I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE'S A WAY —

[retravel]

WHO: Fitz, SHIELD, and you!
WHERE: New Amsterdam's medium-est bar: Refraction
WHEN: 01 September
WHAT: Leo's turning 31 100
NOTES OR WARNINGS: TBA

[ On his actual birthday, Fitz celebrates with his two closest friends (the people who’ve kept him together, despite wobbles along the way). Bobbi and Daisy, however, know that when Fitz says I hate people and don’t want to celebrate in the middle of a secret war he means I hate being alone, even on days without symbolic meaning. Daisy and Bobbi send out the mass evite, and Bobbi uses her powers of persuasion to find a more upscale venue for a discounted rate. Due to the flipped schedules in the height of New Amsterdam’s summer, Fitz’s party happens in the morning (the new night for anyone working a 9-5 gig), sun rising high over the city as it begins.

Welcome to REFRACTION, a classy bar tens of floors off the ground, with a stellar view of the city, not far from the river. Beams of light weave across the back area of the venue, well-lit by various glowing fixtures. Something about the place has an old world flair, with its dark colour scheme and minimalist decor. Maybe today’s an acceptable excuse to dress smart, celebrate with a friend, and drink up:

— enjoy the food (which might have had British roots at one point, but it’s hard to tell given the variety of fusions on display in bite-size portions) and initial round of free fizz, compliments of the host (and the host’s super stem friends)
— buy drinks at the bar and get wankered (as the birthday boy will be, around the new midnight)
— people watch from the tables and sofas
— dance to NA’s top synth pop hits (coming through hidden speakers above and holograms of the singers at some tables, activated by the proximity of nearby implant viewers)
— try a piece of cake, reading Happy 100th Birthday, Fitz! and looking a bit like it came from the same space-themed, child's birthday do as the evite. If your piece of cake has a wee star inside it, it means you’re one of the lucky winners and get a freebie at the bar.

As a nice establishment, rowdiness will only get you tossed on your arse by the bouncers, so everybody be cool.

At one point, someone nudges Fitz forward to say something. Dressed in his finest blues, he cuts a smarter figure than the usual corporate cut-out. ]

Right. [ said in the tight voice of someone who is definitely on the verge of crushing the flute in his hand. ] I never know what to say, and I didn't have time to prepare because, ah. Surprise. [ he splays out his free hand. ] So I will just say that — that there's someone I wish was here, despite all the horrible happenings, but that I am so so grateful that you're all here despite them, too. It's not for — forever, but it's pretty nice. Right now. [ As another SHIELD agent said: We have what we have when we have it. That's it. ] Thank you. Cheers!

( if you don't think the SHIELD losers would have invited your character, please feel free to come up with a semi-plausible reason for attending. gatecrashing, plus ones, hearing the commotion and wanting to be nosy. all are welcome! )

Comments

[covertness]

Yeah, me neither.

[ but here they are. and it's a birthday party she's co-organised because it's for one of the people she's closest to, here, if not the person she's closest to. ]

Settled in okay? [ in as far as any of them can. ]

[kgbs]

I've been fine. [ any discomfort had been summarily hidden beneath the gruff facade that he tends to wear. but, while these accommodations weren't great, they weren't the worst he'd ever dealt with. ]

Nothing has killed me yet. [ living with gaby could be trying but it would not kill him. ]

I dislike the technology present but it seems there's little I can do about that.

[covertness]

I can see that. [ obviously nothing has killed him yet. she grins, giving him a once-over that's more teasing, you're here, aren't you? than it is flirtatious.

a moment later, more seriously: ] I'm glad to hear it. What did you end up doing with your time?

[kgbs]

[ he has no idea if the fighting thing was supposed to be a secret so he errs on the side of caution and decides not to mention fitz's name, at least. perhaps she knows, perhaps she does not. he doesn't want to be the one that reveal that, though. ]

Fighting. The money is quite good and the opponents quite soft.

[ some were better than others but overall, he wasn't that impressed with the quality of competitor. ]

[covertness]

[ fitz mentioned it, but she's not going to mention that he mentioned it. #spyception.

instead, she makes a face that's a little impressed and a little intrigued and a little unsure. the face of a woman unused to violence. ] Are you good?

[kgbs]

Yes.

[ really, would you expect any other answer from him? it just so happened he could back up this bit of ego. ]

[covertness]

[ she hadn't expected anything else, no, but the response still earns him an upward quirk of her lips. ]

Yeah? I keep thinking maybe I should check it out. Just to have a look.

[ you know, since thor is also participating. totally just interest in watching handsome men, not at all spy-related curiosity. ]

[kgbs]

There is good opportunity to make money. If you know who to bet on.

[ what he doesn't say if 'if you bet on me' because of course he would think that. but, he also thinks he has the ability to back that up. ]

You would not be the only one to show up merely to spectate.

[covertness]

There's betting, too?

[ katelin seems genuinely surprised. bobbi knew as much, of course. ]

How dangerous is it?

[kgbs]

Enough.

[ probably more dangerous for those that didn't know what they were doing. less so for him. but, there was very little that he would admit was dangerous. ]

No more dangerous than walking around outside in this city. Or any city.

[covertness]

Pretty sure not all cities are equally safe.

[ a beat. ]

Or all parts of this city, even.

[kgbs]

I would not know when it comes to this city. I haven't gone to all parts of it yet.

[ he knew where certain key areas were and that was enough for him. he wasn't one of those people that had to know the entire area like the back of his hand. no, he pinpointed important places and left it at that. ]

I don't really see a need to sightsee.

[covertness]

I've been checking out routes for my morning run.

[ and scoping out the city, getting a feel for it and its people —but that's entirely beside the point, of course. ]

There are definitely big differences.

[kgbs]

Big differences such as?

[ if she's going to offer something like that up, illya is going to see if she'll share further so he can make a mental note to explore if he deems the information significant enough. ]

[covertness]

How wealthy people are. Or how poor.

[ biggest one she's noticed so far. the socio-economic inequality is staggering, to her mind. ]

[kgbs]

The divide is sharp?

[ he's been in many places before where the poor were incredibly poor whereas the rich were so rich that it was ridiculous. and there was very little middle ground. ]

And nothing can be done to help those that need it?

[covertness]

Pretty sharp.

[ katelin philip is a biologist, not a sociologist. she doesn't know how to quantify it beyond that. ]

Honestly? I'm not sure.

[kgbs]

[ it wasn't really his area of expertise either. his only response to her statement is a muttered hum. he's not going to rush right out and try and find some altruistic way to help those in need. ]

A matter for city leaders.

[ whoever they were. ]

But, that seems to be a condition of almost all cities I've been to. There is always separation.

[covertness]

Probably. Though I get the impression not everyone thinks they're doing enough.

[ she means morningstar. ]

[kgbs]

Half the time, I do not know what they're doing at all. I've been told to trust them but --

[ well, there was little reason for him to do so besides the initial help in the safehouse when he'd arrived. ]

[covertness]

[ very eloquently, bobbi shrugs. ]

I don't think they're wrong about this.

[kgbs]

Do you think they will do more or will the continue to only selectively pay attention to those matters they deem important?

[ and he wonders what matters those are. ]

[covertness]

I have no idea.

[ you're speaking to a biologist, not a shield agent. she's not analysed the situation at all or drawn her own conclusions. nope. ]

[kgbs]

Helpful.

[ he shakes his head and sighs. ]

A matter for a different day.

[covertness]

I'm a biologist, not a mind reader. Sorry.

[ she shrugs a little. ]