Owner	Pose
Kinsey MacKenna	Two things were playing on Kinsey's mind when she made good on her promise to share one of her favourite meals with him, in return for him doing the same. eThe first was that her home seemed so much smaller now that she'd been living on the space station. Likely because her mother wasn't here, fussing over her, offering to do her laundry and make her dinner. The whole place seemed to have shrunk with the lack of the woman. The other was that she needed to decide what to do with the apartment. Thanks to grandfathering laws and life leases, the place was hers at a nice rent controlled price, but was this really where she belonged anymore? To complicate matters, she'd just signed on to a 2 year renewable contract on the MacKenzie King Station. Carol had been almost gleeful when Kinsey had mentioned her intention to renew her position. The paperwork had been completed in whirlwind time. Kinsey wasn't sure how to move forward. Was she delaying because it was a wise decision to keep the apartment? Or because she feared letting go also meant letting go of her mother, and the only life she'd known. And now that she knew she wasn't fully human... that loss seemed to weigh more heavily than before. She'd aired the place out while she'd gone shopping for the items she'd need for dinner, and she'd made a point of relaying through Kibou an arrival time and co-ordinates. Other than that, she'd been scurrying about to make the actual dinner, and to tidy the place up a little, even if she knew he wasn't about to judge her. Still, she wanted to make an impression with what she thought might be his first and only home cooked earth meal. Half an hour to serving time, her apartment smells like Thanksgiving, and she waits.
Saint Walker	Walker rarely came to Earth but when he did he usually enjoyed himself. There was something infectious about terrans, something about their confidence, their drive, it was nice to see., plus it helped that the planet, for the most part was outside of the struggles of the galaxy at large, so it was a little island of tranquility for the Lantern. Well, if you ignored the wars, the crime and the environmental damage, but then every planet had its faults. Arrinving at the address Kinsey had given him Walker makes his way upstairs, getting a few looks from some of the neighbours going out as he was coming in, they muttered something about how mutants were looking stranger every day. Walker didn't correct them. It was easier that way. Then at half a terran hour to the time Kinsey said dinner would be served, Walker knocks on her door.
Kinsey MacKenna	"mmmm, just a minute!" Of course her perfect plans and perfect timing wouldn't account for Brother Walker to arrive precisely on time for the meal. Which meant he's knocking just as she's taking the turkey out of the oven. "The door should be open?" Kinsey figured it would be safe to offer that invitation. Especially as Kibou would consider it his duty to warn her if it wasn't Brother Walker standing in the hallway knocking. "Oh drat!" she curses, sticking her index finger into her mouth as the potholders she was using slipped and the very pad of her finger touches the hot pan. Everything else was perfectly ready, sitting in covered dishes, waiting to be served, or placed on the table. All that remained was letting the turkey rest, and then carving it. She'd thought it might be a nice touch for Brother Walker to do that.
Saint Walker	Walker tries the door handle and sure enough it opens and he steps on through into the Kinsey's appartment. The Astonian surveys his surroundings with that usual placidity of his and nods. "You have a lovely home, Sister Kinsey, thank you for inviting me." He smiles then looking at the turkey and covered dishes. "I am not sure what all of this food is, but it does smell wonderful. I think you may qualify for a Green Lantern ring if you haven't indulged yet." He chuckles lightly at his own joke and holds up a bottle, "I understand it is traditional for a guest to bring wine. This one is a vintage from my homeworld which I hope will be enjoyable with terran cuisine."
Kinsey MacKenna	It takes Kinsey a moment to get the joke, then she laughs, "Oh? I do think our brother in the green Lantern Corps might object if I suggest taking his. I could save him a plate of food, though. That might be nice." And perhaps a plate for Superman, too. Maybe even that gruff Batman. It wasn't like there weren't going to be enough leftovers. "I wasn't sure if you'd had a proper Thanksgiving meal or not, but since we agreed on our favourite meals, I thought this might be nice. Do you like wine? I have both white and red. Traditionally, red would go with poultry, but some do prefer white." "And it will be a few moments longer. The turkey has to rest, and I've burned my finger." Yes, it has so far escaped her that she could just heal that. Then again, is it truly Thanksgiving if you don't a cut or a burn preparing the meal?
Saint Walker	"I am sure the Justice League would appreciate the food, especially Batman, it might improve his mood," Walker ventures. He hadn't interacted much with the League but he'd heard plenty about the Dark Knight from those he had. "A good meal often does." He shakes his head, "I can confidently say I have not had one, no, and wine would be excellent, shall I save this bottle," the one he brought, "For after or something for you to enjoy on your own. As for Earth vintages, I'll leave the choice to you." The finger is studied, it seemed a minor burn and Kinsey hadn't healed it so, he didn't feel it was his place to impose. "Is that a right of passsge?" he asks of the burn. "And rest? I am fairly certain the animal is dead is it not?"
Kinsey MacKenna	"I was just thinking that," Kinsey laughs of Batman. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were reading my mind. I don't know many there, but I've been bringing them cookies. Batman was a unique individual. Very interested in my ring." "Oh, you brought wine too?" She comes to see what he's brought. When he asks about her finger, she's almost already forgotten she's hurt herself, even if it still does sting. "Oh? The burn? Something like. Someone usually burns themselves or cuts themselves while paring vegetables. I was a bit careless, using the pot hoilders instead of the oven mitts. I'm sure it will be fine." Kibou pipes up, of course, "It would be very insignificant to heal, Sister Kinsey. My battery stores wouldn't even be touched for so small a wound." Which leaves Kinsey chuckling. "I see. While it is a very minor wound, if it will make you both feel happier, let us deal with the matter and get on to the much more interesting eating of the meal. Tell me, Brother Walker, have you ever carved a turkey before?"
Saint Walker	Walker smiles and tilts his head, "I assure you I am not, it just seemed a preferable outcome," he says before nodding about the ring. "I heard that about him as well, very curious about things, likely driven by some sort of need to deal with any threat, it would make sense for a being without metahuman abilities involved with the Justice League." He nods about the wine, "From my homeworld, I am not sure it would pair with terran cusine so perhaps one of your bottles would be best, but I'd like you to have it all the same, I understand it is a traditional gift here." Thanks to the number of Lanterns chosen from amoung the humans, Walker's ring had a considerable store of knowledge about Earth customs which had helped him choose his gift. "You may heal it, or not, as you wish, Sister Kinsey, and no I have not, what am I supposed to carve it into?" Clearly his research didn't cover everything.
Kinsey MacKenna	"It is indeed a traditional gift," Kinsey assures, looking at the bottle. "Is it a sweet wine, or a dry wine?" She's not only curious for taste, but she's considering if it might be a good pairing with dessert. "I'd never thought of it that way," she ahs to admit of Batman. "I think I've been so busy acclimatizing myself to having a ring that it didn't occur to me to consider how others might view it. Though Green Lantern should be a familiar figure on the Watchtower, is he not? You'd think that would be enough familiarity." She shrugs, and gestures for Saint Walker to follow her to the kitchen. "We'll eat at the table, and you don't carve it into anything. It means to slice the bird into portions. It's a talent to do well. My mother usually did it for us, and we'd laugh that it was silly to have such a big bird for just the two of us. She always took leftover to our neighbours, though. A gentle smile of memory lights upon her lips as she recalls. "People here are proud, if poor. Most wouldn't accept an offer to come share a meal, thinking they would be putting us out to do so, but my mother would always buy the biggest bird she could, and take containers to the doors of the single mothers she knew were struggling the most. She'd tell them that she'd just made too much for us, and it would be a blessing for someone to eat the food before it was spoiled." She looks over to Brother Walker, finger and turkey forgotten for the moment. "Everyone got to save face that way. I think I was in university before I truly understood what she was doing."
Saint Walker	"Sweet," Walker answers, "It is fermented from berries on my homeworld and is a popular drink at times of celebration." "True, but I have met people like Batman before, watchful and cautious, any variable must be fully understood for them to feel safe, and we, compared to Green Lantern, are a variable, as our powers differ." Walker follows to the kitchen nodding at the instructions, "Ah, that makes more sense," he says before falling into attentive silence to hear Kinsey's story. "It sounds like your mother was a kind and clever woman, she has clearly been an influnce on you," he says matter-of-factly, "Do you think she would be proud to see what you have become?"
Kinsey MacKenna	"Sweet? Then we'll have it with dessert. It might be just the thing to round off the evening." His comments on Batman ring true to her ears, leaving Kinsey to nod. "Very much how I perceived him. And perhaps gruff in a way to keep people at arms length on purpose." She doesn't seem terribly bothered by that fact. "My mother?" Kinsey smiles. "She was my biggest fan. She alwayss told me to reach for the stars. Nothing ever comes, Kinsey, she would tell me, of not trying. When I got my first acceptance letters for University, we went out to the fanciest restaurant she knew, and had dinner. I laugh now, because it really wasn't an expensive place, but to her it was somewhere she'd been saving for a special ocassion, as though she'd waited all her life for me to.." Kinsey stops herself, and nots. "Yes. She'd be proud. She was very proud. Now, would you prefer to carve at the table, or out here. Normally, we'd careve in the kitchen as it meant bringing less dishes back from the table, but if this were a gathering of all our family and friends, we'd take the bird to the table on a platter so that everyone could exclaim over it, and then you'd carve it up, serving us each one by one, starting with either the eldest or the youngest depending on your fancy." There's a laugh for the ritual.
Saint Walker	Walker nods in agreement with Kinsey's assessment of when to have the wine, and then turns his attention back to the story at hand. "It sounds as though she cared a great deal for you, and I am glad she would be proud of what you've become," he says with a nod. "And my family did not have much money either, so we had similar celebrations, where a single kava, a rare but large fruit, would seem like a luxury to us." Walker considers the carving ritual, "Here will suffice," he says. "As there are only two of us," he says. "Which implements should I use, and how do I proceed?"
Kinsey MacKenna	Kinsey shows Saint Walker the carving knife and fork, and how to use them. They were items she'd always wondered why they'd had when a normal fork, and a sharp knife would have sufficed, but explaining to him how it was done, and the ritual, and realizing as she did now, that she wasn't fully human, Kinsey thought she understood better: Her mother was creating not only tradition and memories, but security as well. Cementing the place of herself and her daughter into thos society where they were. Giving Kinsey special moments to ground her against the possible day when she might leave for the stars. And she had, Kinsey noted. Both cemented and grounded her daughter, and left for the stars. "I'll take the other dishes to the table and we can pour the wine there. You put the slices on the smaller platter. The dark meat, you put the legs aside, and can carve the thighs. If you wish to try a drumbstick - the legs" and she points them out, "You may." Otherwise, she was certain a drumstick was exactly what a midwestern boy like Superman had grown up with. At least one would find its way to the Watchtower.
Saint Walker	Studying Kinsey's instructions closely, Walker picks up the knife and fork and begins to work with near surgical precision. Not out of skill with a blade but focus, a zen like concentration on the task at hand. In all he does a decent job, not every slice is even, and some are a little ragged, but its good for a first try. "Will this suffice?" he asks Kinsey holding up the platter she indicated they should go on. There was a good inch or so of slices piled up, as well as a drumbstick. The meal brought back Walker's own memories of family, of feasts and celebrations first with his parents then with his own family. It was not something he thought of often,the life he left behind, but tonight it felt appropriate.
Kinsey MacKenna	"More than," Kinsey assures, gesturing for him to follow her to the 'diningroom' table. In truth it was merely a corner of the livingroom that had been set aside for a table and chairs, but her mother had always called it the diningroom, so Kinsey did too. "We're a little early in the calendar year for it, but since we agreed to share our favourite meals, I thought I'd treat you to Thanksgiving. In many cultures, it's a harvest festival. In our own the history is a little more fraught, but most of the stories tell of a coming together of two cultures to share the bounty in a meal of friendship." She has to admit, "It's slightly cheating. Our deal was for a restaurant, but I hoped you wouldn't mind this. This meal always spoke to me of home and belonging. I guess I felt as I come to the end of my training period, and move along in my career at the Station, that I felt this was maybe more appropriate." She pours them both a glass of wine, and begins to uncover dishes, telling him what is in each.
Saint Walker	At Kinsey's gesture Walker brings the platter to the dining room and sets it down with the other dishes taking a seat while Kinsey explained the signifigance of the meal. "I see, an excellent choice then given the circumstances of its founding," Walker says of the coming together of cultures in friendship. "And it being early is not a problem is it? I know on some planets peforming rituals outside of their appointed time can be dangerous and even deadly." It was more a question born of curiosity rather than concern, he trusted Kinsey knew what she was about. "And I wouldn't call it cheating, this may not be the letter of our agreement, but I believe it embodies the spirit of it perfectly. Do not expect me to complain," he says smiling with that last. When the dishes are uncovered and displayed, Walker happily loads his plate, heaping a fair portion of cranberry sauce on his turkey, delcaring it's smell to be quite inviting. Though before digging in though he lifts his glass, "I read that it is traditional to perform a toast before such meals, is that correct? If so I would like to propose one to your mother and to new friendships."
Kinsey MacKenna	"A toast," Kinsey agrees. "Though sometimes it is a blessing, and the toast comes later in the meal - when everyone has had time to reflect upon things. Both are excellent choices, though." And she assures, "The timing is fine. It's the spirit of the meal that matters. We make special days for these things because our lives are often very busy and we forget to slow down and appreciate what we have. It isn't so much that the ritual is limited to the special days as the special days remind us to perform the rituals. And to suggest that perhaps we should indulge more often." She lifts her glass, waiting to see what toast he might offer.
Saint Walker	"Ah, I see," Walker says of the toasting ritual. "Also, the name is toast also not a food?" he asks her. "The English language is very confusing at times." He nods to the matter of timing it all seemed very practical which was unsurprising given the Terrans he had met thus far, they all had elements of that in them. As to the toast he lifts his glass, "To the memory of your mother and all the things she taught you and to our friendship and your future amoung the stars, may they continue to bring joy."
Kinsey MacKenna	For a moment, Kinsey is rendered silent by the toast. Then, "May we always find joy," she simply in return. "That was a perfectly lovely toast," he's told. "And yes, it is also a foodstuff. I'm not certain if they share a common history, the two things. Sometimes words have past meanings that will inform how they are used presently." Then she encourages him to try the food, digging in herself. It had been entirely too long since she'd enjoyed such a meal.
Saint Walker	"May we always find joy," Walker echoes beore taking a sip of his wine and savouring the taste. He lowers his glasss replying, "Thank you, it is quite a lovely tradition, I am happy to be able to take part in it." Walker nods, "Ah, interesting, I suppose that makes sense languages evolve and meanings can sometimes be lost, I would say that perhaps such things were said before eating toast but that seems somehow ridiculous." Then at Kinsey's direction he digs into his food sampling everything before he exclaims "This is really quite good. The various dishes seem to come together nicely and the overall feelling is... warm, comfortable, like home."
Kinsey MacKenna	"Exactly," Kinsey says with a smile, eating from her own smaller portioned plate. "That's why I chose this meal. It.. reminded me of home, and now that I'm about to embark on the next phase of my life's journey, it seemed appropriate to both share this with a friend, and celebrate where I've come from." "I've signed on for a two year contract on the Station, and I believe, if you agree, that my training is nearing the first logical conclusion, and it may be time for me to return to Odym and acknowledge my.. well, I suppose officially confirm what I already know."
Saint Walker	"Then it is indeed a fitting meal," Walker agrees and after a moment he adds, "And make my meal all the more fitting, signifying you new life amoung the stars," he says as he would no doubt be taking her to some strange alien world. As to the state of her training? "I agree, you are ready to return to Odym and speak to the Guardians about your future and your past," he confirms. "I will go with you of course, and even though this phase of your training will be over, I shall visit often not just as a brother lantern, but as a friend."
Kinsey MacKenna	"I was hoping you'd say that," Kinsey says with a slight grin. "After all, you've been there throughout this journey. Though I do wonder, once I've graduated - and it may be I still need training - do you think we might find our paths crossing again?" It was, she thought, funny that here she was introducing him to a meal that celebrated kinship, on the probable eve of their parting.
Saint Walker	Nodding Walker says, "Indeed it would only be fitting that I am there at the end of this journey as well," he says with a nod. As for their paths crossing, the Astorian smiles warmly, "And I am certain our paths will cross quite often," he dips his pale head in the direction of her ring, "After all, with Kibou the universe is not so large a place, I am only a thought away. I will be happy to visit to talk, to train," a smile is given to his plate. "To eat. This is not the ending of our association, simply its metamorphosis, and I for one am curious to see what it becomes," he offers earnestly.
Kinsey MacKenna	"Humans," Kinsey explains simply, "We drift. I spoke truly when I said these rituals remind us to connect with one another. Too often life is what gets in the way of us celebrating life with one another. Very often graduations are goodbyes as much as a celebration of how far we've come." And the last graduation she had, her mother had just died. "I am pleased to call you a friend, Brother Walker, and veyr much look forward to exploring our friendship in the future. But now you must tell me, have you had pumpkin or apple pie before?"
Saint Walker	Walker nods, "Yes, I can see that being the case, change often leads to unpredictable outcomes and those who might pledge to stay connected may find themselves drifiting apart as a result. Personally, however, I know that can't be helped and so, I simply hope for the best," he says with that trademarked Blue Lantern optimism. "As do I Sister Kinsey," he says lowering his head in something of a solemn bow, but his head rises slowly at the mention of the pies. "That is a dish I know," he says with a smile. "Though I do not think I've tried pumpkin before., but if it is being served in a meal like this, I trust it should be delicious."
Kinsey MacKenna	His remark draws a full on laugh from Kinsey. "Why am I not surprised. And, as you say, we are not much more than a thought away. Now, help me clear these things and prepare some containers and then we'll have dessert in the livingroom. I'll give you a piece of both to try. I think you'll like pumpkin. It taskes like fall."
Saint Walker	Walker smiles at the sound of the laugh. "Of course," he says of being a thought away as he rises from the table to help move the containers back to the kitchen. "It sounds wonderful," he says his mind conjuring images of wet days and blowing leaves and pondering how it might taste.