sweetcandygirl | Nothing Better than New Years in the Amazon

"I was this close...." Harley puts her fingers about a couple inches apart. But who knows how actually close she had gotten.

Pamela uses her abilities on the fallen branch to command the wood to craft itself into two vambraces, taking the time to ensure that it would correctly hold (and hide) a dagger.

She holds out the created accessory to Amelia. "For you, dear."

The display of Red's abilities is as impressive as ever, but the end result being offered to her is surprising. Amelia gasps, her eyes widening with excitement, as she carefully reaches out to accept the gift.

"Really? For me?" She turns over the vambraces in her hands slowly, her fingers tracing over every detail. A bright smile pulls across her lips. "They're beautiful." And so pragmatic. There's truly little more she could want from anything she owns.

Eager to see them in their full glory, the rogue pulls the bracers on and quickly adjusts the straps to the proper fit. She stands and flexes her hands a few times, then pulls a few punches and practices a few cuts and parries to see how they feel. They're light enough to not slow her down and yet sturdy enough to protect her. Better yet, the daggers she pulls from her small clutch fit perfectly inside them. What she did to deserve such a gift is a mystery, but Amelia is very grateful.

"I don't have the proper words to thank you for these. I've rarely received anything so incredible as this." A quick count in her head puts the number at three, now four including the vambraces. "Truly, thank you. You're very generous to offer me something like this."

Since Pamela shaped them from wood, the bracers are sturdy enough that it should protect Amelia's wrists. But there is a flexibility to them too, so she can move quickly.

"I am glad you like them. Harley helped..." Pamela grins, as they were made from a limb that Harley accidentally had broke off the tree.

Amelia's gaze shifts to Harley as her smile brightens. "Of course. A little chaos was needed to bring these into existence."

The rogue steps over to Harley and pulls the woman into a tight hug. As always, it's a little difficult to let go but she manages by pressing a kiss to the other woman's cheek. When she releases Harley, the rogue turns to Red with a sheepish smile and lightly pink cheeks.

"Is it all right if I hug you, too? You deserve at least that much after all you've done for me."

"You are always welcome to hug me, dear." Pamela reassures Amelia.

"Do you have any New Year's traditions, Amelia?"

That's all the invitation the rogue needs. Smile brightening, Amelia steps over to Red and offers her a long, warm hug. It's always so strange to hug someone new, but close friends like this will always find a way to make her feel more comfortable with it.

The question earns a thoughtful 'hm' before she answers. "Not from my world, no. We celebrated the changing of seasons, but never the changing of the year. Anything important that needed to be handed from one authority to another always took place on the solstices - for summer or winter - and so the yearly change was more formality than anything." She shrugs, but smiles as she looks between her friends. "In the Nexus I celebrate with anyone who wants me around. I... don't always have someone, and that's all right. I'd much rather share a meal with someone in the days surrounding a holiday that means so much to them than force my way into a celebration they're having."

Pamela hugs Amelia back. And places a soft, gentle kiss to the other woman's temple before Amelia steps away from the hug.

"Oh. You should visit me for the Spring Solstice. All the plants go into bloom. It is a wonderful day for me."

The little kiss is a small touch Amelia appreciates. It doesn't stop the small flicker of unease that passes over her face at the mention of Spring, though the rogue does her best to cover it with a shy smile.

"That sounds a lot better than any plans I might have for the coming of Spring. The start of it will be the twentieth of March, right?" She knows the answer already, but she's trying very hard not to think about why. Distractions on or around her birthday are good, necessary. Staying here with Red for a few days would definitely be the right kind of distraction for her when this place is nothing like the place she grew up.

"That is correct. If you are free around that time, you are welcome to stop by." Pamela does not want to make it seem like Amelia has to come visit her.

"I would be happy to come spend time with you then," she assures Red. She hesitates a moment as she reaches up to pull her fingers through the strands of her hairpin. "I try to have plans around the start of Spring, to lose myself in things outside of myself. Spring begins early on the calendar this next year, but maybe I could... stay here for a few days around then? We could visit your hot springs, while we have enough time for a proper soak in them."

It could be a very different experience for her birthday than Amelia's used to, but that wouldn't be so bad. After all the years of trying new things to distract herself, and especially after the awful end to the Dawning party, a true break from everything would be nice.

"You are more than welcome to arrive and stay for a few days. I would like the company. Harley might come and go... but since she isn't one to make plans..." Pamela glances over at Harley.

"Hey! I am doing just fine in my goal to become the new Crime Boss, and take over the seat that was left by Joker." Harley grabbed some fruit, to start munching on it.

"And how much of a plan did you have to recruit gang members?"

"Pffft…. they get recruited, or taste the end of my bat. Problem solved." Harley sticks out her tongue.

"My point, love."

"I would be glad if Harley joined us at some point, but empires don't build themselves." Amelia winks at Harley as she takes a seat at the table again. She's grateful the worst of her bruises from her fight with Blaze are healed enough to not cause issues when she's moving around. Explaining them is low on her list of priorities right now.

"I'd be glad to help with recruitment for a day if it means I can convince you to come back here, too," she offers after a moment, looking over at Harley. "Though... I think I'd prefer a more physical job than recruitment. Would be a good chance to break in these," she raises a hand and flexes her wrist demonstratively, "and to keep busy. Research doesn't seem to be occupying my attention well enough these days."

"I have done some solid work. Started by recruiting some of the bigger guys, who were already trying for the head honcho spot. I fished in King Shark..." Harley chuckles at her own joke. "And of course, Doctor Psycho and Clayface are both allied with me."

"So is Red..."

"I only travel out of my comfort zone a few times a year," Pamela notes with a smile.

"It will only be a matter of time before I am the new Crime Lord. Lady. Queen of Crime."

"Empress of Criminals?" Amelia suggestions with a grin. "Why not take the highest title possible when you get to decide which one you have?" No need to dream small when ruling all is the goal.

Laughing softly to herself, the rogue takes a moment to remove her new vambraces and sets them aside next to her clutch on the table. "I'll help you reach the goal, if you'd like. You can be the face of it all and I'll happily work from the shadows. My best work's done in the dark corners of the world as it is."

Business acumen and charm get one far in life, but nothing beats the immediacy or catharsis of violence. Nothing beats either of those for keeping thoughts from wandering, either, and Amelia is more than ready to forget the worst of her recent memories.

"I like that. Empress of Criminals. I am pretty sure I could get Lucifer to anoint me too. What better way than to have the Devil himself to say that you are the Empress of Criminals."

Harley grins. "There are a lot of dark corners of my world. So plenty of you to play with."

"Lucifer seems like the type who would enjoy that. Maybe with some fanfare and a proper ceremony?" Alex would certainly be overjoyed at the idea making an outfit for Harley the empress (and proper attire for all of the angels who attend the ceremony, of course!).

That reassurance is appreciated. Amelia sighs with relief and sits back in her chair, wincing a little when she bumps one of the few remaining sensitive spots on her back. "Good. The Nexus lacks good dark corners these days. There's rarely any real physical challenge in any of them, or it's hidden behind a need to declare intent." She huffs a frustrated breath. "Worthy opponents seem to be in short supply, too, and they're disappointing when they let you win."

Amelia could kill Blaze again and still not be satisfied after that last fight. Winning isn't fun if your opponent doesn't even try to stop you.

"I could ask Alex to make me an Empress dress. With sparkles." Because she always asks for sparkles.

"Why would anyone be stupid enough to let another person win. Unless they are not confident in themselves in the first place."

Harley tilts her head, getting the impression that something has happened that she doesn't know about.

"You know he'd love to make you something beautiful," Amelia assures Harley. He always does and something this extravagant? Well, that will be even more fun for the tailor.

The rogue crosses her arms in front of her chest and sighs, decidedly not meeting Harley or Red's eyes. "When they didn't think it was a fight worth having. Or that I was misguided and needed to get my frustration with them out of my system. Or... something else." Another sighs as she shakes her head. "I don't know. But I took the win anyway I was not about to let someone get away with lying to me about something important. I don't care how powerful Guardians are - no one is allowed to treat me the way Blaze did."

"He always does." And this is why Harley loves Alex very much. In that he is the best tailor ever way.

"What happened?" Harley asks, softly.

"If you are not ready to tell us, it is okay not to say anything more." Pamela adds.

Harley nods. Hearing Blaze's name, she frowns slightly. "I have somewhat okay relationships with a few guardians. But I definitely don't get along with Blaze. I always feel she is judging me, and has no right to do so."

"She lied to me, and then wouldn't actually hit back when she allowed the fight that followed." That's enough of an explanation to cover the basics. If she's not being asked for the details, then she's going to avoid offering them. She's already spent too many hours crying and screaming about the unfairness of the whole situation.

The rogue exhales an angry huff of a breath and waves a hand dismissively. "I wasn't looking to beat her. I wanted to fight and she didn't even give me that. It was pathetic and unsatisfying. I need a real fight to clear my head."

Harley reaches over to take Amelia's hand gently. "Then she is not a worthy warrior. Best to know that you can't trust her."

"I am sure we can find you a real fight."

"Perhaps on the dawn of the New Year? There is a illegal poacher causing some difficulties on the river. If you wanted to get take care of him for me..." Pamela notes.

Any offer of violence is one Amelia's going to take right now. Her eyes shift over to Red as she takes in the woman's words. "How difficult? Enough to be worth my time, or would he be better left to Charlie?"

She's not trying to be rude, but it's hard to bite her tongue when her anger has been brought back into the light.

"In addition to being a illegal poacher... he is a log jammer. He has access to deforestation poisons that have destroyed many of my trees. And he does not work alone. They never do." Pamela explains. "I would be risking Charlie's well being if I tried to send him to the camp."

"They are outfitted with some large ammunition crates too. I guess word of me protecting this jungle has reached them. They came prepared to deal with me and my abilities."

A full camp of poachers and loggers in need of extermination. Amelia's always eager for this sort of engagement. Being outnumbered has never bothered her in the least.

"Then they'll hardly be ready for someone like me in the middle of the night." The rogue grins at Red before turning her attention to Harley. "Did you want in on this one? The fight will be more fair for them with two of us."

"I love working together with you. But sweetheart, we would stack the odds in our favor." Harley grins.

"And I ain't about the whole sneaky sneaky."

"I think you could take this moment to shine and get rid of a dark corner of Pamela's jungle."

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