In The Shadow of the Bat
Chapter 46: Book Tour
"Oh god, I think I've lost track of which city we're in," Vicki Vale complained as she flopped over on the hotel bed.
Teresta Ludlow-Dalt looked at the redhead in amusement, "Visiting six cities in about as many days will do that."
"Ugh. WHY did we agree to this?" Vicki complained.
"Money," Teresa replied dryly.
Their book, 'Legacy of Evil' was a surprise hit. The hardcover was selling out, and was already getting a third printing. It seemed the public was fascinated both by the supervillain exploits and the torrid content that Vicki had jazzed up for the book. And neither woman had expected their publisher to pay for an actual book tour.
"At least we're out of Metropolis," Teresa sighed.
The two writers had been AGGRESSIVELY grilled by reporter Toby Raynes when they had done their stop in that city. The woman had tried to dig up dirt on both of them, and had been highly adversarial to them.
Teresa added, "What was Raynes problem, anyway?"
Vicki sighed, "It's because we're from Gotham."
"Huh?" Teresa blinked.
"She was formerly dating Maggie Sawyer," Vicki explained, "but she left her when Maggie went to work in Gotham. They tried the 'long distance' thing, but Maggie eventually started seeing someone else."
"Well, damn," Teresa blinked.
"Yeah," Vicki nodded. "Heard it through the news grapevine," she added.
"Well, I sympathize, but it would have been nice if she hadn't taken it out on us," Teresa added somewhat wryly.
There was a brisk knock on the door, and the publisher's rep stuck his head in. "We've got a bookshop signing tonight," James Ward told them.
"Right, right," Vicki made herself sit up again. "Where are we, again?" she asked.
Washington," James told them, "we'll be signing at Solid State Books, then a meeting with local reporters."
"Whee, fun," Teresa sighed, deciding her travel outfit was still neat enough for the signing.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Gwyneth Tate was actually a fairly pleasant reporter. She asked general background questions, as well as getting into Vicki's background as a Gotham reporter.
"Do you prefer writing to freelance reporting?" Gwyneth asked Vicki.
"Both have their appeal," Vicki answered diplomatically.
Gwyneth then turned to Teresa, "Now, I understand you're a tenured history professor, in addition to being an author."
"That's correct, though I'm currently on sabbatical," Teresa replied.
"Now, I understand you chose to research The Spider and such because their relations," Gwyneth leaned forward, "but do you ever feel the call of evil?"
"No," Teresa said dryly.
"Call of evil?" Vicki noted dubiously.
Gwyneth just ignored that. "Now, I understand you're considering becoming a superhero?" she asked her curiously.
Teresa snorted and replied, "Oh hell no. I've put on the Spider uniform a few times in emergencies, that's it."
"How was collaborating on the book?" Gwenyth asked them both.
"A lot of back and forth for edits," Teresa admitted, "it was interesting though."
"Luckily, Teresa kept very detailed notes when she researched the book," Vicki added, "I was able to use a lot of that to add drama and such."
"What do your academic collegues think of the book?" Gwenyth asked Teresa specifically.
"The version I submitted for academic review was much dryer," Teresa smiled wryly. "I don't think they approve of the mass market version."
"Research shouldn't be fun, huh?" Gwenyth teased mildly.
"Pretty much," Teresa agreed.
They wrapped up the interview and signing, then headed out. "I never considered that doing a mainstream version of your research might get you in trouble," Vicki noted.
"Not trouble, exactly," Teresa said, "but yes, some disapproval."
"It won't endanger your academic career, will it?" Vicki asked.
"As I said, I have tenure," Teresa shrugged.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"What the heck is this?" James, the publisher's rep, yelped as a woman swung a sword at him.
"Seven Soldiers nuts," Teresa sighed, punching one dude in the face.
Vicki hit a 'Stripsey' dressed guy with a chair, dropping him. "Does this happen often?"
Teresa loaded a net arrow in her crossbow and fired, tangling up a Crimson Avenger and his sidekick, Wing. "I THOUGH they finally quit," she complained.
"Ack!" James scampered towards Teresa, obviously hoping she'd save him.
"Oh, grow some balls," Vicki muttered as she hit Star Spangled Kid.
"Not very knightly, threatening a un-armed man," Teresa pointed out to the lady dressed as Shining Knight.
"Silence, cur!" the Knight growled before Teresa shot her with a gas bomb.
"That it?" Vicki checked.
"There's USUALLY a nut dressed in a cowboy outfit," Teresa noted.
A somewhat sheepish looking cowboy raised their hands in surrender. "My replica pistols jammed," he said.
The lady running the Chicago bookstore stuck her head out the door and said, "The cops have been called, dears."
"Thanks," Teresa said as she tied up the various idiots hands.
"Okay, that was just WILD," Vicki noted cheerfully.
"And this happens to you often?" James asked weakly.
"Not so much recently, but yes," Teresa admitted. "These nutjobs think I should pay for what the original Spider did."
Within a few minutes the cops arrived, questioned them and hauled the fake 'Seven Soldiers' away to jail.
"Okay, let's get something to drink," Vicki said cheerfully, "I feel like celebrating our victory."
"What?" James sighed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Welcome to The Scene!"
(The Scene was a talk show in Central City where, amusingly, Vicki herself had worked as a host. However when renewal came around she had pushed for more money, and instead had been let go. And yes, she was a bit bitter over that.)
"Lia! Cokie! Tawny! It's been awhile," Vicki shook their hands.
Tawny Young, Lia Briggs and Cokie Walters all smiled, then Tawny said, "Have you met Summer yet?"
Summer Gleason smiled, "Nice to meet you."
"Everyone, meet Teresa Ludlow-Dalt, my cowriter and action heroine," Vicki said as they all sat around the table.
"I am NOT an action hero," Teresa complained.
"Play the clip," Vicki ordered, and cellphone video of Teresa fighting off the Seven Soldiers came on screen.
"Oh god," Teresa sighed.
"Well, I'm impressed," Lia Briggs agreed.
Cokie Walters nodded, "You can rescue me anytime."
Only Tawny Young looked unimpressed, and she was known to be anti-superhero. Infamously, she had revealed to the world Green Lantern John Stewart's secret identity.
"I read your book," Tawny noted. "Do you really think criminality is in the blood?"
"Of course not," Teresa answered calmly, "but it's certainly possible for people to be influenced by family and friends. Looking into the Ludlows, they were nearly raised into criminality."
"Just look at organized crime families too," Vicki noted.
Lia, noting there wasn't too much time left in this segment, asked, "Vicki, are you planning further books?"
"If my publisher likes my ideas," Vicki joked.
"I would work with her again anytime," Teresa added.
"Aww. Thanks," Vicki smiled at her.
To be continued...
Notes: All the reporters named in this chapter are canon DC Comics characters.