capitalh | (no subject)

Who: Professional Science Leopard Vanessa Goldpaw & any unaffiliated superheroes
Where: Anywhere around the city – and perhaps beyond.
When: Any time mid February to early March, pretty much
What: Apparently being a celebrity science genius and running a hugely successful business is no longer enough for Ms Goldpaw: she's looking to pick up unaffiliated heroes to run her own team.
Warnings: None yet.

Goldpaw Industries hasn't been up to much significant business lately. Vanessa has been busy enough – she always is – but she hasn't been working on anything terrifically interesting. Which is probably why she's been planning a personal project.

So far no one else is on it. But she's hoping that soon they will be...

Over the next few weeks Vanessa will be snooping around after unaffiliated superheroes. Generally competent ones are ideal, but what she's looking for above all else is 'undiscovered talent' – she's looking for lesser-known heroes to pick up and make big by cramming them into her GOLDPAW-BACKED COOL SUPERHERO TEAM.

Despite being a shapeshifter, she has been choosing to do her snooping in her usual leopard woman guise – even for top secret projects like this, she never uses her powers. She has probably been wearing a wide brimmed hat and high necked coat, though. Sooo surreptitious.

Feel free to either have your character notice she's been surreptitiously following them around or repeatedly lurking in the background while they do hero stuff and thus confront her or specifically attempt... to hide... lmao, or just be going about their business with whatever degree of obliviousness is appropriate while she approaches them! This is open to any unaffiliated superfolk, even if you think they would make terrible team members or you plan to have them refuse an offer – PM me or hit me up on plurk or AIM if you want to work any specifics out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Top picks? This is a dream or something. It has to be! There's no way someone like Vanessa Goldpaw would consider Starbreaker, of all the heroes flying around in L.A., as one of her top picks for her personally groomed superhero team. Milly almost wants to pinch herself to be sure, but she doesn't want to look foolish in front of Vanessa.

But before she manages to respond, a thought strikes her. Goldpaw Technologies is one of her father's biggest and most direct competitors. Would it be some kind of conflict of interest for her to work for Vanessa, even in a superhero capacity? Would her father get upset if he knew? Worse than that -- would this put her in some kind of danger, compromise her or her father's security? She's not all that invested in doing what she's told these days, but even so, there are other considerations that have stopped Milly from acting in a more official hero capacity.

"I'm not registered, though... That's not a problem is it? I mean -- do I have to be?"

"No, not at all. We might decide to opt for registration if that seems like it would be best, but it'll depend on the preferences of the members..." Vanessa waves a dismissive paw. "We all know registration is more of a formality than anything else, and I'll be providing the support and financial backing that the registration office would usually deal with." She smiles. "I'm more than equipped to handle any legal trouble we might run into, in any case."

That's something of a comfort to Milly -- sort of -- but she still has concerns. A few reservations...ones she hope will be dismissed as no problem at all, because she has never wanted anything as badly as she wants this. She'd finally be a part of something -- have a place she really belongs.

"But you'd still need to know our civilian identities, right?" Would Vanessa even still want Milly on the team once she found out Starbreaker was actually the daughter of one of her biggest competitors? Or would that be even extra incentive? Milly's not sure which worries her more.

"Potentially helpful, but not strictly necessary if keeping it a secret is important," says Vanessa. "I respect my employees' privacy. Of course, you have my word that anything you tell me won’t go any further.”

Milly smiles uncertainly. It's really Vanessa's reaction she's the most worried about. But it's a relief to know she doesn't have to tell her, at least not right away.

"Well, consider me interested then," she says. "Maybe we can sit down and, you know, talk more about this sometime? Maybe you can tell me who else you're considering for the team -- if that's not top-secret -- and...you know, what your plans are!"

Milly knows she's interested -- she can't not be -- it just comes down to whether or not it's worth it to be working directly for her dad's top competitor.

"Oh, of course – this sort of commitment definitely isn't a decision to be made lightly, and if you have any concerns I'd be happy to talk them out with you." She flashes a winning smile, and produces a business card – black, with her pawprint logo on one side, in gold, and a phone number on the other. She hands it over. "Call me."

Milly is totally and completely starstruck. She still has reservations -- concerns -- but right now, they're overwhelmed with excitement and even still with shock that Vanessa had even approached her. Milly clasps the card in both hands, grateful that the domino mask obscures some of how totally excited she is.

"Oh! Yes!! I absolutely will!" Milly promises in earnest. "Thank you so much, Ms. Goldpaw, we'll be in touch!"