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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SETTING INFO	calendar | setting | housing | npcs | death and tranquilizing | the story so far | event suggestions/engagements

Comments

FAQ

[robbies]

Have a question about the event or any of the prompts we've listed? Throw us a line here. Make sure you check the FAQ on the plotting post to see if your question has already been answered.

2 things! cw cancer mention + smoking discussion

[m1895]

1) Will Mr. Harding be in attendance? If so, what can characters expect to see him doing?

and

2) Are restaurant rules/social expectations vis-a-vis smoking indoors (irl) 60s-typical, or is it like drinking here/is the HHA anti-smoking? If the latter, what will they do if a character lights a cigarette at the table? And do the tables at Uliveto's have ashtrays at the center? And yet another question - in Santa Rosita, have people started to warm to the idea that smoking might not be great for you?

ROSEMARY CRAVEN, HHA HEAD

[helloneighbor]

Leave a top-level here if you would like to speak with Rosemary, and the mods will tag back to you. Rosemary will be tagging back until February 15th.

[fanoperator]

Once he's gotten settled and chatted around a bit, Huaisang makes a beeline for Rosemary Craven, greeting her with a bright smile. "Oh, it's just so delightful to meet you! You do such a lovely job with the Happy Homes Association, I so love being a part of such a friendly neighborhood. My name is Huaisang Nie." He knows better to give her his name in the proper order, since he knows that all his home customs are either incomprehensible or 'exotic' to the locals here. "But I do hope you'll call me Huaisang. I'm a painter, myself, and I do hope to take advantage of some of those sewing lessons, I'm such a disaster so far. Thank you ever so much for arranging today's luncheon."

[sunborne]

[ when daylight sees an opportunity present himself, daylight quietly slips away from the group he's been politely chatting with to approach rosemary and maude.

summoning all the etiquette lessons he had in his youth, daylight presents his most dazzling smile to the pair as he dips his head in greeting. always one to go all the way, daylight also ends up giving an obvious half-bow as a bit of flair and sign of good-will to them both. ]

It's an honour to finally meet you, Rosemary. A pleasure to meet you as well, Maude. [ he presents a little gift that he quickly put together when he learned of the luncheon- a small (and it is small) bouquet of flowers. it's mostly made of paper to showoff his art skills but there real ones dotted here and there. ]

I'm Daylight. One of the new faces in town. Moved in here with my partner, Agatha, and we've been trying to settle in ever since.

[peninhand]

[ Rosemary... She was the first actual figure of authority Monika had met who showed some measure of individuality. Not just a random policeman or whatnot. Was she from another world too, or just an empty shell?

Head of the local Happy Homes Association. President of the Literature Club. It felt like there was common ground there. If anyone was to have an answer to her one and only question, it had to be her.

That probably just was wishful thinking. ]

Ah, Miss Rosemary? Can I please ask you a question?

[thepsyingnun]

Infiltration was more the hobby of her English detective friend, but Agatha was always up for a challenge. Particularly when so little other avenues to discover information seemed available. And so attempting to blend in with hair and make-up done as she'd learned from a distantly smiling woman at the department store and wearing an outfit helpfully picked out by the lady who had so aggressively invited her to the event, Agatha approached Rosemary and her cohorts at their table.

Though she make look the (too pale under her makeup) American 1960s housewife, nothing could change the fact her accent was straight from Holland. Ah, well.

"Congratulations on your success, Mrs. Craven. It takes true leadership to inspire such enthusiasm in your associates."

[vampirella]

Stop by with any questions, huh? Well, she's got Questions, that's for sure. She arrives after glowering around the party for awhile, and after Rosemary's carefully delivered speech.

"Hello there, Mrs. Craven. It is Mrs., isn't it?" Look, she can do the pointed tone to imply how important it is for a woman to be maritally attached just as well as anyone else present in the room. "You're a level headed lady, aren't you? Money talk isn't just for the men. Surely you can share a little bit about where all of it is really going."

[apodictic]

[ angelo has never known what an HHA is and watching people talk about it around him has him even more confused. he tries not to overthink it, because he thinks their position is more or less ... managerial, or more like custodians of the town? a role he finds isn't really necessary to the day-to-day functions of the town compared to someone, say, like a mayor. so what do they exist for? certainly not to make it run efficiently? they're not politicians. how strange.

he does have questions, hopefully the lady has answers. ]

Ma'am. I hope I'm not interrupting anything - I want to extend my gratitude for inviting us.

I've a few inquiries, if you don't mind.

[weifinder]

"Mrs. Craven," he says, when he later winds his way toward the head of the HHA, nodding and smiling to one of the neighbours on his street when they look his way and wave. His attention shifts back to her after, his smile turning a touch wry as he offers his hands in an aborted bow that doesn't quite become a handshake either. His hair is half pulled back off his face, tied neatly in place and left to fall down his back, more unusual for length than anything else.

Mimicking the local habits was a work in progress. He means to be a quick study, but there's so many small, automatic behaviours engrained in him, it simply takes time.

"You and the rest of the Happy Homeowner's Association have done such incredible work today, I'm hoping it means good things for this year's Founder's Day. I'm—" only a slight pause, adjusting to reflect the same odd and wrong calling of names he's been getting since coming here, "Wuxian Wei, Dinah and I recently found ourselves here in town." He laughs, shaking his head and smiling. There's none of it reaching his eyes, but he lets the corners crinkle, like his wording is incidental instead of exact and purposeful. "We were surprised to receive an invitation to this event, being so new! Then your whole group were so enthusiastic, it was impossible to turn any one of them down." Is there a touch of dryness in his tone of voice? Perhaps, perhaps not. His continuation is so breezy it seems like it couldn't have been there at all.

"I'm sure Dinah will be finding you too, she can't resist getting involved with just about everything. You'd mentioned wanting to speak with those of us just arrived? I'm not sure if I'll be of any help, but I'm happy to listen to requests from such a lovely group of ladies as yourselves," Wei Wuxian said, with a nod and smile to Maude, too, should she linger near, "To see if there's anything I might be able to do. I admit, though, I'm a little lost... would you be able to tell me anything about Founder's Day?"

[bowfaire]

(Claude has been taking advantage of the luncheon and enjoying the food, drink, and company. He seems to be having a good time. Isn't it nice to see the new folks settling in?

When he has a chance, he'll try to speak to Rosemary, though.)

Ah... Miss Rosemary? Or is it Mrs. Rosemary? Thank you for organizing all of this. (He's all smiles and polite,) It's really made me feel welcome here.

You've probably been real busy these days...

(With all of these new faces showing up and now this luncheon and already planning another event?)

[13thcommander]

Erwin waits until the crowd around Ms Craven has died out a bit before approaching. When he spots a slight break in the well-wishers, he makes his move, coming over and offering her his hand.

"A pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I certainly appreciate all the hard work you and the HHA have clearly put into this event, and I'd be happy to offer my assistance for any future plans."

Nie Huaisang | OTA!

[fanoperator]

Invites and Insistences
Huaisang’s brightly cheerful when he greets the HHA representative. He’s learned that it’s a survival skill here, and it’s something that he’s always been good at. Eager as he is to agree to the lunch, the Robbie quickly tries to get him to help encourage others among the new neighbors, and Huaisang already knows she isn’t going to take no for an answer.

Heading over to the neighbor that she indicates, Huaisang smiles brightly and waves as he approaches. “Oh, are you coming to the fundraiser luncheon? Ethel was just telling me all about it, and I really can’t wait.”


Bisque and Biscuits
Eager to agree to the wine, Huaisang grimaces once he tastes it. It’s essentially just very dry grape juice, and he really doesn’t know why he let himself get his hopes up even for a moment. Bewildered by all the strange terms on the menu, Huaisang leans over to whisper behind his menu, eyebrows tugged together in concern. “What is ra-volly?”

( prompt: bisque and biscuits! )

[sunborne]

Oh hey! Ravioli! That's food he knows! Uncle Roderic's weird pasta phase is finally coming into play.

Daylight also leans over to give his reply, "It's basically pasta that's been stuffed with more sauce and filling inside it. It's pretty tasty most of the time." Depending on who was cooking it and, alas, Uncle Roderic was not one of those cooks.

Now Daylight pauses, trying to find an analogy that they might have common grounds on. Maybe... "Think of it as, like, pasta buns? Pasta rolls? Maybe?"

Somehow he made it suddenly sound a lot less appetising Daylight how.

Invites and Insistences

[peninhand]

"Oh, hi there!"

Ah, a normal person! Well, as "normal" as any of them were. Now to discreetly try and see if he's a complex human being or a bunch of tropes stitched together by a programmer. Not a Robbie, that was a good start.

"I am, yes! I'm excited to see what's gonna happen. Hrm, who's Ethel though?"

Bisque and Biscuits

[vampirella]

"Vile, isn't it?" Carmilla tried the wine, too, and practically spit it out again. Who could serve fake wine at an admittedly nice party? She'd honestly have preferred they just put out grape juice if they were going to be such babies about it. "How are we supposed to suffer through this sober?"

Big mistake. Huge. Anyway, her nose wrinkles at the uncertainty. "Ravioli." She turns to properly look at her company, sending a discerning eye from head to toe. "How do you not know what ravioli is?" It's not as mean-spirited a question as it could have been (considering who is asking it). She's just genuinely dumbfounded.

bisque

[apodictic]

".... I'll have to admit, I'm not familiar with a lot of the items in the menu."

And some of them he doesn't even want to try. "We should choose one of everything, so we can try it out and see. Especially the desserts."

Claude | OTA

[bowfaire]

A. BISQUE AND BREADSTICKS
(Claude doesn't really consider himself a "kid." Sure, he's young and maybe not quite an adult but in Fodlan, he's a young man and old enough to be trusted with Certain Responsibilities.™ Children don't really lead nations or armies, you know? But here, none of that really matters. He's just a regular ol' teen and he spends the early moments of the luncheon cheerfully talking about sports teams and school with the townies and robbies.

He sure is glad that today was just a half day. The day ended just in time. Another period and he would have had to go to math class! He laughs, he jokes, he smiles, and chatters away. To anyone watching, it doesn't look like he has any problem navigating through the luncheon. He can even break away naturally, easily excusing himself like he does right now…)

1. We're here to socialize

Hey!

(If you're young enough to be considered a "child" in Santa Rosita, he looks away from the townie he's speaking with to smile in your direction. He throws an arm over your shoulder or hooks his arm with yours.)

Sure is great getting out of class, right?

(If you're a youth but already graduated he'll approach you the same way but instead say,)

Shouldn't you be working or something?

2. What's a legal drinking age

(Of course he'll start the meal with a glass of wine. Why is this even a question? Hah! As soon as he takes a sip, he makes a face and sets the glass down in front of him.)

Definitely not a fan. (He's definitely going to have to order a water or something instead,) I've had some bad wines but this one definitely takes it…

(Leaning over to see the drink menu! There aren't aren't enough for everyone so this means he's probably leaning next to you to read over your shoulder or across the table to read the menu upside down,)

What are you getting?

B. FONTINA AND FOCACCIA

(Even if he doesn't react to it, he's always been sensitive to being watched. He taps at his glass with one finger when Rosemary looks over at their general direction and… hm.

He listens patiently and when her speech is over, he applauds politely with some of the others and immediately starts talking to you,)

Some speech.

(That's your cue to tell him what you thought about it all.)

C. MUNDANITY AND MISHAPS

(… And the luncheon seems over almost as soon as it started. Or maybe it felt like eternity for you. As people start spilling out, Claude lingers outside the restaurant a bit. It's the afternoon and the February air is cool but not quite cold. That doesn't stop Claude from pulling the sleeves of his sweater over his hands and rubbing them together. He'll never be used to cold weather.

Maybe you're also hanging out! Waiting for your "family" or a friend to escape the HHA. Or maybe you're just watching the people come and go. Whatever the reason (and whatever Claude's reason), he'll keep chatting it up.)

It wasn't too bad.

(The luncheon. If you were paying attention to him at all, you probably noticed he looked like he was in his element. He's the real friendly and social type!)

I mean, I've been to better events but this wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...

(Was that really it?)

D. WILDCARD

(Come at me! You can reach me at eski, eski#9874, or PM for plotting.)

( prompt: bisque and breadsticks, 1!)

[inpersonation]

[ noelle hesitates when she suddenly feels someone hook her arm with theirs. last time that happened-

she quickly recovers, remembering she's not back at home (thank fuck for that), and smiles back at the guy. she does her best to act bright and chipper as she can manage while holding a plate that holds an alarmingly tall pile of breadsticks. ] Y-Yeah! I wasn't prepared for the math quiz yet so I'm glad we have a half-day for this.

I don't think we've met yet. [ she would wave at this point but. plate that holds an alarmingly tall pile of breadsticks. ] I'm Blossom and it's really nice to meet you!

[freeflight]

Bisque & Breadsticks
[ Every part of this is the most utterly mundane torture imaginable.

Levi makes for a small, sullen figure slouching in his seat at one of the tables pushed together with entirely too many others. He hasn’t a damn clue how to navigate this small talk with the obnoxious people at his table, but they’re sure trying to engage him. Going along with all of this bullshit until they found an advantage is the plan, admittedly, but it was expecting a lot to think he’d know how to talk to his neighbors.

Every once in a while, he shoots a dirty look at one person in particular, though it’s entirely possible a bystander might get caught in the crossfire and think they’re getting the brunt of his bad mood.

But really, what do you say to someone who might be the enemy or brainwashed or some other bullshit trying to talk about the weather? Or, worse yet, sports? Short, increasingly unpleasant responses aren’t doing the trick, and he’s trapped here. At a certain point, he really wouldn't even complain if anyone else engaged him in socially awkward solidarity. ]

Wildcard
[ OOC: Hit me up at dynamicrange and we can put together something specific—before, during, after the luncheon are all good. I just wanted to get an initial top level out there. ]

Bisque and Breadsticks

[prodigalhairess]

[That's a face Rapunzel recognizes! Not very well, mind you, but she's seen Levi in passing as she goes to visit Cass at her and Erwin's house. And he always looks so... serious. Sullen, almost. So it's a little strange that he's here at the party, and while he doesn't seem too eager for conversation, she'll approach anyway.]

Hey. Everything okay?

Agatha Van Helsing | OTA

[thepsyingnun]

INVITES AND INSISTENCES

[It was almost as though some power had heard her thoughts on the HHA. No sooner had she started investigating than this- a trap, maybe? Or some good force helping her along. Whatever it was, Agatha took a deep breath and jumped into the deep end.

After agreeing to go, she joined in inviting others to the event.

Agatha goes door to door, to neighbors old and new, and knocks to extend the invitation in person. Determined to make a good showing, she'll knock longer than is considered polite, and even go so far as to start looking in to windows to see if you are home if no one answers. This may be her only chance, after all.]

OTHER

Agatha will be at the luncheon and mingling around, feel free to tap her shoulder or hit me up on thepenguinred to plan something specific!

( prompt: invites and insistences. )

[sunborne]

[ huh.

daylight returns to their shared house after a long day of skittering around the town, dropping packages for people left and right.

when he pops into the kitchen to see what he can make for him and agatha for dinner, a stack of... something catches his eye when he passes by the counter. he gets closer to it and the huh in his head only intensifies. ]

Agatha? [ he calls out to her while picking up the now identified stack of luncheon flyers in one hand, his expression an undeniable show of confusion and puzzlement. ] Did we get a truckload of those HHA people swing by or something?

Why do we have so many flyers?

angelo sauper / ota

[apodictic]

BISQUE AND BREADSTICKS.

[ the bisque was, true to the ladies’ word, quite the showstopper.

as much as angelo doesn’t like anything else that’s going on in the luncheon, he can appreciate food. the bread was soft and warm. the bisque was nice and rich. the wine was … strange. nonalcoholic? why even bother calling it as such, just say you’re giving out juice.

in any case it’s a good meal. he finishes his soup quickly enough. ]

Well, I can’t complain about that. [ he turns to you. whether you're in need of rescuing from a rousing debate of which kind of fencing is better, pre-fab or actual wood, or maybe you're just in the need for a second serving, he'll ask: ] Would you like some more?

POST-LUNCHEON

A. AU REVOIR

[ angelo never looked more his age when he’s dressed the way he is right now and one wouldn’t even be able to tell that he was a lieutenant of an army. here, he was simply someone else’s son. allegedly.

having done all pretending in the luncheon he goes back to his rather neutral tone. ]

That was the quickest luncheon I’ve ever been in. It’s almost disappointing.

[ he finishes the last bit of his (non-alcoholic) wine. ] Then again, I suppose that’s for the best.


B. WIE GEHT'S?
[ maybe you’re going the same way as he is. angelo acknowledges the meeting with a slight tilt of the head. ]

Have you any plans for the rest of the day?

OOC; i’ll match your format. if you want anything else from me, just hit me up with a message and we’ll plan out something. (discord > wrryypugnant#6666, or pp this journal or something.) if you want information on angelo's "daily life", click here.

( prompt: post-luncheon, b! )

[inpersonation]

[ noelle pretends to jump when being addressed and she smiles nervously, pointing at herself like she's saying, 'who? me?' to him. ]

I was, um, planning to visit the town but that's about it. [ case the town for potential hit-ups and other things, to be more honest, but details, details. ] I haven't really gotten the chance to do that since I got here. Between school and helping out at the house... This might be my first chance to go out so I'm a little spoilt for choice, unfortunately.

Number Five | OTA

[oldmanfive]

I. BISQUE AND BREADSTICKS

[ Five only came to the luncheon out of curiosity. He's been trying to learn more about the town, since arriving. Considering how eager the organizers were for this fundraiser, he had to know what the hype was about. The downside to attending is the amount of touching he has to endure from various housewives in attendance. While he can tolerate the shoulder and back pats, it's the occasional pinches to the cheeks that makes him want to break someone's fingers. Though if he has to hear the phrase, 'Well don't you look dapper today, young man.' one more time, he feels he might shoot himself in the face.

However Five grins and bears it for the sake of appearances. It is honestly a relief when he gets seated and the waitress hands him a drinks menu. Though before she can finish the question about the glass of wine, he quickly cuts her off with a curt. "Coffee, black." followed by a smile that can hardly be considered a smile given the amount of teeth he is showing. The waitress blinks in surprise but writes down his drink request before pinching his cheek and then turning to leave. He merely inhales sharply, picking up his water glass for a sip.]

Do people around here, really not know how to keep their hands to themselves?

[ He mutters under his breath. He really hates this place so much already. So many people all up in his personal space and he has to fight the urge not to stab anyone. He sighs as he reads the pasta options. None of which appeal to him, but not like he'll say anything.]

Gosh...so many yummy options...how ever will I choose?

[ He says aloud, though his dry and sarcastic tone of voice cannot be contained.]

II. FONTINA AND FOCACCIA

[ Everything about the townies and the robbies unsettles Five. Truly he can't keep the comparisons to the Twilight Zone and Stepford Wives out of his mind. However it isn't until Rosemary stands and speaks, that Five feels as though he is having a moment of Déjà vu. Everything about her reminds him of someone else, that he refuses to name. So much so that he can't keep the frown off of his face.

For the briefest of seconds they make eye contact and he can feel a chill spread down his spine. Every fiber of his being wants to flee, but his stubborn nature keeps him rooted to his seat. He forces himself to pick up his coffee cup and take a sip in order to divert his attention. However the way he grips his cup likely gives away just how ill at ease he currently feels.

As soon as she finishes speaking, he excuses himself to go to the restroom as he needs a minute to regain his composure. Rosemary Craven is not, she who shall not be named, but damn if the voice and demeanor doesn't remind him of a certain platinum blond bitch that has a habit of returning from the dead. From one fake ass bitch to another, Five was just finding even more reasons to dislike this place.]

III. WILDCARD

[ ooc; If you would like to do something else before or after the luncheon. Feel free to contact me @ ariyanaforever | Private Message | Discord empressariyana#9091]

ii!

[bibliophilicbells]

[Aziraphale spots Five by pure coincidence; he turns his head at exactly the right moment as Five breezes past, headed to the bathroom with a look on his face like he's having a Bad Time.

And that makes Aziraphale wonder, because surely a luncheon is much better than having your trauma broadcast for all to see — though his own memory of that feels fuzzy and strange, kind of dream-like despite his certainty that it did happen. It happened, and Archer and Crowley were tranquilized for being idiots, and Aziraphale had several cups of cocoa. Right? Right.

He hesitates, wondering if it'd be strange to follow Five, to offer his help again. Maybe the kid just wants to be alone. It's probably safe to assume that's what's preferred, and yet...

Aziraphale is not a great judge of anything, so he excuses himself from the company at his table to see if he can catch Five somewhere in the hall.]

Bruce Wayne | OTA

[the_caped_crusader]

Bisque and Breadsticks

[ bruce returns the smile to his table guest and replies politely before the bisque arrives at his table. for anybody watching, he remains enthused until he's left alone at his table, time enough to slip away and unceremoniously dump the soup-- bowl and all-- into the trash. his smile vanishes, revealing the much more cunning (and exasperated) underbelly to the well dressed man in the black suit. later, when he returns to his table, the smile returns and he touches lightly at his stomach. ]

So good I could barely put it down.

Fontina and Focaccia

[ when rosemary speaks, bruce is quiet and studious, examining her mannerisms and speech patterns until she finishes and the applause starts. he, of course, rises and claps as well, though it's perhaps more short lived than the others. while the remainder of them are still occupied with their forced praise, he quietly jots something down in a small notepad and slips it back into his jacket pocket just as quickly. like the mayor and harding, he suspects she's not quite like the others. that trend seemed to match with others in a position of power throughout the town, which made him wonder, briefly, about the recently deceased school principal. was he one of them? did he unknowingly raise the ire of the others? enough to get him killed? or was he just another one of the town's mindless slaves. ]

Wildcard

[ if these short little prompts don't give you much, throw anything at me or message me at BATGUY or batderp#3666 on disco! i'll write you a closed prompt, or we can plan whatever you want. ]

Fontina and Focaccia

[13thcommander]

[Erwin has noticed Bruce around town before, although they've never spoken. The man shows up at all the town's events, and puts on a good show of blending in and playing along, and the first few times he saw him, Erwin fell for the ruse. But now that Bruce is on his radar, Erwin has noticed there's something different about the guy; he recognizes the tells of someone who is playing the game to reach some other goal.]

[Game recognizes game, so to speak.]

[While the rest of the town folk mingle, Erwin slips through the crowd over to Bruce, and clears his throat to get his attention.]

Hello. I keep seeing you at these events and haven't introduced myself yet. Erwin Smith.

[And he offers Bruce his hand.]

Theon Greyjoy | OTA

[reek]

1. Invites and Instances

[ Theon has no desire to attend anything called a “luncheon”. He has no desire to choke down another jello mould or casserole and he has no desire to mingle with people who know even less about him than he knows about himself. He slams the door on several of his neighbors, but when he hears the word “drinks”, and his mind is made up for him. A drink is exactly what he needs, and a drink could be all he needs to make sense of things.

There is a problem, however, when the Robbies leave, and he begrudgingly approaches the nearest neighbor to ask. Every charming, he cuts straight to the point: ]

What is a “dollar”? I’ve been told I need three of them.

2. Bisque and Breadstics

[ Theon does eventually obtain that three dollars, because he’s there to sneer at the very notion that it might be even vaguely “cold”. The weather has been so warm compared to the North, he’s ready to scream—for various other reasons as well, of course, but the weather factors into it.

He’s there to sneer at the menu (none of it looks familiar to him), and he’s there to all too graciously accept a glass of wine. He’s not a heathen. In fact, his manors are normally quite decent, but when he brings the wine to his lips, he spits it out immediately and glowers. ]

I could not tell you what that is, but “wine” is not the right word for it. Horse piss isn’t even the right word for it.

3. Wildcard

[ Surprise me. PM me here, catch me at muttonchops or just throw something out there. ]

1!

[grice]

[ falco spends much of his time outside after school and going through his notes with erwin at home, but, it isn't a rarity to see the blond child packed in winter clothing, mittens, and peruvian beanie out and about— mostly in thought or just observing the world around him. that way, he'd blend in better as the days went by. that, and maybe get a feel for what was wrong and what was very wrong in santa rosita (everything).

he's being stopped by a man on his was back from the groceries. he hasn't actually bought much today beyond something his "friends" keep chiding him to buy— gum, for cents at a time. he's investigating the pack and what it says before bringing his attention up at the question. a dollar . . .

actually, the question itself is never something he'd hear a native to california say. he's quick to being attentive; it's something he's sure he could help with. ]

That's Santa Rosita's currency, sir. Um— [ the boy fishes his jacket pocket for some loose change, and happens upon a few cents. only twenty five, but he probably has more somewhere. he has an "allowance". such is held out with an open, gloved palm. ] here . . . I think that's fifty cents?

[ twenty five. ]

A hundred makes a dollar.

The Countess | OTA

[callhousekeeping]

I. Bisque & Breadsticks
[ Sitting at a back table is an unimpressed blonde with an untouched plate. There's a red lipstick mark on her glass, but it seems that she only took a single sip -- what is the point, exactly, of non-alcoholic wine? Either way, she doesn't look particularly happy to be here.

The Countess has been to plenty of luncheons in her time, and this one is exceedingly average, even if she's not a fan of this restaurant or these people. It's all just an exercise in mundanity, and that's not something she excels at. One of those weird, native housewives tries to get The Countess to chime in on a conversation about duvet covers, and while she smiles (it doesn't reach her eyes) and nods, she doesn't care at all about such trivialities.

She just leans over to the nearest person who also doesn't quite seem to fit in and murmurs to them. ]

Are you bored out of your skull too, or is that just me?

II. Mundanity & Mishaps

[ One good thing came out of that bizarre luncheon: she's finally got a lead on a seamstress who might be able to create the couture that she's so desperately missing. The Countess scurries through the town square, a bolt of expensive-looking magenta silk under one arm. She doesn't seem to be in too much of a rush, though, certainly not enough to stop her from pausing at shop windows and take a look at their wares. ]

I.

[oldmanfive]

[ Instinctively Five glances over to his 'mom' as the place has dubbed her and sees she's not into any of this luncheon business either. Though at least she being in a proper adult body doesn't have to put up with unwanted touching. So not only is he bored as well but they got his heckles going. Thus he looks like a feral cat that has been back into a corner. ]

Nope, not just you, but at least no one is pinching your cheeks or ruffling your hair, while calling you 'cute'.

[ He mutters, while picking up his coffee cup because he already said 'no' to their fake ass wine. ]