Gathering: Summer Party

[concierge]

Outside of the Nexus Hotel, waiters and hotel staff had begun to set up the umbrellas and the tables in the middle of the day. Soon, it became clear that something was happening in the shadow of the Nexus. White tablecloths were draped on the tables and drinks and food were brought out with the help of several waiters and servers, staffing tables with hot and cold foods beside bartending stations. Summery drinks in bright, neon colors are laid out one by one and soon, the afternoon light casts a radiant look on the scene.

Music plays faintly in the background and a note at the front desk invites all the Nexus guests to head outside and join in on the summer party, which promises to continue going as long as there are people to stay and continue keeping the warm atmosphere rolling.

On the lawn, social games had been set out -- lawn bowling, croquet, and tables were set up with chairs for anyone who didn't quite have the will or the spirit to get into such games. Soon, a small number of people had begun to mill around, but as with all parties, there's always room for more.

Comments

[shes_biochem]

"We have the Cavalry," Simmons says, not sure May wants her name to be distributed around to strangers, even those who actually know the world that they're a part of. "I've only really ever heard stories about Romanoff. Obviously Agent Coulson knows her, but I'm a bit down the classified levels than he is."

[on_your_right]

"I don't know that much of anyone knows about her," Sam admits. "I think I only do because of a couple lucky circumstances and the fact that she and Steve needed to crash at my house for a little while."

[shes_biochem]

"I'm sure that was an exciting bit of socializing," Simmons remarks, eyes wide at the very idea of having the Black Widow and Captain America over to entertain. It's practically a wild dream and here it is, having happened to Sam. "You're a very kind man to have let them in," she says firmly.

[on_your_right]

"What was I going to do? Captain America shows up and needs your help, you give it," Sam says, as if it's just that easy to make the decision. For him, it had been.

"You do what you need to do."

[shes_biochem]

"I know that I'd do an awful lot for Captain America," Simmons says with a nudge-nudge-wink-wink sort of nod, given that she thinks he's rather dreamy and her heart is currently tangled in its own complicated mess. "Not that I'm suggesting you did it for the same reasons of course. And if you did, no judgement."

[on_your_right]

"Uh, no. I love him but he's like a brother not...no," Sam says, flustered. Truth is, he's a lot more interested in Simmons than he is in anyone else but it's pretty clear that she's more interested in her friend.

[shes_biochem]

She's fairly sure that Captain America can cause feelings of patriotic service and devout friendship in anyone, but she's also one of Coulson's agents and his stance on Captain America is hardly a secret. "Well, I think that your duties are every bit as important," she says firmly. "Perhaps even more so, given that I doubt you have a serum running through your veins."

[on_your_right]

"Yeah, I'm just me. Well, and the suit," Sam says, grinning at her. "You know, I took some damage when I landed and wound up here. I don't know if that's your thing, but do you think you could fix my wings?"

[shes_biochem]

"That's more Fitz than me," she admits, the bittersweet manner of saying it hitting her harder than she expected. "He's engineering. I'm biochem," she says, a faint echo of how they'd been introduced to Ward all those years back. "I'm no slouch. I can always take a look, but Fitz is the one you want for repairs of that nature. At least, when he's in fighting shape."

[on_your_right]

"Then I'll just hang onto it until Fitz is feeling up to fooling around with them," Sam promises. "Because eventually he's going to want something to do to keep from going out of his mind with boredom while he's recovering. I know that from experience."

[shes_biochem]

"Maybe you can come and visit him," Simmons says, struck by the idea. "He doesn't know you, but you're from a common universe and I know he'd be pleased to meet you. And then maybe you could explain your issue to him and he could work at a solution?" she offers, hopeful on all accounts.

[on_your_right]

"I'd like that," Sam says warmly. "You know, I did a lot of work with injured vets. Maybe it's not the same with Fitz, maybe he's not having any problems like that...but if he does and he needs someone to talk to, I'd be happy to do it."

[shes_biochem]

"Maybe next time, you should come with me regardless," Simmons says, because she'd try absolutely anything in the world to try and get Fitz better. "I think he might like having someone to talk to. I'm worried maybe I'm too desperate to try and get him better because I feel somewhat guilty about his condition."