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]

(Every respectable lord knows how to throw a grand feast or an exciting celebration, Wrathion. Of course, here, he doesn't have anything to prove or even give away who he is. Claude can't complain. The anonymity is nice.)

You think they'd let us? (He glances back at the direction of the table where Rosemary and Maude are chittering and chattering away.) Hah! Maybe we'd get to miss a whole day.

(Of class. Wouldn't that be great?)

Ah, but I don't want to miss too much. Wouldn't want to miss out on any important lessons, you know?

(Like it or not, school is definitely a convenient place to learn about how things work here. A glance at Wrathion. What does he think about the lessons?)

[blackscales]

[ Important lessons.

There is some value to learning what is considered normalcy here, but Wrathion still finds the idea of being forced into education.... well. It rubs him the wrong way. His eyes narrow for a moment before he flicks a smile, aiming for light -- if still slightly forced. Learning is interesting, Wrathion loves to learn, it's the angle of it all that gets him. ]

Of course, there is much we can learn. I have found Santa Rosita to be a particularly educational place, almost as if I am starting from scratch.

[ Which he particularly dislikes. ]

[bowfaire]

(Wrathion, you gotta work on your smiles. Get on Claude's level of being fake.)

That makes the two of us. It's completely different from my last school.

(An elite military academy for only the most privileged and talented individuals in the continent.)

Most of the things I'd usually be good at aren't offered here.

[blackscales]

Oh?

[ Said with a light, airy, curious tone as they walk. ]

And what things are you good at?

[ Do tell, he's so terribly curious new friend. ]

[bowfaire]

A lot of things.

(It's true. He's kind of a talented guy back home! A real jack of all trades. But is he going to say what they are? The look he gives Wrathion seems to say he isn't-- there's a playful smile and his eyes seem to shine like he's keeping a nice little secret or joke to himself.)

I'll have to find a way to keep my skills... sharp.

(Sharp... get it. Heh heh.)

[blackscales]

[ What an interesting turn of phrase! Wrathion can't help but wonder if he's being lead away into the shadows by an assassin. That would be unfortunate. ]

Certainly I have found the opportunities here differ to what I am used to.

[ Makes it difficult to practice those skills. ]

Perhaps we might exchange notes some time?

[ Or, you know, simply talk somewhere they aren't hyper aware of the eyes of chattering HHA ladies upon them. ]

[bowfaire]

(Uhm, Claude is a perfectly ordinary and chivalrous noble who would absolutely never assassinate anyone? Maybe. All of his kills have been in actual battle... some from the shadows.)

That would be great!

(He sounds downright peppy,)

Maybe we can get a study group together. I was talking to some of our classmates and it sounds like we could really help each other out.

[blackscales]

[ A study group.

Well, Wrathion supposes he does like research. A war erupts in him -- the desire to keep to himself, to trust nobody pressing up against his own current limitations. Wrathion raised himself, worked alone for a long time, keeps his secrets. Working with people is still uneasy.

Unfortunately, he can recognise that here it may well be necessary. He had even suggested as much to others that they needed to band together, to identify who among them was native and who was here by force, to try and form some pattern between them.

Anduin would be better at the soft skills side of this. He has a natural aptitude for charm and leadership that would be put to good use here. ]

Of course. You have others in mind, then?

[ Curiosity -- who else had his new companion taken an interest in? Perhaps he can spot some connection between his choices. ]

[bowfaire]

Well, I came up with the idea with Blossom.

(Also at some point he's going to drag Angelo into it but don't ask me what thread chronology is right now.)

Do you know her? Cute, dark hair, about this tall? (Holding out his hand to approximate "Blossom" (see: Noelle) height.) You can meet us in the morning before school starts. Bring a friend.

(Open invitation for their little support group. They can screen out whoever doesn't make the cut once they meet as far as Claude is concerned. Two things about Claude von Riegan: He doesn't discriminate and he'll accept anyone that comes to him for help. That's just the sort of weirdo noble he is.)

[blackscales]

[ Bring a friend? He supposes that he could bring Anduin, then. A chance for the young king to put his diplomacy to good use.

Still, the description is one Wrathion considers a long moment. It's generic enough, he might have seen her around, but the name means nothing to him. ]

I don't believe we've spoken.

[ Thoughtful, as if he's considering this more seriously. The tension that was in Wrathion seems to be fading as he's distracted by the idea of this plan. ]

But I can certainly attend. When?

[ Since it's Friday now. Monday? Or later in the week? ]

[bowfaire]

(Generic enough that no one would guess who she was if they didn't know who she was already. Looks like the name means nothing to Wrathion, though!)

Well, there's a first time for everything. (See: Meeting new people and all that friendly stuff.) Next week.

(Probably Monday? Let's say Monday maybe but I won't actually say it c #threading things but pretend he said it work with me.)

We'll figure out how to keep meeting up from there.