(log) It's Thanksgiving Time!

[forethinking]

Who: Ren and You
When: Thanksgiving Day
Where: ADI's cafeteria
Summary: A little thanksgiving party for everyone.
Warnings: Alcohol, but other than that, none!



(It's finally the day! Ren's spent the day in the canteen, from the early hours of the morning with the help of Kate, until just close enough to the arranged time.

Several tables in the cafeteria are taken by the food, but there's still plenty of room to sit and spend time with your fellow ADI employees. After the previous month everyone has had, it feels much needed. Available is the following menu:

Deep-fried Turkey + Stuffing;
Ranch-Seasoned Roast Turkey + Stuffing;
Mashed Potatoes + Gravy;
Green Bean Casserole;
Cranberry Sauce;
Pasta alla Norma;
Sicilian Rice Balls;
S'mores Cupcakes
Pumpkin Pie;
Apple Pie;
Sweet Baked Potato;
Pecan Pie;
Roasted Vegetables;
Stuffed Mushrooms;
Squash Soup;
Garlicky Green Beans with Crispy Onions;
A selection of alcohol;

Ren's tried his best to recreate what the Internet and other folks have told him, and without him tasting the original flavors, some of the dishes might have an unexpected twist of spice. Kate has also helped with putting things together, and at the previously arranged time, Ren opens the doors with a smile from ear-to-ear.

Once everyone's settled, he'll ask for a moment to, gasp, speak:)

I'd like to thank everyone for coming today. I know it's been tough, but I'm still thankful we can spend good moments like these together. I hope you enjoy the food.

(And just like so, he'll bow, and hand plates to those ready to eat. Time to dig in!)

Comments

Aelwyn | OTA

[aelwyn_aberration]

I. (A Toast)

[Aelwyn's been isolating herself for a while now. But she'll tag along to the party, and even though she provides a considerable amount of drinks, some even bordering on fancy cocktails, she doesn't drink tonight.

Her pride's already taken enough of a hit as it is, really. She's uncomfortable basically all night, but when they get to the toasts... She just smiles, somewhat bitter at her plate.]

I suppose I'm thankful that all of that's finally over. And that it was fake. [It's a bit more wordy than "I'm thankful that I'm no longer in an orb" but it gets the job done.]

II. (Aftermath.)

[Aelwyn watches people get really drunk and feels... weird. Should she do something? She recalls helping Penelope after she'd bitten off far more than she could chew, helping her home and putting her to bed. But that was Penelope.

She... decides to pour a cup of water, and offer it to someone drunk nearby.]

You want to drink plenty of water or you'll really feel it in the morning. [She got used to attending breakfast with her parents and sister in her pristine school uniform, all charming smiles and polite manners, all while dealing with a searing hangover. But it doesn't mean anyone else should have to.]

[chainreactions]

(Kurapika might be nursing something purple, resembling wine, but truth be told, it's nothing other than grape juice. He's about to flip a page of his history book when she approaches, and one finger holds up in confusion.

Oh. That's what she means.)

Thank you, but I haven't drunk anything. This is grape juice.

[aelwyn_aberration]

[She looks down at him, and at his drink.]

Well, take the water anyway. It's less socially embarrassing for the both of us.

[She tried to do her good deed for the day, time to sit down next to him and peer over his shoulder to see what he's reading.]

Is that a book from the communal bookshelf in our apartment?

[chainreactions]

Oh. I suppose you're right.

(Like reading in the middle of a party because he's too reserved to actually socialize isn't awkward enough. Alas...)

It's from ADI's library. I've been reading up on this world's history as much as I can.

[aelwyn_aberration]

Mm. Good call. [Especially if you last more than a couple of months.] I'm beginning to wonder if it's true of every world that their history is filled with nightmares and wretched horrors. Although, honestly, this one's version is considerably more dull than the others I've read about.

[chainreactions]

There are animals in human's clothing everywhere. I'm not particularly surprised.

(Considering his own world.)

I just suppose it's in our best interest to learn as much as we can. Besides, I really do enjoy reading.

[aelwyn_aberration]

[Smart. That's useful, at least.] I completely agree. I have a few books I can share, if that's what you're interested in.

My old roommate, he wanted to start a communal bookshelf so we could all consolidate useful sources of information. I haven't kept up with it since all my roommates keep mysteriously vanishing, but I can lend you a few I've read since my arrival.

[chainreactions]

I'll share the ones I've finished reading and deemed important in turn.

(But truthfully, now his concentration is ruined. He scans the page for the number, and respectfully closes the book.)

Speaking of roommates. You're more often than not gone, aren't you?

I

[bossyboiler]

That's a nice toast, Aelwyn. I'm glad it was fake too.

[aelwyn_aberration]

I think I saw Shiro saying that it wasn't that big of a deal on the network. I sort of want to punch him in the throat because of it.

[Said with the sweetest of smiles.]

[bossyboiler]

[ Kate needs clarification. ]

Someone said the dreams weren't that big of a deal?

[aelwyn_aberration]

Someone said that the monthly trips into terror are normally worse than that, because they're normally real. Which, fine, but some of us like to know what's real.

[bossyboiler]

I'm sorry but no. The monthly crises don't target specific people. The dreams were far more personal and intimate.

[ In other words, it's worse because the nightmares knew how to scare them the best. ]

[aelwyn_aberration]

Precisely. And it's not like mental trauma is any less serious than physical trauma. Both'll kill you if they're intense enough.

[bossyboiler]

I was killed in the dreamscape.

[ Killed in what felt like a very intimate way, slowly too. ]

But that's not the worst part, for most of it I was alone.

Aftermath

[henchgal]

[Meredith accepts the cup of water, looking tired and heavy. But at least she dressed up nice, and it looks like she has a new cane, shining black and lacquered.]

Oh, I'll feel it either way, but thanks.

[aelwyn_aberration]

[She smiles sympathetically.]

Back home there's a cantrip that clerics know that just immediately sobers you up or gets rid of hangovers. One of the many reasons this world is deeply inconvenient.

[henchgal]

My world's as incon--inc--troublesome as this one. Anyone who has magic either uses it to commit crimes or stop crime. Frustrating as fuck.

[She sips at the water obediently, though.]

[aelwyn_aberration]

So reactionary...

[Girl what's the point of evil except to change the world. What's the point of power but to make life easier.]

I can't stand the lack of ambition in the whole hero/villain dichotomy.

I

[musicdied]

Until the next time.

[Which should be right around now, if the pattern holds. If there's any reason to believe it is a pattern, and not just a coincidence, not just things hitting critical mass as enough people prod them with sharp sticks.

The uncertainty is the worst part of all of this, and that holds doubly true for the nightmare trap they'd all too recently escaped.]

[aelwyn_aberration]

Do you think it's too early to ask if we've been given a break this month?

[Oops. Might have already jinxed it. Her tone is dry despite her amused smile, and beneath it is a deep exhaustion.

The last few months have been a lot.]

[musicdied]

[She huffs a small laugh.]

I think it will be too early until midnight on the 30th of the month. But maybe that's the point. If the horrors wanted to really mess with us, they would go completely silent - no major incidents, no little strange things in Gloucester, nothing.

[aelwyn_aberration]

In fairness that hasn't quite been true of this month either. There's those creepy videos from TikTok, and a few other things milling about. I did almost get eaten by a ghost a few weeks ago, to be fair.

[And the whole child they sent to accompany her. Because this is all voluntary.]

[musicdied]

I know. It's almost a relief.

[She pauses, smiling a little wryly.]

Even if I'm almost certain the strange little vegetable dolls from Things of Beauty are genuinely evil.

[aelwyn_aberration]

Almost? I'm entirely certain. I wonder if anyone's tried eating them...

[Would they scream or something. God.]