betterthanaplan | 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 have a good teacher, so I listen," Rey told him.

Duke laughed. "Yeah, see, that's still weird, too."

He'd spent most of his life talking out his ass. It was strange realizing he knew what he was talking about.

"Hey, you are teaching me plenty of things. You're going to have to be used to it at some point," Rey grinned.

"Oh don't worry," Duke said. "I'll be totally obnoxious about it soon enough. You should enjoy the modesty while it lasts."

Honestly, Rey really wanted to see what it looked like when he owned being good at this.

"I'm both looking forward to seeing that, and how this sounds like it will backfire on me."

"What, turning me into a smug know-it-all? Nah, that plans foolproof."

"So I'm turning you into a smug know-it-all?" Rey checked.

"Oh totally. And you should feel deeply ashamed of yourself."

"Deeply," Rey nodded. "It'd be terrible of me to want to see how else you can show off."

"You mean other than handstands?"

He showed off a lot of handstands.

"As much as I like the handstands-" And she didn't, and she'd gotten really good at them herself. "-if there's more..."

"More than handstands," Duke said, shaking his head. "And singing. You're a hard sell."

"I've also reciprocated so far," Rey pointed out. Even if one of those things had been a little struggle to get her to do.

"Ah, I see. You want me to show you something you can't do too." Duke shook his head. "I don't know if I can do that."

"Not necessarily," Rey shrugged. "Besides, there's a lot I don't know how to do yet."

"Like sing?" Duke said. "Or do handstands? I better be careful, you might steal all my shtick."

"That is a risk you run," she said, sipping her drink. At least he was getting a more confident-sounding Rey at the moment.

He'd noticed that! He figured everyone could use some inner bravado.

"Nah. You've got your own shtick. I don't think I'd be able to compete."

Now she was curious. "What's my schtick?"

"Rey," Duke said. "You floated penguins."

"That is part of a much bigger thing I barely get yet," Rey countered. "I'm sure other people here can do telekinesis."

"Ah! But do they use it to float penguins?"

It wasn't like Duke was the only one who could do handstands, after all.

"I was drunk, which was why I probably shouldn't have tried it with something living." Of course, she'd done it successfully, which might not help her case.

"Nah, see, you were drunk so you didn't overthink it. Besides, I think they had fun."

"I actually don't overthink the telekinesis normally," Rey admitted. She'd never had any reason to doubt her ability there.

Re: On deck

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