They call it Than-X-Giving here

[onebluebamf]

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

Comments

[kineticcajun]

Gambit has to admit to himself, although it's nice not to be alone on a holiday, that it's definitely a little weird hanging around with the X-Men. Sure, they're familiar faces, but eating Thanksgiving dinner with former enemies? This is a little unexpected. Though he waffled around about going or not for some time, he ultimately ended up deciding to go since Jubilee asked... although he's still a little uncertain.

Still, when he shows up, he's armed with two side dishes just as asked: cornbread and oyster stuffing, the latter definitely a little on the spicy side. It's not a Thanksgiving without some of the flavors from New Orleans, as far as he's concerned. He's not even sure if anyone will even eat any of it, although this probably just means more for him and Jubilee.

For the most part, Gambit's just going to be keeping a quiet eye on the others, although he's bound to warm up a bit more as the evening wears on. There will be the occasional trip outside for a cigarette, but otherwise, he's staying inside where it's warm.

[touchofrogue]

Surprised to see Rogue in the kitchen? Or has your stalking tipped you off to that little bit of information as well? As it is, she's just bending down to check on the turkey one more time when the tension in the house ups itself.

...yup, there's the Cajun accent and the reason why. She sighs and then squares her shoulders, turning to face him. Her eyebrows go up when she sees the covered containers he's carrying.

"Ya ain't Greek, are you? Or is there some rule about Cajuns bearing gifts an' I missed it?" That's 'Hello, it's nice to see you, how kind of you to bring something,' clearly.

[kineticcajun]

While he's not too surprised to find Rogue in the kitchen, he's definitely pretty surprised she's gone to such lengths on this dinner. It's a lot of effort, especially for someone who normally acts the more like a loner. But he gives a grin and a bow in greeting, somehow managing not to topple the stuffing or the cornbread before straightening up.

"An' here I thought I was s'posed to bring somethin'."

He's grinning despite it all. The kinder sentiment may have gone unsaid, but he's sure it was lurking there somewhere.

[touchofrogue]

...bowing. Why is that as appealing as it is ridiculous? She drops her chin to hide a smile and her face is a neutral set by the time he straightens and she turns around fully. Rogue wipes her bare hands on the forest green apron she's wearing before digging around in her pockets to pull on the shoulder-length gloves that complete her ensemble. Her tone is light and teasing, for all that her words may be less than inviting, "I'm still not sure how ya made the guest list."

Dramatic sigh and she shakes her head, tugging the second glove into place with a light smile. "Let's see what ya brought, Cajun."

She already had to save some macaroni and cheese by adding bacon and parmigiana. She's anticipating the same type of bachelor doom as she approaches Gambit's contributions. "Set it on the counter."

[kineticcajun]

Gambit isn't entirely sure how he made the guest list either, but he'll take the words as just a joke. Of course Jubilee invited him, but how she got this to fly past Rogue or Nightcrawler - the latter especially - is beyond him. Strangeness aside, though, he obeys the command to bring his contributions to the counter. Better not to upset a woman who not only has spent the entire day in the kitchen, but can also knock you out with a poke.

Both containers are set down on the counter and he steps back to allow Rogue to inspect them. He's got an itching suspicion that the request is somewhere between seeing if the food is edible and seeing if the food is explosive. (Which it isn't. Explosive, that is.)

"Cornbread an' stuffin'. Figured traditional was the bes' way to go."

[touchofrogue]

So long as Gambit never suspects that maybe, just maybe this whole idea was inspired by the thought of him having to celebrate Thanksgiving alone, that uncertainty is juuuuuuuust fine with Rogue. And compliance is a wide decision indeed.

"Can always use more fixin's." And if they're terrible, at least I've already made my own. Rogue pops the top off the stuffing first and then digs around in a drawer to retrieve a spoon. When she tastes it, her eyes widen dramatically. She pulls the spoon out of her mouth with a light poping sound and points it at him. "Where'd you steal this from?"

If that crazy blond chief comes kicking down her door in search of his stuffing...

[kineticcajun]

That reaction says it all, doesn't it? It tends to be the reaction he gets out of anyone not from New Orleans. The Acolytes hadn't expected the Cajun to be a decent cook either. Grinning, fighting back a laugh, he shakes his head.

"Didn't steal it from anywhere, chere. Made it myself." Besides, if there is anywhere in Luceti that makes Cajun-style anything, he's yet to find it. That stuffing is a Gambit Original around here.

"Jus' 'cause I'm a bachelor don't mean I can't cook."

[touchofrogue]

She's not touching that bachelor thing with a twelve-foot pole. Instead she gives him an incredulous glance and then opens up the other container to tear into a piece of cornbread. It tastes like home.

Not bad, Cajun. She gives him that small little smile he so rarely sees. "How are ya at carving turkeys?"

She wouldn't mind getting a second opinion on if this turkey is done right, but like hell she's asking. This should get him to look at it without costing her the humiliation of a question.

Yes, that's right, Gambit. You've been invited into the sanctity of Rogue's kitchen for a spell. Don't screw it up.

[kineticcajun]

An invitation into the kitchen and a smile from Rogue. Maybe this whole X-Thanksgiving idea wasn't quite as bad as originally suspected. As much as he could joke around about only trusting him with the food after being swayed by the power of cornbread, he's actually keeping his mouth shut for once.

"Jus' one of my many talents. Needin' someone t'carve it up, then?"

He may not be quite as good at it as his brother, but hey, he doesn't need to share that detail. He can still carve a mean turkey.

[touchofrogue]

"It's you or Kurt." Well. If she'd let Kurt cut it, the jury was still out on that one. But you doesn't need to know that and do you want to risk Kurt carving up the Thanksgiving turkey, Gambit?

[kineticcajun]

"Guess I oughta be honored." Yeah, he'd rather not leave it to Kurt. Gambit's not sure on the fuzzy one's turkey carving skills, but he's pretty confident he could win that competition.

[touchofrogue]

"Good." She nods towards the oven. Bwahahahahaha, her plan is a success. Hopefully the turkey will turn out just fine, but if not she can't believe that he'd not say anything about it.

"I'll start puttin' stuff on the table, you check the bird."

Enjoy the easy familiarity while you can - it probably won't last long.

[kineticcajun]

"You got it, chere." Oh, he'll make sure this turkey turns out awesome alright. Rogue gets a confident grin before he settles down to work. Time to check on a bird.

If there is one thing Gambit can actually be trusted with, it's food.

[touchofrogue]

Oh good. Although that doesn't quite mean she'll leave him to it. With more of the guests arriving, and the food on the table, Rogue stops back to peer - from her requisite two steps away - over his shoulder. "How's it look?"

[kineticcajun]

Yeah, he didn't think he'd be left alone too long. He'd honestly have been particularly surprised if he was. But he's been behaving himself. In fact, the turkey is getting a thoughtful look while he bastes it.

"Lookin' pretty good. Might need jus' a bit more seasonin', but looks like it's jus' about done."

He glances over his shoulder back at her with a playful spark in his eyes. "Gotta say, I'm impressed. You done good."

[touchofrogue]

She is genuinely pleased at the compliment, since this was actually quite a bit of effort and, well, after tasting that stuffing she knows that he knows it. But the best thing to do, other than put down the compliment, is to just ignore it... and she'll do that as best she can.

"Try not ta drown us in it. We ain't all had our taste buds fried." It's said teasingly, as Rogue is still in kitchen-mood.