[OPEN/MINGLE LOG] It's gonna be a Happy New Year!

[lightgunhustler]

Who: Anyone who wants to swing by!
Where: Fifth floor, the bar.
When: 12/31, from about 6:00 PM on.
Rating: PG-13 for now? Will update if necessary.
Summary: Informal New Year's Eve partying at the bar! People are more than welcome to pop in and out between other parties or engagements.
The Story:

[While there are a number of get-togethers of varying formality going on tonight, fliers posted down in the entrance hall and near the landings in the stairwells will advertise that the bar will be open and staffed well into the wee hours of the morning, and that anyone and everyone is welcome to stop in before, after, or in-between plans they may have elsewhere.

Most of the Christmas decorations that have been up all month remain, though some of the Christmas hats that were lined up along the back counter have been replaced with something a little more up-to-date. The garlands are gone, but all of the multicolored lights remain, strung around the edges of the room and across the ceiling, framing the windows and doors. While the staff, new and old, will be present throughout the night, people are also welcome to consider the bar self-serve, as the bright chalkboard sign proclaiming "HELP YOURSELF!" perched on the edge of the bar implies.

Whether you want to just stop in for a drink or linger for an hour or three, you're welcome to! Darts, pool and cards will all be in full swing over the course of the night, and the threat of karaoke may become very, very real as the night goes on. Happy New Year, everyone!]

Comments

[OPEN]

[widows_kiss]

[ While part of Natasha had been tempted to stay holed up for a while longer in the aftermath of what had gone down over Christmas, there was only so much hermitting and hiding that was healthy. And she'd probably indulged in too much already. As had a good many of her teammates and friends.

Which is why she does her best, in the span of a day, to roust most of them and inform them that they would be attending at least a little of tonight's festivities to get their minds of grimmer topics and have a little fun. It was the start of the new year. They should at least start it off well.

She's here to have a good time and thoroughly plans to enjoy herself. Dressed in a tight red dress and high heels, she can be found mingling with familiar faces and laughing, sipping champagne or whatever else happens to currently be in her glass. She'd lured Bruce here with her and spends a good deal of time with him to make sure he's comfortable and enjoying himself but she also makes sure to stop in to banter with other friends as well, meaning to start the year in the good spirits she hopes will be a trend in the months to follow. ]

[actualwizard]

[Billy spots Natasha across the room, its hard to miss her in that dress, and makes his way over. He hasn't seen her since they got back from the other side. Everyone seems to have been keeping to themselves over the last week and its good to see people here. ]

Happy New Year, Natasha.

[widows_kiss]

Billy!

[ It's good to see him back to himself again, and in good spirits from the looks of it. She smiles and reaches out to give him a one-arm hug, her other hand carefully balancing her drink. ]

You look better.

[actualwizard]

I feel better.

[ He grinned returning her hug. He was doing better, when you do the superhero thing for so long you learn how to bounce back...except for that one time. But Billy doesn't like to think about that.]

How are you doing?

[widows_kiss]

Also better. All things considered.

[ Her voice is wry as she leans lightly against him, taking in everything at a glance, checking him over just in case. She's spent the past few days holed up with Bruce, and then Darcy, and she's fallen behind in checking up consistently with the rest of her team. Something she'll be doing more now and in the days to come, but they all needed a bit of a breather after their 'adventure' on the Other Side. ]

So you ventured out to party tonight, huh? Do I need to worry about alcohol-induced magical pranks at some ungodly hour of the morning in my future?

[actualwizard]

I can't say no to a good party, especially a New Years Eve one. [He wonders what happened to his 16 year old self that was bullied and wouldn't have been caught dead at a party, let alone invited to one. ]

I promise no magical drunken pranks. Scouts honor. [ She didn't need to know he was never a boy scout. ]

[widows_kiss]

You were never a boy scout.

[ Does she look like she was born yesterday, Kaplan?

Still, she gives him a fond smile and gives his shoulders a squeeze. ]

Fine. Drink up. I think we've all earned it lately anyway. I certainly could use an evening of getting utterly smashed.

Did you drag Teddy along with you?

[makingwaves]

[ Ariel is decidedly not a familiar face, but she's very excited to be there none the less. It isn't that easy for a mermaid to make it from point A to point B on land, but thanks to Minato, she learned the finer details of a wheelchair and how to push herself around. So when she heard that there was going to be a party, how could she miss it? It was no surprise to anyone back home that Ariel loved parties. Music, dancing!

Of course doing the latter in a wheelchair seemed difficult but she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.

Unfortunately she's still very new to turning corners properly, so it's more than once that she accidentally runs the wheelchair into someone or runs over a foot or two. She nearly scuffs this woman's shoes as she tries to come to a stop. ]

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!

[widows_kiss]

[ Natasha's used to the unexpected popping up around her, however, and deftly takes a half-step back to give the girl room to maneuver, casting her a friendly smile as she waves off the apology.

Of course, it's then that she looks down far enough to see that it's not... specifically a girl she's talking to here. Well, it is, just not... the sort she'd expected.

Mermaids. Of course. They had talking woodland creatures at this point, so why not? ]

It's not a problem, there was no harm done. I imagine maneuvering through a bar full of drunk partiers presents quite the challenge. Are you alright?

[makingwaves]

[ How else are mermaids supposed to get around on land? Other than grow legs, of course, which Ariel has considered but the last time she made a deal for legs it didn't end very well. In the grand scheme of things, a wheelchair is decidedly more practical given the circumstances.

Ariel does look a little sheepish and gives a small shrug. ]

Well...to be honest I haven't been using this for very long. [ And she's already discovered she likes going fast. Difficult in an enclosed space like this though. ] But I'm alright! Thank you.

[ As alright as a mermaid in a wheel chair. ]

I really like your--um... [ "Thingamajigger"... ] ...shoes!

[widows_kiss]

[ They're partially out of the way here - which is part of the reason Natasha had been standing here in the first place - so since this is new and interesting, she comes around in front of the girl and crouches down, careful of her dress but preferring to bring herself to eye-level. ]

Thank you, I'm rather fond of them myself. Are you new here? I haven't seen you around before. [ And she's pretty sure a mermaid would be pretty hard to miss after a while. ] I'm Natasha.

[makingwaves]

[ It is certainly easier to make conversation when she's not waist-height to everyone else around her. To the other woman's question--Natasha, it seems--Ariel nods with more confidence. Her favorite thing about this place is all the people she gets to meet. It almost makes up for how awful the timing has been. ]

Yes! I found myself in the--the pool not very long ago. [ It has a funny smell, but she copes with it. ] Natasha? That's a neat name. Humans have such interesting ones! I'm Ariel.

[widows_kiss]

[ .............

Of course she is.

Natasha gives her a crooked smile and nods as if meeting a Disney Princess happened every day. Wonderland, please. ]

Thank you. Ariel is very pretty as well. I suppose the pool is better than some places it could have dropped you. And I hear there are dangerous things that lurk out in the deeper parts of the ocean in this place.

[hyperkinesia]

[ He's not too opposed to the idea of going to the party in the end. Anything that keeps him distracted from spending too much time with his own thoughts about the last event is a good thing, and a New Year's Eve party is pretty high up on that list - even if Bruce himself can't drink, he can still spend some time with friends and acquaintances, chat up with a few people here and there.

Plus, he'd be lying if he said he didn't like the sight of Natasha in that dress she's wearing.

After walking around the room to talk to a few people he knows, and noticing how her glass is nearly empty, he grabs them a couple of drinks before making his way back to her side. He hands her the one with alcohol, his own a simple glass of juice, commenting with an amused smile. ] I must be the only grown adult who's drinking juice and I'm not sure if that makes me a loser or not.

[widows_kiss]

Are you going to scowl at me if I tell you it makes you adorable?

[ Her tone is teasing and light as she accepts the drink he brings her, a playful dimple peeking out at the corner of her lips as she takes a sip. She winds one arm around his waist, tucking herself in against his side as she laughs softly, then leans in to press a quick kiss to his cheek. ]

You could probably have a little, if you wanted? Maybe some wine or some light champagne?

[hyperkinesia]

Do you have to use that word?

[ Still, he's smiling in amusement, hardly that bothered by her saying that. He puts his arm around her shoulders in turn, leaning over a little when she steps close to plant a small kiss to his cheek, keeping his head lowered and his eyes either on her or on the ground afterwards. ]

I will, when midnight strikes. Champagne's the tradition, isn't it?

[widows_kiss]

Would I lie?

[ She adopts an innocent expression and bats her eyelashes at him because that is literally the most ridiculous thing that will come out of her mouth all night long. A moment later it slips away and she's grinning with a faint hint of impish mischief in her gaze. ]

Besides, you always get this look on your face when I use it. I'm growing very fond of it.

[ She reaches out, slides her hand up his chest until it comes to rest over his heart, and smiles at him. ] I believe so, yes. Although it's a new year, you can make the tradition anything you like. Although there is one particular one I hope you'll be interested in keeping.

[hyperkinesia]

[ The most ridiculous thing she'll say, matched with possibly the most ridiculous expression she could pull, and to it all Bruce only replies with a flat stare, eyebrows arched, though the amusement bleeds through clearly enough. ]

Maybe I need to coach that look out of me, then. I'm not sure I like being called adorable.

[ Or cute, for the record. That falls within the same group of words. ]

Is there? [ He smiles all too innocently as he looks down at her, hand resting on her back. ] What tradition would that be?

[widows_kiss]

Good luck with that. That's one particular skill I refuse to help you with.

[ She chuckles and takes a step closer to him, a playful smile lingering on her lips as she leans into him. ]

Well, if you're unfamiliar with it, I suppose you'll just have to wait till midnight and see.

[alionsheart]

[ Hers is a face he's been hoping to see here, and after mingling a bit, Robin seizes an opportunity when there seems to be a lull in her conversing with others. He makes his way to her swiftly, one hand wrapped around a wine glass. A cheeky smile spreads on his face, and he intentionally approaches from the side to surprise her. ]

Might I have the pleasure of the company of such a stunning woman?

[ He's clearly feeling so much better than he was a few months ago. ]

[widows_kiss]

Robin!

[ There's surprised delight in her voice when he slips up behind him, because it's been far too long since they've crossed paths and she's truly glad to see him. And also perhaps just in really high spirits from the party and the relief of everything and maybe a few glasses of some potent alcohol.

Whatever the reason, she indulges in throwing one of her arms around his shoulders to give him a quick hug, being careful of his glass of wine. ]

Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Where have you been hiding?

[alionsheart]

[ He's already indulged in some alcohol himself - and probably mixing wine with what he's consumed already isn't the best idea, but he'll try to be careful - and smiles as he carefully hugs her in return. ]

I've been trying to sort myself out a bit, which...worked quite well, as it turns out. [ He's definitely in better spirits. ] Have you been well, my friend?

[widows_kiss]

You look like you're in a better mood than when I last saw you.

[ She gives him a fond smile at that. ]

Does that mean you've worked things out with Regina?

And I've been... well. [ Mostly. ] Christmas was a little... strange.

[alionsheart]

I am, quite. And I wanted to thank you again for helping me through that rather awful bout of self-loathing and pity.

[ He chuckles and shakes his head at himself. ]

Regina and I...we're sort of...getting there, you could say. I feel a weight's been lifted just in knowing what I truly want, and following my heart.

Christmas was rather unpleasant. Were you alright?

[widows_kiss]

We all have our moments. What are friends for?

[ She gives him a fond smile and a wink, not at all bothered by the fact that he'd merely been being very human. ]

Sometimes that's all it takes. I'm glad it's getting better than what it was, at the very least.

[ She grimaces at the mention of Christmas, however. ] Ah. That. Well, other than an unfortunate encounter with a Jabberwocky, I suppose it was alright.