cuddlecity | EVENT: SWIPER, NO SWIPING!

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EVENT: SWIPER, NO SWIPING!

As the blustery winds and steady snows of January give way to the cool breezes of February, the city begins to notice strange trends amongst its volunteer citizenry: an uptick of online searches for things like flower shops and cheap romantic meals, a surprising increase in chocolate purchases (though, perhaps more surprising, no increases in consumption), and a report from the local pharmacies regarding a sudden shortage in contraceptives, of all things! Consider the administration officially flummoxed — that is, until the city's favorite and only volunteer coordinators begin to investigate further.

You see, Valentine's Day isn't quite the thing in Cadelle. Here, St Valentine never led couples in matrimony under Roman rule, and so, no time-honored capitalist dream could be established. However, the date of February the 14th is still a special one in the city — it's the day that many honor as St Trifon's Day, or "Winemaker's Day". It's a day of celebrating the first pour of the prior year's winemaking, with the first bottle of each vintage reserved for drinking with one's special someone... preferably privately, where post-drink merriment may commence uninterrupted. (Scandalous.)

Not wanting to leave out any of their volunteers from the city's special day, the volunteer coordinators have arranged a collection of meeting locations, each perfect for getting to know a potential special somebody in advance of the big day. To help people get acquainted, they've partnered with that reclusive (and anonymous) mogul behind okCuddle to add a limited time special feature for the season — that's right, a matchmaker!

Simply press the bright red button on your app's home screen to be enrolled in a Match Meeting. There are five unique locations, each offering a different experience to appeal to those who might find true love or common ground in its midst, and each location will host a different couple each day to ensure everyone has an opportunity to meet their one-and-only... or maybe just their one-night-only. (We won't judge.)

▸ Any opportunity to incite a little romantic feeling would be remiss if it didn't include the time-honored date experience: a candlelit steakhouse dinner at the city's best dining experience, DeWolfe's. Whether you're hungering for a porterhouse medium rare or a more demure airline chicken breast, the wait staff here will be more than happy to attend to any needs you may have, and delighted to disappear shortly after, providing plenty of privacy for quiet conversation and those ever-important lingering glances. Feel free to extend your night with a walk through DeWolfe's famed gardens out back, or perhaps a nightcap... the only question left, then, is their place or yours?

▸ Let The Good Times Roll offers those who enjoy athleticism and coordination an evening of nostalgic fun under twinkling lights — courtesy, of course, of the disco ball hung prominently in the center of the risk, a perfect match for the classic jams that are piped out from the speakers on each wall. Strap on a pair of rental skates, and when the lights get low, be sure to hold your honey's hand tight for that all-important couple's skate. When you're done zooming around the linoleum, be sure to try a bite of the rink's famous pizza and popsicles meal, the perfect treat for summer campers and kids at heart alike! Groovy!

▸ The Vinery, while not necessarily a classic first-date location, offers a bit of non-traditional romance with its gorgeous hill country views and a seemingly endless assortment of local blends to sample. Visitors paired up for a Match Meeting here will have the opportunity to enjoy a rarely experienced grape-stomping session, during which they'll become bonafide vinters (winemakers, for the uninitiated) and the proud recipients of a complimentary bottle of the Vinery's own St Trifon's Day special blend — the perfect reason to ask for a second date, no? (And if you don't want to wait, there's always the cover of a gazebo or the fields nearby...)

▸ Animal aficionados, fear not: the expansive nature reserve at Nahtazu offers an opportunity to get up-close and personal with your favorite wild beasts — no, not the ones in your pants — and one of the reserve's most knowledgeable guides to show you the way. Of course, since it's an hour away aboard the local trains, the city has arranged a private compartment for two, where Match Meeting attendees will enjoy a catered lunch, the perfect way to fuel for a long day of hiking, climbing, and maybe even a few jungle swings. On the way back, feel free to enjoy the plush seats for a little post-adventure cuddling... or more, we won't tell!

▸ At The Worm Hole, nerds and geeks and casual gamers alike will find plenty to shoot and score on over pints of everything from sweet ciders to dark ales. There's no shortage of games here, so if your idea of a great night out involves beating your date at Super Smush Brothers — and no, that's not a typo — you'll definitely enjoy your time here. To help set the mood, a special booth has been set aside for Match Meetings in the far corner of the room: get cozy, play some Pong, and maybe make things interesting. Strip Marco Kart, anyone?

Of course, those that opted not to sign up for the city's version of eHarmony won't be left out of all the fun! In preparation for the big day, Flora and Cornelius have put together what they're affectionally calling the single mingle: a weeklong invitation to enjoy the best in everything but romantic films and features at the local theatre. Feel free to come alone or bring a pal or two, and enjoy complimentary admission and select snacks each night — just don't let them catch you getting frisky! That's what the drive in is for!

Surprise! It's a Valentine's event that's almost not about Valentine's Day! For those of you that participated in our survey, you should have received a private message from our moderator journal with information regarding your character's match assignment by now. If you did not receive one, please let us know!

Because this event runs a little differently than many of our other events, we've opted to tweak our process a little as well. For your character's date, please locate your appropriate date and location in our BLIND DATE THREAD HERE. If it's still empty, your character has beaten their date to the punch (and maybe the free food, too). If there's already a reply, greet your date! (Pretty simple, right?) For all other threads, including pre/post date experiences, feel free to post traditional open top levels as usual!

For example: Flora may have a blind date with Cornelius on Monday at DeWolfe's, so she'll comment to the Monday thread's DeWolfe comment with her starter. This will make it easy for Cornelius to find her thread and reply. However, Flora may also be lingering outside beforehand looking nervous, or shopping in the mall the day before and looking for help in finding an outfit — these prompts can be posted as traditional open top-levels!

If you have any further questions specific to this event, we encourage you to ask away on our QUESTIONS COMMENT here in this post. If you have general questions, or prefer a more private venue, our GENERAL INBOX (and SCREENED INBOX) is always available for you. In addition, if you've got an idea for a future event, feel free to drop us a line at our EVENTS SUGGESTION POST.

Peace out, cuddle scouts!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Little short for a stormtrooper, aren't you? [ A beat, right, films hadn't come out yet, Lucas might not have even been born yet- ] You seem young to be involved in the war effort.

[ Not that it's unheard of, more or less the thing of it had been making sure the ones too young to be there hadn't run off and gotten themselves killed. Interpreter on the front, probably not in direct line of fire, likely kept as safe as anyone had the time to manage (which would be impressive) or care (which would be more impressive) to make sure of. ]

Movies that dig into the gritty, ugly truth of any war are rare. The second world war? Even more so. Kind of ruins the whole 'man's great stand against a true evil' if you can't oversimplify things.

[ As soon as this old bag of bones says "short," Buck's eyes narrow. Hell, his whole stance changes. His whole life has been "small," "short," "kid." He's downright sick of it. ]

I'm twenty, ya oldfart. [ And yes, he knows he looks perpetually sixteen. It blows. Like, so much blowage. ] And believe you me, I know all about oversimplifying. You ever see those newsreels they put in before the movies?

[ Bucky's face changes into a cheery smile with big brown eyes. ]

"Golly gee, Cap! I can't wait 'til you knock ol' Adolph's block off! And I'll do my part right here in America, collecting scrap metal for the war effort! Everyone's got a part! God bless America!"

[ Then that goody twoshoes act falls away like it never was. ]

Yeah, I did a lot of that bullshit, too.

With age comes experience, Bronxy. [ Yeah this kid is getting everything under the sun besides Jersey. Contrary? Tony? Never. He turns enough to prop a hip against the food table, content to follow this line of conversation RE the absolute bullshit of war as portrayed in film during the era of and all the years to come.

If anything it beats the hell out of seeing the actual movie. ]

I- that- that feels wrong on so many levels, put those eyes away and never use them again. [ The 'Cap' could be- anyone. But- ] Your word choice there is... a little familiar.

[ 'Sock ol' Adolf on the jaw-' 'Knock ol' Adolph's block off' a theme and variations in bullshit propaganda as spouted by a spangly idiot running around in tights. An idiot he's trying very hard to not think about for so many reasons. ] You were a poster boy for the war effort? Seriously.

I've got plenty of experience, old man.

[ WANNA FIGHT ABOUT IT? 'cause Bucky will. He will come at you like a fucking spider monkey!! ]

Sometimes when I was back State side. I even have a couple of clubs kids can join, so they feel like they were part of something. Not that they get much out of it. What, like a comic book maybe, and a certificate with their name on it. Oh, boy!

[ Can't you just feel the sarcasm dripping off this kid? ]

...Is that salt or innuendo? Or salty innuendo- nevermind you are way too much of a baby face to be my kind of strange.

[ Compound that by the fact he's not in the mood for strange or even familiar and won't be for awhile- yeah.

But still. The salt. He can admire the salt. ]

Huh. I got a couple of things like that, it's a good PR move even if there isn't a war. Gives kids that have nothing something. A sense of community, these people like the things I like, etc. Good for tax writeoffs.

Hmm, I'm gonna have to go with salty innuendo—And to hell with you! I can be strange!

[ Of course, just as he says that he has no clue if he even wants to be strange. Like, he is strange, but maybe that's not something you should confess to. ]

Oh yeah? Just what are you giving those poor kids? Lollipops? Free attorney consultation? Gosh golly, mister! Ain't you the sweetheart!

[ Yeah, see? Salty. ]

That's not- right. Not a turn of phrase in the forties. Fri you want to take this one? [ He pulls his phone out of his pocket, setting it on the counter next to him so Friday can speak without being muffled. The sooner he gets those emitters built and set up? The better. Cheerful as always, she supplies. ]

In this context, Boss? Strange- unfamiliar partners for intercourse, usually intended as a one night stand.

Call it tonight's lesson. First one's free, after that I start charging and my rates are pretty steep. [ Obscene, some might say, but he'll adjust to the market here. He can afford to. ] Mm. Less candy and more access to safe spaces, education, and housing if they need it through the usual Charity Foundation, free merch, tickets to events, avenues to raise awareness of their particular struggles whichever they happen to be. That kind of shit. Keeps the kids from joining gangs and getting shot.

............ [ Wow, yeah. Bucky doesn't see that coming and his whole face turns beet red from embarrassment. ]

Who in the hell are you?

Tony Stark. [ He shrugs. Here it means nothing at all. No one knows him- it's refreshing on so many levels. No preconceived notions of how he ought to behave, no press, no politics, no throwing 'Merchant of Death' in his face. So here it's just a name. ] Iron Man. Where I'm from there are superheros, I'm one of them.

I'm also obscenely rich which makes it easy to set up that kind of network for kids in need.

So you're German. [ It's said very, very flatly. Technically, it's a question. Are you a good German or a bag German? ] Just what team do you hero for, huh?

[ Careful, because he will attack if you aren't PRO-AMERICA!!! ]

American. [ Seriously, what the hell? ] Grandparents came over from Italy, Father built a business from the ground up, I've done the same. what's more American than that?

[ Fuck and all, honestly. ]

The world? There are no teams when it comes to global threats. There's helping humanity not get wiped out- and then there's standing aside and letting it happen. Don't get me started on the politics of nationalist heroes, it's a migraine and a half.

[ Okay, good. That's all Bucky needs to know. ]

Really? y'all banded—they [ HE MEANT THEY! He's not part of your super hero bullshit ha ha noooo nope. ] all work together? Around the world? Huh, nice. Guess all that money comes in handy then.

As best we could. More and more enhanced people pop up every day, the world's taking notice. Stepping up to be the poster boy for unity isn't fun, but it's necessary. [ As playful and easy as the banter's made him? Some of the light dims, shoulders settling into a line, lips twisting. Reminders of the mess back home. ] If we don't have our shit together? Everyone suffers.

Yeah, now that I understand. The reason I'm here, really. Gotta stop the War... It should've been over yesterday. You know?

[ But this is clearly a rough patch to walk about. Buck doesn't want to say much more, neither does this guy. So he tries something else. ]

What about terrible monster movies, pal? You can't say no to those, right? I think they're showin' one soon...

You know much about what happens after? [ Is it even appropriate to mention? He's not sure, doesn't know if he'd want to be told-

Skipping to a new subject works just fine, too. ]

Monsters and robots. Give me sci-fi without the space and I'm golden.

I know we win. [ And he knows he dies. So, yeah, happier thoughts! Let's move on! You know what's happier? Popcorn. A large tub of popcorn with whatever "butter flavoring" is. And soda, because sugar. ]

Oh yeah? Me, too! Damn, where have you been all my life, pal? Ah, right. You weren't born! Ha! [ Ohhh crazy parallel-timey/space joke. Good shit. Buck even slaps the guy on the back amiably. ] C'mon, I wanna see just how they think tomatoes can ever be scary, let alone attack poor and hopefully semi-nude women.

Not born till the 70s, so you miss me by a couple of decades. Shame, really.

[ God, what would his dad think of this salty little bastard? They might get on pretty well. Dad always did have a soft spot for the underdog.

Or maybe that was just Rogers.

Who knew.

Tony snags a box of junior mints (to mix with the popcorn) and a diet coke (old habit) before pushing off, pocketing his phone, and making to follow. ]

By making them large and toothy, if I remember correctly.

Right. Because science can just genetically engineer teeth on a tomato. Christ on a cracker. I hope I bought enough popcorn to throw at the screen.

[ Because there will be throwing or verbal abuse at these tomatoes. Bucky isn't good at staying quiet, unless he's thoroughly entrenched in a movie. Once they enter the theater, the lights are still bright enough to walk—The movie hasn't started yet. ]

Where're we sittin', pal?

It's a B movie, you don't go for scientific accuracy. [ Weirder things have been thrown together and come out in the name of science- not that he'll bring them up. Wandering back in to the credits on the last film rolling and it's good to know he can...breathe.

It's irritated huffing, a little, and a lot of eyerolling, but it beats an anxiety attack. ]

Depends, you actually going to throw popcorn and talk the whole movie through?

Oh yeah. No point in lyin'. I'm a talker.

[ Steve never minds, but everyone around them sure doesn't appreciate his running commentary. ]

And it'll depend on how good the popcorn is. And if you want any. [ Buck can share, he's a good like that. ] Have you tasted the butter flavoring yet? Aw man, it's like... I dunno, there aren't words for it!

Middle back. Fewer people to be bothered and less chance of getting popcorn thrown at us for chattering.

[ because he'll talk back in a heartbeat; one sided conversations aren't all that fun. ]

Us, huh? Aces! [ Yay, a friend to talk smack with! OUTTA THE WAY, BITCHES!! He's gotta cut a path through the aisles for the best of seats with his popcorn and soda. Everyone's lucky he doesn't have a machete to hack his way through. ] I have dibs on one of those junior mints, bub. I hope you know that.

Did you just call me bub? [ That feels wrong. Dirty and wrong. He shrugs it off, wandering with no particular hurry; no need to take all the attention since this guy's handling it just fine on his own. ] The mints are for mixing with the popcorn, I hope you know that.

Yeah. Bub, buddy, bozo. Take your pick, Stark.

[ He decides their seats and sits down, feet immediately resting on the back of the seat in front. ]

Literally? Are you going to dump your junior mints right into my popcorn? You're one odd duck.

Tony works just fine. [ Or anything that calls him awesome but for now? He'll stick with 'Tony'. He sighs and settles, slung back in his chair in as close to a sprawl as he can swing without getting his feet up. He's not an animal, after all. ]

What, we're sharing, right? You think the butter flavoring is 'the bees knees' wait until you've had it with mints.

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