JLA Watchtower (Archive)

Her disguise is easy. She just had to contact Todd, the bartender where she used to work, to get her hands on it: a showgirl costume. She's trusted him with more than just her location in the past. He'll keep his mouth shut.

For as little material that is involved in these costumes, it really does take a bit of time and effort to get into. There's the slight fishnetted, neutral toned body nylon, the decorated bikini and all of the bangles and bobbles that hang from it...all of which has to be placed carefully so as not to snag the bodysuit. Then the heels and headdress, which conveniently hides her oh so obvious hair.

It has literally taken well over an hour to just get to this point and she's still putting the finishing touches on her makeup.

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Oracle's prep work is a little less cosmetic, but she murmurs quietly in Bea's ear. "Should be ready by the time you hit the casino."

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"Acknowledged." Her murmur as she cleans up the line of her lipstick with the nail of her pinky.

Then she stands back to take in her image in the full length mirror, twisting this way and that to make sure everything is in line. Nice to know that the communicator in the headpiece is functioning correctly, however.

"I'm playing the smiling good luck charm. Direct me where you need me."

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"I'd recommend you start at the slots near the door of the casino. Jackpots there are statistically more likely as they attract more attention. I've got the Canary ready to go at the next row of slots once you've hooked in some fish."

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"Slots. Gotcha. Keep in touch."

With that and a smile, she struts (there is no other words for how she walks in this costume) up to Cris and begins brushing off imaginary bits of dust from his shoulders.

"Mommy's gonna go to work now. You stay here and behave. If you're a good little boy, maybe I'll bring you home a treat."

Grin.

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He grins and tilts his head to the side.

"I know what treat I hope you'll bring. But behaving isn't in the game plan green hair." He put the transmitter in his ear, turned her around and sent her on her way with a pat on her backside.

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She grins over her shoulder on her way out.

"Depends on your definition of the word 'behave'."

She winks then slips out to make for the casino floor.

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The Black Canary, her hair now dark instead of blonde, and using a moderately good ID stating that her name is Erica Ward, is initially losing money at a circus-themed nickel slot when Fire enters the casino.

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He's just a voice in her ear.

"Your showgirl is at 2 o'clock."

So he's bored being left behind to watch on the cameras, sue him for pointing out the obvious.

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She places a 16-line bet. "Grandmother," she murmurs. She pushes the button and watches the display of animated clowns and elephants and lions and ringmasters spinning past. "Suck." She wins 5 dollars and sets up a new bet. "Eggs."

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She almost missed spotting Canary at the slots for her hair. She had to change her direction, looking as if she had forgotten where she was going to go. Fortunately, this disguise doesn't call for anything more than looking pretty. It's almost expected for her noggin to be empty.

She's all smiles and flirt for the customers in the row she choses, her hand touching an elderly shoulder here, a smile and a wink there. Occassionally, when a certain, more youthful customer admires her charms, she'll lean over to place a lipstick stained kiss on the cheek with a cheery, "For luck!". She ignores the glares she gets from the "blessed" one's female ball and chain.

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Helena makes her own entrance about forty minutes later, wearing a simple but elegant blood red Versaci dress that hugs her curves in all the right places. No nickle and dime slots for her. She gets to start out at the blackjack tables. She starts out with a moderate amount of chips in varying denominations, and slides into an empty seat, making sure to make eye contact with the other patrons.

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The dealer is professional and keeps things moving without being too distracted by Helena's dress. There's one other player that manages to sidle a little closer when she sits down and gets dealt in.

"Come here often?"

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Internally, she's rolling her eyes already. This must be a record. She leans forward, resting her bare arms on the table as she turns her head to look at him, allowing her dark hair to fall partially over her face. Men are easily manipulated when they see a pretty face. It's simultaneously repulsive and advantageous. "My first time, actually," she replies, offering a coy smile. "Would you mind showing me the ropes?"

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"Well we can't leave a lovely lady like you all alone here on her first time." With a grin he gestures to a waitress who brings drinks.

Pretty much all he's seeing is the face and cleavage in the red dress.

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If this were any other day, you'd be thanking me for leaving your balls intact. A wine glass can hide a multitude of mental sins. "It's always reassuring to make a friend with someone who has ... experience."

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She's used to voices in her ear, just it's usually one of the girls.

"Good catch, he's one of the players that can go into the really high stakes rooms that are invite only."

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He visibly puffs up under the imagined praise.

"Stick with me dear and we'll have you acquainted with the town in no time."

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She leans a little closer. She doesn't need to hide this smile. "Oh, believe me ... I plan on it."

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"Then tonight is your night." He puts an arm around her shoulders if she doesn't move away.

"What is it you have always wanted to see in Vegas? I can guarantee you I can find it for you."

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She'll be taking a long shower after this is over. "The same thing everyone comes here for, of course. A little luck, and a lot of money."

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He flashes her a smile when she answers. Like most overly confident men he's oblivious to the real feelings she has towards him.

"I've got just the thing. A little later there's a private game, Texas hold-em, you can be my guest."

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Oh, now this is promising. Even if she can practically feel the slime oozing off him. "Sounds like just my scene. What are the stakes?" Another small sip of wine while the cards are being dealt.

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"This round is a two thousand dollar buy in." He's steering her with his arm around her waist.

"You can be my lucky charm."

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She toys with the chips in her hand in a deliberately coy maneuver. Ugh. O doesn't pay me enough to deal with these creeps. "As long as you can be mine," she replies. Definitely don't get paid enough.

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The casino's normal level of chatter is interrupted by the wailing siren and flashing lights of a jackpot winner, an elderly chainsmoking man still bearing Bea's lipstick on his cheek. Low-res fireworks fountain and fall on the slot machine screen as the LED sign hanging from the ceiling proclaims the winner:

WE HAVE A WINNER ... $6,000 ... WE HAVE A WINNER ... $6,000 ...

Loud cheers and applause from his fellow senior citizens as he presses the CASH OUT button and takes his slip of paper to the nearest cashier's cage.

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And as soon as he's off to cash out the others swarm the machines next to his hoping for their own payout.

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They don't have to wait for long. Seconds later the sirens and lights go off again.

WE HAVE A WINNER ... $7,060 ... WE HAVE A WINNER ... $7,060 ... WE HAVE A WINNER ... $8,579 ... WE HAVE A WINNER ... $8,579 ... WE HAVE A WINNER ... $9,381 ... WE HAVE A WINNER ... $9,381 ...

As the jubilant players take their slips to the now-worried cashiers, management places a call to the Nevada Gaming Commission, and the first bank of slot machines is taken out of play to await official inspection.

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The good luck charm, meanwhile, had hugged and kissed the winners, men and women, then sauntered off into the casino proper. With all of the hubbub from the winnings, it'd be difficult for anyone to say she wasn't speaking to someone in specific as her lips move around her smile.

"You're getting soft, Oracle. Honestly! You didn't believe that old lady's sick cats story, did you?"

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"That's irrelevant," says Oracle. "Wait 7 seconds and see what I do with the keno boards."

This casino, like so many others in Vegas, has wall monitors displaying the winning numbers for keno every few yards. Seven seconds later, Fire hears more cheering as the latest set of numbers is displayed. "Did you know," Oracle says conversationally, "that the average Vegas casino gets a 30% return on their keno games? That's compared to around 5% for their other games."

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She smiles vapidly, bouncing and clapping her hands, conveniently right in front of one of the security cameras she knows they've tapped into. Can't have Cris being too bored now can we?

"Damned thieves! Maybe you should change your name to 'Karma'."

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"Nice green hair, but go bounce in a different direction your old friend you put in jail will be coming your way in a couple of minutes."

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"Well...we can't have that. He might detain me from bringing you that treat."

Fortunately, the giggle is completely in character and she struts towards another set of slots machines away from her "ole friend"...like the other side of the casino.

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"Erica Ward" has won a modest amount of money at the slot machines, but Lady Luck seems to be smiling on this row ... and the sirens go off again.

Officials from the Nevada Gaming Commission have arrived and are inspecting the first bank of machines, whlie the casino staff is trying to hold off the players who are clamoring to return to their "hot" machines.

A second row is roped off ... while another round of lights and sirens go off at the opposite end of the casino.

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"Well...looks like we're getting attention, anyway."

She smiles and hugs another exuberant winner who lingers maybe a little longer in the excited embrace, then she moves off to the side ostensibly for a breather.

"We may not be able to keep this up for too long with the authorities here. Now what?"

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"You can always complain someone got a little too grab-ass with the lucky charm," suggests Oracle. "That'll give you an easy exit."

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"Right. Time to go, then."

She lifts off of the railing she was leaning against and puts an angry sway into her hips as she strides right up to a harried looking casino employee. She interrupts him with a finger poked against his chest.

"Look! I don't mind the jokes! I don't mind the constant suggestions! I don't even mind the offers, because sometimes the person offering is kinda cute, but I draw the line on these...these...WINNING PEOPLE...things...grabbing my ass and tits everytime one of those flashy lights go off! I haven't finished paying for them yet! I QUIT!"

She huffs herself around on a stiletto and storms off for an exit.

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