Sofia’s Dumpling Depot Grand Opening!
Date: 2025-10-22 20:02
(Sofia’s Dumpling Depot Grand Opening!)
[Wed Oct 22 2025]
Dumpling Depot
The aged traditional New England facade of the building gives way to an ultra-
modern interior, styled like a Japanese conveyor-belt Sushi restaurant.
Sprouting from the northern wall is the conveyor itself, an island that nearly
cuts the room in half. It sports three tiers: the middle carries an ever
revolving procession of tiny plates of dumplings, kept warm through the use of
heat lamps, while the top tier has a bullet train with flat platforms that carry
dishes, which delivers custom orders to patrons rapidly. The lowest tier is
built into a slot in each booth: a plate return where people can put their
dishes onto an unseen conveyor through a lower slot.
The booths themselves are cozy and well padded in red pleather upholstery
reminiscent of a diner, each enough to fit about six people. Installed in each
is a tablet for processing custom orders from the kitchen with no need for human
contact. Around the entire room are large photographic murals of old women from
across the world, grannies, nonas, babushkas from all cultures, in their home
kitchens, making dumplings, a tribute to the origins of the recipes.
A sign over a door on the western wall reads ‘DRINK VENDING & ARCADE’.
It is about 55/span>12C) degrees. The mist is heaviest At Mayflower and Prospect/span>Aeryn says “Oh, Sofia that’s good.“
Sofia taps the side of her head and beams a smile, winking to Aeryn. “Ethically sourced, free range, all that.”
Landon munches on his food and nods his head, firing off a few texts with an exhale through his nose. “This is amazing, Sofia.” He echo’s Aeryn’s words over the pork bao.
“Mmm, yeah, the pork bao is definitely a treat,” Sofia agrees to Landon. “Little touch of that barbecue flavor. Mmmm.” She pivots over to Navessa and beams, “Navs! Been too long, glad to see you. Welcome in, welcome in!”
Landon flinches at his phone. “Someone I know seems to have been scammed, or robbed… Mix of both.”
“Sofia!” Navessa steps into the place, giving a look around the restaurant as she approaches the woman, moving to pull Sofia into a hug if it’s not too distracting (but if it’s even slightly distracting she absolutely will). “I’d been wondering what you had yourself holed up with. It’s been far too long.”
Landon fires off a few more texts on his phone before he looks up. Both Casey and Matthew get waves from him before he eats some more of his dumpling.
Casey scans the room as she adjust one of her arm warmers to pull flat a wrinkle. As her eyes pass over faces she doesn’t show any obvious recognition to anyone which turns her black painted lips into a slight, awkward frown.
Matthew doesn’t so much walk as he does drift in a staggering, drunken kind of way into the establishment. He props up against one of the walls, lifting his hand to return Landon’s wave, but otherwise remains where he is, a wallflower for the time being.
As the restaurant begins to fill up, Sofia waves over at Casey and Matthew, and is accosted by a lovely hug from Navessa, whom she squeezes in an arm, lifting her slightly off the ground with no apparent effort. “Well, here it is! Feel free to grab seats at any of the booths if you want people, grab samples, and you can use the tablets to order or go check out the vending machines to see our drink menus!”
Aeryn looks slightly daydreamy, lost in her throughts.
Matthew launches off the wall, that first step towards a booth heavy like the room might be tilted, far from level. But he manages to make it without taking a spill, settling heavily into a booth on the southside of the room.
“I’m pretty nervous I’m going to accidently grab a blood dumpling.” Casey grimaces as she tries to pick a booth. One option contains the drunken Matthew, the other strangers. She ends up electing on the strangers.
Sofia laughs gently at Casey and says, “We don’t have blood dumplings on the conveyor belt right now, those are special order with the tablet. Just punch in whatever you like and it’ll be delivered to your table by train.”
There is a squeak, but it’s followed by a laugh as she’s lifted off the ground and Navessa gives Sofia a kiss on the cheek once her feet are back on the ground. “Lemme get to trying some of these dumplings and let you get back to your hosting duties,” she says with a grin. “I can’t wait for the stories.” She does consider the booths and ends up dropping into the one with a drunken Matthew, giving him a look. “You alright there?”
“Thats a relief.” Casey admits to Sofia. She settles in at the booth where Jasper has already claimed a spot. She gives a light smile to him and says, “Hello.”
Sofia waves over to Liri, saying, “Welcome to Dumpling Depot! Feel free to take any of the free samples, order from the tablets at the booths, and grab drinks in our vending room and arcade!”
Landon looks to Casey. “Sofia seems to have things labeled nicely so you don’t have to worry about accidentally getting something like that.” His gaze shifts over to Matthew as he gives a concerned look towards the drunk man.
“Hey there,” Jasper greets Casey while he grabs another dumpling.
Liri gives a lift of her hand, a faint jingling sound coming with it, as she says, “I heard dumplings were happening,” as though it’s not obvious, and grins as she looks over what’s out for samples, bouncing a little on her bestockinged feet. “Exciting.”
“Excitement everywhere,” Aeryn agrees in a belated comment.
Matthew blinks up at Navessa like he’s been underwater and her voice is only just breaking through. “Yeah,” he says slow and honest, though he is entirely out of character. His elbows slide on teh table as he tries to straighten, one hand fumbling the bottle he has, “Just, uh…” he waves vaguely, “part of life’s cycle.”
Sofia claps her hands together and addresses the room as more people start to flow into the event. “Well people, looks like we’re filling up! Remember, all of these recipes have a story. I traveled across the world to speak to real grandmas. So if anything on the menu strikes your fancy and you wanna learn more about it, feel free to ask me!”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh.” Navessa looks at one of the tablets, considering. “Why don’t we get you some food, yeah?” She props her chin in her upturned palm. “Wouldn’t look good if you passed out drunk at Sofia’s event and that’s what made the front pages, hmm? Can’t let you do that to one of my besties.” She punches in a few orders. “Let’s see… The mashed potato knishes. The…. beef empanadas. And while you eat, you can tell me whatever is up about life’s cycles, okay?”
Sarah waves her hand energetically to Sofia as she traipses merrily into the building, emitting a very cheery, “Hey, y’all!” to anyone that might hear it, pausing out of the way of the door to examine the area.
Liri snags the meatiest looking sample, and, after a moment of thought, carries it over to the southern booth, settling in to quietly listen.
Sarah starts to tap at her phone, then jumps as she spies Aeryn, blinking owlishly before beaming and offering a bright laugh, the need for said phone-tapping seemingly gone as she offers her arms out to Aeryn instead.
Landon looks around at how many people seem to be coming to the opening. He grins towards Sofia. “Seems like it’s a successful opening so far to me.”
Matthew puzzles over something Navessa says, an ghost of rebellion in his lips that ultimately land and settle heavily towards indifference. He nods.
Casey reaches for the tablet to check out some of the offerings, but her face screws up with a grimace and she looks rather nausea as her other hand comes to her stomach. “I dont know why I can’t stop thinking about biting one of these to get a mouth full of something nasty.”
Navessa is ordering some things off the tablet and when they arrive (choo-choo) on the belt, she sets the plates in front of Matthew rather firmly.
“Probably not, unless you make a habit of chasing down Ransoms in the woods,” Liri answers Matthew, indifferent to the clear conflict, and popping a dumpling into her mouth all the same. “Liri. Of the Narragansett Ransoms, if that means anything to you. Probably not.”
“Probably because they almost all look the same?” Jasper tells Casey, glancing at the dumpling he is holding before he takes another bite out of it.
Aeryn smiles, granting Sarah a fond hug. “I’m glad you made it,” is smiled her direction.
Sofia waves at Annabelle as she enters with a broad smile, leaning in to squeeze her back, and then leans over to the booths to put in an order. “I just put in an order for myself for Lamb Manti Mini Dumplings in Yogurt sauce. So I’ll tell you a bit about Tatik Anoush, the grandma who gave me the recipe, while it arrives.”
“I am, too!” Sarah enthuses to Aeryn, “I think this is the first time I’ve left my apartment for anything other than work in like…I dunno, at least a week!” she admits with a mirthful wrinkle of her nose, shamelessly squeezing close to Aeryn and staying that way, keeping an arm looped about the other woman even when she does allow her room to breathe again.
Casey bobs her head, still looking sick. “Alright. I’m out before I throw up. It’s not my night.”
“Kaaaaaay.” Annabelle drones, momentarily hypnotized by the conveyor belt’s passage. Where is all the food going? The sight makes her grin, for whatever reason.
“Does. Miss Anoush get pizza?”
“Same, it’s rare that I’m out, and who can resist dumplings?” Aeryn beams toward Sarah. “Unfortunately I’m not here too awful long.”
“Aww, gotta go do bat-stuff?” Sarah wonders to Aeryn with a bit of a pout before she elects to scope out the food situation, surveying the offerings.
“Tatik Anoush was born in the Soviet Union, and her parents were ethnic Armenians who fled from the Ottomans. She lives in Yerevan, Armenia now, and has three sons, a daughter, and nine grandkids at the moment.” Sofia cracks a wide grin at Annabelle and says, “You know, I sadly didn’t bring her any pizza when I met her. I really should have brought a box, huh? Next time I’m back. She taught me that the secret to a good Manti though, is butter. Lots and lots of melted butter. At first I thought it’d clash with the yogurt sauce but…” Her train pulls up at the station, and she plucks it up, taking a fork and munching on one of the little dumplings, all covered in sauce.
Aeryn snickers softly. “Sleep mostly. Only maybe for hanging upside down. I’ll text you later.” Finding Sofia, she waves. “Perfection. I’m glad I was able to get here.”
Landon looks at his phone before exhaling through his nose. He moves a hand up to his face and rubs it, and then shakes his head slightly to himself.
Navessa talks quietly with Matthew and Liri at the southern booth, but does turn toward the entryway as Sofia starts her story. Spotting Ambrose, she smiles to the man and lifts a hand in greeting to him.
Slipping in unobtrusively, Ambrose drifts his way along toward Sofia, listening in silence with the mildest of crooks to his lips. “Travel was well worth it,” he opines, upnodding past toward Navessa with a muted lift of a hand in turn.
“Mmmm,” Sofia moans through closed lips, smiling over to Ambrose. She swallows and concludes, “All the oils are pretty much a perfect vessel. Little bit of heat with the peppers there. So thank you, Anoush, glad we could bring your recipe to the masses here.”
Matthew is speaking in his booth quietly, looking for all intents and purposes to be eating some food and having a quiet conversation. He nods at something Navessa has said after having spoken something to Liri.
Sarah cackles about something on her phone for a moment before she returns to looking at the goings on of the room. She blinks as she notes Ambrose’s arrival, peering up at him, “I forget how -tall- you are.” she remarks absently.
Annabelle watches a plate of dumplings make its last stop into Sofia’s mouth, blinking out of her stupor. “Thanks, Anoush.” She repeats idly, slowly cementing herself as an obstruction pillar at the door for foot traffic to walk around.
Ambrose placidly shifts his gaze from his phone screen to Sarah at that, giving a singular, unhurried blink before he supposes, “Asparagus man strikes again.”
Sofia grabs a can with Japanese and English writing off of the conveyor belt and cracks it with the sort of non-nonchalance someone might who was a couple of beers in. She smiles down at Annabelle and asks, “What are you in the mood for? I can pull the train on around for you.” She takes a sip of her Strong Zero Lemon, and puckers up a little, as if the drink is quite bitter, but her smile only widens after she has her drink.
It takes Sarah a second to figure out the ordering and receiving situation, but once she has, she beams in delight as her train arrives, emitting a very mature and demure, “That’s so cool!” in her outside voice before she plucks up her plate. This done, she beams back to Ambrose, “Asparagus man!” she confirms, “Sorry I’ve been to busy to look at taxidermy stuff.” she offers apologetically, then she -finally- elects to see who Sofia is talking to only to emit another happy exclamation of, “Anna! It’s been ages!”
Still talking quietly with her boothmates, Navessa finally makes a decision and taps in an order on the tablet.
Lingering near the entryway, Ambrose doesn’t move when it isn’t necessary, so for the most part, he doesn’t — at all — unless addressed or speaking.
“Blud annnnnd violennnnnncce…” Annabelle answers in a nasal vocal fry, miming claws. Miming claws is hard work however, and her face kilters to Sarah languidly. “Mmmmn. Since um. The hospital, gurl. I think. I hope you’re doing super great. People always like. Say the nicest things about you.”
Liri is openly staring at Matthew with clear offense, body language showing irritation boiling off her as she says, a little too loudly, “I’m not looking to be a corpse!”
Without looking up from his phone, Ambrose deadpans, “Don’t knock it ’til you try it.”
Landon grabs himself another helping of pork bao and munches on it. “So good.”
On the other hand, Navessa seems to already be trying to soothe over whatever is going on between Matthew and Liri. Hands up, palms down in an attempt to calm. “Yes, let’s just enjoy some dumplings.” As she grabs two plates off the conveyor.
By contrast Matthew looks neutral about whatever’s being said and lifts a calming hand, attempting to apologize to Liri.
Sofia beep beeps in a little order and nods at Annabelle’s words with a thoughtful smile, waiting for the train to come around and then passing her something tasty. “Eat up, gotta keep your energy up,” she insists, leaning down and squeezing the girl on the shoulder.
Matthew begins taking every single plate off the conveyor belt (that northern booth is getting nothing for about one whole second), laying them all out on the table like he were making peace offerings to gods, faelords, and angry women everywhere.
Liri scoffs, loudly, but she sinks back into her seat, voice returning to a reasonable volume.
“Yeah! I think I never got your number or anything.” Sarah admits to Annabelle, “I’ve thought of you a few times, though! And really? That’s so nice of them!” she also adds on some praise for her apparent fans, though with a painful degree of earnestness. She snickers at Ambrose’s remark, too, “It seems to work out alright.” she adds for her own part, “I think every vampire I’ve met has been attractive and strong, and I mean, that’s two really good things to be, right?”
The look of the beef empanada’s give Annabelle pause, taking the plate reverantly and looking at the victims waiting to be taken into her gullet. “..Awww. Dad used to get me these from the grocery store. They. Made them as like a breakfast that would sit out.”
With some thought, Annabelle rubs a newly minted bandage wrapping her throat at Sarah’s words. “Super strong.” She swallows, and goes to eat an empanada whilst staring into the abyss.
Sofia grins over to Matthew as the NFC chips in the plates he removes ring up with a bing-bing-bing on the tablet and she teases, “Stocking up, huh?”
Allowing some of his attention to peel off of his phone to Sarah, Ambrose gives a couple small nods, head listing one direction and the other. “Nothing comes without cost, but — yes, tends to be the case. Being fully refreshed every time the sun goes down, not having to sleep, all that.” Unblinking eyes drifting to Annabelle, he gives another nod of agreement, and his eyes drop back to his phone to thumb at.
Sarah blinks owlishly at Ambrose a couple MORE times with that, only barely swallowing her bite of dumpling before she wonders, “You guys get a like, free supernatural espresso shot when the sun goes down?” with a faint bit of jealousy.
“Always tired when the sun goes up, but don’t have to sleep. Can power through it. Refreshed once it goes down. Can get used to the sunlight, acclimate to it, over the course of a couple decades, but…” One of Ambrose’s shoulders gently and unevenly hitches as he prattles to Sarah. “… never fully comfortable under it. It’s a give-and-take.”
“Mmmmmmmn..” Annabelle hums as she’s thrown into the ol’ lane del memoria, staring at her phone vacantly as she chews. She covers her mouth with the back of her palm as something makes her snort, and scoffs at Jakem as he enters. “‘ass ‘ooh wweeiir.” [reposted ‘cuz location]
Sarah listens studiously to Ambrose’s prattling, nodding sagely along, “That sounds sorta cool -and- sorta terrible.” she astutely observes once he’s finished, truly a scholar of the ages, “I feel like I would feel too bad about drinking people…plus I dunno if vampires get magic swordfire powers.” she muses, then she wiggles her fingers at Jakem in greeting.
Sofia waves cheerily over at Jakem and says, “Feel free to grab some samples from the conveyor belt, put an order in, or grab a drink from the vending machines. And I’m happy to answer any questions about the dishes you might have.”
Jakem squints at Annabelle “I swear you learned to talk on a train, everything you say sounds all Dopplered up.” He looks to Sofia “Cool beans.” he says. Or was it cool beans? Maybe he’s asking about beans.
Liri winces, sucking in a breath between her teeth at something Matthew said.
Annabelle continues to chew as she stares at Jakem, pausing to stick her tongue into her cheek, probably swallowing her food whole. “Engh.. I saaaid. That’s so weird. I dunno how I’m gonna convince Alice, now. Like. She’s going to say ‘your boyfriend is the president of omega evil corp.’ And liiiiike.” She drifts off, caring more about the food in her hands than the words to say.
Jakem peers at the items available, and choses what seems to be the thing he’s most used to.
Landon wipes at his mouth a little to make sure its clean of food before he looks over to Sofia with a smile. “Did you come up with recipes used here on your own? Or how did you come across what you decided to use?”
Annabelle bursts out suddenly into a laugh, a suffocating, almost dead laugh that’s totally going to shoot empanada into her nose as her face reddens. She drops her phone to cover her mouth and quickly makes off for a napkin.
Sofia passes by Jakem as he puts in his order, and mentions aside to him, “We have Kvass in the vending machine too if that’s your jam.” She smiles over to Landon and shakes her head, explaining, “No, no. I mean. I had an idea of the dumplings I wanted to use, but then I traveled the world for the recipes themselves. Used mirrorgates for a couple of months, popping from place to place. You see those murals on the walls? Those are all the ladies I got the recipes from, and their kitchens.”
“Ah.” Landon nods his head as he listens to what Sofia says. The comment about mistgates has him looking pretty confused but he’s casting his gaze around. “That’s actually really cool. Have you tried making your own up?”
Jakem nods to Sofia “Might try that out later, right now I’m looking for something a little on the lighter side.” he says as he chows down on the mushrooms.
“sorrry-” Annabelle drones to Jasper as she steals a napkin form his booth’s dispenser and blows her nose into it wretchedly before quickly running off. A full hit and run before she jogs back to pick up her phone.
“Well the blood dumplings I put together, technically, though it was based on the traditional xiao long bao, the soup dumplings,” Sofia explains to Landon. “If you’ve never tried one of those before, it’s a hell of an experience. They pop in your mouth, it’s great.”
Navessa rubs at her forehead briefly, midway through eating her shrimp wraps. She squints a little down at the table. There’s a glance up and a look at Matthew. A sigh is breathed out, but she doesn’t say anything yet. She just finishes the wraps. For now, at least.
“Hmm?” Jasper looks up from his phone towards Annabelle. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, sorry.”
“Try the ramune soda then maybe,” Sofia offers to Jakem, pointing to one of the glass bottles on the conveyor belt. “They have a little marble in them that clinks around, so fun.”
Liri blinks at Matthew before her laughter rings out through the room, surprised and delighted.
Sarah has fallen to antisocially, in so far as that term can ever refer to her, typing at her phone. She eventually blinks up, deposits her plate in the plate-depositing area and loudly informs Sofia, “This place is super cool and the food is really great! I gotta go, though!” before she…goes.
Finished with her meal nonetheless, Annabelle puts her plate back on a conveyor belt- which so happens to be the right one. She turns briefly to jiggle a hand at Jasper and shake her head in dismissal, quickly putting on a face mask to cover a creeping smile.
Landon chuckles and nods his head at Sofia’s words. “I’ll try it next time. I filled up on the, uh, bbq pork.”
Sofia waves over to Sarah and says, “Swing by any time!”
Sofia flits her eyes to Annabelle and gives a quick nod, rushing off.
Jakem looks over to Navessa, then to Annabelle “Looks fine to me.” he comments idly. “Unless you’re thinking that corset’s too tight?”
Sofia slides into the booth beside Navessa with a gentle bump into her, beaming a smile and asking, “Hey girl, how you doing?”
“Oh, reminds me,” Ambrose snaps out of his distraction to look up from his phone and announce to nobody in particular. “Have to pick up some product. Back shortly.” And then he’s off for the door in short order, himself.
Sofia raises her very alcoholic can of Japanese vending machine mixed drink in toast to Matthew and asks, “Enjoying yourself I hope?”
Annabelle wheezes like as asthmatic. The Vasquez’ exit appears to have left with some hidden, deadpan joke for the mask over her face puffs out from the air she’s pressing at it and she catches herself on Jakem, trying to twirl.
“Just a bit of a headache,” Navessa says to Sofia with a small smile. She is slowly eating, listening to Matthew while making sure he keeps a plate of food in front of him and not the bottle of bourbon. She leans over toward him and notes: “Keeping busy is important. Last thing you wanna do is drunk dial Malin in the early days of the breakup and scare her off by being weird and needy.”
Liri is not particularly subtle as the twenty year old snatches up one of the cans, popping it open, taking a sip, then dropping back in across from Matthew. “Just, like, blow things up. What do you think angry Ransoms do, maul folks? No, we blow things up,” she says, emphatically.
Jeremiah nods in greeting. “Howdy, folks. Good to see such a crowd.”
Landon waves to Jeremiah. “Yeah, nice to see so many people show up to an opening.”
Sofia gives Navessa a gentle little hug and pouts at the headache news, saying, “I get it. Feel better, yeah? Lemme know if I can get you anything.” But overhearing what she says to Matthew leaves her with a tilted head and a little furrow of her brow, and she tells Matthew, “Sorry to hear man. It’ll all turn out OK, I’m sure.” She turns to Liri and says, “I don’t believe we’ve met yet, I’m Sofia if you hadn’t overheard.”
Jeremiah nods. “It is. Especially to support Sofia. She’s good people.”
Jakem nods to Annabelle “Kay.” he says, following after.
“Liri Ransom, of the Narragansett Ransoms,” Liri introduces herself, formally, to Sofia, though whether she means the location, the tribe, or both is unclear.
Landon glances around at all the people. “Met her only today, here. But yeah she seems pretty nice.”
Jeremiah says, “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Jeremiah. Nice to meet you.”
Jakem nods to someone and Navessa and Liri “We’re here to help with Navessa’s corset. Anna tells me it’s too tight.”
Jakem nods to Matthew and Navessa and Liri “We’re here to help with Navessa’s corset. Anna tells me it’s too tight.”
Landon offers a smile towards Jeremiah. “Landon. Arrived about four or five days ago. Nice to meet you as well.”
“I might dip out soon, but,” Navessa says to Sofia, “I will absolutely be coming by here regularly. At least getting it DoorDash’d regularly.” She frowns as Matthew gets his hands on the bourbon and breathes out a sigh. “Liri, Sofia here is one of my best friends. Maybe best, tied with Ambrose. Hard to say. I love them both.” There’s a smile for the proprietress, who Navessa asides to: “Since the brownstone is sold and I’m in the Ivory Quarter a lot more working on my new studio space… I told Ambrose I officially want the room.” And then there were two more. She blinks at Jakem. “My corset is fine?”
Jeremiah smiles. “Welcome to New Haven. It’s… an interesting place.”
arrives with a certain intensity. The language of her body fails to stifle a skip, which would be innocent enough- she’s a grown woman and a prance is improper, but she makes a line for Navessa. If she is contained in the inner portion of the booth, Annabelle puts a foot on the table to climb and drop in next to her. If she is on the outskirts, she’s shoving herself in next to her.
“It’s not a corset prraaahhblem…” She assures-
Jeremiah says “I am going to grab a drink. Be right back.“
Annabelle looks at Navessa, a pause, and then a pounce of arms.
Sofia provides Liri with an alternate take on the Narragansett, telling her, “Love me some ‘Gansett, I got it on tap over at Vincenzo’s. If you’re ever homesick for cheap Rhode Island beer, swing on by.” She smiles and reaches a hand up, giving Navessa a gentle scratch on the scalp, a little massage. “Bounce if you got to, excited to hear that you’re moving in though, gonna be nice.”
Sofia spots Jeremiah in the distance then, and scoots out of the booth, mentioning to those seated there, “I should go say hi to Jeremiah, see if he’s got any questions.”
Jakem waves over to Jeremiah “Hey Jerry! How’s things? We’re working on a big problem over here, might need some engineerin’ experience.”
Landon nods his head at Jeremiah and looks to his phone until they wander back over. “Interesting has been an… Understatement, I think.”
Matthew glances over at Liri, “So like now, cus it’s about time for me to be moving,” he says, “been sitting still too long. Need to keep busy.”
Jeremiah waves to Jakem. “Sure, I’ll join you in a moment.” he calls out.
Navessa is indeed on the inside and finds herself flanked by Sofia and Annabelle after the floundering about. She’s mid-bite of a dumpling when Annabelle’ Meep “Hey and yeah, it’s just a bad headache is all. Gonna finish eating and dip out, maybe.” She does hug Annabelle back at least! “Not full-time,” she tells Sofia. “Officially I live with Preston, but in case of late nights, mists, or when he’s away on business and I get all lonely… So yeah, officially renting at least.” She ‘purposefully’ ignores Jakem. There is a nod to Sofia as she makes to get up.
Navessa does lift a hand to wave to Jeremiah as the man arrives. “We do not need engineering experience, but you are welcome to join us.”
Sofia strides on over to Jeremiah and Landon as they chat, plucking up another dish from the conveyor as she passes. “Hey Jeremiah! Any questions on the menu or anything?”
Matthew starts to slide out of his booth, swiping the bottle of bourbon in the process. To Liri he says, “Seven ten, two thirty-six,” and then he’s making way for the exit.
Jeremiah shakes his head. “Hey Sofia. I’m really glad to see what you’ve done here. My only question is how often I’ll be eating here, and the answer is until I’ve tried it all.”
Jeremiah says to Landon, “Please excuse me.”
Sofia laughs warmly back to Jeremiah and says, “And I’ve been thinking about adding more menu items too as they come to mind too, so, give you reasons to come back even after then. No shortage of different dumplings out there.”
Nurse Annabelle is all too happy to be hugged. There is some synergy in her activity of applied aid- helped for being helpful. A hand drops and slaps into her bag and produces a little vine. “Well SOMEONE is just doing liiike so awful. Maybe it was. Like. Matthew. I dunno. I’m here for you girrrl and like. Just. Just. Mmmmmnnn..” Her brow presses into consternation as she stares at Navessa, pressing the vine up under her own mask.
Landon nods his head at Jeremiah. “Alright. Again, was nice meeting you.”
Jeremiah smiles at Sofia. “Just what I wanted to hear. If you hear any odd noises at night, that might be me, hiding somewhere for a midnight snack.”
Liri tosses one dumplin in her mouth, chews twice, then another is gone.
“Maybe the sound of the DDR machine will drown it out,” Sofia says back to Jeremiah, thumbing over to the vending area as he heads over to the booth.
Landon looks at the booths before looking to Sofia. “Enjoying your opening so far?”
Jakem nods to Jeremiah “Hey Jerry; Navessa’s decided to do her own adjustments. I guess she doesn’t trust anyone else to handle the machinery. Apologies for getting your hopes up.” he explains.
Jeremiah shakes his head. “No worries. I’m always happy to help if someone needs it, but I completely understand wanting to work on your own stuff.”
Sofia nods back to Landon with a smile. “Sure am. Seeing lots of friends. And getting to feed everyone is always a bonus.”
“Probably Matthew,” Navessa says, stacking her shrimp plate atop other empties. “Early days of a bad breakup,” she explains to Annabelle. There is a roll of her eyes to Jakem, though she winces partway through the expression as she starts on her duck buns. “It’s a cheap PVC corset. There’s no engineering it. I’m too poor for high fashion.”
Jeremiah chuckles. “Oh, I wouldn’t be of much help with that, anyway. Machines, and especially computers, sure… but I know nothing about designing or modifying clothes.”
Liri is entirely drawn into her texting, and sipping a bit too freely at the pilfered drink, putting it, and dumplings, away far faster than someone of her size should.
Landon nods while listening to Sofia. “I’m glad it’s been going good. I feel like the odd one out though, that’s for sure.” His gaze shifts over to Ambrose as they come in, and he lifts a hand to give a friendly wave.
“Oohhh.” Annabelle blinks up as whatever she’s swallowed works on the starlit look in her eyes, pushing out the brights and turning it into a void. “Well. I’m. Only semi-accurate. At least I got the right table. He’s um. Literally being tortured riiight noooow.”
Ambrose waggles the airtight candy jar in his hand, supposing back to Sofia whilst turning on his heel, “Off I go to find, then. Surprised how hard it is to give drugs to paying customers, sometimes.”
Landon blinks slowly as what was just said hits him. “I guess,” He seems to be trying to search for words. “I guess, uh, not hiding supernatural things in this town isn’t the only thing that people are open about here.”
“Sorry, Navessa, I reminded him he can get grenades,” Liri says to Navessa, not actually seeming apologetic. Maybe manic, maybe drunk, probably both.
“I think he legitimately loved her,” Navessa says to Annabelle. “Or at least… felt like he did?” She gives a small shrug but is then being squished into a hug. “Oof. Uhm, I think he needs the hug?” She gets a hand up to pat pat Annabelle on the head. “You good there, Liri?” A glance over to the texting fiend.
Sofia glances over to the booth, then back to Landon, deadpanning, “You mean everyone is horny?”
Jakem blinks a bit “Oh wait, so Malin’s single? Shit. That sounds dangerous.”
Landon looks to the booth and tilts his head. “Don’t know about that. I was talking about the whole drug thing that happened just now.”
“Hey baby?” Annabelle pops up from the mess of Navessa’s hair with a mess of her own, half standing with a sagely expression. “I’m. Like. Not qualified to give a boy um. Advice. Can you liiike. Go find Matthew and uhm. Like. Be great and dudely?”
Sofia blinks a couple of times and laughs brightly. “Oh that?” She asks Landon. “Yeah, I mean, not illegal here, so it’s pretty chill. He sells interesting off-world things too, it’s not like… you know, he’s slinging meth or anything. Much classier stuff, usually nothing too dangerous. There’s one painkiller that makes everything you see blue, I think.”
“Liri, Ransom, black sheep of the Ransoms,” Liri offers to Jeremiah, already ruining the bit. “Lovely to meet you.” Her attention drifts to Annabelle, and she says, “We’re gonna blow things up, with a cannon. And grenades.”
Sofia says “Oh, right.“
Landon nods his head at Sofia. “A painkiller like that… I’d know a perfect song to listen to while on that.” He says before he gets distracted by the brochure.
Sofia says “I think that’s literally mentioned in the brochure.“
Landon chuckles as he looks the brochure over. “The even mention the song I was thinking about on it.” A thoughtful look is overcoming his face as he considers things, before he clears his throat to himself and offers it back to Sofia. “I feel like I’m learning so much lately that my head might explode.”
Annabelle flops down, issuing a snort out her nose apathetically at her boyfriend’s promises, letting go of Navessa in favor of just a shoulder touch of companionship. “Jak has like. A fifty percent success rate of making people feel better. So. I dunno. Maybe like. Like. Matthew and him will like sit somewhere on a park bench and. Not looking at each other, like. Talk about guy things and bond. That’s how it works.”
Liri sighs, lower lip jutting out as she says, “I wanted to fire a cannon without going back home.”
“Definitely a whole new world,” Sofia agrees to Landon with a smile, indifferent to whether she gets the pamphlet back or not. She glances over to something Annabelle says, and skims through her phone for a moment, shooting a text off.”
Finishing her two plates (while there’s still plenty on the table from Matthew’s buying spree), Navessa gives Annabelle another side-hug before she starts wriggling her way out from the booth. “I’m gonna head out and put my head down for a bit.” She does stop to look at Jeremiah, tilting her head slightly. There’s a grin at the man. “Nice, Jeremiah. We’ll have to catch up sometime. Curious to hear more about that, but I do need to go lie down for a bit.”
“Sleep well.” Jeremiah says to Navessa.
Leaving the booth, Navessa makes her way toward the door. She does stop to give Sofia another hug. “We’ll have to schedule that photoshoot now that you’re back,” she teases gently before passing on through toward the street.
Jeremiah looks to Annabelle. “How are you, Anna? I haven’t seen much of you in a while.”
Landon tucks the brochure away after he notices how Sofia seems with it and he nods his head. “Whole new worlds…” He repeats what she says, only changing one word to be more plural.
Sofia laughs at Navessa’s suggestion and gives her a quick whap on the butt as she leaves. “For sure, I’ll catch you soon.”
And it’s with a final *meep* that Navessa leaves, wagging a finger at Sofia over her shoulder.
Lost in her own world, hunched passively in the booth, Annabelle looks over to the sound of her name. “Ehhhhh..?” She doesn’t seem to catch most of the words. “Yeah. Like. A little while. I- I totally shouldn’t have taken my medication just now. I was so. Happy. Ugggh.”
Landon shifts his weight from one foot to another. “Can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to do so.”
Liri blinks at Landon, asking, “You’ve never been off this world?”
Landon shifts his attention towards Liri and he nods his head to confirm that. “Never. Didn’t even know other places existed until last night. Thought everything that goes bump in the night was just the things of stories, movies, TV…”
Sofia gestures for Landon to come along once Liri starts chatting with him, and slides into the booth besides Annabelle, joining the group with a cheery smile.
“Nah, Werewolves are real, vampires,” Liri starts, gesturing at herself as she mentions wolves.
Jeremiah smiles at Sofia. “It’s good to see you again. Is this visit going to be longer, or will it be back to traveling?”
“Mmmmmnn..” Annabelle contemplates, sinking her shoulder into Sofia as the replacement support beam. “I. Think the other worlds would suck a little. I dunno. Jak wants to go to Navvere.”
Landon nods once more towards Liri as he approaches the booths. “Yeah, been a lot to take in. Kind of spent most of the night yesterday questioning all the movies and books I’ve read. How many things are actually true and written off as fiction to people who don’t know.”
Sofia wiggles her hand at Jeremiah and says, “I’ll still probably be traveling here and there, but I’m always gonna try to check in. The traveling I have done has definitely led to… more connections, unanswered questions, that sort of thing. Rediscovering things I’d forgotten.”
Jeremiah smiles. “Well, it’s good to see you when you’re here.”
Annabelle says, in an estranged, concrete optimism, “Anything can be real. Anything at all.“
“Do you know anything about my family?” Liri asks Landon as she texts, a hiccup, then she’s grabbing for a dumpling blindly.
Jeremiah nods. “Anything. Last time I got sent to the hospital, it was by a manticore, which I’d only ever seen pictures of in my D&D sourcebooks. Kudos to them, the artists nailed the picture.”
Landon gives Liri a shake of his head. “Can’t say I got your name. But, it’s more than likely that I wouldn’t know anything.”
“And the automatopus.” Annabelle nods after Jeremiah, almost miming his gesture soporifically. “Annd- annd. And world peace. I think. If we just all thought about it hard enough, world peace might get born. It’d be. So great.”
Sofia raises a hand and waves over to Benjamin as he enters, smiling and calling out, “Welcome to Dumpling Depot! Feel free to take any of the free samples we’ve got out on the conveyor belt, or pull up to a booth and have a train deliver you food when you order from the tablet.” She points a finger west to add, “Drink vending machines and arcade machines over there.”
“Ransom, Liri Ransom,” Liri repeats for the fourth, or fifth, time of the night, to Landon, a giggle coming.
Jeremiah says to Liri, “Saying it that way without a martini in your hand just loses a certain something.”
“Dumpling… Depot” Benjamin mutters as he steps in, seemingly approving. The first thing he hears is about world peace, and the man has to restrain a faint chuckle. He clocks how many people are present, and makes his way to look up at the menu. As he hears Sofia, he calls over to her “Thanks, darlin’. Free samples? Jus’ gettin’ this here place up an’ runnin’ then?” His accent is able to be understood but it’s unmistakably twangy.
“Yeah, today’s the grand opening,” Sofia mentions to Benjamin. “Good timing. I’m Sofia Delvecchio, I own this place, and Vincenzo’s Apizza downtown.”
Landon thinks heavily on Liri’s name before shaking his head. “Nope, can’t say I know of your family. Only ransom I know about involves blackmail or kidnappings.” He chuckles with a smile. “Landon Carver, if you hadn’t heard mine thrown around.”
“Well then, ain’t that fancy?” Benjamin grins over at Sofia, “Nice thang to mee’cha then” His curiosity peaked, he heads to go and check out the free samples. As he looks at all of them, he seems to be at a loss, however. It’s like he’s never seen much or any of the offerings available for the samples. Eventually he selects a peking duck dumpling, sniffing it briefly before taking a cautious bite.
“We’re keepers o the natural world, amongst other things,” Liri xplains to Landon, followed by, “And Wolves.”
Landon glances over to Benjamin. “I can highly recommend the bbq pork.” He offers up, trying to help even as they select something. Liri speaking has him looking back and nodding his head. “Wolves are pretty cool. Used to have a reoccurring dream involving one when I was a kid.”
“I’d shift, but it’s a pain in public,” Liri says to Landon. ‘Shifting back, and people here care if I’m wearing clothes.”
“Let me know if you have any questions on the menu,” Sofia offers to Benjamin, smiling easily and leaning slightly against Annabelle. “Like seriously, even, ‘what the hell is this?’ or ‘where does this come from?’ So happy to answer.”
Landon has that sort of look on his face that one gets while their brain tries to play catch up and process something they just heard after Liri says that. “Going to take so long for me to feel like people saying things like that is normal.”
“Alright, I need to get going. I’ve got some work to do. It was good to see you all. Sofia, congrats again. This place is great.” Jeremiah says, smiling as he stands. He waves, and heads for the door.
Sofia wiggles her fingers at Jeremiah and says, “Catch you soon, glad you could make it!”
Something said in a southern booth catches Benjamin’s attention, piercing eyes drifting over to Liri a moment before his eyes shift to Sofia as she talks to him. “Well, won’t lie, e’rythan’ here has me goin’ wha’ tha’ hell is tha?” he chuckles.
“Pick whatever looks the most intriguing then,” Sofia declares, pointing over to one of the tablet menus on the booth which give a picture of each of the dumplings. “And I’ll tell you all about it!”
“Public indecency is pretty much a crime here in town,” Jasper says with a sip of his soda. “Shifting outside of the downtown is okay, but not nudity.”
Sofia says “Can’t go wrong with some gyozas…“
Landon looks towards Jasper. “I think, really, it’s a crime in most towns.”
Benjamin chuckles, “Tha’s wha’ I like ‘bou’ them mountains, ain’ no one care wha’ ya wearin’
Jasper says “Yep. “
Landon lifts his brows up a little as he hears that. “Really? Didn’t know that.”
Annabelle’s eyes crack open, semi-wakeful after a knee jumps and barely smacks the bottom of the table. “..Ehhhhh? I guesssss.”
Sofia says “Yeah, considering how loose New Haven is with other laws, I’m surprised people are so bothered by naughty bits around here.“
“Welcome to Dumpling Depot!” Sofia calls out to Vale. “Take some of the free samples, or order from the tablets and a train will drop off your order in a flash. Lemme know if you have any questions at all on the menu.”
After a moment of looking about, Vale almost flinches at the sudden greeting from Sofia, “Oh, thanks! I would have showed up sooner but I was still sorting out a place to stay.” She apologizes without prompt, a short, haphazard bow sending her curls into a mess. “I wouldn’t say no to late night dumplings though…”
“From what I’ve seen, it’s mostly just old people who’ve stopped giving a fuck,” Sofia chuckles back to Annabelle, reaching over to give her blond mop of hair a lazy scratch. She waves a hand over to Vale and says, “Don’t you worry at all! The place is open 24/7, not going anywhere.”
Landon looks over to Vale when they come in. He gives them a wave. “Best dumplings I’ve ever had.”
Vale wanders over to the booth, plate in hand, “Is it like, an opening party or something? I only just arrive in town so I’m kinda totally out of the loop.” She poses with slightly awkward laughter, one hand still dug into her hoodie pocket.
Annabelle looks over at Vale in the brief period where her hair is given cause to move by the hand above it. Staring out from the strands like rustled leaves, she mumbles, “Your pullover is sooo cute.”
It doesn’t take much for the dark stain of Vale’s lips to curl into a dumb smile, “Thanks! I kinda wish it was warmer so I could wear something nicer.” She beams easily, swaying back and forth with relieved tension, “If you weren’t in work gear I’d totally say something sweet! I’m like, super smooth and stuff for that.”
“You got it, grand opening party,” Sofia informs Vale cheerily. “I’m Sofia Delvecchio, and this is my second restaurant. My first is downtown. Vincenzo’s Ah-beetz. Classic New Haven style pizza, been around ninety five years.”
“Delv-a-chi-o?” Vale completely butchers with a blink, “Is it uh, Italian?” She asks before splaying a hand across her chest, “I’m Vale though, nice to meet you! Honestly the sooner I meet people, the lest awkward I’ll feel.”
Landon turns his attention towards Sofia. “That reminds me, I’ll have to check out the pizza place as well sometime. Based on how good the dumplings are, got me eager to try the pizza.”
Annabelle lids down to her ballistic top and texts on her phone while her eyes are down there. “Mmmmn. I’ll. Dress cute later. It’ll give me something to dooooo.”
Sofia clicks her tongue and laughs. “Yeah, I’m a little Italian,” she assures Vale, and then tells Landon, “The pizza is an old, old family recipe. It’s damn near perfection. And, you know, widely New Haven is being regarded as the pizza capital of the world now.” Conveniently, she does not mention that she means New Haven, Connecticut.
“Is it fine if I sit here? It seems a little crowded…” Vale asks, tapping at her bottom lip. Then, before she continues, Sofia grabs her attention again, “Sadly I’m uh, just from Montana, nothing exotic like Italy. But totally happy to meet you either way.” She chimes with a warm, if not sleepy smile.
“Montana” Benjamin randomly speaks up as he hears the state mentioned. “I been thar’ once. Gorgeous mountains.” It seems he was lost looking through something on his phone, scrolling through stuff.
“I mean, my great, great Grandfather was from Italy, I’m just from New Haven,” Sofia assures Vale, and beckons her over. “C’mon, take a sea. Montana you’re saying? Yeah, Montana does seem kinda exotic, at least terrain wise.”
Sofia probably said seat and not sea
Annabelle’s eyes sit loosely in each speaker’s direction. She provides, belatedly, “Like Hannah.”
Vale slips into the booth and makes herself comfortable, “Yeah but you could totally lie about being from Italy. It scores points y’know?” She muses through a wry tone, totally self-assured, “Oh and I guess the mountains are nice, I don’t think I’m built for hiking mind you. Camping is kinda fun though!”
Landon lets out an mm as he hears what Sofia says. “Love me a good pizza. I’m looking forward to it. Might be my choice for dinner tomorrow.” His eyes wander over towards the door as he considers something before he hears Benjamin’s words. “I love mountains. Grew up around mountains myself.”
Annabelle says “Your body is a Wonderland and you are the gardener.“
Liri’s commentary has Benjamin glancing over at him with a wry smile. “Which’n mountain?” he asks the younger man. “Your accen’ tells me western, not Ozark, nor Appalachia” he studies the other man a moment “Hell, can’ say I ain’ happy to see another Mountain lover though”
Benjamin meant Landon
Sofia lets out a chuckle at Annabelle and teases, “Alright John Mayer.”
Vale purses her lips for a moment before giving Annabelle a simple, “You’re right… Although I don’t think my legs will ever get any longer. The boots don’t count.” She points out as she gestures to the buckles on her calves.
“Hee’s soooo cuuuute.” Annabelle whines, scuffing her sneaker along the floor as she pushes her back into the booth. “And-and. Your legs can. Totally get longer. It’s just like. Well.”
Annabelle says, nodding, “Vale is a good height.“
Vale scoffs playfully at Annabelle, “You say that until you need to get things off shelves! Or hold onto the bus bar. Or see over a steering wheel… Or uh…” She seems to have more to say, but merely deflates.
Annabelle leans in over the booth conspiratorially, managing to squint and widen her eyes both. “You know who’s tiny?” Her back slaps back against the booth. “Arachne. She’s soooo smaaaall.”
Landon grins a little towards Benjamin. “Ah, I’m from Colorado. Boulder, specifically. Soo got the Rockies.”
“Ah, been up to Boulder one year” Benjamin says, a mischievous grin crossing his lips. “Had a gal out there, she liked my shine.”
“Arachne is pretty damn small,” Sofia agrees to Annabelle with a smile. “Pros and cons to it for sure.”
Vale cants her head softly as she asks, “Is Arachne her real name? It’s a little spooky honestly.”
“Arachne Fairchild-Montrose, yeah,” Sofia explains fully for Vale. “You can check her out on Myhaven, she’s got like a bajillion followers or something now. Like more people than live in the city.” She glances aside to Annabelle. “I bet she employs bot farmers.”
Landon seemed like he might have been about to say something to Benjamin, but he pauses and looks towards the door. “That’s a lot of howls tonight.”
For some reason, the howling has Benjamin’s hand sliding into a pocket. “It sure is” he drawls, agreeing. “Somethan’ got ’em wolves a-rilin'”
“Whaaaat? Noooooo..” Annabelle pouts at Sofia’s prosecution, her biceps scratching against the worn, bullet stained material of her vest. “She’s so greaaat. I- I dunno. She- I don’t want her to want like. Celebrity. But. Uhm. What else is there for her?”
“The doggy chatroom,” Sofia supposes to Benjamin and Landon. “It’s not the full moon yet, so probably pretty harmless.”
Sofia considers Annabelle thoughtfully and figures, “She’s pretty smart and resourceful. She could do most anything she sets her mind to. And she likes being popular, so that’s what she’s setting her mind to I think.”
Benjamin steps closer to the group, hand still in pocket. “Dangerous sound to be a-makin’ still” he comments, those piercing eyes narrowing. “What gives?” he then says, not sitting yet but lingering close enough to hear. “Y’all’er so … open abou’ shit”
“I can’t actually tell if you like her or hate her.” Vale admits after the back and forth between Annabelle and Sofia, “Although she sounds a little daunting by what you said… I think I’m better with people who are simpler, which sounds a little bad.” She can’t help but giggle in a self-depreciative tone.
Landon slowly nods his head at Sofia. “Still, just hoping nothings going on to make them do that.” But he does look away from the door to return his attention back to the people currently there. “But, I guess maybe they could be having fun too. It is spooky month after all.”
“Am I being open?” Annabelle wonders absently, rubbing her knee to wake it up. Maybe her leg will answer her question. “I. Love Arachne. She’s really made my life better just. So often with everything she does. But she doesn’t make everyone’s life better. So.”
“I think I get it.” Vale nods slowly to Annabelle, “Oh! Before I totally forget, I never caught your name… If you said it I mean.” She prods curiously, finally and belatedly plopping a dumpling into her mouth in the pause.
Sofia figures to Benjamin, “Yeah, I mean, that’s just life here. It’s a place where people can be pretty open about what they are. Gathering ground for all manner of supernatural misfits. Nothing really to be secretive about when it’s so normal.” With a smirk, she adds to Landon, “On that thought, they could just be howling about relationship troubles, I hear that happens from time to time. Just normal stuff. But in howls.”
“Oh.” It seems, for a moment, that this will end up to be singularly Annabelle’s answer.
“…Naannabelle.”
Sofia says “Annabanana. “
The mountain man considers this for a long moment, before nodding. “It’s like tha’ up on the mountain in some hollers” Benjamin says, relaxing a bit. His hand slides out of his pocket and he returns to a resting position. “Plenty of … different folk went up there in the 1600s, never came down.”
Vale blinks a few times before squinting, “Do you uh, actually want me to call you Banana?” The question coming out completely seriously.
Liri lifts her head from where she’s fallen asleep, apparently, murmuring, “It’s the new, probably just bitching about it.”
“I am full of potassium.” Annabelle propagates this theory of her flavored self, confirming. “You can. Use Fellellebael.. Hannibal. Anibal. Uhmm… It- it’s a very versatile name.”
“Cannabelle.” Vale snickers to herself, “Potassium is radioactive though, things might start clicking around you.”
“I’m pretty sure she’s been radioactive before,” Sofia tells Vale seriously.
“Speaking of the new, I should go howl back,” Liri says, lifting a plate, and slipping off.
Annabelle rubs her shoulder against Sofia with a pout. “Ehhh. You know I. Always wondered why. Shifters don’t just.. Go home and. Change first.”
“Howl?” Vale asks without a hint of assurance in her tone as the woman passes her.
“Oh, yeah, people should take whatever on their way out,” Sofia agrees easily. “Been open for a while, I think I might wrap things up myself. But feel free to stay and hang after I go if you want.” She glances over to Annabelle and shrugs gently back into Annabelle. “I think it’s an impulse thing. They see a need to shift, then they’re like, clothes be damned.”
Despite being clearly aware that this stuff exists, Benjamin doesn’t seem too comfortable. He slips away from the booth, after turning to Sofia, “This has been excellent. However, I should probably unpack. Excellent dumplings” he compliments her.
“Nudist.” Annabelle translates to Vale vaguely, still holding a grudge against this illegal act.
Benjamin says this in the clearest, least accented way he could. Extra polite. Still, he drawls it and one still hears his appalachian accent.
“Oooh, I’d be so cold…” Vale comments back to Annabelle without a pause, hands rubbing each arm empathetically, “You think it’s intentional?”
Landon gives Benjamin a wave. “Good luck with the unpacking.”
Sofia says “Naturalists? “
Benjamin grins faintly, “Ya didn’ ge’ my name, cuz I didn’ say it.” He pauses, then offers up “Call me Boney, or Birdie. Either one.”
Vale waggles her fingers at Benjamin, “We’re both unpacking then! Good to know I’m not the only fresh face in town.” She beams cheerfully.
“Sounds like a plan,” Sofia agrees to Benjamin. “Seeya around!”
Annabelle tries to make a birdcall whistle, but only a flapping trill of lips passes out of her mouth. “..Naturalists too.” She concurs, shrugging lazily.
“Ya, rolled in today. Signe’ the lease, then decided I needed dinner” Benjamin agree with Vale, “And, a drink. Any good bars?”
“At least they have the fur? I think.” Vale shrugs before yawning into her palm, “Do you gotta worry about them, like the bites?” She asks before Benjamin grabs her attention, “I was at the Lucerne earlier, the owner is nice! The drinks are kinda… Strange though? Good strange.”
“I jus’ nee’ ’em cheap, and strong. Should prolly locate a liquer store” Benjamin says as he slowly drifts towards the door. He’s conversating, so not in a rush, however clearly on his way out of this establishment.
Sofia says “I have a vending machine right there that sells booze.“
Sofia thumbs over to the west.
Sofia says “All kinds of interesting stuff in there.“
“It was pretty cheap? I mean, doesn’t break the bank, alcohol is alcohol… I’d totally get drunk at home if I had the company though.” Vale nods sagely to herself, “Honestly drinking at home is the comfiest. I get to go straight from drinking to being face-down in my bed.”
Vale pauses and looks down at her hands, “Am I an alcoholic?..”
Benjamin grins at Sofia, “I respec’ tha’, a vendin’ machine fer alcohol. I love this country” the man laughs. At the question, he says plainly to Vale, “Yes. You are an alcoholic. I am too” he shrugs, as if he just doesn’t care.
Landon looks down at himself in thought. “I barely even drink alcohol.”
Sofia seems to be fading a bit herself, and decides to give Annabelle a friendly smooch on the side of the head, before pushing up from the booth and stretching out. “Well I’m calling it a night, lovelies. I’ll see you all around soon. Thanks so much for coming, and please, take some of the leftovers home. Those Samosas want to be in a belly!”
“I mostly do it to relax, or to chat with people. I uh, talk too much when I’m nervous. Kinda like right now actually.” Vale laughs anxiously, “Just y’know, new place and stuff…”
Vale waggles her fingers happily at Sofia, “Was lovely to meet you! Hopefully will see you around.”
Landon looks to Sofia and smiles. “It was nice meeting you, and congrats on the successful opening.”
Sofia says “Appreciated! “
“Kaaaay.” Annabelle drones after Sofia, pressing into her one last time. “I’m. Just. Uhmm.. Gonna be right here. It’s. You’re all sooo coool.”
Benjamin sort of drifts off after shrugging at Vale “That’s cuz ya got no confidence”. Then he’s off after alcohol.
“He totally called me out.” Vale speaks flatly, sighing shortly after.
Sofia laughs as the girl falls asleep and says, “Don’t worry, I got this.” She hoists the girl up effortlessly, slinging her over a shoulder.
Landon blinks and shakes his head. “I miss the days when I could fall asleep anywhere like that.”
Sofia says “She’s kinda narcoleptic. S’alright though, I’m used to it.“
Sofia says “Alright, catch you guys soon!“