Mingle - Emergency Potluck

[pumpkinhollow]

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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

[abhorrently]

With a grace that will read as casual to anyone looking, Fever sets her plate aside and follows, them looking for all the world as if they simply were having a light conversation. Nothing for them to worry about.

"I won't wring out your life story from you on the day we've met, but I will say that I understand. And I've been told I'm a fair listener."

Since clearly, this is weighing on her mind. Fever might be a complete stranger, but as it has been before, so it may be again - sometimes it's easier to open to someone you know less, when their judgement matters less.

"The line between what is needed and what you enjoy can blur in ways that only you see."

[abhorrently]

"A generous offer from you, my lord, but how are you so sure I won't misuse your name, now that you've given me license to use it?"

There's a light in her eyes - just teasing. She wouldn't really, since she doubts there'll be a call for it, and anyway, if someone's insulting, the right bolt of lightning sets them straight usually.

[astrogator]

She can tell from his phrasing that the colony isn't there now, although her guesses as to why would be so far from the truth. She gives him a sympathetic look.

'Progress isn't always linear, and a lot of ours was driven by adversity. You'll get there. It's not my field, but maybe someday I could tell you what I know about terraforming techniques, if that would help.' That's allowable; it's old technology to her, not a Tradeline secret and not politically sensitive in any way.

This place, however, needs far more work, and Tayrey shakes her head. 'I don't think the local people here have done so much as break orbit. I haven't seen anything more advanced than steam power. Have you?'

[astrogator]

Tayrey's not sure where to go either, but at the very least she has a good sense of direction. She heads away from the square, walking on the grass but keeping a path in sight for now. There are trees up ahead in the distance, and she can't deny that even for a spacer they're a welcome sight.

'Do you suppose they'll reach here? All the others?' She asks the question in the most carefully neutral ways she can. There are some she longs to see again - but others whose current absence is a great relief.

[astrogator]

Tayrey gives Zivia a good-natured smile, and tries again. 'Shalom u-pharnassah tovah. I like the sound of that. Don't worry, it's always difficult to explain a language you know very well.'

She's only too happy to talk more about the Tradelines. 'That's right, not run by any of the colonies, and very decentralised. There's a central finance office on one of the central worlds, but other than that? Tradeline captains are the ultimate authority shipside. There's just... a Tradeline code, and standard procedures for everyone to follow, so it's - something like a franchise? We're trusted, because of that consistency. You don't have anything remotely similar?'

[astrogator]

Similarly long name with a similar attitude to it; that earns him a nod of solidarity from her. 'Mulcahy,' she echoes, because she'll remember for sure if she says it aloud.

As he explains the honorific she leans in a little closer, curious. 'You aren't the first person I've heard use familial terms when there's no relation by blood or contract. It's not something that really happened in my sector, but I see what you're trying to evoke.' It's no betrayal of her Tradeline principles to admit that she could easily see the potential for a fatherly manner in him.

'What do you do in the community, beyond leading religious rites and prayers?' Tayrey uses the present tense for his work, just as she does for her own. The intervening captivity doesn't have to take that from either of them.

[umm_shafaqat]

"Of course not all vampires have the same attributes," Keziah replies. Her brows furrow slightly in confusion. "Do your lines not change, in accepting those of mystical heritage, or turning your dhampirs?"

What would be the point of a new House or Clan in such a world, other than territory? What she listed are only two examples for an avenue of change, but the conversation moves on.

"I can survive on animal blood and life force, but not solely that. It would... not end well. Some portion of the blood must be human." She makes a mental note to see what arrangements can be made. And there's a note of amusement when she says, "I wonder what life force is in a fruit."

The blood is a convenient medium, really, not the actual sustenance that Keziah takes.

[maximumcake]

Max can feel the air curling around Chris, and his own grin curls just as much. Oh, this might be fun. This might be really fun. It's finally time for Erik to be on the receiving end of some teasing.

"Oh reeeeally?" Erik, you're doomed. "Then I'm guessing he hasn't told you how much he likes having his hair played with, either."

[lightconductor]

"Indeed it is. Hm. I almost wish," Watson starts, and then stops himself. He shakes his head. There's time for that thought later, when he's alone. "Well. I know something of fathers who are happy to ignore their children except when convenient, and leave them to mothers or nursemaids only. I always intended to not be that sort of man myself."

[actuallyawolf]

"Oh!"

This is not very surprising, ultimately. Ylva pauses to consider this for a moment, then nuzzles her face into his shoulder. "Yeah. I mean, that makes sense, my den is small and you're always welcome but also... you're not a wolf."

And he's going to want a different sort of home. That's okay. She kisses him again, because she thought she'd never see him again, and she is not full up on kisses yet. "So it makes sense you'd want to -- I am trying to make it nice but yes, that... that's probably the best way to do it."

[lightconductor]

"Ah," Watson smiles, "yes, I think that's a very sensible idea. An anniversary to mark in your calendar, I think, and celebrate next year. I hope," he adds, "that you're inclined to celebrate it. This place is... easy to like, I find."

He shrugs, casually, a little awkwardly.

[skeletonkeay]

"They turn into ghosts 'till dawn. Lets you talk to other ghosts. Or haunt your friends. Knock their dishware over, bang some cabinets, classic gaffs like that," Gerry jokes dryly. "But not much else, really, as far as I know."

[theresalwaystheview]

"A cruise ship? Oh that's got to be absolutely awful, even without the idea of being in a pocket dimension." He looks out to watch some of them, noting the haunted appearance of some of them, the sheer relief on others. Paranoia in one or two, as if they expected something terrible to come along at any moment.

At First Aid's cautioning, he nods. "I think that the best we can do is let them come up to us when they know they need help, and be as open and gentle with them as possible otherwise. If we can help them, I would like to."

[tehilim127_1]

"Not that I know of. We don't have any space travel to speak of, so all our trade is within and between continents on the one planet. And I think our trade and travel has generally been under the auspices of one government or another ... I'm not an expert on the subject, though, especially historically."

[freedomsuitsme]

He pauses. That resonates with him. He can remember getting such impassioned appeal from the Valkyrie, the Librarian, the Handywoman, the Culinarian... each time it's hit him a little harder. And while he'd already started to think of the inhabitants of the ship as his new group of Survivors, he hadn't been there long enough to trust any of them with so much as two words of his own thoughts. Still...

"I'll... keep that in mind. You remind me a lot of some surprisingly tolerable people, Mr. Maximum."

[crushed_pearls]

"...My dude quick question," Erin says very slowly. "Does a big-ass dude who turns into a long-haul truck, rejoicing in the unlikely name Optimus Prime, happen to be your leader?"

[apocryphalarchivist]

A glance from her, to where he can only assume she nodded towards, and Jon's in motion. He doesn't quite expect her to get moving as quickly as she does, but the pace he falls into, even for a short walk, is fairly easy. Perhaps they weren't as close as Daisy and her version of Jon, but as Jon was now, there was still a bit if comfort in that familiarity.

As soon as they're away, and a look over to the mingling crowd gave an assurance that no one was going to try to come over and ask anything. Interrupting these things never did go particularly well for anyone involved.

He doesn't ask twice. Anyone else, he might fret a bit more, but if Daisy agreed at all, he didn't think her the type to reconsider over a walk across the festival green. There is, for consideration's sake, a small nod for confirmation given, and when he gets any sign of confirmation in return, he speaks. This time, each word finds a thread, and begins to pull, slowly and carefully.

"Statement of Daisy Tonner, taken live from subject, regarding the events following the failure of the Unknowing, and the circumstances of her arrival to the town of Pumpkin Hollow. Statement begins."

(Does he need to say "statement begins" without a recording device? Not at all. The habit's so ingrained, though, he doesn't even think about the fact that the waterlogged tape recorder he's hauling around isn't recording, either. He only gives it a passing wince of a misspeak - he's got other things to focus on right now.)

[apocryphalarchivist]

The olive branch being taken is enough for him. Tension eases from Jon's shoulders, even if very, very slightly.

"Of course. You know where to find me, if the time ever comes."

A beat, and a smile is offered. It's uneasy, but he's giving it his all.

"Thank you, Cecil. For talking to me, and... sorting all this out. I know it wasn't exactly easy."

[abhorrently]

"...Truthfully, I hesitate to speculate. There are those I'd greatly wish to see - Arthur, for one - but others may find death a welcome peace after everything."

And not to mention those she would have instinctive problems with if she ever saw them again. Clarke may have been doing what she thought was right, but Fever still wants to break her jaw for it.

"We can only do what we can while we wait to see. Try to find the ground under our feet and help them with this problem." A little exhale. "It's such a relief to know everyone thinks it's a problem."

Instead of the internal divisions of before.

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Oh, that one I picked up on my own. He plays with my hair plenty when we get to talking, so..." Chris gives a little shrug, "turning it around on him just made sense."

Their expression does go serious for a moment, and they say, "I do want to be clear. I'm only asking for harmless hints about him. I know that he wronged you, making you give up your normal life even if it was to protect you. So I hope you aren't having any thoughts about striking at him through me, Max. You seem like such a nice man."

Let's just put all our cards on the table, why don't we... but Chris means well in this. They like Max, and while they don't want to believe Max's pleasant nature is a front, there are voices of experience in their head telling Chris to make sure. Kid Eternity has known many liars.

[notinflictthem]

"Do I get to list them or should you?"

[lightconductor]

"You joke," Watson says, waving his fork at Hawkeye, "but that's a genuine thought I've had. There's nothing and no one for me in London anymore. This place is... grand. Demons aside, of course."

[notinflictthem]

That would be Morning-Glory Ravenheart-Zell, wife of the guy who coined 'paganism', fun fact.

"Bisexual, huh?" he asks, "I think I like that. I uh- let's say I've availed myself of how tolerant this place is already. Multiple times. It's a nice change. Not that I didn't do it back where I'm from- I used to joke about it all the time, but nobody thought I was actually... You should've seen Trapper's face the time he caught me with a male nurse, I thought he was going to have a heart attack."

But Hawk chuckles a little to himself at the thought of it, so Max can probably guess the reaction wasn't too bad.

"Anyway. Jokes aside, can I come find you after the potluck, if your girlfriends won't whisk you away?"

[actuallyawolf]

"You don't need it. You don't think you'd enjoy it, either?" An honest question, without judgement. "It'd be like, I dunno, dessert."

Dessert is a human invention she is extremely fond of.

[notinflictthem]

"Really?" Hawkeye seems genuinely surprised by that.

"Strapping young duck like you doesn't have anyone waiting up in London going ach blimey where's my Watson?"