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

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

From:

thatwaslucky

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

From:

betterthanaplan

"You mean other than handstands?"

He showed off a lot of handstands.

From:

thatwaslucky

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

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

thatwaslucky

"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.

From:

betterthanaplan

"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."

From:

thatwaslucky

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

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

thatwaslucky

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

From:

betterthanaplan

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."

From:

thatwaslucky

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

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

thatwaslucky

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

From:

betterthanaplan

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

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

From:

thatwaslucky

"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.

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

thatwaslucky

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

From:

betterthanaplan

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

From:

thatwaslucky

"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.