Thread: Empire - City of Lost Cause (Black_Out and meomeo)

Vallie awoke groggily, as if from a long deep slumber. For a moment she has no sense of space or time. For all she knew - judging from the warm mattress and clean linens - she could be snug in the comforts of her own bed. She could have been fooled to believe she was waking up to a normal morning, back in her unremarkable life as a young gym trainer... But the moment went by in a flash. The color of the ceiling and lights weren't quite as she remembered. And instead of her usual alarm, there was a slow, rhythmic beeping close by. This wasn't her room, far from it. Of course, after what happened this morning... Vallie sat up and took in her surroundings. She sat in a hospital bed, alone in a large, tidy, sparsely furnished room. The blinds were pulled up allowing city lights to illuminate the room with a dreamy glow. The sky was dark outside, the hands of wall-mounted clock told her it was ten minutes past seven. Was I out the whole afternoon? She looked down and found herself wearing a powder blue hospital gown . A tube fed an IV drip to the nook of her elbow wires connected her fingertips to a bedside device - the thing emitting those beeps. In one move Vallie ripped those wires off her arm and swung her feet off the bed. No pain, she felt fine - in fact, Vallie felt more than fine. Just to be sure, Vallie walked over to a floor length mirror on the far wall and pulled up her gown. She gawked at her naked reflection. Somehow, there wasn't a single cut or bruise, no trace remained of the morning's battle. She gingerly touched her sternum, bringing up a painful flashback to Vagabond's scarf hitting her right between her breasts, almost killing her. But that pain was purely inside her head. Her fingers touched soft unblemished skin, not feeling even a hint of a scar. In fact, the only difference her eyes could see was her body looking even firmer and toned. She could be imagining things but was she also... bustier? Does touching the hammer after all these years do... that ? You're finally awake! Ooooh my god sorry I didn't realize you were... naked... well nevermind nothing I haven't seen before. So good to see you back on your feet... and looking great. Just on time too. Listen... Vallie yelped and quickly pull her gown back down. She was so deep inside her reverie she hadn't heard the door open. She turned her head and found the thin, attractive brunette, recognizing it as the same face she saw just before she passed out. Oh right you don't know who I am. Allison Weaver. Big fan. It took less than ten minutes for Allison's news crew to makeover the hospital room. Whatever empty space there was now stood cameras, boom mics, and get well soon cards and flowers. The men bustled about, uncurling wires and tuning the lighting. No one seemed to be paying attention to the 'star' and her needs. Listen... I need to find my hammer. Vallie was speaking to Allison, who had her eyes closed as a make-up woman worked on her face. And, thank you for saving my life this morning, but I'm not going on TV. I'm getting my hammer and going home. You were there and saw what happened. I was no hero. If anything I only threw my body in the way until the police scared the guy off. I barely got out alive... Your Hammer... is it not here? We should get that in the shot! Let me think... you were holding it on the ambulance I am pretty sure, then you were wheeled into ER, they didn't let me go inside. But yeah you I saw you with it before you went in ER. But you didn't need to stay long because you were, well, superpowers and stuff. SANDY CAN YOU RUN DOWNSTAIRS AND LOOK FOR THE HAMMER? WHAT D'YA MEAN WHAT HAMMER... HER HAMMER! And you're being too modest. You DID thwart Vagabond, didn't you? You are blowing up on social media! OH NOT TOO MUCH BLUSH, MY CHEEKS ARE NATURALLY ROSY. Don't worry about the interview. Just a couple soft questions. Where are you from. Who's your favorite hero growing up. Who do you see playing yourself in the movie adaptation. That sort of stuff. A little... demonstration... maybe. Only if you are up for it of course. Wait where's your costume? SANDY YOU STILL THERE? Vallie grew more irritated by the second. This woman clearly was so used to attention, and people probably most of them guys hanging on her every word, she hadn't learned to stop talking. Add to the fact that her lips work much faster than her brain - and that screechy teenage girl's voice - Allison Weaver sound downright insufferable. Can't she see... all she's doing is paint a giant bullseye on my back?