16629/Gotham New Years Soiree

Gotham New Years Soiree
Date of Scene:	31 December 2023
Location:	Barbara's Penthouse (Clocktower - 25th Floor)
Synopsis:	A wild party takes place in the penthouse of Barbara Gordon's historic clocktower. Drinks are drank, eats are eaten, a giant Hyena is spotted, and a huge Blimp brings a fashion goddess to judge everyone's attire. A celebrity singer treats the ears of guests, and a picture of Godzilla in a booby dress is left on a magnet against Barbara's refrigerator.
Cast of Characters:	Barbara Gordon, Kate Kane, Damian Wayne, Clara Jennings, Sma'shaw Ihaka, Harper Row, Phoebe Beacon, Cassie Sandsmark, Janet van Dyne

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Barbara Gordon has posed:
New Years Eve is quite a night in Gotham City, and though the city is certainly known for its troublesome events, tonight the focus is quite largely upon this particular section of the city. In fact, down around the base of the city's historic clocktower, thousands of people are gathering to watch the hands of the tower turn to midnight, and along with it the following fireworks show that always takes place above the tower itself. Being that Barbara Gordon is the owner of the tower, the show is put on in conjunction with the city itself, and these days the bulk majority of it is all handled by the Clocktower's impressive computer systems... Babs does as Babs do, afterall.

And though there are many gathering around outside the Clocktower plaza below, inside the tower only invited guests are allowed inside, to attend Ms. Gordon's private party inside the apex of the tower itself. Barbara's apartment has been a work-in-progress since she moved in, starting off much more ... in need of work. Today, she's put a fair amount of money in to refurbishing and making the Penthouse quite the place for social gatherings, even if not as spacious as some of the lower floors beneath it.

Here and now, Babs' house has been mostly cleared of the usual furniture found within it, giving much more space to enjoy amongst a large number of people. With many already gathered within, well dressed, and passing from one small group to another, the sounds of conversation and laughter inter-mingle with the music coming from the live performers positioned on the balcony beside the 15 foot Christmas tree that still stands proud and tall, adorned in white lights and fancy ornaments from all over the globe.

Night has already fallen outside, and the party atmosphere is already underway.

The bar has been setup as part of Babs' unusually styled kitchen space, the open floor of whati s normally the living room is now serving as a dance floor where couples are already swaying to the pleasant music being played by the live performers. Tables and chairs line the exterior windows that look out on the city, and double doors lead out on to the exterior balcony beneath the clock faces of the tower itself.

The clock faces line all four walls of the penthouse, the huge circular faces giving a backwards view of the current time, illuminated dimly from inside,m while brightly shining the approaching New Year from outside...

Barbara is dressed in a fine black number, showcasing a fair amount of her pale hued skin. With her red hair done up, and glittering jewlery adorning her body here and there, she is happily greeting those who are yet still arriving, while interacting with those already present.

Kate Kane has posed:
Well, it's not an official Gotham party unless Kate Kane is in attendance. And she most assuredly is, stepping into the penthouse from the elevator. Currently, the redhead is being a bit contrary, dressed in a very well-cut black tuxedo, complete with tails. Her shoes are a crimson red, and matching the stylish red-and-black cravate she wears.

She moves over towards Barbara, smiling at her and extending her hands, "Babs, everything looks great! Need me to help with anything?" Her eyes seem positively impish, as Kate is definitely in the mood to unwind a bit given everything that's happened the past few days.

Damian Wayne has posed:
There is always the Wayne contingent at these parties. And Damian is part of the one tonight. Dressed in a tailored tuxedo, the young man's arrival is quiet, as he takes in the decorations of the clocktower and grins. "Looking great, Barbara!" he offers cheerfully as he greets the redhead with a quick hug, if she allows. And then a smile to Kate. "Aunt Kate." he greets warmly enough.

Which is much different than the last time the three of them had met up. He's looking way better from his encounter with Flatline.

Clara Jennings has posed:
'A lady always dresses for both occasion and intention.'

    Clara does not remember exactly when she heard that. Over the years, her governess has taught her so many things a lady does and does not do. Though she could write out hundreds of pages of such rules, Clara never needed to. She takes them all to heart.

    That is why, on this night, she wears a vivid, red gown expertly tailored for her. It is a sleeveless halter in shape, held about her neck by a chain of gold. The back of it plunges midway to her waist. The skirt of it is long and shaped in spiral fluting towards the floor. Along the way, the color shifts from a light red to a purple maroon. The skirt is slit high along her left leg, allowing her to move with ease. It is, for those who know Clara, more than just a step outside her comfort zone.

    As for how she secured an invitation for herself, not knowing the host? She has friends who can assist. In this case, no shadowy organizations are involved. Her relationship with Gotham University as a guest lecturer has proven adequate to be added at the 11th hour. Almost literally.

    She hesitates upon stepping out of the elevator. The crowd is substantial. She moves a few feet away from the entrance, not yet joining the party, but out of the way of those who are about to. She has the distinct appearance of a person looking for a familiar face in a crowd and failing. It is like a sea of black tuxedos out there!.

Sma'shaw Ihaka has posed:
Nothing says tourism like going to a big New Years bash, apparently, and all of the hellish traffic that came with it. Sma'shaw was mostly in town to do a bit of sight-seeing, get out of New York for a little bit and get some...fresher air(?). Come to think of it, he didn't really know if the air was at that cleaner in Gotham, but at least the Landshark was within walking distance. Frankly, the lack of 'Peacekeeping' robots with frumpy vocabularies was a nice change of pass, too.

But you know, there was a slight complication. Teeny little problem. Sma'shaw had come across as fairly substantial gathering folks near the Clocktower, particular those of a well-to-do and dapper suit. Before the 6' 9" hyena mutant could even ask what was happening here, he was immediately bombarded with a shower of really nice formal wear...something along the lines of 'oh god its a monster, please don't kill me, I'm too rich to die'. The real shame was that only the suit jacket really fit, and the bow tie just barely...but there was also an invitation to a party tucked away in it. And man, he -truly- hated good things going to waste...so there he was, tailcoat suit, ripped up cargo shorts, bow tie, and a bit of wonder to his big amber eyes as he entered the party space. The scenery was nice, but man, he did -not- miss being stuffed into formal getup.

Harper Row has posed:
Harper Row arrives with her hair slicked back and mostly buttoned up. She's not coming in disguise per se, but she's far from her usual attire. Looking like she's ready to attend a wedding or an interview at some bank for a job or a loan. A buttoned up dark vest overtop a white dress shirt with an almost clerical collar. Tight dress pants and some shnazzy laced up shoes to ground the somewhat yuppy-geek look. Her sleeves are rolled up to make the aesthetic jarring with the tattoos and armbands. Quite polished all the same.

Her face strobes with some coloured screen changes of her phone before she palms her mini-monolith and exits a stairwell. She glasses she slides down onto the bridge of her nose aren't prescription, but they do carry a little bit of tech within their black dorktastic frames. "Oofa...loofa...lookie-loo..." she breathes out, starting to grok the mass of bodies in attendance.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Quietly entering with Damian was Phoebe, wearing an orange to late-dusk-blue ombre gown, fitted to her form and paired with sparkling gray opera gloves, her dusky pink kinks and coils braided in varying widths and curled into a pair of elegant buns, neck wreathed with close-fitting stacked necklaces that sparkle with plattinum and diamonds, complementing the drop earrings she's wearing. her eyes dart here and there in the crowd, already less than comfortable as she adjusts a pair of orange-tinted glasses.
    Harper's given a smile and a waggle of fingers in recognition, as Phoebe stays close to Damian, and she pauses. She looks to the very large and extremely notable tux-jacket, cargo-shorts wearing Hyena.

    She taps Damian on the shoulder and asks softly "Just... so I can gauge if everyone can see him...?" she asks him, with a small motion of her chin to Sma'shaw.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Being something of an honorary... batfriend? Bird ally? Whatever you want to call it, Cassie is here! Considering herself at least something of a party-girl superheroine, what is basically the Gotham equivalent of a hotel suite overlooking Times Square for one of the most exclusive parties of the soon-to-be past year is not something she would think of missing out on.

While normally she'd fly in under her own power, arriving and tapping on the glass from outside like a weirdo, there's various reasons this wouldn't be advisable in her party-girl outfit, and so she arrives like a normie, emerging from the elevator and scoping out the converted living space, now transformed for the gathering. She, too, is transformed: while the young woman can't bother to fight crime in more than her Wonder-branded athletic gear, for the party, she's gone all out, dressed in a fluid, champagne-gold dress with a rather plunging neckline and gladiator-strap heels. Apart from that, her only accessories are some jewelry and a handbag, the latter important as her first step upon arriving isn't to go and find the hostess, but to pause, finding a good angle with one of the clock faces behind her, and take out her phone for a selfie!

After THAT she goes looking for the hostess. "Babs! Yoohoo! This is amazing, great party!"

Janet van Dyne has posed:
Elevators? How pedestrian. The real way to arrive to a party is by blimp, apparently. The GGE Blimp-- which hosts its own 'Gotham New Year's Eve'-- provides a spectacular view of the city and allows the rich and influential socialites of Gotham society to brush elbows high above the petty concerns on the cold streets below.

Once the gangplank is secure, attendants help escort a few attendees off of the vessel. The first one out the door is Janet van Dyne herself, and it's possible she looks more spectacular than the New Year's Eve ball atop Times Square. Her outfit is a dress of endless silver pearls, delicately attached to threads so fine it's hard to spot the exact transition between her tanned skin and the glimmering fabric. The narrow waist and high, slit-front apron put a lot of leg on display. Not quite sleeved, not quite strapless, the most notable feature is an elabourate golden boning on the bodice that forms an inverted keyhole, staring with a a circle low in her sternum and widening upwards, to frame her face and neck with a sunburst of glittering, actual precious metal. Even her jewelry matches, a silver half-moon earring and a decorate gold sun dangling left and right. And of course her platform heels match with respective gold-and-silver plating upon them.

Janet loiters on the entry for just a moment to give everyone a chance to take her outfit in before she plunges into the heart of the party.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara is in the process of returning Damian's hug when Kate arrives in her tux. She laughs softly at Damian, and looks him over apppraisingly for a moment. "Looking good." She tells him. "We were worried about you, you know." She tells him then in a slightly quieter voice. For Phoebe's arrival, Babs flashes her a grin. "Lovely the outfit." She tells the young vigilante magical caster.

To Kate, Barbara turns to look her over next. "My god, I love the tails." She says with a big grin as she leans over to give Kate a embrace next. "I need you to help make sure that everyone who does drink, has a drink in their hand. I also need you to make sure that those who've had too many, don't get overly stupid around the balcony railing outside. Last thing I need is to get angry messages about drunk partiers throwing champagne glasses off the balcony at the people down below..." She states, with a grin ever present in the festive moment.

The big Hyena man that arrives, gets a wide-eyed look from Barbara, as she wasn't expecting such a sight! But all the same, she raises her own drink glass up at him, to catch his eye and offer him a smile. "Welcome to the party, Pal." She quotes one of her favorite Christmas movies.

Cassie's call garners Barbara's attention next, and she turns to see the blonde. What follows is a loud whistle sweeping out from between Barbara's lips. "Dang, look at you..." She tells the Wonder Girl, stepping over to offer her a cheek kiss. "Glad you made it. We don't see you around here enough. You and Kate can help me keep this party going..." Kate and Cassie both being affiliated directly with the Justice League, and Babs having an apartment in Metropolis... there are more than a few connections here!

The huge GGE Airship does indeed dock outside the penthouse's interior. The gliding dirigible has become a mainstay in the Gotham skies since Barbara purchased it as a public facing mascot for her Green Energy company, and a private airborne headquarters for the Birds of Prey, and Bat-family. Tonight it was offering skyline tours, and when Janet steps off post-tour, Barbara smiles up to see the fashionista's arrival. Barbara steps toward her to offer her a light embrace. "You look stunning tonight, Janet. I couldn't be happier that you made it." She says with a sincere smile offered to the well adorned woman. "Please, mingle, enjoy the atmosphere, and lets hope for the night to go as smoothly as I can manage it." She states with a little laugh chasing her words.

People are filing in and out of the interior of the penthouse now, going out to view the city from the balcony, while others are lining up to board the GGE Blimp for its next voyage out across the city.

Damian Wayne has posed:
When Phoebe arrives and taps him on the shoulder, there's a smile for her. "You look nice, sis." he greets her with a brighter smile and then a nod to Barbara and Kate. "I'm better. I'll get her next time." That, a promise. But then, Phoebe is getting his attention for something else.

Damian glances over towards the tall creature. He looks it over for a moment, and then turns back to Phoebe and with a straight face, asks, "See what?" He gives it about five seconds before he smirks slightly. "Yes, I see it. But it's Babs party and she doesn't seem to have an issue?" he asks, before he notices Cassie's arrival. He hasn't seen the younger Amazonian in... ages, really. There's a wave offered to her a she tips his head in greetings. "Hey, Cassie." he greets. "You look amazing!" he compliments, his attention continuing to scan the party. He knows Janet, not as well as some of the others, but he does offer her a wave.

When Clara arrives, he considers her, and then gives Phoebe's elbow a small tug and glances over. "Our favorite librarian is here." he says to her quietly.

Kate Kane has posed:
Kate grins and slips a quick kiss onto Barbara's cheek. "Deal, but you owe me a dance later." She winks and goes off to mingle a bit, giving Damian a warm smile, "Glad to see you up and about, Damian, and make sure to have fun, okay?" She absently adjusts her tie, giving Cassandra a warm smile and nod as she clearly approves of the dress.

Then, when Janet arrives on the blimp with other VIPs, Kate gives her a quick salute and a wink, "Hey Janet, what're you having?" Her eyes dance as she makes sure the drinks are flowing freely for the guests.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe gives a small smile, her hands fretting in front of herself as Babs looks to her. "I wouldn't let him out of your sight yet. You know this one and trouble. Thank you for the gift, by the way, it was an *amazing* find and I'd like to see the shop it came out of sometime, Babs-" she comments breezily to Babs and Kate with a small smile, and as Babs complements her, her cheeks and ears darken as she mumbles "Oh, ah, Alfred told me to wear this, I didn't have time to argue anything." she replies with a rise of her shoulders, which she checks her left carefully to make sure the gauzy straps of the dress are hiding the scars.

    Seeing Cassie and Janet arrive, Phoebe blanches slightly, withdrawing to wallflower state as she attempts to will the apartment walls to open up and swallow her. Unfortunately, not today. She quietly picks up a non-alcoholic cocktail and assumes people watching mode, recognizing Clara as she makes her appearance as well.

Harper Row has posed:
Harper slowly tracks the crowd, moving her head from left to right while her lips purse. It's not as easy as reading a News ticker. There's some dresses that draw the eye. Really, really draw the eye on detours. And there are denizens here that don't look like your typical Gotham natives neither. The kind of double-take that Phoebe was probably peering at just now. Speaking of that young woman, Harper returns a wave with a wriggling of fingers on her free hand.

Hyenas, off-duty heroes and high flyin blimp arrivals, oh my. "Right then. Drinks." Harper'll need to fuel up before navigating these currents.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"You know it! Consider me your party sidekick!" Cassie exclaims rather exuberantly in response to Barbara, before dropping her voice to a more conspiratory tone. "I've got a lot of experience, you know..." Does she mean experience as a sidekick? Or with parties? BOTH?!

After leaning back from the exchange of cheek-pecking, she considers the party as it already exists around them. Surely, keeping it going will only mean she's needed later, right? Well, it seems she already has thoughts. Eventually, her attention turns toward the performers on the balcony. "What kind of range have they got? You got any famous performering guests lined up?" She doesn't put it past Bat-money that they could just pay Beyonce to be here, or something. "I think at some point you might want to trade in the Dick Clark's Rockin New Year's Eve classics for, you know, some stuff that can really get people moving. But this is pretty good for a start."

In the midst of checking out the band, she sights the arriving BLIMP of all things. "... you know, I can outfly a fighter jet and somehow I'm still jealous of that."

She lifts a hand back toward Damian and Phoebe as she spots them. "Hey Pheebs! 'Sup. Hmmm..." Her expression shifts, eyes narrowing a bit as if something's out of place with Damian, before breaking into a big grin. "You get taller?"

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara has been to parties before. Most of them were charity events, or were in London. The kind of parties where what she is wearing would have earned her arched brows and a reminder about dress codes for young ladies. This... is quite another thing altogether.

    And that says nothing about the highly unusual guest of hyenic nature. She will take several steps away from the entrance, trying not to look alarmed though she obviously is. Fortunately any of her distress is likely covered by the awesome entrance of Janet van Dyne. She tries not to gape. So... this is an American party, then, she guesses.

    She fidgets, wishing she had snuck a book in to hide behind. But she finds a way out. There is a bar. That is a place she can go, a thing she can do that makes sense. There is a script for that. Midway, though, she finally seems to find someone she knows, and so she turns rather sharply to head in Damian's direction. She is wary to avoid the hostess and all the swirl of people around her. There is no script for that many people.

Sma'shaw Ihaka has posed:
Sma'shaw blinks a little, having been given the classic party toast. He smiled back just a little, nervously, raising a couple of champagne flutes that were filled with shrimpies rather than...actual champagne. The yeen preferred grog over the bubbly stuff. His eyes trail over Janet and Cassie, and he almost immeeeediately swivels away. Man, maybe he was in proper dress code...or maybe it was just that lax here in the states? Not a lot of people seemed to be paying him much mind, which a -refreshing- change of pace.

Well, alright, this is the one time he's been to a fancy social function of his own accord (mostly)...time to -mingle-. He scanned, looking for equally wall-flowery folks...until he caught sight of Phoebe. Cool as a cucumber, he casually mosied over, going all stealth-mode like...which was not at all stealth given that he practically parted the black sea of suits and gowns whenever he moved. But he came to a polite distance, giving her a little wave and a nervous smile. "G'day. Foine noight for a party, ay? Shrimpies are pretty good." His thick, Australian accent came pouring out, his amber eyes shimmering with the low-light of the party atmosphere.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Damian's hand grips Phoebe's, not allowing her to retreat. This is part of being a Wayne! And he's trying to be a supportive younger brother. And a bit of a brat. That was working well until Cassie, who he was trying to /compliment/, hits him with the short joke.

Ow.

"Yes, I have been drinking milk." he says in mock-dourness. "I see you have finally developed curves." He can fight back.

But with Clara coming over, there's a smile towards her. "Hello, Clara." he offers to her. "Glad you could make it. May I introduce you to my sister, Phoebe Beacon-Wayne. And this is Cassie Sandsmark, one of the Amazonians. Cassie, Phoebe, this is Clara Jennings." And he was about to say more...

When Sma'shaw is approaching. And Damian becomes a little more aware, his posture a little more stiff as he protects the smaller sibling. "Hello." he greets cautiously.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe gives a quiet up-nod to Cassie, her shoulders drawing up as Damian moves to intercept the approaching people. Her eyes get briefly wide, but she regards Sha'shaw with a smile -- because she's seen the weird stuff. She gives a smile to Clara.

    "Hello again, Ms Jennings -- I attended your talk on Coptic Fiction works at the University, I was the really talkative student in the back." she gives a warm smile to Clara, and though she doesn't offer a hand to shake, she gives a bow of her head, and then turns back to the Heyena.

    She takes a deep breath, lets it go, and then out of curiosity asks:

    "I've got to know what they feed you where you're from? You are absolutely tall enough for your own climate rating." she gives a bright smile up to him. "Phoebe Wayne, how do you do?" she introduces herself, still not offering a hand, but she does offer to get out of his way so he can access the snack table.

Janet van Dyne has posed:
Janet embraces Babs with warm affection and a beaming smile for her approval of the dress. Of course Janet /knows/ she looks good, but who doesn't like hearing a little rightfully-deserved adulation? "Babs, you look like first prize at a masquerade party," she compliments her. "You have completely mastered the little black dress." High, high praise from Janet!

Hug-hug, kiss-kiss, Janet pays a few more compliments to Barbara before excusing herself so the hostess can mingle. Say what one will about Janet, but she has an exquisite sense of how to navigate social events with effortless grace.

Of course, then she hears Kate hailing her, and the fashionista's face lights up. "Kate! Thank god, someone in my weight class," she declares, and gives her a swift, warmly affection hug. "I'm having whatever you're having. Tell me the bartender knows how to make a decent mojito," she pleads, and hooks her elbow through Kate's with a total lack of self-consciousness. "Where's old Brucy Boy tonight? I only see one of the offspring wandering around," she remarks. Janet catches Damian's eye, then shoots him a wink so over-the-top it can only be taken as playful teasing. "God, I need to get that young man a new suit. Hopefully he stops going through them," she mutters at Kate.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Outside along the balcony bridge to the GGE Blimp, the Blimp's crew are helping guide new passengers on to the airship. The crew are dressed in fancy outfits of their own, white gloves and long tails on their black uniform jackets. The dirigibile itself is lit up by all manner of lights across its superstructure, leaving it a massive floating decoration for the holidays all itself. A whistle sounds when it is finally fully loaded again, and people on the balcony begin to wave toward the airship as it starts to pull away from the building again, moving out toward the southeast of the Gotham City midtown.

Inside, the departing Blimp's lights shine through the tall windows, revealing more of the city's skyline in that direction as it departs. Barbara is laughing softly at what Cassie says. "We have a rather notable singer coming, yes. In fact, she's already here." She notes as she motions toward a rather recognizable celebrity sitting with an entourage near the balcony level where the band is performing. "I believe she's about to get ready." Babs says as she spares a glance down at the red Nuka-Cola wrist watch that Damian had gotten her for Christmas.

Babs steps over to Kate, to speak something softly to her friend, before showing her a light smile. "Is that Harper?" She asks then, noting the Birds' member seemingly trying to be a bit inconspicuous, but Harper gets a wave from Barbara either way!

Harper Row has posed:
Harper should have brought some of that glowing blue alcohol to refill what she went all mixology on a previous party. She's starting to lose her fight with her oath to not peek at her phone after it starts a-vibing. Scratching at her inner forearms like she's a junkie needing a tech fix. The fight is real.

Don't check messages, check out the here and now. She goes through a few loosening up shoulder motions and snags a glass and gets some liquid in it. She hoists it up to Barbara in a ~cheers~ gesture and the stellar souls in slinky, suave and slayin attire. A quirk of the corner of her mouth to offer a grin as well. She hunkers down for now, intent on loping over after she makes herself ship-shape upstairs.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    The second Damian says her name, Clara is relaxed. A little relieved sigh, and yes, a step closer and pointedly away from the hyena person. It was purely incidental, honest.

    She directs her attention to Phoebe, then smiles at Cassie, as well. Wow. That dress. Still, Clara will not let herself get intimidated. She glides into a curtsey and bows her head politely.

    "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Beacon-Wayne." A breath out, a breath in. "And it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Ms. Sandsmark."

    She rises smoothly. "Oh, you were there? I thought you looked familiar. That is wonderful! I appreciated your questions so much! So few are willing to break the silence, so I generally have to let it linger until everyone else is as uncomfortable as I am."

    Her eyes keep going back to Damian, studying him while trying not to be too obviously doing so. "You look great tonight," she says.

Kate Kane has posed:
Kate grins and gives Jan a kiss on the cheek, "If you're wanting a mojito, you better have me do it. And come to think of it, I'll make two." She chuckles and shakes her head, "Not sure where Bruce is, Jan, but I'll be more than happy to represent the celebrity billionaire population of Gotham City here." She gives Jan a wink, "And that dress is amazing, it suits you perfectly."

Then Barbara comes over, and Kate nods, murmuring back, "I believe so, yes." Kate gives her own nod towards Harper, flashing a quick smile in their direction before she turns her attention back to fixing those mojitos for herself and Jan.

Sma'shaw Ihaka has posed:
The hyena lad blinks a little, definitely not expecting -that- reaction. Nor the question. Or the smiles really, lot of really smiley people in Gotham huh? Standard of living must be pretty good around here, or maybe a low crime rate? Wouldn't be too to hard to stick around. He notes Damian's reaction with the pursing of his snout lips...that one was a bit more on brand for his usual experience with other people. He tipped a glass up to his maw, emptying it into his powerful maw and monch-monch-monching all the shrimpies before he answered back.

"Well ah, heh, most of m' diet was fish n' seaweed durin' my more teenage years on the seas of 'Stralia. Guess it did wonders for m' frame. Sma'shaw Ihaka, pleasure t'meetcha!" He set the empty glass to the side, slowly extending a large, clawed but neatly trimmed hand. His smile is a bit wider, showing more of those big chompers as his tail starts wag a bit.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie holds up her hands when Damian fires back. "Hey, woah, I meant it! Like it's been a long time. You look... good, is all?" Perhaps she has miscalculated here, given the broody nature of the batfolk! Oh well!

With Barbara suggesting they have some famous surprise act planned, her attention again turns out to the balcony stage. "Oh yeah? Huh." She cranes her neck a little, this way and that, as if she might divine the surprise ahead of time, although for the moment she's not able to spot anything to clue her in.

She turns back, as Damian continues making some introductions, her attention shifting over to Clara. "Hey, wassup? Uh, Cassie's fine." Yeah, high society she is not, no matter how rich the people holding the party. "This is really some crazy party, huh? They always go all out... in Gotham." She never really knows who knows what in terms of talking 'family' or whatnot, so instead, she keeps that vague, as to not repeat that incident where she got the other Kate hunted by the mob. Long story...

Damian Wayne has posed:
There's a moment and then Cassie earns a smirk of a smile from Damian. "It's been too long... you look good as well." he offers to her, shaking his head. "I apologize." He was trying to banter back, which is something he is really trying to work on!

When Janet catches the youngest Wayne's eye with a wink, he offers a wave in return. Yes, he is totally not in a Van Dyne original and probably should schedule a fitting with the fashionista soon.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Well, Phoebe's smile is kept close-lipped, but she does smile at the curiosity of a giant humanoid hyena.

    "Sma'shaw Ihaka," Phoebe replies, trying to make sure she's got the inflection right. "Enchanted -- the blonde with the deep cut dress is Cassie, the one in the tux is my brother, Damian, and this is Miss Clara Jennings, a lecturer at Gotham U, part-time." she introduces the cadre she was with, and gives a soft hum. "So... pleas forgive my wondering, but what brings you to Gotham City?" she inquires, her head tilting to one side, and maybe just the edge of scarring on her neck showing beneath the sparkling plattinum and diamonds.

Janet van Dyne has posed:
"Darling, marry me," Janet proclaims, and follows Kate to the bar. There are only a few seats so naturally, Janet claims one, hooking the spike of her heel over the rung and sitting with impeccable posture. One elbow rests on the lacquered bar top, just barely supporting her chin but not allowing herself to slouch in the least bit. It gives her another chance to look over the crowd, and creates a little room to be approached but not looking completely available, either.

"Listen," she says, beckoning Kate and Babs a little closer. "We all see the hyena, right?" she asks with a low voice. "Because I'm not gonna lie, I got a little bored on the trip over here and nibbled one of my edibles. Just as long as I'm not tripping /that/ hard," she reassures the other women with a subtle flex of her fingertips.

Kate Kane has posed:
Kate smiles wickedly at Janet, "Best offer I've had all night." She hands Janet the mojito, leaning in and whispering, "It's not your edibles, darling. Or rather, not /just/ your edibles." She chuckles and then gives Jan a sly kiss on the cheek, before raising her own mojito to her. "Cheers, Jan."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Babs does end up near Phoebe for a moment too, gracing the back of the younger woman's shoulder with one of her hands. "I'd be happy to show you that shop some time. It's a small place, near the deli a few blocks over. It's not even listed on the internet. Very... cool vibe? Hard to say. We'll check it out some time." She tells Pheebs as she passes on by toward the bar setup along the front of her kitchen counter. Those who know Barbara know all too well about her kitchen, and the usual theme that comes with it. Though most of those knick-knacks are put away tonight, one particular element of the usual decor remains, and it hovers across the bar toward where Janet is. "Hello, Mum!" The multi-armed robot says in a very 'Jeeves' voice. It spins around, holding various small bottles of liquor. "Might I top off your drink?" the robot asks, as Barbara slides over to join Kate and Janet. She grins at what Janet says, shaking her head lightly. "I'm surprised you even manage to make it at all, if you did such BEFORE the big event." She chides the clothing designer. Babs, does offer her glass to her counter-top bartender, and when he pours her more drink, she grins at him. "Thanks, Mister." She tells the strange little barkeep.

Sipping from her glass now, Babs eyes the Hyena as well, since she doesn't know him, and hasn't seen him around Gotham before either. But she designed the party to draw in as many people as she could on this busist of party nights.

Speaking of which, the band adjusts to the arrival of the singer, who steps up to the microphone, to greet the crowd here tonight. She speaks with a cheery voice, a sultry edge to it as her revealing dress sparkles in the ambient light throughout the penthouse.

Within moments, the band is now performing a quiet one, as the female singer sways to the tune before the mic, her voice coming in now, sultry and sweet as she eases the audience in to her first song of the night.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Ack! Clara was introduced to the hyena man. Still, if Phoebe is talking to him he cannot be that scary. Then again, people in Gotham tend to view danger through a unique lens.

    "Um, hi there!" She waves at him.

    "Oh, sorry. Cassie. Got it! I cannot help but think that your face is very familiar, somehow." She tilts her head, but does not intend on staring at the woman. Plenty of other people have been doing that for a while already!

    Her attention diverts to Damian again. "I have something to give you tonight," she says. "But I think it is best to wait until the end of the party." She is trying to sound mysterious.

Sma'shaw Ihaka has posed:
Sma'shaw nods at each of the introduced individuals, swirling his shrimpie flute oh so elegantly. "Chahrmed." He raised his glass to them, as seemed to be the protocol. "Well ah, ta' answer ye question, Oi'm mostly here to eh...koinda wander, see whot's whot, n' all. Haven't really been outta NYC since Oi came from overseas not long ago, few years really." He notes the scar briefly with his eyes, but doesn't linger, keeping his attention on her for the moment and occasionally eating a shrimp.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
More introductions going around. Phoebe is helping now, and it seems Cassie doesn't seem to mind being identified by her clothes, turning back at the description. "Yep, that's m-"

It's at this juncture that she spots, or perhaps finally has the mental focus to register the large animal-looking fellow, perhaps because his head is so far above her eye-line she hadn't quite even spotted it before then. Now, maybe this would be cause for an immediate double take in many. In her case, she looks up and...

"Hey! You Harley's plus one or something?" This is another Cassie joke. Maybe it is at least a LITTLE bit her fault that people sometimes take them a little bit the wrong way. And still, she grins. "Welcome to the party!" And... that's about it. She's actually not that shocked by his appearance. Then again, a couple parties back, Cassie brought an eight foot tall Minotaur as her date.

Well, Kithotaur, but that's always a lot to explain.

"So what's-" She's about to continue something in the conversation, where she hears the music start up outside. She pauses, blinks, looks around to see where Barbara has gotten to. "No fucking way..."

Janet van Dyne has posed:
Janet gasps in offended shock at Kate's innuendo, an expression that utterly fails to reach her eyes. Instead her green-eyed gaze glimmers with warm amusement at Kate's bravura, and clinks glasses with her in salute at the compliment. "Flattery will get you everywhere," she reminds Kate.

When Babs shows up, Janet flashes another beaming smile. "Are you kidding me? This isn't even my only party tonight," Janet assures Babs. She leans against Kate with a comfortable familiarity when the redhead steps back from behind the bar. "I did the stop-and-wave at the Met, then I had to swing in at the Avenger's Mansion for a little charity photo-op. Then once the ball drops here, I'm off to the Red Circle-- you're all invited, obviously," she says, gesturing at the others with her drink. "And then, if it's anything like last year, we'll all wake up in Bermuda on Monday morning with ripping hangovers."

She lifts her glass in salute and takes a healthy swig.

Damian Wayne has posed:
"Nice to meet you, Sma'shaw." Damian offers politely as his attention is trying to remain focus on the party. He knows he will need to eventually make an exit from the party. With the sheer number of Bats and Birds here at the present, he will probably take his turn on the patrol roster for the night.

"Alright, Clara. I'll catch you in a bit." he offers to her, before he considers. "But if you will pardon me for a moment..." He makes his way over to where Cassie is standing and clears his throat. "I really meant to say is that you really look great as well." he offers to her, a bit awkward. Socializing is hard. But there is a singer singing and a dancefloor available. "Would you like to take a spin across the floor, Cassie?" he asks her politely.

Kate Kane has posed:
Kate grins and looks perfectly comfortable next to Janet, laughing softly, "That's definitely something I'll keep in mind." Her eyes dance a bit, as she continues, "Though I haven't been to the Red Circle in ages... I should probably help tidy up here afterwards first." Her eyes flicker over to Barbara, her smile growing ever so slightly as she watches Babs manage the party and the guests.

And then the song begins, which seems to stir Kate out of a bit of her reverie. Kate finishes her drink in a bit of a rush, perhaps getting some liquid courage into her as she smiles over at Jan, "Excuse me a moment, though? I have a promise to keep." With that, she slips away from Janet, setting her glass down on the counter as she makes her way towards Barbara.

And when she reaches the other redhead, she bows deeply, then extends her hand in a surprisingly old-fashioned manner, "Pardon me, but might I have this dance?" She then gives Barbara an impish look and a smile.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe resumes her place against the wall as the music starts in, staying out of the way of the dancers as she gives a smile to Sma'shaw.

    "New York's an interesting city. I lived there for about six months while I finished my secondary school cert before being moved back. Gotham City's just always going to be my home." she explains, "So, how have you found the city? It can be a bit rough around the edges. The local fauna-themed vigilantes and everything..." she trails off, and sips at her ginger ale. "... and the flora-themed villains I suppose. The clowns. Constant strikes. Anti-homeless archetecture..."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
The moody singer has a superlative voice, mezmerizing and haunting at the same time. The music moves with her sultry tones, and the lighting in the penthouse is adjusting to flow with the song as it progresses, hinting at the depths of the tower's AI systems and how integrated it is in to everything. Being that the balcony is connected to both the interior and exterior of the penthouse it allows people both inside and out to enjoy the music, along with the atmosphere of everything happening down at street level. The party is picking up outside down in the plaza area, it being quite a sight for those looking over the stone railing along the balcony's edge.

Inside, Babs is lowering her glas after another sip, her eyes going to the well dressed Kate when she approaches to ask for a dance. With a bright smile, Babs laughs softly and accepts. She sets her drink aside by the floating robot bartender that hovers back and forth on the countertop.

"I'd enjoy it." She tells Kate, as she strides out to the dance floor where her sofa and chairs normally reside. Now, she's with Kate, and allows the other redhead (in her fancy tux) to lead as they share in the enjoyment of the music being played, and sung via the voice of that shadowy angelic performer.

The hands of the clock faces tick ever closer toward the turn of the year, the illuminated hands, and numerals along the edges of the faces equally changing colors to the music being played, mezmerizing the city outside to the beat of the music playing inside.

Sma'shaw Ihaka has posed:
The Hyena blinked down at Cassie, flashing a sharp, confused grin...? "Not sure who a 'Harley' is, but uh, thanks?" He raised his shrimpie flute to her as well. "Killin' it in that dress, drop-dead gorgeous murder n' all! Hope ye don't get hoipothermia though, bit chilly these days in Batland." He actually shoots Cassie a bit of a wink, playful as feels the party vibes soaking into his alien bones...and frankly the welcoming attendees were doing wonders for his relaxed mood.

He looked bacl to Phoebe, nodding his head along. "Ye, bit depressin' that the big cities seems to have a boner for makin' the homeless suffer for no good reason, ay? Tha's money bettah spent elsewhere...loik, Oi dunno, actual welfare programs? Course, Oi say that loik th' programs wouldn't get treated loik piggy banks for the elite. Sad estate of affair when y' can't even consistently help those in croisis...oh, roight, sorry, yer question. Well, Gotham seems surprisingly welcomin' ta someone loik me, so, can't really complain all tha' much so far."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
'Killing it.' Cassie grins. As for being cold? She shoots back: "Oh, it's fine. I can survive in space."

Without Barbara to confirm or deny her suspicion, Cassie continues peering out onto the balcony, hoping she can get a glance to confirm who it is that's out there singing, and visibly quite agitated by the fact that she can't actually confirm her suspicion. While she'll always stan hardest for Diana, this situation comes a relatively close second!

But it's Damian that pulls her back to reality from the distraction of the music, as she turns back around. The apology seems to just wash over her, and she grins, apparently quite unbothered by the whole thing. "Oh! Uh, sure. Though maybe this one is a little slow. Hold on a sec, would you, I'm gonna-" And then she zips off, disappearing out the doors onto the balcony for a few moments.

Damian might be left wondering if he just got ditched, but she's gone only a few moments, enough for the current song to come to an end. It's a few moments more and then she reappears, face slightly flushed and her grin going almost ear-to-ear. "OK! Let's go!" she tells him, offering out a hand and moving toward the dance area. The next song starts, still moody with a thumping bass under the breathy vocals, but higher tempo.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara looks surprised as Damian offers that and then is off. She has little time to let that sink in when a vibration at her hip catches her attention. She has to dig out a... is that pager? There are still pagers?

    It keeps her from noticing what Damian is doing. Well, at least at first. The dance is noticed, though. Her expression more than a bit uncertain. She will have to understand that later.

    For now, the message demands action. Whatever it is proves enough to scare her out of her awkwardness, though.

    She surveys the room. One cannot just jump out a window. That draws attention. Besides, she needs paper. Lots of paper. The elevator. Fast.

    On her way she says, "Sorry, I must go." Pause. Look at the hyena. "Poverty and homelessness cannot be solved with a blank check, sir. They are vastly more complicated issues involving economics, finance, culture, and human morality."

    She can explain another time. Even in a rush, she cannot help but lecture.

Kate Kane has posed:
Kate gracefully takes the lead in the dance, not seeming to mind what precisely the song is, as she makes the melody conform to her steps, rather than picking a dance to fit the song. In this case, she leads Barbara through an intricate waltz, spinning and striding along the dance floor with style as she does demonstrate her own skills on the floor.

A twirl, a dip, and then drawing Babs close as she murmurs something quietly in Barbara's ear for a moment, before spinning her partner away and pulling her back again in a fluid series of movements.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "It is. I think it's why it's so important to bolster up all the aspects that affect it, including taking the one-percent to task for it. And also taking the holistic approach rather than simply spearheading one or two independant causes that affect the whole problem. You can't build a shelter without a good foundation, after all --" she pauses, and her ears darken.

    "But that's horrible conversation for a party, I'm horrible at parties actually. I'm way better at... pretty much everything else. I apologize. Sometimes the whole nervous thing gets away with my brain and I keep babbling and I'm doing it right now so I'm stopping."

    And she stuffs some cruedite in her mouth. Which is fancy people word for veggie platter.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Honestly, Damian totally would not blame Cassie for ditching him. He wouldn't have been bothered about it, and truth be told - the current music is more made for the two redheads that are currently spinning across the floor. Leaning against the bar, he had ordered a drink and was enjoying a sip from it when Cassie returns along with the change of the music.

His smile warms and he nods. "Absolutely!" he offers to the Amazonian, his hand reaching to take hers and head out to the dance floor. Because it is time for some happier and cheerful dancing, and among the many types of training that grandfather shoved into Damian's head when he was growing up, being at least competent on the dance floor and not resorting to the white-boy head-bob is among those skills.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara has been a student of combat arts her whole life, which has lead to her being a capable dancer on the dance floor. Even in three inch heels. She keeps up with Kate's lead, moving to the motion of the music coming in from the band, the lights in the tower penthouse pulsing inside, just as every light on the building is outside. The beat of the music piping across the Clocktower plaza for the party indoors, and outdoors alike.

The question that Kate asks Babs has her softly laughing, and shaking her head. "To be honest." She responds to her dance partner, "I barely even know what's happening one moment to the next. I've been told repeatedly to 'live a little' though, and I think that has been my goal with tonight." She notes, sparing a glance around the busy dance floor, and the people moving about. She spares a glance up toward one of the clock faces adorning the nearest wall, and though she's lived in this tower for almost a decade now, it feels different tonight than it usually does when she's in pajama pants, a hoodie, and sitting cross legged in a computer gaming chair in front of a monitor with a World of Warcraft raid going on.

But, Babs' is prone to living a life of extremes. One second she's in full nerd mode, the next she's battling a mob of angry Gotham gangsters in some dark alley...

She smiles toward Kate then, and continues the dance. "I'm glad you made it though, ever the helpful one for me." She tells the other.

Outside the party continues down at street level with more and more people gathering as the night draws longer, and the edge toward a turn in the Calendar gets closer.

Sma'shaw Ihaka has posed:
Sma'shaw finds himself grinning warmly, and he give Phoebe a bit of a shoulder bump...well, more like his elbows bumping -her- shoulders. "Oy, troi bein' bad at everythin', loik me...bad at bein' people n' all. Y' stahrt to see the need for uncomfy topic in unloikely places, ye? 'Sides tha', you talk loik you got a good 'ead on your shouldahs."

He smiles wider, polishing his glass of shrimpies off. "Anyhoo...Oi loik discussin' thing loik that, and it's rare that Oi get to chat it up with someone tha' can keep m' attention."

Kate Kane has posed:
Kate smiles and laughs, "Well, I think you can consider that mission accomplished, Barbara. You definitely have lived more than a little tonight." She looks at Barbara, slowing her pace just a little bit in the dance to make the conversation a touch easier. "And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm always here for you." She pauses, looking about to say something else, and that's when the countdown starts, the crowd shouting along for the final ten seconds of the year.

For how suave or calm Kate normally looks, she seems a little... indecisive, during the countdown, staring at Barbara with an expression that's almost impossible to read. Her mouth moves a bit, as if trying to form some words to say, but not managing it as Kate looks into Barbara's eyes...

Then the clock hits midnight, and impulsively Kate draws Barbara in, giving her a kiss right on the lips as she decides to not bother with words, at least not for this moment.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    There's a brief stiffening of her shoulder as Sma'shaw bumps Phoebe,, and her gloves grip a little tighter, breath catching in her throat as her heart thuds. Brief moment of concern, and then gone.

    "You do as well Sma'shaw. I don't often have such interesting people to speak with at these parties. A lot of people here are either family or co-workers --" Phoebe begins, and is cut off as the crowd starts their countdown.

    And Phoebe winces, drawing her shoulders up and placing her hands over her ears to help block out some of the sound. "Sorry, just... a lot." she whispers in explaination to Sma'shaw.

Sma'shaw Ihaka has posed:
When Phoebe looks up to him, he's also cupping those fluffy, round ears of his. He meets her gaze, looking a little anguished by the noise overload, but he flashes a little grin down at her. "...Fish of a scale, ay?" And for the first time in a while, he actually lets out a little yeena cackle, rasping with glee as the clock its midnight...he doesn't even realize the New Year has arrived, and brought with it the portents, good and bad, of what's to come. And so far...this new year was lookin' -good-.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
When the clock strikes midnight, the faces around the tower begin to pulsate rapidly as they are all designed with large HD screens. They accompany the rhythmic explosive booming of fireworks launching up from the peak of the tower, up in to the dark Gotham City sky. Down at street level, people begin to sing and sway to the music and entertainment, the entire Clocktower putting on a light show for the audience surrounding it at its base.

Inside the penthouse level, the singing performance has moved on to the traditional tune for the time, while the guests of the party are indulging by-and-large in the moment around the dance floor, the tables, and out upon the exterior balcony.

Babs smiles to Kate, giving her shoulder a squeeze with one hand. "You're a sweet talker." She fires back, before she glances up at one of the clock faces, then back to Kate. She returns the kiss, happy to indulge in the gesture with someone she's worked so closely with for so long now. They've come to rely upon one another in many ways, and she's happy to share in the special moment with her.

Also, streamers are falling from the high ceilings of the penthouse, glittering wildly in the ambient lights filling the tower's rooftop abode!

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie, not shockingly for her party-loving attitude, can very much dance! No sooner than her and Damian find a spot, and the new music picks up, she proceeds to get down in turn! The thumping, bass-heavy music provide a guiding tempo for it, and while she begins with just a side-to-side hip sway with the rhythm of the music, it only takes a little bit for her to notice that Damian might have a bit more party spirit in him than anticipated.

Which is all the encouragement she needs!

Soon, Cassie is really clearly vibing withthe music, and a bit further in, she turns her back toward Damian, swaying her backside as her posture creeps lower and lower with the music, before straightening back up again in a sinnuous gesture and spinning back around. Eventually, the song finishes up, leaving the young grinning big. "See you've been doing some other training too, huh? I-"

She has some further thought, but it's interrupted as the song doesn't proceed into the next, but instead things go silent after, in preparation for the countdown itself, and the traditional music that goes with it. "C'mon, let's not miss the countdown!"

Damian Wayne has posed:
While Damian's training may have been in classical dance, he is a quick study and is fast to learn as he shifts and moves with Cassie in the little space of the floor that they have claimed for themselves.

He is able to follow along with her free-spirited movements, stretching out as she goes lower, he goes higher, a shift of his shoulders and posture before they find themselves back to facing each other and the music switches to the more traditional countdown music.

A chuckle as he follows Cassie over for the countdown, ending up with a flute of sparkling cider, as the countdown finishes and the streamers fall, he bows his head for a moment's thought and considers. "Happy New Year, Cassandra." he offers to her warmly. "I hope you find ever more successes and adventures in the New Year and that we keep in better contact." And a little peck to her cheek.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe looks up to the likewise-muffling-the-noise Yeen.

    She gives an embarrassed smile and a nod of acknowledgement. "Fish of a scale, yeah." she agrees, giving a soft puff out as the music continues on to Aud Sang Lyne, and the streamers errupt, confetti pops, and everyone cheers, and she grins and bears the noise from her wallflower post.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Even the lights on the fifteen foot Christmas tree were shifting in hue and intensity based on the celebratory music piping across the penthouse, and beyond. The fireworks light up the night sky, the GGE Blimp in the far horizon participating in the light show, as the guests of the party are treated to all the trimmings of an epic New years Eve bash. After it all settled, the music would continue to play, the celebrity surprise singer treating everyone to more of her lovely voice, and the drinks continued to flow.

Outside, the party only continued as people broke off for bars, clubs and otherwise.

But, it is Gotham City, and in its seemingly endless dark canyons of city streets, the blue and reds of GCPD sirens flash, the wailing sounds of emergency responders heading toward active situations, and a gliding figure in the night moving on dark wings toward whatever troubles lurk on this the first night of a new year.