the cold never bothered me anyway

[seeingscarlet]

Who: Wanda Maximoff and you!
Broadcast: No
Action: Yes, planetside
When: Throughout December

i. hot springs
[Oh, she could very happily stay here forever. The warmth of the water feels amazing and even her powers feel calm and refreshed. Wanda spends much of her time here, stretched out in the water with a tablet and almost the most relaxed she's ever felt.

She looks up from her reading at approaching footsteps and waves, flashing a lazy smile. This might be the happiest most people have seen her.]

ii. deck the halls
[Wanda's easily swept up in the preparations for the daily festivities - if she's not helping put decorations somewhere that can't be reached without a ladder, she's probably working in a kitchen, swapping recipes with the natives and doing a little experimentation of her own.

Maybe she's approached you for your opinion on the upper levels of a tree, or maybe she's holding out some sort of berry pastry she made in collaboration with her partner today.]

What do you think?

iii. let it go
[The tree is beautiful and even the air here feels oddly charged. It's electric, making something deep inside her thrum in time with the musical tones. Even her power stirs within her, turning her green eyes a softly glowing red.

Wanda lays a hand on it and involuntarily scarlet glows from her fingertips in response. Maybe she should be concerned that it has such a strong effect on her, but everything feels so joyful here.]

It is real, [she says in hushed, awed tones.] I wonder if the other stories about it were true.

iv. wild card!
[You know what to do. Hit me up at dontyousonicme

Comments

Hot Springs

[unbearablynaive]

[This planet has been decidedly odd for the Vision, although not in a bad way. For the first time since he arrived at the Fleet, he's feeling some activity from the Mind Stone - nothing sharp and painful, like it had been at home right before he arrived, but it's active. Awake. So he's been spending a fair amount of time alone meditating with it, trying to learn more. Not really succeeding, but what can you do?

The rest of the time he's spending with Wanda.

The glowing water of the hot springs is just lovely to look at, and even better to rest in. There's something comforting about it even to an android, and anywhere that makes Wanda happy is a place he'll enjoy as well. he approaches her with a bottle of cold water (gotta stay hydrated) and lowers himself into the water so he's immersed up to the chest on a bench nearby where she's floating.]

Good afternoon, my dear. How is everything?

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda's powers are also much closer to the surface now. It barely takes any effort to draw upon them and her eyes keep shifting red at the slightest provocation: anything more than tiny uses of her power or moments of passion or deep relaxation. She doesn't even need to consciously reach for Vision's mind; it just...happens. For the first time in her life Wanda feels utterly at peace with her powers, unafraid that they might slip her control.]

Wonderful. I wish we could stay here.

[Tablet happily abandoned, Wanda shifts to settle on Vision's lap and wind her arms loosely around his neck. Even a soft kiss makes her eyes briefly change to scarlet.]

How was your morning?

[unbearablynaive]

[As relaxing as the waters are, they're even better when he has a beautiful woman in his arms. Mindful that they're in public, he keeps it to a gentle kiss but does wrap his arms around her in turn.]

Fairly productive, all told; I've obtained a map of some of the settlements further out so I can visit and help improve their water heating systems later. It is too late in the day to begin now, however, so I thought perhaps I would drop by and see how you were doing.

[seeingscarlet]

[Someone could theoretically stumble across them, but for now that's a risk she's willing to take. There's nothing wrong with stroking his cheek, is there? It's not like she's sending him dirty thoughts or anything.]

I'm sure they will be very happy to see you. But since it is late...stay with me for a while? [Her hand slides down to his shoulder and gently kneads it.] You'll do better work tomorrow if you relax now.

Hot Springs

[passingthrough]

[Cold planets aren't exactly Kitty's favorite, but they don't keep her away either. She's from Chicago after all, and besides that she gets stir crazy if she spends too much time on the ships. She tries to mitigate it by at least spending the day jumping back and forth between the Twin Roses and the Iskaulit and sometimes a few other ships she may have business or pleasure on—usually the Tourist. Today, however, instead of ship jumping she's on the planet. And while she was more interested in the hike through the mountains and a little spelunking through the ice caves, she found herself drawn to the warmth surrounding the hot springs. It only takes a moment to realize there's a familiar face sticking out of the water.]

You don't find the glow kind of creepy, huh? [She's smiling though. As far as creepy things go, this is low on the list for her. Of course, also not being magically inclined at all she doesn't get the same benefits from the planet as others might.]

[seeingscarlet]

Maybe if none of the other water glowed, but...it's pretty.

[She grins, shifting her things out of the way with the barest wiggle of her fingers. It really doesn't take much here.]

At least put your feet in. You'll feel better, I promise.

[passingthrough]

I'm still waiting to see how you turn out with all that exposure. [Kidding. Mostly kidding. She is considering it. Turning it over in her mind. Maybe Wanda can even tell.] You do look relaxed though.

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda just laughs and shrugs.]

We're on the same ship. If I get new powers from this you will be one of the first to know.

[She's not worried. This place is wonderful.]

ii. pastry taster?

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha isn't easy to surprise, but apparently butter pastry wasn't what she was expecting when she turned around. She blinks, glancing from the dessert to Wanda and back again.]

What is it?

[seeingscarlet]

[It's an oddly-colored pastry with a distinct sugary-spicy taste, like a cinnamon roll on steroids.]

Normally they mix these flavors into a cake, but I wanted to see if they would be good tarts.

[outstandingbalance]

[Well. In that case. Natasha's expression could be more enthusiastic, but she musters a smile and takes a bite—then hums and inclines her head.]

Tastes like dessert.

[seeingscarlet]

[Wanda's waiting with baited breath.]

Good dessert that I should make more of or...?

iii. magic tree

[wakemelater]

Probably.

[Nico's been trying to puzzle out the tree for a while now. So far, nothing he's tried has worked - though admittedly there were a couple things he was either unwilling or unable to do. Threatening to cut it down also did not provide results.]

Stories about old, magic things usually have a thread of truth to them.

[seeingscarlet]

It would be hard to believe if we hadn't seen so many strange things already.

[She glances over to him, hand falling away from the tree and returning to its normal color.]

Have you tried anything yet?

[wakemelater]

[No more strange than back home, but way more annoying.]

I tried doing nice stuff, but... [It didn't work. He shrugs.] Guess I need more practice. I heard maybe giving up something of value.

[seeingscarlet]

[Well, at least it isn't hurting anyone. It has that on the Scepter, at least.]

I don't think I have very much, but I also heard that sharing a secret might work.

hot springs

[sassy_assassin]

[ Sara slips into the hot springs, throwing her hair up in a messy topknot and cracking her neck ]

Now, this is a life I could get used to.

[seeingscarlet]

Finally they take us somewhere nice. I hope we get to stay here for a while.

[She smiles, putting her reading aside.]

How have you been?

[sassy_assassin]

It's a nice break. I'd like for some particular familiar faces to be here with me, but I guess I'll live.

[ she leans back, relaxing ]

I've been pretty fine. The same, really. Nothing too exciting in my life.

You?

deck the halls.

[rebuildyourruins]

[Raising his eyebrows, Thor gives an exaggerated hum as he looks upwards at the top of the tree. Everyone here certainly loved their lights and glitter. The whole thing was shimmering with candles and tinsel and other ornaments. He can only approve; it's nearly a match for the lengths Asgardians go to in their own festivities.]

It's a good job, especially that high up. How did you get up there?

[seeingscarlet]

I didn't.

[She wiggles her fingers in answer, a small tendril of scarlet power winding between her fingers.]

It's just hard to see what I'm doing from here.

[rebuildyourruins]

Oh, is that it? I would have guessed a ladder.

[Not all that surprising though, given Wanda's talents.]

You could always stand on the rooftop next to it to have a look.

for Connor

[seeingscarlet]

[She arrives at their agreed-upon meeting place with a carefully-wrapped present. She's guessing Connor's not used to this sort of thing. Vision certainly wasn't, once upon a time...

Good thing Wanda is used to dealing with confused androids.]

I felt bad that I didn't have anything last time, so...here.

[coinstability]

[Indeed, Wanda's call had come completely out of the blue. Once he heard from her what she wanted, it might as well have been from outer space - ironically enough. He was still adjusting to this planet's strange whims and having had thing passed to him by those he had never even met. Getting a gift from someone he did actually know was, somehow, even more surprising.

It's with some measure of trepidation that Connor meets Wanda today. After Ben's actions in buying a coat for him, he's coming to realise that he doesn't know what to expect from this. His eyes flick to the wrapped present in Wanda's hands before looking back to her face.]

You didn't have to feel bad, you know. I wasn't expecting anything.

[seeingscarlet]

[Human brains aren't exactly logical like that, and Wanda...well, hers will make her feel bad over pretty much anything.

Including assuming that Connor could eat just because Vision can and then not having anything to trade for the cookie.]

I don't know what time of year it was for you at home, but a lot of us are treating this like the holidays and I wanted to make sure you got something you could use. [She holds out the present.] I hope you like it.