Revision [28513]
This is an old revision of EllaFirstSneak made by KateMagner on 2013-03-25 22:06:04.
Next: 1869.08.28.0900 EllaFirstSneakAftermath Morning After Ella first sneaks out
<#kate: In an attempt to consolidate this whole sneaking thing and get the appropriate encounters I'm going to "try again" with this.#>
<#kate: After dinner on this Friday night a few days after Ella's arrival, all the kids go upstairs. They begin the usual routine, some heading to the Tower, some, like Minnie, heading to bed. Ella heads to the window but then starts going down as opposed to scaling the roof toward the Tower.#>
<#kate: Minnie, noting the change, runs to the window and grabs her arm before she can start her descent. "Where are you going?"#>
<#kate: Ella shrugs. "Out."#>
<#kate: Minnie's eyes go wide and she clutches her hairbrush. "You'll get us in trouble."#>
<#kate: "I'll be back before breakfast."#>
<#kate: "You're as bad as Cal."#>
<#kate: Ella grins. "Nah, I bet I'm worse."#>
<#kate: Minnie recoils and Ella, now free, and continues down.#>
<#kate: I'm going to stop here in case anyone else acts in response to the above exchange (ie Bill based on your comments below). I am under the impression this is not the first time someone has snuck out, just the first time Ella has. I'm not sure if that changes Cole's actions but I feel like rping it out is the best way to deal with any issues that might arise. #>
Kate is correct that Cal often sneaks out. So this is not a new occurrence, in terms of sneaking.
<#bill: I'm sorry, but I'm confused about what we're doing. First, this seems counter to the 'solution' I thought we came to in chat which was that if you want a solo event (oog) then you simply make it happen by justifying it with some reason (in game) that makes sense. I am happy to roleplay things, but I thought part of the complaint was that was rping every interaction was too cumbersome and that it impeded the speed and flow of creating events etc and hence why we chatted about it and the solution was proposed. Second, the reasons I stated in my prior post about Cole wanting to join Ella still apply. Quoting me from below:
"In this event, he's interested in sneaking out because it's Ella's first sneak. 1) That seems like a fun thing to share with his new sister. 2) He's curious what draws her attention - where she'd want to go and what she'd want to see. Again, he's sincerely interested in those things and since, as far as I know, it doesn't have a discreet purpose (like dancing) but instead it's just "sneak out" then he would be with her the whole time because he's sneaking out to be with her/see what she's interested in - that wouldn't get "boring" for him. "
I think the question is: Kate, do you want Ella to go out solo or not? If not, no worries...we just in game fix it with some reason why Cole can't/doesn't go. As an aside, if Ella, as a character, wants to go alone, then I think we should certainly go that route as it will help to develop/define their relationship in game.#>
<#kate: Okay for simplification she goes out alone. She comes up after everyone is at the tower having lingered to wash up and mess with the piano. She runs into no one except for Minnie. By the time it's noticed at the tower that she's really late, she's gone. Hope that clarifies and provides enough justification for solitude.#>
NeedsKelly
NeedsAnn
NeedsCourt
NeedsJonah
<#kate: Minnie is angry at her and tries to convince her not to go. Ella promises to be back by dawn and goes anyway. The next morning Minnie doesn't speak to her, but Ella then gets in trouble from Ms. Lizzy for being "a mess." Ella goes to Minnie, asking for her help with her hair and they sit together, Minnie's angry gradually melting as she helps Ella with her hair and they part again on good terms.#>
<#kate: In case anyone wants to add / go. #>
<#bill: Cole goes. I don't know how much of a story you want to make up. I'm cool with the story she tells Ollie. I imagine they'd chat some during the night if you want to event it - let me know.
Also, I'd be surprised if Callahan didn't come too - seeing as he is the future King of New Orleans, he might feel compelled to give you a tour. #>
Date: 1869.08.28.0900
<#jonah: During one of his linen deliveries to Ella, Ollie stops to chat for a moment, after checking to see that nobody of consequence was on the current floor. "So, where'd you go last night? Anywhere cool? What'd you see?" He seems happy and curious. #>
<#kate: Ella, seeming a little weary, looks up from the bed she'd been making. Her grin starts spreading during a moment of thought. "To the market. There are some bars down there with music and dancing and fellows from some of the docked ships. They sing and tell stories." She shrugs. "Better than listening to Jefferson snore." After a glance at the hallway, she inches closer to Ollie and lowers her voice. "We could go back tonight if you want to see." #>
<#jonah: It being a Saturday night, Ollie thinks of the prospect of an easy day on the next day. He wrinkles his nose as he smiles, as if to revel in how naughty he's being. "Yeah, let's do it!" #>
<#ann: If the next day is Sunday, Celeste is on board too. She's curious. #>
<#court: Jeanne looks at Celeste and Ollie, gives a shrug and a smile, and asks to go along. #>
<#kate: Ella would gladly take whomever would want to come and leads them to one of the pubs down near the wharf. She guides them into a back alley where the music's easily heard and there are places to sit and dance and hangout.#>
<#kate: (I'm not sure how this should fit in with OllieDancing.... The two seem to be doing leading to the same event so maybe we can mash them together a little? The sequence as I see it would have to let Ella sneak out and be caught by French, then swimming and Ollie's conversation on the way back, then perhaps he comes up that Saturday to inquire some more and then the plan to go out where Ollie, Cole, <#court: Jeanne #>and Celeste at least join in? Might need to tweak the dates some.... Thoughts?#>
<#jonah: Good idea. #>
<#court: =) #>
<#court: =) #>
<#bill: Kate, are you intent on her sneaking out alone the first time? This is going to come up a lot, it seems, so I'll say that once the sneaking begins - Cole is on board every time regardless of the reason why because he's happy just to go out and see something he hasn't seen before. If it's something they've done 100 times before, he'll still go and then just take off on his own for a bit to find some new nook somewhere...He'd also be likely to know about sneaking since his bed is next to the window (unless people are sneaking via the door). So, my point is, if you want her to go on her own - that's cool, but I think one of a few options has to happen: 1) Cole has other plans and either has snuck out already before Ella leaves or at the same time but breaks off because he feels compelled to follow through with his initial plans 2) He can't sneak out for some reason - sick would normally be the easiest excuse, but the metas don't get sick...so something else. Perhaps he's been tasked with sleeping in the room of an older male guest because he needs assistance/some other night job has come up at the hotel and he's doing that or 3) Ella pretty firmly states that she does not want him to come. He would be sad, but not make her take him.#>
<#kate: Ella's not intent on being alone (yes all may gasp!) but she's not organizing an expedition either. She just wants to have a good time and isn't going to let arbitrary rules she doesn't agree with stand in her way. That being said, she's not going to hold anyone hand unless it's their first time (like Ollie). She's also not going to like someone just tagging along to tag along and not participate. I'm trying to not to misinterpret what Cole does, but based upon your descriptions, Bill, it seems like he's following and not participating (not dancing with them on the OllieDancing event and in general wandering off on his own business). I don't have a problem with his character acting like this, but it's not going to endear him to Ella since he seems more like a hanger on than someone out with an objective, and if he has an objective it's to go off by himself. Secondly, she does go off by herself on occasion and would be irritated if Cole's perpetually sad when she doesn't take him with her not that she's making a big deal about it either. She is not his (or anyone's) nanny or entertainment. She just does what she does and anyone wanting to do it too is more than welcome, but you're going to get on her nerves if you're not present. If you want to wander off by yourself, do it, she doesn't care, but if you're going to hang out with her and do what she's doing you better be 100% there and not flaky or she's going to get irritated. I hope that makes sense. #>
<#bill: I do think you've misinterpreted Cole to some extent. Cole like's sneaking out because it's interesting...either because people are going to see/do something specific or because he'll wander on his own to see something new. He's not looking for anyone to hold his hand (hence, no problem going off on his own). I do think perhaps sometimes other people going out is just a reason for him to go out/he likes spending time with his friends and if it's out of the orphanage - all the better. But mostly, I think if he's "tagging along" it's because you're off to do something he think sounds interesting and he wants to see/experience. In the dancing event, you're going out dancing which, as far as I know, no one has ever done before. He goes because he's sincerely interested in the dancing. That said, once he sees/experiences the dancing he may lose interest and want to do something else during that event. It is even more likely that unless he really finds something interesting that he's not going to keep sneaking out multiple times for that same reason. So, he wants to go with you dancing the first...but probably not again after that (unless you're going to somewhere he's never been before, or to see a different kind of dancing/hear different music - in which case I think his motivation is pretty clear). That may relieve some of your concern noted below about people being at every event. That is not true with Cole - though it may be true that he wants to be at every thing that's going to be a "first" - or at least a first for him - unless he can't for some reason.
In the dancing event, he interested because you're going dancing. In my mind, they're dancing for a while and they're kind of just doing the same thing so he loses interest. He would dance with them were she to encourage it, but he's a little shy in this area, so he's likely to sit and watch unless she or Ollie get him to join in.
In this event, he's interested in sneaking out because it's Ella's first sneak. 1) That seems like a fun thing to share with his new sister. 2) He's curious what draws her attention - where she'd want to go and what she'd want to see. Again, he's sincerely interested in those things and since, as far as I know, it doesn't have a discreet purpose (like dancing) but instead it's just "sneak out" then he would be with her the whole time because he's sneaking out to be with her/see what she's interested in - that wouldn't get "boring" for him.
If she's irritated with him, that's fine - but I think the solution is to somehow make that clear in game. She should say something/react and then Cole has the option to modify his behavior. Maybe she keeps it to herself...maybe she's had a poker face since infancy...if she doesn't say anything and has a poker face, I'm not sure how to address it. I guess I appreciate the oog comments, to the extent that it gives us the opportunity to clarify and cocreate (hopefully something where they like each other) but I think the solution has to be in game ....his personality is his personality as hers is hers.#>
<#kate: Re the event above - I think she sneaks out for the first time without telling anyone, not that she's trying to be sneaking, she just goes and when folks look around, she's gone. They're welcome to question her or yell at her (I'm thinking Minnie on that) afterwards. I think that could lead easily into the OllieDancing event with just she and Ollie heading out. Then another OllieDancing-like event where Cole and Jeanne come (and whomever), and Cole says "be right back" as Bill's explained in the OllieDancing event. In my opinion, I don't think everyone needs to go to everything (or realistically would they), and the thought of developing this backstory with that restriction kind of breaks my mind. I like having smaller interactions like those I listed and then watching them layer, add in more people etc. Hope that doesn't make me sound bitchy, it just makes it a more dynamic world for me if there are individual relationships and such being formed rather than clumping everyone together on everything all the time. #>
<#bill: 1) If she's sneaking out by the window, I don't think her sneaking without Cole saying something/asking to come along is really an option. He's parked himself by the window in part just for that purpose and he's a light sleeper. (I am assuming the sneak is happening post bed time, otherwise Ms. Lizzy would know she's missing...) If she goes out through the door - have at it. 2) I agree that everyone doesn't need to go to everything and that it's problematic/less fun in some ways. That said, I think your remedies are what I've described above: 1) We work out of game to create an opportunity for her (Cole is sick/unavailable for some reason we make up or 2) She does something about it in game (which seems like good character interaction/growth to me.) She can simply tell him, as I suggested in my earlier post. "No, I'd really prefer to go alone." He'd respect that. He's not going to be "sad" every time - at least he's not going to mope (which is kind of how you make it sound) or guilt her. He'd be disappointed (as he always is when he curiosity remains unsatisfied, but he'd move on quickly to something else. If she is regularly saying "no, I want to go alone" or whatever, obviously, it becomes the norm and so he's certainly not going to be "sad" about it in perpetuity..that's just how it is. He'll adjust. Even if it causes friction in the beginning, I think it's a better story and allows for growth for both characters if it's addressed in game.
I'll point out that I don't think he EVER violates the privacy of the other orphans. Adults/Guests are fair game...he treats his brothers and sisters wholly differently. Even where he sneaks out to watch what Mr. Black says to Ollie...(which I think is the closest he comes to violating an orphan's privacy) it's because he fears Ollie might be in trouble and if he can hear what's going on he can let the others know if he is in trouble and, if need be, the others can start working on a story to protect Ollie from whatever trouble he's in. #>
<#court: Kate, your timeline edits sound good to me. Jeanne is choosing to go when she notices Ollie and Celeste signing on, because of momentum, but I'm happy for other things to happen before/after that, etc! #>
<#ann: I agree with Court. Celeste wants to see what everyone's talking about, which is why she's participating this first time. I don't think she's going to go very often, though, so exactly when her first joint venture happens is not important. #>
