You are invited:

[winsomelosesome]

Who: Janet Van Dyne, Tony Stark, OTA
What: A party to celebrate the approximate 4th of July and one Steve Roger's B-day
When: The 4th of July
Where: Temba Beach
Warnings: TBD, Drinking, Creature Attacks

The beach had been transformed, perhaps not to the level Jan was used to back home, but still fairly impressive. A number of newly built beach pagodas littered the purple sands, sheer white draperies shifting with the breeze. There were tables and seating provided in each, for more intimate conversation, a larger buffet style table laid out for people to browse from. In addition, there was a table for special themed cocktails (and mocktails) for the guests. Jan had been very proud of finding local alternatives, but some of them may come with some…unintended side effects. Jan had found a collection of opalescent conch like shells, and scattered them about liberally to serve as decorations. She and Tony had been working in secret for ages to pull this together for Steve, and the pair were dressed in white, a request she’d made of all the guests as well, but no one would be turned away if they couldn’t manage. A dancefloor had been built, and Eddie had been offered something that must’ve been pretty damn valuable, because the metalhead had been talked into playing Disco for the party. When the time came for cake the hosts got a little bashful. Jan had always hired out for this, but she had been sure it couldn't be all that hard to make a cake. It turned out she was wrong. But it was the best they had, and so it was presented rather sheepishly to the birthday boy and to be shared amongst the guests if any were brave enough to try it. It doesn't taste great, but at least there are no mystery side effects to go with it. As the sun set, a host of glowing necklaces, wands and bracelets were passed out, and once it was truly dark the light show began. Rather than the more traditional fireworks, they had a series of drones lighting up the sky in a dazzling display. However, something unexpected comes from this. As though awoken from the light, the shells Jan had so proudly decorated with were not as abandoned as she’d thought. Little legs slid free, and the creatures began to head for the nearest light source, whether that be the drones in the sky or any of the heroes with their glowing attire. And to make matters worse, there is a large SOMETHING in the water, shrieking with a sound that shakes the beach. What could it possibly want, and what does it have to do with the little shell creatures?? -------- The drinks/effects: (All effects will wear off) Truth (cocktail): Can only speak the truth Justice (mocktail): Temporarily Blinds Drinker Liberty (cocktail): Extreme Excess of Energy Fireworks (cocktail): Loss of Powers or Granting of One (1) Not Game Breaking Power Mr. President (mocktail): Causes Short Term Amnesia

Comments

Tony // Open!

[in_extremis]

If they ignored the cake, and Tony was trying very hard to ignore the cake, then Jan had put dazzling effort into the parts of this little get together that she promised she had entirely under control. The curtains hung along Tony's shaded structures were abundant, gauzy but draping generously to keep the chilled air in where it pooled in a fine mist around the table of drinks. It was as though Tony had been dressed to match, in relaxed, pale linen over a white shirt so delicate it hardly seemed to support a button. The colour of the outfit was carefully restrained to the display of warm skin at his open collar, and the narrow red stripe that patterned his crisply folded pocket square. It might have been the next best thing to a suit of armor, letting Tony pretend to be aloof and entirely put together behind his glasses, while he searched the beach anxiously and tried to find something to do with his restless hands. There were so many prepared glasses, he could probably hold onto one for most of the day, if he had to. He only hesitated briefly once his hand was hovering over one, glancing around for Jan before his shoulders tightened guiltily for doubting her neat labeling promising harmless juice. She had already done her due diligence, she didn't need to hold his hand.

Ten minutes later, he couldn't remember what he had been worried about. The glass he was holding was mostly empty, and the sand was warm under his bare feet. It had spread like glitter across the dance floor, catching the lights and starting to collect against the shells that were artfully arranged around the edges, filling in the gaps with that strange, rich purple. As inviting as the image was, he couldn't very well go out on the dancefloor alone. He must have come here with someone. He turned slowly, lifting his glasses to squint in the sun like that would help him recognize his date on the beach. He brightened hopefully as someone approached, then felt his mouth go dry as he tried to produce their name. "Look at you," he enthused to buy himself some time, spreading an admiring hand. "The moon herself is going to leave here heartbroken tonight."

[winsomelosesome]

It was a hell of a line, and Jan smiled, rolling her eyes fondly as she took his hand. "We did all right apart from the cake, didn't we?" she said once they were out on the dance floor, pressed in close as they swayed to one of the slower numbers, cheek resting against his chest.

"They'll all forget about the cake, right?" God, why had it leaked. How did a cake even leak??? It wasn't leaking when they finished the stupid thing. It had actually looked- well not good, but better than what they returned to.

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve had just approached Tony to thank him for the party, having made rounds to greet people. Tony's easy to spot in all white, and though Steve isn't really expecting the compliment, he brightens. "You're looking pretty amazing yourself. Thanks - for all this, by the way. It's." He doesn't know how to articulate it into words.

Unexpected, for one - but not in a bad way. "Incredible. Thank you. Are you having a good time?"

[plate_builder]

And there, of course, was Tony Stark. Friend, supporter, and life of the party. Here was Reeve just helping himself to some water to keep hydrated, and he smiles to see the man be his usual, over the top, charming self.

"Hello to you as well, Tony. This all looks very beautiful. You and Jan outdid yourselves. Would that I could take you home to help me impress investors."

Janet Van Dyne | OTA

[winsomelosesome]

This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. This was all anyone was going to remember about the party, well- that and the accidental side effects of all the drinks. (Still not the worst party she’d thrown at least.)

Jan’s pretty little decorations were alive, and pinching, and how was she supposed to have known??? She zapped one of the determined little stalkers, but that didn’t deter it for long, and only seemed to draw more of them to start chasing her. Shit.

“Don’t forget to grab a party favor on your way out-“ she tried to play hostess to the end, even as her guests ran screaming.

[thepurpleone]

Donnie's picked one of the little things up, making sure to keep its grabby parts away from him as he studies it, brow furrowed. Sorry, he doesn't own anything white but he'd dressed in lilacs because it was the lightest thing in his recently acquired wardrobe. But he wasn't going to not put effort into getting fancy for a fancy party!

"Uh, did you not double-check to make sure no one was home before you used them for decor?" he asked as he studied the creature. "-which was all very nice by the way, at least until some of it started to get up and move. Oh, and the cake. The cake was...Yeah- What is that sound??"

He looked out towards the waters, squinting before he lowered his goggles.

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve has scooped up a whole mass of the little shells, and is trying to return them to some bioluminescent patch of ocean so that they can be contented to scurry away and not to bother the rest of the party.

"Oh Jan, don't worry about the favors!" he calls over the cacophony. "And thank you! For the party," he adds, trying to clandestinely pick one out of somebody's hair.

[plate_builder]

How was this not the worst party she's ever thrown? Mysteries abound. Thankfully she didn't have to worry about the ones immediately chasing her. Because the air behind her as one pursued her went cold. There's a noise like chimes and a burst of ice consumes the creature before shattering and leaving it falling.

"There were party favors? It seems I've misplaced mine," Reeve notes. He stands with one sleeve up, little creatures moving toward him because there are glowing green orbs in the bracer on his wrist. One of which was brighter than the others given he was actively channeling magic into the ice materia.

Billy Kaplan | OTA

[wearingthestars]

Justice

A party was supposed to be good for the both of them, but Billy was still very anxious about showing his face. And so their positions had been switched, with Soldier encouraging him out for what should be a good night, and Billy did his best to put on a good face. And once he relaxed a little…it was true. It was nice getting out and seeing others again, singing along to the music and trying to coax Soldier to dance with him.

Still, he figured it was best not to push things opting for one of the mocktails that night. He needed to ease back in, and getting tipsy was not the place he wanted to be. But neither was…this. Billy blinked a few times, but his vision didn’t magically return. He even passed a glowing hand in front of his eyes and nothing, fear gripping his chest as the beach suddenly felt huge and full of dangers/obstacles.

“Soldier?” he called uncertainly, bumping into someone or was it something, and murmuring a quick apology, blindly trying to feel out the path ahead of him.

Hero Again?

Vision more or less on it’s way back, Billy covered his ears to block out the shrieking of the thing he couldn’t quite see out there, squinting to try and make sense of what was happening. He watched the smaller creatures chasing after guests with lights while bypassing those without altogether, and much as he was scared to use his magic, he acted without thinking, hands aglow with a bright light that he hoped would supersede the rest of them. “Ditch the glow thing,” he warned the nearest guest.

Justice;

[sinistral]

The Soldier would have quite happily skipped the whole thing. He had no interest in large festive gatherings, not even if they were meant to celebrate someone he knew he should remember. But it was the kind of celebration Billy normally enjoyed. Getting out would be good for him; the Soldier could put up with his own discomfort for the night. Billy was more important.

He absolutely refused to wear the suggested white attire, though. The Soldier would attend in his tactical gear, because those were the clothes in which he felt comfortable. And perhaps Billy would take some comfort in knowing the Soldier was dressed and equipped to keep his partner safe.

Seeing him lighten up a little through the event, the Soldier knew he made the right call.

He even allowed Billy to drag him into one dance, though he felt awkward and stiff the whole time. Fighting felt natural and fluid; dancing less so. Still, Billy wanted it so he would oblige.

He had stepped away from his partner's side, a brief separation. But enough time for Billy to ingest the drink, though he did not see it. No, what he heard was Billy's call, and that from a short distance away. It made him hurry back to the other man's side, frowning when Billy seemed to stumble.

"I'm here," he called out to his partner, coming up behind Billy to slide the metal arm around his waist. "I'm here," he repeated more quietly.

This Ain't Justice

[doubled_speed]

Not Soldier, but hopefully someone just as comforting. Tommy wraps an arm around Billy's shoulder to hold him still. Something was wrong. Maybe he wasn't sure what, but the way Billy's hands were reaching out... Tommy didn't like it.

"No. Me, little bro. What's going on?"

Eddie Munson | OTA

[the_freak]

Thank You for the Music

Yes, yes, that was right. Eddie Munson was playing disco music. And he was actually pretty good. He’d be better if he had some accompaniment mind you, and if you get close enough to mock OR cheer you will be encouraged to join him.

It was mainly ABBA covers, those being popular enough that Eddie couldn’t really have escaped them even if he tried to, and it was kind of hilarious that apart from the Agrii concert this was probably the largest turn out he’d had to see him play, and it wasn’t even his own shit.

Dancing Queen

Whether he’d gotten someone to replace him or just stolen away for a break, Eddie wanted to get in on the fun for himself. He’d had a little social lubricant, one of the cocktails labels Truth, and it tasted weirdly familiar.

“You wanna dance?” he asked, a smirk pulling at his lips. Yeah, so maybe he was the last person anyone would expect to be able to enjoy themselves here, he could surprise people.

Truth; you asked for this

[sinistral]

Seeing Eddie play was one of the arguments the Soldier had used to get Billy to come out to the party. He had decided that the musician was a decent person, impressed by their first meeting. He meant to follow through on his promise to see Eddie play live.

The musical selection was interesting to say the least, but one couldn't deny that Eddie performed well. His talent was on full display; the Soldier found that he liked seeing the man so animated in his performance. Maybe it really was the presence of an audience.

Nevertheless the man needed a break; surely anyone would agree. What the Soldier didn't expect was to run into Eddie while the latter took said break. Not did he expect the question.

"Do I want to what?" Had he heard Eddie right?

Truth: After this adorable dance with Soldier <3

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve watched Eddie spinning around and dancing with the big, buff dude who definitely didn't have some real nice hair. And he wasn't jealous because he wasn't an idiot. Eddie was a social butterfly and Steve knew him well enough to not get bent out of shape about it. But watching him dance with someone did make him want that 'someone' to be him. Still, he waited until they were done before sliding an arm around Eddie's waist and spinning him into his arms.

"Mind if I cut in?"

Queen

[ziedrich_bearer]

Gladio looks up when the offer is given, and he frowns. Why does he know this kid?

"You Harrington's partner? Shouldn't you ask him?"

Billy Loomis | OTA

[directors_cut]

It wasn’t quite the sort of party Billy was used to, more the sort of thing their parents might indulge in if there had been more wine flowing. But it was at least the most people he’d seen together and so he tried to put on a good face, making the rounds so he could get to learn as much as he could while people had their guards down.

The drone show was like something out of science-fiction, and Billy starred up at the sky like he couldn’t quite believe it was actually playing out in real life. It was perhaps the most alien thing he’d seen in this place so far, and it wasn’t actually alien in nature at all.

“How are they doing that?” he asked, gesturing to the sky, wanting to understand the movie magic at work.

[target_audience]

The beach was nice. Birthdays were nice. There was even cake! And Stu could be a polite young man, all of his parents' friends said so, mostly out of courtesy because they could see he was trying very hard and when they could see him through the windows in the backyard where he thought he was alone, he was throwing himself into bushes and hitting things with sticks. He hadn't, unfortunately, found a stick yet to work out that energy. What he did find was a bunch of freely available alcohol, that he was just left alone with to consider like he was any kind of connoisseur, lifting a glass to the light to watch the familiar red swirl inside curiously. Eddie had warned him about that red juice.

"Doing what?" he asked, loud suddenly in Billy's ear as he pressed up against his back and draped an arm over his shoulder to present a red glass against his chest. "You're seeing stuff, man, someone must have slipped something in your drink." Stu nipped at his ear before he eased off at all, to sip innocently from his own colourful juice.

[mrsklover]

Richie looked over at the question and smirked. Ah. Someone from earlier times. Richie couldn't place the time frame from his look alone, considering he could still be from any universe. The hair though...yeah. Richie had some hunches.

"Drones, probably," he said with a shrug. "Little flying plane shit with lights. Honestly, out of all the stuff I've seen since I've been here, that is probably some of the most normal. Pretty fucking cool though, right?"

The guy looked new, at least to Richie. He offered a smile and his hand. "Richie Tozier. Don't think we've met."

[buildingitsir]

"Drones," comes the quick answer. No, down here. York stands there, hands in his hoodie as his teal eyes flick from the drones above to the newcomer. There's some space between himself and the new guy because he learned his lesson with his sharp mouth and that vampire girl.

He shifts a little. "It's an unmanned aerial vehicle. People use them to make stuff like that," with a little gesture towards the drones above before tucking it away again, "or to take pictures or videos of things.

"I guess it's not something where you're from? You wouldn't be the first, we got shitheads from the 80s in this city."

Tommy Shepherd | Open of course

[doubled_speed]

I. Green Is In This Season

White might be his hair color but that doesn't mean Tommy's going to show up in it. Sorry Jan, and double sorry Steve if it mattered to you. This is one guy that invests all of his replicator rations on supplementing the food stores, so wasting time on clothes he would wear for only one day seems silly. So everyone is going to have to live with him in yellow shorts and a green tank top. Sometimes that's just how it goes.

(Plus wearing something to remind his boyfriend of what the date was probably wasn't high on his priority list.)

At least he shows up though. Shows up to support a fellow Avenger (whose birthday always seemed too convenient), and he isn't hogging the buffet table. What he is doing is sitting under one of the pagodas, enjoying the shade, considering the music.

"I have to wonder what they gave the metal head to learn music like this," he chuckles as he listens to the music. Dancing? Yeah, he'll probably pass. This is not music anyone can dance to!

II. The Truth Will Set You Free

Of course getting Tommy to come to an event like this means there has to be some form of bribery that is going to please him. And the drinks? Well, that's a perk. Sure, none of them can actually get him tipsy, but sometimes it's nice to drink something that tastes pleasant.

So, of course, true to fucking fashion, he fails to anticipate that the name of this one might be a little on the nose. Why can't he just start to expect this shit?

"Okay," he says without even prompting in a full on burst of honestly, "but is it even his birthday? Like, not going to judge if it really is. But come on. Captain America. Coincidentally born on the fourth? Seems like government just mocked that up as something fake. I am so sure we had a thing for him in September once. What's up with that?"

ii

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve happens to be listening in on this, of course. Normally, he wouldn't eavesdrop - it's rude - but it is sort of relevant to him, after all. "Might be from the whole multiversal thing, I don't think we're all born on the fourth. But no government conspiracies here, sorry."

I

[farrahfawcetts]

"Head, mostly," Steve answers with a wink as he moves to sit next to Tommy. He'd been meaning to talk to him for awhile and this was as good a time as any.

"He's doing really good though. I am gonna be requesting these songs for the rest of my life. He can do a sort of rock-ier version of Dancing Queen if he tries. It's not bad. I think he might have a real career in ABBA covers if the opportunity ever comes up."

Reeve Tuesti | OTA

[plate_builder]

I. Is This Justice?

The invitation is too nice to be passed up, and wonder of wonders, Reeve even manages to talk miss Lark into making him white linen pants to go with one of his dress shirts for the trip down to the beach. Reeve doesn't like the look altogether (he's wrong to not like it), but he is happy to arrive at the party, partake of some of the amusements, and even settle himself happily at a table to relax a little against the heat.

His mind is turning over the concept of 'the birth of a nation' as a concept, and while doing so he contemplates his own mocktail. Takes a sip. And pauses as he's lowering the cup. Because his vision, well... it's completely gone.

"Intriguing," he notes, surprisingly free of all sense of panic. Perhaps that comes from being from a world where magical blindness is not uncommon. "Either this is far more potent moonshine than expected, which is impressive as it was labeled non-alcoholic, or something unfortunate is going on here."

"Ah think it may be the latter," Mini noted from Reeve's side. "Cause ah can't see either."

"Intriguing," the man repeats, definitely not panicking now. Something like that should not transfer between their bond. So it's something strange acting upon him that is magically transferred. Yep, he wishes he had a way to investigate this.

II. Skylights

Thankfully the lack of vision fades well before the evening sets. Not that additional darkness would bother Reeve. For now he is just pleased to be enjoying what is gracing the skies.

"Magical. Like little stars. Clearly they are some form of drone technology. But the synchronicity is rather impressive," he says, pleased with the display going on in the sky.

"I wonder as to the power draw of such a creation. Does it help compensate for the inherent polluting efforts of fireworks, from the emission of smoke and other gasses, as well as compensate for the trash generated? And the reduced noise pollution could be useful for those with PTSD..."

Leave it to Reeve to bring boring science into all of this.

JUSTICE!

[mrsklover]

Richie did NOT show up in white. He did not own white. He has a light yellow shirt button-up that has some white polka-dots on it and he's wearing that over his new 'GLADIO WAS RIGHT' shirt. Best he could do when he wasn't trying very hard. But seeing Reeve, he sort of wished he had. The guy looks...really fucking nice in those pants. He shows up late but sidles right up to his boyfriend, unaware of the blindness that's taken him over.

"You...look good enough to eat, sweetheart." He nips at Reeve's ear and then looks at the drink he has. "Oooh. What's this? Any good?" He reaches over to take it himself.

Gladio | Open

[ziedrich_bearer]

I. No Plus One

It takes a lot to get Gladio to concede anything to the exercise of 'fashion' as it were. Especially for dark colors to not be involved. They were the colors of the Lucian royal house, and part of the colors of his own. The good news is, he at least respects requests when they're put on formal invitations like this. Which means breaking out some white leather pants, foregoing a shirt entirely (it's Gladio, what is to be expected), and hoofing it down to the beach. Maybe he doesn't know the birthday person well, or Abba, but there's value to socializing and thereby building bonds between comrades.

Especially when it can help him pass yet another day of waiting for Noctis to come back from whatever sleep he's gotten up to on the Agrii ship. Gladio's gotten used to them now. Noctis is just gone for a month and then he shows back up.

It's taking longer this time. He's been telling himself it's okay. It's got to be okay. Everything better be okay.

So, you know, gotta pass he time. Which tonight means showing up, sampling some of the foods, and happily taking dance invitations from any one offering them.

Though no one will ever get him to try that cake. Sorry Jan.

The whole time, though, he looks... wistful. And his eyes keep slipping into the distance. Clearly his mind isn't fully here.

II. Fantastic Fight

Why is no one ever allowed to have a party without things getting weird? It feels like that just happens to be the way the world works around here. Which Gladio doesn't approve of. He'd been only sort of enjoying himself and now there were little hermit crab things coming out of the shells and ambling towards light sources. Which was annoying enough for Gladio given he's donned a whole mess of glowing necklaces and bracelets.

But then of course there has to be the sound of a large creature in the water. With a sigh Gladio walks away from the nearest shell that is after some pretty light. Other people can probably avoid those easy enough. Instead his hand reaches out to the side and there is a flash of blue light and the tinkling sound of crystals as he summons his sword to hand.

"Stay back from the water, shed your lights," Gladio suggests as he passes someone. "I'm going to distract whatever the big thing is."

Because hey, even without his King here, he's always putting himself between others and danger.

Fight with Help!

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve doesn't go far without one of his weapons. Tonight he figured that his bat would be enough. What could happen at a party, right? Yeah. He should know better. He left it over in a dark corner while he had fun, but now that Gladio is up and starting to put out orders, he is in action. Steve retrieves the bat and wishes he'd been a little less optimistic about tonight's activities.

"Hey," he calls over to Gladio as he stands next to him. He throws off whatever lights he has on still and swings the bat in a small circle to limber up his wrist. "You're not doing it alone. Let me help."

Birthday Boy ✪ Open!

[pursuitofcappiness]

▸ Cake

This cake is. Not good, really. Soggy in parts somehow, crunchy in others. The taste is suspect, but when Tony and Jan had presented it to him, his heart had fluttered in his chest a little and shown through the big smile cracking his face. He'd already been so touched by the party, which was entirely a surprise to him, but the cake really made it.

He takes a bite and.

It's a good thing that he can't be poisoned, as he tries to enthusiastically eat more of it. "It's um. It's great!" He's trying.

▸ Drinking

Steve had wanted to try a little of everything, which turns out to have been a mistake. He'd just been nursing a mocktail, looking up at the beautiful display of drones, feeling so lucky that he has amazing friends. Only, right now, he can't really see much of anything, as it seems to have all turned dark. "Hello?" he asks, as he tries to move around slowly so as to now bowl anyone over if he runs into them.

Maybe too late. "I'm so sorry - could you help me get to a table?"

▸ Dancing?

Later into the night, Steve can be found on the dance floor, awkwardly, because he's not much of a dancer! He's definitely a bit of a wallflower out here, content to watch as everyone else has a good time. If anyone asks him to dance, he looks surprised, even, as if he's sure that they don't really know what they're signing up for.

Drinking

[work_wife]

Wow, you'd think that a big, coordinated, superhero sort of guy wouldn't be the sort to bowl into some clumsy teen, right? Especially not the one that he's talked into the morning running (and she still groans over that, it's too hot Steve, can't they just not run). She knows he's coordinated. But this is... weird.

"You okay?" she asks, but she is moving toward a table.