17657/They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway
Date of Scene:	15 April 2024
Location:	Broadway
Synopsis:	Mania and Venom reconnect while encountering someone else good at attracting attention when she wants it: Selene.
Cast of Characters:	Andi Benton, Eddie Brock, Selene Gallio

---

Andi Benton has posed:
In the city that never sleeps, you can always find some activity, somewhere. Broadway, home of many tourist spots, shows, and so much more, is one of those epicenters in New York City. While the shows don't last all night, at least not /those/ shows, some do let out rather late in the evening.

Mania's on patrol, swinging through the air like she learned a few years ago from a certain red and blue hero (or menace, depending), casting out lines of webbing to adhere to buildings and light poles before coming to a stop atop an overlook that gives her a good view to the main roads below. Different sights, sounds, and smells reach up that far, food not the least of them. A little longer, and it would be a good point for a snack. For now, the black and white figure crouches at the edge of the rooftop, balancing easily.

Eddie Brock has posed:
<Eddie:> 'We're not out trying to find something to eat. You said you wanted to patrol and...'

"We know, but excuses are running out," the deep, rumbling voice that sounds like it was spawned from Hell itself interjects and cuts off the man contained within the protective embrace of the creature known as Venom. The symbiote answers with resignation from the subject while he sits crouched among the rooftops and crenellations of the Broadway adjacent structures. While the monstrosity could be described as hulking, the fact that it has adopted a slouched and crouched posture only serves to reduce the sheer size of it.

That is until he unfurls himself. The inky shadow rises up from its position overlooking the streets and adjacent alleyway below. Something else entirely had caught its attention. It's vicious, tooth-lined maw opens and its thick tongue whips at the air, taking in everything that the monster's senses have to offer.

Venom spares no time leaping forward and a tendril of seemingly pure darkness lances across the avenue, adhering to the exterior surface of a wall. The swing is quick and efficient, before the bit of inky darkness returns to its owner and terrifying claws dig into the building. He's climbing and quickly, ascending along the building's alley adjacent side in his approach to another of his kind: Mania.

Selene Gallio has posed:
It's not every day that the urban jungle that is New York City is graced by the presence of Selene Gallio. Or at least, it's not every day it's quite so brazen. There aren't many tasks that the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club considers too important to simply dispatch a minion to handle. Even those of the more sensitive sort best left forgotten and unknown are often most efficiently handled by a minion who meets a swift end shortly after.

But every now and then, there's a special task that she simply cannot allow a lesser to handle.

In retrospect, Selene will likely regret that choice to give this particular situation a personal touch. But if you live long enough, aspiring goddess or not, the universe conspires to make you the butt of a joke or two.

Two Symbiotes and an ancient mutant vampire... well, don't walk into a bar. Indeed, Mania and Venom aren't walking at all. Selene is, though the crowds milling about on the sidewalk don't even seem to notice the way they part to allow her passage. They surely don't notice the tall woman's relative lack of attire, or absolute dismissal of the fact that she should definitely be shivering from the chill of walking down the sidewalk in an outfit that is quite literally more boot than anything else.

She sighs softly, fingers tracing the dusty, cracked cover of a tome bound in... well, it's likely best not to consider what the faded, leather-like covering is made from. The Black Queen sighs out, gloved thumb of her right hand brushing her left forearm, smearing a scarlet streak of blood along painfully pale skin as she sighs out. "I swear. So unwilling to give up a book he couldn't hope to read. /People/."

Her eyes roll, only for that exasperated reaction to lead her sightline up and... Oh. My. Well now, isn't that interesting? Eyes narrow, dark painted lips press into a thin line. Is it appropriate to wave?

Andi Benton has posed:
From her perspective, Mania can see the way the people below move as Selene strides along. It's like the parting of the Red Sea, except with a sea of humanity instead. Naturally, that's what draws the feminine symbiote's attention first. Awareness of Venom doesn't register yet.

<<Mania>> Andi, is that..?
<<Andi>> I'm not sure. I think I've seen her before. But it's been a while.

A brief internal conversation is had, solid white eyes narrowing to squint down that way, especially as Selene appears to notice her up there. Meanwhile, it gives Venom the chance to keep climbing.

Eddie Brock has posed:
Despite his considerably size, Venom is quite nimble. He slithers over the rooftop's edge with the dexterity and guile of a hunting cat on the prowl. Forward he crawls, closer and closer in his approach of Mania's back. A wicked grin results in the figure's mouth opening menacingly wide as he utilizes what little rooftop obstructions he can to conceal his approach. To Venom it is little more than a game. Practice. A bit of good fun.

<Eddie:> 'Duuuude, announce yourself..'

Like the rasp of a saw slicing into wood, Venom's sigh can be heard among the sounds of the City That Never Sleeps. By itself it is enough to announce his presence, but Venom does speak up with a nod toward the roof's edge as he makes his presence known from a few yards back, "We saw her too," Venom remarks with a voice that seems as much informative as prideful. He still does not rise up from his prowling posture, which seems to provide the perception of his being smaller than he truly is.

Venom lifts a hand, gesturing toward the roof's edge before he grins, his words carried upon a hiss like hot metal plunged into cool water, "She looks like a snack walking around like that. Want to go check her out?"

That's the great thing about Venom. As unsettling as his rows of teeth may be; he does at least always look like he's got a smile on his face.

Selene Gallio has posed:
Selene's eyebrows lift ever so slightly as the two figures close in and... do not explode into the typical frenzy of costumed violence that such meetings seem to inevitably lead to. Well, 'violence' is usually a bit of an overstatement. Tussle. The usual costumed tussle. She sighs out softly. Well, it /was/ greedy to hope she'd both acquire her new literature and get a show in the same afternoon, wasn't it?

Besides, while that smaller figure is familiar, that far more menacing one isn't. At least not in any personal way. There's a ghost of a memory of some sort of news coverage or other, but 'Large monstrously powerful figure' is... not nearly as unique a characteristic as one would think. But those inhuman motions at least mean she hasn't forgotten that Wilson Fisk sometimes lurks on rooftops or something.

Lips twist in a thoughtful frown as Selene's gaze drifts from the symbiotic duo to trace down the building they perch atop.

Ugh. Fire escape? No thank you.

And so she simply lifts her hand not clasping her book and turns her wrist slowly to turn her palm upright, and crook a finger slowly. Really, what's the worst that could happen? This could be so interesting.

Andi Benton has posed:
Venom may never know just what Mania's level of awareness was when it comes to his approach. The fact she didn't show any sign of being startled could be a clue. The benefits Venom has in that regard, so does Mania.

From a shoulder, even as the rest of her remains the same, a small and almost cartoonish 'face' takes shape as a few tendrils collect together for it, a mimicry of Mania's head, eyes, and an exaggeration of the mouth (when she reveals one). "Brother Venom," it hisses in a friendly, smiling way, sounding like some strange religious address even though it's nothing of the sort.

"We remember her," Mania herself adds, still squinting as she spares a few moments of attention his way. Perhaps against her better judgment, she sniffs once and agrees around the time Selene herself beckons them to come on down. "She doesn't look like a snack to us, but we would enjoy seeing what you think of her."

That said, she leans out over the edge of the roof, the little Mania head withdrawing back to wherever it came from, and she freefalls before sending a webline out that lets her continue in an easy arc to land a few feet away from the Black Queen, where she straightens after a bow. "We saw you," she confirms.

Eddie Brock has posed:
"Brother," Venom hisses the word aloud, as though sampling it wetly upon his tongue. He shakes his head once, his tongue slashing the air with the motion. "A peculiar honorific, Mania," the rasping hiss of a voice speaks into the sickly gloom of the rooftop. New York City's rooftops are rarely truly swallowed by shadow, leaving them in a sort of twilight all their own.

<Eddie:> 'Really? Let me say hi, too'.

Another sawing sigh escapes the wicked maw of Venom before the black and white splotched face begins to peel aside, the rows of teeth curling outward until the face of the man beneath can be viewed even if only slightly, "Heeeey, just out for a little fresh air and..."

It seems that Venom isn't keen to continuing socializing much longer. Especially with the potential snack down on the street below. The inky, oily flesh of the symbiote curls back into place, cutting off Eddie's smalltalk and allowing Venom to continues speaking with a flick of a claw toward the rooftop, "Let'ss have a look."

A moment later and Mania's plummeting over the edge. While she falls freely to the ground before arresting her descent with a web; Venom drops and as he draws nearer and nearer to the pavement below, a lone clawed hand reaches out to grip at the stone edifice of the building. Shards of concrete rain down and litter the ground, crunching underfoot as Venom lands heavily upon the pavement below.

He rises up from his landing, quickly climbing up from his modest height. Up and up he goes until he towers over Mania and even Selene Gallio. He doesn't approach, but does begin to circle as curiously inspects the sheer dressed woman and the book that she holds, "We saw you," he practically echoes with a toothy, leering smile as he steps casually around the scene of the impromptu meeting. "You look like the sort that's just asking for trouble," the hellish voice hisses before his toothy smile grows into a positively unsettling grin, "then trouble regrets finding you."

Selene Gallio has posed:
Sheelene stops short of heaving out a sigh of relief as the more slender figure flows and leaps and begins to descend. Thank god. She didn't want to have to climb up a fire escape like some sort of peasant.

Still, that second figure moving to follow does make her heart quicken just a little, fingers curling a touch more intently on the cover of her recently acquired tome, mind racing through memories... this really is the problem with being so very long lived... and also using people like tools.

Eventually you become effectively person-blind, if someone's not being actively used in a scheme or plot, you kind of forget they exist, and then when you run into each other in the middle of the evening, all you have is this vague tickling notion that you know each other. Not that this is why Selene so often ends up with those she doesn't find immediately useful being shuffled into a permanent past tense of course.

And if there's one thing she's learned over thousands of years, it's to read a room. Or at least tell when someone (Someones, in this case) are not the sort to be easily shuffled into past tense. But also, the smaller figure didn't leap at her like some sort of living blender.

So clearly Selene made a good impression on... her?

Once the duo are landing oh so dramatically, Selene's pleased to note she was correct. Ah... yes! She remembers her! Although any joy at recalling the very basics of 'I've met this intriguing creature before' is momentarily derailed as Venom lands and rises up. And up. And up.

One eyebrow lifts, dark eyes tracing over that broad figure, hips cocking slowly, right hand lifting to idly brush back an inky lock of hair that absolutely was /not/ out of place. "My. So you come in /sizes/. Delightful."

And then those dark lips are spreading wide. Oh so wide. Perhaps a touch too wide. And while her fine ivory teeth lack the impressive razor sharp qualities of symbiote chompers, there's surely something unsettling in the brazen glee at being addressed by Venom. "Oh! You have /no/ idea, darling." She sighs out and shakes her head, "But really, I'm very well-behaved. I haven't made it into the history books in..." She frowns thoughtfully, "Well now. I suppose since before /books/ became a thing actually."

Her head dips in a small nod, the closest she allows to a curtsey, "Selene Gallio, at your service... so long as it's not /dinner/ service."

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania crosses her arms, taking on a naturally aloof and defiant stance. She is a contrast to Venom, the more obvious it is when they're side by side. One is definitely more masculine than the other, also much larger in size. He happens to be the one always displaying those sharp teeth and that tongue, while she mostly keeps it hidden as if behind a mask. A spider-like mask, in fact. What she doesn't display in terms of the ivories, she does in the form of the spiky elements of her own appearance. Very goth, very punk.

Eyes and body language give way to a sarcastic attitude as she shakes her head at Venom's choice of approach. "Always with the property damage. We swear, we can't take you anywhere with us." Ignore the fact they hadn't /been/ going anywhere together in the first place.

Still, being more familiar with Venom and his ways, it's Selene who gets the majority of her direct focus. Their encounters were few and far enough back that it takes some digging around inside to try to recall. "We do," she confirms to her talk of sizes, only for her to grow quiet in contemplation of the rest of what she says. In response, she adds, "Been a while. You look as pale as ever. Very goth. We approve. And we don't do..dinner..that way."

Eddie Brock has posed:
A low hiss of amusement seems to resonate from Venom. He continues to move, carefully treading an orbit around Selene's place upon the pavement. He doesn't lessen that orbit and draw closer, but seems to maintain it. If one has the eye for it, they may even note that he seems to trace the exact same path, down to the step, with each orbit. Never faltering, never swaying from the invisible ring that he's established. Up and down the monstrosity's chin shifts, as though taking in the sight of Selene along with the book that she holds clutched within a hand. "Dinner? A snack would suffice," Venom answers with a degree of menace to his voice.

<Eddie:> 'Did you not hear when she said she's been around since... before. books. were. written?'

"Be silent, we're working," Venom answers back to the voice nagging away within his consciousness. Which of course tends to make for awkward moments for all of those that aren't part of the intimately familiar form of communication shared between symbiote and host.

Mania's own commentary and outlooks regarding the woman go ignored, though Venom doesn't interrupt them. He continues to move with slow, prowling steps. While the form of the creature looks as though he could easily leap and cover the distance from his place to Selene's; he never seems to tense or otherwise broadcast such a maneuver could happen. Instead when the towering symbiote does finally stop, it's to spread his hands near the level of his shoulders and his palms direct themselves toward the sky, while his lethal talons direct themselves toward the heavens as well upon slightly curled fingertips, "Different sizes and," one can practically hear the amusement contained within his hellspawned voice, "sometimes just better, too. While we bet your brain would taste exxquissite," Venom's mouth practically quivers at the prospect of a head being placed within his maw before he concludes, "We're on good behavior right now."

This admission seems to extract some of the more predatory posturing of the symbiote and his shoulders lower slightly as Venom begins to lower himself down to a half-crounch, his forearms coming to rest atop his knees before he asks with a tongue that lashes the air, "Book must be something special if you're walking around like that to get it. What is it? How much is it worth?"

Selene Gallio has posed:
Seline's eyes dart, constantly in motion, a contrast to the imperious, immobile posture of her body, and in the dim light of evening, she practically seems to glow, a marble statue of terrible aspect. Or... she allows, she would be of terrible aspect were it not for her two fangy, otherworldly companions. Which, really, is /why/ those eyes are so vital, so brightly gleaming with intense curiosity as she hisses out a slow breath.

"Oh, come now, property damage is really only a problem for whoever owns the property. Especially in this city."

She smirks lopsidedly and sighs out, "Yes, well, when you find a style that fits, be it... goth, or..." One eyebrow lifts archly, "A plethora of spikes, it's best to dedicate oneself to perfecting it."

Selene's gaze doesn't quite follow Venom's approach well enough to realize precisely how smooth and calculated his motions are, but she manages to hold her own as he rises up and... looms? Oh yes. That's definitely some quality looming going on. She can't even hide the quirk of her lips in an approving little grin. "Oh, no no, I'm afraid I... just ate. I figured while I was out handling one errand, I might as well treat myself to..." She pauses for a moment.

Damn. There's really no good entendre she can think of for the drained husk that's sure to be discovered in days to come. "Well, it was a typical meal in this city. Nothing special, regretfully."

She lifts her eyebrows slowly and murmurs dryly, "And something tells me that you do not consider the cheap pizza slices that so many call a snack... adequate, hm?"

Selene bites her lower lip for a moment, brows furrowing, head tilting as she makes a low, thoughtful noise, "Hm. I don't think anyone's ever /eaten/ my brain." She laughs out delightedly and smiles all the more brightly as she hefts the book gently, almost gingerly, "Oh! This? Priceless. Though I'm afraid more the... sentimental value sort of priceless than the piles of jewels and coins sort." She tilts her head thoughtfully and hums, "Why, do you /need/ a pile of gems and coins? I'd say you should be able to find suitably rewarding work. You appear quite uniquely talented."

Andi Benton has posed:
By this point, there are multiple reactions from those in the crowd, most notably due to Venom and his entire appearance. Wide berths given in most cases, a few people doing what they do and taking their phones out, and in some? Running away. Presenting as prey that could be chased down and pounced, but that's not something that really troubles Mania. Venom, on the other hand? Who knows?

"Yes, he likes people with brains, and we're not talking from a dating perspective," Mania deadpans, thick with the sarcasm. But if Venom does, wouldn't Mania as well?

<<Mania>> You know, when it comes to brains, Andi..
<<Andi>> Don't even start.
<<Mania>> We were only going to say you have a very smart one.
<<Andi>> Sure you were.

A white eye lifts in Venom's direction at the 'working' part. She knows exactly what that comes from, and passes it off as nothing. When he crouches, it more or less puts him on a level with Mania for height, and she turns more focus back toward Selene.

"We like the spikes. People think twice about touching us." With Selene's own talk of having fed, now it's her turn for a squint. Double meanings galore, tonight. "We would rather have a pile of chocolate." Arms cross.

Eddie Brock has posed:
While the crowd seems abuzz with activity. Whether that's with the appearance of cellular phones, gawking, or even those with a little more brains that decide to vacate the area; Venom remains crouched down with arms resting atop bent knees. Hands and fingers hang loosely, though that doesn't offer much in way of reassurance that the squatting lifeform couldn't quickly lash out at nearby prey. While those with smarter, better brains may flee; it's now the partially clad woman with the book that seems to arrest Venom's attention. For now. "Treasures and trinkets have their place," Venom begins.

   <<Eddie>> "We could use the money..."

"but sometimes the work for the sake of it is all the sweeter," he concludes with a smile that looks positively devilish, even upon an already wicked countenance.

   <<Eddie>> "... seriously? I need to eat too!"

That little nagging voice in the back of his mind seems to be ignored and Venom's angled, large white eyes seem to shift slightly with the tilt of the creatures head toward Mania. A low hiss of amusement erupts from the black-and-white symbiote while it considers the other of its kind that looks as though it could have been cleaved from Venom's very own side, "We like things a little more pure and robusst," he hisses out with a lash of his tongue.

Then it's back to Selene that the larger of the two symbiotes looks and Venom's tongue casually brushes itself along his rows of teeth like a mallet across the bars of a particularly unsettling xylophone, "We are the Lethal Protector!" he announces with vigor as his hands suddenly become energetic and his fingers curl halfway into fists, "If you have treasures and coins and chocolate and more? We may be interested in hearing more of your words..."

Selene Gallio has posed:
It's several long moments of the cattl- people. Several long moments of /people/ murmuring and pointing and pulling out phones and all sorts before Selene seems to realize that 'Make people not react to her unique attire' might not be enough of a subtle psychic manipulation to make up for the pair of symbiotes and her standing about chatting.

One eyebrow lifts as she sighs out and murmurs dryly, "I think, perhaps, we might want our conversation to continue elsewhere if we're going to be getting to know one another. I don't suppose either of you can teleport?"

And with the realization that her psychic manipulations are inadequate, Selene simply drops them. Because sometimes, even her penchant for eye-catching dress can be overshadowed, and why waste the energy? She laughs softly and murmurs dryly, "Well, I'm not one to judge people's preferences for... brain food. Even if that seems terribly literal."

She flashes a grin to Venom and nods her head solemnly, "Oh, they do. Though I'm afraid this little trinket's a bit /too/ unique to be easily sold. I'll admit, I've never been one for work for work's sake, it's always... reassuring to have a goal to work towards."

Eyebrows perk as Venom announces his status as Lethal Protector, and the woman can't help but expect him to stand up and strike a heroic pose. "Well! That's... very good. Impressive. And lethal protecting is certainly the most efficient form of protection. Really, lethal is the most efficient form of /most/ things. But lessers are always so very..."

She trails off, lips twisting in a half scowl, "So very... judgmental about such efficiency. It's really quite the bother." She grins broadly and nods her head slowly, "Oh yes! Treasures and coins and chocolate and influence. I am in fact a /very/ good friend to have."

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania makes a show of rolling her eyes, not an easy thing to do with them being all white, as Venom poses, somewhat, while declaring himself the Lethal Protector. Through her body language she acts disinterested, but she leaves out any opinion of lethality one way or another. This is a debate the two have had before, and not one that seems to be getting rehashed in front of Selene.

Who Mania ends up staring at a little more closely, whether by coincidence or not as she drops her psychic thing that had been going on. Yes, she's looking the woman up and down. "For us, we're partial to a good cheesesteak." Once Philly, always Philly.

Glancing around, shoulders move in a shrug. "Teleportation is not one of our abilities. That would make some of this way too easy, though. We do get around well in our own way, though." In a hand, a glob of webbing takes shape before it's absorbed back inside. Can Spider-Man do that? No, he cannot!

"We will follow if there is chocolate for us," she decides, though by now she was probably going to trail after Selene regardless. Whatever Venom's opinion of purity and robustness is, she lets that go by as well.

Eddie Brock has posed:
"If you tell us where we can find you? Then we will find you," Venom answers back with a throaty hiss to accompany the words that he speaks to Selene. He rises up slightly, which takes him from his more modest height to something bordering on the average for a male, which is achieved through stooped shoulders but less bend at the knees. He steps once, beginning to circle Selene anew. This time though he does not trace the same path, nor completes a full orbit. Three steps later and he begins to move toward the building wall which he'd defaced with liberal application of his claws only moments ago.

   <<Eddie>> "Just like that and you're finished talking, buddy?"

To Mania, Venom's attention directs itself and he offers her a voice dripping with a faux soothing voice, that still sounds like the hiss of some great wyrm issuing from deep within a cave, "We'll see you again. Try to stay out of trouble," the larger symbiote imparts to the smaller.

"We must return to work now. There are those need protecting and choc-o-late to earn," Venom rasps out with a lash of his tongue at the prospect of chocolate earned, not given. It flicks for a moment as no doubt the idea of sweet, sweet chocolate seems to spur his appetite to even greater heights. A moment later and a claw digs into the wall. Which signals the imminent departure of the brutish lifeform as the subtle sinews and perceived muscles of the inky darkness that is its skin shifts, preparing to surge upward in a moment that will soon arrive.

Selene Gallio has posed:
Selene's eyebrows lift slightly as Mania decrees their enjoyment of cheesesteak, and her head tilts thoughtfully. "Hm. You know, I routinely find myself at a steakhouse... I don't think they have... cheese on the steaks."

What? Selene not only predates cheesesteak, she doesn't need /food/ to live. She probably hasn't even got an opinion on whiz vs provelone.

And then she's laughing softly and shaking her head slowly, "Oh, my dear, trust me... nothing is ever /too/ easy. Take every advantage, exploit every weakness. Always."

Her eyebrows lift /high/ at Venom's declaration and dark lips spread, wide, ivory teeth exposed, smile almost crazed. "Oh! My! Well... I didn't think to bring a business card. But I am frequently at the Hellfire Club." Her eyes narrow slightly and that smile fades. "But don't be thinking of slashing and biting your way in to see me. Ask nicely at the door. I take a dim view of people breaking my toys to get my attention, no matter how... intriguing they might be."

And as Venom begins to ascend the wall, she glances sidelong to Mania and murmurs dryly, "I think you might find your way to the club once more far easier. Simply ask for me at the front desk, yes?"

My my. Her book recovered /and/ two new... friends?

Today /is/ a good day.

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania's hands plant at her sides as she watches Venom lead into his departure. "We could say the same thing to you." Fact is, she knows some of Venom's..tendencies..can make certain things more dangerous for her when people draw the connection. Then again, they've dealt with Carnage and he's /far/ worse.

And there was that time Mania warned Andi about Knull...

"But yeah. Later," she adds for his benefit, a comment from Selene about cheese and steaks drawing her attention back quickly. "That's..not the same thing. We'll have to show you."

A recollection, a memory pops up when she mentions the Hellfire Club. "We've been there before. Part of it." Yes, Selene appears to know, or remember as well. How odd would it be for Mania to show up? Or just Andi? Either way, symbiote and bond linger, as if waiting to see where the Black Queen's path leads.

Eddie Brock has posed:
It remains to be seen if Venom had heard the instructions given. Judging by the broken hissing as Venom's claws dig into the side of the structure and he begins to pull himself up? It almost sounds as though he's snickering. Maybe he had heard the instructions of not just barging his way in to meet the mysterious woman with the book.

   <<Eddie>> "You know, you didn't get her name..."

"Quiet," Venom remarks seemingly to himself as he surges upward, climbing with an energy born of ravenous hunger. "We don't need it. 'the old lady with the book and minimal clothing', do you think they will bring out Gladys in a case of mistaken identity?"

   <<Eddie>> "... maybe."

Seconds later and Venom's over the edge of the rooftop, conveniently back where he begin when he'd crept up on Mania. Only now he doesn't lurk around the rooftop, but instead begins running across it, until he's disappeared into seedier areas of New York City. In search of work and chocolate.

   <<Eddie>> "You know, 'Lethal Protector' sounds really dumb, right?"

"It is not," Venom answers with a growl as he sets off through the darker places of the city. Their internal debate carries on for quite some time.

Selene Gallio has posed:
Once Venom's out of sight, Selene sighs and gives a little flourish of her free hand, before the milling and staring crowds blink, share glances of vague unease and confusion, and the flow of New York sidewalk traffic resumes.

Selene offers a crooked little grin to Mania and bobs her head as she murmurs out dryly, "Oh yes, well, there is /so/ much of it to see. Some of it even involves chocolate. Time to time. And not always just the chocolate martinis. I... truly don't understand how those have remained popular."

And then Selene seems to consider her bearings and steps into the flow of foot traffic once more, calling out, "I'm afraid I have more errands to attend to, but do drop by the Club sometime! We will... reconnect!"

Andi Benton has posed:
When it's all said and done, Mania is left in place for a few seconds on the sidewalk, unresponsive to anything Selene just said to her. Frozen like a statue, eyes large and ever-expressive.

It's only after someone is bold enough to actually try touching one of the spikes adorning an arm that she finally reacts, first instinct being to lash out but she catches herself before it gets very far. "Uh..?" The poor guy runs off with a yelp and she quickly webs her way up to the nearest rooftop to get her bearings.

<<Mania>> She..said chocolate..martinis. Didn't she? Our senses are not malfunctioning?
<<Andi>> ...yes. Didn't even know that was a thing.

A rippling shiver runs over her before she departs swiftly into the night, opposite the direction Venom went in.