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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From:

betterthanaplan

Just what every musician wanted. Polite applause.

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

From:

thatwaslucky

You'd met her!

"Wait, now?"

From:

betterthanaplan

"Is there a reason why not now?"

From:

thatwaslucky

"Not enough alcohol?" she teased.

She'd do it.

From:

betterthanaplan

"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."

From:

thatwaslucky

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

From:

betterthanaplan

"You don't honestly think I'm not going to get you to sing whenever I can, do you?"

From:

thatwaslucky

"Should you be telling me this before I've allowed you to teach me anything?" Rey said wryly. "Besides, you might want to take that back if I end up being horrible."

From:

betterthanaplan

"Not a chance," Duke said. "If you're horrible, we'll just use it against other people."

Weaponized singing. Classy.

From:

thatwaslucky

Rey laughed. "All right, fine. How do we do this?"

From:

betterthanaplan

"I don't know," Duke admitted. "I've never taught anyone a song before." He gave the ukulele another few strums. "We could go line by line? Sort of a call-and-response thing?"

From:

thatwaslucky

"Helpful, since I don't know the words," she reasoned. It'd give her a chance to get the tune, too. "Okay."

She was going to drink a little more of the rum first, though.

From:

betterthanaplan

"It's a pretty simple one," Duke pointed out. He strummed the opening chords. "I'll have a bluuuuue Christmas without yoooou. . . ."

From:

thatwaslucky

Even feeling a little self-conscious, Rey sang it back at him, and she really did have a good voice. Maybe a little quiet because she wasn't used to it.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke gave her a broad, approving smile. She was doomed now, he'd have her singing all the time.

"I'll be so bluuuue just thinking about yooooou. . . ."

From:

thatwaslucky

"I'll be so bluuuue just thinking about yoooou..."

So this was not a happy Christmas song, she was realizing.

From:

betterthanaplan

None of the best Christmas songs were happy, let’s be real.

Duke led her through the rest of the first verse. “Ready to try singing it with me this time?”

From:

thatwaslucky

"Probably not but I'll try it," she said lightly.

From:

betterthanaplan

"That's the spirit," Duke said, strumming the opening chords again. "And really, who's going to judge?"

From:

thatwaslucky

"I'm judging plenty," Rey said, but she was smiling, and she actually didn't mind this.

From:

betterthanaplan

"That doesn't count. We're all our own worst critic."

From:

thatwaslucky

"Didn't say I was judging badly."

She could come around on things.

From:

betterthanaplan

Duke nodded, impressed. “True! We may make a singer if you yet. Ready?” And he launched into the song again without waiting for her answer.

This song was going to be stuck in his head for a week.

From:

thatwaslucky

~~Same.~~

She didn't remember all the lyrics this way, but the song wasn't that complicated, and she was getting very used to keeping up with people on things she wasn't prepared for in general lately.

A few words may have been mumbled.