The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Christmas Eve

[betterthanaplan]

As a rule, he didn't tend to do much for the winter holidays -- unless you counted "go somewhere it's not winter" -- but some combination of Fandom's festivities and the cold weather had actually put him into something of a Christmas-y mood this year, so the Rouge's deck was -- well. Decked. There were string lights and garlands all over the open deck area, especially around the table holding the big thermos of hot, buttered rum. He'd set up a little fire pit on the metal cargo-bay doors, and the door to the galley and lounge below-decks was propped open with a now-dormant loaf of yesterday's fruitcake, in case people preferred to go in where it was warmer.

As discussed, Duke had only mentioned the party to a few people since planning it with Rey. It was Christmas, though, so if people decided to wander up and say hi, he wouldn't turn them away.

[up early and ready for all the slowplay. A few people in the know expected, but as it says in the narrative, it's open for wandering in if you want, too!]

Comments

On deck

[betterthanaplan]

Cozy up by the fire with hot buttered rum and fresh gingerbread (in a tupperware, to keep the porgs out)!

Re: On deck

[outofherdepths]

"Duke! Duke!" Lucy was barefoot but otherwise dressed, and was holding up a particularly bitey fruitcake. "You want this one?"

Someone had watched a Sesame Street episode about the importance of sharing.

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

Duke looked from the fruit cake down to her bare feet and back. "Um. I'm good. Thanks, though. Maybe you can see if the porgs want it?"

Re: On deck

[outofherdepths]

"I have to share with them, too?" she asked.

The show had just said friends! It hadn't specified food sources!

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

“I’m not going to make you,” Duke said. “You want to keep it all, more power to you. I bet they’d like it though.”

Re: On deck

[outofherdepths]

"And if they are going to give me noodles and sandwiches, sometimes I can give them cake," Lucy said thoughtfully. "I won the fight and now we get to eat it."

As was right and proper.

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

So... What did you say to someone you'd helped smuggle back from the mainland but hadn't really spoken to since? Despite sometimes visiting their roommate.

"Hey," seemed like a good start. And, it was just 'hey'. Because Octavia wasn't sure whether to call her Larceny or Lucy.

Re: On deck

[outofherdepths]

"Octavia," Lucy said, giving her a wave and a bright smile. "Punch anybody recently?"

It was an honest, even enthusiastic question. A lot of her friends on the small box hit bad guys and that made them heroes. Which she just assumed that Octavia was.

Because of the punching, see?

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

Some part of Octavia would probably have agreed with that assessment. But mostly she thought the violence just made her a person who did what was necessary.

She snorted. "Not recently." Not since the aquarium, actually. She paused, her head tilting just a fraction. "How have you been?"

It was a sincere question. Octavia had no interest in learning how to perform small talk.

Re: On deck

[thatwaslucky]

Rey had not actually met her yet, but at least she could make a guess at who she was. So she greeted her with a friendly smile and, "Hi. I'm Rey."

Re: On deck

[outofherdepths]

Lucy waved, a little shy, and offered Rey a chunk of fruitcake.

That was friendly, right? Offering food?

Re: On deck

[thatwaslucky]

"Thank you," Rey said, smiling as she took it. "You're Larceny, right?"

Re: On deck

[thatwaslucky]

Rey still didn't actually know what to expect of tonight, but she was there right on time, and smiling at the lights.

"I like it."

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

Duke smiled. "Glad to hear it. The lights were always my favorite part of the holiday."

It was the part you could usually enjoy for free and from the outside, after all.

Re: On deck

[thatwaslucky]

"I can see why." She was probably someone who would love a good light display. "So, merry Christmas. Is that holiday spirit enough?"

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

“Plenty,” Duke assured her. “Especially if you’ll join me for some buttered rum.”

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was also very fond of the lights, no lie.

"Merry Christmas, huh?" she said, a little wryly. Wasn't really either of their holiday, right? Definitely wasn't hers.

Re: On deck

[thatwaslucky]

"Merry Christmas," Rey returned with a smile. "I guess for the first one I'm celebrating this isn't so bad."

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

"Looks pretty decent," Octavia agreed, glancing up at the lights. "And it's quiet."

She really appreciated that.

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

Octavia went straight for the thermos just about as soon as she arrived. It was just her standard party procedure to prioritize the drinks and snacks, and guess that went for small gatherings, too.

Yes, she also snagged some gingerbread.

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

"Hope you like that," Duke said. "It's an old family recipe." A beat. "Not my family's, but I assume it's someone's. The internet assured me it was old."

Re: On deck

[okteiviakom]

Octavia snorted, quietly. Then she took a sip, and made a show of considering it. Or at least she tilted her head a bit.

Same difference.

"It's good," she decided, before looking up again, giving him a faint little smile. "Ha yun, jaka."

Re: On deck

[betterthanaplan]

"Ha yun, gona." Duke usually worked up to casual touches with her, but took a chance tonight with reaching to put his arm around her waist for a small, sideways hug. "Merry Christmas."

Below decks

[betterthanaplan]

The state rooms and storage rooms are all closed up (unless Larceny wants to open hers), but the galley and lounge are open for lounging! There's more food and drinks down here, too, cold cuts and snacks and wine, mostly, all moddable within reason!

OOC

[betterthanaplan]

It'd be just my luck to accidentally end the world for Christmas, yo.