12447/Renovation is a Dirty Business

Renovation is a Dirty Business
Date of Scene:	15 August 2022
Location:	Starpower Publishing House, Morningside Heights, New York
Synopsis:	America is visited by Power Girl who wants to see just what this whole Young Avengers business is about. The more experienced super heroine offers some advice on what it means to lead a team and extends her support to America's project.
Cast of Characters:	America Chavez, Karen Starr

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America Chavez has posed:
    Morningside Heights isn't the quietest neighborhood in New York, but today it was louder than normal. Every few minutes the sound of a female shouting in exclamation is accented by the crack of metal on stone. Occasionally the grunt or shout is followed by the sound of debris, heavy debris falling.

    For those not used to it the sounds might be concerning.

    The source was a closed down publishing house in the heart of the neighborhood, the fence and barbed wire top stands guard over the overgrown lawn. The front doors of the facility are open though and the sounds are coming from within. Inside a single figure stands holding a sledgehammer. She's built like an Amazon, tall, toned, and attractive. But her coloration marks her as different from the residents of Themescira. Dark skin and full, curly, long hair speaks of a Latin heritage in her ancestry. Currently her dark skin is splotched with patches of grey dust.

    She's wearing black hotpants and a tee shirt--bother are dusted with gray as well. Her hair is held back from her face by a dark blue bandana with stars over it.

    She wipes at her brow and mutters under her breath. "Personal pride would be really nice to discard right now" she hefts the hammer and swings it again at a wall with another grunt. The wall cracks and crumbles. "But no... 'it'd be nice to see how the other half lives for a time' I said, 'try doing some renovations the old fashioned way' I said...." She sets the head of the hammer to the ground. "That was a dumb idea. I say now."

Karen Starr has posed:
    There had been some... Discussion. Word traveled fast, even in the Avengers, and while Karen is as far from Leadership as it gets for both the Avengers and the League, she still hears things. In fact, she hears everything- she's just polite enough to ignore it, most of the time.

    This time, the news of a fledgling group of young heroes had reached her ears, and caught her attention. The Titans, she felt, were more than proof that groups like this merited not just respect, but investment. Time, effort, resources, they'd probably get those from the Avengers eventually: But one thing Power Girl can offer more than anyone else, is experience.

    It wasn't really hard to find their hideout, considering it was being actively renovated by an angry girl with a sledgehammer.

    Power Girl makes her approach, and pays her due dilligence in politeness by floating down onto the step at the front door, waiting a moment until there's a pause between America's swings, and knocking- loudly- on the door.

    When the younger woman finally answers, it's a stark sight. Seeing Power Girl in person always is a little surprising. You figure the cameras would add something, but instead, for Kryptonians, they tend to take away. Her musculature, her stature, everything- she is tall, and she is strong. Perhaps, indeed, standing on the front porch right now is the most powerful woman in the world.

    It stands to reason, then, that the first question is probably going to be what on Earth she's doing here?

America Chavez has posed:
    America turns and blinks at the white clad superheroine. "-Dio-..." she breathes out. She catches herself gawking and starts. "I mean... uh... hi!" It's not often that Ms. America is caught off guard, but Power Girl is an exception to a number of rules. Introductions are clearly on that list. "Umm... Is there something I can do for you?" she asks, her curiosity of the woman's appearance clear.

    She looks at her appearance, dust covered and sweat drenched and coughs,. "Sorry. I was just doing a bit of renovating." She tosses the hammer aside like it weighs no more than a toothpick and wipes her hands on her dust covered hotpants. "I thought going at it without the assistance of strength behind it would make it feel more... authentic?" She shrugs. "I was wrong, just makes it seem like more of a hassle. But, what can I say, I'm stubborn, even with regards to myself."

Karen Starr has posed:
    "Yeah. You can show me around." she starts, moving to enter as if she was invited. Keeping her out is... Probably about as difficult a proposition as it sounds. Like a tourist, too, her head is on a swivel- taking in the appearance of the building that America's been treating like it just robbed a bank.

    It's odd, really, to see her move. She can fly faster than light, and could have given herself a more thorough tour than America can likely provide in the blink of an eye- and yet, oddly, humbly, she's just walking. Maybe it's something like what America was doing before- the 'other half' and all that. It might also have something to do with the effect that breaking the sound barrier has on buildings when you're inside them. Regardless of what it is, the juxtaposition of what she /could/ do and what she /is/ doing is all a part of what makes the Metropolis crowd so damned weird, in a way.

    "It's not going to feel authentic until it's lived in." she notes, stopping in front of the wall that America was taking down. "Until then, you're only playing at it. Kudos for doing it, though. Sometimes, you have to give yourself perspective. Understand how hard it can be. Perspective is really important."

    One hand on her hip, fingers lazily curled around to rest her fist upon where her belt hangs around her waist, she turns calmly back towards America.

    "You have anyone in mind to put this place to use yet? Didn't exactly hear about a roster."

America Chavez has posed:
    America smiles a bit at Power Girls look around. "I feel that. That's what I'm working toward at least. Perspective -is- important. "We had a meeting a few weeks ago. Just five of us to start, well six, but one of them is playing hard to get." She shrugs. "Seven if you count Donna, but she's there to help provide support and legitamacy more than be a part of the time. But so far it's me, Mania, Red Arrow, Teen Lantern, Wiccan, and Speed--he's the one playing hard to get. There are a few more on my radar that I want to reach out to as well, but timing and" she gestures, "projects."

    She gestures to Power Girl to follow her deeper into the building and starts for a hallway off from the main production room. The hallway is dimly lit but it's a great deal cleaner than the main room. It looks like America handled the small tasks before moving to outright demonlition of walls. It's cleaned and there is the distinct odor of new paint in the air. It's just a primer white for the moment but it's far better than the grafitti of the last place. "There's not much to it, but there area number of big rooms for training and recreation and I'm thinking the offices upstairs can be used as quarters."

    She stops at a stairwell going up and the corridor continuing to another large room further in. "I don't think we've met officially... I mean, I know who you are, but I'm probably a small blip on the radar of your notice." She turns and offers her hand (it's clean) to the white clad Kryptonian. "America Chavez. Ms. America if you want to use code names."

Karen Starr has posed:
    Power Girl nods along. One hip cocked, she takes all that information in for a moment in silence before making any comment. "I wouldn't count Donna. The Titans are a full time job, last I've heard- but it's good to have the support of someone who has a lot of experience in exactly this kind of endeavor." she states, offering a smile.

    "So if you've got five people, why don't you have five people here renovating the place?" she asks, taking a few steps around. "Go at it like a team. Do the job without powers. Work hard at it, get exhausted, and make it yours."

    Having noted that, Power Girl is now gesturing around one of the large rooms, broadly. By the end of it, her hands are on her hips. "Not only should you /not/ do it all yourself, but you're all going to need that perspective. That's where it all starts."

    Finally, at the end of the tour, America offers her hand. It's taken in by a blue gloved palm, and for once, someone is shaking America's hand who isn't at risk of being crushed. For Power Girl's part, she doesn't squeeze- but at the same time, it's also just... /That/ impossible to move her. Even for someone like America.

    Hard to believe, but at the same time, it makes sense. Kryptonians just aren't fair, even when they're among other super-powered folk, it's just not fair.

America Chavez has posed:
    America shrugs. "I have a bit more time than they do I think is the long and the short of it. They've been by... did the hall together the three of us. Took a whole day between sweeping, scrubing, fixing the floor and the primer job." She looks at the hole she made and her grin wides. "Besides, maybe I just felt like taking down a few walls myself."

    The handshake leaves her looking at her hand, awed by the obdurate strength that Power Girl represents. She chuckles a bit. "I agree though, we'll get more work in. I have... a vision of this place in my head, if that makes sense. What I want for my people, my family, and what's in those places is ephemeral, up to the team as a whole, but the structure... the shape of it... that's all up here" she says, pointing to her temple.

    "A little selfish, I know, but if I'm going to be a leader, I have to provide some shape to our goals. A direction. This," she gestures around, "shouldn't be any different. So I give the direction for the place, and from there we work on making it a home for us all. Everything has to start with a strong foundation, you know?"

Karen Starr has posed:
    There's another nod or two that accompanies that. "Yeah, time is a major commodity." she notes, taking a moment to look out the window. "One that is, sadly, running out. Listen..." she turns, looking at America now, and bringing her hands up to the younger woman's shoulders.

    "You've got a whole hell of a lot ahead of you. If you're still looking for people, there's a young Synthezoid that was crashing on the Avengers' couch not too long ago. Probably has a lot of promise if she's anything like her father." Her hands clap the woman's shoulders, and she starts moving towards the door.

    "The Avengers are going to support you, and help in whatever way they can, but some days, you're going to have questions. Some days, you're going to wonder if you're doing it right, or doing enough. When those days come, just... Shout. I'll hear you out. Always remember, you're doing a good thing here. It's going to be hard- harder than anything you've ever done, but you have to keep going."

America Chavez has posed:
    America smiles at the start of Power Girl's motivational speech, but as the woman goes on the smile fades into an expression of deep consideration. When she finishes America nods and blinks a bit. "I'll remember and I will keep going." She reaches up to place a hand on Power Girl's forearm and nods. "Thank you. It means a lot to hear that from someone like you."

    She smiles again. "If you're talking about Vivian, I plan on getting ahold of her, yeah. We've worked together in the past." She takes a deep breath. "If, if you're in the neighborhood again... don't hesitate to stop by, my door is always open to role models. And you're more than welcome. -Mi casa es su casa,- okay?"

Karen Starr has posed:
    When Power Girl reaches the door out, she opens it, and then as casual as can be, floats her way out of it. Folding her arms- an action that can give any person confidence issues in a lot of different ways, she offers a shrug.

    "Just doing what I can. If I'm in the area and have time, I'll be more than glad to stop by- but time is hard to come by." Unfurling one arm, she offers a wave, and starts to move into the sky.

    "Don't be afraid to call, and spend a little time in Metropolis. We can always use the help." And, with that, she's in the sky and flying. There's a thunderous crack that reaches America long after Power Girl has reached Metropolis.

    It really just isn't fair.