JANUARY MINGLE

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: January 17th - January 23rd
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers and some new construction!
NOTES\WARNINGS:

⏵ arrival ⏴ Welcome to Etraya! Arrival goes as expected - characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital. A coat rack is situated by the doors leading out of the hospital, covered in warm clothing that fits the new arrivals just right - whether it's to their preferred style or not is something else entirely. Some of them appear normal enough. Others? Well. Looks like someone was trying to improve on last month's designs. Outside the windows, the grass is covered in a couple of inches of loosely packed snow. We hope you enjoy your stay. ⏵ passion for fashion ⏴ As the newcomers find themselves leaving the hospital as per their usual arrival, they will find that not too far from it is a small boutique. Newly added, just as they have been, though they lack the context to know this. Companion bots will encourage them to go in and meet the particularly unique bot inside, dressed to the nines in line with the fashion the boutique itself is offering. While small, it's clearly been decorated to emphasize the loose era and taste of the particular fashion it's advertising. The building itself is also petite, and made to feel more personal rather than a commercial experience. It has a single dressing room, and outside of it has an area with mirrors where one might take in their lovely visage from nearly all angles. There is a little waiting area with seating in the front, for those who are not being molded through Theobold's vision, or simply waiting for whoever is. The tastes and aforementioned era of this little establishment is decidedly Victorian, with a bold splash of neon trimming, cog-like adornments, and other accessories that brighten up the otherwise neutral fabrics typically used in the style of dress. Theobold, as he has named himself and will not let anyone forget, has taken to a three-piece suit, a deep emerald in color, with a black vest, and matching black gloves. He will take it upon himself to judge each person's attire (which he will unabashedly hate), then restyle them into something more along his tastes (even if it takes him a while, he will find something you don't ruin). There are, of course, many different combinations to pick from, all hearkening to a very loud style of dress that seems as much neon as it is punk or steam. One might even name it steampunk with a splash of neon. Neon Steampunk? Something like that. An interesting combination to say the least, Theobold insists as much. This is, of course, not simply limited to newcomers, though they will likely be exposed to this boutique more quickly than the others. Any who come near the general area of the hospital (thus the boutique) will find themselves being encouraged by the other bots to come inside, and they will likewise be judged and restyled to Theobold's tastes—which are as bright as they are bold. He really doesn't take no for an answer, though he can't truly stop anyone from leaving any more than a pushy grandmother fussing over her grandchild's clothes might. He has obviously discovered his passion, why not indulge him? ⏵ trending or treading ⏴ After enjoying the privilege of being restyled by Theobold, he will also insist that you take the outfit for a spin around the city! See what people say, take note of how many looks you catch, how many eyes are on you. He wants to hear about it as well, clearly to validate his own artistry, and who can blame him? Does not every artist strive to hear a little bit of praise for their hard work? Do they not yearn for recognition from the public? Theobold may be a bot, but he is also an artist honing his craft! His boutique is not above critique, though he hopes the critique isn't too harsh... Should one indulge him, telling about what others thought, he will gladly gift the outfit to the wearer. A humble act of his endless generosity! Or if they fancy another outfit of their own taste from his boutique, then that will suffice as well. Even if it breaks his heart that you don't like the outfit. No, no. It's fine, really. It's perfectly okay. Everyone has their tastes, and yours just happens to stab him in his mechanical heart. He'll get over it. In time. Probably. ⏵ leaving tracks ⏴ Companion bots have taken to building train tracks, as well as what appears to be a train station, in the South Eastern island of Etraya. The area is, for the most part, blocked off from Etrayans. After all, it is a construction zone, and the companion bots are ever vigilant with safety. At least they try to be. However, if people wish to lend their aid in the construction, well, they won't necessarily stop them. However they will assure them that they are not in need of assistance, and might intermittently remind those especially helpful Etrayans of that fact. Those who wish to simply watch the construction may do so, but nothing especially interesting is going on beyond the mystery of what this these tracks and the station might be for. Besides a train, of course. After all, since when has there been any mention of a train? Asking the companion bots about it will yield little results. They won't be able to give any further details besides the obvious: when this is done, it will be for a train. It seems even they might not know the full extent of what this entails, or maybe they cannot say. Regardless the reason of their lack of explanation, it seems patience might be the key to the answer. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Some may notice that in the area Gorgug's friend had gone exploring outside of the environmental bubble, there is a message written on a massive piece of fabric, which is tied to two large rebar poles. The message is in an alien language, but the earpiece will automatically translate it: DID YOU THINK YOU WERE THE ONLY ONES? On the bottom of the fabric are four vertical lines. Every Friday, a vertical line becomes crossed through with a horizontal one. 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

[badfengshui]

[ Shifting, he looks toward the stranger.

If a question mark could manifest over his head, it would. ]

... what?

[hexcope]

[Jayce puffs out his cheeks and exhales out his own nervousness at having failed at Humor. Two for two on bad jokes. He's never going to tell a joke again at this rate. ]

N-nevermind. You're new here, right?

[badfengshui]

Yeah.

[ Henry hits that moment that socially awkward people have when they realize they're saying the same word too many times in a conversation. He rolls his eyes around the apartment before taking a step forward and holding his hand out. ]

I'm Henry.

[ Good job! You're socializing like a champ! ]

[hexcope]

[Ah! Familiarity! A handshake! Jayce shakes his hand back, a firm grip and a bright smile, now that he doesn't feel like he's ruining the interaction.]

Jayce Talis. Do you have any questions? I can't say I know it all, but I can tell you what I know.

[badfengshui]

[ Oh good, he's not ruining this first meeting. He shakes back and gives a slight smile back. ]

... I don't know what to ask.

[ Oh wait. ]

Have you seen any holes? In the walls?

[hexcope]

Big ones, small ones? No to both, actually. It's fairly pristine here. I think the companion bots repair architectural damage if it comes up.

[badfengshui]

I see.

[ Guess that's that, then. ]

... it's nice to have robots. [ ???? ]

[hexcope]

Do you have them where you're from? I've never seen things like this before personally.

[badfengshui]

[ For a very brief second, because his mind was so focused on holes, Henry believed that Jayce was saying he's never seen a hole before.

However, he realizes his mistake; his head dips to stare at the ground in a brief moment of horrified embarrassment before he looks back up. ]

No. I haven't. They're new to me, too.

[hexcope]

[Oh, don't worry Henry, he's definitely seen a hole before.

The hole that blew in his apartment when someone blew up one of his crystals.]

We have pretty advanced mechanical developments, but some of what I'm used to is very different from what I see here. The companion bots shape isn't too unfamiliar, but their ability to work and move "on their own" in a sense is strange to me. And don't even get me started on computers.

[Don't worry Henry, if you do get him started, Mr. Doesn't Shut Up will be able to carry the whole conversation.]

[badfengshui]

Oh. All of the technology is pretty unfamiliar to me.

[ He looks about, like he'll see a companion bot down the hall. But it's just them. Fortunately? Unfortunately? ]

... the computers weren't like this, either.

[ Henry didn't even have a computer in his apartment and now he has an earpiece that works like futuristic tech. He'd take it off, but he worries that he'll lose it, so it'll just stay on his person indefinitely. That's the way to solve anxiety about losing something -- probably. ]

Could your computers do what these do? [ He points to his head, or well, his ear. ]

[hexcope]

No, we didn't have them at all, actually! The idea of instantaneous communication is new to me. We only had letter correspondence. It seems so inconvenient now, by comparison.

Hey, do you mind if I... come inside?

[Since he's just standing in the hallway with him, having this conversation. Although honestly, with the door being gone, it doesn't really feel like there's a difference between "inside" and "outside" here.]

[badfengshui]

Oh.

[ Weird. It's strange to think that he has something like companion bots but hasn't figured out how to do instantaneous communication.

His head is tilted slightly toward the ground as his eyes unfocus - he's thinking. He lifts his head at the request and he twists to look into his apartment. His eyes drag themselves around every corner that he can see before he steps back to let him enter. ]

Yeah, okay.

[hexcope]

Not used to having company?

[But he'll step in, looking around. It's decent, but also Henry just got here, so it's probably not filled with too many personal items.]

[badfengshui]

No... it's not that...

[ Henry once more thinks about explaining about the holes in the wall and the voices that came through it; the worlds that he witnessed and the people that died. However, he recognizes that even if the situation that they find themselves in is unreal and fantastical, there are some things a person should just keep quiet.

He recalls hurryingly (in his own way) telling people of what he experienced and feeling like they pulled back in concern of him. ]

... anyway, does it look different than your apartment?

[hexcope]

I don't live here. I'm staying with a close friend, north of here.

[In a mansion.]

...But it looks nice!

[You know... uh. Well. Bland mostly. But Henry just moved in, he probably hasn't had time to personalize it yet.]

I had an apartment like this in college.

[badfengshui]

Oh. [ His eyes roll along the ceiling, thinking of what is nice to say. ] Is it nice?

[ He nods. ]

It's an apartment. [ A pause. ] Nothing in here is mine... but that's fine... [ He started to question if any of the things in his apartment were his towards the end. ]

You went to college...? For computers?

[hexcope]

I'm sure you can get things more to your liking once you're here long enough. There's a few stores around... and everything's free, so.

My degree is in mechanical engineering. But I've decided to look into how "programming" for computers works while I'm here. It feels like a useful skill to have.

[badfengshui]

Guess so.

[ Henry closes his mouth. He's willing himself not to say anything strange. Even he thinks it'd be strange to say: "I don't even know what I like anymore." That's odd. Everyone has something they like, right? Right. ]

What would you get? Well, wait... you got... a housewarming gift for your friend, right? [ He assumes? ] I got a painting. From my landlord back home.

[ Anyway-- ] It sounds useful. What... will you program?

[hexcope]

Housewarming gift?

[Uh, no. He didn't get that...]

Can I see it?

[The painting, that is.]

I don't know yet, but that's a good question. The first thing I'd try... maybe some sort of automatic calendar? With reminders for dates and times? That sounds useful, right?

[badfengshui]

It's a gift... you give to I guess... welcome someone to the space.

[ Henry misunderstands it as not knowing what it is. Perhaps, the reality that Jayce comes from, they don't have "housewarming gifts." ]

I don't have one.

[ He blinks. ]

I guess so. [ Time and schedules stopped mattering to him in the space of time that he was trapped in his room. The idea of maintaining them again feels foreign to him, somehow, but he supposes he should try -- or else he'll always feel a little inhuman. ] I think people would like them.

... it'd... make them feel more normal.

[hexcope]

... Right. Got it. Thank you.

[He's going to have to be more specific when he talks to this guy... Like maybe, toddler-level specific. He almost wonders if Henry should be living alone, because the more he listens to him, the more he considers that Henry is not, in fact, okay.]

Do you feel normal, right now?

[badfengshui]

Welcome.

[ Henry nods once at the thanks. He shuffles his feet and looks around the apartment; before, he kept all the furniture the same because he didn't have any strong feelings about it. He thinks he might do the same here, but would it be all right? It should be? Probably. No one's mentioned being cursed or experiencing odd things in the apartment building, anyway.

He twists his head to look back at Jayce, realizing that he's staring off into the "middle distance" at some point in his apartment. ]

As normal as I have been feeling, I guess...

[ Um. ]

How... about you?

[hexcope]

I was pretty unsettled when I first arrived too. I had to make some sort of recipe, and then there was the issues with distortions in the timeline, but after the dust settled, I felt pretty good. It might take you some time to get there, but you'll get there.

[badfengshui]

Distortions in the timeline?

[ ????????????? ]

What?

[ NO GO BACK TO THAT???? ]