ]

[she is sure she's already had a worse punishment. her existence before now isn't much better and she shrugs.]

No, there's worse they could do. But it's not a pleasure to be put in an impossible situation and be forced to remember people need you and you can't do anything about it. A battle you can't win. That isn't a vacation.

Sure...

[ He says that slowly, continuing to think it out. How it works with what he knows or understands. It could very well be a punishment--why not? ]

It's a punishment in the sense that we're stuck here and forced to do whatever they say because there's people we care about that might be in danger if we don't, and we have to fight for our universe over others that'll die, if what they told us is true. And we don't get to know if we're doing a good job, and that's pretty bad.

[ That can definitely be taken as a form of punishment. ]

I know my friends are feeling powerless after all the missions they've been through, and not having any answers about anything going on, or like they matter. [ Mm, and the more he thinks about them, he can't help, but say: ]

...it's really punishing for them. Even though they always do their best.

[she was smiling but it turns a little sad the more he talks. poor thing, she thinks. even if he's taller and half-orc, he's still a kid, right?

she puts a hand on his shoulder.]

You have a big heart, huh? Keep that. Don't let the world smash it into the ground. Especially this one.

[it made her wish she could help him but well, she wasn't sure what use she would be. if any. but she could be nice and comforting.]

It's people like you that really change things.

[ Gorgug's surprised by the touch, and he doesn't flinch, but he definitely looks at the woman with the expression clear on his face, his widened eyes.

And while he doesn't do so immediately (it's not the idea of having a big heart that embarrasses him, Gorgug does duck his head with embarrassment at this apparent achievement she sees in him. Him? Changing things?

That feels like it leads to a lot of responsibility, but...! ]

I think-- I don't think anyone changes anything by themselves. You have as much chance as me. [ And the smile is small, awkward, showing the tips of his small tusks at the sides of his mouth. ] I don't know. I'd be happy if I just made things a little better for a couple of people. ...that's kind of why I wanted to help you find warmer clothes.

[ If it wasn't obvious. But maybe the selfish element wasn't. ]

[How sweet, she thinks. Even as he's trying to explain himself, she still thinks he's a sweet kid.

Even if she has to look up to him.

But she knows she can't actually go too into it. He'll just try to excuse it.]

No but you can help inspire others. You inspired me a little, you know. When I see other new people, I will remember how nice you were to me.

[ Oh... ]

I'll keep being nice. [ That's the takeaway from that, right? He goes on, after a small pause. ] If you ever need anything, you can ask me-- but there's other people around too who'll help, I think. I guess you don't know anyone else here-- no one from where you are?

[ Or, maybe they don't know to think to show a friend to a clothes store. ]

Not anybody too useful. [there is absolutely someone here but she's guessing he won't be helping her much. too much awkwardness between them.]

But there are helpful people here. Surprising how much since this seems like some contest. Doesn't feel like it, though, with how nice people are.

Do you have people from your world?

[ That's a first for that question. 'Nobody too useful'? It almost makes Gorgug curious, but it just makes him imagine the person in question is a nobody to Maria. ...and he doesn't care that much, if Maria doesn't.

Instead, Gorgug nods. ] I have my teammates from the same school as me, and a friend's sister. Some worlds have more people from them than others-- or universes, I guess. As far as those people know.

[ They could be from the same universe, and maybe not know. That's always a possibility. ]

But... the missions try to push people into working together. [ ... ] But I think-- people don't trust the reason we're here in the first place to begin with. And it's hard to know if-- you can't really screw people over in the downtime, if you don't know what's gonna get you ahead in the first place.

[ In a sense. ]

Hm. That's a smart way of thinking about it. And you know, so many of us could be from the same universe and we might not know.

[she gives him a friendly smile.]

Probably not you and I, though. Nobody quite like you where I'm from. Good thing you have people you know here. Little less lonely.

Are you from one of those worlds with just humans? [ He looks at her, head slightly tilted. ] There's a few-- the Earths? I haven't asked a lot of people, but I... know I stand out.

[ He makes a face, brows drawing low and his mouth a grimace. ]

Do you have superheroes? Or people who put statues of gnomes in their gardens?

Yep, one of the Earths and just humans. Or so we know. [in any other situation, she thinks she would have been a little skeptical. but being what she is, she can't really say that.] It's a big world. Who knows?

But superheroes are fictional so we don't have those but people would like to say people who help are heroes if we're being cheesy. [she knows that isn't what he meant.] And I mean...I guess, yes, people put gnome statues in their garden?

[that's a little exact...?????]

[ He looks at her, then looks away, thinking about it. A little silent, before: ]

...my parents are gnomes. I'm adopted, [ obviously, ] but we have...gnomes. [ Actual gnomes. ] It's one of the first thing I heard about worlds with just humans.

[ And softly, as if--even after all this time--he can't get over it: ] Gnome statues in gardens...

[not the answer she was expecting to hear! but well, can she say this is so strange? Gorgug is so different so it only makes sense.

not that she can wrap her mind around it.]

Having gnomes, statue ones anyway, in our lawns...yeah. Yeah, that would seem weird, I guess.

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November Mingle

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