Football Hero {Thanksgiving thread, open, no posting order}

[Toad]

Toad had heard about this upcoming celebration called Thanksgiving. Some colonial festivity, apparently, but when in Rome, what? As Toad loved playing the Grand Host, he decided to throw a Thanksgiving Day do and invite everyone! Alas, he knew nothing about that particular day and repaired to those excellent servants, Wiggins and Linguini for assistance.

Neither of them was, of course, American, but Linguini seemed to get the gist of the thing. Apparently it consisted of watching a football match while consuming a wide variety of finger foods. Splendid! Toad always enjoyed a good match, Rah! Rah! and all that.

So, on with the fete! Toad rented a huge suite in an hotel, his own quarters at Toad Hall being somewhat abbreviated. A cast member also recommended a...what was it? 'Giant screen TV.' Whatever that was, Toad must have it; he had one sent up forthwith. And with the two lads preparing the comestibles, it only remained to wait for the guests to arrive.

[Spot]

When the Cast Member picked him up out of a pile of roasted corn, Spot first off wondered how the other humans around here had gotten so good at sneaking up on him; his own scent and observation skills usually far outweighed theirs and he would hear them coming and scamper off way before they got so close.

They even most of the time loudly announced themselves, shouting at him.

Next he vaguely worried over being in trouble so tried to dart off as soon as the Cast Member put him down, but both the teen's words and waving about one of those bland smelling leaves they marked on stopped him.

"You're invited to a party, or we were told to give them to all the Special Guests".

Spot blinked so the older boy went on, pointing and in the end had to all but walk Spot to the place to communicate the directions. As soon as the building was in sight, Spot got it though and maybe for this reason of poor communication they had waited until the day of to point him in the right direction and leave him to it.

He darted through the doors, having smelled the wonderful food halfway down the hallway and had plans to barge straight towards the table when he froze. Spot had seen screens about, and they still confused him, but pictures blinking about on this one looked like they were in the room!

Or just beyond that odd barrier that blocked scent as well.

Giant animals were floating through the sky and everything about it screamed wrong and threatening to Spot so he paused on the table and, crouching down, started growling before rapidly barking at the TV telling them to stop it and leave.

<<ooc: I'm thinking Macy's Parade but don't want to assume what Toad's TV is showing so if not the parade then maybe a commercial or I can tweak it for whatever is on the TV>>

[Basil]

Basil perused his invitation. He was not a particular fan of team sport, and when it came to that, he preferred cricket over football. But, Toad was, for all his eccentricities, a likeable sort. And free meals served to stretch Basil's meagre earnings. Might as well bring Toby along so he could be fed as well.

Basil presented himself forthwith at the address indicated, a far more luxurious hotel than his own modest flat. "Good afternoon, Toad, old fruit," he began cordially. "And how are--" The words caught in his throat. "What is...rather, who is this?" For a moment, Basil took it as a pet of some sort. But, no, apparently a human child, but a more dirty and disreputable child would be difficult to imagine.

Basil had presumed this would be an adults-only affair. Toad was prone to the erratic; perhaps he'd started a charity for street urchins. In any case, Basil must be careful not to offend his host.

Toby, upon entering the suite, immediately snuffed the air. There was a very strange scent about, which led him to a creature about his own size. It looked human, mostly, but smelt wild.

"Toby, down! Get away from that! You don't know where it's been." Obedient as ever, Toby continued to examine the creature as if he'd heard nothing at all.

[Panchito]

The door burst open and slammed against the opposite wall. That was certainly going to leave a mark. In the doorway stood Panchito, but not for long; he sauntered into the room shouting greetings to whoever happened to be in earshot.

"Hola! Hola!" A football party! It had been years since Panchito played football. Well, this room certainly was big enough for a game, no doubt about it. Though there was just now only himself and el ratón Basil.

" 'ey, mi amigo!" he cried, delivering a hearty slap on the mouse's back. "And...el perro." The caballero was not what you'd call a dog person, but to each his own. Wait...los perros...there were two dogs. Maybe one belonged to their host, this Toad, whom Panchito had never met.

The vacquero threw himself onto el sofá, ready for a day of football, food, and friends.

[Pleakley]

The next to arrive was Pleakley. Parties were an integral part of Earth culture, so he made sure to attend as many as possible. To this one, he came prepared.

Pleakley came in wearing a blue jersey with name and number emblazoned on the back. "I have my tribal colors on." Looks like the other guests forgot. "And my ritual eye paint," he added, referring to the black line under his single eye, put there using a Magic Marker. See, he'd done his homework on Earth's football customs.

"I see we have the requisite enormous screen. Very good." Pleakley approved; it was so much bigger than anything in Nani's house! He took a seat and waited for the festivities to begin.