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

[graveling]

"Oh! You were like his roommate or something? Or..."

Or...Angel can't blush, but he can certainly suddenly look quite bashful.

[maximumcake]

"Well...."

Long awkward pause.

"I was more like his live-in servant. But we also did, um, have a pretty intimate relationship."

[graveling]

"Oh."

Angel doesn't seem to know how to even respond to that. But not for the same reason as the Serena Eterna crowd. He eyes Max and then just...nods. Really, at the end of the day, it isn't his business, is it?

[maximumcake]

"Is that a good 'oh' or a bad one?" Max asks anxiously.

[graveling]

"It's not a bad one. I mean, a lot of people have intimate relations with him here, he's a whore. I kinda just don't go out of my way to find out who, because he's like family to me or something."

[maximumcake]

"Oh. Crap. Sorry, I made it weird."

Like family? Max can't help but sneak a glance over at Erik. He didn't... he wouldn't?

"He's not, um. He didn't turn you here, did he?"

[graveling]

"No? No. No, he didn't. I've been dead all along. I've always been dead. I mean, the body--my body, he'd have me say--was alive at one point, but it's not now, and I'm not, either. Okay?"

Defensive, both because he's protective of Erik and doesn't want him to get into trouble, but also because he's always explaining this, what he is. And often doing it poorly, sometimes on purpose.

[maximumcake]

"Okay. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I just... he's been kinda different since I got here and I don't..." Max attempts to shut his mouth around the words but they force their way free before he can stop them. "He was like family to me, too. And now he's not."

[graveling]

"Oh. I'm sorry. I...uh, I could talk to him, if you wanted me to?"

It's a real hornet's nest of awkward, and Angel does genuinely want to help.

[maximumcake]

"There's more to it. Like, a lot more. I did say it's a long story. We're still working on figuring it out. But, um. I'm the one who told him not to talk to me yet so... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make this so awkward. We were suppose to eat desserts and have fun."

[graveling]

"It's okay. I mean, um, I still want to try the desserts. I'm sorry. It's really none of my business."

Angel ducks his head, shying slightly away from Max. Because it is awkward, but of course Angel's sure it's his fault.

cw: slavery

[maximumcake]

"No, if you're family to Erik then it is your business because..." He lifts his hand to the back of his neck to worry at that old scar. "Fuck, I've never had to be on this side of the explaining before. Listen... some of the new people here don't like him--won't ever like him--because of what he did... to me."

Deep breath in, Max, you can do this.

"When I said servant, what I meant was... slave." He swallows hard and then rushes to follow that with, "But, it's complicated. There really is more to it. Just. People have some strong feelings about... that."

[graveling]

"What?"

Angel isn't just startled, he's completely shocked. Stunned. And yet, besides how his voice comes out small and tight, that doesn't read on his stony face. But he glances across the Green toward where Erik is quietly.

I'm sticking to max's journal for ease

[maximumcake]

"I... I know," Max says spreading his hands helplessly. He can emote for both of them. "I'm sorry I..."

"It's true, Angel." That's Erik's voice. He's been listening to the conversation unfold and, despite his promise not to approach Max, this feels necessary. "Max speaks the truth."

Erik turns to look at Max in full for the first time, "I'm sorry for cutting in, but this felt appropriate."

"Oh..." Max answers with a bit of nervous tremor in his voice. "T-thanks." But now he's the one looking around, specifically to see if Erin's caught sight of this yet.

[crushed_pearls]

Pointing at her lack of eyes.

Pointing at Erik.

To the lack of eyes.

To the lack of pulse.

[lordoftheozarks]

Erik locks eyes with her, so to speak, and holds up a finger in the universal gesture for "Give me one minute." He doesn't need her coming over to punch him again when Angel is in such a fragile state.

[graveling]

"Okay. So...what does that mean for everyone here? You're not...you can't...I..."

Words fail and Angel just gives Erik an uncertain, confused glare.

[lordoftheozarks]

Erik meets eyes with Max again and says as neutrally as he possibly can, "Would you mind giving me and Angel a moment to talk?"

"Uh-uh. Yeah. Sorry. Erik, I'm really sorry." Max stutters. Fuck, he can see Erin giving death glares already.

"Angel um... if you still want some dessert later you can just... you can come find me. Okay?" That said, Max rushes away from them both before either can say another word.

Now it's just Erik and Angel. It seems dead hearts can still break if the pain in Erik's chest is anything to judge by.

"Angel, I'm sorry I did not tell you this before. But Max is free of me and will remain so. He is the only person I ever did that to. It happened for a reason. One I will tell you about in full detail somewhere that is less public. As for anyone else, I have no intention, at all, of ever repeating that crime. Certainly not to you."

[graveling]

"I'm not worried about that. I know you wouldn't do that to me." But Angel isn't looking at Erik, instead staring rather intently at a table off to one side.

[lordoftheozarks]

"Are you worried what will become of my reputation or... perhaps yours by proxy?"

[graveling]

"I worry about bringing past conflict to this world and making it harder for us to do good in this place. I worry about you being subjected to shunning, or worse. I worry about this becoming another dividing line in a community that already has some pretty strong existing ones."

Angel rolls his eyes. "What will become of my reputation, really?"

[lordoftheozarks]

That eye roll knocks some sense back into Erik. Well, of course it isn't that. They aren't in his world now, are they?

"Angel, will you walk with me? I'd like to get away from this crowd before we continue."

[graveling]

Angel nods quietly, stepping in closer to Erik, before glancing over his shoulder to see who's watching and who might be taking issue with this. His posture shifts, standing straighter, like he's trying to tell everyone silently not to fuck with them.

[lordoftheozarks]

Erik gently takes Angel by the arm and steers him away from the gathering. He's touched at how protective Angel is but he worries, too.

"I have already spoken with the people most likely to harbor a grudge with me. They don't have to like me, but they've agreed to a truce so long as I do not attempt to bring Max back under my control. I have no intention of doing that. The peace will stand. I will make no move to tarnish their reputations in retribution. And, as you discovered with Max, even when he speaks the truth of me he means me no ill will. It will be all right, Angel. I am starting new here, and I will do better. I promise."

[graveling]

"Are you sure it'll all be okay?"

His voice is quiet, uncertain. He leans into Erik's touch like a housecat.