xp_logs | Setting the Open Table (backdated)

xp_dust posting in

Sooraya and David help out at the Open Table at the community center and some long held feelings are finally spoken aloud.

"Okay, look like we need to pull on that end a little more to get it even." Sooraya stepped back, eyeing the plastic table cloth carefully before quickly surveying the room in front of her. Several other people were busy setting the tables as well, even though the food would be served on an improvised buffet.

Jim assessed the situation, and for an instant his right eye flickered grey. The tablecloth evened itself out of its own accord.

"I think that should do it," he remarked. "Decorations next?"

"I think so. The kids did some great work." A table to the side was covered with carved pumpkins, colorful turkey crafts and even a few early December decorations. "What are you thinking? Start with a pumpkin or two?"

"Sounds good. Centerpieces first, then work out from there." Jim glanced at the side table covered in handmade decorations. "I'm glad the Center does this. Holidays can be difficult in general, but I think there's something especially rough about Thanksgiving. Maybe because it's non-denominational. It's mostly about getting together with friends and family. Not everyone is lucky enough to have either."

"And during days like this the cold and the fight for food fight extra hard. Or just sitting alone in whatever housing you have." Sooraya quickly picked up a pumpkin, putting it front and center on the table. "It's just sad to realize that for everyone who comes here, there is still someone stuck home alone, too afraid to come in or just not here for whatever reason. Hopefully we can find a way to reach them in December."

"The fliers help . . . and I think XFI is good for word of mouth." Jim glanced meaningfully towards the far side of the event room, where Arthur chatted with another volunteer with the ease of a man who'd never met an awkward moment he couldn't finger-gun his way out of. The telepath selected a few paper towel roll-turkeys with googly eyes and tails made from construction-paper handprints before turning back to Sooraya. "What about you?" he asked.

"This time of year, I mean. I know these aren't really your holidays, but . . ."

"I mean, I don't have much with the whole traditional means of it, but like the spirit of the holidays.. celebrating with family and friends, helping others to find something so they can have at least a bit of that..." Sooraya indicated the space around them. "And remembering to be thankful is never wrong. What about you? They're not your feasts either."

The corner of Jim's mouth gave an upward quirk. He gestured to her with a cardboard turkey. "Sure I am. What do you call this?"

Sooraya grinned as she examined the colorful artwork a little closer. "I'd say the end result if a turkey mated with a peacock, but I don't think you mean that." She tilted her head a little. "Or maybe a mutant turkey?"

Jim glanced at the decoration in his hand, which had plumage best described as "Pride-adjacent," and snorted. "Not that -- the kids went for more of a statement than verisimilitude. I mean the open table." Now it was his eyebrow that quirked. "Besides, I like to think we're at least on the level of 'friends'."

Shaking her head, Sooraya raised an eyebrow: "Friends huh? You know... with Moira..."

A second eyebrow raised, this time in mild alarm. "Don't even joke about being more than friends with Moira. I'm trying not to dissociate tonight."

For one moment Sooraya stared at him, then blinked. "David, bend over for a moment... you've got some glitter stuck in your hair and you're way too tall for me to reach you.." She replied drolly.

"Huh?" Jim blinked, then obligingly leaned forward. "Oh, sure . . ."

Raising her hand, Sooraya quickly bopped him on the head. "Get your mind out of the gutter." She scolded him. "What a way to talk about the closest person we have to a mother next to our own..."

"Ow!" Jim swiftly unfolded, immediately removing his head from the range of her hand. He rubbed his scalp in a way that was more aggrieved than injured. "You started it," he pointed out.

"You took it in a weird direction." She immediately retorted, childishly sticking out her tongue at him.

"What direction was I supposed to take it in?" returned the telepath with matching immaturity.

"Any other than the one you took it in!" She leaned closer, pretending to study his head carefully. "It's not like you're wearing blinders... nor is there a plate stuck to the front of your head!"

"All right, all right . . ." Jim ran a hand through his ruffled hair and relented. "I guess it's true, we probably do run closer on the 'family' side of things now, huh."

Sooraya shook her head fondly, putting her hand on his arm: "This cannot be the first time you've thought this way, can it? I mean..." She quickly gestured at her scarf. "... I kinda have to wonder what you made of me not wearing it around you sometimes..."

The telepath paused, giving the statement the consideration it deserved.

"I did notice," he finally said, giving her a slight nod, "and of course I know what it says about your comfort level with me. I thought that if you felt like calling attention to it, you would." He smiled at Sooraya, and this time both corners of his mouth rose -- a rarity, when the expression so often seemed to be subject to some internal debate. "But yeah. Part of it was that it did feel natural, too."

"It does." Sooraya confirmed softly.