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

[stickupherforehead]

[social what? Is there undue friction going on somewhere?

Pearl doesn't look entirely convinced, but she mimics your actions and picks up the other one.]

So it's a multipurpose tool. [water doesn't do any of that, certainly]

[mucked]

Something like that, darling.

[ and without much more fanfare, she knocks the shot back in one go. ] Careful -- [ a slight wheeze. ] It's strong stuff.

[stickupherforehead]

[it's too late for the warning. Pearl copies Peggy's action and...then has to cover her mouth so she won't spray it back out.

Her eyes are wide for a long moment before she finally manages to swallow and immediately starts coughing.]

W-why would anybody - [coughcough]

[mucked]

Admittedly, as tools go, it's a bit of a blunt instrument.

[ she settles a friendly hand on pearl's shoulder. ] And an acquired taste.

[stickupherforehead]

[oh heavens, her throat is still numb. It takes her a moment before she responds.]

Humans like this stuff??

[she may have to finally revise her opinion of weak, soft humans. Maybe their strength is in their gastrointestinal tract???]

[mucked]

Some of us. [ peggy shrugs. ] Russians, mostly. Personally? I prefer gin.

[stickupherforehead]

[there's a moment where she's just biting her lip, trying to decide if she wants to know or not.]

Is 'gin' similar to vodka?

[mucked]

Similar, only better.

[stickupherforehead]

In that it only strips off the first layer of paint?

[mucked]

Something like that. But then there's also whiskey, which is a much finer spirit for sipping.

[stickupherforehead]

[...the more time she spends here, the more she's learning about humans.]

Why are there so many varieties of the same drink?

[this stuff is important to human culture, isn't it?]

[mucked]

I suppose -- one might say they weren't all created by the same people. Different cultures all came up with their own unique way to strip the lining off their stomachs.

[stickupherforehead]

That...sounds detrimental to one's health.

[okay. Now to find out if this is humans being strong or being inexplicably human.] Is there a reason why everybody wanted to do that to their stomachs?

[mucked]

Lonely nights and cold winters.

[ among other reasons. ]

[stickupherforehead]

[Pearl blinks, before looking at the bottle and then back to Peggy. Anything she knows about drunk humans would have come from TV/movies, but she also knows a lot of that stuff is made up.

And then she's looking around at the party.] Humans drink this mainly because they're lonely?

[does pain diminish loneliness???]

[mucked]

Some of them. [ this conversation has turned less playful than it had initially began. she tries to salvage it. ] Or like like the social aspect. Once upon a time, beer was safer to drink than water in large cities. I suppose the habit and the taste lingers on.

[stickupherforehead]

[that's a pretty good way to distract Pearl!]

Safer than - [whaaat] How? I mean -

[waaait. Waaaaaaaaait. She's been sort of casually observing humans through the years so...] They were filthy, weren't they?

[mucked]

[ peggy laughs. ] That they most certainly were.

[ ... ] But where are you from, then? If you don't mind the question.

[stickupherforehead]

[at least she didn't spend too much time thinking about how gross an old timey human city would've been.]

I'm a Gem, from Homeworld. [not that it means much to you] But I've been on Earth for a few thousand years now.

Well, before this whole fiasco happened. [insert vague annoyed wave at their surroundings]

[mucked]

I'm sorry, but -- [ peggy takes a moment. sometimes, these otherworldly matters hare hard to keep up with. ] Did you say your name was Gem?

[stickupherforehead]

[Pearl shakes her head, but doesn't seem to take offense.]

No, I'm Pearl. We, as a race, call ourselves 'Gems.'

[at least that sort of explains the thing in her forehead]