interfaith dinner mingle!!

[stefanged]

Who: Interfaith Center regulars & the not-so-regulars (party crashers are welcome too!!)
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Interfaith Center on the Iskaulit
When: Forward-dated to November 4th

[The Interfaith Center sounds far more bustling and busy than usual - and anyone peering inside would quickly figure out that a communal dinner is underway! Take off your shoes and walk in: the lounge has extra tablecloths on the floor as well as buffet tables with non-alcoholic beverages and all sorts of food, including Jordanian cuisine (or the outer space equivalent of Jordanian food).

The board games are out of their hiding nooks; the furniture's arranged for the maximum seating possible; and even the teddy bears donated by Kitty & Winn are out for cuddling, should anyone want them.

The kitchen's bustling with helpers - Stefan's running around at vamp-speed to make sure everything's a) done on time and b) cooked to perfection - but he sure wouldn't mind an extra hand. And if you're still not up for some food? Well, the prayer rooms are open as usual. There's always a quiet moment to be found, even if the laughter's louder and the scent of freshly-baked mansaf's wafting through the long corridors.

Anyone and everyone who's ever been inside the Interfaith Center has been invited (via text message - and Stefan even used the fancy emoji). If you're not particularly faithful or devout? Well, drop by anyways. There's more than enough food to spare.]

Comments

[mistyday]

Never heard of it.

[She waits patiently for him to finish reading the instructions.]

How do you play?

[nerdeology]

You're supposed to get all of the cards stacked in order, king to ace, by moving them across the piles in descending order. I image it's meant to teach the player how to utilize one's resources.

[Or, you know, just be fun. Who knows.]

[mistyday]

"How to utilize one's resources?" You made that sound real borin' you realize.

[nerdeology]

...That's boring to you?

[IT SOUNDS SO INTERESTING TO HIM THOUGH...]

[mistyday]

Sounds like something they'd say in school.

[nerdeology]

I've never been to school, so I wouldn't know.

[mistyday]

Yeah? Just don't have it where you're from or..?

[nerdeology]

I grew up in a small village, and there were only ever two children, myself included. It would be a waste to have a whole building for such a small class, so we took our lessons in houses, or outside if the weather was nice enough. We always wanted a real school, though.

[mistyday]

'Cause you wanted other kids?

[nerdeology]

More or less, yeah.

[It' not like it was lonely with just Sorey, but they both would've enjoyed the opportunity to learn with others their own age.]

Even just to have the experience would've been nice.

[mistyday]

[Misty falls silent for a minute, watching him lay down his cards. Finally, she says what she's thinking, really quiet and serious.]

It's not always so nice. But I'm sorry you were lonely.

[nerdeology]

No, not lonely. I had company enough, and someone to learn and play with. But children usually want more than what they have, even if what they have is enough.

[mistyday]

I don't think that just applies to children, you know.

[nerdeology]

I suppose not. It's only easier to keep quiet about it as you grow- as an adult, if there's something you want, you have to seek it out yourself rather than just asking for it.

[mistyday]

Sometimes I miss that though, when you were a kid and totally believed your parents could do anything.

[nerdeology]

I didn't have parents, but there was always someone to act in their stead, so I assume the sentiment is similar enough. I can't disagree, but I do like the freedom of directing my own path in life now.

[mistyday]

Don't reckon I ever had much freedom to choose.

[She smiles sadly then sits down across from him.]

Can you teach me how to play?

[nerdeology]

[That's vague, and not a happy sentiment. He wonders briefly if he should ask, but she changes the subject quickly after, so he files the comment away for the moment.]

Well... I can try. I've only just learned to play it myself. It's not too complicated though, merely a bit tricky.

[He starts re-shuffling the cards and arranging it into piles in front of her.]

[mistyday]

[It's not very happy, her life, but here she's happier than she's ever been before so she tries not to dwell on it.]

That's okay! We can learn together.

[nerdeology]

I'm fine with that.

[Misery loves company? Well, either way, company also equals distraction, so he'll take it.

Once the cards are piled in order, he points to each, going through one by one.]

Two decks, ten piles of five cards each to start. The rest act as a back-up for when you get stuck. One a card is placed, you can only move it to another stack ending with the card above the one you're moving- ten to Jack, 7 to 8, and so on. To win, you end up with all cards stacked in order by suit. If you run out of moves and extra cards, you lose. Make sense?

[mistyday]

[Misty bites her lip and nods.]

I think so.

[nerdeology]

That's the basic gist of it, anyway, or at least as much as I understand. It's not too complicated- you more or less flip the cards over and place them in order until you run out of moves.

[He flips over the first card on each pile, moving an 8 card to rest on a 9 before withdrawing to give her a turn.]

It gets harder the further in you go if you're too reckless, though.

[mistyday]

[She laughs.]

Oh man, I probably won't be any good at this then.

[But she's giving it a shot. There's a Jack she can put on a Queen at the least.]

[nerdeology]

That's fine, I haven't really gotten the hang of it yet, either.

[He moves another card; it's pretty easy this early on so it's quick.]

So, I recognize you, but I don't know you. Do you come to the center often?

[mistyday]

Mmm-hmm. Every day that I can. I like to help Stefan.