Logs:The tide beats in my soul so strong that happiness breaks forth in song,

The tide beats in my soul so strong that happiness breaks forth in song,
Dramatis Personae Kitty, Leo?, Jax, DJ, Steve, Sam, Polaris, Hive, Matt, Fury, Ion, Dusk, Maya, Ryan, FitzSimmons	summer solstice '23 / jax's 31st birthday "May I have this dance?"
Location <NYC> Rooftop - SHIELD Headquarters - Times Square
There's an unexpected oasis at the top of this gleaming high-rise, the whole of it carpeted in thick, soft, layered ground cover of sedums, grass, and moss. A small, carefully manicured grove serves as the centerpiece, with benches, tables and chairs scattered around in the shade. Beside it, a professionally landscaped garden boasts a pond and quite a few planters that either used to hold plants or still hold dying ones. The greenhouse is somewhat sparsely and eclectically populated with tropical plants, flanked by garden beds even more sparsely planted. An open lawn on the side overlooking Times Square makes a great spot for a picnic. The otherwise unsightly structure housing the roof access, a single stall bathroom, and tool shed has been covered on three sides with turf and shaped into a little promontory offering a breathtaking view of the city. The lawn has mostly disappeared under the newly assembled raised stage, wires for lighting and sound systems running through the grass to generators that definitely do not belong to SHIELD. The tables have been commandeered as food and drink stations, starting to deplete as the long, long arc of sun on the longest day of the year meanders lazily towards the horizon. The fae-like uniforms of Jax's friends are easy to pick out in the crowd in front of the stage, glowing horns and sun-adorned wings catching light from the star in the heavens as well as on stage. Ryan Black, in a slim-fitting white suit so densely packed with optical fiber that it has a glossy sheen even with the lighting function off, a dress shirt so black it looks like a void amidst all the light, gold cowboy boots with solar designs picked out in bright EL wire, and a matching gambler's hat that shows a brilliant sunburst when viewed from above, is winding to the end of "Care Less", the slick ferocity of the violin line lighting up the fibers in a vibrant dance of colors. The slip into "Brighter" is subtle at first, but at the first lyric a cheer goes up from the crowd. Kitty, glittery and gold in a Gatsby-esque sequinned flapper dress, radiant sunbeams emerging from her headband, and a fairy wand with a sunburst topper in hand, is spinning out on the dance floor. Swing dance would probably be more appropriate for her outfit, but she's not letting the genre discrepancy stop her from laughing, cheering, and sliding in closer to her dance partner to kiss his cheek -- heedless of the slack jawed look Jemma Simmons is giving him from the drink table. "I cannae tell if she manipulates intramolecular force or nuclear force," Leo Fitz is bemoaning into his beer, "and she won't tell me which it is." "Uh-huh," Simmons replies absently, swirling her cocktail with one hand. "...You think Mr. Jax might introduce me to Mr. Concepcion if I ask nicely?" Morosely, lifting his beer to his lips, Fitz replies, "Probably not." Leo accepts his kiss with a faint flush, and his small smile has a glimmer of amusement as he spins Kitty back close to him. "That man," he's only lightly indicating Fitz with a small point of pursed lips in the engineer's direction, "has have his eyes on you all evening." There's no jealousy here though there is a healthy dose of appreciation when he adds, pitched quieter as if someone else might hear over the upbeat music: "You do shine." Had he planned to be at this party? Difficult to say, given the capriciousness of his schedule. But he seems to be well enjoying himself here, twirling his girlfriend on the dancefloor -- he's currently less eye-catching than her in outfit though no doubt his presence alone draws a few stares, but, currently, the neat and colorful button-down he is wearing has been largely obscured underneath an oversized tee shirt likely caught from one of the two t-shirt cannons a matching fairy-winged pair of Ryan's crew are shooting at the audience. His has the by-now very familiar HOLLAND WAS RIGHT text on the front, though the dragonfly it is usually styled around has now grown a stylized sunburst for a thorax in a design that is echoed smaller up by the back collar. Underneath the smaller back logo, printed in simple font: party like the day is long! summer solstice '23