Disclaimer: Sadly, most of these poor fools are owned by Marvel and treated accordingly. Or, something like that. No money being made, etc, etc...
Notes: Imagine if you will, a world beyond sight and sound, a world where--whoa, CUT! Wrong track. Okay. Imagine that the entire X-clan is visiting the mansion for some inexplicable reason, and that this is also back when Excalibur were still together. Aaaaand, that's it.
Dedication: To Pebsy, Sparky, Lynxie, Elihara, Samy and Heatherly. For being there and not telling me it was a stupid idea. And, especially to Elihara, since it was HER idea in the first place. Sorta. *g*

Ring Around the Rosie
by ALC Punk!

"You want to what?"

"Shattybuns needs some loosening up."

"And you think this will work?"

"Something like that." Tabitha shrugged and winked conspiratorially at Jubilee. "It'll at least be a laugh."

----

When approached Kitty Pryde doubled over with laughter. Her boyfriend, Pete Wisdom, raised an eyebrow and muttered something about 'men sticking together' and high-tailed it away from the three giggling females.

"So, who next?" Kitty asked as she wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.

Tabitha eyed Jubilee, who eyed her back. They turned to Kitty and chorused, "Rahne."

"Ah. That's why you asked me first." Kitty grinned evilly. "C'mon, I think I can convince Rahney for ya."

----

Rahne Sinclair was very resistant to the idea. At first. Even with Kitty prodding her about 'fun and games' and 'everyone needs a good laugh, sometimes' she didn't fold.

And then Sam Guthrie wandered by and asked them what they were doing. He then proceeded to sputter with laughter. "Y'all are nuts. Y'all never be able to do it."

"We'll see." Rahne said, her eyes flashing with a bit of the Scotch temper her adopted mother, Moira McTaggert could show.

Jubilee silently high-fived Tabitha as Kitty patted Rahne's shoulder. "We'll show him, hon."

"Aye."

----

"You realise she's, like, the most integral part of this."

"We could get Jean to do it." Tabitha said, consideringly.

Kitty and Rahne were off gathering the needed materials while they procured the last person needed for the... project.

"But that wouldn't be half the fun!"

"True."

Jubilee smiled sweetly at Tabitha. "This is why you're asking her, right?"

"Like, no."

"But, but, you, duuuh, know her better than me." Jubilee snorted. "Ya know?"

"Moral support, then." Tabitha conceded.

"Right."

The two skipped down the hall and chatted about things like malls, clothes, makeup... and video games.

----

Xi'an Coy Manh shifted slightly and into the next position of the dance. Her breath flowed in and out, even, measured. The concentration provided made the moves flow, one into the next into the next. Around her, other participants in the ancient art moved and stretched, doing their utmost to relax and, just, be.

A disturbance on the edge of the crowd rippled in, like a stone dropped into a bucket of molasses. Two whispering young women were abruptly standing next to her. Giggling. Interrupting her concentration. She shifted and the spell broke, her breath came faster and more ragged and she glared at Tabitha and Jubilee as they each appropriated an arm and began dragging her back through the throng to the side.

"What is the meaning of this?" She hissed, mildly annoyed at being pulled away from the session. The three had quickly cleared the mat and exited the Danger Room.

"Well, we--Jubes and I--have, y'know, got an idea."

"Oh?" Xi'an arched an eyebrow. "And what might this be?"

A whispered and muttered explanation filled the hallway for a few minutes, then Xi'an blinked and rocked back on her feet. "You want me to--to... It's obscene!"

"No, it isn't, it's just a bit of fun!" Jubilee protested.

"A bit of fun?" Karma arched both eyebrows and snorted. "My dear Jubilation, if that's what you consider fun--"

"But it is." Tabitha smirked. "C'mon, Xi'an, you know it will be."

The Vietnamese girl looked wistfully back at the Danger Room door. The session would nearly be done, and she'd end up missing the last of it. She knew it. And it was all-- Her mind halted for a moment and her lips twitched. Shatterstar's fault, in the end. She turned back to Tabitha and smiled icily. "I'll do it."

----

When Shatterstar awoke from the mind-numbing daze, it was to find himself atop a chair, on the pool deck. Around him, standing at the four points of the compass, were Jubilee, Tabitha, Kitty and Rahne. Set back, lounging against one of the tables, stood Xi'an.

Each of the four young women were holding a long piece of ribbon. The colours alternated from red to green. The ribbons, he quickly discovered, were tied in his hair. "Za's vid! What is the meaning of this?"

"Ever played Ring Around the Rosie?" Jubilee asked him innocently.

"No." He glared at them and attempted to move. And found he couldn't.

Xi'an's quiet chuckle floated over to him.

"I think we should start, ladies, don't you?" Tabitha grinned and glanced over Shatterstar's shoulder. "Hey, 'Berto, you got the camera ready?"

"Indeed." Came the reply.

"Good." Jubilee raised her ribbon and began a sort of walking, skipping dance around 'Star, which the other three followed her into. Tabitha and Jubilee went clockwise round him while Rahne and Kitty went counter.

"All around the mullberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel," Kitty began, her voice warbling slightly with suppressed laughter. The other women joined in, fighting their own laughter. "The monkey thought it was all in fun," Kitty ducked under, then held her ribbon up as Rahne imitated her and Jubilee and Tabitha did the opposite. "Pop! Goes the weasel. A penny for a spool of thread, a penny for a kneedle," They were much closer in, Shatterstar nearly bound down to his knees in ribbons. "That's the way the money goes--Pop! Goes the weasel!"

Tabitha stopped as she reached the end of her ribbon and 'Star's boots. "That it?" Assent came from the other three. "Good. Let's tie this off, get 'Berto--'Berto, come get a frontal shot!"

"As long as it isn't nudity," Jubilee quipped.

"Nah, 'Star'd never strip." Tabitha looked up at the enraged Mojoworlder's face. "Would you?"

An enraged gurgle was the only answer she had as Xi'an absently released control and he began attempting to break free of the ribbons.

-Fin-

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