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

james barnes (au) | ota, brackets or prose

[redactions]

[ He shows up early, bundled in clothes strictly a little too much for a supersoldier who doesn't feel the cold, with a few things homemade of his own. The kitchen of the Heron doesn't boast the equipment the Vanquish does (not yet) so he charmed one of the lodge owners and gave him the recipes in return. The people here really like grilled burgers, what can he do about that. ]

[ Jim can otherwise be found near the speakers, humming to Ella Fitzgerald, at the drinks counter eyeing the vodka, or at a nice quiet corner, nursing a glass. ]

[mucked]

[ she finds him early on -- almost as though, upon her arrival, she'd taken stock of the other attendees and made a particular note of him. he is a beacon of familiarity in a sea of people who are mostly strangers. ]

Who tipped her off about the music, I wonder? [ her she straightens the skirt of her dress and invites herself to take a seat next to jim. ] Or perhaps Rogue possesses a sort of natural good taste.

[redactions]

[ The dress isn't the striking red that looks best, but Jim's attention still flicks to it first, he's quick enough not to linger on her curves. Instead, he leans in and kisses the back of her hand in a gesture that's not exaggerated for effect. ]

Might be my fault. We shared iPods pretty early on. She was helpin' me catch up.

[mucked]

[ his fault? well, she would applaud him for it if not for the fact that one hand is quite busy being kissed. and who dared suggest that chivalry is dead? peggy nearly rolls her eyes in the gesture's wake, but ultimately decides to preserve it with a smile.

but she'll remain mum on how filthy it sounds to 'share ipods' -- !! ]

Mighty helpful, isn't she? [ peggy quite likes rogue. ] But not overbearingly so.

[redactions]

[ A rare, warm smile lights his face. That he's fond of Rogue is no secret, and he's stopped being concerned about about wearing his heart and his wounds on his sleeve. ]

Yeah.

[mucked]

Beautiful, too. [ her expression telegraphs mischief. or, perhaps, delight. because she can read this man's sleeve as well as any other and the holidays are an ideal time to rile up a friend. ] Enough, I dare say, to rival your French dames.

[redactions]

[ ? ? ? ]

[ — OH. His ears go faintly pink, and he ducks his head, to laugh. ]

It's Romanoff's job to get me a date, you musclin' in, Carter?

[mucked]

Maybe. [ cheeky, still. ] Would that be such a sin? Perhaps Romanoff and I ought to collaborate a little.

[redactions]

Perhaps you two oughta worry about my matchmaking talents. Y'see, I hear a certain Captain Rogers is gonna be here.

[mucked]

You're deflecting, Jim. It's not becoming of you.

[ a well-meaning huff. however, now it's her moment to appear slightly...sheepish. is it so obvious, she wonders, that the effort put into her 'effortless' appearance is indeed targeted towards one individual in particular?

yes, she decies. yes, it is. ]

[redactions]

Oh, please. I never played fair.

[ It was always gently done, and it's an instinct he no longer holds to be the most natural. ]

[mucked]

We weren't talking about Steve, [ she argues -- and yet can't help but smile when she speaks his name. ] We were talking about Rogue.

[redactions]

We're talking about Steve now, not Rogue.

[ He winks, roguishly, and leads her to a private corner, pulling out her chair. ]

[touchofrogue]

[Aww, look who she didn't have to find and drag here! Although showing up early does mean that it's just Rogue and Remy setting up, and she was still teleporting in the few comfortable chairs that they'd shuttled up here. They couldn't fit that many in the shuttle, which meant various trips, and this was trip two. That was taking a lot more time than she had anticipated, and so Rogue was cheating.

So there is a slight BAMFing sound, the scent of sulfur, and Rogue suddenly appearing in thin air with a slight puff of smoke and a chair in either hand.

Seeing Jim, her jaw drops a little.] Oh, you're here! [Wait, that didn't sound very gracious, just startled. Remy, she'd told about this already, so she hadn't minded cheating and, well, she is startled. But she is also glad that he came, glad she didn't have to hunt him down, though after his response to her invitation she was pretty sure he'd actually make it. She just... with the teleporting...and their last conversation...awkward. Releasing one chair, she tucks a strand of hair back behind her ear with a gloved hand.] Hi!

[redactions]

[ He raises an eyebrow, and rubs his nose to get the sulphur smell out. ]

Hey. You can teleport?

[ IT IS PRETTY COOL negl but a little unexpected. He hasn't asked much about the powers she absorbs and how long she keeps them, and after their last conversation he doesn't quite think he has the right to be talking about it anyway. ]

[touchofrogue]

Uh, yeah. [She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.] It's kinda on semi-permanent loan.

[Rogue began dragging the chairs over to the corner.]

You're here early.

[redactions]

Thought I'd bring somethin' for the buffet table.

[ He carries the pot over; it's soup. Simple, but the aroma is strong, and spicy. ]

Need a hand?

[touchofrogue]

[There are so many bad jokes she could make right now, mostly out of relief that he came and that this is a return to the sort of casual friendship-interactions that was classified 'normal'. So she quirks her lips in a small smile.] Maybe after ya set the soup down. There ain't that much more ta do, just need to finish the finicky bits.

[redactions]

[ welcome once again to the James Barnes school of Fake It Til You Make It ]

All right. Where do you need me?

[touchofrogue]

[She glances around to check on what Remy's doing. There wasn't that much else to do, but why muscle the chairs over to the corner and muss up her dress if he was willing to do it for her?]

Why don't you go drag these on over to the corner. I'll turn on the lights. [She hasn't yet turned on the illusions Loki prepared for her the day before the day before. Lightly, she touched the green pendent she always wore and turned toward the wall.]

[redactions]

[ Cheerfully, ]

Yes'm.

[touchofrogue]

[As Rogue walks over to the place in the wall Loki had set up for the key to 'turn on the lights', she glances back over her shoulder at Jim.]

Is Winter coming?

[redactions]

[ Okay that's unexpectedly funny, and he stifles a chortle. ]

Yeah, he'll be around. Seemed pretty excited about it.

[touchofrogue]

[Sadly, Rogue is pre-GoT era, and misses the joke completely.]

Okay, good. I'm glad. [She'd wanted him to come. She felt it was important.

She touches the wall with the pendent and whispers the key phrase Loki gave her, and the illusions flare to life.]

[redactions]

[ Whoa. ]

[ He examines the one nearest, cautiously, and then reaches out to touch it, if he can. ]