driftfleet | MINGLE — NYE & Winn's Birthday PARTY!

Entry tags:

MINGLE — NYE & Winn's Birthday PARTY!

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ so -- they've been at the party for some time, now. more than a couple drinks have been ingested, and even steve has managed to enjoy his funny little flask of superbrew. the music gets a little better with some whiskey in your system, peggy finds, although she's starting to wish she hadn't worn a dress so ill-conducive to movement. ah, well. it's worth it to see the way he grips his drink and pours himself another sneaky measure from a flask. peggy leans back -- eyes the bartenders -- and offers him a quick ok symbol with her hands to let him know the wait-staff aren't watching. she can't imagine they appreciate someone taking in their own booze. ]

What are the chances of finding a pack of cards? [ she asks -- voice lifted over the bass in the current track. the alcohol has brought a flush to her cheeks and an ease to her posture. tonight, she finds herself rather happy. she feels vibrant. ]

[ It's not quite like the Halloween party. On the one hand, it feels like they made more than a little progress since then. On the other hand, they really had made a lot progress since then which makes the entire thing far more difficult. he doesn't know where she found a dress like that on the fleet, of all places and he's not complaining but he does eye her more than a bit even before they start on the alcohol.

frankly speaking, superbrew is strong even for him. it reminds him a bit of thor's asgardian mead only it's even worse. he has no idea what winn and hank did to create that stuff but one thing is certain - it does work, quickly creating a tingly, over-alert buzz.

it tastes like hell, though. ]

They probably have something 'round here but it might be alien.

[ and a cringe ]

You know, that stuff isn't really acquired taste.

[ it works but it's awfully strong. ]

[ alien cards. well, that wouldn't do. peggy files the desire away in the back of her thoughts. she still intends to track some down -- but perhaps she'll leave it for a later hour. for now, it satisfies her to lean an elbow on the bar and watch him. watch him with interest, even, as he winces. it's a pleasant little surprise. and a far far cry away from that burned out building in france.

peggy crooks her finger -- as though gesturing him closer -- and asks: ] Give us a sip?

[ she's curious. although she suspects he won't comply. ]

Peggy, there's a warning on it for a reason.

[ he points at it, even. it doesn't leave any room for interpretation - a note reading POISON with a little drawing of the infamous skull and crossbones. steve arches an eyebrow and shakes his head. ]

it's really not made for anyone with normal metabolism.

[ she's right, that's a no. ]

A sip can't hurt. Can it?

[ truthfully, it's not all that important. for her, the awful taste would never justify the effect when she could get a more manageable buzz from what she was already drinking. by contrast, what's important is needling steve. she lays a hand on his wrist. ]

Or a sniff. Surely, I can sniff it without passing out.

I'm not really sure that's a risk we should be taking.

[ it's a faux sort of sternness really, and it shows. he's more amused than anything else. still, better keep a watchful eye over that flask. ]

They were very specific about with their warning label.

[ 'poison' and all. ]

[ she curls her fingers under his sleeve's cuff and draws short little lines against his wrist. she's no fool. he isn't going to be coaxed into anything quite so simply. but maybe if he drinks a bit more... ]

Is it working?

[ -- does he feel anything? she grabs at her own glass with her free hand, eyeing him over the rim as she takes another drink of something a little less potent. ]

I'm not really sure that I want to give full credit,

[ it's either the alcohol, the company or the dress or highly likely, a combination of all three. it's more than a little bit distracting, either way. ]

But yeah, it's working.

[ she'll pretend like she hasn't the foggiest what he means when he says full credit. peggy cants her head -- tries to look him in the eye and judge whether she can see inebriation there. a smile tugs at her lips. ]

Good. [ she wants to knock her glass with his and so raises it between them. ] Which means, I think, that you should hurry up and finish your drink. You have an awful lot of catching up to do.

[ it's one of those moments that he would later wish would have lasted for days and days. they've been reclaiming it all for months now, dancing and long conversation at the kitchen table, light flirts and deeper confessions and stolen kisses. this feels like another victory if only because he no longer thinks of what they could have but focuses entirely on this moment here and now, the striking color of her dress and the slight flush sitting prettily over her cheeks. ]

Oh, you think? hold on.

[ he touches two fingers to her wrist. ]

if we're toasting, we might as well do it right.

[ maybe it's the space-whiskey, but the light pressure of his fingers on her wrist nearly steals her breath away. peggy edges a half-step nearer -- back against the bar -- and watches him with the same due care. ]

Okay, I'll bite. [ she pauses. ] How do you propose we do it right?

Well, you gotta toast to something.

[ clinking glasses together just won't do and beside, this is rather easy, isn't it? after all, ]

It's New Year's Eve. I think a toast to a new year is the traditional way to go.

[ just saying. ]

Far be it from me to break with tradition, then, [ she answers. full of it, really, because there's little more she likes to snap over her knee than the thin excuse of tradition. peggy holds up her glass, smiles at him, and announces: ] To another year, Steve. And let's make it a decent one.

To a new decent year.

[ he agrees and finally, clinks his glass against hers. it's still sharp and boarding on too strong but the effect is wonderful, warmth and easiness settling beneath his veins. ]

Any resolutions for this one?

Plenty. [ peggy lets their glasses touch, and then she takes a good drink. ] Chief among them finally taking you down. Getting your back on the mat. Properly. [ a tight laugh. she clarifies: ] I might never win when we spar, but I'd like to have a better chance. I'll be training harder, from hereon in.

[ a pause. ] What about you? Feeling particularly resolved about anything?

[ he smiles, looks down at his now empty glass and then back at her, offering her an easy shrug. ]

Don't know. Kinda feels like I already got what I wanted. I'm going to have to think about that one.

[ she draws a meandering line from his palm to his elbow, and back again. under other circumstances (and with another person) it might seem like a leading touch. a little too overt, perhaps. but peggy intends it tenderly. idle affection while they drink. ]

Don't say that. [ already got what he wanted? ] It sounds too much like tempting fate to take you down a peg or three.

Alright then. A resolution, well.

[ give him a moment, he's not as sharp as he was an hour ago. he considers, shifting between focusing his thoughts on the subject at hand for one moment and on her touch the next. ]

I guess since there's time here for those things, to draw more. It's been a while.

[ there. fate can be content. ]

That's a start. [ she seizes upon the idea. innocent, really, in her enthusiasm for it. peggy grabs a cocktail napkin and -- gripping the edge of the bar -- leans over the counter so she might borrow something that looks like it might be a pencil. maybe a pen. hard to stay -- it wrote clean strokes, however, and dried quickly.

NYE RESOLUTIONS, she writes. and underlines it. while she scribbles something about her training regimen, she asks: ] And what are you resolving to draw more of, hm?

Are we going to sign that one when we're done?

[ he asks as he leans over to see what she's scribbling down. ah, they're making a document of it. might as well, really. ]

I need to resole to subjects too?

[ he huffs his laughter. ]

Maybe it has to be spontaneous.

Fine. Be vague if you like. I won't stop you.

[ she lifts her head and smiles. peggy isn't exactly a stoic creature -- at least, not around steve. and not lately. but the high-spirited nature of the evening brings out an easier cheer in her. things are going swimmingly; the year certainly does feel worthy of celebration. ]

Different things can inspire at different times. Let's say I'll write down flowers, that could change three times by tomorrow.

[ but he catches sight of the corner of her smile and ah, see. ]

Maybe I'll draw you.

[ exactly like that, if he could, smiling and filled with energy. ]

Maybe I shouldn't let you. [ she teases -- but she pushes the napkin in front of him and offers him the 'pen' so he could describe his resolution in bullet points. ] From the tell of it, your inner artist is a fickle bastard. I'd rather not be jilted three times tomorrow.

I think I can safely say there isn't any chance of that ever happening. Question in, can you sit still long enough?

[ he adds 'draw Peggy' onto the list with a bit of a grin. ]

[ a bit of bluster. she snags him by the elbow, laughing. ]

Why -- how bloody long do you expect to take?

[ she can be patient! probably. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject