Pączki Day
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Date: 02/13/2018 Time: 13:30 EST |
Hamtramck, Michigan
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Cast: Storyteller: | |
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It's Fat Tuesday! In the Catholic tradition, this is the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. So before the fast, it's time to eat. Here in Hamtramck, there's still enough of a Polish tradition going that in town there's a local craze today. folks want to get ahold of delicious Paczkis. These things can get rather decadent, and in front of Luboslaw's Bakery, there's a HUGE crowd forming, actually starting to flow into the street, blocking traffic. Niniane is out checking the neighborhood and sampling the holiday treats. She manages to find a spot to park her old pickup, much to the dismay of the slightly slower driver of a red Audi. SHe cheerily returns his rude gesture, and equips herself with an empty backpack and a string grocery bag. She's ready to shop! The Audi driver wasn't going to get anywhere anyway, since the crowd trying to get into Luboslaw's is getting tense. Some folks are trying to form a line. Others are starting to get agitated at people trying to 'cut ahead' as the line is forming. One bald man in a stained white t-shirt and jeans shoves another wearing a stained blue t-shirt and jeans. And now it's starting to get loud. The people forming aline have stretched it across the street entirely, which has some horns going in traffic as cars begin to pile up. Detroit. Possible pastry riot. Sensible people might turn around, but Niniane isn't one of those, she heads over to the edge of the crowd and picks out a blue collar Joe to question. "There a shortage on Pierogies? I was in a Pierogi riot once in Pittsburgh, right after a Penguin's game. It was ugly." One older woman looks over. "Perogies? No, these are Paczkis. It's Paczki day! No cuts." She then folds her arms, and turns to look athead at the person ahead of her. The two men shoving fall out of the group a bit, as they're squaring up. One's about 40, the other 35. They're really too old for this sort of thing. Niniane makes sure that she doesn't look like she's cutting the line. She gestures to the men. "You guys know you are both losing your spot's right? She has a distinct Canadian twinge to her accent, not a strange thing in these parts. What is a Paczkis anyway? I don't think I've ever had any." <<DICE>> Niniane rolls wits + streetwise, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 3 successes (2 5 7 8 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No) The two men are rather steamed, but when this woman comes over, starting her conversation, it's weird. The action is so bold, but at the same time so devoid of violence, that it really hits them unawares. Startled almost like they were physcially slapped, the men look at each other, then at Niniane. The older man in the white shirt booms "I'm not losing my spot," and starts trying to shove back into his place. The younger one in blue, blinks, and start trying to scramble. A few onlookers loko to Niniane and cheer. The older woman, white hair, small and frail, starts in again. "They're Polish donuts, before Lent." Niniane grins at the men. "I'm sure people will let you have your spot nobody wants this to turn into a brawl, because you all know what happens then, the cops show and confiscate all the donuts as evidence!" Oh man, just the thought of that has the entire crowd booing, and giving a thumbs down. "Let's see them try it," one voice calls from the back. The old lady an dthe white shirted brawler look at each other "They'll never get past us." Niniane nods approvingly, "Then everybody form up. You know those guys want an excuse to confiscate your donuts, don't give it to 'em!" <<DICE>> Niniane rolls charisma + streetwise, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> 4 successes (7 7 7 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: No) <<DICE>> Niniane rolls 1 dice, difficulty 6 <<DICE>> FAIL (5, Specialty: No, Willpower: No) There is a siren that can be heard appraoching, but the car is going down a cross street, goes right by, and does not stop. The sound though creates a moment of tension, as many people wiating for their Fat tuesday snacks all hold their breaths, then exhale as there are no cops coming HERE. Hamtramck PD not coming out, people slowly start to shuffle into line. Which uh, is causing the line to have to SNAKE in the street, as it's getting longer. Niniane tenses up with everyone else as the sirens pass, and shares in the communal sigh of relief. She's not really inclined to get in the line though, however delicious those donuts are. Curiosity satisfied, she starts to look at some of the nearby shops, hoping for something tasty. Well this is lovely. There is peace and harmony in this mostly-Catholic crowd outside Luboslaw's. But... yeah. The street is getting louder now as folks are now LAYING on the horns, as the street is even more crwoded than before. Niniane feels that she has done her part for civic responsibility. People here survive donut day every year after all. She ducks into a butcher shop to purchase some sausage and ground meat, placing it in her backpack before braving the street and crowd again. | |
