8911/Drawn Like A Moth To A Quilt

Drawn Like A Moth To A Quilt
Date of Scene:	22 August 2019
Location:	West Chelsea Park, West Chelsea Hill
Synopsis:	Batman, Batgirl, and Misfit take town Crazy Quilt with Oracle Assist. Batman makes Misfit an offer she can't refuse in the end.
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Oracle, Spoiler, Misfit

---

Batman has posed:
"Infernal flying fool!"

"Asshole!"

A thing about Gotham's villains is that while they like to gang up on Batman and his allies from time to time, they do not play very well together. Whatever it was, exactly, that caused the paths of Crazy Quilt and the Killer Moth to cross it is less important now than the fight that follows.

The park is awash with bright colors that pierce the night. Beams of light in red, yellow, blue, and green flash out from between the trees and into the street. Above the trees, a figure in red with affixed artificial wings darts through the air. The bursts of color just missing him, as he shouts less eloquent insults back down at his opponent.

"My quilt of crazy colors shall render you powerless to resist my commands!"

"I'll shoot you in the fuckin' face!"

Oracle has posed:
<<Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe, Codenamed: Misfit. Sixteen year old vigilante from Metropolis. Family lost in a fire six months ago due to neglect from Slumlord owner who walked on mismanagement of evidence... now facing criminal charges pending investigation of new, solid evidence delivered early this morning.>>

Babs is sitting in the Clocktower relaying information orally to her computer to transfer over to the Batcomputer later. Enjoying the last bit of a scone and a long drink of coffee between oratory additions.

That is until her monitor lights up about an altercation between..."Crazy Quilt and Killer Moth? I thought those guys were dead..." Turning towards another screen to see who's in the area.

<<This is Oracle. Disturbance at Gotham Park... It is Crazy Quilt and Killer Moth. Reports indicate they are fighting each other. My records indicate they are /not/ dead as I earlier suspected. Anyone in the area?>>

Spoiler has posed:
The Batmobile is rolling through the streets, with Batgirl in the passenger seat and the owner of the vehicle behind the wheel. "So Harley had explosives rigged all over the Ferris Wheel, but they didn't go off when she tried to detonate them when some people from the crowd went after her. There was also a gorilla, in armor," Stephanie Brown says, having uploaded the image of Kid after Harley's attack on a Metropolis festival.

"She was using some kind of gas that turned the mobsters she'd lure to the fair into laughing homicidal maniacs. Just Joker's style though I didn't see him there," Stephanie says. "By the time I-" the rest of the oral update is interrupted by the message over comms from Oracle. Batgirl responds right away:

<Crazy Quilt and Killer Moth? I... would almost pay to see that one play out. We're on our way.>

Misfit has posed:
Lights. Camera. Action.

I mean seriously that looks like a movie set from a distance.

That or a rave perhaps.

Still Charlie has abandoned China Basin, she can't think about the idea of running into this Oracle or her friends again right now. Of course her idea that they seem to be in China Basin area is wrong, no where in Gotham is really safe. Still the teen doesn't know that.

So tonight she appears in West Chelsea Hill. It may not be as high crime as China Basin but it is crime enough for her needs. Also the lightshow has hit the the police band with a call for a patrol car to check it out.

Still Babs knows Charlie is in the area now. Not in the Park yet though but at a landmark church nearby. Perched on the belfry in her new homemade Misfit outfit that she is totally owning like a boss.

The kid spends a while listening to the sounds of grown lunatics yelling death threats at each other during a light show though. "Okay. Going in closer."

She has no one she is talking to, but she is definitely pretending she has overwatch right now.

Batman has posed:
<Not dead. Walker's been working without the wing suit ever since one of Penguin's men broke the turbine. Must have got it repaired. The Quilt's been operating out of the Gem Cities but had a difference of opinion with the Rainbow Raider over intellectual property.>

Because of course Batman keeps tabs on even the Z-list villains in his expansive and ever-growing Rogue's Gallery.

He doesn't take his eyes off the road. Even in a jet-fueled, state of the art supercar he is in total control as he makes one of Gotham's famously tight corners with practiced ease. The Car quickly adjusting its course to make the quickest route through the city streets to the park.

"They might not be the Joker and Two Face," Batman explains to Batgirl, still with his eyes fixed forward, "But these men are still dangerous. It doesn't matter how foolish they seem. Remember that."

As Misfit gets just a little closer, a beam of blue light shoots past her - missing by a scant few feet. It doesn't cause any damage, simply dissipating in the air after a moment. But there's something strange about it. As though it has a little more substance than mere light.

Oracle has posed:
"Cool..." Babs murmurs after Batman's history lesson on the Z-list stars of Where are they now: Gotham Edition. It doesn't transmit because..

She's focused. Suddenly another blip appears on her radar and this one is sudden. Not moving steadily, but just //appearing// out of nowhere. "Charlie..."

<<New vigilante in the area as well. Name Misfit. She has the ability to teleport, acceptable fighting skills as well. She needs refinement. I am working on a full dossier now. Very skitish. Poor diplomacy last night.>>

Babs winces remembering and shakes her head, "Stay in the game." Reaching over to launch one of her drones and bring it closer into the park where the action is taking place.

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl double checks the items on and in her utility belt as Batman handles driving them there. "I'm not going to throw stones at the homemade costume glass house," the former Spoiler says. She tunes in the police band. "Sounds like they are further out than we are," she comments of the GPD response.

<Misfit? Well, can't say I hate the name.>

Batgirl readies herself as the Batmobile pulls up to the park, the lights visible through the scattering of trees. Before the car has stopped she has her side of the canopy open and is leaping out to begin running across the park, cape flaring behind her as Batgirl switches her cowl's optics to a spectrum that will help her sea at night but leave the light show less distracting.

Misfit has posed:
Charlie slid off the roof of the church, vanishing and appearing near the tree line of the park. There is a startled blink of her blue eyes when the beam of light shoots past her and misses now. She pokes the air with one gloved fingertip where it was a moment ago. "Okay super freaky."

She ducks into the bark her homemade cape flapping a moment behind her as she ducks and weaves towards the scuffle. Gosh she just can't wait to deliver some dark vengeance to actual villains not just petty criminals.

Especially after Silk and Oracle spooked her out of China Basin and made her question herself so deeply.

She is trying to be sneaky, but ninja training is not her strong suit.

Batman has posed:
"Back, ludicrous lepidopteran!"

Crazy Quilt once more lets loose a strange blast of colored light from the orbs that seem to be floating around him. Now that Misfit can see him clearly, he looks to be a thin man with a moustache wearing a bizarre quilted suit and a metallic helmet. Several colored lights dance through the air around him, but he seems unaccompanied by the usual thugs and hangers-on. He's far to invested in the Killer Moth to respond.

Not far away, hovering just above a statue at the center of the park, the Killer Moth holds his hands out pleading and speaks with a voice of muffled frustrations.

"I don't even know who you fucking are man!"

Back in the Batmobile, the Dynamic Duo near the park although there's still a few seconds before they will arrive.

<Misfit. Hnh. Keep an eye on her. Batgirl, try to have her disengage as soon as we get there. No force. We don't want her off side.>

Oracle has posed:
Babs just shakes her head as the insanity plays out on screen, captured by a parking garage camera from one angle, a street cam from another, and an ATM third. It gives her a nice panoramic view. Which does nothing to make it make anymore sense. "I need a drink." She murmurs to herself, glancing at the kitchen with a small frown, but opts to stay seated.

<<We spooked her last night. She is excitable, but energetic.>> Oracle adds with a nod neither can see, so is mostly implied.

Spoiler has posed:
<Try to have her disengage. Right. Have you ever run across one of these home-grown would-be vigilantes. They don't take orders very well.>

Beat.

<What's that look for?>

Batgirl pulls her gloves on a little tighter and readies herself as the Batmobile finally reaches the park. Once there, she pops open the canopy and vaults out of the vehicle. She starts rushing forward through the park, heading towards the disturbance.

<Any idea what set them off? Allies having a falling out? Or just a case of this city is too small for a second second-rate villain...?>

Misfit has posed:
Okay this was not what Charlie was really expecting. Nope.

It is EVEN Better!

She watches the interplay from the shadows as Killer Moth pleads with Crazy Quilt. "who the heck are these two..." because man they are so Z List the fangirl is struggling to remember their names or what they do. Which is extra dangerous.

Well the Crazy Light Quilt guy has excellent oration skills in Charlie's opinion. Still he seems to be the vllain based on the situation. Maybe the poor Moth guy is just minding his own business after all.

One moment she is hiding behind a tree watching. The next moment she is gone with a slash of smoke disappearing in the shadows.

A heartbeat later Oracle picks her up standing directly behind Crazy Quilt. Really she is pretty darn small, Damian age and height so she may actually be out of sight of Killer Moth there especially with the lightshow.

Charlie reaches up to tap tap Cray Quilt on the shoulder "Excuse me Varlet sir." and if he turns around to look she takes a swing right for his jaw with her clenched fist. "Dark Vengeance!" and yes.. yes she hissssses.

Batman has posed:
<Yes. Which is why I'm reasoning that a stern 'stay out of Gotham' isn't going to work on her.>

Batman lets Batgirl take the lead into the park, following along behind. As she runs, he walks with quick but steady purpose.

<Quilt's a madman. Always seeking power and control. My guess is Walker didn't want to do what he commanded, so now we have all of ... this. Keep an eye out for Misfit>

In the park proper, Crazy Quilt is mid rave at the Killer Moth when the finger taps him on the shoulder.

"Quake in fear of the Crazy Qui- huh?"

The man turns around, momentarily ceasing his light show to look at Misfit. And the punch hits him square in the mouth. He spins, toppling through the air unsteadily for a moment before he lands on his back and brings his hands to his mouth.

"Ow!" Not so eloquent now.

"Hahahaha!" laughs the Killer Moth, now standing atop the back of the horse statue he was floating over and pointing at the dazed Crazy Quilt, "You got decked!"

Oracle has posed:
<<She lost her family in a fire six months ago. I overlooked a detail that I should not have and...>>

Babs goes quiet, leaning back in her seat with a little frown.

<<Do not mention her family or home. Otherwise she is agreeable.>>

Spoiler has posed:
Ok this was not what the blond Batgirl was really expecting. Nope.

It is EVEN better.

She wants to woot for the beautiful roundhouse. A favorite punch of hers after all. But she instead settles for a more respectable-sounding, "Nice punch. But maybe let us take it from here. Quilt's got a few lose stitches there if you know what I mean," Batgirl says as she arrives on the scene.

She points an eggshell-purple gloved hand towards Killer Moth. "Alright, you. Moth Guy. Stop with the... ok actually you haven't quite done anything wrong. Yet. That I've seen. But just stop and get your butt on the ground," she says, pulling out a batarang but just keeping it in hand for the moment.

Misfit has posed:
Charlie is considering what to do about the Moth guy, but then he may be a Bat Moth, she really doesn't recognize him. Also he is right laughing. The guy on the ground did super get decked. "Right!?" then she focuses on Crazy Quilt. which is when Batgirl distracts her.

"O M G.... Batgirl!" then she blinks and cocks her head. "Wait.. I am positive Batgirl is a redhead like me... which is why I thougth i would make an excellent Batgirl..." she shakes her head "But my callsign is Misfit.. which isn't at all mean." out of just about anyone else would seem like sarcasm but she seems so gosh darn sincere.

She steps over and gives Quilt a sneaker print to the side of his face. "I could hold him down while you suss him up for the authorities.. or ..if Moth guy isn't with you .. maybe you handle him and I handle this wierdo..."

Batman has posed:
"You showed him! Hahaha! Fuck that guy! Nice one, Bat ... kid. Whatever."

When Batgirl arrives, however, Killer Moth stops laughing and becomes immediately wary. But when she says her peace, he loosens up a little and looks somewhat indignant.

"Yeah, that's right! I haven't done anything wrong. I'm allowed to be in the Par- shit, is that - ?" the Moth points at the looming figure of Batman, emerging from the shadows behind Batgirl, "Okay, bye!"

The Moth quickly takes off, his strange wing-harness making an almost comical puttering noise as he spins up into the Gotham sky and disappears. The Dark Knight does not give chase, instead glancing at Batgirl.

<Oracle. Send an anonymous tip to the GCPD to keep a watch for Killer Moth. He didn't do anything tonight, but he's got a warrant out against him.>

Then, his focus turns to Misfit and the nigh-unconscious Crazy Quilt. His features are stern as he glares at her, sizing her up in one glance before he reaches down to pluck the strange headgear off the dazed man on the ground.

"You shouldn't have talked to him first," he chides Misfit, "You gave him time enough for a warning."

Oracle has posed:
Bbabs acknowledgement is a quiet click of the comms and she shifts over to another computer display to send an encrypted code message to GCPD with Kiler Moths last known location.

Then glances back to the interaction between the trio of vigilantes with a grim expression. Tugging at her bottom lip when others step in to fix the mistake she made. This all could have been handled...

Spoiler has posed:
The news of the warrant has Batgirl hefting the batarang like she wished she'd used it. But she stows it away as she looks back to Misfit and the downed villain. "Hair color doesn't make a crimefighter. But you got moxie," she says as she moves over to Crazy Quilt.

She rolls him over and applies some bat-cuffs to his to his wrists, before turning him back over and prying off his helmet to relieve of him of his light-making gear. She gives him a soft pat. "Don't worry, Kooky Comforter, the GCPD will have some ice for that jaw once they get you into your cell," she tells him.

Batgirl continues to pat him down checking for anything else dangerous. "So how did you get behind him like that?" Batgirl asks, knowing the answer but giving the skittish teen something to talk about that is likely to keep her there.

Misfit has posed:
"Did you bleach it?" she asks incrediously and then puffs up at the statement that she has moxie.

Which is about when it sinks in that he guy lecturing her is ... BATMAN... oh holy carp. The teenager just stares at him behind her cheap domino mask with very wide eyes. I mean honestly she looks like she is one step away from either asking him for an autograph or taking a selfie with him.

The silence and staring actually gets a heartbeat towards uncomfortable.

"I figured it was a good way to distract him and have him turn and present his jaw for the righteous punching ... I mean.. it worked right and pow .. wiff... booom..." she gesticulates to where Batgirl is appling batcuffs.

Which is when she gets distracted again "Those are so fancy... I have zipties from Lexmart.. they use them to zip up wires I think but they seem to work good on criminals. I read about it online."

Oh right crap Batman. She looks back to Batman and straightens up. The .. what is she fifteen. sixteen.. girl looks about ready to salute. "Hi .. I uh... well I'm here to fight crime and help. I fought a lot of crime in the last week too.. I knew there was a lot here but wow.. there is a lot of crime here... I was told I can't use Batgirl as a name because I guess she is still around... " a glance at Stephanie and then at Batman. "But I was told to call myself Misfit but Batwoman so that was awesome!"

Batman has posed:
"Misfit. Hnh."

Batman simply repeats the name out loud, maybe trying to see how it sounds. He glances back at Batgirl, perhaps letting the more personable of the two of them do the actual 'being a human' thing.

Of Misfit's technique, he says: "Sound strategy, sloppy execution. If you want him turning his head, he shouldn't be turning it at you unless you're ready to be a target. That outfit? You're not ready to be a target."

With Crazy Quilt more or less out of it and Killer Moth fleeing into the night, Batman steps away from the group to press a finger to his ear through the cowl. When he speaks, his voice is low - a barely audible mutter save for those wired into the communications network.

<What else can you tell me about our new ... friend. Anything?>

Oracle has posed:
<<She is staying in the same tenament where her family was killed. Condemned, scheduled for demolition within a few weeks. She is sixteen years old. Her name is Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe. She ran away from the orphanage where they placed her... I have stalled investigations so far and begun work on a cover identity for her if she can be convinced to move to Gotham. I have set up a fund for her, as well. You can bring her here... if you want. I have the room.... and I feel like I owe her.>>

Babs adjusts her glasses and looks down at her desk, head tilting side to side until her neck pops.

Spoiler has posed:
The blond Batgirl smiles over to Misfit after Batman is done talking to her for the moment. "How old are you?" she asks as she straightens up from the now-cuffed villain. The tone makes it just a question, one without any judgment sounding in it. And not letting on she knows the answer. The question is to engage Charlotte in conversation, not-

There is a sudden bright burst of light and the sound of electricity zapping. "Don't tell me, Mothman just flew into a bug zapper," she says, intentionally misnaming the winged crook. "I'll go check it out," she offers, and then darts off into the night towards the distant electrical display.

Tough flying at night around power lines, apparently.

Misfit has posed:
Gosh darn. Batman said her codename. The girl's eyes get very wide again.

To Batgirl she mutters "I didn't lie on my iSpace.. I'm sixteen... but very mature." mmmm hmmmm

Then Batman is giving her advice on her technique. "So it is okay to punch them in the back of the head of kidneys?" she sounds like she worried it wouldn't be fair or something. She does seem to be taking mental notes though nodding thoughtfully.

She tugs her homemade cape around. "I made it myself..." a litle self conscious as she talks to Batman.

The BATMAN

"Is Batgirl going to be okay with the moth guy or does she need backup?"

Batman has posed:
"She'll be fine," Batman answers without turning around, still holding the earpiece in his cowl to listen to Oracle's briefing. When it's done, he turns back around to face Misfit fully.

"You need to learn where to hit them so they remember all the mistakes they made that led them to that point with the utmost clarity."

A pause.

"Do you want to learn how to hit like that, Misfit?"

He doesn't acknowledge what Oracle said, but it seems nevertheless like he is going with it.

Misfit has posed:
Charlie looks off once more the way that Batgirl vanished. She supposed Batman must be right. He is Batman after all and Batgirl is like her number one idol for years and all. She probably will be fine.

Then she zones back in on Batman and listens rapt. "That .. was .. amazing." it was too. That is intense. "Fists of Justice" naming it right now. "Fists of regret.. guilt..." trailing off at the question.

"Oh gosh yes sir Batman sir."

Batman has posed:
Misfit stands over a foot shorter than Batman, so when he talks with her he takes a knee. It's an unusual thing to see from someone who is given more to looming and looking menacing, but it seems as though this time that isn't the desired goal. He hits some hidden button on his gauntlet, the white eyes of his cowl lifting away to reveal blue eyes rimmed with dark paint to blend in with the gaps in his mask.

For a short while he says nothing, just letting himself give off the best 'non-threatening' vibe he can give.

"Misfit," he uses her alias pointedly, "I want to help you. But you have to allow me to help. If I bring you somewhere - to someone who can look after you, teach you, give you somewhere to stay here in Gotham - will you come with me?"

Misfit has posed:
Which well isn't all that non-threatening. I mean the whole Batsuit and his demeanor in it oozes a lot of threat.

Despite that Charlie seems a bit immune to it. Kids.

There is a blink as she makes eye contact "Oh hey.. your eyes are blue like mine... I mean I knew they weren't white.." pause "The whole eye thing though.. that is really the coolest thing I have seen ... just .. swish..."

Then he is talking again. It is Batman not some crazy spidergirl but still she starts to look uncomfortable there. I mean she isn't really good at admitting that things are very wrong or her mom and sister are even gone. This is grazing close to it once more and well.

Despite all her talking and the excited happiness a moment ago when he talks about helping her and taking her to someone who can look after her and give her a place to stay. The best way to put it is the happiness and light kind of die in her eyes. She doesn't look as quick to rabbit as last night, but there is this raw loss and lurking abyss of pain in the girl's eyes.

It's an abyss the Bat knows well.

She isn't the first vigilante orphan with a traumatic experience.

Emotions war denial, worry, the abyss.

"Did that Oracle person tell you I was lying about the mansion.... and butler too?" her voice is very small. But she hasn't bounced out yet. This is Batman.

Batman has posed:
"She did," Batman answers, his voice quiet - more like Bruce Wayne and not at all the terrifying growl put on to frighten the criminals, "I'm not going to lie. I understand a lot about losing people you care about. It happened to me, too. A long time ago. I did what you're doing now. I went out and I used that anger, fear, and sadness to be this. To be Batman."

It's a damn side more honesty about himself that he shows most of the Family's allies, and even some of the people who have known him for years. But he presses on.

"I know why you said what you said. I know why you want to do what you're doing here. There's no stopping you. If I run you out of Gotham, you'll come back. Or you'll go somewhere else and do the same thing there. I can't convince you this life is a bad one, Misfit, so I'm not going to try."

He holds out one gloved hand, palm facing upwards and extended to her.

"I'm going to help you so you can help everyone."

Misfit has posed:
"Really?" she whispers in response to him saying he lost people important to him too. That it is why he became Batman. I mean when she steps back from it and examines it, it will make sense. She is doing it for the same reason after all. Why would she be surprised a similar crucible made Batman right. Look at all they have in common right.

She still looks on the verge of tears or maybe vanishing, but she hasn't. She is listening and staring into his eyes, unsure and hurting a lot.

"I ... lied about the mansion and butler.." she admits softly, she can't say the mom part because god it hurts so badly still. "I didn't want anyone trying to put me in the foster home again or stopping me..." she admits that but still didn't say she lied about her mom.

I mean based on Oracles research while the firemen thought the unharmed if sooty 15 year old couldn't have been in the apartment when they died.. iti s likely wrong with her special skill. How else was she sooty. So yeah she likely watched them start to burn in front of her before saving herself.

"I'm not going to stop.. I need to help people." she needs to help people like her, she needs to prevent people from being hurt like she has been hurt.

Of course while some people go this way in the crucible, so many either break or move on somehow. This isn't every orphan in the world that puts on a mask.

She puts her homemade gloved hand in his gloved hand "I do want to help people..." the need in her voice is raw, she wants a lot of things and well taking Batman's hand may be more of it than helping people in this moment.

Through it all her voice is soft, pretty small.

Oracle has posed:
Babs watches Batman be the emotional crutch she should have been the night before. Slowly, she reaches up and slides off her headset and hangs them from the clear glass statuelike face sitting beside one of her many monitors. When the decorative lights hit it, they send colors shining through the object like a disco-ball... but Babs isn't paying attention.

Slowly she stands up from her desk and looks around as if she's lost something, reaching up to rub her neck with both hands, brushing fingers through her firey red hair, but not really finding whatever it is she's searching...

With a slow breath, she takes a step away from her keyboard and walks steadily towards her bedroom, forcing her hand to stop trembling, and doing so unsuccessfully.

There are few things that Barbara Gordon hates. GENUINELY hates...

Top of that list is failure.

And she failed Misfit.

Her door closes behind her.

Batman has posed:
"Then come with me," Batman answers, rising to his feet but keeping Misfit's hand in his own as he does, "I'm taking you to see a friend of mine. Her name's Barbara. She's going to give you somewhere safe to stay, and make sure that if you're going to do this, that you do it right - and you do it as safely as you can."

He starts to walk hand in hand with the young vigilante, heading back out of the park. Crazy Quilt unconscious and apprehended, he knows well enough that the GCPD will be here soon to take him in. Besides, after all the night's ridiculousness this seems like the more important thing.

"We don't want to send you away or make sure you stop," he continues, "Someone tried to put me in foster care once. I didn't want to go there either. But what we want is to help you make sure this is the life you want to live. If you are? Then we'll help you. If not? We'll find you the place where you can be happiest."

As they leave the park, the Batmobile remains parked on the curb and waiting for them. As they approach the doors open of their own accord.

"Do we have a deal?"

Misfit has posed:
Well it seems to be working.

Charlie lets Batman hold her hand, gosh part of her despite the sadness of all this still wants a selfie, and lead her out of the park now.

She listens very closely and says with conviction once more "I need to do this." and maybe she does. Maybe she doesn't. She is very young and very hurt on the inside right now. She definitely believes she does.

When the Batmobile comes into view and the doors open she almost trips over her own feet. "holy remote control car Batman." her eyes very wide, distracted for a moment and then she blinks and looks up to him. "Deal." she nods "Definitely."