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[taintedcrimson]

Happy Thanksgiving

It's that time of year! Whether you're from the United States or have just seen it in movies, everyone knows that Americans take Thanksgiving very seriously. We consume copious amounts of food, watch a lot of football, and kick off the insane shopping season with Black Friday. It's also a time of family and togetherness, which is better for some than others. What sort of holiday will your muse have?

Directions
1. Comment with your character, series, preferences, etc.
2. Roll a number between 1-12 for a prompt.
3. Reply to others and play out the scenario!


Prompts
1. Not Home for the Holidays – You’re stuck on the other side of the world, or on a different world altogether. How do you make the best of the occasion?

2. Road Trip – The snacks are packed and you’re ready to go to grandma’s house. But what happens when you lose GPS signal and get lost in the middle of nowhere or the car breaks down?

3. Stuck in the Airport – You’re snowed in and the hotels are full of fellow delayed passengers. Why don’t they make these chairs more comfortable for sleeping in?

4. Meeting the Family – It’s your first time meeting your significant other’s family, be they biological or chosen, and you’re nervous as hell about it.

5. Avoiding the Family – You’re obligated to go home for the holiday, but there’s only so much you can take of your family. Go for a walk, stop by the bar, whatever it takes for a little peace and quiet.

6. Friendsgiving – You’re spending the holiday with your chosen family. Are you hosting the event, or just bringing an extra bottle of wine?

7. The Dinner – What’s on the table? Is it set for two or twelve? Can you make it through the meal without someone causing drama?

8. Slaving Over a Hot Stove – Do you have to make the entire meal yourself or have you enlisted someone’s help with the mashed potatoes?

9. Burned the Turkey – Well, the main course is a little blackened. Time for Chinese food, or is it pizza this year?

10. Game Time - Football is a Thanksgiving tradition. Are you watching the game on TV, or out playing one of your own?

11. Thanksgiving Day Parade - Who doesn't love a good parade? Are you in it or just watching from the sideline?

12. Black Friday – Are you out fighting the crowds for the best deals? Or are you behind one of the counters, stuck in the annual retail holiday hell?

13. Write-in Option – Is there something we missed? Is there another scenario you want to play out, or would you like to roll the dice again? Go for it!

Comments

[senseloss]

And they just shoot him a wry look, because yeah, that was just about the most Spring thing he could have said.

"Not all of us can care-bear stare at someone and discern their desires. Wouldn't want to, really, I don't think. It'd feel like pressure, knowing what it is people want."

[the_fairest_flower]

"It is and it isn't."

He doesn't have to do anything about someone else's desire. The fact that he is usually inclined to try is another matter, isn't it? Especially if they have something Jamie wants for some reason or another. No reason a little mutual indulgence can't benefit all parties.

"And what do you want?" He won't care bear stare at dinner.

[senseloss]

"I don't know. To be left alone?" That doesn't sound very confident at all (it's really not), and they glance away from Jamie to grab some of the stuffing and green bean casserole.

[the_fairest_flower]

"Mm, sounds fake. Even the nasty darkling I know doesn't want to be alone."

Jamie pushes his food around a bit and finally settles on starting with the little bowl of salad he has near his plate. There's edible flowers in it that he is keen to try. He'll be happiest when dessert comes around.

"What's your name?"

[senseloss]

"Coda."

That hardly sounds like an introduction, does it? They try again, with a little more confidence. "Coda Sinneslöschen, of the Winter Court. They/them pronouns, if you'll be talking about me behind my back, please. And...who are you?"

[the_fairest_flower]

"Jamie, of the Spring. He/him, but only for nostalgia."

His pronouns haven't been attached to his presentation or feelings about himself in a long time, but he can't seem to let them go. They are relics of another life, just like his name, and he'll hold onto them until he forgets them. But, he'll answer to just about anything as long as it isn't rude.

Sometimes even then, but he won't promise anything good will come from it.

Jamie doesn't offer any surname. It isn't relevant anymore.

"Are you expecting me to gossip? Would you like me to?"

[senseloss]

Coda's name was chosen, first and last. The surname was something of a joke, a reference to a tiny piece of their history, how they became involved with the True Fae. A reminder, perhaps even.

"You're Spring. Of course you're going to gossip. It's like high school, the popular kids all sitting at their table and chattering and judging everyone else." There's no real bitterness behind those words; it's just a fact of life.

[the_fairest_flower]

"Now who's being judgmental?" Jamie's smiling, though, because Coda probably isn't wrong. Even if Jamie doesn't gossip about them specifically, he will inevitably talk about this gathering with anyone who asks and a few that don't. Spring's current King will likely be curious, at the very least. Can't have someone else one-upping them in the party planning department (as if that were even possible).

He considers Coda again, curious. They're cute, in a way. But there's something about Elementals that's kind of alluring in general. Maybe it's that energy. Even if Coda would rather slip through a crack in the floor.

[senseloss]

"Feel free to correct my inaccurate judgments." They manage a small sheepish smile between bites of food. "See, we Winters never gossip. We pass information. Big difference between the two."

[the_fairest_flower]

"Oh, of course," he says, trying not to smile again. "How could I mistake the two?"

That's better. Coda's not the stick in the mud Jamie was worried they might be. He smooths his hands over his skirt and sits up straighter, aware that he should really be making more of an effort in terms of appearance. There's a few familiar Spring faces here, but none of them are as close to Florian as he is.

"I also bet you never do anything fun."

[senseloss]

"I work in video game design, so fun is my day job. When I get off work, I'm always entirely serious." There's a twinkle in their eyes, a hint that there's some sarcasm there.

[the_fairest_flower]

"Coda, if I didn't know better, I'd think you had a sense of humor."

Jamie's smile brightens and he manages to stop long enough to take another drink from his glass. The cocktail is good, floral, and just to his taste. Maybe this little gathering won't be so bad after all.

[senseloss]

"Good for both of us that you know better, then." They shake their head. "Let's see, for fun...I go to lolita fashion meetups in ouji or 'prince-style' outfits. Tea parties, picnics, that sort of thing. I get to a lot of gaming conventions, too. Those are usually overwhelming, but they can be fun. And in my spare time, I design environments that are for me, instead of any game I'm working on. Just to get them out of my head."

[the_fairest_flower]

Jamie perks right up. Hello fashion.

"I have some lolita outfits tucked away," he says happily, already trying to picture Coda in the clothes they're referring to. Jamie leans on the table a little, bright eyes focused on Coda. "And that sounds absolutely delightful. I've been to a few cons but it feels like it's been ages. No one to go with."

He says that last bit with a little pout. He knows he doesn't necessarily need anyone to go with, but it's more fun with other people. Especially if he's going to dress up.

"What kind of games do you work on?"

[senseloss]

"Oh, a little bit of everything. I'm an environmental designer, primarily and have had my hands in everything from action/adventure titles to walking sims."

It's work that's remarkably similar to what they did in the Labs of the True Fae known as Doctor Vondrago, created spaces to captivate other changelings and keep them in captivity, an AI in the system controlling and designing environments.

[the_fairest_flower]

"Hm." Even if he has no way of really knowing Coda's durance, he can make educated guesses. They all bring something back with them, don't they? There is no way to leave Arcadia untouched by their Keepers. And if one can translate those skills, somehow, back into this world? All the better. So he finds himself wondering exactly what Coda did.

But that's hardly a topic of conversation for Thanksgiving.

"Would you invite me along to one of your tea parties?"

[senseloss]

That's a pretty interesting question. Oh, Jamie would be the life of the party at a lolita tea party, wouldn't he? Coda wants to see it, now.

"Perhaps. Would you coordinate outfits with me, so that if we showed up together, we'd really turn heads?"

[the_fairest_flower]

"Of course, I would have it no other way, darling."

As if he would think to do it without matching his escort. Jamie smiles and finally eats something more substantial than salad. The food is good, and it's pinging odd bits of nostalgia that... he really would rather not have, come to think of it. But the company is nice and distracting.

"Are you a neutral color palette type or do you do colors?"

[senseloss]

"I prefer neutrals, but for the December tea, I could pull out some of my darker outfits. Navy blue, maroon, emerald green. Those colors always feel good for Christmastime themed events, you know?"

They hadn't expected, when they first were seated, to find common ground with the Flowering, but this...this is nice, actually.

[the_fairest_flower]

"I look wonderful in green. And blue."

Blue matches his eyes, though he doesn't wear it as often as he could. A rich green would be appropriate for the season. Whatever Coda has, Jamie will match. And they have similar enough looks that he thinks they'll make a dashing pair.

"Well, now I have something to look forward to."

[senseloss]

They tilt their head to one side slightly. "You say that as if you hadn't had anything before. I'd have expected you to have a long list of holiday parties to make appearances at."

Where as they had, besides the tea party (and the Winter Court's annual formal ball), Coda only had one work-related party to attend. They fully expected to be alone for both Christmas and New Year's.

[the_fairest_flower]

"Yes and no," he says with a little shrug. "I have invitations, but that isn't the same as wanting to go somewhere."

While Winter is his more quiet season, he will go to the parties he's been invited to, in part out of obligation and in part to keep away the season's dark. He's only ever been a step away from falling back into the Winter Court himself, and he knows it.

He gives Coda a little smile.

"Would you want to come to any?"

[senseloss]

"What would it cost me?"

It's the first lesson most changelings learn. Everything has a cost, and a catch. There's never truly such a thing as a free lunch.

[the_fairest_flower]

"Enduring my company," he answers easily. "I don't always like going to these things alone."

Most of the time he can find someone that will give him the attention he desires, but sometimes it's more fun to arrive with someone interested in spending time with him. Or possibly coerced into it.

[senseloss]

They consider for a long moment, before nodding. "Maybe just a couple of parties. New Year's Eve, definitely. I'd rather not be alone for that this year."

They're certain Jamie's got at least one good invite for that night.