Make time for session zero content, not just game rules but table rules and environment. No PvP. Have like 12 pre-made characters for them to pick from. Don't get too hung up on all the rules and just have fun.

Back when we played in person, we would usually do veggies with dip, chips, nuts, and one guy would always bring something spicy but always different.

As a DM I love ethical quandaries. We had an adventure where the party was hired by a mine to recover stolen "property" that was stolen by "bandits", and return with the head of the bandit leader for a hefty reward. The property turned out to be slaves, and the bandits abolitionist.

Tell us about the characters -- I'm always looking for inspiration!

Well, I don't break it out into a full battle map mid-session. I'll just use it to describe the scene. Theater of the Mind as they navigate through and talk to people. In the city hall example, when they eventually had a combat, I did a quick mockup of the relevant rooms in Roll20 in ~3 minutes.

I've done this a lot! I used a library, a museum, city hall, and the Canterbury Cathedral. I play on Zoom, and so when the players say like, "Ok, let's go check out X building," if I don't have a map already planned out I'll just Google "X city hall floorplans" or whatever and improvise with that.

I'm intrigued, can you post your build?