( open ) happy moonsgiving, everyone! (forward dated to 11/15)

[crocodilesmiles]

Date & Time: All Day, November 15th, 3313
Location: Focused centrally on the Moon Base Cafeteria.
Characters: Any and all!
Summary: It's a feast on the moon under the guise of being a new sort of Thanksgiving! Food, drink, merriment, food comas... lend a helping hand, fill a few plates of goodies, and meet friends new and old!
Warnings: None right now. Please PM this account should anything go beyond a "my grandmother is also reading this and that is okay" level of appropriate.
Notes: Tag in action or prose, and please specify a time of day, location, or activity your character is participating in! (Set-up, the feast, clean up, etc.) Feel free to offer multiple prompts, as your heart desires! Also, Collette is asking for people to write something they're thankful for on butchers paper on the wall before getting their first plate of food. This is 100% optional!

In the morning, the setting up begins. It's hard to say what's a morning versus what isn't on the moon, but using the lighting system as a sort of guide, those who offered to help set up the feast or continue on with the cooking will all be there bright and early.

After things are cleaned, the cooking continues on while further set up of plateware and silverware and hard to break glasses are left to those helping hands with a mind for arrangement details. The whole of one section has been converted into a sort of buffet-style lineup, waiting for the dishes to be complete and set at ready. All varieties of the usual dietary fare have been offered, some in greater quantities than others.

Then comes the time where people stopping by or trickling in aren't just turned around or co-opted into assisting; it's feast time, though not before an announcement that each person getting a plate of food must write at least one thing they're thankful for on a large sheet of butcher paper taped up to the wall. There's a variety of colored markers and pens provided, from someone's personal (and eclectic) collection. It's a soft price to pay for free food and plenty of it!

When the feasting has wound down, so begins the clean up. Tired, drunk, well fed, over fed, or simply content, people will be shuffled out or dragged into helping turn the cafeteria back into working, normal form. What decorations were added will need collecting (or stealing), plates and dishes and cooking implements and pots and pans will need washing, and floors a good sweeping and waterless mopping before things are all back in order. Leftovers, if there are any, will need to be placed in sealable containers and put into refrigeration.

And then, blissfully unaware of anything impending on the horizon, to bed, or different haunts, for the night.

Comments

before/during/after, open

[crocodilesmiles]

If it's before dinner's served, Collette can be seen helping arrange settings at the tables, moving things that fit well on her lap around, directing people for the things she can't do easily with a grin and a nudge. She avoided the kitchens, unless someone plops something down in front of her that needed chopping. There's no room for her in there, and she's fine with that.

Of course, it doesn't do much to explain how she ended up with fingerpaint on her hands, a smear of orange across her cheek and an amused quirk to her lips. "Okay," she said, "Not as planned. Hey, can you get my a napkin or a towel or something?" She didn't want to repaint her chair and wheels in the process of moving beforehand.

Then, during the feast, she stationed herself close to the top of the table, handing out pens and otherwise chatting and taking in the sight of anyone who came by. It didn't need to be all that many people. Collette was grateful for the familiar faces, and the new, all at once. With how chaotic the month had been, she hadn't even been able to keep up with the standard comings and goings of the Transport ranks.

And she was in a much better mood than she had been, though with her, it was difficult to tell how this version of cheery and upbeat was different than the previous. More spontaneity, perhaps. The stint back in her home city, no matter how different it really was from home, did a number for lifting her spirits in the best of ways.

"Did you know the turkey was going to be the States' national bird at one point?" If her history recall was flawed, then it was definitely flawed toward more interesting conversation pieces.

Later than that, she took her own space at a table, eating sparingly and sipping at water and pretending it being colder meant it tasted less stale.

By the time things wound down, Collette was barely managing to stay awake and still stubbornly trying to help with clean-up. Each time she started to fade, staring dazedly at a glass in hand, or a plate on a table, she'd shake her head and bring herself back to the present, like some wind-up toy kicking back into motion when it's almost wound completely down. "I swear to whoever there were totally not this many dishes this morning," she said by reflex, tossing a smile at anyone stopping by. "Okay, got another one coming to the kitchens! Are we clear yet out here?"

late in the evening!

[controlledvariable]

[As much as she could just steer Collette away from the cleaning up, that's not something Steph would ever be comfortable doing, but she is willing to take a plate out of Collette's hands as she passes.]

We're nearly done, but you're heading to bed.

[Before she falls asleep in her chair.]

[crocodilesmiles]

( The late reaction to what Steph has done only drives home Steph's point. Collette blinks at her empty hands for a second, momentarily perplexed. )

Huh?

before

[moralperil]

[It's not 40 cakes, but two cakes and two pies that Mahdi's brought to arrange. Apple and pumpkin seem to be the overlying themes.

Mahdi is also in a vibrant mood, wearing the purple dress stolen from 1890, with a few minor modifications to help it fit nicely. Maybe it's a little too dressy for something like this - but it's the nicest thing Mahdi owns (even if it's stolen property!) and more importantly, Mahdi is quite happy in it.]

There you are, Collette! You're orange.

[Mahdi leans in, offering a napkin.]

We weren't all supposed to be orange and I missed the memo, right?

[crocodilesmiles]

Hey!

( Collette says with a grin, obviously pausing and blinking as she takes Mahdi in. There's something odd, but it doesn't strike her as what straight away. Accepting the napkin she laughs, shaking her head. )

No, no, not at all. Besides, purple looks good on you! Orange is more the new thing of the moment for me.

( Which, being said, means a somewhat impish look creeps into her expression. If Mahdi's face is in reach, she'll dab a spot on him; but otherwise it remains merely an impish look. )

You've got pies!

towards the end

[lazyinlove]

Collette may be tired, but Allergies isn't! She's a nocturnal being, thank you very much. And anyway, there's food everywhere! She loves food.

She scrambles around, licking from plates, whether people are finished with them or not, and batting at sneakers. Or, in Collette's case, wheels.

Caught one!

[crocodilesmiles]

Small, fuzzy creatures are only on her radar because she's been one enough to always wonder in part if it isn't someone she should be watching out for. (The Yeerks could morph, after all, by the time she was in the war.)

This tiny ball of fluff grabs her attention as she notes movement by one wheel, Collette peering down with her brow furrowing before she snorts, leaning over and making to scoop the kitten up with one hand. "Hey, fuzzball, what do you think you're doing?"

during the feast

[blondtactician]

"Why did they decide against it?" Armin looks up from his food curiously. He's not at all familiar with turkeys, after all: apparently they are a food animal, and he's eaten it on more than one occasion, but he doesn't really have much idea what their life or behavior is like.

So many of these dishes are exotic to him, and he's trying to pace himself and not eat too much and get sick. It seems like Collette and food just kind of go together.

[crocodilesmiles]

Collette had a habit of associating herself with food. She hardly minded: food was delicious, necessary, and usually pretty good at securing people's attention and (at least) temporary friendship.

Armin's question brings a shrug in answer. "My guess is it wasn't majestic enough. Turkey's don't fly all high and regal or anything, and we eat them more than we eat anything fierce or pretty or imposing, like eagles and hawks and stuff." Not to mention certain associations with turkey's were anything but flattering. "Couldn't be because of how they sound, bald eagles sound like gulls!"

Given they were something of a seabird, or at least a bird that preferred to hunt in water, Collette isn't all that surprised. That Hollywood habitually lies about how they sound? Is more funny than it is bothersome.

Especially since she can turn into an eagle, and she knows exactly what she sounds like.

cleanup

[firstroar]

[he's going to keep his promise, regardless of how much less there's been to look forward to this occasion. Collette's feelings...and the optimism of those involved in this little shindig are important. they force him to move, give him something to react to that isn't weighted down in the direness of their situation.

it's just...hard. there's a very important person missing in all this – someone he was eager to share this particular occasion with. for her sake, he wanted to be present...and still, her sake is what made him show up at the last hour, even as he lingered rooms away simply grazing at the thoughts and feelings within.]

Here. [quietly, so as not to startle her as he moves up from behind. he takes to pulling the tablecloth away once she's lifted the last dish off of it.] You can leave the rest of this area to me.

[crocodilesmiles]

( Since getting back from the trip out for laundry, Collette's dreams have been slightly less frightening, but the nightmares remain. She distracts herself while awake, not confronted with visions of trapped morphs, dying friends, or the ruins of Exsilium mixed in with the aftermath of the Yeerk Pool explosion back home. It's a heady, unrestful bunch of things she ignores while awake.

She's thankful for that. It's kept her distracted from tracking the names of people come and gone -- she still hasn't seen the list for everyone here now -- but it means she misses on details like Physis having gone.

She'd like to know, to offer Blue some form of comfort. It's the unfortunate reality that she doesn't when she looks up at him, smiling a beat late out of tired gratitude over anything else. )

Are you sure? I can help.

( She continues to hold the last dish by her chest, as if she doesn't know what to do with it now that it's been liberated from the table's surface. )

During the feast

[ready_to_bloom]

[Caspian had arrived early, to help as needed with setup, since he had nothing to bring, and wanted to do what he could to earn his meal. He hasn't had a chance to speak to Collette yet, so when a seat opens up next to her during the feast, he slips into it, with a full plate.]

Hello Collette! This is a delightful meal. Thank you for doing all the organizing.

[crocodilesmiles]

Caspian!

( She grins, waving, even though he's right next to her, so it's hardly necessary. )

Have you had any of the tofurkey? It's pretty good! Anyway, don't thank me. It's definitely been a group effort! I just put out the word, that's all.

( She's one step away from glowing, happy and pleased with everyone who has shown up. It's just a nice... moment. everything about being here right now is a nice moment in time, one she hopes to treasure. )

during the feast

[phaseshifts]

[Well, well, look at this familiar face - remember him, Collette? He didn't disappear, didn't even have the kindness to do so for this friendly holiday. And his plate is loaded with free food.]

Good evening, missy!

[crocodilesmiles]

( Her shoulders tense at first, but then she relaxes -- not less wary, but highly reluctant to be stirred out of her very good mood and put into a slightly less good one by the presence of someone like Tyki Mikk. )

It's not missy! ( She sing-songs as a retort. ) It's Collette! Though it is a good evening, so I guess I'll forgive you this once.

winding down

[gevurah]

[ Kate doesn't feel tired for the second time on Thanksgiving (last year had been the first time). She's both thankful for the meal and arrangements, but guilty that she's spent so long here when she needs to be focusing on how to bring them back down to Earth, that way the next time Thanksgiving rolls around they're in the Hold or somewhere not in space. With better food.

She doesn't avoid Collette for the duration of the dinner, but she doesn't approach her until she's mostly alone. It's difficult to push how strained and upset Collette's voice was at the time out of her mind, but this cold shoulder she's thrown at her isn't right. She's screwed up with Renee and Renee's gone, and she doesn't want a repeat with Collette.

So she walks up to her when the noise level finally dies down and people are drowsy and stuffed and content with fond and warm, new memories. ]

You put this all together?

[crocodilesmiles]

( Kate isn't someone she expects to hear from. Collette's more used to that, especially with the adults here. They drifted further, faster, because it was difficult to hold friendships across these sorts of age divides. The boundaries, the defintions, were all messed up.

It'd happened a long time ago with Barnaby, had been happening with Miles, and others. Usually people from more modern times, where teens were kids, and kids were meant to be protected. It's not bad.

It just is.

So she isn't expecting to hear from Kate. That she does sends a sort of fizzle through her system, like a mild shock that has her sitting up straight and looking back around at Kate with wide, blinking eyes. For a moment she's Bambi, not sure what he's seeing outside the safety of his bramble patch, in the falling snows. Not sure what he's about to confront, but not about to have a say that he won't be doing it.

Then she smiles, head ducking down, eyes falling toward the ground. )

I just put the idea out there. It's everyone together who made it all happen! Really.

during!

[quackery]

[She's close enough to Collette during the dinner to hear what she says, and she grins.]

They have a national bird? That's so weird! Do most places do that? What did they choose instead?

[crocodilesmiles]

You know, I'm not sure if everywhere does or not. I think a lot of places might? I know every state has a bird, too, but I think it's a thing in other countries. Another way to show national pride?

( She honestly hasn't thought about why they have a national anything, or why it's different on a state level.

... Why must government be later on in highschool? )

during the feast!

[galactically]

[It's been a long time since Sheryl had seen a large feast, much less participated in one, but here she is all the same, sitting across from Collette with a small plate of turkey, rice, and stuffing. There's also another plate right next to hers, but one filled with cranberry jelly. The question about turkeys immediately evokes curiosity out of the idol singer, and with a slight tilt of her head, she looks on slightly wide-eyed.]

Are countries usually represented by birds? I didn't know the Earth had some weird customs...

[crocodilesmiles]

Birds, songs, flags, I think there might be flowers... countries are recognized by all sorts of things, where I'm from! Or when I'm from. Earth goes a lot of different ways in different places.

( She thinks on this for a moment before she snorts in laughter. )

Even my state has a specific bird to represent it. And a bear! And a flag! Probably a song, too, but I've never heard it.

during

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny was slightly more chipper than he had been lately, though it might be hard to tell. A bad mood certainly hasn't curbed his appetite any. He talks with a half-full mouth.]

The fuck? Why a turkey?

[crocodilesmiles]

Because unlike chickens, no one ever wonders why the cross the road?

( Straightface.

She is not history nerd enough at all to know why turkeys, Johnny, so instead, take jokes! )

after!

[awarlock]

[He doesn't attend these things. It's an earth custom and he's always known of these things but never experienced it himself, never felt the need. It's too much of earth, reminds him of things he left behind carelessly. But it's still good to see people coming together, in some sort of harmony, a sorely lacking thing in this universe.

He's drifting among what remains of this festival when he stumbles on to a girl, keeping herself on her feet through sheer force of will. At her question, he looks back.]

No, I'm afraid you have a long night ahead of you. Do you want a hand?

[He's already floating the next batch of dishes to the kitchen. Magic - use or it lose it.]

[crocodilesmiles]

Can I have about twelve? Six sets of arms right now would be really nice...

( She replies, hedging toward a bit of a dramatic sigh. her attention turns with her head, if not her wheels; Collette smiles a beat late at Adam. )

No way, more telekinesis?

( She gestures at the dishes, glancing down at the few she's pulled into her lap for a return trip to the kitchens.

Guy with cool powers is totally winning out over tired girl in wheelchair's dish count! )