♥ September Intro Mingle Log

[hugtopiamods]

September Intro Mingle Log
Welcome to Hugtopia, and to the city of Havenwell. This mingle is meant for new arrivals to get settled and meet the other inhabitants. New characters should be the only top-levels but everyone should feel free to tag around and make new friends. Who knows, you may find that Perfect Hug in here. You can use the prompts here, or create a wildcard of your own.

ICly, this takes place from the 2nd to the 16th and then we'll have a shiny new event post up for you all soon after that date range. The prompts below are optional, but are a way to get you started if you wish. To help you create your own prompts, please take a look through our Settings and FAQ. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread below.

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❥ PROMPT I: Awakening

When you awaken, you're in the last outfit you remember wearing, three of your belongings laid nearby or your animal friend curled up by you, waking as you do. It's not the most comfortable place to sleep, a stone slab, but once you're awake, a humanoid-looking robot comes in and explains you're in Havenwell and leads you out of the room and into the main portion of the temple where a welcoming committee of similarly humanoid-looking robots hand over a clear smartphone-sized tablet, some starting funds, and explain their dilemma. Then they release you into Havenwell to pick your new home from free housing in the city and give you the chance to settle. It might be a bit disorienting, but thankfully there seem to be a lot of robots and even some non-robots around. Maybe ask them for help?

❥ PROMPT II: Buddy System

With all the changes going on, it might be hard to be a new arrival to Havenwell. The natives understand! Sort of. When some new arrivals begin to appear at the temples, receive the welcome speech, get their communicators and the simple map of the city, they get taken to the front of the temple by a helpful robotic priest. Rather than turn the newcomers loose right away, they pull someone seemingly at random off the street and push the two people together with a cheerful, "Here's your guide to Havenwell! It's dangerous to go alone, so be buddies!" before going back inside.

They try to place a new arrival with one of those who previously arrived, but who can keep track of all that, right? Characters may find themselves thrown together with an actual veteran or with another new arrival who only came here a day or even just an hour before them! Good luck helping each other out, offworlders, and don't lose your buddy!

❥ PROMPT III: Weather Wildcard

Havenwell's weather is generally so well controlled, with beautiful blue skies and temperate climes that it's hard to remember that there's a whole world out there that might not be so nice. Every so often, however, the controls break and something not so nice and temperate comes through. Pockets of unpleasant weather happens all over the city at random intervals and new arrivals might find themselves and others caught without warning. Is that a snowstorm with green snow? Sure is. A windstorm that only seems to affect three streets? Yup. Did a deluge of rain just pour the equivalent of an Olympic sized swimming pool of water on you? Uh-huh, sure did. A deep cold fog that suddenly rolls in and blankets your entire area? Yeeaaah... hopefully there's someone around to help you get about and find shelter or just dry off and get away from it all. Good luck, offworlder.

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Comments

[necromanswers]

[Hell yeah climbing. Lup offers her a firm grip and a steady support as she helps the girl up and over until she's back on solid ground, abandoning the chair to its fate. Still holding on, since if the wind can blow away her on the chair it can probbaly blow her away now that she's off it, she guides her towards the cafe.]

Had lunch yet? We can get you a snack while we wait.

[pinkmin]

[There was definitely a moment there on the railing where Vianca swayed very precariously with the wind, looking like she was about to blow away as predicted. Her grasp on Lup's hand was firm though, and ta-da! The ground was here! Still holding on, Vianca gratefully followed her back into the shelter of the cafe.]

That is okay. I don't really have much money yet.

[necromanswers]

Oh, you new? That's no biggie. I've got some cash to spare, and you'd be a good excuse to buy more pastries. They're not bad here.

[She gives the bag a little shake, nudging the door open for them both and gesturing towards the display where the food is available for her perusal.]

[pinkmin]

Yes, I just got here.

[There it was, the sweet and buttery scent of pastries on the air. Vianca did like a snack here and there, even if she didn't have to eat as much with all her mysterious plant qualities. She blinked at it all, turning her slightly owlish gaze up to Lup.]

... Are you certain that would be alright?

[necromanswers]

Yeah, sure. You've probably earned it for me by now, anyway.

[She gently lifts their joined hands to demonstrate, though her grip is loose enough that Vianca could easily slip free now that they're inside.]

[pinkmin]

[She's too curious now to actually think about letting go just yet, her eyes moving between Lup's face and their linked hands with a hint of calculating fervor. The fact that they were here to provide physical comfort for the world had stuck, but it suddenly felt like she was missing a detail?]

Earned it? I haven't done anything.

[necromanswers]

[Aww, muffin. She really is new. Lup just grins cheekily.]

Don't you worry about a thing. You'll probably see by the end of the month- it'll be a nice surprise.

[But for now she'll take advantage of the hand-holding; it's mutually beneficial, after all.]

For now, just think of it as a welcoming gift. Newbies need a little leg-up, right?

[pinkmin]

[WhaT doEs ThaT mEAn. So enigmatic! Such a mystery! Vianca frowned a touch in thought, trying to figure out how this helped Lup out in anyway. Maybe it'd be better just to roll with it. Sure.]

... Um. If you're sure. That would be very kind of you.

[So let's take a look at these pastries here.]

Do you have a favorite?

[necromanswers]

[Mysterious finger-waggleeeeee~ but anyway, she's moving on already, glancing at the display case briefly before leaning down to point at a small, flaky-looking thing with grill-marks and bits of orange filling peeking out of the edges.]

They're all decent on a good day, but I like that one. It's soft and cheesy on the inside, and ooh does that flake ever crunch just right. They're still learning how to cook, that's obvious, but whoever makes those has figured it out.

[pinkmin]

Still learning... oh, because we're here?

[Vianca peered closely at the one being pointed out to her. It certainly looked rough around the edges, when she thought about the things that Bob would make, but there was a lot of earnestness here! Probably. She actually couldn't really tell, but the thought counted.]

I'll try that one.

[necromanswers]

[Hell yeah, she's officially an awesome cheesy influence. Lup scoots over to the counter, waving at the bot who is surprised to see her back again within two minutes of leaving, but is all too happy to serve them anyway. She buys four of the pastries, tucking the new bag with the one she already carried, and jerks a thumb towards the inside seating.]

Wanna find us a spot? We can munch while we wait for the wind to chill out.

[pinkmin]

[Spreading the good cheesy word. Vianca was watching this transaction with rapt attention, taking careful note of how the elf was using her communicator to pay for the (four????) pastries. Like the library card! That made sense.]

Okay.

[That was a thing she could do. Leading Lup over to the selections of tables and chairs, Vianca took careful stock of what options were available. One of the ones near the windows were appealing, but her more cautious thoughts led them to one that was across from them instead. Just in case! Who knew what else was getting blown around just outside.]

[necromanswers]

[Lup follows along without complaint, not really caring either way, though she does sit in a spot where she can watch the window, just in case. In part as an old habit from growing up - never leave your back exposed! - but also because there's been enough local property destruction to be wary of large panes of glass. At least this way if anything breaks she can react and hopefully shield the poor kid.

Once they're settled she opens up the package and sets it on the table, pastries laid out and ready to be eaten.]

Help yourself, as much as you want. They've got more if we need 'em.

[She does take one for herself, though, because they are godsdamned delicious and she can't resist.]

[pinkmin]

[Vianca had waited for her to take her pick first before ducking her head and selecting one for herself. It felt rude to go first when she was being treated so much. The pastry was still a little warm under her fingertips, and Vianca realized she actually was a little hungrier than she'd usually be.]

Thank you. For earlier, too.

[necromanswers]

Yeah, no biggie. Not like it was out of my way.

[She waves it off. Just kinda was in the right place at the right time, that's all.]

I'm Lup, by the by.

[pinkmin]

[There were plenty of arguments about how this was out of her way, but Vianca just. Nibbled on her pastry. Oh, it was very cheesy.]

Oh, yes. It's nice to meet you, Lup. I'm Vianca. Have you been here long?

[necromanswers]

Nah, not at all. The first of us only showed up a few months ago- that's why the food still sucks beans.

[This particular food is... acceptable, at least. Certainly good enough to close her eyes and suck a big chunk of gooey cheese out of the center. Mmmm.]

[pinkmin]

The first... So everyone is still pretty new.

[She glanced out the window, watching the migration of other cafe chairs skitter through the square.]

I suppose it is too soon to see if we are helping anything.

[necromanswers]

Mm, probably. The world's in a real rough shape, judging by the look of what's waiting outside the walls.

[Not the most optimistic of answers, but she doesn't like the idea of lying to kids just because they're kids.]

Gonna need a lot of TLC to fix that mess.

[pinkmin]

[She appreciated it, because here came the big nerd guns.]

Most ecosystems take at least a decade to recover from disturbances... but if gods are really involved, maybe it will go a little faster.

[She'd seen a bird person sing a forest back to life, so! Maybe!!]

[necromanswers]

[Oh, bless. She dated a nerd for fifty-three years, this is secretly her jam.]

Gods can do some wild stuff, whether you believe in them or not. Fix the world, smite your enemies, revive the dead... I prefer proper magic, but a fully-stacked cleric can do some wild shit. [wait.] ...Stuff.

[pinkmin]

[Vianca nibbled some of the cheese thoughtfully.]

That's true. These ones already do reviving, so I guess if we get them all powered up...

[Then things theoretically could work out! Theoretically. At least there would be a better shot at it. But she was looking at Lup again now, curiosity coloring her lean towards the table.]

Do you do magic?

[necromanswers]

[Her lips curve into a smile.]

Hmm, I wonder...

[She slides her hand across the table, offering it out to the girl wordlessly.]

[pinkmin]

[She blinked, looking down at this offered hand.]

...?

[Here was her hand in return, placed gingerly on to hers.]

[necromanswers]

[It's only there for a moment. Lup's fingers curl around hers, there's a soft tickle of arcane energy that weaves between them, and then she lets go with a wink.

If Vianca looks at her palm, she'll find a mark there, like a temporary tattoo on her skin- a small red flower with a yellow center, simple and cute.]