November Mingle

[etrayamods]

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⏴

Comments

[tinflower]

[ Gorgug doesn't need the outward sympathy. The result would be the same, with Gorgug trying to use his hands (gloved, at least) to stop him slowly sliding, but failing that; thus he uses the tips of his skate's blades to bring him to that pause he was looking for, to a better end. Relief. If not without embarrassment.

It's a small victory, considering the slippery means it takes to get on his knees, Gorgug fighting to keep his balance. He's feeling every awkward bone in his body right about now, the cold still clinging to his cheek where he face-planted against the ice to save his nose, but he looks up as the man comes over. ]

Y-yeah... [ He hesitates, but slowly brings out his hands--stopping midway to say, ] I'm heavy, [ as a warning, because he isn't sure if they'll try to hoist him to help him any. Gorgug wouldn't usually take it, his 300lbs not easy on most people, but the reassurance he actually wants here is to have some semblance of safety as he works to get up, one foot coming underneath him at a time.

It's not comfortable, but-- he does get there, hopefully not pulling on John too much. He doesn't need to think about bending his knees with his legs already hunched, but he straights himself out a little just to better his actual balance. ]

Thank you-- I'm-- I'll try again. I'm okay trying again.

[ He says that, but does look at John, as if to ask if it's okay, if that's alright? He is the ice skating teacher... ]

[aimsforknees]

[ John appreciates the warning because he isn't exactly prepared for how heavy Gorgug is. Thankfully he's plenty strong and good at keeping is balance, mostly acting as support while he gets on his feet and not actually pulling him up. Maybe that's a facet of him being non-human? Not John's business.

Instead he just backs off and gives Gogug some space, nodding as he does so. ]

You don't have to keep your foot lifted for long, and make sure you don't drag the toe pick on the ice when you bring it down. Keep you balanced centered.

[tinflower]

Yeah, the sensation threw me off? I think I can get used to it. Maybe if I just...

[ He picks it up there to drag the blade on the ice some, favouring his right leg before he does the same on the other side. There's still the nerves of potentially falling from doing so, but standing here on the ice (and after falling once already), telling his brain that they're going to be okay does help, a little. ]

Okay. [ He says little things like so before he's about to get ready. Knees bent (check), knowing what a balanced centre means (check)--he slides the blade again, a small lift up as he starts gliding softly against the ice again, and Gorgug this time--though sparing it a couple of seconds, a private countdown taking place--brings down the bottom of the blade down sooner. Doesn't tip his foot to make the toe pick hit across the ground, and also doesn't get freaked out this time when he has both feet (or both blades) on the ice.

He is sailing smoothly....and even dares to try and keep up his glide, by trying to nudge himself to continue by picking up the other foot!! It's a tiny thing, but it works! He's even keeping his arms slightly out in place--not wide, but to help with his balance.

Human sir, human sir!! Are you impressed yet!! Even if this half-orc is still acting like an utter newbie...!! ]

[aimsforknees]

[ John backs up, gives some room. He's not going to interfere unless he thinks it's necessary, and he doesn't think it is right now. Instead he just watches. He is prepared for another fall when he sees the skates sliding back and forth, but thankfully he stays upright. And then he's off! There's a bit of wobbling, but he's really skating.

John pushes off his own skates, coming up next to Gorgug. ]

Next I'll teach you how to stop, but for now just let yourself slow down.

[ Praise doesn't come naturally to John, but there's an approving tone to his voice. ]

[tinflower]

[ It feels like cheating, the way he's keeping himself moving by those little nudges along the ice, even if people around him are doing far more confident sweeps with their blades than Gorgug. But that's what he should be doing, right? Still, Gorgug's enjoying the small victory, incorrect as it might be, that even as the man comes beside him and further giving him instructions... ]

Okay, yeah... eheh.

[ There's a small smile on Gorgug's face that's fond, giddy; the kind of delight a kid would have at doing something new, even if it's small and inconsequential. It's different, standing around and having someone direct you, but then actually moving with them, as short-lived as it might be (especially since said man is telling him to slow down).

But, Gorgug's feeling a little brighter despite his previous fall, allowing his blades to slow down naturally...

He even says, again, in this slowing movement: ] It's fun. I guess it's okay if I fall, sometimes.

[ He's been doing that a lot anyway, recently. ]

[aimsforknees]

[ That's good. John likes ice skating, so he's glad to see someone else enjoying it too. And there's nothing wrong with how Gorgug is skating, just moving forward is a good start; he can get more confident later.

Once they drift to a standstill John moves in front of Gorgug so he can watch. ]

I'll show you how to do the motion to stop from a standstill first, and once you can do it here we can try doing it in motion. What you want to do is bring your knees in a little so your weight is on the inside edge of the blade and push your feet out a few inches. Watch me.

[ John demonstrates this motion twice, pushing his feet out horizontally so he scrapes a bit of ice off the top. Afterwards he holds his hands out for Gorgug to hold onto for balance. ]

You won't get it right away, it's not an intuitive motion. Just practice.

[tinflower]

[ It's sad, actually, coming to that stop again--mainly because it feels underwhelming with how slowly it happened, than if he'd gotten to stop himself. But this is what this next lesson is for, isn't it?

The hands, then, that follow the next set of instructions are a surprise, but a nice one. He takes them carefully--slow to ever apply any amount of pressure, and done in a way that's practised--before he looks down at his feet to work on copying what was just shown to him. Tries it one foot at a time, to get the motion down in the same way as it had been demonstrated.

It isn't easy. His feet feel clumsy making the tilt, but he tries for a few more times, listening to any positive or negative observation from the man who's decided to take on helping him.

Gogrug would say something about that: about how well he's instructing him, taking on a task that makes it seem like an instructor, or something. But Gorgug holds his tongue, for now--it's better not to get distracted.

He's gotta practice until this potential instructor seems satisfied. ]

[aimsforknees]

[ John doesn't mind the silence. He's much better dealing with that than small talk. And he appreciates the effort Gorgug is putting into it. It's one thing to teach someone and another for the lessons to actually be received. He's been in charge of plenty of people who have listened with one ear or blown him off entirely, so this level of effort is appreciated.

After ten or so minutes, John decides that he's gotten it down enough. The way the ice is scraping up at the edges of his skates looks correct. Slowly, telegraphed so it's not a surprise, John lets go of Gorgug's hands, and then skates back a bit until he has enough room. ]

It's almost the same motion when you're moving, but you're going to point your toes in just before you push your feet out.

[ John pushes off towards his student and then in one motion points his toes in and pushes his feet out, coming to a perfect stop. ]

Once more.

[ He backs up and demonstrates again. ]

Do you want to try, or do you have questions?

[tinflower]

[ Repeating an action for that long makes it hard to say if someone's doing well, or not: have they changed from when they started? Are they getting too sluggish? So the motion starts to feel towards the first half of those ten minutes. But watching the man's action helps in a sense, to keep Gorgug's focus; to not become, at least, too sluggish.

This wasn't how Gorgug thought today would go. He didn't think he would have a day like this, even, where he's not thinking about anything but--this. Learning something new, with someone unknown. He thinks he even likes it, how unconnected they are. Even in this lesson that might provide some intimacy, there's a certain distance involved with the man's approach. Gorgug doesn't mind it. He's had worse teachers.

For now, Gorgug's been given permission to be in this small, little separate world from Etraya, from anything. The nerves, that awkward grimace that had been plastered on Gorgug's face, has eased off as the man pushes back, instructing.

Does he have a question? One, and he won't even give off the impression like he wants details, but: ]

Do you teach where you're from? You're good. You're really thorough.

[ It's a compliment. He thinks the man deserves it, and a simple yes or no would be fine. ]

[aimsforknees]

[ Is he a teacher? No, John doesn't do something so... good. Though he immediately thinks of Elias, who was a teacher, a good one by all appearances, but also a ruthless mafia leader. It just goes to show that it doesn't take a saint to be a teacher. Maybe it's okay that John can do it right now. Maybe teaching a kid to ice skate is part of his redemption. ]

No, I don't.

[ He doesn't even explain that he's only doing this because he likes ice skating. That's too revealing. But he should clarify, just a bit. ]

You're learning well.

[tinflower]

[ Unfortunately, his love for ice skating might be a possibility enough for even Gorgug to make that assumption. He doesn't say that, though. ]

Thanks. [ ... ] I'll try the next part.

[ He moves on with his answer given, continues on with the lesson--the man isn't asking him anything else, and Gorgug isn't interested in prying on anything else. Good teacher, though. If they were somewhere that money meant anything, he'd suggest offering his services, or something. (Does that mean he should pay the guy back? Maybe he'll think about that another day, at another time.)

But for now: there's the lesson, and Gorgug doing his part. He's gone through the motions of braking, and now he has to do it for real, in action. Point your toes in, just before you push your feet out. Gorgug remembers the words as best he can, but remembers even better the man's example.

He skates, one blade gliding against the ice gently to give him momentum, and then another again. Little speed, because that's not the lesson here, and he's already slowing by the time the skates skid, slow him to his pause. It feels awkward, and yet--

Gorgug doesn't look at John this time, doesn't wait: he tries again. Picks up his feet, continues the same pace, gliding softly until he pauses himself. It makes distance between himself and the man, but not too much, with Gorgug even turning himself with baby steps so as to face the man. So he can do it again, but try for a longer slide--

so he can make his stop with his skates when they're speedier. Keeping knees bent, making sure this time not to lean forward when the stop comes.

H-he did a long glide....!! Just like people do naturally when fucking around on the ice...! And it's this time that he looks at the man, making fists with his well-covered hands. ]

I did it.

[ He did a basic step!! A baby step!! And he doesn't speak louder, but there's a force behind that simple statement that's excited. An internal vibration is taking place...! ]

[aimsforknees]

[ John can tell the conviction behind Gorgug's words. It's been a very long time since he was that age (probably) and he can't remember well, but can kind of remember how it felt to sound that way. He's not proud of the kid, but he's just a bit pleased to see him figure it out. He didn't need John's prompting at the end, just did it himself.

John gives a nod. ]

Now you know how to ice skate.

[tinflower]

I do?

[ Somehow, he sounds surprised by that, like there isn't more for him to learn. But he can assess that he can learn those improvements by taking what the man's taught him, and so it's a confusion that only lasts for a few seconds. ]

--I do. [ Fixing that! Fixing that! ] Thank you--I'll keep trying. I'll keep skating.

[ He'll keep practising! And he doesn't think he needs to ask the man anything else, not if he's going to keep repeating what he's done to improve. ]

[aimsforknees]

[ That's really all the advice John has left to give. Just keep practicing. ]

Have fun.

[ The sentiment is probably a bit incongruent with his tone (impassive), but John just skates off now that his work is done. ]