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

[pineapplesalmon]

It was important that Magne taste his mother's food first. Having to cook together for a sudden potluck was a blessing. César remembers what's important, now. For a moment, he was so busy that he had almost forgotten.

Just seeing her was enough to remind him how much he loved this woman. His girlfriend! Magne's touch along his back makes him want to abandon the entire event and go home with her for a very long moment.

"It's an important skill I finally need to start relearning." César replies to her as if confessing his love (and it's definitely confessing how overworked he was at home); he tries to look down at his plate, but he can't stop looking at her. "You can drop in anytime if you'd like—whenever you have a free moment; I'll be in all day. Bring your soapbox."

The only other time César's cleared out his entire schedule is when Magne died. It's not dire this time; it's clear they'll work through this together. And he doesn't expect to spend the entire day with her unless she wants that, but it's there for the taking. César's recommitting himself to more time with her; and to listen to her, to learn what happened and then fix it together.

[sistermagnetic]

"We can work on balancing your work and free time so that you don't burn out. I know I can't make you do anything, but it would be a favor to me if you would actually take the time so that I can actually come and see you without you being neck-deep in work or else crashed from a lack of sleep." Something she's had some experience with, through living with others that weren't all that good at taking care of themselves, either.

She can't help her smile at the mention of the soapbox that he'd given her, her nose wrinkling with it. It was still such a silly joke, and she was happy that he'd made it. She actually got a lot of use out of it, now that it was primarily where she stored her toiletries.

Magne turns and reaches for the bottle of the sauce that she'd made to go with the cutlets, something she'd had a harder time with due to having to substitute one of the main ingredients. Mirin just isn't something that exists on the island so she knows that her katsu sauce isn't going to taste quite right, but so far it hasn't gotten any negative reviews either. She holds it out to him to put as much as he likes on his helping.

"I'm going to get some of these people set up at the inn, then I'll probably come and sleep it off on your couch so that I get some quiet. If that's alright with you."

[pineapplesalmon]

Although embarrassed by that very direct callout, César still laughs warmly. "... God, I've missed you so much. I'll put some thought tonight into what you could help with. We can talk about that tomorrow, too."

César's moved out of the Oak & Iron entirely now, so seeing each other now requires deliberate effort. He had also come to the conclusion he needed to slow his roll (physical exhaustion was a great hint!), but hadn't figured out where to begin. But knowing she'll help him means the impossible would be possible. He can't even get nervous, with the way her nose scrunches up at his joke. Magne's just adorable sometimes.

César takes the sauce from her. He's tasted it, and it's a good approximation. He puts on a modest amount, enough he can get a taste without overwhelming it all, then hands it back.

"It's more than fine, except replace couch with bed. I've got four." One of them is his, but there's three currently empty.

[sistermagnetic]

Her role in all this seems to be covering the things that he misses, and honestly, she's not the worst person to trust with that in the first place. She's got a keen eye and a good sense for other people, and of course she cares about him, so it gives her the motivation to do so, and him a reason to listen.

Taking the bottle back, she places it between the dishes again, label out, and replaces the lid on the rice to keep it warm.

"Enough beds to store so many of the local hooligans," she chuckles. "If you're not careful, I may just decide to take whatever one you've claimed."

[pineapplesalmon]

Part of César is scared to ask for his needs after feeling like less than a person back home. But Magne's never shied away from helping, and hadn't helping her been good for himself? She's just trying to start finding the balance they need for long-term.

"Exactly. Ready to house someone who needs help." César grins softly, holding his plate with both hands. "You say that like I'd stop you."

[sistermagnetic]

"House them and maybe put them to work so that your staff's load is all doled out equally," she suggests. If he weren't holding a plate full of food she might have decided to flirt more directly with her usual hands on his sides or up at his face. But she was here to do a job and he was trying to take advantage of her having made something good for all of them. Of course, he does her one better immediately and she can't help chuckling. "Then we'll see about that later."

[pineapplesalmon]

"Or at least give them chores so I'm not the only one cleaning the entire damn house," César jokes back, but he's half-serious. The plate acts as a buffer to make sure they don't linger too long, because curling up with her is entirely too tempting. "I suppose we will, won't we?"

[sistermagnetic]

"Asking for help's not a sin," she confirms with a soft tilt of a smile. It fades slightly, and she lays her hand against his forearm. "Actually, I really do hope you'll make a little time later. I want to talk to you about a few things. Please make the time?"

[pineapplesalmon]

"I know. I just need to remember asks will be answered, now."

The way Magne asks (in public!) for his time makes César's eyes widen slightly before they soften, and he makes direct eye contact, dropping his voice gently. "I will. I'll be free anytime tomorrow... and I promise to make time for you whenever you need me and in general here on out." His smile weakens slightly. "I got so wrapped up in my work that I forgot you need more than a full stomach. I'm sorry I haven't been around. I'll do better, and we can talk about that, too."

[sistermagnetic]

It does her worlds of good to hear him acknowledge that he is starting to overwork himself, to the detriment of other parts of his life. She wants him to do well, even besides being there for her, so to know that he's listening, really listening, is heartening.

"Thank you," she replies quietly, and lays a hand against his cheek to kiss the other one. Then she steps back and reaches for a fork to stick into the food on his plate. "Go, eat. I'll be picking my way through what's left in a bit so I'm hoping there'll be some of yours left too."

[pineapplesalmon]

Seeing how much it matters to Magne shifts something in César's entire worldview. Magne not only needs him but needs to be there for him. César has to stop denying her that, and he will, starting now.

"You're welcome." His smile softens, eyes full of love, after her last little bit of affection... and quietly makes a note to figure out chopsticks for her. "If there's not, I'll make some just for you. I'll see you later."

wrap!

[sistermagnetic]

They're both figuring out very quickly that they're becoming pivotal to one another's well-being in small ways. They'd find their rhythm again, she's sure of it.

"It's a date."