8026/Surprise Party! (part 4)

Surprise Party! (part 4)
Date of Scene:	24 June 2019
Location:	Clint and Skye's, Greenwich Village
Synopsis:	Guests start arriving in earnest, including Thor and Kurt - still no Steve! Likely just as well as there's something of a bathroom emergency going on.. and Flirting. Lots and lots of flirting. Once again Chez Miscreant lives up to its purpose as a home for wayward souls.
Cast of Characters:	Darcy Lewis, Quake, Nightcrawler, Melinda May, War Machine, Thor

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Darcy Lewis has posed:
The party continues. Meat grilling as sides are finishing up. The gift table is now pretty stacked up, and Darcy's pretty happy with herself, truth be told. She'd pushed out invites best she could and managed to get a pretty wide assortment of players in the game. She wonders if now was time for karoke or if this crowd needed more beer first.

she ponders this while finishing the beer in her hand.

Quake has posed:
With Skye transfixed by her new toy, Clint is totally freed up of any obligation to entertain the birthday girl, which is a good thing seeing as there's grilling to do! Between chicken, veggies, burgers, sausage, corn, and other sundry things (stuffed mushroom caps! Salmon!) he's going to be busy for the forseeable future.

It's probably just as well that May fed Skye *before* the holo interface was set up or the woman might not have eaten at all. Then again, once guests start arriving in earnest she'll have to put her toy away. It might be harder to 'close the lid' on this 'laptop' but Skye has no doubt folks at the party would figure out a way should it be necessary.

Nightcrawler has posed:
There is a knock at the doors, Kurt in suit and just now turning off his image inducer to just be himself, suitcrawler. The sassiest of X-Men invited to the Shield Party. He's never been inside here, he doesn't know where he can port, and he has to keep his eyes open, so he waits, glowing eyes somehow nervos.

Melinda May has posed:
May has been mostly just wandering through the place now that just about all of the food is prepared, quietly whisking away abandoned plates and cups, ninja-supplying people with napkins, things like that. She hears the knock at the door past the music (mostly because it's off-beat) and goes to answer the door.

"Mr. Wagner. Welcome." She doesn't comment on the fact that there's a sign on the door saying to just come on in, there are some people out there for whom doing so is more stressful than just knocking. Another reason why she's been on the alert for anyone who fits that category.

She also doesn't so much as bat an eyelash at his choice of clothing or general appearance. Why would she?

Nightcrawler has posed:
    Giving a little smile, Kurt bows his head as he is welcomed in. "Guten Abend, Frau May." The smile he gives all pointed teeth, whether he likes it or not "I'm afraid I don't know Herr Rogers or Frau Johnson's tastes... so I was unsure of what to bring for gifts..."
    The fuzzy blue elf looks chagrinned, taking a moment to peak over Melinda's shoulder to gaze out at where the party is starting, his tail lifting two wrapped packages with ease.

Quake has posed:
Yeah. Doorbell. Knocking. Clues that the happy fun joy holo times are over, and with grave reluctance, Skye starts powering down her new toy. But hey, she's glad to see the new arrivals, and in particular, Kurt, who, she notes, came as himself. Huge step, she knows, smirking at him as she makes her way over to greet him.

"You came. Awesome. Mind if I introduce you to people? And uh.. not sure what you like to drink, but we probably have it. Food is coming in waves. Make yourself at home? Quieter corner back there where the purple couch is."

Because when one of your guests is Bucky, you try to make a space for that, too. And barring that, there's the backyard. It won't be long before the patio lanterns get turned on back there.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
"Oh, Thanks, May," Darcy says when Momma May I ninjas her a fresh beer. She hears the door but May's there first, so Darcy stays where she is, party watching. Seeing Skye go to greet guests makes Darcy continue to smile. It's a knowing little thing, makes her happy. And then, there's a Kurt being brought in and Darcy pauses.

Her lips part on a tiny 'o' of wonder and surprise, before she smiles brightly and grabs a plate of potstickers to take over. Must see the pretty!

Melinda May has posed:
May nods to Kurt and says in her usual calm way, "I'm sure that you thought to show up and bring anything at all will be more than sufficient." And then Skye's there greeting Kurt and proving her words right.

Closing the door, May slips past the pair in the entry way to head back into the main living area. Seeing Darcy headed that way with a plate of potstickers, she quirks an eyebrow at the boisterous younger agent. No scaring the nice blue man, capiche?

She makes a round of the serving table to make sure everything's okay, mentally noting that the GLOWING salsa made by Rhodes' niece Lila is already about half gone. Ringing endorsement in her mind. She'll have to ask for the recipe.

War Machine has posed:
5t Out from one of the other rooms comes Colonel Rhodes dressed in his usual rather comfortable shirt and cargo pants. He's holding a somewhat young looking girl who happens to be holding onto a portable welding torch and looking very guilty about something.

     He takes in a bit of a deep breath setting her down in front of Skye, looking over towards Johnson for a long moment in silence. "Come on, tell her what happened." Spoken from Rhodes whose shirt is soaking wet and who looks like he's just tried to take a shower with his clothes on. His hair is soaking wet to match but conspicuously Lila and those welding goggles she'd been given by a certain SOMEONE who will go unnamed are completely dry.

     Rhodes takes a long moments pause as Lila just doesn't say a word, the young girl just looking to the ground before putting away the little welding torch. He clicks his tongue. "She went to use the bathroom, and decided to try and upgrade your toilet." Lila muttering something almost silently under her breath. "Good news you have a bidet, bad news it attacked me."

Nightcrawler has posed:
    "Bier, spirits, soda, water..." some of the old rogue that this group isn't familiar bubbling to the surface as he finds himself surrounded. "I have to say, I might just need time in the corner because I'll get whiplash looking at all of the lovely around me." tipping a wink to the woman with potstickers approaching.
    He leans forward to snag one, holding it up in two fingers. "Guten aubend, Mein Dame." flashing Darcy a wide, sharp toothed, smile with a flash of brow waggle before he pops the dumpling in his mouth and chews. 1

Quake has posed:
"Or you can introduce yourself," Skye laughs absently as Kurt and DArcy make a meeting. Which is fine, because it co-incides with the announcement about their bathroom. "Uh.. uh... Please tell me that's fixable? Because we do not need a .. what the fuck is a bidet anyway?"

Darcy Lewis has posed:
"It shoots water up your butt," says Darcy. "It's a butt-douche." Because that's better. Her attention returns to Kurt, her smile wide and broad.

"I have no idea what you said, but I like the way you said it. Hi. I'm Darcy," is offered, along with her right hand. "Do you like the potstickers? They are sex, but in your mouth."

Quake has posed:
Okay, that does it. Darcy's answer gets a full on wtf face from Skye. "That is disgusting. Who ever thought something like that up?"

Yeah, but douche is not any better.

Kurt gets an apologetic look from Skye, not just because she's about to go deal with the butt douche, but also because with Darcy's explanation of potstickers the man has just been given the sink or swom introduction to Chez Miscreant. She really hopes he doesn't run screaming.

Nightcrawler has posed:
Eyes rolling back momentarily (how can you tell with him??) Kurt chews and gives a long mmmmm... before he offers a thick three fingered hand to Darcy, going so far as to bow and kiss just above her knuckles before he rises, "My name is Kurt, and I think you're correct. Maybe" giving her another slow wink.

Skye's worries? Gone. Flirtcrawler in full scamp mode.

Melinda May has posed:
May ninjas her way through again, absconding with the gifts Kurt brought and leaving a room temperature glass bottle in their place for the spade-tipped tail to deal with. It's not some wimpy 12 ounce American sized bottle, either.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Darcy watches Kurt, listens to that hum, and her lips curl up in a sly smirk. She waits then, giggling at the kiss of knuckles.

"Maybe? These? These are fucking MAY pot stickers. These are the best shit you'll ever put on your tongue, and you did not give them their due. It's like this." Darcy collects a pot sticker, shoves it in her mouth and the sound? It's obscene by even the politest manner of description. Mouth full, she holds up a finger.

"In mah bunk. Need to kiss May now. Fuck these are good."

Thor has posed:
    Like the old Garth Brooks song, the thunder rolls, and the lightning strikes. As a crackling pillar of electrical power heralds the arrival of the Mighty God of Thunder himself, Thor Odinson, King of New Asgard, Slayer of Giants and Trolls, Drinker of Prodigious Amounts of Mead and Beer, and various other titles, most of which are likely self-ascribed. The towering figure of Thor is dressed for the occasion, too, in a casual suit. White linen shirt. Blue blazer, held clasped with one button across the midsection. Creases so sharp that one might cut their fingers on them down the front of each matching pant leg. Polished black shoes. He even has a pale blue pocket fold. Lookit that.

    As always, the Thunderer holds Mjolnir clasped in hand, though he gives that trusty legendary hammer a casual flip in his hand as he strides towards the back door. He leans down just long enough to settle Mjolnir on the ground, where it makes a strange humming sound, and then clacks into place as if held by magnets. Entering the door, he arrives just in time for Darcy's display of mouth-orgasmic bliss. To which, he remains silent, canting his head to one side and lifting an eyebrow.

War Machine has posed:
     "Not how I would have put it, but that is technically accurate." Rhodes says with a bit of a pause shrugging his shoulders lightly as he takes a moment to try and pad himself down with nearby paper towels.

     The small stack of napkins and paper towels proves enough to at least make him less drippy. "I don't know if we can but someone here is going to help us try." Said as he clears off the rest of his face from the water he'd been drenched in from that little adventure.

     There's a low moments pause for him as a bit more water drips down into his face and he's grabbing a few more paper towels just to try and dry off a bit more. "I think if we move quietly we might be able to sneak up on it and subdue the toilet." Spoken in a deadpan manner that makes it hard to tell if he's joking or not as he looks over towards the other guests.

     A friendly wave and a smile is given from Rhodes as he takes a pause the munchkin with him just pulling her goggles down over her eyes. "Honestly I can't imagine it being too hard to fix."

Quake has posed:
Rhodes is given a stern look, "Fix. My. Toilet. No butt douches." And in case he's entertaining any notion that this is okay, she adds, "Now. Like before someone needs to go."

OKay, there's a toilet upstairs, and and another in the en suite, but even so..

"This is why I am never having kids," she mutters. Though really there are all sorts of other reasons she and Clint agreed they weren't cut out for parenthood. However, this right here just solidified her belief in that decision. And she's not even had a full beer yet!

Thor's arrival, well, there's no mistaking that. Open door policy and all.. but it's a fair bet Darcy invited him, or.. more likely, he's part of the Cap' side of the crowd. "Hey, welcome to Chez Miscreant.."

Yeah, it's about now that Skye decides the better part of valour is removing her new toy from the main party room. She excuses herself.

Nightcrawler has posed:
Kurt blinks, and keeps his jaw from dropping at Darcy's action, but it's Kurt, and he has a reputation to uphold. "Very alluring, Dammen Darcy" nodding thanks to May as his tail curls around the beer, the spade snaps off the top and he actually lifts it to drink, all while double fisting potstickers. "I'm sure there's better things for the tongue, but these are in the top three," he smiles, all teeth again, his beer held casually. "I may also have to kiss May for this beer... I need to get some imported, ja?"

Melinda May has posed:
May appears again, this time offering James a proper cloth towel and a dry t-shirt. Likely one of Clint's. Then she is gone again, heading toward the back doors to greet Thor arriving from that direction. "Glad you could make it, Thor. Everyone's in the living room." She does offer him a wine-sized bottle with the Midgardian version of mead inside before getting the stove started up again to fry more potstickers.

Thor DID just arrive, after all.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Crack of thunder, flash of lightning. Darcy looks over and beams. She turns back to Kurt, flashing him a smoldering wink.

"Oh baby, you knows it. And I'd show you, but I'd have to charge," she states, offering him the plate so she can turn and charge Thor jumping at the last minute so she can wrap her arms about his neck and her legs about whatever.

"SPARKY!!! YOU MADE IT!" she declares happily, because her favorite norse god just showed up. It's time for karoke now, right? Thor has to sing Barbie Girl.

Thor has posed:
    "Ah,you have my deepest thanks, May!" Thor's voice booms, as he turns his attention on the legendary SHIELD agent, offering up a smile that is all dimples and sparkling eyes of copper and sky blue. Reaching out, he accepts the bottle offered to him, and then raises it in the direction of Skye, who had greeted him. "And a happy day of birth unto you, Not-Shitcode!"

    Like Pepperidge Farms, Thor remembers.

    He's about to open the bottle of mead when he's all but assaulted by Darcy flinging herself at him like a Spidermonkey hopped up on Mt. Dew. Holding out the hand with the bottle so it doesn't get damaged or hurt his assailant, Thor uses the other hand to hold the girl aloft, as he gives her a spin. His laughter is like the distant rumbling of thunder.

    "Greetings, Glittertits! Of course I made it! Of course! As if The God of Thunder would dare miss a celebration held for my dear friends!"

Nightcrawler has posed:
Kurt Wagner laughs as he is left with the plate, looking to May, lifting the platter. "Seriously, May. These are amazing." dipping his head to snag and chew one. "That kiss is on the table, probably an intimate back massage as well..." he shrugs, tail lifting his beer to take a long pull, "Candles... I mean..." he lifts the plate and then the beer, before looking towards Colonel Rhodes who is supplied an appropriate and respectful up-nod.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Darcy laughs brightly, gives Thor a smooch on the cheek, and then scrambles to get down like she was seven.

"You're the best," she tells him, stepping back to give him room to break into his drink, and grinning at Kurt's promise to May. Snickering, she calls out to May: "I'll consider managing my language for an hour." Her voice is sing-song, clearly ou tto one up the elf.

Melinda May has posed:
Kurt's compliments about the potstickers receive a nod of thanks from May, though at his suggested offers to reciprocate, she replies, "That would be improper." Note, she didn't outright say no...

"Lewis, don't just try. There is a child in this house." And that's about as much warning as May's going to give the boisterous woman. If she doesn't tone it down, there could well be consequences such as having to spend the rest of the party outside.

But beyond that, there's really not much else May can do at the moment as she minds the frying potstickers, whose aroma wafts across the living room again.

"Speaking of," May offers after another moment. "Darcy, have you tried the salsa?" She doesn't have to specify which one. It's the only one that is actively glowing.

Nightcrawler has posed:
    Following and moving to lean up against the counter near where May is frying potstickers, the plate is where it should be now, "Ja, you're right May. It would be improper without say... dinner, wine, maybe a little dancing?" he gives a saucy little wink and takes a sip from his beer still held in his tail, "I could pick you up next Friday, say seven?"
    Schmoozecrawler.

Thor has posed:
    Thor cranes his neck, holding out his cheek for Darcy's peck to it, though he does turn his head at the last moment to catch and return it on the lips, before releasing a bellowing, "HA!" and allowing for Darcy to descend down the towering bulk of his form. He pops the top off of his mead, and casts a quick glance around, taking in the sights, before his gaze rests on Kurt.

    His brow comes down in a thoughtful scowl over his dual toned eyes, and he gives Kurt a once over from head to to. "Hello there, little elf man. I seem to recollect you from a recent adventure, do I not?"

Darcy Lewis has posed:
"Her hot angle boyfriend might have a thing or two to say about that!" Darcy calls out. Because Darcy? Not above playing dirty. And it's a great way to mostly acknowledge May's threat for her to keep her language in check.

Quake has posed:
Skye meanwhile, with some help, has managed to deliver her Stark tech to a safer corner of the house, and returns to the party, finding herself a seat on the quiet corner adjacent couch, amused and bewildered at how quickly the party had gone from decently sudbued (and decent) to Club Flirtation.. and holy crap, was that May not shooting Kurt down? Because when did that happen?

And to think she'd been wondering how this year's party would top last year's.

Melinda May has posed:
May tosses Darcy a SERIOUSLY dangerous side-eye, then looks at Kurt squarely. "That's probably a bad idea if you decide to work for SHIELD as a consultant. That would make me your boss." She'll deal with Darcy's continuing misunderstanding of the situation with Castiel later.

"Now, it would probably be in everyone's best interest if you dialed back the flirting by about five notches." Or at least aimed it elsewhere. Like... Peggy.

Thor has posed:
    When Skye rejoins the party, Thor lifts his drink in her direction, accompanied by a nod and smile combination. The antics of the interplay between Darcy, May, and Kurt are all keenly watched, however, by the Thunderer. An amused smile lingers on his lips under the dark, coarse beard, and he lifts his mead to take a drink of it. It tastes sweet, but weak, though he can appreciate the beverage more for its taste than the inebriation that it provides.

Quake has posed:
Skye just shakes her head and sips her beer - sans straw as of today! - because WOW, even when she was on the market her flirting skills *sucked*, and watching what was going around in her livingroom made her immensely glad that she and Clint had found one another (note: Clint was not the world's most masterful flirt either, there was a reason Nat had thrown them together in disgust), because if she had to wade out there in the wide world of singles..

Yeah, Skye didn't have game, and she knew it.

Nightcrawler has posed:
Kurt Wagner mrmmms and shrugs, "If I'm consulting, you'd be more like an operational associate but with conditional command on mission, wouldn't I?" He flashes teeth again, flipping his hair out of his eyes. "See you next Friday, seven - sharp. I'll bring a convertable." levering himself up and moving back into the party.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
Darcy watches Kurt from the 'safety' of the snack table, one hand holding a chip with glowing salsa heaped onto it.

"Dude's a fucking lemming, man," she comments in Thor and Skye's general direction, head shaking side to side to accomplish that. And NOM goes the salsa'd chip. Gratz Kurt, you now have a Darcy Name.

Melinda May has posed:
No, Kurt, you won't.

The next batch of potstickers cooked, May carries the platter of them out toward where the rest of the food is displayed, but makes a point of NOT letting Darcy get any. She's likely already eaten a dozen or more by herself. So, she offers the platter to Thor first, as he's just arrived and wasn't just being a bit of a cad.

Quake has posed:
Wow. Kurt has chutzpah. Dude... And wait, May had an angel boyfriend? Wait, wut? When the hell did that happen?

She's mid lifting her beer to Thor in return salute when news of May's 'boyfriend' hits the airwaves. "What the fuck? Since when?" Yeah, she knows Lila is there, but really, are any of us going to fault Skye for that? I think not. Because May? With a boyfriend? And an angel to boot? What the fuck, indeed.

Nightcrawler has posed:
    He's still going to show up... She knows it, He knows it. He's too cute and German.
    "Guten Aubend, Thor. My name is Kurt - I don't think I was able to tell you at the time, too many sentinals and all that." he finds himself a good place to stand among those gathered and enjoys his beer, and one more wink at May the next time she glances in his direction.

    He even gives Fingerguns.


    Legendary.

Darcy Lewis has posed:
That's Darcy's cue.

"I'm going to check on Clint now, kay bai!"

She's bailing. She's bailing so hard right now. She can't even. Darcy ducks under Thor's arm, and beelines it for the safety of the grill with Clint.

Thor has posed:
    When Darcy makes a beeline out, Thor just kind of watches after her, blinking his eyes for a moment. Still, taking the plate of potstickers, Thor gives a gracious nod of thanks to May. "They smell wonderful, Lady May. I value your effort, and shall cherish these tremendously. The gift of mead was most exceptional! You are very thoughtful."

    "I think I should go check on Darcy Lewis..." The Thunderer says, to no one and everyone, while thumbing behind him in the direction that she ran off to. And then he follows suit. WITH that platter of potstickers because those are NOT going to go to waste.

Nightcrawler has posed:
As Darcy goes, and then Thor, Kurt shrugs, looking to Skye, "So are these parties always like this?" finishing off his drink at last, watching after the fleeing god-alien, and then back to May, grin just a little wider.

Melinda May has posed:
May looks at Kurt with the flat stare of a glacier. "No. They're not." And then she picks up whatever empty items are sitting around and takes them into the kitchen. She's seriously considering going to sit in the quiet corner where Barnes has ensconced himself. Either way, she's pouring herself a small tumbler's worth of bourbon.

Quake has posed:
Skye shuffles over some on the couch to leave room for Kurt. "Truthfully? My birthday party seems to be traditionally strange, but normally when we have folks over, no, it's not quite this crazy. For some reason they save all their best behaviour for birthdays. And the other guest of honour hasn't even arrived yet." She looks thoughtful. "Maybe better we're getting this out of our systems now. Steve isn't quite up to this level of.. uh.. party."

Her smile is genuine for the little blue man. "I'm really glad you came. I wsn't sure you would or not. I probably wouldn't have in your shoes, but then again they have to threatene me regular to unplug and at least pretend to be human."

She gives a knowing little nod. "Kinda funnier now that we all know I'm sorta not exactly in the strictest of senses. But look at you giving as good as you get. Is it like this with back at the mansion with your friends?" AFter all, they'd made it that far in their past conversations.

Nightcrawler has posed:
    Raising one foot at Skye's comment, Kurt grins. "Socks." winking and then looking back to May. "Hey... I'll back off if I can get one, real, smile? Not going to say it has to be because of me. But that'd help." giving her a big beaming smile still. "I mean look, you're pouring so much spirits for yourself, if you relaxed some you wouldn't need it".

Melinda May has posed:
May doesn't reply to Kurt's admonishment to smile. She also decides to not invade Bucky's quiet corner and instead goes to sit at the dining table now that Skye's safely tucked away that Stark equipment.

Right now, she's mostly doing her best to not snap at the German, but he seems to have managed to very quickly hit all of her 'don't go there' buttons. Thus, the bourbon and the lack of a reply.

Quake has posed:
May and the bourbon are a warning sign. Skye gives Kurt a little nudge with her own foot - hey he started it with the socks thing. "Hey, I know it's a party and all, but maybe not so much with May, huh? She doesn't. Date I mean. And this is her being loose and generous. Being here with us. We're her family. So, yeah, maybe a little less flirting?"

She grins. "Darcy. Totally fair game. Bucky, no. Steve.. complicated. Clint, mine. Thor.. hey, I'd probably pay to see that.."

Nightcrawler has posed:
    "I only meant it to be friendly, nothing further. Not a date, just an outing between work colleagues." Kurt smiles, "I know I can be shameless... and my heart is elsewhere. But I would not be untoward."
    Kurt looks back towards where May is, brow knitting some, mouth turning down. "Ach... Over did though... More fool me." looking back to Skye "I'll make it up to her..." heading towards the Couch Corner, but instead flipping up to the ceiling, to give Bucky his space, crouching upside down, rubbing his chin in consideration...

Quake has posed:
Skye nods at Kurt as he excuses himself to quieter spaces. "I know, that's why I'm telling you," she says to him, all without blame or ire. "Really glad you came, though." And she was, he fit right in. It made Skye happy when that happened, people who'd fallen through the cracks finding their space in her and Clint's home. The home they'd never had when they were younger.