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

[theresalwaystheview]

He makes a soft sound and nods. "That's why trying to set up a stable source of food is always one of the first things that you have to worry about when it comes to the viability of a population, regardless of setting. This place is certainly no exception, and why I needed to know what the local farmers were able to produce when I arrived. Having enough for everybody is extremely important. I want to try to introduce proper hybridization and long-term genetic modification to ensure that anything produced here is sustainable."

Bart's fingers twist together, a conflicted look on his face at the assurance that he is actually likeable. He's been very unsure about that in the wake of everything that's happened. At least the offer to figure out something that could be made within his dietary restrictions, he smiles once more. "If there is anything that I can do to assist in this, please do let me know. I don't have much of a refined palate, but I can taste-test easily enough. It'll be good if we get others with similar limitations."

[maximumcake]

"It has been a real concern. I heard there was a food shortage for a while because of all the extra people that keep showing up here. I think it's better now, but we should all do what we can to make sure it doesn't happen again or get worse." Max has his own ideas for what he can do. If his powers to keep food fresh are still active, then there's a lot he might be able to do about it. He has a plate of meat he made earlier today sitting up in his room. He's going to watch it and see what happens.

"Hey," Max says gently as he notices the way Bart's fingers worry together. "You're worth the effort. It's no trouble for me to work on alternatives, honestly. Think of how you feel trying to innovate on one of your projects and that's kind of how it feels for me, too. You're giving me a challenge to rise to. That said, I'll definitely take your help in the food-tasting department because I'm used to eating sweet things so you might have to help me make it more to your tolerance."

[theresalwaystheview]

"Coming into a lot of new people on the tail end of a massive blizzard certainly didn't do the food stores any favors, but all in all, I really think it could have gone far worse."

Bart makes an effort to cover up the way that Max's assurance that his help is appreciated, and that he himself is as well, hurts something in his chest. It isn't that he doesn't think he's worth the time and kindness, but that a pattern of behavior in those around him seems to contradict the idea in others' eyes. It's a problem that he has no idea how to address without sounding terribly petty. So he just offers an unsteady little smile, and nods. "I would like that very much. If you'd like something to start from, I do like fruit sweetness, and there was this grain-based biscuit that I quite liked when we briefly stopped in a place known more for its unleavened fare. It was made with berries in the meal."

[maximumcake]

"I think you're right. It wasn't pleasant, but no one actually starved." A fate he's all too happy for others to avoid experiencing.

Max can still see the hesitance, but he doesn't want to push too hard and make it awkward. He'll just make a mental note to keep checking in on Bart to see how he's acclimating.

"That gives me plenty to work with. Now, when you say biscuit I'm assuming you mean something in the sweet variety that's similar to a cookie? I always have to ask because Americans have a different idea of what a biscuit is than a lot of other places. That can cause some interesting confusion when you offer someone biscuits and gravy, haha."

[theresalwaystheview]

He's right there with Max, having experienced near-starvation himself before now. He'd remedied that himself, but it's a relief not to have to do so again.

It takes a second for the gears to click into place when it comes to the idea of biscuits and gravy. Switching away from the decidedly cookie-centric idea of them, to the fluffier, more scone-like savory fare that some of the arrivals have folded into the local cuisine, and Bart finally lets out a quiet laugh when it all lines up. "Yes, that's right. I must say, I have my doubts that gravy of any stripe would be particularly good over a blueberry cookie."

good place to wrap?

[maximumcake]

"Nnnno," Max agrees, laughing, "I can't see gravy and blueberry working together no matter what you try with them. Some combinations just aren't meant to be."

This is nice, he thinks to himself as he smiles at his new friend. This is what I've been missing all along, people. More people to share the world's wonders with.

I think so!

[theresalwaystheview]

It's the lightest that Bart has felt in some time, talking with Max on something both somewhat inconsequential and comforting to them both. It reminds Bart of what he really enjoys about being around other people, and of how much he wants to be able to help improve Max's kitchen production. He would have to bring the man into his lab to see what they could do if they worked on it together.

"We can figure out how to make them when I can remember the ingredient list. I'm sure we'll find something equivalent around here sooner or later, even if we have to trade the Limoncello for it."