10529/Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas Eve Eve
Date of Scene:	24 December 2019
Location:	Rec Room - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Gwendolyn and Megan both finish wrapping their holiday presents in the rec room. Shannon joins in by playing some holiday tunes, and Bean rests from his stint as an unwitting apprentice of St. Nick. Captain Rogers stops by for a bit of holiday cheer, and Warren Worthington proves once and for all to Shannon that yes, indeed, there is a face to go with the name!
Cast of Characters:	Dragonfly (Armenteros), Pixie, Nightingale, Samuel Morgan, Storm, Captain America, Archangel

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Dragonfly (Armenteros) has posed:
The night before the night before Christmas in a new place for Gwendolyn is something that she didn't expect. The place is already festooned with lights, holly, and garlands, making it look as if a Hobby Lobby had exploded and tastefully draped some of the debris over the interior of an Upstate New York mansion. It was really very pretty, if you asked Gwendolyn. Almost made her feel like she had wandered into a Hallmark film somewhere. This time of night, though, it was quiet. Lots of the lights had been turned down and most people were asleep.

Most people were not Gwendolyn, though.

Sitting quietly in the Rec room, the big TV glows and Gwendolyn, with a mug of cocoa and a bowl of popcorn, is sitting cross-legged on a pillow on the floor, watching a Christmas special. It's one of the things that she just fell into loving when she was smaller and now that she has a chance to watch them, she does. On the screen Charlie Brown directs a Christmas play and, if the newspaper was correct, The Year Without a Santa Claus was coming up next.

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn is quite happy for Christmas break, as this semester was especially tough. She's quite surprised to see this place has been already fully decorated, much to her disappointment however. Did she already miss decorating day? that kinda sucks..But either way, here she is, ready to wrap presents and gorge herself on gingerbread cookies and maybe work on that gingerbread house she's always wanted to do. "Ooh, Hiya, Gwen!" she calls in a singsong voice, mouth already half full of gingerbread cookies, trying to balance a plate of more cookies, and a mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows in the other hand as she heads for the tv, setting it all down. "How you doing? All ready for Christmas?"

Dragonfly (Armenteros) has posed:
In addition to the cocoa and popcorn, Gwendolyn has a few small packages already wrapped in gaudy paper with another few sitting to her right. It's like a small assembly line of wrapping, with unwrapped gifts moving into the center to be wrapped and then moving over after being labelled. The few people she knew she got gifts, up to and including Megan and Illyana because - well, she could. Sharing the wealth and her good fortune with her new-found companions was something important. Right now she is wrapping a hand-written book with a leather cover in green paper, and when Megan traipses in, Gwen grins and gives the pink-haired fae a wave. "Hey there, Pinky-pie." she looks down at the gathered presents. "I'm as ready as I'm going to be. I may be brave and able to flip a car, but I'm not going to subject myself to the mall the day before christmas for that final gift." The paper is carefully wrapped without tape around the book and tied in a small bow, a sharpie used to write 'To Shannon, from Gwen' on a bit of ribbon. "How about you?"

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn's eyes widen curiously at the sight of all the presents. "Ooooh, soo pretty! Wow, you're really working last minute..I finished mine like, a week ago!" okaay, so she probably should have been studying between classes, but it was way more fun to wrap presents and stuff. She blinks slowly at the car flipping part though, "Oh wow, you can flip a car? Remind me not to get on your bad side.." with a smile and a tired yawn, she flops down on the sofa, offering her the tray of gingerbread cookies. "Want one? Heey, that looks like a lot of work, need help wrapping those? I loove wrapping gifts n' stuff!"

Nightingale has posed:
     Where there was Christmas, there was music. And where there was music, chances were pretty good that one would find a certain winged healer in training behind it. Shannon slips into the rec room, studiously keeping well clear of the gift-wrapping operation, so as not to ruin anybody's surprise for Christmas day. Instead, she just waves to Gwen and Megan both, and settles down at the piano bench, to offer both a little bit of music. Hey, it was a gift she could give everyone, and give it freely! She's dressed down in her favorite PJ's--yep, the red tartan sweatpants, baggy gray tank top, and sheepdog slippers. Only this time, she has a red velvet Santa hat on, with a little sleighbell sewn onto the pompom on the end. She's carrying her bo staff with her, and settles it down against the side of the piano, before cracking her knuckles. A smile turns the corners of her mouth upwards as her fingers begin to dance along the keys in a light, familiar tune in a minor key--Carol of the Bells.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    It had been a hectic few weeks for the resident technopath. When it was discovered he could spot which little bulb in a long string of lights was broken, his fate as a decorator for the holidays was sealed. It probably helped that his midterms were on the astonishing side of excellent, and there was very little studying for him to do this time of year, when even the remote university courses had shut down. Instead, he'd been tasked with repairing all the small stuff that gets broken over a year of storage, and the one Grand Project that had required a cooperation between Bean and Forge.

    A section of the front and back garden had been cordoned off pretty securely, and for days Bean had been working on one while Forge had been hard at work on the other. Now, in the dead of night, the Grand Project has neared completion, and had been stealthily assembled.

    As a result, a very weary and very grease and dirt stained Bean stumbles into the Rec Room, giving a tired nod to Gwen and Megan, and a wave to Shannong before collapsing into a couch, opening the side zips of his combat boots for comfort. "Merry Holidays..."

Dragonfly (Armenteros) has posed:
"Well, Cannonball seems to think I can. The practice we've had in the Danger room hasn't pushed me too far yet." In fact, it's mostly been 'hit the big thing as hard as you can' followed by 'wow, that was a hard hit. Now hit this thing.' PArt of Gwen's thought is that Cannonball just likes watching her hit things, but hey, it's teaching her how to punch, so at least there's something.

"Sure, come on over." Gwen says to Megan as she takes one of the offered gingerbread cookies and bites off a leg, handicapping the poor Gingerbread man while she callously devours one of his limbs. "I've already wrapped yours." However, Shannon's appearance causes Gwen to QUICKLY shuffle the wrapped present with her name on it AWAY UNDER THE REST OF THEM. No, she's not being conspicuous AT ALL. The piano music is different, so Gwen mutes Charlie Brown Christmas, making it so you get Schroeder playing the wrong song while the kids dance. Bean gets a wave and a frown as he tracks in grease and dirt and then collapses on the couch. "I would ask what you were doing, but I know you're not going to share." She leans over. "You want me to get you a coke or something?"

Nightingale has posed:
     With her focus on the music, Shannon completely misses the oh-so-CONSPICUOUS hiding of her present. Maybe. Or maybe not. If she sees anything, she doesn't say a word about it. However, it's a bit more difficult to miss a weary Bean returning to the rec room and just flopping down bonelessly on the couch. Her eyebrows go up, and she smiles knowingly. Yeah. She has a pretty fair idea of what he's been working on, but she ain't talking. Nope. No, siree. "Hey, Bean... you okay?" Gwendolyn and Megan both get a smile and a wave, and she glances under the tree, where several sizeable packages are all already wrapped, with some familiar names on them.

     "Heh! Wish I could get Cannonball to teach me a few things but he's had his hands full lately. Can't complain much, though... been picking up a little bit of the bo staff from Remy. Plus it turns out there's enough similarities between my gift and Chris' that I could potentially learn to heal more like he does, and not wind up in the medbay every week or two."

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    A thumbs up is the signal given to Shannon, and Bean looks up at Gwen's face looking down at him. Yes, he's not the cleanest right now, but at least he made sure that the worst of it didn't get on his clothes, and therefore isn't making it onto the furniture. His hands and boots? A different matter altogether. "I would be infinitely obliged." The tune... it sounds familiar, causing him to look over to the piano. "That's a Ukrainian composition, isn't it?"

Dragonfly (Armenteros) has posed:
Gwendolyn and Megan are sitting on the couch with a pile of mostly wrapped gifts on the coffee table in front of her. Shannon is playing piano, and Charlie Brown Christmas is playing on the TV, muted. Gwendolyn gets to her feet and, stepping around Megan, who's enraptured with the sparkly paper she chose to wrap a scarf in, dances her way to the soda machine to get Bean, who is on the couch nearby, covered in crud, a soda. "I know I said coke, but that's the southern coke. Any particular flavor, like sprite, orange, grape, or whatever this machine can kick out? There's only like a thousand flavors to choose from." Gwendolyn sighs and adjusts her goggles a little, turning towards the door when she hears someone coming down the hall.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods, and smiles to Bean, letting the music fill the room for a few minutes longer. "'Carol of the Bells', sometimes called 'Ukranian Christmas Carol'. Spot on, there!" As the last few notes ring out, she moves her hands away from the keys, letting out a little sigh, but smiles. "While Gwen's getting you something to drink, are you hungry at all? What about you, Gwen? Megan?" The red velvet Santa hat is at odds with her red tartan sweatpants, baggy gray tank top, and sheepdog slippers--not to mention her little ice blue braid with its three silver beads on the end--but hey, she was among family, so did it really matter?

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    "Whichever has the greatest ratio of energy to liquid." Yup. Bean doesn't want much out of his drinks, a far cry from the kid that would only drink out of sealed bottles. He's currently sprawled mostly on a couch, his unzipped combat boots well clear of the furniture. Dressed as per usual, his hands and boots are stained with grease and oil, a sure sign that he's been working on something, probably the 'Special Project' that is to be unveiled tomorrow. And likewise, it shows that he was probably wearing coveralls for most of it, but didn't make it as far as entirely degreasing his hands before needing to sit down. Or, as the case turned out, fall flat. "I don't know much about modern music, but I can tell you a thing or two about classic music, y'know?"

Dragonfly (Armenteros) has posed:
If Grappler Baki is to be believed, decarbonated soda is the best thing for quick energy, but Mountain Dew is what she goes for. Ice and a mug is gotten and filled and, after a second or two, Bean has a massive mug of carbonation and sugar that could power a gamer for several days at least. 40 KPM per fl oz, or something. Shannon's offer of food is waved off. "Megan brought gingerbread, and I have popcorn. If I eat anything, i'm going to end up passing out before I get this done, and then I'm going to end up having to do this tomorrow night.

Storm has posed:
Ororo bumps the door open with a swing of her hip and puts a foot just inside the rec room. "Is anyone looking for a holiday snack?" she inquires, as if having heard the discussion. Or, she's just making the rounds. She's dressed in a halter-necked dress with a complex layering around her collarbone and under her throat that looks like layered petals. The dress itself is screamingly Christmas; bright red, with green and white accents in the form of tiny presents, snowmen, etc. Somewhere she found a pair of elf-green slippers with a little brass bell that tinkles against the bridge of her foot.

The cart is full of carafes of cocoa, trays of cookies, and some miscellaneous holiday party favors underneath it all. "Mister Morgan, please mind the grease on the furniture," she advises Samuel. A smile, pre-emptively grateful for his cooperation, is flashed. "Can I get anyone anything?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Sliding off of the piano bench, Shannon smiles and makes her way over to miss Munroe. "You work your tailfeathers off helping us all year, will you allow us to help you with that? We're the ones that should be asking you if you want something." She was particularly glad to see the statuesque, well... elf. There was just no delicate way to put it. For the moment, one of the ones who had welcomed her to the school was an -elf-. Her pale azure eyes twinkle with merriment, and she tries her utmost not to giggle--and fails. Miserably.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    It wouldn't do. He can't just lay here like a lump while a teacher can see him... Bean gets himself into a seated position with almost unnatural speed. And either it's the realisation that he's cut one corner too many, the admonition from Ororo, or the fact that the Mountain Dew nearly slips through his hands, but there is a respectful nod. "Yes Miss Monroe." Putting the mug down, carefully, grease prints and all, Bean gets up and quickly disappears towards the nearest sink to wash the evidence of his construction efforts away.

    He does give the cart a lingering glance, but ... well... he does mind what he eats, lest his morning runs become morning triathlons.

Captain America has posed:
The Captain kills the rumbling Harley at the end of the drive where it meets the steps leading up into the school. Dressed warmly (and even wearing a helmet against the chill of the wind), he walks the bike off to one side out of the immediate weather before doing a brisk lope to the front door.

Surely someone lets him in and it doesn't take him long to be directed towards the rec room. He appears at the entrance, broad-shouldered, blond, and very clearly none other than Steve Rogers. About his neck, a cream-and-mint-green striped scarf woven of a fine warm material, stark against his dark fleece-lined motorcycle jacket.

He gives the room's occupants a smile before he asks, "Anything I can assist with?" The pink of the wind lingers at his cheeks and he appears to be in high spirits, pleased to see the festivities about the room and in Ororo's current fashion. "Miss Munroe," comes the greeting specifically to the teacher herself.

Dragonfly (Armenteros) has posed:
"No thank you, Miss Monroe." Gwendolyn replies in a sing-song voice that fits the merriment going on in this place, what with Charlie Brown's Christmas (on mute) hitting the climax of the show, with the little christmas tree being decorated at the end. She heads back to her spot, stepping over Morgan who's still working on wrapping something, and sinks down on to the couch, pulling her knees beneath her. Dressed in pajama pants and a long pajama shirt that says 'I like to party, and by party, I mean naps' she's not really /ready/ to meet Steve Rogers, dressed as she is.

Is anyone ever really ready to meet Captain America? Like really, really ready?

She squeaks as the good Captain makes an appearance, pulling her blanket up to cover her legs and fumbling, her visor nearly getting knocked loose as she spins to see who it is. "Oh um....hello." She waves, sheepishly. "Mister Captain."

Storm has posed:
"Yes, thank you," Ororo smiles at Shannon. Her hair's pulled into dozens of tiny plaits and pulled back to the nape of her neck in a loose ponytail of clicking beads (Christmas colored, natch).

Ororo turns when hailed, and a smile wreathes her face. "Captain Rogers! How nice of you to join us. Merry Christmas," she bids him, and approaches to give Steve a hug around his shoulders and a maternal kiss to his cheekbone. A half-step back and she squeezes his shoulders with her hands before disengaging.

Fingertips rest on Gwendolyn's shoulder to steady the girl's nerves. "If you haven't met everyone-- this is Shannon," she says, gesturing. "Gwendolyn here. And Samuel. I think everyone knows who *you* are," she says, and her eyes dance mirthfully. "Would you like some cocoa or a cookie? I am afraid there's not much left, the younger children raided the dolly during my first pass upstairs." She projects an air of calm welcome, clearly trying to reassure everyone that formality is not required or expected.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon cracks a wry smile and chuckles softly to herself. "We've met, miss Munroe." Moving in to relieve her of the cart, she wheels it over to a more central location, where the sofas and a few beanbag chairs are grouped around the TV. As she bustles about and fusses over the holiday goodies, rather in her element despite highly casual attire (read PJ's here), she lifts her chin slightly towards Captain Rogers in a bit of an up-nod. "Nice scarf. Looks like you had a brisk ride over... care for a bit of cocoa?"

Somehow, she manages to keep her smile more on the reassuring side as she peers over at Gwendolyn. "Looks like you've been pretty busy gift-wrapping. Maybe take a load off, have a snack yourself?"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    There is a sudden and immediate urge to go to attention and stay there until told to stand at ease or be dismissed. When Bean sees the Captain appear, half a dozen different impulses vie for immediate supremacy, and it takes an effort of will and willpower to turns off the tap and dry his hands as if nothing whatsoever unusual is going on. This is going to have to be the ultimate test of Social Simulation 8 ('When in doubt, don't shoot on sight'), Social Simulation 12 ('Awkward Appearances'), and Social Simulation 15 ('Bygones are Bygones'). And so, he nods, managing to smile. "We've met."

    From behind the soda fountain strides Bean, walking rather than marching, to the moment training had been building up to.

    Six feet from target.

    His smile broadens, hands visible at his sides.

    Two feet from target.

    Execute

    His right hand rises, rapidly, and he locks eyes with Steve Rogers, Captain America, the one person that had been number one with a bullet on his target list.

    Offering his hand for a handshake. "Captain Rogers, pleasure to see you again." It's about as symbolic as moments get.

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn had been about to help Gwendolyn wrap presents, although she has clearly been working overtime in finishing exams, late assignments, early assignments, last minute Christmas shopping, and some present wrapping of her own (and who knows? Maybe she sneaked out to some late night parties and *accidently* drank too much of the spiked fruit punch!)

ANYWAYS, somewhere along the way, she totally dropped asleep on the couch, mid-speech, and totally missed the dramatic entrance of both Miss Munroe, Captain America..Oh, and the other students that dropped by..

"Mrrrefrpheagh!!?" she blinks as she wakes up suddenly, falling onto the floor (She is also wearing PJs, albeit super cute pink and white ones that say 'every girl needs a fairy godmother' across the front).

"Ooh..OUch! Um...Like I was saying Gwendolyn, I'd be happy to..Err..Ooh, Bean! Shannon! Miss Munroe! Err..Captain..America?!" She blushes a bit at the last one, mostly because he's totally famous (and totally cute too!). Sitting upright, she blinks, and rubs her eyes a little. "Err...Did I like, totally miss something..?"

Captain America has posed:
Steve returns the side-hug with a brief sling of his arm about the matronly woman's ribs and smiles to himself rather boyishly at the kiss to his cheek.

"Merry Christmas to you too, Miss Munroe, 'nd to all of you," he's sure to expand to include everyone present. He doesn't seem very dismayed to find everyone comfortable and enjoying themselves nor is he inclined to point out pajamas. If anything, he slings his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans and echoes that self-same nonchalant, comfortable air Ororo wears about herself. "'ve met Shannon 'nd Samuel before, nice to meet you, Gwendolyn." She gets a nod in particular, his expression still benign, smile polite.

"Cocoa sounds good, Shannon, thanks. Wind was a bit brisk, I'll give you that," he replies to the healer. "Scarf's from my girlfriend." He pauses, eyebrows lifted, at Bean's approach. Granted, the young man is still filtered through general scrutiny well-exercised over Steve's long years, but he reaches out and returns the handshake easily enough.

"Pleased to see you again too, Samuel. Been well, I assume?" The flailing thud of Megan has him shifting his weight to one side to see what caused the --

Ah, yes, student abruptly waking, looks about normal. Briefly, memories of sudden necessary rousings crowd at the back of his mind. Thank god for so few of those in these modern times. He does glance over at Ororo as to Megan's question: did she miss anything?

Dragonfly (Armenteros) has posed:
Gwendolyn, from her place on the couch, helps Megan back up from the floor to the couch, rescuing the gift that she had been wrapping from obscurity and sealing it up with a well-placed bow and some tape. It's not like it has to last for more than a day or two at most, anyway, and with the gifts all wrapped, Gwendolyn starts gathering them to be placed beneath the centrally-located tree that's been set aside for such things. Yes, Shannon gets a gift. And Megan gets a gift. Bean and Cannonball get gifts, too - although labeling them both 'Samuel' would be cruel to both of them.

Meeting Captain America was supposed to be a moment - not something done on Christmas Eve Eve, but it's not something that can be chosen unless you are lucky enough to somehow be above him in the chain of command. "It's...um...good to meet you, Sir." She manages to keep the cajun from sinking in too deeply at this moment, her pile of gifts set aside, the popcorn and cocoa brought close to sip and nibble on.

Storm has posed:
"You didn't miss anything," Ororo assures Megan. "You just dozed off. I'm worried you're not getting enough sleep," she frets. "Come to my office tomorrow, we can talk about pushing back some of your term papers until after the hols," she suggests.

Fingers twitch and she resists the urge to help Shannon with the food dolly. It's just in Ororo's nature. "Please, come in and have a seat, Captain," she invites Steve. For herself, she finds a chair and tucks her extremely Christmas-y dress behind her knees before sitting with a smooth grace. She immediately leans forward, forearms resting on her knees, to address Gwendolyn quietly: "Do you have enough wrapping paper and tape? I think there's more in the crafts room if you need it," she advises the girl.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon begins pouring out cups of hot cocoa for everyone, humming lightly at first, then singing a rather joyous tune. With the Christmas spirit in the air, the good company, and good treats to share all around, how could she do otherwise?

"Adeste, fideles,
Laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem!
Natum videte,
Regem angelorum..."

The first cup of cocoa is, of course, offered to Captain Rogers as the honored guest present, with the next going to miss Munroe. Steaming cups of chocolatey goodness are likewise offered to Gwendolyn, Bean, and Megan, with smiles to each. "If you want, Megan, I've got some chamomile tea you can have at night, if that'd help you any?"

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    The handshake is firm and confident, but Bean doesn't push his luck and withdraws his hand the moment social convention says he can. There. That's one thing to tick off the mental list.

    Of course he will motion for Steve to precede him to a seat, which causes him to glance over to the pile, nay, hillock of presents under the tree. The urge to sing 'Oh Tannenbaum' increases, as well as 'Ich hatt' ein Kameraden'. Rather than dwell on the fact that he didn't get anyone anything really, aside from the Thing Outside Of Which He Shall Not Speak, he'll do what he came here to do in the first place. Sit down. Have his drink. Possibly watch some... Ah well. Hot chocolate is being offered. His arm has officially been twisted.

    "Thanks Shannon." And after the first sip of the warm liquid, he can relax. Be suffused with the holiday spirit. "I've found that if you need to be up at a certain time, rather than set an alarm, simply punch your pillow the same number of times as the hour before you lay down. Don't ask me why, but it's always worked."

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn meeps at Ororo. "Umm, it's okay..Haha! Really! I'm fine. Just..working hard!" she laughs nervously, almost as if she's hiding something, or..Something. ERm, anyway, nothing to see here, move along! "Ooooh, it's okay, Miss Munroe, I finished all my papers in time, everything's just peachy keen!"

She's about to finish her hot chocolate, only to realize that she already finished it. Or it was finished at any rate (who knows, maybe she drinks in her sleep!), and is thankful when Shannon offers her another.

"Ooh, Camomile tea? My fave! Thanks, Shannon! I'd really appreciate it!" she replies brightly, although she does seem tired for whatever reason, and doesn't really add much more to the conversation tonight, settling down on the sofa with her nice hot chocolate, and idly watching the pretty Christmas decorations.

Dragonfly (Armenteros) has posed:
"I actually just finished, Miss Monroe." Gwendolyn holds up the last present she finished wrapping just a second ago and starts to sweep the remains of what wrapping paper she had into a brown paper bag for recycling and disposal in the proper place. The scissors are pocketed and the gifts are carefully taken, one or two at a time, to be placed underneath the tree. Shannon's offer of a top up - or is it Ororo's? - is accepted with a smile, Gwendolyn tapping the mug on the coffee table with a fingertip as she loads her bounty beneath the tree.

The pink Pixie gets a tap on the knee as Gwen goes past with the last gift. "I'm heading up in a second. You want someone to walk with you to your room?" An offer to help her get upstairs and in bed safely. Samuel's military walk to introduce himself ot Captain American nearly gets a giggle, but this is a situation that is far, far too serous to be made light of - and her, being in pajamas, probably would not be the best MC for such a thing.

Captain America has posed:
Steve composes himself in one of the many chairs in the room, his booted ankle ending up rested atop his opposite knee. He briefly places down his foot and sits forwards to receive his cocoa with a quiet, "Appreciate it, thanks," and then leans back into it again. A sip of the cocoa proves it rich and hot; he won't complain about how it warms his stomach after a deep sip, though the burnt tongue will sting until it heals. Oh well.

"Try some valerian in the chamomile, might take the edge off if you're a light sleeper," the Captain offers by way of suggestion for the sleeping problems. It seems the safest option in his experience. He eyes the pile of presents with a small smile. Good: everyone appears to be having a good time.

"If I don't see any of you before the holidays end, hope they all go well for you." This is for Gwendolyn on the move and anyone who attends her, Steve's nod to accompany it friendly in his way.

Storm has posed:
Ororo accepts the mug in both hands and murmurs a thank you to Shannon. An approving smile curls her lips at the students offering ways to help one another; for a moment she contents herself by sipping the hot beverage nestled in her palms.

Fingers flex to reassure Megan with an extended palm to halt her protests. "You're quite in charge of your own health," Ororo reassures her. "But the offer stands if you change your mind." She declines the offer of a topup when Shannon comes by, but smiles gratefully for the offer.

"I've had good luck with passion flower," Ororo chimes in on the tail of Steve's comment about valerian root. "I think I like valerian better for sleep. We keep a good collection of herbal tea preparations in the staff lounge," she reminds the students. "We kept it in the kitchen for a while but, er... there was an incident where a student left their rosehip tea steeping overnight and drank a full pint of it."

Her eyes roll skywards in supplication. "It... does not settle well in the stomach."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon stifles a giggle and rolls her eyes. "Well, what do you expect? You take in that much vitamin C, it's got to go somewhere." Mention of valerian and passionflower has the young woman arching one brow in a curious sort of expression. Huh. This was something she might have to do some research on later.

She's not blind to Captain Rogers' glance towards the tree, and there is a small smile that just keeps growing. "If you'll all excuse me a moment, just need to get something from my dorm." Making sure she takes her staff with her, she all but bounds out of the room, her wings ruffling behind her.

When she does return, it's sans staff, but with a plain and simple package of fairly decent size, soft, and wrapped in gold paper with silver ribbon. She approaches the good Captain's chair and smiles, offering the package to him. "The gift of finding a friend can never be truly repaid. Still, I hope you and yours enjoy this. Merry Christmas!"

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn yawns and nods tiredly to everyone's suggestions. "Oooh, that sounds lovely." she smiles to Gwendolyn as she accompanies her to her room and smiles and waves to everyone. "Good night everyone! Shannon, could you possibly bring up some of that tasty tea with all that sleepy stuff in it later? Much appreciated!" and with another yawn and wave, both she and Gwen step out of the room and head to their dorms.

Samuel Morgan has posed:
    Drinking a warm beverage when you've been out working, tired and somewhat behind on sleep because of the dozens of holiday projects that everyone seemed to want you to be involved in... While Bean is grateful for the meaningful work, and certainly the hot chocolate, he'd been running on fumes for some time now. And now he sat down to relax. With a hot drink. Uhoh.

    There is little outward indication that he's about to crash and possibly not wake up for the next sixteen hours, Bean simply finishes his drink with a polite smile and stands up. "Sorry everyone, I'm a bit worn out. Happy holidays, Fröhliche Weinachten, and a pleasant of anything else you might celebrate in this season. If you would excuse me..."

    He even manages to keep a fairly straight line on his way out.

Captain America has posed:
There's a sympathetic wince for Ororo's tale of tea-related woe. Ouch. The Captain sips at his cocoa and watches the students at their mingling with a distant curiosity. Shannon's departure gets a brief little frown, but some of the students are headed to bed as is -- pajamas were the major indicator of dorm life sleeping cycles, after all.

"Have a good night," he calls quietly after the departures.

Steve appears truly surprised when the winged healer returns and offers him the present. "Oh -- thank you, you didn't have to go 'nd do that." With cocoa set aside, the present is taken and rested on his lap. "Awful kind of you, Shannon." She gets one of his grins, polite and true. "Figure I'll take it back to my place 'nd put it under the tree."

Archangel has posed:
As people are departing, one is entering. One that has been away from the Institute for a while as Warren tucks his angelic wings in behind him. Over one shoulder, he's carrying a rather large sack. "Oh darn, I didn't expect any of the kids to be awake!" he exclaims in mock-shock. "I guess that they'll just be getting coal in their stocking. Though coal is rather passe these days." Shaking his head at his own self-amusement, he glances around.

"Evening everyone." Then he notices the Captain and a blonde brow rises in thought, though he also notices the likewise winged young woman with him. "Always knew you would try to replace me with a younger model." he mock-laments.

Storm has posed:
While Shannon's gone, Ororo bids the other students farewell. For a moment it's just the two adults in the room and something shifts in Ororo's posture. A little less of the immaculate schoolmarm and a bit more personal and relaxed. She shifts to point her knees at Steve's chair and rests her cocoa in her palm, nestled in her lap. "How's Janet?" she inquires with a more convivial tone. "Do tell her I said hello. We very much enjoy seeing the Avengers up here. And it does so make the children happy to have their favorite celebrities come by. They all look up to you."

Shannon returns a beat later and Ororo's spine straightens just a touch. Hot on Shannon's heels though is Warren and his sardonic banter. Ororo's lips curl into a wry moue, pleased to see Warren all the same but resigned to his antics. "Be nice, Warren," she chivvies him. The smile widens to something more sincere. "It's your fault for missing the faculty meetings. You know Steve Rogers, of course. And this is Shannon Lance," she says, and gestures at the younger woman. "Check your memo inbox-- there is a table vote to have her replace you as the new Archangel. She makes good cookies." Ororo slurps her cocoa and shoots Warren a mischevious look.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles warmly to the good Captain and ducks her head, a dusting of rose gracing her cheeks. "You didn't have to reach out like you did all those times, either, but you did. How could I do otherwise? Though with the weather, you may need that sooner than Christmas Day. It took a couple months to make." What on earth could it possibly be?

The unfamiliar voice behind her has the young woman's head on a swivel, and she whirls about. Thankfully, for Captain Rogers' sake, she's got the presence of mind to tuck her own wings in tightly behind her, and hopefully avoid gifting him with a faceful of snowy white feathers! "Oh, my..." It takes her just a moment to regain her composure; after all, this is one name she'd heard since her very first day at the school, and had begun to think its bearer a myth. But now, here he was, in the flesh. Chuckling, she shrugs, her wings ruffling ever so slightly in an echo of the gesture. "Miss Munroe's too kind. And it's finally good to put a face to the name." Offering her right hand, she smiles a bit wider. "Though it's 'Nightingale', as I was duly informed on day one that 'Angel' was already taken."

Captain America has posed:
"If I can help out, I will." Wrapping paper crinkles quietly as a fingertip taptaps it, indicating the target of his additional thought: "Consider me intrigued," the super-soldier replies to Shannon's explanation as to the present. It remains on his lap as he reaches for his cocoa again.

Warren's arrival has Steve glancing over and pausing in his lift of cocoa to his lips. Those are a set of white angel wings. Whoa. He manages to conceal most of his surprise from his face despite himself and replies on the tail-end of Ororo's introductions, "Nice to meet you."

He adds, specifically to the teacher curled up in her chair, "Janet's well. She's as busy as you'd think she'd be -- up to her ears in her company 'nd social gatherings this time of year. I think I've attended more soirees in the month than I did all year beforehand. It's been good rubbing elbows at the more humanitarian events, soup kitchens 'nd all. A hot meal means a lot more'n folks might suspect at times." Steve sips at his cocoa again. "It's nice to see how the school's doing. Everyone seems happy with the holidays. Family's not only blood," he adds, warmly sincere in his thought.

Archangel has posed:
"She wants to go through everything I went through to get here, she can totally have the name." Warren responds with a small measure of mirth - but to be honest, he wouldn't wish what happened to him on anyone. Much less the young woman with wings that remind him of his original ones. His regrown wings are more majestic than downy, streamlined to be more like a raptor.

"Being older and first class has it's perks, Nightengale." There's a grin as he accepts the young woman's hand and gives it a small squeeze in greetings. "Technically, Angel is open, since I'm Archangel. But I think most people would rather I remain Angel. But Warren is preferred. Warren Worthington, III, at your service, Miss Lance." With that, he turns his attention back to the others. The metallic wings that once were are not present, nor the blue skin. And he chuckles wryly at Steve's comment.

"Someone should have warned you that dating a socialite millionaire would involve greasing palms and more hand-shaking than you probably ever had to do in your Army days." There's a slight smirk. "Fortunately for me, I tend to sign more checks than asked to appear in public. Not everyone with wings is popular, sadly." But he gives a shrug of his shoulder. "Just means I get to concentrate on what matters. Speaking of, Ororo, I got the lists for the kids that didn't have family to send presents, and made sure that they're taken care of this year. And plenty of bicycles this year."

Storm has posed:
"Oh that's wonderful to hear," Ororo murmurs at Steve. Introductions are made between Shannon and Warren-- Ororo grins just a little at the interaction between the two. It'd been a meeting a little too long in the making, admittedly.

At Warren's statement, she nods at him gratefully. "That was very good of you, Warren," Ororo informs the blonde fellow. "We're doing our Boxing Day cook on Thursday and I need all the help I can get in the kitchen, so I'll see you then?" It's more statement than question. "And then we're bringing meals to Mutant Town's shelters, also," she reminds the room. "For people who are inclined to volunteer, of course."

Fingernails click a lazy rhythm against the side of her cocoa mug. Ororo's dressed like a Christmas present, in red and green, and her white hair's bound into hundreds of tiny plaits and bound behind her neck by a mistletoe-colored hairband.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon chortles softly, her eyes twinkling like a Christmas star with mirth, her smile one of giddy joy. Though there were others who also bore similar gifts of flight, she had for some months been the only one quite of her kind here. It was wonderful to not be so alone, and the relief in her expression was almost palpable. "Please, it's just Shannon. Or if we're ever out in the field, Nightingale. My folks tagged me with the name, for healing," she explains, tilting her head slightly.

Her smile dims briefly as she is reminded of the kids in the school who were here, without anybody else, and she suppresses a small sigh. "You'll have one more pair of hands in the kitchen if you like, miss Munroe."

The expression on her face lightens once more as she turns back to Captain Rogers, her eyebrow quirking slightly. "Same thing I hear from Cannonball, about family. Heck, he sort of grafted me onto his family tree. Plus, there's everyone here. So... yeah. Truer words were never spoken."

Captain America has posed:
Steve, despite himself, smirks rather wryly back at Warren. "No...the hand-shaking's about the same," he opines with a flick of his brows. "Not much has changed even after over half a century. Guess 'm not too proud to admit 'm more comfortable in a JVD suit than the stage-tights of old. The boots never did fit right."

He smiles quietly and lifts his cocoa to Shannon in agreement as to her thoughts. After all, Barnes was a brother long before the rocky road of the War and its aftermath.

"Might see you at the shelters, Miss Munroe, if in passing," he adds towards Ororo even as he stretches out one leg, inclined to get comfortable now that his cocoa is half-gone and warming him internally.

Archangel has posed:
"The suits are wonderful to have, though, Captain." Warren responds with a grin. "Though I'm sure Miss VanDyne would argue gleefully about which one looks better on you." Turning his attention to Shannon, he gives her a warm smile. "Whatever you do, don't let them convince you to use your feathers for Harry Potter quills." comes his suggestion to her, "But I look forward to seeing you around."

Then his attention turns to Ororo. "Then more hands you'll get, Ororo. Just let me know when and where, and I'll make it happen. Including the cooking. But for now, I should get these packages dropped off. Dolls for the girls." he gives a grin. "And maybe a couple of STEM related things." With that, he's turning to head off himself.

Storm has posed:
"I appreciate that, Warren. And you as well, Shannon," Ororo bids the two mutants. Her cocoa's collected and set on the little serviette to be returned to the kitchen. "I'll see you both tomorrow, I'm certain. Captain Rogers, I have a few things that the school wanted to send to the Avenger's. Cards and whatnot-- if you'll come with me, I'll hand them off to you. I trust you'll get them in the right hands."

Fingers rest on the serviette and she trundles the trolley of snacks towards the kitchen. "As for you, Miss Lance, it might be time you consider bed," she says. It's more suggestion than command. "I'll be on staff duty tonight if any emergencies come up."

Archangel's forearm is given a fond squeeze in passing. "Warren. Thank you for bringing the gifts. Have a good night," she bids him, and with that Ororo takes her leave as well.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon rolls her eyes and giggles, grinning a bit sheepishly. "I think they have enough left over from the last time I molted for that," she quips, shrugging. "Likewise, hope to see you around a bit more! Maybe on a clear day out there we can race or something? Just for the fun of it."

Alas, miss Munroe's suggestion only echoes one she has sometimes herself offered to others who looked like they needed it. She nods, and offers a hug to each of the adults in turn, including their guest of honor. "Suppose you're right, should take my own advice and go for some chamomile. Let me know what time you'll need help in the kitchen--though I think you'll probably be the one with bells on." She whispers something briefly to miss Munroe, and smiles, waiting a moment or two more.

Captain America has posed:
"I'm sure Janet would," agrees Steve with a mild amusement on display. His mug makes a quiet sound as he sets it aside, having finished its contents. With a small grunt, he then rises to his feet, the wrapped plush gift safely stowed beneath his arm. "Happy Holidays." This he bids Warren as the winged man exits, intent on his plans.

Ororo will find the Captain stepping up beside her as she bids her good-nights, there to pick up and ferry back the aforementioned materials to the Avenger's mansion. Shannon is given a hug across her shoulders from the side.

"Thanks again, Shannon. Hope your holidays are memorable," he bids the young woman before he too disappears deeper into the school. His voice, pitched low and personable to comfortably conversate further with Ororo, grows fainter until it silences entirely. Only his motorcycle will further mark him as departing the school itself for the city again.

Storm has posed:
Ororo murmurs something back at Shannon. A smile's flashed and she gives the girl a one-armed hug, and continues on her path out of the rec room and towards the staff wing with Steve in tow.