driftfleet | action | party mingle

[The birthday girl doesn't always look thrilled and some of her smiles are definitely forced, but at least she's not crying right now. It's a definite improvement on earlier.

There are still times she wishes she could borrow Vision's powers and sink through the floor. It helps that it's not only her party, but it's still hard to want to celebrate without Pietro.

She could definitely use some distracting from her thoughts.]

[Is it distracting to have your captain come up and hug you with one arm while the other cradles a gift?] Happy birthday, you.

[The date of Wanda's birthday had been familiar to her, but only because she'd known it as Pietro's birthday for years. There wasn't often time for celebrating with the X-Men, but they did find moments. Not always on the actual days, but eventually. In Marina time had passed strangely and their days were numbered differently. Seasons didn't pass the way you'd expect from anywhere on earth and so there was never a way to keep track or be reminded of those things. But here in the fleet with months and days restored if not years then there were little reminders all the time. Storm's birthday. Rogue's birthday. The birth of her son. And so on. It's kind of nice to be able to celebrate this one with someone who is alive and present.]

I can't believe you managed pizza.

[Wherever there is pizza, cake, and shenanigans there will be Kitty Pryde! It is her solemn duty. Also, she likes these people who have turned older. So, she found gifts that she can only hope are fitting while she was on the planet and here she is to get her party on. Will there be dancing? She'll probably make some people dance even if it's not that kind party. Count on it. Also, you there, trying to hide by the wall. Yes, you. She's going to say hi to you too.]

[Hugs from Kitty are always welcome, even though this party was 100% not her idea. But she doesn't really expect anyone else to understand why she'd really rather forget today exists at all.]

You will have to ask Vision and Steve about that. I think all of this was their idea.

[Natasha is well aware of what Wanda has lost. As a result while she smiles, her smile is reserved. It doesn't demand Wanda return it enthusiastically.]

Hey... Is it too early for presents?

That's the sound of someone who was entirely supportive and committed to the idea of a public birthday party. [She kids. But she's also not sure how against it she is. More of a "Stop, I'm embarrassed. Okay, maybe keep going." or more of a "I'm just trying to get through this without causing a scene."] Wanting to do something for you and Bucky does sounds like something those boys would come up with though. Not so into grand gestures? [Kitty never expected or wanted them and then they turned out to be Winn's thing. And she kind of misses them now.]

[Natasha is rarely the life of the party, and she has reasons to find this date bittersweet. But she said she'd be here, and even if she hadn't, she would be. She watches mostly, drink in hand, standing to the side with a softer expression than it would have been any day.]

[Steve comes over with a piece of pizza in one hand and real ice cream in the other. Considering the slice of pizza is pretty small and the bowl of ice cream is piled high, the preference here is clear. Steve smiles lightly at her, knowing well why she doesn't look overjoyed.

The ice cream is handed over.]

If you need to bail, say the word. Buck and I are gonna celebrate later on so I can make something up to get you out.

[The invitation had been issued and refused in kind; a birthday celebration is not exactly Bucky's idea of a good time. He's also unsure if the Vision had been feeling things out or not in regard to the date; while he'd memorized the words on that exhibit at the Smithsonian, every one, the day holds no significance to him. He doesn't know how to explain that though — and isn't truly sure he wants to — and so he leaves it at a simple refusal.

Still, the message is there on his phone and Bucky can't deny that the Vision has been helpful and considerate both, in a place where he need be neither. So he plans his visit to the Iskaulit's gym accordingly, times things to be coincidentally in the hallways headed toward the gathering before it starts. He chooses his location well, to hide himself in case he sees someone he'd rather avoid, but the only one in the corridor matches the description of Wanda, so perhaps he's in luck.

He makes enough noise to be heard on his way to approach her, and will go silent again when he sees she's noticed.] Vision told me that someone I should meet would be here.

[Natasha takes the ice cream like she expected it, taking a slow bite. Who's she to turn down ice cream?]

I figured I should at least make an appearance. For Wanda, if nothing else. This has to be hard on her.

[A sigh, tapping her lips with her spoon.]

Pietro was here for a while. Not long.

Oh...

[Steve feels instantly selfish. Today has been a good one for him; he has Bucky back--one that remembers their past--and can finally celebrate a birthday with him again. They have pizza, ice cream, and a collection of their friends here to celebrate. And, beneath all the merriment, they have a birthday girl mourning her lost twin and a guest mourning her lost love.

Steve punishes himself by eating a bite of the odd pizza. Poor Wanda.]

Why did we have a party, if people knew about this? It seems wrong to force her through it...

I... [She trails off, frustrated at how difficult this is to explain. It's much more than just missing someone who's not here.]

It is easier to share it with someone else? I have never been alone on our-- on my birthday.

[Kitty reaches out to take her hand when she understands where that sentence is going.] You're not alone on this one either.

I miss him too. [She's missing a different Pietro from a different world, but she feels certain he'd be here for this Wanda if he could too. The only memory Wanda has ever seen of Kitty's Pietro might have had them at odds, but that isn't the main thing she feels about him. They're family. All the X-Men were family. Are family. Even if there are fewer of them around her now.]

[Bucky hasn't met Wanda yet, but it's easy enough to figure out - both based on observation and because Steve is likely willing to tell him pretty much anything - who she is. He waits until she has a moment to herself to approach, though something about the way she looks is... not how he'd expect someone celebrating to look.

Then again, they are prisoners here. This might just be an unpleasant reminder.

He does his best to smile charmingly, in the hopes of distracting her, and gets started by saying,] Happy Birthday. I have it on good authority this's a good day to have one.

[It's appreciated, and Wanda manages a small, but not forced, smile.]

If you wait a few more hours it will be too late.

[Wanda's not the only one with a birthday today, but Bucky's happy to let her have the spotlight if she wants it. Though when she looks like she needs a moment or two, he's happy to step up and see if he can't take up some of the attention, to give her whatever time she needs.

It's not a bad party - in fact, it's the best birthday party he's had this century, the food included. And definitely the present company included. He's happy to talk to anyone and everyone, in between bites of pizza and cake.]

[She recognizes him - how could she not? - but it's eerie how he suddenly goes silent.

She wonders if he knows her. They haven't met at home, at least for her, and Wanda knows better than most how fragile a mind can be. So she's going to let him take the lead.]

Who are you looking for? Maybe I can help.

Wasn't my idea. But... [Natasha hesitates, turning over her answer thoughtfully before she continues. It's complicated—complicated for all of them.] Wanda deserves the reminder that there are people here who care about her. And this way she doesn't have to be alone.

And Barnes deserves a welcome.

Strong argument. You've convinced me.

[Natasha offers a small box with a red ribbon tied around it.]

Whenever you want it.

[ loki thought it was odd that wanda was "celebrating". though loki suspects there is more to it than that, it's not his business. instead he inspects the pizza with a critical eye, debating whether it's safe to touch or not. it had so much . . . grease. ]

[Another smile! Nat's on a roll here...but then again, everyone likes presents.]

Thank you.

[And Wanda's going to go ahead and open it.]

[Kitty slides her way over.] Oh look, someone I don't remember seeing in any weirdly intimate memories recently. A rare and wondrous sight. Hey. [She gives her a little smile. And while she's starting off easily enough she has a feeling Natasha is going through something considering she and Bucky had been together and now he's back times two, but neither of them are the one she lost. At least not completely. Not with their shared memories.]

[This definitely doesn't seem like a birthday spotlight seeking crowd here.] Hi, short-haired Bucky. [This is a perfectly normal, and appropriate thing to call a person, right?] Happy Birthday.

[Steve pops up behind him, looking thrilled.]

You made it! Here. [He pulls up a piece and plops it onto a plate to hand over] I said I'd get you to try pizza. Now, it's not perfect but it's pretty close. Go ahead and try it. Won't hurt.

Edited (Have I mentioned I'm bad with icons?) 2019-03-18 15:44 (UTC)

( Sansa happens upon the party by chance. She spots Wanda, whom she knows from their time on Marsiva, and Kitty she knows by face if only because it seems she's a friend of Tyrion's. Both of these things pique her interest so she draws closer, interested, and decides to introduce herself to Kitty formally for once. )

So is this a nameday party, then? That's what we call them in Westeros, namedays.

action | party mingle

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Kitty Pryde | OTA

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Natasha Romanoff | MCU | OTA

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loki | open to all

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Re: Kitty Pryde | OTA