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

cw: abusive relationship trauma

[hasitsthorns]

"Charlie told me they were," she offers, at first, already trying to find some way to defend it. Him. Wasn't she always trying to pick up the pieces of whatever he ran his claws through? Even her, she knows, but- He had a point. She always thought he did. Didn't he?

"He was, uhm. The one in charge of things back home where I worked, so- He just was always trying to do the best job that he could. And only wanted all of us to do the same! So, y'know, I always thought - for my role - he wasn't wrong for criticizing and trying to help me improve.

And even when we were technically off the clock, I think he just had a hard time switching out of that mode. He liked hearing me sing around the apartment! Called me a songbird. He only got annoyed if I went too into it, like writing scores or lyrics again so. Yeah!"

[maximumlegend]

... Fabian pauses.

He really isn't the perfect person for this. There are so many red flags Fabian is either very actively ignoring or outright chasing in his life, after all. It's likely pretty hypocritical for him of all people to get into this.

But whereas he often can't see it when it comes to himself or his own relationships with people, it's getting a lot more clear when Rosie is laying it all out like this. It certainly is giving him kind of an odd feeling, the more he thinks about everything she's saying..

"You.. lived together with your boss?"

Slowly piecing it together. He'll get there.

"And he was rude to you?"

[hasitsthorns]

"Oh, yeah- He wasn't just my boss. We were together as a couple too so, like, also my boyfriend." On paper, it was always such a romantic kind of whirlwind of events. Even now she remembers a lot of the circumstances leading up to starting a life with him fondly.

"That happened before I started working for him, but I ended up living with him after some... scary stuff that he saved me from. Then, it just seemed natural I ended up helping him with his work. I know it's not, like, the most professional arrangement but- It worked for us!" Fabian might be questioning if it did, in fact, work at all.

"He was always just kind of grumpy though in general so rude might be a stretch. Just really serious and focused on what he wanted to do. I didn't think it was always a bad thing, but it could cause some issues? Just like any relationship, I guess."

[maximumlegend]

Okay. Yeah. Still a lot to wrap his head around. Especially when she says not the most professional arrangement, considering how little idea Fabian has about that.. but he's trying over here.

Maybe the easiest thing to do here, he figures, is to throw everything he can't understand off to the side, so he can focus on what he can understand.

Like a very simple question.

"Yes, but he-- He liked you. He loved you. Right?"

Because it isn't really sounding a whole lot like it, and that's the part that mostly worries Fabian here.

[hasitsthorns]

She would appreciate the effort going into trying to understand her awful, toxic situationship. Especially since she's presenting it as a totally normal relationship.

She thinks that question shouldn't be difficult to answer. Charlie did love her. Of course, he did. If he didn't, then- What would that mean? "He did," she decides on. "In his own ways, which might not have always made sense to other people. He kept me safe and gave me a place to call home..." Which really shouldn't be the standard, but it was. Is?

"So, he did. I know he did."

[maximumlegend]

Well.. If Rosie's saying he loved her, then who would Fabian be to question that, he thinks. Especially since he has a similar thing going on with his parents. Sometimes people make all these odd faces when he tells other people about what they did, but.. they love him. Sometimes it's just harder for someone from the outside to understand that sort of thing, he thinks.

And the last thing he'd want to do is make poor Rosie feel judged here.

So Fabian nods, to acknowledge what she's saying, and then he just gives her a wide, friendly smile.

"Well, if anyone ever does treat you badly, especially in this place-- You just let me know! I want to make sure you know I absolutely would not stand for it, and I am always available to give a piece of my mind to anyone who is unkind to you! Just call me whenever it is necessary!" Fabian is always ready to throw down.

[hasitsthorns]

In a way, she appreciates that kind of understanding. It's not that she doesn't know Charlie had his flaws. But don't they all? She could be opinionated and stubborn, sometimes. It was hard for her to actually talk about things and not deflect immediately when it got uncomfortable. While she's worked on those things, well- Charlie worked on his issues too. She believes he did, anyway.

"That's really sweet of you," she says, smiling back in kind. Not as enthusiastic as before since she's a little stuck in reminiscing now but that isn't his fault. "Hopefully, it isn't necessary but always good to know you got someone in your corner." By and large, people here have been... almost unreasonably kind. At least, according to her expectations. "I'll put you on speed dial though for sure."