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

bisque and breadsticks

[weifinder]

( wei wuxian has no idea what the trashcans are for. he has in fact had to learn this at his house, between the one under the sink and the larger bin out to the side of the house. this whole mystical system of waste transportation feels novel in a sense, but also like it's a massive cultural cue and context he's missing out on, like many others here.

he's had a similar idea, concerned about poisons and other things he isn't equipped to find out before the fact, absolutely normal as he is now. when he picks up his bowl, it's with a wink to the woman speaking to his left and a promise that he'll be back, after topping off—there's mention of cheese, and he has no real idea what she's talking about, but he smiles like he does, and she waves him off, turning back to her conversation with the partner sitting to her left. what exactly is parmesan? irrelevant, he supposes.

he's contemplating offloading into a potted plant or figuring out if he can casually achieve the restroom and come back looking freshfaced and optimistic, which seems to be the preferred facade around town, when he catches a sound of something falling and a man next to another bin. more trash? he nonchalantly walks over, peering in and fumbling his own bowl, letting it join the rest of what's inside with a downplayed gasp: )

No! Not the... biscuit!

( he'd forgotten already what the soup was called. it hadn't smelled like anything he cared to try even if he'd been so inclined, for all the red had held promise (spicy? perhaps? he can dream). asked more conversationally if the man hasn't already hopped right back into the luncheon, as wei wuxian glances up again: )

This is a garbage, isn't it?

[the_caped_crusader]

Careful. If they think it was a mistake, they'll likely just offer you more.

[ he eyes wuxian suspiciously, but also with some small degree of humor. ]

And yes, that's a garbage can. You're not from around here, are you?

[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.

[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"". )

[the_caped_crusader]

Not an era I've ever heard of. An alternate Earth, then.

[ he speaks quietly to himself, thinking. ]

Hm. Interesting. Forget I said anything. My name is Bruce Wayne, by the way. I don't think we've met yet.

[weifinder]

( mildly, and a touch amused: )

You make yourself sound familiar to these situations... anyway, anyway, I'm Wei Ying, courtesy name Wuxian. Is Bruce your family name or your given name?

( bets lean to given, only because as far as he can tell, people here only introduce themselves by given name first, family name second. )

[the_caped_crusader]

Not this specifically, but... you could say that.

[ he glances around, surveying the room. no, this was... new. almost refreshingly so, given his last multiversal event, but that didn't mean he could let his guard down any time soon. who knew what could happen next. ]

And Bruce is my given name. In the west, we usually refer to each other that way.

[weifinder]

( lingering for much longer does not seem wise to him; instead he holds out a hand, mimic to the first and last, as the people here seem to do instead of the proper bows, all this strange sort of unnecessary contact. )

Nice to meet you, far west Bruce of the Waynes. I'd love to hear about your almost familiarity sometime, when we're not being wooed by the, ah. Ladies of the association.

[the_caped_crusader]

Just Bruce Wayne. And just ignore them, they're likely to find someone else eventually...

[ he eyes the women like he might predators in the middle of the jungle, their friendly eyes searching the crowd for the next person they can ply their food and suggestions onto. ]

We're in America, by the way. It's a continent far West of where you come from, separated by the ocean. Likewise, California is a state on its Pacific Coast, or what you might call the Western United States.

[weifinder]

( he chuckles, eyes dropping down as he regards the same women from his peripheral. )

Patience to every hunter.

( well fed as these ones might be, or absent in minds beyond glossy, smiling visages. Rosemary is an exception; he feels that keenly, but to what end? )

Mah, you say all these names, and now I'll feel obliged to try and remember them. Do you think we're really in any of those places? Isolated arrays and realms, can't they be anywhere?