16249/All the World's A Zoo

All the World's A Zoo
Date of Scene:	03 November 2023
Location:	Gotham Zoon
Synopsis:	Kiden goes to the Gotham Zoo and gets a quick tour from Bart!
Cast of Characters:	Kiden Nixon, Bart Allen

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Kiden Nixon has posed:
After an interesting and informative lunch with an old friend, Kiden felt the need for a... walk. Which for her, can mean just about anywhere. She ends up at the Gotham Zoo, however. To anyone else, she's just a patron that shows up here and there. To Bart, however... she's half there and half not.

Sneaking in with use of her powers, she's moving around the zoo at what appears to be a speed only his family can manage. But she isn't... there. While he can see her move, it's ephemeral, like a heat wave on pavement. When she halts, it's like she comes back into herself, solid and fully in reality.

She also seems to be wearing a familiar leather jacket.

Kiden tucks her hands into her pockets and pauses at a zoo map, looking it over as if trying to figure out where she's going...

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen has been asked to work an earlier shift than he normally does. Which is cool he gets to spend more time with the animals, but he can't really use his speed. So, he is walking along towards one of the exhibits, and he sees someone appear. He blinks a moment, he may not be able to run at speed, but he still has his reactions and should have seen someone coming. He stops and studies the person and realizes this much be that Flux person Conner was talking about. He hmmms and nods a bit, as he goes over what was said. He does not feel any speedforce connection to her.

Kiden Nixon has posed:
Turning away from the map with a slightly disgruntled expression, Kiden huffs out a breath and glances around. Spotting Bart, she lifts a hand and heads towards him, "Hey! You, you work here, right? I don't suppose you guys have any possums here, do you?" She offers a smile both weary and wary.

For Bart... this absolutely matches the description Conner left of Flux, reinforced by Laura's mention of her as well. She's short, skinny, with a blonde bob, wearing Conner's leather jacket with an outfit that looks more appropriate for the club than the zoo... and she's... fast? She's certainly something!

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen hmmms a bit to this and says "We have some in the nocturnal exhibits." He tells her. It being Gotham, a section of the zoo is set aside for nocturnal animals. He looks down at his watch and says "Should be feeding time for them soon, as we have them accustomed to thinking it is night currently.

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Oh, you have some!" Kiden lights up a bit, showing that she's not much older than he is. "Can you show me which way? I got a little turned around." She lets out a breath and lifts a shrug, I think I got inside my head too much and lost where I was. Just... running and not thinking about where I was going." She offers a half smile, "You know... anyways! Possums? Please?"

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen nods a moment, and says "Let me drop these things off." He says of a few packages he has with him. He motions for her to follow him, and once at a door "Be right back." He says and steps inside to hand the stuff over and tells them he is going to take his lunch break. He comes back out and says "And now you said you wanted to see the possums?"

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Oh, yeah, sure!" Kiden tucks her hands into the pockets of her borrowed jacket, following along with him at an amiable pace. She seems to enjoy the walk, just the passage of time, the slight breeze, even the chill in the air. Pausing at the door, Kiden bobs and nod and glances around the area while Bart gets his stuff handled. When he pops back out, she offers a smile and bobs a nod, "Yes, please. I like possums."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen nods, a bit and says "Don't think I have seen you around the zoo before, I take it this is your first time here?" He will ask her as they walk. He leads past a couple other exhibits giving her a moment to look at them if she seems to want to if not leading on as they talk.

Kiden Nixon has posed:
Kiden lifts a small shrug and nods, "Yeah.. I'm from New York. This is my... third time? in Gotham. I needed to get out of the city for a bit. Gotham was far enough away to make me feel better, close enough that I can get back quickly." She walks along with him, glancing at the other exhibits but not really *seeing* them. "What about you? Are you from Gotham, or an implant?"

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen smirks a bit as she mentions getting back quick. "Well, I spent most of my time growing up in the south, but I live here in Gotham." He tells her. Which is the truth in real time he spent more childhood in Manchester Alabama with Max, and then his apartment in New York ended up teleported to Gotham so he lives here now.

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"The south, huh? Do things actually move slower down south? Like... people take more time to do things, they're less.. I dunno... uptight?" Kiden glances at him curiously before looking ahead once more. "I can't really imagine living anywhere else than New York. This here is the farthest I've gone from the city in my entire life."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen smiles and says "Sometimes it seems so, but not really. My foster dad. (He figures best way to explain Max to folks not in the know) wanted to make sure I got an understanding to slow down and take notice of things around me." He explains. He will lead her inside the building, where it seems food is just now being put out for the possums.

Kiden Nixon has posed:
Nodding, Kiden offers a brief grin, "I hear you. New York is all rushrushrush... but I'll say this much, being on the streets... you learn to take time for the things that are important to you. That you need to hold on to those moments as long as possible." She lifts a shrug and smiles, "Also to be very quick on your feet and vigilant. People suck."

Then they enter the 'night house' and she quiets down, looking around at the various animals, then heading for the possums, "Ahhhhhhh, there they are! They're so *fuzzy* and silly! I love that they have fangs but still gnaw at stuff with the back teeth, like cats."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen nods a bit to this and says "Most people don't think they are cute, but they do have a purpose, without them, the wilderness and areas around it would be in for a lot more problems, between ticks and other things they eat."

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Snakes, rats... even the carrion they eat keeps it from sitting there and becoming diseaase-ridden. People don't like them, but they perform a necessary function. Like mushrooms! People think fungi are gross, but like.. they suck up all the nasty crud left around and process it." Kiden lifts a shrug and smiles, "I'll take something that's weird and useful over something pretty and useless anyday."

Watching them eat, she smiles, "I think they're adorable. They make this clicking sound when they talk with each other.. it's so fun to see them in a big group." She glances to Bart, "So.. what's your favorite animal here?"

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen hmmms and says "Well, I like them all, but my favorite here?" He hmmms a bit scratching his chin in thought and says "Probably the giraffes, there was a new born when I started and have pretty much got to watch him as he is growing up.

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Awwwwwww, that's cool! Getting to watch an animal as it grows.." Kiden flashes a grin at him and gives a nod. When she looks back to the opossums, it fades a bit, "I guess I mostly just feel a... sort of kinship with them. We're both more common than people think, both persecuted based on erroneous beliefs, and often treated with scorn, disdain, or outright hatred." Reaching up, she touches the glass briefly and watches them. "They're really just.. trying to live."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen nods a bit and says "Well, I think with the fighting spirit, they do find those who care for them and they can care for. I mean, just have to find where you fit in and all, some of them fit in here at the zoo while others are finding their way of fitting in most everywhere

Kiden Nixon has posed:
Kiden gives a wry smile and nods, "Not always easy to find where you belong... sometimes you find something, and it feels real but... then it falls apart. Or you have to leave. And then it's.. gone. And you're alone." She lets out a breath and shakes off whatever is clinging to her, smiling at Bart, "But you still try, right? Just.. keep picking up and moving forward."

Bart Allen has posed:
Bart Allen nods a bit to this and says "I am not sure who said it, but know have heard a saying It is not how many times you get knocked down but how many times you get up that matter."

Kiden Nixon has posed:
"Raging Bull, maybe? Or... I dunno, Captain America? Sounds like something he would say." Kiden chuckles, her hands tucking into the pockets of her borrowed leather jacket as she nods, "I always get back up. It just isn't always easy to keep going when you're walking alone." She turns and smiles at Bart, "Anyways... I should probably get back home before Conner wonders where I've disappeared to. Thanks for the tour! Maybe I'll see if I can drag him back here for a full tour of the place."