Good Things in Small Places

[Hiro McVeil]

"You're giving me too much credit." Hiro said as the gift exchanged hands. "That's alright I much prefer tea over..." The chaotic noises reached Hiro's ears before the bell rang, revealing the arrival.

"Happy Holidays to you as well sir. And Mrs. Jones it's a pleasure to hear your voice again." Hiro said this half out of politeness half hoping that maybe Tammy would have an ADD moment and change her attention to the kitchen or something other than Charlene.

[Charlie Jones]

"Oh hey.... Tammy...." Charlie said reluctantly to her stepmother. Though the entire intended marriage sabotage had blown over, Charlie still kept on the habit of being annoyed with Tammy. She tolerated her and even had a smidgen of respect for her, but she didn't say much to her.

But Tammy had gone on to the next victim. "Oh my Merlin! It's..." She paused, trying to recollect Hiro's name. "... Drew?"

"Wrong," Tobias said from his spot by the door, covered to the shoulders with Tammy's shopping bags. "Hiro." He grinned at the boy. Dropping the bags, he gave a big hug to Charlie. "How's your cookin' doing, Hiro? I hope that chicken dish worked out fine for you." Much to Charlie's relief, Tammy had retreated into the kitchen, yelling something about really inheriting the English lifestyle and getting some tea. But Charlie knew she'd be hunting down for some soda pop somewhere.

[Hiro McVeil]

It was a well known fact that Hiro and Drew were like two peas in a pod, if they had looked like each other people would probably have called them twins, but since Hiro had met him their identities had never been mistaken. Being called Drew was a completely new experience for him. Fortunately he didn't have to correct the mistake himself.

"Actually I've been busy with O.W.L.s for the whole year, I haven't had time to cook for a long time." Hiro admitted. Now he wished he had taken a little bit of time out of studies to try out Mr. Jones' recipe and give them something to talk about.

[Charlie Jones]

(I'm an idiot. I'm sorry )

Tobias simply smiled. "What a shame, kiddo. Just remember to keep it up after the OWLs. You've got a hand in this that you shouldn't lose. I'll see you later, Hiro." He turned to Charlie gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I've got to round the Dodo," he added to her with a wink. It was their secret phrase for finding Tammy. She didn't understand why, but it seemed that he liked to take of Tammy, no matter how weird or dependant she gets. It was a trait of his she didn't know how to understand.

As Chris was back, he said, "Alright, you two. You'll never believe it, but dinner'll be ready in a few minutes. Pop didn't have time to cook, so it's off to the fast dinners for us." To Hiro, he chuckled and added, "Sorry, guest. I'd make you a nice ol' fashioned turkey, but the packaged stuff's good, too. Never did have the same hand like my pop."

As he left once again, Charlie shrugged. "Hmm... I guess the tradition got knocked down another notch." There was some disappointment in her voice.

[Hiro McVeil]

(s'ok, better than being a dead thread)

"I try not to lose my hand every time I cook." Hiro joked to make himself feel more comfortable. "Don't worry about troubling yourself on my behalf."

Hiro was about to lean into Charlie and ask her why her father needed a diricawl but then he heard her sadness. He didn't really know what to say so he placed a supportive arm around her shoulder and hoped what he said would be enough.

"It's been a different kind of year for your family, they're trying to evolve with the changes."

[Charlie Jones]

Charlie didn't know it. Was it her head or her chest? Because it felt like she was punched. It was obviously not literal, but she didn't understand where it came from. The feeling, she meant. Still, she let him keep his arm there, thinking that it not different than the kind of contact when one made to a teammate in times of a bad game. Sure, keep thinking that.

She made an awkward but brisk nod, though she tried to grasp Hiro's statement in her head. From the time she had left Albany to Hogwarts, she had gone through this change. And a shocking surprise to her, she wasn't dead from the change. Whenever these thoughts came to mind, she started to understand why and how humans can adapt.

"You're right," she said, though reluctantly. "If I can do somethin' crazy like move to a different continent, they can, too." She scratched her chin as she made a resolve to disregard the breaking of traditions. It had been part of her since she'd be been born, but as long as this change was going to keep her family together, then she could enjoy it.

"DIN-NER'S READ-EE!" A screeching voice attempting the sing-song tone came from the kitchen. Chris set up the coffee table, telling them all that with the lack of chairs, they would have to sit on the floor Japanese-style.

Soon thereafter, Tobias came out, holding out a sizable amount of ham. "On the dinner du jour, we have warmed up, freezed-dried ham; corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce, et cetera-- all from their respective boxes and cans; and one bottle of room temperature butterbeer and some soda pop." Laughter erupted from the entire Jones family, even from Charlie. "Bon appetit!"

[Hiro McVeil]

Hiro was gald that he didn't end up like Nic usually did. Of course there was a big difference between him and Nic, Nic usually put his arm around her to annoy her and got what he deserved. Hiro on the other hand was doing this to support his friend and show that he cared...

Hiro's face started to turn red a little while his arm was still around her. Unfortunately the voice from the kitchen made him remember where he was and he removed his arm now that Charlie felt better.

"Now there's a tradition I understand." Hiro commented about Chris' remark. Hiro let out a smile as the family laughed...he may not have gotten the joke but at least he could fake it.

[Charlie Jones]

"Dig in!" Chris said, but he couldn't finish his sentence as Dan and Chris had made their way to the table, grabbing what they could for their selfish needs.

"Boys!" Tammy interjected in between their clinking of plates. "We've got a guest here. Leave some for us, alright?" She seemed to understand how to be a parent these days.

Tugging Hiro along, she got to the table. "This is always the crappy part-- trying to get the food!" She handed Hiro a plate and took one herself. "What'll you have, Hiro?" asked Tobias as he took control of the main utensils and gave portions to everyone. "I suggest everything-- you can never have enough Christmas food."

[Hiro McVeil]

"Sure I'll try it all." Hiro replied to the offer as he sat on the floor. Not only was it polite to take what was offered but he was also a teenage boy and had no objection to eating as much as he could; besides it sounded like they had enough food since it came by the boxful.

Hiro was having multiple culture shocks almost without knowing. The holiday and muggle grocery stores with their 'boxes of food'.

[Charlie Jones]

Plates clattered and thunked. They didn't necessarily make the same noise as china since it was all disposable items taken from the Muggle store down the street. The liason between two worlds felt more convienant than ever.

The happy chatter was something Charlie missed. "This feels more normal now," she commented to Hiro. She even missed Dan and Mike, who were currently fighting over the bigger piece of bread. Tammy and Tobias had a whisper of a chat, with Tammy giggling, and Tobias smiling warmer than usual. Chris was pretty quiet himself, though, and Charlie couldn't figure it out.

"What's wrong, man?" she asked.
"She's late."
"...Who's late?" As if to reply, a deep knock came from the door. Without a reply, Chris jumped up and swung open the door, covering who the guest was with a hug and was that a kiss? He turned, his frown now into a smile, and stepped aside to show a tall brunette girl with deep colored skin. "You guys, Alyson. Alyson, meet the family." The girl smiled and made a small wave. Her crisp English accent accompanied her "Hello."

Everyone else didn't give her a silence or a look. Instead, Charlie saw what she kind of expected. A few mouths full, all giving her loud muffled greetings. "Er... hey," Charlie said with a delay. She was too soon in her last comment.

[Hiro McVeil]

Hiro nodded to Charlie's comment as he tried some jelly-like fruit tasting thing, he made a mental note not to ask for more of whatever it is. With the entrance of another dinner guest Hiro immediately stood from his sitting position.

"Hiro McVeil," He said with a bow. "At your service."
Giving a smile towards the door after his bow hoping to avoid answering the awkward question about his blindfold.

"Seems like I'm not the only guest tonight." Hiro said as he was seated again, oblivious that he stuck out like a sore thumb from the family.

[Charlie Jones]

Charlie scolded herself for being so negative so quickly at another girlfriend. She seemed very friendly, and not at all boisterous. She had on a thick jacket, where underneath were some crisp, neat clothes. She wasn't what Charlie had expected... but then again, she knew that Chris's tastes had changed remarkably since high school.

A little bit of conversation flowed, and Charlie got the opportunity to give a side smirk to Hiro. "Dude, no one else stood up," she commented frankly. But soon Chris was seating Alyson next to her, where he individually introduced everyone.

"This is my dad-- ahem-- Toby," he started, feeling awkward at saying his father's first name. Tobias smiled and did his own little greeting. Chris did the same with Dan, Mike, and Tammy, and they did they're own (including Mike's own smart alec comment that earned him a slap upside the head). And as he reached Charlie and Hiro... "This here's my little sis, Charlie, and this is her guest, Hiro McVeil."

Charlie expected some kind of question about his blindfold, but none actually came. "Hey Charlie and Hiro," Alyson said, and looked to Chris. She then knew that Chris and Alyson had had a talk before.

"I don't want to hold you guys up, but I brought a dish with me," Alyson said, and she got from the corner a covered dish. "It's meatloaf. I got this recipe from my cousin in America... she tells me that people in America loves this."

"She's not half bad," Charlie suddenly said to Hiro. Along with lasgna, meatloaf was one of her favorites. She took some and soon they were making more noise again, filling up with laughter from lively stories and jokes.

(er... two things a) I think I won't be on too too much soon and b) for both of our sakes, I'll speed it up...)

[Hiro McVeil]

(Alright I'll try and keep it moving too)

"Oh?" Hiro responded to her whispered comment. "Different traditions I guess."

It was nice of Alyson to bring a dish to the table though Hiro had a hard time figuring out what it was. As far as he knew meat wasn't a very good ingredient for bread.

"What's meatloaf?" Hiro whispered to Charlie not knowing if the rest of the family had heard him. It seemed like at least Mr. Jones had because the moment after the question was asked he put a serving of it on Hiro's plate.

[Charlie Jones]

Charlie laughed and thanked her father for her own nice slab of it. "It's meat with veggies and bread and stuff... I dun' really know, 'tually." But she ate it gratefully.

The paper plates filled with plenty of food, and stomaches filled at the same rate. But they had to be cautious, because pumpkin pie, New York Style cheesecake, and rice pudding was next on the menu.

"What do you want on your plates, kids?" Toby said as he shoveled out and catered to the demands already being shouted out like an auction where everyone won. Alyson even joined in, as her timid nature had warmed up with the mingle.

[Hiro McVeil]

So far trying everything had worked for Hiro (accept the weird fruit thing) so he decided to continue with this tactic. He even joined the 'fray' in order to get his share of the desserts. The Jones' reminded him of a shark feeding frenzy. The desserts were really good: the pie was great, the cake was intresting though the pudding was familiar. Hiro tried to help clean up even though he was a guest the Jones' were just as polite as Hiro. Then they cleared out an area and sat around the living room.

(I assume we're done with dinner, otherwise correct me and I'll change my post)