8404/Bookworms

Bookworms
Date of Scene:	24 October 2021
Location:	Gotham University
Synopsis:	Helena Wayne meets an environmental activist at the campus bookstore. And Pamela Isley meets a student biker.
Cast of Characters:	Pamela Isley, Helena Wayne

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Pamela Isley has posed:
It's a rare, agruably even unbelievable day. Oh, not that Pamela Isley's at Gotham University, oh no, but that she's in the campus book store, browsing the shelves peacefully and not 'borrowing' equipment from the science labs, or just hurling security guards about with giant vines.

No, the wicked Poison Ivy's dressed down in a pale pink hoodie with the hood up, some large sunglasses, and a pair of yoga pants with an understated leaf motif... because sometimes dressing in the most obvious way _is_ how you stay under the radar. That's how that works, right? Certainly, Ivy seems to think it's working so far as she works her way down the shelves towards the botany section, picking another book out now and then to add to her small armful of reading material. Whatever scheme she's up to, it's certainly not reached the 'costumed dramatics' point.

Well, not yet at least.

Helena Wayne has posed:
Helena Wayne ducks into the library on a mission of her own: to buy some books. And not just ANY books, either. Helena recently registered for classes, so she's here with a shopping list. For this, she's going to need a cart. Backpack... Gotham U sweatshirt... notebooks... folders... and her class schedule.

For her part, Helena is also dressed casually. Jeans tucked into biker boots, a t-shirt with the Superman logo under a leather jacket which matches the boots, aviator sunglasses perched in those raven locks.

Rounding a corner with her cart, she's paying more attention to her list than the other browers and nearly runs over the redhead in the pink hoodie. "Oh! Really sorry about that. I just wasn't paying attention." Pause. "Nice yoga pants, by the way."

Pamela Isley has posed:
Pamela's lost in thought, in the rare serenity of actually getting to browse for books and just be herself, by herself.

At leas tup until Helena and her practically run into each other in the most literal sense. Slim red eyebrows perk up above the rim of those opaque sunglasses, back straightens, she practically lifts off the balls of her feet in shock. Up close, it's pretty clear Dr. Isley's no college student, or even professor... after all, there aren't _that_ many green skinned redheads around Gotham. Or the tri-state area for that matter. "Oh! Sorry! Yeah, there's... just a lot to see here, right?"

Her own gaze is shielded by her sunglasses, so she can take a moment to let it sweep, taking in the boots, the jeans, the jacket and aviators. Her lips curve in a crooked grin, "Wait, are you the bookstore's resident rebel? I mean, nice boots, but they kind of scream... like... fast bikes more than long books?"

Helena Wayne has posed:
Helena Wayne's shoulders relax a bit when her inattention doesn't start a fight. Head tilting, she shrugs lightly and gives a nod in the general direction of the door. "Well, yeah. The fast bike is outside." A purple big-block street bike. "Just starting at the University, so I'm on a supply run."

Taking a closer look at the redhead now, the green complexion doesn't seem to bother her. Must be comfortable around metas or something. "I'm Helena, and I'm gonna go out on a limb to guess that you're not here buying school books."

Pamela Isley has posed:
Ivy glances around, almost conspiratoral in her manner... and then plucks her sunglasses off and tucks them into the pocket of her hoodie. She even draws the hood back to let that red mane of hair practically spring free as she laughs softly and nods her head. "Oh, well, that's pretty responsible. Getting books is defintiely the priority. People'll tell you it's ramen, but that's a like. Get a meal card and sneak in for seconds when each meal period is ending. Getting your text books? Way more important.

She sighs out and shakes her head with a little grin, "And no, I'm uhh... going on a little trip out of town. Want to take some reading material. Pamela." She shakes her head and rolls her eyes, "I mean, I can only imagine the trouble if I went and borrowed some library books and took them to spa- ... uhhh... really far out of town."

Helena Wayne has posed:
Helena Wayne lifts a brow and returns the smile. Infectuous, right? "Yeah, some of those librarians are pretty strict." she replies. "And I'm a commuter student, so the meal plan stuff really doesn't apply." The voluminous red mane doesn't go unnoticed, and she leans a bit closer to get a better look.

"That's an awesome color, by the way. Your hair, I mean. Goes really well with your complexion. Please tell me it's natural."

Pamela Isley has posed:
Pamela shakes her head with a soft, almost disbelieving laugh, "Wait, you don't live in Gotham but you chose to come here? That's... brave? Daredevil-esque or something?" Arms cross as she nods her head, and then gives it a little toss to fan her hair out.

"Well, natural in a sense. Or a few senses. It's a little complicated." She rolls her eyes and grins crookedly, "Believe me, the entire story's _way_ too long for a book store. But yeah, hair skin, I'm all natural! Organic even." She perks her eyebrows and hums softly, "So do you choose the hard way to do everything? Or just figured you wanted a little veneer of mob town and dreary skies with your education?"

Helena Wayne has posed:
Helena Wayne's blue eyes brighten at the word 'complicated' and she gives a quick nod as well. "There's a fine line between bravery and foolishness." she replies, as if quoting someone. "And I've always loved Gotham, believe it or not. Even if I didn't grow up here. There's a certain baroque charm to it." Well, not really THIS Gotham.

Her gaze narrows a touch, as if trying to get a closer look without being rude. "I wasn't going to ask about your complexion, but yeah. All natural usually implies organic, but I think I take your meaning."

Pamela Isley has posed:
Pamela cocks her hip, crosses her arms, but as much as it seems like she's long-suffering and used to being examined closely, her eyes sparkle playfully, "Well, I mean, it's not really that organic. I didn't ask my colleague what poisons he used, but the end result was the same. Me and plants just... get along now, right?"

Her shoulders rise and fall in a casual little shrug, "Oh, if it weren't for some of the clowns around town, and the neverending parade of mob movie enthusiasts, Gotham could be as good as any other city. Which I suppose may be damning with faint praise... but I'm trying not to be so critical of..." She trails off for a long moment, face shifts to a slight, suffering glower, "Uhhh... humanity?"

Helena Wayne has posed:
Pamela and -plants- get along... Helena rests an elbow on the cart handle, keeping eye contact with the green-hued woman. "So your complexion comes from toxins?" she replies, trying to follow along. Then comes the 'humanity' crack. Did she says that she gets along with plants?

Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!

Helena definitely picks up on the warning signals, but lacks the common thread of a plant-based character in her own rogue's gallery. The smile widens a touch, then. "Oh, don't be so quick to judge all of humanity by the actions of a few." she offers. "We're not all that bad, at least some of us."

Pamela Isley has posed:
Pamela breathes out another long sigh and shakes her head, "Hey, I'm trying not to. Trying to let Har... a friend's change of view be an impetus for my own change or whatever." Shoulders rise and fall again, still resigned.

"But I mean, look at me! I can go to the book store and have a conversation and not... totally hate it! That's _definite_ personal growth." She perks an eyebrow and grins crookedly, "No, no, some of you... us... rock cool coats and have what are no doubt totally bitching motorcycles."

Eyes narrow slightly, brows lift, "So... hybrid? Electric? Oh god, is it some giant gas guzzling two wheeled tank?" Pamela practically pantomimes recoiling. This is clearly entertaining her, getting to be 'human' for once. Then again, it's rare to run into anyone who's not looking to use her powers, or running in terror from them.

Helena Wayne has posed:
Helena Wayne keeps leaning a bit on the cart, chuckling softly at the revelation of a conversation that isn't hated. "Well we all have our days, believe me." she replies. "Hell there are many days I'd like to just chuck humanity, myself." Joking, of course. Right?

At the question about the bike, however, Helena gives a soft laugh and shakes her head. "Sorry, but my bike's 100 percent muscle. A gas-guzzling chrome beheamoth painted purple with metallic flakes. Because it's pretty." Blue eyes brighten, then. "I'll give you a head-start if you want, so you don't have to smell my exhaust fumes."

Pamela Isley has posed:
Pam snorts softly and shakes her head, "Oh no, I'm willing to forgive you. I mean, fashion's also very important, so... I mean, if it _looks_ good, it serves a purpose, right?" Eyebrows perk up and she points a playfully threatening finger, "But if I ever hit the point of trying _petitions_ again? Oh, you better believe you own me a signature, missy."

She keeps that finger pointed, eyes narrowing to slits, "And don't think I'm like all those online signup forms that you can click yes on and they'll forget about you. I'm going to remember the pretty gal with the pretty bike. How many purple muscle beast motorcycles can there _possibly_ be?"

Helena Wayne has posed:
Helena Wayne lifts both brows, then. "Petitions? Ohgod, you're one of those environmental activists..." She says it like it was something horrible, but the look in those blue eyes is nothing short of playful. And she is smiling. "You can better believe that I'll sign your petition, then. Promise. Believe me when I say I'm a big proponent of saving the Earth." Whether it's from extra-dimensional monsters or what.

Pam thinks she's pretty, hmm? Helena gives her dark hair a little tousle at that. Vanity preening? Perhaps. "And you can better believe I'm going to remember the pretty redhead with the nature-friendly complexion, too." As for the purple muscle bikes? Yes, actually. There are exactly two of them in Gotham.

Pamela Isley has posed:
Pamela chews her lower lip tightly for a moment, head bobbing swiftly, cheeks flushing a deeper green, "I... that's... uhhh... yeah, you could _totally_ describe me as an environmental activist." Sure, 'ecoterrorist' takes up the first five pages of search results, but still.

Lips quirk in an irrepressible little smile at that tousle and preening as Pam laughs softly and shakes her head, "Yeah, well I mean... there aren't actually too many green skinned redheads around." In fact, she's pretty sure there are two of them... well, not in Gotham, necessarily, but she's pretty confident no one's going to mistake her for Ms. Martian, what with the lack of flight and all. Eyebrows perk as Pamela murmurs out thoughtfully, "Well, I should _probably_ stop distracting you from finding your books. I mean, I don't want to be responsible for your grades suffering from lack of study!"

Helena Wayne has posed:
Helena Wayne raises up slowly, arm straightening to rest a hand on the cart where her elbow just departed. "Oh I don't mind the distraction. Really. And I may be a commuter but I *do* live in Gotham." Pause to shrug, then. "Call me crazy. But I'll be watching for your petition."

Helena flashes a wide, genuine smile, then adds a nod. "And I should probably leave you to your own book search." She gestures to the growing stack in Pam's arms, then. "It was really nice to meet you, Pamela, and I do hope we run into each other again sometime. Perhaps less literally."

Pamela Isley has posed:
Pamela nods her head with a crooked smile, "Oh, I'm sure we will! I mean, if you live in Gotham, sooner or later some sort of wacky coincidence draws you into... you know, the weird things that happen in Gotham. I'm sure we'll run into one another. And it's not like I won't stand out!"

Pam hugs those books to herself, "Oh, yeah, I need to pack some more. I've got some plant clippings to take so I can replant some stuff at the end of my trip too! I swear, this is why I usually don't leave Gotham, it's just... so much to _do_." She shakes her head and sighs, "But maybe it'll be for the best. we'll just see. And I do hope I see you again, Helena with the beautiful powerful bike!"

Helena Wayne has posed:
Helena Wayne doesn't push the cart away just yet, at least not before flashing another smile and giving a particular head tilt. Long trip. Plants to take care of. Of course, why not? She chuckles a little as well, then. "I'm sure we will, Pamela." After all, it's not like Helena would soon forget, either.

Offering a finger-wave, then, Helena steers her cart around carefully and continues further into the academic books. And it takes plenty of willpower not to look back over her shoulder.

Pamela Isley has posed:
Pamela has no such worries about being caught looking back... which means she just has her _thoughts_ to worry about as she wonders why exactly she watches Helena wheel her cart off more or less until she disappears around a corner. Pamela heaves a little sigh, and looks down at her books... really, she knows she's already done her shopping. And of course she's met someone interesting right before she's planning to head off to Genosha via a little layover in space.

And while it's tempting to just try and call for a teleportation right off, instead she spins about on her heel to head towards the cash register and settle her due. She can't be ripping off the university book store while she's trying to turn over a figurative new leaf after all.