Deck the Halls (does not mean punch them)

[touchofrogue]

Who: Rogue, Remy, those invited who decided to attend, and they’re probably not rude enough to turn down any passerbys who happen to come by and wish to attend
Broadcast: Nope
Action: In an out of the way room with a few smallish windows on the Iskaulit
When: December 23rd, 5ish-8ish


It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas, or it would have been if they were on an Earth calendar. For their celebration and memory-making, Rogue had selected a middle sized room on the edge with two small windows by which an occasional view of the ice planet below could be seen. There would be very few who would be tempted to steal such a familiar view, however, since Rogue had enlisted Loki’s aid in making Christmas decorations and he provided illusions with alacrity and skill.

Lights are strung about the room, housed in brightly colored glass balls. While at first they simply seem to be glowing ornaments, there is something odd about the flames. A close look will reveal they do not dance formlessly, but rather have the shape of tiny dragons. There are bright, evergreen wreaths with red bows, hung strategically about the place which are actually eternal knots, impossible to solve. In the corner immediately spotted upon entering is an illusion of a gorgeous Christmas tree, with decorations all in gold and sparkling lights at the end of each branch - even the smell of evergreen is mimicked flawlessly. Flanking the tree are two tables, one laden in all kinds of food that Rogue and Remy have cooked up, the other with the label ‘White Elephant presents here.’ Loki has also helped Rogue hook up her music to some sort of an audible projection, and she is initially going to be streaming traditional Christmas Carols done by such greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Norah Jones, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

There are a few comfortable chairs set up along the opposite side of the room as the Christmas tree (just a few, as comfortable chairs are not that easy to find), by an illusion of falling silver leaves that provide a glow of soft light in the area.

The center of the room is free for dancing, or games, or standing about and talking. Remy and Rogue have done their best to make delicious finger foods, appetizers and heartier party fare. There’s delicacies that can be found sourced from the planet, various salted fruits, a small platter of apple slices with a caramel dip, and heartier fare in the way of stews and pastas, the sort of thing that could be put in a cup and eaten standing up. There are desserts as well, spice cookies and peppermint bark and a far too tiny chocolate cake. There is punch - ice strawberry - and Natasha’s gift of vodka, kept carefully separate from the punch, and there’s some leftover wine Loki had magically made more potent for the solstice that Rogue stole in case any of those with suped up metabolisms wanted the pleasure of getting buzzed.

Notably, there is no depiction of mistletoe.

Comments

[touchofrogue]

[Hostessing: Rogue can be found frequently by the food table, making sure there was enough to eat and doing her best to encourage everyone to drink. She has also managed to dress for the occasion, along with her ever-present gloves, black tights with vine cut outs, and boots.

Mingling: She'll also be doing her best to talk with the people she invited, after all -- she invited them because she likes them and she wants them to have a good time. Opening lines may be something like, "So, how are ya likin' the planet?" or "Havin' fun?"

Monitoring: Time to make sure that Metallica doesn't actually come up on her playlist... maybe she should have paid more attention to making that playlist in the first place.

WILDCARD: Go for it!

[mucked]

The night had grown balmy with drink and company. Peggy hadn't been here long -- but long enough to feel how unnecessary the fur stole around her shoulders had become. When Rogue had a moment of downtime, Peggy made a point of approaching the young woman. Then, while unwinding the shawl, she greeted her quite warmly.

"Lovely evening, you know. The music, especially. Well done." The stole was abandoned to the back of a rare chair -- a liberty she did not think twice of taking. "Have you had a chance to get off your feet yet?"

[touchofrogue]

Rogue shook her head at the question. "Nah, probably won't until the gift exchange."

Her eyes widened appreciatively at the dramatic reveal under the fur stole. "Wow! That's a great dress. You look fantastic, Carter."

Never let it be said that Rogue did not know how to speak Girl completely.

[mucked]

She knew how to take a compliment with grace and gratitude. She had no time for false modesty, and would never have invested the credits into the dress's purchase if she hadn't been completely satisfied with the way it wore and the way it draped. So she nodded her thanks and (without too much austerity) crossed her arms. Her pose was comfortable.

"But look at you, darling. So few can pull off so fine a green. Half the bloody young men of America didn't manage it." Admittedly, Rogue's dress was a little outside her decade's aesthetic -- a little too asymmetrical, perhaps, for '40s sensibility. But it could not be denied that Rogue wore it beautifully.

[touchofrogue]

Rogue couldn't help but laugh a little at that comparison, pleased. "Why, thank you."

She did enjoy dressing for an occasion on occasion. Her gaze flickered around the room to make sure all continued as it should be before returning her attention to Peggy, "I'm glad ya decided ta come, an' that you're havin' a nice time. Wouldn't have been much of a party if folks hadn't shown up."

[mucked]

"I've never found it easy to turn down a well-worded invitation. And," she glanced 'round herself. "The rest of the guest list certainly doesn't hurt."

Although she noticed Rogue's beau was not in attendance. For the best, she supposed. Because there was tension present in his mere existence, and she wasn't certain how that would play out on this dance floor.

"Thank you, by the way. For the invite."

[touchofrogue]

At the mention of her invitation, Rogue couldn't help but let out an abashed laugh. "Well. It was a clear invitation, anyway."

She was perhaps understandably cautious about getting a bunch of people with super powers and PTSD in a small room. At least this way no one could complain she hadn't warned them if she had to Take Steps. "An' you're more than welcome. We had a Thanksgivin' like this once back in Luceti too - just invited everyone we knew from similar Earths ta try an' make it a little more like... it was our space, not just our cage. Remy pointed out we didn't have the same kinda crowd here, so I thought -- why not make our own party?"

She was definitely talking more freely to Carter now that they'd had their little heart-to-heart a few weeks ago.

[mucked]

"It's a good sentiment. Lovely one, really."

And not a strange nor unfamiliar one. Peggy smiled. "I daresay I've heard a few similar stories from the trenches, before--" Peace. Her nose crinkled. "Before."

She left it at that.

[touchofrogue]

Before. Right. Rogue nodded, "Well, have ya met everyone? A few of them from Remy's ship I hadn't met before, but I know Pearl and Steven are from the same place," nodding in their direction. Trying to be a Hostess, but she sucks at this, honestly.

[mucked]

"There's you. And Barnes, of course. It seems I've met Mister LeBeau once or twice before now, and I didn't know the two of you were acquainted."

No surprise. No cast aspersions. Mere curiousity -- because Peggy knew, at least, that Remy was some manner of criminal. And she wondered how that fit in to Rogue's social circle.

[touchofrogue]

"Remy?" Mr. LeBeau, bah! He probably ate that up. She couldn't help but roll her eyes a little at the thought. "Yeah, he's from my world, actually. We ain't exactly friends there," considering he'd kidnapped me, lied to me, and used me, "but we ain't exactly enemies either."

Considering he had... a very good reason. And not all of it was a lie.

But that wasn't a very good representation of where they were at right now. "But I reckon you could say a couple of years in Luceti changed that too." She gave a slight nod in his direction. "He's a good guy ta have at your back."

[mucked]

"Contacts, then. Acquaintances. I believe I understand your meaning--"

She knew it well enough with others. Other agents, or other faces. Peggy's smile was lop-sided and just a little diluted.

"Your Luceti seems to have quite the effect on people."

[touchofrogue]

Rogue's eyes widened at that. "Ah - acquaintances? No, that ain't quite right."

Acquaintances sounded so... sterile. There was legitimately nothing sterile about their relationship, it was all -- fire and ice and mess until they'd finally come to a place of trust. And there was nothing sterile about that either.

"But let's just say that -- we've been in the trenches together." Literally. As well as figuratively.

wildcard.

[redactions]

[ When the last guest has gone home and there's still a few songs left on her playlist, Jim approaches her. ]

Hey.

[touchofrogue]

[Well, look at that! No fist fight fights, no alien invasions, no one tried to blow up the room... it almost wasn't like Christmas.

Rogue is very quietly pleased with herself, and emerged in cleaning up. She smiled at Jim, glancing over her shoulder as he approached.]

Hey, yourself. Have a nice time?

[redactions]

Yeah, even if I ain't much of a party kinda fella.

[ Since. You know. He spent his time holding up the wall there with the other wallflowers. ]

You didn't dance.

[touchofrogue]

[That... seemed true. But she was glad he'd come anyway.]

That's true. I didn't. [She glances back at him.] I don't really dance.

[redactions]

[ He doesn't exactly bite his lip, but the half-motion tends towards it. ]

Would you like to? With me. Still a coupla songs left on your playlist.

[touchofrogue]

[Okay, that was unexpected.

Rogue turns to face him.

Something in his voice... something made her not just dismiss him.]

Aw, Jim. I'm -- really not good at dancin'.

[redactions]

Well, ain't like my shoes fit neither.

[ He quirks a small smile. ]

If ya don't mind me steppin' your feet.

[touchofrogue]

[...aww, this was really sweet. But at the same time... it was dancing. Dancing no, dancing baaaad.]

With a pitch like that, ya make it real hard for a gal ta turn ya down. How can I go a whole day without someone steppin' on my feet?

[Rogue shakes her head.] I really don't dance.

[But he hadn't danced all night either. Why was he asking her this?]

[redactions]

Thought it might be a nice change.

[ It's the last stab in the dark. If she doesn't want to, then she won't, and nobody walks away hurt. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Rogue gave him a long, measuring look. Then she exhaled quietly.]

...it might be. S'long as it's not that 'hop' dance Carter was tellin' me about. After razzin' her about it so much, don't think I'd ever live it down.

[It wasn't much. It was a friend asking her to dance. It wasn't a big deal.

It was everything.]

[redactions]

[ He laughs, abruptly boyish, and holds out his left hand for her. ]

Nah. Somethin' slow. I'm an old man, you know, you whippersnappers oughta be gentle.

[touchofrogue]

[...okay, that laugh sealed the deal.

She put out her gloved hand to take his.]

Alright. Just be careful.

[He knew. And he wasn't exactly a vanilla human himself, so even if an accident brush occurred it should be fine.

What's the harm in one dance?]