singillatim | [open] General Store

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[open] General Store

WHO: Louis de Pointe du Lac and YOU (new players welcome too)
WHAT: Opening the General Store!
WHEN: throughout February (at evening/night if you want Louis) + party on an Aurora night second half of the month
WHERE: General Store, Milton

Feel free to also use this setting as open starters or closed to characters other than Louis! Just indicate it if you do! His general store? No... Our general store...

A. Home Improvement

CONTENT WARNINGS: a little bit of vampire blood, talk of hunting animals for food

It started out of the practical need to store and barter goods. Louis's home is not a fit place to entertain anyone other than rats, and he doesn't want to disturb the people who live in the Community Hall.

Louis turns his attention to the thoroughly-looted husk of the General Store. Louis feels oddly shy about starting up anything, self deprecation rearing its ugly head. Lestat called his business back home a "human hobby."

He needs all the help he can get. There's the plumbing and leaks from the recent storm, trash to throw out, walls to paint, shelves to fix. He'd like to make arrangements for daytime hours when he can't be there. And finally, putting a new coat of paint on the GENERAL STORE sign with an addition:

Marché du Lac

How handy is he? Louis did small repairs at his club when a handyman wasn't available at night, he's fairly nimble... and he's never done construction in his life. But any fool can board up a broken window and repair shelves, he reasons.

"Fuck!" he hisses when he hits his thumb with the hammer. He automatically puts his thumb in his mouth, and the taste of that little bead of blood is shockingly good. He must be hungry. Time for a break.

He slips his hammer into the loop of some scavenged cargo pants. He might be terrible at construction, but at least he looks good doing it.

...Why is he working at night?

B. Having a Few People Over

To celebrate the reopening of Milton's only general store, Louis invites the town for food and drinks on the next Aurora night. At the risk of being accused of living in it, he wears his best 3-piece suit, the gray one from home. The place is well-lit, both due to the Aurora and every light source Louis could get his hands on. It's a myth that vampires don't like light. They just have a sun allergy.

Louis used to run a club, he knows how to plan a party. He doesn't know how to cook; he enlisted help for that. Among as much variety as Louis could get, the caterer Lalo Salamanca made a mushroom stew. Delicious--but watch out! A few special mushrooms may have found their way into the batch, possibly into a few bowls, and Louis has no idea...

He puts jazz records on and opens the doors. Empty shelves have been pushed out of the way for mingling or making music--he sorely misses live music. Louis would only request that it be good. (Louis reminds himself to explicitly instruct Lestat not to eat any musicians he deems bad.)

C. Open for Business

It's little more than a single counter and a few shelves worth of stock. Louis contemplates trying to bring in people to sell their own wares just so the rest of the shelves won't look so empty.

He arranges the odd collection of whatever he could scavenge and make presentable: dry goods, cans, candy, alcohol, cigarettes. The storeroom is depressingly half empty. The freezer, moved to an unheated room, is surprisingly full of meat.

In the window he puts up a passable copy of Tim's missing bunny poster. He sets up a little seating area where people can eat and drink if they wish. (It feels odd not to place the round little tables and woven chairs outside like at home, where the weather was mild enough.)

Louis emerges from the back room in an apron at the sound of the bell over the door. His suit and tie are so people won't mistake the owner/manager for a lowly clerk... as much as anyone can "own" anything in this scavenged town.

"Evenin', what can I get for you?"

D. Back in 15

Louis expects at least one teenager to take up loitering... Big mistake. If any hapless souls hang around too long and are trusted not to steal, Louis simply takes off his apron, dons his coat, and says without warning as he leaves,

"Mind the counter while I'm gone."

Congratulations, you now work here until he returns. He'll be back in a few minutes... right?

Do you:

Invite friends and avail yourselves of the candy, booze, and free aprons
Actually tend the store

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The control she has over her ability now was hard enough won that Randvi can't resist showing off a bit.

She pulls back the hand that had been resting on top of his, extending her index finger. Three bright sparks and a small wisp of smoke fall from the end of it.]

I try not to think of it that way, unnatural. It's a new thing that my body can do.

[ Konstantin watches, giving a soft exhale of startle at the display. Eyes widening further, he's staring at the woman's fingertip with intensity, as though in attempt to understand what he'd just witnessed. This can't be... real, can it? It has to be some sort of trick, or...

....But he's seen more than a few impossible things by now, and his sense of disbelief is no longer quite the dominating force. Hasn't he always only believed in what he can see with his own eyes? Well, this is very much right there in front of them. ]

Does it... hurt you?

A small pinch, but it's not severe.

[Randvi rests her hand back where it had been on top of his and smiles ruefully.]

However, my own fire can still burn me if I'm not careful. It takes effort to keep it contained sometimes.

[ Most people might be a bit nervous to be touched again by a woman capable of shooting sparks — and even fire, she says — from her fingertips themselves, but Konstantin doesn't shirk from the touch at all. Instead, he's leaning in to look at her hands as they cup his once again, marveling at the warmth he feels radiating from them. Now that he knows where it's coming from, it's.... really, it's fascinating.

His other hand's coming around to carefully, experimentally, touch a finger or two, before he looks back up at Randvi. He certainly hasn't forgotten that first meeting she mentioned, or how harrowing his situation was. How harrowing this place is in general, so cold and unforgiving. ]

This is incredible. You could... save lives here with an ability like this, devushka.

[Randvi finds herself blushing again at the attention. How long has it been since someone has handled her so gently, looked at her so intently?]

I hope so. I'm wary of gifts from the gods, but we need any advantage we can get.

Gifts from the gods? [ It's not asked to be challenging, brows only lifted in curiosity, and he's smiling as he voices it. Konstantin doesn't personally believe in such things, but that doesn't mean he's not curious to hear what others have to say in the process of trying to figure all of this out. ]

Did something specifically happen to make you think this was a gift from something like that?

[ Perhaps someone spoke to her, or appeared before her. ....He's had strange dreams here, seen strange things; he's not discounting that fact. ]

Do you recall the voice that came from the devices during that long aurora? [She realizes he might not, he's been unwell after the strange incident with his injury and she has not seen him again until recently.] She called my name. She told me it did not always have to be that way, this place taking from me, that I could take from it instead. That night I dreamt of being consumed by fire. It was… horrible at first, but the pain faded and I became the flames. I awoke warmed like this and that effect has remained ever since.

[Then she had nearly set poor Edward Kenway on fire, but never mind that.]

[ As he listens to Randvi, there's a visible startle to his eyes, something that flickers in them for a moment. Konstantin hesitates; he's... cautious, what he reveals to people about his own strange experiences in this place, but... there isn't any need to hold the truth from her. And so he gives a soft nod. ]

I heard it too. I thought it was only a dream, but.... I understand that experiencing shared dreams seems to be an ongoing phenomenon, in this place. [ A soft, wry smile; he and Vasiliy have talked about it more than once by now. Somehow, dreams are often a collective here. ]

But I didn't dream anything about... fire. [ His mouth tightens a little as he looks down to the younger woman's hands. Randvi definitely seems in high spirits tonight (he's still thinking she might've been really enjoying the alcohol), so maybe that's why, but... ] You aren't worried about it?

Of course I'm worried about it. [Even now, like this, if she’s careless she could really hurt him.] What can I do about it except adapt? I chose to take for myself and now I have to accept the consequences.

[ The man smiles again and briefly places his other hand on top of Randvi's, giving what he hopes is a comforting little squeeze, before he lets go again. ]

Those are wise words. It's good for any of us to remember here.

If I learn anything else about this, I'll let you know. There are probably others here experiencing such a thing. In the meantime — you should start charging for your hand-holding services. A personal heater in a place like this? You would make a fortune.

[ A playful smile, returning to something light-hearted again. ]

[Randvi laughs, delighted at the shift in tone.]

Oh yes, I've been trying to make use of it here. I'm happy to help when I can.

[The seriousness of moments ago has seemingly drained away again.]

I've missed being so close to people.

I've missed it, too. I hope there are more little get-togethers like this. I think it's a much-needed mood booster around this gloomy place.

[ Konstantin grins, reaching for his glass of untouched alcohol, as if he'll actually do anything with it... But he's happy enough to keep playing the part. ]

Would you like another?

It's more important even than that, I think. Recently I was… pursued by a ghost. The only reason it left was because people came and talked to me. I believe events like this could potentially inoculate us against attacks from that creature.

[It feels like an ill omen to say its name at a party.

She feels a little bereft as he moves away from her, even though that's ridiculous.]

Another…? Ah. I have not had any yet. Do you recommend it?

[ A ghost? Something in him perks to attention at that, brows lifting again. He may have had his own experiences with something that other people have been referring to as "ghosts", although it was in the form of two little boys in a burning home, and was more like watching somebody else's memory playing out. Still... it's familiar enough. ]

This ghost.... was it a child?

[ He gives the liquid in his glass a little swivel, though keeps it away from his nose, not wanting to risk inhaling its scent too deeply. It's a surprise to hear that she hasn't had any alcohol, given her mannerism and how different it is from before, and he's lifting his brows, playfully bewildered before he smiles big and happy. ]

You really haven't? Then what did I do to deserve such sweet company?

[ You're not special, Konstantin, it's The Soup ]

[Randvi did not check out Milton House, so the child ghosts are news to her.]

No, it was a ghost of myself. You saw a child ghost?

[Perhaps the one that she had seen had manifested itself to him as a child due to his concern for his son.

The smile brings her back into the moment. She can see why he might have thought she’d been indulging.]

I hesitate to trust what an English man considers good alcohol! I'm simply… happy, I suppose. I've been lonely for so long.

[ There's a brief pause, a moment where he lingers. The incident was.... upsetting, and he hasn't been able to stop thinking about it, and he doesn't want to think too much about it now. So he lets his smile remain, won't dare allow it to fade, as he brushes it off his shoulder like it's nothing, even though it's haunted every single one of his dreams since. ]

Something like that. In truth, I'm not sure what it was. This place seems to play tricks.

But that's why we have methods to help us forget, right?

[ An easy segue to the drink that catches a light above and sparkles golden, though something in his eyes softens a little again when she says she's been lonely, and for so long, and maybe he knows what that's like, too. His smile stays in place, conversational as he asks. ]

In this place? Or... before.

[As brief as it is, the pause is enough to make Randvi back away from the question, knowing what she does about this man’s losses at home; his missing child, his execution.]

Indeed it does.

[It's easier to move on to the more light-hearted subject.]

This makes me miss our brewer at home! Serve her apple mead at a feast and by morning none of our warriors recall a single detail of the previous week. Wine is like water for we Norse.

[Before she might have turned the question away, but tonight she feels so relaxed. She's comfortable around this man, maybe because of what they'd already been through together. What harm is there in confirmation of things he's likely already guessed?]

Years before this. Where I live now, I'm the only person from my natal village there. It can be isolating.

For us Russians, it's vodka. I think I might grow too weak here without having it regularly. From what I hear, alcohol is hard to find around this place.

[ The man tilts his head, his curiosity polite, conversational, but a knit of empathy tugs at his brows. ]

That truly must be lonesome... I'm sorry. It's so difficult to feel isolated, and this place certainly doesn't help.

But at least here, all of us are outcasts. We'll have to stay banded together. [ Another warm smile. ]

One of the women at the party had something she had brewed with a friend here, but… [Beggars can't be choosers but it was not good.] People here drink water alone in a way that is not familiar to me. [Water is risky to drink in her own time unless it's cut with ale.]

I feel fortunate that I'm not the only one from a different time, but even the oldest of the others is centuries ahead of me. Sometimes the weight of the years feels very heavy.

[The smile does warm her a bit, though. Randvi smiles back.] I do hope we can continue to build a community here. That's the best way to ensure survival.

[ Once again, Konstantin's really reflecting on what he's learned about this woman. He'd already grasped that she was from a time far back before his own — though perhaps hadn't quite felt the whole scope of it. And when he'd first met her, everything had been so rushed, harrowed, facts shared with one another almost desperately, used as fuel to keep going forwards. Now that he's actually able to sit down and have a conversation with her, his curiosity is piquing in new ways. ]

It is.... strange, to speak to others from such different times. [ He agrees, tipping his head forwards for a moment. ] It was 1983 for me, before I came here. I suppose that must be very far in the future for your time?

[ He's able to gather that much, at least. It's an incredible opportunity to get to speak to someone like her, from years in the past, but he can see that there would be much loneliness with it. If he didn't have Vasiliy here, someone from the same culture... it would be a much different experience. ]

I think you're absolutely right. I've been trying to meet as many people as I can — but I have to take it easy more than I'd like to admit. [ A soft laugh, not quite self-deprecating, but very much aware of his shortcomings with recovery from his injury. ] This is the first event I've been able to get out of the house and come to. I hope there'll be more.

Nineteen… [She laughs, a shocked rush of air.] I keep thinking that someday hearing such numbers will not strike me, but that day has not yet come. Where I come from, the year was 874.

[It's little wonder she hadn't heard of any of the countries he’d mentioned, though she's found them all by now, poring over the atlas from the library.]

Feel no shame for your current state. You've improved so much that I hardly recognized you.

[ It's Konstantin's turn to give a soft sound of surprise. The year 874... It's almost impossible to imagine. Coming to terms with the fact that his own year is considered "outdated" to so many here has been a process; he can hardly conceive how Randvi must be feeling. But of course, to him, there's a sense of awe about it all, eyes brightening. ]

874.... It's incredible! There is probably much we could all learn from someone like you.

[ That along with these new fire abilities of hers... Randvi is certainly one of the most intriguing people to this place. His smile's brightening right along with his eyes at that, visibly pleased to hear it. It's been immensely difficult, feeling so helpless, his recovery taking so long. And of course it's nice to hear that she thinks he looks better in general... ]

Really? You've made me very happy to hear that. I was such a mess then.

I have so much to learn! The librarian is lending me some of the simpler reference books, and there is so much that my people did not know about the world.

[Even the stars are not what she’d always believed they were. It's the same world, but everything feels new.]

The year one thousand is almost unimaginable to me. We do not mark our own years this way, but I correspond regularly with Saxons and they do.

[“I’d expected that you would die” seems a bit rude to say, but he's looking very good for someone not even three months out from a shot to the stomach.]

Everything was so fraught… this is much nicer.

Has anything here been giving you trouble? The technology, or anything else? This old washed-up man would be happy to help as much as he can. [ Konstantin gives another playful grin like he's not meaning it at all seriously, although somewhere underneath.... it's a very unpleasant truth that nudges uncomfortably within him. ]

It is. I'm glad to meet you again when things are a lot less wild. Although this place seems like it will keep us on our toes.

[ The ghost hauntings, the firey ability Randvi now possesses.... to name a very few. ]

Oh, no, the technology is amazing. The music player at the library, those speaking stones... [She means the cell phones.] I can hardly imagine living in a world where you could access such things at any time. Sometimes during the aurora, I turn on the lamps at the hall just to see them.

[Yes, this place is keeping them on their toes right now, though Randvi doesn't know it.]

We're both more prepared for the cold now.

[open] General Store

A. Home Improvement

B. Having a Few People Over

C. Open for Business

D. Back in 15

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