6378/A Little Bit of Gotham Trouble

A Little Bit of Gotham Trouble
Date of Scene:	29 May 2021
Location:	Gotham Botanical Gardens
Synopsis:	Conner, Phoebe and Roy go to the Gotham Botanical Garden and save a dying llama orchid.
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Roy Harper, Conner Kent

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Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    You would think that someplace with as boring a name as 'The Gotham City Botanical Gardens' would be a lazy way to spend a mid-day Saturday, especially since they were advertising some sort of tea and luncheon, the type of thing attended to by old money old ladies who tut tut about the state of affairs of the city and say things like 'If Dent had won the mayoral race back in '14, we wouldn't be here like this' -- and you can't be sure if it was 2014 or 1914.

    It is, however, also a home to a medicinal plant exhibit with a toxology class about the newly emergening benefits of a rare type of orchid from South America, being exhibited today for the first time in the Northern Hemisphere.

    Why they chose Gotham City, who has a very specific villain related to plants, is unknown, but loads of decisions don't make sense in retrospect.

    ANd of course, the home-town girl Phoebe Beacon had encouraged a few other Outsiders with her to the botanical garden, and while most of the crowds were over getting food, she had a camera and was taking a picture of the orchid, which looks a bit like an upside-down fuzzy llama-shaped balloon in hot pink with pale purple stripes.

    "-- and that's how the rhizome manages to generate enough of the very specific toxin that can stop a heart, but only when it's growing comorbid with a certain type of liana and polinated by a selective species of ant!"

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper isn't exactly a botany guy. Or a science guy. Or a learning guy. But, y'know, Phoebe asked nicely and he was bored and Gotham was usually entertaining, in a scraped knees and busted caps sort of way.

He's got a backpack on while wearing a long-sleeved orange button down over a baby blue t-shirt that says BIG DICK ENERGY. He's storlling along with his hands in his pockets, not really listening a lot and cocking his head at the orchid, "That thing is ugly. Like, straight up skankalicious," he says. He's itching for a cigarette but knows he'll have to wait until they're outside again, a baseball cap pulled down over his short-cropped red hair, "So, like, it's poisonous? That's cool, I guess."

Conner Kent has posed:
Why Gotham? Well, common sense is the least common of senses. Also, probably bribes. Or tax reductions, which are also bribes, but more legal-ish. Then again, Gotham actually has a lively cultural life. It is all very mysterious.

Maybe some stubborn billionaire keeps trying to make Gotham a normal city. And maybe Conner is wondering how Phoebe managed to convince him he should be here. Well, at least is sunny. Which is weird in Gotham. Lots of sunlight always put Conner in a good mood. "Yup. That is a weird-looking plant," is all Conner has to offer about the orchid.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    She bribed them with cooking, how else? And a couple of well-placed'pleeeaaases'.

    "Under the right conditions? A few drops of the rhizome -- that's the root -- can stop a human heart, or act as a very powerful muscle relaxant in the right dose." Phoebe confirms with a slight smile to Roy. "But it's a secondary reaction with the cells that triggers some cellular repair; it could cure some cancers." she smiles as she straightens up, her hair drawn up into bantu knots as the dark-haired healer looks back to the two guys. No, it's not like having the more science-and-investigative members around -- but it's nice to feel like she's not at threat in her own city.

    Aside from the trio, there is a quartet of other people who are sticking out a little bit, looking at watches, at phones, not intended on the free snacks on the other side of the gardens.

    And not precisely dressed for the sunlight either. They're wearing heavier coats.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper is used to hanging on the shadier side of the street, so he takes note of the men with the coats. He's starting to think he's glad he brought his equipment in his backpack. He just figured he'd do a patrol later on, just for kicks, but now it looks like the action might come to them.

He tries to look nonchalant as he pitches his voice low, "That's real cool and shit, but check out the mooks at 12, 7 and 3 o'clock. Bulky coats, not really lookin' at the greenery, are they? Something's going down and I don't think it's a surprise party for the bushes," he says.

Conner Kent has posed:
It could be said wearing a coat in Gotham is a smart move. It is like London: It will rain at the worst moment. Conner is wearing a leather jacket... because he pretty much always wears one.

Conner is not a very science guy, but wants to be a reporter, and that means paying attention to the story. "So, as a source of deadly poison it is actually pretty inefficient, right? Not a lot of chance Poison Ivy or Joker will come to steal it? Unless they have figured out something the botanists have not. Which never, ever happens."

He glances at the quartet with the coats. "One day I will figure out how to use the X-ray vision stuff. Meanwhile... you think they are armed, Roy?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I really hope they don't. I'm still on training wheels." Phoebe gives a soft mutter, and snaps another picture with her digital camera.

    She does give a side-eye to the coat wearing members, and she crosses one arm over her chest, as if stretching it.
    "I've taken a couple of pictures of them. They don't seem like locals." she states quietly.

    "Given their jackets, they probably have something long. I'm not going to bet it's katanas."

    She gives a smile to the two boys. "Any takers?"

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper sighs, "I should put on my mask, just in case, but fuck it, if something happens, everybody'll be lookin' at Superboy anyway, I'll just be the dope with him," he says.

He does take a moment, though to act like he needs to tie his shoelace, bending down and swinging his backpack over to land beside him, sliding open the zipper and getting his bow and arrow, the bow unfolding neatly and snapping into place. He could use the gun he has, but he'd rather save that for a last resort. Not because he wants to spare any body but because the bow is flashier. Roy is a born show-off.

"The minute they twitch, I'm drawing."

Conner Kent has posed:
"I don't see any cop," mutters Conner. "Not katanas, then they won't be ninjas, right?" Someone should tell him ninjas don't use katanas. Someone probably did, but he was not paying attention.

Also, he should wear a mask, because right not his t-shirt doesn't even have the big red S. "Why would a bunch of armed goons be here? Maybe it is not the plant. Someone here could be worth kidnapping? Or maybe murdered?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Careful. Last thing we want is the Gotham PD showing up and shooting the wrong group." Phoebe states gently, and she breathes out. Her left hand twitches a moment at the word kidnapped, and she tenses, taking a half-step closer to Conner.

    "Most of the important socialite types are over in the tea room." she states.

    At that point, one of the four draws out a hand gun, and states "Look, it's three nerds, and that plant is worth a mint! Take 'em out and then we get out!"

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper makes a scoffing noise, shaking his head, "Like GCPD could ever shoot me. I'll knock all the guns out of their donut-eatin' hands," he says.

Wait, they're here to steal a plant? What're they gonna do, just uproot it and run out the door? It's not a Christmas tree!

"How dare you call me a nerd? I'm a god damn jock!" he says, coming up with his bow and firing an arrow to try and strike the guy with the pistol in the wrist.

Conner Kent has posed:
"Kidnapping a plant," Conner shrugs hopelessly, "only in Gotham." Nevertheless, there was a gun. And that is not cool. As Roy shoots the first arrow, Conner is moving towards the men in coats, trying to reach them before more guns are drawn. "We have to keep them away from the people."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "-- it's a rare and delicate plant from the Rainforest -- of /course/ someone's going to watn to steal it!" Phoebe protests, ducking behind a plant stand and putting on her domino, and pulling up her hood.

    Desperate times, after all.

    The first shot from Roy lances through the first guy's wrist, followed by a blood curdling scream.

    The other three draw their weapons -- one was, indeed, baring a shotgun down his jacket, which he pulls and fires off a round at the charging Conner, one firing off a round from his hand gun at Roy, and the third taking aim and -- not able to find the third one --

    "Where'd she go?!"

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper ducks and rolls, maneuvering around the first gunshot fired in his direction, "Oh dude, I think you shot an eggplant, you bastard! That eggplant had children!" he yells, coming back up and firing two more arrows in rapid succession, one to hit the guy in the thigh and another to try and give him the same as his friend, piercing the wrist.

"You have no idea how badly you douchebags have screwed up."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner winces when the shotgun shell hits his chest. Not even a 'stop or I shot' warning. They might be plant-stealers, but they are willing to murder. "Seriously," he grunts, grabbing the barrel of the shotgun. "You shot me for a damn vegetable? That is going to sound great in your trial," he pushes the shotgun into the thug's chest, breaking a couple rigs. The crushes the barrel as if it was a soda can. "In the middle of the day, too. Of course Batman only shows up at night, but still..."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Is /that/ why they call him the Dark 'Night'?" comes Phoebe's voice, and she draws up from the plant stand she had used as cover. Her extending staff does its thing, letting her vault safely over the orchid and come down in a sprint to flank the third gunman.

    "Here I thought he ran a twenty-four hour shop!"

    The joke is probably loss in the mayhem, especially as her staff comes up to quickly strike in a downward to the bridge of a nose, causing it to errupt into blood.

    The second guy to get arrow'd gives another scream, grabbing at his wrist and clawing at the entry wound.

    The guy with the shotgun feels his breath stolen away by something other than Conner's eyes and stature as his ribs crack and break -- you don't need super hearing to hear it.

    The first guy who drew his gun is trying to get away, fueled by adreniline.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper sprints and does a baseball slide to cut off the first guy he shot, skidding to a stop and grinning. "No take backsies, sorry," he says, springing back up to spring an elbow strike right into the guy's solar plexus, then following it up with a headbutt to put him down.

"I just assumed the light hurts his eyes or he's, like, sleeping. He's gotta sleep all day, right? Not that I judge, Batman's a pimp," he says, watching as his friends finish off the remaining enemies.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner tosses the ruined shotgun away, and pushes the gunner down. Then looks as the others are beaten down too. No need to help. "That teach you to stop kidnapping ugly orchids and shooting eggplants," he says to the fallen thug. "That gotta be a new low."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... I can't beleive you guys think the /Lamamori/ Orchid is ugly." Phoebe complains, though it's good natured as the sounds of sirens begin to make their way.

    "... I'll have to attend a different lecture. I think this one's going to be full." she looks to the other two. "Round through the back alleys and then homeward bound?"

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper folds up his bow and moves to drop it back in his backpack, "Oh, gee, Pheebs, sorry I didn't fall in love with the poisonous veiny flesh plant that people want to steal," he says in a playfully mocking voice.

He nods, "Yeah, I'll make sure to zig zag and serpentine and all that fun shit so the coppers can't find me. Not that they'll try and bother. I imagine they're used to just coming in and cleaning up after vigilante busts."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Codenames, archer-man," just in the case the thugs are still listening. Mostly they are complaining and talking about their rights and stuff. Conner is not really listening to the whining. "I'll drop by later, I am going to stay until the cops get here, to make sure these guys stay put. Then fly away."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "What's not to love, make-shift Loxley Lad? It's toxic veiny flesh-plant of heart-stopping. It's like, plus four to medical skills." Phoebe points out, with a smile, and gives a nod to Conner as she slips out an emergency door, keeping her hood up.

    The four are really not in any condition to be moving around so much; one is bleeding profusely out of a broken nose, his tongue having swollen up a little making it hard for him to whine.

    Two are bleeding with arrows in their wrists, and one had broken ribs and was wheezing and trying not to move any more.

    And to Conner, it'd be clear to see that the two with arrows through their wrists, the skin around the shaft was already beginning to heal. Phoebe would have had to make a quick get-away before they healed all the way.

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper fingerguns at Conner, "Gotcha. Sorry, SuperKid," he says with a smirk.

"Look, I'm just glad the thing didn't come alive and try to eat us, I'll take it," he says. He considers trying to retrieve his arrows but, frankly, it's too much of a pain and he doesn't want to hear a lot of screaming. If they're recovering faster than normal, he isn't quite detecting it yet.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Luckily we were there and not Poison Ivy. She might have killed them for trying to harm the plant." Phoebe states, exiting the gardens and going down a concrete stairway and under a bridge, pausing a moment to get her bearings.

    "They were certainly lucky for that." she muses, "but what did they want with the plant itself? Maybe some rare flora collection?"

Roy Harper has posed:
Roy Harper shrugs, "I have no friggin' clue. Like, how do you fence something like that? Oh, you mentioned that Poison Ivy chick, maybe they were stealing it for her? Or they wanted to kiss up to her, like, here, have a weird ass plant, be our friends?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... I don't think they'd survive that encounter." Phoebe admits. "It's way more likely they were stealing it to sell on the black market. Unfortunately, a lot of orchids are pretty delicate plants. You can stress them out pretty easily, and then they up and die." Phoebe gives a smile.

    "I have two in my room. Orchids. Lady slipper types, not dying llama types."