Mingle - Emergency Potluck

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WELCOME POTLUCK

Greetings, residents! Those more observant sorts among you may have noticed a large influx of very crowded ferries. In order to welcome our new residents en masse, Town Hall is holding a potluck in Town Square. Please bring a dish if you are able and make a new friend!

All of our newest arrivals need only bring themselves. We look forward to welcoming you all into our community, and may your lanterns always be lit.

This event is open to all! In light of our new influx of prospective players following the Great Sail Migration, we've decided to offer a small public event to tide everyone over until the TDM this weekend.

Comments

[maximumcake]

"Think you might have to ask for my hand from my two girlfriends first." Yes. Two.

"They don't bite. Hard. Unless I ask them to." All of this, for the record, said with a perfectly straight face. (The only straight thing about him.)

[notinflictthem]

...

"And hell isn't going to break loose if I mention your name to both of them?"

Genuine question.

[maximumcake]

"Oh, no. Not at all." Right, he keeps forgetting that's not how it works in most places that aren't a weird cursed cruise ship.

"We're all in an open relationship. They have other girlfriends, too, and all of us are free to hook up with whoever as long as everyone's being respectful about it. But we are each other's emotional grounding and that's really important to me."

[maximumcake]

"I mean, as long as you're both into it I'm not gonna judge. I don't have that many stones to throw from my glass house of really, really liking teeth."

[notinflictthem]

"Huh."

Hawkeye has an expression on his face a little like someone just explained the concept of gravity to him.

"Tell me more? How'd you work that whole thing out?"

It's not even flirting, it's genuine interest.

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Oh, definitely quoting. It's from 'Paradise Lost' by John Milton." Chris smiles, and admits, "I'm no poet."

Then, just curious, Chris asks, "Do you have any plans for what you'd like to do here?"

[maximumcake]

Max doesn't need any excuse to gush about his girlfriends. But now that he has one... buckle up.

"Have you heard of Polyamory?" That seems like the logical place to start.

"I met Valdis first, and I fell deeply in love with her. But I also met Ylva and fell just as in love with her. Because I... I guess I'm just not the kind of guy that only loves one person at a time. I also am just... way too horny and I love having sex with my friends if they are into it so..." He laughs at himself about that because it's not even a secret. Apparently, there was an entire murder shipping board about it. Good thing he doesn't feel shame.

"So we all talked to make sure that we were okay with it if we were in a relationship with other people, too. Especially because Ylva was already dating Erin when I asked her to be my girlfriend. Sometimes it means we have to work a little harder on the logistics but... we all really care about each other and trust one another so, for us, it works. I'm happier than I've ever been."

[maximumcake]

"Well, you recite it beautifully enough," Max says with complete sincerity.

His eyes light up at the question. Oh boy does he have plans.

"I'm hoping to open my own bakery, or maybe a cafe and bakery both. I know I'll have to get some cash together for it, so for now I'm helping out at the Oak & Iron. But that's always been my dream. I can't believe it might finally get to come true."

[hate_gettin_older]

The sound Edgar makes is halfway between a sigh and a sob.

"Christ," he mutters, blinking hard. "That's -- all I ever wanted, you know? Someplace that didn't ... fuckin chew people up to keep everything else going."

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"I've picked up baking since I got here," Chris says. "Maybe sometime, if you want to take charge of a kitchen, you can borrow mine. I've got my own place, within walking distance of the clinic I work at."

(Xey will just have to make sure that Erik knows when not to come over, because let's mitigate the awkwardness for now.)

"If you can, make sure that the Oak and Iron has you hired and on the books. Town Hall will start giving you 'community outreach' bonuses in addition to the monthly stipend, so you can save up for your own business." Chris gives a shrug. "Sure, you could just open a place, but take it from me... a little cushion of money is a good thing, and I wish I'd been more thoughtful when I started out here."

[maximumcake]

Max nods and there is a deep, deep understanding behind those soft brown eyes. He half reaches a hand out to Bart, but doesn't touch.

"Maybe you can feel that I know what you're talking about. Because I do. If you want to hear about it I'll tell you somewhere private but, I get it. I get what it feels like to not really belong to yourself and then one day you just... do. People think it's easy. Like, you're free now so just be happy and make your own choices but it's... scary. Because you have no idea what you're doing and now you have to figure it all out on your own."

[maximumcake]

"Oh, yeah, that's really good advice. Thank you. I'll make sure." The advice is truly appreciated, to be sure, but Max is much more excited about the first part of what they have offered.

"I would be so honored if you would let me invade your kitchen sometimes. And if you want any pointers I'd be happy to show you anything. I was most of the way through culinary school before I had to drop out to go live with Erik. I know tons of trade secrets."

[maximumcake]

He nods while laughing joyfully. "Yes. I saw her. We hugged for a really long time. And I... well, I did kind of ask to move in with her so that's probably another reason why I couldn't visit every single day. Is that....okay?"

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"I'd like that. You're very kind."

A thought occurs to Chris, and they outright giggle. "Oh... it's not fair at all, but I'm a little tempted to ask if you know any 'trade secrets' about Erik. Even though there's no one he can ask for hints about stuff I like."

[notinflictthem]

"Someone's mixing their medicines. Poly is Greek, like polynomials, and amory is Latin, like amor fati. It should be polyphilia, or multiamory."

Hawkeye predates that as a term which means he also predates how annoying that conversation is.

"But no, never heard of it- I'm from 1951, it feels like every day I'm running into things I've never heard of."

He listens though, chin propped up by his palm- except when he's eating, because the food isn't getting any warmer.

"You're a man after my own heart- there were some days back at the OR where the only thing getting me through was the thought of taking a pretty nurse into the supply tent. Or a handsome one. That's great, though- I'm still happily unmarried but... something to think about, for sure," and he gives Max's knee another little squeeze.

"It's uh- nice getting to talk about being omnivorous too, y'know? Being into both, I mean."

[yournewsidekick]

"Ugh," says Nimona, emphatic, with just as big an eyeroll to match. "Heroes. Why do they always gotta ruin everything."

She drops her head back into her paws.

"Totally fine when a monarch's in charge of everything, but one guy with a zombie army wants to rule the world instead and they're like 'nooooo, that's eeeeevil, zombies are groooossss, we can't have that.'"

[lordoftheozarks]

"I certainly do," he answers with a sly smile. He knows that wasn't a real cough. But he is delighted to hear she's interested.

"I quite understand. And, yes, I am worth saving for if I may be so bold. But, I do take payment in a different form. Not all are willing, but some find it a fair trade. I will be perfectly truthful to you now. I am a vampire. I do not know if that word means anything to you, but it matters to know because I can only drink blood for sustenance. So, for some, they trade me a drink of their lifeblood for an hour of my best work. And we all come away quite satisfied with the arrangement."

[yournewsidekick]

"Yeah!" she says around a mouthful of mushroom. "Pink's my favorite -- "

As is probably obvious.

" -- but purple's pretty awesome, too." Thoughtful: "Maybe I'll give that a try someday."

[graveling]

"Desserts? Oh, please? Can you help me? I...like foods that taste enough for me. Like, spicy, sour, fermented. A bowl of plain mashed potatoes is hell to me, and like. I imagine vanilla ice cream would be the same. But I haven't really dug into, um. What desserts there are, that I might like?"

That isn't at all a refusal to discuss his nature, it's just prioritization in action.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis sits to the side, now just observing everyone as they move and mingle around the town square. The souls all vary, and with her powers intact she can see deeper now than before. The colors and lights held within souls, the brightness or darkness, but it gives her a headache when her sight sits there for more than a few seconds, perhaps she just needs to 'flex' the muscles as it were.

Still, she's seeing some interesting things even without soul sight, there are more changelings here, though she's not certain which court they belong to. Her gaze flits over to where Max is, still helping people with their food, then back to the man helping at another table. He seems nervous, awkward, almost...robotic in a way, as if he's acting as he was trained instead of fully conscious, ambling about trying to be helpful.

She smiles when he asks her about napkins. "I'm sorry, I don't know where to find some, but perhaps I can help you look?"

[yournewsidekick]

Oh man this is the best, even on the ship she never really let loose like this --

Nimona doesn't realize right away that she's laughing like a human would. And in one particularly slippery moment, she can't stop herself: she melts into a ripple of sparks and zips a foot to the left to dodge Amaterasu's next tackle.

Whereupon she freezes, caught somewhere between embarrassment and wariness, as her tail slowly droops.

[comedyequalstragedy]

Gilbert smiles back, which does not reach his feelings below the mask.

"Thank you, only if it isn't a bother, yes," he does not especially want her to help but it's not like he can say no.

"These kinds of little gatherings are quite sweet, but I find that it leads to nobody knowing what they're doing."

[redlightgreenlight]

She gives her head a tiny shake, sensing his...displeasure? resignation? Either way, he doesn't want to accept her offer.

"No, it's not really a bother, but if you would rather not have the company, I would understand."

[comedyequalstragedy]

... hm.

"I'm so sorry- it's just my manner of being polite, I do appreciate the assistance, really, it just isn't my intention to put anyone out."

A slight air of suspicion, now.

He smiles again, "Gilbert Fitzroy, how do you do?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Oh, that feeling is easy to figure out, it's a common one and tends to feel the same across individuals.

"Please, no need to apologize." She replies, keeping her friendly smile. "My name is Valdis. It's a pleasure to meet you."

He feels a little cold too, and the ice crystals...perhaps Winter? He's more reserved than Erin and Okie, more like the others from the Eterna, but also a tad surly.