A Merry New York Christmas: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

[Jack Sparrow]

Sea Grill website

Jack composed himself as he and James got to the hostess' station at the Sea Grill. A quick glance at the menu made Jack turn pale for a moment, but Christmas does only come once a year...

"James, shall we find a table, or do you wish to sit at the bar?" Jack asked as he turned to find the hostess. There was a rapping at the window behind them as several of the students went out onto the ice skating rink. "They enjoy scaring me. At least they do not have a monkey with them. I so hate those vile creatures!"

[Captain James Hook]

                Captain Hook smiled after he was in the restaurant. *I'll get to eat something not prepared by Cookson. Smee won't bother me as usual. Peter Pan isn't crowing near my ear or stealing my mother's portrait. I'm going to have a wonderful time. As long as that Saint Nick fellow doesn't find us.*

                    Captain Hook faced Jack. ''A table sounds good to me.'' His eyes became wide after he heard a rapping at the window. Captain Hook scowled. 

                ''Peter Pan is tormenting me again! He followed me from Neverland after all. At least he isn't crowing this time.'' One eye widened. ''Monkey? Barbossa's monkey?'' 

                   Captain Hook couldn't remember coming across any monkey during his pirate days. ''I came across my fair share of animals.'' He smiled at Jack. ''Just be glad the monkey doesn't have a clock ticking inside it or wishes to devour you.'' 

                    Captain Hook glanced at all tables and chairs. ''Hopefully this place doesn't serve codfish.'' He scowled for a few moments. ''Peter Pan always thought I was a codfish.'' Captain Hook began to roll his eyes. ''Yet the boy always wondered why I loathed him.'' 

                    Another smile formed on Captain Hook's face after a hostess appeared. He bowed. ''Captain James Hook and Jack Sparrow at your service.'' After the bow, he still smiled at her. 

                  ''I'm certain the food here will be wonderful.'' 

[Captain Jasper Hook]

               ''Little brother? Jamie Hook?'' After searching for Captain Hook, Jasper found him. He smiled. ''A Hook family reunion.'' Jasper approached his brother. He nodded at Jack. 

[Captain James Hook]

                       Captain Hook's eyes widened the minute he saw Jasper. A scowl replaced his shocked expression. He revealed a sword. He pointed the blade at his older brother. 

                ''YOU CAD!'' Captain Hook still scowled. ''Are you here to torment me again?'' 

                  Tears formed in Captain Hook's eyes as he remembered Jasper using illusions of Cecilia and his mother to torment him earlier. He still remembered his mother's skeletal features. ''I won't let you harm anyone else.'' Captain Hook began to glance at Jack. He looked ahead. ''I'll protect you, Jack.''

                The scowl remained. 

[Loki]

"Can no one have any peace during this joyful season?" a man in a long green and gray tweed overcoat said as he came upon the three pirates and the very upset hostess. "I will handle this, my dear," Loki said as he motioned for the hostess to attend to the next customers coming in the door.

"Loki!" Jack said as he stepped closer to the Asgardian before the sword brandished by James Hook suddenly vanished. "Why did you do that?"

"I will return it in due time, but you three are scaring the tourists. If we are not to draw attention to ourselves, we need to comport ourselves in a better fashion," the Trickster said as he motioned for the trio to join him at his table. "I hate to eat alone. And before you ask, no, this is not some trick or prank. My brother suggested, now that magic is not some hidden commodity in Midgard, that I move a bit more among your populace. Please, gentlemen, join me for some Yuletide cheer."

"Give James back his sword, and we will consider it," Jack said as the sword reappeared in James' hand.

"Now, will you help me enjoy this feast?" Loki asked as he showed the men to his table.

[Captain James Hook]

                  Captain Hook glanced from his brother to the new arrival. His eyes widened for a moment. He heard Jack as the latter revealed the man. ''Loki?'' He frowned. ''I never heard of you,'' he said.

              Captain Hook gasped the minute his sword vanished. He stepped back. ''My sword!'' Captain Hook began to scowl at Loki. 

             ''I never appreciate others taking my belongings or causing them to vanish. Peter Pan has a nasty habit of taking what doesn't belong to him. It's one reason why I loathe him.'' Captain Hook glanced at his hook. The other reason why he still wished to end Peter Pan's life. He heard Loki's reason.

             Captain Hook's eyes widened again after the sword reappeared. He nodded at Loki. ''Many thanks.'' He placed the sword where it belonged. Captain Hook turned to his brother. He still decided to keep his eye on him in case he caused trouble.

[Loki]

"I really do not wish to cause a fuss," the Asgardian said as he motioned for his party to take their seats. "But I also do not want some crazed group of protesters coming after any of us. Jack, I know you are all too familiar with the Purifiers and their rabid lot."

"Do not remind me of them," Jack said as he growled under his breath. "James, Jasper, remembers those flying zombies from the wedding? Those were members of the Purifiers, a demonic lot of priests who hate mutants, mystics and other downworld denizens, and, frankly, anyone who will not toe their party line. They like to burn people at the stake. They are truly an evil lot."

"Perhaps we should turn this conversation to cheerier topics?" Loki said as he saw the waiter walking by. "Your wine and liquor lists, please. I know you do not serve Asgardian ale. Gentlemen, choose whatever you like. The royal court of Asgard is paying for this feast. So, I see the ever-jubilant Ms. Lee got you all here for what? Skating?"

 

[Captain Jasper Hook]

                     Jasper's eyes widened after Loki caused his younger brother's sword to disappear and reappear. He turned to Jack. He frowned and nodded. ''I remember the flying zombies,'' he said. Jasper proceeded to sit at the table. ''I'll have rum.''

                     Jasper faced Loki. He nodded. ''Aye. The lass took us ice skating.''

[Captain James Hook]

                      Captain Hook walked to a table. He glanced at a woman preparing to sit at another table. He turned to Jack, Loki, and Jasper. ''Pardon me, gentlemen.'' Captain Hook frowned at his older brother. ''Pardon me, two gentleman and a cad.''

                    Captain Hook approached the woman at a snail's pace. He still never wore his usual hat. He bowed near her. ''Captain James Hook at your service.'' He made sure to keep his hook out of view. He saw her smile.

                     Captain Hook pulled the chair out. *My brother will most likely pull the chair back as the lady sits!* he thought. Captain Hook viewed her sitting before he pushed the chair in. He bowed again. ''Enjoy your food, my lady,'' he said in a sincere tone. He returned to his companions and the table.

                      ''My apologies. I always approach a damsel in distress.'' Captain Hook frowned. ''Unless she's Wendy Darling or Tinker Bell. They are companions of my enemy. Peter Pan!''

                        Captain Hook sat at the table. ''I guess I'll have wine,'' he said. He tried to decide what to eat. Anything but codfish.

                        After opening the menu, Captain Hook concentrated on various choices. *Fish? What kind of fish?* he thought. 

[Jack Sparrow]

"Yes, Jubilee wanted everyone to have a bonding experience with a bit of holiday flair, so all X-Men and their associates came here," Jack said as he looked at the menu. "I am not too fond of skating, but I said I would come for the convivial atmosphere. And the chance to get some decent rum. Whatever the X-Men's chef stocked in their pantry tastes more of paint thinner than rum. Then again, Emma Frost likely hid the good libations so Deadpool does not run off with them!"

Jack took a deep breath and looked out the window near his chair. He gulped before turning back to his companions. "Someone is about to get in all sorts of trouble. There's a flying pirate ship hovering over St. Patrick's. I didn't think they had clearance to fly into Manhattan anymore."

The pirate then realized what he said and shook his head.

"I mean commercial aircrafts flying into Manhattan. Not flying pirate ships. I'm sure the lovely folks at SHIELD are on their way to intercept it," he added as he looked at a dessert cart roll by. "Yes, must save space for one of those profiteroles."


 

[Chetna Jahan]

The woman that had been helped into her seat by the gentleman in the fancy dress coat smiled at him as he sat and rejoined his friends. It was then that she realized who one of those companions was.

"I come halfway across the globe to see my family, and I run into you, Jack Sparrow," she said as she looked over from her table and shook her head. "What are the odds?"

The pirate made some odd little yelping noise as the woman got up and walked to where he sat. "Jack, where are your manners?" she asked as Sparrow stood up and started the introductions.

"Gentlemen, this is Chetna MacFeorais Jahan," he said as he made a slight bow. "These gentlemen are James and Jasper Hook, and this is Loki."

"Another MacFeorais offspring? Will wonders never cease?" Loki said as he, too, got up and bowed slightly.

"Oh? Alexia's uncle? She warned me about you," Chetna said with what could only be a small bit of surprise in her tone of voice. "Gentleman, it's a pleasure to meet you," she said to James and Jasper. "Thank you for your assistance earlier, James."

 

[Captain Jasper Hook]

              Jasper scowled after his brother called him a cad. ''You're a pirate just like me. You are not a gentleman 100%.'' He viewed Captain Hook helping a woman. Jasper shook his head in disbelief. *My brother always had a weakness for women.*

              Confused, Jasper tilted his head to one side after he heard about a flying pirate ship. ''A flying pirate ship?'' He smiled at James. ''I remember your smile after I captured a ship years ago. You smiled until you found out I also captured your betrothed.'' His happy expression remained.

            ''I'll capture that flying pirate ship! I'll name it The Rake!'' Jasper said. His confused expression returned after a woman approached James and Jack. He tilted his head to one side.

          Jasper heard the woman as she revealed she quite was familiar with Jack Sparrow. He nodded at her. He also heard her as she thanked his younger brother. 

[Captain James Hook]

               Captain Hook started to frown at Jasper. ''Mummy wanted us to be pirates.'' His eyes became wide after he heard about a flying pirate ship. He frowned again as soon as Jasper mentioned capturing a ship with his betrothed years ago.

           ''I still remember my betrothed's tears. I still remember Cecilia refusing to marry me after lies. Do I regret hurting my betrothed?'' Captain Hook's eyelids descended a bit. He began to look to one side. ''Perhaps a little.''

               Captain Hook rolled his eyes after he heard Jasper's wish to capture the ship. ''You do that, Jasper.'' His frown came back. ''I'll be the airship's captain and not you. Perhaps you will be my midshipman this time, Jasper.'' That was when he saw the woman he aided earlier.

             Captain Hook stood before he bowed. He blinked after the woman revealed she was familiar with Jack. He smiled at Chetna and nodded. ''I was more than happy to aid a lady.'' 


  

[Chetna Jahan]

OOC: Info on the Hindu festival of Pancha Ganapati can be found here

IC:

Chetna looked up and saw the ship hovering over midtown and laughed as she put her hand on Jack's shoulder. He literally jumped as she did so.

"I am not about to hurt you while all your friends are here," she said to Jack as she took a glass of wine from a waiter that passed by her. "And Sri would not be pleased if I did so anyway. She is rather fond of you for some reason I do not fully understand." She delivered the line with all the seriousness she could muster, and she actually enjoyed watching Sparrow squirm a bit. Then she laughed loudly. "I'm kidding. I am certainly not going to hurt you. It is the holiday season after all, and I would not wish to sully the joyous air around Yule, Christmas or Pancha Ganapati." 

"And for that I am truly grateful," Jack said as he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you gentlemen in need of a ship?" Chetna asked James and Jasper. "I'm surprised old Captain Jack hasn't outfitted you yet with one from his fleet. My Uncle Cormac is one of Jack's right hand men. Maybe he'll actually show up later and help you with that."

"Isn't that that nitwit Stanhope's ship?" Jack asked as Chetna nodded. "The Arystia's Dawn?"

"I believe it is, and Phineas is an acquired taste," Chetna said as she noticed Loki staring at her. "Sorry, I'm out of your league."

[Saint Nick]

By now the bearded man in the red jacket and green bowler hat had made his way inside the Sea Grill and walked over to where those he was searching for had been seated. "Ho, ho, ho," he said, first softly and then a bit more robustly as he walked toward the group. "Jack Sparrow. You have not been the best of men of late. Where is my red velvet sack?"

It was then that Saint Nicholas, or Kris Kringle, or Santa Claus saw Loki and shook his head. "And speaking of one who has not been on my nice list in many centuries..."

Nick nodded to the Hook brothers and to Chetna as well as he waited for Jack to produce the bag.

"It may be broken," Jack muttered as he remembered the last gift the bag produced. He handed the sack to Nick and frowned. "It gave a box to James, but I haven't tried it out since."

"Because you cannot give yourself a gift, Jack," Nick said as he took the bag and looked inside it. "Jasper, in the spirit of the season, please try out the bag."