11888/Space Cop Meets Space Goo

Space Cop Meets Space Goo
Date of Scene:	05 July 2022
Location:	Queens
Synopsis:	Kyle Rayner encounters one of the feared Klyntar on Earth...and finds things might not be entirely what he expected. Andi has questions for Mania.
Cast of Characters:	Andi Benton, Kyle Rayner

---

Andi Benton has posed:
The evening has been a peaceful one as far as patrols go. Oh, there was the occasional shoplifter or armed robbery, or someone trying to drag a woman off into an alley for despicable things, but in the cases where Mania was around to catch wind of it, criminals didn't get very far with their efforts. Once the police were in the area, it was off to the next location. There was only so long the webbing would last until it dissolved, a matter of minutes, so it was a timing thing.

With the path leading Mania off to Queens, she paused atop a building to pull out a phone and see what was nearby. It wasn't long before an eager expression formed in the eyes of the strange vigilante. "Big Belly Burgers? Score." Just a few blocks away. The one in Happy Harbor was on her list of places to regularly frequent, and she turned herself around to face the proper direction before sending a line of webbing out, allowing her to traverse distance between buildings, swinging the way a certain Spider-Man does.

Kyle Rayner has posed:
    The young Green Lantern of Earth.

    Okay, A young Green Lantern of Earth is flying through the sky on a somber sort of night. Feeling awfully alone lately, but because of his newest dwelling, Kyle is surrounded by all types of characters, and yet he hasn't meshed with anyone particularly well, but he's also been heads down in his artbook and sketching away at nothings, or working diligently on a model kit he promised himself he'd get done this summer.

    The young lantern is taking a break from that and is instead flying in the sky, taking in some fresh air as he lazily brushes up against the cooling water of the ceiling made by the cloud cover. Hand parting the clouds like a dolphin might with a fin before he gets an alert on his ring and he's directed down.

    <<Known Hostile Race.>> The ring warns before he points himself down and hits the boost, flying through the air quickly and putting his hands forward, fingers held out creating a cutting edge with a tight green barrier to try and sever the webbing on his way down.

    Above street level, Kyle turns, fist primed at his waist and one leg bent slightly at the knee as he hovers and turns to face towards Mania, "What's your business here?" The Lantern demands.

Andi Benton has posed:
If he only knew. Just as Mania sends out another line of webbing that sticks to a lamp post, there is a warning.

<<Mania>> Andi, look out!

A verbal "What?" is as far as it gets, as the green construct slices through that webbing, whatever it's made of. It cuts off the angle she was taking, and it also forces her to stabilize herself with a twist in midair and another line of webbing shot out in a couple different directions, allowing her to land safely, if a little off-balance.

Those eyes, the only thing that gives away mood, narrow. "We are getting food. Do you always introduce yourself like this to others?" Okay, another sign of irritation? Spiky elements along the forearms and shins flex and bristle, like quills. Her stance is a combination of defensiveness and aggression, the balance shifting both ways.

Kyle Rayner has posed:
    "Usually, no, but I'm sure you already know who I am." The lantern says, the costume he wears more than obvious to any sort of space faring individual, which he assumes this warned black suited person does. "I am Kyle Rayner, of the Green Lantern Corps, (He's not, but worked with them quite a bit this last year.) and I believe I asked you the first question." The man notes, as he continues to float in the air, several feet off the ground.

    The hard light remains stored within his ring, not yet forming any constructs just yet, he's waiting to see if this things Fight or Flight response fires and how he should properly react.

Andi Benton has posed:
Arms cross. "No. We have not met." There is certainly truth there, but beyond that? Hard to say yet.

<<Mania>> The Green Lantern Corps are like space police, Andi.
<<Andi>> Then what is he bothering us for? We haven't done anything.
<<Mania>> Ah. Well...
<<Andi>> There's something you're not telling me.

And Mania continues to not tell Andi, as instead the response is a blunt, "You asked us what our business here was. We told you. Food." A claw-tipped finger is cast in the direction of the burger place. "How about you tell us why you are bothering us?" Attention is focused on the ring, his position, and his body language. She is also prepared to act.

Kyle Rayner has posed:
    "The Lantern Corps has a standing bounty on you." Kyle says from behind his green and black outlined domino mask. "And I'm also charged with the protection of this planet... Quadrant." Yeah. He knows what he's doing and saying for sure.

    Lowering himself to stand on the ground, Kyle, takes a deep breath, "Look, I'm not trying to be a jerk, or profile or anything like that, but the ring says you're bad news and pinged you from miles away... I want to know why." Kyle explains as he stands rather plainly, not stand off or even prepared for an attack, just, administrative.

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania scoffs, "Oh, is that so? Bounty for what? We have not left this planet in..two years." There's a moment of ticking time off on a few fingers, the solid white eyes shifting upward. In the process, she walks closer with intent, hands coming to rest at her hips as she, from a shorter perspective, stares up at him challengingly. "Funny thing about that. We are also protecting the people here. So what do you have to say about that?"

The voice? Feminine, but also blended together with something more alien in origin. Kyle's information on the Klyntar would certainly give him reason to be suspicious, but this one hasn't even displayed the telltale mouth with those teeth and that tongue...yet. "Maybe your information is outdated. Did you consider that, Greenie?"

Kyle Rayner has posed:
    "My information..." Kyle says, pausing briefly, eyes flickering down towards his ring, and then back to the now much closer Mania. "Maybe, instead of thousands of years of information, you're instead an aberration?" The space-cop says with a twist of his lips before his hands find their way to his hips. "I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm simply doing my job and being concerned." The lantern shrugs with a curious look on his face.

Andi Benton has posed:
"If your job is bothering someone who has not done anything to you, maybe," Mania responds, and there is definitely irritation present.

<<Andi>> Are you going to tell me anything about this?
<<Mania>> We are..reluctant.
<<Andi>> Why?
<<Mania>> We do not want you to..get rid of us.

At this, Mania's entire demeanor shifts and she can't help but take a couple steps back, verbally asking, "Get rid of you? Why? We need each other! We are stronger together!"

The eyes turn back toward Kyle, and there is confusion and some worry in their shape. "An aberration?" is asked. The spiky elements to the punky appearance lessen, somewhat.

Kyle Rayner has posed:
    Kyle's eyes squint behind his mask, even the mask itself shifting to squint towards Mania as she blurts out a sudden half of a conversation. "Are... excuse me, are you possessing a human?!" Kyle asks, his hand with the ring dropping off his waist but not in any direct action. Not yet. Kyle's waiting for an answer to his question first.

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania puts a hand up, palm facing Kyle. She's at least ten feet away by now, but there could be that moment of uncertainty where he doesn't know if she's about to attempt something against him.

"It is /not/ possession!" comes a very firm response. "It is a bond! We help each other! We learn from each other! We make each other better!" This may go against whatever directives Kyle's known about the symbiote race. What influence does an actual person have on it all?

Then comes the question that Andi needs answered as much as any other: "Why do you think we are an aberration? What have..others like us done?" There is Venom, but neither Andi nor Mania are willing to think about that right now.

Kyle Rayner has posed:
    "Mostly those possessed by... Klyntar have ... less than sunny dispositions. Very onery and very ... bitey." Kyle says, relaying the information he's being fed from his ring while putting a more pleasant, or at least tollerable spin on the verbage. "Usually your kind aren't exactly, helpful." Kyle explains, crossing his arms before his chest now and frowning slightly but still having his eyes on Mania, concerned, and cautious.

Andi Benton has posed:
"Bonded, not possessed," Mania interjects, though for the purposes of what Kyle's talking about, bonding to animals and other creatures without much in the way of sentience could be technically more of a possession than not. "And when you say 'bitey,' do you mean like this?"

That's right, a quick demonstration. A line forms where the mouth ought to be, growing wider than normal, and upon opening it he can see the telltale signs of what the symbiotes are known for: needle-sharp teeth, and lots of them at that, plus a lengthy, slick, snakelike tongue. Then it all goes away again, to leave a more faceless visage behind.

In spite of that, Mania's attitude is more subdued now, rather than aggressive. Doesn't mean the danger is past. "If you are supposed to be one of the good guys, then you know some are not always like the others. We arrived on this planet on a meteor, and were found by others who experimented on us, ran tests on us, hurt us. Then we found...us, with Spider-Man's help." Arms spread apart, then gesture at the whole of Mania. "Host. Klyntar. A bond. We learn. We help. We eat chocolate instead of brains. It tastes much better."

Kyle Rayner has posed:
    "Not much difference when the thing you're connected to isn't thinking." Kyle says with a gesture from his right eyebrow and then he takes a breath. "And as far as my databases are aware, Klyntar aren't afraid to use cunning and deception to achieve their goals. Who's to say all of this isn't a lie you're feeding me to buy time for ... any number of things?"

Andi Benton has posed:
Arms cross once more. Chin tilts upward, a haughty display of sorts. "We think. We have not killed humans, only non-humans. Monsters, demons, and other creatures. When it was necessary. We have a social media account." Imagine that.

Mania goes on to acknowledge, "Who is to say it is not? Who is to say we are not telling you our truth? Who is to say we cannot be different from others? We are not ready to trust you enough to show you who we are beneath, but we will tell you something. We live in Happy Harbor. We patrol this city. If your ring says we are close, watch us sometime. See if we are different from what your ring has told you." Her head tilts, awaiting his response to this.

Kyle Rayner has posed:
    "I'll, keep an eye on you. One step out of line and you'll be seeing the inside of an Oan jail cell. It happens much faster than you think I look." Kyle says, uncrossing his arms, and lowering his fists to his sides while beginning to rise up into the air, slowly. Looking up and then twisting his eyes downwards to Mania, "Remember, I'm not the only Lantern that calls this my home too." Kyle warns.

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania scampers her way up the side of a building to keep as much at eye level with Kyle as she can, until he is too far above. She also talks along the way. "If we give you reason to try, then you can try. But when we prove you wrong, you can buy us the dinner we are skipping because of you." Whether or not he actually agrees to this, she swings off into the increasing darkness that settles in, interrupted only by street lights, cars, and people at home.

By the time she returns home, Andi's side of the bond is stern in saying, "It's time we had a little talk. About everything." Within, there is a reluctance in the symbiote. Not enough to quiver, but enough to be...unhappy.