If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share. [Thanksgiving Day in the City]

[gloriouscurse]

Never had Regina had an abundance to be thankful for. Henry, of course, she was glad every day for him. Under the curse they'd had this holiday together, though it had always been just them, and after it broke the holidays had fallen to the wayside as event after event happened in Storybrooke. Then there was the year spent back in the forest, and though everyone knew what it was, there hadn't been much to celebrate. Or if anyone had, Regina certainly hadn't taken part in the festivities. She'd had nothing but newfound vengeance. In her life before, there was no such thing as 'Thanksgiving' and the last large meal she'd had, the last grand gathering, had been the king's birthday and she couldn't have cared less if she tried.

This year is different. This year there's family and friends of the family and things to celebrate. There's Henry getting to have a holiday with all three of his parents, there's Robin and Roland and a happiness that has managed to settle into Regina's belly and slowly allow her to relax. She hasn't had a terrible dream in weeks, and maybe she's started to let herself believe that this could be how her life is. She finds herself wanting it, the warmth Cora's home never allowed for, the laughter she's denied herself, and so she works hard at it, cooking and baking. Henry's with her in the kitchen in the morning after spending the day before hunting wild turkey with Robin. There are appetizers out by eleven: parmesan and cream cheese pumpkin puffs, deviled eggs and veggies with homemade dip. The wine and drinks are flowing by noon, and at three, dinner is served with traditional fare: turkey and stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, real cranberry sauce and everything in between. She'd urged her guests to bring food they enjoyed too. Dessert is during mid-cleanup and includes Henry's no-bake pumpkin pie, an apple pie, pecan, and sweet potato.

The dull chatter in the room, the occasional laughter and the noise of whatever people watched on television during Thanksgiving all lended itself to make her step back and watch for a moment, eyes suspiciously damp. She's truly thankful, because she never thought she'd have this.

[ooc: Treat as gathering! Lots of mingling and tagging one another.]

Comments

OTA

[gloriouscurse]

She has to take a moment to herself, to lean against the wall of her bedroom to simply take in everything that's happened, to let herself smile like an idiot and take off her heels just to flex her toes. She's in a nice dress, not too formal, and red because she knows Robin likes it. Plus, it fits with autumn, she thinks.

When she emerges again she sneaks a bite of food and mingles, wine glass in hand, looking for baby Neal to hold for a little while, and taking in new faces of people she doesn't know after spending time with her family.

Re: OTA

[infamousdelsin]

"This is, uh. This is amazing."

He approaches her a little tentatively — he doesn't want to startle her — smiles. "Seriously. Thanks for letting Emma invite me and Liz."

He's wearing the same dark red button up he'd worn on his date with Elizabeth, and some black jeans. In the interest of at least looking dressed up, he'd ditched the beanie and combed his hair back off his forehead. He feels a little out of place in his own skin, but he's okay with that if it means spending time with the people in his life here that he cares about.

[wanttobeahero]

When there's a lull in conversation with some of his friends, Henry wanders a bit, checking on his family - the family that's grown a lot recently - and he smiles when he sees his mom. Just to be funny, he grabs a wine glass, too, but pours in some sparkling cider, and then comes up beside her, sipping at the cider slowly.

"Pretty good wine," he says, so seriously. "Great vintage." He's...heard that somewhere.

[exitthewallflower]

"Is there anything I can help with?" I feel a little guilty, seeing all of this and knowing I had nothing to do with it. And I know how much work this takes, because Dad and I did for years on our own. It was as big a deal as we could make it, in the beginning it was to keep some sense of normalcy after Mom left and after JJ, well, for a little while it was an act of desperation. Sometimes, Dad had to work, so we'd do it the day, the week before or after Thanksgiving, but we always did it and in time, it became our thing.

"I mean anything. Even dishes. I'm great at dishes."

[hitsuzensei]

Wearing a high quality kimono and bringing a box of delicate Japanese confections in hand, Yuuko makes her way over to Regina's Thanksgiving celebration, knowing that she wants nothing more than to enjoy the time with close friends. While she hasn't celebrated Thanksgiving on the traditional American timing in years, there's something about the warmth that she's always appreciated.

"Thank you for inviting me to dinner," she greets Regina once she finds the other woman with a moment to spare.

[ghost_holder]

Aggie knew she hadn't been required to bring anything, but hadn't felt right arriving empty-handed, so she'd brought corn bread made similar to the way her mother had taught. She'd lightened the recipe with a little more sugar and some baking soda for leavening, making it a bit sweeter and less dense.

Smiling, she waves a little at he assembled friends. "Hello, happy Thanksgiving."

[wanttobeahero]

The moment he spots Aggie, Henry makes his way over to her quickly, so glad she's here. And he just gives her a hug, a bright grin on his face. "Happy Thanksgiving, Aggie. You brought...corn bread?"

He loves corn bread.

[exitthewallflower]

In my hands are a couple of bottles of wine to contribute to this shindig, but I let Aggie take the lead. These are her people, after all, I'm just here to get to know them. They're her friends and an important part of her life and that makes them important to me.

I just wish Dad could be here to see it. He'd really like Aggie.

"Come on, kiddo, let's find a place to put your corn bread."

[onewhoisall]

The shadow of something dark moved outside. Pausing at a window, two glove covered fingertips tapped the window to alert Aggie to her presence. Wiggling her fingers in silent greeting, she bent and placed down the candied yams on the windowsill. Unfolding the black bat calling card, she left it with a note for Babs and Aggie.

Work. Sorry. Tell Babs Welacks relacks- relax.
-BATGIRL

Smiling beneath the mask, she took a step backwards and fell off the ledge before her line snapped taut and she was flying clear through the air. Most people could take the time off to be with their family but not Cass, she'd work so no one else had to.

[infamousdelsin]

"Ah, I'll settle for 'damn, the food smells great,' " Delsin says with a nervous laugh. He's fine celebrating the holiday with Emma and her family, who are so far removed from the history of the holiday, but he'd sort of forgotten that people who knew about it would be here.

[hitsuzensei]

The kimono that Yuuko wears may be anything but traditional, but the sweets that she brings to dinner are, even if they aren't what might traditionally be expected at an American style Thanksgiving.

Still, Yuuko's always loved mixing a bit of the unfamiliar in whenever possible.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Agatha," she replies in turn, lowering the dish that she has in hand. "Care for a sweet?"

[thiefwithhonor]

While the holiday was something he'd never experienced before, Regina's interest in celebrating it was truly enough for him. A feast was a feast in the end, and he had been glad to have been able to spend a bit of time with Henry, showing him how to properly hunt. It'd been enjoyable, as was the party now.

With Roland off speaking to others, Robin took the time to speak to some of the guests and try to help lighten the load of hosting Regina had put upon herself.

"Can I get you anything?" he offered a person about to pass by him.

[cassidyneal]

Neal turned when he heard Robin's voice, seeing him again for the first time since the Enchanted Forest. Their debts may have been square but Robin's kid was the only way Neal was able to save his own and to him, that was a pretty big damn deal. So, it was with a smile that he greeted Robin.

"No, man, I'm good," he replied, then went in for a handshake that turned ito a brotherly hug, clapping him once on the back before letting go. "This was a great meal. Heard you took Henry hunting."

[imcoraline]

"Um, what are the weird potato things with marshmallows on the top?" Coraline asked curiously, her nose wrinkled at the very idea of eating it. Poking it she made a face as it made a gloop noise, nothing should make a gloop noise especially if you were about to eat it. "Um, I'm not sure if I want to know. Is this American food?"

[gloriouscurse]

She'd been on the move since six in the morning and now that everyone was satisfied after dessert and some had gone but there were plenty still mingling, she decided to let herself finally sit. Her one track mind was on curling up on the couch, so it was Robin's voice that made her realize she was about to go right by him.

Pausing, she stepped back and in front of him, wrapping her arms around his waist loosely. "A moment with you should suffice," Regina said with a tired but satisfied smile.

[hitsuzensei]

There was one person in specific that Yuuko was quite interested in meeting at this Thanksgiving dinner. Without a picture to go on, it took some careful listening and watching before she pinpointed the man she was looking for, and she made her way over in a smile, dressed in an elaborate kimono, and with a cup of tea in hand.

"Actually, yes. I've been meaning to introduce myself for some time, having gotten to know Regina well over the past months and considering her one of my closest friends. Ichihara Yuuko," she said, her voice sweet as she held out a hand. "And am I to believe that you are Robin?"

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth, admittedly, did not know too many people at the party. But Delsin had invited her along, and she wasn't going to say no to joining him at a holiday when he wanted her to be there. Holidays in general still felt new to her, even though she'd been around to see most of them in the city now. She understood the general idea of it, of enjoying the company of family and friends, which she liked to think was enough no matter what she went to.

It was perhaps that knowledge that she found herself a bit distracted. It'd been ages since she'd talked to Booker, and a part of her felt like perhaps she could just - perhaps she could try to send him a message on the phone, at least. Delsin had left to go get some food a bit ago, and she found herself, for the moment, sitting on one of the couches. It seemed as good a time as any to try to put together a small text, so she took out her phone and was about to begin typing. A few moments later, she noticed someone looking like they were needing a seat.

"Do you need me to move over?" she asked with a quick smile, already shifting a little just in case. There was more than enough room for one more.

[storybrooke_savior]

"No, I'm okay." Emma actually had a very specific purpose for approaching one of the only strangers at dinner. She smiled slightly and offered her hand. "I'm Emma. I'm guessing you're Elizabeth? Delsin's girlfriend?"

[cassidyneal]

There's a part of Neal trying to make this as non-awkward for Emma and Henry as possible. Which mostly means staying out of the way. Henry's got friends here so he hangs back, lets him do his thing. The food is great though, it's fantastic, and he has no problem digging into everything and making small talk with people.

After dessert, he's pouring himself some kind of fancy after dinner drink Regina made and feels someone beside him. "Can I pour you one?"

[exitthewallflower]

"Please. And thanks." I remember the introductions at the beginning of the meal, made person to person and not all of them me, but I think his name is Neal and beyond that I'm reaching. No, wait, isn't he someone's father? Aggie's friend Henry? Yes, he's Henry's father, which is awesome because I want to know Henry's parents now that he and Aggie have become friends.

But I should make sure in case my impressive memory is less so today. "You're Henry's father, right?"

[storybrooke_savior]

Emma had gotten there early enough to give Regina a hand with the massive amount of food, but given her mediocre skills in the kitchen, she'd been relegated to sous chef duties only. That was fine with her, honestly. She might not have an eye for spices, but she could chop, snap, and stir with the best of them.

With Regina in such high spirits, and the warm, homey scents of good food filling the whole apartment, it was easy to find the holiday spirit (even if Emma had been very, very insistent that they distance themselves from the actual origins of the holiday). She even accepted a glass of apple cider from Regina to go with her pie (pecan, not apple--for Emma, pretty much all apple pastries were forever ruined) and found a spot on the couch to curl up after the food had been demolished. She should've probably offered to help with dishes. Maybe she would in a minute. But for the moment she felt too full and sleepy and content to uncurl from the cozy spot she'd claimed as her own.

[infamousdelsin]

Delsin flops down onto the couch next to her and lets out a loud, contented sigh. "Hey, whoa, come on, you can't sleep yet!" he says when he sees how comfortable she looks. "Food comas are for after all the guests are gone. Or, so I've heard." He's looking pretty content himself, though, eyes and cheeks warm with some kind of seasonal beer that settles in his belly amidst the — holy shit, amazing — food.

[childofstorm]

Daenerys would've liked to have contributed to the dinner she had been invited to (for yet another holiday she knew nothing about) but alas, she hadn't the first clue how to cook anything. She would have brought a bottle of wine, but unfortunately she was 'underage' (the most ludicrous thing she'd been told thus far here in the city), so instead she brought a pretty basket of flowers in warm autumn colors.

There was a great deal of food, not quite as large and sprawling as Dany's wedding feast had been, but still, it was impressive, and quite tasty. Some of the foods Daenerys recognized, and some she didn't, like the dish full of a sweet, bright orange paste. "What is this?" she asked her closest neighbor, pointing to the sweet potato casserole. "It's delicious, I'd like to remember what it is, for the future."

OTA

[exitthewallflower]

Aggie insisted in bringing cornbread and I certainly wasn't going to argue with her, she was so serious about it. And honestly, I was kind of proud of her for it. She was making great friends and being invited to something like this proved it, I just felt a little guilty about ducking away from from my other friends. I'd have to disappear at some point to go see them, but for now Aggie was what was most important.

She was my family, too.

So I bring wine for the hosts, because after putting something like this together, someone's going to need the drink. Setting the wrapped bottles, one white, one red, on a clear spot I look around. God, I wish Dad could see this. Could see me and Aggie, pulling it together, making it work like he and I did after Mom left and JJ...

Okay, this isn't what I'm supposed to be thinking about, not on a holiday. I take a deep breath and look around, wondering how gauche it is to open the wine you brought for the hosts. And where are the hosts, anyway?

Re: OTA

[gloriouscurse]

Regina's holding baby Neal in her arms, trying to give David a break when she sees someone arrive who doesn't seem to know whether she wants to drink or leave. So, she approaches and fixes her with a soft smile, the few months old baby cradled in her arms.

"Feel free to help yourself to anything. There's a bottle opener in the kitchen lying on the counter next to the fridge. I'm Regina, by the way. One of Henry's mothers." She just assumes that any females she meets today will know her son.

[imcoraline]

Coraline hesitated at the door before finally entering. Smiling nervously as she looked around, she looked out for Emma and Henry and Regina before spotting newer faces she knew like Henry's dad. Looking to hand off the- very burnt- cake to someone, Coraline stuck to the outer edges of the gathering. Wishing for a very long moment that her family was here but grateful for the friends she at least had. Maybe she'd text Malia.

[storybrooke_savior]

"Hey, you're all tall again," Emma remarked as she accepted the cake (which looked about like something Emma would've baked, which unfortunately was not complimentary, but ah well) from Coraline.

OTA

[princehonorable]

It's not as bad as it could be when David imagined a great big family gathering -- they're missing a lot of branches, after all -- but as he settles Neal into his carrier on the table, he still feels a slight amount of worry that something might not go completely right. He's hardly Snow and doesn't do much cooking, but he'd picked up a bottle of white wine and a bottle of scotch and hopes that'll be good enough. And now, after checking on Neal, he's pouring himself a glass from the Scotch to take a small edge off the worry.

Private to Henry

[cassidyneal]

Neal's just kind of been watching his kid and the way he interacts with his moms and his friends, and it's not that he feels like an outside - even though he really, honest to God is - it's that they know him in a way he doesn't, and he knows them in a way that never happened. Regina gives him a look when he's putting more meat than vegetables on his plate, Emma sneaks him extra marshmallows on top of the sweet potatoes, and even though Regina sees it she lets it go. They're all in sync, and Neal's across and kind of to the left and just watching.

At least he gets to do that, now. Take his kid in, look at the way his friends want for his attention before and after dinner (And wow, Emma wasn't lying, they're all girls), and realizes he's missed out on a hell of a lot, and he'll miss out on a hell of a lot more.

Still, he has to make the most of it, right?

After dinner, when there seems to be a lull in the video gaming in the living room, Neal puts a hand on Henry's shoulder. "Hey, I haven't had the chance to really say it yet, but your pumpkin pie was pretty good. I think I hate half of it on my own." His smile is warm, arm turned out a little in case it's not too unmanly yet to hug his old man in front of company.

[wanttobeahero]

Henry hasn't spent that much time with his dad in the last few weeks; he's not deliberately avoiding him, he's just been trying to sort through his messy emotions and feelings about everything, not wanting to say anything that might accidentally hurt his dad in the process, either. But he's feeling better now, and seeing him here at Thanksgiving is the best.

He doesn't even hesitate to hug him back. "I'm glad you liked it," he smiles, not needing to really look up at him much anymore. "I kind of wanna try cooking more, it's fun."