Day 164

[jlf_huntress]

Or was it 163?

Lost my last journal yesterday when I almost dumped myself off the bike taking the corner too sharply at Whittier and Soto. I hung on through the turn, and eventually caught up with the gunrunners I was chasing, so the night wasn't a total loss. But the journal, my spare crossbow, and everything else from the saddlebag was long gone by the time I made it back.

And there's a big ugly scratch down the bike's side panel. Fan-freakin'-tastic.

I thought at least with a digital journal, there's less chance I'll accidentally drop it in a downtown Gotham gutter.

Comments

[jlf_redhood]

I'll keep an eye out for it, though I have to say, if it ends up in the parts of Gotham I hang out in, all of the secrets in it probably won't be secret anymore. Some of the people around here tend not to respect boundaries like that.

[jlf_huntress]

Thanks. I used initials and shorthand, so I'm not too worried about accidentally outing anyone's secret identity to any proto-villains out there. But still. It was mine, and some of the things in it are pretty personal. And it was a gift from a friend.

[jlf_flash]

You say stuff like that and then the whole internet is going to disappear in a Gotham gutter and we'll all be in trouble.

Looking back I guess that was funnier in my head, but too late now. I'm committed. Uh. Sorry about your stuff?

[jlf_huntress]

From the gutters I've seen, there's be room for most of the internet down there.

Thanks, though. At least most of it's replaceable. But it's gonna take me forever to fix that damage to the bike.

[jlf_flash]

Better the crossbow than you and all that, right? Even if replacing stuff gets pricy. We should get tax breaks.

What kind of bike you got? And for the record I totally know that by bike you don't mean a sweet Schwinn with a little basket and stuff. Unless you do ... which ... I guess would be cool too. Maybe clip some cards to the spokes. Very intimidating.

[jlf_huntress]

That would be nice. If body armor and weapons were tax deductible, I might actually have more than $17 in my bank account right now.

It's a Yamaha FZ-09. Great maneuverability, three-cylinder engine, and the purple accent was definitely a bonus: http://images.cyclenews.com/PhotoGalleries/FZ09_1.jpg

A girl can never have too many matching accessories.

[jlf_flash]

Oh man, that's amazing. I'm kinda jealous. I mean, I like eating and ... you know, maintaining at least an average quality of life and stuff, but that bike is kinda worth only having $17.

[jlf_huntress]

It definitely eats up a lot of time and money. My coworkers talk about taking trips during holidays, about going to Europe or visiting out-of-state family members. I think, maybe I'll have time for an extra patrol, a nap, and a chance to take the bike in for a tune-up. I'm pretty sure the guys at my local shop think I'm in some kind of all-lady biker gang.

[jlf_powergirl]

You want me to have a look? I can give the city a scan- if you can give me a sample of your handwriting or something to match it to....

[jlf_powergirl]

I can probably help with the bike damage too. We've got some stuff at Starrware we're working on that start's off as a 2-part epoxy putty but molecularly bonds with and texturally replicates whatever you adhere it to- a pair of skilled enough hands should be able to shape it into whatever you need it to replace without having to special order any parts.

Heck, just bring the bike in to Starrware and I'll see what R&D can do for you. We don't make any weaponry so I can't help you with the crossbow, but you might be able to talk some techs into parting with some raw materials or something.

[jlf_huntress]

That would be great! I can look after some of the bike's regular maintenance, but I'm no mechanic. She could use a little TLC after all I put her through.

You sure they wouldn't mind? I wouldn't want to take advantage.

[jlf_powergirl]

Pffft, I'm the CEO. And the techies are just dying for someone who can road-test this stuff without the complications that come with selling this stuff to civilians.
You'd be surprised how much red tape it actually cuts to give this kind of thing to vigilantes who willingly put their lives on the line on a daily basis before it hits the market. Just, you know. Sign a couple waivers on your way out, and maybe a couple surveys when you get back after your first few nights patrol using the stuff?

And we do have some labs ready for field trip tours if you have any science classes. We've even moved the cat out of my office and into my apartment, so there won't be any... you know. Liabilities there.

[jlf_question]

Ahem.

[jlf_huntress]

I can explain.

[jlf_question]

That was supposed to be a gift for someone. A gift with all of its keystrokes uploaded to my personal computer.

Incidentally: Catman? Really?

[jlf_huntress]

There were bad guys! Okay, I probably should have left it at home, but if I could always plan for fights before leaving the house, my life would be a lot less interesting.

Hey now. Thomas is, well. He has a lot of potential. And he's very pretty.

[jlf_question]

Right. The gunrunners. I wanted to tell you about that.

Your bag's at the safehouse. The one on Levitz Avenue. I'm afraid the journal is trash, though. Couldn't make out a word.

And I'm sure Batman says the same of... oh. Oh, my. You're trying to be Batman again, aren't you? You've got your own cat and everything. That's adorable.

[jlf_huntress]

Thanks for that. I'll swing by tomorrow night.

That might be the meanest thing you've ever said to me. Am I running around growling, "This is MY town"? Have I suddenly acquired a horde of underage sidekicks? Doubtful.

I refuse to feel bad for occasionally being led astray by a cocky grin and a fantastic shoulder-to-waist ratio. We all have our weaknesses.

[jlf_question]

Three words: No Man's Land.

Okay. Now we're even. Enjoy the new journal. I even promise to turn off the keystroke tracking. As for the GPS... all the chases he's been in, your new boyfriend probably knows how to disable those.

Okay, NOW I'm done.

[jlf_huntress]

He's not my boyfriend, Vic, what are we, thirteen? He's a man whom I occasionally allow to buy me dinner. He knows it can't be anything serious until he stops running around with guys like Lawton and Bane.

Track away. Just be sure to knock first if you show up unexpectedly. When Thomas stays over, he likes to make me breakfast in the morning. Naked.

Did I mention the sex is fantastic?

Okay, now I'M done.

[jlf_question]

Oh boy.

You two deserve each other. You are evil.