so shine bright tonight.

[america]

Who: steve rogers (starspangle), peggy carter (revlon) and some of peggy's closest friends (u kno who u are)
What: peggy's birthday is on the 9th, but they're celebrating on the 8th with an intimate dinner
When: april 8th
Where: at the rogers-carter residence
Warning(s): possible cavities from the sheer sweetness of this entire event tbh

❚❚❚❚❚ i. ARRIVAL [ It's the weekend and it's just a couple of days before Peggy's birthday. Steve Rogers has never hosted a party before, let alone a party for his partner, but life is all about trying new things and being the best boyfriend (hard to think of himself as such, still, even after all of these years, but he likes the feeling) he can be, and Steve takes both of those things very seriously. So he sends out invitations and makes plans - nothing fancy, nothing big, because everyone's just survived one of the worst events since crash-landing on this planet, and also because he knows Peggy isn't the kind of woman who relishes in big, flashy parties. He certainly isn't. A quiet dinner with her closest friends feels right. The small, cozy apartment is well-lit and tidy. When you enter, you come up a small set of steps to enter the main space - a kind of living-dining room combined. It's cute and comfortable and somehow reminds you of an older time without actually being dated. There are a couple of poetry books stacked on a side-table by the couch, and leaning against it is the possibly familiar, but very much noticeable circular star-spangled shield. Around the room you'll find drawings on the wall - sketches, meticulous and detailed but with a loose, free spirit - of the New York City skyline, Brooklyn, the Empire State Building. There's a delicious scent coming from the kitchen area. If you brought a gift, or some wine, you can leave it at the table with the single bottle placed there already and make yourself at home. Chat it up with the host, or with other party guests until the guest of honour arrives. ] ❚❚❚❚❚ ii. DINNER [ Considering the smallness of the space, it makes a little more sense for guests to grab food from the 'buffet-style' arrangement set out on the dining table and find any place to settle and eat. Soft music plays in the background, something jazzy and a little big band-y. There are enough plates and cutlery to go around (thank God), and there's more than enough food and drink too. Most of the ingredients are very similar to Earth's, but still manage to have a ... strangeness to them that feels uncanny. It's the alien-ness of this place. Thankfully it doesn't affect the taste. Steve's made some assortment of meat, stew, rice, and salad - not combined, don't worry. It's very vaguely Japanese-ish, if only because his culinary sensei happens to be You Watanabe, but he's picked up a couple of tips from some of the locals too. He's no Gordon Ramsay, but he's a good student and the food should taste pretty decent. Cake (bought at a local Olympian bakery) will be served at the end. ] ❚❚❚❚❚ iii. A LITTLE WINE, A LITTLE COFFEE [ After dinner, guests are welcome to mingle and stay for however long they'd like. Music continues to play, and everyone should feel happy and full. It's a pleasant night and the company is delightful too. At one point, Steve will offer guests coffee or maybe some of that wine from earlier - he's not entirely sure where it came from but it seems all right, and while Steve can't get drunk from it, it tastes fine enough. ] ❚❚❚❚❚ iv. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE [ more of an ooc note, but! please feel free to leave your own top-levels and mingle amongst each other! these prompts are really, really general and are mostly meant to set the tone of the party. pick a prompt and play with it, take some cues and make your own, etc etc.! if you have any questions, absolutely feel free to hit me up! pls have fun and wish our best girl a happy birthday! ]

Comments

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Boys. Glad to see some things are universal: they're easy to get riled up when you talk about their girls. Claire bites back the grin that threatens to appear on her face.]

So, clearly, you need your practice.

[phykios]

You don't want me stepping on your toes either, believe me.

[ okay, he'll let his hands drop now. but he's still! standing back! ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[He has a point, given that she's wearing gloves to keep the state of her fingertips under wraps, and... well, she's sure he ate about twice his weight in food.

And yet? She's not giving up.]

What if I ask nicely?

[phykios]

[ she never does seem to give up..... ]

Are you actually going to take no for an answer?

[ SERIOUS QUESTION ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[To be fair, it does look like she gives it some serious thought before replying.]

Probably not, no.

[phykios]

It'd be a first.

[ he has to admit, raising his eyebrows.

which is.

as much of a yes as she's going to get. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Come on.

[With a wide smile, Claire grabs his arm to give him a little pull to a spot where no one is in danger of knocking into any furniture.]

Now, don't you step on me so I let you escape. Accidents are all right, though.

[phykios]

[ gooooods FINE, he'll let her steer him over there. at least it's a little out of the way, too. it's a small enough gathering that he's not, like, worried about being noticed or anything, but out of the way is still better than right in the middle or anything. ]

I wouldn't step on you on purpose, [ he protests. especially not after what she's been through, geez.

he's going to.......carefully take her hands??? help. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Haven't you ever been to a school dance?

[Percy, p l e a s e. Claire moves one of his hands to her waist and sets hers on his shoulder.]

[phykios]

[ thank you, claire......at least once they figure out hands, he has an idea of what to do. slow dances are, thankfully, not too tricky.

anyway, he shrugs. ]

The only time I danced at one, it wasn't even my school. And we weren't there for the dance anyway.

[ that explains everything, clearly. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[There we go. See, it's easy once you know where to put your hands.]

Well, considering I had to practically beg you... I can see why.

[She smiles.]

[phykios]

Gee, thanks.

[ that's incredibly rude!!!!! ]

See why it was a bad idea to ask yet?

[ though he actually has managed to not step on her toes, so...small mercies. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

You're welcome.

[Claire laughs. Not too common of a sound these days, but he tends to get it out of her with ease.]

Percy, you're doing fine. I don't know what you were so worried about.

[phykios]

[ he was so worried about hE DOESN'T DANCE, OKAY! this is totally reasonable.

which he conveys by making a face. ]

So how was, uh, Wyver?

[ see dancing is awkward!!! making...conversation....while avoiding stepping on people, it's tricky. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire frowns. That might clue him in on her trip.]

Humid. [She doesn't like humid.] I'm glad to be back. It was only a brief visit to some friends... and a reminder of why I favor this city. It's troublesome, though, having the people I care about spread so far apart.

[phykios]

I know what you mean.

[ a beat. then: ]

Not about the humidity. But I know some people who live over there, only I almost never see them. We could use some of those transporters just to get around down here.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[She nods. There aren't too many--Loras and Daenerys, mainly--but perhaps more, soon.]

Sansa's brother, Jon, has been spending a lot of time there lately. I think he might make it his new home.

[Surely it's no easy decision, choosing between a lover (apparently?), and his sister, but Claire would miss him living in the house. At least Sansa didn't seem too keen on staying in Wyver.]

I might have no choice but to make the trip there more often.

[phykios]

[ claire mentions sansa, jon, wyver, and that reminds percy of one of those accidental messages all at once. ]

Oh yeah, Sansa said something about her brother hanging out in Wyver with a friend lately.

[ a ""friend"" ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire opens her mouth to respond, and then shuts it. Her brow furrows. Wait, what?]

You know Sansa? Sansa Stark?

[phykios]

[ he laughs. ]

Know is a little generous, but yeah, we talked when messages were going haywire. I promised to come by and meet her sometime.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[This is the best news Claire's heard in a while, and she smiles brightly.]

Really? That's wonderful. Sansa is an absolute joy. I'm glad you stumbled into her, and she you.

[phykios]

[ he hadn't expected claire to be so excited about it, but he isn't exactly going to complain. ]

Yeah, she's nice. [ then, ] Actually? She was trying to reach you. Something about a dress for Wyver...I guess she had the chance to ask you about it later.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Ah, right. Claire makes a bit of a face. She's going to assume Sansa didn't send any pictures of herself in any dresses to B O Y S.]

She did. Sansa is from a place that's very cold, so... there's a bit of adjusting needed for Wyver.

[phykios]

[ she didn't gosh!!! ]

From what I've heard about Wyver, [ mostly from claire tbh, ] I can see why.

[ a beat, then, ]

I've been thinking of heading over there sometime, myself, now that things are quieter. [ for now goes unsaid, but anyway. it's been long enough since the kidnappings and rescues that he wouldn't feel so stressed about something happening the second he leaves olympia or anything. ] Not, like, for good, but I've never even seen the place.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Oh?

[It's that oh? of not really liking the idea, clearly, but Claire reminds herself that Percy can take care of himself just fine. She knows this. He's not a typical young man.

See? She tries.]

I wish you would have spoken up earlier. I would have gladly taken you with us on our visit.