Forty Days [Open]

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"So she says that I got too much stuff and its gotta go, then I tell her-"

The clean up workers stopped shoveling bits of rubble into the bins nearby when one of them stopped, having just lifting a shovelful and revealing part of a young woman's face.

The moment the gravel and dirt was removed from over her nose she sucked in a long breath as if she hadn't had one in ages.  The men looked at each other in amazement and then went to their knees, using their hands to dig further to retrieve the young woman.

Within a minute she was mostly uncovered and her breathing had picked up.  One of the men went to tuch her shoulder.  Just as his hand made contact her eyes shot open.  Within an instant she was on her feet.  She was so injured and torn apart looking that she echoed zombie. 

Today had just happened to be a clear day, very few clouds in the sky.  Some of that Gotham snow was melting away, though it would turn to even harsher ice over night.  The girl wore something that looked like a hospital gown, but it was dirty and tattered to the point it was pointless to wear.   Under it her chest was wrapped with some thick bandages, concealing the entirety of her chest.  She wore tattered black shorts as well.  She was barefoot. 

As she stood there in the sun she looked at the men, shocked and confused.  They were startled by her appearance just as much as her sudden revival.  One of them attempted to speak but noticed that her wounds were beginning to look as if the were just fading away.

"What the-"

Stormy just began to take off.  The men tried to catch her and hold her back, but she was crazy strong and knocked him over like a bowling ball would knock over pins.

Nearby someone had already had a phone out, a tourist filming a video of he and his girlfriend, but then he noticed the goings on of the clean up crew and the girl.  He had focused the camera on the scene, but he was a distance away, thus faces were pretty hard to make out.

Within just a few hours the competing news programs of Gotham were showing the viral video on their programs.  The video's title on youtube  was "Evil Dead - Gotham City."

The construction workers involved got interviewed.

"Yeah, that place crumbled to pieces about forty days ago, we're just now gettin' to the end of cleaning it all up no thanks to all this snow and ice that's been hittin' the city."

__________________________________________________________________________

A few hours later she was on a rooftop somewhere cozied up under a light.

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Ah, Gotham. Such an odd, but pleasant change from her home city of Metropolis. It was certainly...darker here, that's for sure, but Leslie Willis, a.k.a., Livewire, liked it. It was different. Plus, she might be able to lighten up the place a bit. Gotham gave her an edge on becoming recognized, which is all she really wanted.

Leslie enjoyed being in the limelight. Having once been Metropolis' youngest ever radio shock-jock, she loved getting people's attention, whether it was good or bad. Superman, on the other hand, was always stealing her spotlight, and she was getting tired of it. She just couldn't seem to win against the man, so she decided that she'd had enough of him and Metropolis for the time-being. Leslie could easily show off her talents elsewhere, and Gotham City sounded like it would be fun. There's a lot of colorful people living here, after all, and it wasn't very far away. It'd only taken her about a minute, give or take, to get across the bay.

'Hmm, now what do I want to do first?' Leslie thought to herself as she travelled slowly along the powerlines in Gotham so she could take in the sights. 'I could announce myself to the whole city, but that would draw too much attention too soon. I think I'm gonna give this city a good once over before deciding what to get myself into. Who knows? Maybe I'll run into someone fun along the way. It does get boring playin' by myself all of the time...'

As she travelled through a powerline in Gotham's west side, she saw a woman that looked to be around her age curled up underneath a light upon a rooftop.

'Well, well. What do we have here? That chick looks a bit ragged and lonely. Think I'll give her some company.'

Turning around, because she had passed by, she went into the light above the woman. In an instant, she directed herself out of the light, spilling out of it as if it here an electrical faucet, and reformed herself on the floor of the roof right next to the dirty and ragged girl. Leslie remained in her living electricity form for only a second before she willed herself to turn into her solid, chalk-white skinned, spiky blue-haired figure.

"Hi there!" she said to the ragged-looking young woman once she was completely solid. "I saw you cozied up under this light here as I was passin' by, and couldn't help but notice that you look like you could use some help. Or some company at the very least. Name's Livewire."

Leslie grinned broadly, flashing her white teeth and holding out a hand in a friendly greeting.

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Stormy looked up to the woman and turned, backing away a bit to get a better look at her. Finally she stood.

"I have no name, anymore."

Stormy hadn't been called by her own name in so long that she had nearly forgotten it. Her dark hair was a mess as was the rest of her. She seemed to be particularly attracted to the light.

"Where did you come from?"

There was a storm beginning to brew off in the distance, in spite of the winter. Lighting hit the water off beyond the bay. She looked to it, somehow finding some sort of comfort in its groaning.

A Tempest comes in from the sea.

She remembered her name now.

"My name is the Tempest."

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No name anymore? What the hell was this chick on about? Leslie couldn't help but notice that the woman seemed particularly attracted to the light that she'd just come out of. Speaking of which, how did this chick not notice her entrance?

"Heh, are you blind or somethin'?!" she exclaimed sarcastically and rhetorically, answering the ragged-looking young woman's question. "I just came out of that light you appear to be attracted to! You can't tell me that the hairs on the back of your neck didn't stand up when I arrived..."

Off in the distance, a lightning bolt struck, and she could feel the faint charge in the air. Thunder-snow. She grinned, inhaling the light breeze, just as the woman seemingly remembered her own name.

"'The Tempest', huh? You sure? A moment ago you said you couldn't remember what your name was," Leslie commented a bit snidely. "Well, Tempest, what brings you to this lonely little rooftop? You look like you've been through hell, to be perfectly frank. Some douche-bag guy beatin' up on you or somethin'? I can help you take care of him, if there is..."

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Stormy let her view linger to the sea. It was such a terrible thing while it gave life to all others. She turned to Livewire again.

"I saw how you came about, but there is no logic in the physics of it. Then again, there is little logic in this world."

Stormy looked down at herself. The tattered hospital gown was all she had known for many years when it came to clothes.

"I woke up today in rubble. There were men digging through it who found me. I left quickly. The sun melted all the pain from my body with ease. All others who did this to me are dead."

Stormy watched her for a moment and observed her relationship with the electricity.

"Tempest is the only name that fits anymore. It is a name I have given myself. The names of past I cannot remember."

She walked toward the light again, cutting her hand on a piece of glass she picked up, She held her hand up to the light. The wound began to melt away and seal itself back up.

"You see now why light is my friend. Only light that puts off ultra violet rays."

Stormy looked at her now healed hand again and sighed.

"I was locked away for ten years while scientists prodded at me until I could do things like this. You are the first person I have spoken to in over a decade for more than just a sentence at a time."

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"Ya got that right!" Leslie said to Tempest's comment of there being little logic in the world.

She continued to listen as the woman told how she ended up here on the rooftop in her condition. Leslie actually found it to be quite interesting, especially once Tempest remarked that she cannot remember her past. Things got more interesting still when the woman cut her hand on a piece of broken glass, which caused Leslie to wince a little, and then held that hand up to the light. Livewire watched in amazement as the wound began to heal itself right before her very eyes.

"Whoa..." she breathed upon seeing this, as well as hearing the rest of Tempest's tale. "That sucks... I was just born with the abilities I have. I didn't always look like this, though. That's Superman's fault. He's the Blue Boy Scout who keeps ruining my spotlight over in Metropolis. S'why I came here. I need a change of pace."

Honestly, she felt kind of bad for this chick. She truly had it worse than Leslie did, and something inside of her wanted to help this woman. It wasn't very often that Livewire helped people, but this was different. Tempest has abilities, but got them through experimentation. That had to have been hell. Leslie knew what it was like to get poked and prodded at herself, after all. They'd done some experiments with her when she was in that special prison at Star Labs.

"So...ten years, huh? Well, I feel a bit flattered that I'm the first one you're speaking to. For more than one sentence at a time, that is, haha!" she quipped, before going on a bit more seriously, "You're probably yearning for a good long, hot shower, huh? I'm new in this city, so I'm not real sure where you can go to clean up, other than a hotel, which we could break into. That might be fun. Same with clothes. You have got to get out of those rags, girl! Whaddya say? Wanna have some fun with little ol' Livewire?"

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Stormy would have never dreamed of ever doing the things she just suggested. She was indeed looking ragged and she did need some place to sleep and get cleaned up and clothes.

"Let's go then."

She also had been stuck in one place for so long over the years that the idea of doing things, just going to places and doing something outside of sitting around put something in her heart.

That something was excitement. She'd not been afforded anything good for a long time, this just sounded good, even it were to come from bad means, she did not care. Why should she keep sitting in the dark when she could be lively in the sun.

She was ready and willing on her feet.

"Lead the way, I can keep up."

And adventure awaited.

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"All right!" Leslie cheered at Tempest's response, punching a fist into the air. "First thing's first. Let's get you some new clothes and some cash. Gotham's fashion scene, here we come!"

She actually couldn't believe that the woman said "yes" to her offer. Then again, she still didn't know her all that well. The only information she had on her was what she'd just been told moments ago. Given that, she supposed that she shouldn't be too surprised. If Leslie had been in Tempest's position, then she would definitely be jumping at the opportunity to be bad just to get some clothes on her back, a shower, and something to eat.

Using the electrons that were in the air, Leslie created an electromagnetic field around herself, which she used to hover a few inches above the floor of the rooftop. She then started to move forward, gaining speed as she moved through the electrically charged environment. Every so often, large, dangerous sparks would appear out of transformers and other electrical devices as she sped towards some clothing stores that she'd seen on her way through the city. These electrical bursts connected with Leslie before she simply absorbed them. Any citizen on Gotham's West Side streets either stared in awe, quickly trying to take pictures and videos of Leslie, or ran away in fear as she flew by them at fairly fast pace. Not so fast that she was a blur, though. She couldn't speak for Tempest, but Leslie didn't mind attracting the extra attention.

The clothing shops were about four blocks away from where they started, so it didn't take long before she was transforming into living electricity in order to short-circuit the security system and the locks on the doors in one of them. Once Leslie did this, she reappeared out of a street-light next to the shop before reverting back to her solid form.

"Hope you like trends, because this store's full of them! C'mon! Let's play dress up!" she said to Tempest enthusiastically, opening the door to the clothing shop and leading the way inside.

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Stormy took a moment to figure out how this would work. She backed up some and just ran, leaping to the next roof top, then the next and the next, keeping the Electric Lady in her sights. At one point she got a little too close and took a bite of electricity, though it didn't seem to have any real affect on her. The girl could withstand electrical attacks and connection, she would soon find out.

As they moved Stormy kept up pace, busting brick and a few other things in her path, but the destruction was minimal. On a particularly far jump she undershot it and caught the ledge, her chest smacking hard into it. She grunted and went ahead and slid down the side of the building where Livewire stopped. Her fingers dug into the brick as she slid down, giving her the ability to slow her descent.

Once they were inside the store Stormy looked around, a little overwhelmed by how much clothing and fashion had changed since she was a mere fifteen year old. She began picking through pants and shirts trying to find something appropriate. She took a moment but picked a few things out, finding a changing room to use. A moment later she re emerged in black pants and a black hoodie.

"I think I like this. I need more of this."

Stormy had a little hope that her new friend might help her pick a few other things out.

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Leslie let out a low, impressed whistle as she witnessed Tempest jump over to try and reach the rooftop of the clothing store, but missed and slammed her chest into edge of it instead. She then dug her bare fingers into the brick building, which slowed her decent, as she slid down the side of it. Leslie thought that this was pretty cool, to say the least, and began to wonder if the woman had any weaknesses. She'd noticed that at least once, Tempest had accidentally gotten struck by a stray bolt of electricity, but it didn't seem to phase her in the slightest.

Inside the store, she watched the woman go for simple black clothing. She grinned at the woman's comment. Since Leslie was drawn to dark colors, too, she started to sift through things that she, herself, would like to wear and that Tempest might like as well.

"I'm glad you're having fun! Though, I think you can pull off something better than a simple hoodie. Some color might do you good, too," Leslie said to Tempest as she proceeded to pull off various shirts and pants from different racks in the store. "Maybe some stormy-looking colors like dark blues, purples, and grays to go with your name?"

Some of the items she'd picked out for her looked like these:
  
  
  

The leggings/pants, and the jumper only came in black, but the shirts Leslie picked out came in an array of different colors. Of course, these were only ideas that she was throwing out at Tempest, since she didn't know her actual taste in clothing, but she hoped that she was doing a good job nonetheless. Leslie would wear a lot of the clothes in this store, and was even thinking of stealing an outfit for herself. Not that it would really matter. The moment she goes into her living electricity form, the normal clothes would just melt away. It's not like she could blend in like Tempest can, either. She looks like a normal young woman. Leslie, on the other hand, has chalk-white skin, white eyes, and electric-blue hair, which is a bitch to cover up. Like she would want to cover up anyway. Her appearance is what helps draw the attention that she so loves getting, after all.

After going ahead and putting the clothes into one of the changing rooms for Tempest, Leslie said to her, "Hope ya like the items I picked out. Not sure what your style is besides basic black pants and a hoodie, heh. Think I'm gonna try some things on, too!"

She then grabbed a pair of black leggings with holes in the sides, and a black lace and leopard print, off the shoulder shirt before heading to one of the other changing rooms.

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Stormy looked to herself. She thought her picks were quite good enough, but then again, she could use something a little more interesting, like Livewire suggested. She watched the other woman as she went through and picked a few things here and there. Stormy, in the meantime, lookied through a few other things in the other corner of the store, finding a back pack. That would be useful.

When she handed Stormy what she peicked Stormy looked it all over.

"I think your right, maybe some colors, particularly the ones you suggest, will be interesting."

Without another word she went to go try on the other clothes. Eventually she came out in the dark plaid pants and the long sleeved top with the shoulders cut out, though she put her arms in the holes and it took her a moment to understand how the garment was supposed to be worn.

"Well?"

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"Oh, very nice! You look great! Now you just need a pair of shoes. You look like a boot gal. There's a bunch of nice ones over there," Leslie complimented Tempest once she came out of the dressing room.

She gestured towards the shoe section of the store and led the way over to the pairs of boots she'd mentioned. Leslie herself had come out of another dressing room moments before wearing the black lace, off the shoulder shirt with the leopard print tank underneath, and a pair of black jeans with holes going up the sides. She'd de-ionized her tight suit so that the stylish clothes continued to look stylish while she wore them. She then simply re-ionized her tight black, thigh-high boots into a short, ankle-high pair. After taking a few sets of silver hoop earrings and putting them into her all ready pierced ears, a fancy sliver necklace, and a some silver bangle bracelets, Leslie thought that she looked rather hot.

'And ready to go clubbin',' she thought with a smirk. 'Maybe...'

"Hey, Temp? You hungry or thirsty? Feel like goin' clubbin'?" she asked Tempest, taking a seat on one of the benches in the shoe area. "Once we get you cleaned up, of course."

She rested her hands on either side of her, leaned back a bit, and crossed her legs as she waited to see not only what kind of footwear Tempest ultimately went for, but what she'd say about going clubbing after she gets washed up. Leslie had seen a pretty cool-looking place called "Rowdy's" that wasn't too far from where they're at, and she wouldn't mind checking it out. It'd be fun.

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"Wait."

Stormy walked over to a rack. One it was a leather jacket she saw and liked. She pulled it off the hanger and looked at it as though it was something she had always wanted, but perhaps there was a smidge of familiarity.

"My father used to have one like this. I... just a moment."

Stormy headed to the change room first, grabbing those black pants again and a white shirt on her way. Moments later she re-emerged in a new outfit.  She returned to where all the foot wear was and went ahead, picking a pair of black boots that went well with the jacket.

"I guess I could eat, but I do need a shower or something first.  I feel kind of bad just... taking stuff that isn't mine."

Stormy knew it was wrong to steal, but she didn't exactly have any money.  She'd started the day waking up in a pile of rubble.  She began putting some of the clothes they'd picked out into the back pack she'd found in the store along with a set of sneakers.

"What is 'clubbing' and how do you do it?"

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Leslie sighed, almost impatiently, as she waited for Tempest to change her outfit once more. Who cares if her father had a snazzy leather jacket like the one she spotted? Then again, Leslie hadn't gotten along with her own father too well. She was more of a momma's girl. When Tempest emerged from the dressing room a few minutes later, Leslie couldn't help but grin in approval, despite having to wait.

"You've got my kind of taste!" she said honestly.

Once Tempest stuffed what she wanted to into a backpack that she seemed to have acquired, she asked what clubbing was. At first, Leslie practically reeled at this question. Then, she remembered that the woman had been pretty much secluded from the rest of the world for ten years. According to her story, anyway.

"It's dancing, drinking, eating, meeting new people... Having fun. That's what clubbin' is! You just pick a place that has all of that, and have at it," Leslie answered her after a short moment. "And if I were you, I would look at what you're doing right now like this: You woke up under some rubble in a barely-there hospital gown and bandages around your chest. You've been the subject of an experiment for ten years. You deserve to steal a little in order to take care of yourself. Hell, if it makes you feel any better, I'll hack an ATM and get some money to leave behind. We're gonna need some cash to get you some food anyway. In fact, gimme a few minutes. Wait here."

She'd seen an ATM across the street from the store they were in, so she simply ran out of the clothing shop, across the street, and to the machine. When she got there, some young punk guy was all ready trying to break into it. She rolled her eyes.

"Out of my way, little boy, or you're gonna get fried!" she yelled, which scared him and caused him to jump nearly a foot off the ground.

The kid turned and stared at her like a deer caught in headlights. Not wanting to melt or burn off her snazzy new clothes after just getting them, Leslie generated some electricity in her right hand and grinned devilishly at the boy. His mouth dropped open in a silent scream before he scrambled away. With a light chuckle, she turned back towards the ATM and hurled the electricity she'd generated at it. The machine short-circuited and began spitting out bills of varying values. Leslie gathered up as many twenties, fifties, and one-hundred dollar bills that the pockets in the jeans she was wearing would hold. She then darted back across the street and into the clothing store where she'd told Tempest to wait.

"There!" she exclaimed, picking out a few one-hundred dollar bills and leaving them on the counter near the cash register. "Now let's get you washed up, Temp! The clothes are great, but you still look like hell. There's a motel only a couple of blocks away that's not too far from the club I'd like to visit. Shouldn't have a problem getting a room so you can take a shower. I'll steer clear while you do so. Me and water don't mix too well, heh. Besides, I don't swing that way, haha! Come on! Let's get out of here. I'll walk this time. Don't wanna ruin my brand new duds."

As she walked out of the clothing store, Leslie noticed the kid that she'd scared away, along with a few other people, picking up the stray cash that she couldn't fit into her pockets. She smirked before continuing to lead the way towards the motel she had mentioned.

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"Drinks? Like alcohol? I haven't had that in a long time... and never much of it. This might just turn out to be very interesting. And you're right, I don't have anything right now. You're really nice, I'm glad you found me. I think I would still be sitting on top of that building if you hadn't shown up and given me a little direction."

Stormy was starting to feel a little excited. When she was a kid her dad let her have a little watered down wine here and there, citing it was good for the heart and perfectly acceptable, as his mother had done the same after he turned twelve. Some families kept to tradition like that. She watched as Livewire disappeared across the street and reappeared with the money. Her father had always spoken about how stupid banks and bankers were when she was young, so she didn't feel so bad about the atm getting raided.

She nodded to her plans to find a motel. A shower sounded amazing. Without any hesitation Stormy threw the backpack over her shoulders and took off, following the fearless leader with an easy stride in her step.