12011/Birds and Bats

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Birds and Bats
Date of Scene: 17 August 2020
Location: China Basin, Old Gotham
Synopsis: After a run-in with the Xiangshi Tong, a gang in the China Basin area of Gotham, Red Robin (Tim Drake) and Sparrowhawk (Pheobe Beacon) encounter The Batman. The two experienced vigilantes pass a judgement on the newer Sparrowhawk
Cast of Characters: Batman, Red Robin, Sparrowhawk




Batman has posed:
    The light from the moon and the curved architecture in the Basin often lends itself to long shadows. In the depths of the old neighborhood, the twisty wend side-streets and alleyways, there are hundreds of places where people can find themselves with only a hint as to what might be just around the corner.
    Low-light vision helps, to be fair, but that can't help in some circumstances. Especially when those in the area are very familiar with it and word can pass quickly.
    At first it was just a handful, Johnny Lu wanting to make his mark in the Basin and start to work up a name for himself. The Bats had seen it many times before. A new face on the scene, wanting to gain some street cred. Go out and make some noise until they get attention. Thing is sometimes that attention isn't what they want when it's of the caped variety.
    Just three of them at first, Johnny and his two cronies, a pair of locals that they might well know. Capable fighters, but nothing compared to the long hours put in by them. It was a quick rush, a clash that ended with the members of the Xiangshi Tong sprawled out looking to try and get up only to find out that it was probably not a good idea.
    That was until the five other gangsters showed up in that back alley...

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake looks around at the new players and will call their positions out softly to Beacon. "You take those two, I have these three." He has a couple of batarangs in his hand and looks to the three on his side making a bring it move, ready to use the bat families ranged weapons if they have guns.

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    Johnny Lu wanted to make his mark. Probably not on the pavement, but there was probably a mark there. Phoebe kept her distance from them, stepping forward a little as she caught her breath. Her fingers tightened around the staff she was carrying, not willing to pop out the light so quick. "High and low?" she questions to Tim, with an almost amused note to her voice before she gives an adjustment to her stance, defensive as she eyeballs the two, sizing them up before she narrows her eyes behind the mask. "Pop smoke?"

Batman has posed:
    No firearms, not yet at least, but they do start to spread out with one half-jogging toward the mouth of the alley as if they might cut off their escape. Johnny Lu can be heard groaning from his place on the ground, grimacing as he slaps a hand onto the dirt and gravel and starts to push himself back and away, wincing as he flops over onto his other side.
    For a time the tension builds as those gangsters move, then hold. Robin's batarangs are observed, and that glowing staff might well cause some trepidation. Several of the Tong snap into defensive stances, their movements speaking to their own training as they square up. One pulls something from his jacket and hides it in the palm of his hand while another lashes an arm out to the side as a baton /snaps/ to full extension.
    Then behind them in sharply accented Mandarin, Johnny Lu growls, << What are you waiting for, kill them! >>
    And as quick as that the gangsters are rushing them.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake will nod to Beacons question and he says "1 from each of us." He says as he tosses one of the batarangs at the man palming something and his other hand brings out a smoke bomb, his visor switching to heat as the smoke starts to bellow out. He tosses the last two rangs to pin Johnny to the ground by this shirt. As he staps towards his opponents in the smoke, how own staff telescopes to full size as he pulls it from his belt.

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    Beacon lets hers switch over as Tim pops smoke, and then she flexes her fingers and tosses a pellet as well before she rushes into the fray. She comes in low, her padded feet whispering against the wet pavement. She gives her own staff a spin, using it to vault herself up, and as she's airbone she brings the staff down, through the space between one man's ribs and arm, and as she lands she uses her own momentumn to launch him into the air, throwing him backwards as she lands in a crouch -- using the follow-through of her own staff to try and rob the other man of his standing by swinging around, and trying to knock in his knees!

Batman has posed:
    Johnny had been trying to push himself back to his feet, scowling as he winced with an injured knee each time he tried to put weight on it, only for him to have his attempt to pull himself up against the wall confounded by he whir/PING! of impact from Robin's batarang slicing into the arm of his jacket and impaling it against the wall, holding him there for now at least.
    The other batarang slices across the hand of the other gangster who had been drawing that hidden weapon, a six inch stiletto suddenly smacked free and skittering across the ground under a pile of recently discarded refuse.
    Then they throw, the smoke billowing with a rush of bilious clouds that surge forth from the small capsules. At first the short-sharp flash causes the gangsters to check their charge, and then when the haze becomes strong they rush forward with a renewed sense of urgency.
    Then Phoebe rushes in, visible for an instant as she makes that leap above the smoke, that staff whirling like a gyre to slash across the distance and /crack/ hard into the side of one of the gangsters, he emits a loud yowl as he staggers back, trying to maintain guard yet his comrades likely give him the respite he needs for two others rush from either side toward the young vigilante.
    Tim is not ignored either, as the remaining others rush in his direction, a short sharp, "KIYAI!" is heard as one of the men goes leaping in a flying kick, extended foot slicing through the smoke causing it to swirl behind him in a spiral even as he impacts... nothing.
    For Robin is no longer there, the smoke doing its job and shielding him from the now suddenly desperate gangsters who search around for where he went.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake will start to spin his staff, the high pitched whistle starting it's eerie call. He steps forward and brings the staff low as the man lands to impact with his ankle, take the pins out and it is hard to be all leapy. He steps towards the man who had the knife and will launch into a kick much like the first guy did but silent, letting them wonder if they maybe hitting one another. He does subvocal to Beacon "Looks like you got the three, let me know if you need any assistance."

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    Phoebe learned one thing early, training with Tim -- staying still may kill you.

    She had rolled backwards, the only sound the whisper of the thick cape as it drew back over her shoulders. As the two others rush in, following the cry from their compatriot, the young woman shifts herself, drawing to a stand before she shrinks back a little. She draws herself into a ready position, drawing her staff up as the two come in looking for her in the smoke. She dodges one, sweeping in low to try to take the other off his feet with an upsweep of her staff end.

    "Thanks for the head's up, mind your six in case one tries to grab the knife back."

Batman has posed:
    That Johnny Lu hasn't sat still while this has been going on, he still tries to pull himself fully upright, yanking at his sleeve in an effort to pull his arm free. There's a stern grimace on his face as he yells, << You idiots are embarrassing! Your families will suffer! >>
    Yet try as he might, the sleeve is stuck against the wall, so he starts to take the jacket off.
    Yet those fighters facing Beacon and Robin don't have the luxury to hold off or pay attention to whatever he's saying. At least not yet. For one just had his ankle shattered, falling to the ground and shrieking at his twisted foot, and another staggers back from the impact of the youth's boot into his chest, sending him falling back into that pile of refuse, his fall accompanied by the loud ruckus of metal and plastic pieces surrendering to his weight.
    Meanwhile Phoebe's opponents bracket her as she takes that ready stance, the gravel in the alleyway crunching under their steps. They look at each other, one nods, the other nods, then they rush. She makes that smooth dodge to the side, slipping past the approach of the other as his swing goes wild. Then she snaps that staff around and slices at the back leg of the other, stealing him of his balance and sending him unceremoniously to the ground with a heavy whumpf...
    Yet that perhaps gives the other enough time to correct and try to get in close enough to throw his arms over her shoulders and try and control her, likely expecting one of the others to start hitting her as she's restrained.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake will turn to face Beacon, tot see how she is doing. He makes sure his visor shows whats going on hind him in a small window, so he will know when if the guy in the junk gets up and comes towards him. He gives Beacon a show of confidence, not moving in right away. He knows where her specialties lie. He will start to walk towards Johnny and brings his staff to rest right under the man's chin in one quick movement.

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    Phoebe has her situation well handled.
    In a smooth motion, she brings her arm down and to the side, collapsing her staff as she goes to make sure she doesn't trip herself up as she swings her arms up. Her gloves grip into her assailiant's shirt and jacket, pulling at him. She tamps down her powers as much as she dares as shdraws herself upwards, almost leaning against his arms and chest, bringing her hands and arms out to try and break his hold, or at least loosen it. She didn't want to hurt him on her armor, after all! -- and then with a grunt, she brings herself down, and she bodily SWINGS the man who's grabbed her, throwing him further out the alleyway as she draws down to a feline crouch, her eyes narrowing.

Batman has posed:
    That man is thrown bodily toward that alleyway opening, the waves of smoke billowing around him as he hits and skids and grunts from the impact. Around them they have things relatively under control even as Johnny is still struggling to pull his hand clear and out of that sleeve. But around them...
    It's at that point in a fight when they can tell some of the fight is gone out of them, that some of them are entertaining the notion of running or giving up, but not wanting to lose face in front of the others, save for the one that is still moaning and clasping at his broken ankle.
    Yet there's a moment there... as the gangsters are looking between themselves, a moment pregnant with portent even as Johnny is snarling as he tells them, << Get them! Our men are on their way! Just keep them here! >>
    It's a moment when the situation either breaks again into violence. Or it ends.
    And then out of the smoke a tall dark silhouette appears, carrying something heavy upon its shoulders that as the figure steps into the light of that alleyway and drops them to the ground... resolve into the unconscious bodies of two more gangsters. Then a rough voice is heard, grim and severe that Tim recognizes, but Phoebe will not.
    The men are on their way?
    "No, they're not."
    And in that very specific moment when the fight could go either way, it's enough to push the situation over the edge as those gangsters... slowly hold up their hands and start to put them on their heads.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake nods, and will move to zip tie Johnny, and says "Sparrowhawk, get them secured, and lets leave them for GPD." He tells her this knowing a first Batman visit can distract some people, and figuring this the best way to make sure she is not to stunned by it. He will move to secure his other opponents, and looks to Batman and asks "Which?" Simply as he is pretty sure the Bat will want to talk on one of the nearby rooftops out of earshot of the goons.

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    No, Phoebe will not recognize the grim voice of The Bat -- but it makes even her pause as she steps torwards the wall to give him space, shrinking back a little as her tampening on her powers ceases as her heartbeat gets much faster than it was fighting criminals. Batman has that affect on people. She breathes out as Tim's voice comes to her ear, enough to break off that sense of awe, and she gives a sharp nod, and goes about securing her side of the group, doling out cuffs and security like... well, candy as she works, quickly, making sure nothing's too tight -- but definitely enough to hold them still!

Batman has posed:
    Standing in the middle of the alleyway, the Batman remains silent even as Sparrowhawk and Robin make quick work as they secure the fallen. The two unconscious gangsters that the Dark Knight brought in are already zip-tied and under control. But the others after this brawl are secured with a professional alacrity that causes the elder Bat to quirk his eyebrow. Yet remain silent.
    << You think you got this! You don't have anything! After this you'll have more than Johnny Lu to worry about, Batdemon! I have powerful friends! >>
    Which does cause the Batman to turn slowly, and walk across the distance. Footsteps crunching on the gravel. One hand slithers forward from underneath the curve of that heavy cloak that hangs over his shoulders, grabbing hold of Johnny by the throat. And then, in perfect accentless Mandarin, Batman responds.
    << I don't worry about you at all. >>
    The reaction from Johnny is silence.
    Rising, once the others have finished securing the criminals he turns to face them. Irisless white eyelets falling heavily first on Robin, then on Sparrowhawk. For a time there's silence between them, only broken by the moaning from the man with the broken angle. Then his arm reappears from the folds of the cloak, holding a grapple line now that snaps with a bang and a hiss as the line fires. There's the whirl as the line uncoils and the faint clink as the claw attaches to the lip of a nearby building.
    The line starts to draw taut, then finally the Dark Knight murmurs. "Follow me."

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake will pull his own grapple out aiming a bit to the side of where Bat's hits out of an almost reflex action. He looks over making sure Beacon has her grapple before he pushes the button and starts to rise into the sky and disappear into the darkness.

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    Sparrowhawk draws hers as well -- with less familiarity than they have. Her hand shakes slightly, but she aims, fires, and as the line draws taut she follows the Bat and the Bird into the darkness above.

Batman has posed:
    It isn't far, a building across, one down. A higher vantage point from which they can keep an eye on where the gangsters are restrained. Already down the street there's the red and blue flashes of light reflecting off the tall walls of the street on either side, sirens heard distantly but drawing closer.
    When they land he is waiting for them, dark silhouette visible within the shadow of an old converted water tower. He'll wait til they're before him, then once they're settled he turns his head toward Sparrowhawk. "On the full extension you get more control if you roll your wrist outwards."
    No preamble. No introduction. Simply information given. Though Tim might well recognize the implications of it. Then he turns his head towards Robin and says in that same stern tone. "What are her weak-points?"

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake looks over and says "Still learning to expect what some of the criminals will pull, If she is wanting to put someone down hard she had to do it at the range of the staff" He says both of which he would have talked to her about in the past. "Field awareness needs a bit more but it is improving."

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    Phoebe is hanging back a little bit, and gives a thick, anxious swallow. Learning Tim was Red Robin as one thing. The fact that she felt like she's been getting graded on their patrols sunk onto her shoulders as much as the sudden gut-punch realization that Batman was standing less than ten feet away from her discussing her weak points.

    She remains quiet, listening. Best thing to do, when teachers talk.

Batman has posed:
    As Tim finishes speaking the silence lingers just a few heartbeats longer than it needs to with the man staring at his young protege. Then he turns slightly, cape flaring for a brief moment as he faces Phoebe. His brow furrows as she likely gets the sense that if she was being graded and measured before, now... the weight of his regard might feel like several anvils resting upon her shoulders, dropped from on high.
    His chin lifts and then he says to her, "Tell me why you want to do this."
    No hedging, no hesitation as the words are delivered with that steady growl. His body language, such as can be seen, is calm. But there is the subtle intensity in every way the man holds himself.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake waits in silence, he told Phoebe a time like this would come maybe not the exact questions, but that the Batman had a bit of judging feeling to him, heck even to Tim still. He does not coax her, but he will look to her giving what support he can silently. Part of him wanting to stand beside her hold her hand, but knowing this is one she has to do on her own.

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    "I love Gotham. The city is worth fighting for." she states without hesitation. That was the bare-bones end of it. She didn't dwadle on the answer, and it was one delivered in earnest, but it was a surface answer. Other things ran deep. Phoebe stands a little straighter as Batman watches her, feeling his gaze pierce through her. Her own stance was ill at ease. Her weight shifts from foot to foot, subtlely, and beneath the cowl that Tim had built up for her, her cheeks burned.

Batman has posed:
    "There are other ways to fight for Gotham." His tone is steady and he's unmoving for now. The breeze picks up and plays at the edges of their capes, drifting and flaring faintly as he stands there with the moon slowly sliding behind that water tower above them.
    His eyes narrow slightly, those eyelets thinning to slits. Then he adds, "Why do you /want/ to do this?" Perhaps this particular way.
    "To be out here. Putting yourself and others in danger." That question Tim might recognize, for he had similarly gone through such a gauntlet.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake does he had a long road to being Robin from the time when he came and told Batman he needed a new Robin. He watches Phoebe, and Batman both. He can read the hero a bit more than most and watches them both for their reactions to one another.

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    Phoebe was quiet for a moment. She had an answer to the question, she had rehearsed it. She had said it in the mirror until it felt right -- and right at this moment, it didn't. Her shoulders rise up, her hands drawing into loose fists, as if she might try to fight her way out of the question -- but the words wouldn't come to her mouth. Instead, she replies in a quiet voice, eyes still up at those white slits. She is quiet for more heartbeats than what was needed, speaking just above the movements of their capes.

    "... they never found the person responsible for lighting the Narrows Fire that killed my dad. It hurt every day until I found out I had a gift, and began using it to help others. Robin's giving me the framework to improve and help others."

Batman has posed:
    The silence before she speaks is a strong one, and it's clear it takes her a great effort to break it. Yet the words do come and when they come she likely won't see them register upon the grim figure of the Batman. There is so little to read him there in that shadowy rooftop. His jawline is firm, stern in that silent consideration. She offers her story in just those few words. And after she speaks the silence remains like an unwanted guest upon the rooftop alongside them.
    Three heartbeats. Four. Then he turns and tells Robin firmly, "She works with the others. Without your guidance. Put her in the rotation."
    His head tilts to the side as he once again looks at Phoebe. Sparrowhawk. Then he gives a nod. "We'll speak again in two weeks."
    That said he turns, footsteps silent as he begins to walk across that gravelly rooftop.

Red Robin has posed:
Tim Drake hmmms and nods. He does frown a bit as he likes working with her, but he is not going to argue he does see the logic in this. He does move to stand beside her, and take her hand though.

Sparrowhawk has posed:
    For those heartbeats, Phoebe felt like her heart stopped. Her hands quivered until she balled them into loose fists as Batman continued to look through her -- and then when he turns to Robin and speaks, her heart kicked back on, hard, and she releases the breath she wasn't sure she was holding.

    She gives an affirmative nod to Batman when he states that they would speak again, and then he turns to leave.

    Her gloved hadn slips to Tim's, and she squeezes it tightly, then whispers: "... he's /terrifying/."

Batman has posed:
    With no further words, the Dark Knight continues to walk across the roof. Then he reaches the ledge. He steps off into the abyss between the buildings, cloak flaring behind him like the wing of a great beast of the night, then disappears from view almost instantly. It leaves the two young vigilantes there alone. With only the sounds of the city around them.