I went to one of the biggest rodeo in the PNW (Saint Paul Rodeo) and it gave me such a brainwave of my “Thaddeus grew up in a rural ranching community” Modern AU headcanon. LIKE SO MANY…
Thaddeus seems like type of guy who does calf roping (where you throw your lasso and then get off to wrap three of the calf’s legs up) and/or steer wrestling (where a rider gets off their horse and wrestles a steer or a castrated male cow onto the floor) religiously, and he’s very good at it. His family is proud of him, but they’re still rather judgmental.
Thaddeus hasn’t really ever won anything in these competitions, but he gets second or third place and he loves just getting a pat on the back, a little ribbon, and his name on the big screen.
Thaddeus dresses up his mare all pretty before every rodeo and braids her hair. Once he became friends with Dane and Max, and got comfortable enough with them coming along to the rodeo, he’d let them watch and drink a few beers with him as he braids.
After he met Lucy and Norm, he invites them to the rodeo and they mostly spend it eating cotton candy, drinking soda, and recording him. Lucy gets REALLY into everything and is singing along and clapping, while Norm gets a bit emotional and concerned about the calves and how they’re treated.
Thaddeus tries to reassure them that the calves are fine, and afterwards, they go towards the stable where they show off the animals and horses. Lucy adores getting to pet all the animals and Norm does too, he’s just a bit more reserved and gets all teary eyed when he pets the calves and Thaddeus’ horse.
Lucy would do the bull riding animatronic thing, and she’d act like she’s the best as everyone is watching and having fun. Thaddeus gets on next and shows how a true pro rides the bull.
They all get really drunk after the rodeo and watch the fireworks show and sing along to the country music.