Locked away from the omnicom of Vance Astrovik.

[walkingballpit]

[ Rob's broadcasting from Mount Wundagore, his portion of the habitat deck. He's unable to keep the doofy, dimples wide smile off his face. He's talking fast in his excitement. ]

Hola, Legionnaires! Before you continue watching this, look around and make sure Vance Astrovik, also known as Justice, Marvel Boy, and Supertights, is nowhere near you. I've spent a lot of time figuring out how to block him and don't want the surprise ruined. I'll wait.

[ Robbie pulls out loop of string that he specifically prepared for this occasion and plays cat's cradle for thirty seconds. ]

He gone? Good. If he was actually there and wants to know why he heard his name, tell him to buzz off or you'll tell everyone the punch bowl story.

Here's the deal. Vance made his section of the habitat the Crashpad. That's our old team's HQ. I'm losing you already - stay with me. We used to try and decorate for the winter hols there, hang out. All my best holidays were there, and I think he'd say the same. It was ... warm.

[ Robbie laughs and shakes his head. ]

Even when we didn't have heat.

So there's a huge holiday coming up in like a week. It's called Valor's Day.

[ Robbie puts on a weird looking Santa hat. What should be red is black with a star pattern, the white fur is now red and trimmed with a gold stripe. ]

I'm not saying it's the new Christmas, but I think it's safe to say there's some inspiration.

I know I keep talking about home, but right now, this is my home. And the Legion's my team, so you're all invited. It'll be at 15:00, on Valor's Day, and I'm sending you all the location of the Crashpad in the Habitat Deck.

[ He fiddles with the omnicom to attach a map to the transmission. ]

I don't have any reals plans - I'm going shopping for decorations tomorrow, but I've got no idea where to find Chanukah and Christmas chic. So I'm giving you all a second invitation - whatever life-affirming holiday you celebrate, even if I didn't mention it, bring something. Maybe it's special food, maybe it's a carol, maybe it's a piñata. I don't care, just bring something that makes it feel like your party too.

Volunteers to help with the setup and breakdown are hugely appreciated and will be thanked with a bribe I haven't made up yet, but I remind you that holiday tradition loves helping your fellow m- beings. Jack, if you're wondering, this is what I wanted the winter wonderland for. I just have to clear it with... someone in charge before we mess with the climate.

Oh, and Vance? If you're watching this over someone's shoulder, you suck.

Comments

[walkingballpit]

No strippers. This isn't that kind of crowd.

[turntex]

not with that attitude it isnt

[walkingballpit]

Vance'd flip - this isn't my place, and I'd say no faster than he would. It's embarrassing, and there's kids on the team.

text >> video

[turntex]

[Jesus, someone is taking him way too seriously. The feed suddenly switches to video to show one of said kids on the team, face flat except for an arched eyebrow.]

Bro. I'm kidding.

[walkingballpit]

[ This is a perfectly valid reaction, and there's nothing stopping a teenager from being interested in a stripper. Despite this, Robbie's not looking for an argument. ]

No worries.

[turntex]

[True, but this teen at least is in a committed relationship and would feel like a dick if strippers got involved.]

So are we doin' a Secret Santa or anything similarly disastrous at this little shindig?

[walkingballpit]

I -

[ That honestly hadn't occurred to him, but it sounds like a great ide. ]

Sure, why not? You want to run it?

[turntex]

Nah. [He's not really the "organizing events" type.] I only know a couple of people here anyway. Just figured I should make sure I wasn't supposed to be bringing something. Everyone hates the guy that "forgets" to bring a present to a swap so someone gets shafted.

[walkingballpit]

Or someone might not be able to afford it. You're right. It's better to skip it.

[ As he said in other feeds, he doesn't want to have anyone feeling left out. ]

Let's skip it. Bring something for the party if you want, but the only presents you have to bring is your presence.

[ Ha. ]

Well, now you know one more person.

[turntex]

I'll bring the gift that is my presence, and maybe some background music.

[Gotta have a bitchin' soundtrack for your holiday parties, right? At least his music will actually be good, if unorthodox.]

But yeah. Good to meet ya, nice job spreading not-Christmas cheer.

[the_real_sir_prize]

Noted! I will adjust alcohol consumption plans accordingly.

[walkingballpit]

[ This is the precise moment that Robbie realizes he's in over his head with this party. ]

Thanks?

[ Is that something people do, outside of movies? ]

Maybe invest in a good belt, too.

[the_real_sir_prize]

[Victor blinks, bemused.]

All my belts are good belts.

[He's spent his entire adult life in the spotlight, of course all his belts are good belts.]

[He covers a smile with his fingers for a moment.] I don't frequently get stripping-drunk anyway, but it's important to know where the boundaries are.

Speaking of, is there a dress code for this party? Aside from good belts.

[walkingballpit]

[ Dress code?

Robbie's never been to a house party with a dress code. His parents had them when he was young - holiday and birthday parties full of lawyers and other boring old people. As a kid, he'd been dressed up to make an appearance before being shuttled out the back with a babysitter. He makes a face at the idea. ]

Pants. The dress code is pants, with a belt to keep them on.

Seriously, this isn't a dress code kind of thing. Come in whatever's comfortable. Stupid holiday sweaters are a bonus. Other than that. Wear jeans, wear a cocktail dress, I don't care.

[ He thinks better of that. ]

This is a party though, so no uniforms. I'm going to have a stash of embarrassing clothes that I will make people wear if they turn up in uniform.

[turntex]

But what if your uniform is also your day-to-day default look?

[Granted, his pajamas + cape combo makes for a much more versatile outfit than most people's superhero duds do.]

[walkingballpit]

[ Robbie holds up a t-shirt with a Christmas sweater print on it, of Coluans dressed up like elf/Santa hybrids. There's a lot of randomness on the shirt as well - poop emoji, champagne flutes, shamrocks, what may be fireworks if you tilt your head just right... it's awful. ]

I have more where this came from.

[turntex]

Guess I'll have to make due with a cocktail dress, then.

[So deadpan it's hard to tell how serious he is. Even if you know what his sense of humor is like. Hell, especially if you know what his sense of humor is like. And that shirt is awful in the best kind of way and he loves it. God, such tough decisions. It's hard being a superhero. It's hard and no one understands.]

[walkingballpit]

Guess so.

[ Robbie won't judge your fashion choices, Dave. He's only outlawing uniform to emphasize that this party is for friendship and downtime. ]

If you change your mind, I have jingle bell suspenders.

[turntex]

You drive a hard bargain. Shit's rated higher than diamond on the mohs scale and for some reason that tempts all the shoppers who're tryin' real hard not to make frivolous purchases. Like damn, that is even harder than I could have imagined, can I really pass up a deal this good?

[walkingballpit]

Give me a light-up necklace for a buck any day, right?

[the_real_sir_prize]

[Congratulations, Robbie, you are witnessing the very moment that a man who has had to wear a suit to a majority of the parties he's been to in the past two decades realize that he can attend this party in the most ridiculous sweater he can stand to put on his body. And, fast on the heels of that revelation, remember that couples-sweaters might still be a thing that exist. It's like watching the sun come up, his whole body lights up. When he answers, he sounds almost breathless.]

...I need to go shopping. Do you have any recommendations on where to find stupid holiday sweaters?

[walkingballpit]

[ It is so, so beautiful that someone understands the party in the spirit that it's meant. All he wants is for people to be made happy by it, that's it. ]

I've picked up a few at [Store] since this all started. You're free to come snag one of these, if you don't want to go shopping.

[the_real_sir_prize]

The offer is appreciated, but I will need two sweaters that 'go' together for this.

[Also he saw the example earlier. While Victor is excited about stupid couple sweaters, he's not entirely sure that he's up for...that.]

Besides, I enjoy shopping when I'm away from home.

[walkingballpit]

Oh-ho-ho-ho, my friend! I gotcha.

[ Robbie is not subtle when he picks up on people being an item. There is a finger gun, a wink, and a tcth of his tongue against his teeth. ]

Understood! Have a great time wiiiiiiiith somebody.

[the_real_sir_prize]

[Victor is not subtle. Ever. He responds with a wink and a finger gun of his own.]

We will! And we'll see you at the party!