Over at the comic shop...

[Martha Villiers]

The Empire's Comic Vault!

Arguably the best shop in Sacramento.

Ben, the owner, is busy co-ordinating a computer order.

His bright eyed pug that serves as the mascot of the store rests in his bed in the corner. As usual, this careless hound seemed un-fazed by the arrival of a Vampire...

Once darkness had fallen tiny Martha began a patrol.

But, ever attentive to the currents of popular culture, she decided to pop into the comic shop. Probably following not far behind Morgan...

Martha is neatly attired in her usual modest English school uniform: a neat straw boater, a black blazer...a pair of scholarly...yes, she'd admit it..."Hipster" style...spectacles are perched daintily on the end of her nose, she wears a long gymslip which shows her legs to just over the knee...her raven black hair is tied into two very long twin tails, each with the red ribbon bows.

A swift glance would reveal that most of her left leg is obviously a C-Leg prosthetic. She wears a white kneesock on her flesh leg and a pair of carefully polished black Oxford pattern shoes, a crisp white blouse is obvious where the Edwardian style gymslip reveals it, as is her red necktie tucked neatly into her gymslip. She wears a useful looking school satchel and carries a simple metal walking cane. Though smelling of minty toothpaste and lemons, she's shunned more obvious cosmetics.

She emits no Beast but and has invoked her Blush of Life.

Her petite presence exudes sweet and innocence.

Martha had entered and hobbled around the gaming tables close to the main entrance door.

The small gathering or tabletop players were huddled over the tactics of a small skirmish of armored neatly painted space marine figurines of undetermined fighting allegiance...fighting amongst a ruined urban environment.

Martha smiled a friendly greeting as two of the gamers looked up before making her way over to examine the latest comic arrivals.

Ah!

She smiled, again, and enjoyed the comfort of the flat terrain and the open space...here she felt unrestricted...able to hobble about with unhindered ease.

Her plan was to take a look at the scale model Star Destroyers but they could wait...

-1 Vitae for Blush of Life

[RebornSeas]

Despite the over all warmth of the evening and the early day, Pepper had a few layers on in the form of full khaki pants, zippered blazer, and tie. She would have taken the tie off earlier, but she'd ended up continuing work at home and nearly forgot that she wanted to add pre-orders of the new Thor and Captain America lines to her pull list. Mostly, because it was about damn time that a woman was found Worthy in the mainstream universe, and who didn't love Sam Wilson?

Even if she did think America Chavez getting taught how to be Captain America by Steve Rogers or - better yet, getting her own title - would be far cooler.

Still, it was a good thing the place was open late tonight for gaming, she'd be able to get this done and maybe hang out a little. Even if wargames had never been her thing.

[Daniella Sage]

A comic book store was probably the last place Kindred would expect to find the Keeper, but she had plans. And these plans required some research. Plus she found out online that Game of Thrones had graphic novels, and she wanted them. Throwing on a pair of jeans with a black tank top, she grabs a blazer to wear and heads out.

So there she was, at the comic store, feeling a little out of place. She begins to wander the store, pausing to watch with fascination at the people playing with miniatures. Her eyes linger on the colorful little pieces, then she smiles at the gamers.

-1 Vitae for Blush of Life

[Martha Villiers]

The door rattled and the voices at the gaming table hushed as soon after each other two very startling presences walked in.

Catching the mood of the store, Martha glanced over to see whom had caused the hush at the Space Marine table...

Blinking she saw Pepper first and was amazed by the sheer stylishness of the lady...then Daniella entered!

Smiling and almost giggling, Martha lay down the latest copy of "Detective Comics #27" and utterly amazed at the bland and pedestrian cover design, she picked up a copy of "Steed and Mrs Peel #1" instead, taking care not to crumple it, she hooked her cane over her arm and limped over to spy on what Pepper was about to examine.

Anyone exhibiting that level of easy external style, she reasoned, would likely lay a trail to some fascinating titles.

For the moment she let Daniella enter un-harassed and offered her a happy and respectful nod of greeting rather than interception...

[RebornSeas]

Pepper stepped up to the counter first, chatting with Ben quickly about adding some pre-orderes to her pull list. that done, she peeled away from the counter to look at the shelves - which was when shen noticed the tiny woman with a cane on her arm moving closer. Pepper took her time scanning the shelf, just to make sure the approach wasn't coincidence without making the other woman's travel distance longer.

No, definitely approaching Pepper. Huh. She flashed a quick glance-smile and greeted her. "Hello."

[Martha Villiers]

Martha actually skipped over to Pepper now, well, as far as her uncooperative C-Leg allowed anyway.

Beaming a happy smile, she nodded a greeting; "Hello!" she chirped. "Good evening! This may same awkward, Miss, as I...I dare say," she began, sounding very English indeed, "that you get many a compliment from random strangers on the brilliance of your personal style...if so, Miss, I just wished to be allowed to add to that, doubtlessly, long list!" her bright eyes watch Pepper with obvious excitement.

[Edwin Bridges]

There was some trepidation as Edwin stood in the glowing exterior of the comic book shop, gazing through the window at a world that was a different type of geek than he. Movies and music, that was his bag. Comics and...wargames? Definitely not. Still, after reading the Seneschal's latest declaration, Edwin knew he had to do some, er, research of his own. Superman equals Christopher Reeve? Check. Batman equals Michael Keaton? Check. Hel, Edwin even knew his villains. Gene Hackman would always be Lex Luger, or whatever his name was.

Actually, thinking about it, wasn't Lex Luger a wrestler? Most probably.

Forcing vitae through his dead body, causing his skin to radiate some fake semblance of life, Edwin took a deep breath, filling his fucked lungs with air. Pulling ope the door, the Lord still had the smile on his face as he entered a strange new wo...t the fuck? Was that Martha? And Daniella!?

Geeks!!?

Edwin's head span. Blinking a couple of times, he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his faded jeans, the leather jacket open to expose a Metallica t-shirt, he slowly tried to ignore the officials in the comic book store and stared at the latest comics for sale, wondering just why there was so much colour, and muscles, and tight spandex, covering a majority of them.

"What the Hel is a Nightwing?" he finally thought, aloud, catching a glimpse of issue 30. He had to admit, all that blood seemed to make him grin.

-1 Vitae: Blush of Life active

[Daniella Sage]

Realizing she was causing a distraction, she excuses herself and makes her way up to the counter.

After telling the guy she was looking for the Game of Thrones graphic novels, she was directed to their location. Offering her thanks, she makes her way over and picks up volumes one and two, the only ones they had. Volume three would have to wait.

It was then she noticed Martha talking with a young woman in a rather catchy outfit. She smiles and offers Martha a small wave, not wishing to interrupt her and her new friend at the moment. Plus there were still a few comic books she was looking for, research after all.

As her eyes drift over the various comics, she feels the pressing presence of a Beast. Eyes quickly scan the store and come to rest on Edwin. Suppressing her Beasts demand for blood and gore, she grabs a few comics that caught her eye and makes her way over.

Smiling, “Good evening Mr Bridges!” She says in a friendly and upbeat tone. “Finding anything good?”

[RebornSeas]

Pepper gave an amused and slightly pessimistic smile at the very English women's comment. "I suppose that depends on what you consider a genuine compliment and who you consider random strangers. I find, that those things combined tend to make for a far shorter list than people tend to think." Her smile straightened into something brighter and more pleased as she spoke, though, clearly rather delighted at the tiny woman's compliments.

"Besides, such rare strangers don't remain random or strangers for very long. I'm Pepper, and thank you...?" She wasn't sure what to call the blonde, and let her fill in the blank. Meanwhile, she shifted downwards to get a better look at one of the comics on a lower shelf, which also helped keep her from towering over the smaller woman.

But when she heard someone ask who Nightwing was she cringed and let out a slightly pained whine. How? She wanted so badly to fill the guy in, because dammit, the Bat family legacy was the best.

[Martha Villiers]

"Miss Pepper! What a delight to meet you!" she enthuses, "My name is Miss Martha Villiers. Please do call me Martha!" she added a bright and sincere smile. Clutching at her cane, she was about to steal a glance to Peppers shoes and legs while the opportunity allowed as Pepper moved to glance at the lower shelves when there was the Nightwing question.

She too glanced over to see what the fuss was. Smiling to herself as she saw Edwin begin trying to navigate this most specific of sub-cultures with all the skill of Professor Marcus Brody adrift in Cairo.

Luckily, the Au Pair was taking things in hand.

She'd have Edwin guided right and nodded her assurances to Dani.

"Are you a fan of a particular line of comics, Miss Pepper?" Martha asked with obvious interest and excitement.