10915/Bludhaven Evenings

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Bludhaven Evenings
Date of Scene: 29 January 2020
Location: Melville, Haven
Synopsis: Nightwing and Batgirl catch up on the rooftops of Bludhaven.
Cast of Characters: Nightwing, Spoiler




Nightwing has posed:
As so often seems to be the case up in the Bludhaven environs, the evening sky is overcast, a steely dark grey that blots out any trace of the night sky above. A cold, biting wind sweeps in off the Atlantic Ocean making it a particularly unpleasant evening. Though at least it is not raining nor snowing. That's something right? In a city like this it sometimes is quite the search to find something good to latch on to. At least if you don't know where to look.

Fortunately for Dick Grayson, he has called Bludhaven home for awhile now. He might have other homes -- hey, he's pretty flexible afterall -- but this is one of them. And while the city might seem to be a dingy reflection of Gotham that doesn't mean it lacks its fair share of good people. People Dick has come to like and respect. People that keep him here in this city as it's protector even when others might have given up on the place as a lost cause. Even when he might have wanted to a time or two himself.

For this evening however he has doned the black and blue of his costume, has slipped the mask into place and has taken to his usual perch up above the city streets, moving over the rooftops with that casual ease that comes both from his natural athleticism and years upon years of practice. The streets are quiet -- so far -- with apparently even criminals preferring the warmth of indoors to the possibilities offered up by the nighttime streets...

Spoiler has posed:
That wind tugs at the costume, not caring what advanced version of kevlar or other fibers it is. Trying to get inside and chill the skin, and whistling eerily where the tall buildings force it to divert and flow around them. That whistling is joined by another, less eerie sound.

<< So I was saying to myself today... self, where should we go tonight? And I replied, maybe take a swing down to Bludhaven. Who knows, we might run into a friend. >>

The muffled sound of a bat grapnel can be heard wrapping around a rooftop antennae. Not long after, a dark shape flies over the edge of the rooftop, cape billowing as she returns to her utility belt the grapple gun that hauled her up the building's side.

Batgirl walks over towards Nightwing, the blond flashing him a white-toothed grin. "So, do you come here often?" she asks. She has the eyelets on her cowl up. It's too dark to see the blue eyes, but one can probably imagine the amused light they hold right now. It's evident in her voice. "Just patrolling, or somewhere special in mind?" she asks.

Nightwing has posed:
There are, of course, reasons why Bludhaven is so often considered Gotham's dark, grimey reflection. When it is remembered at all of course. Unlike Gotham, Bludhaven has never had any glory days to look back on. Even today, as bad as Gotham can be, as many madmen as thy might have running about, there is still a spark about the place. A lure that keeps drawing people in no matter how many atrocities Joker or Mr. Freeze commit on the populace. The crime here isn't as bright, or showy or insane. It's just... sad. Unlike Gotham as well, Bludhaven can be a little more lonely for it's protector. An oddity, given the relative dispositions of the two heroes most related to the twin cities.

The quiet crackle of his comm coming to life makes Nightwing's eyes widen ever so slightly behind that mask that conceals his eyes and his easy, loping strides across the rooftop gradually slow. "Oh, you definitely picked the garden spot of the state. Where better to meet friends new and old," he replies voice local, that sub-vocal mic easily picking up his words, carrying them clearly over hte line. Ahhhh Wayne Tech. What would they do without it?

He is not difficult to find fortunately. Bludhaven's downtown core is hardly as densely packed nor boasting anywhere near the number of towering skyscrappers of it's more illustrious sibling. Still, as the quiet clink sounds nearby -- a sound that he cannot mistake for anything else -- a wry little smirk slides over his features as he walks over to greet Batgirl. "Hey, I figured I deserved a night out, and really, where else am I likely to run into interesting company?" he retorts lightly before giving a quiet chuckle. "Just patrolling. I haven't been back here too often lately. I felt the need to get the feel of the city again."

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl flashes that grin at Nightwing again as he walks over to her. "I figure, it's got a view. Fresh air," she says, the biting cold wind trying to pull her words and send them scattering off into the night. "At least a four-star Yelp review if I've ever seen one," Batgirl says in light-hearted tones.

The young woman gives a nod of her head at Dick's comment. "Able to refocus back on your stomping grounds," she says thoughtfully, knowing that there was a lot on Dick's plate when Batman was laid up with a broken back. One that he's recovered from now, at least enough to take on his patrols.

Batgirl walks the remaining few feet between them, her cape drawn down along the windward edge to help lessen it's flapping. "Finished up my own area and thought I'd drop by. Also doing a little test of... oh, well short story is I'm making my own Batcycle. A first one. From scratch. It doesn't run quiet yet, but I tested a part out tonight." She gives a little laugh. "I'm so hopeless. Oracle is going to disown me," she says. Oracle passed on the legacy of Batgirl to her back in August. "But, I'll get it working," the stubborn blond says.

Nightwing has posed:
Donning the cape and cowl hasn't been Dick's dream for many, many years. Certainly there was a time in his teens where he always sort of expected to one day do so. It was unspoken, but there between him and Bruce. But dreams sometimes change as one grows up, and certainly his did. So while Dick might not have wanted to be Batman anymore, this is family. Theirs might be a strange, occasionally disturbing and frequently drama-filled family, but it is still his family and he wouldn't trade it for anything. He was needed, so he answered the call.

Still, he certainly seems a little more relaxed now that he is back in his own duds, just a little looser somehow, that more customary grin allowed to make it's reappearance without concern about whether he was giving the whole charade away. "A little. Gotham's my home, but so is Bludhaven and I can't help but feel I've had to neglect it a little bit the past little while," he admits. "And besides, I always think I'm a little happier when I have just a little more balance in my life. The cowl doesn't lend itself to balance," he notes drily.

Mention of her current project brings a renewed grin to his features and he nods at once. "Been there, done that," he agrees wryly. "And I don't think you have anything to worry about with Oracle on that front. Now, if you let your grades slip on the other hand..." he warns before flashing her another brief grin. "If you need a hand, don't hesitate to ask. I'm no mechanical genius, but I got the Nightbird put together to my likely so I'm clearly not all thumbs either."

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl gives a laugh at the mention of grades that somehow manages to be warm and wry all at once. "Fortunately I'm managing on the grades," says the young woman who is a mild-mannered... wait, strike that. Who is a jovial, energetic college student by day, and a costumed heroine by night. "Though it's probably more my class list being a bit easier than normal this semester, if just as long." Batgirl lets out a puff of air. "Final semester? Going to be baaaad."

She turns and walks over to the edge of the building to look out over the city. "If I get totally stuck I might ask for... ah... opinions," she says, looking over her shoulder to grin at the much taller Nightwing. "But really, I'm trying to go this on my own. I mean, the first Batgirl had to earn her way to where she is," she says quietly. Though the newest young woman to wear the costume might have earned it, she no doubt still feels that is a work in process. As stubborn as Barbara.

Ok, /nearly/ a stubborn.

Nightwing has posed:
Really, a post secondary education is something that he probably should look into, having quit his own after one semester. As much to spite Bruce as anything else, back in somewhat more... rebellious days. Fortuantely he has grown a little since then. Unfortunately he can't say the same about his available time. Maybe one day. "I think she'll forgive a lot if you keep them up," he says with a confident laugh. He might not have the perfect frame of reference, but he can imagine. "Hard as it is I'm sure, try to find at least a little time to enjoy yourself too," he suggests. Because time management is sooooooo easy for the costume set.

Dick can certainly relate to the desire to do this sort of thing for one's self. It is kinda like a rite of passage in their unique little family. Certainly he did the same when he first moved out here to Bludhaven. Putting together the Nightbird wasn't easy, but it certainly did give him a sense of satisfaction. "Understood," he says at once, raising a hand and knowing very well when to push something and went to back off. "But if you run into any issues don't hesitate to ask," he says, hesitating for just a moment before adding, "I know we all have a tendancy to want to prove ourselves. I'm guilty of it too. But one of our biggest strengths is that we have each other. Be smarter then the rest of us and don't hesitate to take advantage of that when you need to."

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl takes her eyes away from the city, pivoting back to smile at Nightwing. The girl from the broken family life's smile shows just how much she appreciates having each other. "Yeah. It really is," she agrees with him. "And I'll try not to be too headstrong," she says, before pausing, turning her head as if listening to something.

"Huh. Oracle must be out for coffee or something. Didn't think she could lay off commenting on /that/ one," Batgirl says with a warm laugh. She shrugs and smiles back to Nightwing. "So, how goes your fair city? Anything brewing down the road that you could use a hand with? I've been watching some drug dealers that I think are trying to make inroads on campus, but need to do some more surveillance before I know where all to hit," she says. "If you want in on that, another fist and elbow are always welcome," Batgirl offers.

She looks back out at the city. "Interesting how each city feels so different from up here. I mean, feels different on the streets too. But from up here you can see them so differently. Like each has a different... I don't know. Texture to it?" she says, reaching out a hand like she could touch Bludhaven to experience that texture.

Nightwing has posed:
Of course he is all too familiar with Oracle's commentary as well and a little smirk plays across Nightwing's features at that. "Good grades. They bring you a lot of slack, I'm telling ya..." he insists with a quiet little chuckle. Like her, he walks over to the edge of the building, hopping up onto the ledge as if the drop waiting on the other side is nothing at all and just stands there with that easy balance that comes so naturally to him, overlooking the city spread out below. "Mmmmm, I know what you mean. I think you do what we do long enough it just becomes second nature, picking up on that," he says quietly, words considering now, the humor gone from them now, at least temporarily.

Once more he tosses a glance her way, "There's always something going on around here. Though I'll admit, it's a quieter night then most," he conceeds. "I still need to get my finger back on the pulse of the city, admittedly. Part of the problem is that the major players around here keep changing over. The underworld is pretty cutthroat. Very survival of the fittest," he notes before giving a little shake of his head. "I'll dig around a little more, but then if the offer is still open I wouldn't say no to a hand. A team-up is always better then a solo show," he says with just a hint of a smile. "And absolutely, if you need a hand just drop me a line. I'm always done for busting a few heads together when they deserve it."

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl glances up at the night sky. The clouds are scattered, giving only faint glimpses of the stars bright enough to contend with the lights of the surrounding cities. The wind whips the strands of long blond hair about her where they left to hang out of her cowl. "Cold weather. Nothing to cut down on crime like having to do it below freezing," she jokes before looking back to Nightwing.

"Will do. And don't need to be a stranger, either. I know you're over here on your own turf, but always happy to go climb the Gotham Savings and Loan and hang out on the gargoyle's," she tells him. "I'll even bring subs from Minelli's if I know you're coming. What were you, meatball, provolone and Italian dressing?" she asks of his sandwich choice.

Nightwing has posed:
"I will never be a winter person," the dark-haired vigilante offers up with a smile almost at once, the breeze picking up enough to rustle the same. "But it does tend to put a bit of a chilling effect on crime. I mean, maybe not in Gotham. You have Mr. Freeze and the Penguin afterall. But the mobsters and gang members of Bludhaven don't seem to have the same love for the cold," he notes, the corners of his mouth twitching ever so slightly. Bruce may thrive on being grim and dour all the time. That doesn't really fit him.

"Trust me, I have no intention of staying away. I mean, I feel like I owe Bludhaven some love after the last few months, but I really do think that keeping a healthy balance in my life does a whole lot of good for my mental state. I'm definitely inclined to wander a bit between here and Gotham and New York. It's not like it's a long drive afterall," he notes. "And that sounds like heaven. I've come to the conclusion that I'm pretty good with just about anything that I don't have to make myself. I think I need my own Alfred," he notes, lips curling into a playful smirk once more.

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl breaks out in a big grin. "Everyone needs their own Alfred," she says. "Though I'm sure there's only one of him. There can't be anyone else as capable at everything that he is, anywhere else in the world." The young woman flips open a pouch on her utility belt and takes something out. A little packet of wrapped foil. She unwraps it and pulls out, "It's baklava from Alfred, cut in the shape of a bat. Here, there's two," she says, offering one to Nightwing before taking up the second herself.

"And people always wonder what we have in our utility belts. Snacks, of course!" she says with a grin. "Oh, Robin and I tried this good Asian place that just opened by campus. I had a gift certificate to it so he came to help me order. Wish I had his knack for languages," she says with a sigh and a shake of her head. "Anyway, some night we don't do the dumpling place, we should go hit it," Stephanie says. She takes a little bit of the baklava and sighs happily.

Nightwing has posed:
Hopping down from the ledge and the long drop below just as casually as he hopped up in the first place, Nightwing takes the prooffered treats, unwrapping his and taking a bite, eyes slipping closed for just a moment -- given away by the fact that he too has let the starlite lense inserts slide away for the moment. "Mmmmmm, yeah, definitely no one else out there but him. It looks like I shall continue to cook for myself for the foreseeable future, damn it," he notes with a smirk before shaking his head and lightly nudging her in the shoulder. "You should know that I'm having a hard time of thinking about anything but Batman going for his batarangs and whipping out foil-wrapped baklava now," he accuses her with a grin.

"Sounds like a plan," he agrees, still grinning. "And yes, it definitely comes in handy. But if you want to learn a language? Travel. Immerse yourself in it. You'll be surprised how quickly you'll pick it up. I mean, I know that's easier said then done, but..." he notes with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie Brown breaks out in a warm laugh at the imagery of Batman tossing tasty Turkish treats at villains. "Oh, now you just gave me a visual of him and Penguin sitting around eating them, commiserating and bonding over them. Such is the power of Alfred!" she tells him, the very good-natured blond repeating the laugh.

Batgirl draws a deep breath as Nightwing speaks of traveling. "You know I hadn't even been out of the country before? Heck, out of the few surrounding states. Until I went up to Angel Grove in Canada, to see my friend Kim. And, ah, went skiing while there too," she adds, glancing away and out across the city. "Though I managed to come back without tossing 'eh?' onto all of my questions. So I might doubt this whole travel technique to language," she tells Nightwing, looking back to him to laugh.

"I'd like to travel," she admits. Her lips press together a little bit, and the muscles to either side tighten in a micro-expression that if noticed, suggests something more serious on her mind as she says it than just trips.

Nightwing has posed:
Hey, he's just generous that way, oh so willing to share. Besides, if he is going to have to struggle to keep a straight face the next time he sees Bruce, it's only fair that someone else is in the same boat. A soft snort of laughter escapes his and he shakes his head. "Clearly we've been going about this wrong the entire time. We don't need costumes or batarangs. What we should have been doing the entire time was have Alfred transfer to the kitchens of Arkham Asylum. Instant rehabilitation," he suggests before grinning widely. "You do know of course that I'm going to have to slip one of these into his ultility belt the next time I'm in Gotham, right? If I get caught, I'm bringing you down with me," he warns. What are friends for?

"All I did travel, growing up. Not out of the country a ton, but enough.," he says before smirking once more. "I don't think Canada counts as having their own language. Maybe a dialect. You won't wreck my theories so easily," he counters glibly. Still, he doesn't miss the slight shift in tone, in expression and he nudges her shoulder once more. "Uh oh. I don't think you're picturing sunny beaches and fruity drinks with mini-umbrellas there."

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl's mouth falls open as she finds out she's going to be made an accomplice to the crime. "If so then I'd better get my own bat bakl- wait. Bat-klava? Batklava in my own belt, courtesy of you," she tells Nightwing with a spreading grin. "Seriously though, the criminals wouldn't stand a chance if they had Alfred making them mind themselves."

Batgirl was just starting to lose herself in a thought or two, probably related to that micro-expression, when Nightwing nudges her. "What?" she asks before her mind plays back what it heard him say. "Oh. Yeah, was just thinking about... ah... you know. Travel is expensive and all," she says. She clears her throat. "Just, have a financial... thing. And, I mean it's good. Really good. I just don't know if it's right for me or not," she explains.

Nightwing has posed:
Ahhhh, such a lost opportunity. One would have to figure that if anything could get through to the Joker it would have to be Alfred's cooking. Then again, maybe somethings are just too important to be risked. "One of these days. You won't know where, you won't know when. But boom, you'll go for your utility belt and you'll have a Bat-klava there," he says with a certain solemnness given life only by the dancing of his eyes.

Finances are one thing that he has never had to worry too much about. Even without Bruce his parents, as it turns out, were very responsible. A good thing, considering the risks of their career. Still, he remembers growing up somewhere other then Wayne Manor. "Sounds like you have a fair bit to think about," he agrees slowly. "I'm sure you'll make the right choice," he assures her with that quiet confidence.

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl laughs and says, "Just be careful if you try it with Red Robin. You never know what new security upgrades he's put on his outfit." She mimes being electrocuted as she touches her utility belt. "Of course, you two would probably enjoy defeating each other's security, so probably a warning that just makes you more eager to do it."

Finances are something that have always been a problem for the young woman on the other hand. Along with her family life growing up, they had so much to do with where she ended up today. "I do," she agrees with him on the amount of thinking to do. "I wish I had your optimism on the outcome. Bastion of great judgment? I don't now that Oracle would go for that nickname for me," Batgirl says with a self-deprecating smile. "Well, anyway. Travel would be wonderful to do some day," she says, returning back to the original topic. "Any favorite places you've been to?"

Nightwing has posed:
Maybe it is an only child thing, that all the Robin's share as 'brothers'. Sure, one could call their occasional competitions immature. Dick prefers to think more that he's... young at heart. That's it. Certainly the unrepenitent grin that he shoots her suggests that her supposition is more then likely correct. She hasn't discouraged him in the least. Tim might have the edge in the brains department, but Dick is the wily old veteran. Let the best man-child win!

Of course Nightwing has done this long enough now to know that a plucky attitude isn't always enough to carry the day. But a little optimism can make one heck of a difference at times. Besides, he has pretty good reason to trust in the judgement of most of those in their family. "Mmmm, Oracle might surprise you," he offers. Then again, she might not. As to her question, he answers almost immediately, "Space," he says before smirking at her. "But that's admittedly a little hard to do as a tourist," he acknowledges. Still, even when one is fighting for one's life, it is sometimes possible to stop and smell the roses. "You know, I've enjoyed almost everywhere I've been, even in different ways. Sometimes it depends on your mood, right?"

Spoiler has posed:
Batgirl gives a soft laugh and says, "Well, parts of New Jersey are tough to enjoy even with a good mood. But I take your point." She gives a little point with her finger towards Nightwing to emphasize his point. "Space, I would probably be terrified. Though I did get to go in Diana's invisible jet, and... I probably could have handled it in that. I'd just assume I was safe. Something man-made though would probably scare the crap out of me," she tells with a soft laugh at the end.

Her lenses drop down for a moment as she checks the time. "I should probably head back. Just enough time to do some pre-work for a lab tomorrow. Don't be a stranger, Mr. Nightwing," she says. "Asian food night on Thursday I think, can show you that new restaurant."

Nightwing has posed:
He follows the direction indicated and makes a face, nodding his agreement. "I'm not entirely sure why it's called the Garden State. I think someone got confused," he agrees drily, turning back towards her for just a moment. He will be sweeping out over the rest of the city soon enough afterall. "Fair enough. Start small then. Hit France or Europe. Or maybe pick out a beach somewhere," he suggests with a wink.

Then his lenses are up too, masking his eyes from sight and casting the world in the greenish glow of his nightvision. Dipping his head, he smiles once more. "Thursday night. I wouldn't miss it," he says, which is at best a half truth. He will indeed try to make it, but things definitely come up in their line of work. All of them, at one time or another, have failed to make a social obligation. "Good luck with the bike. And sorting out your financial thing," he says, hopping back up onto the ledge and flipping her a playful salute. Then he simply walks back over the edge, dropping out of sight before his shadowy form swoops back into view, swinging back out over the city.