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

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.

[wearingthestars]

Both of them probably needed this, and each of them was in some way going to make the other happy. But Billy had been enjoying himself, especially when Soldier had consented to a dance. It felt...normal. Carefree fun.

It was strange how quickly everything could switch. He heard Soldier's voice, tried to orient to it without much success. He flinched at the touch before realizing it was Soldier, turning to seek comfort in his familiar presence. He was trying very hard not to let his fear cause his magic to take over.

"I can't see," he breathed, hating how vulnerable he felt.

[sinistral]

Hopefully Billy would recognize the weight of the metal appendage, the segmentation of each plate. The solidity of the limb, pressing Billy against the Soldier's body. The solidity of that body, ready to stand between Billy and danger.

"Breathe," he suggested. "Close your eyes, three deep breaths just for me." Then they could confront the problem.

[wearingthestars]

Holding on fast, Billy's whole world narrowed down to Soldier, and while it didn't change what he saw, he listened to Soldier's words and shut his eyes. The illusion that the blank void was his choice helped calm him enough to breathe, each breath a little less shaky than the last.

"...I'm okay," he murmured. Still blind. But not spiraling.

[sinistral]

The Soldier held Billy close through the breathing exercise, arm still firm around his waist, other hand cupping the back of his head. Protective, and looking around for anything that might have caused the condition.

Unfortunately, nothing obvious leaped out at him.

"You're okay," he repeated softly, a reassurance. "Keep your eyes closed, I want you to focus on your body. Head to toe think about each part, tell me if anything else feels weird."

[wearingthestars]

Running through a mental check list, Billy hesitated, struggling to work out what might simply be anxiety versus anything alarming in a different way, ultimately shaking his head. "...A little dizzy, I guess. But that could be the vision loss. Or the drinks."

He wasn't sure what he would have done if Soldier hadn't been here. A lit up hand passed in front of his face again with no change. "It's glowing, right?"

[sinistral]

"But nothing wrong feeling. Not like the rage bug," he clarified, because the loss of sight was clearly wrong. The Soldier was prepared to battle whatever he had to battle in order to keep Billy safe. "Did you have anything strange to eat or drink?"

He reached up to grab that hand with his right, tangling their fingers together. "It's glowing. Blue."

[wearingthestars]

"No. Nothing. Nothing like that," Billy confirmed, and despite his fear there was a grateful sigh. So long as he stayed calm he wouldn't hurt anyone. "I um- no- I just- the same as everyone else? I ate at the buffet, I had one of those cocktails, I don't-"

He squeezed Soldier's hand and let it bring him back down.

[sinistral]

"Good." They'd deal with a rage bug if they had to, or any other kind of outside influence. But the Soldier feels thankful that they might not have to face that kind of situation tonight.

He keeps a tight hold on Billy's hand, thinking. "We ate the same foods, right?" Not that the Soldier had truly eaten but he'd sampled a few morsels from Billy's plate.

With his arm still firm around Billy's waist he guided his partner in small steps to the side of the pathway. "I can think of two things we can try. One might help you. The other would be only to distract you. What feels right for you?"

[wearingthestars]

"I think so, yeah," Billy replied after running over the memories in his head. Soldier hadn't really had a lot, but he'd tasted a few things.

It took a few steps for Billy's trust in Soldier to truly allow him to walk without being sure every step was going to swallow him up.

"That's not a lot of context," he noted with a small laugh, and that was a good sign at least. "Distraction? Maybe?"

[sinistral]

"If I gave you context, it would ruin the surprise." Because framing it as a voluntary surprise might help a little, give some illusion that this was by choice.

"We are going to dance again," the Soldier explained. "But you have to keep your eyes closed and trust me to lead you." So, slow dancing, with the Soldier's arm around Billy's waist. Where Billy could lean his head against the Soldier's chest, close and safe.

[wearingthestars]

It was exactly the sort of thing that would help distract Billy, and smiled, a bit bashful at how predictable he was, but eager for another go at dancing.

"I trust you," he confirmed softly, keeping his eyes closed and pretending it's by choice. Just a romantic dance, nothing to be scared of.

[sinistral]

Predictable wasn't a bad thing, at least in this instance. It meant that the Soldier could provide a distraction Billy would enjoy. And he knew that these small gestures meant a lot to his partner.

"I know you do," he murmured quietly, leading Billy into a slow sway together. "I like that I can give this to you."

[wearingthestars]

Smiling, Billy lets his body follow Soldier's lead, and once he gives himself over to it, it's nice. He wanted to do this again when neither of them was scared. Just for fun.

"You're a good dancer. Feels like you are at least."

[sinistral]

"You're biased." They were just swaying in time to the music, nothing special. Though the Soldier supposed it was special simply because he wanted to do it, wanted to willingly hold Billy close regardless of who might see. These gestures meant a lot to Billy, and he committed himself to try to follow through with more of them.

He took Billy's hand in his, squeezing it gently. The other arm was still firm around his waist. "Focus on my arms, on the feeling of them. What can you tell me about how I hold you?"

[wearingthestars]

"And blind," he added with a teasing smile, but it meant a lot, that much was clear. "People don't dance like this anymore, you could just spin me in a circle and I'd be impressed.

He tried to focus, biting back a more sappy answer in favour of something practical, guessing that's the direction Soldier was meaning with his question. "...I can feel where you want me to go. Never really got how people lead when you'd see a couple dancing, felt like playing with a Ouija board, but I think I get it now...And I feel safe." He couldn't fully hold himself back from a bit of sap.

[sinistral]

"That is what I want you to feel." The Soldier shifted subtly, pressing with the hand at Billy's waist pulling with their clasped hands. It took them in a slow circle together, a subtle little turn. "You're reacting by feel, moving your body to keep moving with me. This translates to our fight training as well; the same instincts will help you react to a physical assailant."

He chuckled softly at that last statement, squeezing Billy's hand again. "You know I will keep you safe."

[wearingthestars]

He laughed softly, and smiled as Soldier translated it into terms more familiar to fighting. But he liked imagining a time when Soldier was still free- dancing ad having fun. He bet all the girls wanted him, and wondered if he had been a flirt back in the day. He saw bits and pieces of that from time to time.

"Am I doing okay?" he asked, sure he must not look as smooth as it felt, but still he was enjoying himself. "Can we do this again when I can see your face?"

[sinistral]

Billy should hit up Steve if he wanted stories about the man who used to be Bucky Barnes. The Soldier remained unaware of that desire to learn more however — possibly a good thing.

"You are adjusting. Your movements now are smoother than when we started, as you become more familiar with this. But I could still surprise you." A dip then, just halfway down with the Soldier's arm firm around Billy's waist. No danger of even a tiny slip, much less a fall. "We can do this again. Perhaps on our own, not at a public celebration."

[wearingthestars]

Billy wants any eventual story to come from Soldier, ones he remember or is ready share. He know how defensive he can be about his past, and learning it without him feels like cheating.

"Maybe you'll have some muscle memory for those old dances?" People used to dance more back then, right? We could dress up?" He laughs in surprise at the dip, hands jumping momentarily to clutch at Soldier despite his trust. It felt far deeper than it was, and he flushes, still laughing.

[sinistral]

Maybe someday he would get more of the story. Maybe someday he'd even ask Billy's help in trying to recover the missing parts of his memory.

"Maybe," he answered, though privately the Soldier felt that the memories he retained most clearly were the ones involving death. He didn't wish to upset Billy by mentioning it. "Or perhaps I'll simply turn us in a circle until the song is over."

[wearingthestars]

"That's good too. Long as we're having a good time." His cheek was warm against Soldier's chest, and after a pause he asked a question that was immediately clear how he'd jumped to.

"...would you miss me? If I was gone?" All this time here while others came and went. Billy was worried his time could be up any day. He didn't want to forget this. Didn't want to be forgotten.

[sinistral]

"As long as you're feeling more comfortable. Billy was the one in distress, not the Soldier. This was all about making sure Billy felt comfortable until his sight returned.

He frowned at the turn of Billy's thoughts though. How long had such a worry been plaguing him? "Of course I would miss you. You are important to me."

[wearingthestars]

"I feel good when you feel good," he mumbled in soft protest.

Soldier's answer was reassuring, though didn't fully stop his worry. Maybe he was bringing it up now because it spared him having to see Soldier's reaction to his fears.

"...I know I am. I'm scared of losing you...of not remembering you. I'm scared if I get sent home you'll close off again."

[sinistral]

"Nope. You're the one who cannot see. This is about you." Billy would insist the same, if the tables were turned.

The frown deepened at Billy's further explanation and the Soldier brought Billy's hand in to brush his lips across Billy's fingertips. For them being in public, it was a daring move for him.

"I have made some friends here." Some of them with Billy's help. "I would not turn them away. But it might take me a long time to want to trust another the way I trust you. That is not a bad thing."