Owner	Pose
Jane Foster	Several aircraft burn taxpayer dollars from the rooftop landing pad of the Triskelion, most notably the helicopters used to ferry agents to hotspots and the occasional cloaked Quinjet up to no good. Maintenance takes place in the hangar bays buried inside the building or an endless row of warehouses serving such mundane purposes. Tonight, SHIELD is up to a little less clandestine operations, a little more social events. A small set of metal sensors rest in a nested triangle on the much-blasted cement well away from a set of rings helping the pilots find their mark and not smash into Fury or Carter's offices by mistake. Nothing like an air courier messing up, right? Sensors aren't the reason for the party so much as a projection being directed by something proprietary, Stark tech hacked, turned, and twisted with some aid from R&D for engineering insights. What appears there really looks like fuzzy shapes floating in space, a cloud of motes that require nightfall to properly emerge in their detail. Jane might succor a few people to test the projector with very tasty pastries, including strawberry and lemon-stuffed croissants, blood orange mochi doughnuts, coconut cream filled bombolones, and pretty little star-shaped fruit tarts arranged elegantly on blue, celestial-themed plates. Because you have to know Stargazer of all people will have starry-themed plates. What's the point to all this but a balmy night with a few lawnchairs, good company, the oldest known stellar object in existence...
Natasha Romanova	Natasha Romanoff is currently setup over with some old looking dice and some small, carved pieces of wood and plastic. She's busy arranging the dice over in a small bowl, and is occasionally shaking said bowl over as she would shift the contents within. Then she would casually take her hand over into it, grabbing a few of the dice, and then putting them out. The signs on them definitely not anything that would normally be on any six siders. Seemingly satisfied with them,s he would pick them up and move to put them back ove rin the bowl while looking out.
Jessica Drew	Sticky pastries and scientific instruments are as fit for one another as a hangover and head banging music. Jessica arrives bearing just such sticky gifts in addition to sweet delirium already waiting. The plain blue and white card box stamped with a trident and Poseidon Bakery on its side augurs well for agents wanting both a dose of sweetness and savory. A large flask of coffee swings from its handle over her arm, she will raid the Quinjets pantry for napkins and wet wipes in quantity and disposable plates. Eat but don't touch the instruments before cleaning your hands.
Peggy Carter	A little later than the majority of the party, the Chief herself has decided to make an appearance. Not just because there are donuts, but that certainly helps, especially in her current state. There's absolutely no hiding the fact that the Chief is expecting nowadays. It was a poorly kept secret for a while, but now it's painfully obvious. She's given into the style of empire waist swing dresses instead of her old suits, better suiting the gentle roundness of her belly. A smile crosses her lips as she steps out into the casual chaos, looking over the set up, and then the lovely food table. That's here she's headed first, eyeing the bomblones with a rather hungry gaze.
Jane Foster	Jess can get hungover? Is that possible? The various selections of pastries don't come with drinks since hauling up a telescope of any respectable size or the projectors probably took Jane both arms. SWORD has an easier time in their geostationary orbit above Earth, but for those landbound mortals, fresh pastries beat reconstituted powder pretending to be food. Especially coming out of northern Manhattan's better treasures. Nothing like happy tummies and full minds. "You're a sight to see, Jess, if that is what I think it is," calls Jane after finishing running another algorithm that throws... happy music into the air? Peaceful, happy music. Then they have Peggy on site, beckoning her to bring a warm smile and headed closer to the woman. "Hello, Chief Carter. Would you like to come sit with us and enjoy a plate?" Yes, she can guess, and she can blithely not say anything at all about the obvious. Clearly, where she's involved, the utter lack of surprise is a poorly kept secret of how unsurprised she is. "I believe Ms. Romanoff is foretelling the future or readying to storm Vegas. I haven't confirmed it, yet."
Natasha Romanova	Natasha Romanoff would go to tuck away the small bowl and it's contents to her vest, glancing at the others, and speaking with a thicker accented Russian voice than usual, "Thank you, Doctor Foster. So what is the occasion tonight for sightseeing?" She would inquire while glancing up to the sky. Travel to the stars not being quite in the norm for her the way it was for many of those whom were on the SWORD-side of things. Something she didn't actually quite mind that much.
Jemma Simmons	Peggy is not the only one that is fashionably late. Perhaps it is a British thing. Or, more likely it is just that a certain biochemist shares the same perspective when it comes to work. As in...Jemma may not necessarily realize she is working more than she should. And usually, it takes a text to the phone (or an intrusion on the tablet) to snap Jemma free of 'work mode'. This time, it is a notification from Jane herself, with a light admonishment and invitation to the rooftop shindig. Of course, it took a little longer for Jemma to actually *notice* the text message, but notice she does...and therefore Jemms actually does appear, though she is certainly late to the party.
Peggy Carter	"Congratulations, Dr. Foster. Is this the first time you've taken your baby on a proper jaunt to the roof?" Peggy asks as she nods proudly towards the large telescope. She knows just how important and how delicate that piece of equipment is. She's glad to see it out and about, even if it was quite the challenge to get it up here. Peggy isn't pressing forward to use the thing yet, though. She'll let the other SWORD scientists have their chance first. "I'll let you all do the star-spying first. But I will have a plate. I didn't know sweets and stars went together quite so well." Peggy grins, scooping up a plate and putting a selection of one of each good upon it. She has to sample everything, of course! Make certain it's up to par for her people. She looks a little surprised to see Jemma there, but gives the doctor a warm wave from where she's perched near the sweets table, "Simmons. It's been a while."
Michael Erickson	After a bit, the resident alien (or one of them, at least) emerges from the depths of the Triskelion, squinting against the lare of the lights and the occasional breeze washing across the roof of the building. He wears a suit, as per usual, nice gray gaberdine in a fashion that's from 1989, not 2022. Loose, double-breasted, that sort of thing. He looks like he's come to foreclose on the building or perform a hostile takeover. But somehow - probably because he's as out of time as the suit - he manages to strike a natty figure. Hands in the pockets of his slacks, he smile as he take in the spread and the holography.     For just a moment, he lingers by the exit, and then heads off to where the rest are hanging out. "Hello," he calls, his voice ringing with cheer. "We're having an astronomy party?"
Jessica Drew	Jess gets up from one of the folding chairs and walks over to the man from the stars. "Hello you. Don't you look dapper as always. We have to stop meeting like this," she smiles and takes his arm above the elbow to squeeze. They match in an odd way, she is in what she calls government black - a pencil skirt, heels and and a fashionable large jacket with a hint of shoulder pads which are coming back into style. She guides them both over to Jane and smiles at Jemma and the Chief in passing. "Do you have a particular celestial object for us to look at this evening, Jane?"
Jane Foster	Fuzzy shapes cannot be resolved better than bright blobs surrounded by fuzzy halos. Other smears stretch in odd arcs, some hazy copper and one a staggering luminous blue partly eclipsed by a brownish dust corona. Look closer at the projected shapes hanging in a three-dimensional space and they betray their identity not as planets or stars, but galaxies. Some of those prove so warped they might be hard to identify. Deep, scarlet-tinged smudges in a long arc hang over Jane's shoulder. "The telescope's more for spotting Uranus and appreciating Regulus for anyone who wants to pry into the Lion's secrets," she replies with a laugh, brown eyes warming and crinkled at the corner. "For the grand celebration, that's all around us." Quite literally walking through a star-field in that disused corner of the landing pad. All those treats are sweet and tasty for those who wish to partake of them. She winks at Peggy's eagerness to try everything, and raises her hand in a wave to Jemma. To Natasha's question, she smiles even wider, since that clearly hits the mark with the assassin's usual accuracy. "The occasion tonight is finding the elves' most beloved star. You're just in time, Mr. Erickson, we /are/ having a star party without even leaving the city. Partly because none of our terrestrial telescopes would resolve this." Oh no, nerd joke! Neither does she look or sound like Cate Blanchett, more's the pity. "This star is oldest one we know of, from the early universe. If you look at that blurry red dot that's practically a ruby, we have Earendel. Thirteen billion years ago, that monster was inventing iron because we didn't have any."
Natasha Romanova	Natasha Romanoff would go to fold her hands together, "So who's particular specialty job are we taking out of storage then if we're scanning?" Presuming it's something that enhanced optics can pick out. If it's really something that difficult to see then they wouldn't be using something that could be calibrated manually. They'd need a satellite or something up in orbit or with a lot of mirrors. So it can't be that difficult; at least not with something they can use planetside. Gesturing at Jane to start up wtih her story as the assassin goes to listen while looking up at the skylien.
Jemma Simmons	A wave is given to Jane. After all, it was her diligence that reminded Jemma that social interaction is most needed. Then, a greeting to the expecting Chief Carter. "Hello, Peggy. It certainly has been a bit of time...something that our dear Doctor Foster reminded me as such. It took a not-so-gentle reminder that I do spend entirely too much time in the laboratory at times. There has been some rather fascinating research opportunities recently presented." Oh....but Jemma is talking about work again. And, at least this time she realizes it. So...she pauses, holding up a finger as she stops, resets herself, then switches topics. "Ah, so we are here to see the morning star, then. Though, regrettably, we will not be able to trap the light into a star glass of our very own." Yes, Jemma is up on her Tolkien. Of course she would be.
Peggy Carter	The story about Earendel gets an impressed look from Peggy, smile warming a bit more, "Well, iron certainly is something to celebrate. It's let us to grand things and some awful things, too. There is a power in iron..." And much war behind it. Wars Peggy remembers. She then realizes those thoughts are probably bringing things down so, instead of speaking again, she pops a pastry past her lips and raises her plate like a toast towards the telescope. No proper drinks for Peggy, so no toasting with a glass. She smiles a bit more at Jemma's rambling, even if it's about work. There is a fondness for the young scientist behind Peggy's eyes. But she lets Jemma enjoy the party, not talk about other things. Jessica and Michael are given a dip of her head in greeting as well.
Michael Erickson	Linking up with Jessica, he gives her a bit of a grin, lightly bumping an elbow against her side as he follows along with her. "Thank you," he murmurs to Jesica as they go, and then his brows arch as he catches Jane's address of him.     "Oh, I know this one," Michael says, squinting at the display that's been conjured as Jane indicates. "Or at least I know /of/ it. It's far enough that even our scientists don't know too much about it. We call it Tal'Masil, the Matron." He considers a moment, then eyes Jane with faint suspicion. "We're not going there, are we?"     A look past her to Peggy, at whom he smiles, before turning his attention back to Jane.
Jessica Drew	Jess pours herself a cup of coffee to sip while contemplating the 3-D display. The box of Greek sweets is open within reach and she treats herself to a powdered kourabiede which she gestures with. "Earth wasn't even a gleam in the sun's eye when that light started off in our direction, was it? I hear it is huge, maybe big enough to swallow our little planetary system large."
Jane Foster	"You know full well it's healthy to get out of your lab once in a while. I keep a reminder on my phone for a reason." Jane probably shares the same calendar appointment with a few SHIELD sorts to remind them life exists beyond reports in triplicate, endless practice, or staring at screens. "NASA tapped me into the results from Hubble and I fine-tuned the infrared optics from another bird in the sky and another source." As in one of those black-ops satellites probably peering into space for more renegade aliens. "Our tinkering produced a clearer resolution of our ancient star." She points to the ruby-red ball of light. "Essentially a large group of galaxies in the way of Earendel act as a magnifier to expand and intensify its light, making it possible to see the star amongst all the cosmic background noise. The glow hitting us now left that star when the universe was still densely packed, full of supergiant stars that had short, nasty, and brutish lives before exploding violently. Often blowing up the stellar neighbourhood while they were at it. But here this giant blue star is, a postcard from a very different, distant past to remember all things are relative. Also that we're all fortunate to be here and now, thinking and eating and talking. I /did/ capture the light in a glass, just a very small amount. Eventually I will have to set it free." She glances askance at Michael curiously. "Can /you/ travel back thirteen billion years? Can we return?"
Natasha Romanova	Natasha Romanoff would fold her hands together over then and think, "Purely theoreticlaly it's posible. At the point you solve the issues inherent with stability and transit then yes, purely by math one could go back to then. But of course at that point in existence reality is different. Younger. Physics and gravity will be different. The layout of all things will be off. But at the point one has made that transit posible, then compensation for that level of difference should be simple." Because of course one 'could' go back in time on a purely conceptual level, after all!
Jessica Drew	Smiling at Michael's toast, Jess lifts her coffee cup, "Here is to the light of nascent galaxies and wonky physics still figuring itself out. And to you, Chief and your coming child."
Jemma Simmons	"Yes, yes. I know. Though, in my defense, I didn't immediately realize how long it had been. When you do what excites you, one could hardly call it work." Yet, Jemma knows not to pursue that point any farther, so she silences herself. And...rather than head for the sweets laid out before the group, Jemma heads for the telescope in question. Surely, sugary foods cannot hold a candle to the pull of science! Especially astronomy. It does hold a place in Jemma's heart. And the geek side of Simmons rejoices. There may not be any words, but there is excitement there. And Jemma cannot disguise it.
Peggy Carter	Peggy was just about to turn and get herself down into one of those lawn chairs, when Michael and Jessica come up to her. She turns to them, both brows lofting as she's given a traditional blessing, it seems. Her head dips in gratitude, "Well, thank you, Michael. That is... a lovely blessing. I think we are managing, so far. Mostly settled into the new house. And well before the time came." Peggy is proud of that. She was scared they'd be moving until the day she went into labor. But she does then step back, lowering herself down into one of those lawnchairs. "But... it has been a long few weeks of moving. So I am going to sit here, eat sweets, and what you all celebrating the stars."
Michael Erickson	Michael snorts at Jane's question - which is, admittedly, perfectly fitting to ask - as he squints at the distant star. "Would that I could," he says, "I'd be there in a moment. But I'm afraid not. I do wonder, however, if perhaps it still exists, a cradle of the universe and all that. I'm a romantic at heart, after all." He squints a final time before stepping back half a tic, the wayward stockbroker again. "So we are celebrating the Matron, then? A good theme to have. And there is very much to be grateful for."     Speaking of...     Michael slips his hand from one pocket and he disentangles himself from Jessica, looking to Peggy. "Chief," he calls to his superior, lifting his now-free hand in hail. "Astaa'la makrati sutyon! 'May your nest be deep and full of riches.' It's good to see you again."
Jane Foster	Uranus is a blue speck invisible to the naked eye -- ooh la la! -- hanging out in the vicinity of the Moon and Leo. Finding it with the telescope proves rather like a game of cat and mouse, albeit with the cat aided by telemetry and digital overlays on the viewfinder that point to various stars. All those thrilling star apps aside, the resolution makes it possible to see the bluish-grey planet in modest detail. Saturn and Jupiter would be other stories, but they won't be out before dawn. Jane goes to steal a croissant, one filled by coconut. She smiles over the fluffy pastry laminations, raising a muted salute at Michael. "You never know what SWORD gets up to these days. All stars live and perish as more than stellar furnaces. Their songs resound long after their passing, encoded our DNA and everything surrounding you. Nothing truly ends in the universe, it merely transforms to another state. We're all stardust, to quote Carl Sagan." A nice thought, even as she eases her way over to drop into a chair. She needs to make sure not to chew on the pastry when /nests/ are involved.
Jessica Drew	Give scientists too much sugar and a telescope and see what happens. Jessica enjoys watching two of her favorite scientists geek out over the light of stars while eating powdery cookies and sipping strong coffee. After Michael's blessing, she returns to her sweets. "Was the star going nova, do they think? Or just swallowing local stars for lunch?"
Natasha Romanova	Natasha Romanoff would glance up then, more for the show of it than making anything out. "It's like looking back in time, if for a moment. To however long ago the light was. But it's not the same thing, is it? Since we're seeing the light that's been warped by all such things along the way. Gravity, hydrogen, singularities.. Abnormalities. Everything else in the way of the trip the light took to get here to where it could be seen so much later on. Only so much you can do to filter lal those things out, isn't there?"
Peggy Carter	Peggy is quiet the rest of the night. She's a silent, hovering presence, watching her people as they watch the stars. It feels right to her, hovering there protectively and listening to SHIELD be happy nerds. For one evening, at least.