All of the Lights (Neon)

So many of them on full display. All of them illuminating from a giant orb hanging from the middle of the room. It slowly turned with a marked revolution sending blots of amethyst, opal, turquoise, and emerald across the benches set up surrounding the catwalk. A heavy throbbing beat echoed through the room, beating to the steps each model took down the walkway.

Bliss kept her hands over her ears to keep her migraines from punching her in the brain. Hiding away back stage, Bliss used her nose to push in the last function for her code. And, then the music died. "Finally." Extending her arms out to the keyboard, Bliss rested back in her chair, clad in her sailor outfit with a black skirt and pink leotard with black boots. The loss of power to the auditorium did not blacken the area as much as Bliss first assumed. "Well, that's odd in a suspicion confirming way."

Tucked away in a technical support room, Bliss could look out an elevated window to view the annoyed confusion in the event center. All eyes looked up to the giant orb as it continued to shine upon the room in opulent brilliance.

While the room continued to gawk in coy amazement, a Korean girl in a bright pink skirt with a white leotard stepped onto the catwalk, shining all by herself.

Japan… Hikari didn’t remember this country one bit, haven left her birthplace of Kyoto when she was only 3 just after her mother passed away. Her father told her the move would be the new start their family needed after her mother’s death. But going from the daughter of the head physicist of a high-tech particle accelerator to living upstairs from her father’s dirty restaurant in the middle of a crime filled neighbourhood, was not exactly the new start Hikari had in mind. She wondered how her life would have turned out if she stayed in Kyoto.

The streets of Tokyo were like New York, if New York had no birth control. The amount of times Hikari slammed into another pedestrian because they weren’t looking or because the streets had no extra room for her to exist in was staggering. And she’s not even going to comment on the shit-show that is the public transportation. A guy’s job there is to literally push people into the subway because it’s overcrowded! Japan was definitely strange to her but she did find it convenient not to have to carry around her Visa, being a born citizen and all.

Hikari was supposed to take her flight to Kyoto, because she was supposed to be visiting her Uncle for the week. Him being the only family she had left in this world. But, she wanted to see the sights of Tokyo first. Kyoto is only a forty-five minute run from Tokyo anyway, at least for her. She wanted to see if all the myths about this city were true. Which some were, like the grossly overcrowded subways, but some were a bit farfetched, like the classic used panties vending machine.

A few hours of exploration and Hikari discovered a sort of theatre building that was holding a fashion show. Hot chicks strutting around in nice outfits? Why not? She’d think to herself as she made her way into the building. She didn’t pay for entry of course, having grown up in a bad part of New York she picked up on a few tricks. Once inside, the tourist would plop her butt down in a chair and enjoy the show.

The secondary light source pulled Bliss' attention out from her booth and to the catwalk. The girl with the glow did not garner as much attention as the outfit she wore. "That's not one of Mitsuko's models." A frown fell on Bliss' face. "I need to find Mitsuko it seems. And I probably need a distraction." Something was going to blow up.

Camille Park stepped down the runway with an otherworldly grace. Her finesse and physique fell without flaw under the low glow of the massive orb hanging from the ceiling. Her heel struck the edge of the catwalk, prompting Camille to strike her hip before pivoting a turn. Her steps back fell in step like a metronome keeping the eyes of the audience on step.

Then, she stepped past the barrier blocking the audience's view from the backstage area. She gently patted the head of the young model and stage manager she left duct taped back to back before slamming them into a closet.

Bliss made her way to the side of the auditorium under cloak of darkness, finding an outlet with a direct link to the lights. After creating a set of power armor, rewiring the circuitry in an event center would be perfectly easy. It felt as though the power should be past the point of shutting off, but the orb still illuminated. Ice would begin to form around the orb, changing the color spectrum to a more vibrant scheme. While the attention of the crowd maintained on the orb, Bliss would try to sneak on the catwalk and make her way backstage.

Hikari’s eyes light up as she saw the models walking the catwalk, grinning and letting out amused “Woooh!” sounds when the beautiful models strutted around in their outfits. The things they wore would never be the style Hikari enjoyed, but the models were hot so it didn’t really matter to her. Not like she could afford any of these outfits anyway. So she just cheered and clapped for the models as they passed, getting what she came for in the way of seeing nice looking women.

The last model was different, the lights shut out instead of one huge orb on the ceiling. The woman who strutted out from backstage was just gorgeous, nearly flawless. Hikari couldn’t get her eyes off her form, and her outfit was dazzling as well. Her interest was piqued even greater as the model turned around and smacked herself like a stripper, which yes Neon has seen a few. But even sexy women couldn’t stop Hikari’s battle instincts as her attention suddenly darted to a shadowy silhouette sneak onto the catwalk behind the model and make her way backstage. This spelled trouble to the Speedster. Her attention left the model entirely as she began to push through the crowd whose eyes were on the model, frustrating a few of them on her way towards the base of the catwalk.

The colorful display bouncing around the room made Bliss getting past the DJ booth easy enough. It would have gone more smoothly if Bliss held herself above stealing the DJ's computer, but Bliss did herself a favor by removing the source of her annoyance. But, easy enough, Bliss no longer needed to suffer through an endless stream of down beats and missed loops. "I'll make sure to take good care of-" Bliss slammed the laptop down. "Oops."

Bliss passed by the closet prison without a second thought, heading instead to the oddly empty backstage dressing room. Make up brushes still with small traces of blush hung precariously on the make up table. Still no one around to attend to the goods. "I made the lights go off. I don't recall ever making the talent disappear."

A breeze picked up from the backstage, whisking through Bliss' hair. "Is there a fan back here?"

No fan around the vicinity. But, the step of heels continued to sound around the area. "Is someone there? Anyone?"

First the shadowy figure sneaking backstage, and now the DJ was cut off?  This was clearly not part of the show, as Hikari could see the DJ flipping out about the loss of his beats.  Something was definitely wrong, and Hikari needed to figure it out.  If she was home Hikari would have rushed back to her place and slipped into her suit before rushing back to investigate.  But she was two whole continents away from home, and she wasn’t even going to begin to try and sneak a working vigilante costume past airport security.  No, she was on her own this time.

Hikari quickly rolled onto the back of the catwalk and sneak back stage, managing to not be seen during the commotion in the audience.  The girl currently dressed in a white tank-top with a dark blue denim coat, tight black leggings, black running shoes with purple trim, and a plain white baseball cap began to sneak around backstage, ducking behind corners and such as to not be seen.  She couldn’t use her powers as the bright purple lights would just call attention to her.

Continuing on, Hikari made her way to what looked like the model outfitting area where all the outfits and makeup was applied.  Though Hikari quickly, and very quietly, ducked down behind the rack of fancy clothing when she saw another woman in the room.  The woman’s figure matched that of the silhouette she was following and was questioning what this cool breeze that was filling the room was from.  She’d also question if anyone was near, which Hikari hopped wasn’t directed at her.  But she also heard the sound of heels backstage.

Damn… more people.. And I’m stuck sneaking around back here with no disguise… Hikari thought to herself before widening her eyes, ...This could work…?  She slowly and quietly pulled a black shawl off of the clothes rack and began wrapping it around her head and face, leaving only her eyes visible.  Not the perfect disguise, but it’ll have to do.

"I am going to find that fan. Then, I'm going to know I'm not crazy." Bliss pushed through a clothes rack filled with scarves, shawls, and sarees to come face to face with a blank wall. Mocked by its emptiness, Bliss punched it. The wall won. Holding her hand kept the black and blue knuckles out of sight, but the throbbing pulsed the mistake to her brain.

Layers of cloth parted with the wake of Bliss leaving behind a wrath of wrinkles. The brushing of clothes all stopped as she exited- until it did not. A brush from a shawl smacked Bliss in the face, prompting Bliss to look square into the eyes of the only other woman backstage. "You can't even bring your own costume to a heist? You have to steal that too?!"

Ice would form around Hikari's feet. "I guess being new at this left you with some coldfeet." Bliss cracked her fingers. "And you don't get to moan or groan about that either. You haven't earned it!"

After a quick survey of the room, Bliss levitated a roll of tape over to her hand. "I'm going to need to know a few things from you. One, what is that orb. Two, who are you. And, three, who do you work for? I can go back to actually doing something good, while you can hang out away from where I'm working."

Hikari watched as the other woman in the room punched a solid wall in frustration, and noticed by her reaction that it was very painful afterwards. The hell is wrong with this girl?  Blabbering about a fan and punching walls?  Did I just follow a crazy person backstage?  She’d think to herself as she watched her, trying to move back to gain distance from her.  In doing so, the shawl that was still somewhat wrapped around the rack slipped off and lightly slapped the woman across the face; betraying Hikari’s hiding spot.  Bliss was now staring straight at her, not even a meter away.

The shawl-wearing girl quickly turned to attempt to flee but ended out falling on her face, “The fuck?”  She looked back to see her feet covered in ice.  Great, she’s a metahuman… Hikari sighed and blew a few strands of purple hair out of her face.  She looked up at Bliss, who was interrogating her.  “What?  Heist!?  Hey, lady!  You’re the one climbing back stage and breaking shit!  Not me!  I’m only here to figure out what you are up to!”  She huffs in irritation, “And I didn’t steal this scarf thing either!  I’m borrowing it!”

Managing to stand up, Hikari pouted at the ice-wielding woman before looking down at her feet.  Her sneakers began to glow purple within the blocks of ice, heating them up enough for the girl to kick a foot out from its bonds.  “I thought that Orb thing was part of the show?  Though the show was ruined when you took the DJ’s laptop!” Hikari commented before freeing her other foot, “Why would I tell you who I am?  That’s what the shawl is for… And I’m not working for anyone, damnit!  I’m here to see the models!”  She’d yell out, crossing her arms in defiance.

"Don't get snarky with me scumbag!" Bliss angrily would begin covering Hikari's foot with ice, followed by the quick encompassing of ice around the rest of her body. "I saved everyone from incredibly bad music. If that isn't worthy of a statue and a national holiday, then I don't know what does anymore."

Even with Hikari incapacitated for the moment, the sound of clicking heels continued in the distance. "Someone else is in here. Friend of yours?" Bliss pulled the shawl off from Hikari's head. "This is stealing by the way. You're under arrest for it. Now, I gotta go deal with your partner in crime. One of you better tell me what that orb is for." Bliss took a scarf off the rack and pushed it in Hikari's mouth like any hero would do in this situation. Because, Bliss is a hero like that.

Walking like a hero, Bliss tried to get some measure on where the clicking heels came from. A burst of speed ran past Bliss, leaving behind a pink barrier of energy. Bliss found her head moving back and forth trying to keep up with the blur until it finally stopped in front of her.

A bright eyed, well made up Korean woman stopped in front of Bliss. Her outfit was silver and pink, with a soft auburn tinting to her hair miraculously never moving out of place from around her shoulders. A pink business card emerged from her purse. A bright smile assisted with the presentation of the card.

Bliss took it without much grace. "Hello. My name is Lightning Bug. I am a Korean superhero and am conducting an investigation of the notorious villain Helix. I appreciate your cooperation citizen! Love, Lightning Bug! XOXO"

"Awesome!" Lightning Bug extended two fingers in a V symbol.

Bliss shuffled her feet slightly and took two steps back towards Hikari, pulling the scarf from her mouth. "Is she with you?"

Scumbag?  Hikari has never really been called that before.  Infact, Hikari’s the one who usually calls punks that when she’s beating on them for selling drugs to kids.  The Speedster looked up at Bliss with furrowed brows, getting annoyed with the interrogation.  She’d let out another bright gasp as her foot was, yet again, frozen in ice; but this time the frosty bond would encase her entire body.  With a straining grunt, Hikari tried to break free but was unable to move her limbs.  “H-hey!  Let me out of this ice, lady!”  She yelled out at her capture with a defiant frown.

The Ice Lady continued on about self praising herself for killing the music and Hikari let out a little huff, “Sounded okay to me…” She commented as she looked down at her frozen body, her hands beginning to glow purple.  While her hands had no room to conjure her energy blades, she could at least try to melt the ice.  Bliss began interrogating her again when the sound of footsteps sounded, “No!  No one is with me, I’m here alo~  HEY!?” Hikari yelled out as the shawl was taken off, revealing her identity to the woman.  Though it's not like some random person in Japan would recognize a middle class bike messenger from New York.

“I didn’t steal shit, lady!  I was borrowing it and wasn’t going to leave the building with it!” Hikari yelled out defiantly again, getting very steamed at the whole ordeal.  In New York, Neon was a vigilante who protected the lower and middle class from mobster sumbags, but back in her home country she’s being treated as a criminal!  This is bullshit!  “And I don’t have a fucking partner in cri~ ERRGH!?”  Hikari’s eyes widened when the shawl was stuffed into her mouth.  All the speedster could think at that moment was, ….Bitch!

If Hikari thought this day couldn’t get any weirder, another speedster shows up in a bright flash of pink light; while leaving behind a trail of the same light.  This made Hikari arch an eyebrow in shock, because not only was this girl a speedster; she was a speedster with perhaps the same powers as herself.  She watched as the anime magic-girl looking speedster hands Bliss a card before holding up two fingers in that cliche kawaii way.  “Luahg..” Hikari groaned when the shawl was taken out of her mouth and was asked if this other speedster was her ally.  “Uhm.. no.. I don’t know who any of you are… As I already told you… I only came back here because I saw you!” She’d nudge her head in Bliss’ direction, “Sneak backstage, and I suspected that you were up to no good!  Damnit!  I’m not even from here!  I just got out of the airport an hour ago!!!”  Hikari huffed as she struggled again in the ice.

A gust brushed past Bliss. Her lip curled as she adjusted her hair. "I swear there is a fan or a vent and I'm going to break it." Bliss turned back once Hikari launched some unflattering grenades at her. "Criminals use airplanes. They then get on them and go home. Crime isn't solely relegated to local areas. You know what, I believe you now. There is no way you are a criminal. A criminal would be much more-"

Several strands of pink duct tape wrapped around Bliss' mouth, covering the bottom of her head. Bliss struggled to pull enough of it down from her angry MPHH to become a more aggressive and verbal insult to the responsible party. One strand wrapped around Bliss' shoulders, then dropped down to her chest, with another around her midsection. Having enough, Bliss put a block of ice at her side, knocking the interloper to the ground when she went for another pass.

Camille kicked Bliss in the shin. It made her smile to watch Bliss hop on one leg, slamming into the ice block containing Hikari. "Mean." The previous girl with her card disappeared, leaving behind no trace- no trace other than the more vibrant blonde woman, whom a few minutes before stole the fashion show- as well as a few other things from backstage. "You two go in the closet with the Insect."

Bliss knocked on Hikari's ice block, starting to try and get some telekinesis going to get a party started.