youfeelluckypunk: (that presh face)
SSA Dr. Spencer Reid ([personal profile] youfeelluckypunk) wrote2015-11-14 10:24 pm

[turkey day, nov 21]

They've graciously been invited to Derek's Thanksgiving celebration on the actual day itself, but Reid had gotten to thinking after Luke had told him of the invitation that it would be nice to throw a small get-together of their own. Halloween at the bookstore had been a success, after all, and in spite of the fact that they'd been sent to a hellish version of Darrow for the next ten days, Reid had really enjoyed planning and decorating for the holiday with his boyfriend. In a way, it also serves as a bit of a housewarming, even if nobody else needs to know that. They've been officially living together for a week now, though the only real difference is that he's handed over his keys to the Dimera apartment back to the landlord.

Still, being able to call this apartment home, knowing that he gets to spend every night with the man he loves, it means something special to him, and he wants to share that sense of home with the rest of the people he cares about.

So he sends out texts to Alec and Magnus, Peter and Jason and Hild, telling them all to save the date for the twenty-first so they can have an early Thanksgiving celebration. Others are welcome, of course, and Reid suspects they'll have more than enough food because he'd made arrangements for one restaurant in particular (one that he visits often and had already been promoting take-out for Thanksgiving Day) to set him up with a turkey dinner early. There are all the expected fixings, though he'd ordered four turkeys because Luke still needs to eat more to make up for all the weight he'd lost in the alternate version of Darrow, plus a couple pumpkin pies and various other desserts strewn out across the table. The wine Peter had given to him on Halloween is out, available for consumption to those who want it, but Reid will be sticking to water tonight.

If anyone asks, he's been slaving away in the kitchen all day long, brewing coffee after coffee as he and Luke make sure everything looks nice and neat for their first Thanksgiving dinner together. The food is set out over the counter in the kitchen, china and utensils and glassware placed at the very end so people can take what they want and find a place to eat in the living room, where they've placed extra chairs, and it isn't until they hear the first knock at the door that Reid finally decides he's satisfied with the way everything looks.

Every single person who will be here tonight has been through so much, seen more than one person ever should, but tonight, Reid is just grateful that they're all still here.
no_voice: (Jason stare)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-11-18 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
Jason arrives with Peter, his stomach a tangle of mixed emotions. He's thrilled to be attending a holiday dinner hosted by Spencer and Luke; he's even more thrilled to be attending it with his boyfriend. Still, even with the sea of faces that Jason mostly knows by now, he can't help but feel just a bit apprehensive. He finds himself holding onto Peter for as long as he can, before Peter goes to set the dish down and catch up with one of the guests he knows.

Jason puts on a McConnell smile before making his way around the room, savoring the variety of smells hanging heavy and delicious in the air; he tries to find comfort from them as his main source of comfort smiles and dazzles the room with his cherub-smile and sparkling eyes.

Jason finds his way to the drinks and grabs a cider for himself, hoping his nerves don't show too obviously.
no_voice: (Jason)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-11-24 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
Jason is still acclimating to the atmosphere of the apartment, even after dinner. The coziness and warmth feel just like how home is supposed to feel, he thinks. This Thanksgiving is, in so many ways, the polar opposite of what he's used to with his family. Here, there are no stiff greetings. No false smiles and hard-earned praise carelessly dropped in between gulps of shitty alcohol. There are no discussions of Jason's golden future, or subtle digs at Nadia for her appearance. Jason has Peter with him, and they're among wonderful friends, all of whom Jason deeply appreciates. He sighs as he finishes his spiced cider, basking in the overwhelming contentment he feels.

And then Spencer approaches, offering him a chance at more delicious food, and how can he refuse?

"I will never say no to more dessert," Jason says, grinning as he makes to follow the other man. "Sounds great, man."
no_voice: (This charming man)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-11-28 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
Jason is relaxed, and full, enough so that he doesn't suspect that Reid could possibly be leading him into the kitchen for anything other than more helpings of dessert. He moves to lean against the counter when Reid takes up the knife, moving as if to slice the pie. He pauses, and Jason arches an eyebrow at him, curious. He tenses a bit, wondering what this could possibly be about.

"Oh yes," he says, visibly relaxing when Reid mentions his recent gift from the city. "I did. With my first paycheck, as it turns out. Funny how that worked out." It seems just odd enough that Jason might even consider it fate. Or destiny. Or whatever people called it nowadays. He stares when Spencer mentions how kind Peter and he have been, a bit blown away by the compliment. "You've been so kind to us. We're just repaying the favor, honestly."

Jason grins, catching sight of Reid's smile, and ducks his head in turn. It feels so much like the old banter between him and Nadia. Even as his heart aches for her, he's happy to have Spencer to help ease the pain of missing his sister.

"Well, lucky for you, I am happy to be bugged about college," Jason replies, feeling giddier than he's ever felt in his life. And not just because of the glass of wine he drank earlier, either.
no_voice: (acting is not my thing)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-12-01 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Jason grins, delighted at the sight of the pie before him. His seemingly endless stomach growls again in anticipation of the sweet, delicious dessert. Reid's chuckling also helps to put him at ease. Jason's always been popular, but he can count the number of true, earnest friends he has back home on one hand. Reid, Luke, and their friends, in turn, are helping for that number to grow. Jason can't help but smile.

"I was kind of considering history or English," Jason admits, taking his plate and toying a bit with the fork as he speaks. "I've always loved those subjects best, I think. I really can't stand math," he adds. His father had so many lofty expectations for him: doctor, lawyer, businessman. All of which felt like another knot in the tightening noose around his neck back home.

"I'll probably play it by ear, to start."
no_voice: (Romeo)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-12-05 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Mathematics?" Jason arches an eyebrow at him. His father would love for Jason to major in a subject like that. Mathematics. Economics. Business. Law. Medicine. Anything that proved useful towards setting up the continued tradition of McConnells throwing their money at everything in their path to cover their own, internal miseries. The thought of it had killed Jason. Now he's alive, and in Darrow, and he has a world of choices available to him now. "That's one of the possibilities my dad had wanted for me."

He goes a bit quiet, mentioning his father. Even discussing him with Peter causes Jason headaches and tension in his neck and shoulders.

He brightens again at the mention of Peter, though.

"Oh, yes," he nods, grinning wide. "We were talking about maybe taking a class together or something."
no_voice: (This charming man)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-12-07 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm sorry," Jason replies, nearly automatically. Terribly, a part of him wonders what his own life would have been like if his father had left their family. Probably no better off than it was back home; his mother, most likely, would have found new vices to drown herself in. And then Jason cringes, feeling guilty for the selfish urge when Reid was confiding him. "That must have been awful."

He knows, too well, what it's like to have a father that doesn't know or understands his own children, though.

"I lived with my dad and he still didn't know me. Doesn't know me," he corrects, realizing that, back home, he is still dead and buried while his father lives. It's an odd thought; he shovels a piece of delicious pie into his mouth in an attempt to rid himself of it.

"Me too," he adds quietly, thoughtfully, after he chews and swallows. "And I'm so glad I have Peter here with me, too."
high_warlock: (001)

[personal profile] high_warlock 2015-11-22 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
Magnus could see his nervousness from a mile away, but four hundred years of life made one sensitive to these things. All parties always had at least one person who did not feel at home, who wasn't in a celebratory mood, who felt as though he or she did not know anyone. In a party as intimate as this, Magnus had thought Alec would be the only one. He should have known better.

"So." Magnus sidled over as though to refill his glass of cider, but took up a spot standing beside the boy. "How many times have you had to listen to Lady Gaga?"
no_voice: (Romeo)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-11-24 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
Jason, when he first arrives, and Peter moves off to greet someone he knows, doesn't know what to make of the party. Not that he's a stranger to parties. Generally, the parties he's used to consist of flashing lights, pills slipped under tongues, and bombastic music. And when he's dragged along to family functions, those sorts of celebrations are cold and distant. This gathering is neither of those; Jason finds himself grabbing a cider as he tries to figure out how to maneuver this lesser known environment.

Jason turns when Magnus sidles up next to him, offering him a flash of a grin. "More times than I can count. It's okay, though. It was worth it."

He's met Magnus briefly in passing before; how could he not, when Peter spoke so highly of him? He feels a bit less like a wallflower now, with Peter's friend standing next to him.
high_warlock: (006)

[personal profile] high_warlock 2015-11-28 08:45 am (UTC)(link)
"You know, I don't know." Magnus wrinkled his nose thoughtfully, mulling over what was really worth a constant stream of Lady Gaga. He supposed if he was getting little makeout sessions out of it, he would put up with a lot. As it was, however... Peter wasn't putting out for Magnus. Magnus was just fine with that.

"Usually all I get out of it is the honor of making Peter food. And now an employee discount. It doesn't quite work out in my favor."
no_voice: (Jason stare)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-11-29 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Honestly, I've heard worse," Jason muses, swirling his drink a bit where it sits in his hand. "And Peter can make even crappy music bearable." He can't really object with more than a few, exaggerated pained faces when his boyfriend is singing and dancing around the kitchen. And squeaking as Jason keeps stealing kisses in between steps in the ingredients.

"Hey, Peter's food is pretty great," Jason points out, unable to resist standing up for him, as it where.
high_warlock: (014)

[personal profile] high_warlock 2015-12-08 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
Magnus felt a flash of something at that simple little comment: Peter makes crappy things bearable. Not quite jealousy, not quite fondness. No part of him begrudged Jason and Peter their young love, but... maybe he missed it, those rose-colored glasses that had made him feel sick years ago.

"So I've learned," Magnus drawled. "Tonight. Up to this point, he's only moaned about the Hot Pocket situation."

He paused to wrinkle his nose at Jason. "Really, though. Hot Pockets?"
no_voice: (Romeo)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-12-08 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hey, Hot Pockets are like, a full course meal when you don't have time to cook," Jason says, shrugging. He doesn't have Peter's talents in the kitchen; he relies on microwaves and food that cooks in under five minutes. Before Saint Cecilia's, he'd had the family help to cook for him. In his own apartment, Jason is very much a spoiled fish out of water when Peter isn't around to help him.

"It's that, or Slim Jims," he says, suddenly realizing how very much he still sounds like his old, jock persona from high school. He almost winces at the thought.
high_warlock: (002)

[personal profile] high_warlock 2015-12-09 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
He pulled a face, equal parts disgusted and judging, when Jason attempted to defend the honor of Hot Pockets. Magnus had eaten plenty of questionable things over his lifetime, including Hot Pockets, and he knew there were better options lurking in the freezer aisle.

He actually stuck out his tongue at the mention of Slim Jims. "How are you still alive?" Magnus marveled. "You poor boy. Did some priest tell you good food was evil?"
no_voice: (bare)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-12-10 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
Jason has to laugh at the judgemental look on Magnus' face; he's seen that look on Peter's face countless times before, and the familiarity of it is as comforting as it is amusing. "I take it you and Peter have been discussing my dietary habits?"

At the mention of the priest though, Jason stiffens. His shoulders tense and his posture immediately straightens, as his laughter fades and his facial expression hardens. Jason hates himself for such a reaction, even as he can't help it.

"I don't really give much weight to the advice of priests," he says with a shrug that he's perfected since the age of twelve.
high_warlock: (002)

[personal profile] high_warlock 2015-12-15 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
Magnus' eyes widened fractionally at the change in Jason's demeanor. It wasn't surprising to see, but Magnus had hardened himself to the worthless opinions of the religious ages and ages ago. He forgot what it was like to be young and to care, to let anyone's opinion truly affect him.

"Nor should you," he continued smoothly, pretending to ignore the hitch in Jason's sunny disposition. "Especially in food. They eat cardboard bread and drink poor wine every week." Magnus wrinkled his nose. "A step below Slim Jims in my opinion."
no_voice: (acting is not my thing)

[personal profile] no_voice 2015-12-18 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
Jason ducks his head and bites on his lip, shame creeping throughout his bones for having such a strong reaction. He can't help it, though. He still remembers that cold, awful night. He still remembers banging on the door of the confessional, begging for the priest to let him in. And he still wakes up at night, covered in sweat, from the memory of the priest refusing him.

He does manage a smile at Magnus' response, grateful for it. "And not even, like, good poor wine, you know?" He asks. His heart is still heavy, but this banter with Magnus helps. "And is it actually made of cardboard? I've always wondered about that."