gobble gobble

[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 – Do what you want, just make it festive!

Comments

daisy johnson | agents of shield (mcu)

[chuju]

[ info + aos 101. crosscanon loved, esp DCEU/TV, Supernatural, Firefly, Stargate, Star Trek (AOS), Pacific Rim. happy to write starters! ]

[counterstep]

( please teach him how to have the most boring ass thanksgiving ever. please teach him of the ways of the normal humaning. )

[chuju]

[ you say that as if she knows. what is this normal? don't all holidays involve chasing bad guys or stopping alien invasions? ]

[chuju]

[ the kitchen looks like a warzone. the sink is full of dirty bowls and utensils, the stovetop speckled with flecks of something that might be gravy, and flour has somehow found its way to the most unlikely surfaces. bits of chopped vegetables and potato peels litter the countertop and there's a faint whiff of burnt something in the air that's chilly from the open window. a dozen green beans are scattered across the floor, some of them squished while others have been kicked closer to the floorboards.

she doesn't look any better. there's a streak of flour across her left cheek (where she often sports a cut after battles) and so much in her hair that it looks like snow. her apron is a mess of dried dough specks and splatters of sauces. and then there's the air of stress and panic clinging to her as she scrolls through the steam-speckled tablet in her hands.

when the knock at the door echoes through her apartment, she jumps, nearly dropping the tablet as she whirls around to look at the clock. it's not time for guests yet, which means— ]

It's open! [ reinforcements have arrived, whether they know it or not. ]

Dick Grayson | Titans

[alaazul]

Helmut Zemo | MCU | freakymagoo

[experienceandpatience]

Perhaps the bird was just a bit... large. But then again, the local Walmart hardly seemed to carry anything that wasn't sized for twenty, and despite Oeznik's quiet judgement, Zemo insisted that they... put something together for their stray American soldier. How long has it been since he's properly celebrated? Probably since before the war, Zemo would imagine.

So he did a bit of research, managed to get a few items on his last trip to the store without Bucky. It all seems a bit much, even to Zemo, but there's a cake and a selection of pies from the bakery, a bird roasting in the oven, and whatever sides he's seen Bucky shove into his mouth without protest--

Although Oeznik helpfully pointed out that there isn't much that Bucky won't put into his mouth with enthusiasm.

Hopefully, the smell of food coaxes Bucky and Steve out of their room sooner or later... and hopefully the cat won't be trying to snatch any food like the ungrateful menace he can be or they may be roasting him up as well.

Oeznik has taken it upon himself to take care of most of the cooking -- and Zemo pretends he doesn't see the subtle looks given his way, going from giving Bucky food that couldn't even pass the smell test to wanting to ensure that everything is perfect on this day. Even Zemo is judging himself a bit, so he can't quite blame his old friend for it. But they live on borrowed time here and may need to leave any day in a moment's notice... they should at least be able to have a pleasant memory or two in this house before it's gone.

Or maybe he's let himself grow too attached to Bucky and one day, this will all blow up in his face. Those dreary thoughts are pushed aside when he thinks he hears footsteps heading towards the kitchen.

"James?" he calls out, turning to look out the entryway. "Come here."

[freakymagoo]

The rude awakening on Thanksgiving feels like any other rude awakening. The smell of something nostalgic but unfamiliar wafts in the gap between the closed door and the cold, hardwood floor, and Bucky awakens to find Steve perched on his bare chest, wet nose and blue eyes almost pressed up against his face. He almost throws the cat off his torso in a panic, but his startling awake is enough to send Steve scuttling off and settling down a couple of feet to his side, meowing unhappily at the cold floor and a disgruntled human servant who could stand to be more friendly.

The thin blanket pools around his waist in his lap as he looks around blearily, trying to get his bearings. Wyoming. Steve. Right. He's not sure what time it is, but they're still in the farmhouse. That's good enough for him.

"Sorry buddy..." He reaches over towards Steve, who backs away and ignores him. Bucky deserves the cold shoulder. Stretching a bit and reaching over trying to squeeze the stiffness out of his right shoulder, he moves to stand. Of course, now Steve wants to come along, not very happy about being locked in this room so much. Bucky scoops up the old cat and lets it hang over his metal arm as he makes his way downstairs wearing nothing but black boxer briefs, leaving the pillow and blanket in a mess on the floor.

Following the sound of Zemo's voice and the pleasant smells coming from the kitchen, his stomach grumbles ungratefully as he heads towards the brighter light. Bucky takes two steps into the kitchen and freezes, sideeyeing the scene with Oeznik and Zemo preparing a feast for twenty people on and around the kitchen counter.

"...what the hell is that?" Bucky stares incredulously at the huge fuckoff bird browning in the oven.

[experienceandpatience]

"I was going to ask you that... the store was ridiculous." But the size of the bird seems unimportant at the moment as he takes in the state of the other man. "James, you could have at least put on a shirt..."

He's rather certain Oeznik doesn't want to see him in his underwear in the kitchen of all places. He huffs out a sigh as he motions towards Steve. "Put him down and go clean up. This is your holiday after all. You should be present for it."

[freakymagoo]

Sure, blame the store for being ridiculous, and not the buying one of everything right next to the entrance?

Oeznik tsks his disappointment at exposed nipples in his kitchen - again - and Bucky purses his lips, holding Steve a little closer to his chest. He's not leaving the stray cat with the two men who have threatened to skin and cook him.

"Sorry. I'm-- was half-awake and not expecting... this," he mumbles. He will put Steve down in the living room close to the stairs and spend a few minutes in the bathroom. It may be impossible to tell but he does actually shave between brushing his teeth and washing his face. The stubble is fairly tame and his hair is under control when he returns to the kitchen.

He's taken the clean, crisp, folded t-shirt from the top of the pile and a pair of black sweatpants which... may actually be Zemo's. It does take a while, but what the Sokovians are doing will eventually dawn upon him as the penny drops in slow motion.

"...you're making Thanksgiving dinner." With enough food to basically feed all seventeen people who live in Wyoming. "Are we... expecting guests?"

[experienceandpatience]

They'll have leftovers for days, it's fine. It won't go to waste -- he's rather certain Bucky can pack away quite a bit of food, given the chance. And no one would actually skin the cat. Probably.

"You were the one who who suggested it, James." Vaguely, at least. He mentioned the bird, off-handedly mentioned Thanksgiving.

"Who would we be inviting over?" He wrinkles his nose at the thought. It isn't as if any of Zemo's 'friends' would dare show and the only family he has may just be the old man busily working away in his kitchen to prepare this meal.

He doubts Sam would particularly care to join them either. Or perhaps he would, if it meant getting Bucky back.

"I thought you Americans enjoyed this sort of thing. Large portions, eating yourselves into comas." It seems to be rather prevalent on this day when you read up on it, at least.

[freakymagoo]

"Yeah. I did. But I meant a couple of turkey legs, a bit of stuffing, one slice of pie..." Jesus Christ. How much food did Zemo actually-- Jesus Christ. Oh god and Oeznik is still cooking some more--

"I don't-- I really don't think we need more food," he tries to encourage the indignant, stubborn and affronted Oeznik to stop with an exasperated tone and an awkward kind of chuckle. You could be forgiven for thinking that Bucky just told him he murdered six generations of the butler's family and ate all the unborn children.

Bucky puffs up a bit and is ready to take on the Captain America mantle, rip Zemo a new one about what 'you Americans' is supposed to mean - something something starving Wakandan children while they roast a pterodactyl-sized bird that can barely fit in the oven - but his gaze wanders back to the glistening turkey, the half-made gravy, unmashed potatoes with a glob of butter sinking in between the boiled and peeled chunks like the smaller half of the Titanic, and he deflates a little bit again.

He walks wordlessly to the oven, vibranium hand moving to touch the glass door. This is what... other people do. People with normal lives and family and... hate each other but play pretend for a day nonetheless. People with family traditions. It feels so abnormal to him, as distant of a memory he almost has to fabricate like the first time he picked up a gun.

"Um... You didn't have to..."

[experienceandpatience]

Oeznik truly doesn't appreciate being told how to run his kitchen and it's rather obvious to Zemo -- something he's known for possibly his entire life that you do not do. Unless, of course, you're telling him to give the stale bits to certain guests.

... He may do that this time, entirely unprovoked by Zemo for Bucky's absolute gall, of course.

There's a private, amused huff from Zemo before he walks up behind the other man and reaches up to give his shoulder a squeeze, urging him to relax. "Of course we didn't have to."

Clearly this is more of a 'wanted to' situation.

... Well, for him. Presumably, Oeznik wasn't quite opposed to the idea. "Relax, James."

[freakymagoo]

Steve wanders in and meows demandingly before placing a paw on Zemo's calf - feed him, you arrogant bastard; there's enough meat in the oven to feed an entire feline colony - and Bucky gets lured away from the turkey, eyes glazing over the rest of the spread.

"I can help," he offers, more to Zemo than to Oeznik because the latter is giving him a silent, withering look every time he strays within a certain radius. There will be no 'taste testing' tonight - Bucky will be lucky to make it out of dinner alive.

Clearly most of the food prep is done and the bulk of the stressful work is already sorted. But he can still lend a hand with the final steps. Tend to the growing pile of dishes, turn the potatoes to mush or throw the salad together or something. Anything to get Oeznik off his back.

Rogue ⓧ X-men Marvel Comics ⓧ M/F

[just_rogue]

[Holidays comics were a classic tradition! Open to all X-men and related characters. Open to marvel canon, cross canon, cross medium.]

Rachel Berry | Glee

[goldstarlet]

some combo of 4 and 9

[grandiosely]

Jesse hadn't known why Rachel had been so insistent on making the Thanksgiving dinner for his family. They had decided to come to New York to surprise him when he had said that he was just too busy to make it out to Ohio this year. He'd been trying to manage to get himself out of a family gathering, but instead it had just backfired on him and now Rachel was not only going to meet his parents, but also probably his brother, and they were going to be in his condo rather than the large family home that made it much easier to avoid one another.

This was going to be hell.

He'd been coming home with a bag full of groceries that Rachel had ordered him to go pick up in a panic. What he wasn't expecting was to come home to his kitchen looking like it had just been on fire. There's the smell of smoke and burnt meat as he quickly throws the bag to the side and rushes in to try and help air out the apartment before any of the alarms can go off. Opening windows, he uses a towel to try and help blow it out of the apartment before he's trying to figure out what went wrong.

Turkey.

Rachel had been trying to cook turkey.

He stares at the charred mess she's pulled open from the oven, trying not to burst into laughter. He manages a straight enough face as he puts his hands on hips, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"You remember you're a vegetarian, right?"

[goldstarlet]

To say that Rachel was nervous to host Thanksgiving would have been an understatement. However, she'd been eager to accept full responsibility for the meal. When his parents had offered to take them all out to a nice restaurant in NYC for the meal, she'd almost felt like maybe they didn't really believe that she was capable of preparing a meal for Jesse's family. Of course, she'd convinced them it was a good idea and now it seemed like maybe she should have caved under the pressure from the start.

As they manage to get the rest of the smoke out of the apartment, she turns to him, near tears and swallows. "Yeah, I remember, but I'm the only one. I didn't realize the little button thing had already popped up." She lets out a sigh and rubs at her eyes, before throwing her own towel down on the counter in defeat.

"Jesse, I've ruined everything, and your parents are going to be here in a just a few hours and I know I can't go get another turkey. I can only imagine what your mother is going to say about the whole thing."

[grandiosely]

He can't help the low chuckle even as he sees her eyes brimming with tears. It isn't a mocking one, but the sort of adoration he always seems to feel for her, even when she's at her closest to a meltdown. Or perhaps especially when she's at her closest. Jesse can't help but feel touched that she wants to make such a good impression on his family, even after all the times he's said they aren't really worth the effort.

Going over to her, he wraps his arms around her middle, pulling her close and lifting a hand to gentle stroke her smoke-filled hair. "My mother isn't going to say anything. I'll go back to the store, we'll get a bunch of turkey breasts, do they up with a nice sauce, and tell her we learned it from one of our chef friends. She'll think you're a culinary genius."

He pulls back some so he can brush a few stray hairs away from her face. "You can't ruin anything. I'm happy to just to be spending Thanksgiving with you in the first place."

Holden Ford | Mindhunter | OTA

[mindhunting]

[ Platonic preferred unless we've discussed something ahead of time. I'm happy to write starters for people. ]

[shiro2hero]

(( i feel like 9 is necessary ))

[mindhunting]

[[ Time to find out Shiro's cooking skills. ]]

[shiro2hero]

[This is fine.]

[Nothing like your kitchen-savvy boyfriend being out of town unexpectedly on a holiday. A food-centric holiday, no less. And he'd had the bright idea to invite his work partner over. Holden probably would have worked through the holiday if Shiro hadn't at least offered.]

[Thus, Shiro standing hopelessly in the kitchen, carefully inching an entire turkey into the oven. Just. A turkey in a pan. How hard can it be? Open oven. Insert bird. Wait.]

I got this.

[He does not got this.]

[mindhunting]

[ If nothing else, Holden's mother would be extremely happy someone actually invited him. He wouldn't have to a) lie to her or b) eat Chinese take out at home. So it was an improvement over the last few years when he hadn't been able to make it home to Milwaukee.

Though watching Shiro, he's starting to think maybe he should have told him to go to Wisconsin himself to get an actually decent home cooked meal. Mrs. Ford would take in anyone and feed them.

He is, however, just standing there, sipping from his beer bottle, and absolutely not helping him get it into the oven at the moment. This is an interesting human behavior observation opportunity. ]

Did you season it?

[shiro2hero]

What?

[Judging from the question, and the sudden note of panic in Shiro's voice, the answer to that is probably a resounding NOPE. He looks down at the oven, then back to Holden.]

Season? [His eyes wander over to a cabinet, with a nearly placed label: Takashi Do Not Touch.] How... do we do that?

[mindhunting]

Wow, Adam wasn't kidding, you really are hopeless.

[ Holden goes to open the cupboard with the Shiro equivalent of police tape on it, looking through it until he finds some very basic spices he knows his mom always used. This... Could or could not turn out fine. We'll see.

He at least goes to help him put the turkey back up on top of the stove, before putting some oil on it like he remembers his mother doing and starting to put some of the spices on without measuring them because what's a teaspoon. ]

... I think that's good.