9839/Brother can you spare some for the March of Dimes

Brother can you spare some for the March of Dimes
Date of Scene:	30 October 2019
Location:	Mall - Salem Center
Synopsis:	Janet, Tony, and Steve all host an impromptu Halloween party for underprivileged children.
Cast of Characters:	Iron Man, Wasp (van Dyne), Captain America

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Iron Man has posed:
The front area of the mall, in the main large open section, a huge children's carnival has been set up. There's all sorts of games for the children to participate in: ring toss, clowns making balloon animals, tables where the kids can design their own masks or paint their tiny pumpkins, booths with other friendly volunteers and activities, and so forth. The rest of the mall, the stores, are all open for safe trick-or-treating.

The children of the evening have been gathered, with their parents/guardians, to partake of the safe space, the entertainment and music. Many of the children are from locations or backgrounds that have not let them come to such an activity before.

Opposite the food court, in the cleaner end of the mall, there's also a little 'haunted' spot, with an impromptu stage, where various entertainment is held. And that's where Tony's decided to spring their little fun surprise: he's sent a few assistants ahead to let those running the event know they've arrived. "I'm not used to being incognito," Tony observes with amusement. He has (well, his R&D department) found an adult version of 'Iron Man' in a rather mass-produced track-suit printed-on form, and waggles his plastic helmet at Steve with an overly amused grin, just outside the west entrance to the mall.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
Janet's 'off-the-shelf' Wasp costume definitely fits a little too well for it to be actually off-the-shelf. It's a take on her more recent embellishments, with the yellow skirt and gloves. It's amazing what someone can do with twenty minutes of work and some basic sewing tools. She manages to make it look good though.

Vanity, thy name is Janet.

She adjusts the little plastic 'antennae' on her temples, and sticks her tongue out at Tony. "I didn't think you even knew the definition of that word," she informs him. A plastic pumpkin full of Halloween candy dangles from her fingertips. It's actually candy she's acquired somehow this evening; she puts it somewhere so it won't get confused with the treats they're handing out for the kids. "I still say we should have gone as each other," Janet adds, and sticks her lower lip out at Steve with a pouting protest.

Captain America has posed:
"Look, I'm in tights for the first time in a century, I think I get enough credit here. I'd've been in tights anyways if I'd dressed as you," Steve reminds the petite fashionista. "I'm in tights and...I think they called them 'hot shorts' at one point." The Captain wiggles just a little in place, rolling from heel to toe to heel in his boots with costume-layered tie-on piecelets to make them look authentic. He's got a heater shield he made and painted himself out of heavy-duty cardboard and the white wings stick out haphazardly from the hood of his costume.

"Incognito's worth it. We'll have fun," Steve still concludes with a grin at his fellow Avengers. "It's worth it for the kids."

Iron Man has posed:
"I know /many/ of the words for things I am not," Tony winks back at Janet. "Incognito. Subtle. Dull. None of those describe me," He turns his tongue along the inside of his teeth on the bottom. He then grins, and sets his helmet on his head, visor up at first. He lowers it. "Yikes," comes the echo of Tony's voice, and he immediately puts the visor up. "Flashes of not being a billionaire in there," he laments.

A distraction comes in the form of one of the assistants opening the side door and smiling at the trio broadly. The assistant is dressed in a cute little Iron Man cheerleader outfit. They're STARK branded. They sell really well this time of year.

"The air conditionining in this one is also sub-par," snarks Tony while starting towards the mall's interior, grinning at the assistant, of course. "Looking good, Melissa."

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
"I can't believe I'm wearing synthetic fabric," Janet mutters sidelong at Tony-- clearly reciprocating his elitist complaints. "It feels like I've got wrapping paper stuck to me. How do people even wear this much polyester?" she inquires with a cross, rhetorical tone.

Janet loops an arm around Steve's and curls her fingers partially around his bicep.

"And Steve, don't fret. You look /adorable/," Janet sings at him. An impish light dances in her eyes. "I'm sure the tabloids are gonna eat it up."

She keeps pace with Steve, a step behind Tony. "How much of a turnout are we thinking?" she inquires of the inventor with a curious tone. "Are we talking a few dozen kids? I really don't want to get swarmed by a few hundred people looking for autographs," she warns him. "That's just /exhausting/. I still need to put the final touches on Steve's outfit for the gala tomorrow night."

Captain America has posed:
"You two would've hated the Thirties," Steve mutters with an amused glance over at the two upper-crust Avengers. He glances down at Janet and shrugs. "It's for the kids, they can print what they want. I've got Tony if they do anything offensive." He shoots Stark a quick grin. The Stark PR team is experienced in fielding just about anything, to the advantage of all Avengers.

He is curious to hear of the expected turn-out as he walks alongside both Janet and Tony, looking to the latter for the answer.

"Let me know if you need any final measurements." The offer floats over to Janet even as he reaches back to fuss at velcro itching at the back of his neck where the winged hood's closure sits.

Iron Man has posed:
"We'll extract you whenever you need to go. Probably a /few/ kids here," Tony says, his voice light, and full of mischief. "You /do/ got Tony," Tony agrees naturally. The door, as it opens and they enter, reveals a very large number of people, filling the mall. The tables are beset by happy children, the dance area near the stage contains children jumping up and down and in circles, in a vast variety of costumes. There are vampires and brides and animals, superheroes and villains, monsters and angels. Many of the volunteers are in costumes, as well as a mixture of parents in theme with their kids. The Avengers fit right in.

Except that Tony is incapable of being in disguise, and his walk inside, plus the assistants arranging near him, pulls curious attention to the trio almost immediately. "Stage first to introduce you; Charity's over there," Tony's assistant directs, pointing out the specific tent that is raising money, and then begins to lead towards the stage. That wasn't necessary, Tony saw the stage and can head directly over on his own. He fields some children that approach, offering high-fives to the tinys as he passes by.

"Avengers, oooooo!!" says a small girl in a frog princess costume, gaping at their costumes, particularly at Janet.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
"Hiii!" Janet's wide grin wraps her mouth around the words, eyes bright and expression beaming. She stoops a little and squeezes hands and fingers with the kids. It's kind of impossible to hide any of the three of them, really. People like Janet and Tony are accustomed to owning the space around them as they move, projecting an air of unflappable self-assurance as they do.

Fingers grasp and tug as the kids try to get her attention; she evades by shrinking, buzzing around them in tight circles like a mischevious pixie. Children laugh in delight and try to catch Janet to no avail. She buzzes past Tony and emerges in midair with a soft *puft* of air and a graceful hop onto the stage itself. The dragonfly wings at her back remain visible, fragile as thin paper, and wholly decorative at her natural scale. "I think Captain America has all the candy!" Janet says, cupping hand to mouth and speaking over-loudly. She grins teasingly at Steve as he brings up the rearguard, swarmed by increasingly aware legions of children and parents.

Captain America has posed:
"I'd never hide the candy! You saw the Wasp, she's flown it away and hidden it somewhere!" Steve claims this in a tone very nearly identical to the loud character he once played on-stage those decades back. "We'll have to find it soon!"

Little palms are given high-fives as gently as can be managed and the Captain does sneak in a handshake or two before he briskly walks up onto the stage beside the other Avengers. A two-fingered salute from his temple is cheery and charming, his smile bright, and this whole process seems a thing of ease from his past.

Smile and wave, Avengers. Smile and wave.

Iron Man has posed:
"And now we have the /AVENGERS/, everyone!" The excited emcee says eagerly, cutting off his sappy version of the Monster Mash he was guiding the dancing children to. "We have the Wasp, Iron Man, and Captain AmERRRRRIIIiiiiiiiCAAAA!" declares the man on the mic.

So, if anyone DIDN'T know, they sure do now. Not that it causes as much attention as it normally might: because, well, those that hear it and aren't close enough to realize what's happening just see some 'interesting' Avenger costumes. It may actually help with the tide of parents.

The kids, though? There's a surge of eagerness mixed with extreme shyness. "Iron Man! Look I am you," claims a small boy, showing his Iron Man mask off. "It's a mirror," agrees the billionaire kindly. "Give that kid extra candy, Cap," Tony instructs. Tony, of course, carried /zero/ candy. He's not here to carry things. Assistants, guys: assistants.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
Janet thrusts a bucket of candy at Tony's chest with a premptory attiude. "Oh, stop being such a grinch and give the kids some candy," she scolds the inventor. "It won't kill you to give away some candy bars."

The bucket's either caught or dropped; Janet is moving on. The Wasp vanishes from view into a pixie-sized element and buzzes around Stevve's position. She digs in a previously near-invisible pocket for a handful of what looks like coarse sand, and flings it into the air. The arc of candy glitters and then suddenly bursts into a spray of full-sized candies. Proper ones, too, not just nibbles suitable for trick or treaters. It rains down amidst shrieks of delight from the kids.

Janet appears a few paces away, pointing at Steve. "See? He DID have all the candy!" she accuses him, with outstretched index finger. She flitters backwards again and resumes her full size, hunkering down on her heels in a graceful squat and giving out full sized(!) candybars individually to anyone not fast or violent enough to descend on the melee surrounding Steve's location.

Captain America has posed:
So many little ones! Rather than continuing to stand on the stage, Steve (having taken a large candy bucket shaped like a pumpkin from one of the assistants) moves to sit on the edge of the stage. It puts him down more at the level of the kids themselves. Silver paint shines on the false heater-shield set off to one side as he reaches into the bucket.

"Extra candy for you," the Captain solemnly intones towards the kiddo with the Iron Mask on proud if shy display. The little boy gets a kind grin along with that extra candy for his own little blue bucket. Blinking as candy then falls down around him like a colorful hailstorm, he laughs.

"Apparently I can do magic tricks as well," he idly comments with a glance over at Janet, squinting in good humor.

Iron Man has posed:
Tony isn't horrible enough to call out Janet on his peeve amidst a throng of tiny children that are giggling and staring. He does, however, entirely upend the whole of it into the bags of those children, so that he doesn't have to deal with it beyond that point.

"Melissa," Tony calls, and tosses her the empty bucket. "Autographs? You got it. Over there, I'm commandeering the mask builder table; I think that's got my name on it," Tony assures the small girl asking, and heads that way, with a flare of sideways grin at Steve and Janet's antics. The shower of candy draws some kids from underfoot, which helps let Tony have a quick 'out' off the front of the stage in a quick hop. Tony also removes his helmet fully, giving it to the girl. She is now a cowgirl-Iron-Man, and couldn't be happier with the mashup.

"Ack, there's a lot of glitter here," Tony complains as he seats himself at the mask-making table, sliding a stack of pipe-cleaners out of the way. He's going to have glitter on him now, that's just going to be his fate.

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
"Ew. Craft herpes. You're on your own there, Tony," Janet calls over to Tony.

Janet buzzes around, bombaring kids with Suddenly Scaled candy periodically. One child in the corner, struggling to overcome shyness, gapes in shock as their bucket starts literally overflowing with candy. /Good/ candy, too-- Toblerones and truffles. "Make some friends!" the little pixie whispers in the kid's ear, and buzzes off again.

There's a whoosh of air and Janet materializes next to Steve, dragonfly wings glittering. She pops on her toes and kisses his cheek, prompting a chorus of 'ewwws!' from the kids. "I knooooow, it's grooooooss," Janet agrees with the kids. Her button nose wrinkles. Parents and kids alike laugh, but she hugs Steve all the more firmly around the midsection and grins up at him affectionately.

Captain America has posed:
Having risen to his feet after handing out most of the contents of his candy bucket, Steve is just in time for the arrival of the Wasp and her smooch. He pinks, just a little, and dimples.

"It's okay, no cooties," he stage-whispers to those closest to the stage. "I think it's time to paint some pumpkins, however. Who's with me?" The theatrical curl of a fist before his chest is classical display from long-ago. Carefully, the Captain descends to the ground and wades through the collection of kids and parents towards the table already liberally bespattered with paint and dirty water bowls, daubs of acrylic set out on trays and a large collection of small gourds in the middle.

Plucking back his hood, Steve then sits and makes a showing of picking just the right pumpkin before he grabs a paintbrush.

"Lookit! Mine's Hulk!" The kid's pumpkin is, in fact, really REALLY green.

"That's the exact color! You got it, spot-on," the super-soldier informs the youngster with a grin.

Iron Man has posed:
Yes, Tony has sat in glitter, and that is now going to be his life for days. There are worse fates, though, and he takes it with great humor. His assistants come over to help keep things orderly for both Tony and the other two as they exist the stage, working with volunteers to organize better lines, so that things don't get crowded or unsafe.

Tony's now doing a mixture of mask-making helping and signing things, as well as judging costumes. "Excellent armor," Tony compliments a young knight, extending his signing pen to 'knight' the child. "Arise, and vanquish evil." After taking a selfie with the child's young mom, that is, the child happily collects candy and moves on.

"I could have had a Hulk costume," Tony sighs across at the Hulk pumpkin at the table. "Missed opportunity; I had the lab coat, purple pants, and everything."

Wasp (van Dyne) has posed:
"Hey, /I said/ we should have gone as each other," Janet repeats for Tony's benefit. She finds a cluster of kids wearing slightly less-than-awesome outfits; the Wasp kneels down with them amidst the craft materials and paper-mache, and starts slashing through felt and construction scissors with a pair of heavy shears wielded as dextrously as any butcher carving up meat. New gloves are made, masks are drawn on, and she gneerally just settles in to help the kids 'tune up' their clothing and turn them into proper outfits.

"I could totally have gone as Vision. Ooh! Steve, I bet I could have squeezed you into one of Carol's old Warbird outfits," Janet bids Steven. She grins impudently at him; a few parents choke back shocked laughs at Janet's sauciness as she needles America's Hero.

Iron Man has posed:
"Natasha would have donated one of hers to that cause, I'm sure, Cap," Tony helpfully chimes in.

Captain America has posed:
"Gosh, I'd hate to have made Carol jealous," the man fires back with a smirk. "Glad I decided on these tights instead."

Tony gets flick of eyebrows. "I'm telling Nat you suggested that." More titters from the parents follow the bantering. The Captain returns, expression highly dignified, to painting his pumpkin in a spectrum of patriotic hues. Before him, his palette of paint now contains gradients of red and blue along with pristine white. Pauses come in side conversations with the kids at the table and the passing off of autographed objects to the parents. Steve elects to give one little girl dressed as a scientist with orange paint all over her palm a high-five and sports a small handprint on his palm now.

"Good color choice," he lauds her, earning himself a giggle. Time passes quickly enough, given it's not the monotony of fielding endless autographs and posing for selfies, fielding awkward questions and inevitable come-ons in all cases. Instead, the time spent with the kids is full of the innocent appreciation of the holiday and the delight of fun, plain and simple.