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

[fanoperator]

"Oh, thank you for your sympathy, Mrs. Craven." Huaisang adapts immediately, ducking his head sorrowfully at the mention of his missing husband. "It has been so difficult with just my son and myself, but I remain hopeful for my husband's return."

Cheering up at the offered distraction to speak about his painting instead, Huaisang nods. "Watercolors are most like the paints that I'm used to back home. I used to make my own with plants foraged from the nearby forest. I've been trying out some oil paints as well. I'd love to meet more painting friends and perhaps join a group for it!

"But I do have a question, if I may, Mrs. Craven? I just haven't known who to ask. Why do so few people drink liquor in the community? Back home, it is considered a sign of sophistication to share small portions of quality liquor with friends and guests. It seems so strange to me that such a lovely town should not participate in sophisticated manners."

cw: alcohol; implied alcoholism/drunk driving

[helloneighbor]

Rosemary seems to press her lips together in thought for a moment, as though trying to find the best words to explain. "Well, Mrs. Nie," she begins, then cuts herself off to add, "I do hope you won't think less of me for sharing this. I don't like to speak negatively of the good people here."

Lifting one hand to her breast, she continues: "While liquor might be a sign of sophistication in some places, we've found that here it has rather the opposite effect on some of the people in this town. So many people have driven themselves into ruin by imbibing too much, whether through poor lifestyle choices or tragic accidents." Dropping her hand back to her side, Rosemary shakes her head. "It would be lovely to partake in such a custom as the one you describe, but I'm afraid we've just seen too many sad stories. Men begin drinking and before you know it, they're neglecting their civic duties to drink and sleep off hangovers and making unconscionable mistakes."

Her eyes flick toward the window, then back to Huaisang. "Perhaps it is different in other places, but our little community is a much happier place without liquor in it."

[fanoperator]

"Oh!" Huaisang's eyes widen in interested sympathy as Rosemary elaborates upon the reasons, and that sympathy deepens into worry by the time she finishes. "Are there really such people here?"

There are plenty of drunkards in his own time, but most of them are lower-class and thus of very little concern to Huaisang. Among the upper classes, he's seen plenty of unconscionable choices, but he attributes none of them to alcohol. When there's an unconscionable choice lurking eagerly beneath the surface, there are plenty of things that can draw it out, and alcohol is only one of many excuses that can make those sins easier to commit.

He thinks of Chief Harding, both what he has seen and heard of the man, and that flask he always has quick to hand. Alcohol isn't entirely absent from Santa Rosita, no matter how much the Robbies might disapprove, and he wonders what sort of sad story will come of Chief Harding neglecting his civic duties to drink and sleep off hangovers.

"Thank you for explaining. I do understand now. I know that... all cities--all people--have their dark sides, but I thought... I had hoped better of Santa Rosita. It seems to me that vices are just an excuse to be our worst selves, and we all must strive to improve. I hope... I hope that Santa Rosita's best nature will be able to win out, and that one day I will be able to share my native customs without risk of tragedy."

[helloneighbor]

"'Vices are just an excuse to be our worst selves'... I think you are correct, Mrs. Nie." There's a hint of something in Rosemary's voice, an emotion that's hard to place. When she continues, it's gone again. "I do hope this doesn't make you regard our little town poorly. I would like one day to be able to share that custom with you."

A beat of silence, and then Rosemary says, "Please excuse me. I didn't mean to bring the mood down so terribly on our first meeting. Tell me more about yourself -- you paint. What else are you interested in?"

[fanoperator]

Huaisang's smile warms and softens a little as well. It isn't just the something in Rosemary's voice, it's her honesty and her interest in his customs, foreign though they are. He can't trust her and she isn't an ally, at least not yet, but he knows he'll look more favorably in the future on any requests coming from Rosemary. "I look forward to that day very much, Mrs. Craven, and I genuinely appreciate your honesty with me."

Nodding at her change of topic, Huaisang takes it up gladly. He feels that he got quite a lot of information and earnestness from her, more than he had expected, and it's only fair and polite to make it up with sweetness. "I collect art in addition to painting it myself, and poetry as well, and I adore birds. It's been such a joy to learn of the local species. I bought a book so that I can identify the different types native to the region."

[helloneighbor]

"How lovely! Were the birds of your home very different than ours here?" Rosemary will wait for Huaisang to answer, but she'll also suggest, "If you're interested in art, perhaps you'd enjoy the stained glass window at the library. It's a marvelous creation, and the library has a poetry section." She smiles. "Who knows? Perhaps we could see if some of the other ladies would like to form some sort of painting circle, just as we have a regular sewing circle."

[fanoperator]

"They are. Almost all of them. Even the similar varieties have different sizing or patterns." Glad to return those cheerful smiles, Huaisang nods at the suggestion of a painting circle. But now that they've established some common ground and exchanged a bit of information, he shifts the angle onto her personally. "And what about you, Mrs. Craven? You haven't spoken of your own interests and hobbies."

[helloneighbor]

She lifts a hand to her mouth, casting her eyes to one side as though embarrassed. "I don't tend to speak of myself much, Mrs. Nie. I much prefer learning about the people I share this town with and helping where I can." Her lips turn again, but this time Huaisang might notice there's a hint of sadness to Rosemary's smile. "I suppose my hobbies relate to learning and service - I like to listen to the experiences that those more well-traveled than I have had and learn about cultures outside of my own. I find it makes one much more well-rounded."

[fanoperator]

"I entirely understand." Huaisang's smile is warm and sympathetic, and he nods his understanding. "I was a community leader back home, I know how it can seem like tending to the needs of others becomes your entire life. I hope you will take time to care for yourself, too. It's important to tend your own emotional garden so that it's always blossoming with plenty of love to give away."

He bites his lip briefly, almost shy. "May I invite you over for a traditional tea ceremony from my homeland? It would be my pleasure to teach you, and it's such a soothing ceremony."

[helloneighbor]

"Thank you for your concern," Rosemary says. "I appreciate your kindness in looking out for me, even though we've only just met. I would be delighted to take you up on your offer! I'm afraid I'll be rather busy in the coming week, what with the fundraiser wrapping up and our planning for Founder's Day beginning, but perhaps the week after that?"

With a little more discussion, the two of them will be able to settle on a date. Of course, that date may wind up being pushed back with everything going on in the later days of the month, but it can always be rescheduled, right?

[fanoperator]

Huaisang is glad to agree to their arranged date, eager to befriend Rosemary and find out more about who--and perhaps what--she is. Not just another of the locals, not just another of the robbies, and certainly the only one outside of the new neighbors who has offered any kind of indication that she might enjoy if things were different than the accepted standard. Huaisang's very curious about her, and he's been charmed by her as well. He hopes to be able to develop the friendship further.