Summary:Helena runs into another Spider-Girl and talks up the local scene. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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Things were looking up for Spider-Girl. She had a job, and someone who was going to help her get the document situation sorted. out. It hadn't happened quite /yet/, though, leaving her with not a lot to do to fill her time. Well, besides the old standby of swinging around looking for crimes to break up. Well, and also doing mid-air acrobatics. Seriously, this never gets old.
Blackbird has been making the spider-rounds lately. Costume for Silk, backpack for the exo-something Spider-Girl. In fact, she's in the process of dropping off the completed suit at a chosen rooftop in the city, using a magnet to hook a bag on the side of an air conditioning unit. She's generally fairly stealthy, at least so far as people on the street go. But the hooded, caped figure in black is pretty visible to someone who's at web-slinging level.
Spider-Girl reaches the top of her swing, looking around as she lets go and prepares to thwip out the next line. Everything looks normal except…. Huh. That's definitely not normal. Deciding she might as well introduce herself, Blackbird's warning of 'incoming' would be the soft noise of a webline latching onto the edge of the roof she's on, followed shortly after by the arachnid herself landing in a crouch on the ledge. "Heya. Come here often?"
That 'thwip' sound is distinctive enough that Blackbird is turning toward the sound when she hears it, though the figure that appears…isn't the spider she was expecting. Any of them, actually. "Once or twice," she answers, head tilting in curious amusement. A pair of bright gold eyes peer out from behind the shadows of the hood, and her voice sounds like it's been modulated somehow. "You?"
"Eh, there's some pretty good buildings to swing off of." Spider-Girl shrugs, her own spandex paling in comparison to whatever kind of high tech stuff Blackbird has going on. "Always good to meet people, though. I'm Spider-Girl. And yes, I already know there's one, but it's complicated, and we have a timeshare thing going on with the name."
"Yeah, no, you're looking at someone who went out without a name a few times because the usual one was extremely taken," Blackbird says ruefully, shaking her head. "I get it. Big time. Blackbird," she adds, raising a hand. "Nice to meet you." She gestures to the bag attached to the air conditioning unit. "I was just leaving a package for…It's Silk, right? The spider-lady who's not the other Spider-Girl, but isn't in the white?"
"I think so, yeah." Spider-Girl hops up from her perch, firmly shaking the other hero's hand. "Honestly, there're /way/ more spider heroes than I'm used to. Still kind of getting oriented on the local scene and stuff. I've only met the other Spider-Girl and Spider-Man himself, really."
"Bats and Spiders," Helena says ruefully. "Seems like if it's not one, it's the other. But so far, all the ones I've met have been doing the right thing, so." She shrugs, the corners of her eyes tightening with a smile behind the mask. "Trying to help out where I can. Organic webs?" she asks, glancing toward May's wrists. "Or the shooter tech?"
"Webshooters." May holds up one wrist, the device there looking considerably bulkier than what Pete's been sporting. "Kinda glad I don't have organic ones, though. I was talking to the other Spider-Girl and she says she has to eat like a linebacker to keep up with all the calories."
"Huh. Kills that theory," Blackbird muses. "I was starting to think it was a male/female thing." That flicker of a smile passes behind her mask again. "Yeah, she mentioned spending all her money on food and web-fluid." And being Batman-trained, Helena filled in the blanks. "Think I'll look into a high-cal supplement once I analyze what's actually in the webbing. No sense in loading her up on carbs if it's protein based, right?" At least it makes sense to her.
"…I think? I wouldn't know, I don't have them. …Not sure why she'd buy web fluid if she can make her own though…" Spider-Girl leans back a bit, pondering. "…Anyway, Any tips for the new girl in town? Stuff I might not know? I mean, You Bats have been at this a while from what I read."
"Way too much to cover," Blackbird laughs, taking a perch on the edge of the roof herself with remarkable ease for someone who can't cling to walls. "I mean, be careful if you want to keep your identity a secret. Find people to watch your back. But I'm sure the rest of the spiders have that going. Try to keep a decent relationship with the cops when you can, or at least be gone from the scene before they show up."
"Yeah. Pretty pissed off that apparently there are a bunch of dirty cops. I should've known that Osborn was a rat too." Spider-Girl grumbles, slouching a bit more. "Think I'll just leave the crooks webbed up and avoid them. Sounds like they might decide that a Spider-Girl works just as well for their get rich quick scheme."
Blackbird lifts a hand, wiggling it from side to side. "I mean, there are always going to be some dirty cops. But most of them are just trying to do what's best. Osborne…" She trails off, nose wrinkling. "Yeah. That guy's kind of a jerk. Not the best record."
"Yeah, but there's a difference between 'takes bribes' and 'actively trying to kidnap you to sell you to a lab." The arachnid sighs, leaning back against the HVAC unit. "At least JJJ pulled his head out of his ass a little. …how're things going on your guys' end on the framing front?"
"Not. Great." Blackbird crosses her arms over her chest, looking down to the street below. "And you know, the real…kicker…is that it's not even about the framing. It's about the mess it's making of everything else. With so many resources devoted to tracking down Batman for something he didn't do, it's getting to be a field day for the criminals out there."
"Well… I don't have a Spider-Comm yet, but I do have a cell number." Spider-Girl retrieves what is clearly just half an index card with a number written on it in Sharpie. "Give me a call if you need help with something, or if you guys get overwhelmed or something. I'm not the world's greatest detective, but I'm good at punching thugs."
"Hey, punching thugs is high on the list with the cops otherwise occupied," Blackbird says ruefully, taking the card and tucking it into one of the pockets on her belt. "Thanks, though. If you run into someone that looks like Batman, just keep an eye on things. If it's not him, whoever it is is still pretty dangerous."
"…I mean, On one hand, The fake batman probably couldn't dodge my webs. On the other hand, if I web the /real/ Batman, he'll find me while I sleep. So you've kind of got me in a dilemma here. …I call you and ask if it's the real Batman or not?" Spider-Girl tilts her head to one side, wobbling one hand.
"Yeah, that's why I said stick to watching," Blackbird laughs. "Either you mess with a dangerous criminal, or a dangerous not-criminal. Although the real Batman's superpower is making you feel like a complete idiot, so it mostly depends on your tolerance for humiliation versus…sharp objects, I guess." She does produce a card from one of those pockets, black stock with black embossed numbers on it. "Calling would be good though, yeah."
"…Fancy. If only I had your budget… I shrank my suit in the wash once and I had to wear it for like a week and ahalf while It was almost splitting at the seams." Spider-Girl winces at the memory, taking the card and tucking it into the… wherever in her suit that she keeps stuff. Probably better you don't ask.
"I can add a suit for you to the task list," Blackbird offers, a wry note in her voice. "I mean, if you want. I figure the people who are out here trying to make the world a better place are a pretty good cause. Although I'll be fair, hero fashion design wasn't exactly the career path I'd envisioned."
"This pattern's… kinda special to me. And I don't want to be a burden on you guys. And it'd probably come with a manual as thick as my arm." These… Are all good reasons that Spider-Girl should say no. On the other hand… High tech suit. …It's very tempting, and she's clearly kinda torn.
"Doesn't have to be complicated," Blackbird shrugs, pointing a thumb toward the bag on the air conditioning unit. "That one's for Silk. She doesn't actually need much in the way of protection or tech, so it's mostly just…light-weight and flexible, with room for her webs and something to help hide her identity. You've got superpowers," she points out, rueful. "You just need a brand and something to protect your family."
"…Yeah. My family." Spider-Girl slumps a bit more. She doesn't know if she can get home. Even Bruce Wayne with all his funding doesn't know. And Pete with his scientific talent doesn't either. "…Suddenly, I'm in the mood for ice cream."
"Mmm, I recommend the shop about…three blocks south, two blocks west," Blackbird offers. "They've got an amazing s'mores mix where the marshmallow is actually gooey and I don't know how they do it, but it's worth it. Maybe, you know. After you change out of the suit," she adds with a wink.
"What, you don't think they give a discount for cash and superheroes? I mean, the first day I was here, Spider-Man took me to White Castle. There's a really good special named after him there." A little bit of snark comes back into Spider-Girl's tone.
"I mean once a year or so some of the chains do a cape thing," Blackbird chuckles. "But otherwise, less so." She eyes the other girl, a little less clinically and a little more gently. "Hey. You can use that number if you just want to…I dunno, talk or something. Whatever you need, okay? I know this stuff can be hard."
"…I might. Some of us are on prepaid phone SIMs, though. Turns out that switching universes is too much even for roaming." Spider-Girl lets out a slightly dark chuckle of her own. "This is kinda nice, though."
"Talk to Spider-Man about some of the short-wave channels. We've got a few we use. And nobody charges for those." Blackbird straightens up, stepping up onto the ledge of the roof. "I should probably get back to patrol, though. Let me know if you run into anything you need a hand with. I'll be around."
"Okay. YOu have a good one. I should get back to swinging too. Clear my head." Spider-Girl stands up, turning to face the edge of the building again. "Nice meeting you!" And then she just swan dives off the edge, thwipping a webline out at the last second so her toes just barely clear the pavement.