video, un: gorgug (pre-mingle)

[tinflower]

[ The camera turns on and focuses in on a motley duo: Riz and Fabian, a Goblin and a Half-Elf respectively (and, it has to be said, the camera has to be considerably zoomed out to accommodate both of their heights) who wear matching expressions of distinct disgruntlement. Behind them is a clue board that Riz refers to every now and then while he talks, his speech quick and efficient, words stumbling over each other in his haste to get them out. ]

Uh, hey everyone. Welcome back to Etraya, I guess? I’m just going to cut straight to the chase: a team of us did some investigation of what was happening back at Moorecroft, and I think there are some things that everyone should know. We went ahead and tried to figure out what the whole curfew thing was about – in case some of you just decided to behave yourselves the whole time, our curfew was being maintained by robots that would straight up kill you if you decided to stay out.

First, some of us went to check out the hospital, which is where most of the suspicious activity was coming from. Something there had the ability to lock away people’s powers, and they were able to somehow mimic people we knew from home, which were sent out to attack us. Presumably, that was to get our guards down. Fabian and I managed to get into the underground, where… [ He frowns, rubbing the palms of his hand together. ] Honestly? Things there were pretty inconclusive. There were a bunch of hand-drawn pictures along the walls of the corridor, stuff from around town, and it looked like they were raising some sort of… kids down there? Some of the rooms were obviously for teens our age, and other rooms were for really little kids, and it all led to some sort of tracks that led somewhere else. Where and why, we don’t know. But something real fucked up is going on there. You don’t find empty hidden bunkers of kids stuff without it being super fucked up, you know?

The others ran into other stuff around the city – smoke that turned into these big monsters that tried to eat them, the things those robots were trying to protect us from. Others ran into these android kids, who we can pretty easily assume the rooms in the hospital were for. The monsters didn’t try to go after them; apparently they only went after people who didn’t belong. Namely, us. Now, we don’t know what the hell those monsters were, but Adaine could feel what sort of arcane energy they were giving off – it was some seriously powerful reality-shifting energy. Conjuration, but the sort you’d only get from really, really powerful wizards.

That energy isn’t restricted to Moorecroft. She felt it here too, once we got back. That doesn’t bode well for any of us.

[ Riz takes a deep breath, glancing up at Fabian. ]

Did I miss anything?

Yeah, maybe some more emphasis on how fucked up this all is? [ Riz may have sounded relatively composed. Just objectively trying to get information across. Fabian, on the other hand, sounds anything but. He’s not looking majorly upset - yet - but he’s definitely both looking and sounding annoyed as he speaks. It isn’t aimed at Riz, nor even really at the viewers, like it’s some sort of general annoyance at this place. ] We almost died back there. Someone actually did die! And it’s not even the first time, since the stuff with the maze and the stuff with the plushies was just as fucked up!

[ Riz grimaces, a row of sharp teeth on display as he tugs at Fabian’s arm, hissing in a far less officious whine: ] Dude, time and place, this is just the mission report—

[ Unfortunately, Fabian just keeps going, wildly gesturing with his hands at this point as he speaks, the smaller boy visibly giving up on stopping him beside him: ]

We can’t just act like this place is normal! If it really wanted to help us save our worlds or whatever, then it could at least stop constantly trying to kill all of us, right?! How are we supposed to trust anything in this place when clearly it does not have our best intentions in mind in any way? [ His hand gesture arm swing is so wild that he almost manages to accidentally hit Riz. Sorry bud. At least it’s a near miss. ] I mean, the least we can do is for people here to stop holding hands with the companion bots! They’re trying to kill us!

[ Wait, what is that weirdly specific mention—

And a deep sigh can be heard from the other side of the video, which then ends there. Wow, wonder who that could've been!!! ]

( ooc: responses can come from one of the three boys (riz, gorgug, or fabian) just as an fyi! )

Comments

un: blackhat | text

[equivo]

Figurative hand holding, right

[tinflower]

[ He types. Deletes. Types. Sweats.

... ]

i can do whatever i want

[ YOU KNOW WHAT? T-THERE!!! HE'S GOING TO SAY IT!!! HE WILL DIG THIS HOLE FOR HIMSELF, ACTUALLY. ]

[equivo]

[ Krouse contemplates. ]

okay.

Point conceded

[ Physical reality being what it is, Krouse supposes that's technically broadly true. ]

Listen though

I say this from a place of sympathy

Having a little trouble wrapping my head around the 'want' part moreso than the 'can' part if you follow me

[tinflower]

we're friends

if i like someone i'll let them hold my hand

[ The message reads, originally.

But then there's an edit: ] and you know what i'm going to do more than just hold their hands

im gonna learn how to make them

[ Is he entirely focusing on what Krouse is saying? No.

Is he definitely taking glances at a certain person in the room as he writes all of this? Yes. ]

[equivo]

[ This message is a rollercoaster ride of a mere four sentences. Krouse lets out a real life whuf at the last one, so...markedly different than where he thought it might be going.

Then he pauses to think again, tapping his fingers on the nearest flattish, woodenish object at hand. ]

That's cool

They could probably use some stabilizing influences

[ Krouse is joining the war on robot hand holding on the side of robot hand holding. He meant it about the sympathy. ]

[tinflower]

that's right

[ This is an emboldened reply that Gorgug doesn't even feel in himself. He texts it back just to do so, and not even because he actually agrees with it; he just wants to feel right and sure about himself, and it has nothing to do with this text thread.

He refuses to be bullied about this!! ]

[equivo]

[ The excruciating awkwardness of being revealed as a robot - befriender? Yeah. He'll leave it at befriender - the point is, it's palpable. Krouse runs a hand over his hair with another heavy exhale, feeling mildly responsible for this, given that it is, in fact, partially his fault. ]

Mea culpa for crashing your mission report.

[stresstokens]

See, this? This is exactly why I was trying to keep things on-topic. Now all anyone's gonna be able to talk about is the hand-holding.

Apparently Gorgug's been holding hands with robots, I guess? I dunno, man. This is news to me too.

[equivo]

I guess it's research.

[ Hands on research. ]

And you should cut me some slack. I got the beta version of the details. The robot fraternizing is the fresh news.

[stresstokens]

Okay, fine, you already knew all the details. I guess you get a pass. But still! You're not the only one!

I knew this should have been a written report.

[ It got vetoed. You should have seen the report, Krouse. It was bad. ]

[equivo]

It wouldn't have helped. No one reads written reports. Unfortunately.

[ They live in a sad, sorry world. Or multiverse. ]

And I get the sense that this is a grievance that would have come up regardless.

You have my sympathy. Few things are as annoying in team dynamics as managing interpersonal drama.

[ Typed with the breezy confidence of a massive hypocrite. ]

[stresstokens]

Why not? They should! I read all written reports! I've read so many reports!

[ He's PERSONALLY OFFENDED. ]

I wouldn't say I'm managing interpersonal drama. Though I might be if I continue to shit talk them in public. I hear that sort of thing is bad for relationships.

[equivo]

Which is why you're in charge.

[ Unironic belief. ]

It's always interpersonal drama, man. That's how people process shit like this nine times out of ten. They'll get over it. Send them out for ice cream or on a snack run. Usually works.

[tinflower]

i want ice cream

[ Like yeah you both are talking about his drama right now and being VERY RUDE, but this is what Gorgug has decided to comment on. ]

[equivo]

[ This sensitivity on Krouse's part may be part of why his team had so much interpersonal drama. ]

The man wants his ice cream, Riz.

[stresstokens]

I am very explicitly not in charge. We had this talk in freshman year. It didn't go well.

[ He never even said he was in charge!!!! He was just being incredibly fucking bossy!!!!!! Come on guys, why was that such a big deal!!!!!!!!! ]

[equivo]

Let's call it administrative organizer, then.

[ The worst of all worlds: all of the responsibility, none of the authority. ]

Heavy is the hand that wields the day planner. But I'll say no more here. I'm preoccupied with the pro ice cream lobbying initiative.

[maximumlegend]

no it's literal hand holding krouse

LITERAL

HAND

HOLDING

!!!!!!!!!!

[ He may or may not be ignoring a whole lot of Glances from someone in this very moment. Fabian is far too busy typing this. ]

literal hand holding with the guards of our JAIL CELL
what do you make of that

[equivo]

I wouldn't say they're technically our guards.

[ Of course Fabian doesn't get the appeal of robot friendship. He's a jock.

The fact Krouse also finds it mildly bewildering is completely beside the point, and for different, intellectual reasons. He's honour-bound to defend a fellow loser. ]

They're more like security cameras + drones. So it's like he's holding hands with prison equipment. Sort of a different thing.

[maximumlegend]

are you seriously trying to say that is not just as bad

who would want to hold hands with that

i mean there are so many other things to hold hands with in this place

[equivo]

Maybe he doesn't want to hold hands with those other things.

[ Krouse feels like this conversation is already completely off the rails. ]

I mean, realistically, not everyone here is a catch. Plus there's the complication of us competing to keep our worlds from exploding. I can't help but feel like that puts a damper on romance.

[maximumlegend]

[ ....

Never has Fabian felt like Krouse has plunged a dagger into his heart as much as in this very moment. The more he reads the words, the more the upset spreads throughout him - and it's not like it wasn't already there in the first place.

It's just that it feels even worse now. ]

don't you happen to know any people here who might be more attractive than those robots
no people at all?????

[ This is your LAST CHANCE, KROUSE!!! ]

[equivo]

Yes???

[ Two can play at your multiple punctuation game, Fabian.

Unfortunately, Krouse lacks the context, understanding, sensitivity, or basic read of the room to quite pick up what Fabian is putting down otherwise. ]

But that's my personal taste. And I'm sure as hell not looking for a relationship, so it's a moot point.

[ There are no exception to that and nothing else going on whatsoever. ]

What's it to you, anyway?

[maximumlegend]

maybe i am just worried that my friend thinks robots are the only option around here when it comes to holding hands

[ Clearly it's that.

Just that.

There is, indeed, nothing else going on whatsoever here either. Just two normal guys having a very normal conversation. ]

is that so strange????

[equivo]

If you want him to hold hands with not-robots so much just set him up on a date or something, man.

You're popular. You have to know somebody who'd be into him. You have the power to solve this problem you're inventing. Carpe that diem.

[ Is Krouse being a dick by saying this openly, in public? Yes. On purpose. And the worst part is he doesn't even know how much of a dick he's being, specifically. ]