75 Godiva Street, Thanksgiving Day, Thursday Afternoon

[geniuswithasmartphone]

It was Thanksgiving! The house smelled amazing too, like roasting turkey and sage and simmering apple cider and baking pies. Eliot had outdone himself in the kitchen this year, whipping up the creamiest mashed potatoes, the fluffiest stuffing, and even the crispiest egg rolls Hardison had ever seen. His own contribution was a platter of the croissant-variety Hot Pockets in various flavors.

Look, his TA had requested them and he was gonna provide, dammit.

Now they were finishing up the last few dishes, setting the table, and preparing for a delicious Thanksgiving meal. Not every member of their assorted families could be here today, but every person who was here was family in their own way. For Hardison, found family was infinitely more precious than people just related by blood. Each person had chosen to be here, to be part of this, and--

Shut up, he wasn't getting all misty-eyed. It was the dust. It got all up in his allergies.

[Up super-early I know, but holiday-related SP expected in a big way and also timezones! Sorry to anyone confused, but this post is definitely set for Thursday, Thanksgiving.]

Comments

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Just for you, TA," Hardison declared, coming to sweep her up in a tight hug. "What, you think I was gonna ask an' then not deliver?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[tigerundercover]

"You?" Raven maaaaybe bulked up her arms a little to match him hug for hug. "Never."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[geniuswithasmartphone]

And he did have some crazy nice arms, too.

"Goddamn right," he said, clinging for a moment more and then releasing her. "Also, my Nana says hello an' that Jesus still loves you, even with Hot Pockets on Thanksgivin'."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[tigerundercover]

"You talk to her about me?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Course," Hardison said, looking surprised. "Why wouldn't I?"

The idea of doing any else baffled him.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[tigerundercover]

Raven shrugged. "I don't know. My own brother barely talked to his parents about me. I'm just kind of not used to it."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Hardison reached out to hug her again. "You're an important part of my life, TA," he told her. "An' I'm proud as hell of you. So damn right I brag about you to everyone I can."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[tigerundercover]

"So weird," Raven said, sounding cheerful. "What does she say back?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Well, she says hello an' hopes you're doin' okay. I told her that you an' Kathy been through some tough stuff not long ago an' sometimes settlin' back in can be tough," Hardison explained, smiling fondly. "She wants to know when she gets to meet you an' reminded me that the most important thing that any of us can do right now is to just be there for you when you need us. An' that Hot Pockets for Thanksgiving made her shake her head, but if it makes folks happy, then make a double batch."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[tigerundercover]

"Meeting new people." Raven made a face. "Does she know about the. . . ." She gestured generally to her whole blue thing.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"Not yet," Hardison said. "I wasn't gonna tell her without your okay. I figured you had the right to figure out how you wanted to handle it."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[tigerundercover]

"Most of the time I just go blonde when I have to meet non-Fandom people. Or, you know, I turn into a bear." And then eat them. "I promise not to turn into a bear at your nana."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[geniuswithasmartphone]

"I 'ppreciate that," Hardison told her. "Because I'm pretty sure that wouldn't stop my nana from huggin' or scoldin' you if she felt either were necessary."

And was that really a precedent he wanted to set? No. Not at all.

"You can be blonde or blue or both if you wanna," Hardison said. "Just let me know what you wanna do an' I'll back your play."