19755/Breakup

Breakup
Date of Scene:	27 December 2024
Location:	Sion - Nightclub
Synopsis:	Steph and Courtney decide that Gossip Girls and The Price Is Right is better than clubbing. And they are correct.
Cast of Characters:	Stephanie Brown, Courtney Whitmore

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Stephanie Brown has posed:
Justice never sleeps! It also never goes out to hip clubs late into the night, yearning for pounding bass and drinks specials and karaoke night.

Which is why Stephanie Brown is a justice enthusiast, and not a justice fanatic. While other caped crusaders might be fine abandoning all but the barest trappings and hints of a social life, just enough to maintain the illusion, she's still trying to have it all.

And while this has led to some recent crimefighting missteps in the wake of her engagement collapsing, and the cannonballs battering her self-confidence from those missteps has made her withdraw from that socialization she so yearns for...

Karaoke. Karaoke brings her back. Or at least, the opportunity to tease a friend with the specter of being dragged to karaoke has brought her back out. Hair's done up in rings and waves, not quite dramatic volume but enough to show she's out to socialize and is feeling free-spirited, since the dark violet dress and amethyst heels don't exactly scream it any louder than anyone else in the bar.

If she was willing to be more introspective, part of her would point out she's basically using the typical tricks and methods of blending in undercover to blend into socializing.

But that voice is annoying, and can be handily muffled by fruity umbrella drinks, which she's making fine use of while eying the club and keeping a gaze out for her friend. A little socializing is what she needs, she knows.

Someone who knows what it's like to be her age and have the same responsibilities. Plus more. /She/ can't shoot lasers.

Courtney Whitmore has posed:
Courtney Whitmore is that friend. She has just finished her last semester at Metropolis U, and is out having the time. Of. Her. Life. Or, occasionally sneaking out to bars when cheap drinks and wealthy job having friends are willing to spot her. Or if she can convince a boy to pay for them for her which...not as easy as it used to be! But, tonight, her friend Steph -- who went through a rather sudden breakup -- wanted her to come out to...sing...or something. So here she is.

She walked into the bar wearing a red, white, and blue ensemble. NOT her usual costume, but...a red dress with a white clutch and a blue scarf. It's iconic. Her shoes were cute heels, that, as soon as she spots Steph and got over to her, she exclaimed, "I got these for ten dollars yesterday! Aren't they cute? A grad present for me!" She's bubbly, and continues, after a brief hug, "What are we drinking? I need a lot to sing..."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
The benefit of independent wealth is being able to treat your friends to drinks and parties and general wealthy socialite activity! And Steph's not one to be miserly with it, even if she /is/ responsible.

After all, going partying every weekend would cheapen the times they do go. And really, her budget's set low enough no one would ever notice her picking up bar tabs. Especially with the cheap drink nights.

Steph's eyes catch Courtney immediately, and her reaction is visible, instant, and oh so complex. A myriad of emotions and expressions. Genuine joy at seeing her friend. Excitement she made it and no sudden Gorilla Grodd attack or something interrupted their plans. Gorillas and clowns ruin so many hangout plans.

And there's just a little bit of mirth at the red white and blue getup.

Steph melts into that hug, with an extra little squeeze to say 'Way to graduate!' And then she's pulling back to eye her drink and chime out, "Wellll... what we're drinking is... blue! And fruity! And sometimes they put fruit on a toothpick in it, so it's basically healthy!" She snickers and sighs out, "I wasn't /really/ going to make you sing! We'll do whatever you wanna do, Court! My treat!"

Courtney Whitmore has posed:
"What, drink all night go back to my apartment, watch some Gossip Girls, and then collapse into bed together to gossip ourselves?" Courtney asks, grinning at being told she's in charge for the evening. Her arm rests on Steph's waist for a moment, before she picks up one of the drinks Steph has gotten for her. She holds it up, clinks the plastic cup against the other woman's, and then takes a sip of the 'healthy' drink. "Tastes awful!" she declares. But, she's not really much of a drinker. The high level of training she needs to stay in shape makes her a cheap date.

"So...tell me. Anything new on the guy front or just taking it easy?" Right into the gossip with her. She lets her eyes travel over the prospects in the club, perhaps silently judging each of them for whether or not they'd be a decent rebound for her friend, before she turns back to Steph for her answer.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
"I mean, that sounds pretty great to me! Benefits of our lifestyle, right? We always have plenty of gossip of one sort or another! And I haven't heard any in weeks!" She sighs and leans in towards Courtney as that arm hooks her waist, as she lifts her own glass in a little toast and grins brightly, "I just want to do something that lets me... feel like me. Just unwind and vibe and all that."

She sighs out dramatically and takes a big sip of her drink... because it's far too sweet to /gulp/ without a wicked burn even if she can't taste the alcohol, "Oh, no, nothing new really. I mean... y'know how it is, dating someone from work seems like a bad idea after... the last time. I mean, I feel like there might be a couple guys interested, but even I know diving right back in is probably not a great idea." Her eyebrows perk and she grins downright impishly, "And what about you? How's your social life going? Not going to regret Gossip Girling instead of hitting the dance floor and browsing?"

Courtney Whitmore has posed:
The continued leaning against doesn't lead her to change her stance at all. Courtney is more than happy to be a shoulder for her friend to rest on as they chat. "No, no, go out and browse? When there's Tinder and Hinge? No, stick to the occasional fling for when...y'know.." and she lowers her voice to whisper something to Steph, before she says, "isn't working and then get back to the grindstone!" That's been her life for the past five years. A fulltime job of crime fighting along with a fulltime college student...and she almost pulled it off without a hitch.

"And anyways, yeah stay away from work guys. Nothing good comes from that. At best they just want one thing and then they toss you aside, and at worst they want one thing and then use that as a way to ignore you when you're in the middle of something important." Courtney replies, laying out her thinking on dating within the superhero pool. Or perhaps just within your group.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Steph's eyes trace the club, a little less focused than she usually winds up scanning crowds. No 'Is that a mobster? Is that an arms dealer? Are those guys carrying automatic weapons?' way, and in a rare 'Young woman just out on the town, but still also a little bitter about the opposite sex.' way. Breakups. They're rougher than fighting Penguin's guys.

She nods and sighs out loudly, "Yeah, no kidding. I mean, okay, he didn't like... ignore me or anything, he just..." She snaps her fingers sharply, "Like that! Just 'We're not working out' and he had a new girl before I'd moved my stuff! And she's /blonde/ too!!" Steph's voice luckily /lowers/ with frustration so she does not shriek it to the skies like declaring a blood vendetta. "Gossip Girl. Gossip Girl will never betray us. Just like The Price is Right."

Courtney Whitmore has posed:
Courtney Whitmore laughs and shakes her head at something her friend says, and then says, "No. No. We will not be one of those old ladies who has toy parties. Give me your phone, you're getting Hinge. We'll get you someone fun for a couple of nights," she says, reaching out to pick up her friend's device, "Plus, we can compare notes then too," she adds with a wink.

But, then, she notices the way her friend turns. From flirty and fun to brooding, frustrated. She frowns a little bit and says, "He's a jerk, and doesn't know what he's missing out on. You're amazing Steph. Literally, one of the most amazing people in this city. Let alone like the lonely brooding bat club that you're in." She's teasing, a little, "Want to go to Gossip Girl now? Save the club for another night?" she suggests, looking at her friend with a bit of concern.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Steph snorts and huffs and rolls her eyes, "Oh my god, Hinge! HINGE!!" Her tone of voice is all overplayed melodrama, and for all her feigned outrage at being paraded out on a dating app, it reeeeeally sounds like she's trying not to laugh or gigglesnort. Because serious vigilantes don't gigglesnort, surely.

And then, heedless of how she's going to feel sugar in her throat for like an hour, she drains her sugary alcohol salve for relationship drama, licks her lips, and nods sharply. "Yes. Gossip Girl. Club another time. Or next time we'll go to a sports bar. Get nachos. If some guy approaches me during /that/? Then maybe he's a keeper." And Steph's turning to find the most efficient way tot he club door.

And leaving her phone in Courtney's grasp. Because that's friendship. Trusting your friend to set up a Hinge profile.