event 001

[equi_nox]

[ Those at the top of Lux Spire may notice things creeping in the shade of plants. These shadows are tiny, reaching the size of rats and no bigger, but take all shapes and formations. Small they may be, but fearless and curious: some of them might snicker and whisper amongst themselves as you pass, while others skitter away underfoot. They seem unwilling to go near the fountain.

Elsewhere, the shadows may reach the size of a cat, and are a little more aggressive. The darkness doesn't seem to be taking kindly to this new cure introduced to the city, and while not ready to launch a full scale attack, they seem to be causing a nuisance to the local citizens in retaliation. As annoyed as they are, these people don't seem too happy to see newcomers - though no one will explain why. ]

Comments

[exuviiated]

[Aaron is, indeed, a college student, proven with the speed in which he found an open coffee shop.]
[It's true, he'd much rather get ice cream than investigate the small shadows everywhere.]

[batdweeb]

[Bruce is mostly just attempting to get his bearings in Freesia City, although the small shadows are certainly on his agenda.]

[So far the place reminds him of Metropolis- he'd been there on a few, business-related occasions before- although Freesia feels a lot smaller and somehow, emptier.]

[As he's passing by the coffee shop he spots Aaron out of the corner of his eye and he feels a jolt of unexpected familiarity, though when Bruce actually turns to look at Aaron, Bruce can't place him anywhere in his memory.]

[Doesn't stop Bruce from asking:]

Hey, do I know you?

[exuviiated]

[Aaron is, by now, used to the city (you've seen once, you've seen them all, and this one was no exception), and a stop by a sketchy-looking store had been enough to merit him a map. Just a bulletpoint on his quest to find an open coffee shop, but an important one nonetheless.]
[He's so absorbed in his caffeine that he doesn't notice that none other than Bruce Wayne is suddenly by his little patio table, and talking. To him.]
[But Bruce wasn't a celebrity anymore. They were on the same page.]
Maybe. You may have shaken my hand, once.

[batdweeb]

[Once they're face to face, Bruce takes a moment to assess Aaron's appearance, though he still doesn't recognize him from anywhere in particular.]

[Bruce smiles.]

So, you recognize me.

[Which, unless this world has some variation of Bruce Wayne running around...]

I'm going to take a guess and say you're not from around here.

[exuviiated]

No, I'm not. I was one of the people who was zapped into this place.
[He's glad that he isn't recognized. He doesn't think he'd be able to handle it if he was. Just Riddler was bad enough.]
[He pushes that aside to grin.]
This is really weird, isn't it?

[batdweeb]

[But of course- after all, why would Gotham's wealthiest CEO recognize a random college student?]

[Bruce shakes his head- he's still smiling amiably, but there's a definite rueful edge to it.]

This whole week's been weird. I'm not sure if this has everything else beat or not.

[He gestures at the chair across from Aaron's.]

Mind if I join you?

[exuviiated]

[He looks over at the chair, almost as if he hadn't even noticed it was there.]
[Yep, he's been totally out of it in almost every single way lately.]
Yeah, no problem. Their caramel macchiato's really good.
[A pointed sip. Sweet, sweet caffeine, the only constant in his life.]

[batdweeb]

[And lo, there is now a six foot tall gentleman sitting across from Aaron.]

Thanks, but I'll have to pass this time. I left my wallet back home.

[If Aaron's not entirely out of it, he might note Bruce looks a little plainly dressed, for a billionaire. And his hair's a little mussed.]

So, you know my name. What's yours?

[unriddling]

[Riddler woke up on a path near the edge of the park.]

[After a few trying conversations through the eyeglass as his introduction to Freesia, his already-low mood with the whole abduction thing is even worse.]

[He stalks his way out of the park with both of his sickle-like Sharp Questions in hand, though the residents of the city only make sure to keep a wide berth instead of screaming and calling the cops.]

[The college is around where he finds himself, and he shoots it a filthy look just for being there.]

[mechanacet]

[At this point in time, Daniel is currently climbing Lux Spire. It's a bit of a job, but he wants to get his bearings and where better to do so than the highest building in the city.

As he climbs the seemingly endless stairs (he's actually quite near the top but likes to exaggerate) Daniel's keeping an eye on the tiny creatures below]

Round and round we go, when will we get to the top? Nobody knows! [sung under his breath as he climbs]

Based on how quickly you have been climbing and the estimated height of the tower itself... approximately 5 minutes.

[Daniel pins the small robot atop his shoulder with a glare]... Spoilsport.

[hawkfire]

[So there she is, at the top of the tower. Anyone approaching would see Bette dressed in a black uniform with a bronze bird emblazoned across her chest. Her hawk-shaped half-helmet was tucked into one of the pouches on her Hawkfire uniform.]

So much for keeping any semblance of an actual secret identity,. [She'd popped up here in her uniform, and she wasn't been about to try and test the credit theory she'd been discussing with Daniel Uscarte by trying to buy a new wardrobe.]

[She stands with her arms crossed, bronze gauntlets catching and reflecting back the sunlight, her ponytail gently flapping in the breeze. She isn't necessarily scared of her own shadow, but she does peek down at it every once in awhile, just to make sure it isn't misbehaving or something.

It isn't.

As far as she knows.

She looks back down at the device she's had with her since she's arrived - the communication device.] If this isn't giving us abilities, what is?

[whitescientist]

[ It's a surprisingly short while before Eridan arrives, and when he clears the last set of stairs, he stands there with his hands on his knees catching his breath for a moment or two (did he run?) before straightening up and glancing around.

Ah. There she is. He strolls over haughtily like the stairs were her fault somehow. ]

you
vvideo girl
you seem like you got a plan right

[ He draws to a halt next to her, trying to look like he's not way shorter than her and failing by a long shot. Ah, the problems with being a kid and growing up. ]

at least you sounded like you wwere rallyin people or somethin
i told kar to come along too but i dunno wwhen hell showw up if he evven does

[hawkfire]

[It's funny how people seem taller when you see them on a screen, isn't it? Still, the expression on Bette's face is one of warmth and friendliness, and if she's at all surprised by the entirety of Eridan, it doesn't show on her face. Then again, maybe she's a little overloaded. This has, so far, been a weird, weird day.]

Bette. I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself before. I'm Bette. [She does hold out her gloved and gauntleted hand, if he's so inclined to shake it.] It's nice to actually meet you face to face! And yeah. I'm...I told you and a couple of other people I would be up here? Though who knows if everyone will actually show.

[whitescientist]

[ He inspects her hand dubiously before shaking it. He's got one of those slightly-violent compensation handshakes. ]

you already knoww wwho i am
so wwhat are wwe gonna do once evveryone gets here
im gonna be straight wwith you i aint got a clue wwhere to start this aint the type a game im used to

[ He looks interested in, but not very surprised by her choice in clothing. This is a potentially dangerous situation and anyway they're on top of a building looking cool, why wouldn't she wear weird-looking armour? ...He's assuming that's what it is. ]

[hawkfire]

Trade information? Try and figure out what each of us know, see if anyone's made contact with Tacky Glasses.

I'm not sure. Mostly, I just want to leap in and start fighting the shadow monsters, but I think we need more information before we do that.

[She looks down at her Hawkfire uniform and looks back at him.]

They grabbed me in this. [She shrugs almost helplessly, but at the same time is glad that she's in this and not, like, a bandage dress. Flattering as one may be, she couldn't really fight in one.]

Honestly? I'm just confused as you are.

[whitescientist]

so far all i knoww is stompin on the fuckers doesnt do shit
one a them tried to bite my leg though so yknoww
i wwas justified in tryin just in case anyone asks wwhich im sure they wwill

[ they would be justified in asking, too. he has a tendency to attack things that don't need to be attacked. ]

so maybe the startin point is to try harder to kill one im just sayin not like i got any better calls to make here

[hawkfire]

Great. Shadow-rabies. That could be fun.

[Bette sighs softly. She feels maybe a little out of her element here. She'd already failed once as a solo crimefighter, and sometimes it felt like she wasn't even doing too well when she was teamed up with Kate or her uncle Jake. She'd always been the junior partner, though she'll deny that if you asked her. Leading, coming up with a plan. This was all very new to her.]

So, just plain old physical violence doesn't work. [She peers back behind Eridan, and at one of the shadows. There's a thoughtful expression on her face.] Moments like this, something like heat vision could come in handy. If they were susceptible to that sort of thing anyway.

[whitescientist]

im not INFECTED it didnt evven get through my pants
im just sayin theyre rotten little d-bags an i dont like em one bit

[ He stares blankly out at the city for a while, arms folded. He kind of wishes he still had his cape, because it would be doing such a cool billowing effect up here.

Then, like he's torn between thinking it's completely deranged to talk about heat vision right now and yet being just enough out of his depth to ask anyway: ]

you dont think

i mean
nah its stupid nevver mind

[batdweeb]

{ooc: Responding to Bette separately from the main thread since we've been having issues with people being unavailable and things slowing down as a result. If your character is up at the Lux Spire, they're free to respond to Bruce as well.}

[Bruce arrives late. If Bette's Bruce is anything like him, this probably isn't much of a surprise.]

[Despite taking the stairs, he doesn't seem particularly winded. He's dressed rather casually, in a white t-shirt and jeans, and has a polite smile fixed on his face.]

Hi. Sorry I took so long. I ran into someone else from Gotham on the way here, and we stopped to talk. He should be along in a moment.

[Bruce glances briefly behind him, than scans whoever else has gathered at the top of the spire.]

Did I miss anything?

[hawkfire]

[Nah. Bruce tends to be late for everything. So does Kate. It's a habit that Bette's unwisely started to pick up a little bit herself. If she's surprised by the fact that he doesn't seem too winded, she doesn't show it.]

Bruce! Kind of. Hi! You look...different. But like you. But different.

[There's a moment's hesitation where it looks like she might hug Bruce, but then plays it off with an awkward wave. Pay no mind to the fact that Bette's dressed in what is obviously a crimefighting uniform, sans the half-helmet. There's totally a plausible, non-superheroic reason behind it, Bruce. Really.]

We're just now figuring out the whole gift thing? But it's clearly not a Wendy the Werewolf Stalker thing were our gift is death, so that's a bonus.

[batdweeb]

[Bruce looks over Bette as much as he can without being too rude. Blonde, pretty, young, and wearing an outfit that gets a raised eyebrow- especially the gauntlets- and another question added to an already lengthy mental list.]

[She isn't familiar at all.]

Good to finally meet you in person, Bette.

[He notices that hesitation and until she plays it off Bruce tenses ever so slightly, although he doesn't drop the smile.]

Wendy the-? Never mind. That was quick work. Care to give me the specifics?

[hawkfire]

[If she's at all uncomfortable about the look he's given her, Bette doesn't show it. If anything, the look doesn't make her nearly as uncomfortable as the one she gets from her Bruce sometimes. Truth be told, it's a marked improvement.

Hawkfire uniform or no.]

This must be so weird for you, Bruce. I'm sorry. i mean, it's weird for me too? Especially since your jaw is a lot less square, but I'd recognize those eyes anywhere. But. I kind of know you and you kind of don't know me. Yet. Keyword, though. Yet.

[She indicates the motley crew assembled behind them.] Eridan, the one with the horns? He can do some forcefield thing? That's really all we know so far. Not sure how it happened. I mean, we haven't been struck by lightning while holding chemicals or anything, you know? Well, that we know of, anyway. Anything weird happen with you?

Besides, you know. This?

[batdweeb]

[At the mention of his eyes, Bruce finds himself examining Bette's more closely, wondering if he's going to see anything familiar there. The idea of having relatives is an... odd one and under the circumstances, he doesn't see much evidence for it.]

[Still, he tries to be diplomatic.]

I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to get to know one another while we're here.

[His eyes flick over the the group Bette gestures to. He recognizes Eridan from the welcome chat, but nobody else. However, the presence of another Alternian is interesting.]

I take it the forcefield isn't just something Alternians do? What exactly did he do, and have any of you been able to replicate it? [Bruce reaches up, cupping his chin in one hand. He's able to be honest when he says:]

Nothing besides "this." But I'm not sure what counts as strange anymore.

[hawkfire]

No, from the way he reacted, it was new to him. Like, he kind of freaked out. Didn't quite believe he had seen what he did, you know?

[She shakes her head.] Haven't tried to emulate it. Wouldn't even know how. [A small pause as she realizes she's gotten a step or two ahead of herself.] He was being attacked by a shadow rat thing, and so he went to defend himself. Me, I tried to shoot him with my flamethrowers - the shadowrat, not Eridan - but it didn't do anything.

[batdweeb]

[ His polite expression slips, making way for a concerned little frown. ]

If he can't control it, it's going to be a problem. Are you sure he didn't do anything special? Make some sort of gesture?

And Bette, why do you have flamethrowers?