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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"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.

Duke wasn't so sure that was true, but nodded anyway. "Glad to hear it. Everyone needs at least something they don't overthink."

"There's a lot I don't overthink. I just don't get to do those things much anymore."

...Which actually circled back around to why she kept doubting herself so much.

"Oh yeah?" Duke asked. "What's stopping you?"

"The lack of crashed Star Destroyers and the new ability to go to the store for food," she answered.

Duke snorted. "Alright, fair enough. You know this means I'm just going to have to keep on you until you don't overthink the fun stuff, right?"

"That's okay."

If wasn't as if she minded.

Re: On deck

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