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Foreword.
Gotham City is home to all manner of criminals. From users to street peddlers to the kingpins at the top. From the barrel scrapers like Condiment King all the way to the Joker. If you can think of a crime, any crime, chances are it's happening in Gotham as we speak. Or rather, it would normally. Welcome to a new age, the age of Arkham City. Now all those crimes are still happening of course, there's just now a wall separating them from honest folk like you or me. But what makes someone honest? Can you truly say you've never commited a felony? Even as small as opening a letter that isn't you, or taking a pack of gum without paying? There used to be a saying. Honour among thieves. That saying no longer applies to the breed of criminals housed in Arkham. For the most part. Except then there's the Misfits.
Their members will argue the specifics all day long, the extent of their code, whether they even have a code, how were they founded, when they were founded, why they were founded. Maybe it's all true, in some roundabout way. But I will say this, this isn't justice. We were all there when Julian Day unleashed hell on Gotham. We were there when Charles Brown, Leonard Fiasko, Joseph Rigger and so many others paid for his sins. Yet despite that, they still reside in Arkham's walls. You may not know them by name, only by their chosen moniker, but there's no denying now the impact of this tightly knit group of felons. And this, is their story.
-Vicki Vale.
The following extracts were given on January 20th, 2019. These have been published with the full consent of the participants.
Chapter One- Garfield Lynns "Firefly"
"Right. Before we get started, I gotta make one thing clear- Drury likes to say the Misfits were founded alongside a godamn backing orchestra,
singing our hearts out like some kind of nonsense out of Hamilton. It's what he told the wife, it's what he told Rigger- who actually *believed* him! It's all shit. The Misfits were founded on a rainy night in a back alley in Little Italy. And it was just me, him and the pencil. Don't know why he'd claimed Mr Incognito was part of the crew, but he did. Now we weren't hitmen- Drury didn't have the stomach, but we did work for the Roman- odd jobs mostly. Whenever there was a shootout, Drury was sent to bail them out, using those dumb lanterns of his. Me, I carried out arsons, which suited me just fine, believe me, and Fiasko cleaned up our messes. Pretty good system. That is until the Long Halloween fucked things up, and suddenly old Carmine wasn't too fond of us "Freaks." Back then, Drury called us the Three Musketeers (maybe that's why he brought in Cavalier a month later), or rather he did until Carmine gave us a different name, as he chased us out his office."
Chapter Two- Leonard Fiasko "The Eraser"
"You misfits are nothing you understand! Nothing!" Yeah, that was it. And so the name stuck. Whoopee. Not even sure if Drury knew it was an insult back then. Heck, Lynns' may be the only person who does know what goes on inside that head. It was around this point we started to expand. I was never really on board with the supervillain schtick if I'm honest. Too much attention, too much noise. And I'll tell you who didn't help. Thomas Blake. What a fuckin' dickhead. Always puffed out his chest and had teeth as white as the clown's face. Kept trying to bring women onto the team. It never lasted. Guy thought he ran the show, he really did. Brought not one, but two psychos into the fold."
Chapter Three- Charles Brown "Kite-Man"
"You mean Chancer? ... Chancer came later than the rest of us. Brought in to replace Gar, when he'd decided he'd be better off solo. And maybe he was right. He certainly moved up the ladder without us.
Before the kid, it was me- that is to say Kite-Man, Tom- The Catman, Morty- Cavalier, the "holy trinity" of Gar, Drury and Len, and lastly... Julian.
Drury found me in a bad place. My son had died, and well, I suppose all I really wanted was to join him. That was really why I started hang gliding across Gotham... A death wish, if I'm honest. Drury's twins played with Charlie a lot when they were young... Probably would be going off to college together right about now. Drury lost his brother when he was a kid, and we were both going through divorces when he approached me. Why, we must have been the only family men in the group.
So what was The Misfits? It was a pact. A promise. To stick up for one another, protect our fellow C-Listers, or Barrel Scrapers.
The group's had steady membership over the years, though of course, some have come and gone, that's life. Joey (Joey Rigger) was never a full time member, and we were hesitant to keep Zodiac around either. Morty Drake is, uh, still hiding from the IRS somewhere. The last time he surfaced... Heh, that would've been Dru's wedding anniversary. I'm not pretending we were good guys. I mean, look at Julian, or how Chancer was a while back, but we did care for each other. A lot. Even if a lot of them were too tough to show it."
Chapter Four- Drury Walker "Killer Moth"
"Oh, I loved the Misfits. But it just didn't work. We'd started out as criminals obviously, no point denying it. But it was... never personal. We'd promised then and there, that is over a pint at My Alibi, to never to stoop to their level. The methods of the mob, the A-Listers, the big leagues. We just wanted a name. A legacy. Then Gar left... The guys... Heh, they all called him "Pretty" before, well, let's say the incident. He really was the looker out of us all. Old school handsome, not like Blake. But when Gar left, I don't know... He was my best man at my first wedding, and he'd be my best man at my second. Without him to back me up, things fell apart. Len was never really ok with the legacy thing, he just wanted a steady income. He got it with the bar, and retired shortly after. Have I ever told that story? Heh, back when Gar and I started out, we torched Tony Bressi's bar, and- Nevermind, point is, with a few renovations, it was good as new. My Alibi was under new management! And I was another man down. And another with Chuck, who left after a back injury. That may have been my lowest point. Left with Jules and Blake, I got more antsy, aggressive. Knew I went too far when I kidnapped three hostages, and tried killing them- even though they'd paid the ransom. I just didn't want to be forgotten. That's what created the Charaxes serum"
Chapter Five- Miranda Gaige "Tiger Moth"
"Yeah... Charaxes. No, I didn't know Drury'd had Langstrom whip up a mutagen for him. If I had, I would've shattered the bottle myself, and it would've saved us a lot of grief, and couples counseling.
I had, it's silly... It was a schoolgirl's crush. Ever since he burst into Dad's office, lantern in hand, stripey tights pulled all the way up his chest... Well, I fancied him. What should've been a one night stand became so much more than that. Sure, he calls himself Killer Moth, but he's really quite sweet. I'd been doing the masked stuff long before we'd started dating (though I *did* name myself after him, the stories are true), and in a male dominated "workplace," we tend to get noticed, and propositioned an awful lot. Leading the charge, Tom Blake of course. Don't think he ever got over the fact that I would sooner marry "Killer Moth" than go out with him. Course, marriage doesn't really stop a man like him. Bullets tend to though. Sorry, sorry. Shortly after we'd got more serious, Chancer was shot in the head. I'd only met him once, maybe twice, but the Misfits... they took it hard. He was maybe 19 then. But life went on, even through earthquakes and viruses. And when Gar returned to the Misfits, a lot more grizzled (or griddled) than when he left, Drury was happier than I'd ever seen him before. The boys were back.
Chapter Six- Joseph Rigger "Firebug"
Gar wasn't gone that long really, but that didn't stop Drury from recruiting me as the new fire guy. Didn't last of course, but it was fun! Gar didn't think much of it all, but that was Gar. It was a while before things got bad again. With what happened to Chancer, Drury was reluctant ta do anything about the Misfits. It was just a phase, right? Around then Catman met up with some guys in the Super Seven, or something and now Calendar Man was the only one of the OGs left. Guess that's why he ended up... Like that. But Gar was back! Drury was happy! There was finally a woman on the team! That had ta mean something. So they gave it another shot- and they ran over Fred Larson. Think that was his name. Undeterred, our brave heroes carried on, and Drury reached out to a rising star in the underworld, who he said he'd met the night Ned was run over, and..."
Chapter Seven- [Redacted]
"So Lightning Bug. No, not that one. The original. What a fucking mess. Before these, uh, Misfits were just a nuisance, but now, the A-Listers were watching."
Chapter Eight- Thomas Blake "Catman"
"And it was like it'd never happened. Some new kid- Walker's kid, got the armour just in time for him to tie the knot. The salmon, was delicious. After a honeymoon, which probably involved a whole lot of viagra, and yet not a lot of action, Walker came home with news. Ms Gaige was pregnant. Somehow. And so it fell on us (well me) to support his growing family. Not the glorious return any of us were hoping for (Drake was right to get out when he had the chance). It just wasn't right. I was a hunter, an apex predator, and yet there I was, being treated like an idiot, and worse... A beta. If I didn't take that card from Scandal, they'd probably still ignore me... Godamn Signal Man then had to ruin the fun with those nukes of his, which *we* never got any credit for helping stop! Sure helped Walker become mayor though. I was the one who brought in Ragdoll! Was nice to have someone on my side for once, even if he was a [redacted]"
Chapter Nine- Montgomery Sharpe "Chancer"
"So I came back. Went a bit mad, but I hear that's what happens when there's a bullet in your brain. Ok, I'm not a scientist... When Drury became Mayor, it was almost like we were his private army- without the cash. It's a shame Chuck and I missed out on that battle against the Society... Heh. Well, could be worse, I heard Blake actually slept in during it all! Hey, I wonder if the gas was what made Calendar Man-"
End of Extract. For Full Book, pay $13.99
Chuck- Hey, where's Crane?
Two-Face- Busy.
*The meeting took place at Elliot Heights, per Chuck's suggestion. The attendees- three of the four heads of Penguin's new Pact, and each of their lieutenants, arrived later then Brown expected, with none of them the wiser regarding the whereabouts of Deacon Blackfire. The last to arrive, Black Mask and his allies knocked on the door with an air of impatience*
Sionis- The elevator's busted.
Chuck- We know.
*Sionis grumbles, but sits down, waiting for Chuck to start talking*
Freeze- So. Talk. You said you had information.
Chuck- Yes, um, first of all I'm glad you all came. But before we start, do we know where Blackfire-
Two-Face- Get on with it.
Chuck- Right. We've identified the sniper. It was Black Spider.
*The assembly is silent. Then Roman groans*
Sionis- Oh, of course it is... What's the bastard even doing in Arkham?
Two-Face- It's not rocket science Sionis. He's probably a prisoner like the rest of us.
Sionis- No, I don't buy it. Didn't he get a pardon for that Society crap?
*Li, who has been staring at the uncharacteristically quiet Penguin, leans over and mutters to Sionis, gesturing at Firebug*
Li- Yes sir, he did. But, so did Mr Rigger. Clearly, the government cares little about their promises.
Sionis- Yeah. Suppose I shouldn't be surprised...
Freeze- Answer this, Kite-Man isn't it?
Chuck- Just call me Chuck...
Freeze- How on earth did you find this information?
Chuck- Ah, well this is Mitch.
*At this, Mayo, still wearing the bloodied vest from last night, and far from looking his best, stands in front of this audience of hardened killers and gangsters, and they can barely contain their laughter*
Sionis- Is this a joke?
*It didn't take long. Despite their initial... "apprehension," they all listened to Mayo's story in full. When he was done, they set out in search of Needham. Dent went to the old GCPD building, in search of Needham's arrest reports, anything that would give them any insight to his whereabouts. Sionis returned to his factory, alerting his men of the news. Cobblepot sent his assistant, Lark, away, as he talked with Zebra Man as they made their way back to the Iceberg Lounge*
Zebra- So. What are you going to do? Kill them?
*Cobblepot sighed, handing him his top hat, Zebra peers inside, and takes out a note taped inside*
Penguin- Nothing so brash. You've spent far too much time with Kobra... They'll start hunting soon enough, and they'll want you with them, for the extra manpower of course. When they find him, however long that takes, you will do whatever you can to stop him talking.
That note, is all I have on him, his family, friends, past relationships and pain. Use it, and eliminate him. You'll be the hero.
Zebra- All that talk of loyalty.
Penguin- I meant it all. Do you understand how hard I've worked to keep this hellhole together? If the Monarch had to die, so be it. If Needham must join him, very well. You of all people should understand that...
=====
*Philip lost his hands, his sight, to this man. Mr Camera. His time in Blackgate, away from photos had driven the man mad, or maybe it was Meister's voice in his ear. No matter the reason, Harry Simms severed Ten's hand over a single photograph. Now Reardon relied on mechanical limbs to hold the very gun in his hand he was pointing at his head. The same gun Blackfire offered him. "Was it even Simms?" he wondered. Without his sight, he couldn't know for sure that it *wasn't* some other captive of Blackfire, an innocent man who's life now rested in his hands. All he knew was that there was something dark creeping around inside his body, a voice telling him that the vengeance he craved was finally here. All he had to do, was pull the trigger. The worst part? He didn't know if it was Blackfire's toxins, or his own anger*
Blackfire- Christ died for *our* sins, but what of theirs? Those who commit atrocities far worse than God can forgive? That is our duty my children! Our time is now. We will slay first these common mongrels, then we will make our way to the top. Divine justice comes to all!
Simms- I didn't do anything!
Blackfire- Enough! Harold Simms, you threaten and extort innocents, you collect incriminating evidence that you lust over like a man possessed. No more!
*They cheered. They all cheered for Blackfire. Yet, while Philip was coerced by drugs, these people needed only the spoken word to jeer at Simms*
Ten- Then... it's true, you've been using the tunnels to hunt people down. Kill them.
...
Blackfire- My boy, I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about.
=======
*Cobblepot returned to the Iceberg Lounge three hours ago, just thinking in his office. Eventually, he left his sanctuary and sat down at the bar. With a flick of his wrist, the two people previously sitting there, got up and left*
Penguin- Long day Leonard?
Len- It is what it is. Those two tried to trade their socks for some beer. Socks I tell you.
Penguin- Ah, well, it can't be helped.
Len- Well what are they meant to tip? Their knickers?
*Penguin laughed in a manner not dissimilar to his namesake, producing a noise that sounded something like a "Waugh." Behind them, Magpie tapped on the microphone, on top of the stage*
Magpie- I'd like to sing a song. Perhaps you know it.
*Len muttered something under his breath that unfortunately, David Wist, Magpie's husband, happened to hear*
Len- Urgh, Moon River. It's always Moon River.
Wist- Hey, she sings it very well!
Penguin- Oh it's lovely, David, absolutely lovely, but you have to understand it gets repetitive.
Wist- Of course Mr Cobblepot, I didn't mean, I-
Len- I'm just asking, why's it always Moon River...
*Roman takes another seat up at the bar beside Oswald*
Penguin- Roman! My friend!
Sionis- If, when we get out, and I hear that song, that damn song, on the radio... Someone's dying. I hate it.
Wist- Look, the moon is really shiny. She likes it
*And with that, Wist brushes past Li, offering a comforting smile to Mags as he heads off towards the stage*
Sionis- You. I'll have a Vodka Martini, Li here will have a, rum and coke was it?
Li- Just the Cola please. I don't drink.
Sionis- Throw in the rum anyway. I might drink it. We've got him.
Oswald- You can't have found him already surely?
Len- What's this?
*Sionis glances at Len and back at Oswald*
Sionis- Is he good?
Oswald- Certainly.
Sionis- The guy that shot this place up, your pal identified him as Black Spider.
Len- Shit...
Sionis- Exactly. Dent went to get some files from the GCPD database, the computers there are still connected to the server. Don't know what he found, but he said best bet, he's at the cemetery. Got Freeze, Zsasz and your guy down there already.
Oswald- Then, it's just a matter of waiting.
====
*The Gotham Cemetery is sprawling. One of the biggest controversies behind Arkham, was separating loved ones from those buried there. Of course, with Strange's connections, it didn't take the government long to overrule the City Council. With all of Gotham's tragedies- the breakouts, the earthquake, the crises, the Signal Man incident and the City of Fear, there's no bigger graveyard in the entire state. It's a labyrinth of headstones and crypts. It takes a lot of manpower to cover the area. The glow from Freeze's goggles, are about the only thing lighting up the area*
Freeze- Spread out. Firebug, take the east. Zsasz, cover the west. I will search the South Quadrant, leaving you, Zebra Man, with-
Zebra- The North. Da.
*Rigger lit a match so he could see. Doing so caused a flock of birds to burst out from the nearest crypt. He cursed himself as he sucked the blood from his scratch marks. Owls. Zsasz wandered around the headstones, and grinned. So many bodies... So many put there because of him. And Freeze saw the graves of those husbands and wives buried together, and his blood boiled. He would find his Nora. It was Zsasz that found him first, a bouquet in his hand. He fired a shot, startling Needham*
Zsasz- I prefer the knife Mr Needham. More personal... Guns end it quickly, and, I don't want to end this quickly after all... you know the blade too, don't you?
*He fired again, but this time Needham was quick, and he disappeared into the trees*
Zsasz- Two-Face was right. He's here.
*Freeze was the next to see him, a blast of ice firing from his gun*
Freeze- I made a promise to my wife Needham. I don't break my promises, not to her.
*The ice stream follows Spider all the way into Rigger's quarter*
Rigger- You don't have to do this Spider. You can come quietly.
Needham- I go and I'm as good as dead.
*He shoots at him, knocking Rigger off balance, and then- Blam! The shot sends him down the hill. Landing with a thud, Zebra Man follows him*
Needham- I know your kind... I know you won't stop but *Urgh* My girlfriend and my son were buried in two unmarked graves here. Her family didn't want me visiting them, her brother especially, blamed me for what happened. They overdosed you see... But I knew the truth. It was the drug business that got them killed, and I wasn't gonna rest until every last one of them was gone. When I was sent to kill Sionis... Couldn't wait. *Cough* I didn't want Penguin's money, you hear me? What's the use in this place? Nah. I just wanted to know where my family was buried. I just wanted to lay some flowers on my kid's grave.
*Pinned against a gravestone, Needham coughs up blood, placing a hand over his wound. He ought to be dead. He can't move. *
Needham- So... Go ahead. Do it. But you take these, and you put them there.
Zebra- Your family were junkies. Weak. They deserve nothing. Neither do you.
*And yet, just behind him, Zebra hears the quiet chink of a piece of metal, and as he turns back-
Blam. Blam. Two bullets to the head bring Zebra Man's life to an end. A hand grabs Needham and carries him up to the waiting group- Freeze, Zsasz and Rigger*
Lenny parks outside of 130 Wien and Novik Blvd, where his first job as ‘The Eraser’ shall occur. It’s a pity he is dressed as a pencil. Jumping out of his van, he grabs a bucket of his patented cleeratol, a mop and bucket, and a pack of chicken bites (this is hungry work). All these supplies in tow, he runs towards the abandoned house. Having expected a cabal of low looking gangsters, Lenny is surprised to come face to face with a figure in a red and gold winged suit.
Firebug: “Umm… are you the guy?”
Lenny freezes like an antelope in headlights (marvel reference in a DC product, what is this the CW?). Gangsters are easy, but with supervillains… they are unpredictable.
Eraser: “Hi, I’m Len-RASER, I’m Le Eraser!”
The figure looks at Lenny, slightly confused.
Firebug: “Well I’m Le Firebug, but you can call me Joey Rigger, Len.”
Eraser: “What did you want me for, Joey!”
Firebug glances towards the corner of the room, where a heavily burnt body lies.
Eraser: “Jesus f*** Christ, dude… did you do that?”
Joey: Well, my friend Harlan helped a little. Can you do something about it?”
Eraser: “Sir, they don’t just call me The Eraser because I dress as a number 2 pencil!”
Joey: “Are you sure?
Eraser: “Yes, can you just let me get on with the job!”
Joey: “Sure, I’ll just boink my girlfriend upstairs!”
Lenny doesn’t answer, preferring not to let that sentence sink in. Once Joey has gotten upstairs, Lenny pulls out a piece of apparatus. He jams a pipe into the crispy, crispy neck, and before plugging the other end to a cannister of cleeratol and turns a dial at the end of it. Cleeretol slowly pumps into the body, and the body begins to dissolve, the previous crispiness aiding in the reaction. Anticipating a long wait, Lenny calls Firebug twice, the first time resulting in uncomfortable creaking, and the second time producing and exclamation of-
Firebug: “SHUT THE F*** UP PENCIL NECK I’M TRYING TO-!
Lenny cuts it off before anything more is said.
Lenny: “Well if I’m going to be here for a while!”
He pulls out his phone and dials in a number.
Ossie: “Len?”
Lenny: “I have a lot of waiting to do Oz…”
Ossie: “You don’t mean…”
Lenny: “Bring the bags!”
2 Hours Later…
While Oz escapes through the window, not realising they were on the second floor, Lenny clears away any Marijuana smoke that remained, as Firebug makes his way down the stairs.
Firebug: “Sorry to keep you waiting, me and my girlfriend were-”
Lenny: “La-la-la-la, I am not listening! Well, the body is gone, though I did call some…”
Lenny engages in the stoner trope of examining his hands for a moment.
Lenny: “…Help! Now I for the matter of payment!”
Firebug pulls out his wallet, inadvertently dropping it in the process. Courteously, Lenny picks it up, noting a photograph inside it.
Eraser: “Oh, you know Tiger Moth?”
Firebug nods insincerely as Lenny notes the angle at which the photo is taken.
Eraser: “She doesn’t seem to know you are there… is that… CALENDAR MAN!”
Firebug snatches the photo from Lenny’s hands, and babbles defensively.
Eraser: “Where were you when you took that?”
Firebug: “…hiding in her closet.”
Eraser: “… … … how quaint!”
---------------------------
The Cookie rises…
A Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) Eldlus, decides to eat his colleague! :~) , I known about this behaviour but I was not expecting this to happen in October and @ only +6c degrees!
(I only had my mobile home available (Samsung Galaxy S9+) but the result were OK I think)
EXPLORE # 66
Phyrrhocoridae is a family of insects with more than 300 species world-wide. A common species in parts of Europe is the firebug. They are part of the order Hemiptera which are also known as the 'true bugs'. A few are important crop pests. They are called cotton stainers because their red bodies get crushed along with the cotton they eat when it is harvested, and these stains are difficult to remove. Their feeding mechanism also cuts the fibres and hence affects the growth of the cotton ball. They caused massive problems in the United States during the industrial revolution.
My apologies to Tedt ( Rundstedt B. Rovillos ) for my use of his description of the phyrrhocoridae insect.
Photographed at the Ninoy Aquino Park and Wildlife Center during the Pinoy Macro Anniversary, February 7, 2009.
===Over 20 Years Ago===
Norbert- Please... Stop.
*The assassin grimaced beneath his orange mask. He pulled Norbert up by his arm, then he hurled him over his shoulder, straight through a brick wall*
"Do you think your enemies will stop? Do you want them to? To take pity on you, to treat you like a weakling, so that you're just another nobody? So that you're just a waste of my time? Because I don't. Get. Up."
*They called him Deathstroke, even back then. He had still had two eyes, and his mask reflected that in it's design. The Injustice Society reached out to him almost as soon as he was out of the military. Slade Wilson was a war hero, and there was value in that. His own enhancements made the ideal handler and trainer for their newest weapon, The Killer Wasp*
Slade- The JSA will keep winning, I will keep winning, boy, if you don't get yourself a backbone! Understand?
*Through a tight and brutal training regime- a never ending barrage of insults and injuries, Wilson crafted the young, tender hearted Walker into the monster the Society needed. The Wasp rose to his feet, and nodded. The assassin, now unmasked to reveal his blonde hair and chiseled jaw, smirked, and handed him a file.*
Slade- Good. Your target is Richard Sionis, entrepreneur, business man, and arms dealer, currently staying in the Opal City Arms, room 237A. Recently, he found himself a new mask for his collection. The Mask of Sorrows. He doesn't understand it's true power. We do. Bring it back for us, as part of your... Initiation.
Wasp- Yes, sir.
====Now====
*20 years on, and master and pupil are reunited.*
Slade- Krill can be erratic. Moronic at times. But when he's in his element... Well, I'd almost call him brilliant. Why, he brought you both here without fail. To me.
Norbert- Where... Are the others?
Slade- The task force? On standby. They served their purpose, separated you from the herd. Your friends are just distractions. I've seen it in action- you two, you are the real trouble makers.
Drury- Oh, come on Slade, how much, how much are they paying you?
Slade- Don't insult me Walker. You could never pay my fee, not when you're working in... a fudge factory, was it?
*Drury looks at the ground, and scuffs his shoes on the concrete*
...
Drury- I'm trying my best.
Slade- Well, heh, we'll see about that.
*With a swift strike to the throat, Drury's coughing up blood on the floor. As he goes in for the kill Norbert reaches out, and catches Slade's sword in his hands*
Norbert- Leave... Leave him alone. It's me you want.
Slade- No, boy, it's really not. It's Strange who's really interested in you. Don't know why, I don't ask questions, but... I heard your last reunion didn't go so well. Heh. Me, on the other hand, I'm over you. You may've gotten your soul back, but, at the end of the day you're just another weak, insignificant speck.
*Norbert looked at his brother, still a stranger to him in many ways, and then back to Deathstroke*
Norbert- Drury....
Slade- Go on boy, show me what you've got.
====GCPD====
Miranda- Selina! You ok?
Selina- Well, was almost swallowed whole, but aside from that? Dandy. Where'd they even go?
*Selina brushes the grime and snake venom off of her catsuit, then stretches her back out, purring while doing so. "Do they all have to act like damn cats?" thought Miranda, thinking of Blake, and King of Cats*
Miranda- Krill took them. Norbert went after him, but... We don't even know where *he's* gone.
*Chancer looked into the distance, looking mature, for the first time in a while. "So, uh, what now?" he asked his companions, who simply shrugged, only for his question to be answered by a familiar voice. "Well, if you're not too busy, I was hoping you could catch us up," Ten said, him and Rigger ambling towards them, armed and weary.*
Chancer- Rigger! What're you doing here?
Ten- We saw the signal, wanted to check things out. Charles sends his regards.
*Miranda laughs relieved, pausing upon seeing the bone pertruding from Rigger's leg, and the sparks flicking around Ten's bionics*
Miranda- *Ahem* Looking a little worse for there, there fellas.
Rigger- Ah, it's just splintered. You, still look pretty as anything.
*But Rigger wasn't really paying all that attention to Miranda, having stared, unsure about the woman by her side, he'd concluded that she was not a mirage, and he would not waste this chance. There was a lump stuck in his throat as he hobbled past Tiger Moth, and towards Selina*
Rigger- You're Catwoman.
Selina- I am. And you're Firebug, right?
Rigger- Yeah, yeah. That's me. (She knows who I am.)
Ten- Congratulations.
=====Gar's House=====
*Gar came home laden with shopping, baby Josie tied to his back. He placed her in her crib, and opened his bags, just the essentials- bread, milk, cheese, and... a packet of firelighters. He held them in his charred hands, no recollection of having bought them. They called out to him, urging him to use them, and... He threw them in the bin, and collapsed onto the kitchen floor. The urges had become less frequent since his daughter entered his life, but every now and then, he'd wake up from a day dream holding something- A lit match, a tank of gas, a carton of fireworks. If there was a single doctor who *hadn't* gone crazy in Gotham, maybe he could have gotten therapy. Another bloody Monday, he sighed, rising to his feet, and picking his bags up. He opened the fridge, and- *
Gar- What the hell-?
*There was a tin-foiled package in there, and he was certain he hadn't put it there. Something, was wrong. He opened the living room door, the foil package under one arm, his revolver in the other, and pointed it at the gaunt, skinny figure sat in his chair, playing "Bop-It" of all things
Joker- Heh. Hello there. Decided to pop in to see you- you weren't in, but I thought I'd stick around.
Gar- What the hell are you doing here?
Joker- Simple! Heard you hated Mondays, so I brought you something to cheer you up.
*He points a long white finger at the foil tray and cackles. Making sure he isn't playing some kind of game, Gar takes a peak under the wrapper*
Gar- This is lasagna.
Joker- Yep. Made it myself Garfield! Well, technically Jon did.
Gar- Who the hell is Jon?
Joker- Heha. Honestly! When you read the paper, you don't read the funny pages? Ha! That's *all* I read! And the odd murder hoohoohahaha.
Gar- Get out of my house.
*Joker rises from the seat, and places a gloved hand over Gar's gun, brushing it aside*
"If the lasagna isn't doing it, how about a joke?"
====Beneath Arkham====
"Drury, can you hear that?"
Drury- Like a-
Miranda- Like a heartbeat.
She draws her sword. Whatever's nearby, it's loud, and it's powerful. Before Drury can shine a torch up at it, a ball of brown and yellow slashes his back, and he stumbles forwards. Miranda and Norbert turn around, just barely dodging a series of sharp shurikens. Bearded and crazed, their attacker jumps down.
"It's true. Cats always land on their feet."
Miranda- Blake. Strange send you here?
Blake- Wasn't hard sweetheart, I'd recognise your scent, anywhere. The pineapple shampoo, the coconut perfume, the copper blood- A-Positve.
Drury- Blake, we're friends!
Blake- Friends! Is that us? Now, I bet you've already told Chuck and Rigger and Len the good news, that you're getting them out, right? Maybe even Jules! But, you were planning to leave *me*, weren't you? All because I tried "sleeping with your wife"
Drury- You... Did?
He looks at Blake, betrayed, then at Miranda.
Miranda- Shot him in the leg. It's fine.
Blake- That hurt! Thinking maybe I deserve a little compensation...
Miranda- Compensation? I call my sword that, maybe-
Drury- Wait, just shut it. Sorry. ... You're arrogant, yeah, you're a womaniser, yeah, but you're not some tacky rapist. You don't beat women, you don't force yourself on- I mean, you're much better than that, surely? You aren't an *actual* cat, you don't even have green eyes, you-
Drury squints his eyes. Blake has brown eyes. He's always had brown eyes, so why... Why are they green?
"You aren't Blake."
The Faux-Blake licks his lips
Drury- Oh no.
"In a sea of other Misfits, it's the Cat who's King"
Norbert- I don't understand, he's not the cat man?
Drury- Worse.
Miranda- Much worse.
The King of Cats laughs, his green eyes the only light source.
"Oh, you can't imagine how long I've been inside that Pretender! Sometimes, he protests... But he doesn't even know what's going on... You brought me my sister, Mr Drury. And when she and I are together, I will be whole again, and you might have Mr Thomas. What's left of him
Miranda- You can't believe-
Kyle- The Fireman. The Rat-Man. The Bouncer. The Zodiac. Each have tried to snuff me out. But five, five lives are left. Not even you, Ms Miranda, can kill me five-
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
Four bullets. And with that, four lives are gone, and Drury Walker drops a mask of his own.
Drury- I want you to know, I could damn well have shot you again. But, you're alive, because there's a chance, a small chance the real Tom Blake's in there. Now get the hell out of here.
Kyle grins, Blake's smile perverted by him. Then slinks off into the abyss.
Miranda- Drury-
Drury- I'm just- I'm just getting sick of damn betrayals.
Composing himself, he grabs his torch and shines down the tunnel. A dark figure illuminated by it.
====The Belfry====
Selina- Bruce, look.
Bodies everywhere... Someone did this with their bare hands.
"Tread lightly."
She winks, replying slyly, "It's like you don't even know me," before going on her tip toes. "There was a cell block this way, ran into a wonderful, not-at-all Hannibal inmate."
Batman- Day?
"That's the one"
From his cell, Julian stares at Batman, with utter contempt. It's true, some C-Listers respected him, some, like Walker, even admired him, but the Calendar Man? Julian Day felt nothing but hatred for the Bat. Many did. He nods to Selina, and they walk past. As they near the guard's room, an empty bottle of beer rolls along the ground towards them. Slumped across the table, Abner Krill dozes peacefully, either ignorant or uncaring of the massacre. The duo, still very much in sync, sneak past him, and enter the elevator. Bruce pauses, then puts his hand to his ear.
"Walker?"
=========
"Uh, Batman, I think we found your pulse..."
He doesn't even look human. Large metal wires are plugged into his chest, cables strap him into a generator, with electricity crackling through his veins. If not for the tattered remains of his red and yellow costume, Drury might not have even recognised him.
"Cobb."
Norbert- Who... What is he?
Drury- Signal Man, he's a supervillain, a real asshole-
Miranda- A terrorist. Let's say it how it is.
Drury- A terrorist with cancer... Jesus, what did they do to him?
"Only what was necessary. Never more. Never less."
The lights flick on, illuminating the ancient architecture. They're in the Court of Owls, and they've been expecting them.
Ubu is wheeling Ra's in, flanked by Talia, and two masked ninjas. Above them, hundreds of Owls watch, heckling them,
"Hello Mr Walker, I believe you've been looking for me."
=====Warehouse Six====
"They've been gone too long." Chuck's failed, Firebug and the Ten-Eyed Man are dead and the Penguin's still in power. That's the only thing Needham can think, as he stands watch over the warehouse. But, once again, as if someone had been listening to his thoughts, Rigger, Reardon and Sharpe arrive at the camp, panting for breath, but very much alive.
Needham- Sharpe? Rigger, what's-
Rigger mumbles something about Evil Ninjas as Reardon starts to remove Zeiss' bonds.
Needham- What the hell are you-
Rigger takes a deep breath.
"Some weirdo's following us, Rachel Ghoul wants to kill everyone, Drury's here to stop him, and he probably will, but failing that, we're leaving. We need to move, and that includes *him*"
Meghan- That bastard tried to kill us! And where's Chuck?
Ten- Oh, god knows...
"My guess is he went to visit Black Mask." Zeiss is on his feet, brushing the dirt off of himself. "Which means Penguin's secrets are likely out." Which means... Which means... I've failed my contract!" He draws a knife, Mayo in his grasp. He turns to Chancer.
Mayo- Rigger, help!
Zeiss- How rude of me. You're new. You must be one of the accomplices Lock-Up mentioned.
Chancer- Chancer.
Zeiss pushes Mayo over, and drops his knife, raising a hand to Chancer.
"Zeiss. Philo Zeiss." "You must know about the owls."
Chancer- I do.
Zeiss- Good. We don't have long, your pursuer will be here soon, but I'll hold him off as long as possible.
"But-"
Zeiss- Penguin will be at Pike Munitions, it's not far and you'll find your friend, Charles there. ... What? I'm an assassin, I'm not unreasonable. Go.
As the Misfits depart, a purple clad figure drops to the ground, his purple cape flapping in the wind. He smiles at Zeiss, and calls out, rather cheerily, "Hey!" Zeiss picks up his pistol and turns around to meet his assailant, this would be his final stand, a challenge worth his mettle. Him... and Prometheus.
"I like your glasses."
=====The Court of Owls=====
"How long?"
Ra's smiles, faintly. "You mean, how long I have been meddling in your affairs? Since you failed me. Since my Lazarus Pit was destroyed, and you left me a decrepit, dying old man. I warned you, Mr Walker. Fail me, and I would kill everyone you loved. I started with your boy, Axel, sending Cain to eliminate him. It is... fortunate, that he had Cain's daughter by his side. He might not have lived otherwise. And, of course, if not for Cypher."
He points to Cypher, standing among the other Assassins, his eyes pleading with Drury's. His limbs replaced with cybernetics, no doubt a consequence of defying Ra's.
"He urged me to reconsider. Told me of your bravery, of your honour, when you saved Ms Pike using the Pit's waters. I admit, I was impressed, perhaps I wrote you off too quickly, a mere insect. Or... perhaps not. Maybe it always was the company you keep."
His gaze wanders over to Miranda, and then to Norbert.
"I've allowed you to come here, the three of you, as a professional courtesy. Because you deserve to know your enemy, and to know exactly what is going to happen.
In this past decade of rising supervillany, and their growing need for fame and power, do you know who has done the most damage to this accursed city? Not the Joker, no. Not Bane, or Doctor Crane, or that ridiculous cabal of supervillains- the Secret Society I believe... No. Mother Nature. Where were you when the first earthquake hit Gotham, insect? In the comfort of your home? In that basement of yours? I recall where I was. Toppling the corrupt governments of Qurac. It was... inspiring, I'll admit, to watch the world itself do what thousands have tried and failed to accomplish. Hundreds dead in one destructive stroke. And in their hour of need, where was your government? They were planting signs.
Miranda- You're going to create an earthquake?
====The Belfry====
"Oracle, I'm sending you everything from the Arkham database. Get this to Mayor Grange now."
Oracle- Is that-?
"Cobb... They're using him as a generator, and given enough time... He'll explode, taking half of Arkham with him, just-"
Oracle- Cassie's on it. Bruce, if Drury can't- I'm sorry.
Bruce sighs, and turning away from the console, finds Selina unconscious on the ground.
Batman- You killed those guards...
"She's right. You can't save everyone. If you don't open those gates, the inmates will die. Buried in rubble, if they haven't killed *themselves* first. But if you do..."
Batman- The inmates run free. And with enough firepower to level the city. Whatever I do, people will die.
"And you will be their killer. The Gangsters, or Gotham. This, is the Demon's Trap Batman."
Batman- They won't fail. The inmates will evacuate. Safely.
"Yes. The little people. But Two-Face? Black Mask? The Penguin? Would they listen when they are too busy fighting each other? No. You've put your faith in the hands of Killer Moth and men of his ilk. You've put them up against The Demon's Head, and the League of Assassins. I wonder if, they too, will die buried by the city they called home."
Batman- Why are you here, Bane? To gloat? Kick me while I'm down?
Bane- No. I have come to help you. The Society-
Batman- Please. You're a figurehead who built his reputation off of my back. You're nothing to them.
Bane- Lies! I am Bane! I have power, more than I have ever-
Batman- And you think that gives you leverage on Sinestro? Grodd? Ocean Master? They'll abandon you just like they did Luthor
Bane- The choice is yours Batman. Killer Moth can not save Arkham. I can.
Batman- And in doing so, you'll have recruited another hundred agents to the Society.
Bane- Yes.
Batman- No. I don't want your help.
Bane- I thought not. And I am still disappointed. Those who have not taken a life do not understand the value of it. Or it's meaning.
Batman- And those who have, are placed on a path where they're liable to take another. And another. And another.
Bane- You can't still be so naive. Yes, Walker may save some, but not all of them- they'd be souls, Batman, you would have let die. No one would blame you. They wouldn't even have to know. But I know you would. You are Batman. Just one death is too many, isn't it?
Or save them all.
====The Court=====
"Yes. One that envelops Arkham City, and it's population of thieves and rapists. Earth can not sustain its people, I've seen it first hand. It is running out of resources, and running out of space. The least we could do, is remove the undesirables sucking up air. And there are... other benefits."
He gestures to another machine, greyish liquid moves about, it's shifting, transforming. The device looks familiar, almost like the Cloudburst.
Drury- But what's stopping you from getting buried with the rest of them?
"Nth metal. The Owls built this complex centuries ago, in the days of false gods and metal. The vibrations will move through the facility, but not harming those of us within.
Of course, with the inmates too busy hunting rogue snipers and killing each other, our work here has remained relatively undisturbed. It takes immense energy, to power such a machine... Fortunately, we have the perfect battery. All we needed was to move Mr Cobb from his home in the Belfry's generator room, to here. ... Nothing more to say?"
Drury kneels before Ra's, then swallowing, looks up, and grabs his hand.
"I challenge you to trial by combat."
=Strange's Laboratory. Chinatown=
"The video tape you're about to see, was handed over to GCN 30 minutes ago, by order of City Hall. Since then, we have received no word on the whereabouts of Mayor Grange, the tape itself was exported onto a USB drive, containing audio files, blueprints, documents, and a taped confession from the Mayor herself.
Viewer discretion is advised."
"My name is Marion Grange, and I have betrayed everything I stood for.
When I inherited the mayoral position from Drury Walker, I was left with a difficult task. It's not every day the mayor is impeached for first degree murder. I tried my best, and sometimes, that's not good enough.
Gotham politics have always been difficult. It almost seems like corruption is inescapable- Harvey Dent. Gillian Loeb. Peter Grogan. Danto Twag. But I thought I could be better, I thought Gotham could be better. Even when Blackgate was torn apart, I still believed. When Arkham City was first opened, I still believed. When the Calendar Man set the damn city on fire, I still believed. Because I knew, that so long as Gotham had hope, we were capable of anything. I told my predecessor I would never allow innocents to be imprisoned without due process, I told him torture would never be an option. I believed that, too. But I was lied to. That doesn't excuse anything I have done as mayor, or anything I allowed to happen, but I was lied to. Right now they're probably sending out hitmen, I might well be dead before you see this. For, I know now that there are hundreds of people that have died without justice, or compassion. That there are those who's killers still walk free, and... And there may be more deaths to come.
There is a vast, insidious conspiracy, not just in Gotham, but across the entire country. We've been targeting the wrong people, men like Charles Brown, Philip Reardon, Leonard Fiasko, when the real enemy, the real monsters have been pulling the strings. They might not wear spandex outfits paired with gaudy colour schemes, their names may seem average, normal even, compared to "Condiment King" or "Crazy Quilt." That's because, to the untrained eye, that's exactly what they are. That's how they infiltrate our systems, and hide their true nature.
The information enclosed in this file contains the names of the most influential members of this conspiracy-
- Michael Fairbanks, Amertek CEO. Many will now believe that The Joker killed him. But this is a lie. A lie perpetrated by the Court of Owls, to cover up their involvement... one I was foolish enough to fall for.
- William Duncan, Vice President, Kord Industries.
- Lucio Viti, Chairman, Falcone Construction.
- Cirsi Myers, CEO, Janus Cosmetics.
- Professor Hugo Strange, Chief Psychologist, Arkham City
Strange looks at the TV vaguely amused. Impressed, even. Bolton, less so.
"Turn it off."
- Lyle Bolton, head of Security, Arkham City.
- And Senator Wade Eilling, to name a few.
Bolton smashes the TV, snarling. "What... What the hell has she done?"
==Louisiana, One Hour Ago==
"Don't you want a world without Superman?"
Zod scoffs. "If I were to eliminate Kal-El, I would not require your help to do so."
"And yet seven, maybe eight years on.. you haven't."
He turns to face Bane. "Clearly, you understand very little. I have heard these words before. Humans like Luthor, Henshaw, Metallo. They all came to me with plans to overthrow him, they all got in my way."
'They offered you flimsy promises and simple alliances, I offer you something more."
"Power, Bane? Is that it?" He smiles, his eyes glowing red
"I would be careful, General. It is not venom that flows through my veins. It's Kryptonite. Harmful over long periods, perhaps, but if needs arise- it wouldn't take long."
"Hmm. You *are* curious. This cabal then, I suppose you lead it?"
"In a manner of speaking. Our needs align."
"Then tell me, what exactly are *my* needs?"
Under his mask, Bane smirks, satisfied. "I'm glad you asked. Kuttler, it's your turn"
====Arkham City. Now====
-Watchdog Command? Watchdog Command! They've taken the north quadrant, killed half the guards. I repeat, the inmates are tearing Arkham to bits, come in, Command!
The gunshot rings out, then he falls. Dead. Another casualty lost, another pawn of the Owls fallen.
Chuck- Stop! They're just soldiers, they don't know any better!
Sionis reloads his magazine. "That's their mistake, not ours."
"Boss, Freeze is gone! Said he was going to the armoury!"
"Armoury? You mean he's gone for his wife. For fuck's... Firefly, get me more napalm!"
"It's Firebug-" Rigger responds, just dodging Copperhead's tail. The man himself hisses orders at the remaining guards
"Hold the line! Blake, where have you been? Where's Prometheusssss?"
'Blake' sniffs his nose, skulking past Copperhead. "The purple man? Oh, I saw him by the warehouses"
"Zeissssssss... He'ssssss gone after Zeisssssss," he murmurs, before biting off an inmates' head.
"What did you say?" Sionis calls back at Rigger.
"I said, it's Firebu-"
"Oh, bloody hell, who cares!" Penguin cries, his umbrella unloading a flurry of bullets, blasting the snake off the balcony. "What?"
Rigger pauses. "I just... I just didn't think it actually did that"
====
"Open fire!"
It's one of Penguin's goons, brandishing a Rocket launcher. Abner Krill rubs his eyes, still tired, then opens a portal, redirecting the rocket back into the thug's path. Kaboom.
"You have one lousy nap, and suddenly hell's ascending..."
Krill grabs his charge, The Psycho Pirate, by the arm as they run through the corridors, past the raging battle. Hayden's still babbling about worlds living, world's dying, all that shite. "More trouble than it's worth, you are," Krill mutters, as he slices one inmate in half, and opens a hellish portal beneath a second.
"Kill him!"
"Oh that's nice," he grumbles, sending a dozen flaming disks at the charging inmates, each finding their mark, each leaving behind a huddle of decapitated bodies, with only one left alive. He grabs Hayden's ankle, screaming in pain, begging for help.
"You are broken. You are nothing. You are sad, very, very sad. You want to die. Oh, you want nothing less but death! You want to take your friend's knife, and stab yourself with it. Once, twice, a thousand times! You want help? Help yourself."
Krill manages a smile. Maybe The Pirate ain't so bad after all.
====The Belfry====
"Command, please help! Please respond"
Head's spinning... Sure packs a punch.... What-?
"He's gone."
Bruce.
"Bane, I mean." He's still staring at the console, just where I left him. I pull myself together, and-
"So what exactly did I miss?"
He sighs. That's never a good sign.
"He left me this. The access codes to the north exit."
"Well, that's good, right?"
"Yes.... Yes, it is. But, if I open those gates... I'd be letting loose an army. Bane's army. An army with nothing to lose. An army filled with rage, and a target. Betrayed by the system, nothing would stop them. But if I *don't*- If I don't, if they can't stop Ra's... they all die."
She places her hand on his, and weakly smiles. "Together?"
He nods, their hands placed on the lever. "Together."
====Gotham City====
"We were jealous of him, in one way or another- Crane, Cobblepot, Myself-" Jesus how pretentious can you get? Ha! *Ahem* "Despite everything we did, we always ended up playing second fiddle to the "man" in clown make-up. When the Joker struck, our capers were moved to the back of the newspapers. Our wanted posters torn down in favour of his. There was just something intoxicating about him. Like he was a walking car crash- something so horrible about him, so twisted and wrong, that you couldn't look away."
Someone... someone was talking, reading... Where-?
"Uncle Gar, you're awake!"
Kitten? What the hell- how did I-?
"-Dropped on my fucking doorstep like he's Harry fuckin' Potter and I'm Richard Griffith..."
Gaige too? What is-? I'm at the house... Drury's place, but-
"Found you out back, fed the baby, as best as I could-"
"I helped!"
"... Kitten helped. A bit," Axel replies, a bit embarrassed..
"Josie! Where the hell is-!"
Axel- Relax! She's in Cammy's old crib!
Kitten- Uncle Gar, are you alright?
I shake my head. "No. No, I ain't."
====The Court====
"Drury, what the hell are you doing?"
Drury turns to Miranda, gets up off his knees, and grins boyishly.
Ra's- Yes, pray tell, I'm wondering that myself.
Drury- A forfeit. I win-
The crowds cackle.
Drury- I win, and you leave! You leave Gotham, and you don't come back. And whe- if, I lose, you win. You win, because if I fail, then why even try, y'know?
"Hm. Amusing. But, it begs the question. Why, would I ever accept your challenge? I have every thing I need to complete my plans, and you? You have nothing to offer. Nothing to bargain with."
"You'd have the satisfaction of beating me."
"No greater satisfaction than that of a child, crushing an ant beneath it's boot."
"You'd have me!" Miranda pushes past the assembly, and nudges Drury aside.
Drury- Wha-?
"You win, and I will rejoin the League of Assassins, as your servant. Just leave my husband alone"
Ra's scratches his chin. "Aibnat Albahr... You really do love him, don't you?"
"I do."
"Then surely, you understand that Al'ahmaq can not possibly win." He's disrobing, leaving his ornate robes at the base of his wheelchair, revealing bulging, greenish veins all across his body.
"I do."
"Say it." He's standing now, as finally, he peels away his oxygen mask.
Miranda unsheathes her sword, and plants it in the ground. "*I* challenge you to trial by combat, on the behalf of my husband, Drury Walker, for the fate of Arkham City"
"Good. A battle by proxy, then."
• Feuerwanzen ( Lat.: Pyrrhocoridae ) sind eine Familie der Wanzen ( Lat.: Heteroptera ) •
• Länge ca. / Length approx 15mm •
• Von ihnen gibt es ungefähr 340 Arten in etwa 33 Gattungen ! •
• Feuerwanzen • Pyrrhocoridae • ( Lat.: Pyrrhocoris apterus ) • Beetle • NL : Vuurwantsen •
• Photographed in the free nature in Lower Franconia, Bavaria / Germany •
I always wonder why firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus) are found in these small groups. It looks kind of funny.
© 2010 Monique van Someren * all rights reserved * please do not use without permission
Pyrrhocoris apterus est une punaise appelée "Gendarmes" ou "Cherche-midi". Ici c’est un jeune encore à l’état de larve juste avant sa dernière mue.
Pyrrhocoris apterus is a bug known as firebug. Here it is a young still in the state of larva just before its last molting.
Heteroptera. Pyrrhocoridae.
P. apterus was the subject of an unexpected discovery in the 1960s when researchers who had for ten years been rearing the bugs in Prague, Czechoslovakia attempted to do the same at Harvard University in the United States. After the 5th larval instar, instead of developing into adults, the bugs either entered a 6th instar stage, or became adults with larval characteristics; some of the 6th instars went on to a 7th instar. All specimens died without reaching maturity.
The source of the problem was eventually proven to be the paper towels used in the rearing process; the effect only happened if the paper towels were made in America. The researchers could replicate these results with American newspapers such as the New York Times, but not European newspapers such as The Times. The cause was found to be hormones found in the native balsam fir tree (Abies balsamea) used to manufacture paper and related products in America, and in some other North American conifers. This hormone happened to have a profound effect on P. apterus, but not on other insect species, showing the diversification of hormone receptors in the insects.
=====A Club====
Miranda- God, I miss Drury...
Silken Spider- Just drink, sweetie.
Rigger- You ever hear of a Harlan Combs? Was a family friend... *He* was in Blackgate. Gave 'im a loan of my Firebug suit. That... did not end well. He got locked up, I fell two stories after Gotham's finest broke down my door... Never liked that guy. He got the looks, the brains, the charisma ... *I* got syphilus. Unrelated though. He's probably dead. Blackgate's practically hell you know...
Miranda- What are you doing here?
Rigger- Drury told me to watch over you...
Miranda- I don't believe that.
Rigger- I was lonely.
Dragonfly- That, I do believe.
Miranda- Grab a chair then
Rigger- Yippee!
Miranda- Oh.
Dragonfly- Dear.
Silken Spider- God.
Mags- Ooooh!
Miranda- Uh, Mags? What are you-?
*Mags is examining the cutlery*
Mags- Look at that sheen! It's unbelievable!
*She pockets the forks. Then the knives. Then the spoons*
Miranda- Mags!
Mags- What? Honestly! No one's going to miss them!
Rigger- I- I would like my spoon back please.
Mags- Tough luck.
Rigger- Ok then.
*Rigger slumps into his seat. Mags rubs a knife across her face*
Silken Spider- I'm going to take tha-
Mags- Try and I'll stab you in the eye!
...
Mags- Shiiiiiny
...
Rigger- Is this what these girls' nights are always like?
Miranda- Pretty much... Drury normally reads to us, though
Rigger- Oh yeah, the book club right?
Silken Spider- We don't have a book club.
Rigger- Then why would he-?
Miranda- Don't question Drury!
...
Dragonfly- The rest of us are usually more wasted at this point...
Rigger- In that case- Waiter, more prosecco please!
Silken Spider- I don't like prosecco.
Server- And I'm a waitress.
Rigger- Oh. *Uh-hum* More booze. Please. My good *wo*man.
Dragonfly- My man!
Silken Spider- If I didn't know you any better Mr Rigger-
Rigger- You don't know me at all.
Silken Spider- Well that's not true. Remember the Walmart incident?
...
Rigger- You said you'd keep that a secret.
Silken Spider- I lied. Nevertheless, I would say you're trying to get us drunk.
Rigger- Whaaaa-? I'm not Catman! (That was close)
=====Several Drinks Later====
Miranda- So your plan failed eh?
Rigger- They're crazy... crazy... Your friends? Fucking insane!
Miranda- They're an acquired taste, sure
Rigger- Taste? Taste?
====Fantasy Land====
Women Noises- Mmm. Mmm hmm
====
Miranda- Rigger!
Rigger- Woah. I think I might be narcoleptic. I need to get this noggin sorted out
Miranda- Oh Rigger...
Rigger- I know damn it! *sniff* I'm such an ass. An ass I tells ya!
Silken Spider- *Heh* Assssss! Ass!
Miranda- Yes. Funny! Poor girl's been needing to cut loose a bit. She's, umm, been having troubles with Eric. He's in his edgy phase. You know what I'm talking about?
Rigger- Do I know it? I lived it! I started my criminal career seeking vengeance for my dead family. Killed in three separate building accidents. Fucking bullshit... What are the chances... You, uh, listening?
Miranda- Oh yeah. Terrible. Tragic. *Urgh* Dragonfly's taking her shirt off again.
Dragonfly- You'll believe a bra can fly!
Rigger- Wuh? Again?
Miranda- Yeah. Afternoon tea was not what you might imagine.
Rigger- I dunno. I have a pretty good idea
====Fantasy Land====
Miranda- *giggle* *giggle* Pillow fight!
Dragonfly- Wet t-shirt fight!
Silken Spider- Gilbert Gottfried! For some reason.
Gottfried- Yeeeaaaaaah! I'm here too! Parrots n shit!
========
Miranda- Uh, Rigger?
Rigger- Why does he keep showing up in there?
...
Rigger- The little man!
Miranda- As I was saying, then there's Mags.
Rigger- Gollum!
...
Rigger- The lads call her Gollum. Cause she's a hoarder. And unbalanced! You know what? Keep talking.
*To the tune of Shiny*
Miranda- Well, Margaret hasn't always been this mad
Mags- I was a sweet li'l girlie once
Miranda- And she always found it fun playing with her dad
Dragonfly- God damn I'm beeeeeeautiful, baby!
Rigger- What, her daddy told her "listen to your heart"?
"Be who you are on the inside"?
Miranda- Yeah, but shiny shit drove their family apart
Mags- My daddy lied!
I'd rather be shiny
Like a treasure from a sunken pirate wreck
Scrub the deck and make it look shiny
I will sparkle like a wealthy woman's neck
Rigger- ... What the heck? Is she slow?
Mags- I'm not dumb, dumb, dumb!
Miranda- (She'll chase anything that glitters, beginner...)
Mags- Oh, and I'll just come, come, come
To the brightest thing that glitters
Mmm, for winners!
I'm just a zilver
God I love silver!
Rigger- Well, well, well,
That's lovely Mrs Pye,
Excuse me while I run off to-
Mags- Die?
Rigger-... Wat?
Mag- You heard... Your buttons are very shiny...
Rigger- Oh. Um, well, I guess they are. Heh heh... I'm scared.
Miranda- Give her the jacket. She took all our knives.
Rigger- But Gilbert Gottfried signed this-! Ohhh. Now it makes sense
...
Miranda- Just gimme the jacket.
Pyrrhocoridae -Dysdercus sp.
Pyrrhocoridae is a family of insects with more than 300 species world-wide. any are red coloured and are known as red bugs and some species are called cotton stainers because their feeding activities leave an indelible brownish-yellow stain on cotton crops. A common species in parts of Europe is the firebug, and its genus name Pyrrhocoris and the family name are derived from the Greek roots for fire "pyrrho-" and bug "coris". Members of this family can be quickly separated from the Lygaeidae by the lack of ocelli (simple eyes).
In early Spring here are many of them everywhere... :)
The firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) is a common insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae, about 1 cm. long. Firebugs generally mate in April and May. Their diet consists primarily of seeds from lime trees and mallows. They can often be found in groups near the base of lime tree trunks, on the sunny side. They can be seen in tandem formation when mating which can take from 12 hours up to 7 days. The long period of copulating is probably used by the males as a form of ejaculate-guarding under high competition with other males.
Wiosna wszędzie widać te czerwone robaczki... :)
Kowal bezskrzydły, kowal dwuplamek (Pyrrhocoris apterus) – gatunek pluskwiaka z rodziny kowalowatych, pospolity w Polsce. Osiąga długość około 1 cm. Często pojawia się w dużych gromadach u podstawy pni drzew liściastych, szczególnie lipy. Jest gatunkiem zazwyczaj nieszkodliwym dla środowiska, choć może uszkadzać młode drzewka w szkółkach i wyrządzać szkody w winnicach. Wczesną wiosną owady te budzą się i gromadzą w nasłonecznionych miejscach. Ich kopulacja trwa długo – często ponad 12 godzin, niekiedy nawet do 7 dni. W jej trakcie samiec i samica często poruszają się sczepione odwłokami. Z tego powodu kowale bezskrzydłe bywają popularnie nazywane tramwajami.