May Mini Event - You Just Missed Him

[pumpkinhollow]

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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!

Comments

[psalmofseasons]

Serranai laughs. "Busted, apparently," she jokes as if she wasn't leading him to this conclusion. "I'm Serranai. Spring."

[goodweather]

Phil scoffs, not unkindly but in that disbelieving way, looking around like he’s checking to see if he’s being pranked.

“… I. Well, uh, to, to what, or uh, how, or why do I owe the pleasure…?”

[psalmofseasons]

"Well, I chose to do the speed dating thing because it's fun," Serranai says with a lackadaisical shrug. "I sat down with you because I thought you needed it."

[goodweather]

Phil... laughs. Shakes his head. A part of him is still disbelieving, but--hell, why not just go for it? If it's a trick, shame on them, not him.

"Maybe I do," he sighs. "I've had a lot more Winters than Springs. This is the first one I've seen in years, and before that, there..."

He might be oversharing a little, but this is speed dating, right? And Serranai seems like the kind of person to just... take it in. Meet you as you are, where you are. At least he's willing to hope so.

"I had a really long... long, long winter once. It lasted for, uh, I don't know how long--decades at least. I thought I'd never see the sun again. But, um. I did. Eventually."

He's not explaining this right.

"I waited a long time for you."

[psalmofseasons]

She smiles broadly, all teeth and laugh lines, her green eyes growing misty. And she glows like sunrise.

"I know. Sorry for keeping you."

[goodweather]

Is it a trick of the light, that the sodium orange glow his Mantle casts over his shoulders, that throws him an extra shadow, seems to swell in response?

"You came," he says. "Eventually. That's all I needed. I knew you couldn't be rushed."

[psalmofseasons]

The glow fades as a pang of guilt sets in. One that is irrational--- Phil's world was far away, outside her control. She was not the Spring that was lying in wait for all that time in Punxatawny. But in many ways, it was a part of her, and she, a part of it. An intrinsic connection between every Spring, everywhere. Because of what it means to be Spring. Because of the way the seasons unify people and plants and creatures of all sorts, all across every world. Serranai could not have controlled what was happening to Phil. But that doesn't stop her from wishing she could have been there when she was needed. She wonders if this is how Mortanne feels about this place.

"...It's a bit like here, with this damn barrier. Gotta push 'till whatever's stuck comes unstuck. But, um." She falters, just staring at him for a few seconds before she stands and comes around the table, arms open for a hug.

[goodweather]

Serranai talks about pushing, but see, that’s the thing, Phil tried to push. He kicked and shoved and screamed and it never, ever got him anything but more misery because nothing ever gave. All he could do was sit down and wait. All he could do was find contentment in what he already had, not what he wanted. That didn’t work on the cruise ship and it probably won’t work here. When things like this have happened for more reasons than no reason, then…

“—Oh.”

Phil stares, then stands up to meet her as he realizes what she’s doing.

He’s not sure what the right way to hug a goddess is, but he’ll give it his best shot, all sturdiness and warmth and firm arms.

[psalmofseasons]

Serranai wraps her arms around his middle and hugs him with all the love and sincerity of someone who has known Phil for his whole life. Someone who sees him as precious. She hugs him like family.

"I'm talking outta my ass," she admits. "I'm sorry. It was me but it wasn't, and you grew, you bloomed, but you suffered for it. And I'm sorry. But I'm here for you now. You've got me. Your spirit cried out for sunrise and I came for you. I hope you can forgive me."

[goodweather]

God, he misses home.

"I, uh... I'm not really sure what to say."

What are you supposed to do with a goddess hugging you and apologizing for decades of your life she had only the most metaphysical of things to do with? Or maybe not anything, because it wasn't just a seasonal thing, it was... time, it was just time. It's not anyone's fault.

"I... of course I forgive you. I forgave you a long time ago. It's not like you did it. You didn't trap me in that winter day, nobody did."

[psalmofseasons]

"Okay. That's good. I just... Yeah. Good--- good talk." She pats his back and pulls away, laughing sheepishly at herself. "Sorry for gettin' weird, I just--- it's a strange place to be, you know? I've never had to feel anything about any Earth but this one, but now there's so many, and fragments of me or versions of me throughout. Dunno what to do with these emotions and connections sometimes. But... it was important to me that I got to see you. So I'm glad I did, even if I made an arse of myself!"

[goodweather]

"Hey, hey, don't worry about it, you're doing just fine." He pats her on the shoulder, which he will remember later as a really weird thing to be able to say you did for a goddess. "I don't think I can get it, but I sympathize. And if you're worried about how I think of you, it's nothing but good things. Promise."

A beat. Phil gives a sort-of cheeky grin. "So, uh, does this mean I should start paying visits to the Temple?"

[psalmofseasons]

"I wouldn't mind!" Serranai says through a bright laugh. "Although technically you're one of Celestine's favored. Doesn't mean you'll be rid of me anytime soon, though."

[goodweather]

"Oh, uh--I am?" He scratches at the back of his neck. That's a third goddess to be on his neck. (Although to be fair, all of the off-worlders have seen Mortanne.)

"Yeah, Cecil, uh, mentioned that I might be. She's the sky one, right? Pretty good for a weatherman." As if that's not why she probably picked him.

"But, seriously, uh... you and Mortanne, and your sisters... thanks. For picking us boat people up and giving us another chance. Even if it's just because you needed help with the stuff in town here. I think it's better that I tell you that in person instead of through the Temple." He inhales. "I have this kid, who I uh, accidentally adopted while we were trapped there, and... a prison ship's not really a good place for that, but now we can actually have a life, even with the monsters and evil bug ships. And that's just two of us. You really helped us out."

[psalmofseasons]

"Yeah, the sky. Weather, autumn, but also hearth and home, domestic arts and scientific study. She likes both homemakers and cerebral types. You got a little of both in you these days, don't ya?" She nudges him lightly.

She nods in response to the stuff about the Serena Eterna. "Yeah, Kora was the one who caught wind of all that. Ships and all, that's her business. A strange still sea with one awful boat. I guess the way she and Mortanne understood it is that things were going very sideways and you all are like--- ehhhh, dimensionally orphaned or something? I dunno, I'm not the brains of this outfit. But we figured you could use some solid ground to land on, and we can definitely use the help around here."

[goodweather]

"Hah, uh, yeah. Yeah, I do."

Phil thinks of Cassandra, his liege lady, coming to him in that tense silence between the satellite launch and the end of things. Mentioning to her his fears and the predictions of annihilation by all of his friends and the people closest to the Captain. They say they'll destroy us, he'd said. And she said, suppose they don't.

Malin came for them first, but she's gone now. Who came for them after? After the long winter comes--

It's his turn to fall into the hug again, wings wrapping loosely around Serranai. His chest is knotted tight as he sniffs. "Yeah, we did. Thanks a million."

If they can all just casually show up in their seasons, he's gonna give all four of those ladies a hug. God damn.

[psalmofseasons]

Serranai accepts gladly, giving him a good squeeze. "Happy to help." She presses a smooch to his cheek. "I'll have to skedaddle before too long, but keep an eye out for Kora if you need anything. She's got long black hair, brown skin, sails a pirate ship made of sunshine. You'll like her. You can also come give us a ring at the temple any old time."

[goodweather]

He understands why the locals call them the Mothers, suddenly, as Serranai holds him and presses a kiss to his cheek. No one's quite held him like that since his own mom did when he was young. He was the one who stopped it; some time in middle school, he thinks, he claimed himself too old to be getting kisses from his mom. That was a hundred years ago, three worlds away.

"I will. Might take me a while, since I'm planning to move house and all, but I will. The last couple of pirates I talked to weren't too pleasant, but if she's your sister, I think I'll like Kora just fine."

He takes another moment to soak up the moment. He holds it in his chest, and like releasing a bird, lets it go. He steps away.

"Well, uh... think we used up our speed dating time? I'm sure you've got other people to say hi to."

We can wrap here if ya like!

[psalmofseasons]

"Yeah, I got a lot to do," Serranai agrees. "See you next spring?"

sounds good to me!

[goodweather]

"Yeah," he says brightly, nodding. "Next spring, as always."