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

[phykios]

[ he's just going to raise his eyebrows at the oh?, almost as if in challenge -- or reminder. but he doesn't comment when she doesn't elaborate on that.

besides, if he runs into any monsters (or trouble, really) so much the better tbh. ]

I wouldn't have wanted to crash a family road trip anyway, [ points out, sounding a little amused. ] But thanks. If you have any tips, though, I'm all ears.

[ getting there.....where to go.....suddenly, claire becomes a travel agent ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

You wouldn't be crashing anything, Percy Jackson. [Too telling? Claire can't care too much, in a good mood and more relaxed than she's been in recent memory.]

I could see if the friend we stayed with would be willing to let you stay, if you'd like. Daenerys.

[phykios]

[ a little telling, yeah. he'd been referring to the starks -- sansa and her brother, and her brother's friend -- more than claire specifically, but in any case. ]

Daenerys. Ran into her up in Thesa not too long ago. [ it occurs to him now that she might be another person from the westeros sansa mentioned. she had that -- well, medieval-y demeanor. he thinks on that one, then asks, ] How long's it take to get there?

[ as in, is it far enough away that you have to stay somewhere once you get there, or ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Aren't you the social butterfly. I'm going to have to go down the list of people I know to see who you know, too.

[She knows mostly good people, and Percy is one of the best, so there's nothing terrible about that.]

Long enough that you'll want to have a place to retire. Daenerys won't mind it, I bet.

[phykios]

Honestly? I'm starting to think you just know everyone.

[ and, as theon had pointed out, obviously a doctor would.....y'know, know a lot of people. ]

You can ask, I guess, if you think so. But I'd be okay either way.

[ in case she's worried!!!!!!! ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[She gets around. Medically. Socially. She's in touch enough with innuendo to know to not say that, though.]

I've just been here a long time.

[Somehow it both feels like days ago she woke up, and years.]

I'll ask Daenerys. Her home is nice.

[phykios]

How long's it been? I don't think I ever asked you.

[ truthfully, percy feels much the same way, and he's among the newest here. it's less about time, and more about how much has happened since waking. ]

Thanks. I won't be too long. [ both as in: i won't crash at her place too long and don't worry about me leaving for so long. ] I just want to find out what I can about the cities. Both cities.

[ to keep things from getting too serious, he adds, ]

And I hear there are some great rivers out there.

[nineteenfortyfive]

About... [She keeps saying half a year, but that's not true, is it?] Well. It'll be a year in July.

[Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ. The thought is not a happy one, for a number of reasons, and so she focuses on keeping them moving and keeping the conversation moving as well.]

Wyver is much more incorporated with nature than Olympia. Just keep your promise not to be gone too long. It's already stolen Jon away.

[More like Daenerys, not Wyver, but close enough.]

[phykios]

Wow.

[ that's the longest he's ever heard of anyone being here, and he manages not to blurt that out. she probably doesn't need the reminder! and, anyway, claire does a good job of moving the conversation along. ]

I'll send you a postcard if I'm not back in a couple of weeks, [ he suggests, mouth twitching. as if he's planning to be gone more than a couple of days tops, really. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[The hand on his shoulder lifts to give him a light smack in the same spot. Nothing enough to hurt at all. Just punishment for being a--]

Brat.

[phykios]

No, really, [ he says, as if earnestly. ] It'll say Visit Scenic Wyver! and there'll be a photo of, like, a waterfall. Or a dragon.

[ a beat. ]

Maybe I'll send two instead.

[ a waterfall AND a dragon. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[If he stays with Dany, he'll meet Drogon. Claire considers telling him this--then doesn't. He can have the crap scared out of him by a dragon for all this cheek.]

Perseus.

[phykios]

[ WOWOWOW CLAIRE, that's incredibly mean payback js. ]

So that's a no on the waterfall picture?

[nineteenfortyfive]

If you're not back within two days, I will go to Wyver and drag you back by your ear.

[Said ear gets a yank from that hand on his shoulder. Dangerous, being in close proximity like that.]

[phykios]

[ he swats at her hand half-heartedly, but he's nowhere close and clearly not trying to be. ]

Geez. Okay, okay, two days. [ wait for it. ] Give or take.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Laughing, he gets the tiniest of shoves against his shoulder. All of it's in good fun and she's not actually upset with him. Just amused.]

You're terrible.

[phykios]

At least you like my sense of humor. There was this guy I talked to when the network went haywire, Theon, who kept telling me how dumb it is.

[ he says with a laugh, though, clearly unoffended. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Somehow, they've managed to keep the rhythm throughout all the playing around. The mention of Theon, however, has Claire abruptly stopping, and that would be her stepping on Percy's foot.]

Theon? Theon Greyjoy?

[That's definitely not the joy she expressed at him knowing Sansa. Quite far from it.

And no, she doesn't realize she's on his foot.]

[phykios]

[ well that was abrupt. ]

Ow! Claire, can you move? [ PLEASE....spare his foot....... and also: ] How many Theons do you think there are around here?

[nineteenfortyfive]

Oh! Sorry! [SHE HURT HER BOY. Claire hops back, frowning.]

Sorry, I just didn't expect you to bring him up.

[phykios]

[ SHE HASN'T EVEN GOTTEN HIM STABBED, on a scale of one to annabeth she's doing fine.

he has to suppress the urge to take a step back himself, frowning instead. ]

What's the big deal? He seemed fine. I mean, not too friendly [ tbh ] but whatever.

[ the mention of grumpy people doesn't usually startle other people, he means. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

He's just--[A lot.]

Hes just a troubled young man. I wouldn't be surprised if most of his conversations didn't turn into arguments.

[phykios]

[ which explains absolutely nothing. squints!! ]

So, what, you don't like him?

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Quickly, Claire shakes her head.]

No, I do. [Even if she shouldn't.] I care for him very, very much. But I know how he is. How he can be.

[phykios]

Claire, he was fine. We talked about, like, bad jokes and you. [ a beat. ] How we both know you, I mean. Nothing happened.

[ in before things suddenly take a turn in that thread BUTNO. ]

What do you even mean, how he can be? You can't just be talking about arguing with people.