14564/Too Early To Be Spring College Party

Too Early To Be Spring College Party
Date of Scene:	31 March 2023
Location:	Gotham University
Synopsis:	A block party thrown by the students at Gotham U draws Phoebe, Stephanie and Dick. Where they run in Mary Jane Watson killing time after a courier mission.
Cast of Characters:	Stephanie Brown, Mary Jane Watson, Dick Grayson, Phoebe Beacon

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Stephanie Brown has posed:
Gotham University, like many campuses, is surrounded by a lot of student housing. Being able to wake up and stagger to class in 5 minutes after being out drinking until 4 am is a very valuable resource for college students.

The area known as The Dredges is a row of old houses about two blocks over from the university. The homes are a bit more run down which makes them cheap enough for college students. The Dredges runs along two streets, with one of them ending in a cul-de-sac.

The groups of students renting the houses along that circle of dead end road have gotten to know each other, and are throwing a block party. The road out front of the houses makes a circle with a green spot in the middle and a tall tree. It's been strung with festive lighting. Though it's cool out, the party is Spring themed. There are tiki torches stuck about here and there, and a number of kegs. Big plastic cans of trash can punch are serving up non-beer in varying strengths.

There's a DJ trying to make a name for himself who brought out his sound system and is spinning tunes. The sun is down and the students are showing up to start the weekend early. A good crowd have gathered, drinking and talking and even some dancing.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson is here after having done a courier job to Gotham. It involved taking a bag with something she didn't know what was in it, riding the bus along the hyperloop, dropping off said bag in a specific location after making sure a set of rocks were setup a specific way, then leaving after a specific amount of time. Again, having no real clue with anything as to reasoning. Was it a test? Was it something important?

She would never really know. That was part of the job, sometimes. Playing a glorified courier service. She had a few hours before she had to go take the bus back to New York, so she might as well look for some fun! Mary Jane is wearing jeans and a t-shirt with Spidey's face on it and is going to the party, humming over as she would glance about, trying to recall if she knew anyone who went ot school in Gotham around here.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    With a throaty roar, a classic Camaro SS pulls into a parking spot a bit up the street from the party area. The engine shuts down with a grumble, then the doors open and two people get out. Dick walks around the front of the car and takes Steph's hand and then the two of them walk down the street to the area where the party is currently expanding as several couches and chairs are being carried out of houses to provide sitting areas for the party. One frat house even has a couple of it's members carrying a pool table outside. Apparently everyone's determined to make this one heck of a party.

    Looking over to Steph, Dick asks "I haven't spotted Francisco yet, do you see him anywhere?" He's scanning the crowd for Steph's friends/classmates who had let them know about the party.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe is popping in with some girls from her figure drawing class to the party, wearing Gotham U jackets and sweatshirts, a gaggle of freshman girls. Phoebe's got her hair up in an orange wrap, orange lipbalm on, and is partially hiding under a hoodie that absolutely was not hers originally on account that it's a couple sizes too big. The quartet of girls have their backpacks and sketch pads, and with a homework assignment to sketch people doing something fun?

    Well what's more fun than a block party, right?

    Phoebe does lift the left sleeve of her sweatshirt, checking out her left wrist and the pale tattoo surrounding it before giving a smile to the group.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown is wearing jeans and a sweatshirt whose logo identifies it as coming from Gotham U's 2022 homecoming game. She slips her hand into Dick's, giving him a very warm smile and walking close at his side as they start making their way towards the crowd of drinking students.

"Hmm, I don't see him," she says, going up on her toes. Which still doesn't really give her as good of a view as Dick has. "Just listen for Jordanna's fake laugh?" she suggests, trying to use a tone that keeps it from sounding too terribly catty.

Though the music would make it difficult to tell, and plus, they don't have. The big Latino spots the blond he first met in Psychology 101 their freshman year and waves over at Stephanie and Dick. Stephanie spots the wave and nudges Dick to point them out if he didn't see it too.

Soon they are joining Francisco and a couple of his friends. One of them is a beautiful brunette with a bit of a haughty expression. Her eyes go to Stephanie Brown with a somewhat scornful look. And then over to Dick Grayson. Her eyes sweep over Dick in a very considering way. Though when the gaze gets to their hands, and the gleam of the engagement ring on Stephanie's finger, she grinds her teeth. "Stephanie," Jordanna offers in a cold voice. "Dick," she says, in a slightly warmer one, smiling at him. The rest of the group chime in their hellos as well, and Stephanie gets a hug from a boy and girl with them as well.

Two college kids come out from a house, carrying a fresh container of trash can punch. "New batch of whapatooey. This one is strong!" he promises. He gives Mary Jane a wink. "You going to be our first customer?"

Stephanie spots Phoebe across the way. She pulls out her phone and taps out a message.

> Look up. Over beneath the tree!

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would be humming under her breath while walking around, "Girls, they wanna have funn.. Just girls just wanna have.." Somewhat off-key. Despite her theatre training, seh's never had a particularly great singing voice. Nor has she kept up with it. And her 'other' is more the type to just go full bawdy which doesn't quite match iwth everything these days.

Not spotting anyone she immediately recognizes,s he just goes to wander around with her hands in her pockets. Relaxed, looking to see if this is the sort of event that will mostly focus on having a kegger around the time of spring break or some other sorts of activities. It will be nice to talk with pepole fo ra change when she's not on shift or she's not having ot catchup with whatever the latest 'on the job' thing is, which covers most of her friends.

Then as the two go towards her, she would shake her head at the punch. "Nah, I'm pretty sure that stuff is loaded and I'm not twenty one. And my job's a bitch and if they think I'm having something while I'm out I'll be fired so fast. Thanks for the offer though."

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick greets one and all, even Jordanna. If she wants to be jealous, that's her problem. Looking around, he carefully avoids seeing any underage kids with alcohol. He's off-duty, and it's not like he didn't sneak the occasional beer before he was officially old enough. He will keep an eye on anyone headed for a vehicle however. He's willing to be a buzzkill to cut off any drunk driving before it starts.

    Finally letting go of Steph's hand, he digs into one of the coolers sitting out full of ice and cans of soda. He slips a $20 into the food and drink donation box and then returns to where Steph and friends are talking. When there's a lull in conversation he asks, "Want something to drink? Most of the coolers are gathered over there." while gesturing to the coolers. "Looks like they planned this out pretty well."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe feels her pocket buzz, and she takes out her Phone, and her eyes go wide a moment as she looks up and towards the tree. Steph might see her say something to her friends, and try to head back and away from the block party, when she is grabbed by two other art students, and physically dragged over to where Steph, Dick, and all their upperclassmn type friends are.

    "HELLO OBVIOUS UPPERCLASSMEN AND SIBLING TYPE HOTTIES!" one Freshman girl with a Gotham U Sweatshirt over a pair of bright pink bootie shorts and white tights covered with blue and pink flowers. "My name is Lindsay and I think we have something that belongs either to someone over here!" she cheers out with lungs that prove she's on the cheer team as well as in musical performance.

    She points at Phoebe, overdramatically, who is attempting to hide in the sweatshirt.

    "Linds I am going to cry."

    "No you won't, you'll ruin your makeup. That shit's not waterproof, I know." Lindsay states with a grin, and then claps her hands. "Who's got the boozahal?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
"I'll take a beer," Stephanie says to Dick as he heads over to the drinks. She's 21 now, by a month. So she can do that in public. Plus, the benefits of Dick having driven here.

The blond coed gives Francisco a punch in the arm. "That's for skipping History. I had to ask Marcy for her notes," she says. The big Latino laughs and rubs his shoulder. "Wait, so we both slacked, but I'm the one that gets hit?" he complains. He pokes her in the arm with his fist, but not really in what could be called a punch. Because he doesn't hit girls.

Jordanna has a red solo cup with the heavily spiked punch in it. She looks over as the two students bring out more, and stop to talk to Mary Jane Watson.

The one student tells Mary Jane, "No? Well, that kind of job is no fun then. Hey, need something to keep you warm out here though," he says of the evening which is still a bit chilly. "I mean, I could volunteer on that," he offers to the redhead with a cheesy grin.

His friend shakes his head. "Dude that was bad," he says. To Mary Jane, he says, "Sorry."

Meanwhile, Stephanie's lips are pressed together to keep from grinning to hugely as Phoebe is dragged over. "I think it's all over," Stephanie replies of getting a drink. "Maybe the punch? Can water it down a bit if needed," she adds, grinning over to Phoebe.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile over, "No, thank you." Flashing the man a smile. "Really, I'm good." FOr now he's just being a goofy wannabe flirt, and not aggressive. So long as it stays that way, no sense making a scene of it. She goes to give him a wave then and smirks at his friend, "I think for that you should totally make him be the one to handle taking out the trash bags for the rest of the night." A gentle tease, rather than something serious. "IF only so he puts a litlte more work into his lines in the future."

not a serious suggestion, but hopefully one that his friends would playfully needl ehim over. She would be wandering in the direction then if not stopped towards Stephanie and her coetre.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick chuckles as Phoebe is marched over to them by her friends, but simply says "Hi Phoebe, how are you tonight? Looks like it's going to be a pretty decent party if I'm any judge of these things. Be back in a sec."

    He walks back over to the coolers and finds one of them that's stocked with beer. It's got a handwritten sign on it that says "21 and over." Dick grins to see that the kids are at least trying to cover their butts should any underage drinking occur and pulls out a bottle that he brings back over and offers to Steph.

    Returning his attention to Phoebe so that she doesn't manage to slip away from the party so soon, he says "You should swing by sometime, you can check out just how spoiled Hazelduck is at this point." Lowering his voice he adds "You'd think that Steph would be the reason, but it turns out that I apparently spoil pets."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "N-no, no no, no alcoholic items for me. They don't agree with the stomach." Phoebe states, giving a nervous laugh and rubbing the back of her neck, and she digs out her water bottle from her backpck as she sets it down over her feet. Lindsay, however, accepts punch from someone. They did not check ID, but she exchanges a tenner for her donation.

    Phoebe does give a grin at Dick, and she takes a deep breath, and lets it out slowly.

    "Hold up. You, biggest heart in like, all of Gotham, capable of..." she mocks a gasp "/Spoiling Pets/?" she asks with a mock sense of incredulity.

    "I think everyone on the property spoils the pets. Did you know Bruce has a *snausage* pouch for Idu?" she asks, conspiritally to Dick. "And now the dog knows he can manipulate Steph into chicken bits -- but I'm glad, really, that Hazelduck's doing so well." she gives a bright smile. "Not bad for an accidental duckling."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Jordanna's eyes narrow a bit as the group of underclassmen come over to join them. She gives a haughty little flip of her hair and sips her drink. When it becomes clear that Phoebe knows the hottie - er... Dick Grayson - the brunette's eyes narrow a bit more again.

Stephanie takes the drink from Dick with a grateful smile, and he earns a peck on the cheek for it. "Thanks," she tells him. The girl chuckles as Phoebe nails Dick's personality down. "He does. Claims it just gives him a chance to use his tools building stuff, but you should see his grin as he watches Hazel padding up her ramps he builds her to be able to reach stuff," Stephanie says, her hand moving to rest on Dick's back.

"Phoebe, meet my friends," she says, and starts doing introductions. Francisco Graza and Jordanna Spence are two of the names to be noted, though she goes through everyone. "Francisco's been a lifesaver. Sometimes I think I should just sign up for all his classes," she says, getting a laugh from the good-natured Latino.

As Stephanie spots Mary Jane wandering up, and alone, she flashes the redhead a smile. "Hello! Need a drink?" she asks.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    "Well, heart doesn't always enter into it. I mean, look at Damian. I'm fairly sure he wants to kill two thirds of the people he meets, but he can't surround himself with enough pets. Completely opposite of his normal personality when he's dealing with anything fuzzy." He shrugs and takes a sip of his soda, then continues "But I didn't know that about Bruce, and I shall have to poke him about it as soon as possible. I'll keep your name out of it, so no worries there."

    The street lights are coming on as the light fades from the sky, and the houses all have their outside lights on, so the party is actually better lit than some clubs. People are sitting on the various couches and chairs and the pool table already has a line. He nods and says "Yeah, looks like they're doing a good job here." The DJ is actually doing a pretty good job, he might see some business from the frat houses after this outing.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Damian has a heart!" Phoebe protests, and Lindsay leans over "That's the one who looks more like you, right?"

    "The one who isn't adopted." Phoebe answers back, and she looks down to the punch in the solo cup, "... did they put gasoline in that?!"

    "Mmmmaaaybe." the blonde gives a giggle, and she goes to start in on some dancing, pulling another girl from the art class group with her with a 'wooooooooo!'

    Phoebe looks to Mary Jane with a smile, and a slight eyenarrow -- oh, have they met?"

    "Francisco, nice to meet you! I've heard a lot of nice things about you from Steph." Phoebe smiles with a wave to Francisco. And then she looks to Jordanna.

    "And I caught that expression. You got something to say, I'm all ears, Jordi."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie can't quite suppress her grin as one of Phoebe's friends turns out to be a Woo Girl. Not that she's laughing at her exactly, just it's the kind of thing that Stephanie would get accused of being.

She leans against Dick, arm about his waist as she sips her beer. "Yes, he is pretty good," she agrees about the DJ. "And I think for Damian that is probably some kind of compensating going on. I mean you can't be that uptight and not have some cracks form that reach out to soft adorable creatures."

Francisco smiles back to Phoebe. "Nice to meet you too. So you're..." he says, pausing, and Stephanie confirms, "Dick's younger sister," she says.

As Phoebe makes the challenge of Jordanna, it causes the brunette's eyebrow to go up haughtily. Though before she can say anything, Francisco intervenes. "Come on, we're dancing," he says, dragging Jordanna off before anything can escalate.

Stephanie grins a little bit and turns back to the others. "He's kind of like the UN," she says of the big Latino.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Waving over at Phoebe, Mary Jane would smile, "Hey.." Pulling hte girl's name from somewhere in her head. "Phoebe, right?" She would move to approahc the girl. There's no sort of sign on her face of awareness of the 'Wayne' bit that might come often. Just the sort of expression on 'I've met you a few times, right?' that have her going on towards them.

Looking over at Steph, and Dick, and approaching the group. "No thanks." On the drink, but so long as she wasn't breaking up the mojo of the Steph-Shack, moving towards to join the conversation.

Dick Grayson has posed:
    Dick shrugs a bit as Jordanna is dragged off, "She really needs to learn to cope better, that girl's gonna have an ulcer before she's thirty. But if you really want to see her turn colors, start up a conversation about Steph getting engaged, that one still seems to be lodged under her skin." He takes another sip of soda and slips his arm around Steph, giving her a little hug and carefully doesn't look at her so hopefully he won't be scolded for teaching methods of Jordanna-baiting.

    "College parties were always fun, sometimes it sucks growing up. About the only good thing is that you stop getting carded at clubs. Other than that I just don't see the benefit."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Heck no he's not like the UN. He's /fast and effective/." Phoebe points out, and she tries to unrustle her own jimmies, her lips pursing and she ungrips her right hand around the water bottle, and tilts her head back.

    "I was about to send my own strongly worded letter... and I don't think I'm ever gonna get used to being a 'younger sister' to anyone." she adds in a murmur, before turning back to Mary Jane, and she gives a warm smile and a small wave.

    "Hey! Mary Jane, if I remember right -- kinda, sticky name." she explains, and rubs against the back of her head again. "Central Park?" she questions, lips pursing, and she uses the most Generic Location Ever. Because 'that one time where a unicorn almost killed us all' would be a little TOO outlandish. But Wonder Woman was there. It was a weird day.

    "I dunno... I've never been to a college party... usually I'm Elsewhere." Phoebe gives a shrug, and she looks to her phone.

    "Robbie should be getting outta work right about now anyway."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown greets the redhead as Phoebe provides a name. "Hi Mary Jane," she offers. "I'm Stephanie, and this is Dick," she says, and then goes around the rest of the group, giving names that result in waves and greetings given to Mary Jane.

A grin is flashed from Stephanie to Mary Jane. "Hope you got all that, there will be a quiz after," she quips before turning her attention back to Dick. She seems content to settle in against him. "Just having you around is a bur under her saddle. I mean, that'd be enough reason to keep you near on its own," Stephanie teases back at Dick.

She drinks from her beer and sighs. "It's nice to get out," she says. A night not spent running across rooftops. Or getting pick Clayface's clay out of your hair. And don't even get her started on Condiment King.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    No Body Likes Fighting Condiment King. And that is the truth of the BatFam.