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

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"He said a lot about you, truth be told. All good."

Chris rubs at their chin. "About the being with me part... we're lovers, yes. We're also in a polycule." Chris reaches out and pats Max's free arm gently. Their tone is wry, "The island is still cursed, so 'everything' is overselling it... but Erik is relatively safe, you're just as safe... all these friends of yours, too."

[maximumcake]

"I'm in a polycule too," Max says proudly. "It's an open one, but still. So, it's all good." Erik and Max are both about spreading their love around, it seems.

His lips twitch in a wry smile when they touch his arm. "Compared to the place we all came from, this is paradise."

[thelatechrisfreeman]

Chris nods in acknowledgement, noting the similarity but not commenting on it.

And when Max calls Pumpkin Hollow a paradise, well... Chris cannot resist...
"A mind not to be changed by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n."

[maximumcake]

Max has to resist the urge to clap for that recital, he only doesn't because he worries it would be taken as disingenuous. "That's lovely. Did you write that or are you quoting a great poet?"

[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]

"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."

[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]

"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."

[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."

[maximumcake]

Max's eyes light up with gleeful mischief. "Oooh, the things I could tell..." Erik, he knows you can hear him, and that just makes this revenge more sweet.

"Have you figured out he's ticklish on his feet yet?"

[thelatechrisfreeman]

You know that one scene in the 1970s version of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', where the Grinch gives the wickedest smile to the camera and his everything curls with glee in the process?

Well, Chris isn't physically capable of such an expression but the look on their face still has that vibe. Spiritually.

"Why, no..." Chris practically purrs, "he neglected to mention that."

Max, you have a very willing proxy for this form of sweet, sweet revenge.

[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."

[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.

[maximumcake]

"I liked it when he played with mine too." They are all three shaking hands over enjoying some good hair play.

Max has honestly been expecting this shoe-drop moment. He doesn't flinch away from it, but he does look genuinely surprised at the idea that he'd use anyone that way to get petty revenge.

"I'm not. I'd never. Despite what everyone keeps trying to tell me, I don't hate him. I can't hate him. And I'd never use someone else like that, I swear. I couldn't ever be that cruel. Not to you or anyone."

[thelatechrisfreeman]

Quietly: "I will believe you, and this can be the last we speak of it."

Chris takes a breath, and releases it in a gusty sigh. "I have a lot of memories in my head... of cruelty and lies. People can be... untrustworthy. So I think I needed to hear you say it." Wry little laugh. "Sorry. Sorry if I brought the mood down."

[maximumcake]

"It's okay. Really. You care about him so, of course, you want to make sure no one hurts him. It's reassuring. The last place he came to where I was people weren't... so understanding. I'm glad it's not the same here. He's in good hands with you, I can tell."

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"Perspective. You couldn't speak for him, to tell your friends if he was remorseful or not, whereas he could tell me that much himself. I can't fault your friends and lovers for wanting to defend you from what appeared to be a threat."

At the mention of Erik being 'in good hands', Chris laughs.

Realizing that Max doesn't have the context for what's so funny, Chris discloses, "Funny you should say it that way. My hands... are the hands of a coroner."

And Erik is, to some degree, more dead than normal. (But this could just be an instance of weird humor from someone used to seeing a lot of death. That happens, too.)

[maximumcake]

"Yeah. That's true. But... he's changed, too. It's weird to hear he's remorseful because I never thought he would admit it. I knew he felt bad, you know? He always treated me to things to make up for it, but I never thought he'd say it. Seeing him here it's so different. He's different--happier." Erik is smiling, joking with people, and letting his guard down in public in a way Max never saw much of. A tiny flicker of something that could almost be jealousy dances in his chest, but it snuffs out just as quickly. If Chris is the one responsible for that then they must be really special. That's a good thing.

"Oh?" Max lets out a surprised laugh. "Then I guess you don't mind how cold he is all the time, huh?"

[thelatechrisfreeman]

Chris isn't the only one responsible. They'll clarify that if it ever comes up.

"Erik is the only vampire here, I think," Chris says. They give a little shrug when Max laughs, still sounding amused when they answer, "Most of the time I don't. But when his ice-cold feet end up against the back of my knees? It's the worst."

[maximumcake]

"Huh. I wonder what that feels like for him..." Maybe a little like how Max felt being the only human in most places for so long. Maybe the perspective is good for him?

"Ugh, right? He says he doesn't do it on purpose but come on? He sleeps like a dead log, so he had to be awake to do it."

[thelatechrisfreeman]

"He must like how I look when I get flustered," Chris says, "otherwise, why would he do it so often?"

They lean in, nudging Max with their shoulder. "So. Is Erik ticklish in other places, or just his feet? Feet will be hard to 'accidentally' tickle, after all."

[maximumcake]

"He does. Likes to tease and make people blush."

Max laughs to himself about a memory that's just surfaced. "I started a prank war with him one time that lasted an entire month. I won, but he threw my copy of Twilight into the lake after I put glitter in his sheets." So much for Erik's reputation as a prim and proper lord.

"Armpits," Max says, still grinning. And if you squeeze just the right spot above his left knee, too. Just the left."

[thelatechrisfreeman]

Chris laughs. It's funny that glitter comes up again, when it had once at home.

"If it was makeup glitter, it would be less uncomfortable. But craft glitter can scratch you up pretty bad. Not nearly as fine, you know." They shake their head, still smiling. "I might toss a book just for that part of it, even without the allusion to those weird not-vampires."

[maximumcake]

"It was edible glitter, actually. He doesn't produce any body heat so it didn't melt when it touched him." This is the face of a man who regrets nothing. He just got the books on his ipad after that.

"I was the one who did the laundry anyway so, arguably, I just made more work for myself. But it was worth it. It was so funny even Josiah laughed and that guy is stiffer than a board most of the time."