just show them what I choose, got nothing to lose

[acrossyourpath]

WHO: FELICIA HARDY and IRENE ADLER
WHERE: Around!! Wherever!!
WHEN: 12/5?
WARNINGS: We'll see. Probably not?
SUMMARY: Two bad girls walk into a bar. Insert your own punchline.
FORMAT: Tagger's choice!


Nights out as the Black Cat had become even more frequent as of late despite the cool weather; Felicia didn't even have to be committing robberies to enjoy the clear-headed clarity that running around the City (or a city) after dark seemed to bring her.

The pursuit of excitement -- intrigue -- was the other half of the fun, after all. She leapt gingerly from the roof of a building to a fire escape, quietly taking in the people milling past on the sidewalks below her.

Comments

[predominates]

The cold nights remind Irene of London — not that she's pining to return. She has been fitting in quite well in the big city; she was never meant for anything less. Even though starting from scratch has its drawbacks and the obvious time commitments, the new set of puzzles and challenges are thrilling.

And tonight, she sets out on her own conquest for misbehaving. She draws up the fur collar of her coat, heels clapping against the sidewalk as she makes her way through the streets. Places to be, people to meet, information to collect. That sort of thing. If she was going to rebuild her contact list, then she was going to have to start in some of the more darker corners.

[acrossyourpath]

Perhaps it was chance, perhaps it was luck -- and Felicia had that in spades, of course, with or without her Porter-given ability -- but whatever it was, Felicia felt the night more rife for mingling. "Mingling" usually meant pick-pocketing and jewelry-grabbing, but it was more of a challenge than ordinary burglary and tonight was a night for mischief.

She slid on a coat over her costume -- long and buttoned, so all that showed of her catsuit was the fur-lined collar and gloves. She slid from the alley onto the sidewalk, plucking off her domino mask and sizing up the people milling around her. One woman in particular in a fur-collared coat caught her eye, and casually Felicia followed her.

[predominates]

As someone who has done her own fair share of tailing others, Irene knows when she's being followed. And here she thought the night might turn out to be a boring bust after the text she received (plans cancelled). It seemed this city was crawling with interesting characters, just as promised. She knows it's a woman — the footsteps give it away. She's good, too. How fun.

She keeps her brisk pace, with the clap, clap, clap of her heels, as she travels another block before turning into the nearest alley. Back against the wall, she waits to catch her tracker by the elbow once she (inevitable) follows her into the shadows.

[acrossyourpath]

Felicia doesn't try to match pace exactly, allowing other people in between herself and her mark when convenient but never losing sight of her. It's a slow game, but Felicia's practiced enough -- it's only when the woman turns into the alley that Felicia considers her next move.

To follow might well be stepping into a trap; risky, no doubt. But Felicia was one for risks regardless, nor did she give up at the first sight of one. If anything, she was curious to know what might have given her away.

So she does follow, and when her elbow is snagged she raises her eyebrow.

"Can I help you?"

[predominates]

Risky or not, Irene saw this as a chance for a test, which her stalker seems to have passed. That is, until she can decipher her motives. The voice sounds familiar, but she can tell she's feigning ignorance. Perhaps it was simply curiosity.

"Let's find out, shall we?" She lifts an eyebrow back, letting her fingers fall from her arm. "Curiosity did kill the cat, you know."

[acrossyourpath]

"But you know what they say about satisfaction," Felicia says with a smirk, taking a step back and straightening her hair off her shoulders. Her eyelids lower slightly, watching Irene carefully.

"No dead bodies to trouble ourselves with, if we're lucky."

[predominates]

The corners of her red lips curl up, mischief written in every crease of her smile. I knew I liked you, her eyes say. "Better than most, I imagine."

Irene straightens her posture, rolling her shoulders back as she steps forward — the concept of personal space being something she never bothered to learn. "Well, I'm sure we can find something else to trouble ourselves with. Busy?"

[acrossyourpath]

Felicia adjusts the collar on her coat, taking a moment to button it more closely as her own smirk sharpens. Her hands disappear into her pockets.

"Not at all. In fact, I think my whole evening just opened up." She takes a step forward as well, turning her head in the direction of the street. "How does a drink sound?"

[predominates]

Irene's eyes flicker down, sweeping over her form not so much sizing up as she is analyzing. There's something in her pocket and the fur collar isn't connected to her coat; she's also familiar with the streets. It would appear tonight just got interesting. She slides her communicator back into her pocket, gaze still fixed on her face.

"Lovely," she answers. "I'm parched."

She turns on her heel and slips out of the alley. Though she has an inkling that her new friend will be leading the way.

[acrossyourpath]

"I know just the place."

Smirking, Felicia lets Irene go on a few steps before she exits the alley herself. She's been around long enough to know of a few good places for a nice drink and a nice discreet conversation, should someone want one, and it's a nice bonus that she gets those few moments of walking to reflect on the woman she seems very fortunate to have followed.

She's always had good luck that way.

She stops in front of a building with a black storefront, lit inside very dimly. "Here we are. Ladies first?"

[predominates]

It's a welcome few moments of silence before they reach the storefront. There would be time to talk inside, and anything that would have been said outside would have just been more clever wordplay — not that Irene is ever opposed (brainy is the new sexy). But it's all played out the way she predicted, so far. She would love it if she could still be surprised.

"What does that make you, I wonder?" she replies back, stepping inside and choosing an empty corner. "And a Black Cat, yes, I'm already aware"

[acrossyourpath]

Felicia follows, smirking still as she slips into a seat and adjusts the collar of her coat slightly. Already the evening's taking a more interesting turn than she had planned, but she wouldn't be content with only that.

"I thought we might know each other. In the flesh and blood finally, hmm?"