[OPEN, Mingle] Yamsgiving

[lasthumanvoice]

Who: Cecil and EVERYONE
What: Another Harvest Celebration
When: Beginning of Pumpkinfest
Where: Center of town
Warning(s): Discussion of the Gala and its attendant CWs may come up

1. Yes, we're happy as fish [Food Prep, Oak and Iron kitchen]
Cecil's made a point of seeking out the best known chefs in town to help him put everything together for this meal. While sweet potato dishes are the star, at least one available with every course, he's hoping to hit a broad variety so everyone can find something they like. He, of course, is peeling and chopping his eternal sweet potato to make sure there's enough to go around.

(Of course you don't need to worry about him with a knife! He's fine! Don't you know he was once a boy scout?)

If someone needs an extra hand for their dishes, though, he's happy to lend one. There's an attitude of camaraderie and cheer in the room, with Cecil even breaking out singing at one or two points in the evening.


2. And gorgeous as geese [The Meal; Festival Green]
Everyone's invited to the feast. That is, in fact, the whole point. Cecil's always been pointedly neutral in the town's tensions, working as the most unbiased media monkey he can. He's the Voice of Pumpkin Hollow, and that means not taking sides between Dahlia and Neil and the Temple and whoever else. But after the gala, he's made a choice to act, to try to foster goodwill and warm feelings. This isn't the stone stew he offered during January's famine, this is a Redwall-style feast.

So, between glasses of mead from Kasprak Farm and dandelion wine, everyone is invited to fill their plate with candied yams and zucchini bread, roast chicken and venison donated by one of the Enforcers. There's a homemade cranberry sauce with citrus wedges and dandelion-leaf salad with an apple cider vinaigrette and toasted acorns for garnish. There's pasta with a homemade pesto sauce and cheese. Desserts, too, are plentiful, some even flavored with...chocolate. But many are not, and feature sweet potatoes. Muffins, pies, etc.

Find a table with a friend or a stranger, and indulge. This is a warm-fuzzy type thing--feel free to use it as a mingle.


3. And wonderfully clean in the morning [Cleanup; Also Festival Green]
Cecil is, quite honestly, expecting to be the only person to stay and clean up. He's been up since about five in the morning and he's dragging a bit at this point. Oh, he did take the time to eat, so he's not starving, but like. He could use help putting the Green back to rights.


4. We've got everything, we're growing everything [Cecil Wildcards]
[You know how to find me to plot.]

Comments

[batteryacid]

"I know," Eddie says simply, continuing to move chairs away from the tables into a group. It allows freer movement around said tables for picking up trash from the tabletops and sweeping the ground. And he'll move onto a new task when that's done, with a comment of,

"Let me know if you need me for anything specific, okay?"

[lasthumanvoice]

"Help pack up some of the leftovers? Degas at the temple said he's got some local families to donate them to." Mostly older residents like Agnes Winterbottom. And Degas might skim a meal off for himself.

[batteryacid]

"Can do!" Eddie replies cheerfully. "Should I split things off into servings, like, build up a few plates, or do you think Degas will handle that part afterward?"

[lasthumanvoice]

"I think Degas will handle it. He's got an idea of how many people and what they need. He'll probably get your ✨boyfriend✨ to help him."

Don't ask how he enunciates the sparkles. The Voice of Pumpkin Hollow has many talents.

[batteryacid]

...

Eddie gives Cecil a look, confusion warring with annoyance, and asks, "Was that sarcasm or something when you said 'boyfriend'?"

Listen, Eddie has never heard verbal sparkles before. Richie had the Voices he would put on as a kid, but they weren't that good, except the once.

[lasthumanvoice]

"What's there to be sarcastic about? You and Angel are absolutely adorable."

Cecil is also now confused. Clearly something's not translating neatly.

[batteryacid]

Eddie shrugs. "I don't know. Your tone was unfamiliar. I guess I misread it... was thinking maybe you clashed with Angel or something."

Given some of the townsfolk and the reason why Angel lives on the farm and doesn't work for the fire brigade... but that's a paranoid sort of thought, and Eddie shouldn't think like that about his friend. Cecil is a friend.

"I'm sorry. Been a long day, I guess," Eddie apologizes, before going over to the pack up the food as Cecil suggested.

[lasthumanvoice]

"Naw. I mean, we're not close. I think I clang about too much for Angel. When we end up in the same place, I do all the talking and he just sort of stares and nods, so I'm not sure if he actually likes me or not? But I figure that's just a bit how he is. Maybe. You'd know--right? If he really didn't like me?"

They're certainly very different characters, Angel and Cecil.

[batteryacid]

Eddie snorts at the mental image of Cecil in full swing, talking a mile a minute while Angel placidly stares at him and 'mm-hms' at intervals.

"He's quiet," Eddie affirms, "and still. Moving, talking... it comes easy to us, but it takes effort for him. I think he's just... willing to let others take the lead in conversation, most times."

Eddie gives Cecil a small smile, and says firmly, "I'd know. And I think it's all fine between you two, on his side."

[lasthumanvoice]

"He's quiet. I don't think I've ever been quiet in my life."

That's a strong exaggeration, but it's true enough for him. There's a bit of a nod.

"Thank you. I didn't want any new sworn enemies without knowing about it!"

[batteryacid]

Eddie jokes, "If I'm wrong about Angel's stance on you, I promise we'll get a formal declaration printed in the newspaper."

[lasthumanvoice]

"That'd be a funny article to write."

His smile turns impish.

"Now I kinda want to."