[OPEN] BABES IN TOYLAND

[speakveryclearly]

Date & Time: December 20th, 2013
Location: New York City!!!
Characters: HOLIDAY SHOPPERS. Please note that with mod approval, any character is allowed to have joined the mob in front of the transporter, regardless of whether they responded to the network post advertising this event.
Summary: In a bid to conserve energy, over a dozen transports do all of their Christmas shopping at once. I hope you brought money!
Warnings: None for now!

All the transports are dropped into New York at 6:00, simultaneously but scattered. Coding the drop points for this mission was hell.

It turns out that the weather is actually fairly mild on this date; there is snow neither in the air nor in the ground. That isn't to say there's nothing of visual interest: All the lights of the city are on at this hour.



The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was lit back on December 4th.



Shop until you drop, Transports.

Comments

[controlledvariable]

[That's sweet, the way he looks when talking about his sister. She can't imagine how hard it must be for someone to be away from family like that; Steph has her mom, and they love each other, but it's only a recent development. And it's not the first time she's gone a year without her mom, she's sure it's harder for someone like Jaime.]

Oh god, we definitely need to sort that out. Gardner isn't a good role model for anyone.

[She's heard things.]

[khajidont]

He's a good guy!

[And a mentor. Of sorts. Between the preliminary attack and now, he's been a huge help. He's a bit foul in some ways, but good and kind.

It's true, however, that people seem to be on their best behaviour around him.]

But, uh, not really the role model sort. Especially not for a little girl.

[A beat.]

Or boy. Or... kids. In general.

[controlledvariable]

I can't say I've heard all that many positive reviews.

[Occasionally Dinah would tell her stories about her time with that particular version of the Justice League, and it hasn't left Steph with a good impression.]

[khajidont]

You wouldn't know it, talking to him, [is his wry response. He can see how Guy would grate on people, especially when he goes around talking about how he used to run the Justice League.] He puts his money where his mouth is, though.

[controlledvariable]

So he's actually as full of himself and sexist as it sounds like he is?

[That's probably not what Jaime meant, Steph.]

[khajidont]

No, I meant...

[A beat.]

Well. Yeah, he kind of is. What I meant was that if you need someone to kick alien butt, he's a good guy to have around. [He flashes a grin at her.] So is Superman, but beggars can't be choosers.

[controlledvariable]

[And she grins right back, offering a shrug.]

Who says I'm begging?

[She can beat up aliens on her own tyvm]

[khajidont]

I was. I was all the way up there -- [he points one finger skyward, or more accurately, spaceward] -- and my family was down here. You bet I'll take all the help I can get.

[Frankly, anyone who helps his family out is good in his book.]

[controlledvariable]

[That makes her sober up a bit, because she'll make fun of Guy Gardner till the cows come home, but if he helped out Jaime's family, that's important.]

Guess that makes sense. Seems like those rings are pretty useful when you need 'em.

[khajidont]

Seriously. You ever see one in action before? They're so cool.

[Okay, so maybe he can see where Milagro's coming from. Still, there's a very clear division between looking up to Guy and admiring the ring, even if the Scarab still shrieks at him when one is in proximity.]

They pack a pretty big punch, too.

[That much, he knows from experience.]

[controlledvariable]

Not up close. I did have a BLack Mercy dream about being one, though.

[Because that is definitely the same thing.]

And it worries me that you know that.

[Does she need to punch one on his behalf?]

[khajidont]

[He casts off her concern with a wave of his hand.] Nah, it's cool. Their rings always think I'm evil, and Scarab says the same thing about them, so we've had some, uh, misunderstandings. Only I usually ask questions first and punch later.

[Space cops! They're so trigger happy!

Fortunately, his mom has the unearthly ability to talk down anyone.]

What's a Black Mercy?

[controlledvariable]

Just make sure if you ever meet a girl one, not to end up with some Romeo and Juliet thing going on.

[Because she isn't actually sure what to say to that SO

Stupid jokes!!!]

It's an alien plant, puts you in a coma and gives you hallucinations that're so real and good you won't wanna leave. My dad weaponized it and used it against me just before I got here.

[Fun for the whole family.]

[khajidont]

Somehow, I don't think she was interested.

[Also, she was blue. He thinks that Paco is probably a lot more interested in hot alien chicks than he is, but Jaime will take his ladies in human colours, thank you very much.

(All right, M'gann's pretty cute, but she's an exception.)

The Black Mercy thing, however, is enough to make him look mildly horrified.] That's horrible! Why'd he do that?

[Or more accurately, why did he bother? Evil or not, if he wanted to put Steph in a coma, there are probably easier ways than going out of your way to find an alien plant to weaponize. Supervillains are so weird.]

[controlledvariable]

Probably for the best, like twelve people died in that play.

[It's been a long time since she's actually read Romeo and Juliet, but she's a little bit of a fan of the theatre, so she remembers a few details.

As for her dad:]

Supervillain. [jazz hands!] Apparently the whole deal was to teach me to be a better Batgirl, but I dunno if the Black Mercy was part of that or if it was just his plan B. He probably would've released it into the city if I hadn't caught him.

[what an asshole]

[khajidont]

That makes no sense.

[Oh, right. Supervillains.]

What a dick. You get outta that one okay?

[controlledvariable]

I know, right? I mean - if I wanted to fight plants, I'd go pick on Ivy.

[Also Ivy is cute and not related to her. That's a bonus.]

But yeah, I was fine. Dr. Midnite gave me a blood transfusion and I fought my way outta the dreams. Mom figured out I was doing the vigilante thing again, but she wasn't too mad, so I called it a win.

[khajidont]

Again? Did she just forget the first time or something?

[controlledvariable]

I kinda promised that I'd quit, and she believed me, so...

[So she didn't know Steph had taken up the Batgirl gig.]

[khajidont]

Oh, man. If I were you, I'd be a dead man.

[Dead, dead, and dead a hundred times over. He doesn't even want to think about what the reaction would be to him keeping such an immense secret from his family lol nu52.]

Just couldn't stay away, huh?

[controlledvariable]

If Batman telling me to go home didn't stop me, a promise to my mom wasn't gonna do it.

[Not that she didn't try, it was just... too hard to know her friends were out there risking their lives while she was at home watching sitcoms with her mom.]