100/As the fire dies down...

As the fire dies down...
Date of Scene:	24 February 2020
Location:	Hell's Kitchen
Synopsis:	After a fire is stopped, some heroes have a talk.
Cast of Characters:	Maxima, Peter Parker, Danny Rand, Karen Starr

---

Maxima has posed:
Hell's Kitchen is named as such for all the danger that has been known to take place in the evenings of the area. Often a dangerous spot as criminals like to lurk here. Far enough away from emergency response that things often don't get stopped. However, today it is living up to its name in a different way. While still unknown the reason, even now people are standing on the streets away from the building that started out with a simple apartment fire that turned into a brutal blaze. Luckily, heroes were nearby to help deal with the situation (even unlikey ones) that helped people get out. Even now, the firefighters are putting out the blaze while the people on the street are just happy as can be to safe and alive, though many are staring at their once homes with sadness in their eyes. They realize all that they'll need to do and deal with in order to put their lives back together.

On a fireescape across the street from the blaze, Maxima leans on one of the rails, overlooking the situation and sipping at a coffee she had gotten earlier. She didn't want to be directly known (at least not yet) so she had used telekinesis from afar to help out both the firefighters and the heroes that had helped people act.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter Parker usually felt guilty at times like this.
On the one hand, he had been here, pulling people out of 4th-floor windows before the blaze in their hallways came through the bedroom doors to eat them like the Big Bad Wolf. Ten people were so rescued...

...but not all of them. He had watched as they tried to resuscitate three of the others he had pulled out...and failed.

And then there was the fact that the drone had been taking pictures, and he felt like a ghoul for taking them.
Spider-Man was standing near the ambulance where Almost #3 had been, drinking from a water bottle and feeling morose. It's the ones he couldn't save that preys on his thoughts, and maybe always will be.

Danny Rand has posed:
Its the things that you have virtually no control over that gets to Danny the most. He was near the place when the fire broke out and helped get people out. Though Danny did his part, he shares a guilt with Spider-Man for the ones that were unable to be saved. He stands on the side of the street, sitting down to one of the individuals who didn't look like they were in the best shape emotionally - they just lost their home after all.

Despite all the comforting, Danny knows that a home isn't something easily replaced. Well, sure you can always buy a new house, but what about the memories and the attachment? Not something so easily rectified.

Karen Starr has posed:
    A fire is like child's play for a Kryptonian... If they're there quick enough. To be fair to Power Girl, she'd been in another solar system at the time the blaze began. It was only a few minutes after its shift from a small fire to a real blaze that she was even re-entering the atmosphere, which provided an incredible show... What looked like a meteor approaching Metropolis suddenly shifted angle and twisted for a moment before shooting off, at an impossible ninety-degree angle. Were it not for the fact that Power Girl is at a safe enough altitude to hit Mach 12, she'd still be half-ablaze from re-entry when she arrives.

    Her arrival is a incredible one. The people that can be heard screaming and crying for assistance, the hopeless cases- the ones that even the firefighters believe- no, KNOW- can't be saved... It's all in the space of a moment that those cries of anguish, the real horror-story of a fire such as this, shift from happening within the burning building, to outside it. People placed surreptitiously but comfortably near the ambulances. Some singed, but all safe- and at the end of it, Power Girl emerges from the building untouched, unburnt- holding a small, frightened orange cat.

    "This guy got caught in the bathroom of... Three-oh-three? He's a little shaken."

Maxima has posed:
Hopping down from her spot while out of sight of pretty much everyone, she knows most are looking at people and at the building across from her, Maxima frowns as she can feel the terror and sadness. Being an empath, even a talented one, near people who are dying or who die is not something she takes lightly. She was not nearby when this started and only when she realized there was some great level of trauma in the city did she get here. She helped where she could but her own wish to remain anonymous makes her wonder if lives could have been saved. She, like Karen, should have had no issue saving everyone. Easily.

Either way, she approaches Spider-Man, a familiar face and smiles at him as she approaches, "You did well today, Spider-Man." She nods her head, idly pushing back some of that fiery red hair behind one ear and tilting her head, "You should not feel poorly for what has happened. You will never be able to save everyone." She shakes her head.

A part of her hurts. Maxima could have saved everyone.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man didn't know Danny, but the guy had gone in when the sane, rational people were getting out. And he had done a lot. That was undeniable.

And the woman in the red cape and white costume had done even more. She was one of those heavy hitters from the big leagues. He couldn't remember the name. He needed to add stuff to his suit...once he could afford it, that is.

And here he was...but it was his curse to see Uncle Ben in all the faces of the people he couldn't save.
For a moment, he almost fired back at her. *Well? Yeah, sure, because C- students still pass the class. But I can't BE just...*
Jeez, Louise, he had to pull THAT back before Stupid Mouth got a hold of it.
So, Spider-Man says in a quiet voice, "...I feel like crud, anyway." Because that is the truth. He takes a deep breath, then says, "How have you been doing since I left you in Parker's hands?"

Danny Rand has posed:
Danny looks...well, really surprised that such a big leaguer is here! Especially since she can apparantly just tough out fire like its nothing. He sure as heck hasn't learned a chi technique for that one quite yet. But he approaches Power Girl and looks at the cat. "Oh, hey wait, I know someone who was looking for their cat. They're just over there." He points that way.

"So uh...how the heck are you fireproof?" He knows that there are some truly remarkable people out there in the world, him being one of them. Maybe she's like Luke, where her skin is virtually impenetrable. Who knows.

He does notice Maxima apparently having a conversation with Spider-Man, but he keeps much of his attention on Power Girl at the moment.

Karen Starr has posed:
    The cat she's holding is, of course, upset. Rightfully so, as it was just taken from its very warm hiding spot and brought out here into the cold. Her brow, of course, raises at Danny's approach. Most of the people she's saved have stopped screaming and found one another amongst the rescued. As well, the building continues to burn. Power Girl doesn't need to save a building, as it were, so the firefighters can handle it. It's a delicate balance- doing as much as is needed, not as much as is physically possible. Lives are one matter, but if she stops the people hired to do so from putting out the blaze, people might question why they were hired in the first place.

    As such, it is altogether more important for Karen to make her way towards the other hero, and follow along after him. Returning a cat is a big deal, really. At his question, she shrugs. "Reasons." she responds, not entirely sure now is the best time to explain Kryptonian Deep Lore. Plus, she's not entirely sure who Iron Fist is.

    "Did everyone make it?" she asks, still unsure of the count. She knows nobody is left in the building- but whether or not everyone lived through the experience is another matter.

Maxima has posed:
Little does Parker know that Maxima can sense that burst of anger. She understands it though and would be annoyed if he didn't have some kind of anger about the situation. She simply responds, "I am doing fine. I got to see Tony Stark declare himself a candidate for the Presidency of the United States and I got to see Dinosaurs in your downtown area." She nods her head, "I have been told both things are not as uncommon as I might have guessed though it seems strange to me." She nods her head. She looks up to Karen with a hmm and smiles a little at the sight of her with the kitten before looking back to Spider-Man.

"You do realize that while it is normal to feel like crud, you are not capable of saving everyone. People will die. No matter how hard you work or how much effort you put forth. That's just life, Spider-Man." She nods her head, "As brutal as it might be at times."

Peter Parker has posed:
That's just life, she says. She's right, of course. But it's not easy to explain to someone how fate and atrocity cause him to flail against that concept even when logic and reason say otherwise.

"Mister Stark is running for President?" There is a note of sudden respect in his voice, in spite of his attempts to hide it. "The things you miss, swinging around the city." He looks around, then steps closer to the wall. He suddenly feels somewhat exposed. "Yeah, a lot of stuff happens in New York. Although some odd stuff happens in Gotham City and Metropolis, too." He tries to smile, and almost makes it. "New Yorkers are a pretty tough bunch, though. We tend to adapt to stuff other people might have trouble with." He ponders, then asks, "Were you able to find a place to stay?"

Danny Rand has posed:
"Cool." Is Danny's only response to Karen's 'reasons'. He shakes his head very softly. "Not everyone, but as many as could be saved, we got 'em. Can't save everyone, right? Even though it sucks when we can't." Danny seems guilty of this, that he wasn't here quick enough or didn't save more lives -- it was out of his control. Such is the case of being human. "At least the cat made it. How did you know the cat was even in there, or did you just find it on accident?"

Even though she was probably walking through the building like it was a afternoon stroll.

He glances over at Maxima and Spider-Man, a thumb jerked in their direction. "You and Spidey showed up right in the knick of time. I would never have gotten to everyone on my own."

Karen Starr has posed:
    "Heard him crying." Offering the cat back to its owner, Karen places her hands on her hips for a few moments and looks back to Iron Fist. "Nope. We can save them all. We have to." It's an odd statement- something that comes from her as deeply matter-of-fact. "It doesn't matter whether or not we can or can't. We have to. As soon as you're willing to accept you can't save everyone, you start trying to figure out which lives are worth more than others." There's a pause, then, as Karen starts to move back to the sets of people who had been in the building.

    She's checking on everyone, but in the midst of it all, between some of them, she offers a calm reiteration. "So remember that. Even if it hurts- Especially if it hurts- You can save everyone. You have to."

Maxima has posed:
"I have seen that." Maxima nods her head in response to New Yorkers being tough before she then nods again, "I have for now. It is not adequate but it will do." She nods again before turning her gaze around and then considers, "I know, you need one of those salted pretzels I had the other day. I owe you food anyway and I do not wish to leave my debts unpaid." She considers, "Surely there should not be one selling such a thing far from here." SHe looks back to Spider-Man, "That should make you feel better. However, I am curious." She gestures to Power Girl and Danny, "Do you know who those two that were also helping are? I am unfamiliar."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man looks around, then over to the two costumed heroes talking. "The guy I don't know. Considering how he moved, he would be hard to forget, but..."
Mental note. He needs a DATABASE. Save that for later. It is as he thinks that that his brain makes the leap a moment before he calls the other girl "Boobs McKenzie"...and is VERY good about keeping him from saying it out loud.
"Wait...yeah, I think I recognize the one with the exceptional structural integrity." And the "sun roof." "I believe she goes by the name of Power Girl. I remember her from some article in the Metropolis-based DAILY PLANET's website."

Danny Rand has posed:
"Cool." Danny replies again, his arms crossing as he looks at her when she suggests that every life can and must be saved. "Not everyone can walk through fire unscathed. But to me, all life has equal worth. Possessions don't matter,importance doesn't matter. A life is sacred, and must be protected. I just didn't get here in time is what I'm trying to say."He shakes his head a little bit.

"As I told the monks of K'un-Lun, I'll protect everyone. But even I understand my own limits, against my own wishes." He turns his head to look over survivors when he notices Maxima and Spider-Man (with his...eyewindows? Eyeslits?) looking their way.

"...are they staring at you or are they staring at me?"

Karen Starr has posed:
    "Limits are made to be broken." she states, her attention focused on Danny. Her arms fold, and rather impassively, she keeps her gaze locked on the golden mask of Iron Fist. "Whether you can walk through fire, whether you can't, it doesn't matter. We don't do what we do because we accept that we can effect -some- change."

    Turning fully to face him, she continues. "We do what we do because it's what's right. We can't start -accepting- losses as inevitable regardless of how inevitable it may-" she stops, then, in her little lecture. She was mostly just repeating herself anyway. Instead, she shifts focus to the other two who had been talking. She'd overheard them- because she is what she is- but as with most private conversations, she'd ignored it. "They're staring at me, this time."

Maxima has posed:
"Ah, Power Girl. THat seems like a straight forward name." She nods her head and then gestures to her and gives a wave when they are looking her way before she starts that way, "Come along, Spider-Man. You should meet these two people who helped with your saving of lives." She nods her head and starts that way. She gives another wave when they get closer and she nods to each, "Hello, I am called Max and this is Spider-Man." She gestures back at him and then nods, "He also helped save lives today."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man is a little startled, but walks over with Max. She certainly has some resolve, that's for sure. Mary Jane, but taller and with greater presence.
He walks alongside, feeling a little self-conscious as he realizes he's the shortest one here. Also the slightest, all things considered.
He raises a hand in greeting. "Hey, there."

Danny Rand has posed:
Danny looks at Karen for a moment. "I don't think you understand my meaning." He shakes his head for a moment, but leaves the conversation at that. He does chuckle when Karen suggests that they are staring at her. "How do you figure?" He doesn't even look at her...open window, so to speak. Innocent-minded? Either way, he waves a little bit to Maxima and Spider-Man.

"Hi there." He gives a bow then, like a martial artist. "I'm Iron Fist. You must be Spider-Man." He looks then to Max. "Nice to meet you, Max."

Karen Starr has posed:
    Shrugging at Danny, she offers a calm response. "I overheard them talking. There were certain key phrases. Spider-man reads a lot of papers." At that point, one of her arms unfurls to offer a pleasant wave to the aforementioned Spiderperson and the accompanying Maxima. Still, before they're quite in earshot, she speaks again to Danny. "I understand you well enough, even if I'm not familiar with K'un L'un."

    Then, before another reply can be issued, she greets the new pair. "Hey there. Good to hear someone was on the scene. I was out doing a few things near Saturn. Heard the sound of the fire when I was coming back down."

Maxima has posed:
A hmm and she notes that. Heard sounds of fire while entering atmosphere. Definitely points toward something like a Kryptonian. She had been observing the whole scene even when she caused a few walls or windows to open up just at the right moment so people could ocme through. Luckily, so far, most people have been saved by others but something in her is starting to really regret trying to stay hidden. Either way, she smiles to both and looks back to Spider-Man, "You should be less self-concious, Spider-Man. YOu did a great thing today." She nods her head and then looks to Karen before adding, "He believes because he is small he is not the best and I disagree. The smallest acting with the bravery of others who are larger than him is very commendable."

She then looks over to Danny, "It is well to meet you Iron Fist." She looks to his hand, "I assume your hand is not truly made of iron?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Doing a few things near Saturn. Yep. DEFINITELY one of the heavy hitters in the superhero biz.
He does look to Iron Fist and smiles. "I must be him, since no one else is brave enough to wear this in public." He looks around, then spots a trio of uniformed cops giving him the eye, one of them talking quietly on his radio. Let's see...if he's lucky, he's just reporting on the fire, or the fact people are being helped...

And then they start walking towards him, one of them with a set of police-issue handcuffs in hand.

Riggght...since when has he ever been THAT lucky?
"I hope no one minds if I have to leave suddenly. The local police are about to attempt to take me in for questioning."

Danny Rand has posed:
"Saturn, huh?" Danny doesn't look like he believes a word of what Karen is saying, but then again, he can't really be one to judge. When he tells people about K'un-Lun, they tend to think he's insane or just a hippie hooked on that Bruce Lee martial arts fandom.

He turns his head to Maxima for a moment. "Only when I focus my Chi." He smiles happily at her.

To Peter, he gives a soft nod. "Well I mean, I'm brave enough to wear this in public. Birds of a feather, right? and I mean, I'm about to take off myself. Speaking off....I should take off."

And with that, Danny Rand is off into the night! Quitel iterally, because he seems to be gone after he walks into the shadows.

A ninja?

Karen Starr has posed:
    Power Girl doesn't try to track Danny as he departs. Instead, she just lets him go, offering a friendly nod to him when he departs. The primary amount of her attention, though, is on the oncoming police. "Small or not, he did what he could. Won't fault him for that." she states- not exactly entering into the same discussion she'd just gotten into with Iron Fist.

    Instead, she starts walking towards the two officers. "Hey there. Thank goodness you're on the scene, these people need to be tended to, almost all of them need to go to the hospital. Did you bring blankets? It's cold out, I've heard."

    One of the officers is clearly not familiar with Metropolis. He attempts to just push past her, excusing himself of course, but finds that despite the fact he's a trained officer of the law, he can't move the six-foot blonde.

    The window for Peter to escape just widened.

Maxima has posed:
A smile is given to Danny as he departs and then she looks over at the police and frowns, "Why would they do such a thing?" SHe asks of Peter and then it is Power Girl who interferes in their progress. She was about to do something but it appears she won't need to, "Fear not Spider-Man, you won't have to worry about them it seems. Perhaps though, if you wish to leave, you should." She nods her head, "They appear displeased." She then gives him a nod, "Pretzels for next time."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man nods. Could it be more of JJJ's pushing for his head? No. This has to be about Gwen, which caused a new pang of guilt.
She had trusted him, and he had killed her. He was trying to save her, but he had still killed her.
"Yeah...the police have an issue with me. As opposed to Jameson, who has so many issues it's practically a SUBSCRIPTION."

The trio of officers are stymied by the Amazonian superheroine, and one of them says, "Miss, we understand, and we have support people on the way, but Spider-Man is wanted for questioning in the death of Gwendolyn Stacy..."
Spidey sighed. "Yep. Hate it when I'm right..."
He reaches upward, and a webline hits the edge of a building. "Max, rain check. Thank Miss Brick House for me."
And then, like magic, he is gone, soaring up into the night sky and away from the scene.

Karen Starr has posed:
    Karen offers this small sigh to the officers as they try and get her to move. "Listen. I get it. But you're not going to arrest a guy after he saved a family of four, all right?" she offers, bringing her arms up in a shrug, "So give it a breath, take a step back, and do what you need to do to help the people. That definitely isn't chasing after and questioning Spider-man right now. In a couple days, if you find him eating a churro, you can ask him some questions then. Right now? Not the time."

    The set of them back off, but only after Spidey swings off between some buildings, out of their reach. She places her hands on her hips, at that point. "Good. Catch you later." Twisting slightly, she offers a wave at Maxima, the only one remaining. "I have to get back to Metropolis. It was nice meeting you." Then she's up, up, and away. There's a scant few moments before the echoing pop of her breaching the sound barrier can be heard over the din of the city.