dunhaven; ic community.

CHASE, JESSIE, MICA, NAT, OSCAR

Hello!

I know that I'm still sort of new to town and your lives, but I'm feel particularly [...] appreciative, for reasons that are extensive and cross worlds, so I won't go into them. But they have left me wanting to do something for you all, if you'll let me. Could I possibly host you all for dinner, perhaps a game night? I was thinking next week sometime, maybe Friday?

I don't I'm not Like I said, I know that I've only been here a couple of months, but I didn't have a lot of people in Chicago that I spent time with outside of professionally. You all have been a very nice change of pace.

GABE

I'm asking a few people to come over, probably on Friday for food and things. Obviously you can stay and eat and meet them all too, but I just wanted to give you a head's up on it. I can't even remember the last time I hosted anything, so hopefully I'm not being silly.

TEXTS TO GABE

-- Where are you?
-- Are you okay?
-- Do I need to come get you?
-- I can't teleport anymore today, but you know I'll trudge through the snow for you.

[added on 1/6]

FILTER TO TESSA DARLING

Hello, Tessa. I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting, outside of when I first came to town, but I'm Esther Shaw. I'm a big fan of your and your sister's work.

( cw: sucky parents abandoning their kid )

We're still in the midst of the holidays, so I want to know: what is your favorite holiday tradition that you partake in on your own or with loved ones?

CHASE

I'm really sorry to even ask this, but are you able to cast Mending, by any chance?

[...] Actually, I'm not really sure if that's going to help in this case, even if you can.

GABE

I accidentally destroyed my dresser. I sort of hid it under a blanket in my room and it's entirely not subtle, so if we could sort of steer Mom away from there for the remainder of the time she's here, that would be ideal. I don't really want to have to explain how it got that way to her.

I haven't followed pageant anything in years, but seeing this made me happy. Black girl magic, indeed.

GABE

Hey Hi Sorry to both Hey. I don't know how in tune you are to this network, but I just wanted to let you know that two of my sisters are here in town. One is staying at least through the holidays, the other is going to be going to the college in town. Just wanted to give you a head's up, in case you see them around.

Also, I wanted to figure out Christmas. Just let me know what you have planned and I'll work around it. We usually Oh and I can't remember if I mentioned it, though I'm sure Ella has, but she's in the Nutcracker this weekend, if you needed tickets.

I know I could have just told you this I'm sorry if I just Anyway, that was it.

Stress Level: High
Free Time: Zero

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and went "Yeah, I look good"? Do you appreciate women that have a lot of self-confidence? Do you enjoy charity events? Are you single? (That last one is important.)

If yes to all of these, or even just 3 out of 4 (though once again, last one is important.), I have an opening for Charity Gala Arm Candy. I don't mind going solo, god knows it's not the first time, I just like having someone pretty to smile at the cameras with me and fetch me champagne and tell me I look sexy and to clap when I make a speech. The ability to hold a conversation is a bonus but not a requirement.

ETA: DATE FILLED FOR ME, THERE IS STILL AN OPENING FOR MY GORGEOUS SISTER, HOWEVER. Inquire within.


Oh and congrats to Eli for his Forbes 30 under 30, again. You fucking brat.

I have always lived in relatively large cities -- St. Louis for eighteen years, then Chicago for nearly ten. (Please don't do that math. I'm in denial over leaving my mid-twenties.) I've now been in this small town for about a month and here are my observations.

1. Two neighbors have come over in the span of the last three hours to bring me a casserole and a pie.
2. I got to explain to both of them that the man I live with is my brother and not some variation of a life partner (gross). One of them proceded to very casually (aka not at all casually) slip into conversation that they have a single grandson. The other let me know that they have a single daughter, in case my brother is single. (Gabe, I'm preparing your dowry as I type.)
3. All of these things happened while I was in pajamas.
4. The Dreamery has amazing ice cream and I keep eating it.

I realize that 3/4 of these observations happened only today, but I feel as though the encapsulate just how incredibly different living in this town is compared to anywhere else I've lived. I didn't even know the names of my neighbors in my building in Chicago. Now I not only know the names of neighbors down the block, but I know which of their family members are being sold off to newcomers. I also know that people really love putting walnuts in brownies around here, because today's casserole and pie are only the tip of the iceburg of food that we've collected since officially moving in. I should probably stop getting takeout and actually eating some of this so we have room in the freezer for the pints of ice cream I keep buying.

That said, Dunhaven has been lovely and I'm still a little bit in love.

GABE

Two things. I want to go to that fancy sounding party that we got an invite to. It's hanging on the fridge. You should come with me.

Second thing, I have a crush on a librarian and Jesus, Mary, and Joseph if that isn't the most stereotypically Esther Shaw thing I have ever admitted to.

Okay, I lied. Three things. How are you?

JULES

I have been going over and over this in my head since that girl posted the thing about the dreams. Your friend did burn me, didn't she? When I told you I thought she'd done something, I wasn't crazy, was I?

( instagram post! )

Based on the conversation we had on here recently, I compiled a list of everyone who is Dreaming--both public and anonymously. Out of respect for your interests, I only included those who specifically commented to be included on the list. In addition to compiling the list, I have also put together a semi-brief document for those who have questions about these Dreams since we continue to have a lot of newcomers who are otherwise unprepared for when these Dreams hit...or are just super confused by at the talk of Dreams on this network.

The resource (which includes the list of Dreamers) can be found here.

I wanted to go ahead an open this post up, as well, for anyone who wants to add their User ID (public or anonymous) to this list, or potentially update their information on the list. I only included Sources that have been discussed publicly on this network, regardless of whether or not I was familiar with a Source existing here. So for anyone listed as Not Disclosed, it is entirely up to you as to whether or not you want that "spoiled" for you.

Which also raises another question which I would like to answer on the list. If you are on this list, do you want a) others to reach out to you and/or b) others to give you information about your Source if they know it? Please answer below, if you can or want to!

Apparently if you spend a week in town, you get access to the local network? Or perhaps it was the intent to move? The latter feels a bit creepier than the former.

Whatever the case, consider me intrigued. I've been successfully charmed by small town living.

TEXTS TO GABE

-- Hey.
-- I talked to Ella tonight and she would really like to continue spending time with you.
-- I just thought it might help for us to work out some sort of schedule.
-- To be clear, you can see her whenever you want, but I thought also having some set days might be good, so she can have a routine and days to look forward to.
-- [...] If that's what you want.

TEXT TO TESSA

-- Did you burn Gabe?

TEXTS TO GABRIEL

-- I'm just leaving the library.
-- Do you want me to pick something up for you for dinner? I'm a bit hungry.
-- I was also thinking.

( instagram post! )

TEXT TO GABRIEL

-- 👋🏻

( instagram post! )