"Kris mus?" Yusef repeated, sounding the odd words out.<br/><br/>"I... don't know," Quentin replied.  "Some sort of holiday, I suspect."<br/><br/>"That it is, mate!" John declared, clapping him on the shoulder before doffing his battered old tricorn and bowing to the bespectacled man who'd invited them in.  "Captain John Sparrow, at your service."  He stepped in, taking Jenny's coat and hanging it before removing his own.  Then, after a moment's hesitation, he unbuckled his sword belt and hung it with their coats.  "Shall I introduce everyone else?  I would, only it seems you have other guests and I'd hate to have to go to the effort again."<br/><br/>Everyone else filed in, and followed their host into an increasingly crowded living room.  A large tree glittering with lights stood by a fireplace, upon which also stood a menorah.  Everyone stared at them, eyes full of curiousity and suspicion.  Fair enough, he decided.  They<i>were</i>a motley-looking group.  "Happy christmas!" he called, bowing towards the blonde woman in the gold dress that their host sat next to.  "I'm Captain John Sparrow, oh!  And you're heard of me?"  The last was directed towards a startled-looking red Indian lass sitting next to the blonde's younger sister.  "It's mostly lies, I assure you.  Except that one thing."<br/><br/>Counting people off one by one, he continuted.  "This lovely lady is my darling and<i>exceptionally</i>patient wife Jennifer.  This is Captains Yusef and Arelia, and I hope you aren't offended by not including your last names because I've yet to pronounce them correctly, and this is Sir Quentin Hall and Dame..?  Sir..?  Dame Kaydia Voss-Hall."  That seemed to elicit a gasp from the redhead in the jumpsuit.  "And this is... uhm..."  He stared at Clara curiously.  "I'm sorry.  I missed your name in all the excitement."<br/><br/>"Clara Olgasdottor," she replied, looking around curiously.  The black cat in her arms meowed once.<br/><br/>"Clara," John repeated.  "Clara and her cat... cat, I assume.  It doesn't matter, they have their own names for themselves and don't respond to ours anyway."  He bowed again.  "Our apologies for intruding, ma'am, but we're lost and the gentleman at your right was kind enough to offer us shelter."<br/><br/><hr class="bbc-hr bbc-hr--3"/><br/>Colin bristled at Kieran's touch, out of a combination of aggrivation and jealousy and - he had to admit it - the irritated realization that he'd love to tear the man's clothes off and have him right here in the kitchen.  Goddamn it, how did Kieran<i>still</i>have that effect on him?  "An insane Christmas is putting it mildly," he grumbled out.  "And London is, well, London.  It's..."<br/><br/>He let his voice trail away as Erik returned yet again, this time followed by a troupe of costumed performers.  Although only the one calling himself John was really performing.  The rest just looked disoriented and bemused, really.  "John Sparrow," he mused aloud.  "Wasn't there a pirate named that, once?  Do you think they were going to a masquerade?"