8596/Artistic Criticism

Artistic Criticism
Date of Scene:	31 July 2019
Location:	Manhattan Rooftop
Synopsis:	Despite working for the government, Bucky draws all over the walls. Felicia makes off with a glowstick. Gwen can't shake the feeling she knows that darn cat.
Cast of Characters:	Winter Soldier, Ghost Spider, Black Cat

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Winter Soldier has posed:
So, being up on a rooftop around about sunset isn't maybe the smartest thing, especially considering the whole Sentinel chaos going on around the city. But then, this is a guy who spent years following Steven Rogers around, trying to defend him in the fights he got into, so common sense was apparently at a premium when it comes to kids born in Brooklyn during WW I.

It's even less smart when you've got a decently bright light source there. Not a lantern, but a bright white glowstick, military grade, stuck into a holder that lets most of the light be covered, but some directed. In its gleam, there's a man working hastily on a mural, sketching something in chalk with rapid strokes. The wall's hardly virgin territory - if a blank wall is reachable, the street artists of New York will use it as a canvas. But he's covered enough of the tideline of random tags and sketches for the shape of the work to become clear: a big, stylized black cat, back arched Halloween style, complete with shining green eyes.

The artist himself looks like a youngish man, long, dark hair bound back in a ponytail. He's clad in old black fatigue pants, a gray t-shirt....and the metal arm is covered by a cloth sleeve, more or less pale flesh-toned, and a black leather glove. It doesn't really pass for the genuine article at close range, it's more the kind of thing that a cop or EMT might wear to cover a sleeve tattoo, but at least it hides the metallic gleam of the arm.

Ghost Spider has posed:
Bucky isn't the only person out there at sunset at the skyline level. Admittedly everything about doing this these days with the Sentinel Chaos is not wrong. It is kind of crazy to be flying or swinging around the city and bringing attention to yourself.

Not that sense has stopped Gwen from taking her new gifts and turning them into a side gig of vigilantism and swinging around the city like a crazy lady stopping crime in a spider themed costume.

Even if it is an awesome costume.

Bucky isn't hard to notice with the light, even if it focused, and yes indeed that looks to be a large cat mural.

So Gwen swings hard up and does a little flip before landing on the edge of the building, crouched in bit of a superhero pose. Then straightens. "So are you a huge cat fan or is there something more to this.. because it definitely takes work to get up this high and draw.. also chalk is an odd choice.. most use spray paint." white spider eyes of her mask wide.

Winter Soldier has posed:
At the peripheral motion of a swinging body landing, he's turning with a grin on his face, green chalk still in his right hand. Apparently he expected to meet someone there....someone who might arrive in just that manner. "Hey, there you a-"

But the smile fades into puzzlement, the hand falling, the scrap of chalk landing in the gravel of the rooftop. "Uh," he says, eloquently. "You're not the black cat I was looking for. You're a spider, I take it." Not one he's met before, though. He's heard of them, met one....A glance back at the mural. "It's not intended to be permanent. Rain can wash it away."

Ghost Spider has posed:
"I figured not permanent.. more a temporary message to someone who responds well to Black Cats I suppose." she cocks her head to the side studying Bucky now. "I mean last time I saw something like this a golden retriever was trying to setup a meetup with me." pause "Don't ask."

Another pause. "So yeah definitely not the Black Cat you are looking for. Does she swing through the sky or fly... I have not met a flying cat before. Yet." she is definitely new spider and a girl spider at that. Definitely a better costume than Spider-Man. "Or was this a love letter?" pause "Does it involve Witches?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
He was totally going to ask...she can see him suppress the question, lips tight, eyes bright with amusement. "That's the name she goes by. And yeah, she kinna...." The now-chalkless hand describes the swooping arc made by spiderfolk and catwomen transiting rooftop to rooftop by hook and line. "No, not a love letter. I like her just fine, but I'm not in love with her. I guess it kinna does, because she keeps company with a sorcerer, or so she says. Uh, you don't know any of the other spider people, do you? Like the guy in the red and blue outfit?"

Ghost Spider has posed:
Gwen is well aware of the desire to ask, I mean Golden Retrievers using chalk, there is a story there right.

"A Black Cat with a Sorcerer... I would have totally lost a bet on this person being associated with a Witch instead you know." slow headshake.

"Also yeah Soider-man, I go by Ghost Spider.. .there are like .. four of us.. I mean five of us if you count Spider-Woman but she is a Avenger and doesn't really belong to the Spider Vigilante club." a shrug.

Winter Soldier has posed:
He knows a Golden Retriever that uses chalk. It's the one in the flag-suit with the shield. "Right?" says Buck, with a grin. "I mean, it'd make sense. Some kind of sense. Ghost Spider, then. And there're more....I thought Spiderman was an Avenger, too," he says, mildly. "Anyhow, pleased to meetcha, Ghost Spider. I'm James."

Ghost Spider has posed:
The one Gwen knows has a whole lot more fur and ears that scream for ear ruffles. Still super strength like the one Bucky knows.

Ghost Spider starts to meander and pace on the edge of the roof now. "I think the Avengers would probably call Spider-Man an Intern not a member.. I mean if you had ever met him you would understand." it seems like good natured quips though.

Winter Soldier has posed:
At that, Buck laughs. It's not malicious, not even unkind....but there's clearly recognition there. "Yeah, I've met him," he admits, still grinning. "And....'intern' is a good word for it. It's gotta be goddamned weird to be like....have superpowers but.....not, uh, particularly know what to do about anything."

Ghost Spider has posed:
Gwen pauses in her pacing and looks over at James and cocks her head. Those eyes on her mask actually widen a small bit there, somehow expressive. Good technology that.

"Wait you've met Spider-man?" then she listens to the description. "Well I mean.. intern yes but Spidey has a good idea of what to do with his powers. Contrary to the Bugle he is good people and uses his gifts very responsibly to help the city." okay she has to defend her best friend there a bit.

"How did you meet him?"

Black Cat has posed:
Up on the rooftop, reindeer -- no, definitely not reindeer, not between the chalk-wielding, glowstick-bearing cyborg-wannabe and the member of the Spider-clan unknown to Felicia. The Cat herself is still a building or two over, tucked into the shadow of a radiator, and she's allowing herself one hell of a satisfied grin. The art is...immensely gratifying -- attention attracting and complimentary all at once. A shame it appears to be of chalk at this distance.

Her graceful, parkour-esque approach is as stealthy as she normally manages when the Winter Soldier is involved. Whether or not she can fool a Spider is another matter entirely, though she has the dubious claim to startling poor Peter on a regular basis. Her landing on the rooftop is silent and she slowly rises from her crouch in her usual sinuous grace. The pale fur of her black catsuit flickers in the light puft of a breeze passing by. Those jade-green eyes, stylized in the artwork, slide from it and to Bucky.

"Aw, shucks, soldier -- you know how to compliment a girl." Her confidence oozes in the purring statement.

Gwen gets a more chary look and a circled, claw-tipped finger at her person. "And you...by the get-up...must be of Spidey's entourage."

Winter Soldier has posed:
Wait until she hears Peter's opinion of James. "I've met him, yeah," he says. He's standing with the mural at one side, looking at the Spider. "And...."

The rest of the story is lost in Felicia's appearance, and he looks over to face her. "There you are," he says, with that grin. If he's startled (yes, he is) he doesn't show it. Then he jerks his human thumb at the Cat. "That's who I thought you were, at first."

Back to Felicia herself, "I thought that might have a chance of snagging your attention."

Ghost Spider has posed:
Well Black Cat meant no danger to Gwen so the Gwen Tingles, aka Spider Sense, did not go off blaring so she is a bit startled by the sneaky cat being sneaky.

She pivots and watches Black Cat for a long moment, the whites of her costumes eyes big and then looks back to the chalk mural. After a moment she looks back to Black Cat "Well the likeness is in the eyes but she has less fur." quippy.

"Also for the record Spidey is in my entourage." she mmms "I take it you have met him as well ... dang he gets around. Also into trouble and in over his head sometimes." her masks eyes squint a bit as she studies Black Cat. Something there.

Black Cat has posed:
Felicia looks between the two others with a small parting of her lips, curiosity surely piqued. The Soldier must have had something to tell her, but this other Spider-person is novel and, frankly, intriguing. Peter's told her nothing about this one.

"Spidey's in...//your// entourage. Hmm." There's a musical lilt to the musing, as if she doesn't quite believe this new Spider-person. Her eyes slide back to Bucky and there's the absolutely charming red-red curl of her lips at him.

"You have a glowstick out for me: how sweet. Did you have something to ask me, sugah?" A subtle shimmy to her shoulders does accent the deep vee of her suit.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"I'll have to keep practicing," Buck retorts, with a grin. "Her expression generally isn't that hostile, either."

A quick glance between them. "Wanted to make sure you were all right, with the Sentinel stuff going on," he explains. "So, wait....you both know Spiderman, but you don't know each other?" He looks back to Felicia, "What, you new on the job?"

Ghost Spider has posed:
Ghost Spider continues to stare at Black Cat with those squinted mask eyes there, long and hard. "Okay no." she pauses and then notes "The laws of physics and mathematical probability are so borked I can't even imagine how this could be a thing." she just shakes her head and looks at Bucky once more. "Just no."

Okay to be fair Gwen is a bit muffled with her mask but she isn't using any fancy Batman voice modulator or anything. The head turns to squint at Black Cat again then looks at Bucky. She is staring at Bucky. "Ahrm. What you seem to know Spidey and I don't know you outside you send her messages in art form and are a Soldier.... how do you know Spidey?" accusing quip to James now.

Black Cat has posed:
The Cat settles more comfortably into her hips-akilter stance, her palms resting comfortably on her hips a la Jessica Rabbit.

"Unless Spidey and his friends interrupt me, I don't have time to figure out who's who in their fan-club of spandex and silly-string." Felicia's smile aimed at Ghost Spider is //just// this side of friendly in her teasing; an edge of malicious intent lingers regardless, as if she might test Gwen's mettle somehow.

"But a check-in on little old me? Aw, shucks, soldier." Bucky gets a winsome flutter of her lashes in his direction. "I'm not interested in crossing paths with those robots. Those ambulating tin-cans for others to worry about. But, I do have a question for you...if you can spare a little of your time," she says, tone insinuating the off-chance for trouble.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Winter Soldier lifts a finger in admonishment. "I *was* a soldier. I'm not now." This is not strictly true, even if his status on the Army's books is very ambiguous indeed. "And I was visiting the one Avenger I know and happened to run into Spiderman there. It wasn't.....it didn't go well." Cue Buck's utter lack of apparent contrition.

"A'right," he says to Felicia. "Glad to know they're not bothering you. What's the question?"

Ghost Spider has posed:
Ghost Spider points an accusatory finger at Felicia there. "Why would we be interrupting you to begin with?" there is a note of suspicion there as she paces a few steps around getting a better look at Black Cat now from the front. "Also the 60s pin-up wannabe shouldn't be speaking about anyone else's choices in costuming."

She is really having a hard time shaking a gut feeling about Felicia at this point. She will definitely be following up on this.

"Which Avenger do you know James?"

Black Cat has posed:
Even with the geometric lines of her black domino hiding portions of her face, the Cat manages an absolutely disdainful eyebrowing in the direction of Ghost Spider. "You should wear more green. It's a good color on someone this jealous." She even winks at Gwen unashamedly.

"So -- mister not-a-soldier." Felicia gives him a knowing, humoring squint, her lips still quirked. "We've established you know //everybody//. How well do you know the Asgardians...?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
The first question he was kind of braced for, and Buck's looking to Gwen with a smile when the second one hits. That one....has him looking back, expression gone wary.

Then there's a quick volleying of looks between them, before he says to Gwen, simply, "Steve Rogers." Oh, so he's *that* James.

But Fel gets a frankly suspicious look. "I don't know any of 'em well. Why?"

Ghost Spider has posed:
Clickity Click. Well okay that makes more sense now.

"I see. Is he actually as wholesome as he appears to be on TV?"

Then Gwen's attention turns to Black Cat. "Hey at least my outfit has color that pops instead of all black and depressing, like your humor."

"Though god damnit you remind me of someone..." yeah it is eating at Gwen.

She fishes out a phone from a very clever pocket and texts, fingers working the phone.

Black Cat has posed:
Gwen gets a proper squint now alongside a pursing of those red-red lips. "You have no idea who I am, don't get it into your head that you do. Geez. You're about as funny as opening a box of Lucky Charms and finding someone ate all of the marshmallows." A sniff and the Ghost Spider with her phone is dismissed once more -- mostly; Felicia keeps the Spider-person's form in her peripheral vision just in case.

"Everybody knows Thor, right? He's big, he's blond, he's got that bod -- mmmfff." Hey, Cat calling it like it is. "But you know what...? His brother doesn't get nearly the same amount of coverage. Granted, I think the guy can't decide whether or not he likes being in the shadow or the spotlight, but man, when he puts on a fluffy shirt like something out of a Renaissance Harlequin novel, he's not half-bad either. But he's still an asshat. You know this guy?"

Of course, the thief is referencing none other than Loki Odinson.

Winter Soldier has posed:
She'll get it. Even Googling Steve Rogers and James will bring up Steve's wikipedia entry. This is the 'dead' friend....somehow alive and here. Or his doppelganger. Buck gives her a worried glance.

But then Fel's discussing the Asgardians. "That's....I thought he had several brothers," he says. "I know he's got way more family than has come to Middle Earth, or whatever it is they call where we live here."

Ghost Spider has posed:
There is a huh then a hrrrn noise as Gwen works the phone and then tucks it back into the pocket. Very clever pockets because a woman designed this costume and pockets are the holy grail.

"Probably several. I mean isn't he related to a giant wolf and a six legged horse?" ignoring the lucky charm comment there. "Also Thor's bod has nothing on Captain Americas."

Black Cat has posed:
"Mmm..." Felicia lifts a hand from one hip to wiggle it back and forth. "I dunno. Captain America's kind of built like a dorito. Don't get me wrong, he's nice to look at -- but you haven't met Thor." A little sigh is appreciative and then the Cat's back on track.

"I'm specifically referencing the one who likes to yank everybody's chain. You know...the Trickster one." She gives Barnes a more searching look now.

Winter Soldier has posed:
"I've encountered him, a time or two," he says....and then there's the chirp of a phone going off. Turns out even this antique has a smartphone. He pulls it out of a pocket, the blue glow illuminating his face, and he sighs. "And I gotta go. That's a recall." What, like car parts?

He, apparently, didn't arrive by thread or rope....he walked up the stairs. Because he turns for the door that leads to the lower stories.

Ghost Spider has posed:
Ghost Spider nods to James "Nice meeting you James notASoldier." and then she pivots on her heel and points at both her masks eyes with two fingers and then one finger at Black Cat. "Watching you Kitty Kat." she seems to be preparing to leave. "And I swear you sound like someone I know." just to spike the earlier insult about not knowing her.

Black Cat has posed:
"Hey -- wait, come on -- !!!"

There goes her answer, all because someone's got a hand on the other end of his leash. Felicia lets out a quiet sound of frustration and cross her arms beneath her chest. Gwen gets another arched brow. "You don't know me!" It's an incredibly petulant response, yes, and turning on her heel, she quickly stoops to snatch up the glowstick.

"This is mine," she adds fumingly, pointing the bright stick at the Spider-person. Turning on her heel, the Cat then makes to depart as well, her question having been not answered to her satisfaction.

Ghost Spider has posed:
"Don't I?" needling Felicia as she scoops up the glowstick and moves to leave. Of course she turns and fires a webline >thwip> and then running while gathering up the slack leaps into the sky not afraid of gravity with the tether to a taller building.

Swinging away.