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

[bowfaire]

It makes sense to have our first meeting at a place we have in common like the school but if you have any better ideas, you should share them with everyone.

(This is a collaborative project. Everyone is encouraged to speak up.)

I'll think of some places over the weekend too.

[apodictic]

[ angelo shrugs. ] It will become clear as soon as we see the size of the group that we're dealing with.

Of course, any group should clarify their goals first before pushing forward to whatever objectives we want to achieve. [ just so they're all at the same page. ]

I'll see you at school, Claude.

[grice]

[ ah— he doesn’t know if he could understand that in full, but he does try. the money in his hand hovers in the air before quietly pulling it back into his pocket. that, he could see rather clearly: who doesn’t want to be useful in some way? it makes falco want to help him. he had the obligation to attend school, but as an adult unsure of what to do for the cash he needed . . . ]

What about, [ he only manages to think this because he saw it on the “television”. ] a hot drink stand? I can help you set one up.

[monomachy]

[Her brows raise slightly at the laugh, but she smiles a bit as the Countess continues.]

I know that feeling. My mother tried so hard to teach me to sew even stitches and fry loukoumades, but none of it ever sank in. All I ever wanted to do was be strong like my aunt.

[That's an oversimplification, but it's still true.]

I wouldn't mind having something made for me. If you like her work, would you give me her name?

[vampirella]

Carmilla can't say she's looking forward to befriending Rosemary — she seems too comfortably stationed to not be complicit somehow. She's bound to clash with someone like that. Staying cozy with someone else willing to rub elbows with her would benefit her, though.

And it's just a bonus that alcohol will be involved. "You do know the way to a girl's heart," she murmurs, and honestly the smile she gives Huaisang is a hell of a lot more charming than any of the fake ones she's flashed on command. Mostly because she's genuinely pleased by the suggestion and even a trickle of emotion helps to sell the expression better. "Sure, cutie, shopping for champagne alone is so gauche. I'm Carmilla."

[fanoperator]

Huaisang wants to point out that pole are often used in survey-ing fields, but somehow he doesn't think that's what she meant. Blinking in confusion as she goes on, he finally understands what she's describing. "Oh! A census. I think that is very clever, and easy to do. The communications through our wrist watch--only we new neighbors seem to have them, not the locals. You can send out your communications through the magical network and find out what answers you get."

His conversations and observations so far hadn't gotten any leads in any common threads of people arriving here, but he hoped she had better luck with it.

[peninhand]

Right, census worked. So long as people just had to check little boxes to reply, it should be simple enough to put in place. She's not so sure about the network being safe, but... He is right, it is their best option.

"Hm-mm! I think I could use your help for this actually!"

Kiara and her would come up with a lot of questions, but often? You could miss out on the real obvious stuff.

"I have some questions in mind already, but I'll probably miss on some stuff..." A pause. "So if you could come up with a list of questions you think are important, that'd be really helpful!"

[inpersonation]

I promise I will! It's the least I can do for a friend.

[ coming off strong, she knows, but noelle needs to cement blossom's friendliness and naivete somehow.

and she doubles down on it when she pretends to jolt, realising something. ]

Oh- I need to get going now! [ she smiles at claude apologetically, adding, ] I promised my 'father' that I'll be back before the evening. It was so nice speaking with you, Claude, and I look forward to the study group with our future friends. It'll be exciting, I'm sure.

[fanoperator]

"Nie Huaisang of Qinghe." He gives her a swift little bow, arms forming a circle in front of himself with palms facing inward. Then a playful wink follows. "Call me Huaisang. I'd better get back to schmoozing, but signal me when you're ready to sneak out." Grinning cheerfully at her in return, he gets up and returns to socializing, keeping half an eye on his new friend as the luncheon continues.

((ooc: Would you like to skip ahead to their alcohol adventures or handwave?))

[reek]

[A what?, he thinks, shooting a wary glance toward the child. He’s torn between his pride and his desire to be useful, and it’s not something he ever thought he’d feel. It’s awful.

Finally, he clenches his jaw, and nods. ]

Very well.

[inpersonation]

She's like us?

[ noelle is... pretty suspicious about that claim, biting back the urge to frown in distrust. she's a pretty distrusting individual in general but this town has her on immediate edge if something too good to be true comes up. while she has a lot of questions and doubts - why hasn't she reached out to them when they all arrived here? why isn't she on the directory of comm. devices like them? is there a way for them to talk to her without her creepy group? - she makes sure to remember that blossom is the trusting type.

regrettably but she nods along, wide-eyed in shock and awe at this revelation.

she lets out a big smile, clapping her hands together in delight as she gasps: ] Oh wow! I had no idea. Poor Ms. Rosemary... Being here longer than us must be awful. I hope she knows she can work with us to solve whatever is going on here.

Hmmm... I wonder now... [ she looks around, painfully obvious in wondering if someone is trying to eavesdrop on her and angelo. ] Does that mean she can help us if we reach out to her?

//slides in here, apologising for the delay!

[sunborne]

“Huh.” Daylight takes a bite out from the breadstick, looking thoughtful as he ruminates over what he had learned. “She’s passionate about it, that’s for sure.”

If you twisted his arm and asked for his opinion on that, Daylight would say the following: It sounds like a particular dig towards someone, or speaking from experience or knowledge from the world, or simply rooted in something that happened in the past. Maybe a little bit of everything.

“Did she take that well? You talking about your home’s culture and traditions?” Because, judging from this town so far, it seems pretty determined to follow its own way, no matter what. “Gotta admit, I find it interesting too. Back home, alcohol was definitely a sign of class and wealth since making it cost a lot of resources and time.“

//i can get back on top of things-

[sunborne]

Lord Dracula?

Um— [ a little thrown off by the turn of events and the question, daylight needs a second to bring his thoughts together. ] Um... Hang on: You mean the vampire, right?

The one that turns into a bat? Can’t cross water? Ground from his home needed to sleep in his coffins?

[ yeah... the details are coming back to him now. it was one of his great-grandpa’s favourite stories, something he would read out to daylight when he was strong enough to do that.

it was a shame the story was never finished. he wondered what happened to the group when they decided to chase after dracula and wait a minute.

wait a minute.

wait a minute.

he stares at agatha as an idea clearly dawns on him: ]


Are you Dracula?

[ ... daylight is trying. ]

[blackscales]

Ah, his coat? He glances back at it, makes a vaguely dismissive hand gesture before turning to pace into the kitchen. The selection of herbal teas has so far disappointment Wrathion, but he does have a few that are tolerable.

"One of my own pieces. The choices here are... limited, so I had to work with what I could find in town. I hope to improve on it as time allows."

After all, he could hardly allow Huaisang to believe that was his best work. That would be insulting.

[grice]

Okay, [ he’s perceptive, so by all means— since he has the okay for means of theon making money, then he can explain. he recognizes a face of utter confusion and holds his hands out. ] I saw some people talk about making stands in the summer, for cold drinks. People who pass by almost always pay for one. It’s the same thing here, just with hot drinks for the winter.

[ especially if it’s for a “good cause”. considering the amount he needs is for the hha . . . spelling that out somewhere should get the neighbors to pour in. ]

[fanoperator]

"Oh, I don't know, I don't know," Huaisang balked, shaking his head and worrying at his lower lip. The way that she enlists his help makes him wary, and suddenly his paranoia has him wondering if she's an agent of this place, trying to use him to get at the others. "I'm really not good at this sort of thing. Do you really need all that many questions? Wouldn't it be better to be trying to learn more about the place rather than the captured victims?"

[callhousekeeping]

Isn't it hard, to be the daughter of a domestic goddess? Luckily, I found that such skills were much less important to life than my mother would have had me believe.

[ Being super rich and having a staff is the prerequisite, though. Preferably including members who have a bizarre obsession with stain removal. ]

Of course. Where can I find you? I'm the Countess, I'm staying on Carpenter.

[callhousekeeping]

Oh, no, dear. It's only a name. I'm American, no nobility to be had.

[ It's been her name for nearly a century, but she has no qualms admitting her roots. She earned her money the hard way, sir! By marrying into it! ]

The house they gave me is on Carpenter Boulevard. I have a husband, I suppose. It's all very strange.

[callhousekeeping]

No, the Cortez. [ She opens a cigarette case and puts one to her lips. ] Why, what happened to the Swindon?

[monomachy]

It was sometimes.

[She smiles a bit at that; Hippolyta wasn't exactly domestic herself, not as Queen, but she had hoped to raise a daughter who only knew peace, and there were certain skills she thought were better for such a time. Learning to shoot a bow and hold a shield were not among them.

Her brows raise slightly at "the Countess," but she doesn't comment. She isn't the only one to have a moniker.]

Diana Prince. I'm on Midwich, so not that far away. I have to say, it would be nice to have something custom made. Not a lot of clothes here are made for a woman who is... well.

[She trails off, then gestures at herself. She means six feet tall.]

[apodictic]

[ angelo looks at her incredulously. ]

"Help us"? I said she's like us, not that she cares for us. Please be reasonable. Just because you might have something in common with her doesn't mean you can start calling each other friends.

That's one way to [ get killed ] get yourself in trouble. Don't be foolish.

[ there's something in his tone that slips that sounds all too harsh, which angelo reigns in the end; the supremacy of a newtype, who feels himself above humanity. he has to remind himself he's far away from where he needs to be; there is a goal, and everything else must follow towards it, until such a time he can return to his captain. ]

[peninhand]

What a sudden change in behavior. Had she said something out of place...? No, not as far as she could tell. Perhaps he was afraid he wouldn't be able to help correctly?

"Hmm, ahaha..." Nervous laughter. "I guess so?"

Things were going so well! Of course, she had the gift to ruin everything without ever trying. Likely one of these cases.

"I'm sorry if my request for help was too forward. I tend to get a tad too excited sometimes."

[undiagnosed]

Rampant cuckoldry. A ten-person brawl. The Figgis Agency is banned for life now.

[he frowns a little, as he tries to remember if he'd seen or been in anything called the cortez. nothing springs to mind.]

Where's the Cortez?

[mandelbrots]

[Amanda pulls a distinctly un-luncheon-appropriate face.]

Um, lots of shit? All that shit doesn't happen 'til your, like, a hundred now. Modern science is fuckin' incredible, man.

[13thcommander]

I see.

[That's right, there isn't nobility anymore in this world. It's still a concept Erwin is struggling to get his head around, although he's not complaining about the lack of them.]

Yes, we're all assigned a new family upon arrival. It's liable to change, as well. Just this month I was given a son.