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

[revlon]

[ She shoots him a look that's both knowing and fond as if to say, Of course I do. You're one of them, aren't you? ]

I've been unusually lucky in that regard, yes.

[ It's not that this is unlike her; it's just that she remembers the long, dark months after the war when she closed herself off from the rest of the world and buried herself in work — which wasn't fulfilling, either. But she'd kept people at a distance out of grief and some (admittedly dramatic) notion that it would be better, safer, to do so. She'd thought about doing that here too.

But people seem to have a habit of working their way under her armour and into a heart so full, it may burst. And almost all of them are here. ]

If left to my own devices, I think tomorrow would have passed like any other day. [ She exhales with a softer smile, glancing off to the side where Steve is standing, laughing at something someone's said. ] But he had other ideas.

[ He'd been imprisoned and tortured only two weeks ago and he still managed to put this together — for her. If she had a bit more to drink, she might tear up at the thought. But Eggsy's already endured enough of that from her. ]

[tailorable]

[ To say it's an honour to know Peggy and be known by her in return is an understatement. He doesn't quite have the words to say it, so he lets the opportunity to do so pass — this time

Hard not to beam at her response and stolen glance at Steve, regardless. ]

I'm glad you've got him back. [ Again, goes unsaid, but it's obvious how much she loves him and how good he is to her, too. Perhaps childishly, Eggsy finds the happy couple to be uniquely reassuring — given both his upbringing and shared vocation with Peggy, even if his own, ah, contractual obligations leave him apart from intimate relationships, for the time being. His voice lilts, teasing. ] And that he's enough of a little shit to get the jump on you.

[ Has anyone referred to the present Steve Rogers as "little" before? Eggsy attempts to capture some of that same element of surprise and twirl Peggy under his arm. ]

[revlon]

[ Eggsy calls Steve Rogers "little" and she thinks, You have no idea. If he ever snooped through her things in this apartment (as he did with her handbag the first night they met), he'd likely uncover a black and white photograph of a scrawny young man who bears a strange resemblance to the broad-shouldered captain in the kitchen. And that's a story she can't tell no matter how much she trusts her partner-in-espionage. ]

I'm glad too. Although I can't believe I didn't see this — [ she's saying, when he abruptly guides her into a twirl, and she starts laughing; it starts uncoordinated but she rights herself in the end. ] — coming! Eggsy. [ She punctuates his name with an ineffectual smack to his chest, playful more than anything else. For God's sake, she's in poor form tonight. But with the way she's shaking her head in amusement, it doesn't seem to bother her now. ] I take it your arm is feeling better, then?

[ Hers is nearly completely healed, which is... bizarre, to say the least, and precisely why she's keeping the bandages on for now. She's not ready to explain that. ]

[tailorable]

[ At first, he laughs, equally delighted by her smooth correction and playful rejoinder. Then, he makes a noncommittal noise. His check-up had assured him the worst was over. Burned skin has become merely sensitive — in need of coverage and rest, with strenuous activity off-the-table. Of course, the occasional pang shoots up his arm when he acts impulsively to impress some girl or other, like right now.

As they fall back into step, he amends: ]

Definitely better, but it's a work in progress. [ Seeing as he lies enough as is, it seem wise to be honest about this particular issue. ] Been following the doctor's orders for once in my life. [ Partially because seeing the concerned look on some of his dear friends' faces had been like being doused with icy water. They all looked too much like his Mum, when he joined the Marines. ] And yourself?

[ well enough to dance, too, at any rate. ]

[revlon]

[ She doesn't take her attention off him, although the reflex does remain of wanting to draw his hand in for a closer look, even if it wouldn't do any good bandaged up as it is. But at least it's resting on her waist and not being taxed any further than that; but at the back of her mind, she wonders when Cree will next contact them to jump back into the field.

Peggy's smile softens and she offers him a gentle shrug of her shoulders. ]

The same, if not better. [ More or less. Her voice lowers reflexively; her part in the rescue is no secret, but two guests present were captives at the Institute. ] Then again, I only fired off two shots. Some of us were a touch more stubborn and kept going.

[ It's not a reprimand, not by half. She understands why he did it. But even standing here, swaying in her living room, she can still remember the way her stomach dropped when she saw him afterwards. She doesn't have to tell him how much he worried her, she's sure he's heard enough of it from others. ]

[tailorable]

[ Months ago, he would have quibbled with her. My pistol could take it, reinforced and modified as it was, but he knows that his hand couldn't. And if Harry had been awake, the reprimand he received for carrying home Athena (sick after the market explosion) in October would be a slap on the wrist in comparison to what he'd hear now.

Instead, he has the decency to duck his head, suddenly sheepish. It takes him precious seconds to muster a response, mouth hooking into a cheeky smile as he hazards a glance back up. His voice lowers, though his words could fit neatly within his cover story. ]

Remind me to tell you about the time I released a parachute with under 300 feet left before I hit the ground, just so my partner and I could land within the drop radius.

[ His determination to protect others had been at play then, too, though he doesn't admit that as freely. It's hardly as daring to say he wanted to ensure none of his fellow recruits became literal Eton messes. ]

[revlon]

[ Make no mistake, had she not made the equally foolish decision to hand her rebreather off to the people she was carrying out, she'd have had sterner words for him. But it would have been a case of the pot calling the kettle black and despite how different they are at first glance, Eggsy and Peggy do share significant similarities (the rest of their skillsets are complementary). It's probably why they work so well together.

She shakes her head again, her smile turning exasperated. ]

Honestly, I can't even muster my surprise. [ But then something twinkles in her eyes. ] But I'd probably do the same. I do miss the thrill of a jump. [ They're dancing near enough to the record player that the music drowns out the specifics of their hushed conversation. ] And if you'd told me back in '39 that I'd say such a thing, I'd have thought you were raving. But there's nothing else like it.

[tailorable]

[ A pinch of recklessness was necessary for their success, or it seemed that way at the time, at least. Their choices had been strategic, at least, not entirely stupid or emotional — certainly understandable, if nothing else. ]

I forget how retro you are sometimes, Carter. [ said lightly, with an amused lilt. It's part of her distinct charm. ] 'Course I'm definitely glad you got to give jumping a go before we started flying spaceships.

[ hoo boy, now that would be a leap without planes as stepping stones between earth and freefalling in pods from space. ]

[revlon]

Now that's a little too thrilling for my tastes, [ she huffs, amused. Maybe there's no such thing for her, but at the moment, she's glad to have the transporters fixed. Flying spaceships aren't her forté. ] Even compared to being under fire.

[ Flak lighting up the night sky, wondering if it will catch onto the delicate silk of your parachute. She's only done that a few times; more often than not, she's been dropped behind enemy lines on quiet nights — crucial to her success as an undercover agent. But they can trade war stories any other time.

Peggy turns them a little, almost as though she means to twirl again, but really it's to steer their knees away from the coffee table. This apartment isn't big enough for this, but they can manage with gentle swaying. ]

'Retro,' [ she repeats after a beat, wrinkling her nose a little with an equally amused cast to her voice. It's not the first time she's heard the word to describe how she is. ] I'll have you know there's no harm in being a little old-fashioned. Mr DeVere once implied that this sort of dancing wasn't done in your time.

[tailorable]

[ Without hesitation, Eggsy follows her lead, keen to avoid a misstep into her furniture.

Peggy says Mr DeVere, and somehow that makes it easier thank if she had said Harry or Mr Hart — easier, too, to think of the happy months spent in Olympia and not Harry Hart’s last moments on earth. His smile softens, tinged with just a touch of melancholy. The peculiarities of their relationship aren’t known to anyone, but Eggsy can’t help but appear fond. ]

Not so much in my circles, no. [ Certainly not in the London clubs. Dancing like this is reserved for more hoity-toity affairs, or for students at universities of a certain calibre, with reeling and Christmas balls to attend in their best frocks. ] Henry would’ve been chuffed to see us dancing.

[ He’d been pleasantly surprised when Eggsy knew how to dance at the gala, after practicing with Red and the locals for hours. It had impressed Margaery, too, which helped him see the appeal of it. ]

[revlon]

Is that so? [ She seems pleased to hear it. ] Well, for what it's worth, I happen to think you're doing marvellously. But that's just the opinion of an old woman.

[ Is that a wink? It may be.

It may be a remark about her birthday, but more than that, it's the fact that had it not been for the Orbiters, time would have separated this friendship — same Earth or not. She remembers her first conversation with Henry DeVere, the little tells that marked them from different points in history: His Majesty versus Her. Their chats afterwards, too, always so curious about how things were and how they'd changed. He was the first person to inform her that women gain a bit more respect down the line.

And he'd always been quick to stop her from selling herself short, even if that was part of her "humble secretary" cover. (One that he likely didn't believe given their encounter in a dark alley. She still wonders about that.) ]

I do miss him, [ she continues with a soft, fond smile. ] I always enjoyed our conversations. How did you two meet? I just realised I've never asked.

[tailorable]

[ Her nudge and wink warms his smile, even if the compliment colours his cheeks, grounding him in this happy moment instead of the empty space where Harry had been. The answer to her question comes easily, a cover story the Galahads perfected and shared, hewing as close to the truth as possible. ]

He knew my dad, when they were both in the Marines.

[ He leaves out the details of the relationship not for the sake of secrecy, but to maintain the breezy mood of the evening. Mentioning that Harry was there when his father died, that he delivered the medal of honour to Eggsy's home in person — that's information he would give Peggy freely on any other day. ]

And then he helped me out of a tight spot, as a favour to the family. We got closer after that.

[ All true, but all oversimplified in this setting. He wonders how much Harry had revealed of himself to Peggy and how much she surmised with all her cleverness. ]

[revlon]

[ She makes a knowing sound at that. ]

He did mention his time with the military when we'd met, although we didn't speak much about it afterwards — something about the "fun stuff" being classified. I know the feeling.

[ How much had she pieced together, indeed.

Henry DeVere, as he'd revealed himself to her, was a man in uniform before he hung it up and became a tailor. And not just any tailor, either: one who worked for the important and wealthy. They'd spoken of his travels for work, bonded over their love of New York and the culture found in her museums and theatres. But they'd also taken down a suspect in the middle of the night and chased him down through Olympia. The man had been more than reasonably fit, then, even if she didn't call attention to how well he'd handled the situation.

Neither did he focus too much on her doing the same. It had been interesting, to say the least. Because Eggsy had been a soldier turned tailor turned... well. It's a pattern she's considered before. But this is a party so she doesn't look too closely for now. So to explain it away, and to steer the conversation to something more easily overheard: ]

Michael was a captain with His Majesty's Armed Forces. He didn't tell me much about what he did out there, either.

apologies for the delay!!

[tailorable]

[ He's grateful that she doesn't push, seeing as there are only so many questions he can answer satisfactorily. And, perhaps even more selfishly, he doesn't think he could keep it together, if he discusses Harry for long. ]

You were still close, though, yeah? Was he much older than you?

[ He thinks siblings ought to be, from his limited experiences as a brother. Without a doubt, lying to his mum and Daisy will be one of the harder things he has to do for the job. ]

i will be here 5ever

[revlon]

[ His questions both earn a single nod, a slight smile. ]

By a few years, yes, but it didn't matter. He was my best friend.

[ They were all each other had growing up. Of course they had friends, their family — but Peggy was exasperatingly unusual as a child, precocious, preferred rough-housing with her brother in the garden rather than sitting inside with her mother like a lady-in-training. She slew imaginary dragons and rescued damsels and Michael, bless him, had played right along. And then the world tried to separate their parts to play and she let it.

And he went on to be the soldier and she convinced herself to marry one, instead. Then he was killed and she took up his flag. She believed, for so long, that she only did what he wanted her to do. But here, now? She realises it's what she was meant to do all along. He just knew it. ]

We drifted a little as we got older. I do regret that. And then he joined up with the army and — well, you can imagine how brave he was; clever as the devil too. And you wouldn't know it looking at him, but he was funnier than he let on. [ There's a pause and her expression softens as she adds, ] He knew me better than anyone else alive; better than I knew myself, if I'm being honest. I wouldn't be who I am now without him.