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Post by Nomz on Sept 2, 2024 18:56:41 GMT
The rooftop garden at the Met, Felicia has to admit, looks just as lovely at 3am as it does at 3pm. Small and secluded and utterly deserted. Just the way the little cat likes it. She drops down from the ledge above the elevator, closing the tablet she had used to hack into the security system.
Her timer is running as she presses the call button for the elevator, idly tapping her fingers to the beat of the song in her head.
"Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen," Felicia sings softly under her breath, entirely confident in her own skills and safety in this moment. "Pour myself a cup of ambition."
The doors to the elevators ding softly before opening in a wordless welcome. Her heels click as she steps in, turning to face the garden for a moment before the doors close.
It is a short journey down to the ground floor of the Met is predictably uneventful. After all, this is far from her first rodeo and very far from her first time stealing from a place full of so very many classics.
"Workin' 9 to 5," she whispers as she steps out into the empty hall, glancing both ways to make sure the guards are sticking to their routes and not in her area. Felicia sneaks around a corner and down a short hall into a very plain display. To the untrained eye, it merely looks like any other collection of trinkets in an old lady's livingroom.
Fabergé eggs are priceless, not worthless.
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 3, 2024 20:05:51 GMT
"You mean 5am, I guess, huh?"
Behind Felicia, a figure descended from the ceiling. Upside down, watching the black cat from behind an all too familiar mask, though with a few key differences from the Spider-man Black Cat would have been used to. For a start, the colour scheme was white, pink and black. A hood hung over the mask as well, now at the whims of gravity.
Ghost-Spider dropped to the floor after a moment, graceful and effortless. Another difference, this Spider was obviously not a man, and moved with the poise of a ballet dancer, light on her feet. She cocked her head at Felicia.
"And, honestly, this isn't the best way to make a living. Tried real work at all? Like me, working overtime on the late shift... because they knew someone would be trying to break in. So... gonna come quietly?"
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Post by Nomz on Sept 3, 2024 23:43:24 GMT
Felicia's body tenses as if a bucket of ice water had been tossed over her. She turns to face the lovely little spider hanging from the ceiling, taking in the, honestly, perfect color choices. Not as good as her new, all-black suit. Still pretty good.
"Early Spider gets the fly, or something like that," Cat replies with a smile curling her lips as Ghost-Spider drops to the floor.
"You know, I had a full-time job once and I was even a college student to boot. I am very accustomed to burning the midnight oil, gorgeous." Felicia keeps her eyes on her newest companion as she starts to pace around Ghost-Spider, taking in the details of her outfit. "Breaking in? The elevator doors opened so easily. I assumed the MET was still open, though I supposed that would explain the poor lighting."
She almost sounds genuine despite the damning circumstances she's been found in. "You know, if I'm breaking in, you're also technically breaking in. I doubt you came in through the front door with permission, Ms. Criminal. Trespassing is a crime."
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 6, 2024 11:39:12 GMT
Gwen couldn't help but smirk at the woman's absolute gall. She had met plenty of criminals and thieves in her time as Ghost-spider, but never one that had tried to convince her that she was the one in the wrong.
"Wow. Does the uno reverse card trick work often? I mean, it would be a fair play, if I hadn't followed you in here. Nice device by the way! Does it come in pink?"
Gwen followed Black Cat as she circled her, wary but slightly charmed. It wasn't often she faced a villain who didn't try to immediately punch, eat or throw her out of the multiverse, but often those few were the more dangerous.
"How about we both head to the station, and see who gets locked up first? It's a nice night for a trip across town, and I'm always looking to get to know new enemies."
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Post by Nomz on Sept 6, 2024 15:29:58 GMT
"It works more than you think. Have you met the other vigilantes in this city? I used to have an uno card, but the last guy didn't like it and ripped it up." Felicia lifts one shoulder in a shrug in a very 'what can you do' fashion. She keeps up the circling, intending to put Ghost-Spider between her and the Fabergé eggs display. "Now, now, bella. A lady never reveals her secrets for free. If you tell me how your webs work, I'll tell you about my pretty little gadgets."
At the mention of going to the station, Felicia holds up her hands in mock surrender. "That's hardly fair. I'm just a little cat and you're a powerful, intelligent spider. Even I would question their competency if they tried to arrest you."
Felicia has to admit that this particular spider is on the rise for the spot of her favorite. She smiles just a little bit, watching Ghost-Spider for a moment. "How about this? Technically, I've only trespassed. We can both leave the way I came in, go up to the rooftop, and you can lecture me on being a better citizen and how I could even work to prevent crime if I wanted." She sounds like she's gone through this experience a few times before, but she sounds no less sincere.
"I'll promise to consider it, let you know that you're pretty cool for a hero, and then we'll part ways. Sound good?"
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 7, 2024 17:28:27 GMT
Gwen found herself charmed by Felicia, and that was dangerous. A charming villain was worse than one who wore their black heart on their sleeve, because you didn't know what they were going to do next. As Felicia reached a point where they both stood with the eggs off to one side, Gwen sudden shot a string of web across her side. It hit the wall, creating a barrier to stop the cat from moving.
"Pretty neat, right? It's a spider secret, though. Not something a little cat would be allowed to know."
Gwen considered the proposal. Darn, this villain was good. Technically caught in the act, and Gwen would be a monkey's uncle if she didn't think Felicia would do the same again, but... well, it wasn't like her spidey sense was going off. There was no malicious intent yet. She put her free hand on her hip, moving the web rope up and down between Felicia and the exit.
"Hmm... a tempting offer. That would mean no paperwork for me, and you already have a good suit for hero work. Maybe I could hit up my contacts in the Justice League? I hear they hire anyone these days."
She smirked, a twitch in her mask. This villain had some good banter. Too many these days went dark and broody. It was nice to meet someone who wanted to chat before they fought her.
"Or, I guess I could just tie you up and take you in regardless? What's to stop you from just coming back here and finishing the job, beside your word? As much as I'd love you believe you, I've heard a lot about bad luck coming to you if a black cat crosses your path."
Did spiders get any cool or ominous sayings? Gwen cocked her head as she thought. Something about eight legs? No, that was cats again with nine lives. Darn it! She should have fashioned herself as a cat before she went for a spider!
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Post by Nomz on Sept 7, 2024 23:35:05 GMT
Felicia does not react to the barrier of web beyond simply halting her circling. She knows she could go over or under it, however, she also guesses that the little spider could cover the distance between them in a second. This cat has had a front seat to some of the things Spidey could do and she isn't willing to test just how similar the spiders of New York are.
"Me? In the Justice League," Felicia asks with amusement lining each word and she even grins. "Could you imagine me hanging out with Superman and Green Lantern? Actually, I think Supes would be able to convince me to stop committing crime. Lantern would just be a good lay."
"No need to put me in chains, love. We both know you can outrun and outbrawl me if it came down to it." There is such a bright ring of truth to those words and they are probably the most honest thing she's said to Ghost-Spider thus far. "Besides, why would I come back here if I know you're on alert? That's just bad business. If anything, you've guaranteed the safety of this place from me. I don't like to increase my odds of getting arrested. Can't steal from behind bars."
"I don't cause bad luck, miss ma'am. My luck has already been pretty good if I do say so myself. At most, maybe it's raining outside and it will wash the spider away? Or, we can sit and just talk outside. Trust me, if you sat down beside me, you won't scare me away."
She seems endlessly entertained by the sheer amount of references to children's rhymes she has been able to fit into this discussion.
"You seem like you wouldn't run away from me, unlike the Itsy-Bitsy Spider I met the other night."
Hands still held in front of her in mock surrender, she figures it is worth a short and she slowly bends to duck under the string of web.
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 8, 2024 8:32:36 GMT
Gwen made a face beneath her mask. The charm was gone. Now Felicia was talking about things that made her squirm. Blech. She suddenly wanted to be a thousand miles away from this conversation.
"That's so gross. Why do adults only talk about that kind of thing? Isn't Superman, like, 50? Ick."
Gwen didn't bother with feeling flattered. She was a Spider, and that meant she could beat up a lot more people than average. A woman in a cat-costume stealing eggs from a museum probably wasn't high on the list of villains to worry about.
Gwen moved to the other side of the hallway, now standing in front of Felicia, leaning with one shoulder against the wall. She cocked an eyebrow. Children's rhymes in the same breath as gross sex talk? Gwen wasn't having it.
"Sorry, Mrs Cat, but I'm afraid any kind of stealing is bad in my books. I'm not gonna let you just slip away into the night if you're just gonna, like, go and steal straight away. That'd be bad for my Spider image, you know? So..."
Gwen cocked her head to one side, straightening up before Felicia. Between the woman and the exit.
"Just gotta blame your curiosity for what was in here. After all, it never ends well for the cat, right?"
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Post by Nomz on Sept 10, 2024 14:42:39 GMT
Gwen's comments have scattered the rather chatty Ms. Cat as her brain tries to process what was just said. She hardly even moves as Ghost-Spider comes to stand in her way, shoulder leaning against the wall for a moment. When the Spider straightens up, the dial-up sounds in Felicia's head finally stop.
"Whoa, hold on," she says, hands still up and palms out. She brings them together in a 'time out' motion. "Wait, pause. I'm sorry. You thought I wanted to- With Supes? Of all people? I was referring to his very charming and inspirational nature. If the big guy came down to you and asked you to work with him, I doubt even you could say 'no.'"
The Cat takes a half-step to the left, never quite giving up on escaping. "And, I'm sorry, did you say 'adults'? So, you're not one then. No adult refers to other adults like that. How old are you, hun?" Felicia tips her head a little as she waits for an answer before tacking on, "At least tell me you're in high school. You do go to school, right? I'm pretty sure it's against the law not to."
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 11, 2024 19:07:09 GMT
"I- I totally am one! I'm an adult!"
Gwen pushed herself off the wall, suddenly visibly flustered. She shook her head from side to side with feeling. Her age had never been called into question before. Not that it mattered, but it felt like it did. Like suddenly she was being scolded by a teacher.
"I'm not the one on trial here, anyway! I'm old enough to know when someone is breaking the law. I'll old enough to do loads of stuff!"
Gwen composed herself, or at least attempted to, standing between Felicia and the exit with her arms crossed in righteous indignation.
"Besides, age isn't in question here. The question is if you're coming quietly, or if I'm gonna have to web you up and drag you to the police myself!"
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Post by Nomz on Sept 13, 2024 1:32:45 GMT
It takes every fiber of her very old and very adult soul not to immediately retort that an adult wouldn't feel the need to declare that they are one. No, Cat knows better than to push a young Spider. More so when she's certain the Spider in question could throw her through the building.
Instead, Felicia smiles a bit and gestures behind Ghost-Spider with her chin. Her voice is rather calm despite it all. "By all means, no need to web me up, Spidey. Lead the way and I'll happily follow you out. Though, are we going to go out the way we came in or risk upsetting the guards by going out the front doors?"
"Ah, I am super not bulletproof. If they aim and plan to shoot, kindly toss me out of the way. Trying to breathe with a collapsed lung is up there with getting your grapple line cut and falling through a skylight." She's not kidding. All of her words carry the weight of truth.
Felicia doesn't wait for Ghost to answer before she tries to take a half step forward, further proving her willingness to follow her lead. She means absolutely no harm. "Besides, trying to get the webs out of my hair is an utter and complete nightmare. I've had to cut my hair more than once thanks to Spider-Man."
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 17, 2024 20:24:33 GMT
Gwen paused. Felicia had a point. Probably best to exit away from the guards, as they still hadn't been alerted yet, it seemed. Besides, she wasn't certain that she was going to take this petty thief in. After all, she was compliant and courteous, and hadn't even committed a crime beyond breaking and entering, which... fair enough, Gwen was also guilty of.
"We go out the roof, same way we came. Lead the way... but don't try and run! I'm ready to give you a bad hair day if you do."
Gwen stepped to one side, to let Felcia take point. She took a moment to fully absorb the woman's words. Gwen totally wasn't jealous of the other Spider-folk that hung around New York city. Call it a professional curiosity.
"...you fought the other Spider-man, huh? What's he like, as an opponent, I mean?"
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Post by Nomz on Sept 19, 2024 1:46:18 GMT
"You've got it, Spidey," Felicia says easily enough as she takes another step forward, doing her best to trust the young heroine to follow up on her word. It would be a bad look for all the Spiders if another one was a murder hobo.
Ghost's next questions draw her attention, curiosity, and amusement curling together as she walks. She hadn't expected the younger woman to be interested in the other spiders.
"I've fought him and outsmarted him more than even I care to admit," Felicia starts as she leads the way down the hallway. She pauses at the end, glancing both ways to ensure they are alone. "He's fast and stronger than anyone I've met. More than that, he's-"
The cat tries to think of the correct words to use, unsure of if she's trying to paint Peter in a bad light or not.
"Kind. He's the sort of guy who will ask a thief for years if she'll change her ways and join the good side. He doesn't use his abilities more than he needs to and I know for a fact that he holds back." There is a level of respect and fondness to her words, similar to that of someone talking about an old friend. "I've seen him give up an advantage to save someone in need and I've seen him on some of his darker days. I'm fairly confident he lets me go."
Pale moonlight shifts as clouds pass over the moon, but Felicia doesn't make a run for it. She merely walks Ghost to the elevator and presses the button for it.
"Then, there's the other spider guy. Scarlet Spider. I don't quite know what to make of him yet. We had a weird talk on a rooftop and he kinda freaked out?" Those grey eyes find Ghost-Spider and she shrugs a bit helplessly. "I don't think he's used to people, maybe? I'm really not sure, but he didn't seem like a bad guy. Ya know, aside from the part where he implied he's been murdering bad guys."
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Post by Beriadan on Sept 19, 2024 12:28:30 GMT
"Another Spider?"
Gwen frowned. That made three of them, then. Of course, Spider-man was the original of this universe... but what did that make Scarlet Spider? And was he truly a hero if he was killing bad guys? What happened to great responsibility?
Gwen couldn't help but smile as she mulled over Felicia's words. She wasn't the run-of-the mill criminal that Ghost-Spider was used to.
"Well... it's certainly been an experience apprehending you. You can call me Ghost-Spider. I'm like Spider-Man, but sleeker, and I've got more style."
She grinned. Definitely relaxing now. Gwen could see why Spider-man might let this one go. She stood opposite her in the elevator as it began to rise.
"You have got a pretty unique set of skills. How come you never took him up on the offer? To be a good guy, I mean. You could easily use your powers for good."
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Post by Nomz on Sept 19, 2024 16:36:23 GMT
"Yeah, he didn't hurt me and wasn't very aggressive overall either."
Felicia thinks she might like this newest Spider and she isn't sure that is a great idea. At the very least, her chances of getting webbed are terribly low.
"Oh, you have so much more style than he does," she agrees easily. "I still haven't figured out if he chose red and blue by chance or so he can freak people out more when they don't notice him." She smiles a bit happily as she continues, "Nice to meet you Ghost-Spider. I'm Black Cat, but most people end up calling me Cat."
The elevator hums softly as Felicia leans against her side of it, eyes leaving the spider for the first time as she tries to think of an answer. It has been a bit since she last ran into Peter and she's not sure what excuses she could come up with this time.
"I like the thrill of a job. Never knowing when I'll get caught or what might happen to change the situation up. There is a level of certainty that comes with hero work." It is the best she can explain herself and it is a more honest explanation than she ever gave the other Spiders. "I'm also not much of a fighter. I can fight if it is needed, but I very much prefer to avoid it at all costs."
"If I could have lived without that thrill, that burst of adrenaline and satisfaction, I would have finished medical school. Probably would have gone into pediatrics. Have my own place with...a partner. Someone who is kind to me even when I deserve it least."
Felicia shakes her head, turning her gaze back to Ghost with polite interest. "What about you? If you weren't a Spider, what would your life look like?"
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