driftfleet | Belated Christmas presents are better than no presents, right?

Who: Wanda Maximoff, friends, shipmates, and YOU!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Yes; Starstruck
When: Early this morning (last night) through the rest of today

A) Closed to Wanda's Christmas List

[The past two months have been kind of crazy for everyone, and that certainly included Wanda. Spending the month of December with no memories of her previous time in the Fleet, regaining them (well, almost all of them) so suddenly and somewhat painfully, followed by all the chaos that came with the surprise attack on the Fleet, and then, of course, there was the necessary repair process after that, it's all been a whirlwind of distractions and activity for Wanda. Finally now, things were starting to settle back down, and that meant Wanda could turn her attention back to a project she's been discreetly working on since her memories returned.]

[She'd felt guilty that her "condition" had kept her from celebrating the Christmas holidays with her friends and shipmates. Now, it was over a full month passed, but she still really wanted to try and do something special. She'd been gathering some presents over the past year during the Fleet's travels, but she had not quiet finished her list. Thankfully, with time now available to her, she's seen to finishing her list -- which she may have added some people to post-December. But, in her eyes, they still deserved presents.]

[Anyways, last night, Wanda set about delivering her gifts to everyone. Each person will find the gift waiting outside their doors or in an easily spotted place in a communal area. The gifts have tags specifying who each present is for, and some may also have "special instructions," but none have any note as to WHO the gifts are from. Perhaps Wanda's feeling a little too embarrassed and guilty about only just now finally delivering her Christmas gifts to attach her name to them. However, each present will feature wrapping or packaging that belies a certain affinity for the color red. Naturally, some (or all) gift recipients might be able to put two and two together. If they'd then like, they may contact Wanda via communicator or in person. Just expect a very pink-face, blushing Wanda to greet you.]

B) Fleetwide Broadcast

[When Wanda turns on the broadcast, she looks noticeably... well, tired. It seems she did not get a lot of sleep last night for some reason. Hmmm. Odd. She tries to smile, friendly and cheerfully, though her eyes flutter a few times while she speaks. Girl's likely gonna take a long nap after this.]

I was, um, baking... a lot recently... and I, um... I made extra! So, if anyone would like some cookies or brownies, they are... They are on the Starstruck! ... in the kitchen... room... area...

[She covers her mouth with her hand, attempting (poorly) to cover a soft yawn.]

Help yourselves! I... um, everyone is welcome! First come, first serve though... sorry... I can make some more... later...

[The video feed cuts there, as Wanda falls back onto her bed for some much needed rest. Anybody who received a mysterious, belated Christmas gift this morning just got a big clue as to who it was that delivered them.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wanda, I still truly appreciate the gift.

[ It gives him a little more hope. ]

It shows that you know us well. That means more than the gift itself.

[Her smile grows a little warmer at his words. But she's still already set her mind to finding the Professor a replacement gift. There's nothing he can do to stop that now.]

Thank you.

I just wanted to get you two something special. Something to say thank you for everything you've each done for me over the past year. All those mentoring sessions on the Iskaulit, and all the times you were each there for me when I was at my lowest.

[ He inhales quietly, surprised. ]

So you do remember.

[ His eyes sting. It's like a long-forgotten hope returning to him. ]

[She looks up, a little surprised by that reaction. She quickly realizes that not everyone was made aware she'd regained her memories. She'd tried to get in touch with a few people, but things had quickly gotten out of hand with the surprise attack and repair efforts afterwards. Wanda had been too distracted by the unfolding events to finish checking up with everyone. And then after that, she'd busied herself finishing up this belated Christmas gift project of hers. She suddenly feels incredibly guilty that she'd allowed Charles to think he was still forgotten to her. The look on her face mirroring how she feels.]

I am so sorry, Professor. I- I did not mean to let you think that you... that I had forgotten you for so long.

No, of course not.

[ How embarrassing. He discreetly wipes at his face. ]

I don't believe it was intentional at all. It happens. Things slip our mind.

[His words do little to alleviate the guilt she's feeling though.]

I got distracted by everything that has happened in the last month. The attack on the fleet, the repairs, and then trying to finish all these gifts for everyone...

[She gives a solemn shake of her head.]

But that's no excuse for letting you feel forgotten for so long...

[ Saying he's used to it would be unhelpful and he certainly doesn't want to derail this conversation to make Wanda feel guilty, when Charles clearly knew it wasn't her fault whatsoever. ]

It's not an excuse. I'm just glad they came back.

[She smiles weakly back at him.]

I am, too.

Some parts... details... remain cloudy, but they otherwise seem to have completely returned to me.

That's still a lot.

I've lost my memories plenty of times. Getting them back always been a hardship, a struggle that has made me value what I have.

[ Even though it stings. Going back to their world to deal with Apocalypse meant they had forgotten the Fleet. And that left its mark on him. ]

[Wanda thinks on his words for a moment. She had begun to notice the haze that seemed to hang over parts of her memories a little while ago, but still... why didn't it alarm her more that there seemed to be gaps? Even if they were small? A look of puzzlement finding its way to Wanda's expression as she mulls this over.]

I... I did not think to pay it much mind... I felt that I would I simply begin to remember those parts given enough time...

[ He nods slowly, watching her. ]

Perhaps it was always meant to be temporary.

[Wanda gives a small nod of her head in response. She still looks distracted, concerned by her thoughts. A kind of chill runs up her spine the more she thinks on her cloudy memories, and that serves to snap her out of her pondering.]

I... I think that is the case, yes...

[She cannot help but still sound unsure.]

[ It's that uncertainty that makes Charles pause in his thoughts. ]

We can look into it if you like.

[Wanda bites the corner of her lower lip. She looks uneasy. She's not sure why, but something about all this is filling her with almost a sense of dread.]

I... I would like that, professor. Thank you.

[If there was anyone she trusted to help her figure this out, it was Charles.]

[ His expression is gentle. Unraveling the mind is never easy. Trusting someone to help you through that is even harder. ]

You're welcome. Let me know when you're ready.

[She nods. It would take her a little time to ready herself. This sense of trepidation she's feeling about the endeavor... it was hard to quell, and that seemed to unnerve her even more.]

Take your time.

Belated Christmas presents are better than no presents, right?

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