thequitecontrary | The Party

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steve trevor

The Party

When Mary, her grandmother, and her uncle were invited to a party hosted by one of 5th Avenue's elite, she knew that she didn't want to bring anyone other than Steve as her guest. Truthfully, she didn't need a guest at all, and if her grandmother had any say, Mary would go alone and talk to the many wealthy single men that would be at this party. Martha had just about accepted that Steve would be a mainstay in their lives now, as it was obvious that Mary was in love with him. Her expressed opinion of Steve was that she liked him, though he was entirely unsuitable for someone of Mary's social stature and wealth. However, she also knew about love, and forbidding Mary to see him would do the exact opposite of what she intended. So, Mary was allowed to bring him.

Steve cleaned up very nicely, which came as no surprise to Mary when he showed up at the house before going over to the party. They alighted from the car and followed Martha and Harold into a huge mansion. Most of the party was taking place in the vast ballroom, where they was enough room for dancing, drinks and conversation.

Mary walked with her hand on Steve's arm, though she didn't stay attached to him for the entire night. When he went off to get them some drinks, she was approached by another man who seemed determined to make conversation with her, and Mary was at least polite about it, chatting with him while she waited for Steve to return.

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Steve felt a bit divided when it came to these sorts of social arrangements. Smaller, more intimate events, such as lunches or dinners at her family's home, he could handle well enough. The public balls had the advantage of being just that, public— so he didn't often get stared at or judged as much. This, though... felt like something else entirely.

It didn't take a keen eye to know that these people, every single one of them, belonged to a class and a whole world Steve wasn't even remotely familiar with. He knew how to be cordial and polite and how to behave himself, but he knew he stood out like a sore thumb, even if he picked his best suit, used his best words, and could keep up with any conversation topic people could think of. Then again, a lot of it was like his work as a spy. He didn't like drawing the comparison, but at least that had given him some practice to know how to handle himself right now.

Besides, he had Mary with him. That made just about anything worth it. Even having to get used to the fact that she was a bright and beautiful woman, and that any man here would think they were better suited and that it was within their right to try and take her from his side.

Not that he was forcibly keeping her by any means, but. Anyway.

He didn't do much more than heave a quiet sigh as he spotted the man chatting up Mary, but he put on his most polite smile, as he carried two glasses and made his way over, offering one to her as he stopped right by her side. "Gin, honey. Just as you like it."

Well. Call him a jerk for using that word. See if he cared.

Mary certainly wouldn't call him a jerk for that. She grinned at his use of the endearment and took the drink from him. "Thank you, darling."

The man she had been talking to looked very taken aback all of a sudden, not that Mary found that to be terribly surprising. He hadn't expected that Mary had come with anyone.

"This is William Mercer," Mary said, leaving out the bit he had included about being a VP a Standard Oil. She doubted that Steve would care. "This is Major Steve Trevor." Even if the war was over, Mary would continue to introduce him as such to the people whom that sort of thing was important, her family and social circle in England included.

Well, at least he didn't lean in to kiss her cheek or something equally (or even more) scandalous, so that was a start. His smile was steady and polite as he looked back to the man, though there was a very faint trace of contained satisfaction to it.

"Lieutenant Colonel, actually. Not that it matters." Well, it mattered, if only for the fact that he could rub it in the guy's face just a little bit. He offered a hand out for a cordial handshake. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, yes, forgive me," Mary said a bit sheepishly. "I had forgotten about the promotion." That was a very important thing to remember as well. Not that Mary had to justify her love for Steve by talking about whatever honors he had achieved in his life, but if it was what other people had to hear in order to accept him as a match for her, then so be it.

"How do you do," William said, shaking Steve's hand. There was a bit of an awkward silence after that which Mary was unable to fix, as she saw her grandmother vehemently beckoning her across the room.

"Excuse me for just a moment. I'll be right back."

When Mary was far enough away, William turned back to Steve. "So, Lieutenant Colonel... what exactly do you think you're trying to accomplish here?"

Despite the silence, Steve wasn't particularly uncomfortable, though he did have the advantage of being able to distract himself with his drink. Besides, a few seconds after, Mary was being called away, which opened for a whole new awkward situation that Steve frankly wasn't all that sure he wanted to deal with right now.

Not that it mattered, because evidently he had no other choice. Offering a soft smile to Mary, he watched as she walked away, then was halfway through lifting his glass up to his lips again when the man spoke, apparently keen on not wasting a single second.

Still, Steve's expression didn't falter, and he smoothed through the question with a nonchalant shrug and an unworried smile. "Well, I was thinking about finishing my drink, maybe having another one. I'm not sure what else people are supposed to accomplish at parties like this one."

William smirked at Steve's deliberate obtuseness and lifted his own glass for a drink before continuing. "Surely you don't think a woman like that would marry you. Her family would never allow it. You may be a Lieutenant Colonel, but there's no possible way that you make enough money to sustain her in the lifestyle that she's used to."

Steve had to bite back the urge to laugh rudely at that. His lips still quirked a little, and he resumed taking his sip of the gin before turning to face William. "You know, it occurs to me that you have absolutely nothing to do with that. Or is that what people of your class teach their kids, hm? How to stick your noses in other people's lives?"

"Just warning you, pal," William said, his tone not particularly friendly. "She's probably using you for a good time until her parents make her marry someone in the upper echelon. She'd better be careful though. Hanging around casually with men will ruin her reputation. Not that it isn't already ruined if the rumors that I hear are true."

He took another sip of his drink and watched Mary across the room as she talked with her grandmother and another lady.

The guy could have said just about anything and Steve wouldn't have budged. Warnings and disapproval over his courting a woman like Mary, even outright mockery that he even thought he was good enough for her, that he was practically expecting. But then he had to go and take it a few steps too far, and in no time at all Steve found himself fighting the very different urge to break the guy's nose in.

He wasn't quite as successful this time around, and he stepped into William's personal space, catching his forearm and gripping it a little too tight. Steve didn't look like a big or bulky man with his clothes on, but he had a lot of strength to him, more so than most people expected. Which, in this particular case, worked well in his favor.

"Sticking to that theme of warnings, here's one for you," he started, his voice low enough that only William would hear him. "I don't care what you have to say about me. But you're gonna keep your shitty opinions about Mary to yourself, because really, no one's asking you. And if you don't bite them back right now and keep your distance from her, I'll beat your ass hard enough you'll be licking the floor, right here and now. And trust me— I would."

William did look a tad panicked at that, though he tried not to show it. No sense in getting everyone at the party upset. "Now, now, Mr. Trevor," he said cooly as he tried to extricate himself from Steve's grip. "If you even dream to court a woman like her, you'll have to overcome whatever backwoods trailer you were raised in and learn some manners."

Meanwhile, Mary could tell that something was not quite right and she kept glancing across the room at the two of them, her brow slightly furrowed.

"I wish you luck," William continued, "but she belongs on the arm of a man who can spoil her, one who can appreciate what a prize she is."

Everything out of the man's mouth felt like poison, vile and rotten. Was this what men in upper class were supposed to be like? Was this the kind of man that Mary's parents really would want her marrying? Honestly, Steve couldn't possibly imagine any man who loved his daughter to want her to end up stuck with someone like this.

"She's not a prize. She's a person. Not that you'd know the first thing about that." His fingers curled tighter for a moment, then he let go of him. "Go to Hell."

Not really caring to get even more upset over this, he turned around and made his way out to the balcony, where he could get some fresh night air and hopefully cool his head before he went to find Mary again.

Mary saw Steve push William away and immediately excused herself from the conversation with her grandmother. Giving William a glare as she walked past, Mary followed Steve out onto the balcony.

"What happened?" she asked as she came up beside him. Mary placed her hand on his shoulder, hoping that it would at least be a small comfort. Unfortunately she was fairly sure that whatever argument had taken place had been about her. The vibe that she had gotten off of William from the start hadn't been a good one.

His glass was about half empty, and once he was outside, he quickly downed the rest of it, even if it likely wasn't a good idea to empty it in one go like that. He glanced over when he heard Mary approach, then looked away again, shaking his head.

"It's nothing." He set the glass down on a small bar cart outside, settling his hand on her back as he smiled at her. It hadn't been nothing, obviously, but he didn't want her getting upset over something stupid like that.

Well. Mary just crossed her arms and stared up at him. "Steve, I watched you storm out of there. Something obviously happened. He said something, didn't he?"

That wouldn't surprise her at all. Actually, the only thing that surprised her was that someone who barely knew her would feel the need to make comments about her life and whom she chose to live it with.

Steve sighed, though he was neither surprised nor upset that she didn't let it go so easily. He wouldn't lie to her, though, and it didn't take much at all to guess what the topic of their conversation had been.

"He said a lot of things. Still a long way for them to be worth much of anything, though." He cleared his throat, lifting a shoulder and shaking his head. "Honestly, Mary, it doesn't matter. He was just being a jerk and trying to get a rise out of me."

Mary glanced back at the door to the balcony, feeling herself seething. How she wanted to head back inside and tell Mr. Mercer what she really thought of him.

"I'm sorry," she said with a sigh. "Some of these men are terribly rude, and terribly entitled. He probably thought he was going to make a pass at me and was annoyed that you ruined it." Mary hated to say it, but she was used to men congregating around her like salivating dogs around a steak. It wasn't very long ago that she would have fun with it, pit them against each other, but now she was tired of the games. She had found the man she loved, and she saw no reason to dally anymore.

Steve suppressed a bitter chuckle at that. Yeah, entitled was the word he'd use. And apparently all their pretty little rules and norms about what should be polite and socially accepted behavior only applied to people in their class.

"It's alright, Mary," he smiled, meaning it. "You don't have to apologize, and you certainly don't have to explain his behavior to me. I'm... honestly, this is the kind of attitude I was worried about and tried to prepare myself for from the start. If anything, I'm surprised it's taken this long to meet someone like him."

She furrowed her brow, upset that Steve had gone through that. Hopefully the Brits would at least be more polite with him. Mary took his hand in hers.

"I don't want it to discourage you. I love you, and you're the man I wish to be with. If it will help, I'll stay by your side tonight. That way nobody can be rude to you without being rude to me as well."

And they wouldn't dare. Mary would be pretty quick to tell them off if they were.

His own demeanor was much calmer now, her presence alone soothing his temper. He hated to admit that the guy had managed to get a rise out of him, but it wasn't really on his mind anymore. He didn't want it to be on hers, either, which was why he didn't share any of the words he'd had to hear.

"Thank you." He curled his fingers around her hand, not caring particularly if someone happened to see them. "You don't have to, but I do always welcome your company."

Mary certainly didn't care if someone saw them holding hands. Steve was there as her date, and she wasn't hiding that fact.

"I'm glad to hear that," she replied. Not that she doubted that he enjoyed being in her company. "Now, will the most handsome man at this party do me the honor of a dance?" Her smile was cute, in a bid that she could sweet talk him onto the dance floor.

He smiled a little wider, letting out a soft chuckle at her cute smile. He couldn't possibly ever say no to her asking that of him, of course.

"I'd love to," he nodded, tugging lightly at her hand, but waiting until she started walking to make their way towards the dance floor. Steve still felt a little out of sorts, but she evidently was at ease, being here with him, so he borrowed some of her confidence, promptly ignoring any looks sent their way.

"Most handsome man, most beautiful woman... we do make for quite an impressive pair, you and I."

There were a few looks, and when Mary saw Mercer across the room, she gave him a death glare. He'd better not come anywhere near them.

Once they were on the dance floor, Mary gazed up at Steve with a fond smile. They got into dance frame and began to glide around the floor. "Of course we make an impressive pair," she replied. "I'm sure everyone can tell we're in love." Her face had that certain glow to it, one of complete happiness. Steve was the only person who mattered to her.

Steve eased into the steps a little easier now, out of practice if nothing else. He didn't so much as bother looking up or around them, not particularly bothered nor caring who happened to be looking at them. And if that Mercer fella was watching them, then... well, let him.

"You think so?" He grins softly, his thumb brushing a soft circle near her waist, where his hand was resting. "Well, I know I am. And I'm the luckiest man alive that you are, too."

[Im gonna shift this a bit so that the two of them can be alone. Let me know if this doesn't work for any reason.]

Mary grinned back at him, taken with him as she always was. They were both upfront with how much they loved each other and it made her wonder when the proposal would come. She had about three weeks left in America before she was scheduled to go back home and she hoped that she might be able to take Steve with her and introduce him as her fiancée.

It seemed that people were giving them a wide berth on the dance floor, giving them looks and whispering to each other. Mary wondered what venom Mercer had spewed about her, and like it or not, she was starting to feel self-conscious. When the song ended, Mary led Steve off of the dance floor.

People continued to smile at her and exchange pleasantries, but it seemed no one was interested in more than a passing conversation. Truth be told, Steve was the only one she truly cared to spend time with anyway, which made her wonder why they were still there.

Eventually she turned to him and met his eye. "What do you say we get out of here? Perhaps for drinks or... back to your place?" Her eyebrow raised ever so slightly.

Steve had some idea of what idiotic rumors Mercer might've been passing along, which frankly made him want to cross the room and punch the guy square in the nose. But he knew that would accomplish nothing, and these people would only be surer that he was telling the truth.

Either way, it honestly bothered him. Whether it was true or not, it shouldn't matter if Mary slept with one man, two or ten, and she certainly shouldn't be judged for it. At least he took some comfort in knowing that these people would see it as improper to come up to her and just ask her or talk about it, and he for one wasn't about to tell her what Mercer had told him. In any case, she shouldn't stay a single woman for much longer. He hoped so, at least.

He looked at her with a fair amount of surprise, his attention taken completely from anything or anyone else at the party. "Won't your grandmother mind?" He practically leapt at the prospect of them being alone again, but he also didn't want Mary to get into trouble with her family.

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