Chariots of Fire Are On Their Way

[hellfire_empath]

The American Museum of Natural History was set ablaze with lights and the mingling scents of exotic flowers perfumed the cool evening air. Brooke Wyngarde had put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into arranging for this soirée, and she was going to be damned if anyone was going to ruin it for her. After all, this was to welcome Stephanie Shaw da Silva and Marcelo Alencar da Silva back to Manhattan and, most importantly, receive them as a newly wedded couple.

Thus, Brooke had pulled out all the stops. Everyone who was anyone who knew the Shaws or the da Silvas had been invited (though Brooke had also dutifully chopped some of the more unsavory names off of her list). The food was a delightful blend of American-Brazilian-Spanish fusion. The cocktails were some of the most popular ones from Brazil, and only the finest Spanish wines were served. The music was live, big band-style stuff, because this was not some hideous high school Kiss on the Lips party. 

Brooke herself, being the hostess of the event, may have gone just a tad bit overglam when it came to her look for the night, but then she was certain that she was going to be gracing many a society page the next morning.

She needed to look great, and she certainly did as she stood next to the entrance of the Arthur Ross Terrace, receiving guests for the cocktail hour which would precede that night's dinner, directing them towards the guest sign-in book, the gift table, and everything else. 

She hoped, she prayed, that everything that night went off without a hitch.

After all, the supervillains only crash the weddings of the A-List superheroes, right? 

Comments

[pyroprincess]

"It more than suits our tastes. It's perfect, Brooke." Stephanie replied with a big grin, unable not to smile after seeing Brooke spontaneously hug Marcelo. Seeing Brooke either (hopefully) actually warming up towards Marcelo or at the very least making a real effort to do so was a gift fully equal to even this spectacular party.

"I could say the same about you. I'm amazed Alexander hasn't come to swoop you away yet." She teased softly, and then impulsively leaned over and kissed Marcelo. "But thank you." She looked over at the gathering crowd. "It seems like everyone is here. We'll have to do the rounds soon, darling." She smiled at Marcelo. "But maybe a drink and a little catch-up first?"

[call_me_phobos]

"Alexander had to deal with yet another last-minute alteration but he's here to enjoy the party before swooping up the beautiful woman who invited him." Alexander said as he walked up behind Brooke, smiling at Stephanie and Marcelo.

"Congratulations to both of you, by the way. You look beautiful, Stephanie. Marcelo, you look dashing as always." he said.

Alexander was wearing one of his own suits, an expertly-tailored gray suit with a black tie.

"How was your time away?"

[vesper_verde]

Marcelo did look surprised to be hugged. He hadn't been sure his Brazilian hospitality had made any inroads. Not that he didn't return the hug. That would have been plain rude.

He looked less surprised at the spontaneous kiss from his wife, however.

"This looks like it could rivals ones at home, Brooke. Thank you." He grinned as he slipped his arm around Stephanie's waist. "Anything you want,querida?"

He glanced toward the bar and did a doubletake. Did the bartender only have four fingers?

Then there was a dapper Alexander. Marcelo gave him a nod. "Good evening, Alexander. Thank you. Our time in Brazil was... relaxing and occasionally exhausting at the same time. A very good time." Him exhausting more than Stephanie.

[hellfire_child]

"We do all keep busy, don't we?" Alistaire's voice, sibilant and measured, cut through the air from behind Stephanie. For a change, he'd walked up fully visible. No sense spooking anyone at his dear auntie's gala event; not least of all because of the likely security.

"Barely was able to make it," he says, embracing Stephanie politely, and extending a hand to Marcelo. "Had some bad decisions of Shinobi's to clean up in Japan. Managed to pick up some appropriate gifts before coming back though." He smiles and nods to his date for the evening, a lovely woman, slightly taller than him, with a glint of steel to her expression. She opens a long and lacquered box, revealing a tea set and a sword. Both antique, and of exceptional quality and beauty.

Alistaire gives the couple a vulpine smirk. "Cutlery and crockery seemed traditional enough for the happy bride and groom."

[hellfire_empath]

Brooke leaned into Alexander, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek and beaming up at him. She seemed very in her element here, dressed to the nines and playing hostess to this decidedly upper crust soiree. Warmth radiated her from her, not in such a way to change the moods of those around her, but enough so that people felt it.

She was, genuinely, happy for Stephanie.

She was happier still that Alexander was there.

The warmth may or may not have dropped a degree or two.

A thousand snappy, bitchy retorts came to Brooke's lips and then died. She wouldn't snap at him or say anything bitchy. Not tonight. It was Stephanie and Marcelo's night, and Brooke wouldn't be the one to ruin it.

Besides, as the hostess, insulting one's guests simply wasn't done.

"Sharona," Brooke said to her personal maid, who was standing a safe distance behind her. "Be a dear and put Alistaire's gifts along with the others, won't you?"

She turned back to Alistaire and held her hand out to him. "Thank you for joining us, Alistaire." Which was as polite as Brooke could realistically get without having to lie to him.

[pyroprincess]

There was naught for Stephanie to do but graciously smile and exchange a hug with her nephew. She'd never be able to claim in a million years to approve of everything, or even most things, that Alistaire did or was but at the same time, there was the undeniable, sad fact that he was the only blood relative she actually had who wasn't trying to kill her or her husband.

And to be fair, the gifts he brought were lovely.

"Thank you for coming." Stephanie replied with a smile. "And thank you, I've always wanted cutlery in particular." Later, she'd have to quietly enquire as to whether the sword was primarily decorative or actually useful. Not that she couldn't make more devastating weaponry herself, but there was something about being able to practice with an instrument that didn't melt steel.

[call_me_phobos]

Alexander noted the new arrival and gave a polite nod of his head though he wasn't exactly up on who the man was. He knew that tone in Brooke's voice, though. She didn't like this person. Alexander reminded himself to ask who Alstaire Shaw was later, in addition to someone related to Stephanie.

"Good evening, Mr. Shaw. Nice to meet you. I'm Alexander Aaron." he said.

[vesper_verde]

Marcelo firmly shook the hand of Stephanie's nephew that he had never met before. "Nice to finally meet you. Thank you for the sharp and smooth gifts."

He had heard plenty about Alistaire. That they hadn't met until now made Marcelo get an idea about Stephanie's situational sense. Particularly in regards to himself.

Once he got his hand back, the small thing tickling the back of his mind finally pushed to the fore.

"Alexander, I apologize for not taking you up on the offered designed clothing for the wedding. I hope I can still get it? I have some important meetings and social obligations coming up."

[hellfire_child]

Alistaire returned the handshake, and clapped a hand to the respective shoulder for good measure. "The pleasure in meeting is all mine, Marcelo. Thank you for making my Auntie happy." He gives Stephanie a sidelong glance as he catches her appraising the gifts.

"If you'll take my advice, don't just leave them on a shelf or behind glass. Use them."

[hellfire_empath]

Brooke wasn't about to answer for Alexander - sure, their relationship had taken an extra glorious step in recent days - but she wasn't yet at the sort of place in their relationship to be answering questions or making decisions for him.

Although Brooke had no doubt that Alexander would gladly keep his word on the offer that he had extended.

She did smile up at Marcelo, though. He was very smooth and suave, both in his handling of Alistaire and his graciousness towards Alexander.

Maybe she'd misjudged him a little too harshly earlier on.

"Alexander is my boyfriend," Brooke said to Alistaire. "The son of the war god Ares." That much, at least, she was comfortable with saying.

[call_me_phobos]

"Marcelo, you've been busy so I understand. And I'd be happy to design for you. Shall I have my people call your office and schedule a time for a fitting?" Alexander asked.

He simply smiled as Brooke introduced him as her boyfriend. He liked hearing that word coming from her and now...it didn't sound as bad as it used to.

It was nice to have a dark priestess.

[pyroprincess]

It was nice to hear that. She'd have to press Brooke to hear more of the details behind that, because among other things, she was looking happier than ... ever, really.

She looked back at Alistaire for a moment, replying sweetly.

"I've my own weapons, darling nephew. You needn't worry about me."

She turned her attention back towards Alexander and Marcelo. "I can't wait to see it." She'd even be gentle towards them. An embarrassing number of Marcelo's other clothes ended up slashed or torn. Though he rarely seemed to mind.

[vesper_verde]

"I can do no less," he assured Alistaire.

Marcelo blinked at Brooke. More to the point, several times at what Brooke said. That she had a boyfriend was not all that shocking, but more the description afterwards caught him a little flat. He swallowed a bit to help tamp down on a small feeling starting to grow. He'd deal with that later.

He licked his lips and fought his mind back to the conversation. "Yes, calling my office would be best. Sage knows my schedule of availability better than I do."

[hellfire_child]

Alistaire's attention was entirely fixed on Andrew now.

"For a god of war to be your father, being named Alexander is as much an expectation as a name." He smirks, teeth showing at one corner of his mouth. "What sort of god does that make you?"

[hellfire_empath]

"Fear," Brooke answered, simply, though the pride in her voice was evident. There was, of course, power in fear, and Brooke certainly believed in that power. At least, whenever she was around Alexander, she allowed herself to indulge in her darker urges.

[call_me_phobos]

He nodded to Marcelo. "I'll have my people call first thing tomorrow."

he turned his attention to Alistaire once again.

"As the lady said." Alexander said, not returning the grin.

"Does that bother you?"