A Charity Gala to End Whatever Important Thing

[ngm_miscellaneous]

New York City high society had been absolutely buzzing over this April's charity gala by a certain Mr. Tony Stark. It was seen as exclusive, or as exclusive as his 200 person guest list could be. Some invitations were a given, like Tony's daughter Alexa, whereas others came from what the party planners figured as the right people to make the party memorable or talked about.

The charity event was for the charitable arm of Stark Inc., Stark International. Despite being for charity, it was also seen as a good way for businesses to be seen and network.

The event was held at the Hudson in the Library and Private Park space. It would comfortably fit the people into its 2,600 Square Feet.

Comments

Library 1

[ngm_miscellaneous]

The bar was in this half of the massive room. As well as the interior entrance and exit.

Library 2

[ngm_miscellaneous]

This half of the library was where the stringed quartet was playing. There was a small dance floor set up, but the space was mostly for mingling.

Library Garden

[ngm_miscellaneous]

Outside of the three french doors was an immaculately kept garden. The unseasonably warm weather at this time of year made the spot seem more welcoming.

[avengeriniron]

Carefully skirting the bar, Tony took up a position in the room with the musicians. As a general rule, he didn't particularly enjoy this sort of elbow rubbing, schmoozing. He was good at it, but he didn't have to like it.

He was on his best behavior tonight, making the rounds and drumming up funds for his latest charity venture.

[avengingwarbird]

The perks of being the daughter of one of the city's most illustrious magazine editors was that Roxie Danvers was invited to almost any important event in the city - after all, there was the fact that the events needed good write-ups, and with Roxie in attendance, there was no way that Carol Danvers' magazine could ignore the event. Of course, given who was throwing this party, Roxie would have been invited regardless.

She gently lifted the hem of her hot pink and black lace gown, ensuring that she didn't rip the delicate fabric, as she walked up to the bar and ordered herself a raspberry flirtini, twirling a lock of her honey blonde hair around a perfectly manicured finger.

Ever since Joe Rogers had entered Roxie's life, the Avenger had started feeling more herself. Enough so that she'd actually reverted back to her natural blonde hair colour. It was lovely, what a little bit of Olympian magic could do for a girl's hair colour.

She smiled and turned to the party, surveying the crowd. Many were faces she hadn't seen in awhile. This was her first party since the Kreenapping, after all, and it was a Roxie with a very different mindset from before who was gracing the event. No more crazy drunken antics this time - or ever again.

[stormy_skrull]

Mary was here in part as a representative of the Future Foundation. And the dress was actually real, rather than shapeshifted, which was a rare enough thing for her.

And then... great. Roxie. Of course she'd be here.

[avengingwarbird]

There was a time, not too long ago, when Roxie would have seen Mary and would have glared icy daggers at her, even insulted her. It was a Kree/Skrull thing.

That time had long since passed. Instead, Roxie smiled at Mary invitingly. They were, after all, colleagues, in a way, being superheroes. She wouldn't make the first move to walk over to Mary, though. Given the history of their people, Roxie didn't want to do something that could potentially come off as a threat and cause a scene.

Re: Library Garden

[hellfire_empath]

Brooke Wyngarde - she was seriously considering legally changing her name to Brooke de la Rocha - stood outside in the garden, a glass of sparkling pink champagne in her right hand. She breathed in deeply, and looked around, watching party-goers mingle. She saw Roxie Danvers off in the distance and grimaced lightly, turning away from her, even if there was something going on between Brooke and Roxie's brother Alexander.

She reached up to ensure that her updo was still in place and then gently smoothed down her beige and autumn red ballgown.

She'd texted Stephanie not five minutes ago and told her where she'd be. This would be the first time that she was meeting Stephanie's mysterious Brazilian boytoy, and Brooke wanted to make a good, elegant impression.

Given that, she drained her champagne and handed the empty flute over to the nearest waiter and waited.

Re: Library Garden

[pyroprincess]

Stephanie had an excellent native sense of direction and had homed in swiftly enough to the location where Brooke was, Marcelo on her arm- and the "lead" between them being highly dubious at best. Along the way, she'd acquired a glass of red wine with the sort of effortless aplomb that came with being a Shaw.

It was a fortunate thing too, because truth be told, she was not particularly enamoured with champagne. She tended to find white wines in general rather insipid.

Seeing Brooke, she smiled broadly and walked Marcelo over to her, the sight of the much smaller woman dragging along her boyfriend probably more than a little amusing.

"Brooke." Stephanie's face lit up as she got closer to her friend, exchanging the inevitable air kisses before a much more genuine hug. "You look absolutely stunning as always." She stepped back slightly, before gesturing towards Marcelo.

"And, at very long last ... Brooke, this is Marcelo. Marcelo, Brooke." She hoped the two would hit it off well. Tension between two people so key in her life was not something she needed. Frankly, she had enough problems as it was.

[vesper_verde]

Marcelo had scored his own invitation to this gala, but he was content to spend the beginning of it on Stephanie's arm. It allowed him to get a lay of the land to find people to talk with.

Of his tuxes, he picked his black Milan tuxedo, black pleated pant, white wing tip collared shirt, his pique vest, and a black bow tie. He grabbed a glass of whatever was wet and alcoholic on a tray while Stephanie grabbed her wine.

Then he got to watch the American high society woman's greeting in action. He covered his slight eyebrow raise with a drink of whatever he picked up.

"Brooke, a pleasure to meet you after hearing so much about you from Stephanie."

[frostfurlady]

It is a very nice garden, Danielle decides to herself. She's trying to keep an eye to make sure Bobbi's okay, but otherwise she absorbs herself in the garden and doesn't really notice Brooke and her people so much.

[the_next_avenger]

Joe arrived a bit later than he wanted, having had to find a suit after everything that had gone down not long ago. He adjusted his tie and walked into the building, keeping his eyes on things as he did.

He wasn't comfortable with high-society shindigs but Roxanne would be here, so Joe wanted to be supportive and friendly. Besides, it was a chance to be seen with her. He wasn't going to pass that up.

Re: Library 2

[iced_cherub]

Bobbi was staying by the wall after slipping away from Brooke, she felt under dressed in the green dress she wore, unused to dressing up as much as she had.

It was a grown up event, but she didn't mind, in her bag she had stuffed a sketchbook and was currently staying out of the way sketching the quartet. She shifted a little uneasily, her wings were hidden with the device she had been given, but she still felt worried about how others would react if they did get exposed. Getting up she tucked the book into her bag, and went to get a soda knowing most of the servers only had alcoholic drinks.

[legacy_of_evil]

Norman Osborn's entrance garnered several stares and many pictures from the paparazzi upon his arrival. They had questions, of course. How did he manage to cure Lupus? What was next for OsCorp?

All he did was smile and walk past them, not feeling inclined to engage in their inane banter or give them fuel for their idle gossip.

He entered the library and went to the bar. A drink wouldn't do anything for him but nursing a drink would make him seem human, wouldn't it?

Yes, he needed to seem human for a bit this evening.

[hellfire_empath]

Brooke smiled warmly at Stephanie and actually gave her best friend an honest hug instead of an artificial air-kiss. She stepped away from Stephanie and took Marcelo in, the gems in her earrings burning like rubies as she did so. "I concur," Brooke said, holding her hand out to Marcelo. "Meeting me is always a pleasure." Pause. "But it's good to finally make your acquaintance, after having thought for awhile that you were forever out of my friend's life and heart."

[avengingwarbird]

Roxie grinned at Joe and walked up to him, the delicate chiffon of her gown swishing gently. She held up a finger to Mary (not that finger), indicating that she'd be with her in a moment before wrapping her arms around Joe.

"I honestly didn't expect you to come," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "But I'm glad you did."

[the_next_avenger]

Joe smiled and kissed Roxie on the cheek in return, hugging her close.

"Seeing you smile was worth it. It's still a little weird but you're someone here that I know. And Mr. Stark is around here somewhere, too. So now I don't feel so weird. I think Sammy will show up, too." Joe said.

"You having a good time so far?" he asked.

[avengingwarbird]

"I just got here a few minutes ago, but it's nice so far." There were some stares and whispers, which were par for the course, considering the fact that this was Roxie's first social outing in awhile. She leaned into Joe, slipping her hand into his and squeezing it warmly. "Better when you're around, but that goes without saying." Roxie paused. "I realize that you've probably never met Alexa, Tony's daughter." Most people tended to call him Mr. Stark or Uncle Tony. Roxie was one of the few to just directly call him by his first name.

[encyclopediaofcrime]

Stella did the appropriate plus-one things: stay on Norman's arm and smile, mostly. Oh, and look pretty. She could do that.

[wateronthebrain]

Erin is enjoying herself a great deal. She likes the music and is letting some of the women who are old enough to be her grandmothers or dear aunts monopolize her time.

She is happily chatting away with one of them about school because the woman is actually a total sweetheart and Erin doesn't mind the questioning. The younger Avenger would like to get away for a break though.

She looks though the picture of a nice young lady in soft blue dress she had picked out. It wasn't the priciest thing in the room but Erin hadn't been going for a price tag. She wanted something understated so she wouldn't have to stand out.

[the_next_avenger]

"I...think I remember her. The short little redhead that always needed parts for her laser cannon?" Joe asked with a laugh. Any child of Tony Stark's was probably blessed with knowledge of mechanics. Joe had to learn the hard way and he was nowhere in the league of a Stark.

He held Roxie's hand as he looked around.

"So, who else should I know around here? I figure if we do this more often, I'm gonna run into the same people over and over, right?"

[stormy_skrull]

Okay, so Roxie had a new boytoy. Crap. She should probably know who that was, because he looked familiar. And she actually seemed to be fairly civil.

Had Roxie been replaced by a Skrull? Could she tell when people were Skrulls? Was that a thing that she did? Probably not.

[pyroprincess]

Stephanie kept up the smile, knowing that she was in public and it wouldn't do to create a scene, but internally, she was a bit annoyed with Brooke's comment. It was hard to tell what she meant by it (oh for Brooke's own empathic powers!) but it certainly didn't seem like the most seemly thing that could be said.

"Well, we fixed that little problem quite handily." She kissed Marcelo's cheek and gave his arm a squeeze. "Though he probably wonders where all the space in his place went." Stephanie's possessions had taken up a pretty alarming proportion of the space available at Marcelo's place. She'd also started turning part of the floor below Marcelo's place into a workout space, so she could keep sharp with her abilities.

[vesper_verde]

Marcelo smiled slightly. He couldn't tell if it was a dig or not. He let it go since if she hadn't known that Stephanie had continued caring for him after they had parted, there was a lack of communication on their part. It wasn't his business.

"I thought I had an idea of how much I was getting when I asked Steph to move in." He shrugged slightly, being careful to not dislodge his girlfriend from his arm. "I might have underestimated a little."

He spotted a familiar white-haired girl off into the garden. Marcelo tried to remember her name. First name was easy... a Danielle. Last name was foggy to him. Hrimsomethingorother was what came to mind. He didn't think that was right.

[avengingwarbird]

"I think that intermingling with some of the other city's heroes wouldn't be the worst place to start," Roxie said, waving Mary over.

She really wanted a fresh start with the Imaginaut, and though they hadn't had a ton of interaction lately, Roxie wanted to make amends. After all, the Kree turned out to be so far beneath the standard she'd always held them up to.

"You really don't mind all of this being part of your life, though?"