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Post by The Producers on Apr 20, 2020 14:31:32 GMT
First dates have been completed and they went well for some people and not so well for others. You submitted your list to The Producers of the top 4-5 people that you wanted to see again and The Producers organized dates as accordingly as they could. If there was someone you missed out on, there will be chances in the future.
The second round of dates will be twice as long as the first. You will have 4-5 dates total this round. For the second dates you are given full freedom to use your creative/romantic juices! If you want to provide food for your date, or a game, or basically anything you can think of then please free to do so, The Producers will provide what you need! The only rules are that you have to stay in your own pods. No seeing each other, no touching. So have at it and have fun!
RULES
- Remember to keep physical descriptions out of your conversations.
- Each person gets only 20 posts in this thread!
- Posts are limited to 300 words!
Will your connections grow stronger today or will you cross another name off your list of possibilities? !
This date is for Hugh Pennington & River Hughes!
What did you do to make this date special? Anything?
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34Age
311Posts
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Post by Hugh Pennington on Apr 22, 2020 13:33:56 GMT
Penn had put a lot of thought into his date with River. Inside the pod she'd find one of the Pendergast novels he had been talking about along with a Hufflepuff bookmark for it. There was also a beautiful vase with hand painted waves on it filled with paper flowers made out of book pages. If she'd look closely she might notice the pages were from The Odyssey. He had strung lights around the pod as well and two bottles with a wine glass, one bottle was a white wine and the other was a sparkling juice. River Hughes |
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Post by River Hughes on Apr 22, 2020 23:02:01 GMT
River gasped and stopped in the doorway of the pod for a moment before she gathered herself and walked all the way in, closing the door behind her.
"Penn! This is amazing!" She exclaimed breathlessly. "Did you make these?' She asked about the flowers before she caught sight of the book. "Ah, and the book! This is..." She trailed off, speechless. Penn might hear her open the bottle of juice, which had a twist cap unlike the wine, and pour herself a glass before she took a seat.
"This is absolutely breathtaking," she declared. "I also got you a book, although I think I may have to raise the bar next time around! I clearly didn't think as dramatically as some people did..." She laughed. "You mentioned being interested, so of course I couldn't resist getting you Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. I really hope you enjoy it. Phillip K. Dick's style isn't my go to, but it's a really fascinating novel."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on Apr 24, 2020 13:42:14 GMT
"It's so nice to hear your voice." Penn said when she came in. "Oh, yes, I did make those." He said with almost a little embarrassed laugh. "My niece taught me how actually. She's nine. I thought that perhaps it might be a little cheesy, but I really wanted to do something special for you. I was really really looking forward to being with you again today." He said.
"I'm so excited to read this! Thank you so much, River!" He said, the sound of the pages being turned as he casually flipped through the book for a moment.
"Oh, and I wasn't sure what you liked to drink so I thought I'd give you options." He said with a little laugh. "I feel like we barely grazed the surface about each other and I can't wait to dig in more!"
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Post by River Hughes on Apr 25, 2020 0:01:30 GMT
"Aww, that's adorable! I've never been crafty, but maybe I need to get lessons from her too!"
"Ah, I know what you mean! I feel like we have to fit our whole lives into such a short time...but I'm really happy to hear from you again, too. I got a bit nervous when they had us making lists, that maybe I wouldn't be on anyone's. I know that's probably my anxiety talking, but...I don't know. It's a serious thing, trying to find someone to spend your life with."
"But um, as far as drinks, I don't really do alcohol? I just don't like it, to be honest! I don't have any problem with others drinking, I just think it tastes bad." She laughed a little nervously. "I've gotten a lot of complaints about that over the years, and promises to find me something I will like, but it's never been something I was really interested in. I spent more time studying in school than partying, so I didn't really get the acquired taste some of the other students did."
"All that to say, thank you for being considerate like that. Do you have a favorite drink? Alcohol or not. And um, do you have a lot of nieces and nephews?"
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on Apr 25, 2020 14:16:02 GMT
"Honestly, she would fall in love with you in an instant if you asked her to teach you." He said with a happy chuckle.
"It is a serious thing, I agree, but having spent even just a little time with you I would be legit shocked to find out that you weren't on anybody else's list. I'm sure that things can get really hard with your anxiety, but that doesn't mean your any less worthy of finding love." He said gently.
"Alright, awesome! That's very good to know! Honestly I'm happiest with just a coke. Vanilla coke if I can get my hands on it. I'll social drink occasionally but I don't usually have much and it's usually simple beer or something.
I have just two nieces right now, Kyla is the nine year old and then Leah is six. My sister is also pregnant with her first, they don't know what they are having yet." He said with a smile in his voice. "What about you? What is your family like?"
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Post by River Hughes on Apr 26, 2020 22:41:00 GMT
River laughed at his reply about his niece. "Ah, maybe I should have been in a pod with her, then! We'd be done already."
"It means a lot, though, that you don't think my anxiety makes me less worthy. Sometimes I just feel like...well, like I'm so dysfunctional I can't handle normal life. Obviously, that's not the real truth, but..." She sighed. "I'm getting better at identifying when it's an intrusive thought from my anxiety, though, which makes it easier to deal with. So, um, progress, and all that."
"As far as your nieces, it sounds like you're a pretty amazing uncle if you're learning to make paper flowers from them! My extended family all lives in New Mexico, except for my dad's parents who live around here. Honestly, it's usually just Dad and me, since I don't have any siblings and neither does he. She hesitated. Um... My mom passed away when I was five; she had cancer. So, when I say it was just Dad and me...I really mean it. That's why I spent so much time reading, growing up."
She paused and sighed. "I used to get so jealous of people with big families...but I'm starting to think that maybe I just need to make one of my own. Whether that's marrying into a nice family, or building one out of friends, I don't know...I'm just tired of being alone."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on Apr 27, 2020 16:51:02 GMT
Penn laughed when she said she should have been in a pod with his niece.
"Hey, recognizing those thoughts is great, and progress should always be celebrated." He said encouragingly.
"I'm really sorry to hear about your mom, River, that just sucks. It must have been challenging to have only your dad growing up. What is your relationship like now? I would assume you're pretty close?" He asked.
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Post by River Hughes on Apr 28, 2020 1:38:12 GMT
"Oh yeah, absolutely. I like having my own apartment, so I can have some room to breathe and make my own choices, like mozzarella sticks for dinner, but we stay in touch. I even made him download Snapchat so that I could talk to him a little easier. He takes absolutely terrible photos, but I send him pictures of Hades and whatever I'm reading, and he sends back pictures of him with his students and flirting with the principal. She giggled. "I keep telling him he should just ask her out already, but the two of them are a divorcee and a widower, so I think they're a bit shy...Hm. I guess that's the pot calling the kettle black, huh?"
"I usually go to his house for dinner every other Sunday, and he bakes a chicken and I make the mashed potatoes, and we watch a movie or something." She paused.
What about you? Are you close with your parents, like you are with your nieces and nephews?"
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on Apr 28, 2020 12:21:08 GMT
"Aww, that's awesome! I love that, he sounds like a real nice man." Penn said.
"I'm pretty close with my dad. He's always been there for us, for me. My mom...not so much. I have my issues with her. I love her, I just...always feel a barrier between us. She left us too many times as kids for me to feel all that secure with her." He explained.
"Does being an only child effect how you feel about having kids of your own? Or how many you want?" He asked.
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Post by River Hughes on May 1, 2020 1:30:22 GMT
"I'm sorry to hear that. I think that back and forth might be even worse than me having just lost my mom early on. I didn't have much time to know her, but she also didn't have a chance to break my heart." River sighed, and paused to take a sip of her juice.
"Sorry, maybe that was a little dramatic...but it just seems so sad, to me. I can't imagine giving up the opportunity to spend as much time as possible with my children. But, um, yes, being an only child did make me pretty sure I want to have at least two children, so they won't be lonely like I was. Being a mother...it's a gift. I'm not in a huge hurry to have children immediately since I'm only twenty-five, but if it was with the right person, and everything was steady financially...I think it would be really exciting."
"What about you? Do you want children for your niece to babysit some day?"
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 1, 2020 17:21:39 GMT
"Honestly, being reminded that not everyone is lucky enough to have a mom, it...well it inspires me to maybe try to patch things up with her, put in some more effort on my part." He said to her.
"Ya, I wouldn't mind having kids. It would be cool to have at least a couple but it's something I've always figured would be a discussion with my wife. I don't have my heart set on a specific number or anything. I'm 34, but I'm not in a hurry either, I know it's less important for the man's age anyway." He explained.
"What do you picture your life to be like when you dream about your future?" He asked. "Are you a white picket fence, a dog, a couple of kids kind of girl? Or would you prefer the city life or something else? What's your dream future look like?"
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Post by River Hughes on May 2, 2020 1:36:05 GMT
"Oh! Well that's good, then! I think that it's definitely a good idea to try, because both of you deserve that relationship. But if it doesn't work out, at least then you'd know, right? And then you can focus your attention on moving forward with your own life...and maybe a new wife." She laughed lightly at her rhyme.
"I honestly don't know! The little house with a picket fence doesn't sound half bad, but I don't want it to be fake, either. Um, how do I put it...I don't want to be one of those prissy PTO moms who pick fights over someone else bringing the wrong brownies, but I don't want to be a workaholic and ignore my marriage either. I'd like a house, I think, and kids eventually, and maybe pets--I do have my cat Hades--but...I'm not too worried about how it looks. I just want it to be a happy home, a safe haven for both of us to come home to, where we feel really comfortable. I will definitely need space for bookshelves, and I have a thing for candles that smell like vanilla, but other than that...I think I could be happy anywhere with the right people. I don't think I'd pick an apartment downtown, on my own, just because I don't like the fast pace, but that's not a deal-breaker or anything." She paused, then continued in a softer voice.
"Um, if I were to say what it's like when I really dream about the future, it's falling asleep on someone's shoulder during a movie...having someone to talk to when I'm worried about a problem...getting distracted from doing dishes because the other person is more fun...That's the stuff I daydream about."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 2, 2020 14:46:04 GMT
Penn laughed softly too at her rhyme and listened to her talk.
"Honestly River," he stared. "I think life with you sounds like heaven on earth." He said with a smile in his voice. "As you describe it I can't help but picture it and it feels...right, comfortable, happy, the sort of place I'd want to rush home to after work." He admitted.
"Also I love hearing you talk, you have a very beautiful voice."
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Post by River Hughes on May 3, 2020 1:04:15 GMT
There was a brief rustle and a muffled sort of squeal from River's side of the glass.
"I don't even know what to say, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard," she confessed, still slightly muffled, "I just...aaaah..." Penn would probably hear her sigh and a thump. After a pause, River spoke up again.
"I should probably explain why I sound like a herd of tiny elephants. I definitely just squealed into a pillow so I wouldn't be extremely shrill. And I'm still hiding my face with a pillow...even though there's no one to hide from...And then I fell over sideways on the sofa in here. So, um, I didn't break anything, and there are no wild animals in here. I am just indescribably flustered." She giggled a little breathlessly. "I have no idea how to handle compliments, apparently."
"Um...is it weird if I say thank you? Not just for the compliment, but for being generally sweet. You've been beyond patient and kind with me, and it just makes me feel...really safe and comfortable. So..thank you."
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34Age
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Software Developer
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 3, 2020 1:27:14 GMT
"Ummm...." Penn had started to say when he heard the thump, a bit of concern in his voice.
When she explained he chuckled and coughed, trying to hold back a stronger laugh. "That just may be the cutest thing I've ever heard." He told her warmly, a smile in his voice.
"Truly, the pleasure has been all mine." he replied, there was a pause for a moment.
"Sorry, I got distracted thinking about you." He said with a little laugh. "Alright, what should we talk about? I can hardly think right now, my mind is all fuzzy."
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Post by River Hughes on May 3, 2020 2:02:14 GMT
"Penn!" River yelped, "You're killing me, that's too cute. I can't think straight either, so we're gonna be stuck!" She couldn't help giggling again. "Ugh my face is so warm, I must be blushing like crazy."
"Ok, ok. We'll pick something easy. Um....what's your favorite color? Oh, and when is your birthday?"
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34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 3, 2020 2:11:56 GMT
Penn chuckled. "You're too fun." He said before they moved on.
"Okay, quick fire. Favorite color is red, birthday is November 19th. You? Also what's your favorite food and favorite movie?" He asked with a bit of laugh in his voice.
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Post by River Hughes on May 3, 2020 15:31:26 GMT
My favorite color is yellow, my birthday is October 27th, my favorite food is banana bread but Mac and Cheese is a very close second. My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice no wait, the Princess Bride." River answered all in one breath, then laughed. "Okay, you have to answer yours too, then um, favorite dessert, because that's totally different, and ummm... coffee or tea?"
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34Age
311Posts
Software Developer
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 3, 2020 17:57:42 GMT
"Ooo, banana bread and mac n cheese, that's awesome! And the Princess Bride is a classic, love it! My favorite food is pizza, favorite movie is anything in the Star Wars Franchise. Let's see, favorite dessert, that's trickier...I love all dessert...I'll say...Strawberry Shortcake...or donuts." He said with a little laugh.
"I'm not a super big fan of coffee or tea...but I guess coffee?" He asked it like a question. "I drink coffee maybe once a week and tea maybe twice a month." He explained.
"Okay, those ones back at you too." He said with a laugh, enjoying the game. "Let's see. Do you live alone or do you have roommates?"
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