535/The oven mitts of all that's right

The oven mitts of all that's right
Date of Scene:	15 March 2020
Location:	Top of the Wellington Building
Synopsis:	Shazam gets guilted by accident.
Cast of Characters:	Beatriz da Costa, Billy Batson

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Beatriz da Costa has posed:
    The call came in from that odd new guy. Red Cyclone. Strange name for someone without wind powers. Meh. Bea once thought Green Fury was a good code name. He'll get better. The rookies always do. Or they quit. This guy didn't have quitter in his eyes, though.
    "Top of the Wellington Building. 8PM." That's all she said when he called her. Not even the address. Wanna be a hero, learn to investigate at least a little.
    At 8PM she's up on the roof of the building, in her civvies, having carried two spare outfits in a bag with her up to the roof and changing there. Might as well let the newbie see the real her. The clothed her. He seemed discombobulated by her in plasma. Maybe he'll prefer this.
    Weird how people equate shaped plasma with bare skin. The hangups are strong in these people.

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam expressed his disbelief over his good fortune to Freddy, "I think she wants a team up!" There followed a change to the champion and a half hour of brushing his hair, adjusting and steaming the cape and... after shave lotion, not that he shaved. This was made harder by Darla, who not only made kissyt faces from the door, but timed her 'Shazam' with his to transform and fly off. She wanted a Kitty bag of some sort that was only on sale in Japan. She promised to rescue a cat or something on the way back.

Billy took the subway to the building, he didn't want flying to mess up Shazam's hair. Below in the street, there is a flash of lightning and... the Red Cyclone flies for a meeting with Fire. He can be forgiven for the clumsy landing, certainly. "'Evening!" Somewhere in the depths of his mind, Billy is muttering, stupid adult feelings.

Beatriz da Costa has posed:
    If Bea has any comment about his landing it's not showing in her face which is just eye-crinkling in its welcoming smile. "Hello there, Red Cyclone," she says, standing up and casually walking on the small work platform, jingling with every step as she reaches him, grabbing his shoulders and reaching her tip-toes to air-kiss his cheeks in greeting. "Good you found the place. And you're right on time." She pulls back a bit from him, giving him a chance to notice the sudden ABSENCE of pressure at his chest.
    "Listen, I'm getting the impression -- and tell me if I'm wrong -- that you're kind of new to this whole gig. I like to keep tabs of the newcomers, maybe lend a hand here and there, while they get their hero legs under them. If you don't mind my butting in like that?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam opens his mouth. He closes his mouth. Then makes an effort to speak. Strength of Hercules don't fail me now. The Wisdom of Solomon already did its part. He does not say he loves her or wants to marry her or gawrsh you're purty. "That would be great. No I like your butt... ing in. I feel could learn a lot from you. I mean... you could probably show me a lot... Imma stop talking now."

Never mind the static charges from his insignia... making her chest kind of sparkly for a second. Eyes. Look at the eyes. Stupid adult feelings! He'd be fine as Billy. Unnoticed he lets a small backpack he was carrying drop to the roof.

Beatriz da Costa has posed:
    "So, well, let's get started. And believe me, RC, I know about the need for secrecy and such, so I won't be offended if you don't want to answer some of my questions. Feel free to say you don't want to go down certain lines of inquiry. It's just that the more I know about you, the more I can fit you in with things, you understand?"
    "So I guess the very first question is ... what can you do? You're strong. You can fly." She's polite enough not to mention the landing. Her eyes, on the other hand, are dancing in amusement. "You mentioned something about lightning, though I may have misunderstood. I definitely felt tingling from your chest, though, so that's probably something. What else can you do?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam ponders a moment. Then he says, "Okay well you saw I'm ultra strong. I haven't run into anything that really has hurt me yet. I fly... I'm hyper fast... I throw... "

"Hey Red Thunder, I need a minute. PLeeeeease?" The call comes from a young lady in a costume similar to RC's only purple. She has a dark complexion, and dancing eyes. The Red Cyclone... mutters something then says, "Now is not the time... Miss Cyclone and it's Red Cyclone, not Red Thunder!"

"Red Cyclone is stupid. We don't have air powers."

"Omigod. Thunder is a sound! How can it be red! Excuse me a minute Ms. da Costa... little sisters... what the heck do you want?"

"I had my money... in my... other suit. Can you give me $30 for that purse?" Shazam makes no reply but digs in his backpack, finds some bills and flies them up to her.

"Thanks big bro!" Miss Cyclone or Thunder gives Red Cyclone a peck on the cheek. "Yeah never mind that you better be back and in bed by 8:00 and... she's gone." She is. Like disappearing, she moves so fast. The Red Cyclone facepalms as he descends to the roof, soflty this time. "Holy. Fricking. Moley. I'm so sorry."

Beatriz da Costa has posed:
    Yes, this qualifies as funny. And no, this time Bea's not hiding her amusement. "Family." That's all she says, but she pours a lot of dramatic overemphasis on that word. Following it up with peals of laughter that put the tinkling ornaments suspended from her hips to shame.
    "So, strong, invulnerable, flight, fast. You're sounding a whole lot like Supes. Heat vision? Cold breath? Can you see through clothing?" From her facial expression, that last question is more mischief from the green-haired bombshell.
    "Just for reference, I'm hot. That's pretty much all I am. Hot. You've had one of the jackpots of the biz."

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam shakes his head and says, "Please don't compare me to Superman. Everyone does that. No, no vision powers. I can throw lightning around. I can recharge stuff, though sometimes it goes a little 'splodey. Sometimes I know things and sometimes I get a feeling for magic. Kryptonite doesn't do anything to me. And I think you're pretty cool, in a bad situation. That's something I'm striving for. Also thank you for the help on the bridge. I really thought they were going to call for Superman and don't want my first rescue to involve him bailing me out, THIS soon. Really, thanks." The Cyclone sticks his hand out to Beatriz.

Beatriz da Costa has posed:
    Bea shakes the hand firmly. And very blatantly looks Shazam up and down like she's sizing up a shank of beef while doing so.
    "No need to thank. I'm a bit more sensitive than many of our colleagues as to just how important PR is. How important it is to LOOK like you're doing good as well as actually doing it. It's also best to look like we're in it together. 'Cause even Supes, the most versatile of us thus far, can't do everything himself. And there's nothing much I could have done on that bridge that wouldn't have made it difficult to repair afterward. Save people? Sure. Easy-peasy. But save people AND keep the bridge intact without major rebuilding? Not a chance. That was you, RC. I welded--you couldn't do that--and you held the cables together and stopped the bridge from sagging--which I couldn't do in a lifetime of effort. It's teamwork and it's why we beat the bad guys most times."

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam says, "Uhm okay. I can do teamwork. My family and I do teamwork all the time. Even Dar... Missy Cyclone. I need to work on my name. Red Cyclone does suck. Red Lightning... that would remind people of one of them Crises. What do you think, I mean you changed your name... you look all together and in charge and..." He sort of trails off, realizing she smells like coconut oil and limes. The outfit does not help either. Billy, focus. She must be what... 40?

Beatriz da Costa has posed:
    Bea raises an eyebrow as she finds it slightly difficult to get her hand out of Shazam's grip. She finally gives up and just leaves it there, since it gives her a reason to stay within eye-raking range anyway.
    "Can I ask you ... how long have you been able to do what you can do? I'm guessing you're pretty new to the job and aren't exactly comfortable with it yet." She tilts her head and looks him over appraisingly. "I'm also going to guess that this came as a surprise to you and that beforehand you weren't in any field that could be viewed as comparable. Not a cop, a spy, a soldier, or anything like that. Am I close?'

Billy Batson has posed:
That breaks the spell, partly at least. In a moment of candor the Cyclone admits, "I was a thief and con artist living on the streets before. Then I was chosen for this. That was several months ago. I've been trying to trying to be a better hero, a better person. With great power comes great responsibility, like Spider-Man said to that kid--Billy in his podcast? I'm swamped. I... get this power and you have no idea how different it makes everything. I have so many thoughts sometimes." Belatedly, he lets go of Fire's hand. "Sorry."

Beatriz da Costa has posed:
    Beatriz recovers her hand and eyes Shazam with an ambiguously sympathetic gaze. "That's rough, coming from the wrong side to this. Kudos on you for not using these for personal gain. It would be so tempting, especially with your mix." She snorts and considers, "Picture me as a bank robber. I could melt a tunnel under the bank, melt through the safe floor, grab everything I wanted, and then leave. If caught in the act it wouldn't matter because, well, bullets don't bother me."
    She shakes her head and strolls to the edge, looking down. "I'm lucky this came to me when I was already inculcated with a sense of duty."

Billy Batson has posed:
It is very hard not to yell the word and become Billy and beg this wonderful woman for help and succor. Also hard not to list his offenses: posing for selfies at ten bucks a pop, buying beer, ditching school. The words of Spider-Man come back to him: it's not where you came from, it's where you are going. He doesn't understand why the Champion of Life must be an adult, when he is a kid. That's a question for later. No he got these powers, there's nothing to cry about. Thank you.

"You're... very understanding. Also don't knock your powers. Having a focused set of related powers lets you get really good at using them."