FEBRUARY 2021 EVENT: PART ONE

[robbies]

 

CHAPTER TWO, PART 1: A LIGHT LUNCH

Good times, great olives, Uliveto's.

INVITES AND INSISTENCES | BISQUE AND BREADSTICKS | FONTINA AND FOCACCIA | MUNDANITY AND MISHAPS

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INVITES AND INSISTENCES

After a fairly low-key January, you start hearing the buzz on February 1st: The Happy Homes Association is inviting you to a luncheon on Friday! Stylishly dressed women in coats and hats are inviting everyone they know in the neighborhood, coming up and knocking on your door to invite you personally to come along. “Noon on Friday at Uliveto’s,” one of them tells you with a bright smile. “There’ll be food and drinks, and the whole community can get together and mingle a bit!”

Whether you’re home to answer the door or not, you’ll receive a small card advertising the event — it’s a fundraiser, after all, and they need your help! Pay just $3 and your food and as much as you’d like to drink are covered.

But some of the HHA members are a little more insistent, roving the neighborhood in search of anyone who’s just moved to Santa Rosita in the past few months. Their almost too-wide smiles and slightly-vacant eyes are a dead giveaway that these neighbors aren’t all at home, and they aren’t willing to take anything less than a “Yes” when they ask you if you’re coming. You’ve got to wash your hair? They know a hairdresser over at the salon on Main Street who can fit you in today. Groceries? Why, their daughter can take care of that for you in a jiffy! No excuse will fly with these Robbies; they’ve always got an answer and a way for you to make an appearance.

It won’t end once you’ve agreed, either (even if you just agree to get them off your back!). With the promise of another guest at the luncheon, the Robbies are quick to suggest that you should help them! There are so many people in the town, after all, and with more people volunteering to spread the word, they can make this the most successful fundraiser ever! (Or, well, at least the most successful since last year’s Little League candy sales!) Look, there’s another of your new neighbors over there — why don’t you go and invite them now? Your new friends from the HHA will be right here to support you and help you out!

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BISQUE AND BREADSTICKS

On Friday, February 5th, Uliveto’s is easy to find — just follow the train of cars headed to North Santa Rosita, where the restaurant sits just off of Main Street with a parking lot that’s packed full. Hopefully you’re willing to walk, because it looks like the luncheon is in full swing! But as you get closer, you see that the ladies of the HHA have things down to a science as they welcome neighbors, invite them to join one of the many tables set up in the half of the restaurant they’ve taken over, and integrate newcomers into conversation.

“Oh, hello!” one of the ladies gushes as she spots you. “I’m so glad you could make it! It’s a little cold today, but you should try the tomato bisque — it always warms me right up! Come with me and Betty can get you all set up with your meal voucher; have you ever been to Uliveto’s before? It’s just divine; the salad and breadsticks are all you can eat and the pasta — golly, my mother never even tried to outdo it. We’d just come here instead!”

Before you know it, you’ve paid your entrance and have been shown to one of the large party tables (or maybe they’re multiple tables pushed together? What restaurant normally has tables that seat 20 people?), a waitress offering you the drinks menu and asking if you’d like to start with a glass of (nonalcoholic, of course!) wine. Once she’s gone, you’ll finally get a chance to look around the interior of the restaurant. The walls are a warm yellowed beige, and fluted columns break up the space with clinging ivy and grapes hanging from planters near the top. A mural is painted on the far wall of a terrace looking out over rolling hills and vineyards, and the soft music of an accordion reaches your ears…

“You all right, hon?”

One of the ladies at your table is looking at you expectantly. Don’t forget, you’re here to mingle and socialize! Time to break out that small talk!

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FONTINA AND FOCACCIA

As the luncheon continues, you may be able to notice some of the HHA volunteers scurrying back and forth, taking turns manning the doors and the small table where Betty’s taking donations and issuing meal vouchers. Watch long enough and you’ll be able to see that all of them are ultimately reporting to three ladies who confer at a smaller table set back from all the mingling, talking amongst themselves and from time to time making notes in a small ledger. At about half past noon, one of the women stands, calling out, “May I have your attention, please?” She has to repeat it a couple times to be heard, but after a minute or two everybody settles down. The woman nods toward all of the guests, then turns back to the table, allowing one of the women to stand and make herself known. Tall, graceful, and neat, she takes a look around the room as she speaks — does her gaze linger a moment on you? Good afternoon, everyone. For those of you who may not know me yet, my name is Rosemary Craven, and I’m the head of our local Happy Homes Association. A small wave of applause breaks out from some of the ladies; Rosemary seems to indulge them for just a moment before she lifts a gloved hand to quell it. Please. I can only manage what I’m given, and the fine women of the association give me plenty to work with. Their efforts to organize this luncheon for all of us today showcase the dedication we should all strive for. Ladies, please stand and be recognized. Today’s fundraiser is to benefit our town as Founder’s Day approaches in April. We’ve got big plans for the funds we raise — who knows? Perhaps we’ll be able to afford some yummy treats for the children. Who doesn’t love an ice cream cake? Your generosity today makes all of this possible. You’ll forgive me for not giving you hard numbers, but I’d hate to be so gauche in such a lovely restaurant. Let me assure you, though, that the Happy Homes Association is here to help you in whatever way we can, whether that’s by helping you redecorate your homes, bringing over home-cooked meals, or teaching you some new skills — and speaking of new skills, I’d like to invite all of our new neighbors to talk with me personally if you think you might be interested in helping us out from time to time. Sewing might not be your forte, but everybody’s got something they’re good at, and we can always use the extra hands. I’ll let you all get back to your meals. If you have any questions for me, please seek me out. I’ll be sitting just over here with Maude.

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MUNDANITY AND MISHAPS

After the luncheon, things in Santa Rosita continue on as normal. The weekend comes and goes, the work week begins, and the cold February wind blows… But when you wake up on February 10th, some of you are missing.

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OOC INFO

Welcome to the first part of February’s event! You can use this entry to top-level for the event, but feel free to utilize the log and network communities as well. Sign-ups to have your character abducted are located here; please fill out the form provided along with any other pertinent details.

You may play with the townsfolk NPCs as necessary in your threads; non-Robbied neighbors will be cordial and happy to make small talk and will try to maintain the pleasant atmosphere. Robbies will, as always, be mindlessly optimistic and complimentary about everything—you may find that most of the Robbies have congregated at their own table and are bubbling with excitement over just about anything.

There will be a top-level posted for Rosemary below. If you would like to have your character interact with her, comment with your starter there. The mods will respond to tags for Rosemary until February 15th.

Any questions can go in our FAQ thread below. Try to check and see if your question has already been answered on the plotting thread first here.

Remember — part 2 of this event is coming February 15th!

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Comments

[thepsyingnun]

As I haven't the faintest idea how food storage becomes a festivity, I certainly hope not. No, it is a gathering of the home owners association for a meal and to raise funds. I wish to make an impression on the host, and so I am attempting to assist and recruit more of us into intending.

[The facts were usually just so much easier than a lie, both for her and her time.]

[thepsyingnun]

I assumed as much, but having arrived at a different time, it is possible you may have had a different experience. After the events of Christmas, I was not positive our summoner remained.

[Of course, she might be long dead and the voice a simple lure or any other number of theories, but it was a small comfort that one event still seemed to connect them all.]

lmk if this is okay!

[weifinder]

( Socially awkward solidarity, or, in passing, stumbling with a bowl of cooled red soup and splashing it into a lap? Because that's what Wei Wuxian ends up doing, mostly on purpose, with with the exact look of horror expected on the face of someone who is terminally klutzy facing down the collateral damage of this truth.

(Which is at heart a lie—Wei Wuxian is not a klutz, but hey, solid...arity... to people who do not look as sold on this experience compared to those who do. Or overdo, as the ceaselessly grinning ones seem.) )

Oh, no! I'm so sorry, let me help with that‐

( Maybe no don't let him, but he's apologising as he snatches one of the offered napkins to try and pat at the mess he's left Levi wearing. )

[thotsandprayers]

I don't know if there are any from Hawaii here, if so I would have to imagine they're having quite a bit of difficulty with the cold.

[It's just a little joke, that's all. Going from the tropical weather to winter would certainly be an adjustment.]

There are a few from Japan, but as I said, it seems to be a rather wide net. Some aren't from the same world, or even the same planet.

[And in that respect, is it a little similar to Chaldea's summoning system given some of the absolute nonsense that's summonable with that. But she won't go into that mess, Claude's new and look she doesn't even subject the people she's known here for a while to Fate explanations if she can help it.]

I suppose if it weren't as wide, it would be easier to tell if there's any common factors among us that may have played a part in our being here, but unfortunately...

[Unfortunately once you get into different worlds and magical beings and Daylight's part robot, and then you've even normal people, so at that point narrowing things down is difficult.]

[demonicmiracle]

[Crowley listens intently, his expression carefully neutral, since he doesn't see the point in revealing that he and Aziraphale have already decided to attend.

It was mostly the angel's idea. There are endless breadsticks, after all.]

It's a multi-level marketing scheme. The tupperware parties.

[Which is not the point at all.

He steps aside, opening the door further and gesturing for Agatha to come in.]

I'll pop the kettle on. Or d'you prefer coffee?

[weifinder]

Ah, but you won't, will you?

( pls don't offer him more soup. he doesn't want to really eat anything here; trusting this place is difficult even in the seemingly decent moments. )

I'm still waiting for someone to explain what California is, outside of some region name.

( he says with an easy enough smile, but more wry than the stilted edges of the stepford smilers they tend to live around these days. )

[the_caped_crusader]

No, but then it's not me you have to worry about.

[ he passes a sly side glance to the "helpful" ladies who freely shovel food on to other guest's plates without even asking, only smiling broadly. ]

So, you come from before 1850, then. That's impressive. Quite the shock for you, I'm sure.

[apodictic]

[ angelo frowns. ]

That seems like a lie.

[ then again, he's in this place, and that in itself isn't a lie. hm! he amends that to, ] In any case, that just means you ought to know better.

[apodictic]

[ he has to actually think as to where that is, his knowledge of earth geography is pretty bad but hey, that's why he's got school. ]

No, I was not. And this is no better.

[ he's a rather straightforward guy, albeit blunt.

he has, however, heard of san francisco. it's quite popular. there was a colony drop there under operation stardust, which lead to the creation of the titans. LA was occupied by zeon federation during the one year war and was garma zabi's playground for a while. the california base changed hands so many times, producing their submarines after capturing it from the federation until the federation took it back at the end of the one year war.

all of that knowledge just filters in to angelo briefly, though it's not something relevant to her. it's simply a way to place things geographically in the history he's more familiar with. ] Sorry about your injuries. I hope you're doing better now.

I haven't heard of a dysfunctional household in which all of us new people are thrown into, though a shared sense of suffering is probably helping to smooth personalities. Though I must say, I grew up as an orphan. [ it's not quite the truth, but it's not a lie either; in any case angelo says it without much change in tone because it's not really a that big of a deal to say to a stranger. ] Finding myself in a family is ridiculous to me.

[apodictic]

[ you're not exactly bereft of resources! this is ghastly. ]

You're only saying that because it's a welcome break from our schedule. I highly doubt having a luncheon every day would benefit anyone.

[ he narrows his eyes at his jacket and angelo just marches up to him and starts brushing off his shirt. ] I can't abide this mess.

[apodictic]

[ angelo takes a look at the sauce for him. ] Oregano, for this one. Though I'm sure if you want fresh basil, the ladies would be happy enough to offer to you.

[ angelo adds pepper to his soup. ] If they had some wine available, that would complete everything.

[apodictic]

I do. At 432.

Feel free to drop by. There's only the two of us there, myself and my mother-figure, Nie Huaisang. [ he .... doesn't like the idea of being forced into a family when he's never grown up into one, and his relationship particularly with mothers is rather complicated. ]

It'd be bearable to attend a luncheon with a familiar face, no matter how often it is held during the year.

wow what happened to my tag there. fingers and missing words damn

[apodictic]

I lived in a warship in space. It is not comparable. Santa Rosita would need to have an airport, to begin with, though I think that'd make this quiet town a bit busier than it should be.

[ easy enough answer. but that's an interesting tidbit, and he waits at her expectantly to see if that satisfies, so she can expand on what she means by not being from here. he was under the impression that people can't leave, so did she come from elsewhere before settling here? ]

.... You were telling me more about yourself.

[righthandstand]

But they have wine.

[He doesn't drink, despite his appearance. Being drunk isn't cool.]

Although...you need an actual meal to pair with a drink. I haven't tried the pasta yet. Is it good?

[apodictic]

Don't make me laugh.

And I haven't tried it, though the ladies do take pride in their work. I'm sure it'll be pleasant to eat.

[ angelo will try out the bread now, with the soup. it's delicious, though he's not really expecting anything otherwise. the town and its regular inhabitants, creepy as they are, will do their roles as tasked as best as they can, after all. ]

Have they done a luncheon before? [ has he attended one they've held before? ]

[righthandstand]

[That's enough for Okuyasu to get out of his seat, dump two spoonfuls of pasta onto his plate, and slide back onto his seat licking his lips and poking at the pasta.]

You mean the Christmas party? That was more of a weird dinner. The food sucked. Everything was in gelatin.

[He picks up his first sample of the dish and happily plops it into his mouth.] Mm! This is-- huh. [He finishes chewing.] The flavor's bold on first taste, I'll give them credit. Vegetables are a bit soft, but that can be fixed with a bit more dry herbs on them.

[weifinder]

( his smile doesn't waver, thinking of all those women in there shoving food at people, but he makes a see-sawing like motion with a hand. )

They're less persistent than the invitations were.

( or easier to flirt-compliment into distraction, which is most of how he's gotten by, or claiming he's full or this or that or anything while being in motion. frankly, he hasn't flirted this much at a gathering in years. )

Continually! I'd say it's quite the adventure if it weren't also the kind playing games in the shadows. ( a wave of his hand, since this or that's easier not to dwell on in public spaces. his cadence stays conversational and pleasant, more of a match to the 'tone' of the luncheon than anything else. ) The clothing makes no sense, the short hair makes no sense, the machines are incredible and frustrating, the customs are beyond strange, but there's also hot water that comes from indoor faucets!

[the_caped_crusader]

Faucets, too? Hm. Well, that shaves off another century, at least. Just what year is it where you're from anyway?

[ he's traveled through time himself, and knows ageless warriors across the globe, but it's always interesting to him... ]

[weifinder]

Let me think, must be the thirty-sixth year of the xuanzheng cycle? Or the one hundred twelfth—no, one hundred twenty eighth year of the united era?

( neither of these sound historically relevant to the earth...s... bruce would know. that is the cost of coming from an alt-history fantasy china, where empires don't seem to happen, and no mortals are ruling in noticeable ways. ""mortals"". )

[reek]

[ Theon has always been a fish out of water, but it shows more than ever here. Words don’t make sense, the clothing is strange, the food is inedible, and the less said about cars and electricity, the better. He’s well kept, but everything about him is out of place in Santa Rosa: his long hair, his not-quite-British accent, and the fact that he is incredibly underdressed for the chilly weather.

He steels himself as Falco speaks; far more than any adult should have to steel themselves when speaking to a child. His jaw clenches, and he barely makes eye contact. He has enough to worry about without being reminded of his sins. But it wasn’t my fault, he reminds himself as he frowns down at the coins in his hand. ]

Where did you get it?

[ He has never worked a day in his life. His allowance came from Lord Stark, after all, and there’s no one to do that for him here. He doesn’t understand if the coins in his hand are some great sum or something that even a beggar would scoff at. ]

[apodictic]

[ more gelatin? disgusting. though all that tells him that for all of the scary things that could happen in this world, there are breaks in between that allow people to enjoy their lives. ]

Oh? I'll give it a try after.

[ there is nothing unusual, he thinks, about such a way of living. one can even argue it mimics the natural cycle of life. ] If it's easy enough to make, maybe I'll try to copy it for dinner sometime. I'm sure one of the ladies wouldn't mind giving me a recipe.

[reek]

Where I come from, even children are allowed wine.

[ Not in excess, of course, but the concept of denying anyone wine due to their age is foreign to Theon. He scowls at his glass once more, as if his fury alone could turn grape juice to wine. ]

Proper wine.

[reek]

[ Theon thinks he hasn’t had horse piss, but he can’t actually confirm. He’s put a lot of questionable things in his body, and the taverns he frequented in Winter Town are not always of the highest quality. But coin was always freely available and horse piss or not, he never had to struggle to pay for it. ]

I would wager someone emptied the contents of their privy into a bottle and called it wine.

[ He doesn’t have anything to wager, but this might be the first thing they’ve agreed upon. ]

Do people drink this willingly?

[ He glances around, hoping to spot literally anyone drinking this faux-wine without grimacing. He finds several. ]

[grice]

[ he looks— tense was the word, but falco had yet to have even the remotest idea as to why. no matter; he offers the man patience that doesn’t seem perturbed. ]

From the man that lives with me. He works and gives me some. [ theon receives a curious glance upward, whilst the boy continues going through the rest of his pockets. there’s just paper in this one, undoubted from his notes, ] What do you need three for? I think there’s more here.

[undiagnosed]

[he had thought about the food being a danger, but whatever. too hungry to care.]

Like what?