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 does shake his head at the name, opting to listen than to speak. So Harold Finch doesn't have something like a barbarian situation where he's from, but there's still something about anger and control... unless that's just behavioural issues, which is its own thing.

And which isn't unrelated to Gorgug's own life, even so. But what's more so related is what Finch actually shares: trust. A familiarity, or similarity--Gorgug isn't sure, but it makes him look away from the figurine to look at the man curiously, thoughtfully. ]

What kind of angry is he? [ A pause. ] Do you see him like that a lot?

[ Perhaps, he's now keen to know more about this relationship. How familiar is it to his own situation? How much does anger play a part of it? Does it involve violence, and how does it look like from the outside?

His friends--his teammates--accept Gorgug wholeheartedly. But worlds are different, and so are people. What does a potential barbarian of another world look like to a non-barbarian, if this is the case? ]

[ornithologist]

Not as most people would classify anger, I think, [ he has to admit, Gorgug's question forcing him to think of this in more detail than he normally ever would. Anger is not an emotion Harold willingly dwells on. He frowns in thought, wanting to take Gorgug's life and his concerns seriously. ]

... I can't say it's a cold kind of anger. [ Harold gets cold angry, gets utterly controlled, precise and merciless. That's not what he sees in John. ] Mr. Reese-- does not distance himself.

[ He pauses, weighing what to say honestly against not wanting to reveal personal characteristics of John's that he's had the privilege and opportunity to notice. ]

He cares, greatly. But how he acts on it is calculated and deliberate. [ Another slow, thoughtful pause, his voice turning softer. ] I've learned to trust his judgment absolutely. If he hurts someone it's because it was necessary.

[ This is far from a simple trust, coming from Harold. ]

[tinflower]

[ Cold angry. Distancing is what helps Gorgug to understand what Harold defines as that sort of anger, and he thinks he gets it: the kind of anger where people grow quiet, holding it in to let it simmer far from the surface.

But Gorgug likes to hear the rest, too. It's something he's never had to think about before: how others view anger, and how they perceive it on others. ]

You sound like good teammates. Or friends. [ Or both. It doesn't have to be either or. Gorgug looks at the steel figure in his hands, and sets it onto the palm of one hand, atop the glove he wears. He grabs a thin tool with a flat end and a slim handle, starts to curve it around the pieces of wire, and finding parts where they're crooked, or looking a little awkward.

In this small, careful motion, he makes the wire smooth, and curves as well any ends that haven't been tucked away as nicely. A little magic to help bring the Good Boy together. ]

I don't think a mindless kind of rage is for me, either. I like deliberate. [ He glances at Harold, but mostly stays looking at the small dog and at Bear, and then sets his free hand above the other to create a dome shape above the steel dog figurine.

And when he dips the palm of his hand to make a crooked shape, the figurine sits on its hind legs to better mirror Bear.

He then gives it one last look over, and holds it out to Harold. ]

Thank you. I don't go out of control, unless-- something makes me. I know it might sound bad, but... I go into Rages to protect people, too.

[ornithologist]

Something like that, [ he answers ambiguously, not disagreeing with Gorgug's assessment but truly unwilling to pick a specific term for he and John and what they mean to one another. He'd suggested they use the term partners mostly because it felt adequately ambiguous. Harold and John never discuss it honestly, so he isn't looking to discuss it with anyone else, either.

In any case, Gorgug is the topic of conversation here, and he listens carefully to his response even as he watches with avid interest as he manipulates the metal wire. Harold is paying close enough attention that he catches the little touches of magic and he can't help a muted kind of wonder at seeing it. It's like a sci fi TV show to him.

He takes the dog figurine with a small, openly delighted smile. ] Emotions can be weapons, but if you're controlled and deliberate about it, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

And I don't see how that acts in contrast to mechanical pursuits. [ Harold nods down at the creation in his hands. ] Strong feelings can help me focus immensely.

[ For Harold it's not usually anger, but based on what Gorgug is saying now, he thinks maybe that doesn't matter so much. ]