9253/Reasoning for the Seasoning

Reasoning for the Seasoning
Date of Scene:	23 December 2021
Location:	Hell's Kitchen
Synopsis:	Phoebe is still making infrequent vigils over the Laughing Magician. Jubilee stops by and gets the world's most obnoxious boots and LOVES them.
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Jubilation Lee

---

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Late into the cold night of the 22nd of December, Phoebe Beacon was back at her lonely vigil. There was a circle she was working on, etched on an air conditioner unit on the rooftop across from the Laughing Magician, which now bares DO NOT ENTER tape and a big-ass hole through the roof. The Curio is temporarily 'closed', with others encouraged to find shelter elsewhere. The Candle, Booke and Belle had opened its doors as temporary lodgings for all who were at the Curio who had places no where else to go.

    Phoebe was across the street, leaning back on a couple of bags as she mumbled something. Her left nostril is sporting a new piercing in a little silvery stud. She's wearing a thick, dark-gray coat with a hood, and her hands are gloved against the coolness of the newly minted winter night.

Jubilation Lee has posed:
    Who says being undead is all bad? When the temperatures are falling and you're a vampire who doesn't care about sticking out in a crowd -- perhaps even enjoy it -- it's an endless summer as far as clothing is concerned. Jubilation Lee strut-walks down the sidewalk, bopping along to some uptempo song coming through her earbuds, dressed like it's the middle of July. A loose-fitting t-shirt that has been cropped to expose her shoulder, black spandex shorts, and a pair of white Keds make up the outfit for tonight.

    Either she's ignorant of the situation with the Curio and Laughing Magician, uncaring, or simply on a mission to make this evening a good one despite it all. It's late enough that she can walk through the neighborhood apologetically sipping from a straw poked into a warm bag of blood, just like it's a Capri Sun.

    "You can brush my hair, undress me everywheeeeeere!" Jubilation sings loudly, eyes closed, as she struts along. "Imagination! Life is your creation!" She stops moving, bends her knees, and lowers her voice for the next bit.

    "Come on Barbie, let's go party!"

    Fuck. Jubilee stands up straight and opens her eyes. She has gotten used to her new senses, at least improved with them some, but there are times when she's getting information that she just can't pinpoint. So, that heartbeat up above -- a heartbeat coming from a place it normally wouldn't -- snaps her out of her secret guilty pleasure of Aqua's hit single. Someone might have heard all that, she is sure of it, but isn't quite yet able to determine how she knows that. Jubilation looks around to try and pinpoint the source of this feeling that is tickling her vampire instincts.

    A hazy gray fog accumulates in the air up on that rooftop, lingers for a moment, before it starts to thicken and take form. Jubilation can't turn into a bat -- as far as she knows -- but she can do that Dracula fog thing pretty well. "Oh, it's you, Pheeb-a-lee," Jubilation announces, now standing up on that rooftop, too. "If you heard any of that, let me know so I can glamour it away." She's joking. Right? With one hand, she clutches her blood bag and uses her other one to pause her music. She looks down to pocket her phone and takes notice of her mistake. "Tian sha de!" she exclaims, slipping into Mandarin for that. After forming from the fog, her shirt is backwards. Baby steps.

    "Whatcha up to way up here?" Jubilee asks before putting her blood straw back into her mouth. Sluuuuurp.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe hears singing. She glances over the side of the building and watches as Jubilee makes her way down the street, strutting along to the sweet, sweet sounds of 1990's Aqua.

    Phoebe's nose wrinkles a little bit, and she tries not to laugh. She really does. And then she shakes her head a moment, drawing back as Jubilee quiets.

    And then Jubilation Lee appears before her, stepping out of the fog. Phoebe remains where she's at, coccooned in her warm jacket as she raises a gloved hand in greeting to the other Supernatural Young Woman.

    "Jubalicious." she replies, and she cracks a small smile. "No. I definitely didn't hear anything. Too busy working on spell stuff." she explains, and she motions over to her chalk-scrawled magical circle.

    "Keeping watch over the Laughing Magician in case Constantine shows up and wants to know why there's a hole in his bar. Or, y'know. Angels start coming down from on high so I can sound the alert."

Jubilation Lee has posed:
    If there was any question about whether Jubilation is ignorant or ambivalent to the situation, it's answered with her reaction to Phoebe's explanation. She stares at the other girl and squints one eye, as though doing so might grant her some kind of enhanced ability to understand the coded message. It has to be some new kind of slang the humans are saying now, right? Being dead, even for a day or two, must have really put Jubilation out of touch, right?

    Perhaps to buy herself some time to think it over, Jubilee continues to suck from the bag of blood clutched in her hand. Sluuuurp. Sluuuuurrrp. Slurrrrrp. She doesn't even bother to take the straw away from her lips. The bag, now empty, starts to shrink until it resembles a curled up ball of clear plastic. Unfortunately, the drink is done and Jubilation still doesn't have a clue.

    "Is that, like, drug code? Are you buying drugs, Pheeb? What would Nancy Reagan say!" She stares, her expression taking on little bit of suspicion as she watches the other girl carefully.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe blinks at Jubilee. She opens her mouth, then closes it, and then looks a moment in just a little bit of horror and goes "... Jubilee, you know that drugs don't work on me."

    Nevermind that she attempted a cigarette and sneezed sparkles for two hours.

    "No, legit, look. Under that tarp," Phoebe points out the tarp over the laughing magician "There's a hole. The Angel Michael took possession of Chas, so Cabbie Dad's up guarding the Silver City while Michael's amassing an army of angels to bring about the End of the World."

    Phoebe then sits forward, and begins rummaging in her rucksack "But I'm glad you came by. I found something you might like."

Jubilation Lee has posed:
    "You just have to be /creative/..." Jubilee answers with a fangy grin as she approaches. She holds the empty blood bag out in front of her and brings her other hand nearby. A cloud of pinpoint-sized explosions starts to erupt, engulfing the plastic bag in crackles, pops, and snaps of every color imaginable. When the cloud clears, the bag is gone and the smell of burnt plastic briefly fills the air.

    "...So, like, if I drink, like, drink-drink, that's not going to work /at all/..." she continues, putting both hands on her hips. "But, if someone /else/ gets drunk... And then...um, gets drunk. By me. /That's/ a fun time! For us both." Her smile lingers, only briefly, before it fades as Phoebe's words stick. Army of Angels. Cabbie Dad. End of the World.

    "...Tian a!" Jubilee mutters, slipping into Chinese again. She closes the distance between them and reaches out with one of her hands before pulling it back entirely. "Are you alright?" There's genuine concern on her face, in her tone. It's not some vampire gimmick or false humanity. The promise of a present in that rucksack goes off to the side for now.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... oh, I'll be fine. Most of my focus has been on training, building up spell circles and wards and researching ways to dismantle beings ma de of the Light of Creation. Apparently it's really, really hard." Phoebe comments with the same emphasis she might have when talking about the weather. "... and the reason why alcohol and drugs don't work on me is because my body decides it's poison and fixes it. Then I just have to go to the bathroom more." Phoebe explains, and she looks up at the hand that was extended.

    She looks pained a moment.

    "If you want to touch me, you can. I won't hurt you, everything's kind of tamped down at the moment." she explains, and then she pulls a long box out. It's wrapped in rainbow unicorn wrapping paper and has a bright-ass pink bow on it.

Jubilation Lee has posed:
    "Yeah, but, like---" She stops. If Phoebe says she's good, she's good. Jubilee doesn't need to itemize reasons for her to be despondent about this. Jubilation frowns a little and reaches up to touch her chin in a thoughtful gesture. She begins to pace back and forth on the rooftop.

    "So, what's being done about this? I mean, I'm guessing we're gonna stop this, right? I /like/ existing. It's basically what I /do/..."

    Jubilation stops when the wrapped box, complete with the bow, is properly pulled out. Jubes stares at it and takes a couple of slow steps over, hesitant about it for some reason. "...You didn't have to get me anything, Phoebe. I..." Her voice trails a little. She's about to say, perhaps, 'I didn't bring anything for you,' though, why would she be carrying around a present on her leisurely stroll through the neighborhood? Instead, Jubes says something else.

    "...I didn't know if, like, I was allowed to do Christmas anymore." Due to her status as, apparently, cursed by God.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "We're going to War. January Sixth, be there, be square, all that." Phoebe comments quietly, crossing herlegs and then pulling a blanket over her lap. Brrr. "Michael is coming for payback against Sims for torturing and binding him. I don't know what the plan is otherwise yet, I'm following Satanna's lead." she explains.

    "... it's not about the giving, Jubes. I'm still here. In spite of everything... I'm here." Phoebe replies gently. "And besides -- I saw those and immediately thought of you. It's worth it to see someone smiling, you know?" she gives a slight grin.

    "I... don't do the religious part. I haven't for a long time. Grew up Catholic, you know. Went to midnight masses, sang glories, but when no one answered when I prayed? I just... stopped caring. But seeing trees all lit up, watching kids eating candycanes and people dressed up as Santa... that captures a little bit of what my dad -- my first dad -- loved about Christmas. The giving. The Hope. Light in the darkness. And if someone says you're not allowed to do Christmas?" Phoebe hands over the box, holding it up to the vampire.

    "Kick 'em in the shins."

Jubilation Lee has posed:
    "A War..." Jubilation's mind lingers on that thought. An invasion army is being assembled. Earth's last stand, maybe. Does she dare ask the question that haunts her thoughts? The mysterious Jubilation Lee, hidden away in some fancy pants private school despite being an orphan. How /does/ she kick so much ass? Where did she learn all that and why? With some hesitation, Jubes opens her mouth again, but finds that the words come slowly.

    "...Do...do we need more help?" Jubilation asks, her tone taking on notes of fear. It sounds like she has an army she can muster, so to speak, but is being reticent about it, as though talking about it is forbidden. It is.

    "Yeah, you're probably right. Though, kick 'em in the shins... Snap their neck... Potato, potahto!" Jubilee grins, though she could very well be serious. Since her return as a vampire, her morals have become oddly impaired to say the least.

    "Well, let's unwrap this puppy, then!" Jubilee announces, finding her cheer again. She's not one to linger in a dark place for long. "...It's not a puppy, is it?" Jubilation brings the box up to her ear and shakes it violently. Unsatisfied by that, she tears into the wrapping paper, her excitement for what might be inside growing steadily.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I think we've called on everyone we can. If anyone wants to lend a hand -- absolutely. Put them in contact with me, or Jon. Anyone who wants to fight, we can let them fight. I've... called upon a few folks outside the League." she gives a wry grin, and looks to Jubilee.

    Phoebe doesn't need to tell Jubilee that *several* students at Xavier's SUCK at keeping secrets and she knew it was a school for teaching mutants and had highly dangerous teachers.

    The girl laughs "No, no, I don't give *pets* as gifts! That's cruel to do to someone!"

    The rainbow sparkling unicorn paper is unwrapped, the bow cast off -- and Phoebe catches it, lifts it, and very gently puts it on Jubilee's head, if she'll let her.

    Inside the paper is -- A BOX! But not just ANY box. It's a box with GUCCI written on it.

    And inside the box?

    A pair of bright, sparkly, sky-blue boots, with bright yellow laces and a chunky sort of heel, good, sturdy boots for kicking all manner of things.

    "... I hope you like them."

Jubilation Lee has posed:
    "Okay... Yeah, I, uh, know some people," Jubilee admits and leaves it at that. "I'll see." For now, she looks back down at the mystery unfolding in her hands. The paper goes flying, bows caught and placed on her hair, and then... GUCCI. She stares at that word, eyes widening. It's one of those clothing brands that she always saw as a child, even on her mother, but it always seemed just out of reach, especially after being forced on her own. But, childhood idolatry aside, is GUCCI really something she'd wear /now/? Did they make something that might match her sensibilities, as off-center as they might be?

    Yes.

    Jubilee's eyes light up as the top of the box comes off to reveal just about the gaudiest, brightest, most sparkly lace-up boots one might ever find. They're a lot higher than her usual sneakers or flats, but it's the kind of thing she sees more and more these days, especially as she gets older and the Xavier's curtain gets peeled back just a little bit further.

    "Woooooooahh! Look at /these/!" Jubilee picks one up from the box and holds it out for a proper inspection. "People are going to /hate/ these!" She says it like it's a cause for celebration, her grin fangy and bright. With the boot still danging between her fingers, Jubilee swings her arm around the other girl for a proper hug, taking it on faith that she won't be harmed by the gesture. "Thank you!"

    After releasing Phoebe from her grip, Jubilee sits down and peels off her Keds. Once they go on her feet, there's no returning them, after all. "This is too much, Phoebe. Too much!" It's not stopping her, though, from pulling out the paper inserts that maintain their form while in the box.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    They are genuine Gucci. They are 1000% bougie. They are a million percent gaudy.

    Phoebe also paid forty bucks for them while she was bargain-store hunting. Someone threw those babies out and they were picked up dumpster diving. She gives a bright grin as Jubilee apparently takes to the boots like they were made to be part of her!

    "Yeah, I kinda gauged on the Doc Martens what your size was and --!!!" she's grasped, and she loops her arma round Jubilee as well, giving a smile. She doesn't hurt the other girl. Maybe a slight tingle if their skin touches, but Phoebe's got gloves and a thick jacket on.

    "Ha! Cool, cook, I was a little nervous." she smiles, rubbing the back of her head as her hood falls down.

    "So, you like 'em?"

Jubilation Lee has posed:
    "They're bright, sparkly, and impractical. What's not to like?" She looks up at Phoebe and grins widely, just for a moment, before looking back down to perform the task at hand: endless lacing. Her fingers move quickly, as though even a simple display of dexterity is made more impressive by the evil curse flowing in her veins.

    "Do you think anyone's going to want to get a roundhouse kick to the face when I'm wearing these bad boys!?" Jubilee looks up and grins again, her smile stretched out as wide as it can be. Napoleon Dynamite. More laces get deftly threaded into holes, pulled tight, and so on, as Jubilation moves up the length of the boots. It's tricky work.

    "Ohhhh, people are gonna hate theeeeese!" She says it again, dragging it out with a notable vocal fry. Jubilation stuffs both of her feet into the boots, tugging on the tongue, shifting them just-so until she's able to get them all the way in. Laces start to get pulled tight, tied off, and then... It is done.

    Jubilee stands up and poses with both hands on her hips. "Check me out!" she announces before taking her first couple steps. They're awkward, cloddish, as though she's never walked before. She's trying to look normal, walk normally, but it's all coming off like Frankenstein's monster padding around the lab. With a sigh of frustration -- she's been keeping that little pocket of oxygen saved up for a while, just in case she needed it -- Jubilation relaxes and just starts glide-walking in that weird floaty vampire way that oozes supernatural grace and poise. She wanted to strut her stuff but ruined it by trying.

    "People are going to /hate/ them!" Jubes repeats a third time, smiling oh-so-wide.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe just raises her fingers to her mouth, partially covering her smile as she looks at Jubilee, and gives just the brightest smile. It touches her eyes, and she gives a grin before she hops up to her feet, watching Jubilee strut around in the boots.

    "Haters gonna hate." she replies with a shrug. "... but as long as *you* like them, that's important."

Jubilation Lee has posed:
    Jubilation grins from over her shoulder and shrugs. "Yep!" She looks down at her feet and takes a few more deliberate, and thus awkward, steps. The Keds are picked up and held in a firm grip, as though Jubilee's fingers are wrapped as tight as her smile. "Okay, so, like, you're gonna be getting the /coolest/ present. I mean, something out of this world!" Before Phoebe has a chance to politely protest, as one might in this situation, Jubilee is already heading towards the edge of the building.

    "What do you get the living...?" she can be heard muttering as she walks, as though the memory of being alive herself is a fleeting one.

    "You're gonna love it!" Jubilation announces just before she starts to evaporate into a thick cloud of pinks and blues, which slowly descends down the building and out of sight. Down in the darkness below, there's a loud clatter of metal garbage can lids and other assorted junk, followed by another expression of frustration yelled in Chinese. She'll get the hang of it sooner or later.