Special Episode 2: The Silver Lining of Thanksgiving

"Okay, Lenox, you ready?"

"Y-Yes."

"You know you don't have to do this if you don't want to, right?"

"I know, Oli. I-I want to do this for you."

Oliver nods. "As long as you're sure." he says. "This might hurt a little bit."

Lenox lets out a shaky breath and nods in determination. "I'm ready." she says.

Oliver nods and picks it up. "Remember, no one will know it's you if you scream-" he pauses. "Do you even know how to scream, Lenny?"

Lenox blushes furiously. "Just do it, Oli!" she cries, embarrassed.

"Right, right, sorry." Oliver says and does as he's told. "Oh. That was easier than I thought it'd be." he says and takes a step back. "Damn. You make a nice turkey, Len."

Lenox just grumbles from inside the giant turkey costume. She's doing this because she's whipped for her pretty boy Guild Master, not because she wants to. God is that turkey costume stuffy.

It's Thanksgiving in Wisteria - a relatively new holiday for the villagers but they figured they'd attempt celebrating it anyways. After all, what bad things can happen during a holiday about giving thanks?

Part of the information the village council received expressed something about turkeys being a staple of the holiday. Nobody knew exactly what they were supposed to do with a turkey - eat it, worship it, whatever. In the end the council decided that the turkey functioned in the same way as Santa Claus. In the same way that Santa collects and grants your wishes, the turkey will hear your thanks and...do something with it. The council hasn't thought that far ahead.

Thanksgiving was actually supposed to be last month but everytime they brought in a turkey to speak their thanks to, they panicked and started pecking at the villagers. They attempted this many times over the past week but were continuously unlucky in their attempts to calm each turkey. Their new solution was their Mage guild: Silver Sabelum. They submitted a formal request and when Oliver offered the solution of dressing up as a turkey, the council immediately agreed.

Unfortunately when the turkey costume arrived, it was much too small for Oliver so he turned to his closest confidant and smaller guildmate, Lenox. It was still a bit tight on her but she actually fits in the costume. Just a touch of Illusion Magic from an adept councilor and as far as the citizens of Wisteria are concerned, they finally have a turkey to whisper their thanks to.

Oliver perks up when he hears someone enter their guildhall. "That should be the councilor." he says. "Wait right here, Lenny."

Lenox sighs. "Like I can go anywhere else without help…"

With Lenox's costume under the effect of the councilor's Illusion Magic, Oliver carefully guides Lenox out of the guildhall and to the center of town where everyone else is waiting. After another councilor convinces Oliver to let them guide Lenox the rest of the way so they can begin the proceedings immediately.

Oliver goes to stand off a little ways off from the rest of the villagers and contently listens to the council ramble on about 'finally finding the perfect turkey' and more information about the new holiday. He jumps when he suddenly feels an arm sling itself around his shoulder.

"So, where'd you get the costume?"

Oliver sighs when he sees it's just Saul. "Oh, it's just you."

Saul's jaw drops in faux offense. "'Just' me? I'm hurt, Master. I expected this from Akito or Koz, but you?" he asks, clutching his chest with his free hand. "Woe is me."

Oliver rolls his eyes and turns his gaze back to costumed Lenox and the councilor. "You can see through the illusion, can't you?" he asks Saul, changing the subject.

Saul scoffs, "Of course I can." he says. "The councilor may be able to perform an...interesting type of Illusion Magic but I've seen better." he says. "And he's nothing compared to trained, practicing Mages after all. I'm sure everyone else in the guild can see through this petty illusion, too."

"Cool story bro. Still not promoting you to S-Class until you earn it."

Saul huffs and takes his arm off of Oliver. "Boring." he sighs and drops to the floor beside Oliver. "Where's the shortstack? It's always fun messing with her."

"Oh, she hasn't been introduced yet so she won't be making an appearance this chapter." Oliver says. "It wouldn't be right if her first appearance was in a special chapter, y'know?"

Saul looks at Oliver like he has two heads. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Nevermind." Oliver says. "Anyways, are you gonna whisper your thanks to the turkey?" he asks.

"No-"

"I heard the council will do something special for those who do."

"...Well when you put it like that." Saul says, standing back up and stretching. "Maybe I'll pay Lenox a little visit." he says. "How did you even get her to put that on anyways? I know she'll do a lot for you but man is this something. I can't imagine how uncomfortable she is." Saul says, a look of genuine pity crossing his face for a split second.

Oliver smiles cluelessly. "I know right? She's so helpful!" he says happily. "I have to get her a present as thanks."

Saul stares at him, dumbfounded. "You really still don't know…" he mumbles under his breath and sighs again. "You're lucky you're pretty, Master." Saul says, patting Oliver on the shoulder before heading towards the line of people waiting to speak with 'the turkey'.

Oliver frowns, patting his head and face self consciously. "Pretty…? I can't tell if that's a bad thing coming from him…" his attention is drawn elsewhere when he sees Koz walking away from Lenox. Was he in line to talk to her? "Koz! Hey!"

Koz stops, looking around confusedly.

"K-Koz it's me-"

Koz looks in the opposite direction.

"No the other side-"

Koz looks up.

"No-"

Koz sighs and turns towards the sound of Oliver's voice. "What?" he asks, annoyed.

Oliver pouts. "I just wanted to talk." he says. "Did you talk to Lenox?"

"Lenox?" Koz questions, heading towards Oliver and stopping in front of him. "No, I haven't seen her all day." he says. "I was in line for the turkey."

Oliver pauses and looks at Koz strangely. Does he not know we were contracted to…? Oliver bites his tongue and smiles. He really believes in that turkey nonsense, huh. And I guess he can't really see through the illusion either.

Koz starts tapping his foot impatiently. "Is that all you wanted to talk about?" he asks. "I have to go get ready for that mission I asked about yesterday." he says.

Oliver shakes his head. "No, uh, one more thing. What'd you tell the turkey?" he asks.

Koz scoffs and snarls at him. "That's none of your fu-" he stops himself and sighs, rubbing his temples. "Frankly, that's none of your business, Master. Now if you'll excuse me." he says, bows stiffly, and stalks off.

"He told the turkey he was thankful for you and the guild." comes the familiar, emotionless voice of Akito in Oliver's ear.

Oliver isn't even fazed by his sudden appearance. He's more than used to Akito's...odd ways at this point. Akito is the first and only Mage Oliver has promoted to S-Class so far and although the blond can be a little off putting at times, he's more than earned the promotion.

Oliver smiles as Akito comes to sit down on the grass beside him. "Don't let Koz hear that you were eavesdropping on him." Oliver warns jokingly. "He'll turn that anger and pottymouth on you."

Akito shrugs. "Koz doesn't bother me." he says. "I've been practicing a new spell that lets me hide in the shadows - that's how I was listening in on Koz's conversation with Lenox." he explains.

Oliver rolls his eyes goodnaturedly. "Of course you can see through the illusion." he says.

"The illusion is poorly made." Akito says with a yawn. "Koz would've been able to see through it too if he could actually see."

"Right. Are you going to talk to Lenox?"

"I did. I told her I was thankful for all the books she brings to the guild." Akito says with a rare smile. "I think I freaked her out when I didn't refer to her as a turkey."

"Of course you did." Oliver says with a sigh, shaking his head. "Anyways, I know there's not a lot of us in the village right now but I thought Kyza was here. Have you seen him around?" he asks.

Akito nods and starts picking at the grass. "He's behind the guild sparring with Seprino." he says. "Something about needing something to do until he makes his next appearance in the canon story."

"Ah, of course of course." Oliver nods in understanding. "Speaking of the canon story, did you know that you're going to play a part in the next arc?" he asks. "It involves that mission I spoke about in the ninth episode."

"Cool." Akito says. "Does it have anything to do with that topic I'm interested in?"

"Indeed it does, Akito. But enough about the fourth wall - how long are you planning on staying this time?" Oliver asks.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. Koz and I are catching the train to Veneto."

"Koz is willingly taking the train?" Oliver asks, surprised.

Akito nods. "I told him to take the train or I'd take away what vision he has left."

"..."

"..."

"...Happy Thanksgiving, Akito."

PF x AH x SS

A/N i just thought i'd put this back up now that it's thanksgiving again :catch: if you don't know what i'm talking about ignore me and enjoy

happy turkey day

also

the next chapter may or may not be another special (a new one this time) because the chapter i'm working on isn't really a chapter but it's thicc and it needs to be done

you'll see