Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[Halcyon638]

“No shame in that,” Zoe said with a little smirk.

Porter blushed and chuckled. “Umm…no. On an unrelated note, I need to go clear my browser history,” he said, miming making a few taps on his phone.

Zoe looked at the flier as they walked. “Shoot. I really should go to this since I know next to nothing about this city, but I’ve got an annotated bibliography due tomorrow and I’ve still only found a few sources.”

“Our poli sci professor’s giving us extra credit if we go,” Porter said, “and um…I’m all about participating in the democratic process. That too,” he added, questionably.

As the three of them parted ways, Zoe added to Monica, “I’ve been playing around with that editing software, putting together some clips.” She’d subscribed to a service that provided video clips and raw footage for use in various projects. “Figuring things out.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica smiled "that's great. Remember I'm paying you to tinker around, so send my LLC a bill so I can pay it." Paying zoe was half the point, after all. "So i'm not sure if I should go to this thing as Monica or as the Nighthawk. If some shit goes down, its hard to react as Monica, but I don't want to attract the wrong kind of attention as the Nighthawk. What do you think?"

 

[Halcyon638]

Zoe nodded and grinned. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s headed your way. I strung together some skateboarding clips. I don’t know anything about skateboarding or, umm…superheroing, but I assume making either look good is kind of the same. I can send the rough cut over.”

She folded the flier neatly and stuffed it into her backpack. “Hmm. Yeah, I guess you can’t really wear your suit under your clothes Spider-Man style. On the one hand…I’m sure they’ll have lots of security? On the other…you did have drug-crazed monster people attack this summer.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica nodded "I'm mostly worried about assassins. Which sounds dumb, as this is a mayoral race, but there's a surprising amount of assassination in this town. Like. So much. So many assassins." She hmmms "yeah i'm going to have to think about it, but I think I'm erring on the side of Nighthawking it."

 

[Halcyon638]

Zoe nodded. “Well, either way…be safe, okay? I’m going to try to stream it.” The petite blonde adjusted her backpack, waved to Monica, and headed off to her dorm.

As Monica walked, she could see cops and public safety officers already making their presence felt. She had a few hours before the debate.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica texted Knapp. If someone could get her into that debate and maybe off in the wings where she wouldn' be seen but could be in uniform... it was Knapp. If he couldn't do it, he couldn't do it. She could make the decision as to whether to go flashy or just go as Monica, but having a friend in the right place was sometimes the total difference between success and failure.

 

[Halcyon638]

Knapp texted back about a half hour later.

KNAPP: You heard something about these debates I should know about? Or just going off general Prospect City vibes? I’m not part of the security detail officially but I can show up sniffing around the place and pass it off as overprotective Dad stuff. Btw I have specifically told Hadley not to go so she’ll probably be front row and center.

KNAPP: If you’re planning to show in costume, I can find you a spot to hide out, or I can make sure there’s a side exit clear for you if you need to go change.

 

[siobhancan99]

She texted back "as soon as I go in my civvies there will be some shit. If i show up in my uniform it will be boring as the day is long. So I'll show up in Uniform. Just find a place to stow me and we can sleep through it hopefully."

 

[Halcyon638]

KNAPP: Good thinking. I’ll keep you posted.

The detective came through. As the event approached, he found a server room that sported several ventilation shafts, including one about 13 to 14 feet high that Monica could reach via an empty technology cart; the shaft gave her a clear view of the massive business school auditorium where the debate was being held, though the room itself was hot due to the tech.

Among the familiar faces, Monica spotted Porter, there with Hadley, and journalism student Morgan, who was standing near the front rows of seats, scrolling through his phone.

The incumbent, Lisa Lazzarra, a 50-something woman with every strand of dark hair perfectly in place and a crisp pant suit, was off to the side of the stage conferring with presumably some staffers, apparently feeling confident, as she and the others seemed to be at ease and chuckling at something.

There were 2 other challengers, a nervy-looking 50-something guy in glasses who represented a 3rd party and had about as much chance of winning as Monica did, and Jessica Howell, who’d been trailing Lazzarra by just a few points. She very much looked the part of “your favorite teacher” her campaign and/or the media were trying to frame her as by emphasizing her years spent as a high school math instructor: 40-something, brown hair in bangs, pretty but in a “mom next door” way, and was standing at the podium aside one of her young staff members but not speaking, looking down at the piece of furniture as if she was trying to memorize all of her talking points.

About 15 minutes before the debate kicked off, Howell was convening with her staffers, most of whom looked to be mid to late 30s at most, with one guy looking to be in his late 20s.

KNAPP: Of course Hadley’s there. Do you give your Dad as much trouble as she gives me or is this just my personal special Hell?

Howell was near the wings of the stage now, and there among her staff was Melanie, smiling warmly. The two looked at one another meaningfully and Howell took both of the professor’s hands, giving them a quick squeeze before heading back onto the stage.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica hmmmed as she looked over the third party guy and considered going libertarian for a hot second then laughed and said "why not just throw your vote away Mon." She looked over at Mel and the candidate "huh. good for her." Mel deserved love, and the woman was age appropriate which was new for Mel. Personal growth. She was proud if a touch jealous. She scanned the crowd. If there was going to be some kind of shenanigans it would PROBABLY come from the crowd, but not definitely. Still, best to spot anyone that seemed squirrely. Someone wearing a coat in this hottest of Septembers. that sort of thing.