ph_logs | May Mini Event - You Just Missed Him

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Pumpkin Hollow Community Bulletin

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Yorick whistles pleasantly as he hangs up a new main announcement on the central bulletin board in town. There is an advertisement posted, bearing bold lettering. It reads:

For Health's Sake!

To ensure that proper care continues to be available for all in our growing community, we are pleased to announce a drive to increase supplies for medical use. No contribution is too small, and anything is appreciated. If you want to contribute but are not sure how, ask! Additionally, please see an attached list of dates and times at which various courses on first aid will be available. CPR is a highly valuable skill--- save lives! Please direct all inquiries to Cpt. Johnathan Tuttle.

The signature of one Captain Tuttle emblazes the bottom of the flier, along with that of Mayor Poe to indicate her approval of the project. There is also a date and time listed.

When did the ferry come? Why hasn’t this Tuttle gentleman been at any other events, like the job fair? (Wait, was he at the job fair? Suddenly you’re not sure.) If you ask Mayor Poe, she’ll tell you she can’t remember when she signed the paper but she remembers it happening, and she remembers that “John” (a surprising amount of familiarity from Hellen) stopped by a few days ago with it. What did he look like? What do you mean, what does he look like? Everyone knows what he looks like. But if you somehow managed to miss him, he’s a tall, fair-skinned man with auburn hair who looks like a soldier.

The rest of the people around town will all say the same. Dahlia, Neil, Degas, Yorick, Ambrose, Juniper, Dottie down at Empty Pockets, even Mr. Pennyburrow--- they all met him at one point and describe him the same way. He evidently came by recently, but you just missed him.

If you need something signed by the Captain, leave it with Dahlia. It will be signed in a timely manner, always just a bit before you come to pick it up. Anywhere you’re told you can find him, he just left. Oftentimes the reason he’s missing is to address an emergency, and the victims of said emergencies always recall the exact same man described by Mayor Poe having rescued them. You begin to feel like you probably have seen him, and your mind is just playing tricks. Surely you must have, right?

And of course, right as the drive is set to begin, all medical personnel in town (including the retired Agnes Winterbottom, the folks working at the apothecary, and even Anders, the local veterinarian) will wake up with a gift basket. They’re simple things containing mostly fruit and wrapped pastries, perhaps a book or candle or other small, pleasant item, each one incredibly thoughtful as if he knows the recipient personally. There is a signed thank you card in each one, with the same signature.

Captain Tuttle. Who is he? You must know, lest you go mad. Spend the days leading up to the charity drive investigating, or confront him at the drive itself--- surely there’s some way to see him!

Bonus Activities!

Speed Dating

Looking for love? On one of the days leading up to the healthcare charity drive, town square is set up with tables for a speed dating event! Entry costs 10 Brass per person, and all proceeds go to help the charity drive.

When you sit down with your partner, you will have 10 minutes to each discuss one icebreaker question of your choice. Here’s a list of ideas:

1. What is the best gift you’ve ever received? What did you love about it?
2. What is something that you’ve tried once but will never do again? Do you regret doing it?
3. Do you find it more fulfilling to create things that are practical or things that are beautiful?
4. What is the strongest animal or monster that you think you could defeat in unarmed combat?
5. Do you have any pet peeves?
6. Describe your dream home.
7. What is your most prized possession that you have ever owned? Do you still have it?
8. How do you prefer to spend a rainy day?
9. How would you describe your clothing preferences?
10. What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever spent money on?
11. How long do you think it would take you to realize that you were permanently cured of hiccups and would never have them again?
12. What is something that you wish you could be good at immediately?
13. If you could have a magical item that performs one function that is customized specifically to your needs, what would it do?
14. If you suddenly had infinite money, what’s the first thing you would do with it?
15. Between the two, would you prefer to go to a black tie formal party or a silly costume party?
You can also pick your own topic, if you have one! To participate, please reply to the speed dating toplevel below and tag out to at least one other speed dater. You are strongly encouraged to seek out those with fewer tags to keep things even. You may tag out as many times as you would like. Please include your age and preferred age range in your comment title and speed date appropriately. Have fun!

Town Council Elections

A member of the Pumpkin Hollow Town Council is retiring in a few months. Elections are opening for one new member! Interested in getting in on your local government? Start your campaign here! On the comment below, create a flier (either through formatting or just a narrative description of how it looks) with your information! In the title, put your name, age, and length of residency. The flier itself should discuss your experience, your values, and your ideal policies.

Elections will be held in September. Both PCs and NPCs will vote, so you will need to appeal to the townsfolk in general as well. Good luck!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"In a sense," Erin demurs, finding herself reddening at the cheeks for reasons she doesn't understand. "I sing, and I'm pretty good at it, but I don't compose and I never really...trained? It might be nice to, now that I'm here and there's time and actual resources..."

"I sing too!" Sera leans forward, a bit eager. "I play a few instruments as well. I've got some pan pipes, a couple different drums, an accordion, and a wee harp. You ever seen a miniature harp? Maybe we should make some music sometime!"

"I'd love to," Erin answers, flustering like she's 19 all over again. "I um." She clears her throat. "...What uh, what brings you here?"

Unspoken but very present is that Erin had been hoping to leave with someone interesting, have a night of fun, and maybe get a friend out of it, but her usual smooth flirtations aren't leaving her throat. She hasn't been on the back foot like this in awhile...

"People," Sera replies easily, sighing out the word. "Spring air, flowers, pretty girls. Pretty boys. Plus, it's for charity. I'm always looking to support those who heal. What about you?"

Erin's mouth opens to say something glib, but then she...doesn't. Her voice softens, something vulnerable along the edges: "...Being perfectly honest, aside from my ten Brass going to something decent? I came looking for someone to spend the night with, and maybe be friends with after. I'm still...trying to fit in."

"That's a funny thing to want in a place like this. Fitting in, I mean. Most people here are from another world entirely. Does anyone fit in?" Sera muses, humming thoughtfully. "But I do understand. And I feel like you're in the right place. Stuff like this, it's a good way to connect quickly. Even if it goes nowhere, you know a few folks now."

"Yeah, even if it's a terrible place to burst into song." Erin flickers a smile, leans in a little. "But...I don't mean 'fit in' like, being alike exactly. I'm. Not a tame person, my lass Ylva and I have that in common. I mean more...when a fox and a man see each other in the woods, both know the other belongs. Fitting in like that. And not having that feeling is so stressful."

"You feel like you don't belong? Why's that?" She tilts her head with concern.

(We are getting off the track of speed dating, Peters.)

Do us both a favor and shut the fuck up.

Erin offers her hand, palm-up; no pressure, but...

...It's easier to say, with someone to hold.

"Sera" takes it without question, in both of her hands. She holds it tightly, in the manner of someone who already loves her.

Because she does.

The relief on Erin's face is palpable, as is the rise of her Mantle; the favor of Spring upon her picks up the warm breeze, laced with just a taste of rain. The scents of sex and gunpowder prevail, of course, but joining them are lavender and charcoal as all the colors near her brighten, the sounds sharpen, as if the world itself is becoming just a bit more alive around Erin fucking Peters, favored daughter of the waking land.

"I've never quite fit in," she murmurs, her musical voice so very soft. "At first that wasn't my fault, and I'm old enough to know that now. If you ever make the mistake of visiting Earth you'll figure out pretty quick that baby dykes have it pretty fucking rough...but now I'm. Me. This half-feral killer. Had a sword in my hand as long as I can remember, and not owning one at the moment has me waking up screaming at night. Me who's never known a life of peace, who's never had a good night's sleep, this fucking. Protean horror trudging on day after day after day, on the death march to my Spring when I can finally, finally, wake up happy. These people, I feel for them, I do. No one should have to go through this."

"But when it's done, they'll return to their lives of peace. They know how to live them. And...I never learned how to do that."

Serranai stands, still holding Erin's hand. "Come with me."

Wordlessly, Erin stands with Sera, and lets herself be guided.

She leads Erin off, away from the Festival Green, out to the edge of town. All the way, her loud-ass shoes clop on the cobblestone. Seriously, this woman sounds like a horse when she walks, up until her feet touch grass.

Flowers grow where she walks.

(...Oh.)

And this is why we shut the fuck up, Head Voice. This right here. Is why we shut the fuck up.

But aloud, Erin says nothing. She has often remarked in the past that she doesn't know what it means to have faith in the divine, though she's interested in learning. It's the ex-Catholic in her, really, for though Erin's mind doesn't know how to grapple with gods that are not Our Father, Who Art In Heaven, her heart knows just fine that right now is not the time to sully the moment with crass questions or stupid jokes.

Something...immanent, is happening. Isn't it?

It's not long before they reach a secluded spot between the deep forest and the bluffs, with just enough tree cover to be private but still dappled with late-spring sunlight, and close enough to the edge of the island to smell sea spray blowing in from the cliffside. Serranai takes a deep breath, and when she sighs, life breathes out of her. Flowers bloom, vines climb, trees stretch their branches in a wave that all centers on her. Then she turns back to Erin, her expression nothing short of joyous.

"Isn't this just a perfect day?" She takes Erin's hands. "And don't you just look lovely? Bhean álainn. You were made for springtime."

Despite herself, despite everything - the glory unfurled before her, the wonder of the waking land, the feeling of undeniable divinity before her - Erin blushes high on her cheeks at the compliment, at those warm hands holding hers. "You should see me when I've got the clothes I like," she demurs, 'looking' away with the tiniest smile. "...But no, I wasn't made for Spring. I was made to be the Thing-That-Hates, but...I did choose the waking land. And. She chose me back."

"Then you made yourself for springtime," Serranai corrects, tipping her chin back up. "May I?"

One silent nod; even the voice in Erin's head is quiet, caught in the glory of the moment. Here, now, in the afternoon sunlight amidst the bounty of the waking land, Erin is attended by neither her painful past or her worrying future.

Finger still hooked under Erin's chin, Serranai pulls her into a kiss, delicate and feather-light but still far too intimate to be considered chaste. There is a lush, floral taste to her lips. Sweet strawberry wine and newly bloomed roses.

May Mini Event - You Just Missed Him

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