Stark Thanksgiving

November 29, 2014:

Pepper organizes Thanksgiving dinner

Stark Tower Penthouse

The penthouse in Stark Tower, it's not just for drunken binges anymore.

Characters

NPCs: Rex

Mentions:

Mood Music: None.


Fade In…

It's Thursday. Thanksgiving day. Stark Industries, being the progressive company that it is, has given all of its employees both Thursday and Friday off to celebrate the holiday. So one would think that Pepper would be home relaxing. But no, it's not in her to do that. So, bright and early Thursday morning — okay maybe not so early, it's more like 9am — Pepper arrives at Tony's penthouse floor in Stark Tower to start cooking probably the largest meal she's ever attempted to assemble. She knew her apartment and kitchen would not be nearly big enough for her plans, so she'd previously asked Tony for permission to cook here.

Setting a bag of last minute groceries she purchased on her way over on the kitchen counter, she takes a moment to shed her coat and sweater before starting to get everything ready for some serious cooking.

Oh, and her t-shirt revealed by the removed sweater? It's a rather unflattering shade of lurid green and has printed on the front in big, friendly letters, "Don't Panic".

-

A Way opens near Pepper and a tall, lean faced man steps through with a smile and some additional odds and ends. Gifts for the spread. "Miss Potts." The God-Wolf smiles. That a God-Wolf should celebrate Thanksgiving might strike some as add, but then he's celebrated a lot of holidays in his two thousand plus years on planet. This one is no stranger than any others.

-

When Dana Hunt arrives, she does so in a less spectacular fashion than the Great Wolf. Indeed, she uses the lift and knocks on the door — for all that JARVIS doubtlessly announces her arrival well before she steps foot on the lift. Rex pads openly beside her, an overgrown white german shepherd to anyone not 'in the know'. She carries a large basket on her back, secured with leather straps and covered with a finely tooled leather flap that buckles the whole contraption closed behind her. It's like a round, wicker backpack, really, fashioned of supple willow, the tooled and knotted hide fashioned from a breed of stag not commonly found in the so-called mundane world much these days. Of course, the woman also carries her ubiquitous satchel with her, on her hip, but the basket contains her own gifts for the feast… courtesy of Wassea, of course.

-

Ever since the night prior Jason's not left his room often, except to do his job when absolutely necessary. He's been a bit distant a bit quiet, and more then a bit too himself something having him set off. Though he's at the moment doing his best to help set out and take care of the groceries, working magic with the knife in his other hand on a small selection of carrots.

-

Pepper Potts looks over as Fenris arrives in his usual manner. "Hello, Fenris. You know, it's a good thing that JARVIS knows what your teleportation signature looks like, or he might get a complex from you just appearing like that." She's not scolding seriously, though, and sets up a nice little assembly line of freshly washed vegetables for Lucky-Ginsu-Master to slice and dice. He's WAY more efficient about it than she is.

JARVIS did indeed announce Rune's impending arrival, but not that she'd be toting an honest to goodness BASKET on her back. The sight is so incongruous to anything Pepper is used to that she stops with the already thawed turkey in its tray in her arms and frankly stares for a moment. "Wow. Where can I get a pack like that?" Geeking out, check.

-

Fenris grins. "Well, we can't have Jarvis getting a complex now, can we?" He sets down a small cask of… something he doesn't want Lucky getting into until the man is done with the knives. Murdering him so that he can regrow a digit is not in the spirit of the holidays. "Hello Miss Hunt, Lucky. Nice to see you both."

-

"You're welcome to this one," Dana says to Pepper with a smile. She anticipated the geek-out. (She's seen her taste in textiles.) "Consider it a hostess gift." A beat. "The gifts inside are from Mom and Wassea." Because Dana isn't nearly the cook either of them are. (Her skills with cutlery lean more towards the butcher's art than the chef's.)

She smiles then to the others. "Old Wolf," she greets Fenris, a more formal — but less courtly — nod accompanying her smile… a courtesy she then extends to Lucky and whomever else she spies as well.

Setting the large basket down, she opens the flap and draws out a pair of sizable, old bottles, different contents in each, handful of large, silvery leaves wrapped about several smaller sachets of dried leaves, a pair of nutty bread loaves fresh from Wassea's kitchen, honey from the garden, and a rich, old cheese, made in a style centuries old.

-

Once people start to arrive, Cricket leaves her office. Being more then human has its advantages, that being that she and Jarvis can work pretty much 24/7 without the need to rest. However, it would seem that Pepper told Jarvis not to work with her after 9am on Thursday since it was a holiday. Of course, that doesn't stop the workaholic robot from bring her everpresent tablet with her. As she comes up from the stairs… why a robot would take the stairs, since her figure isn't dictated by diet or exercise, one might ask… she is looking at her tablet, her fingers flying. "Ms. Potts, I have downloaded several recipes and traditions for this holiday and feel that I am well prepared for any contingency that may be required," she says as way of announcing her arrival. She looks over to those that entered via the elevator and smiles, nodding her head in welcome.

-

There's a great deal of speed and precision in Jason's movements as he cuts away mincing up some vegetables for soup, cutting others into slim shavings. His focus is heavy on the task at hand as he works with his usual dour expression, occasionaly offering a small nod of his head

-

Pepper Potts winces and hefts the positively huge turkey onto the counter next to the industrial-quality oven before reaching to start the appliance pre-heating. "Wait, really?" she replies to Dana's telling her she can keep the basket. She's THIS close to squeeing about it. "There's a warming oven over here, Dana, if you want to keep the bread toasty, and … oh thank god, Cricket, you're a life saver. Did you find a good stuffing recipe? I had no idea what to buy but I sure as heck didn't want to use something out of a box." She brandishes a good-sized soup pot from one of the many cupboards and puts one hand on Lucky's shoulder to keep him from wandering too far off into his mind before starting to pile the already chopped for soup veggies into the pot. "Fenris, how good are you at shredding lettuce?" Yup, you get here early, you get conscripted into helping.

-

Fenris chuckles and plucks his necklace off his neck. Usually it turns into a sword. Today it becomes a kitchen knife and he starts to shred. He's fairly good at it too. Hey, you don't live for two thousand years without learning how to cook at least a little. He's not exactly the eternal batchelor here (there are other gods for that.)

-

Cricket beams a smile to her boss and nods her head. "I found several that seem adequate. I also found one for a brocoli and mushroom casserole that I would like to try. She walks over to the kitchen, placing a hand on Lucky's shoulder to say hello before she goes to grab the loaf of bread that was set aside for the stuffing.

-

Dana gives Pepper another smile, looking a trifle smug as she does. "Of course." She doesn't bother to explain that the basket is a common brownie conveyance and easy for her to obtain. Instead, she picks up her two loaves and moves them to the warming oven. "I figured you'd like it." As she returns to her small pile of goodies, she pushes the leaves out into the middle of the counter, towards the redheaded executive. "Mom sent these. Her favorite blends of teas." No one blends herbs like a witch, after all.

-

Flipping the knife from one hand to the other around his back, Jason chops an onion in half, cutting off the far ends so he can peal it for the stock. He's not a great chef by any means but he spent enough time in the mess hall to roughly know what he was doing.

Thank goodness this kitchen is so grand in scale, there is counter space for everyone. Pepper uses her phone to check a recipe — presumably for the soup — then starts adding seasonings to the stock pot full of veggies. She looks over at the leaves a bit confusedly until Dana explains that they're tea leaves. Another nearly-squee moment. "Oh my gosh. Can you start a pot now? I haven't had nearly enough caffeine for this time of morning. Cricket, there are fresh broccoli heads in that market bag there, and I think the mushrooms are in the fridge." She smiles amusedly at Fenris using that magical sword thing as a kitchen knife, and lets him at all the lettuce set aside for the salad. "Okay, votes from everyone. Stuffing inside the turkey, or on the side?"

-

"Eat it raw." Fenris is clearly joking as he slices the heads of letticue into nice shreds for the salad. "I'm kidding. I ususally do it outside the turkey, or have in the past." Mortals and their quaint holidays that change in an eyeblink (well, every couple of centuries or so). The Old Wolf is greatly amused and at the same time quite honored to have been asked over.

-

Nodding when she is told that there is brocoli and mushrooms available, Cricket gets started on the stuffing. She grabs an onion and chops it with the sort of speed and precision that one would expect from a mechanical person. It's like that scene from Aliens. "I really do not have any preference. This will be my first ever Thanksgiving. There are many documents in favour and against both options, so I will happily go with whatever the consensus is."

-

"Out" Jason offers one of the first words of the day, trying to focus on getting everything cut perfectly. At least he's not too zoned out as he cuts away at the poor defenseless onion juices being sent all over the counter top. It's a horrifically gory scene so much so that it almost looks like Jason's going to cry, though that's most likely more the chemicals in the onion.

-

"I'm good either way," Dana says. "I always thought the only reason to leave it on the side was out of respect for vegetarians." Which she definitely isn't. And neither is Rex — who has taken up guard in front of the fireplace. (Meaning, of course, that he's flopped on his side, tongue lolled out, watching the flashing blades and dismembered veggies with only vague interest. That turkey, on the other hand… Red eyes gleam.)

The faeblooded witch picks up one of the tea offerings and moves to find a glass or copper pot to set it to boil. As it is, she glances to the utensils being used to prepare the food, to see what they're made of…

-

Pepper Potts did actually think of Rune, and insisted that Lucky use one of Tony's fancy fancy titanium chef's knives. Fenris' sword/knife… she's less sure about. It's probably a noticeable trend, but all of the cookware is either ceramic, glass, enamelled, or pure copper. No steel or iron anywhere in sight. "On the side it is." She finishes prepping the soup and has the stockpot on the stove heating slowly, and she turns to wash her hands before shifting the sweet potatoes to the front of Lucky's ginsu-queue then getting out a large plastic popcorn bowl to start breaking up a HUGE pile of green beans. "Oh, Dana, the teapot is on the top shelf to the right there." It's a ceramic one, though not hand-thrown. "Next vote, mashed potatoes. Skins on, or skins off?"

-

Fenris knife is made of moonsilver, something that Rune and Rex can probably see quite clearly. The hellhound gets a grin form the Old Wolf. One that promises some meat if his mistress allows and he behaves. "Mmmmmmm. On, but I'm a bit old fashioned that way. How have things been here lately?" He asks the assembled others.

-

Cricket starts to saute the onions in butter, chopping celery next. "Once again, I have no preference and am willing to try anything. My own question is if anyone objects to bacon being in the stuffing?" She communicates with Jarvis as she cooks, reading over the files he has on the people that have gathered and learns of Rune's dislike for anything with even small traces of iron. "Well, I guess it is good that I decided to forgo the used of the cast iron fry pan," she says softly, thanking Jarvis for his help.

-

Next up the poor sweet potato gets a similar treatment, being peeled with precision using what to the untrained eye could almost pass for a hairpin of some king. It's fast and effective but boy if it doesn't look bizarre. With a slightly clumsy and completely unintentional move Jason accidentally manages to knock a piece small sliver of meat to the ground, for the dog.

-

Dana isn't about to tell a hellhound he can't have whatever he's offered. And Rex is not slow about shoving himself to his feet and casually slurping that sliver from the tile. He glances over to Fenris, a canine grin on his ruddy muzzle, as if sharing a secret joke. Dana stands on her tip toes and reaches up to fish out the tea pot to set it to boil, prepping for the tea. "I like 'em off, but I won't pitch a fit if they're left on."

-

Pepper Potts can't help but grin as Rex goes about the ever so important task of keeping the floor clean of bits of meat, her hands busy snapping the ends off of the greenbeans before breaking them in half and dropping them into the large bowl. "I think I'll make two batches of mashed potatoes, then. With skins and without." She leans a bit to watch Dana curiously, because she's never brewed whole unrolled tea leaves before and she's dying of curiosity.

JARVIS speaks up at that point. "Miss Potts, the oven has reached optimal temperature for the turkey." Pepper answers as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Thank you, JARVIS." She looks over to where Cricket is sauteeing things. "Could you pop the turkey into the oven while you're over there, Cricket?"

-

Fenris steps back from his veggie prep and makes the knife disappear. Then he slips Rex another sliver of raw meat before the turkeys go in. There's other treats he sees Pepper has laid aside but he'll let Miss Potts present those on his own. Instead he just reaches down to scratch the Hellhound's ears. "Is Lord Stark joining us this evening?"

-

Since no one has said anything one way or the other about the bacon, Cricket decides it will go into the stuffing. But first, the celery is added to the onions to saute. When she is asked to place the turkey in the oven, she nods her head to her employer, but then looks up to the ceiling where the speakers are hiden for JARVIS's voice. A soft, winsome sigh is given before she goes back to work as if she hadn't just acted like a love sick dewy eyed schoolgirl for a moment there.

-

"Bacon's fine" Jason adds sitting the peeled sweet potato's down onto the cutting board before getting to work doing what he does best: Showing off. Yeah he's not some sort of master with the knife but he can still do the simple stuff like carving the two halves of it into a rather interesting looking rose of some kind. He's not doing much in the way of smiling but at least he's trying to show off.

-

Dana is just fine with bacon. (Rex even more so.) Bacon. Cheese. These are good things, no matter what cholesterol doctors may say. The big dog slurps up the next offering on the floor, grinning at the ear skritches, while his mistress artfully folds the large, silvery leaves into an organic pyramid shape, weaving edges together deftly and mimicking a common whole-leaf infuser shape. The small sachet of loose leaves within the silvery leaf is tucked within the hollow and, as the water comes to a boil, the witch drops it into the pot to steep for less than a handful of minutes — plenty of time, however, for a rich, robust aroma to be released, not to mention a rich, golden color as the leaves seem to bloom almost like flowers. Shame they're hidden inside the ceramic. Even so, coffee ain't got nuthin' on this stuff.

-

Pepper Potts nods her thanks to Fenris as she finishes with the green beans and starts settling them into a casserole dish while grinning at Cricket amusedly. "I've never had stuffing with Bacon, it sounds positively sinful." A second casserole dish is brandished for the sweet potatoes and … "Holy cow. Guys, you have to see this." She indicates the sweet potato carvings that Lucky is making. "That totally gives me an idea." She assembles the casserole, making sure that the 'rose' is the centerpiece of the dish and visible. "Martha Stewart can go sit on a pin cushion, this is amazing." And then she's taking a deep breath, savoring the fantastic smells already starting to fill the kitchen. If this doesn't draw Tony out to eat with them, she'll drag him to the table by his nose.

-

Fenris takes a step back and smiles. "You all do good work." He says quietly. "And I'm honored to have been invited. This is a feast that I'd proudly invite any god to." If, you know, he were on good terms with any of them. Maybe Idun… though she'd not likely be very comfortable with him around. Ah well.

-

Bacon is now added to saute with the onions and celery. While that is cooking, Cricket goes back to cube up the bread and put them in a bowl with sage and pepper and an assortment of other seasonings. "I do believe that was what one of the comments said about it as well. Sinful. Probably not something we should be promoting, but then again, my waistline certainly doesn't have to worry." Oh sure, rub that in. Bad robot girl! No cookies!

-

Working his magic on a few more vegetables, Jason says rather deadpan "Some of us are a sin by existing" his attention moving over to the pot as he offers a bit of a defusing smile. He's at least trying to engage as he works away.

-

As enticing as all the food is, and as much care is being taken with it all, Dana will likely not be the heartiest eater at the feast. She's still expected at her Mother's later this evening for the usual family do. And she doesn't have the advantage of Cricket's waist line… Though, okay, being half-fae does help, some. (Really, have you ever seen a fat high elf?)

"Forgive me if I ask you to forego the divine invitations," the witch says to the wolf, dry amusement in her eyes and a wry smile on her lips. "I'd prefer they didn't learn my name any better than they already have." And, really, she'd prefer none of them got it into their heads to try to poison her. (Yes, such are the thoughts of a fairy princess, daughter of a Celtic god. These are very real possibilities in her world.) Rex snorts derisively at the thought. And Dana chuckles. "But the sentiment stands," she concedes. She flashes a teasing grin. "I'd expect nothing less than a feast fit for a king in any demesne ruled by the Lady of Stark Tower."

-

Pepper Potts finishes prepping the casseroles and puts them aside to bake later when the turkey is closer to done. "All now the…" She looks around. And under a few things. And in the now empty market bags. "Oh, seriously?" She sighs exaggeratedly. "I forgot. Potatoes. Of all things, potatoes. Cricket, would you mind horribly dashing out to the local grocer for…" she appears to do a bit of mental math, "twenty pounds of potatoes? I think a mix of russet and idaho gold, or whatever they happen to have left by this point." Without anything else to prep at this moment, she sidles over to get a coffee mug to fill with that amazing-smelling tea.

-

Fenris chuckles at Peppers title. It fits, really it does. "You've no need to fear, Lady Hunt. I'm not on good terms with my own fellows and the ones I do know and sort of like are half a world away and rather occupied with other things." And not likely to come celebrate an American holiday in any case.

-

The bacon and veggies, along with the bacon fat and butter they were sauteing in are poured over the bread cubes. Cricket is about to get her hands dirty when Pepper panicks about the potatoes. "I'll go right now, Ms. Potts. I'll be back as soon as I possibly can without breaking any laws or illusions of my humanity." Meaning she's not going to fly just to get potatoes. She grabs her tablet on the way out, tapping at it to find a store that is open today that will sell potatoes.

-

Moving over towards where Cricket was working he tries to pick up where she left off if he can. It's not easy considering he doesn't know exactly what she was doing but he can at least keep it from burning. "Speaking of house stark."

-

Dana chuckles at Fenris' response, not really surprised by it. "I can't say I'm disappointed," she admits with a laugh. Rex follows Jason, as enticed by the smell of the bacon as by the fact the man was generous earlier. The witch pours herself a cup of tea and one for Pepper as she produces mugs. "Anyone else for tea?" she asks the two men.

-

Pepper Potts all but makes grabby hands at the mug as Dana fills it with tea, and then as soon as it's in her hands she takes a long sip and then sighs contentedly. "Oh, that's good tea." She's highly amused by Rex zeroing in on the biggest softie in the room then offers, "I can start some coffee if the tea isn't appealing." She knows that Lucky is way more a coffee drinker. She also reaches to get a large salad bowl and offers it to Fenris for all the lettuce he shredded into submission.

-

"Tea is just fine." Fenris does a passable impression of Gandalf in the opening of the Lord of the Rings… except creepier thanks to that predatory aura. He watches the hellhound follow around the souless man with a great deal of amusement evident. "Quite the spread we have here Pepper. Are you planning on feeding the Einerjhar?"

-

Another bit of bacon accidentally finds its way right over to Rex as Jason tries his hand at more then just cutting things, doing his best to season it. He doesn't need to look over at the others to hear what they're talking about but it is the polite thing to do and so he does. "Black, pure, bottom of the pot" Confirming about his taste in coffee.

-

Rex catches the bacon before it's hardly left the counter. His teeth clack happily together and his tail wags lightly. Good thing the kitchen's so big. It saves anything getting knocked over by the hound's exuberance. Dana pours a third cup of tea for Fenris and brings it to him, leaving Pepper to take care of the desecration formed from roasted beans. "I'm glad you like it," she says, as to the tea, however. She then checks the state of the leaves within the pot and picks up her own mug to enjoy the aroma and taste of her mother's finest personal blend. "I'm impressed you're actually taking a day off." Mostly.

-

"Well, it would be hypocritical of me to make others take the day off if I didn't do the same." Pepper smiles at Dana then pulls down a french coffee press sized to make four cups' worth. She puts in the full allotment of coffee, but then only a fourth of the carafe's worthof water and leaves it to sit and over=brew until it's so much sludge.

-

Fenris picks up one of the cups of tea and takes a sip. He leans back then, watching. Over the centuries he's observed many celebrations but this - a souless man, the scion of a Fae lord and Pepper, is by far the oddest.

-

The soulless man in question seems to be almost giving more bacon to the dog then he does the actual dish in question. He's tossing down a little bit of it every once in a while still looking rather deadpan, but truth be told deep down no one says no to a cute dog when it comes to sharing bacon.

-

Dana has gotten somewhat used to oddities, really. She doesn't often come across the soulless, but it's not the first time. Nor is it the first time she's met a sentient machine or one of the Old Gods (so to speak). Indeed, it could be argued, that Pepper's the odd one out of this crew. But, as long as none of them are gunning for her, the True Seer takes it all in stride.

Besides… compared to the things that have kept her away from this place so frequently of late, these people seem positively benign.

So, the photographer flashes a grin at the exec. "Maybe so… but I doubt it'd be the first time that's happened." It's a guess. But, it's no secret Pepper Potts is a complete workaholic.

Rex, however, has decided Jason, soulless or not, is a great guy. The presence of a soul is hardly a deciding factor in his book, after all. Indeed, his criteria look something like: is he threatening Dana? No. Then, is he threatening someone else in Dana's preferred circle? No. Then, is he threatening Rex himself? No. Then, is he making decent friendship offerings (i.e. is there food involved)? Yes. Thus, he's a-okay.

Dog logic. Can't beat it.

-

Pepper Potts lets the sludgy coffee concoction sit for a while, then pulls an empty coffee mug and pours the rather gooopy results into the mug to hand to Lucky. "There you go, Jason." She picks up her tea again and scoots out of the kitchen around Rex.

-

Fenris chuckles and grins. "I think you have made a friend there Lucky." And really there aren't many better friends to have. After all, this is why Dana keeps him around. Well presumably she also likes dogs, which makes her a-okay to Fenris.

-

Jason's not about to reach down and pet someone else's dog he doesn't know but he does offer a small nod in return to peoples comments. Eventually he manages to divide out the bacon between the dog and the pot keeping a careful eye on it. "Need a dog like me," being offered up as he throws one last piece of bacon over.

-

Dana has an affinity with most animals. The joys of being Fae. But, she's a special bond with hellhounds, thanks to her father's position. (Lord of the Wild Hunt, God of Death.) Rex lifts his muzzle and snaps the bacon out of the air with an air of casually showing off. "I doubt my father would part with another puppy," Dana tells Jason apologetically. "Otherwise, you can't beat Rex's kin."

-

"I hear Rhodesian Ridgebacks are good dogs." You know, for normal dogs. Pepper takes another swallow of her tea and pulls a third casserole dish for the now assembled stuffing (with bacon!) to go into for now. "I think we're about done with food preparations for now."

-

"Wolfhounds." Fenris winks. It's hard to tell if he's joking or not. Maybe…? Or maybe he just wants to see Lucky handle something as wolfy as he is.

-

"Don't like goodbys" Jason comments moving back away from the pot of stuffing just in time for it to be placed for plating. His comment sounding a bit solemn really, as he tries to look for something more to do with his now idle hands before coming up short.

-

"Mm." The sound is a solemn acknowledgement of Jason's words, before Dana tactfully drops the subject. "C'mon, suck-up," she says to her dog, reaching out to grab one his ears and fuzzle it. "You've made enough depredations here for now." She herds the animal out towards the sitting room again, so he can take his customary flop before the fireplace.

-

Pepper Potts appears about to continue the dog conversation, but picks up on Dana's cue and lets the subject drop. She tops off her tea then follows Dana out to the sitting room to take up a spot where she can curl up and tuck her feet underneath herself. Now that she's not bustling around the kitchen, she's starting to feel the chill again.

-

Fenris goes to assist with the sundry other chores that are involved with getting a spread ready. Dishes, knifework, whatnot. He'll be about though. He's enjoying the company too much to just leave.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License