MINGLE — NYE & Winn's Birthday PARTY!

[passingthrough]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: Broadcast — Earlier than now for planning
Action: Hotel Corona — Winn's birthday / NYE party!
When: Action — Dec. 31 / New Year's Eve

[Broadcast (open to everyone but Winn)]
At the risk for earning a reputation as a party planner, I have a thing for everyone to attend again. Don't worry, lots of other people are helping pull it together. It's going to be on New Year's Eve, but the real event is the countdown to Winn's birthday which is also on the first. It's going to be in a club we rented out for this in the red shift district. Starts around seven-ish. Ends when you pass out?

It's kind of a surprise maybe? At least the part where it's for his birthday. And if you don't know Winn but you still want to come that's fine too. You can trade a gift for Winn for a free drink at the bar. Otherwise, bring some money. Cake's on us though.

[Birthday/New Year's Party]
[The space is well decorated and so glittered you can probably tell Wrath was part of the team putting this together. Lots of Winn's friends came out to help whether it was getting decorations up, managing food, music, or chipping in to buy out the space and a drink for anyone bringing a gift. Not to mention drinks for the birthday boy all night.

There's a table for presents and another one with a spread of openly available food though the bar has appetizers you can buy too. There's a big cake at one end because of course there is and some punch that didn't start the night spiked at least. There's space for dancing and a karaoke machine set up on a small raised platform for those who want to try their hand at entertainment.

The night really kicks off when Winn walks in and instead of a balloon drop there's a fluffy blue stuffed bear drop. Feel free to take one of those home. There are a lot.

When midnight comes closer some people will file out to one of the observation areas to get a good view of the nebula for the big countdown. Bring your own person to kiss!

Comments

[ladybro]

Why not?

[ -- oh, that nearly strikes her as sincere. to that end, kate makes the conscious choice not to drive for the heart of the dance floor. instead, she tugs him towards a quieter corner. somewhere they could shimmy and bump without getting too lost in the throng. ]

[stefanged]

I'm a pretty crappy dancer.

[He's unflinchingly honest, even, or he would be if it weren't for how gracefully he follows her. Stefan doesn't give himself nearly enough credit here.]

Not like, stepping on your toe bad? But I have no sense of rhythm.

[ladybro]

As long as you can hear the music, then I promise I can teach you how to have at least a little rhythm. [ kate pauses when they arrive at her chosen spot. ] You can hear the music, can't you?

[ look, she's not just gonna assume someone's got perfect hearing. ]

[stefanged]

Yeah, yeah, we're fine. [He even taps his foot along to the beat, just to show her he's got it - and that sense of rhythm that he supposedly doesn't have.] Lead the way, miss....?

[ladybro]

[ a snort of a laugh. ]

Kate. Kate Bishop. [ ... ] And you?

[stefanged]

Stefan Salvatore.

[He steps closer to her and wraps an arm loosely around her waist, though he's about as forceful as a limp noodle. Stefan can't honestly remember how to dance - though he looks at Kate expectantly, as if giving her full permission to move him as necessary.]

Thanks for saving me a spot on your dance card, Kate.

[ladybro]

[ -- unabashedly comfortable and very little like a limp noodle, kate locks her fingers loosely against the back of his neck. her wrists settle on his shoulders. because she doesn't know him (yet), she affords him plenty of personal space all the same. ]

Oh, jeez, don't thank me. Have you looked at yourself in a mirror lately?

[ unabashed. ]

[stefanged]

Mm, not since this morning. Why? Do I have spinach between my teeth again?

[He knows exactly what she means. He swears, he does - it's just easier to poke fun at himself as he grows comfortable and allows himself to reach out for one of her hands and hold it.]

[ladybro]

Sure. [ she deadpans. ] Spinach galore. You're real spinachy.

[ but spinach is code for handsome, clearly. and kate comfortably laces her fingers with his. ]

-- Ready?

[stefanged]

[He nods, giving her hand a very light squeeze.]

Very ready.

[ladybro]

[ the song's alright. admittedly, it's got just enough of an upbeat tempo that their hand-holding is a little silly by contrast -- but kate's a decent judge of comfort, and she doesn't want to go bumping and grinding her way to a ruined possible friendship. instead, she keeps their rhythm light and independent: joined only by their hands together, and her fingers curled against the nape of his neck. ]

Blameless, by the way. Which ship boasts you on their roll-call?

[stefanged]

[He appreciates that. Stefan knows that sometimes, he feels far older than he really is - he holds on a little tight, as if he's waltzing along with her in an old, faded ballroom rather than their loud, vibrant club.]

The Paisley. I've been there about... hm, eighteen months now?

[ladybro]

Eighteen? [ she mistakes his grip for nerves -- kate slides her thumb across the back of his knuckles. kinda like a caress. or if someone was trying to soothe a wild animal. ] Did I just hear you say eighteen? Months?

[stefanged]

You sure did. [He raises his eyebrows in amusement.] I haven't even been here the longest – some people've been here more than two years.

[ladybro]

Guess I've managed to avoid meeting too many of the vets before now. [ ... ] I'm gonna blame that on the fact that I transferred early on to the newest ship. Which is ironic, y'know, 'cause of the name.

[stefanged]

Were you around when Azula was captain? [He laughs, though it comes out a little bitter.] The name was especially ironic back then, but uh - besides stories? I can't say my experience has much else to offer.

[ladybro]

Yeah, I've been here long enough to bear witness to Captain Azula. Jeez. [ that (evidently) had been a decision that never sat well with kate. ] What a sack of hammers she was.

[stefanged]

I can't say I had the uh, "privilege" of meeting her in person, but - you've got Hank now, and he's eons better.

[He blanches, a little - partially from an oncoming headache, but also from his own topic of conversation.]

Sorry, I digressed. A lot.

[ladybro]

Digress away. Please. [ she takes this moment to raise their joined hands over her head and 'lead' him into gently spinning her. ] Azula was a piece of work. She had a real bad habit of calling the rest of us peasants. It didn't sit well with me.

[ and not just because kate's family name is plastered on at least one new york skyscraper back home. ]

[stefanged]

[He's going to do her one better - his brief headache must've kicked something into gear, because he'll spin her and catch her with practiced grace. As if he's done this a thousand times over.]

Now I'm super glad I never ran into her. [He laughs, almost relieved.] That's no way to treat anyone, let alone people as important as your crew.

[ladybro]

[ -- oh! delight steals across her face. kate hadn't planned on such a formal and elegant dance. but when the physical tone of their partnership changes, kate changes to match it. she might not have the best ballroom chops but she's got a history of ballet lessons to fall back upon. poise and balance come easily.

her smile is sly. ]

She sucked. Hank's a much better captain.

[stefanged]

Good. For a moment there, I was worried I'd have to talk to him, captain-to-captain.

[He wasn't. He really wasn't - though his eyes light up at her matched skill. Stefan moves a little faster with the tempo, and in turn, nudges her a little as if asking for permission to lead. He may not know these new-fangled dances, but ballroom? That, he's just regained mastery of.]

[ladybro]

[ as forceful a personality as she possesses, kate's too curious to not let him take the lead. she relents -- delivers herself smoothly into his dancing care. so to speak. ]

I know him from home. Actually. [ a huff of laughter. she shakes her head. ] Sorta? I know a version of him. He doesn't know me.

[stefanged]

[He almost glides across the floor - it does feel a little weird, going full-out ballroom to a song that's too fast for its rhythm, but Stefan manages without stumbling.]

Oh, so it's like a time-travel thing? Or are you talking more alternate universes?

[ladybro]

Honestly, it's a bit of both. [ her hand slips from his neck to his shoulder -- adjusting where she anchors herself to him to better suit the style. ] His present is my years ago. But beyond that, the universes still don't match up. It's not a new thing. I've encountered people from no less than -- five different versions of home. Six, if you count my own.