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

[crushed_pearls]

"It's all good," Erin says, waving off any imagined transgression. "...My people are a bit hard to talk about, there's, a lot. But," she flicks her pointed ear with a finger, "we're...humans, terms and conditions apply. All kinds of humans, hell, we've got a statistically unfortunate number of Jews hanging around. The trouble is, after the terms and conditions..."

Something leaves Erin, and she deflates a little. Sighs, reaches for a cigar that isn't there and scowls at her pocket. "...Empire is not a friend to us. The long arm of the law is not our protector. As if we didn't have enemies enough, y'know?"

Left unspoken: this is what she meant by having things in common.

[iamthepyre]

"Don't get me started." Dabi huffed. "Hardly used my phone back home but I could really fucking use it now."

"Or the internet? Sure the little rocks they gave us are good and all but...actual phones."

He sort of shrugs again before continuing. "I guess the whole...magic thing...isn't so terrible. Yet."

[theresalwaystheview]

Get him talking about wildlife and he'll absolutely talk Max's ear off. Especially about observations that he'd made on previous worlds, in the forests here, or even out in Paradesium.

Bart's posture softens, shoulders going slack, expression a combination of embarrassment and pleasure at the earnest praise. His hands twist together, long fingers lightly calloused with the lab work that he does near constantly when he's not forcing himself to be social. "When I got here, I vowed to myself that I would put everything I knew to good use, to help the people around me with no mind toward ever asking for any kind of profit in return. I gain enough simply by being able to do the work that I care about. I want to be able to improve others' lives here however I can, whether it be by the antibiotics I've been synthesizing from the efforts made by the doctors and farmers before me, or making batteries for radios and food processors for kitchens. You will keep me abreast of whatever you might need, won't you? Even if it's just a checkup at the clinic that I assist at."

cw: gore & violence gets sexier

[thethirteenthchild]

It takes Dahlia a long moment to decide if she wants to shift back or stay like this, before she decides to split the difference.

The form she takes next has the same angular face and large, wide-set eyes as the human form that Daisy knows from earlier. Everything about the structure of her is the same. However, she now has pointed ears, black buck's antlers, blue eyes with black sclera, and a deep blue complexion. She straddles Daisy, hand still at her throat, sitting on her hips.

"I don't usually play with my food. But you seem like you'd make a fun exception."

[300kgbackpack]

"Best we can do is make sure we look out for ourselves. Not like the local guard's all that inclined to help. You heard about what happened with the kid and the jersey devil out there? Apparently the cops didn't even bat an eye, said they'd just ask the guy when he came back. Had the dude that reported it to them in the first place mad as hell." Sam shakes his head. "This ain't tenable. Something's gotta give and I've been tired of being jerked around for a long damn time."

[worstorganplayer]

Snakes snarls in frustration. "That don't surprise me. The locals don't seem to bat an eye at all the deaths and they just expect everybody else to sit and take it too. I've been trying to change things, but I haven't had much success. That's why I patrol so much. Trying to do whatever I can to make it safer."

[maximumcake]

"I do, yes." He holds up his own sending stone, a rounded chocolate opal that fits in the palm of his hand. "Isn't it neat? It looks kind of like a brown peanut M&M."

He marvels at the charm hanging off of hers. "Wow, that's so cute. That reminds me of the phone charms that were really popular in Japan. I bet Gwen loves to try and chew on that bead."

[maximumcake]

"No, silly, I keep it up my sleeve. My pants don't have any room left in them, what with all the heat I'm packing." Max does actual fucking finger guns.

Good place to wrap?

[hereticofthewilds]

Now Elsie is overcome with giggles too, interspersed with bright laughter that seems to echo, just slightly, as if causing tiny ripples through the air. This feels like the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

cw: gore & violence & anticipated cannibalism still getting sexier

[hadnoright]

Oh there are layers of surprises to this one, aren't there? Three faces, one woman, the same mouth with a taste for blood. There's so many questions she should have and not a one of them makes it past the thrum of adrenaline and anticipation of something much more interesting than whys and whats and whens.

Daisy's throat bobs beneath Dahlia's hand. Her tongue flicks out to swipe the blood from her own teeth.

"Y-You won. Play all— all you like."

It has been a long, long week and there's a gorgeous woman with all the sharpness of a shark straddling her hips ready to eat her alive. Being so close to Prey has never been so appealing.

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Eh, I'm imagining short term commute trains, really. Sleeper cars are only on certain routes, and even then it's First Class... if I'm remembering correctly." Chris shrugs. "Anyway, I'm not really trying to find parallels with your world, just kind of thinking aloud."

They lapse into silence at eat some more. Might be a good time to pick up with questions of your own, so Chris doesn't feel like this is some one way, very bad interrogation.

[notinflictthem]

He's perfect and Hawk wants him carnally.

"As a scientist I have to test incredible claims. My hypothesis is that there's enough room for me in your pants, and I'll tell you my proposed method of testing if you lean in real close."

[300kgbackpack]

Sam's nose wrinkles and his lip curls. "Best I can do is what I've always done, make sure everyone's supplied, run messages when they need me to, and take care of my kid the best I can. If anything happens to her, I'll kill whatever did it and make sure it don't come back."

[astrogator]

'It makes perfect sense,' Tayrey assures her. 'There are gaps, you can't fit them, you're going to wonder. Speculate. That's natural. I'd be unsettled as anything too. I hope it clears, soon as it can.'

Her suggestion for presenting herself as an amnesiac colonist makes Tayrey smile, though. 'Out in my sector, sure, we'd just say you were from the old frontier. A lot of unusual things happen out there these days.' Hardly surprising, now that it's no longer fashionable and the delight of would-be investors. 'For the real frontier effect, if anyone dares ask you for identification? Tell them that you know your Charter rights and you won't stand for pushy Tradeliners thinking they run the whole sector. You don't carry it and nobody can make you!'

Her words are half-teasing, but if Tayrey's mocking anyone, it's the hypothetical overbearing Tradeliner, not the Charter-reliant colonist.

[astrogator]

Tayrey's grip is strong, her handshake firm, Company-taught. She's faintly surprised by what she perceives as his lack of enthusiasm for the gesture, but she continues regardless, bringing her left hand over to briefly clasp his forearm, Tradeline-style, and only then letting go, hands dropping back to her sides.

'I appreciate that you're seeking clarity,' she says with a small smile. 'Lieutenant Tayrey. Arilanna Lorenza Kittredge Carrington Tayrey,' she pronounces, giving her full name the weight accorded by someone clearly proud of her heritage, for whom each of those words carry meaning. 'But that's too much to be practical. I'll answer to Lieutenant Tayrey, or just plain Tayrey, or Ari Tayrey, first and last, if you-' want to be Kisharin about it, she almost says, but she catches herself, because the probability of him knowing what she means by that must be approaching zero. She amends: '-like a little formality but not titles.'

She does like to answer cultural questions as thoroughly as she can, after all - but now it's Tayrey's turn to falter, hearing his explanation about his Holy Tongue.

'I appreciate a challenge, too,' she tells him, trying to hide her uncertainty over her error, 'but I figure I made the wrong assumptions. I took your Holy Tongue for your vernacular. If it's not, maybe I only need enough to read the labels. I have four languages, and I learn quickly enough, but I do like my work to have utility.' She's not bragging; it's normal for Tradeliners to be bilingual at the very least. 'My first is called Company Standard - what's yours then? And your name?' He knows all of hers now, after all.

[astrogator]

It doesn't seem very far to Ari either. If anything, she appreciates the chance for a decent walk. One where she isn't constantly alert for hidden dangers. She enjoys it, and they cover the distance quickly.

When they approach the tree, she takes the time to look at it properly. Of course the shiny trinkets don't even begin to compare to Cardalek luxuries, or even to all the things she misses from the Tradelines, but Ari can tell that they're meaningful to Elsie. She's not about to be dismissive or unkind.

'This is the shiniest tree I've ever seen,' says Ari, because it's true. She reaches out and touches the metal of Elsie's name, embedded into the bark. 'It's your tree, yes? Special to you?'

[hate_gettin_older]

Edgar's happy to take a few moments to just eat, now or pretty much anytime.

But after a few bites, he asks "So what's it like where you come from, then?"

[maximumcake]

"I think that's a really noble cause. So many people will be grateful to have your help. I know baking isn't as grand as making antibiotics, but I feel the same way about it. All I want is to open up a cafe here so I can feed people good things that might brighten their day.

"Baking is a kind of chemistry. I might just have some requests for you to help me perfect my craft." And while he knows Bart won't want anything in return, Max's conscience can't let kindness go unanswered so... "I know how workaholics like us can get pretty wrapped up in the work, so you can expect me to drop by with some bread or other snacks to make sure you're staying fed. And maybe you can give me a checkup some time, too. It's actually been a while."

[worstorganplayer]

"Those are important things to do ... you've got a kid?" Snakes blinks.

[300kgbackpack]

"Yeah, name's Lou. I left 'er back at the party with one'a the people that watches her when I can't take 'er with me. Don't want 'er out here in the woods just lately," he explains.

[worstorganplayer]

So how'd a kid end up here?

[The obvious answer is that she died to get here, but he's wondering if it happened some other way. It's disturbing to think of kids being brought to this place....]

[theresalwaystheview]

"'Not as grand'? Feeding people is just as important, if not more so. How are their bodies to fight off the things that antibiotics assist in killing if they don't have something good in their bellies? Add to that that baked goods have a terrific effect on morale, and that a positive outlook does statistically show at least a small impact on a person's wellbeing. I really honestly think that you will do just as much good here as I try to, if not more. It helps that you seem very likeable, which is more than I can confidently say for myself."

The offer to come by with little snacks from time to time is met with a sweet smile, and he nods, though he does have to add, "after so much of my life was spent on those foodstuffs designed for space travel, I'm afraid that I'm having to limit my intake of certain things. I'm afraid that I've always been lactose intolerant, and glutenous foods need to be rather few and far between. But I'm sure you would be able to come up with something!" Can't crush the man's dreams, after all.

[300kgbackpack]

"Dunno," Sam admits quietly. "I ended up here alone, but...she came along a lil' while after, on the ferry like the rest of us. Best I can figure, it's because she's like me. Death ain't ever been simple for either of us."

[worstorganplayer]

"... I'm sorry," Snakes frowns. "That is just ..." He shakes his head. "How would she even be able to agree to the terms of coming here? Would she even be old enough?"

[300kgbackpack]

"It is what it is. But...no. Good as she is at makin' it known what she's thinkin', I don't think her bein' here was about consenting to it. Three months old, I think it was more a matter that she still needed someone, passed on through, and she was still attached to me through the chiral connection. Think maybe I mighta needed her, too."