A relatively swank but not too elitist [read: non-segregated] hotel downtown with a noted lounge scene. Apparently this hotel got a rare exemption from the Prohibition rules and kept a license to serve liquor. The charges are steep but at least you know you're drinking the real thing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:06, Mon 25 Feb 2019.

An balding African-American gentleman with white hair wears a starched white shirt with a high collar and suspenders. He sits at the piano on stage, playing some ragtime. Meanwhile the rest of his band, dressed in white suits and red bow ties, unpacks their instruments, a violin, and various horns.

"Ain't nobody got bit didja?" The piano man asks.

"Can't play no trumpet with dem lizard lips!" Someone shouts back to a burst of laughter.

"Dat aughta be a song!"

Frank wore a black suit, new and tailored to him. He stood near a wall a bit away from people but close enough to hear different conversations. Frank held no liquor, instead seeming to be looking around the party with his normal angry look. He was watching for something, though not entirely sure what. Sure, a party was nice, but his suspicions were still active. He wasn't exactly stand-out suspicious, but to the trained eye Frank was obviously not with the same attitude as the normal party goer.

Captain America showed up in costume, his shield worn on his back. The invitation was for Captain America, so they were getting Captain America. He looked around the room and noted Castle's vigilance and stern demeanor, but decided to start by greeting his hosts. After that, he might consider a cup of coffee.

Karla Sofen wasn't a trained eye per se.   But, with her particular education and experience, she was the sort of woman that didn't miss a great deal when it came to people.  It may have been a reason why she'd been retained to be here tonight.

Her Maggy Rouff evening dress suggested she had both class and some means, without yelling 'Hey I'm loaded, and trying real hard to impress!'

She appraised the angry looking man just briefly, as she turned at the sound of someone greeting her, a middle aged, greying physician who'd referred a client to her several months ago.

Naturally, she also noted the arrival of Captain America.    The big guns were beginning to roll in...

Outside, in the shadows, Tryone arrived via a shadow. Sure enough, Tandy steps out of his personal void, looking very different. She is changed out of her street urchin shabby coat, scarf, and dress into a very impressive outfit. Her form is draped in an elegant thing if silk, ribbons, high heels and a thin gold chain around her neck. Hanging from it was the dagger of light, now looming smaller and more decorative.

"Ummm...wow." Tyrone says as she spins around for him. He made him transport her without looking at her new dress. So she jumped into the void while he had his eyes closed, and promised he would not 'see' into the darkness while she was there.

"You clean up mighty good, Miss Bowen! Like a million and one bucks!" He whistled at her.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:59, Tue 26 Feb 2019.

In reply to Tyrone Johnson (msg # 6):

Tandy laughed and suddenly kissed Ty, a real kiss, which made him stop in surprise. Despite his obvious feeling for her, he never actually tried anything.

For one, he was a inhuman monster, and two she was white. While his parents where alive and he still human, they had told him any white man who saw him with a white girl would kill him. Maybe even her as well.

That had never been much of an issue, as he had only stepped out with other black ladies. That life seemed like a dream now. Only Tandy kept this exististece a waking nightmare.

"I like to look good for my fella." She said, and kissed him again, grabbing his arms from the void and putting them around her. Making sure they ended up on her backside, which shocked and delighted Tyrone.

When they both came up for air, both of them panting a bit. Which was new for Tyrone because he only breathed to speak. She lightly tapped his now solid chest with her new purse. "Have fun stealing food for the kids. I will be inside wishing for a real dance from my real Bo!" She winked and walked away, making sure she swung her hips in such a way as he would notice.

Tyrone just stared as she left, feeling so human he wondered if he just lost all his powers in the midst wonderful way possible. After she went inside, he felt the void reclaiming his form once again. Returning empty numbness that was his existence without Tandy.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:00, Tue 26 Feb 2019.

Bruce Banner resisted the desire to undo the top button of his dress shirt and loosen his tie. From the looks of his surroundings, everyone here was either part of the hoi polloi, or striving to be accepted by them. The scientist force himself to relax his shoulders and loosen some of the tension.

Spotting Captain America across the room, he approached the tall hero, but not before taking in the sight of the beautiful, short-haired blonde in the swanky gown. He sighed, sticking his hands into the pockets of the dark blue pinstriped second-hand suit he'd purchased from the pawn shop with some of the money from his recent bootlegging activities.

"As if a swell dame like that would want anything to do with a bindle stiff like me, brains or no..." he thought with a shake of his head and a small smile.

"Hey, Cap," he said to the star-spangled hero. "You got the invite too? Any idea who might have an interest in pulling us together again?" He looked around to room to see if Tony Stark might make an appearance as well, or maybe even the Guthries.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Tue 26 Feb 2019.

And in walks Tony Stark with the press corps in tow.

"So I just sprayed over the hot spots, and by then the SHIELD dirigible was able to reach the island and gave the island a good soaking! It's too bad about the pigeons but hey they're pests anyway right? So I told Fury..."

The throng gets one glance at the patriotic hero in full costume and runs from Stark to surround Captain America, flashing bulbs and asking all sorts of questions, many of which would be classified.

"So...I told Fury..." He sighs and heads towards the bar.

"They love a man in uniform, eh?"

She couldn't help but laugh just faintly at Mr. Stark's obvious plight, his own star drown out by one bigger and brighter.    She doubted the experience would dim his reportedly glowing ego in any lasting way, however.

She didn't miss it when the man in the pinstripe suit briefly and bashfully turned his attention her way.     Something about that face...

It took her several moments.    And then she placed him.     A news paper article she'd chanced to read...along with a most interesting rumor a contact had spoken of.

Karla greeted another acquaintance whom she knew from the medical field.   And changed her position some, after doing so.    Enough so to be facing Doctor...Banner, it was, and give him a brief smile.   Just enough to convey she was aware of him, and not unfriendly.

Mary tried to keep her arrival low key. She was not a stranger to these kinds of gatherings and hoped she could blend in more with the admirers than the admired. She had been sloppy with her identity on the rooftops, but only two men had seen her face and one of them hadn't lived to see the morning. And deep down she genuinely hoped that Spider-man had not revealed her secret. Still, someone knew, and finding out how widespread that information had traveled was her primary concern this evening.

Her dress was a deep red, velvet, with a modest, cowl neckline and a wide exposed back down to her waist. A golden chain hung back from the shoulders of the dress, like a reversed necklace, with an amber teardrop coming to rest about two-thirds the way down her back. She also wore a felt women's bowler hat with a dense mesh veil. Most people found her milky white eyes unsettling, and when it came to "polite company" sometimes you had to do ridiculous things.

Though the long cane would always draw attention to her, Mary's posture, tone and expression all worked together to keep her from standing out. She wasn't part of the help, but she wasn't a high roller either.

Mary engaged in meaningless chit-chat when needed, but mostly she just listened.

When the crowd of reporters followed Tony Stark into the room Peter was not far behind though unlike them his own camera was not being used at the moment. He was not one to snap photographs needlessly especially when the night was still young and there would no doubt be plenty of opportunities to take what he considered to be perfect pictures. One actually came sooner than he expected when he stepped off to the side right when the rest of the press moved away from Tony to crowd in front of Captain America. He took a picture right then that framed both men on either side with the group of reporters between them. No doubt Tony’s expression of disappointment would be clearly seen in the photo. It could be useful for the story later if this event turned out to be nothing out of the ordinary.

Of course he had his suspicions about this little shindig after how he was invited and he made sure to keep an eye for that damn dame. She claimed it was because of the pictures he took and the story he wrote for the Bugle about the incident, but then she brought up a vigilante in particular that put him on edge. Part of him wanted to avoid this but since he had been invited as a reporter for the Bugle he could not refuse it so easily thanks to Jameson. His curiosity would have likely made him show up to this regardless because there was a story for him and far be it from him to ignore it. What else was he supposed to do? Fret over a lizardman bite that would likely turn him into a monster at some point? Probably but that was a problem for another day.

He gazed at the other guests as he made his rounds, his own attire matching theirs though he hated having to wear the tuxedo even if it had been demanded of him. A party like this was not something he ever liked to attend but then he spotted a certain someone that made him think this one was worthwhile going to. It was difficult not to notice the lady. The red dress, the veil and cane would cause to catch a person’s eye and he was no different. Then again it was more the fact Mary was also Daredevil that he glanced at for a couple seconds before he walked away.

That settles it. Whoever is hosting this knows about everyone’s favorite nocturnal hobby, he thought to himself with a dour expression on his face. He doubted they were the only ones here who participated in the fight aside from the publicly known heroes, but this did not answer the two big questions on his mind. Why were they all gathered here and who set this up? Those would be hopefully be answered soon enough and he could only hope it was not too horrible even if his expectations were the opposite.

A broad-shouldered fellow with long blond hair flashes his invite and passes into the room. His tux is on point with a classic shawl collar, but he's still a bit uneasy, like he's never worn a tux before, or been to a private function for that matter.

As he makes his way to the bar, he pauses as Mary makes her way past. He seems genuinely confused for a moment, like he didn't understand what the cane was for, then nods as he notices the veil, and waits for her to pass.

When he reaches the bar, he smiles and speaks with a British accent.

"I shall have a glass of the fire water! Please!

Without missing a beat the old bartender quips back,

"Well how much fire you want in yo' water, Sir?

"Much fire, my friend!"

"We call that whisky round here! On the rocks or straight?"

A momentary pause, and the bartender speaks up again.

"And by rocks I mean rocks of ice, not rocks of rocks."

"Fire water...with ice? That sounds...yes, I shall have my fire water with ice!

"My pleasure Sir! He shakes the drink and pours. Now to show you there's real fire in dat' water...

He flips a match and lights the drink. The man stares in awe as he covers the flame extinguishing it.

"There you go, Sir!"

"Thank you, my friend!" He looks down at the tip jar, and his eyes widen. He reaches in his pocket and stuffs in a bill, then wanders to a table.

The bartender pulls the bill from the glass and his eyes widen. He stuffs it in his jacket.

"I don' know where he from, but he gettin' all the fire water he wants!"

"IT'S PARTYIN' TIIIME!"

The room erupts with laughter as the Thing, in a dapper white tuxedo, literary blocks the entrance with his width. He has to turn sideways to pass through, gently guiding a blonde woman (now the second lady in the room carrying a guiding cane) to a table near the front.

As the press rush to get a good picture of the rocky figure, Reed Richards walks in close behind holding his wife's hand. Susan is wearing a flowing blue dress with a black scarf.

Behind the Richards couple enters Johnny Storm, but without a date, unless you count the fire extinguisher he's carrying.

"Don't worry! You're all safe!" More laughter from the crowd.

Dr. Reed Richards starts waving to someone, then laughs at himself and slips past the press to stand next to Mary.

"Miss Murdock, can may I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course, Dr. Richards." Mary replied, not quite looking straight at him. As she spoke she also raised her hand out in front of her. Without being able to see some kind of physical contact was necessary for her to follow him.

Tandy moves from young man to young man, most of whom ask her to dance. She agrees, dancing with them politely. Chit chatting and laughing at their jokes. However, every once in a while she looks into a patch of shadow as if she saw something there. She even whispers to the shadows every once in a while, but only people like Mary could hear what she had to say.

"You know, if you would just take me dancing I would not have to with all these stuffed suits.  Maybe you might want to consider that for when we go home, hmmm?" She whispers to the shadow. Those those with the proper level of hearing, the shadow speaks back.

"I get it, I get it. I know some clubs downtown where we can go, ok? Just not here...for obvious reasons..."

Tandy smiles at the response and keeps an eye on Mary as she walks off with Dr Richards."You may wanna keep an eye on her."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Wed 27 Feb 2019.

If Captain America was going to reply to the scientist, it was lost in the commotion when the press tore themselves away from Tony Stark and swarmed the costumed hero. Bruce Banner found himself jostled away, and found himself standing next to the very woman who'd caught his eye and briefly smiled at him.

"Hi," he said with a small smile. "I'm, uh, Bruce. Bruce Banner. He's..." he motioned at Captain America. "We know each other. It's okay, the press wouldn't recognize me, and believe me, I'm fine with that."

And then, the Thing and Mister Fantastic entered.

"Well would you look at that," breathed Bruce.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Wed 27 Feb 2019.

"Oh, pleased to meet you, Mr. Banner.  Karla Sofen.  This is going to be quite a clambake tonight, isn't it?"

And then the FF made their entrance.

It was all but impossible not to watch Ben Grimm.   Hardly even human looking...yet so very animated and human in his manner and verve.   Had he truly adjusted to his condition?   It was hard to imagine...

"Indeed, anonymity has its perks. I wonder if the FF regrets the loss of theirs?" She smiled again, adjusting a Victorian, filigree bracelet that adorned one wrist.   "So Mr. Banner, I'll confess my curiosity;  how is it you know Captain America?"   
This message was last edited by the player at 01:50, Thu 28 Feb 2019.

Roberto Da Costa was charged up, and ready. He walked into the party with purpose, and poise. He looked around identifying the people he knew. The fantastic four, Tony Stark, Captain America and The Punisher. The last one surprised him he could figure out why those others were here, but why the punisher? Then it dawned on him. Everyone here must be a vigilante this did surprise him at first, but it did make sense. After all the person who gave him the invitation had the power, and charm to figure out who  these people were. So, then he looked around the room once again these people probably weren't all rich. Bruce Banner a man he didn't know was wearing something looking like it came from a pawn shop, the band wasn't likely to be there except to play music, the bartender was a bartender and the reporters were just that reporters. This left him with a sample size of  3 people. Of those were Karla, Mary, and David. Now he saw their current situations two were chatting with others leaving only one person to whom he could start a conversation with. So he approached David Rand. Hello, my name's Roberto Da Costa, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. So, may I know the pleasure of who I'm talking to?

In reply to Roberto da Costa (msg # 19):

[There's many more people in the party, just they don't stick out, not yet anyway.]

He turns and smiles, giving a very strong handshake. "Sir David Rand, pleasure to meet you!"



[Private to Roberto da Costa: Hmmm....Rand of the Rand Diamond Mines in the Congo?]

Ah, Sir David Rand of Rand Diamonds per chance? How is the diamond mine business working out for you?  How were you knighted? I do wonder it is quite the rarity these days I heard. Surely there's a story behind it. Roberto said in a pleasurable manner. The simple way he was talking to him made him think a prior assumption was correct, and this man was indeed worthy of talking to. He wasn't going to make hasty assumptions of course. But, the other two he wanted to talk to were busy, and as such he didn't mind talking to the man.


[Private to GM: taste for the finer things in life is checked. Confirming three others in this post. ]