pumpkinhollow | Permanent Community Board

To better effect emergency responses to the ongoing siege of Marrow Island, Comrade Jean (Pumpkin Hollow Recovery Task Force) is seeking volunteers to staff and lead response teams which will coordinate on own initiative during notable crises. The teams are as follows: COMBAT TEAM: Directly combat curse incursions with a focus on harm reduction and pro-active containment; protect citizens and infrastructure through violent force. MEDICAL TEAM: First aid and triage, preventative care, bodymen. The grim work of aid during a disaster or surprise attack. COMMUNICATIONS TEAM: Detect and report emergencies, coordinate activities between all teams and citizens, swiftly and effectively transmit information on the disaster in a concise manner. Volunteers are encouraged to leave their names and phone numbers on the forms provided below, or to contact JEAN or MADAM PRINCESS ZELDA directly at their homes or anywhere in town. These teams are not sanctioned or sponsored by any existing organization on MARROW ISLAND and are strictly voluntary; however, JEAN is offering combat training to any citizen or Task Force member that desires it, regardless of volunteer status, during their shore leave between the hours of 6 AM and 1 PM.

[OOC Note: Please feel free to respond to this if you've signed up or wish to handwave signing up; just note your character, their team, and whether or not they've left a notice on how they might be found/contacted]

Chris Freeman is part of the medical team, naturally. They can be found at Winterbottom Clinic, and also have their home address and phone number clearly posted at the clinic.

They are also learning self-defense from Jean and others who train the combat team.

First Aid also joins the medical team. Notably he does not leave a home address or personal phone number, as he both lives and works at the Winterbottom Clinic.

New arrival Vika is looking for work when not employed in the local mines. Services offered include protective escorts, heavy manual labor (specialist tools may need to be provided by the client), scouting and surveying over rough terrain, combat and combat-adjacent roles (hazard pay expected), and holding very still while you try to explain what's wrong with your current project until you figure it out. Contact at [PHONE NUMBER] or by letter, or leave your offer at the mine office during its hours of business. Frivolous offers and late payments will be met with violence.

Edited 2023-11-21 19:48 (UTC)

Silk Road
Electrical Installation and Repair
Appliances / Home and Business Wiring / Bespoke Devices

[A phone number and address on the western edge of town is included at the bottom of the poster, along with instructions for submitting a work order for your home or business through the post.]

OVERHEARD ON MOURNER'S NIGHT FROM GHOST LADY ON WELL: There is a place smaller and darker than where I rest where all living souls lose their way. In the heart of that place, there is a book. To find it, one must walk my path and another must follow to carry the burden. As for me, you can find me among paper horses. --- Help requested with solving this. Contact Angel or Chris Freeman, or leave a note here with more information.

Side note: the ghost in question may be Linette, who was married to Harriet Leeds, the mayor before Hellen Poe. She was reported missing, the notice is in the Greymare Library.

Note to Jean: there's been a new form submitted to sign up for the communications team, one ~~feral commando~~ John J. Rambo, with all contact info included. :P

Lord Erik Osborne is on the Communications Team. His superhuman speed and perception make him an obvious choice for this, and so do his leadership and social skills.

His home address and phone are neatly printed next to his name. There is also a note below that which reads:

"Call my name loudly as a cry for help and I will hear it and bring aid. Be sure it is a true emergency."

My apologies, gentle townsfolk, for my extended absence in the last month. I would like to assure you all that I am quite well and, more importantly, that my door is once again open to any and all comers, male, female or otherwise.

Scheduling ahead will guarantee my availability but walk-ins are welcome. I do home visits, as well. Wherever is most comfortable and convenient. Inquire at the below address. (A phone Number and address are both listed at the bottom of this posting.)

I hope to serve you soon,
Lord Erik Osborne
Your Premier Town Whore

[Just a guy standing here, staring at the posting, trying to figure out if this is a joke or not because it can't be a whore really just advertising like that, right?

...right?

(the more times he thinks that to himself, the redder he gets)]

[Erik has been standing nearby watching to see what kinds of reactions this new posting might elicit. He is not disappointed. Poor lamb, one would think he's never heard of a prostitute before.]

Are you all right, sir?

[Erik is suddenly standing beside him. When did he get here? How did he approach so noiselessly? How indeed?]

I'm worried you may be about to catch fire.

[John feels the prickle of awareness and turns--but somehow, the guy is right fucking there, making John backpedal about a half dozen steps, eyes wide and heart racing from something other than embarrassment.

He knows he's fine. He knows he's safe--dimly, he realizes he's made very real progress in that department in that his hands are raised for a fight, but he didn't go for his knife.

...but yeah, for a second John can only stare, mute, as he tries to calm the visceral fear response to being snuck up on with a speed and silence that can only be called supernatural.]

[Oh dear. He didn't expect quite this level of reaction. What was supposed to be playful taunting has gone much too far. He puts his hands up in front of him in the universal sign of surrender.]

My apologies. I didn't mean to scare you this badly. Peace, I mean you no harm.

[It takes John a full five seconds to not just see, but register the apology, the peace-making gesture. It takes almost another five to get his hands to drop, and another five to finally draw a deep breath that starts to slow his hammering heart, to get that surge of adrenaline to drop.

And it takes another five for him to be able to break his gaze, to let his eyes screw shut as he blinks hard and scrubs his hands over his face, body and mind finally connecting fully to comprehend the lack of a threat.]

...didn't your parents ever tell you it's not polite to sneak up on people?

[A wan attempt at a quip, but an attempt all the same as John finally moves to close the space he'd created on reflex--give or take a couple paces for personal comfort.]

Sorry. Just...didn't hear you.

[Erik remains still through all of this, but he's making an effort to blink and inflate his chest with breath so he doesn't become too unnerving.]

I was orphaned young.

[Said dryly, intended as a joke even if it is actually true.]

No, you wouldn't have. I am a vampire and my abilities to sneak are better than a mortal can perceive. That said, I promise not to do that to you again.

[That wisecrack, however true (and it is, he knows that kind of humor, loves that kind of humor), earns Erik a huff of silent laughter, and his promise gets a nod.]

Thank you. 'Preciate it.

[Taking one last deep, steadying breath...he glances at the bulletin board and his cheeks start turning pink again.]

So, uh...I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that, uh--that message is you?

[Because it's not an ad, it can't be an ad, oh God it's one thing to know how fucking filthy the Victorian age was and another to be standing in it...]

[Erik appreciates gallows humor, and he appreciates a fellow appreciator of it.]

You are correct, sir. I am Lord Erik Osborne, this town's premier whore. I can see you starting to flush again. No need to be shy. I'm available. Although, I understand if the shock I gave you puts you off of it. Not everyone reacts to that rush of adrenalin in the same way.

[Is John blushing harder?

...yeah. Yeah, he is, because that's the opposite happening here, sir, which is kinda how he ended up visiting his first whore during the war to begin with. Wired after a confrontation, couldn't settle with a drink, Danforth bought him a girl instead--

John makes himself look up at Erik to banish the memory. It's not a bad memory, but there's something about it...that little oasis in Hell, however good or pleasant it might be just thinking of it makes him feel so painfully alone he can't bear up under the weight of it.

So he looks at Erik. Erik's a good looking guy, and it's like the more he lets himself notice the more affected he is by the attractive men he's no longer afraid to admire.

...so yeah, he's blushing harder still, because Erik is--okay, he's hot, but just thinking of it gives him a hollow, far less painful echo of that feeling. More like the wistfulness of thinking about Hawkeye, or the immediate way his mind just slams right towards Sam and suddenly the momentary ideas he's having at Erik turn into ideas about Sam and shit he's damn close to being able to cook eggs on his fucking face...

He ducks his head, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.]

Uh...I, uh--I-I mean, uh...

[Someone kill him, someone save him, someone please stop him from thinking about sex oh dear Lord.]

Pomni is a member of the Communications Team! She's finally putting her hyper-vigilance problems to good use, and is specializing in both the spread of important information to the parties it needs to go to and alerts to dangerous situations that begin. (She's also hoping to learn a degree of combat, but likely won't be able to get enough of a hang of it to help that part of the team much.)

She's left her name, number, and a few of her usual hangout spots when she's on shore leave to make herself easier to find.

[After January 16, the above notice was amended to include the following advertisement:]

The Silk Road is pleased to announce that it now offers radio receivers and transmitters for sale; like the telephones already enjoyed by Pumpkin Hollow residents, these devices offer long distance communication -- but unlike the telephones, radio receivers DO NOT require a wire to pick up a signal! More information is available at the Silk Road by request, courtesy of Tarantulas.

[The next day, a second note, in a more hurried hand, appears beneath the new notice:]

In order to meet demand, The Silk Road is hiring temporary workers with nimble hands and a willingness to learn new skills. Please inquire in person for details.

[He can practically feel the heat from here and by the looks of it, he's basking. He doesn't mind John looking at all.

But when the man lifts a hand to rub at the back of his neck Erik is struck very suddenly with a memory of how his human pet, Max, used to do that very same thing when nervous. It doesn't help that John vaguely resembles Max in both body type and dark features. A pang of... grief, yes, that's what he thinks it might be, hits him but she does his best to shrug it off. He's working.]

You're shy. That's all right. You can take your time and consider it. The Number to reach me is right there on that flyer. I am still working on acquiring cards.

I just, uh...I've never--y'know...

[Cue him turning even redder, trying to explain the definite interest, the lack of experience--and the fact that he's looking, just not for what Erik's offering.

(Even if there's an instant, a second where he thinks about it from an...educational perspective? Oh God...)

He laughs nervously and makes himself look up at Erik again, cheeks still burning.]

Maybe, uh...if I ever--if I want--

[...nope. Can't do it. He nods, and ducks his head again, smiling a little.]

I'll keep your number in the back of my head. Promise.

[Might never use it, but...it's not a total lie?...]

Ah, is that it? Have you never been with another man? I can see why that might make you apprehensive.

[And maybe less likely to want his first to be a whore. But, then again... there might still be some opportunity here.]

If you would like me to give you some education on the subject, I'm willing to do so for half my usual fee. So, do keep my number Mr...?

[He doesn't believe he's caught a name yet.]

[In a fairly conspicuous spot on the board, in big handwriting trying to look somewhat official, just for the sake of attention grabbing:]

Are you listless? Do you want to hit something but have no official sanction to do so and don't feel like getting in trouble for it? Do you want to put something on the line for it? Say, money or favors or whatever you think will be fun to hold over the heads of friends and neighbors? Then come and check out

FIGHT CLUB

organized by local hand to hand veteran Magne Hikiishi, to become active when the damned snow melts off. Punching the monsters is generally inadvisable. The next best option is to make it sporting.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?

[There's another piece of paper tucked underneath the bulletin, with sign-ups on one side and a sample comment on the other: Big Sis is bored.

Permanent Community Board

Local Levy Signup

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ODD JOBS WANTED

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Taking New Clients

Not here {absolutely here and oh sweet Jesus}

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FIGHT CLUB!