"Oh, I came into them both the old fashioned way, I inherited! And what about you, Sir! You seem in good shape, are you in sport?"

Indeed, I was. I used to play futball, what Americans call soccer. What about You? Have you ever played a sport? Roberto decided to ask the man.

Tyrone goes off to watch Mary and Dr Richards from the shadows. Something Mary could tell at once of course. Tandy broke off from her crowd of young male admirers once Ben Grim makes his appearance. She will try to get through the crowd of his admirers in order to speak with him.

What she would say she did not know. However, she saw what Tyrone could be instead of what the young man feels he is. She knew from the newspapers and radio shows they both listened to Tyrone secretly admired Grimm. A minority who made it as a big time air force pilot before being transformed. Ty never admitted it, but Grimm's very existence challenged the negative view of the United States the boy held.

Maybe if Grimm could just speak to Ty, given both their bizarre situations, it could really help. Bring Ty a measure of peace. He hid things from her-how lonely and scared he was of becoming a monster. Sometimes she worried what would happen to Ty if something took her out of commission. He needed more than just the dagger's light...he needed her. She knew that for certain.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:43, Thu 28 Feb 2019.

Dr. Richards returns to his table, escorting Mary. He pulls out a seat at the table so she can sit between his wife and the lady sitting beside Ben Grimm.

"Let me formally introduce you to my family? On your left is my wife Susan, on your right is the sculptor Alicia Masters, who is here with Ben Grimm..."

"Hiya!"

"Now why couldn't I sit by...?"

"AND ACROSS FROM YOU is my brother-in-law Johnny Storm."

"I won the Gran Prix two years in a row!"

"Yes, Johnny. We all know that. The two expeditions were impressive as well, strange you don't seem to hold them in as high regard."

"Because none of my interviews get published, so what's the point in bragging?"

"Waiter! More dinner rolls! Are they all black bread? Doncha got any rye? Marble even?"

Susan coughs. "Boys! Can we not squabble over dinner for once?"

"I'm quite fond of swimming, and cliff diving. My work keeps me quite active."

Peter continued to make his rounds through the party as a member of the press invited to document the event. Every so often he would stop and ask an attendee a question or two about the attack. Sometimes he would ask them if he could take their picture as well but this was mostly done just so he could keep up appearances. The habit of always assuming there was more to something than met the eye was always prevalent in him. Some might call it paranoia but he preferred to consider it skepticism though he could not fault anyone for thinking the latter.

He stopped when he noted a young lady at the party was one he met on the rooftop the other night, and how he witnessed her use a glowing dagger with enough power to wound a dragon. If memory served her name was Tandy and her partner was Tyrone. He looked around the room and did not see the shadowy lad. Then he looked around the room not for people but for any spots of darkness and he got the distinct feeling the teen was here. It made sense though since he saw Murdock here so of course the kids would be here as well. He still owed the pair for their help with Kraven along with a talk about what they witnessed that night in the void. Maybe they had not given it a second thought but such a conversation could wait until another time.

The guests were still coming in but he thought the main ones were here by this point now that the Richards group had arrived. Getting an interview with any of them could be a worthwhile endeavor if he could get more than a puff piece out of them. Perhaps he could seek them out later this evening, but for now he needed to find someone else. After all, he was only here because someone had personally invited him to this little get together so it was only polite to say hello. Well there was that and the fact something about Miss Frost set him on edge and he wanted to know what her part was in this game.

Really, What makes your work so physically stimulating? Roberto replied intrigued. The man had said something peculiar to him from what he understood a man like him would be more likely do the supervisor side of things.

The first course is served, beet soup with sour cream and a salad of pickled vegetables.

Mary took the seat she was directed to and almost immediately lost herself in the family interplay. She's been alone for a long time. She never knew her mother, never had a sibling, and lost her father years ago. Karen was a good friend, and now Tandy and Tyrone have become regulars as well, but this... she'd never been part of something like this before.

With introductions complete she gave her own name, then tried very hard to not disrupt what was very clearly a well established familial unit. Though ostensibly she had been invited to connect with Alicia, who was also blind, the family bonds were all so strong that any topic of conversation was easily joined by anyone at the table. It was nice, and it took an act of will to still keep listening to the rest of the room. The true purpose of the night had yet to be revealed.

That's when she noticed Tandy, who Mary initially thought might be keeping eyes on her, before realizing the young woman's attention was offset just a bit... But there wasn't anything she could do about it. Not yet at least. As far as anyone knew, Mary would have no way to know that Tandy seemed interested in watching, or perhaps talking with, Ben. The girl would have to be more overt if Mary was going to be of any help.

Alicia reaches out and finds Mary's hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard good things about your work...in law."

She smiles.

"You have a very strong hand...

She changes the subject respectfully as the first course is plated.

Tony swaggers over to the bar, setting his drink down.

"Bartender! Where the HELL did you get these olives? They taste like fish brine! They don't belong in a martini that's for damn sure!"

The bartender swallows hard, and picks up the jar. The label looks like the company's been around for centuries and never been updated.

"I can't tell what language it is, Sir..."

"Let me see..." Tony grabs the jar and holds in close to his face, squinting as he reads the gothic lettering.

"Pruductum olivem...brinsata rivros dem...Latveria???"

"We...uh...met in West Virginia," replied Bruce, glancing over at Cap. "There were some kids and a uranium mine and a...uh..." Giant brain floating in a vat. And don't forget the killer robots. "He and Tony Stark needed some help with a...project. I'm a scientist and I happened to be there and so..." He shrugged, eager to change the subject.

Before he can continue, the first course is announced. Bruce walked Karla over to a nearby table and held her chair out for her before sitting himself.

"And what brings you here?" he asked, eager to steer the conversation away from himself but happy to be talking to Karla.

Briefly, the head waiter appeared, and stood next to Karla, while he adjusted the drinks on his tray.   He murmured something in a low tone, for her alone to hear.

God damm it - what??      That would have been a nice thing to know when she first signed on!   Of course, better this notice than none.   Her expression may have shown a moment's agitation, but her social face was swiftly restored.

"Ah, a scientist-?  How fascinating - I thought you looked like a sharp fella."

She walked with him, taking the offered chair.    And answering the question-

"Well, I'm a practicing psychologist.  I have a fair amount of friends in the field of medicine, one of whom put me on the guest list."   She smiled, shrugged, attempting to convey an ease she no longer felt.  "How could a psychoanalyst not be intrigued by people like these?   Can you imagine what it must be like, Mr. Banner?  To become something a little more than human?"   

...after the main course is served we all have five minutes...  The words lit her mind like a neon sign.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:41, Fri 01 Mar 2019.

Frank looked over at Karla, seeing her slight befuddled expression then trying to hide it. He makes his way over to the area, staying a bit away from it. Frank watched the group out of the corner of his eye, blending into the crowd and staying by the wall as to not be noticed. He was eavesdropping, although hard to do in such a crowded place, it didn't stop him from collecting tidbits of info. His hands remained in his pant pockets, waiting for now. He wasn't exactly suspicious, but of course could be seen as a more odd man to be in a tux. Someone with a beard and damaged face such as his seemed to be a fighter, not a talker. His attitude definitely portrayed it.

Bruce choked on his borscht, quickly grabbing his napkin and covering his mouth. Recovering quickly, he took a drink from his water glass.

"Sorry," he said, offering an apologetic smile. "I can. I really can. 'My devil has been caged, and came out roaring.' Isn't that what Stevenson said in 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?'"

He looked around the room at the colorful throng and those who hung on their every word. "What do you make of it, Miss Sofen? Men in red, white, and blue, claiming to represent all the good in our country. Loud boisterous monsters made of rock, acting as if they didn't have a care in the world. Rich men like Stark, seemingly detached from those he deems beneath him but still turning up to events as if to prove he considers himself a regular Joe?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Sat 02 Mar 2019.

He smirks. "Oh, it's very cuthroat in my line of business. Some of my adversaries are absolutely savage!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:09, Fri 01 Mar 2019.

Karla smiled inwardly at Bruce's reaction; the article in the paper and the underground rumor coming together neatly in his response.    To think, she was seated across the table from that.     So incredibly different from the mild, intelligent, soft spoken man facing her.

Her eyes flicked briefly toward the angry looking bruno she'd spotted earlier, as he sauntered into the general area where they were sitting.   Another in Frost's employ?   If he'd got the same warning, it hadn't changed his demeanor.

"You're looking at the bigger picture, Mr. Banner.   That's perceptive.   Not really sure what I make of it, yet.  Are these just people -  not so different from you or I -  managing as best they can, given a very unusual hand of cards?   Or, is there a show in progress, complete with a backstage and a director?   I'd love to know."

As well, she'd love to know what that main course was coming...

Roberto had no idea what to think at first, but the way he was describing it. He doubted what he was talking about was heroics of a sort. No, instead it was definitely more likely he was talking about actual fighting he couldn't think of a way that he would mean otherwise, so he decided to inquire. Really? Enough, about work. What hobbies do you enjoy? I personally prefer parties when I'm off work how about you?

"Hobbies? Not much time for them, unless you count whittling and crude carpentry, perhaps.

In reply to David Rand (msg # 41):

"I would count those as hobbies. Mine, on the other hand, are actually more of sports."

His eyes widen as the costumed hero pass bye, adding his 2 cents.

"Captain America! What a pleasure to meet you!"

He offers his hand. Strong arm, very firm grip.

"I'm David Rand! Since you're a guest of honor, Captain, could you tell me what the full reason behind this party is? I think it has something to do with the Richards team returning again from the Savage Lands?"

Tandy stayed in the throngs of the people trying to get a view of Grimm and his family. Granted she would love Ty to talk to the 'idol of millions', but doubted it would happen. Ty was far too busy, and a little shy, to gush over one of his heroes. For now he would just watch from the shadows-as she could sense him even if no one else-expect Mary-could.

For now, she would just lightly touch people's hands as they introduced themselves. Seeing their hopes in her mind, including the awful ones. Their hopes where always far worse up 'close' as it where. Anyone really awful she could gesture with her head to the shadow Ty was hiding out in. That way they could find the man later and deal with his terrible deeds.

One older man had shown he just wanted to run away with her and leave his wife and family. Another just wanted her to follow him into a closet. Another to tie her up and leave her in the basement for later horrible things. That one she looked into the shadow and inclined to Ty he should be checked out. Maybe it was just a dark fantasy, or maybe he had a few young women in his basement already...
This message was last edited by the player at 16:13, Fri 08 Mar 2019.

A deep authoritative voice comes on the speakers as the band quickly stops.

"Ladies and gentlemen...since many of you are so eager to learn more about this gathering, please take your seats and enjoy the following presentation before the meal..."

A screen rolls down from the ceiling. There's a gasp from the audience as vivid COLOR plays across the screen, showing the Fantastic Four waving before their first flight.

"Six months ago, Reed Richards and his foolhardy companions...[light laughter from the audience]

...intruded into airspace already claimed by the Kingdom of Latveria!"

[gasps from the audience]

A new scene of the Fantasticar flying overhead, then a charging brontosaurus blocks and crushes the camera.

"Formal complaints were filed to the State Department with the hopes that this matter will would be resolved diplomatically. HOWEVER! Reed Richards just WEEKS ago DARED to make a SECOND incursion into Latverian airspace! And for THAT, he and ALL OF YOU in this room who ENABLED him shall pay!"

The screen switches to a golden throne, upon which sits a man wearing plate armor from head to toe and clad in a dark green cloak.

"You shall find escape from this building to be quite impossible. Your end, while, while spectacular, will be unsatisfying swift for my tastes, but nonetheless sufficient. Such is the will Victor Von Doom, King of Latveria."

"Well that's not good," mutters Bruce.

I'm sorry to ask, but I was not aware that Dr. Reed Richards had decided to head back there, so how do you suggest I enabled him to go back to Latveria? If I'm going to die, I'd at the very least like to know, Why I'm going to die. Roberta da costa asked confused. He tried to think back to anything that could have enabled Reed Richards, escape to the jungle, but he wasn't aware of any. He hadn't even had the chance to be in the same room as the man until today after all. As he said it he decided to look for some sort of telephone to make his current situation of being kidnapped known to his driver, and others.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Mon 11 Mar 2019.