[Closed to US Expats in London on Thanksgiving]

[dirtyredneck]

The Lanky Loon wasn't exactly Daryl's bar of choice on most days, but it did one thing that the majority of pubs in the area didn't: catered to Expats feeling a little lonely on Thanksgiving. Mostly becuase it was run by ex-Expats who'd settled down decades ago and thought it would be fun to do when they were hurting for friends. Turkey and potatoes with stuffing and cranberry were the only items on the menu today and several long tables set out so all the people with no family in the area could sit down next to each other like they were. They got to be as dysfunctional as expected but without any of the baggage that went with it and they could disown the rest when they left. The place was open all day and food was first come first serve.

Daryl had found it through his job since they like to hire state-side and this would be his third year going. He didn't know anyone's names but the owners and didn't really care if he remembered them or not. Didn't matter, the big game was on the tiny little screen that passed for a television and people were already getting loud and rowdy about it. Felt enough like home to be worth an hour or two of his time.

He grabbed a plate, a beer, and set himself down at an empty spot. Turned to whoever he was next to and raised the bottle up in toast, "Happy Turkey-day."


[we have a small cast of american characters so if anyone wants to mingle with each other and not just Daryl, go right ahead.]

Comments

[catphishing]

The man was a little less intimidating when he didn't seem quite so much like he was inhaling the food in front of him, but he was still more physical than Oliver was usually with strangers.

"Kind of?"

His family always seemed small to him most of the time. It was when it came to the holidays it suddenly seemed to expand drastically.

"My parents only had me," he explained. "But they have siblings, and most of them had multiple kids, and a lot of them have kids now... I'm the only one who lives that far away, so everyone gets together still."

[dirtyredneck]

"Sounds pretty big to me." Even if they was cousins and nephews and all that. If they all got together all the time, then it was 'big'.

"It was just me and Merle, our daddy, and if we were lucky, Uncle Jess for the holidays." Daryl wasn't about to get into the details of how bad that was sometimes, but general family talk... well, that was kind of the thing that went on at Thanksgiving. It was easier to fall into it with the current surroundings and none of it had to be deep to be good. "Daddy and Uncle Jess had different momma's so we never really kept up with his side of the family after Gran-daddy died, but he liked to come over and spend time with his brother when he could. The cozy sorta gatherings."

[catphishing]

"That sounds nice though. Apart from your brother being a jerk."

Sometimes holidays were a little overwhelming with there being so many people around. He enjoyed them, and it was the only time of year he saw some of his family, but it could be a bit much.