14124/Bats Birds and a Birthday On a Blimp

Bats Birds and a Birthday On a Blimp
Date of Scene:	14 February 2023
Location:	Gordon Green Energy Blimp
Synopsis:	The Birds new Blimp headquarters is the sight of Stephanie Brown's 21st birthday party.
Cast of Characters:	Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Zinda Blake, Dick Grayson, Phoebe Beacon, Jason Todd, Tim Drake

---

Barbara Gordon has posed:
The 'Maiden Voyage' of the GGE Airship, Blimp, Dirigible, Zeplin.... It all came together rather quickly for the refurbished ship. It was coated on the outside with the latest in solar energy panels, it was updated on the top with a landing pad for helicopters, it was given a central lift that moves through the superstructure itself to connect it to the Gondola below, and the Gondola itself was entirely rebuilt with two levels of the latest tech, and amenities for both 'business cruises' and for social gatherings.

Tonight, is a bit of both! Some tests are being run by the A.I. guidance system, as well as the surveilence system, the Blimp is really just settling in to being up in the air again!

And in the mean time, may as well celebrate the birthday of one of the Bat-family's bestest ladies!

Miss Stephanie Brown!

The lower level of the Gondola is done up with all manner of fancy party decorations throughout the dining area at the fore of the lower level, with balloons, streamers, party lights, and more. Each table, each booth, and the dancing area are all lit up brightly, festively, with a variety of party flare. Every balloon, streamer, and banner strung up around the party room is adorned with Steph's name, as well as a limmerick, poem, or bit of wise advice from some random source, all for Steph, from messages about how much she's loved, to pieces of advice about how to live as happy a life as possible.

But, obviously, the main attraction aboard the Blimp, is Gotham itself. Currently the blimp is anchored to the Clocktower and a extended boarding area reaches from the building's roof to the Gondola itself, where party goers are being ushered in, for music, for cake, for food, and for fun, to celebrate Stephanie's special day!

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cass has stolen the bacon ice cream. She's curled up in a corner, the entire tub of it curled up in her arms, with a spoon in her mouth. She's put up a defensive wall of chairs and is looking around as if she's likely to bite anyone who gets too close.

Keeping in mind that until today Cass has been seen eating A: rice, B: fish, and C: vegetables, this is a big thing. It appears she's almost reached puberty or something.

This is mine and I'll fight you for it. Also it's empty.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
After touring the rest of the Blimp to see how far it has come since the Birds first got a glimpse of it in the hangar, Stephanie Brown steps into the room where the festivities are to be held. Her normal college winter attire of jeans and a sweater is being worn, though she's chosen a nice one. It looks like maybe she had a trip to a salon recently as well, perhaps to make ready for going out somewhere for her birthday.

"Wow, Barbara, it's really come along," Stephanie is saying of the Blimp itself. But then she gets into the party room and gets a sight of everything. The blond girl bites down on her lip as her eyes get a bit of a wet glisten to them. "It's... wow, this looks great too," she says in a voice that sounds like it's struggling to contain a bit of emotion.

The girl who counted herself lucky if her parents even remembered her birthday, looks around at the effort that was put into the decorations. And then she slips her arm about Barbara and gives her a really tight side hug. "Thank you," she says in a somewhat choked up voice. When Dick has made it into the room he gets a similarly tight hug.

Zinda Blake has posed:
The view of Gotham is spectacular, and those aboard the blimp easily spot the approach of a helicopter. The Eurocopter EC 155 is black and coming in fast, banking sharply before buzzing past at high speed. As it passes, the yellow Blackhawk logo is plainly visible. Then it goes vertical and disappears out of sight and sound, thanks to the blimp canopy.

A few minutes later, the chopper is powered down and tied down on the pad above. Zinda steps out of the lift into the gondola in full Blackhawk regalia, complete with short skirt, go-go boots, double-breasted jacket and cap. "Howdy, y'all. Am I too early for th' cake?"

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Arriving with the birthday girl, Dick is in public relaxed mode, which means khakis, a button front shirt and non-designer shoes. They did arrive in the limo however, in case any drinking occurs.

    Following the birthday girl through the gondola to the central room where everything is set up, he returns the hug with a smile and says "This was all Barbara and helpers, but I'll take the hug anyway." Looking over to the aforementioned Barbara, he smiles and says, "It looks great, you did one heck of a job."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe's in attendance. She didn't want to be, but somehow, someone convinced her that partying on a blimp would be a great idea. So she's here, gunmetal gray gel nails tapping on a table in nervousness as she steps in with her hair up in a pink wrap tied into a rosette at her forehead, wearing good jeans and a Gotham U T-shirt under some designer stab-resistant red sweatshirt, left open to show the pattern of the local university's logo.

    She even has an additional gift in purple foil with gold ribbon tucked under her arm because you can't show up to a birthday party without a gift, that's so gauche. Her boots tip-tap behind Dick as she pokes her head in.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara was with Stephanie when they entered the dining hall of the lower level of the Gondola. She smiles at the reaction, seeing Cass over in a corner though behind some chairs has her laughing for a moment. "Yeah, well... as it turns out, we had some designs for this already mostly complete from years back. What we did was just get it going again, with a focus on more modern materials from head to toe, including the landing pad up top---"

Babs is cut off as Zinda's chopper makes a brief appearance outside, and she nods toward it. "There's the one I was hoping to also make happy with this whole... radical idea."

Babs affords a smile to Dick, and reaches out to pat his shoulder. "You're welcome up here any time."

"That's the goal of this thing, to be a 'Eye in the Sky' for all of us. A new option, with a lot of surveilence angles on the city, drone related features as well, and much more... But tonight. It's all about Stephanie." Babs says with a grin before she sees Zinda arriving. "Hey!" Babs calls out to her. "What do you think? How was the landing up there?" She asks, moving to Zinda to offer her a welcoming embrace too. "You wanna get us going here soon? There's a course plan laid out upstairs at the helm, and the A.I. is prepared to take over whenever you want to just hang out and eat cake too. If not, the A.I. can do it all for us tonight too. Either way is all good with me."

Jason Todd has posed:
Birthday parties aren't exactly a -Jason- thing. Right? Who wants the Curmudgeon's Curmudgeon to show up at a celebration?

Perhaps that's changing, or at least the effort to put on a proper show of it is being made, as Jason has not only arrived at the clocktower but made his way up to the boarding ramp and then into the blimp.

There is no effort to hide it as he looks around the blimp. C'mon. It's a blimp. Maybe he just wants to know where the emergency exits are.

Finding his way to where everyone is gathered, he offers a slightly stiff nod to each as he sets down a package, wrapped in plain brown butcher paper. Turning, then, he makes his way toward the others, namely Stephanie.

"Happy birthday, Stephanie." A glance around, "Impressive choice of venue. Going to be difficult to top this" he offers with a smile.

Tim Drake has posed:
    Some people, unfortunately, drew the short end of the stick on patrol assignment today. Which means it's Red Robin, not Tim Drake, that hauls himself over a guard rail somewhere at the back of the blimp and makes his way inside. Because Bats absolutely cannot be seen using the front door.

    That's just not how they roll.

    He does not, however, come empty-handed. He's carrying one of those insulated bags you can buy at grocery stores to keep things cold or hot for a while.

    If you have to ask whether or not it's a Bat-branded bag, then I don't know what to tell you.

    He's panting as he makes his way into the dining hall, and to get a Bat panting--even Tim, who's right around average amongst the Bats in terms of his physical condition--means he really must have been hauling ass across Gotham to get here as fast as possible. Speaking of: he sets the bag down on the nearest available table, slumps into the nearest available chair, and then gestures like his arm is a wet noodle. "Fried mac and cheese balls. With bacon. They BETTER be fresh."

    Which, they are. Tim definitely planned this down to the nth level of detail, with every eventuality accounted for. Also every single box in the bag has "For Stephanie" written on it, which means Birthday Girl gets to choose if she even wants to share.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown greets Zinda warmly as she arrives. "I imagine landing on it when moving is going to be a lot of fun," the blond tells the aviator, though in a town that suggests Stephanie really is considering that a fun challenge as opposed to just a difficult one.

Making the rounds, Stephanie goes over to Cass. If allowed she hauls Cass to her feet to give her a big hug. "Careful, too much of that can give you a stomachache," she jokes of the ice cream. Followed by, "Oh my god is that BACON!?"

Phoebe can consider it a compliment that rather than go investigate if there is another tub of the bacon ice cream, Stephanie turns to greet her instead. "Phoebe, got the stuff at the lakehouse. Thank you, it really meant a lot," she says, smiling and offer Phoebe a hug of greeting.

"That's all Barbara," Stephanie tells Jason Todd of the venue then. She offers him a quick hug and a pat on the shoulder. "It really is something though. Already amazed by how much work she's done since saw it not too long ago after she'd first gotten it," Stephanie tells him.

Red Robin's arrival in costume gets a grin from Stephanie. "Sorry if it conflicted with your patrol schedule. Though I really had no control over the date," she promises him. She leans down to slip an arm around his shoulders and give a quick hug to the Bat she's back with the furthest along with Batman himself.

Stephanie looks in Tim's bag and inhales. "Oh, wow I'm going to have to go patrol after this to take off the calories," she kids. "These things smell amazing, thank you Red Robin," she says, using his hero name while he's in costume just to be safe she's not revealing an identity unknowingly.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
The dark eyes peer out from the corner as Tim/RR climbs into the room. They seem to be ready for anything, another dose of chilly goodness slipping past her lips. There's little to be said, but after a moment Cass gives up the safety of her bunker-on-a-blimp and stands up.

She looks at Barbara, then at Steph. Then she takes the spoon out of her mouth and leans over a bit, toward a window that she's placed next to. Where she taps a note on the window, written by her.

Apparently 'HAppY BriTHDy Steph' is the order of the day. But it moves in the wind.

...wind? What wind? This is indoors. Right?

Oh come on, you'd climb the outside of a moving blimp and stick a note on the window if you could and you know it.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe stiffens up as Stephanie hugs her, hands curling at her side a moment, a little bit gobsmacked as she stammers something out, muddled of 'it's okay' and 'least I could do, you took my duck' and then she abruptly brings her hands up, the rectangular gift with the matching paper as she squeaks out:

    "I-Forgot-To-Add-One-Thing-So-Here-It-Is-Thank-You-I-Mean-You're-Welcome-Enjoy-The-Ducks!"

    and she breathes out, turning to Red, and she raises a hand in greeting before she takes a deep breath, and holds it. Already high anxiety.

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake gives a jaunty wave, returning embraces where offered. "Looks real good, Skipper." she replies to Babs. "Landing might be a little tricky at night or with a crosswind, but she's more stable than a carrier." Zinda slips Steph an envelope with a quiet smile and a lowered voice.

"Pulled a few strings on this one. Figured a blonde daredevil might enjoy a ride with the Thunderbirds." And with that, Zinda adds a little wink and gives Steph's shoulder a light squeeze.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Watching Tim's arrival with a slight smirk, Dick calls over to him "You seem a little out of condition, should we be worried about that?" He also makes sure not to use a proper name since Zinda is a stranger to him and he doesn't know what she is privy to.

    Looking around, he slips over to the drinks and collects a soda to start with, waiting for all the greetings and such to finish up. He waves at Phoebe and Cass in greeting, happy to let Steph be the center of attention.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Babs reaches a hand up to adjust the black framed glasses she's wearing, her red hair tied up in to a loose wild bun on the crown of her head. She's wearing a black form fit sweater, and a dark grey skirt, with black heeled boots on that vanishe up the skirt. Casual mode for Barbara tonight too.

"Welcome, welcome." She says to Jason with a smile, then to Red Robin as he strides in. "Well, you came in the fun way, I see..." She says with a grin. "Landing on this thing should be interesting for choppers, and for flyers without vehicles too." Her grin persists as she steps over to the spiral staircase that leads up to the second level of the Gondola. "I'll see us off though, and if any others want to join us here tonight, we'll make some pit stops, or send our dairing pilot out again." She grins to Zinda before her heeled black leather boots start to carry her up the spiral stairs to the operations level.

"Make sure the Birthday girl doesn't do anything remotely work related!" Babs calls out on her way up, and around! Spiral staircases are fun!

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown sees the sign that Cassandra put outside the window and a new wave of those emotions from before rises. It takes Stephanie a moment to be able to speak as people again get her right in the feels. She wraps Cassandra in a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispers in the Asian girl's ear before letting her go again.

Stephanie clears her throat to help get a hold on herself again, turning to smile to Zinda as she passes the envelope over. "Oh wow! Yes, that would be amazing! Close formation flying isn't something I've gotten to do!" she says excitedly. Just some piloting training on the Batwing but she's never even done anything mission related from it that Batman wasn't piloting. "Thank you, yes, I'll definitely love this," Stephanie tells Zinda with a happy smile. "Zinda, this is my fiance, Dick Grayson," she says, "And his brother Jason. Who both know about me, so nothing Spoiled. I think you probably know everyone else?" she asks, though probably meaning those not in costume.

Phoebe's discomfort up in the air is noticed, and Stephanie takes the present from her to help distract. She peels open the package, not one of those careful about saving the paper. Steph wants to see what it is too much!

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason Todd returns the hug to Steph and nods, "Still a hell of a view for a party. No better first event, probably, either." He offers her another smile, then glances toward Barbara as she explains to Zinda the workings of the autopilot.

Nodding toward Red Robin, the often recognized smirk makes an appearance before he slowly fades away from the focus of the gathering. He looks for the drinks just to have something to do with his hands then he finds his way to that chair-fort of Cass's and he claims one of the chairs to settle on and watch the gathering. That smirk fades toward an actual smile as he watches.

Tim Drake has posed:
    The hug from Steph gets returned with one previously aforementioned noodly arm, and he smiles up at her. "All the way from the best fried food stand in Amusement Mile." He only shakes his head at the mention of calories, which "Don't count on your birthday!" At least, according to Red Robin, apparently.

    After a brief pause, "Square breathing," is all Tim says to Phoebe, though he then starts using it to calm the burning in his lungs. Inhale 2 3 4, hold 2 3 4, exhale 2 3 4, hold 2 3 4, and repeat. He debates some kind of snark at Dick in reply, but given the givens (Zinda being an unknown quantity) he chooses to uphold the Masquerade.

    And you know Red Robin has played that TTRPG with someone. He's that kind of nerd.

    "I just sprinted across half the city's rooftops, is all. Even for us Bats that's a lot, but don't worry, we can still handle anything Gotham tries to throw at us," he says, the voice modulation build into his suit collar throwing off the pitch of his voice just enough to disguise it.

    Finally feeling like he isn't going to pass out from oxygen deprivation (which, okay, slightly dramatic on his part) Tim flashes Barbara a thumbs up. "Cool blimp." Jason and Zinda get the same polite nod because Tim has to pretend he isn't Definitely a Wayne Adoptee, but even he can't keep the little chin-drop of shock at Cass's note. OUTSIDE THE BLIMP! Though it's more the note than it's location that gets the reaction out of him.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Given that Cass is now blushing, she smiles a little at the whisper in her ear. But then she looks up, sees that Phoebe is in trouble, and...has other priorities.

She glares at Jason, then starts to fix her defenses. Tipping over her remaining chair, she checks on her ice cream bucket to make sure that it's still safe.

Before returning to her exercise. Bicep curls, bringing the spoon to her mouth. Shut up! It is so!

I ask for so little around here! *cries*

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake tips the brim of her cap to Tim and to Jason as she's introduced. "Zinda Blake, an' it's nice to meet y'all." she offers. "I'm sorta the company pilot, if ya' take my meanin'. You ever need a lift somewhere, jus' give a holler. Ain't nowhere too hot or hairy for Blackhawk Aviation to make a drop-off or pick-up."

She follows up with her signature smile, for those war buffs who have seen her posters.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
A few moments go by and the Blimp shudders some as lights outside begin to swirl in golden hues. The bridge that had extended from the Clocktower retracts in upon itself in three different sections before the GGE Airship is left floating independently in the air. The bulkheads rumble as a vibration passes through the whole of the vessel...

and with a ding, a voice announces in an attractively accented female tone. "Welcome to Gordon Green Energy's flagship airborne wonder 'The Halo'. We hope you enjoy your time aboard, and encourage you to experience all that the modern day dirigible has to offer." followed shortly by another pleasant ring of a bell, and the view outside starts to shift.

The Blimp has pulled away from the Clocktower now, and is aiming southward as it starts to move forward on one of its pre-designated courses.

From the aft of the party level within the Gondola, two people emerge with a massive birthday cake, the caterers carrying it toward a table in the dining area, the cake fully lit up with candles and Stephanies's name adorned on the purple and yellow icing!

The candles sparkle brightly, as does the view of Gotham at night outside the windows all around the party room!

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I'll be fine, Double-R, just gimmie a minute." Phoebe replies to Red Robin with a wan smile, quietly so that she's not putting Steph on the spot, and she leans into Tim's shoulder, but does imitate his breathing. "Forgot Steph's a hugger." she states, breathing out. "Have my gear stuffed in a closet to take over patrol if you wanna stay here." she teases a moment, eyebrows rising up.

    But she turns to watch Steph open the package.

    It is a book. THE ADVENTURES OF HAZELDUCK MCQUACK-WAYNE. It's a hand-drawn and watercolored comic book about how Hazelduck enjoys running across the kitchen, swimming in the lake, and napping on Stephanie's lap after eating snails in the winter garden.

    The kitchen has Dick in a chair, Alfred in the garden, Bruce and Damian in windows in the manor, and a list of duck ownership resources hand-written on the back page.

    She leans against the wall, giving an up-nod to Jason as she wallflowers a bit as the cake comes out.

    "... so think Steph's gonna leave any for us?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
The wrapping comes off of Phoebe's present. Stephanie reads the title and grins, then opens it up to see the inside. She breaks out in warm laughter. "Oh Phoebe this is amazing," she says warmly. "Thank you. This is really wonderful," she says, flashing a bight smile to Phoebe. She lets anyone who wants to see take a look at the contents of the book.

After, Stephanies moves to Dick's side as Barbara cues the cake to be brought out. "I can't believe everyone went to the trouble," she tells Dick quietly. Still a little emotional about it all. It wasn't that long ago she was on her own, having been told by Batman she should hang up her cape. To have a family like this causes those emotions to well up.

"Wow that's a lot of candles," Stephanie says with a laugh. "Though think I already have my wish. Just being here with all of you, there isn't much more I could really wish for," she tells everyone, shining an emotional smile around at everyone.

Tim Drake has posed:
    Tim's totally trying to keep his enthusiasm about THE Zinda Blake being here, under wraps. He's not winded any more, but at least that brisk jog across Gotham was enough to burn some anxious energy out of him, so he manages to not vibrate in his seat with excitement.

    But he's not wallflowering with Phoebe. While she's hanging out with Jason, Red Robin is back up on his feet, making sure to position himself JUST SO to take some good pictures of Stephanie's face lit up with emotions (and the light from all those candles, too).

    Her smile is returned, and then Tim spends a moment just taking in the view of Gotham out the windows. He doesn't whistle, because that would be unprofessional (a standard that only Tim is holding himself to) but he does marvel at it for a while, off to the side.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick smiles and slips his arm around Steph for a moment, replying quietly, "I think you'll find that this is pretty much normal for us. Well, maybe not the blimp, granted, but the being here for each other." He squeezes her with the arm he slipped around her, then gives her a gentle push back towards the center of the room.

    "No wallflowering for you tonight, you get to be the center of attention. Besides, you have a cake to cut." He considers the size of the cake and asks Barbara "You wouldn't have a small chainsaw around anywhere, would you?"

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason Todd nods to Phoebe in return, then glances toward Cass. He offers her a smile. "Don't mind me. Your nation-state is safe." He has no intentions on invasion, just camping on the border.

As talk of books and ducks happens, he watches curiously. He does recall the duck at the lake house. Still. WTH? At least Stephanie is happy with the gift.

When the cake arrives, he asks Cass quietly, "Got any room for cake with that icecream? The treats are probably going to just keep coming." That the tub of ice cream has been decimated so effectively already seems to amuse him.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cass? She's snuck out of her bunker, and is looking at Phoebe's gift. Her eyes widen, then she snucks toward Zinda. New girl needs a looking at. Though that might sound a bit skeevy now that I look at it typed out.

Cass is much less thoughtful about her actions though. She actually pokes Zinda on the arm, just a little. Like she needs to be certain that the lady is real.

Hey, given how much Tim rants about the classics, she's heard the name a few times. Between rants about the lady's exploits. But when Jason talks to her, she turns away and looks at him. Then at the cake. Then back at Jason.

"Is it food?" she asks. Out loud.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "It's cake," Phoebe gives a little grin to Cass. "It's food. Very sweet. Lots of sugar." she explains, and motions to the ice cream bucket "Like ice cream but warm and... not a cream. MOre spongy. Like bread?" she ventures.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Babs appears at the base of the spiral staircase to the second level. She grins at the question she overhears from Dick, and shakes her head. "No chainsaws on a blimp. It's like one of the top three rules in the handbook." She says as she makes her way to the cake. She sees Cass transfixed on it, hears her question and grins. "Yes, but we have to sing to Stephanie first." Babs is gonna do it, gonna make all of you do it too.

So she begins, waving her hands at everyone to join in.

"Haaaappy Birthday to You!" She begins the song that everyone knows, everyone here knows it, even Cass, and they all have to sing it...

Or else!

At least that's the look on Babs' visage as she eyes everyone from behind her trendy black framed glasses, green eyes glaring at those who might not be putting enough effort in to their singing too! Beware Babs' wrath!

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown smiles to Dick and nods about not wallflowering. Not that Steph would usually do that, but Dick knows there are moments she struggles. High society she's gotten better at just because she's had to sink or swim with as much as Dick has to attend them. Though moments like this could definitely be a little overwhelming if in a good way. She hugs him and rests her head against his shoulder for a moment before letting go to move over to the cake.

Stephanie blushes softly as the birthday song is sung. "Thank you everyone. Really, can't say how much it means to have you here," she tells them. "Ok, here we go," she says, drawing in a deep breath, then blowing out the candles.

Some might say she has prodigious lung capacity from all the exercise. Others from how much she talks. Whichever, or both, she manages to blow them all out!

She'll get a knife and start cutting slices of cake for people, the least she can do, handing them out, and letting someone else scoop ice cream. She does get a finger full of frosting from a corner that she'll get for herself. "Mmm," she says as she tastes it.

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake joins in the song, her voice loud and strong (if slightly off-key) and unmistakable with her Georgia drawl. Zinda has never been one to shy away from singing, whether it's songs for birthday or bar room. Once the singing is over and cake is being cut, she looks around at the drink options, perhaps somewhat hopefully. But it's NOT a bar, so Zinda makes due with whatever is available.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
A bit too loud, Cass sings. She knows the body language of expecting her to join in, and she's never, EVER self-conscious. Something that Phoebe could learn...

Anyway.

"Happy BIRTHDAY!" "Happy birthday!" "Happy birthday."

Bit late, off key, and missing words, but damnit...

"To you?" She says the last bit more quietly, gauging reactions and toning down a bit. Because she's good at that kind of thing, and Cass has come up next to Steph. And she puts a kiss on Stephanie's cheek. Because Birthday Girl deserves it.

Still kind of hesitant about the cake though. Sugar is weird.

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason Todd doens't sing. Usually. Not that anyone can prove. But this is a birthday party and if anyone deserves signing to, it's Stephanie.

He moves to stand and join in, singing along till the end. As she blows out the candles he claps approvingly and lingers for his turn at scoring a slice for himself.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe had joined in the singing, quietly, from her place on the wall, crossing her arms as she gives a little smile, tugging her sweatshirt (it is in fact too large for her) around herself as she breathes out, and gives applause as appropriate, though she seems in no rush to get cake, trying to absorb the happy from the room.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    "Haaappy Birthday to you.." Dick knows better than to risk the wrath of Babs and takes up the song as well in his pleasant baritone voice. He's just happy to see Steph in the spotlight for a change. He keeps singing until the song is over then waits for her to cut the cake. "Ok, who wants to guess what flavor purple is? I'm pretty sure they don't make grape frosting, so I'm going with blackberry."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Dimetapp." Phoebe offers helpfully. "It's what flavor I made the cookies I sent her way."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
With everyone getting in on the singing, Babs has that pleasantly pleased expression dawn her facial features. She even joins the quiter ones to stand near them to pick up some of their slack. She smiles to Phoebe, and then bumps shoulders with Jason on her right, offering him a grin before her eyes go back to the birthday girl.

With the singing finished though, Babs' offers Steph another small hug before she goes to help serve cake.

And soon, cake is served! What Dick says of the color purple has Babs smiling around the forkful she'd just put in her mouth before she settles in to one of the chairs near the center floor, the center floor setup for dancing with lots of balloons floating around it in the air that flows cleanly filtered through the Gondola's many rooms.

"Why don't they make grape icing? How has technology failed us this badly?" She has to ask as she dives her fork in to the sweet sweet cake for another round.

"Steph." Babs speaks up then. "What is going to be different for you as compared to last year? What is this one going to bring, that will put that last year to shame?" She asks, before that new fork full is deposited between her glossy pink painted lips for a good consuming of delicious cake.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown is just smiling and a bit overcome by it all. Anyone who just looks can tell how much this means to Stephanie.

When the plates have cake on them and have been distributed, Stephanie gets one for herself, but sets it aside as she picks up the package that is wrapped in plain brown paper. She saw Jason put it there when he came in, though could have likely guessed it was from him.

She unwraps it and finds a baked goods box inside with a note on it. "Fresh from Brussels?" she reads aloud, and then opens up the box to reveal Leige waffles with baked in sugar crystals. Each has a corner dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with seat salt.

"Thanks Jason, more birthday calories that don't count," she says with a grin as she moves over to give him a quick hug.

Stephanie looks to Dick and her eyes flare in a serious way. "They. Don't. Count," she repeats to him as if daring him to say otherwise, before she breaks out in a playful smile for him.

Cass gets another tight hug. "Thanks Cass. Means a lot having you here," she tells one of her closest friends before letting her go.

Stephanie regains her plate of cake and takes a bite, letting out a soft mmm. She moves to stand by Barbara as she asks about the coming year. "Well, senior year. I might see about if I can intern with GCPD. And, you know," she says, her eyes drifting to Dick, "Maybe some other things that have long been in the works but that haven't finalized a time for," she says with a playful little shrug. "Thanks Barbara. This has all been amazing. Zinda, Red Robin, Phoebe, Jason, really means a lot you guys all made it," she tells them.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick smiles back to her when her attention turns his way and nods. "Whenever you want, love. Just give me a couple months warning so I can successfully foist all the planning off on Alfred. He's the undoubted pro at that sort of thing."

    Pausing a moment, he then adds in a stage whisper "He's got contacts you wouldn't believe." Looking over to Alfred, he raises his cup in a toast.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
The answer that Steph, and there-by Dick, give to her, has Babs smiling around the cake she's enjoying. Once she clears her palette she sets the plate down on the small round table, then rises back up to her feet. "Well, that sounds absolutely fantastic, and you know I'm here to help if I can. With that, aaaaaaaand with the GCPD stuff too." She states, stepping around Steph to go and grab a drink for herself.

Yoink, an apple ale is pulled out of a ice bucket, and Babs pops the top off with a bottle openner attached to the bucket.

"I know you probably aren't keen on my help with regard to the latter though, which I fully understand. But, it's there anyway, just so you know." She tells the birthday girl, showing another big grin to her as she steps back toward where the table she'd chosen is.

The party blimp continues on its course to its next stop ahead in the city, and Babs looks out to the tower that's a few minutes away. "Oh, good, this is the stop that has the Chip'n'Dale strippers waiting to board. Now the party gets under way." She says, thusly turning to show a grin to anyone who might be looking at her with any possible responses to that.

Is she serious? It's hard to ever tell!

Zinda Blake has posed:
Chip'n'Dale strippers? Zinda perks up at that, probably a little -too- much to be subtle. "We're gonna have -who- join the party?" she asks, a bite of cake hovering on her fork. Then Zinda's eyes narrow a touch and she smirks over at Babs. "Y'all are jus' pullin' my leg, ain'cha?" She looks from Babs to Step to the others, and back to Babs again.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe actually gets a look of abject horror on her face at the idea of strippers.

    "I'm not even nineteen yet, I think that's a twenty-one plus event, you let me off before they come on and Magic Mike their way around and make us all one hundred percent uncomfortable 'cause my stomach's not gonna be able to handle all that." Phoebe states, sticking her tongue out in a 'blech' motion.

    "Flying machines always make my stomach sour."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown gets a beer while she's working on her cake. "Oh, that would be yet another wonderful surprise," she says with a laugh, though her eyes sneak a peek over to Dick as if to see if she was able to get him jealous with that. Probably not. Seriously, none of the dancers could really stand up against that posterior, could they?

Stephanie gets some of the bacon ice cream in her bowl and switches over to working on that. "If not, Zinda, we can always make a trip another time," she offers. Stephanie gets a bit of ice cream on her spoon and then lets out a happy sigh at the flavor. "Seriously, if they'd figured out how to make this in the middle ages there would have been a lot more burnings for being a witch. This is sinful."