1093/Big Festival, Little Italy

Big Festival, Little Italy
Date of Scene:	10 April 2020
Location:	Little Italy
Synopsis:	A street festival in Little Italy draws Bats, Olympians, SHIELD agents, and one very over-educated juggler.
Cast of Characters:	Stephanie Brown, Hercules, Harley Quinn, Jemma Simmons, Daisy Johnson

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Stephanie Brown has posed:
The big festival that closes down the streets of Little Italy and turns the region of New York into one giant party is in full swing today. Restaurants and street vendors can be found everywhere, not just making a buck with sales of all sorts of Italian dishes, but also raising awareness of their restaurants.

Street buskers are out performing, with jugglers, fire-eaters and even someone on a giant unicycle staking out little areas to entertain and take donations from the appreciative crowds.

Musical acts are playing in three different locations, with a large stage set up on Mulberry Street. A group is just getting on stage warming up and people are starting to gather. Parents have taken the Friday off to bring their kids out. Meanwhile the more nefarious elements are also present. Pickpockets looking to make a few extra bucks in the crowded streets are at work as well.

Hercules has posed:
Hercules waves goodbye to a small crowd of people who had gathered to watch the Son of Zeus devour three large pizzas in a single sitting, a feat which took him less than twenty minutes. He gives a celebratory burp of appreciation, "My thanks for your attention, goodfellows! Excuse me, now, for mighty Hercules seeks libation!"

He starts to go looking for someplace that supplies beer in relatively generous portions. He's hard to miss, given that he's a massive shirtless man with a large beard and a boisterous voice. He pauses occasionally to pose for selfies with people, some of who know who he is, some of whom just want a picture with the weird guy at the festival. He routinely flexes for the photos or even lifts the selfie taker up onto his shoulder if they would like.

"Greetings to all your tweeters and your Instagrams!" he says cheerfully.

Harley Quinn has posed:
And one Harley Quinn.

There should be only one Harley Quinn, if we're being honest. She's a dervish of activity as she makes her way through the packed streets of vendors, acts, and foot pedestrians here for a good time.. Popping her gum as she sasheys through the crowds, stopping periodically to get a lil taste of Italy at this vendor or to engage one of the street preformers in a lil one on one show that's unique only because of who she is.

Right now the made up Clown Princess of Little Italy is tossing bowling pins back and forth with a street Juggler to the delight of children. Cartwheeling between tosses, or out and out paying no attention to the comings and goings of the objects being tossed in her direction as she appeals to a younger audience who, through twitter, seem to be keenly aware of who she is. Smiling as a little girl tugs on the sleeve of her white t-shirt, the bright blue eyes set in heavy eye shadow turns down towards the teen, whipping a bowling pin around her back to hold out in the small girls direction. "When I tells ya too, toss it up at me?"

Happily, the girl complies, grinning ear to ear waiting. Though she needn't wait very long. Once her hands are both empty, Harley drops into a one handed cartwheel! "Now!" The pin is tossed up and she heel kicks it towards the juggler who catches it and brings it right back into the routine! Children and parents alike, the latter a little apprehensive of course, light up with laughter and applause..

Jemma Simmons has posed:
     Well....*someone* had said that all work and no play was no fun and told a certain scientist that she needed to get out more. Not mentioning any names, but that person simply could not be denied...and so one Jemma Simmons finds herself outside, walking amidst the crowd. There is certainly a sense of wonder about as Jemma takes in the sights. Why, there was a juggling act to her left, with a rather impressive display of acrobatics. She claps along with the crowd, smiling along with the children present.

     And yet, even more sights draw Jemma's eye. With a happy sigh, she exclaims in a posh British accent "okay, so maybe I do need to get out more. This is fantastic!" It isn't exactly apparent who she is talking to...as those eyes keep roving from one sight to the next.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
It will be fun they said! Get out of the lab they said! It's time for some fun out in Little Italy and of course that Daisy dragged Jemma out of the 'dungeon' to come out and enjoy some sun in the big festival that's up and about. Is it because she needs more favors? Probably not!

And so Daisy makes her way over sans that usual, stuffy uniform, dressed instead in a pair of black jeans, a shirt, jacket, just casual, more back to her Skye days than who she became in her time with SHIELD. A message:

> Just arrived, Jemma. Where you at?

Then another > Did you get Fitz out of his cave too?

She wanders around, laughing when she sees the bearded, shirtless man taking selfies. Though her eyes are taken with the fire-dancers for a moment, watching as they move, fearless of the fire. She grins.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
A tub of marinara is held in one of Stephanie Brown's hands, while the other maintains a calzone that is already down two bites. She dunks the corner into the sauce and takes another bite, leaving a smear of the red sauce at the corner of her lips for the moment.

She's in heaven, wandering through the crowd. Her date had to cancel on her, unfortunately, but she came on anyway. A day out of Gotham was just what the doctor ordered. And Steph was finding the festival really enjoyable.

She continues to eat the calzone, working her way through it as she stops to watch a one-man band playing six different instruments at once. She tosses a bill into the man's hat and moves on.

Up ahead she sees some sort of strong man taking pictures with the crowd, and also a juggler act. "Wow that looks like Harley Quinn from a distance," Stephanie says to herself. Right, like Harley would be at a street festival in New York? "Probably planning a robbery. Gone straight my ass," she says to herself as she moves first towards the muscular Hercules.

She watches someone take a photo with him and then she grins and approaches him. "My boyfriend couldn't make it, don't suppose you'd scoop me up for a picture so I can make him jealous?" she asks him.

Hercules has posed:
Hercules smiles to Stephanie, "Ah, the barbs of Cupid's arrow may be sharp indeed. Mostly because he's a little twerp! But I am happy to oblige your wishes, milady," he says.

With her permission, he scoops Stephanie easily up into his arms, allowing her to get in whatever position she would like before making sure his face is in the photo next to hers.

"I am cuckolding you, sir! Feel the burn of envy, for your fair maiden is in my arms!" he says.

Harley Quinn has posed:
IS SO THE REAL HARLEY!

Damn you Stephanie Brown, low rent Batgirl!

Harley Quinn continues juggling for a little while longer, mostly for the kids, then seperates away with her hands up. "No, I'm all juggle't out.. I could nah possible toss anothah pin... my ahms feels like led pipes hangin' from a fat stump uh wheat grass, which aint good foah ya I don't give a fuuuuuu---dge sickle..." METAPHORAL MIDDLE FINGER AT STEPHANIE "- what Ivy says."

Then she's be-bopping it towards, of all peoples, Stephanie FREAKIN' JUDGEMENTAL ASS Brown up in Hercules arms. Not that she has any idea who Stephanie YUR NOT MY REAL DAD Brown is... "oh hey, mistah muscle face.. I got dibs on next pic-cha.. Imma send it ta Peej.. An' April... an' Terry, he'll prolly like lookin' at you moah than anyone else heah."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    Oh...a message. Jemma slides her smartphone out of a pocket as the familiar sound of the TARDIS signifies a text message received...then two. What? It is a time-honoured television show in Great Britian and, really, what would you expect a science nerd's ringtone to be? A quick flick of the wrist and Jemma smiles to herself as she sees the originator of the message. Shifting the phone to both hands, Jemma responds in kind.

> Not exactly sure. Just watched a juggler and now walking by some sort of strong man show picking up women by request. Very strange.

> Also, no. Seems he prefers to grow fungi in the dark than to risk exposure to daylight.

     With the texts sent, Jemma is back to searching. This time, she is looking for someone specific...her friend Daisy. And...if Daisy is here, the texts should help to locate Jemma. Especially the one about men picking up women....quite literally.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Daisy is watching with amusement as girls flock over to the bearded man. And he even speaks the part! No, she truly isn't thinking that this is the real deal. It's a festival afterall! Nor does she consider Harley to be the real one. But then again ..., even if they were ..., live and let live! But her attention gets taken briefly to her phone. Close to a strong man? That means right around.

She pivots about, searching, peeking over and finally finds out Jemma. She waves one hand and goes over. "Hey hey, just in time." She grins. "And that's Fitz's loss. Growing fungi, really?" typical Fitz. It makes her sigh but then she is pointing with her thumb towards the strong man and the gathering being made.

"Let's take a group selfie." she announces, and then starts dragging Jemma over, unless she flees, which she might want to, as they are closing in on Steph Harley and Hercules.

"How about a group selfie, uh?" she says with an easy grin to her lips.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie gets a picture and then switches to video in time for the comments from Hercules. She makes a one-handed shrug towards her phone as if to tell the intended recipient, what's a girl to do?

The blond grins to Hercules and tells him, "Thank you. Wow, you really do work out," she says, glancing at his muscular physique and blushing just a bit before she'll get back onto her feet, assuming he sets her down. "That out to be good for a dinner at a fancy restaurant," she tells Hercules with a warm grin.

A voice catches her ears then. That voice. That manner of talking.

IS SO THE REAL HARLEY!

Stephanie turns slowly to see the Clown Princess approaching. It takes Stephanie a moment to make herself remember, Harley won't know who Steph is. It does help her relax a little as Stephanie tells Harley, "Sure, go ahead," moving back a little bit, but recording everything on her phone. She hits a little green icon on the phone, knowing Oracle will get a message and be able to tap into the phone. Whether Stephanie wants it or not.

She glances over as Daisy and Jemma approach, giving them both a friendly enough smile before turning her attention back to recording Harley and Hercules.

Hercules has posed:
Hercules sets Stephanie down gently, "I am glad that I could help! The boy is a fool not to accompany you. He truly shall regret his mistake!" he says. At the comments about his body, he makes his pecs jump a bit, each one rapidly flickering in an alternating rhythm. "Staying in shape is easy when you have the blood of mighty Zeus in your veins!"

Harley's approach has him look towards her and smile, "Of course, fair harlequin! I would be most pleased to take a picture with a mirthful servant of Dionysus, especially one most fair. How would you like me to pose for you? Perhaps you could sit on my back while I do push-ups!"

Harley Quinn has posed:
"How's it goin' big guy?" Harley twists a strand of blue on blonde hair around her left index finger while absently chomp popping her gum in her back teeth, walking right up to Hercules once Stephanie has vacated. "So foah this pic-cha, I want ya ta get real close okay? Like if ya think ya too close ya aint close enough.. How much extra would it be foah ya to grab my boob'ah suh'n? Nah, prolly a bad idea..." She shakes her head and trails off with Daisy and Co approaching.

"Group pic-cha? Sure! Come on in heah.. how many people can ya hold on ya ahms Mistah 'Ucles?" Blue eyes shamelessly dancing ovah the muscle bound son of ... Zeus? Is it Zeus oah Odin? All these fair skinned European mythological demi-gods staht to look the same aftah a way, innit?

"Cus I'm thinkin you do a pull up wit me on that ahm-" Harley points up to Hercules' left arm, "An' she hangs from my right ahm-" Pointing to Jemma.. "While them two-" Pointing to Steph and Daisy, "-Do pull ups on ya othah? Then we all look supah strong, an' shit."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    "Take a wha?" The sentence doesn't finish as Daisy grabs an arm and starts dragging Jemma over. There is little in the way of resistance as the two make their way over towards the current trio of Steph, Harley, and Hercules. Though, there is a bit of a red flush touching Jemma's cheeks as Daisy just gets right to it and asks about a group picture. "Really, is it a selfie if there is more than one?" The idle question is posed, to no one in particular...before Jemma realizes she actually said that out loud, causing a little more red to flush her expression.

    And then...the vision that the blonde harlequin has for a picture? Why, that was perhaps more than Jemma was envisioning. The look of wided eye wonder shifts to Daisy in a sort of 'you expect me to do what?' expression. But...no actual verbal denial. Painfully polite, being British and all.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Ok, alternating pec jumps. Approved. And it also makes Daisy laugh. "See Jemma. No such sights back in the lab!" the easy smile is returned to Steph when she greets the two Shieldies, then her head canting ot the side when she hears Harley more closely. Either too good of an accent or the real one. Well, damn. What are the odds? But it is one of her guilty pleasures, watching the online videos of the Clown Princess. A part of Skye and that rebellious nature that's still a prominent part of her.

"Yes, Jemma. A groouuup selfie." a small nudge with her elbow.

"And yep, lets get to it." no reluctance there on Daisy. She is here to have fun afterall. She addresses Hercules then, because she can be polite too. "Do you mind if we do it us four?" she gesturing with one hand.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie glances to Hercules as Harley makes the request. "You... seem like the real deal," she says, though it's directed at Hercules. Hopefully he is, otherwise there's probably not much chance of four women doing pull ups from his arms.

She glances about at the other women and as they seem to be agreeable to Harley's plan, Stephanie puts her phone away to move over and join them. As Steph hears Jemma, she suddenly rounds on the scientist. "I know, right!?" Stephanie says as if Jemma has just voiced something she's asked herself a dozen times. "Shouldn't it be called a groupie instead?" Stephanie asks. "It's kind of like buildings. Once they are done building them, shouldn't we call them 'builts'?"

Hercules has posed:
Hercules stands broadly, planting his feet and extending his arms, "With my bare hands, I have changed the course of rivers! I have lifted giants from their feet! I have felled dragons with the force of a single blow! To carry the weight of you is as nothing to Hercules! But still, I caution you, for the day is warm and your hands my sweat at the nearness of my manliness. Grip carefully, lest you break your bottoms on the unforgiving street below."

"And no, I have had many groupies, it is not like this. Well. Mostly not like this."

To Stephanie he ads, "I am who I say I am. The Prince of Power never lies!"

Harley Quinn has posed:
"In the purest sense of the word, buildin' is moah a moniker indicatin' the ever changin' nature of society around structures where in human beings celebrate their own materialistic achievements by purposefully insenuatin' that it's a static within' an evah changin' whole..." Harley points out to Stephanie, climbing up Hercules back as if he were some kind of exercise equipment and not a demi-god. Turning to flop down on his bicep, wiggling to get comfortable and bending over to offer a hand out for Jemma, "So they call it a buildin' rather than a built on account of theah are glorifyin' the act rather than the product.. it's kinda narcissistic at its base, sure, but we ah who we ah.. like tha muscly man says!" Pat pat patting his tricep.

"In liftin' giants an' fellin dragons, is moah about consist application of foahce oah repetition? Cus I always want't ta punch a dragon... oah change the course of a river... mothah nat'cha is so ef'n badass. Oooo I'm a big strong mountain - KAPOW, Mothah Nat'cha hits ya wit ten thousands ye'ahs worth of constant water motion to dig a revine in ya ass..."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    Sure, Jemma sees the hand being offered to help her up the living jungle gym that Harley seems to have made Hercules into, for the moment. But, the shock of hearing a thorough psychological explanation of the reason for the noun 'building' from what Jemma had assumed was a street performer quite has her frozen. "That....is extremely detailed and nuanced. And it makes perfect sense." That stunned expression blinks away as Jemma actually takes Harley's hand to get a boost.

    And...apparently, that is how you get Jemma to do something. Just...be brillant. Still, it is a rather amusing sight as the scientist gets an easy boost up, finding herself dangling from an arm.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"There's two of you now...?" A brow arching on Daisy as she looks between Stephanie and Jemma, worried perhaps. She can handle one person on a day to day basis with it, but two!? Too much. And then Harley starts going on ..., and on..., about building and all it's nuances. ".. make it three.." and then looking between them all, determined voice telling them. "You know what, I am standing by my guns. Group selfie it is, end of discussion." and then she begins to walk around to one of Hercules's arms. She claps her hands together, rubbing them and then up she goes. A small jump to take hold on his arm, she climbing up into position as well.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown's mouth falls open at the explanation from Harley. This is one of the few times that Stephanie has been up close with the woman, having been steered away from such opponents during her time with the Bat, and not usually taking on someone so tough during her year mainly on her own.

"Right, like I was saying," she says, flashing Harley a grin she has to force up to her face. Easier to focus on the son of Zeus relenting to the feat of strength. She finds a nice older woman to take a photo with Stephanie's phone, and then moves over to join Daisy on one of Hercules' mighty arms. She pulls herself up onto him, balancing on his arm and flashing a grin and a yeet symbol over to the cameras.

Hercules has posed:
Hercules supports the weight of the women easily enough, his arms not even straining as he lets them position themselves as they please. "I know not of what you speak, jester! I struck a mighty blow across its face with the force of a thousand thousand bulls. I still possess the boots made from the hide of the thing and I roasted its meat upon a fire that very night, eating its heart for the glory of Olympus!"

He breaks into a wide smile for the purposes of the picture.

Harley Quinn has posed:
Harley is seated on Hercules bicep, gingerly curling Jemma up and down with her own arm as if the girl weighs nothing or Harley is just really stronk... which she is, but that's besides the point. "Hey, hold on, someone take a pic'cha wit my phone..." Leaning a little, super dangerous while carrying precious cargo, to pull her cellular device out of her back pocket to toss down to the same old woman, "I wouldn't go scrollin' through the gallery roll grandma.. I know ya seen things, but..." Wide eyed, nodding, all mock seriousiness with a super too wide grin. "Jus' trust me, theahs some shit in that camera."

Pat patting Hercules shoulder, "Don't mansplain me, okay? One time I punch't Batman in the berries an' I fancy mahself pretty strong... so until ya bow ovah the Dark Knight wit' a crib sucker punch? I aint hearin' it!" But she is hearing it, leaning over towards him to whisper, "Ya still got them boots? I'd look fetch af in some dragon skin thigh highs...."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
There might be a bit of an effort to attempt a smile when being used as a hand weight, but at least Jemma is giving it a go. There is a sense of amazement as she bobs, up and down, in the middle of the air.

Of course, that sense of amazement widens with a dawning realization as to exactly who is curling Jemma. So, yeah, Jemma doesn't get out of the lab much, but when she hears the story about the vigilante in Gotham getting punched in the nether region by the very person Jemma is holding on to, the light bulb kicks on. That expression shifts to Daisy as the smile is slightly strained...the classic uncomfortable Jemma look.

    Yes....Jemma really needs to get out more.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"Hey, you guys going to have to send that pic to me later." Daisy says over to both Steph and Harley as phones are given over to the poor woman. She makes her little pose to the camera too, extending one arm forward, V sign with two fingers, a grin to her expression as she does a bit of one-arm pull ups. Not many, and hopefully without taking toooo long between pics. But well, she can handle it for a time at least.

She listens to them going on about Hercules's feats. She furrows her brows. Not bad, and the man is indeed strong too. "You know, I am close enough to believe that you could be the real thing ..." but couldn't be, right?

The story about Batman's berries does get her to let out an involuntary chuckle. She can't help but picture it in her mind. A look to Jemma then and a, "Just imagine the story you will be able to tell Fitz tomorrow." right? Because Fitz will just be ecstatic ....

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie poses for the pictures as well, and then she puts her hands down on Hercule's arm and tells the woman with the cameras, "This may not last long so get it quick." And then she does a hand stand on the massive Olympian's outstretched arm. She holds it for several seconds before finally bringing her legs back down and grabbing hold of him more firmly.

Over at the stage, the band starts up playing. It's Luna Mezz 'O Mare, and the largely Italian crowd starts singing along with it. Stephanie lets out a grin and then hops down from the arm of Hercules. "Wow, thanks for doing that," she tells him. "I'd buy you a beer, but don't think they are going to sell it to me," the high school senior says with a laugh.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmW3xVYQcPE)

Hercules has posed:
Hercules allows the ladies to scramble down, placing his fists on his hips. To Harley, he says, "I believe they are in a trove I keep back on Mt. Olympus. Their retrieval would require a quest from a mortal, for the guard I have set is an old friend and fond of riddles," he says.

To Stephanie, he smiles, "I can provide my own libation, but I thank you for the kind thought. These bards seem to have caught your eye," he says with a sparkle in his own, nodding to the other ladies as well, "I am pleased to have provided a measure of entertainment. If you use the taghash HERC, I can have a friend of mine show them to me and I will find yours and laugh merrily at the memory of our brief acquaintance."

Harley Quinn has posed:
"I'll be a monkeys toe jame if'n Hercules didn't jus' hit us wit a twitter tag..." Harley lowers Jemma to the ground then falls backwards, gripping the Olympians bicep to keep herself from just hitting the gorund out of her roll over back flip. "Alright! Who's up foah some drinkin'? This is officially girls night out wit a bunch of strangahs." Phone up, thumbing over the screen to post the pic with all the accompanying tags and hashes and all that junk.

Wondering, as Harley is often want to do, in a random direction. Whether people follow her or not, she'll ultimately get lost anyways! There's always an adventure when the Clown Princess of Bad Directions is on the job!

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    Having been returned to the ground, Jemma automatically takes a step over towards Daisy's general area. But, there is a genuine expression of mingled amusement and amazement, as a hand rests upon her chest. "Oh, Fitz is never going to believe this. Never in a million years." A pause is given...then a glance over towards Stephanie (and also a side-glance to Harley). "So...maybe I can get a copy of that picture? Visual evidence would certainly be easier to believe than hearsay." Oh, leave it to Jemma to get technical in asking for a copy of a picture.

    Then...attention back to Daisy. "Girls' night out?" With the way that question was phrased, it may be likely that Jemma has not experienced quite that sort of thing before. Which, given her usual social activities, is quite possible.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"Yes, please do hand over some visual evidence.." But Daisy is grinning over at Jemma when she says it, moving over to curl one arm over Jemma. "Come, what could go wrong?" she says of a drinking night out with the girls. Which could also be famous last words. But nothing like some daring to make a night great! She gives a thumbs up to Hercules then. "Hashtag Herc. Got it." she winks at the big man.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie grins to Hercules as she retrieves her phone from the woman who took the photos. "Done, and... done," she says, sending the picture out there with the #HERC tag on it. Stephanie turns to Jemma then as she'd like a copy too. "Sure, hit me up with your number," Stephanie says, opening a new Contact and letting Jemma tap in her number if she likes, and then Daisy as well.

The invitation for girl's night out with Harley isn't something that Stephanie can pass up. If only to be on hand should something go wrong. And how could something NOT go wrong with that situation?

Though that is a story for another day.