8201/The Violet (but hopefully not Violent) Bat Signal

The Violet (but hopefully not Violent) Bat Signal
Date of Scene:	07 July 2019
Location:	Gotham
Synopsis:	Star Sapphire contacts Batman about joining the JLA
Cast of Characters:	Star Sapphire, Batman

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Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire has felt listless for a while. She doesn't feel like she's using her ring correctly. She wants to do more. She has pulled back some involvement in Ferris Air, citing personal reasons. She's still involved, but has lessened her day-to-day involvement. She has decided that trying to get hold of the Justice League would be the best bet - but approaching the Watchtower in orbit is _probably_ a bad idea. So - she decides to try to get the attention of the one member who probably doesn't have superpowers - Batman.

Her goal is simple. It's well-known that the police commisioner alerts Batman by a signal light. So she goes to the police department. She smiles faintly, seeing it off. No problem. She lights it up - not with the usual white/yellow light - but it shines violet in the night sky. Then, to really make things surreal, she engulfs it briefly in a colossal eight-point star symbol - the emblem of the Star Sapphires. The eight-point star only lasts a minute, but she keeps shining violet light into the bat-signal till it's answered. She just stands patiently, waiting.

Batman has posed:
The speed at which Batman responds is astonishing, really. Perhaps he was already nearby, or maybe all that talk of him being a mortal man under the cowl is misdirection. Whatever it is, after only a minute and a half of waiting a voice speaks from the darkness behind Star Sapphire. No great humor in it, but nor does he sound aggressive. Flat. Monotone. Like the distant slamming of crypt doors. Nothing heralds his arrival, and once he makes it clear he's standing behind her it is as though he was there the entire time.

"This isn't a toy."

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire lowers her left hand, the light fading from the signal. "I am aware of that," she states as she turns to face you. She seems a bit nervous - your reputation is legendary after all. "I wanted to speak to a member of the Justice League. You seemed to be the easiest to get a hold of - because being shot out of space really is a pain and I wasn't sure about the protocol of approaching the Watchtower." She smiles faintly. "Ninety seconds. I'm impressed."

Batman has posed:
"Ninety seconds? Hnh."

The result wasn't satisfactory. That left turn at Kane Avenue was a mistake. He should have taken the off-ramp onto Robinson Boulevard. Already he's making a personal note to adjust the pre-programmed route in the Batmobile's GPS. Of course, on the outside it just looks like he is staring at her critically and saying nothing. Let uncomfortable silence fill up the space between them until it is almost stifling. When he finally speaks up again, it is only a brusque instruction.

"Talk."

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire sighs softly. "I work better with a team. Yes, I know there's an apprentice Star Sapphire on Earth, but we haven't talkd much of late - I'm trying to let her develop into her own woman, and don't want to interfere too much." She sighs softly. "I bet that... Green Lantern... the main one... said a lot about me back when... I was being used by the light - but now I am the one using it. I want a chance to prove myself."

Batman has posed:
"You picked me to ask," Batman states plainly, still standing on the ledge with his back to a sheer drop down to Gotham's busy nighttime streets. He doesn't seem to move at all unless he needs to, and the only motion comes from his cape as it flutters in the summer breeze, "I'm not the archetypal team player."

A pause. Is he going to just leave it there?

"Prove yourself how?"

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire sighs. "I came to you becuase you're the easiest to contact." She hmmmmms softly. "I know you won't just let anyone into the Justice League. It's a big deal. I am looking for how to start." She then paces slowly back and forth. "Your reputation is definitely well-earned. You'd do very well with a yellow ring."

Batman has posed:
Of all things, Batman's mouth quirks into a faint half-smile at the mention of a yellow ring. As though he understands the meaning of the phrase all too well, though he doesn't comment on it. Star Sapphire's words prompt him to step down from the ledge, moving to stand opposite her with the Bat-Signal between them.

"First things first, you need to be on call. You contacted me. How do I contact you? Can't waist time trying to track you down. You need to be there when you're needed. Can you do that?"

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire nods. "I can definitely do that. I have a dedicated phone line - whenever someone calls the number, it connects to my ring so... basically... my Lantern ring has its own phone number. Anytime I'm on Earth, the number will work." She pulls out a business card. On the front is simply the eight-point Star Sapphire emblem. No words. On the back, a phone number with a Metropolis area code. "I anticipated that you'd need this."

Batman has posed:
Batman reaches out to take the card, a fluid motion prompting it to disappear from his hand through a judicious use of stage illusion. It's already tucked away in his utility belt, ready to be reviewed later and called if need be.

"Are you staying on Earth indefinitely?"

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire nods. "Occasionally I might be called away to headquarters. But I have told my queen that I do intend on staying on Earth for the foreseeable future - but sometimes she might have need of me. I will make sure to set up a message recording on that line if that would to happen, and if accepted, I would inform the League." She sighs softly, fidgeting a bit, not really sure what to think. "I know there is a little history - but it wasn't really me in the driver's seat back then."

Batman has posed:
"I'm not interested in what was. Will Green Lantern vouch for you now? Have you spoken? If so, that's enough." Whether or not that's true, he says it all the same. Villainous behavior in the past may be unideal, but in the world they occupy it's hardly an unacceptable excuse.

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire shrugs. "I have not seen him. I want to do this on my own merits. I know I once had some feelings for him. But they have cooled over time. Being a princess and a..." She trails off. "I'm betting you know who I really am. Anyway - what I do here - takes a lot of time. Is there any way I can convince you that I'd be an asset?"

Batman has posed:
"If I didn't think you'd be an asset," Batman tells her flatly, "we wouldn't be having this conversation. But I'm not just going to stand here and accept everything you say at face value. I imagine you know enough about /me/ to know that's not how I do things."

He gives her another critical look, adding: "This isn't my call, but I'll say this: stay on Earth. Do whatever you can do to make things right." A pause, "But not in Gotham. Gotham is mine alone. The rest of the League knows it, and if you're going to join the club then you need to know it, too."

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire nods. "Yes, I know. You are rather protective of your city. I will respect your wishes and not use the violet light here... unless specifically called. Either by that phone call - or if you use your signal to shine MY emblem in the night sky." She nods slowly. "That's why I want to show you that I am worthy - not just tell you. I have no plans on leaving Earth unless a royal summons happens. It... has only happened... like... once... since the Star Sapphire Corps fully started." She bows shallowly. "Oh - your signal is unaffected - it was only shining that way because I was using MY light - I never even touched the actual signal."

Batman has posed:
Batman eyes the ring on Star Sapphire's finger critically. The weapons of the Guardians are of special interest to him. He has more than a passing understanding of just how much he could do with one, given his own potent force of will. But the obligations they come with make that an impossibility.

"Good. I'll bring this to the League. I'll see what they say. I - or they - will be in touch. However, if you've got some sort of business with the Green Lantern? You need to take care of it. You can't leave that up in the air. That can cause problems in the field."

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire nods. "I will contact him when I can." She sighs softly. "Or have him call me on that phone number. I... I don't think there's any issues. And I promise to leave inter-corps Lantern politics out of anything."

Batman has posed:
"If you can agree to that, then I'll nominate you for probationary membership." Batman seems satisfied with the idea, and he makes that as clear as he can. There is still quite a bit to go through with the rest of the League, but with the exception of the Green Lantern variable it seems to be clear-cut.

"Do you need anything more from me, Star Sapphire?"

Star Sapphire has posed:
Star Sapphire shakes her head. "No, Batman. I'm sure you have other business to attend to." She then smiles as she starts to glow faintly, as she rises up and flies off towards New York City - slowly at first in case you decide to call her back for whatever reason.

Batman has posed:
Batman takes the opportunity to depart. Even as Star Sapphire begins to fly away, should she look away for a second, he vanishes. Only gloom and the lit Bat-Signal remain.