betterthanaplan | The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Christmas Eve

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The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Christmas Eve

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!]

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

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

"Sure. I don't know what that is but it sounds better than vodka."

She would always remember the hand wash vodka.

“It is significantly better than vodka.” Duke poured her a mug. “Cheers.”

"Thank you." She took the mug to sip, and might've sounded a little surprised when she said, "Oh, that is better."

"Yep. I probably shouldn't have gotten you to drink that vodka," Duke said. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

"What was a worse idea was that I'm pretty sure I tried it on my own after that," Rey said, making a face. "That was about when things got fuzzy."

“That’d do it. I did try to make sure stayed hydrated at least. Hope your head wasn’t too bad the next morning.”

"I was pretty useless for a good portion of the day," she admitted. It'd actually been the only day she'd taken off from her training schedule so far. "I appreciate you watching out for me, though."

“Hey, if I’m going to get you drunk, I’m at least going to make sure you have a good time.”

"I did. And now I can say I got my one night to be an idiot."

She had not been bad.

"Oh, I don't know. You didn't do anything dumb, really. Just floated some penguins and danced a little. I didn't even get you doing karaoke."

Clearly a failure on his part.

"I don't think that would work very well. I don't actually know songs," Rey pointed out. Though it'd sound pretty if she did. "You can keep doing it, though."

"That just means I have to teach you songs," Duke said. "You've been off Jakku for how long and you haven't learned any yet?"

Rey shrugged. "I haven't listened to that much music."

"This -- this is a travesty," Duke said, shaking his head melodramatically. "Earth has failed you. Where the hell did I put my ukelele? You are at least learning a stupid Christmas song tonight."

"...What did I just start?" Rey asked, but she was smiling.

And they weren’t even drunk yet!

Duke found his ukulele and strummed it to check the tuning. “Let’s see. What’s a good one without too much lore?” He strummed idly for a few moments, then grinned. “Perfect.”

And launched into some Elvis.

She really did like hearing him sing.

"Very nice," she told him, with at least more polite applause than when there were many drinks in a bar.

Just what every musician wanted. Polite applause.

"Not done yet. I said I was going to teach it to you."

You'd met her!

"Wait, now?"

"Is there a reason why not now?"

"Not enough alcohol?" she teased.

She'd do it.

"What, so you can say your memory's too fuzzy if I try to get you to sing again later? Nah." He tilted his head. "Besides. Singing is traditional for Christmas."

"I'm worrying a little that you're thinking ahead," she said.

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