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

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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.]

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[Wanda blinks slightly in surprise at the compliment and gratitude, but she grins appreciatively back. A slight blushing in her cheeks.]

You are welcome. There were enough left that I was able to make a plateful. I think my crew would be a little annoyed if I went on another baking spree and took up all the kitchen space again. That, and using up the last of the ingredients for another batch of brownies might tick them off a little too much.

Your crew? Somehow they don't seem like the type to hold a grudge because you use up all of the sugar.

But still.

Well, maybe not all of them.

[She giggles softly.]

But I know Peggy gets rather cranky when she isn't able to have her tea exactly how she likes it.

[Natasha laughs softly at that.]

I can see that, now that you mention it. She takes her tea very seriously. Very English of her.

[Wanda's smile brightens notably as she hears Natasha's laugh. She's pretty sure that's the first time Nat has laughed at something she's said.]

It certainly does come out from time to time.

[Well, more like all the time.]

Sorry I missed your visit earlier.

[She offers up the plate of brownies.]

[Natasha accepts them, taking one for herself and nibbling the edge before she responds.]

Don't worry about it. You seemed pretty exhausted. Very busy night, I'm guessing.

[She nods.]

I may have underestimated the amount of baking I'd need to do... and the amount of time it would all take.

Is that all you were up to?

[The question is a little flat, rather than being inflected significantly higher at the end to make the question clear.

As though maybe she already thinks she knows the answer.]

No time to sneak out at all.

[Wanda opens her mouth looking as if she is going to deny any such sneaky giftgiving, but she's already been made painfully aware how obvious and transparent she'd been about this whole endeavor. So instead, she shuts her mouth, a shade of red begins to color her cheeks.]

It was meant to be a secret... a nice surprise for everyone to find. I... I had wanted to avoid addressing the fact that these were gifts that should have been given at Christmas time. Gifts that I had meant to give... that is, until the Atroma got in the way.

Well, it's not like we know what time of year it really is back home. You might be late here, but...

[Natasha shrugs. Considering how much of a mess things are here, seems a little silly to stand on calendar dates.]

Thank you. It was a pleasant surprise.

[A flicker of an appreciative smile from Wanda. Natasha certainly had a point, but, as far as WHEN the fleet had decided to celebrate the holidays, that time had passed, and that had led to the building guilt and embarrassment that Wanda had been unable to join in back then.]

You are welcome.

[The smile then vanishes, replaced with a more sort of worried, slightly uneased look.]

I did not really know what kind of colors you prefer, so I hopefully got enough of a variety that there is something in there you'll like. If- if you don't find one...

[Wanda's face flashes even redder. How mortifying it would be if she'd have to take her belated gift back, because she wasn't able to pick out good makeup.]

It's fine. [Natasha is quick to reassure.] I like the variety. In my line of work, it's good to be able to have a few different looks.

[Her smile goes from gentle to wry.]

I feel bad for not getting you anything now. I'll have to do better for your birthday.

[Wanda looks like she's going to say something in response to Natasha's "line of work requiring different looks bit" -- like, she might try to claim that was her idea all along, but instead she keeps quiet.]

[The smile then creeps back onto her face as Natasha mentions feeling as though she owes Wanda. To which, Wanda waves it off.]

You do not owe me anything. That is not the point of giving gifts on holidays.

It's not the point, no. That doesn't mean the people you give things to won't want to reciprocate.

[Reciprocity is an important part of human social interaction. A fact Natasha has taken advantage of more than once.

That doesn't mean she's entirely immune to the impulse.]

You seem to be remembering more these days.

[Wanda's expression turns a little more somber at that. She's still harboring some mixed feelings of anger and shame from how the Atroma played with her memories and how she acted as a result.]

I am, yes. There seem to be some parts that remain sort of cloudy, but, by and large, it seems like everything has returned to me. Though, perhaps I wouldn't know any better if they weren't...

[And yeah, she's already stewed on THAT particular notion more than enough.]

We don't have to look at it too closely. [At this point they all more or less have to take on faith that the Atroma aren't playing with their head at any given moment. Not a comfortable thought.]

I'll just be grateful that you remember a little more about our time together.

[Wanda looks up at Nat, a warm smile stretching back across her lips as she also looks a little embarrassed.]

I do.

It feels like a while since we last spoke like this though -- casually, without something else going on.

You're not wrong about that. It has been. [Natasha hadn't wanted to force things, though she realizes that risks seeming to have a lack of interest when nothing could be further from the truth.]

Is it too late to ask what I missed?

[Wanda blinks at Natasha, a slight tilt of her head further signalling her confusion at the question.]

I was not aware that you had missed anything?

I'm sure there's been things. Nothing earth shattering, maybe, but you must have been up to things.

[Natasha leans back a little, then shrugs.]

Nothing worth mentioning?

[Wanda thinks for a moment.]

Well, other than the surprise attack on the fleet and the cleanup that followed, the only other thing that has been occupying my time recently was finishing up gifts for everyone.

[A short pause.]

I saw "The Princess Bride" for the first time.

[She's not exactly sure if it applies to Natasha's questions, or if Nat would even be interested, but it's the only other thing jumping to her mind at the moment.]

I didn't see that one until Clint made me watch it with his family.

[That was one bit of American culture that had been overlooked in Natasha's education.]

Did you like it?

[A smile stretches back across Wanda's lips. She had not expected Natasha to want to talk about "Princess Bride," but it's certainly a pleasant little surprise.]

It was good. I thought it seemed a little odd, a little cheesy at first, but, by the end, I was rather enjoying the movie.

Has Barton made you watch a lot of films?

[Natasha's interest is more in Wanda than the movie, so it's easy enough to talk about.]

A few. You know he says you can't be a real American until you've seen Caddyshack?

"Caddyshack?" I will have to ask Winn to add it to the list.

Any other films you think Barton would insist upon my seeing?

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