Holiday Special #4: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time for family. For some, family is defined by chance of birth. The whole New Wave movement was one big family, eight parahumans bound by blood and marriage. For others, family is defined by choice. Vista, Kid Win, and Clockblocker, for instance, were far closer to each other than their relatives. And some… have no choice. Case 53s have no recollection of who they've left behind. But some of them make the best of it.
Faultline's Crew was a family. Newter was the horny teen cousin with some bad habits and a string of druggie girlfriends. Elle was the sweet, talented, damaged niece everyone wanted to protect. Spitfire was like her overprotective big sister. Gregor was the Zen uncle, kind and insightful, and underappreciated by those outside the family. As his girlfriend, Shamrock was like a new aunt: no one was sure if she was really as cool as she seemed or if she was just trying hard to impress Gregor's family. And Faultline was the clear matriarch of the family, mother and guardian to them all.
It really said a lot about the kinds of bonds that had been formed over the last few months that Lady Bug and Beetle Knight were invited to the Palaquin for Thanksgiving Day. Taylor's much-celebrated [Cooking] skill produced the finest green beans, mashed potatoes, and homemade cranberry sauce Brockton Bay, if not all of Massachusetts, had ever seen. While not as well-known, James' significant [Baking] experience allowed him to bring several sublime pies: pumpkin, pecan, and not-derby. And rolls. Can't have Thanksgiving without rolls.
The bird itself was put together by the Crew. Gregor handled basting, professing his affinity for fluid concoctions. Shamrock provided stuffing she claimed 'just fell together'. Spitfire handled the roasting in her own style. Faultline herself oversaw the whole operation. Labyrinth and especially Newter had the most important job of all - staying the hell away from the food prep.
All-in-all, the dinner came out beautifully. The Palaquin, empty of patrons for the holiday, provided a surprisingly dignified setting. The usual cheap dishes used by potentially unruly guests were replaced by Faultline's private set: elegant, unbreakable Tinker-tech porcelain plates and tableware.
The thanks were trite and highly ritualized. While everyone there had much to be thankful for, some wounds are just too fresh. They all knew what was left unsaid.
"Alright, enough of that!" Newter held out an orange hand. "Pass the fucking rolls!"
As the dishes were passed around the table, James finally noticed that something was off. Greg, Spitfire, Shamrock, Faultline, and even the mostly lucid Elle were wearing rubber gloves. As he tried to puzzle out the meaning of it, he felt an inquisitive hand slid under his shirt.
"Hey, Jam- Oops!" The half-masks they wore for this occasion did nothing to hide the dopey grin on Taylor's face as she giggled. "Did I eva shay jus' how rip'd yer gitn?"
[New Quest Alert: Dinner with the Crew]
[Avoid handling any dishes Newter has touched]
[Reward: 150,000 XP, Increased Reputation with Faultline's Crew]
[Failure: Loss of Reputation with Faultline's Crew, wicked drug trip]
[Bonus Goal: Protect your virtue]
[Bonus Reward: Increased Reputation with Taylor Hebert]