13630/It's beginning to look a lot like...

It's beginning to look a lot like...
Date of Scene:	23 December 2022
Location:	Midtown
Synopsis:	Hot Chocolate and financial advice but no presents.
Cast of Characters:	Roberto da Costa, Douglas Ramsey, Gabby Kinney, Megan Gwynn

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Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa has had a busy month which is probably why he has waited until the last minute or maybe it's a lack of preparation and planning, either way, fingers can be pointed but here we are in Manhattan on one of the busiest shopping and travel days of the year, in the middle of a squall. Berto is wearing a cashmere sweater, tailored slacks and some low cut hiking boots that look fairly rugged. He has on leather gloves and a driver's length coat. But no hat, he doesn't seem bothered by the weather and in fact the air around him remains a several degrees warmer than the surroundings. He is standing with a list, that seems almost Santa-esque for it length and style, all the names checked once and most of them are checked twice, indicating a present is already in his possession, There is also a security guy next to the Brasilian mutant holding a bevy of bags and packages from a variety of high end boutiques, venerable retail institutions and purveyors of fine curisosities and old books. Yes, Roberto has not undertaken this pilgrimage alone, a driver and sherpa? Bodyguard? You may be wandering if he even knows anymore. But promises were made about lunch, and maybe dinner, cocoa and seeing the tree and windows. That was hours ago and seems that it may just now be paying off.
    Berto purses his lips, "Why are Dani and Shan so hard to shop for?"

Douglas Ramsey has posed:
    Doug has plenty of money, even if doesn't have Da Costa megabucks. When asked about his income he simply says he dabbled in Crypto and then cashed out before the market cratered, besides those guys are all con artists anyway-
    He's wearing a winter hat with a pom-pom on it, fuzzy gloves and a pea-coat, chinos and chelsea boots - he's only bought a couple of things, but his gift list is smaller.
    "Dani's non-materialistic. Shan's just got good taste." Doug got Dani a new high-end utility knife.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Okay." Gabby's voice sounds out behind Berto and his entourage as she tromps through the slush and snow a bit slower than the others. It sucked being short at times, and this was one of them as her knee high boots sunk into the snow with each step. The rest of her was nicely bundled against the cold but the coat she wore was... very retro. It looked as if she'd either borrowed it from a Rockette, or walked off the set of a Christmas movie. It was dark blue trimed with white faux fur and had one of those shawl-drape things with it.

"I know this was a joke gift, but..." She pauses to tip her head back with a little sigh letting the fuzzy neckline of the coat rub against her cheek. "This is *so fuckin warm.* I feel like I'm gonna nod off if I stop walking." Which, knowing the whole 'freezing to death' thing could happen was not going to happen, but it was still comfy. It even fell long enough down her legs that it looked like a dress.

"Then don't make it a 'thing' if that's the issue. Get a cake or cookies or something she'd enjoy eating. Maybe some of those dried orange slice candies."

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa frowns considering, "I have good taste... It's true she is non-materialistic... which makes it so much harder." he takes a breath, "I already punted on Scott and Jean, matching sweaters like last year. I mean if they can't see it, I don't feel like the rest of us should be oblivious right?" Berto tilts his head, "Joke gift might be a little strong, Gabby." Berto is carefu to use the proper name and make no assumptions, "I mean it was intended to be warm and make you seem innocuous so you could sneak up on the bad guys... I think it tots works." He smiles. "Hmm, she does like Oranges, and I have never someone eat a whole cake by themselves, so yeah, that makes sense. "Right, the cocoa place is just up here... I think. Yeah, just a block or two."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney glances down at herself, arms stretching out to her sides. "First of all, this is not for sneaking at all... Second of all..." She pauses to glance over at Doug to ask, "Does Berto think I'm an assassin or something?" She's teasing a bit at least, and cracks a grin while letting her arms drop to her sides again. "I figured it was a joke since it looks like something little kids wear when trying to be cute."

"And you've never seen Illyana with a Russian honey cake then. THAT was impressive." Gabby tilts her head to the side with a little half-nod, and she hms thoughtfully. "I should probably grab some 'oops' gifts in case I forgot anyone. ... But cocoa first. That sounds great."

Douglas Ramsey has posed:
    Really, Doug's tagging along to see if he can figure out what Berto's buying him. Because he's a *snoop*. It's just one of those quirks of his personality, he HAS to know what he's getting, it drives him crazy. He already got Berto his gift, the same gift he gets him EVERY year - one of the Hawaiian shirt prints Tom Selleck wore in Magnum, P.I. -
    Doug raises his eyebrows, and then he says, "I thought you were going for 'Santa's Bodyguard Elf', but it does look good on you. What you really need to go with it is..." Doug looks around, and then into his shopping bag, before he pulls out a fuzzy white muff. "This. Tada!"

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa laughs and smiles, shaking his head, he'd actually gotten Doug's gift weeks ago and it was one of the more unique he had bought. But what to get Gabby and Pixie has eluded him, so he is being a bit canny is asking them to come with. "Well, I mean we all need to sneak up on the bad guys sometimes. Don't we?" He chuckles, and leads the way to a confectioner's shop about a block away, it's a real throwback with brass fixtures and wood paneling and a full soda jerk style bar.
     Berto leads the way, nodding to the proprietor, and making his way to booth with a reserved placard in the crowded establishment, "Order what you like, I appreciate your help. No, I haven't seen Yana with a honeycake, but that does not surprise me. She's a woman who know what she wants and goes after it."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney lets her gaze glide over the windows of various stores as they wander past just looking at all the Christmas lights, decorations, and displays. This wasn't like that famous Macy's store with the display out front but they all had their own themes and the like. It was interesting to see. "Well... I guess I can hide a suitable amount of knives in this if I wanted," she has to admit in regards to her festive coat.

That doesn't mean she doesn't let out a little sigh of relief when they finally step inside the shop for hot chocolate. And more? This wasn't a place she'd been before, but with it as crowded as it was she's rather glad that Berto had locked up a reservation for it. "Hot chocolate obviously. Unless they have fancier sorts." Even as she ponders this she takes a deep breath to draw in all the various muddled scents the locale has to offer. "No snickerdoodles though. I may have eaten a ton of the Doc's last night when he was baking."

Megan Gwynn has posed:
Megan Gwynn is actually late..She knows. there was supposed to be a shopping run today, and she still totally has no idea what to buy for her many team mates. Not to mention having been out all last night trying to disenchant some humans turned into statues, which left her in a rather odd mood after overusing her soul dagger.

At any rate, she didn't get any sleep last night, and can be found at the cafe, chugging some hot chocolate which will hopefully make her less hyper..But with all that sugar, who knows..?

Shes also dressed rather festive, in a bright red peplum wool coat that co traits with her glittery pink wings and hair but oh well.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa smiles as Megan has a headstart on them but he slips into the booth and nods, "Well, if you want something cold I hear the egg creams are beyond. But I think with the weather the Chocolate Chaud is the way to go." Berto lauhs looking at the few mugs around Pixie's spot at the table, "Which Megan seems to recommend.' He laughs and motions to the waitress who begins the preparations and brings the Hot chocoalate over with cute pewter mugs and festive candy cane sticks. There's even whip cream on top and it's made by melting actual chocolate in milk not with the powder. The store smells like a candy and cookie wonderland, though the undernotes are French. Berto smiles at Megan, "Very festive, Cute outfit, you and Gabby look like you're on break between shows. Broadway shows."

Douglas Ramsey has posed:
Doug peels off his gloves and rubs his hands together, as they make their way inside - he takes his hat off, and somehow his hair's impeccable under that, too. "Megan." He says, "You made it!" As for him right now, he looks around and then he says, "A double espresso with a side of peppermint milk chocolate bark would be just the ticket."

"So. What's everyone's plans? I usually just stay in over the holidays - I usually get a gift I want to spend the day playing with, even if I have to get one for myself." He holds up a finger. "I would like a bag of the spicy hot chocolate mix for Amara, though?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney slides into the seat only to grin. "I have no idea what an egg cream is but I will certainly love a hot chocolate then. Whatever Pix is having," she agrees only to glance down at her phone thoughtfully. "Ah... answering texts, ignore me a few," she mumbles while focusing on her phone.

Megan Gwynn has posed:
Megan Gwynn beams and waves at the familiar faces. Which she still hasn't shopped for. Hey, there are a lot of Xmen.."Hiii! I made it! Yay! How's everyone doing? This choco is Soo good ..Ahh I'd better not take any cream, it makes me too hyper.." like she's not too hyper as is. "Oooh Gabby, your jacket is well tidy!" she grins, shuffling over to make room. Ooh and candy canes too!

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa settles in, "Well, I'll be in for Christmas but I do have to check in with work.There is a whole chunk of the world doesn't celebrate Christmas. Or so I was told. But I'll be around for Christmas morning. You both look lovely." He sips the hot chocolate as the server brings the order to eachof them. "How about you Meg?"

Douglas Ramsey has posed:
"Well gee, Berto. Thank you! I got a haircut." Doug is teasing. He gets his coffee and raises it to his lips with one hand. "How's your mom?" He still doesn't speak with his parents.

Then he looks at the two girls. "There's a new ice skating rink opening in Salem Center, I heard. I was hoping a group of students would go check it out and report back."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Iceskating?" That pulls Gabby's attention away from her phone for a few moments as she cracks a grin. "I mean... It's been ages since I have. I did do roller derby for awhile but that's roller skates and not ice skates. I could give it a go," she decides with a little grin of thought.

"I don't really have plans, honestly. I've just been kind of..." She shrugs a little. "Off where I feel I'm needed. I haven't even seen Logan for awhile."

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa smiles, "I thought there was something different. It brings out your cheekbones. Mom is good, still head of Srchaeology at Gotham U, trying to make in roads with the Amazons. She says thanks for that translation. It was a big help, the graduate theses based on the implications." Berto smiles, "Ice skating? I was thinking about putting a rink in New Lots, close to MutantTown. After that pastor flooded the parking lot. It would be interesting to see how Salem Center does it." He listens to Gabby and raises his eyebrows, "Sometime it's good to take a break with friends and recharge. Yeah, Logan's been spending a lot of time down by the lake... I'm assuming it's some kind of training?"

Douglas Ramsey has posed:
Doug gestures. "Nao foi nada." He says, before he adds, "A skating rink would really be a boon for the Mutant Town kids, especially if it's open later into the evening, it'd give them a safe place to hang out. I know there's some nonprofits trying to work on updating some of the parks there, but they're not open late." He takes a bite of that peppermint bark. "...Anyway, Linear A's a direct descendant of old Argossean and once we find more examples of it it might give inroads into cracking the lost Hyborean languages, which would open up a period of human history that's really just one big blank slate right now."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney chuckles with some amusement at all of this. "Dunno how they do it, but it'd be fun. The Genoshan Embassy's got that rec center there, too, for the kids later in the evenings. Maybe they could lend some help in watching the area to make sure it's safe?" The suggestion is met with a little shrug. "I haven't really dealt with anyone there in ages myself. But they're there. I know one of the..." she trails off, brow furrowing in thought. "Actually I dunno, he's like Magento's grandson I guess? But from a different reality brought over magically and didn't even know he was. He's kind of upset about it, but I know him. So it's kind of a connection to the Genoshan embassy in a round-about way."

Megan Gwynn has posed:
Megan Gwynn yawns and stretches, her mind a million miles away as she jeans back, sipping slowly on that hot chocolate. "Mmm cozy movies by the fire sounds fun at night and snowball fights and snow angels in the afternoon, but...Ooh, hey is that..?" she blinks and stands up. "Hey, be right back!" and she darts off somewhere.

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa nods slowly as he watches Doug, "Yeah, that's what Mom said... I think. I kind of glazed over at that point. You're still Mom's favorite after Steph, still hasn't forgiven Dad for that." Berto sighs parental issues but then he looks from Gabby to Doug, realizing his error, Oh, umm yeah. One of the things I've been trying to do with X-Corp is just catalog what all is being done. There's a lot going on and I don't want to repeat efforts and waste funding. I think it would be good as well, set it up to be athletic fields in the summer. Basketball stickball, thing like that."

Douglas Ramsey has posed:
Doug clears his throat, and then says, "Well, I'm always happy to help." He takes another bite off the corner of a square of Peppermint Bark. He drains the rest of his coffee and flags down a waitress. "I'll have another." Then he exhales, and says, "I'm really trying to nail down what I want to be doing. The problem is there are so many things I COULD be doing. Ted Kord's been calling me asking me to go back to work for him but I don't want to get tied down in a corporate job. I might just incorporate myself."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Independent contractor," Gabby suggests to Doug while she stirs up her cocoa with the candycane that was in it. She was already through most of it but the chocolate always did manage to settle toward the bottom after it started cooling. It's drawn up for another long sip enjoying the warmth and chocolatey-ness with a half sigh.

"I... want to offer to help, too, but I'm already stretching myself kind of thin. Between leading one group, finishing school, and training to be a team leader in another group, I barely have time to date." A pause is given only to shrug. "I mean I've been on two in the past year."

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa blinks at Gabby, "I guess running a corporation is different from running a team. I mean even with teaching, and starting X-Corps up stepping in to takeover for Dad since the accident. I still have people to delegate to. If you need help incorporating, or seed capitol my rates are very reasonable." He grins, "I manage to keep an open social calendar. But that's a lot going on, running a team is a lot, let me know if I can help, even if only to lend an ear." Roberto nods.

Douglas Ramsey has posed:
"Well I mean if I did I could set up my services as a translator, cybersecurity expert, computer programmer..." Doug muses. "Fashion expert." He always had a certain sartorial flair. He glances over at Gabby and then says, "...Got me beat! I've been on *zero* dates this year. Too busy working! Was Magneto's grandkid one of them?"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney grins from around the edge of her mug of cocoa at Doug's question. She doesn't respond to it though other than giving a little shrug as if to say 'maybe', or maybe she wasn't going to spill the beans. Either way she takes another sip of the cocoa. "Yeah it's... busy. Not too bad just trying to keep track of a lot of stray threads, and figure out who can help where kind of thing. I did speak to Warren about getting some investment advice, though. For myself personally-- If I end up as long lived as the rest of my family I ought to start putting things away as soon as possible."

Roberto da Costa has posed:
Roberto da Costa considers, "I mean, do we know any mutants who have died of old age? All of us could have to very long lives. It kind of depends how successful you are and how aggressive." He rattles off a short list of stocks that seem ready to jump and listing the reasons."Or ask Doug to read the stock market." Yes, there's a tinge of snark mixed with a tinge respectful, "Either way, it's a good start."

Douglas Ramsey has posed:
"Given my exposure to Transmode, I might be functionally immortal at this point." Doug admits. He's getting better about disguising his techno-organic arm in public, but for a moment, the techno-organic tracery slithers along his hand. "I'm in no hurry to find out." He glances over to Berto. "That's technically insider trading." He admits. "It's useful if I need to raise cash quick, but if anyone found out I was using my powers... besides, you're as good at as I am, and you do it on pure intuition."

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney grins wryly at Roberto. "Point, but ... I have an eighty-seven year old half sister that looks like she's in her twenties. Who knows how old Logan is. But... you're right there, as well. Just with the healing factor I'm probably gonna look like this for another decade." A small sigh comes as she glances down to herself. Not that there was much to see.

"But yeah you do have a point otherwise." As the two bicker about who is better at stocks she glances between them with a grin. "And this is why I ask for help. I can figure out security codes, but I'm still a newb when it comes to stock market stuff."