DAHLING! (Mun has wanted to try this for awhile)

[fashionsbye]

It's been TOO long!

We MUST catch up, have you been working out? Your suit looks a bit loose in the waist! Oh but those clothes are so LAST SEASON! I've got JUST the new thing to blow them all away.

Come darling, I SHOW you what I have made!

[Edna picks up a remote control from the table, a bookcase slides away to reveal a Plexiglas window looking into a small white room. A simple white mannequin stands there with a brushed steel metal belt around its waist. The buckle has the letters "DM" on them.]

Here we have a fully adjustable belt. It’s stylish, matches well with any outfit. But secretly...

[She presses another button and from the spaces between the metal links an array of black orbs about an inch in diameter quickly shoot out and explode in a 360 degree ring of fire some five feet from the mannequin]

HA! Tell me THAT won't blow them away, do you see darling?

Comments

I have a feeling these two meeting is a terrible idea

[jokester_not_joker]

I like your style! You would give my tailor a run for his money.

I'm still pretty fond of my titanium belt buckle though.

[To demonstrated he would pull on his back which would send the spring-loaded belt buckle flying forward at what would be groin height on another target.]

[badatmyjob]

[Lukas claps his hands together, grinning widely. As best he can with his scarred-up face, anyway.]

Ooh! That's so cool! What else can you make?

Re: I have a feeling these two meeting is a terrible idea

[fashionsbye]

[Edna's face falls upon seeing the Jokester]

I see,...

Well, I think your "tailor" [Edna makes finger quotes] ran off WITH your money, darling.

[Edna raises a single finger and pushes on the belt buckle until it clicks back into the "set" position, at her stature, Edna is about eye-height with the buckle]

Personally I'd say you were cheated, but then again maybe you WANTED to look like you just came from a rummage sale maybe?

[fashionsbye]

Cool?

Darling this is ARTISTRY! It cannot be summed up as merely COOL!

[She tosses the remote back onto the table]

And I make only the best in designs, both to be fashionable and practical for those selfless people who seek to make the world a better place.

[She puts a hand to her chin and looks Lukas over]

And who might YOU be then, Darling?

[red_star]

[Red Star just stares briefly because wow. He....knows enough about explosions that he doesn't see much value in such a belt. But it's still impressive.]

Is...very interesting.

[So says the young man dressed very obviously in military clothing from Russia.]

[jokester_not_joker]

[He laughs at that.]

Well I'm supposed to look like a clown so I think he fit the theme alright.

[Edna's demeanor didn't really bother him. He has heard worse.]

[fashionsbye]

Well, you've succeeded in that respect, yes.

[Edna lets out a sigh and then reaches out to feel at the edge of the Jokester's jacket]

Honestly your theme needs work, darling.

[She then snaps her hand away and walks over to the table to shuffle some papers together. She doesn't look up from her task as she tidys up.]

So, what is your name Darling? Oh, and what do you... do, exactly?

[jokester_not_joker]

[Despite the garish color the suit itself is made out of very good material. Strong, durable yet comfortable to wear.]

You can call me Jokester. I guess you would call me a hero. I make life hellish for the villains of my world. Especially Owlman. Now if there's a theme you should be questioning it's his.

[fashionsbye]

Ah... I can see you have an eye for these things? Admittedly it's not practical for most supers, but I always like to tinker so I might see how creative people can be, yes? A good super is gifted, but a GREAT one can make use of ANYTHING.

[Edna laughs and looks Red Star over a bit]

Oh, and who are you wearing, dear? I know most don't like to name their designer, but I sense a hint of one of my friends from Omsk, hm?

[fashionsbye]

[Edna looks up from her papers]

You GUESS you'd be a hero? Well, Jokester, the world hasn't much room for doubt. And making life hellish for villains? Well, for you that's good, but how well does it stop their plans?

[She opens a drawer and pulls out a large pad of paper and and pencil, scribbling down notes in between glances towards [Jokester]

[red_star]

[He looks confused, and then holds his arms out to look at his uniform.]

I am a soldier. This is standard uniform. I do not know anyone in Omsk.

[jokester_not_joker]

Well I didn't exactly start out with the noblest of purposes. It was revenge mostly. It wasn't until later I didn't do it just for that. I do stop their plans and protect people.

[He has no idea why he's telling Edna all this, but it doesn't seem to be a problem.]

[fashionsbye]

[Edna's eyes narrow a little and she speaks rapidly]

And so soldiers in your army go about in deep lime green double-breasted coats painted with bright red stars which might as well be a bulls-eye?

[Edna lets those words hang for a moment before saying]

I'm sure people are just JUMPING to enlist.

[fashionsbye]

We ALL have our reasons, darling.

[She scribbles a little more on the pad]

So, have you any powers, besides that belt which shows lack of taste both of the creator AND the wearer?

[red_star]

Iiiit.....is special unit.

[He looks self-conscious about the glaring red star on his chest now. Thank you Edna. He was so proud of it too until a moment ago.]

I was most fortunate to be chosen.

[jokester_not_joker]

No powers. Just a budget and luck that the super-powered villains haven't kept a hold of me long enough to hurt me entirely.

[He peers over trying to have a look at what she's scribbling down.]

I've got my hammer, my squirting flower fitted with acid for my more durable opponents, my punching glove gun and pretty much anything else I can cook up.

[fashionsbye]

Ah a SPECIAL unit, now that sounds more like it, Darling.

And fortune favors the bold, yes?

[Edna flashes a wide grin and she lats out a small laugh]

Still, I joke, I joke, yes? What's your name?

[fashionsbye]

[Edna pulls the pad back to prevent peeking as he leans in]

No powers? Well that can make things hard for you. Then again I'm unsure quite where you hail from. For all I know there aren't any with powers back home?

And you make your own devices? Well, that explains the belt at least.

[She chews on the eraser of her pencil in thought for a moment]

[jokester_not_joker]

There are powers. Ultraman and his family in particular have tried to kill me enough times. There are plenty of others in the Crime Society though.

[He'll look away since it's obvious she doesn't want him to see whatever she was writing down.]

I design my own devices. What's wrong with the belt? It's funny. Pretty effective on Owlsie too.

[Jokester laughs to himself.]

[red_star]

[He smiles shyly when she laughs. He tries to be friendly but is still so very self-conscious.]

I am...Red Star.

[Still a bit uncertain though, because he realizes it is less than original, but he had to pick something after his exile.]

[fashionsbye]

[Edna speaks with the first words that sound like honest respect]

Well, then you're brave, I'll give you that.

[She goes back to scribbling.]

As for what's WRONG with the belt is that it lacks poise, it lacks GRACE! It is something a 12 year old might find funny, yes?

[She finally shows the notepad, revealing a very rough image of an outfit, it gives the impression that it would be made of spandex or some other tight fitting material. The lines and a few labels show the coloring; green for the back and bottoms with lines running vertically along the chest giving the idea of a suit coat. The rest of the chest is purple save for the neck which is orange. An orange utility belt and matching cuffs are indicated. The boots are brown with rounded toes to give a slightly clownish look. A yellow circle with a smiley face is on the border between the green and purple, right over the heart on the left side as an insignia.]

Now THIS, ehhh, maybe with some work, is what a superhero should be!

[fashionsbye]

[Edna nods.]

Red Star! Makes sense, yes?

[She puts out her hand to offer a handshake.]

Edna Mode, but my friends call me "E".

[red_star]

I think it makes sense, yes.

[His smile brightens and then he takes her hand gently, giving a warm handshake.]

E. It is nice to make new friends.

[fashionsbye]

Yes, always!

[She pulls her hand away after a good shake.]

So, Red Star, what sort of missions has your special unit been sent on, hm? Or is that classified?

[jokester_not_joker]

[He was surprised to hear that bit of respect from her, but didn't comment on it.]

Aim for the cheap seats and you always get a laugh. Started out my career as a comedian making fun of Owlman. Gave chance for people to laugh at Gotham's biggest bully for a night. The problem with that being Owlsie just couldn't take a joke.

[He would leave the rest up to her imagination unless she asked. For now he would look at that design.]

Wow that's pretty good for a first draft. Never really considered spandex as a material of choice.

[He has some sentimental value to his own suit, but maybe trying something new was a good thing.]

I would make some changes, but we can talk those over if we're ever in the same world together. I guess a good idea to focus on though is I work off the element of surprise. I don't have any powers or professional martial arts training. I'm just a scrappy fighter with a few good tricks up his sleeve.