Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zip. Blaze owns me.
A/N: Apologies for the delay in posting, but I have had a berevement recently in my close family, and it has knocked me for six a little. Thank you to all the kind reviewers who flooded my inbox with kind messages during my brief break- you are all too kind. Lamby
Scene 08"Simply splendid," oozed Beast enthusiastically. "I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. The three of you have quite the eye for decoration." As Rogue, Kitty and Kurt blushed and shuffled their feet at their mentor's unabashed approval, Hank took himself on a tour of their efforts. The marquee was resplendent with gothic horror, like a portal to another dimension. The inside of the black and purple tent was hung with red and white twinkling fairy lights. Black, red, silver and purple paper chains were draped in swags from the ceiling, dripping in spray-on cobwebs. The buffet table lay in wait for the ordered refreshments Storm was organising. The table was covered over with lashings of black and silver pleated fabric, and again sprayed with cobwebs.
Even the DJ stand had been given the gothic treatment. Rogue's deft wiring of the equipment had been disguised behind false stone pillars and capped off with a gargoyle created out of a plastic mask and an old grey jumper stuffed with newspaper. Above the dance floor hung a glitter ball that filled the space with even more darting and sparkling lights. Best of all, there was not a cheesy vampire cardboard cut out or a ghostly sheet in sight. Marvellous. Hank doubted they could have created a much more atmospheric chamber short of transporting everyone to Transylvania for the evening.
"It's starting to get dark," Kurt commented, poking his head through a flap in the tent.
"We gotta go get ready!" exclaimed Rogue.
"You're not the only ones," Hank mumbled cryptically.
"Whoa, Mr McCoy, you're getting dressed up too?" Kitty asked.
"Perhaps," Hank smiled. "You'll have to wait and see, though I am promising nothing."
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"Charles?" Hank poked his head around the door first and knocked second. Professor Xavier was sat in his wheelchair by the window, staring out at the sunset. He was so still that for a beat Hank's heart stopped in his chest. Not this Xavier too! He needn't have worried, as slowly Charles turned to greet his friend with a raised eyebrow. Despite his melancholy mood Charles could not help but smile a Beast's less than orthodox appearance.
"It's good to see you smile again Charles," Hank said sincerely. "I was wondering if we could perhaps expect your company at the party tonight? I know it would mean a great deal to everyone to have you there."
"Thank you Hank. I very much understand that there is a general concern for my well-being around the mansion. Your collective kind thoughts and feelings have been like a balm to my wounds since I have come home. I think, no, I expect I will indeed make an appearance at your party tonight. There is just one small thing."
"What's that Professor?"
"I don't have to dress up as well do I?"
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Up in her room, Rogue stood in front of her mirror, twisting from side to side to examine her costume. She just wasn't sure about it, though it had seemed like a good enough idea when Kitty had suggested it. After all, she wasn't exactly an angel. Dressing like one just seemed so fake. From nowhere, Scott's words of so long ago sprung to her mind, and even though he was only quoting from a play, it lifted Rogue's heart to think of it, "Truly, you are an angel Kate…"
Well, she'd never gotten anywhere with Scott. Jean with her perfect everything had seen to that. Then Gambit had kidnapped her and swept her off her feet down in New Orleans, doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons. That was before a kid named Stifle had quashed Rogue's powers, allowing her an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kiss the Cajun. An opportunity she had grabbed with both hands.
It had been more of a curse than a gift though, because Rogue had just touched Blaze. That passionate kiss had not been Rogue's to give. She and Gambit had dated for a while, but the lies were too thick to live with. Whilst technically with Gambit, Rogue had met a boy called Jonny who would have been her soulmate, had he not really been Mystique. Man, that woman was screwed up. So Rogue had messed it up with Gambit thanks to a little help from her adoptive parent. Remy had worked out that more than just powers were transferred when Rogue touched someone, but Ilehana's untimely demise had put paid to any plans he was hatching to start something with Blaze. The two remained close friends and Rogue remained alone.
Except that now there was Angel, and no Jean or Mystique around to mess things up. It's up to you Rogue, she told herself in front of the mirror. You want him, you go and get him… She smiled, thinking this outfit ain't half bad. Chunky white boots worn with thick white thigh-high socks, and the most amazing little cream coloured suede skirt. The top she wore was double-layered. The underneath was skin-tight cream material, whilst the outer was white lace. The sleeves that came down over her white gloves ended in Medieval-style draping cuffs. Rogue had accessorised her costume with a dark grey belt, choker and smoky eye make-up. On her back she pinned a dainty pair of feathered angel wings, whilst a headband sported her own floating golden halo on a springy bit of wire. Rogue finished the look by applying a mauve lipstick that Jean had forgotten when packing for college. A quick squirt of Kitty's favourite perfume and Rogue was ready to hit the party.
As she reached the foyer, Rogue realised that for all her faffing she was still amongst the first to be ready. Kitty greeted her with a cheery wave and a collaborative wink. Shadowcat was wearing one of Storm's white silk nightgowns and a white shawl that floated around her like air. With her hair down and eyes shaded pink, her naturally pale skin did make her look very ghostlike. At that moment Kurt bamfed it, spectacularly whirling his Dracula cape around him in the smoke he created. Underneath he wore a sharp black suit, with no image inducer in sight. Kitty and Rogue were impressed, "Wow Kurt, ya really made an effort."
"Danke," Kurt thanked them with a lisp, "All I need to do now is work out how to speak around these stupid teeth." He grinned, revealing an excessively large set of plastic fangs. Instantly sensing freedom, the teeth leapt out and rolled across the floor. Kurt groaned, cool vampire façade gone, and set off crawling after them.
"Are we ready to get the celebrations underway?" Hank asked as he made his entrance. Rogue looked up at the big blue mutant and blinked incomprehensively, before asking, "Um, you look nice Hank. What are ya supposed to be exactly?" Beast blinked behind his thick glasses and readjusted his curly grey wig. He was also wearing an old white lab coat, which he brushed down with his blue hands as he explained, "I'm Doctor Hankenstein, isn't it obvious?"
"I though Frankenstein was green and had a bolt through his neck?" Kitty asked, obviously confused.
"That's Frankenstein's Monster, Kitty. Doctor Frankenstein created him out of body parts harvested from dead criminals. Of course I wouldn't be much of a Doctor Hankenstein if I didn't have a Monster." Hank waved a giant blue hand behind him, where a colossal figure dressed in ragged brown clothes appeared. His hands and face were painted green, and he had a plastic bolt through his massive Russian neck. He looked nothing like a monster though as he grinned at Kitty, Kurt and Rogue. Kitty especially was ecstatic to see her old friend. She ran to hug the big man, exclaiming, "Colossus, you came!"
"I did not vant to miss this," Colossus replied, patting Kitty's shoulder gently.
"Where's Blaze?" asked Beast as the group started outside towards the marquee. "I wanted her to light the pumpkins for us."
"Speak of the Devil," answered Rogue as a familiar convertible appeared, brakes screeching as the driver turned it into a dramatic slide to 'park' it. In the car Blaze turned off the engine before standing in her seat and rubbing her hands together gleefully. Speaking to Tabby in the passenger seat, Blaze locked her gaze on the double row of pumpkins across the lawn from the mansion to the marquee. "Watch this," Blaze instructed darkly. "Loaded gun complex, cock it," she cupped her hands together as if she was holding a gun, index fingers making the barrel. "And pull it!" she mimed pulling the trigger with a flourish, taking the rebound, as all the pumpkins lit up brightly at once.
"Wicked!" exclaimed Tabby, joining the redhead in energetically leaping over the car doors in their costumes. Kurt and Colossus were both guilty of goggling, whilst Rogue and Kitty looked disapproving at the amount of skin on show. Raiding Wanda's wardrobe had fitted both girls out in black and crimson exotic glamour. Blaze's eye for style and Tabby's sense of fun had added a twist to Wanda's selection of low-cut corset-style tops and tight fitting trousers. Both girls glimmered with ruby earrings and Blaze sported a ruby belly button stud. An overdose of eye make-up created a brooding look, and finishing the outfits were Tabby's purchases of headbands sporting ruby-encrusted devil horns.