5649/Talk at the labs

Talk at the labs
Date of Scene:	20 March 2021
Location:	Labs - Titan's Tower
Synopsis:	Ghost Spider and Nightwing speak at the labs after the attack on Titans Tower and Irina.
Cast of Characters:	Gwen Stacy, Dick Grayson

---

Gwen Stacy has posed:
It had been a while since Gwen spent such a long time in a row at the Tower. Now that she had moved again to New York to be closer to ESU she wasn't living here in a dorm anymore, yet when trouble with a major T had hit the fan it had been the Titans she had turned into, both for help and to protect her friend. A friend that was now sleeping at one of the beds near the labs.

Gwen, for her part, had been busy running diagnosis and tests on the girl's blood, still dressed in her Ghost Spider outfit but with the hood down and mask off, blonde hair and fair features showing. She lets out another sigh, running one hand through her hair. Clearly whatever she is studying isn't going perfect.

"Come on. You know the answer must be in her blood.." hands on her hips she is pacing about the room thoughtfully, occasionally looking towards Irina's bed.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Nightwing steps off the elevator and heads into the medical area. It's been a few days since Gwen showed up with her friend in tow and a helicopter full of mutant animal soldiers after them, and he wanted to see what was going on.

Making his way over to Gwen, he asks quietly, "Hey, how's it going? Given you're still here, and looking frustrated, I'm guessing not everything is going to plan?"

He looks over towards the bed Irina is in, then back to Gwen, "What can we do to help? Do you need more people on this or anything?"

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Gwen casts a glance over her shoulder, nodding her head, "Hey.." before turning fully to look at the man, exhaling slowly as if that would be enough answer on how bad the plan is going. "You are assuming there was a plan." she notes before gesturing towards the girl, "But in fact, no. I thought Heather's blood would had cleared any of that poison, but apparently not. It has also erased most of her powers." which by looking at Irina the missing animal features would be noticeable.

"But at least she is protected here, which is a positive." A glance to the girl before focusing back on Nightwing, "Though yea, we may need to go and act against this group. They raised her to be a weapon of some kind, and didn't take well when she tried to rebel from their .., teachings." a frown. Clearly she isn't too approving on whatever they were doing to the girl.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Nightwing looks over at Irina again. "Well, I'm sorry about her powers, but it sounds like we might need to get some more info here. I suppose if we can find them, we might be able to get some information about the poison they used. But as I recall, the girls should be getting back, maybe we can get a few more of the labs fired up and working on this."

He shakes his head, half sitting on a counter. "That's a story I'm getting really tired of. It feels like half the people I know were raised as weapons until they decided to rebel against their group. You would think that these people would just cut it out already. Brainwashed assassins and science projects everywhere."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Gwen lets out a resigned sigh that shows she agrees with Nightwing, blue eyes again turning towards the girl, "Yea, I feel you there. Not that I have many friends like that, mind you. In her case they were selling her the story she was supposed to be some hero that was going to put the world to right." a shake of her head given, "... even if it involved killing. They wanted her to kill me because I was steering her away from what their plan was."

Attention goes to the microscope on the table she was using earlier, gesturing. "Information is scarce so far. The poison and the mutate in her blood isn't like anything I have seen before. Though with time I might get to some conclusion. But as you say the best way to get to this would be to find this org out. When Irina recovers she may have information to help us."

Then she finally smiles, relaxing just a touch from the tension of long hours spent at the lab, "Also, should thank you for your help during the attack." a thumbs up given, "I knew I could count on the Titans."

Dick Grayson has posed:
He shrugs a little and pulls his knee up to his chest, putting his foot on the edge of the counter, "Guess I just know a larger portion of the ex-assassin population, is all. But yeah, telling someone 'kill people to make the world better' is usually a good sign of a group that just wants to advance their own agenda. Then trying to kill them if they try to leave just kind of clinches it."

Nightwing crosses his arms on his knees and rests his chin on them, glancing at Irina, then back to Gwen, "And you know we'll always help Gwen, even if you don't live here you're still part of our little family. Heck, I'm back over in Gotham these days, doesn't mean I'm not a Titan. You have a problem, you let us know."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"And she's not the only one. Those others attacking us were part of the same experiments apparently." Gwen closing her eyes briefly before exhaling, jaw tightening at the thought of it, "Bastards. But they overplayed their hand by attacking us so directly."

Arms fold about her waist and Gwen smiles in a more genuine manner towards Nightwing. "It's appreciated." she murmurs, "I have lived in Gotham, no idea how you can stand the gloomy ambience all the time." but then she lifting one hand to show she is joking (mostly!) "But in the end I had to go back to New York. It's home ..." a beat, ".. in some ways." eyes gaining an haunted look for a couple of seconds, "Though I should try to be around more and help in what I can."

Then a curious look comes upon her expression. "Nadia was all excited about a vacation. I am guessing that's where most of the girls went?" she asks.

Dick Grayson has posed:
He shrugs a little, "They rarely are content with just one soldier, so that doesn't surprise me. Most of these groups go for the tired old 'world domination' trope, and that requires a lot of bodies."

Nightwing chuckles, "Nah, it's fairly gloomy. All the gargoyles don't help either. But I understand the split attention thing. That's actually why I took myself back to Gotham from Bludhaven... three places was too much, I just found myself really neglecting the Titans, so I cut down my responsibilities a little and find myself here like I used to be."

He gives her a look, he didn't miss that expression on her face, he's made a study of expressions and body language. "Is something wrong Gwen? That wasn't a happy, 'I'm home now' look. Is something up in New York? It's a quick trip if you need me to pop up there for a few days to help with something."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"Gotham can be a handful." Gwen agrees, "And yea, trying to mix too many things at the same time means focus can't be as good as it should in what matters. Even if my reasons weren't exactly that. Or rather, not *just* that." Which probably means it's complicated! The young woman lifts her shoulders in a small shrug, "Being in Gotham was me mostly running away from who I was. But then I am back there and ..., hard to find the answers."

The offer to go there has her grin, "It's not the kind of problem that can be solved by taking down some bad guys unfortunately. It has to do with my time in a coma a year back." which by the expression she makes was a *lot* more than she just having been in a coma. "I feel like I was given a new chance at having a life for myself but I am still finding my place here..." clearly something she isn't saying. But then she lifts her hands, smiling faintly. "Sorry, not meant to push all my problems on you."

"In fact, you *could* drop by New York sometime. There's this symbiote menace that's been popping their head up a few times as of late. Could use some help in actually trying to capture it."

Dick Grayson has posed:
Nightwing lifts his head off his arms to look at her directly, "If talking would help, I'm here for that as much as for trying to take down bad guys. When I called us a family, I meant it. That's something the Titans has always been, more than just a group of individuals fighting together. We look out for each other, and that includes things that are troubling you as well as physical threats. So if you decide you want to talk, I'm never more than a T-Comm away, any time of the day or night."

He laces his fingers together and stretches his arms out in front of him, then drops them to his sides, "But sure, let me know when you want to do a little symbiote hunting and I'll zip up that way, could be interesting. And as for your earlier question, yes, most of the female contingent of the Titans is currently visiting Themyscira with Troia and Diana. It's a bit of a bummer that we guys aren't allowed, Robin was miffed about not being able to train with some of the best warriors in the world. He doesn't really get the concept of 'vacation', but I can understand the frustration also."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Calling the titans a family has Gwen's blue eyes shining more brightly. "I .., thank you." she say in a sincere manner, inclining her head, "I will remember it." even if it didn't seem she was ready to talk about things *just* yet. But it was progress at least.

The reveal about them being out at Themyscira has Gwen chuckle. "So *thats* why Nadia was so excited. Figures. I am sure it'd be fun, and can imagine why Robin isn't too happy. But rules are rules. No men are allowed in Themyscira." that much at least she knew!

"But he can already train with Troia here if he wants." She notes. A pause and then she goes back to previous subject. "Though speaking of helping family, has there been any rising problems against the Titans that may require my help? I am always willing to help. And the hyperloop makes it easy for me to come here most of the time.."

Dick Grayson has posed:
Hopping off the counter, he shakes his head, "Yeah, I know, but it's still kind of a bummer. Must be an amazing place to see, I wouldn't mind it myself, but as you said, rules. So we'll just have to hear about it second hand and make do with that." He chuckles a little, "Still, it can be frustrating to be told you can't do something just because of your gender." With a shrug and a gesture, he dismisses it, "It is what it is."

"As for the Titans, things have actually been quiet here until you and Irina showed up. Surprisingly so, actually. I can't really think of a time in recent memory that we've gone so long without alien invasions, insane supervillains or evil copies attacking. It's almost like we're getting a vacation while the girls are gone or something."