FAKE Ficlet: Thanksgiving Dispute
Title: Thanksgiving Dispute
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ryo, Dee.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Vol. 7.
Summary: Ryo is upset to find he’s been replaced as Thanksgiving host.
Word Count: 811
Written For: Jae's Monthly Drabble Challenge 189 - Dinner, Disagree, Disappoint.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
“But I always cook Thanksgiving dinner!” Ryo made his frustration and annoyance clear. “What will everyone think? I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
“You won’t. Look, I know ya like cookin’ up a feast, but nobody’s expectin’ ya to do it this year. You only just got discharged, and you’re supposed to be takin’ it easy for a couple’a weeks. Spendin’ all day slavin’ over a hot stove won’t do ya any good at all. You’d probably just land yourself right back in the hospital.”
“But…”
Dee cut him off. “No! D’ya wanna spend Thanksgivin’ under Nurse Emiry’s not so tender care, eatin’ barely edible hospital food, or would ya rather spend it with the people who love ya? I would’a thought you’d be glad to be home.”
“Of course I am, but you’re making everything seem worse than it is. I wasn’t seriously injured, just a concussion, cracked ribs, and a lot of bruising. You make it sound like I was at death’s door.”
“Ya got three broken ribs, not cracked, and ya almost punctured a lung!”
“You’re exaggerating, Dee; it was just a nick.”
“And what about your busted ankle?”
Ryo sighed, exasperated. “That won’t be a problem; I cook with my hands, not my feet.”
“Not a problem? You’re still in a cast, which is seriously limitin’ your mobility. Face it, babe, you’re in no condition for handlin’ the annual Thanksgivin’ cookin’ frenzy.”
“That’s only your opinion; I happen to disagree. It’s just a matter of being properly organised.”
“Yeah? And how exactly do ya expect to organise gettin’ the turkey in and out of the oven when you’re under strict orders to avoid doin’ anything strenuous?”
“I thought you or Bikky could do the heavy lifting for me, unless you’re saying you don’t want to help.”
“Now you’re puttin’ words in my mouth. Okay, so maybe we could’a worked out the turkey issue between us, but it’s a moot point anyway, ‘cause we don’t have a damned turkey and I doubt there’s still one available in the whole of New York.”
“What?” Ryo stared at Dee in horror. “You didn’t buy a turkey?”
“You were in the hospital! We had no idea if you’d be home in time for Thanksgivin’, and even if you were, nobody expected ya to feel like cookin’!”
“I don’t believe this! You didn’t think to ask me?”
Dee threw his arms in the air. “No! I figured you’d be tired and sore, and ya wouldn’t want to be bothered with somethin’ that always leaves ya feelin’ frazzled and exhausted. Dumb of me, maybe, but I thought you’d be grateful that you could just relax and enjoy the day instead of workin’ yourself into the ground feedin’ everyone. But no, instead ya get all bent outta shape, just ‘cause I talked things over with Carol’s aunt and she offered to host this year. All I wanted was to take the pressure off so you could concentrate on healin’. Why shouldn’t someone else get a turn? You’re not the only one can cook, y’know!”
“I know I’m not, it’s just…” Sitting on the sofa, his broken ankle up on the footstool, Ryo sighed. “I feel useless, like I’m letting everybody down, all because I stupidly got put out of action the week before Thanksgiving.”
“You’re talkin’ like it was your fault. Accidents happen, no matter how careful ya might be. It’s not like ya asked to have that wall dropped on ya.” Dee sat down beside his lover. “You’re lucky to be alive; it could’a been a whole lot worse.”
“I know that too, but it wasn’t, and that’s because you saved me.”
“I tried, but ya still got hurt bad enough to spend four days in the hospital.”
“And I’m fine now; nothing to worry about.”
“Maybe, but that’s not gonna stop me worryin’ and doin’ my best to take care of ya.”
“So I see, and I do appreciate it.”
“Yeah? Could’a fooled me.”
“I’m sorry.” Ryo gave a sheepish smile. “I’ve been planning Thanksgiving dinner for weeks, comparing recipes and making lists of everything I was gonna need, only now… All my preparations were for nothing.”
“Not the end of the world though, right? There’s always next year, and if ya can’t wait that long, Christmas is only a few weeks away. Ya should be fully recovered by then.”
Ryo looked thoughtful. “That’s true. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get a head start on my Christmas plans for once.” He leaned over to kiss Dee on the cheek. “Thanks, Dee.”
“Does that mean you’re okay with the Thanksgivin’ arrangements?”
“Yes. It’s very kind of Carol’s aunt to volunteer.” Ryo smiled. “It looks like I have a lot to be thankful for this year; you, my family, and my friends.”
Dee grinned back. “Yeah? It’s about time ya figured that out.”
The End
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Ryo, Dee.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Vol. 7.
Summary: Ryo is upset to find he’s been replaced as Thanksgiving host.
Word Count: 811
Written For: Jae's Monthly Drabble Challenge 189 - Dinner, Disagree, Disappoint.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
“But I always cook Thanksgiving dinner!” Ryo made his frustration and annoyance clear. “What will everyone think? I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
“You won’t. Look, I know ya like cookin’ up a feast, but nobody’s expectin’ ya to do it this year. You only just got discharged, and you’re supposed to be takin’ it easy for a couple’a weeks. Spendin’ all day slavin’ over a hot stove won’t do ya any good at all. You’d probably just land yourself right back in the hospital.”
“But…”
Dee cut him off. “No! D’ya wanna spend Thanksgivin’ under Nurse Emiry’s not so tender care, eatin’ barely edible hospital food, or would ya rather spend it with the people who love ya? I would’a thought you’d be glad to be home.”
“Of course I am, but you’re making everything seem worse than it is. I wasn’t seriously injured, just a concussion, cracked ribs, and a lot of bruising. You make it sound like I was at death’s door.”
“Ya got three broken ribs, not cracked, and ya almost punctured a lung!”
“You’re exaggerating, Dee; it was just a nick.”
“And what about your busted ankle?”
Ryo sighed, exasperated. “That won’t be a problem; I cook with my hands, not my feet.”
“Not a problem? You’re still in a cast, which is seriously limitin’ your mobility. Face it, babe, you’re in no condition for handlin’ the annual Thanksgivin’ cookin’ frenzy.”
“That’s only your opinion; I happen to disagree. It’s just a matter of being properly organised.”
“Yeah? And how exactly do ya expect to organise gettin’ the turkey in and out of the oven when you’re under strict orders to avoid doin’ anything strenuous?”
“I thought you or Bikky could do the heavy lifting for me, unless you’re saying you don’t want to help.”
“Now you’re puttin’ words in my mouth. Okay, so maybe we could’a worked out the turkey issue between us, but it’s a moot point anyway, ‘cause we don’t have a damned turkey and I doubt there’s still one available in the whole of New York.”
“What?” Ryo stared at Dee in horror. “You didn’t buy a turkey?”
“You were in the hospital! We had no idea if you’d be home in time for Thanksgivin’, and even if you were, nobody expected ya to feel like cookin’!”
“I don’t believe this! You didn’t think to ask me?”
Dee threw his arms in the air. “No! I figured you’d be tired and sore, and ya wouldn’t want to be bothered with somethin’ that always leaves ya feelin’ frazzled and exhausted. Dumb of me, maybe, but I thought you’d be grateful that you could just relax and enjoy the day instead of workin’ yourself into the ground feedin’ everyone. But no, instead ya get all bent outta shape, just ‘cause I talked things over with Carol’s aunt and she offered to host this year. All I wanted was to take the pressure off so you could concentrate on healin’. Why shouldn’t someone else get a turn? You’re not the only one can cook, y’know!”
“I know I’m not, it’s just…” Sitting on the sofa, his broken ankle up on the footstool, Ryo sighed. “I feel useless, like I’m letting everybody down, all because I stupidly got put out of action the week before Thanksgiving.”
“You’re talkin’ like it was your fault. Accidents happen, no matter how careful ya might be. It’s not like ya asked to have that wall dropped on ya.” Dee sat down beside his lover. “You’re lucky to be alive; it could’a been a whole lot worse.”
“I know that too, but it wasn’t, and that’s because you saved me.”
“I tried, but ya still got hurt bad enough to spend four days in the hospital.”
“And I’m fine now; nothing to worry about.”
“Maybe, but that’s not gonna stop me worryin’ and doin’ my best to take care of ya.”
“So I see, and I do appreciate it.”
“Yeah? Could’a fooled me.”
“I’m sorry.” Ryo gave a sheepish smile. “I’ve been planning Thanksgiving dinner for weeks, comparing recipes and making lists of everything I was gonna need, only now… All my preparations were for nothing.”
“Not the end of the world though, right? There’s always next year, and if ya can’t wait that long, Christmas is only a few weeks away. Ya should be fully recovered by then.”
Ryo looked thoughtful. “That’s true. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get a head start on my Christmas plans for once.” He leaned over to kiss Dee on the cheek. “Thanks, Dee.”
“Does that mean you’re okay with the Thanksgivin’ arrangements?”
“Yes. It’s very kind of Carol’s aunt to volunteer.” Ryo smiled. “It looks like I have a lot to be thankful for this year; you, my family, and my friends.”
Dee grinned back. “Yeah? It’s about time ya figured that out.”
The End