8602/Midnight Virgin Margaritas

Midnight Virgin Margaritas
Date of Scene:	08 November 2021
Location:	Main Kitchen
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Roxxi Smith, Maxwell Wave, Dashenka Ivanov, Laxmi Mallick

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Roxxi Smith has posed:
     It's not quite midnight, though it is getting late. The main kitchen light is fully lit, with the sounds of clattering and clangs audible. Roxxi stands at the counter, with a mess covering its surface. Several different cartons of different flavored ice creams are left unopened. A jar of maraschino cherries and some chopped nuts are also present, among a varied assortment of sauces.
     A large glass bowl sets before the teen, as she works on filling it with ice cream and a number of toppings and stir-ins. She currently wears a strappy tank top, cosmic-looking PJs, and her light-up unicorn slippers. She doesn't look the slightest bit apologetic either.

Maxwell Wave has posed:
Max had one objective on his mind: Grilled Cheese. Thus, he walks into the kitchen wearing a pair of blue gray flannel pajama bottoms, a sleeveless black shirt, and orange fuzzy socks. His hair slightly damp and disheveled, the ensemble is completed with a pair of dark goggles which conceal his eyes. 5 o'clock shadow on his cheeks, he smells distinctly of coconut shampoo.

His eyebrows raise over his goggles in surprise as he stumbles upon the ice cream apocalypse. Letting out a low whistle, he makes his way to the refrigerator and extracts some cheese. "You got backup coming to help clean that up?"

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Dashenka was having a bad night. As her conditioning continues to wear off, some of the horrible things that she's done begin to wear at her psyche so her nights are more and more filled with nightmares. These nights she goes walking on patrol to fill the time and to exhaust herself so she could fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Her patrol takes her past the kitchen and she pauses there, peering in to find Roxxi and Maxwell inside. "Privyet," she says as she enters. She pauses when she sees the monstrous sundae that Roxxi is making. "You cannot eat all that," she says. "Your stomach is too small."

Dashenka is wearing the only clothes anybody ever sees her in. Grey BDUs, tank top, combat boots. She must have a million of these laying around.

Roxxi Smith has posed:
     Roxxi looks up as Maxwell enters, in the midst of skirting half the bottle of chocolate syrup into her bowl. She smiles brightly at the young man and looks down the counter at the wreckage strewn in her wake. "Hm. Welllll, I guess I will, but first, ice cream! You want a spoon?"
     Somehow, her smile brightens still further, as Dasha joins them. "Hiya Dash! Oh no. I can eat all this. I'm sure!" She says confidently. "I'd get you a spoon too, but I know it's too sweet."

Maxwell Wave has posed:
Max looks at the bowl of syrup then looks down at his stomach. "Ahh, thanks for the offer, but I came here for savory."

Walking over to grab a pan, he sets it on the stove and starts heating in prep for the sacred grilling of cheese. His head turns toward Dashenka, eyebrow perking at her uniform. "You part of some kind of new security detail? or do you just have very unique choices in pajamas?"

Max then returns his focus to preparing his midnight meal, grabbing two slices from a loaf of bread and a slab of butter for his pan. He hums lightly as he stares at the pan a little too intently, gauging the heat by sensing out the various forces at play as the burner warms the metal. "Must be exactly... two hundred and seventy five degrees. No more, no less.. For perfection."

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Dasha just looks at the giant bowl of ice cream for a bit then back to Roxxi. "Is this mutant power?" she asks in her comically thick Russian accent.

She comes fully into the kitchen, having decided to stay and chat and perhaps make herself something to eat. The large teen snags a couple of slices of bread from the loaf that Max had opened and lays them out on the counter. "I do not own pajamas," she tells him, face impassive but tone serious. She opens the fridge and starts pulling out a variety of deli meats and cheeses and gets to work on building a sandwich.

"What is it that you are making?"

Roxxi Smith has posed:
     Arms wrapping, she takes it to a side table. Before she begins to eat, she pauses and looks at the cartons left open. First, she puts these away. She then returns to her monster sundae. With a giggle, Roxxi shakes her head at Dash. "Nooooo, it's my foster child power!" r     She then sets to eating, watching as Maxwell begins to make his sandwich. After a large spoonful, she introduces herself and Dash. "I'm Roxxi, and that's Dasha. She's my best friend," Which is likely news to the much larger teen. Then, she adds with a gasp. "Oh, you can wear your Halloween costume to sleep in Dash!" And that thought amuses Roxxi greatly.

Maxwell Wave has posed:
Max stands poised over the stove with his cheese sandwich and a knife of butter as he continues to stare intently. "Almost there... Almost there... Stay on target... Now!"

He tosses down the slab of butter with a sizzle, coats the pan, and then plops the bread and cheese down with a sizzle. He rests his hand delicately on the handle of the pan and waits.

"It's the northeast, everyone should own pajamas. The weirder the better, if you ask me." Max offers in reply to Dasha. "Grilled Cheese."

Looking over his shoulder for a moment at Roxxi, he follows the introduction. "Max.. I'm a lab assistant of Doctor McCoy's. Moved in awhile back when Mutant Town was abducted by Brainiac. Ended up just staying. Nice to meet you, both."

Turning his attention back to the oven, he gives his sandwich an effortless flip. In fact, the flip is a bit uncanny, like someone was tossing the sandwich on the moon. The sandwich returns to a sizzle once it contacts the hot metal.

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Surprise slips from that impassive air that Dashenka always seems to have about her as Roxxi confesses their friendship status. "I am?" she asks, considering this for a while. "You are my best friend, too," she concludes. She's, like, her /only/ friend but that still counts.

She pauses in her sandwich making to watch Max attentively. Cool blue eyes follows his motions. "It is only bread and cheese," she comments. "It is a small sandwich."

"Costume is too hot," she tells Roxxi. "It would not fit. I sleep in bear form."

Roxxi Smith has posed:
     "Nice ta meetcha Max!" Roxxie beams. She's less interested in his sandwich-making prowess as she is in eating her ice cream. In fact, she only pauses when Dashenka admits that Roxxi is also her best friend. The green-haired teen leaps up from the table, and runs over to give the taller girl a quick hug. "Well, in bear form you don't need Pajamas!" She then returns to her table.
     As Max explains his status, she exclaims softly. "Oh I love Henry! I dyed my hair blue when I first came to Xavier's, just for him!"

Maxwell Wave has posed:
"Small in size, big in flavor." Max proclaims as he dumps the sandwich onto a plate and slices it in half with the same butter knife. Picking up a wedge, he bites into the bread with a crunch, then groans as he leans against the counter.

Swallowing, he looks at his creation. "That was the exact fix for my craving. Mission accomplished."

He takes another bite and chews as he watches the two others. He can't but smile at the exchange between the two, appreciating the exchange of friendship. Casting a side glance toward Dasha through his goggles, he nods. "Bear form, that's neat."

Max chuckles at Roxxi. "Hank is the best, isn't he? 100% my idol. I hope to do for material science what he has done for genetics one day. Big shoes to fill though... Like literally."

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Dashenka stands stiffly against the force of a Roxxi hug, but this time, hesitantly, she places a hand on her should. Progress! It's the closest thing to affection the girl has shown since she got here.

Once they're disengaged she turns back to her sandwich making, layering cheeses and meats in a high pile. "I have not met this Henry," she says, going into the fridge and pulling out some mayo and spicy mustard. "But I have heard he is a good man."

Roxxi Smith has posed:
     Roxxi starts in on her ice cream once more, beaming as Dasha starts building a Dagwood. "I taught her that." She informs Max, though meaning the hug or the sandwich building skills was anyone's guess. Both were more or less true.
     She then thinks back for a moment and adds to Max. "Her bear form is neat. She's big and fluffy, and, and neat!"
     Turning back to the other teen again, she observes about Hank. "Oh Hank's neat too! He's big and fluffy and, well blue!"

Maxwell Wave has posed:
"I definitely recommend meeting him. There's something about him that's hard to describe. You can't understand it until you experience it. He's..." Max struggles for the word in between bites of grilled cheese.

"Noble. That's the best word I can think of. He seems to have the best intentions for everyone around him." Max nods, finding the explanation acceptable for his fandom of the good doctor.

"You two been around here long? I admit I kind of lose touch every now and then. Keep my head down in the lab. Easy to lose track of months when you are having fun with hi-tech toys." He asks as polishes off the last bite of his sandwich.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    The sounds of singing can be heard approaching the kitchen - the tones pure, and clear, though not in a language recognizeable to most. Given the hour, though, the volume is kept fairly low as Laxmi pushes the door open - and pauses in surprise at the sight of so many people at this hour. "Oh, hello," she remarks - the song dying out as she offers them a smile.
    She looks rather dressed up this evening - wearing a lehenga heavily embroidered with sequins and beads. It sparkles and catches the light with every move. Bangles jingle at her wrists, and a heave golden and emerald necklace sits at her throat - with a matching piece of jewelry fixed to her hair line and down the center of her head, with a large piece dangling at her forehead. "How is everyone tonight?" she asks brightly.

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
"Da," Dashenka says with a curt nod. "Big and fluffy." She gets the mayo and mustard spread on her Dagwood and closes the sandwich up, after which she puts all the ingredients away.

"I have been here two months," she says, taking a bite out of the sandwich. She chews mechanically, but there must be some part of her that enjoys it otherwise she wouldn't have made it.

Her nose twitches and she looks up over at the door leading to the hallway expectantly. "Dobryy vecher, Laxmi," she says as the teacher walks in. "I am awake."

Roxxi Smith has posed:
     Roxxi crinkles her nose as Max offers his assessment of Hank. 'Noble' wasn't likely a descriptor she would have used, but mostly because the language isn't her style. "He's also sweet and nice." She adds swiftly. She takes another big spoonful of ice cream, causing her to pause before she answers the lab assistant's question. "And I got here just a little before Dash did!"
     The kitchen is currently a wreck, though at least Roxxi put the ice cream cartons back in the freezer. Still out on the counters remains chopped nuts, maraschino cherries, and a variety of sauces. Roxxi turned to look at Laxmi, jaw dropping. "Ms Mallick, you look Beeaaauuutiful!"

Maxwell Wave has posed:
Max is not dressed up. He offers Laxmi a wave, then adjusts his blue flannel pajama bottoms and scuffs an orange sock on the floor. He squints behind a pair of dark goggles and tries to recall if he'd met Laxmi before, or just saw her picture posted as part of the staff. He errors on the latter, "Evening, I'm Max. Lab assistant. Don't think we ever met."

Nodding to Dashenka and Roxxi, he offers a smile, "Ah two months, eh? Well you've made yourself at home in the most important room." He gestures at their surroundings.

Grabbing the pan by which he grilled his cheese, he walks over to the trashcan, flips it upside, and with a slight modification of the frictional forces of the burnt butter and cheese remnant, perfectly cleans the pan with a single flick. A little dab of soap and a rinse in the sink finish the sanitization before he sets it aside once more.

Last, he starts assisting with Roxxi's left behind ice cream fixings, first grabbing the sauces and giving each a quick wipe down with a warm and wet paper towel. The jar of cherries get a similar treatment. For the crumbs of nuts, he stands at the edge of the counter holding a dust pan. After a bout of staring, the nut bits seem to 'fall' across the counter into the pan before he deftly empties it. "There. Kitchen order restored."

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    Laxmi turns a full circle at Roxxi's compliment, letting her skirt flare out, then poses, with her hands poised to form the precise mudra's used in kathak dance - it's very clearly a highly practiced maneuver, as she smiles at the girl. "Thank you, Roxxi. We had a premier this evening for a charity album I was part of." She claps her hands together as she relaxes her posture, adding, "Are we having an ice cream bar tonight? Lovely. I think that's just the thing."
    Her attention shifts towards Max as she adds, "Namaste, Max. I'm Laxmi Mallick," she says with warmth - before moving towards the freezer to see what sorts of ice cream they have in stock. "Ooo - mango. Perfect," she practically purrs.
    "It's good to see you making so many friends, Dashenka," she adds as she pulls the mango ice cream out.

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Dashenka watches Laxmi twirl with cool blue eyes. Words like 'graceful,' 'elegant,' and 'pretty' never much had any use in her end of the Red Room, but now that the world has opened up to her there's room enough for them when describing her teacher.

"Da," she says, in her typical flat tone as she takes another bite of her sandwich. "It is good." She stands there chewing her sandwich, and struggles over what else she might say. She's getting better at social interactions enough that this is 'small talk' and that she shouldn't be so passive in her conversation. "Did you.... have good time?" she ventures tentatively.

Roxxi Smith has posed:
     Roxxi Oohs and Ahhs as Laxmi turns about and claps her hands in appreciation. "Oh, you did an album?! We'll have to buy it. Is it on I tunes?" She asks curiously. She nodded as Laxmi went to fetch herself some ice cream, at least Roxxi wouldn't be alone as she continued to vanquish the mixer-sized sundae bowl she continued eating.
     As Max started cleaning up her mess, she could only gasp quietly. "Oh thanks Max! That's very kind!" She gushed as if kindness was always a surprise. That he had tricks to make the task a bit easier didn't figure into the equation. She paused to beam her support at Dash, as the taller teen ventured into 'small talk.'

Maxwell Wave has posed:
"Nice to meet you." Max decides to let the two younger students toss the compliments at Laxmi's appearance, but its obvious by his grin that he agrees.

Washing his hands in the sink and then flicking them dry, he nods to Roxxi. "Very welcome. My pleasure. Just... like to be helpful when I can."

Adjusting his googles, he looks over the three new acquaintances and takes a breath, the poor introvert being just a little overwhelmed. "Nice meeting you all. Going to crash into bed, restore some brain cells, and make ready for more weird science tomorrow. See you around."

With that, he offers a wave, applies a little bit of his powers, and skates almost frictionless on his orange socks out of the kitchen, heading to the male dorms.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "Don't be a stranger, Max!" Laxmi calls after Maxwell, before turning her attention back to Dashenka, obvious pleasure on her features as the girl asks how her evening was. "I had a wonderful time, yes. I mean - it was a bit exhausting, but it was good. We were raising money for a good cause - we were supporting a pair of homeless shelter that work to support disadvantaged members of the mutant community."
    She starts adding some of Roxxi's topping to a scoop of ice cream as she talks, before explaining to the girl, "The album is a compilation - so only one of the songs is mine. There were many artists who worked on it. But, yes, you can find it on iTunes if you'd like to buy it that way. It's filled with holiday music - though my song focuses on Diwali."

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
"Do svidonya," Dasha says in parting to Max as he leaves. She turns her attention back to Laxmi as she speaks. She's speaks a little too fast in her excitement for Dasha to get all the words and there are several that she's not entirely familiar with, but she thinks she gets the gist of it. A charity for mutants. "This is good cause, da."

As for holidays, Halloween she's experienced, and now that that's over talk of Thanksgiving and even Christmas has taken over the school. She's still not entirely sure what they are either but at least she's heard of them. "What is Diwali?" she asks.

Roxxi Smith has posed:
     As Max left and Roxxi listened to her dance teacher, the green-haired teen looked down into her large bowl. She'd put a reasonable dent in it, though it seemed Dash might have been correct, that Roxxi's stomach was just too small. She looked up as Laxmi explained about the album and beamed brightly. "I'll have to get it!"
     She then yawns and blinks glassy eyes. She's hit 'full.' Roxxi stands, and starts putting away the leftover topping Laxmi's finished with and wipes down the counter. "I think I'm going to head to bed." She informs the other two women and pauses to hug Dash once more, before shuffling out.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "Perhaps strangely - what Diwali means is different - depending on who you ask. My family is from Northern Indian, so we celebrate King Rama's return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana," Laxmi explains. "Maybe you saw the clay lamps I lit, or the colorful sand art - the rangoli - I decorate the front and back door of the school with? Rangoli are used to decorate doorways, and feast, and pray, and visit temples, and give each other gifts... It also marks the beginning of a new year." She smiles at Dashenka brightly as she explains, nodding to Roxxi as the girl leaves, and then enjoying a little more of her ice cream.

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Dashenka is hugged once again, but this time too quickly for her to return. A lesser person would be smug at their assessment of Roxxi's stomach capacity being proven true, but Dasha is actually a bit sad that her friend couldn't follow through with her claims.

She listens attentively to Laxmi as she explains, trying to take in all the foreign words and names but it just ends up all a jumbled mess in her mind. "I do not know these people," she says. "I saw lamps, da. And sand. I did not know what they were."

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "It's an old story," Laxmi explains. "Rama was a prince, and he was exiled by his step-mother along with his wife, and his brother. Ravana kidnapped his wife - and Rama gathered and army of monkeys and bears. Together, they found Ravana and killed him. Sita (his wife) then walked through fire to prove her purity, and the pair returned to Ayodhya where he was made King, and created a golden age for all of India. I have a few issues with the girl needing to 'prove her purity' but- that's how these old stories are," Laxmi remarks with a wry smile, giving a shrug of her shoulders.
    "Does it make a bit more sense now?" she asks - before taking another bite of her ice cream.

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Dasha listens to that story with that intense gaze of hers. Her brows furrow at the mention of an army of monkeys and bears though, perhaps hitting a bit too close for home.

"It makes more sense but... This army..." she begins. "It was mutants?" Her brows furrow further. "Why does Sita need to prove her purity?"

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "No, not mutants," Laxmi answers, shaking her head. "Actual wild monkeys, and wild bears. It's an old, old story - any truth it may once have had has been exagerated and twisted as it became legend," she explains. "At least - that's the most reasonable explination for the stories. And- well. In Hindu culture, women are not supposed to be alone with men - other than members of their family, or their husband. It's not a burden applied equally to men. But if a woman is alone with a man outside of her family, it's assumed that she may have been... romantic with him? Which would make her 'impure.' It's a problematic belief, but one that many women are still held to today." ...herself included. She pokes at her ice cream, letting out a quiet sigh before taking a bite.

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Her half eaten sandwich forgotten, Dashenka is trying to piece together the logic behind all of this. "I have questions," she begins. So many questions. "Why does being alone with a man mean they are romantic? I am alone with many men and we are not romantic. Why does that make her impure?" Her brows furrow as she visibly struggles against the language, "How is woman pure? Are men pure? Why is..." she stops herself and closes her eyes. She can feel herself getting agitated by this but is confused as to why. "I do not understand," is all she's able to conclude.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "It's a double-standard. Men do not have to be pure - it's true in many cultures. Men are seen as strong. They're protectors. They do the work. They provide for the family - so their purity is not their currency. And in those cultures - women are often only seen in terms of what they can provide for men - such as provide romance and intimacy, and provide and care for children. And so they create this whole notion of 'purity.' Just that a woman //could// have been sullied is often reason enough for her to face repurcussions. She becomes undesireable - if children are born, how will the man know it's his children?"
    Laxmi smiles a bit sadly. "I'm not saying that it's right, but it's how woman are viewed in many parts of the world - including India where my family is from. I'm... I've never been alone with any men who weren't in my family. There always must be other women present, or one of my male family members. Perhaps making matters worse - it's implied that if Sita had not remained pure in the story... Walking into the fire would have killed her." She shakes her head, and shrugs helplessly. It's not a comfortable conversation - and not one she really anticipated having tonight.

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Dashenka scowls, trying to take this all in. Of /course/ women can be strong. Just look at herself. She's by far stronger than most boys in this school. The whole hypocrisy of it all, to tie a woman's worth around the children they can produce. It's just too much for the poor girl. "I do not think I will understand." Perhaps it is for the best.

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "That's alright," Laxmi replies, smiling at the girl. "Beliefs like that... aren't exactly welcomed in mainstream American culture anymore. In America - we're striving towards equality. We aren't there yet, but it's better than it's ever been in the past. I'm just- well. I'm trapped a bit between two worlds. By my family's standards and beliefs... I'm not even supposed to touch men. Not even just to shake their hand, or touch their shoulder. It's-" It's unfair. It's maddening. "It's confusing even to me, sometimes."

Dashenka Ivanov has posed:
Dasha grunts, and turns back to her sandwich. "I will touch who I want," she declares, taking a chunk out of the Dagwood. "I do not think I would do good in your world."

This has given the poor Russian girl a lot to think about. She was aware that there are other cultures out there than the American one she'd been thrust into and whatever it was in the Red Room, but this is the first time she's come across something concrete. The whole thing just seems so /alien/ to her that she wonders why any woman would let themselves be subjugated like this.

"Perhaps..." she begins, "I am better off with no family, if they make you do these things."

Laxmi Mallick has posed:
    "Well. Generally you should touch who you want - with consent. If someone doesn't want to be touched... Generally best to honor that."
    And Dashenka's conclusion though - surprise registers on Laxmi's features, followed by dismay. "I love my family - deeply and dearly - and I know they do what they do because they believe it to be right, and to be what's best for me. I- I think they're wrong. I suppose it's on me to convince them. Families are wonderful though, Dashenka, and I hope you find yours. It need not be a blood family - many people build their families out of the people around them. They find sisters and brothers... Sometimes you'll be lucky enough to find someone who feels like an aunt or uncle - or even a parent, or grandparent to you. I hope that you do."