Mingle - Emergency Potluck

[pumpkinhollow]

Pumpkin Hollow Community Bulletin

Main Nav | Permanent Bulletin | Calendar |

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]

"Edgar!" Max does what Edgar was thinking of doing. He drops the spoon in his hand on the table and rushes over to wrap his arms around the man so hard he might be in danger of popping.

"You're here! I'm so glad to see you!!"

[hate_gettin_older]

"Oh thank christ --"

That comes out muffled, into Max's shoulder, as Edgar hugs him back as hard as he can. "Fuckin hell, man, it's good to see you -- are you all right?"

[maximumcake]

"I'm good," Max says without even seeming like he's going to let Edgar go any time soon. "I'm great. You're here, and a lot of my friends are here. We're all off of that terrible boat. I've never been happier!"

[hate_gettin_older]

Edgar's going to burst into tears of relief in a second if he's not careful. He swallows the lump in his throat and shifts his head to get a better breath, feeling the fabric of Max's shirt rub against his cheek.

"There's others here from the boat?"

[maximumcake]

"Yes! Valdis is here, and Ylva, and Daisy and... more, I know there's more." He's just having a hard time articulating it all right now. "It's not everyone but... maybe more will show up. Maybe?"

[hate_gettin_older]

"Maybe," he echoes, and it hurts his throat.

(No one else from the train ever did show up at Milliways. Nor anywhere else he's been, and he hasn't seen Curtis since ...)

"Guess we'll. Wait and see?"

[maximumcake]

Max bumps his forehead against Edgar's. "Yeah. But in the meantime, you have to see this place. It's wonderful. It isn't perfect but... no one has to suffer to keep the lights on. We don't have to do that anymore. We can just... live."

[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."

[maximumcake]

"Yeah," Max says, blinking back some more tears of his own. "I know. I know."

[hate_gettin_older]

He sniffs mightily, and manages to keep it to that instead of actually bursting into tears. This time.

"I dunno what I'm gonna do here," he says, "but they say there's all kinds of work -- like not just to pass the time, work that needs doing, yeah? There's gotta be something I can do. Wash dishes, even."

(Did he ever tell Max about how he washed dishes at the cafe that the other Max ran, back in the fairy town? He must have done, one of those days in the Serena Eterna's kitchen.)

[maximumcake]

"They need lots of help at the Oak & Iron," Max says, brightening at the idea of them getting to work at the same place. Would it be the same as Edgar remembers it?

"I'm serving as a waiter there right now while I save up to buy my own place. I'll need a dishwasher, too, once I do."

[hate_gettin_older]

"You've got one," he says at once, grinning. "Whenever you do. And maybe I'll see if the Oak & Iron wants me in the meantime? -- I wanna try out different things, see what I'm good at."

[maximumcake]

"You should. Why not try it all? There are so many new paths to take here. You could start a farm if you wanted. Or you could take up a new craft. Whatever you decide, you know I'm going to be cheering you on."

[hate_gettin_older]

His smile widens until his cheeks start to hurt.

"Did I say how good it is to have you here? Cause it's damn good."

good wrap?

[maximumcake]

The apples of Max's cheeks are almost perfectly round with how bright he's smiling in return. "You know what? I never get tired of hearing it. I'm so glad we're here together. Let's get some food before I start crying more."

wrap it is!

[hate_gettin_older]

Edgar laughs -- and if there's a touch of extra brightness in his own eyes, no one has to comment on it. "Yeah, let's."