[Closed] Thanksgiving Dinner

[blondferret]

WHO: Derek Matthews, Matt Murdock, Tatsuo Kihara, Mary Yaoyorozu, Foggy Nelson, John Lyall, Natalie Nelson, Amanda Matthews, Noni Sorenson-Matthews
WHERE: Matt's apartment
WHEN: November 23, 2017
WHAT: Thanksgiving Dinner
WARNINGS: n/a



So what do you do when a bunch of family members get added to the app right before Thanksgiving? Derek, with the permission of Matt, holds a special Thanksgiving dinner at Matt's apartment. Why Matt's apartment? Because Matt's apartment is big and swanky, so thus can hold the group of people he invited. Derek verbally invited some family members, and others sent texts, informing them of the festivities. When he found out John had no place to go for Thanksgiving, he instantly invited him saying, "The more, the merrier!"

A: Pre-Dinner/Set-Up
This dinner isn't going to cook itself. There's a lot of work to be done before everyone can sit down and stuff themselves full. The table has to be set, the turkey has to be put in the oven, and someone has to make sure Tatsuo doesn't accidentally set fire to the kitchen.

B: Arrival
Not everyone is required to help with the set up. Some people get to take their time and bring their side-dishes just before the dinner starts. This is also a good time for various individuals to meet who haven't met in person before. Bring that side-dish to the kitchen, say hello to everyone, then head back to the living room to wait for the turkey to finish.

C: The Feast
Here it is! The main event! Someone pass the potatoes please.

D: Turkey Coma
That was a lot of food. It'd probably be a good idea for everyone to just sit for a while and let things digest. And since this is a pretty large group, chances are there's someone you haven't talked with yet. (Also, there might be some alcohol in the kitchen for the adults.)

E: Wildcard
Post-dinner clean up? Gossip sessions in the bathroom/kitchen/hallway? There's more to a family/friends Thanksgiving than just turkey and stuffing.

Comments

*MUFFLED TRAIN MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND* [Foggy, Matt, Derek, and maybe others]

[devilsadvocato]

[Foggy and Natalie arrive right on time for the day's events. Foggy had cooked the stuffing and nearly made them late getting distracted and taste testing it one too many times. Their arms are full carrying the pot of stuffing and the pies Natalie had baked when they reach the apartment door. A glance at his watch tells him they are on time though and he knocks on the door with a victorious, "All right!"

All he knew about the people waiting inside was that it included his family and Derek's friends. He had no idea he knew both of the people who lived in this apartment. One of them, one his best students. The other? That's a long story.]

Re: *MUFFLED TRAIN MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND* [Foggy, Matt, Derek, and maybe others]

[blondferret]

[Derek looks up from the prep work he was doing when the doorbell rang.]

I'll get it.

[Wiping his hands, Derek walks over to the front door and opens it.]]

Well, if it isn't my favorite cousins! Come on in!

[Derek steps to the side so they can come in.]

Re: *MUFFLED TRAIN MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND* [Foggy, Matt, Derek, and maybe others]

[devilsadvocato]

[Foggy and Natalie file in slowly, careful not to drop their dishes.]

Hey Derek! I've got the stuffing, Nattie has the pies. Where are we stacking the grub?

ota

[thole]

[ARRIVAL]
John isn't quite certain what to expect, being invited to such a gathering as this. He feels as though he is perhaps about to be rather the odd man out, as Derek had explained that this would be a family gathering. Far be it from him to turn the invitation down just for that, however. Especially when faced with the alternative lonely evening in his apartment, with no company but himself. Being English, it isn't as though Thanksgiving is a holiday he's celebrated growing up. But he's lived in the States long enough to recognize that it means something when he has no family to spend it with left around.

He isn't quite certain what to have brought, at least assured that someone else is to be handling the turkey and stuffing. He thinks about a pie but it seems rather homely and presumptuous, and perhaps they have a tradition around pies as well? Then he contemplates wine, but he didn't quite catch the ages of all there gathered -- would it be leaving too many of them out, if they are mostly underage?

John fusses about cooking for far longer than perhaps anyone should before finally settling on a green bean casserole, topped with bread crumbs and crispy fried onions. Has anyone else made something like this for the evening? He certainly hopes not, at any rate. He offers a smile once he's been let in the door, brandishing the covered casserole dish in front of him.

"Hallo," he says, self-consciously trying to dull down his thick northern-English accent to a level that most there attending will at least be able to understand until they've accustomed to it. "I come bearing -- well, beans?"


[DINNER]
It's still a bit awkward, he won't lie. There are a lot of people here he doesn't know and while John is a friendly sort of fellow, he's not exactly an extrovert, and he feels as though he has to be at least a decade older than everyone at this gathering besides. But he's doing his best, and he's made it this far at least. And at least he has a few people here he recognizes, in Derek and Tatsuo. Not that he knows who he'll be sat next to at the table, of course.

He manages to find an empty seat that doesn't have a drink or a jacket claiming it and settles down, fussing internally about whether he should be doing more to help in the kitchen but everyone else seems to be sitting now as well and they seem to have it all handled. He hopes they like his cooking and that he's not about to be eating beans for the next week, bringing it home, he thinks to himself, as he reaches for his wine and manages to swallow it down the wrong pipe in turn.

Quickly setting down his glass before he tips the thing over, John sucks in a deep breath and spends a brief moment choking as quietly as he can, before he turns to the person sitting next to him and offers a sheepish smile. "Well," he says, apologetically, "I'm off to a wonderful start on first impressions."

He's only just held himself back from making a pun about holding his liquor, be grateful.

Arrival

[blondferret]

[Derek's nose instantly picks up on the smell of green bean casserole.]

Oh, green bean casserole, excellent!

[As John walks in Derek smirks.]

What's with the accent mate? You're not the only one here sporting a british accent at an american holiday celebration. Besides, most of the pilgrims probably had british accents too, so you are and are just going to be making this Thanksgiving experience more authentic.

[thole]

[John raises his eyebrows at the younger man slightly. Pilgrims? Well, he supposes so...]

Yes, well. I thought it might be safe, not knowing the rest of the menu planned.

[He offers Derek something of a shrug.] And as you said, I'll let the Americans handle the traditional staples.

Dinner

[blessmefather]

Matt turned toward John as soon as he started coughing. Well actually he noticed some sort of stress in the man next to him a split second sooner when his super hearing picked up on the sound of John's throat convulsing at the liquid entering the wrong pipe which was then followed by the coughing. Close enough right?

"Oh," Matt blurts out, hands hovering just in case John needed something more than a few coughs. His hands sink back down to the table as John catches his breath again. "Don't worry about it. I think we're all a little desperate to fill our stomachs. Thank you for bringing over one of the dishes. The green bean casserole?" That's what his nose is telling him.

[thole]

John offers the man a weak smile as he struggles to catch his breath, feeling a bit silly for inhaling his drink as he had. "Ah, yes," he says, apologetically again, though what he's apologizing for in this instance even he's not certain. Perhaps he just feels as though he should, considering he hardly knows anyone at the table. Nowhere near as well as the all seem to know each other, at any rate.

"Yes, that's right," he replies. His accent is quite thick, from northern England, nowhere near as polished as Derek's new way of speech, but -- Matt, he thinks that was the name he had caught when he'd first been invited into the home -- seems to have little trouble understanding him so far. "Without knowing what other people might have brought themselves... I thought it might be safe, at any rate."

arrival

[thisloveisjustice]

Once the delicious looking green bean casserole is placed with the rest of the side dishes, Tatsuo walks over to clap John on the shoulder.

"John, thanks for coming! How've you been?"

[thisloveisjustice]

A : this should be easy

Tatsuo looks at the frozen rolls he's laid out on a cookie sheet. He looks at the instructions on the back of the bag. Rolls. Bag. Rolls. Bag.

"Oops."

He completely did not read the back of the package when he bought them at the grocery store. So he failed to realize said frozen dinner rolls need to thaw and rise for 3 to 5 hours before baking.

The dinner is set to begin in 2 hours.

C : pass the gravy please

Finally, the turkey and side-dishes are completed. Even his dinner rolls managed to make it to the table in time. Tatsuo lets everyone dig into their food for a while before he reaches out and taps his glass with his knife.

"Sorry to interrupt, but since it's Thanksgiving, I thought we could go around and just... say something we're thankful for. It's kind of been a rough year, and sometimes it's good to remember the things or people that make life worthwhile.

I'll go ahead and go first. I'm thankful for friends and family."

Tatsuo raises his glass to Matt and Derek.

"Thanks for putting up with all my crap the last few months. You've had my back, and I really appreciate it."

D : too much tryptophan

After a second helping of all the side-dishes and a third helping of the turkey, Tatsuo manages to push away from the table and roll into the living room to lounge lethargically on Matt's very comfortable sofa.

"That second slice of pie might have been a bad idea, but it was worth it."

D

[bozhemoi]

"You're welcome." Natalie gave Tatsuo a little bow as she found a place on one of the more comfortable chairs. She was close to being in a food coma herself but instead she was watching her brother closely. "Glad you enjoyed the pie."

A.

[blondferret]

[Derek looks up from where he is sitting at the kitchen table.]

Oops? What do you mean oops? I thought you said your cooking improved.

[blondferret]

A: Pre-dinner/Set up

[Since Derek and Tatsuo live in the same building, Derek also brings Tatsuo with him. Derek has brought the ingredients to make Honey-Glazed Butternut Squash. Before driving over to Matt's he had already cooked the squash and was planning on keeping it in Matt's food warmer under the oven until the proper time to toss the rest of it together.

With his hands full of ingredients Derek looks over at Tatsuo and nods his head at Matt's door.]

Knock.

C: The Feast

[Derek is shoveling the green bean casserole in his mouth as he listens to various conversations. He turns to another person who he notices isn't engaged in one of the conversations.]

So, how has your week been so far?

D:Turkey Coma: Never Have I Ever (Adults Only)

[Derek has definitely ate too much. But how could he possibly pass up Matt's perfect turkey or seconds on that fantastic green bean casserole? But now that the feast is over, that means it is time for games! He tells the kids to go and hang out in one of of the bedrooms and into the kitchen to grab the bottle of hard cider out of the fridge and fishes out the small dixie cups from the plastic bag he brought. Walking back into the living room where the rest of the adult were he sets the bottle and cups on the table.]

Alright gentlemen! It is time for a game of never have I ever. Who wants to go first?

[As Derek is saying this he is placing empty cups in front of each person.]

C

[bozhemoi]

[ Honestly Derek, how many times do you need to be reminded that Natalie might be there but she's not always there. No, instead she poked at her food while staring at her glass of soda.

Eventually it registered that her cousin was trying to talk to her. ] Hm? Oh, ah... fine. I guess. Hey, British Derek, can I ask you something?

[devilsadvocato]

After Dinner

[After dinner is time for talking. Foggy is determined to make the rounds and chat with everyone present.]

Have you run across any of those golden eggs the turkeys around the city are laying? I can never get my hands on one! I came like three feet within a fresh egg and then the turkey looked at me like it was going to peck my eyes out. Call me a chicken but those birds are legit dangerous. I went back later but the egg was gone.


Panic and talk to Sister [For Natalie and maybe Derek.]

[Once introductions and brief catching up with Matt had taken place Foggy grabs Natalie by the arm and drags her away from the kitchen and the others.]

Oh god. Oh my god. Nattie. It's him. It's Matty from Summer Camp. THAT Matty from THAT Summer. God if Mom and Sis find out they'll tease me forever. Even Dad will laugh at me.

[His wide-eyed panic turns just as fast into excitement.]

Holy shit. Nat. Did you see him? I mean he was adorable when we were kids and he was great. I mean. He didn't just laugh at all my jokes, he made jokes back too. We were in sync with each other on another level or something. [He stops himself. Oh right she knows this story already. "The Summer of Awakening" like Mom and Sis liked to call it.]
I'm just saying. What is this? Nineteen years? Nineteen years did not hurt him in the looks department. He is really REALLY good looking! That's the short version of the description.

[Want a word Nattie? Not yet he's still getting it out. Foggy gives a forelorn sigh and looks her in the eye.]

Nattie. Help. What if he's just as amazing as he was as a kid? I'd lose my mind. Start writing sonnets about how perfect those lips are. Holy shit. What do you think his eyes are like without the glasses? No! I don't even want to think about it! Nattie! Help!

let the blonde hair summit begin

[bozhemoi]

[ Natalie was in full teenager mode. If only because she had a feeling that she was going to now be spending the night trying to keep her brother in line. And the amount of times he said 'Nattie'? He was lucky this was family and not another classroom incident.

She pushed out a breath and adjusted her shirt as she tried not to just fold her arms under her chest and give him a Look. While it wasn't one of her normal checked shirts, the slightly nicer shirt was still overly large. She permanently looked like she was basically just wearing a shirt knowing that there would be paint on it sooner or later.

Natalie frowned, head cocked as she glanced back at Matt and tried not to make it obvious, but honestly, the dude was blind. She could get away with a little staring, right? And she may or may not have been filing his features away for later. Christmas was coming up, something told her a portrait of Matt was going to be Foggy's present. ]

Holy crap... do you think it knew? Like, the app thing. Do you think it knew you two knew each other and now bam! Here you are.

[ But no, wait. That didn't make sense. The app didn't make them move. This city just really was getting stranger and stranger. Her tongue was poised in the corner of her mouth as she stared just a little bit longer, because hello, hormones. And then she blinked - nope, this one was clearly all her brother's, plus she was still way too young. ]

Foggy, I love you, and I am really happy that you're happy, and you found that Matt, but seriously. Can you try and calm down because I feel like you might start bouncing around and being wordier than usual. Maybe let the poor man speak even if you won't let me speak.

[blondferret]

[It was not hard for Derek to hear Foggy freaking out to Natalie. Which means, it's time to be nosy and investigate. Sauntering over to his cousins he wraps an arm around Foggy's shoulders and gives him a slight squeeze.]

So, my dear, dear cousin Franklin, I do believe that years ago I heard a story about you going to a summer camp and meeting a guy named Gary that changed your life forever. So, here is my question... how does one get the name Gary from the name Matt?

[blessmefather]

Clean up

[ The plates and silverware are put in the washer, the emptied platters and pans put in the kitchen sink to soak. Matt is distributing what's left of the turkey meat into plastic bags for guests to take home if they like. ]

Thanks for cooking part of today's meal.

Turkey Coma Tunes

[ It had been a long time since he had played piano in front of anyone other than Mary but thanks to Foggy bringing the subject up Matt decided after dinner to sit down at the old family piano in the living room area and play a little something while others rest and start slipping into a turkey coma. ]

Any requests?

[Closed to Tatsuo and Derek can... attempt to poke his head in. Good luck with that.]

[ After meeting Natalie and Foggy again apparently Matt returns to the kitchen for turkey duty. Just a little more cooking time left. He's turned towards the oven, quiet, trying to focus on the turkey and not to let the mix of smells from various dishes overwhelm his nose. When it's him and Tatsuo alone in the kitchen he finally allows a sigh to pass his lips. ]

Do you... Remember the story I told you from that camp?

[thisloveisjustice]

[Tatsuo leans against the counter, resisting the urge to nibble. He's a little curious how Matt is taking this surprise reunion, which is why he followed Matt back to the kitchen in the first place.]

Yeah. You said you, and I quote, "had the time if my life." I take it Franklin/Foggy had something to do with that?

attempting to poke at Matt's head

[blondferret]

[After Derek had had his little chat with Foggy, he slowly makes his way over to Matt, chatting with a few people along the way until he just naturally ends up in the kitchen. Derek is going to attempt to be more subtle and considerate of Matt due to the fact Matt didn't even bother to tell him about the result of the summer camp years ago. Leaning up against the counter he clears his throat.]

So...you knew my cousin. Is there a particular reason you said that summer camp sucked? It looks to me like you guy get along fine...so... I'm confused.

[Yes, that is less direct than he was with Foggy. This approach with Matt should produce some answers.]

Turkey Coma Tunes

[devilsadvocato]

[Foggy strolls over to stand next to the piano and face him.]

You know the song!

[creatability]

Pre-Dinner

[Mary isn't a particularly talented cook but she can definitely take care of some of the basics. This time she's volunteered to make something pretty simple that doesn't require too much work: a dessert called oreo surprise, which really only requires a small corner of the kitchen. Unfortunately utensils be at a bit of a premium which is why anyone that looks closely may see one just appearing out of her arm. Weird. Hopefully nobody minds that...]

Turkey Coma

[It's pretty difficult for Mary to feel full these days, and Thanksgiving is no exception. She absolutely demolished at least three full plates, and when people start filing out of the kitchen to relax she stops but follows into the sitting area with another smaller helping of food balanced in her hand.]

Wildcard

[Come at me.]

Pre-dinner

[blondferret]

[Derek noticed. Derek and his CSI observation skills definitely noticed. He looks at Mary and then at the utensil he just say her pull out of her arm.]

How...what? HUH?

Pre-Dinner

[devilsadvocato]

[Foggy is passing through to get a drink of water and about to tell her how good that dessert looks, "Everything oreo is amazing." He spies the utensil sprouting from her arm right as he opens his mouth to speak and a different statement pops out of his mouth.]

HOLY SHHhhh. [He fades off when he remembers he's with one of his students.] Shakespeare!

Did you just do real magic? [He squeaks a drawn out "Whaaaaat?" with the remainder of his breath.]

turkey coma

[thisloveisjustice]

[Tatsuo stakes a claim on one end of Matt's couch. Partially because the couch is the most comfortable spot to sit, in his humble opinion, but also because it's much easier to slouch down and let his stomach rest.

So he can't help but notice Mary is carrying food when she finally files into the living room.]

You're still hungry?