Owner	Pose
Monet St. Croix	She's reviewing the news reports over at the main bar counter. Monet is slowly shifting from a newspaper, to a tablet, occasionally up to the news reports playing. The surreal experience of an angelic invasion and the possible literal end times. The newspaper is folded out to a recent opinion editorial. Monet has the look of morbid fascination as the mutant goes to track all the different courses that has been inflicted over New York City in barely the last month and can only have the visual cues that it is a theatre of the absurd.
Helena Wayne	It isn't often that Helena Wayne can get away from Gotham, especially with the refugee situation these days. But today she just decided to take a ride. The rumble of a motorcycle engine is heard outside the bar, approaching and then shutting off. The door to the bar opens and a young woman enters. Long, black hair spills down over a leather jacket with jeans, leather boots, and a purple t-shirt completing the outfit. Helena tousles the windblown hair as booted heels scrape softly on the floor, blue eyes casually casting about the place to check out the patrons. Heading for the bar, she keeps one eye on the TV. "I'll have a coke, please."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would glance over at Helena from her position, "A coke? Why don't you get a diet one while you're at it?" Her tone more sardonic and amused. IF one had to place the tone in her words it might be going into a fancy restaurant with a young child and giving them McDonald's. Rich and self assured would roll off Monet's smug self from her casual commentary with grace and ease.
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne is just easing ont the bar stool, testing the swivel as she gives Monet an assessing look. She smiles wryly as well, giving those black locks a last tousle. "Because it's a long ride back to Gotham." she replies. Nevermind that she's not -quite- legal. "And diet tastes like battery acid. Pretty quiet around here."
Monet St. Croix	M would glance over her shoulder, "In the Arctic they use diet coke to clean off the wheels of tractor trailers from the tundra. It apparently does better than acid and tar. So merely visualize that. And what brings you to Westchester?"
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne rests comfortably on the bar stool, right leg swinging lightly while the left foot holds position. "I just headed north and away from New Jersey. This is where I got thirsty." she replies. "I'm Helena, by the way." The woman looks at the sign, then. "So who's Harry?"
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would ah at Helena, "Harry is the owner of the establishment. I'm not sure I've ever met him." She would nod at Helena, "I am Monet." Her french accent showing as she would make a point of properly enunciating it.
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne nods slowly, waiting on her drink. "Nice to meet you, Monet." And yes, she manages the proper accent. "You live around here, then?" she asks casually. Pointing towards the TV, Helena adds. "Things are getting absolutely crazy in the City these days."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would nod, "Yes, I.. Am a resident at one of the schools nearby. Xavier's Institute for the Gifted. I attend one of the post graduate programs they have." Technically close enoug hto the truth to pass, at least. "It is lovely that even with the pandemonium of the last two years that existence has found a way to escalate things even more in the greater consciousness."
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne hasn't heard of Xavier's, admittedly, but she lifts a dark brow all the same. "Post-grad student, hmm? I go to Gotham U, myself. Criminology, to get the question about majors out of the way." She chuckles a little, then. "That's what I love about the tri-state area, of course. Just when you think it can't get any worse, someone proves you wrong."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would smile, "By reputation Gotham has quite an eclectic collection. I'm sure that you'll find a great deal of inspiration and research from what I've read of the city." Spoken as someone that had never set foot there. "Perhaps then society should agree to go to somewhere a bit stabler and less inclined to inciting damnation. Madripoor perhaps."
Helena Wayne	"Or Belize." Helena replies without hesitation. Giving a nod when her drink is set down, she reaches into a pocket to peel off a few bills. "Gotham has developed its own way of dealing with crime." she replies. "Not always a favorite with the uniformed GCPD, of course, but the 'capes' are effective in their own way. I'm a little surprised that the movement hasn't become more widespread."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would shrug, "Just look at some of the newspaper articles on things going on in Manhattan. It's a veritable plaid and pastel vaudeville circuit. That's the type of world we live in now. And have for some time." She would admit after a moment.     Also not admitting she had been one of those engaged in said vaudeville circuit.
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne's connection with the capes isn't just academic either, not that she'd admit it to someone she just met. Easing off of her bar stool, she steps over to look at the newspaper while taking a sip. "So it would seem." Helena agrees. "What's your take on the vigilante movement, if you don't mind my asking? Call it academic curiosity."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would shrug, "I feel that it is something that is openly toelrated by the authorities if not outright encouraged. The sheer number and wide variety, with no stnadards of training or exprience.. So many do it it is now far too late to try and stop it."
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne smiles wryly at that, giving a slow nod as Monet elaborates. "I have to agree with you. Tacet acceptance may not make it legal, but it certainly doesn't discourage the practice. Although I've been doing some research, and amongst certain circles there ARE standards or training and experience." She pauses for another sip. "It sort of depends on what logo you wear, really."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would shrug, "Yes, and there are.. How many? Hundreds? Thousands? Does anyone bother to keep track? If someone does bother to keep track and then goes telling about those hundreds ona n individual basis would most of them bother to lsiten or do anything?"
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne chuckles softly. "There aren't thousands wearing the Bat emblem." she counters. "Although I'm sure it certainly -seems- like the few Bats can be everywhere all at once." Helena looks thoughtful for a moment, as if considering how much to share. "I'm doing a research paper on the vigilantes' role in the justice system. You'd also be surprised at how well-trained some of them truly are. I've seen their work, first-hand."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would shrug over at Helena, "I haven't paid much attention." Whether she was implying that she didn't care about the Bats, didn't think they were importnat enough to register, or had just never given it any thought. "Do share your data. I presume you've backed it with empirical evidence and observations?"
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne gives a little head-shake. "I'm still gathering a lot of it. But even though the Gotham street gangs outnumber the various Bats by a significant number, their activities continue to be blunted. And I've discovered the reason behind it." Pausing for another sip of Coke, she adds. "Fear. Batman and his allies keep the bad guys at bay with fear."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would shake her head, "A short term solution but effective one. However it is reliant upon the.. Maintenance of the aura. At the point it is disrupted even for a short timespan, then it undermines it. Fear requires a constant presence to reinforce itself. It takes very little to have it collapse and to lead to a resurgence of violence. However, that is purely a psychological view. I have not looked upon the statistics or evaluated correlation."
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne raises an index finger at Monet's reply. "If you take a look, the Batman has been operating in Gotham for quite some time, if you research the articles. So I daresay that solution goes beyond simply the short term." She shakes her head, then. "Fear is just the smoke-screen. The diversion in the sleight of hand, if you will. While the gang-bangers are looking around corners and checking back over their shoulders, their power bases are eroded. Drug shipments are located and stopped. Gang leaders are arrested, tried, and imprisoned. Some snakes die and others take their place, but it's a process."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would mm, "I have not taken more than a cursory look on the matter so I will accept your expertise in the matter." When one hadn't looked at the data, one accepted the interpretation of one that was fluent with it after all. That was only proper. "With current.. Events, however, an in depth of crime and demographic statistics of Gotham as well as cross referencing other data to evaluate correlation is unlikely to be a priority."
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne wrinkles her nose and nods again. "That's the current snag I keep running into, yes. All of these external... activities... cloud the data." She draws a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "But things will clear in time, and hopefully I'll be able to make sense of it. At least before the end of the semester."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would shrug, "At the very least, one has the start of a research project for a long term thesis. A competent professor will recognize the limitations of available data and the review and appreciate the beginnings of the research and evaluation."
Helena Wayne	Helena Wayne settles back a bit, crossing one booted foot over the other. "That's my hope, at least. In any case I'll have to explain the limitations of my data." She shrugs again. "But that's why I went on the ride, to clear my head a little." She smiles, then. "And meeting new people always helps."
Monet St. Croix	Monet St. Croix would nod at Helena, "I wish you luck with your analysis. If you put it forwards to publication I will ensure at soonest availability I can review it. I cannot state as to whether I will have the perspective to properly evaluate it however. Good fortune with your data collection."