The New Villainess

[Lady Nocturne]

Characters: Lady Nocturne, open
Setting: Bartlett's Jewelry and Curios, a pawn shop in the ritzier part of the commercial district ~ 10:00 P.M., December 12, 2017
Previous Threads: None
Plot Summary: Nocturne attempts to use her dark powers to take over pawn shop

[Lady Nocturne]

Bartlett's Jewelry and Curios was a high-end pawn shop. Victoria had been introduced to it in her early teens, together with her sister, as a sort of last resort should she ever be in want of cash. The proprietor, H. M. Bartlett, specialised in discreetly handling the valuables of the upper class who did not have quite as much money as advertised. Not only would he hold pawned valuables a long time, he could make replicas of jewelry.

More than a decade later, he was still in business. Victoria had been here only a few weeks before receiving her Jewel, scoping the place out on the pretext of whether he could really protect her valuables while they were in pawn. She already had the idea then that it would be a good place to rob, or possibly shake down for protection money.

Now that she was ready to begin her career as a supervillain in earnest, her thoughts come back to this place. But changed as she was by the Jewel, her plans for the pawnbroker were much darker than merely taking his money.

She had already struck once that night, quenching the thirst of the Jewel so it did not drive her to squander this chance. She wanted Bartlett alive -- and under her power. He would be an invaluable tool for keeping track of the city's elite. And one never knew if one of those puerile "heroes" might be skulking about the area.

She waited in the shadows across the street, waiting for him to close. He stayed open fairly late -- until ten -- in order to give his clientele an opportunity to come by unobtrusively. But at last the hour struck, and he hung up his "closed" sign, before going back behind the counter to collect the day's earnings.

Nocturne strode across the street then, her cape blowing out behind her. She shoved open the door, smiling to herself at the quaint sound of the bell ringing. The shop's main room was of modest size, filled with neatly organised goods of every kind -- furniture, mirrors, lamps, portraits, a gem display case; everything in excellent condition.

"Sorry, I'm clo-" The man's words died as he looked up from the register to see the tall figure that stood in the door. He was about 5'6", pudgy, balding, but sharp-eyed -- the archetype of his trade, dressed in a respectable suit. Just now he was pale with shock and fear, his gaze transfixed by Nocturne's golden eyes.

"Be honoured that I visit your shop this night," she said, the low light of the lamps ensconced in the walls reflecting off her teeth. "That you are the first I choose to grace with my attention." She stepped inside, letting the door swing closed behind her. She seemed to fill the shop, regal and predatory, her glossy fur and gold trappings outshining the polished surfaces of the valuables on display. She strode to the centre of the room, keeping their eyes locked while the pawnbroker tried to gather his wits.

"Who -- wh-what -"

"Hush." Her voice was low, but powerful and pervasive. "Your words are not needed unless I bid you speak. For I am Nocturne, Queen of the Night, and from henceforth... you belong to me." She raised a black-furred hand, beckoning him. "Now, come. Give yourself to me."

The man shook his head. He was confused and half-mesmerised, but he was stronger than the other people she had tried this on before. "I... I don't..." He raised his arm, and stumbled, rather as if he were trying to avoid a blow. But he succeeded in blocking her entrancing eyes, and he drew a breath. "Of course not! I warn you -"

He made a movement -- going for the button under the coutner that would sound a silent alarm. But Nocturne moved too, and in a flash of red and black she was at the counter, her claws digging through his waistcoat and shirt as she hauled him bodily into the air before he could press it. He tried to catch himself, and suddenly suddenly her muzzle in his face, her eyes inches form his own.

"Don't resist." The command hissed slightly through her fangs. "Submit, and you will prosper. Resist -- and I will break you, take all you have, and leave your shop closed forever."

[Mimic]

Lately, Mimic had been busy gathering Intel on Jump City's criminals and local crime syndicates. She was trying to learn all she could about those low life law breaking yahoos, so that she may capture them for a nice fee of course. After all, a girl's gotta make a living somehow and bounty hunters gotta eat too. It was all about survival. If people disapproved of her lifestyle choices then that was their problem not hers. She was not about to change for anyone. However, recent feelings of loneliness may change that. She hopes to find a group of friends who will accept her for who she is; preferably friends who won't ask her to change. She wants nothing more than to belong since currently she feels as though she doesn't really belong anywhere. She feels as though she does not exactly fit in with the normal humans and she hates the Euremians for what they did to her and tried to do.

She also had been studying earthling behavior usually by forcing herself to socialize with them by attending local teen parties and whatnot. Sadly though a lot of them either end up laughing at her lack of understanding or she would end up scaring them with her strange behavior and/or words. So she secretly feels inferior to the humans as she does to the Euremians, but will never fully admit this to anyone due to her own burning pride. So instead she acts unfazed by their harsh words and even acts as though she is better than everyone else as a way to hide her true feelings.

The streets were fairly empty save for a few stragglers as it was ten 'O Clock at night and most people were at home preparing themselves for the next day. But not Mimic. The female bounty hunter was busy that night. She had discovered a clue back at her father's place that both she and the police somehow missed and that clue was a single, tiny brass button. Upon finding it laying on the floor, Mimic gave it a good, long sniff and upon memorizing the scent she went out to follow it. Like a dog, she sniffed around at the air, the ground, and pretty much everywhere she could. Soon after freaking out a few pedestrians, the scent got even stronger and Mimic followed it all the way to a local pawn shop. Mimic read the name of it, Bartlett's Jewelry and Curios. She can honestly say she never really noticed this place before, but then again she had been pretty busy lately what with trying to find her family's killers and all. That and really who does pawn shops anyway?

Believing she had nothing to lose and everything to gain by simply venturing inside, Mimic took a deep breath and swung open the door only to be surprised and not to mention slightly horrified by the sight before her. A man had been lifted high into the air by what appeared to be an anthropomorphic fox. Her white alien eyes widened from underneath her helmet. Mimic wondered if this creature was an alien of some sort since she was acquainted with a species of alien that resembled various animals, so it was possible. That or she was an experiment gone horribly wrong or a mutant. Regardless of what this woman was, Mimic knew she had to do something and quick for Mimic did not know of the fox woman's intent and just assumed that she might kill the poor guy if she didn't stop her. 'Good thing I'm here. Guess it's up to me to save the day as usual,' Mimic rather arrogantly thought as she let the door close behind her.

Mimic immediately hopped into her fighting stance. "Hey!" Mimic boldly called out to get the mysterious fox woman's attention. "Now I'm only going to sssssay this once: kindly leave the poor man alone or ssssssuffer the force of my mighty hammer," Mimic threatened brimming with confidence. As per usual, Mimic was wearing her Euremian armor and fullfaced helmet. She was ready for anything! She could take on opponents far larger than herself with ease, so the fact that this woman was a good foot taller than her didn't bother her in the least. She was pretty used to being the short one since Euremians were so tall. In fact, this fox woman would actually be considered a shortie since Euremians tended to be anywhere from six foot to ten foot in height!

[Lady Nocturne]

Nocturne's concentration on the man was broken by the bell jingling. Her ears tilted back in annoyance even as she looked over her shoulder to see who it was. Somebody dressed in an advanced suit of armour; nobody she recognised. She felt a mixture of relief and disappointment at it not being a Titan.

She was also quite irritated. She snarled, looking aback at her capturing, who obviously was completely free of her influence now. But he was still too frightened to move, with those teeth in his face and another unknown at his door.

Nocturne was about to ask the intruder what she wanted, when the armoured female spoke. Nocturne stared at her incredulously for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Oh?" She looked back at the man, who was obviously calculating what his odds of survival were. She huffed in his face, making him gag. Then she hauled him up and over the counter, knocking the cash register and several smaller curios down to the carpeted floor. Then she dropped him with a thud amongst the spilled change, turned to the young woman and put her left foot on the man's back all in one motion. Amusing as she found the threat, it was still a threat, and she wanted to face this opponent.

"Bold words for a little girl. What is this human to you, anyway? Who are you, and by what right do you intrude on my business?"

[Mimic]

Mimic looked the strange fox woman's hostage over. The poor pudgy bespeculed man looked scared half to death! "Don't worry ssssssir, I'll ssssssave you from the cruel jawsssss of death! Jussssst hang on! I'm coming!" Mimic assured the poor man with the hopes that it would be enough to calm him down. Humans after all, were such delicate creatures. The poor half alien often feared accidentally hurting one merely by touch. Humans also tended to love it whenever a super powered being reassures them. Mimic really didn't have any reason to think this human any different.

But then the mysterious fox woman's response to Mimic's threat really surprised and annoyed her. The fox woman had the audacity to laugh and mock her. Hands curling up into tight fists, Mimic glared from underneath her helmet silently fuming. How dare this strange fox thing make fun and underestimate her when she knew nothing about her? "Eh? What'sssss sssssso funny ssssshort ssssstuff? And yeah I'm calling you sssssshort caussssse you are. I've ssssssseen children taller than you! On my planet only the greatesssssst of warriorsssss are gifted with powerful weaponsssss sssssuch asssss my hammer here. And yet you dare laugh? You are a fool to laugh at thingssss you cannot possssssibly underssssstand," Mimic asked, clearly confused by what this woman found so amusing. It was true, Mimic did see children taller than Nocturne. They were Euremian and not human, but still it totally counts. The half alien failed to see anything funny about this.

Mimic then was forced to watch as the fox woman lifted the poor man up into the air and flung him across the counter knocking the cash register off the counter spilling the coins onto the carpeted floor. She then had the gall to step on the poor man as he layed helplessly on the ground. 'That is it,' thought Mimic. "I am Mimic, the galaxy'sssss greatessssst bounty hunter! And my powersssssss, weaponssssss, and ssssssheer ssssssskill issssss what givessssss me the right to interrupt whatever it issssss you are about to do to thissssss poor man! And for the record, you ain't much taller than me missssss high and mighty. In fact ssssssome may even call you a midget. Man you earthlingsssss ssssssure are sssssshort, aren't you?" Mimic proudly announced full of confidence.

Glancing down, Mimic grinned at her hammer. "In a few momentsssss I'm going to wipe that sssstupid grin off your face and teach you not to underesssssstimate me and my mighty hammer!" threatened Mimic as she prepared to attack the fox woman and save the pawn shop owner. Normally Mimic would shift her hands into guns, but with a hostage situation like this firing at her foxy opponent would prove too risky. So instead she threw her hammer straight at the fox woman's face. Mimic's hammer was a lot like a boomerang as it always comes back to her after throwing it.

[Lady Nocturne]

Nocturne stared at the little female, non-plussed. She was going on and on about how short Nocturne was, despite being at least a foot shorter than her. Was she insane? Or was she telling the truth, and was even younger for her species than Nocturne had assumed? The thought annoyed her even more. Her lips curled, and she growled softly.

She was also beginning to wonder if this self-proclaimed bounty-hunter intended to talk her to death. However, the girl obviously meant to do something, so Nocturne take the time while she babbled to size her up. She doubted her sword could pierce that armour, at least by itself, so she would have to resort to her claws. She could neither see nor smell any other weapons on the girl besides the large mallet, although she might have something stashed away in a sealed container.

How annoying, Nocturne thought, her growl rising in pitch and volume. My first encounter would be with some unknown alien brat. Even if I beat her I won't get anything from it. Of course...

Her train of thought was interrupted as she noticed the girl shift in stance. nocturne herself tensed, ready to react. She was surprised when the little bounty hunter actually threw the hammer at her, but she ducked and deftly twirled on her paws, her cape spinning around her as she dodged to her right. Both cape and tail knocked even more expensive tchotchkes to the ground, and the hammer smashed into a cabinet behind the counter, shattering a good deal of china.

Bartlett groaned against the floor at the sound of his profits being destroyed. At least the foxwoman wasn't standing on him any more, but he was still too stunned to move.

Nocturne stood, proud and disdainful to the right of the mess. He right hand was up, claws unsheathed, while her left wrapped around the Jewel at her breast.

"You are the one who doesn't know what she's dealing with," she declared. "Now prepare -"

She cut off with a startled yip as she saw the handle of hammer swinging towards her from the corner of her eye. She flinched, raising her left arm to block the blow. not quite fast enough: the end of the hammer grazed along the left of her muzzle and cheek. It didn't really hurt, but it did make her furious.

"So, you have a trick hammer," she snapped acerbically. "I suppose it's an appropriate toy for a baby like you!"

[Speedy]

OoC;Speedy is a go in this thread~ If Bartlett escaping wasn’t part of your plans, Flam, and he’s you NPC, you can have him not-escape instead. xD Justrying to clear the shop for less damages and more fighty-space.|

Roy had been by Bartlett’s many a time with his mentor in their civvies. Queen had many a jilted lover…and had jilted many-a, by that line of logic, and a lot of it had to do with the expensive and rare gifts his ridiculously-rich budget could afford them. Often, more than one lover at a time. Of all the pawn shops in sprawling Jump, old man Bartlett had certainly, consistently, been the most…professional, when it came to being discreet when many of said jilted ladies had come calling (or vending) the careless Queen’s stock of treasures meant to buy back, or buy off, their affections. This evening in particular, Harper had been calling in a favour for his ‘old man’. Queen needed a troublesome anklet back that he’d once gifted a dancing girl; some freaky story about a curse that the girl had placed on it, and that the Justice League needed back so that their top mages could break it before it fell into the wrong hands.

“So…”
None of this mattered though, because instead of a quick in-an-out at closing time, Harper found himself changing in an alley outside the pawn shop into one of several supersuit kits he had hidden around Jump for just these such occasions where crime was afoot.

“You ladies gonna throwdown or what? Why do girls talk so much instead of just getting to the beating awready?”
Even though it looked a lot like there was already someone stepping on this particular crime’s toes.
A SmokeArrow was launched after his inquisitive ‘so’, and a NetArrow specially rigged for ‘capture’ was shot out at the ailing shopmaster on the floor. His next inquiries were accompanied by dragging the poor guy over to the doorway, and wordlessly ushering him out into the night air, with an apologetic few pats on the back to account for the short bout of smoke inhalation that might’ve occurred just then.

Immediately upon dispatch, a third, mystery trick arrow was notched. Despite his easy, almost mirthful tone, and how commonplace it was to see peculiar beings, aliens, and all manner of human-hybrids in a city like theirs, a fox-woman with a few inches on him bearing down on a…little kid in a cosplay suit? wonted precautions be taken.

“But then, since we’re awready talking, gotta keep on track. Whatchya say, ladies? ‘Can’t we talk about this’? ” grinned the gregarious ginger grimly, knowing the answer would be pain no.

Fate-changing curses would have to wait a second.

[Mimic]

Mimic watched as her mighty hammer flew precariously through the air and straight at the strange fox woman's face only for the villain to duck in the nick of time. She then watched as the villain's long, fluffy tail and cape began knocking stuff over causing the poor old man still laying helplessly on the floor a lot of grief. This too caused Mimic some pain due to so much glass shattering and her extra sensitive alien ears. "Ack sssssso...much...interference! I mean how dare you messssssss with thissssss man'ssssss material possessssssssionsssssss? Thisssssss issssss hissssss livelihood for gurney'sssss ssssssake!" Mimic scolded the older woman.

But her hammer was far from done for during its return to its rightful owner it struck an ill-prepared Nocturne in the cheek. Mimic who had been watching it this entire time reached up and caught her weapon with her outstretched left hand. Smirking she gave her hammer a little spin in her hand. "Aw did that hurt? I bet it did! I can ssssssee the pain in your eyesssss! Maybe that'll teach you to pay better attention to your sssssssurroundingssssss," she teased with a crazed laugh.

She stopped laughing at Nocturne's harsh quip. Enraged, Mimic started fuming. "YOU!" she hissed angrily as she pointed an accusing gloved finger at Nocturne. "Lisssssten here Earth creature, you can inssssssult me all you want, but lady you do not inssssssult the hammer becaussssssse when you inssssssult the hammer you ssssssummon my wrath," Mimic growled in a threatening tone.

Now wanting to beat the impertinent fox woman with her bare hands, Mimic prepared to pounce on her when she was rudely interrupted by another's voice. Mimic turned around just in time to see who dared to interrupt her and all the good she was trying to do. The voice belonged to that of a red-haired archer. Admittedly he was kind of cute, but he still made her mad and that was a mistake! She scoffed at his words. "I don't undersssssstand the quesssssstion Earthling! Do mosssssst femalessssss of thissssss puny planet talk a lot? Where I'm from we warriorsssssss prefer to talk with our fissssssstssssss; which what do you know I wassssssss jussssssst about to demonssssssstrate to my 'new friend' here until you barged in! And what'sssssssss with the masssssssk? Are you a bad guy or a good guy? Jussssst who do you think you are you anyway misssssster?" Mimic pointed out in a snakelike voice gesturing towards the fox woman behind her.

Mimic's white eyes widened behind her helmet in surprise as the mysterious archer fired a smokey arrow in the middle of the store. Luckily, her fullfaced helmet protected her from the powerful, eye stinging smoke. She wondered if the fox woman had some sort of protection to the smoke as well. Ignoring her for the moment, Mimic then silently watched as the archer fired a net at the helpless bespectuled man laying on the floor. She cocked her head to the side as she watched with curiosity as the archer proceeded to drag the helpless human outside to safety. 'Well I suppose that answers that question,' Mimic thought to herself.

Upon his immediate return the archer dared ask if they could talk about this. Looking thoughtful, Mimic skillfully twirled her hammer around in her left hand as she considered the bold archer's words. "Well that kind of dependssssss Jack! Ssssssee I have no problem with you. Sssssso you and I can posssssssibly do the whole talking thing or whatever you Earthlingsssss call it. But that...that sssssstrange woman on the other hand made the grave missssssstake of inssssssulting my magnificent hammer; which isssssss keened in on my unique DNA ssssssssignature. Sssssssadly I cannot ssssssstand by thissssss insssssult! To reclaim my honor I mussssst defeat her in battle," Mimic informed Speedy.

Fuming she pointed a gloved finger at the fox woman. "I hereby challenge you to a duel you no good weapon insssssssssulting, homewrecker! Outsssssside thissssss ssssssshop in five minutessssss," she hissed. "But I warn you, jussssst becaussssse I look nice, doessssss not mean I fight fair. I have never lossssssst a duel and I don't intend to ssssssstart now," she warned Nocturne in a hushed whisper while keeping her eyes glued on her.

[Lady Nocturne]

While the girl talked, Nocturne sneered and drew her sword. She held it straight out to her side, parallel to the floor, her left hand up in a guard position while she focused. The Jewel glowed --

Then suddenly her concentration was broken. First by a new, male voice, then by an arrow that released a cloud of smoke into the room. Nocturne shied away from the smoke, even as she realised what was going on. Grabbing her cape, she crouched behind it, warding out the smoke, a high-pitched growl rising from her throat at being forced to cower like this. Her nose tingled at the unpleasant scent, which temporarily drowned out everything else, further enflaming her rage.

"Wonderful," she snarled, her voice thick with bitterness, "More trick weapons. How fortunate I am."

Lowering the cape slightly so she could look over her arm, she watched the smoke dissipate. Nobody used the cover for an attack; the girl keeping the latest interloper occupied with her chatter. The room clearing, she confirmed that the pawnbroker was now gone. Still holding the cape up, she stood, eyes burning above the black fabric as she glared at the figures by the door.

She had guessed when she glimpsed the arrow. Now that too was confirmed: this second interloper was Speedy. While she still had little idea of the girl's capabilities, she knew his credentials. She was certainly in for a real fight now, and she might not be able to take them both out. But she wouldn't know unless she tried, and she was certain she could flee if it went against her.

Her glare shifted from the archer to the girl as the latter issued a formal challenge to a duel. Nocturne shuddered as a scornful, throaty laugh burst from her maw. She flung back her cape, revealing the Jewel glowing upon her chest with an eerie purple light.

"You? Little girl? A duel!" She laughed again, malicious and mocking; but her ears were flat in anger and she kept her fangs bared. "You know not to whom you speak!" She placed her hand on her breast, thumb and forefinger cradling the crystal. It flared brighter, and malefic purple light flickered all about Nocturne's form. "I am Lady Nocturne, Mistress of Darkness! And you think to challenge me."

She flourished her blade, the air whining in pain as the rapier cut through it. Then she brought it down, to point at the two heroes, and purple flames ran down the blade. Her voice rang in contemptuous command.

"Away with your childish nonsense! Kneel before me -- or prepare to render up your souls!"

[Speedy]

“Warrior of Few Words sure doesn’t translate well off-world, does it!” Speedy scoffed right back as the armoured chibi disproved  her apparent stoicism, thoroughly berating him and the room at large for ever doubting her selective speaking.

“Little sad you haven't heard of me~. Speedy of the Teen Titans, at your service.”
In even the tensest of situations, the East archer was hardly one to talk (so to speak); his mouth was a runner by default as well, and the two’s similarities were too obvious to comment on further.

“Look at that! Already considering yourself lucky, and we haven’t even been formally introduced yet. My reputation precedes me~.”
Speaking of tense situations, WhoeverThatWas was not taking kindly to either meddler’s intrusion, and as the smoke cleared, Speedy came face to face with what he and the gabby shorty here were dealing with.

His next notch was a StunArrow, set to the lowest possible setting. There was always room to hash things out on a mission, and if the electric current was even effective against this adversary, it wouldn’t do to not even be able to gather intel straight from the horse’s fox’s mouth. At any rate, best to be prepared in case of a sudden attack. The way this ‘challenge’ conversation was going, anything was possible.

“Now we know! Thanks for shedding some light on your identity, there!” Speedy gave an uncertain chuckle. Most people didn’t laugh at his horrible puns unless he was schmoozing them in his civvies, fraternising with the latest object of his flirtation.

“Sure you wanna go toe-to-toe with Darkness’ Mistress, Sssweetheart?” The last bit of ribbing was in something of a lowered voice, but still dripped with condescension at Mimic’s size (and well, ‘accent’), as well as strain at the perceived madness of tangling with the large anthropomorphic hostage-taker before them.
Apparently, the nuance of the term ‘homewrecker’ didn’t translate well, either. The ginger grinned briefly as he shook his head, the appearance of Nocturne’s flaming sword aiding plentifully in further assessing what threat their wild-looking antagonist really posed to their safety, much less the rest of the city if not contained. Besides, GA would put another fifteen years on his trust fund or something if he let poor Mr. Bartlett’s curio shop burn to the ground.

“Jussaying, doesn’t look like either of us are keen on kneeling, so let’s agree to work together before she makes good on any soul-rending.”
He had the StunArrow switched over to an IceArrow immediately.
Where was Aqualad when you needed him...
Notching the new elemental aide on his bow and keeping tense while he made his move, Speedy started measured, backwards beginnings of their progress outside of the shop where the inevitable showdown would commence.