apocalypsehowcomm | (log) It's Thanksgiving Time!

Entry tags:

(log) It's Thanksgiving Time!

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!)

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[ Thanksgiving was never really a big deal in the Calhoun household. They had their own version of a tradition, for the family and any assorted misfit friends. It never involved a turkey or any pretenses of pilgrims and football and Americana. For him, Thanksgiving's vegetable lasagna and a raw apple pie made with dates and coconuts and stuff. Everyone would pitch in with the cooking and cleanup, usually jamming to a soundtrack provided by his parents' record collection. Everything would be chill and low-key and intimate, and that's about it.

Without his family or friends from back home, he doesn't really give a shit about celebrating. This is just another Thursday. But Ren put a lot of effort into this, and Jeff's not going to turn down free food, so sure, he shows up, and is, uh, immediately overwhelmed by the spread. It's a lot of food. It kind of short circuits his brain for a second. ]

Holy shit, this is, like, a feast.

[ His appetite's always a little touch-and-go, but Jeff does try to sample as much as he can, minus the turkey. His plate's loaded with a little bit of all the various sides, small portions that he can't seem to remember to finish, but he's picking off of it as he hangs out and chats with people for a bit.

Oddly (for Jeff, anyway): he's not touching the alcohol. He's got plans for later, so he's gotta keep a clear head. All in all, he won't be spending very long here (because: plans!), but he's chatty and sociable while he is!

Here's some conversation starters: ]

Are we supposed to say what we're thankful for? I'm, uh... thankful I didn't actually die all those times I thought I did.

[ Or. ]

We should pour one out for all the people who're gonna get trampled tonight, man.

[ Black Friday. Grim.

Here's another option: ]

You ever have a raw apple pie? It's actually pretty good.

𝐈. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫?

(Truth be told, Ren's absolute beat, but it's never going to stop him from enjoying a good time. Before he opens the cafeteria for the big meal, he sneaks to Bonnie's for a quick shower and a nice cup of coffee in an attempt to wake himself up. There's been just too much sleep as of late.

After the niceties, it's time to dig in. The taste is good, albeit probably different from the traditional expectations. Ren finds himself on a table, tapping his finger on the table before he smiles brightly enough to blind.)

I'm thankful that we got to meet.

𝐈𝐈. 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠
cw. underage drinking

(Ren hadn't intended for his first drink to be tonight. It's just a mix of stupidity, distraction, and tiredness that get him taking a cooler into his hands, fully believing it to be soda that he hadn't yet tried. It tasted off, somehow, but his neurons aren't really talking right now for him to make such a connection.

He downs it quickly. It doesn't take too long to hit, and before he notices it, he's gone. Find him squinting, feeling the room spin around him... And completely saying he's fine, just tired. It's fine. This is fine.)

𝐈𝐈𝐈. 𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞
cw. possibly vomiting, drunkness, smoking

(Maybe you're just leaving the party, or just stepping out for a quick basking in the breeze. What's unsettling is the teenage boy sitting on the nearest bench, all his concentration is gathered to keep him from toppling to the sides.

Someone take him home.)

Edited 2021-11-23 02:14 (UTC)

[Winter has to take multiple trips outside over the course of the evening, to escape the press of people in a small(ish) space and the low buzzing of potential panic that causes. This probably isn't even the first time someone else has been out here. It is, however, the first time that someone looks about ready to pass out.

He hovers a few meters away, eying him sidelong, before finally asking,]

Are you okay.

I. A Gathering of People

There are two reasons Winter is here. The first is that the last time there was a big group of people together in the ADI cafeteria for a celebration of any kind, it was actually a dream and they all had to kill each other in the dream. So he's here to make sure that doesn't happen again.

To that end, he does a lot of prowling around the edges of the cafeteria. A lot of watching people. A lot of covering the corners and guarding the exits. He isn't wearing his mask, because that would be rude, and he isn't carrying his rifle, but he does have a handgun concealed under his three layers of hoodie and several knives.

If he happens to do some of that watching and guarding close enough to listen in on conversations and potentially be roped into said conversations, well. It's only to be expected, he supposes.

II. An Eating Holiday

The second reason Winter is here is that he was told there was going to be a lot of food. He's... better... about making meal choices, after a couple months since the last big get-together out on the beach. In that he actually gets a little of almost everything, over the course of two hours.

And he sits in a couple places over the course of the afternoon, between his patrols of the area. And each time he takes a new seat, he moves something from his own plate to the person he sits next to. Eat, new seatmate. It's good.

III. Too Much

Being social is hard. Being surrounded by a ton of people, only some of whom he knows well, is hard. The way the noise of all the chatter and silverware clinking and people shifting about echoes around in the cafeteria is hard.

So Winter takes multiple breaks. Catch him just outside the building, leaning back against the wall and breathing like he just ran a little too hard.

1. No Morning Colder than the First Frost
Meredith arrives with a box from a local donut shop--though anyone who peeks inside it, after she sneaks it onto the dessert table, might be surprised that absolutely every single donut inside is jelly-filled. No exceptions, raspberry or blueberry jelly for everyone. Feel free to ask her about it, but she's going to scurry away from the dessert table without comment otherwise.

2. There Will Be Feasting and Dancing
The month's been quiet, but even with the time to recover, Meredith's still clearly Feeling It a bit. Once she's acquired a plate of food, she looks at it, then at the path to empty seats, before grimacing and turning to whoever's nearby with free hands.

"I really hate to be a bother, but could I bug you to carry this for me?" After all, the plate's too full for one hand, but with the other on her cane, she's not going to make it.

Once settled down in a seat, she looks around, checking for new faces she's missed while imitating a hermit, as well as familiar ones she's been meaning to talk to.

3. I Hope I Never Get Sober (CW: alcohol abuse)
Throughout the night, Meredith is rarely seen without a glass of wine or a bottle of hard cider in her hand, and it's clear to those paying attention that she's not moderating her intake like she has at previous social gatherings. She is drinking to get drunk. Toward the latter half of the evening, she might sidle up beside someone and sling an arm over their shoulder because even with her cane, she's wobbling like jello, or like a boneless pug.

"D'you think anyone'd notice if I just...crashed here or something?" Words slurring, rather than her usual precise articulation.

X. Wildcard

darkersolstice or darkersolstice#9463 to plot if you want me.

The sudden and unexpected application of an arm around him is very nearly enough to have him scuttling out from under her. Nearly. At the last second he recognizes her cane and then her voice and he manages not to dump her on the floor out of sheer nerves.

"Meredith," he says, voice a little tight, holding very still. "You should not sleep here."

“Mmm, I know that I shouldn’t, but that so wasn’t the question. People don’t always notice when someone does a thing they shouldn’t, you know.” She sounds like she thinks she’s offering him some great secret wisdom.

Scanning the crowd for a few particular faces does not require the use of one's hands, but does leave Yelena nearby. She turns towards the other woman's voice, expression of mild puzzlement fading as she notes both cane and volume of food on the plate.

Yes, she can see how that might present a problem.

"All right," she says, sidestepping around another party-goer armed with beer and an eclectic array of food to pick up the plate. "Where are you sitting?"

"Wherever there's an open seat. I haven't gotten that far yet. Where are you sitting?" After all, if Yelena's going to be friendly enough to carry a plate, she might be friendly enough to talk to.

No. The world spins--

(Turning his head to look at whoever talked to him was a mistake. He feels everything tilting in his vision, his body ready to expel the poison it has consumed.

It doesn't, though Ren hiccups to keep it steady.)

Malcolm slides into a seat next to Jeff. All he has is a bowl of soup, about half full, but he does take a bite of it once he's seated and nods at Jeff's observation.

"He sure went all out. It takes quite a bit to put more food on the table for special occasions than my mother's staff."

Malcolm raises his eyebrows faintly as a stuffed mushroom is deposited on his plate next to his soup bowl. His soup is, notably, the only thing that was on his plate before that.

"I... can't," he admits, looking at the man who deposited it there. Wait. This is the guy he fought kelpies with. He perks up a bit. "Oh, hey! I, um. Have some food issues. But I appreciate the thought," he says, scooping it up to put it back on Winter's plate. "We never got around to formal introductions. My name is Malcolm Bright," he says, offering his hand.

Malcolm's finished his soup already when he spots her and slides into the seat beside her.

"Hey. Doing okay?" he asks.

I. Food Holidays Aren't Really His Thing

Malcolm manages a bowl of soup. Nothing else looks doable. He'll politely refuse any offers of anything else. He nurses that bowl of soup for a couple of hours as it is. He nurses one beer for most of the evening too. He wants to see how people are doing, but his stomach isn't made for food holidays. He'll be moving around, checking in with people or sitting and people watching. Feel free to approach.

II. Things Get Messy

Later in the evening, as things start getting messy, Malcolm will help anyone who needs it to get home, if they'll accept his help. He probably should have been expecting the level of alcohol consumption that's going on, but he didn't. He's been distracted by his own head, his own guilt and... maybe a little crush he's been trying to ignore.

III. Wildcard.

Edited 2021-11-23 18:19 (UTC)

This is before Ren turns into an incomprehensible mess outside, sadly smoking and trying to maintain dignity as he struggles to keep himself sitting straight. This Ren, however, only has a bottle within him, and he's as happy as ever.

When he sees Malcolm, it's with a beaming smile that he approaches, arms wrapping around the man in a quick embrace.

"Malcolm!! I'm happy to see you!!"

He smells like alcohol, and his hands fall on Malcolm's shoulder.

"Come, you're sitting with me!"

Jeff grins at Malcolm, seeming a lot more at ease than the last time they hung out. Things have been... not great since then, what with Jeff questioning his own memories and reality, but whatever, that's like. Par for the course for him. Besides, today, at least, he's in a pretty good mood. Whatever his issues, he's at least got purpose and direction and big plans later, and that'll at least carry him through this one day.

"Yeah? She always make a big deal about the holidays?"

Malcolm goes with him, but he gestures at the bottle, wincing slightly at the smell.

"I thought you didn't drink..." he points out.

Malcolm huffs a laugh. "Well, yes. If word gets out among Society that your holidays haven't been lavish they're going to think you've become a Bohemian. Or a bad investor."

Another little bite of soup.

"How's the food compare to what you're used to?"

"Mhm? I don't."

And it's with innocence he says it. Malcolm probably knows Ren enough at this time to recognize the mistake for what it was. Ren himself hasn't bothered to read the label of what he's drinking.

"I haven't seen you since-- since the nightmares, I think? I'm glad you made it."

And he's considerably chattier, look at him go...

"Have you managed to sleep? I slept for three days straight afterwards."

Malcolm gives him a suspicious look at 'I don't', but answers his question.

"I... managed three hours straight a couple of days ago," he says distractedly. "Um. So. What are you drinking?"

"I'm going to make you a mix of teas to help--"

And he's almost going, until he remembers that no!! It's a party. He can do that afterwards, right? It's not like Malcolm is going to sleep right now...

"Mhm? Grape soda, they taste a little funny... Maybe cultural taste difference... Oh, shit."

Yeah, he sees the label now. Most specifically, the alcohol content. Ren never swears, so Malcolm has been blessed with the first swear Ren has uttered in this world aside from when he's with Akechi.

"Yyyyyeah," Malcolm sympathizes. "I did notice the grape sodas I brought haven't been... opened," he points out, tilting his head towards the box he left on the beverage table. "Do... you want me to get you one?"

"... I could swear that was it."

That what you get from being a tired airhead, Ren. He's even trying to reread the bottle, as if the words would magically change into another label. Goddamnit.

"... I can go. I'm fine! It's fine."

Jeff laughs. God, high society must be like living on a different planet. Not that he grew up poor or anything-- his family's been pretty squarely middle class for as long as he can remember-- but he can't imagine growing up as, like, a socialite.

"Boheeeemian," he drawls out, stabbing a bit of stuffing on his fork. "My family would've taken that as a compliment."

He shrugs a shoulder, regarding his plate for a moment, a little bit of melancholy flitting through his expression.

"Um. It's good, it all tastes good. We never did big spreads like this, or... Or turkeys or anything." Honestly, the big roasted bird carcasses kind of freak him out and make him a little sad. Geez, he's not even a vegetarian or anything, but he can't look at them and not see an animal.

Hence: a plate full of side dishes.

"We always did veggie lasagna and, like, raw pie for Thanksgiving. It's stupid, 'cause no one in my family's even vegetarian," he adds, though there's clear fondness and nostalgia in his voice.

𝓲. 𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓽𝓾𝓭𝓮?

(Kurapika isn't even sure what he's doing here. Sure, people watching, trying to understand the point of the holidays, trying to adapt to this world's culture, but really, what is he doing here? He's not exactly... Sociable. Too reserved to make the first move, and here, he's still finding his footing.

Everything is just so different.

An eyebrow quirks when the people in his table start talking about what they're thankful for, and with his gaze leaving the book (nerd) he's been reading quietly as he nurses his dinner, Kurapika freezes when it's his turn.)

... I suppose I'm thankful for this place. It might not be perfect, but at least there is a roof over our heads.

(That's really the first thing he managed to think. Does he trust ADI? Not in a million years. Does it beat being thrown in the street with no knowledge, no home, no documents...)

𝓲𝓲. 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓶

(For most of the dinner, Kurapika spends it reading. He's not great at small talk, and isn't sure who to talk to or what to talk about. One may notice him taking notes, writing down important things, checking words on his phone.

Feel free to approach him and tell him to get a life.)

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Page 1 of 18

(log) It's Thanksgiving Time!

jeff | ota

ren amamiya | persona 5

III

Bucky/Winter | OTA

Meredith Idlewild - OC - OTA

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cw nausea

A feast.

II

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Malcolm Bright | Prodigal Son | OTA

II

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Kurapika | Hunter x Hunter