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

[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 not in charge of the sweet distribution system.

Also, everything here is free.

[tinflower]

Take me for ice cream

let's all get ice cream

[equivo]

If it's all free, what excuse do you have for denying the people? Seize the means of sweet distribution, I say.

[stresstokens]

I wasn't denying anyone, I was pointing out that nobody really needs my guidance to get all the ice cream they could possibly eat.

[tinflower]

you still haven't taken me for ice cream

i'm questioning our friendship

[equivo]

Yeah, man. It's about the camaraderie.

If the ice cream is the problem, get froyo. There has to be froyo somewhere around here. Break into one of the twenty different mansions.

[stresstokens]

I don't have a problem with ice cream! The ice cream isn't the point here! I just don't know how we got

We were doing a whole mission

[ He's given up. ]

Okay, fine. Ice cream in five minutes. Happy?

[tinflower]

i am :)

we can break into a mansion too if you want

[equivo]

Have fun.

[ And like a guy from an anime Krouse never watched but nevertheless weirdly used to dress like, his work here is done, despite him not doing anything. ]

[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.