Chat thread for "Helping Out"

[Alice2015]

Anne Marie -

• 31, Toland native, former teacher, and church secretary.
• She returned to teach Middle School English and Band in 2016, for two years before the schools closed

Maxine Toland (91):

• Definitely would have known her; she knows everyone.
• If ever Anne and her kids needed a place to stay while Kyle was away working, Maxine would have made a room available for free or in exchange for some help...?

Lyra MacDonald (21) -

• Graduated HS 2019
• She would have just missed being Anne's student, but maybe she was a music school Aide...?

Sammi Rogers (26) -

• Is there any chance that she had sex for money with Kyle (33)?
• I've seen nothing in Kyle's profile that says he would have partaken of a prostitute.

Claudia Owens (18) - (The below info is essentially directly from Claudia's profile)

• She was in Middle School, grades 5-8 (10-13yo) from 2017-20.
• She would have most definitely known Anne.
• When her mother's boyfriend began putting the moves on Claudia, she might have come to Anne for advice.
• She was 15yo (2022), and out of middle school, but still.

Also, Pamela King (34)

• Pam is, of course, one of those characters I inherited from CutiePie1997.
• This is her new profile.
• It's the same as before, so don't get excited ... yet.
• I think that maybe she dropped out of high school at 16 due to excessive drug use.
• It is unlikely that she would have had a friendship with Anne, unless you can come up with a reason for it.
• She's sort of a NPC, but after her pregnancy becomes an issue in about August -- shame on you Nyland -- I'm going to bring her back.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Sammi Rogers (26) -

• Is there any chance that she had sex for money with Kyle (33)?
• I've seen nothing in Kyle's profile that says he would have partaken of a prostitute.

Anne Marie says:

"As Kyle's wife, I'm going to take the liberty of answering this."

"NO!"

"Thank you for asking."

 

[Alice2015]

Hey, btw, guys. The first page of the OOC has surprisingly reached the 10,000-character limit. So, I'm going to seriously edit it down, leaving almost nothing more than names, ages, pics, and links to profiles. The only other choice is to move the "Secondary Characters" portion to another page, and I really don't want to do that because that would ... well, I just don't want to do it.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

That's hilarious!

Hey, I know that you and TF were talking about doing a Flashback 1x1. Are you still doing that? I think it would be fine if you did flashbacks in the Main IC Thread if you wanted, so long as you identified them well at the top. But you two figure that out for yourself.

We're figuring it out. I probably need sleep before I can do anything that makes sense.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Right. I'm just going to rest my eyes, but go ahead, I'm listening.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

I made a few little changes to Anne Marie's profile - nothing that actually changes anything, just additional info - like where her residence is located (D-7 on the map) and the fact she carries pepper spray - and a taser - when she is out on her walks or jogging - even though the town is relatively safe.

 

[TiredFingers]

Kyle is dead.

So, I'm done with him now. DOME, you can write the rest of anything that needs to be said about him: how he died, whether his body was found, whether he was allowed an open casket, etc.

Should I feel morbid for having enjoyed writing that?

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Should I feel morbid for having enjoyed writing that?

Possibly, but that's between you and your doctor.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Now Anne Marie could use someone with more computer knowledge than her (technically, more than me) - or maybe not, it's just roleplay. If any of your characters want the job, let me know. It can be male or female - with a possibility of sexual relations in the future, but not immediately.

If not, it's perfectly okay, I can just continue to write solo for now - but it's just to get her set up. I don't want my experience here to all be solo activities, since there are so many other possibilities. And, it's supposed to be role play.

The secret, which none of your characters are supposed to know, is she has decided to explore the possibility of making a little money online - like with "only fans"?

Because Kyle's insurance money won't last forever, and she doesn't want to commute to another town to teach, especially if it means putting two of her boys in daycare.

 

[Alice2015]

Now Anne Marie could use someone with more computer knowledge than her (technically, more than me) - or maybe not, it's just roleplay. If any of your characters want the job, let me know. It can be male or female - with a possibility of sexual relations in the future, but not immediately.

If you wanted a female computer tech who is either lesbian, bi, or bi-curious, I would be more than happy to do that.

Maybe someone local who Viola learns knows computers and has always wanted to open a hardware repair/software education business doing "house calls". I'll be honest with you, though. I'm not a computer wiz myself, but I can fake it, I think.

...I can just continue to write solo for now...

Don't be silly.

The secret, which none of your characters are supposed to know, is she has decided to explore the possibility of making a little money online - like with "only fans"?

Again, I don't know anything about "Only Fans", other than some people use it for online sex stuff. It costs money, right? That's why I've never gone to it.

Because Kyle's insurance money won't last forever, and she doesn't want to commute to another town to teach, especially if it means putting two of her boys in daycare.

I think it would be realistic if the amount of money she got was far short of what she needed, those greedy corporate bastards.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

She wouldn't simply go to Viola for help - especially since she had been away for so long and doesn't even know who Viola is. It would be more like simply asking a couple of friends if they know anyone good with computers - "someone who designs web sites, maybe help me with a youtube channel"

While Only Fans can be used for a million different things (she'll probably say she wants to provide a service to people on diet and exercise advice) she won't even mention it up front because everyone's minds immediately go to "sexual naughtiness". (Even though "sexy naughtiness" of a sort is exactly what she has in mind.)

And yes, there are all sorts of payment schemes, from a couple of bucks a month for all she has to offer, to various levels of access, to paying for personalized content, to buying used panties. It sounds like I know more than I really do. In real life I am far too cheap to spend money on something like that. I won't even pay for Netflix when Youtube has movies for free.

I was also thinking of pointing out that your character doesn't even have to be bi-curious in the beginning - because Anne Marie will take care of that.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

I'm planning for someone to be talking to Anne Marie at lunch about her weight loss, which might start a conversation about her doing an online blog, maybe a youtube channel - but she could use help getting it all set up - and is willing to pay for the help.

So, if any of your characters, or minor personalities, or if you might want to whip up someone specifically for this purpose -- however, I'm also thinking about a long term "relationship" (meaning a relationship, not a sexual relationship - though that is also a possibility.)

Basically, all I just said yesterday, but pointing out this would be a good time since she is making her first public appearance at a restaurant/cafe and the conversation is just waiting to occur.

I'll shut up now.

 

[Alice2015]

She wouldn't simply go to Viola for help - especially since she had been away for so long and doesn't even know who Viola is.

I'm thinking:

• That maybe some casual conversation taking place in one of the cafes might lead to a connection...?
• A techie guy/gal would hear Anne Marie telling someone else -- Dick at Roxanne's or the owners of the Sunrise (whose names I looked for but couldn't find. Hey, TiredFingers, did you give the Sunrise owners names?) -- that (s)he'd just gotten an anonymous loan to start a tech repair/instruction business.
• I'm also thinking that it might be one of Anne Marie's former students, who is amazed at how good she looks today and will want to have sex with her at some point. Male or female will tell us whether I write it or TF maybe? TF?
• Not a wham, bam, thank you ma'am thing, but something that creeps up on them?

I was also thinking of pointing out that your character doesn't even have to be bi-curious in the beginning - because Anne Marie will take care of that.

If we go with a female character, yeah, I can do this. Or if TF wants to write a lesbian-to-be. Again, bold letters: TF?

I'll shut up now.

Yeah, shut up already! Jeez, you talk/type a lot.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

I have spent much of the morning envisioning Claudia in that role - but only as a stand-in -- I get the impression you aren't too keen on that idea. I learned when reading up on screenwriting not to write a role for a specific actor (though I'm sure there are exceptions) - so yeah, maybe Claudia isn't in the running, but I do adore the idea of a former student. One reason is because Anne Marie will be the one "in charge" of production, so already having established that teacher-student relationship in the past seems useful.

So if you, Alice, want to throw together a young female (she can be older than 18 of course, as most of Anne Marie's former students would be) that would be awesome, and if it matters, I'm thinking she'll be much much much less active than many of the other characters you're playing - so you're not taking on a lot more work. I just need my postings to not be one-man shows.

On the other hand, there is sort of a specific reason I imagine Claudia filling that role - and it has nothing to do with the two of them having sex. It's about that thing that happened two years earlier with Mom's dirtbag boyfriend and why they called Anne Marie a crazy bitch. but .... if you don't want to hear the story ...

I also like to think TF will kick himself for not volunteering immediately once he sees what Anne Marie will be doing in front of the camera. In fact, I'm thinking of not even posting it here, but charging him to read all about her naughty adventures.

Yeah, shut up already! Jeez, you talk/type a lot.

You say that now, but once the cameras start rolling, you'll be begging me to type more.

 

[TiredFingers]

Now Anne Marie could use someone with more computer knowledge than her

I'm on it.

 

[Alice2015]

I have spent much of the morning envisioning Claudia in that role - but only as a stand-in -- I get the impression you aren't too keen on that idea. ......

On the other hand, there is sort of a specific reason I imagine Claudia filling that role - and it has nothing to do with the two of them having sex. It's about that thing that happened two years earlier with Mom's dirtbag boyfriend and why they called Anne Marie a crazy bitch. but .... if you don't want to hear the story ...

I wouldn't mind hearing this story. Here or in another PM if you don't want TF and the others to see it yet.

I see that TF started a character. Might be too late. No hurry. We have lots of time still for things to unfold.

 

[Alice2015]

Hey, ya'll. Viola is done for Tuesday unless one of the characters needs to intercept her in the lobby or City Hall, the park, or the Modern.

 

[TiredFingers]

Hey, ya'll. Viola is done for Tuesday unless one of the characters needs to intercept her in the lobby or City Hall, the park, or the Modern.

None of my guys need to post up until Tuesday. Vance and Mark are, more or less, just secondary characters. Charlie is involved in a 1x1 for now, but he'll be back in the main IC thread for the winter festival, if not sooner. Mitchell, too.

 

[TiredFingers]

None of my guys need to post up until Tuesday. Vance and Mark are, more or less, just secondary characters. Charlie is involved in a 1x1 for now, but he'll be back in the main IC thread for the winter festival, if not sooner. Mitchell, too.

I just realized that I was wrong about this. Deputy Connor always attends the city council meetings, and he needs to make a comment about getting a new deputy to live in Toland.

Also, he's going to become even more suspicious about Viola because he (rightfully) believes that she is behind all of these new businesses. She did, of course, start a rumor about having won the lottery, which could account for all this money. But he's still suspicious. I'm going to post that he again begins investigating.

I think we started a 1x1 for Connor and Viola, so maybe he posts this suspicion in the main IC thread. Then, if he and Viola get into a 1x1 conversation about his investigation. we'll take it there. Depends on how it turns out.

 

[TiredFingers]

So, DOME pointed out something, Alice, and I know that we've PMd about it before.

Should the Winter Festival be a Spring Festival, and instead of snow machines bring in truckloads of flowers and such? I know that you had originally wanted it to be in late March, but even then, it would have been late.

We wouldn't have to go back and change anything in the IC. Just post an OOC comment that we were changing it.

Totally your call!

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

I had an interesting idea a few minutes ago that might be worth sharing. It could lead to my only character (Anne Marie) having reason to be out and about more, and interacting with at least some (if not all) of the other characters in this story.

This is something that may vary from state to state, but where I am "election season" generally involves electing candidates for national, state, and county elections - but not necessarily the local elections (city council, school boards, bond issues, etc.) In fact, this is going on in my town right now (maybe what put the idea in my head - passing a few dozen campaign signs in yards).

So the idea is for Anne Marie Wilson to run for Mayor of Toland.

It's not something she would think of on her own - pretty much the last thing she wants, with three young boys and no husband to help - and the secret life she is starting up with her "Contessa" persona. However, she can be convinced. If nobody has any input (meaning "that's a dumb idea" or "here's why this could screw up the whole roleplay") than maybe I'll have a group of concerned citizens approach her with the idea and all the reasons she should run.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

So, DOME pointed out something, Alice, and I know that we've PMd about it before.

Should the Winter Festival be a Spring Festival, and instead of snow machines bring in truckloads of flowers and such? I know that you had originally wanted it to be in late March, but even then, it would have been late.

We wouldn't have to go back and change anything in the IC. Just post an OOC comment that we were changing it.

Totally your call!

I've never lived WAY up north, and I know that snow can come a bit later than it does where I come from, but ... it does seem a little late to me.

On the other hand (and this just occurred to me, otherwise I would have shared it with you earlier, TF), it could be some "totally toland" thing to do - commemorating the big late blizzard of 18-aught-whatever - so the "Winter Festival" could be one of those ironical things that gets the town a bit of regional (or even limited nationwide) publicity on slow news days.

 

[Alice2015]

So the idea is for Anne Marie Wilson to run for Mayor of Toland.

I think this is a grand idea. What if:

• Somehow, Anne Marie and Viola talk about issues that pique the latter's interest in her. Maybe thoughts of opening a tutoring "campus" or changing the current Mayor's direction on schools/tutoring/whatever. I'm being very vague here because I want you to come up with an idea.
• Then, the current Mayor's sex life becomes or threatens to become public (without harming Sammi's career; I don't want her harmed).
• People begin seeing that AM is da bomb.

thoughts?

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Regarding small town politics and reality vs fiction -- This is how I see it, having lived in a lot of small towns and being involved in things that are going on ... In small towns, people (at least those who are actively involved in public service) tend to get really really personally involved in local politics, but also maintain good relationships even if they have lots of differences, or even if they don't like one another. People who are genuinely friends, or closely related, or who serve on the same committees of this organization or that, or who go to the same church, can oppose one another in an election, and when the election is over it's "congratulations" and nothing changes in the relationship. That's how I see Anne Marie and whomever she might run against in an election. There is no "see if you can dig up some dirt on this guy". The election will simply be "Anne Marie will do a better job of guiding Toland into the future than our current Mayor because ...."

Maybe it's because most of the people know the candidates personally, and base their votes on that anyway, but sometimes the issues can have some influence.

I guess what I'm trying to say is people are capable of compartmentalizing things. I don't like it that this councilman is opposed to my idea about a new stop sign, but I love him because he's my son's shop teacher and taught him how to weld. It infuriates me that the mayor won't cut the grass in the park, and I'm going to give him an earfull next time we go fishing together. Anne Marie would not be afraid of sitting with the town whore at the cafe when she goes in for a cup of coffee, and if it came to light the Mayor was her biggest customer, it wouldn't be made into a campaign issue - the idea is that word would get around regardless and people can make their own decisions on whether to let it affect their votes. People will talk about it, but the person running against him won't, because when the election is over they're still next-door neighbors.

Anyway, that's my experience...

Now, if you want to talk about running for Congress ...

 

[Alice2015]

No, I don't think there should be anything "Ugly" about the election. In fact, maybe she runs unopposed; the current Mayor is on the ballot, but he doesn't attempt to keep his seat for fear that his story will go public.

Thoughts?