10658/We Live in a Society

We Live in a Society
Date of Scene:	06 January 2020
Location:	Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Synopsis:	The Question and Iron Fist serendipitously meet in a Williamsburg alley. There, they face Anaconda and discuss the potential rise of a new and improved Serpent Society!
Cast of Characters:	Iron Fist, Question

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Iron Fist has posed:
It's so late tonight that, if it weren't so dark, quiet, and cold, some might argue it's really morning. But it just doesn't feel like a new day.

Here in Williamsburg, even despite gentrification over the last two decades, residents are still plagued with crime--and so, perhaps, it is not so exceptional to hear the sounds of a struggle from an alley off one of the neighborhood's larger thoroughfares.

But it is too dark, quiet, and cold for those sounds to blend into the background. And so the sounds are, instead, augmented by virtue of their being the only real activity around this block. And the struggle sounds like it's turning more and more violent by the moment.

Among them, the sound of creaking and cracking bone. The strangled gurgle of air trying to escape a human throat. And the thump of knuckle on temple.

Question has posed:
Brooklyn isn't Vic's usual beat being from Gotham, but since Lady Shiva asked for an appearance over in Manhattan he has found himself in the boroughs following up on a potential lead on a news story.

However it isn't Vic that is making the rounds, but rather the faceless Question that wanders down the dark and quiet street at this time of night.

As the still of the night is disturbed while he passes the mouth of the alleyway, The Question turns down into the alley and quickens his pace. By the sounds of it, someone might need some assistance.

Iron Fist has posed:
As the Question enters the alley, the dark corridor is lit only by a single source: the glowing hand of a man, costumed in green and yellow, standing over what appears to be the unconscious figure of a large, muscular blonde woman, also clad in green.

The man looks over his shoulder toward the mouth of the alley. "Ah--oh, shit." He tightens his glowing hand into a fist even as he says, "This isn't what it looks like."

The glow, meanwhile, illuminates what is definitely an unconscious woman.

Question has posed:
The Question slows his pace as he approaches the aftermath of whatever brawl was taking place, stopping just out of normal striking range of the yellow and green clad figure.

Pushing the fedora up on his head to more clearly show his lack-of-face, The Questions responds "No? They why don't you enlighten me...because from my point of view it looks to me like you just knocked this lady out. How close am I?"

Iron Fist has posed:
The man pivots on one foot, buying him a bit more space between himself and the faceless Question.

"Well," he says, his body moving into a defensive martial arts stance as his moving foot touches the ground, "that is what happened. But," the man adds, "I had a good reason. A real good reason. Don't ..." he glances down for a moment at the woman to make sure she's still down, "... don't tell me you're one of the Serpents, too."

Question has posed:
The Question cocks his head to the side as the yellow and green clad man takes up his defensive stance, his own stance staying relaxed as he subtly shift his stance to take action as needed.

"Do I look like a serpent?" the faceless one mutters, the brow over his featureless visage wrinkling slightly in a curious manner.

The Question's head shifts subtlety to catch a glance at the downed woman while keeping his 'opponent' in view. "I'm listening." The Question utters as he shifts his gaze fully back to Iron Fist. "I've seen enough costumes in my time to get the gist of what happened here, but it is the whose who that escapes me for now, GlowFist. Point in your favor that you stopped to talk though."

Iron Fist has posed:
"First off, it's 'Iron Fist,'" the man with the glowing fist says. "And if I could see literally /any/ features at all on you, I might have an easier time telling," Iron Fist replies.

"My 'victim' here goes by Anaconda. Does she look like a snake?" he asks, nodding in her direction with his chin. "No, but she has some snake powers. And in addition, she's--"

His words are cut short as Anaconda's arms stretch out to an unnatural length so that she can grab the martial artist by the ankle, pulling his leg out from under him. "Oooof!" he cries as he hits the ground gut-first.

Her other arm reaches toward the Question at the same time.

Question has posed:
"So I see." replies The Question as Anaconda makes her move.

For as relaxed as The Question seemed to be, he moves as if he was expecting something to happen. As the snake-like appendage reaches out for him, The Question ducks under the outstretched limb and launches his own non-glowing fist up to where he thinks the nerve cluster would be on the oversized arm, following up with a kick to the side of the attacking woman.

"GlowFist is more apropo, don't you think? I hope it does something more than just look pretty..."

Iron Fist has posed:
At first, Iron Fist only grunts as he jumps to his feet.

In response, Anaconda retracts the arm that had been around his ankle, drawing it close to her chest. The arm that had gone for the Question falls limp and loose, and the woman grits her teeth. "That /hurts/," she snarls, twisting her hips as though to use her longer arm as a kind of whip, whirling it around her head and back toward the fedora-wearing vigilante.

His hand still glowing, Iron Fist springs toward Anaconda.

She snaps her shorter arm out in a defensive block, open hand protecting her face.

Iron Fist twists his arm as it extends, rolling around her arm to strike the woman in the chest. There's a *THOOM* of sound as the woman flies backwards against the nearest building wall, her limbs splaying out in each direction.

After impact with the wall, Anaconda slides down to the ground, sitting up but definitely out cold.

"It does," Iron Fist says with a sigh.

Question has posed:
"It's supposed to." says The Question in response to Anaconda's remark. "It would be rather useless if it didn't."

Using his forearms to block the whip-like arm, the force of the blow still staggers The Question, knocking him backwards and down to the ground with an "Oaf! Strong one, aren't ya." Using the momentum of the blow, The Question rolls onto his back, then continues into a backwards somersault as he regains his footing. "Note to self, don't get hit again."

Vic is about to launch a counter attack when Iron Fist uses that glowing fist of his and takes Anaconda's wind out of her sails for good with that one blow. The Question stands there for a moment in silence before slowly lowering his guard.

"I'm glad I asked questions."

Iron Fist has posed:
The glowing hand fades, soon looking like a normal hand. Iron Fist turns to walk toward the Question.

"Well, you didn't attack me, either. So I take it you're not with her. But what kind of person walks around at night with no face?" He waves a hand as if trying to test the Question's senses.

"I don't know why I just asked /that/," Iron Fist says, looking down at his own costume. "So are you also on the Serpent Society's trail, then? What leads do you have?" His voice sounds almost hopeful.

Question has posed:
"The same kind of person that walks around at night with a face, just feature deficient." says The Question with a bit of a smile to his voice. "I suspect the same reason you are dressed in your own outfit, though."

The Question turns his attention towards the downed Serpent with a shake of his head, "I was in town on an unrelated cause, however I am willing to help out where I can...Iron Fist was it? But I would need more information."

Iron Fist has posed:
"Well," Iron Fist says, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at Anaconda, "the Serpent Society has emerged from its den. And, while you didn't get any concrete evidence of it, I've learned that they are much more formidable than they normally are--which is formidable."

He exhales slowly and deeply. "Several members have been using forms of ancient martial arts forms that I've only seen practiced in one other place. And that terrifies me ... because it means they may be working to overthrow the mystical city of K'un-Lun."

Iron Fist shakes his head. "I know that strange cities in the Himalayas might sound ridiculous to you, but it's an important concern. And I've got to admit that I need help to fight this threat."