1431/Body Language, Inc.

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Body Language, Inc.
Date of Scene: 12 July 2017
Location: Gotham
Synopsis: Batgirl and Elliot meet and have a conversation without ever saying a word.
Cast of Characters: Batgirl (Cain), Little Blackhawk




Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    It was around noon. And, Cassandra had been feeling particularly restless. So much so she'd already practiced several rounds of attacking the training dummies, but neither Bruce or anyone else had been around to actually train with. So, Cassandra had decided to yet become even more familiar with Gotham's streets from the street level. And, for that, the small asian girl had donned a simple black tank stop that covered her belly and a pair of cargo pants, both loose-fitting. And, she'd ambled off into the streets on a pair of comfortable canvas walking shoes.
    She had no real direction she was headed, but, at least she was moving. And, she was reading people as she walked, saying nothing. She saw the couple in love. The couple that was walking together to save face but were clearly going to fight - and fight a lot - when they got home. The lonley old man. The silently raging young person. The heartbroken middle aged woman. Cassandra saw through all the fake smiles.
    But, this was nothing new to her. Instead, she meandered through the streets, pausing at alleyways as if curious how odd they looked in the daylight. Or, to study, perhaps, vantage points and drop points for each of them from this height. What one of her 'victims' might be able to see.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot just acquired her lunch. She's in Gotham almost on a lark. Work is already done and there's no reason to head back to the airport before evening and that lends itself well to aimless wandering. At this exact moment she is moving past the broken couple, studying them with wide, silent eyes. She's seen what Cassandra did and is mentally trying to piece together the specifics. She also saw the bruise on his arm.
    At this point Elliot is passing by one of the alleys now. The sidewalk is empty around her and her expression is one of careful cotnemplation as she moves to open the large paper bag she is carrying and look down into it to study the contents. It's a 'pizza' sub. Pepperoni meatballs, marinara sauce, plenty of cheese. The scent is probably obvious even at the far end of the alley way.
    Elliot is dressed far more practically than last time. The pleated skirt she's wearing is of a similar length but her boots are ankle height and brown, her top a black t-shirt tucked beneath the broad waist band of her skirt. Less likely to be stained anyway. Elliot does nto appear to have seen Cassandra yet. OF course, appearances can be deceptive.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Of course, Cassandra had no lunch. And, since Alfred does not cater to the Clocktower, it's unlikely she made herself any lunch - or breakfast for that matter, save, perhaps, a glass of orange juice. The smell of food catches her nose, and she turns to consider Elliot, recognizing her. And, Cassandra watches the girl from a slight distance. There is no approaching, and she's not staring lewdly, or in any other sort of odd way. She's watching, as one might politely watch a politican speak, or a tennis match going on and remaining near the alley's entrance, out of the way of other foot traffic.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot looks up and for a moment she is studying Cassandra. In much the same way as the other girl it isn't lewd, just informative. The blonde cnats her head to the left and takes a deep breath before giving a slow shrug of her shoulders. Then the girl holds up the bag, arching an eyebrow to add the unnecessary question to it. It's a pretty big bag. It probably contains a lot of food... Though there's only one way to tell. She plants her foot slightly, takes a deep breath... ANd just waits to see what happens.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    One thing a thing girl like Cassandra does not need to worry about is too many calories. In her case, with the level of physical exertion she outputs between training, and more nocturnal activities it might, in fact, be just the opposite. But that's not what she's thinking about, when the bag is offered. She smiles, just a bit, at Elliot, and moves over to the other young girl as if perfectly understanding what Elliot is doing, and offering her.
    This, curiously, does not seem out of place to Cassandra, that Elliot hasn't spoken a word. That she hasn't either. And that most everyone else is passing them by, talking to partners in low tones or minding their own business and seeming to either be very rushed, very depressed, or very worried.
    It's Gotham.
    She stops, a polite foot or so away from Elliot. Looks at the bag, curiously, then looks back at Elliot, before smiling faintly again. There's a nod of affirmation. She didn't realize how hungry she was, until just now.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot nods as well and then takes a deep breath. She shrugs faintly then and reaches into the bag. The halves of the twenty inch toasted sub sandwich are both wrapped in foil to keep them steaming hot and she demonstrates this by unwrapping one end of the long foil package to allow steam to escape in a small cloud. This done Ellie presents the sandwich to Cassandra carefully with both hands. The bag is tucked under her arm.
    Elliot might think it is a little odd Cassandra didnt' speak but she's comfortable this way in a way otehr people aren't. Rather than comment she lets her body language do the talkign for her. There's no ulterior mtoive here. The girl is just sharing her sandwich because someone else looekd hungry. Someone who walks and talks as she does- silently, and alone. The girl returns the fant smile with oen of her own, blue eyes intense while she studies Cassandra's face.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Cassandra nods, in a formal manner of acceptance, a token of respect to Elliot, before taking the half of sandwhich. She considers how hot it is, and, the delicious smells that the steam provides, before she takes a healthy bite of it, unhurried. Clearly, not a homeless girl. She is not wolfing it down greedily like she might never see a sandwhich again and hadn't ever seen one before. Her eyes sweep the streets, briefly, before her head turns to the side of the alley, and she looks to Elliot.
    Her head shifts, slightly and her shoulder moves too, her foot points in that direction. A silent suggestion of, they should go sit over there. And then Cassandra is walking over to the building's side, and settling against it without much of a care for what people might think.
    She takes another bite of the sandwhich, watching Elliot further, finding it curious now that it's nearly effortless to be with the other girl.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot nods and moves over to the spot Cassandra picked and settles inbeside her without a second thought. Observers are paid at least oen glance of attention before they are ignored utterly. Elliot instead unwraps her own sandwich and takes a bite as well.
    A mistake. Tears well briefly in Elliot's eyes but she laughs it off and then takes another large mouthful, cheese and sauce hanging briefly with a piece of pepperoni tangled into it. The girl pulls this into her mouth using her tongue and lips then goes about chewing. She'll continue to eat like this for awhile. maintainign that companionable presence.
    Yes, it's odd. Still, it's the nice kind of odd. Elliot finds herself more relaxed than she ever is and it shows in the way she blissfully enjoys her sandwich without even keeping her eyes trained on the surrounding darkness. Still, to Cassandra's perceptions Elliot is always wary. She's a fighter, and prepared for something to happen at any moment.
    That makes sense anyway, given how the pair met previously.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
5tCassandra smiles a little bigger, then, at Elliot's mess, but she doesn't quite laugh out loud. Not yet, anyways. She does take another bite of her sandwhich, seeming quite relaxed, herself. There's no wariness about her, in the least. More, if anything, and underlaying confidence. Assurity. She, unlike nearly other person traversing the street, is not preoccupied with fear, or misery, or love, or - well, any of those things. And she has a free, delicious sandwhich, courtesy of Elliot.
    She wipes the corners of her mouth with her fingers, licks them off like a child might without any concern for social graces before taking another bite, and regarding Elliot with a more thoughtful look.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot doesn't look up from her sandwich until Cassandra looks at her. She managed to salvage the situation regarding falling cheese and pepperoni in the end and afterward shifted her grip so that the sandwich paper would catch any new stragglers. From there eating has proceeded without much difficulty. Her sandwich simply doesn't disappear as quickly as Cassandra's did.
    Blue eyes meet those of the girl beside Elliot and she is still for a moment, her mouth hovering about an inch above hot, toasted bread. She still doesn't say a word, letting that pose convey curiosity before she lsowly moves to take another bite. It isnt' that the girl is not also curious. She has simply set that curiosity aside, leaving to Cassandra to inquire further for the moment.
    Elliot has many other thingsto concern her, something thatm ight even be told by her expressions. But right now noen of them is as prevlaent as Cassandra herself.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Cassandra sets the sandwhich down, keeping the foil-side up so it doesn't touch the pavement and get soiled or dirty. Then, she simply reaches out to touch Elliot's hand and squeeze it, as if to say silently: You're safe with me. Other people might mistake it for something of reassurance, or even a flirtation by the truly distracted or those truly inept at reading body language and emotions.
    Then, she picks up her sandwhich again, taking another bite as the life of the sandwhich dwindles down to nearly nothing. She eats, silently. Watches, to make sure Elliot understands.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot nods once. She looks around again briefly but when she settles back against the wall it is with a renewed sense of calm. The girl eats more quickly now, taking her time but chewing determinedly in a way which makes up for alacrity with raw persistence.
    Once the sandwich is halfway done the blonde blinks and glances over at her companion again. She looks her over briefly from head to toe and adjusts her stance slightly. It's a familiar one. As with Cassandra someone less perceptive would see flirting but instead she's subtly mimicking a martial arts stance with how she's holding her feet. A question.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Cassandra sees no reason to lie to Elliot. She does not think the possiibility that down the road she and Elliot might meet again when she is wearing the cowl, or consider that over several such meetings, such things might easily give her away to Elliot. She tilts her head, and then simple smiles an uneven, knowing sort of lopsided grin in answer. She shrugs her shoulders as if to say, 'Maybe a little', but the rest of her body language shows deep amusement and a lot of smugness.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot archesa brow at that and nods. She obs her shoulders slightly, shifting her weight fom left to right. The girl licks her lef thumb and then carefully wraps her sandwich again- what's left, at least- setting it down on the ground beisde her. Then she turns toward Cassandra with an exaggerated slwness. There's amusement in her expression alongside curiosity. Elliot isn't quite smug but she's definitely confident. She is about half a step from asking Cassandra to show her something, apparently. That confidence caught her attention. A slow smile works its way across the blonde's features now.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Standing, after finishing off her own sandwhich, Cassandra tossles the side of her hair a little bit, but seems interested in whatever it is Elliot wishes to show her. Of course, she's guessing it has something to do with martial arts, and the girls ability or knowlege in that specific field. But she'll wait. And see.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot arches a brow. She was waiting to see if Cassandra would do anything, apparently. That not being the case the girl gives a slow nod and then takes a deep breath. She starts with fundamentals. Roundhouse, cross job, block, and then moving into basic combinations. The girl shrugs as if to say 'I know the basics'. It's obvious by how hse moves that there's more knowledge to be gleaned. Now, however, Elliot cnats her head toward Cassandra... And waits.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Perhaps disappointingly, Cassandra shakes her head in a negative fashion, nodding instead towards the passersby with clear indication that if they were to start sparring someone would notice, and misinterpret the intent. Instead, Cassandra backs away slowly. She leans down in the alleyway, and - strangely, she begins to pick up several rocks of various sizes. Once she has a handful of these, she walks over to Elliot, takes the girls hand, and gently distributes the gathered items into Elliot's hand and looks at her as if to say: Wait.
    Then, Cassandra neatly hops up onto an open dumpster, balancing herself onto the edge of the dumpster. Elliot may, or may not recognize Cassandra taking the Crane Stance, and then she nods and makes a gesture along with a smile, as if to say, 'Try to hit me'.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot tilts her head and frowns but ultimately she slowly nods. The girl is holding the rocks between the fingers of her right hand- all save the two largest which she keeps in her palm. She takes up one in her left and takes a deep breath. Elliot twists slightly and walks a few steps, considering Cassandra.
    Elliot, for the record, has perfect aim when throwing. This one would hit Cass in the shoulderi f it lands. The smallets, tossed carefully to see how this is likely to go. The second follows, and the third not long after. She's kept the largest for now, waiting to see how the exercise will be handled before she makes serious throws.
    Some of these could break your nose, after all.

Batgirl (Cain) has posed:
    Cassandra keeps perfect balance. Almost impossibly so. Her body weaves down, arms flat and perfectly extended, palms down and like two wings of a plane at first. before her body twists to the side, her arms changing position as she stands back up to full height and makes herself smaller, and then she is lifting one leg off the dumpster's edge to lower herself quickly, and even further down than the first with a slight twist to her body.
    Her weight distribution, and her balance is nothing short of amazing and perhaps even beyond Olympic level. The sort of thing you read about Shaolin Monks doing.
    But, the exercise seems to be over for her, and she jumps down, smiles briefly to Elliot, and everything about her says that she should get moving, and that she has probably stayed longer than she intended. But, she had fun.

Little Blackhawk has posed:
    Elliot nods at this 'statement' from Cricket, shrugs, and then bends down to pick up her sandwich. As her friend leaves she will content herself finishing off the sandwich. It's cool enough she doesn't even burn herself this time. So far so good, really. Elliot seems to be incliend to believe that they will meet again.