lucetilogs | They call it Than-X-Giving here

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They call it Than-X-Giving here

Who: Ororo Munroe, Rogue, Kurt Wagner, Jubilation Lee, Remy LeBeau, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner, ~~Dick Grayson~~ Robin, and Melanie Walker
What: TURKEY DAY
When: Evening of the 24th
Where: House 16
Summary: The X-Men have decided to invite some of their buddies and pals (who all coincidentally have costumed alteregos) for some Turkey Day shenanigans.
Rating: H for HEARTWARMING

Over the past week, the X-Men have invited a variety of their friends and contacts who they knew would celebrate Thanksgiving, but wouldn't have anyone to spend it with here in Luceti ~~because they're all jaded loners~~. They were all instructed to try and bring a dish with them, but it was no requirement. Nevertheless, all the traditional foods would be present, along with some delicious extras.

ooc: Characters can interact out at the table eating, over on the couches, in the one of the two spare bedrooms, or preparing food in the kitchen. Or maybe catching some cool air outside on the porch. Whatever your fancy is! Also, prose or action brackets are cool. Pick your poison.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That. Is not going to go over well. But that doesn't make it any less believable.

Despite the calm and laid-back posture he has, he is pretty sure this is going to be the last he sees of Friendly Rogue for a while.

"Not too much contest there." It's been done before, after all.

Gambit has it right. That does not go over well. In fact, you might think that Rogue's been borrowing some of Ororo's powers with the way the air around her freezes. However fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Rogue credits Gambit with too much intelligence for him to actually start talking about certain past encounters in her house on Thanksgiving day to a self-proclaimed hero.

Besides. She distinctly heard a "she." That doesn't mean she's going to let this pass. There are a lot of things you can mess with in this world without drawing down the unforgiving and icy wrath of Rogue: her brother is not one of them. "Is that a fact," she drawls it, slowly, and places her hands on her hips. "An' just what brought this on?"

Edited 2011-11-24 22:08 (UTC)

There's some history here he's missing, isn't there. Welp. He's screwed. But he's still going to try and cover. If he can.

"Well, it's natural, isn't it? Anytime a bunch of super people get together, you start talking about who-could-beat-who in a fight." The next part he says not only because he's personally of the opinion that it's true, but also because he hopes it'll turn the conversation away from Rogue's suspicions. "For instance. I could take everyone in this room. At once."

There's a lot of history. And that is what is making Gambit play along without question. Better to act like this is continuing an earlier conversation.

"Absolument pas." This is in part playing his role and in part because he doesn't know what kind of super power Stark may have, but he doubts it trumps everyone here. "Maybe enough to trump one or two, but def'nitely not all'a us. I bet you could take 'im, Rogue."

Nothing suspicious here. There is only this ridiculous boyish debate.

Oh, very nice, you two, a true one-two punch. Distract her by getting her all riled up and follow through with some flattery. It's an effective combination. She rakes Tony with her gaze and then turns to give Gambit a weighted stare before flicking her gaze back to Tony. She is still suspicious, but she is starting to head off-track. Especially since...

"Naw," it's drawled extra slowly once again, and she cocks one hip to the side. "Not when he's covered from head ta toe in body armor."

...what kind of conversation about powers would they be having where Gambit wouldn't know that? At least, maybe, he might end up getting out of hot water for bringing Kurt into it. But she'll leave off there, and not state the obvious as to how all Gambit would need to do was lay a finger on Tony and kaBOOM the suit just to give them enough rope to hang themselves with.

...Good, she's distracted. Now if he can just keep her on this train of thought, making sure she doesn't return to any flaws she might be seeing with this situation, they'd be golden.

"Well, it is superpowered, highly capable armor that would allow me to just fly in the air above you and knock you out from there. Even if Kurt teleported to me, what would he do when he got there?"

He doesn't know the answer to this question, actually. But he thinks it sounds convincing enough.

Oh, Gambit knows he can beat armor. But flying armor? That's the hard part. Besides, it would be very, very messy. But that's another thing.

The thing is, this does seem to be working to some extent. Gambit can't help but silently admire Tony's bullshit skills.

"Well, he could teleport you somewhere else from there, but dunno if that'd help." Is there anywhere you could teleport-dump superpowered armor where it wouldn't bounce back?

She frowns. Armor and teleportation and she doesn't want to be caught into defending Kurt, not only because she'd be talking about secrets and skills that weren't hers to give, but because Kurt could overhear and then she'd never live it down. "If I'm followin' your conversation correctly, the challenge was for Gambit ta take on Kurt, an' me ta take on you."

Which is becoming an increasingly more tempting proposition. Especially since this is getting further and further away from what she considered her original topic. "An' besides. I don't think either one of you fine gentleman would ever confuse Kurt for a she. Unless your reputations are entirely in your own heads."

"Yeah, sure, exactly. A friendly team-up spar. Keep us on our toes. But I'd win. Because, as we're all aware--I'm me."

Is he purposefully pushing buttons that he knows are going to drive her mind away from the original question? Yes, yes he is. By any means necessary. Because bragging about himself will always be a lot less painful than trying to explain why he was telling this kid he just met to date her.

Rogue definitely caught more of the conversation than he was hoping. But Tony seems to have the right idea. Push buttons. Always works, right?

"Sounds like a challenge, mon ami. Maybe it's you who oughta stay on your toes."

Picking fights right in the living room on Thanksgiving. This is what good guests do.

Well, congratulations boys, it seems your plan has worked. Rogue is now thoroughly distracted and, in fact, even mildly alarmed. She would invite some incredibly dangerous people over and then have them go at each other's throats, it's just not a holiday without that.

She has to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from flat out whirling to the side and forbidding Gambit from doing whatever it is he's thinking of doing. Normally she'd credit him with a bit more intelligence to start picking a fight in a village like this, when he's got everything he needs except freedom... but that's exactly what's got her worried. He's the type, she thinks, where if he was bored enough, and Tony made enough of an ass of himself, that he just might wait and take up the so-called-challenge at the time which is best for him.

"Sounds like the kinda challenge that needs ta be settled all up front an' officially." Hint. Hint.

"I prefer to rely on my reflexes instead of just wait around paranoid someone's going to attack me all the time." This one is not a lie. "Besides, I don't have my armor. Wouldn't exactly be a fair fight, would it?"

Not that he was every really considering it. This is just a show, and even if he really means it when he says he could beat everyone around, he doesn't really feel like proving that at the moment. Incomplete suit and all.

To Gambit's credit, he honestly isn't even considering picking an actual fight. At least not for now. But acting like it seems to be doing its intended job. Sorry, Rogue, it's for the best.

"Guess you got a point, homme. Promisin' no mutant powers wouldn't help, no?" Not like he can help his heightened agility, after all. And that's just the sort of promise you make with your fingers crossed behind your back.

Rogue doesn't bother keeping in a derisive breath. Expecting Gambit to keep a promise like that, even if he could turn off the powers that are entirely unfairly his would be akin to buying a bridge in Brooklyn.

She'll shake her head and start to leave them be, "Just so long as it's outside an' in good faith, I don't care how hard you two beat your chests."

"Is that so? Maybe we could sell tickets. Make a profit."

That's it, Rogue. That's it. Just let them go and forget you were ever suspicious that they were up to no good.

...Well, more than usual, anyway.

"Now there's an idea." The profit, he means. Although it's pretty pointless to even try here, but that's beside the point. "Got plenty'a room out there, at least."

He's pretty sure this will be the final nail in the coffin of pushing enough buttons to get her to forget the original suspicions. Cocky grin in place... the one he knows full well irritates her. "Sure you don't wanna come along t'see how it goes, chere?"

She rolls her eyes. "I'm just surprised it took ya this long ta start a gambling ring."

She leans back, an unconsciously provocative pose, and flicks her gaze first up and down Tony and then Gambit, lingering a bit longer on him before smirking and shaking her head. "Sure. Why not? I think it'd be quite the show."

And with a hair-flip and a sway to her step, the corners of her mouth turn up as she walks away to leave them to consider that.

Tony watches her go, slightly bewildered at that last comment, before turning back to Gambit with an eyebrow raised.

"Well, I think that went pretty well. All things considered." As long as they aren't really considering fighting now.

Actually fighting? No. Not that he was entertaining the idea anyway, but Rogue has pretty thoroughly derailed his train of thought. He also watches her go, but only realizes Tony has turned back to him once the other man starts talking.

Gambit meets that raised eyebrow with an indifferent shrug.

"Coulda been a lot worse, mon ami." And once he's thoroughly certain Rogue is out of earshot, he adds in an undertone, "Nice improvisin'."

He deserves a drink for pulling that off so well, really. Most people would feel at least slightly guilty after lying to someone's face like that, but not Tony! He's bereft of that particular brand of guilt. It was for her own good. It just happened to be for their own good at the same time.

"Thanks. Years of practice. Always good to know I've still got it."

Can't argue with that. It was for the good of all parties. They can both proceed without feeling guilty about that one.

"Comes in handy." Useful hero skill, bluffing like that.

"It absolutely does."

Bullet officially dodged, Tony returns to something he caught onto earlier in the conversation. "So--a mutation. You have one, too. What's your trick?"

There is a very minute hesitation. Charging something up would not only bring Rogue back, but would probably kick off something he doesn't particularly feel like starting today. Besides, he can't just go giving away all of his tricks.

"Ever seen Jubilee's fireworks? Kinda like that, only bigger." Except that that's not it at all. But close enough, right?

Wry grin. "Gotta say, I'm kinda surprised the Malnosso gave you your armor."

He hasn't seen Jubilee's powers, but the word 'fireworks' is enough to pique his interest. That must be quite a trick, and not one he'd be opposed to seeing with his own eyes.

But does see that same angle of not wanting to attract Rogue's attention again, so he'll let the topic of conversation slide.

"Well--strictly speaking, they haven't given me all of it. I'm still missing pieces." Which is almost worse, in a way. He can't be all the hero he's supposed to be.

Maybe some other time, Tony. Some other time in which the trick stands a far lesser chance of being taken as a declaration of war. Remy is pretty sure Rogue and Kurt at the very least would not be amused if a cup went kablooey right over the dinner table.

"Now that don't surprise me at all. Doesn't seem like the usual sorta t'ing they'd pop into de weapon shop."

They call it Than-X-Giving here

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