13634/Doom. No, the other one.

Doom. No, the other one.
Date of Scene:	25 December 2022
Location:	Computer Hall
Synopsis:	Christmas Eve at Xavier's school sees a Doom LAN party for the students.
Cast of Characters:	Kitty Pryde, Monet St. Croix

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Kitty Pryde has posed:
"Kitty has control of the BFG!"

The announcement brings a groan from most of the people seated at computers in the lab. "Why'd you let her get it!?" Hambone complaining to the other students who have gathered for their annual Christmas Eve game of the video game Doom.

At her computer, Kitty just grins. "Hey Hambone?"

"Yes Miss Pryde?" Hambone replies.

"Behind you," Kitty tells him. Followed by the sound of special effects from the video game, and Hambone's annoyed groan. Also laughter from the other kids in the room.

Kitty takes a sip of her orange soda. Giving the kids something to do on Christmas Eve who don't have families they can go to is one of the things that she is happy to do.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
The great holiday murderfest is on. And never let it be said that Ms. Pryde lacks anything in the skills department. Monet St. Croix has nowhere to go for the holidays. Her sisters are busy with their own world so she's staying here.

"This is much better than last year's excursion." Something to be said for staying in. "No awakening sleeping eldritch abominations cored from corrupted dead souls." There was likely a reason why they would never, ever be allowed to rent at the ski lodge ever again.

"So how many losses is that for all of you?" M would inquire, while going to take a sip of amug of hot chocolate, then moving to pride one over to Kitty.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
"The hot tub was kind of nice though," Kitty says of the ski lodge. "Long as you can not let the monster spoil it for you," she adds, while her eyes are glued to the screen. She's got the Big Fucking Gun and she knows how to use it.

The boys are talking to each other trying to gang up on her, but for now Kitty is staying ahead of them. "Oh, they have a pretty high body count. I mean their own," she says to Monet with a grin. "Do you play at all? It's an older game, but I introduced them to the concept of a LAN party and it kind of beats everyone sitting in their own rooms alone."

She takes the mug of hot chocolate with gratitude, taking a sip then quickly shifting her hand back to the mouse to gun someone down.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod over at Kitty, "I see. So what particular game is this one?" not that she follows the competitive world of FPS games. "And why do those weapons look somewhat familiar?" In other words, why do they look like the sorts of things that Cable and Deadpool seem to carry so often?

"Are these games based upon real life events?" She would inquire. "Or are they of more a fictional nature?" With how life was, one never knew.

"And no, I have never played. I don't have the time." At least she's not saying anything denigrating - tis the season and all.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
"Oh, it's an older game that had a huge fan base. For being one of the better early multiplayer games, I think. They do remakes to cash in on the nostalgia. Most games are fictional, there probably aren't too many based on real events," Kitty explains while playing. "At most, set in a real time period or something like that, one of the wars, whatever. This one is pure science fiction though," she says.

The boys eventually manage to gang up and take Kitty down. But she's racked up enough points it isn't long before she has enough kills to win the game.

The kids grumble good-naturedly.

There's a knock on the doorframe and Piotr Rasputin walks in, carrying a big stack of pizza boxes. "Katya, the pizzas you ordered are here," he tells her. He soon is swarmed by students as he sets down the boxes and spreads them out. Kids start grabbing slices on plates.

"Don't get the keyboards all greasy, use a napkin," Kitty reminds them. She waits for them to clear out from the pizzas for the moment. "So are you doing anything special tomorrow?" she asks Monet, of Christmas Day.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod over at Kitty, "Ah, I can see the appeal." She would shrug, "Normally from what minimally I've observed demons and hellspawn are traditionally engaged in melee as conventional firearms have minimal effectiveness on them." There's something to be said over for the fun of shooting someone point blank in the head again and again with a shotgun and then using a chainsaw to hack off their face.

"The students seem to be enjoying themselves." SHe would offer. Then go to slide around and not move to take as lice of the pizza. "For now nothing. I would go visit my sisters but.. They are not in a state where it would be good to see them." M's tone is sad. Glancing at Piotr, "Thank you." Shaking her head to decline it some.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty Pryde finally gets up to get herself some pizza. Piotr gets a kiss on the cheek, which makes him blush and also apparently causes him to retreat. Kitty is left shaking her head at that, grinning.

She gets the cheese pizza with hamburger topping, making sure it isn't one with pork sausage instead. A pair of slices of the 'za go on the plate and then Kitty returns to her seat.

Instead of starting back up though, she says to the students, "I'll sit this one out, you guys have fun." She swivels her chair to face back to Monet again. "Ah, right," she says in a comforting tone. "Well, there's usually a pretty good crowd around here still. And can't beat the decorations. :)"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would glance over at Katherine and try her best over at a smile. It falls flat, but there's none of the usual partial sneer that accompanies it. Or at least none of the tone that is partially belittling. Someone is trying very much to not be negative over the holidays.

"You should add some sort of wager to the affairs to help supr competition." She would offer over to Katherine while moving to sip at her hot chocolate. "I'm not much of a holidays person, as you might have noticed." Honesty without being blunt.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
"Oh, these guys are so competitive as it is," Kitty says with a little chuckle. The kids are definitely into the game, tossing insults back and forth and generally being boys and having fun.

"Hrm, well, yeah, I suppose it doesn't seem like it's quite embedded in your DNA. I actually do enjoy the holidays a lot. That was one of the nice things when I was with Warren. I got to decorate his place. And with a budget that about rivaled what we spend here," she says with a glance towards the hallways of the school. There are decorations everywhere, of a quality that would have any business more than ecstatic at the display put on.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would glance over, "They're not detonating the computers, which I suppose is one benefit?" EIther the Mansion went through computers about as fast as the students were pizza, or they were reinforced to withstand anything that Earth might throw at them.

"I'm glad that you had a good time together. I understand that much of the holiday is focused on things with firends and family." Monet having few friends, and an almost complete distancing of her family beyond her two sisters.

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty takes a bite of her pizza and then lets out a happy sigh. "Got it from the Ultimate Slice," she says of the pizza. "So good. They have the best sauce. Sauce is an underrated part of pizza!" she declares before taking another bite.

A nod is given at the observation about the holidays. "Yes, pretty much," she says. "I've spent enough away though that I'm kind of used to, well, this," she says, gesturing towards the students. One of whom jumps out of his seat with his arms held up victorious, while his victim who just got chainsawed to death groans.

"I mean, the religious aspects are there for a lot of people. But also a lot of people it's just a holiday and it's more about family. And kids getting presents and stuff like that," Kitty says with a shrug.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod over, "Yes, in the States at least it is rather secularized. One could call it almost a wholly consumerist celebration." She would switch over to Hebrew, "And happy Hannukah. I hope hta tyou have found the Festival of Lights illuminating." Going to glance over at the students. "Good that they have a chance to celebrate here as well." So many aren't from circumstances they could have done so regularly.

"It's celebration is different in many other parts of the world where it is.. More subdued."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
The commercialization of the holidays causes Kitty to chuckle and nod. "Yep, it is. It's why they start the Christmas stuff soon as Halloween is done now. More time to spend. But hey, you base a society on making money and guess what happens?" she says with a shake of her head and another chuckle.

One of the students complains his game isn't responding, and Kitty turns to face her computer. She taps away on the keyboard and soon sets the matter aright. "There you go," she says as he gives a thumbs up, eyes already pasted to the screen as he gets back into the fight.

"And thank you," Kitty tells Monet. "Mom came out for a few days for the start of it, was great seeing her," she says with a smile.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would smile, "Yes. Of all the ironies in several other countries I have been around this time of year when it is more religious in observation it is rather more subdued in nature. There is something to be said for avoiding the tenets of commercialism as a primary driver of motivation." She would glance over at the student as the keyboard would work again.

"I'm glad that you had a lovely time with your mother. It was a pleasure to meet her over THanksgiving. Please pass along my regards to her next time you see her." M, being ever polite in conversation. What a rarity!