An Apartment Building in Two Bridges, New York, Wednesday Evening

[suitably_heroic]

Three years ago, when Jack had first moved in here, this had been a weird, confusing thing to be dragged into - this communal gathering in a living room on the fourth floor, open to anyone who didn't have a place to land on Christmas. But by now, it was tradition.

By now, he and Dane showed up early, before dinner and before the party, to help set everything up. Trent would arrive later. Lana, hopefully, would be here soon too.

But for the moment, there was a nice, friendly quiet. Helping Dane with the sound system. Helping mrs. Zhang pull out the table and set out the plates. Watching mrs. Zhang's kid fumble with the Christmas decorations.

It was nice. And they hadn't even started yet.

As more people poured in and they sat down for dinner, Jack pulled out his phone and texted Lana the apartment number. Yeah. Yeah, this was nice.

[[ expecting one, but open for texts and calls as always ]]

Comments

[suitably_heroic]

Trent snorted. "Vienna, huh?" he said. "What took you there?"

Was that an accusation? Who knew?

[unusual_sith]

"Class," Lana explained. "I try to take my students all around the world to learn about the place. It's important to learn about the place you live in, don't you think?"

[suitably_heroic]

"So you're trying to scope out the planet for your imminent invasion?" Trent asked.

[unusual_sith]

"Oh, absolutely," Lana said, deadpan. "Our ships and troops are ready, but first we have to find the best place to get sushi and pancakes."

[suitably_heroic]

Trent tapped the side of his nose. "Prioritize securing the food supply," he said.

He sounded very serious.

[unusual_sith]

"Precisely," Lana agreed. "Moral is important. We can't have subpar sandwiches. Not to mention, if we set down in New York and ask to be taken to the best corned beef, the resulting arguments will do half our work for us."

She'd tried looking things up. Apparently New Yorkers had Opinions about this.

[suitably_heroic]

"I would save that one for Jack and Dane," Trent deadpanned. "But hm. Good to know." He tapped his nose again. "I'll be prepared."

"Prepared for what?" Dane asked, collapsing down on the sofa next to them.

"Aliens," Trent said firmly.

[unusual_sith]

"Our inevitable invasion," Lana clarified. "Once we learn where all the best food is."

[suitably_heroic]

"Ah," Dane said, nodding. He stretched his legs out. "I mean, I've got Jack to vouch for me. Happy to be a concubine in the new world order."

Trent eyed him. "You really need firearms training."

[unusual_sith]

Lana laughed. "Duly noted." She nudged Trent. "Don't encourage the resistance. Have another pastry."

[suitably_heroic]

Dane let out a low chuckle as the bassist busied himself - grumpily - with the pastries. "So how was Vienna?"

[unusual_sith]

"Crowded but cheerful," Lana answered after a moment's thought. "I made it to a few of the markets, and there were some interesting crafts, musicians here and there, Christmas lights. And so much food! I could have brought back a truckload if I'd had a truck."

[suitably_heroic]

"What, you don't have magical alien powers that'll drop like ten tons of sausage on us from above?" Dane asked. "Now I'm disappointed. I expected so much more!"

[unusual_sith]

Lana laughed. And thought about it. "I could pick up that much meat, call for a portal above the apartment, and throw it through. If you're dead set on ten tons of sausage."

[suitably_heroic]

Dane... pretended to think about it.

"That's too much sausage," he concluded. "Even for me."

[unusual_sith]

"That's fair," Lana declared. "Have a pastry instead." She switched the box from Trent's side to Dane's. There might even be a sausage pastry in there!

[suitably_heroic]

Which Dane did not take, he had to be clear. He grabbed something else. "You've been running that class for a while, right?"

[unusual_sith]

"Yes, several semesters. Next I'm taking them to museums and tourist traps and such. The things we've been avoiding previously. I don't think I'll ever run out of places on Earth to go; it's so varied!"

[suitably_heroic]

"And you've only been to New York once," Dane pointed out. "We could be a whole semester!"

[unusual_sith]

"Very likely," Lana agreed. She grinned. "Are you offering to play tour guide? Or at least to give me a list of places not to miss?"

[suitably_heroic]

"Dane, don't enable her," Jack groused, flipping over the back of the couch (showoff) to sit down by them. "She needs to relax."

[unusual_sith]

"I am relaxing!" Lana protested. "If any of you want to give suggestions about my class, it's not me doing the work."

[suitably_heroic]

"You made fun into work," Jack accused. "You have a problem!"

[unusual_sith]

Lana scoffed. "No, I've made work into fun," she insisted. "I'm being a tourist all over Earth! The only work I have to do is the paperwork to start and keeping the children out of trouble. And they've been very good so far."

[suitably_heroic]

"Those sound like excuses," Jack told her. And then he looked at Dane, and repeated. "Excuses, right?"

Dane looked back at him and blinked. "That sounds like maybe we shouldn't try to manage her life...?"