1295/Life, Love, and other mysteries

Life, Love, and other mysteries
Date of Scene:	04 July 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Black Canary, Star Shimmer

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Black Canary has posed:
    It's raining in Gotham today, the pitter patter of raindrops and distant thunder sending people hurrying by towards their destinations, carrying umbrellas to keep the worst of it off them. It's been a bit of a quiet day, really, and at this point it's been close to a week since Dinah disappeared, after letting Autumn know she'd be out of town for a bit.

    The bell at the door chimes as someone pushes it open, however, as the woman herself enters, the dark leather of her jacket dripping rivelets of water as she pauses to take it off and hang it on a hook to dry off, then staps her feet a bit to shed more water. "Autumn?" she calls into the store, looking around.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Its been a long week for Autumn. Between her usual extracurriculars, She's been tending to Dinah's flower shop and making sure its at its normal hours of operation... for the most part. She's been very busy. The store is well stocked. There are several bouquets that she actually managed to put together and there are even a few orders which are ready and waiting.

Autumn had been working in the back, using her ears to know if anyone came in. When she hears the door chime, she walks out without actually hearing Dinah. "Welcome to Sherwood Florist, How may I help you?" She gives a warm smile to her boss. "Hey, welcome back. Good to see you. How was your trip?"

Black Canary has posed:
    The other woman shoots a smile at the young woman as she walks over. "Mm, interesting, certainly." she admits. She seems to be favoring her left arm just a tad, more stiffness than painful from the look of it. "It looks like I'll be taking a side job, actually, which will be good in that I can afford to pay off some of the things we've been putting off here, but might be a problem as I may have to be out of town from time to time." She looks around, folding her arms. "You've done a great job from the look of it, thanks for taking up the slack while I was away."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn smiles to Dinah. "I am happy to help. For the time I will be able to help out as I can. Eventually things will change and I will be expected to actually leave the planet from time to time. I hope that doesn't mean I'm going to have to find another job. In some ways, life would be less complicated if I were a normal girl but... Then it wouldn't be as fun right?!"

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah nods, then says briskly. "Well, we both have jobs that might pull us away like that, I'd be a hypocrite to be upset by that." she notes amusedly. "Buuuut..." She eyes the younger girl thoughfully. "That does mean we need to make a few changes. Which, in this case, will be....what do you say to being a full manager?" She gestures to the store around them. "The place looks great, so you can obviously handle that part of it, and that way we can get in a few part timers to fill the schedule if you or I have to step out, so it's not all on one of us....whatcha think?" She watches Autumn, smiling faintly.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn smiles a little, "Wait really? Me as a manager here? That is so cool!" she blinks a few times, "Wait does this mean I get a pay raise?" She snickers a little bit. "I guess I won't be needing to busk anymore. Thats kinda cool. I still might for the fun of it. Anyhoo What all would I need to do? Also yeah I think maybe we need to find a few employees. So your place in Star City will be set up? You're looking to get closer to Green Arrow ain't you." She winks playfully and her body flickers with violet light.

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah says dryly. "Yes, you will get a pay raise, and if you want to keep busking I guess that's up to you, if you like doing it." She frowns at the mention of Green Arrow. "...maybe a bit, though...we're giving each other some space at the moment." she admits. She wouldn't say that to anyone, but they've been working together long enough, she feels like she can. "But I'm holding off on that a bit until I get things caught up here, I'm not sure how much of a pain in the ass scheduling is going to be."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn smiles and just makes a little face. "Sad to hear that. You two are a good match. I met him a few weeks back. I was drawn to Star City. It was a bit of a mess but I was able to help out. Perks of being a Star Sapphire I guess. I think I surprised him by showing up there. He may have thought I was THE Star Sapphire. The one that actually uses that name."

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah sighs a bit. "Yeah, I know, people keep saying that, but we just keep...I dunno..." she says, an edge of frustration coming to her voice. "We're fine for a while then he does something boneheaded or I say something he takes poorly and then...." She blows out a puff of air, her bangs bouncing slightly. "...well, anyway. It's good you met him..." she says with a smile. "You should be getting out and making some connections, I've been lax in not helping you out there. Maybe next time I head by the Watchtower you'd like to come along? I could introduce you to some people. There are a bunch of kids your age there too, so you'd have stuff in common?"

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn blinks a few times. "Umm, Watchtower? What is that?" She's never heard anyone really talk about that. She knows that Dinah is part of the Justice League. Same with Batman. She never pressed about them though. "I know I need to get out more. I want to make some friends. Maybe find some people to work with. Working with a team would be really good I think." She hmms. "I dunno if I want to relocate though. I like it here in Gotham. Its my home ya know?

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah and her big mouth. She rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "It's, ah...a more private area for the League." she says. She looks thoughful. "Well...I'm not entirely sold on moving to Star City yet, but...honesty, it's a safer city than Gotham has been lately. Good for crimefighting, not so much for having a civilian life." She nods. "I"m a Gotham Girl myself, I know exactly what you mean. If it hadn't been for the riots a few years back...I probably would never have left at all." she admits.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn nods, "It was a rough time. I sorta became a bit of a thief during that time. Its one of those things I had to do. But I'm not the same person I was before." She nods. "I know how it can be. My own father beat the ever loving tar out of me because I wasn't 'normal'. It was a mess. If not for Star Sapphire and Batman, I wouldn't have ever been able to survive this long. I guess its why I have to help out here. I am trying to return the favor."

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah smiles at the younger girl. "...hey, before I got taken in by a good guy, I was on the streets, dumpster diving. So I completely understand." She holds up her hands. "No judgement. And I understand paying it forwards..." she adds, leaning back against the counter. "I want to help girls like you learn to adapt to the abilities you've gotten. And if you want to be wearing the cape, then I damn well want to help you be ready for what you'll run into."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn laughs, "I don't do capes. to me they just add drag." She snickers a little. "In Gotham, I wear armor and give all the impression that I'm a local vigilante like the Bat family. When I leave Gotham, My outfit looks a lot different. Its odd but it works. I don't wanna ruffle Batman's feathers around here. I know he doesn't exactly like High powered types in his city. So I conceal just what level I'm on."

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah snorts indelicately. "Bats is a grump about that, yeah. He really doesn't like people who aren't part of the whole Bat Family running around his city, doesn't trust us. He still thinks I'm a...what was it...dilettante? Because I try to have a civvie life and don't focus on crime full time."

    She shrugs. "Whatever suits you best? I think he just figures that it will attract super powered criminals...but I haven't really noticed it keeping them out of Gotham, either."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn smiles, "The way I see it, My ring is a piece of Tech. Every member of the Bat Family uses tech. For me its just a matter of concealing the type of tech it is and not do anything insane. I mean if I make a bunch of constructs there will be no way to conceal who and what I am. If I keep things to ziplines and my own variation of the whole boomerang thing, No one will really notice. Just can't leave things lying around."

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah nods. "Same reason I don't use my Cry often...it attracts attention. Better to stick to close in fighting and take people down the old fashioned way when I can." She cocks her head. "...are you enjoying that? I mean...vigilante work. It can be rough."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn smiles, "Its difficult. Just because my ring takes care of me, doesn't mean it hurts less when it happens. When I'm in Gotham, I can't exactly use my force field to prevent things like bullets. My armor helps but still hurts. Aside from that, I have had a run in with the Huntress. She's nice. I'd hate to be on the receiving end of combat with her."

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah furrows her brow. "...she's dangerous, be careful around her. She doesn't know where the line is sometimes about taking down bad guys." she says after a moment. "That said, she's a good fighter and a great shot, from what I know of her." As she's unaware she's actually met Huntress in her civvie persona as Helena.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn frowns a little. "I'm aware. I can sense it when I'm around her. Its a difficult thing and while I would love to point out the problems and help her through them all in one go. Sadly doing that would result in her trying to kill me. She does need help though. Just gentle pushes and not hard nudges."

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah mmms. "..I don't think she'd kill you, Autumn, she doesn't seem the type to lash out at non-criminals like that. But she definitely wouldn't like people pointing it out, no. I've heard about incidents in the past." She bites her lower lip. "...yeah. Maybe if she had a group she was with, she'd be less...unstable. But it's ultimately up to her if she does or not.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn looks at Dinah and blinks a few times. "I know. I felt it. The loss in her is like the love was ripped clear out of her. That sort of wound has festered and turned her idea of love into something very nasty. Vengence and hate. Its a lot to carry. I'm hoping with time that can change." She frowns a little.

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah nods a bit that that, folding her arms. "I can't talk out of class about that, but...she's got reasons why she's like she is. It'll be hard for her to work through it after letting it be pent up in her for so long though." She smiles faintly. "...I mean, you could try, long as you're careful. She might listen to you more than she'd listen to someone her age like me."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn smiles, "In some ways, yes. In Others no. To her I am very much a kid. Even though I am not anymore. As far as the things that she has pent up, I'm aware. I can feel it. Its a horrible feeling. I could feel it a mile away. If things re really bad, further. Its not fun. Not exactly a fun part of being a Star Sapphire really. The whole love thing can be difficult."

Black Canary has posed:
    "That may be so that you're younger, but sometimes people my age are a little more willing to listen to a kid than we are hearing it from someone closer to our age. Depends." Dinah notes, then gestures. "But you do have the love thing going for you, you're better equipped than most to try and help her."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn smiles, "I know when I can help her, I will be ready to actually be a Star Sapphire and not just a person wearing a power ring. It means that there is nothing that this sector of the Galaxy can throw at me that I can't weather. Is it wrong that she is a bit of a litmus test like that? She's my first real challenge honestly. Part of me wants to contact Star Sapphire for help but... that won't teach me."

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah considers that seriously. "I think as long as you're seeing her as a person who needs help and not just a test to prove you deserve Star Sapphire status, it should be fine, kiddo. " she says reassuringly. "That's the whole point of something like that, you do it because it needs to be done, not because it helps you personally necessarily." She cocks a hand Autumn's way, index finger pointing at her. "But there's nothing wrong with asking for advice either, so don't feel like you have to do it completely on your own. The best teachers let you figure most of it out, but are there to give you a gentle push or some confidence from time to time."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn nods slowly. "Yeah. She is definitely a person. She's got a big heart. Its just been really hurt. That makes things a lot more difficult. I wish I could just make that pain go away. I can do some healing but even that wouldn't be enough. It will take time. If she gets her vengence...It may do more harm then good."

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah smiles with a faint hint of sadness. "...the thing about pain like that, it doesn't go away easily. Needs time, maybe people who can help remind her what it's like. But yeah..." she agrees. "...if she goes for vengeance, it's the worst of both worlds...she'll be over that line, and it won't help with what she's feeling. And she'll just...start doing it again and again, trying to find some way to get rid of that pain, but only will make it worse." Dinah speaks with the air of someone who's seen it happen, her eyes a bit haunted.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn nods. "When my dad punched me and was physically abusive, everything inside wanted to hate him. It was so rough. I wanted to run away and never look back. The thing that kept me from going over the edge was the knowledge that Love is not Liking someone. You can love someone without liking them. I love both of my parents. I don't like the things they did. The way they concealed things from me and wanted to force their idea of normalcy on me. The thing is, if not for my parents, I wouldn't be the person I am. I became the woman I am because they guided me."

Black Canary has posed:
    That just breaks Dinah's heart a bit. She pushes off from the counter, then gives Autumn a gentle hug, letting the girl pull away if it makes her uncomfortable. "Yeah...you've come a long way since then, and you've been damned strong in the process."
    she says softly, then peers down at her, smiling. "I'm glad I've got to meet you, honestly."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn Smiles and hugs Dinah. There is a soft smile on her face. "I wish these things never happened but, they made me who I am. Thank you. I really mean it." She releases and steps back. She gives a snicker. "If I didn't go through that stuff my ring may never have come to me. Thats a good thing... I think!" She laughs. "Plus I get to meddle in peoples love lives! Can't complain about that right?"

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah grins and gives her a firm squeeze before she lets go. "Mmm, I suppose." She mock shakes a finger at Autumn. "No meddling in mine though! It's complicated enough as it is." Something in her expression suggests this may be a recent thing, too. "If you ever need some help with Huntress though...I'll offer what I can. Dunno that I can provide much that's useful in that case, though. Like I said, you're much better equipped for that sort of thing than me. I just break stuff mostly." she adds, without shame.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn laughs a little, "You assume I haven't meddled a little already!" she gives a sly little smirk. She of course hasn't meddled in that at all. Though she has encouraged both sides. Thats a good thing though. Its easy for her to see how it benefits both of them, even if they rub each other the wrong way a little. "You know, the two of irritating each other is actually a healthy thing right?" She grins.

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah makes a face at Autumn, sticking out her tongue. "Meh." She sighs, "Well, beats the most recent, ah, interest. Though I didn't really set out to get involved...and I'm NOT involved..." she assures her. "Just...had a weird moment." And then she found out he was a 4000 year old god of war. Yeeeeeeah. She's still digesting that. "I'll always love Ollie, but...maybe we're better as friends than...closer." she says after a moment.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn tilts her head forward and looks up at Dinah with a smirk. "And if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you." She laughs. "Dinah, I can tell how you both act around each other. You are both guarded. Neither of you want to be hurt. Neither of you want to hurt each other. Its easy to keep each other at arms length if it means you are protecting yourselves. The thing is, Love isn't a feel good thing. Its a roller Coaster. Its thrilling and wonderful. Its freaky and its dangerous. Its revealing your greatest weakness knowing that at any time the other person can strike it. But its also having someone to help guard that same weakness." She smiles bright.

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah folds her arms, a bit defensively, under her breasts. "Hey, he's DONE some of the hurting...and maybe I have too." she admits, trying to be honest. "Maybe we just are always going to have one of those weird on again off again things." She sighs, eyeing the bright smile. "...it's not bad advice. We'll see." she offers grudgingly.

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn laughs, "Hey. I am learning about this as I go. My ideas of how love works vanished when I put on the ring. For all the times that love is soft and passionate, its aggressive and flat out dangerous. ITs really crazy. " SHe smiles and notes that her ring is glowing. Quickly she puts a hand over it and she blushes. "Oops!"

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah raises a brow at the ring. "Why is it glowing, again?" she says, looking amused. "And...yeah. Love's complicated. I know that sounds like a copout, but you'll know what I mean when you find someone like that. It's all about give and take, and accepting who the other person is."

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn laughs, "Its responding to the love in my heart. The stronger the love I have inside, the stronger my abilities with my ring are. If my love waivers I will have weaker constructs and may be unable to use my ring. When I was speaking it was causing the love in my heart to get stirred up and... Theres a reason the ring came to me. I have the potential for great love." She smiles a little.

Black Canary has posed:
    Dinah smiles softly. "I suppose you do, yes." she says simply. "Well...my love life aside, why don't we figure out a plan for the shop here, if you're going to be managing? And if you do end up wanting to go to Star City, well...you've definitely got a manager job there to get you started, okay?"

Star Shimmer has posed:
Autumn smiles a little, "Okay! Lets do this!" She beams as she moves closer to Dinah. "First thing, We should probably look at gettong some new employees. IF we can't be here all the time we should have at least 2 people. Morning and evening. That would likely save you money. Or you could hire on a few full time employees but that will involve healthcare and such." She smiles a little.