11733/A Box full of Surprises.

A Box full of Surprises.
Date of Scene:	07 July 2020
Location:	The Magic Box, Sunnydale
Synopsis:	Buffy, Nightwing and Nick talk about mysterious vigilantes
Cast of Characters:	Buffy Summers, Nightwing, Phantasm (Drago)

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Buffy Summers has posed:
It's been a few weeks since Buffy had random run-ins with the mysterious vigilante going by the name of 'Jason' something or other. And while it was quickly discovered (by a couple of vamps no less) that his blonde hair was fake, Buffy had not asked questions, respecting his reasons, whatever they may be.

However, she had expressed an interest to learn some advanced hand to hand techniques of his, and had even invited him to come join her at a weirdo place called the 'Magic Box' of all places.

Well, as luck would have it, she happens to be working a late night shift tonight, and closing up shop too. Only time would tell if he'd show..

Nightwing has posed:
It is not always easy getting out and about at times, at least not for anything but urgent 'business'. Which in his case usually involves managing the crime situation in Bludhaven. There is a seemingly endless stream of crime to look after and it just doesn't seem to be going out of fashion anytime soon. Imagine that.

Still, all things considered this is one of the quieter nights he has enjoyed as of late. Quiet enough in point of fact that he can actually consider straying from his usual routine, to venturing out of his normal stomping grounds and following up on a little discussion from a while back. Which is what brings him to a store named the Magic Box of all places. Definitely not somewhere he expected to find himself. But curiousity -- and a promise -- makes for a pretty good persuader.

As a general rule, he is not much for going through the front door of places, not when he is in his costume at least. Stealth entrances through the back, or convenient skylights are more his thing. But under the circumstances that might be a little rude. The street is quiet and he is little more then a shadow, enough so that he is comfortable slipping around the front, rapping a gauntleted fist on the door to the closing shot.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With the impending mission in the works, Nick is hanging out around the Magic Box as well. Although he's not currently sparring and instead is over in a corner, looking to a notepad deep in thought as he taps the pencil along the paper. Next to him rests a bag where some escrima sticks rest inside, carefully wrapped up in cloth. He's training. REALLY. He is.

Buffy Summers has posed:
"How's it going, Nick?" she calls casually to the only other person currently in the store, but she's happy to let him do his own thing as she closes shop to the public. Fortunately she is just doing last rounds, closing the store and yes, it is pretty quiet this late at night.

Good thing too, as it means that Nightwing has no trouble slipping in if he so chooses. The door is certainly still unlocked for a few moments longer, and Buffy is used to various Scoobies dropping by after hours for some much needed practice in the secret back room.

Still, she is a bit surprised when she sees the shadowy figure at the front and opens the door with a wry smile. "Hey there, looking for a party? We were just about to close unless you know exactly what you're shopping for..?"

She pushes the door open a few inches for him to step through if he so wishes.

Nightwing has posed:
He certainly is a shadowy figure, but he probably doesn't look like any of her friends. Not unless they go around sporting masks and black and blue costumes at any rate. He looks more like he's out for Halloween -- though that would mean that Halloween came very early this year indeed. Either way, when she opens the door he flashes a brief smile that might be a little reassuring. Then again she's probably used to strange visitors.

"Sorry for the unnaounced drop-by," the dark haired man says quietly, not immediately moving to slip through the door. Not until she gets the chance to hear him out at least. "I've run into you a couple of times, awhile back. First time was at a keroke place. Then at your friend's hotel. You said you might want to see a few of my moves up close," he adds, though he suspects she won't need her memory jogged that much. Still, better safe then sorry. Maybe she has those kinds of encounters all the time.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Stuck on a few verses. Kind of need to be in the right mindset for it to work I think." Nick replies, tilting his head up to look towards Buffy, "Think Willow's going to come by tonight?"

When Buffy addresses a potential customoer, He glances curiously to the entry way. The pencil lowers. That's... not Willow.

He listens in to the explanation. Eyes squinting in assessment. "...oh." He pauses, looking to the jaw line and thinking of the hints given earlier before giving a smile and lifting a hand up in a wave, "Hey Wiggy."

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers frowns as she considers this, peering intently at the shadowy figure. Oh. Oh wait. But he had..Blonde hair..Fake blonde. A small smile creeps up on her face. "Oh! Right, you're...Jason, was it?" Eyes narrow on the costume, stepping back to let him in.

"Come in! I was just closing, but I DID promise to show you my little workout room..You still owe me a few killer moves." she grins and winks, in a slightly playful mood tonight. A second glance is given his costume and she bites her lip, pondering.

"Have I heard of you before...? Night...Something..?"

Looking back to Nick, she shrugs and stifles a yawn. It's been a long work day, but she's eager to stretch her legs. She's already dressed in some comfy maroon yoga pants and a coordinated pink tanktop hidden underneath a marroon track jacket.

"Dunno, guess we'll see. We really need to deal with that..thing, you know?" another blinks is given Nick. "...Wiggy?.....OH!" she laughs. "Riiight, the wig." the fake wig. The fake blonde wig. "Sooo, what do we call you?"

Nightwing has posed:
A faint smirk plays over his expression and he gives a little shake of his head. "I'll have you know that wig was an excellent one. It can't be faulted that I ran into people with enhanced senses," he points out drily, slipping inside the shop so that there is less danger of a passerby taking note of him.

"You might have. I go by Nightwing these days. I've had a few other names of course. Admittedly none of them have ever actually been Jason," he says with a grin, glancing around the little shop with an arched brow. He's done this enough that he has had more then a few run-ins with magic, but it is always something to take note of.

"That's why I'm here, belated as it may be. It was reasonably quiet tonight, and I wasn't that far away. I figured I should drop by, see what you and this place is all about," he says, slowly making a circuit through the room.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"If you were using Jason as an alias when that was actually a name of yours I'd be disappointed." Nick replies, glancing down to his notepad before closing it shut. The muse has taken a break, so he can work on completing the song later. "Because that's something I would do..."

He lifts up a hand. "Still Nick." He offers, assuming that the introduction was long forgotten by now.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers chuckles a bit, shaking her head. "Next time, I'll have to warn you ahead of time about my...Friends with excellent senses." she smirks at the thought, decided to leave it at that. Once he is inside, she closes and locks the door behind him, flipping the 'closed' sign to the outside.

"Nightwing, huh. Cool. I've heard the name before. Hear you're up there with Batman and them. But I've already seen you in action." there is both awe and admiration in her voice as she regards him thoughtfully.

"Well, nice to have you, always good to find like minded people out there, especially when the streets are getting a bit more dangerous each time. I believe you've already met Nick.." she nods to Nick, moving towards his table. "Hey, you gonna join us? I think we might get some practice in, Jason here promised to teach me some useful new tricks."

Nightwing has posed:
"Or is it genius because who would possibly expect anything so lame?" he counters in turn, flashing a grin Nick's way and lifting a hand in return. "Nightwing, Jason, I'm easy. Whatever works," he offers up, his slowly circuit of the shop having apparently reached it's end as he sidles up to the counter.

"You are not wrong. Batman's like family," he says drily. To say the least. "Gotham is a bit of a strange place to grow up. But then I imagine you've seen more then your fair share of strangeness too," he points out. It's just a hunch, but he has learned to trust his instincts.

"The more the merrier," Nightwing chimes in agreeably. While this might be an effort to fulfill a promise made, it never hurts to learn a little more. He might not be quite so paranoid as his mentor but being prepared is how they hold their own in a world with literal gods and cosmic powered superbeings, walking amongst them as equals.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"You can say that again." Nick murmurs at Nightwing's commentary about how Gotham's a weird place to grow up in.

As Nightwing reafirms that he can join in. Nick glances up, giving a bit of a smirk to him and then looking directly to Buffy. "You just want to see my butt getting kicked by someone who isn't you." He gives a bit of a not, grabbing the bag with the sticks in it and opening it to slide in the notepad. "And sure. Not everyday you get an opportunity like this." He stands up, shifting his bag onto his shoulder.

Buffy Summers has posed:
Buffy Summers nods slowly. "Yeaah, real friendly place. Got a bit of a bad reputation. Heck, I've experienced more than my fair share there. I go to the university." she explains. "Never met the bat. Yet. I hear he's not much of a people person though.."

To Nick she shrugs and grins. "You're too modest, Nick. Hey, look, he's got escrima sticks like the ones I gave you. Can probably use 'em better than me too. And that's not something I say lightly. Not to sound arrogant or anything, but I AM a pretty damn good fighter." which is said with only the slightest arrogance mind.

"But enough about that, I'm sure you're just dying to see the back room..C'mon!" and she motions for him to follow as she heads towards a small door at the end that heads to the basement. Of course it's locked and she slides the key in, turning it with a click before popping on some lights and stepping downstairs..

Nightwing has posed:
"It is definitely not everyone's cup of tea," Nightwing agrees with a nod and a half smile, following in behind the other two as they lead the way out of the storefront proper and into the rear of the building. "And he's not so bad, though if you ever get the chance to tell him I said that I will completely deny it," he assures them with a grin.

"Nothing wrong with knowing that you're skilled. There might be a fine line between confidence and arrogance but it's there for a reason," he asserts. He's not much of one for boasting of what he can do, but then he has been trained for years on the importance of information -- knowing his enemies and in turn denying them knowledge about himself. That sort of thing tends to sink in.

"You use escrima too, hmmm? They're pretty useful and damn flexible," the dark-haire hero says with a little nod, reaching back of his shoulder and pulling one of them free from the magnetic stripe that runs down his back. "Of course mine, strictly speaking, are not exactly sticks," he acknowledges.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Most I've run into over there is the female with the glowing logo." Nick comments, "Wasn't really a social thing."

"And I'm not being modest. I'm being realistic. I haven't done it for long and the main reason I picked them was that they felt the most natural to me considering my day job." Nick explains.

He pauses, "It's just I apparently don't have an off switch when it comes to working or practicing."

He looks to Nightwing's weapons. "Ah. Metal?" Oh yeah that's going to hurt. "Hmm. Effective but probably wouldn't be that useful against what she normally runs into. But, maybe a wooden sheath or something for special cases..." He blinks. Shaking his head as he shifts the bag, undoing the top of the fabric fold to pull out one of his, showing it to Nightwing. "What she gave me."