A Random Patrol (Hawkgirl/Open)

[mm]

A few days ago Mary Marvel had been soaring the clouds high above Gotham enroute to the east side and residence of a winged Wonder before getting sidetracked enroute and having to deal with first a drunk driver, followed by a 180 that brought her to a museum trying to stop a robbery by the Red X, a new player on Gotham's rogues gallery that didn't go as smoothly as planned. Needless to say the visit she planned to make to Hawkgirl didn't come to fruition either. By the time that was finished she was ready to call it a night. The fact that she deemed the need to investigate the alarm from the museum more important than sticking around and answering questions from the authorities probably didn't win her any brownie points but they'd just have to live with it.

On this evening Mary Marvel was clad in the red version of her lightning bolt bearing outfit, deciding to see if her current partner and teammate were available or even home to go on patrol with. Don't get her wrong, she loved being independent but there was alot to be said for working in tandem. Hawkgirl was a great running buddy and Mary was glad that there was a need for her abilities in Gotham. Truth be told however, she was starting to feel homesick. She missed her family, she missed working with her brother and CM3. Being limited to Gotham City for now is what it is, she'd just have to suck it up and keep a stiff upper lip.

A smile crossed her red lips as she came into view of the skyscraper with the small spire. The smile grew when she entered the building and unraveled the cape that had gotten snagged around her neck thanks to the fierce winds that blew outside tonight. It was colder now than it was the first time she'd seen this place, on the day Hawkgirl gave her the grand tour of this town but cold never bothered her, It would take a temperature several degrees below zero to even faze her and the way she heard it only one person from Gotham was capable of that stunt.

Her eyes had an inquisitive look to them as she reached the loft and knocked on the door, her head shaking from side to side at the state of disrepair the community was in as she tapped her knuckles and waited to see if Shayera would answer, her mind racing to make backup plans in case she struck out.

[Deleted]

"Come in, Mary," Hawkgirl replies, not looking away from what she's doing. Unless criminals or other people she don't like have come up with new tactics since the last time she checked, the only one who comes to her place from the large double doors to the outside door are friends: many of her friends scale buildings on a regular basis. And based on the unfamiliarness of the footfalls, the weight of the person indicated by the loudness, and the fact that she didn't hear a grappling hook or something of that nature, the process of elimination tells her that it's probably Mary. To say that he has good hearing would be putting it mildly.

Her place never seems to be quite what anyone expects. Probably because nobody is quite sure what to expect of the place a Thanagarian chooses to live. The loft in this building is hollowed and has no inner walls; it wasn't meant to be lived in, instead it's designed to support the building's decorative spire so the only interruptions to the single large room are four massive steel pillars near the center. The room is divided into four sections: a kitchen in one corner that looks completely normal except that there is no table: she must eat at the bar coming off the island in the middle. In another section is the bedroom, featuring a king-sized mattress in the center of the room with no frame, no pillows, and a lot of blankets spread around almost at random, and the corner of that section is blocked off with some curtains - the bathroom, maybe? The third has a large TV with a padded bench rather than a couch.

But Hawkgirl is currently in the fourth corner, sitting on a stool in front of her computer. While it isn't nearly as impressive as, say, the batcomputer, it does have six monitors, and looks like it means business. The wires that seem to randomly connect parts of it to other parts of it indicate that she's heavily modified it herself. She's typing quickly on the keyboard, somehwhat absorbed in what she's doing.

[mm]

"Hello Hawkgirl." Mary smiled as she pushed the door open and walked inside. "Hope I didn't come at a bad time, you seem pretty occupied." She added, allowing herself to get distracted as she look around Shayera's spacious but hollow home after shutting the door behind her. It is true that the place didn't seem like one a normal person would have, normal being those that didn't do what Hawkgirl and she spent most of their time doing. For someone like Shayera however it seemed she was right at home, suited her to a T. Everything she needed was within only a few feet of each other and she admired her friend's computer system. Perhaps she should invest in something like that someday. The day being a cab driver allows her to sprout a money tree and little green monkeys come flying out her butt.

It didn't seem oversized but it apparently fit Hawkgirl's needs and so that's the main thing. "Sorry that it's been a few days since i tagged up with you been kinda busy between the other job I am trying to keep up with as well as an unexpected crime that needed stopping with a drunk driver followed by one with a thief. Just been doing basic sweeps of the city outside of that. Never a dull moment." She stretched and glanced around at the room then back to Hawkgirl's computers.

"You were spot on about how bad the police and FBI pressure toward the costumed vigilantes in Gotham are. It seems to be growing that tension is. I haven't heard who it was but word on the streets is the bureau actually nabbed one of the Vigilantes not long ago. Maybe a day or two, maybe longer." She frowned. "Anyway I was just wanting to know if you had the time to spare to go patrol together."

[Deleted]

Glancing away from her computer just long enough to flash Mary a smile, Hawkgirl says, "No, you're fine. I was just sending an update to the League and catching up on the news. Make yourself at home." Distracted as she is, she's happy to see Mary. But that doesn't become obvious until a few moments later when she finishes typing and steps away from her computer.

She smiles when she sees Mary looking around. Mostly, her place is airy; the loose layout and lack of walls keep it from being confined and the high ceiling means that she can stretch her wings without bumping anything - that was probably the major selling point to her, actually. "Oh, I bet!" she says to Mary being busy, completely understanding that. She's been keeping busy herself - never a dull moment indeed.

"Lady Blackhawk," Hawkgirl replies, "Or at least that's what I heard - gossip travels fast these days but is just as accurate as ever. Hope she's okay; never met her myself." She shakes her head and sighs. She's a hero and is supposed to save and protect people, but what can she do when it's the people's own government doing this? "I was also right about the criminals making statements. I assume you saw the Riddler's message? I can't make head or tails of it, but it means that something's up and you can bet that with the FBI in town it means big trouble ahead," she says, frowning. While Hawkgirl is highly intelligent, these mind games just aren't her thing. What she excels at are more straightforward challenges like really, really big robots. Which is why Gotham is a rather irritating place to be a hero. At least for her, anyway.

But the suggestion of a patrol easily catches Hawkgirl's interest. "I was actually planning on one more this evening myself - I'd love to have company," she says with a smile, as she walks over to where her mace is hanging on the wall near the bed.

[mm]

"You catch up with your news online? Not a fan of the cable news networks I take it? Not that I can blame you, sometimes it's hard to decipher who's telling the truth and who's just blowing smoke." She stated matter of factly, pursing her lips before sitting upon the bench in front of Shayera's television and doing a bit of channel surfing after turning it on. Granted she is really never home enough to get engrossed in television these days but when she is and needs to get the latest news outside of Gotham, this Marvel prefers the Fox New Channel as opposed to CNN. "Anything worth speaking of happening with the rest of the league?"

When she is home she is always quick to plug into her internet connection first thing. Easiest and cheapest way to keep in touch with her parents as well as seeing how Cap and Junior are faring. Cell phones and cable modems, what would she do without them?

"I've never met her either but I have heard of her. Some people say this is the same Lady Blackhawk that fought with the original Squadron back in the forties. The elders seem to agree but I just don't know how it's possible."

A swift turn of her head caused her to see Hawkgirl was now standing and so the Maiden of Might followed suit, turning her set back off and standing in preparation of Hawkgirl wanting to take to the clouds.

"Yes I did see that. Caught the display while I was in my cab. Right place, right time and I can't make anymore sense than you can. You are pretty intelligent and I consider myself the same way. I am sure Batman has had better luck, at least I hope so. "

She noted the irritation on Shayera's face despite her helmet being on, Mary could feel her pain. If hawkgirl was thinking what Mary thought she was thinking they were on the same page. "I can't wait to get out of this town. I never thought I could miss anything as much as I miss Fawcett City or even Metropolis.

Mary gave a smile to match Hawkgirl's, pleased that she had nothing else to do and chomping at the bit as she watched her grab her mace then started outside

[Deleted]

Just then a small buzzing vibration can be heard, constant, and powerful enough to merit attention. It’s coming from the small two-way communicator the Batman had left Hawkgirl as a means to help stay in touch over the FBI situation at hand. The buzzer in the device continues to go off, making the sound undeniably echo from where ever the communicator was stashed at…

[Deleted]

"I check it online because that way I can skip the stories I don't care about, like what celebrities are up to, and learn more about what actually matters to me: crime, politics, that sort of thing," she shrugs, "Also, it's often faster and more accurate if you know where to look." You wouldn't think that an alien who has been on this planet for as brief of a period as Hawkgirl would be so tech and internet savvy but she's not only good at that sort of thing, she's also a very quick learner. "And I'm not hearing anything unusual coming from the League - life outside of Gotham is moving on as it usually does," she replies. Then again, things that are big news to the media are all in a day's work to Hawkgirl's frame of reference.

"I take it that you've never time traveled? It happens, and that's my guess. But I don't recommend it," she replies with a shrug. When you've had as many odd experiences as Hawkgirl has, odd experiences aren't so... odd anymore. And unusual occurrences make a lot more sense.

And she nods quickly to Mary's mention of Batman. "I'm sure too - that man has a different way of thinking than I do," she comments. But just as she's reaching for her mace, the communicator on her belt goes off - that's the only place to put it where she can be completely sure not to miss a call. "Speak of the devil..." she adds as she picks it up and answers, "Hawkgirl here."

[mm]

"I could if I really had the need to, just never have had the need or desire for it. The Rock of Eternity makes a good launching pad for that among other things." Mary commented, pulling back just before slipping out to answer Hawkgirl's question. A smirk quickly stretched across her lips when she heard her last comment about the Dark Knight. "That man has a different way of thinking than most people do." She nodded as his voice boomed through Shayera's communicator.

"But that's what makes him so good at what he does!" She added quickly, trying to save face for fear that the Dark Knight might have overheard her. She really meant that as a compliment. While the two talked, Mary pulled her JLA communicator from her sash. Why she carried it still she didn't know since there was little to no way she could be of any use to them given her current status. Maybe the means Batman used to contact Hawkgirl was through a different device but would it kill him to contact her once in awhile also? They are on the same side here.

[Deleted]

-CLICK- [glow=navy,2,300]“Batman here. I would like to meet up to gain information about what you mentioned before involving the Question. Also, I’ve just learned that Lady Blackhawk was taken into the Feds’ custody… Any news on her behalf in regards to this circumstance? As a side note, I suspect all the government activity in Gotham is going to attract several heroes, masks, and other vigilantes—keep your guard over who is safe to trust and who may be a possible plant. Unless something else urgent has occurred, can you meet me atop Wayne Tower in an hour?” [/glow] -CLICK-

[Deleted]

Hawkgirl still carries her JLA communicator herself, though the world had better be at risk if they want her to leave Gotham right now. As far as she's concerned, it's better to have the communication channels open even if that means she has to say no to a request of assistance than risk missing something important. She smirks at Mary's worry about Batman overhearing but says nothing - she hadn't pushed the button yet, and it's not likely that Batman would easily take insult even if it was heard and meant. Batman cares less about what what heroes think of him than pretty much anyone else she knows.

His question easily brings her last meeting with the dark knight to mind, and Hawkgirl's lips purse slightly at the memory. But when she replies her voice is relaxed. "I heard about that, but only rumors about them cornering her in east Gotham - nothing else. And yes, I can meet you there - any objections to Mary Marvel coming with me?" she asks, and given that she's asking right on the heels of his warning indicates what she thinks of how much to trust Mary. What she has left to say to Batman is essentially a repeat of things that she's already told to Mary already anyway.

[Deleted]

((OOC: I'll step back now and keep an eye on this thread for when Hawkgirl and Mary Marvel arrive to Wayne Tower. That way if you two wanted to do something else--totally fits in.))

-CLICK- [glow=navy,2,300]“The more, the merrier. I trust your judgment on who arrives with you. I will see you and any other special guest appearances that decide to join the fun in an hour. Batman out.”[/glow] -CLICK-

[Deleted]

Hawkgirl smirks to herself as she clips the communicator back to her belt. "Have you ever met Batman, Mary?" she asks as she pulls her mace off it's hook on the wall and fastens it to her belt as well, before turning to join Mary by the exit. Given the size of the League, not every person as necessarily met every other person in it, and Mary is relatively new to it and Batman has never been that active (only around when you need him), so it's a valid question. Then again, if Mary has been living in Gotham and working Metropolis she probably has had a better chance than most. On the other hand a 'better chance than most' simply means 'any chance at all' when it comes to the dark knight.

[mm]

"No I can't say that I have." Mary answered thoughtfully, biting her lower lip ever so gently and twisting a lock of hair around her fingers while idle thoughts filled her head. His voice didn't sound as gruff over the device Hawkgirl held as Mary expected which was a relief in that it meant he wasn't always so tightly wound as stories she'd heard made him out to be. Gallantly stretching her arms out before he and hovering in air , exiting first and waiting for her teammate to follow, she turned back once more to give Shayera her attention before speaking again.

"This will be my first face to face with the legendary Dark Knight but I have heard plenty about him. Some good, some not so much but I'll wait until we've actually met before I pass official judgment,. What's he REALLY like? Or should I just wait and be surprised?" Her smile turned into a straight face, getting prepped for more important business for the hour they had to kill before the meeting although she was getting an indulge to indulge in her pet addiction along the way. "Do you think we'll get thrown out if we walk into Starbucks dressed like this?" She asked half jokingly.

[Deleted]

Only pausing long enough to shut the doors behind them, Hawkgirl easily jumps into the air as she comes alongside Mary. Used to the routine of patrolling, her eyes already start to study the cityscape below them as she answers, "Batman? He's... Tough. I don't think he pays any attention to the fact that he's supposedly an ordinary human. Detail-oriented. To a fault, almost, but it's rare for him to miss anything. Serious, too. I don't think that I've ever seen him relax. Ever. But even though I often disagree with how he does things, I've never had to question why he does them." Hmm, yes that's an adequate enough description of the man. Which is actually quite high praise coming from Hawkgirl.

Then again, she could so easily list off the man's faults too. His firm 'no kill' policy is completely unrealistic. Also definitely not a team player. And his insistence that Gotham belongs to him is completely childish. But Hawkgirl isn't about to explain those to Mary - the young hero can decide what she thinks of the man herself.

Her attention is quickly shifted from Batman though by the question about Starbucks. Hawkgirl smirks and says, "Thrown out? Definitely not - can you picture anyone managing to throw the two of us anywhere?" She has to laugh at that thought. "No, I bet if we went to a Starbucks, either we'd be mobbed for autographs or everyone would immediately flee the building, depending on which part of town it was," she says with a smirk. But then her humor fades just slightly before she adds, "Let's see, what can we get done in a hour? Quick sweep of the entire city, or a careful look at a section of it."

[mm]

Listening to Hawkgirl's comments about Batman and Starbucks, her general tone as she spoke causeed Mary to harken back to their last meeting, thinking about her comment that Hawkgirl swung a pretty heavy mace. The woman was definitely opinionated, very much so, and gave the appearance of someone that wasn't going to take crap from anyone and would refuse to take a step back even when common sense might recommend it. Her expression didn't change from the pleasant smile she wore but there was alot on her mind. Her question about being thrown out of Starbucks wasn't meant literally but the impression she got from Shayera was "Hell no, we won't go" even if they were asked to leave some place like Starbucks. Mary found that kind of attitude...refreshing. It intrigued her because she had never been that bold before. Just thinking about the mental picture was inspiring.

"Hmmm, let's just sweep the city. Maybe this hour will just fly by and we'll be heading toward our rendezvous with Batman before we know it. Do you have any idea what he wants to meet with us about?" She asked, starting to fly off at a slowed pace while looking around at the scenes below her. "Have you ever had someone you were trying to catch actually have the audacity to shamelessly flirt with you and practically throw himself at you?" She asked. "I was practically called a goddess a few days ago. It seems Gotham has a new thief in town."

(OOC: It wont bother me if you want to me ahead an hour. Do whatever you want, I have no ideas really.)