Owner	Pose
Henry McCoy	Henry McCoy does have moments that are slow for him, in terms of emotion and motivation. And sometimes Christmas is one of those times, when he gets particularly thoughtful and depressed. So, in order to keep himself moving, he's this year putting in some deliberate effort. His lab is getting decorated! Down in the X-Men base, any of the team who go by will see that his lab has a ring of lights around the door way. Particularly bright, flashing with colors and complex patterns, and the strings of custom lights work their way inside, where the big guy is hanging more.
Samuel Guthrie	Samuel Guthrie comes up to the door. He smiles a bit at the lights and knocks on the door. "Dr. McCoy, you here and got a moment?" He will ask stepping in the doorway after not seeing anything looking like it is ready to explode or break.
Illyana Rasputina	Does Illyana Rasputina sleep? Does she generally wander the basement of the X-Men base? These questions are not exactly answered well, least of all when she follows the tangled line of bright colours that contrast with the oiled black shadows of her usual attire. Usual, which is not also a long white cloak patterned with snowflakes and a halo of frost-white fur. Why she has it, how she obtained it, are questions unclear. But the pink smudges on her cheeks and the frost-bitten state of her lips suggest, along with her wet boots, she was somewhere considerably colder and snowier than New York itself. Trudging past, she halts at the sound of voices. Eyes narrow. This calls for stalking up to the lab, just in case elves invaded or something.
Henry McCoy	Henry McCoy is in his professorial suit, with his lab coat over that, standing on one of the world's sturdiest footstools. Thing's built like a brick, so he's rock steady as he runs strings of high tech lights, very bright, in patterns across the ceiling of his lab. "Merry Christmas Sam, Illyana," he says to Sam stepping inside, and Illyana seen outside. "I'm definitely in, and I have a moment. I'm just running these Christmas lights. A little late, but I need to keep my hands busy."
Samuel Guthrie	Samuel Guthrie looks over and offers Illyana a smile and says "Hey Illyana, been visiting someplace interesting?" He will ask seeing her attire. He looks back to Hank, and says "Ah wanted to ask you, we got any spare generic costumes that are made for cold weather? Plan on flying with Alexis down home, and thought might be something about to help keep her warm.
Illyana Rasputina	Nose still wrinkled, Illyana stamps her boots for good measure against the ground. She's lucky not to slip with the loss of traction, the momentary scramble for balance requiring her to reach out for the doorframe. A gloved hand snaps out to grasp it, and at least she avoids any problems with pulling down Hank's lights or crashing into Sam. Pert lips screw up in an unhappy frown, a rictus against gravity daring to seize hold of her. <<In Limbo, you wouldn't dare,>> she snarls at the puddle in the lowest of mutters, her Russian hardly anything to be afraid of. Even in translation singing for coffee, it's a daunting sound. "I needed presents," she says slowly. "For Christmas. Mine does not start until January. But it isn't the one Kitty or... others... celebrate." A helpless shrug there. "What do you do for Christmas when it is not religious?"
Henry McCoy	Henry McCoy snaps his fingers and smiles to Illyana. "Ah, you're on the Julian calendar. Well, I'll make sure to give you an extra Merry Christmas later." Then leaning over, he finds a bundle of the lights on a string, coiled up neatly, and tosses it gently across the room to Sam. "Catch. Merry Christmas to your family, and have some very special Christmas lights for your tree. Or house. Be the envy of the neighborhood. But let me ponder costumes." He then resumes fastening the lights in place, carefully getting a regular pattern of rows of lights, enabling the flashing to create geometric patterns on the ceiling as the lights are installed. "And I'm not religious. But I just... do Christmas. Get in the spirit, and try to make the most of it. I don't know how it is in the east, but in the US and a bunch of other countries, it's as much a civil holiday as it is a religious one. And a present... use present buying as an exercise in getting to know better the person you're picking a present for."
Samuel Guthrie	Samuel Guthrie will wrap the lights Hank tossed him around his shoulder like you would rope if big enough for it. He looks to Illyana and says "Ah think most are doing something tonight, but Ah think Kitty is doing something for Hanukkah, and others are doing something for any of the other holidays. Anything you need help with?"
Illyana Rasputina	Special Christmas lights slung across the room have Illyana ducking back on reflex, a simple backbend revealing the inherently combat-trained reflexes. Her arm lifts slightly as though she might yank out a sword directly from nothing, habit more than anything that must be suppressed on a thought. Or several. "Happy Christmas," she adds to Sam, shifting out of dubious, dangerous threats to something more sociable, less concerning to the general population. She takes a slow breath, watching Hank hang the different lights there. Geometric shining works well. "I still have to buy the presents. It is hard to know what is acceptable." She nods to Sam. "Kitty has Hannukah. I have a little time. I do not know what to get people. Their ideas of gifts are... not mine."
Henry McCoy	Henry McCoy keeps on hanging, then gets an idea. "As for a costume, that's warm. Just wrap yourself in warm clothes and borrow our image inducers? That seems simple enough." He then hops on light feet off of the footstool, and hefts it up to move it a few feet over, to start on the next few rows of lights. "As for presents uh, don't worry too much about what they would by. I think people would genuinely appreciate seeing something of you, in what you give them. If you're put effort into it, they'll see it,a nd they'll feel nice about it."
Samuel Guthrie	Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "The thought of being from you and your idea is more important that what the gift is. Speaking of which ah put both of your under the tree, Ah hope you like them." He nods, and says "Pretty much was thinking maybe some snow gear or something if we did not have anything specific. She aint quite used to long late evening flights via Sam express.
Illyana Rasputina	A look of consternation flutters across Illyana's face, but it cannot withstand the test of time before washing away and leaving her as cool, hard to read as ever. Hands slip in the pockets of her snowflake cloak, which should be stifling under the circumstances and isn't. The fur at least hasn't frozen solid. "Thank you," she says with all the grim purpose of a Russian presented with a gift. "I could give you something for flight. It would not last as long as some." A flap of her cloak indicates this. "How long?"
Henry McCoy	Henry McCoy decides to take a break, as his current string of lights finishes. So, he climbs off, and goes to his desk. Pulling out a box of Twinkies. "Coffee? Twinkies?" he offers both. "Illyana, If you're really stumped on ideas, one option is to buy people gift cards, and include them with a card with a hand-written personal note to each person. And Sam, you definitely could bring a couple image inducers if you wanted."
Samuel Guthrie	Samuel Guthrie says, "We are heading out this evening, probably be a couple hours of flight time, maybe stopping at waffle house along the way. Ah was thinking more just warmth than looks, but Ah do appreciate the thoughts on both. He looks to the two of them, and says "Will be back either tomorrow or the day after. Plan is to be there for the little ones opening presents."
Illyana Rasputina	A nod follows that and Illyana runs her thumb down her wrist, lost fully in thought. "I can do that. Two days is not too long. If you do not see anything in the clothes here, the spell would hold. Just make sure you do not mind the smell of pine needles as it gives the basis for it." She doesn't explain any further, entrusting in the explanation will stand one way or the other. The Twinkies offer gets a shake of her head; not her thing, artificial candy. Coffee, on the other hand, has her perking right up. "Please, if it would not trouble you too much. I think gift cards are... not so personal. But you have an important point. Choice. Let everyone pick what they like. It is not something that looks like I haven't tried?"
Henry McCoy	Henry McCoy chuckles. "I see, I see. Ah right. Well, good luck in the snow and the ice." he grins to Sam. Pouring himself a coffee to start, then cracking open a twinkie to dip into it. Illyana is poured one, with a reply "A heartfelt note goes a long way to making it look like you tried, especially if you honestly explain the culture gap in the note." And then he raises looks to Sam. "Coffee is good for keeping warm."
Samuel Guthrie	Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "I might take you up on a thermos of it, as am sure she will bring some tea. He looks over to Illyana, and says "Most of the folks who have been here a while know you well enough to know anything you find us would be something you put thought in. Ah did cheat a bit and got Peter to paint a picture for one of the presents. If you still want to get anything specific I have a couple hours and we might be able to get the good doctor to join us in the city.
Illyana Rasputina	"It's not acceptable to send out one of the demon lieutenants to do shopping." Illyana shrugs slightly, pushing the hood off her face to reveal her blonde hair pulled into tight bunches instead of hanging loose for once. "Not smart to bring back things from an alien planet. So this means very few choices that are unique." Her mouth tightens slightly, a crumpled line. "I do more experiences than things in a box. So it would be best to come up with something. A good coat to keep Alexis warm is easy and maybe. I know some people like lobster but I cannot put a lobster in a box."
Henry McCoy	Henry McCoy takes a seat, sitting back, nibbling on dipped Twinkie as he considers the two. "Just know that wheaver you do, if you put heartfelt effort into it, people feel really good about that. So I won't tell you don't worry about it, but I'll say that it's hard to fail."
Samuel Guthrie	Samuel Guthrie nods, and will reach over and puts hand on Illyana's shoulder giving it a soft squeeze. "I have total faith in you and at your service till about 5pm or so." he tells his friend. You could always make a set of tickets to one of your DnD sessions and run a special one for a group as a gift.
Illyana Rasputina	"I just want it to be good. Something that shows I tried." She tips her head to Sam when he squeezes her shoulder and that brief freezing moment passes. No jumping out of her skin -- that's new. Illyana goes for a coffee cup after that. "Not a bad idea. If five is your limit," she holds up her hand, palm flat, a flickering swirl of light forming. "Take a doorway directly and skip the flight. But I think flying is half the fun, isn't it?" She, too, is the party bus.
Henry McCoy	Henry McCoy smirks. "You'll be fine, Illyana. Anyway Sam, for a whole thermos of the stuff, I'd head into the kitchen. With the industrial coffee makers, that should be no problem to fill one up."
Samuel Guthrie	Samuel Guthrie will takes Illyana's hand. He does not seem worried about traveling via Limbo, he has done this many a time over the years. Ah did not want to bother you about the trip home, but if your offering Ah will ask Alexis, not sure how she will handle her first trip through limbo on christmas.
Illyana Rasputina	Her hand is warm with coffee's heat, and Illyana gestures. "You point out something valuable. Going through hell to get there is best not worth it, even if I put her in the garden path." She wanly smiles. "I need to get shopping. Thank you. Call me in an hour and I'll have your cloak."