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

[strove]

[The truth of the matter is that the only time Clarke has had the opportunity to stop and take a breath, she had found an oasis, a place that would offer her safety, food, and a chance to live. And then she woke up in a bus here, rattling around, trying to speak, right before she ended up in her first major accident in a vehicle on wheels.

(Not that there weren't near misses back home with the rovers. There certainly were.)

Before that—it'd been with Lexa. Brief. Fleeting. A promise of what could happen if they owed no one anything.

And now here, but it feels like she's biding her time. Time ticks by. She waits for another influx of people, or something to happen, or the world to shake again.]

I understand. [Understand but not comprehend.] Honestly ... I think that's why you need to try to appreciate this while you can. This is your chance to catch your breath.

[evite]

[ "this" being the party, the thing that daisy's spent so much effort and some reasonable amount of money helping to produce. it should be an opportunity to let her hair down, to relax and let out a breath; instead, it's seemed more like an obstacle to a well-deserved nap.

but maybe clarke has a point. maybe daisy can enjoy it without being the life of the party, in a more understated sort of way. ]

Yeah, you're probably right. [ plus, they did fork out cash for a somewhat open bar. she could at least take advantage of that, if nothing else. ] But after this, I might kill a man for a nap.

[strove]

Hey, if you're too tired, I'll hang back when it's all over and manage any of the final details. But take it from me: I don't expect things to ever slow down. This looks like as much of a break as any. [Though the way things fluctuate back home means that Clarke has had more downtime than she's accustomed to. That's what happens when kids aren't being strung up in traps, forced to go to war, experience a number of unwanted things, and more.

Clarke in particular can see where the need to overwork can lead to a similar degree of stress. She's no stranger to it, even exempting the rest.]

So—all you have to do is ask.