1989/Indiana Jones and the Cat Fancier

Indiana Jones and the Cat Fancier
Date of Scene:	14 August 2017
Location:	Gotham City Museum of Natural History
Synopsis:	Selina Kyle visits the museum to inspect a new exhibit up close and meets the archaeologist who helped make it possible.
Cast of Characters:	Catwoman, Indiana Jones

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Catwoman has posed:
The Gotham City Museum of Natural History has come into its possession a variety of Egyptian artifacts on loan from Egypt itself, part of a traveling exhibit centered around the different gods in Egyptian culture. Osiris. Horus. Thoth. Anubis. Set. Ra.

And, of course, Bast or Bastet depending on the usage or translation.

That's why Selina Kyle has ventured into the museum on this day, not by sneaking in but by actually paying admission like any other normal person. Her ensemble is all black, consisting of a leather motorcycle jacket over a shirt, a comfortable look for the socialite is completed with a pair of pants and ankle boots. She's left any jewelry behind, her only accessory for now being a hard backpack-like case for the motorcycle helmet it holds. The dark color goes with her short hair and stands as a contrast to somewhat pale skin, the only color present being a dark shade of red lipstick.

A beeline was made for the new exhibit, though she was careful to come off like a casual visitor to start with, even inspecting some of the other items behind their protective cases, taking a few moments to study the information-filled placards. Others mill about, in the midst of their own wanderings.

Indiana Jones has posed:
One of those people just milling about stands by one of the statues of Bastet, staring into the case and rubbing at his chin with a quizzical look in his eye.

Dressed in somewhat attire, Indiana Jones is not wearing his trademark fedora or leather jacket, nor is he wearing a suit like when he taught at the universtiy, but has instead clothed himself in a pair of causal blue jeans and a loose fitting grey polo shirt. The stable on his face is at least a day old, as he reaches up and scratches at it idly as he squints at the base of the small idol.

Catwoman has posed:
Selina takes out a phone and takes a few pictures of the statues and other artifacts, along with the information for each, though the phone is occasionally pointed away from them, as if focused on other things. The exhibit might not be the only part about the room she's studying.

Before long, she makes her way over to the Bastet arrangement, the centerpieces consisting of a black feline with gold-colored accents around the neck and head, and another of a standing figure with the head of Bastet, a black and gold dress worn that fits the period it's from.

And, she bumps into Indiana Jones. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't notice you there. I was so caught up on the artifacts, I guess I spaced out and wasn't thinking about what's around me." She laughs, a natural enough sound from her as she reaches up to pat at his shoulder a couple times. "Good thing you stopped me from crashing into everything!"

Indiana Jones has posed:
Jostling ever so slightly as Selina bumps into him, literally, Indy glances over at the woman and smiles. "No harm, no foul, Miss. Can't say I haven't been distracted by objects of beauty myself a time or two." He winks as he combs through his hair with his fingers.

He looks back to the statue, and smiles. "You like her? She was a bitch to get out in one piece. She was smuggled out of the Valley of the Kings in the early '20's, just after Carter found the tomb. She didn't show up on anyone's radar again for almost a century, but rumors about her started to surface and with a little luck I was able to track her down and 'rescue' her. She belonged in a museum, not on a pedestal on some rich guys yacht." He shakes his head, "One bought of rough seas and she would have been toast. The only thing keeping her in place was some of that new fangled putty stuff that is supposed to help against earthquakes."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina composes herself, making a show of adjusting her jacket and repositioning the helmet bag. "Kyle," she interjects after the man begins with 'Miss.' "Selina Kyle, Gotham born and bred. I'm heavily involved in charities for big cats. Maybe you've heard of me?" She flashes him a wide smile, white teeth shown off at the wink he gives her. Clearly he's flirting with her, so she's giving it right back to him. Of course that's what it is.

Then the attention returns to the exhibit and she clasps her hands behind her for a time. "Oh, she's lovely. I've always had a love of ancient Egypt and the gods, especially her. Are you saying you're responsible for finding this?" A brow arches toward the high ceiling, sincere or not. "Wait, I think I recognize you. You're the famous archaeologist, right? Montana Smith, was it?"

Indiana Jones has posed:
"Jones." says Indy with a slight chuckle. "Indiana Jones, but close enough, Miss Kyle." He turns his gaze back to the statue of Bastet, "You could say I was responsible for obtaining it. Depends on whom you ask, really. The guy I acquired it from, he would likely tell you I stole the thing. But it wasn't his to begin with, I don't care how much money he paid for it. Belongs to the people of Egypt if it belongs to anyone."

He rolls a shoulder in a shrug, "I don't believe I have heard of you Miss Kyle. My interactions with big cats tend to be when they are trying to bite or claw at me. I don't blame them, it's just their nature. I just have a deep aversion in not wanting to end up in the kitty litter. Hell, it was a big cat that gave me this scar here." he says as he points to his chin. "Well, I gave myself the scar, trying to use a whip to keep a lion at bay anyway."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina places a hand over her eyes, as if deeply embarrassed. "Oh. My. God. I am /so/ sorry. Of course you're Indiana Jones! I've seen the documentaries!" Now she's making a closer visual inspection of him, all but circling the man completely. "You really do look like you haven't aged a day past forty or so. It's amazing."

She's all cheerful smiles and friendliness at this point, adding, "The adventures all looked so dangerous and exciting, and all to save pieces of history for people like me to enjoy looking at! How noble!" She makes no judgment on the thought of stealing or paying for these things aside from that, moving on to other things as she tries to usher Indiana closer.

"Would you take a selfie with me in front of the statues? I've read so much about Bastet, I almost feel like I knew her. I mean, if the gods were real and not just figments of people's imaginations as something to idolize. But all my friends will be super excited to know I met you." Whether he agrees to the photo or not, she'll peer at his scar and offer sympathetically, "It sounds like you know your way around trouble, at least. I've seen those whips used on lions and tigers in the circus. Cruel things, circuses, keeping those beautiful animals in captivity to perform for others."

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indiana Jones rubs at the stubble on his chin for a moment, "A selfie? Oh! One of those pictures. Sure, why not." Indy moves up next to Selina and squats just slightly so that they are even for the photo, looking to the phone and flashing that grin of his.

Once the photo is taken, he stands up straight and nods, "Let me tell ya, kid, immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be. I've seen most of my old friends, and my wife, die. Life moves on even if you don't."

He sighs, and glances back to the statue, shrugging a shoulder again. "Most of what you see in those movies was true, slightly embellished for Hollywood of course. At least up till the grail that is. That fourth one with the aliens? Total horse shit. I had nothing to do with that one at all, and they took many liberties with that thing. The only thing about it they got right was that I married Marion, but there were no aliens. At least not back then. Now...now I can probably walk out the damned door and stumble on one."

He reaches up and touches the scar absentmindedly. "Yeah, seems like trouble and me are old friends. I was probably 15 or 16 when I had that run in with the lion. Long, long time ago. Never tried to hurt it, it was just doing what it does. But the whip was there and I didn't want to be dinner. Hell, I did more damage to me then anything else with that thing."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina acts like she's going to kiss Indy on the cheek when he poses with her but she stops with her lips about an inch away, flashing the camera a sultry, almost cat-like smile. "They'll be so jealous when they see this," she nearly purrs, returning the wink he'd given her before, then she pockets the phone.

A more serious Selina makes an appearance. "That sounds awful. Nobody thinks about that part, that you're going to outlive everybody you know. They just think about all the things you'll get to see and do." She mulls this over for a few more seconds, looking back to the statues. "I don't know why anybody would want to live forever in that case. Let me grow old and die like normal."

The moment over, it leaves them to talk more about the movies or documentaries, and the incident with the lion. "Oh, you're probably just saying that because of the refrigerator thing," Selina scoffs, glancing toward him as she goes back to skimming a few more of the nearby displays, the phone right back out for more photos. "They /are/ kind of everywhere now," she says of the aliens, then she finishes another thought by explaining, "I know a few people, and they tell me it takes a lot of practice to master the whip. Is that true? It sounds like you're lucky the lion didn't make a meal out of you."

Indiana Jones has posed:
"I was young and stupid. I got lucky." Indy says with a smirk, "But yeah, after a lot of practice I can safely say I am pretty good with a whip now. Hell, it is probably fair to say I am likely one of the people in the world that has the most experience using one." He chuckles with a shrug, "Still, it doesn't beat a good pistol at your side."

As she brings up the fridge, Indy groans. "Do you know know how often I get asked about that damned fridge? Seriously...even if a lead lined fridge would protect you from a nuclear explosion, which it won't, the impact of that fridge being hurled up into the air and bouncing around on the desert floor miles away would have splattered anyone to a pulp. It's just totally unrealistic."

He holds up a hand palm out and fingers open in a placating gesture, "Yes, yes...so is being immortal and people what shoot lasers out of their eyes and what have you, but still...I am not superhuman. I would have been a bag of jello."

Catwoman has posed:
"Everyone has things they probably regret that they did when they were younger, or things they wish they'd have done differently," Selina seems to commiserate, only able to shrug. "But those things make us what we are today." She nods slowly to the talk of a whip compared to a gun, but says nothing about it. Instead, she finds amusement in what he says about that movie scene. "At least they could have made it all more believable, but what do I know?"

The visitor to the museum sniffs in amusement at the comparison to eye lasers and so on, but she directs her attention back to the exhibit. "Tell me more? What you like about all of this, I mean." A hand sweeps out in a gesture that includes the other gods. "Is it just the history? The skill in making these things? Or is there something more to it?"

Indiana Jones has posed:
"Hell, I don't have a doctorate in Physics and even I knew that fridge thing was stupid." says Indy with a smirk. "But hey, it's Hollywood. They decided to make movies out of my life, shows them how smart they are."

Indy combs his fingers back through his hair as he smiles, "I've always had a thing for archeology. I can likely blame that on my father. He was always taking me on tours for his books or lectures. Never really had time for me, and mom died when I was 13, so I dove into the books myself. Just grew into a passion from there. Like father, like son I guess. I used to teach, but I think my true calling was always on the more...adventurous side of things. I don't know if I am a thrill seeker, or just stupid, but it is what it is."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina scoffs, "Sometimes common sense isn't very common. That, or they just didn't care about making it look realistic. No offense, but some of the stuff in the documentaries would be pretty hard for a lot of people to believe, as well."

She studies him with sharp, attentive eyes, nodding slowly as the parental influences are dug into. Meanwhile, she smiles and says, "Hold still for a second," as she goes to take another photo of him or in his general direction as he talks. "I can tell you this city is full of that stuff. You've heard of the Batman, haven't you? The vigilante? Some think he's great for the city. Others say he's a menace. Maybe he's one of those guys who lives for the thrills, too."

Indiana Jones has posed:
"Let's call a spade a spade. They aren't really 'documentaries' and were made for Hollywood types to make money. Did some of that stuff happen? Sure. Did it happen exactly like it did in the movies? Nah, some of that is all made up. Like, how would I know if Belloq's head exploded. My eyes were closed. He may have just denigrated for all I know." Indy shrugs, "I wasn't really consulted on a lot of it."

"I've heard of him, though I am not from Gotham. I live in Manhattan. We have our own spandex wearing guys up there. Seems to be more and more of them floating around as the years go on." He shrugs again, "I don't dress up as a bat and go running around on rooftops, but to each their own. I can't exactly say I am not a sucker myself since I just signed on with SHIELD to work with their priceless relic task force. Retirement didn't fit."

Catwoman has posed:
"Well, I hope you got something decent out of it, at least," Selina replies, gesturing with a hand to simulate the rubbing of money together. "Anyway, everything has a bias somehow, even a documentary. People decide how to edit them, after all. Anything can be presented a certain way, or liberties can be taken. It's all for entertainment. It makes me wonder about the Young Indiana Jones stuff, though." She flashes him that grin again, that flirtatious look, then it's tucked away again as if it's shown with the flip of a switch.

Selina goes on, lingering before the Bastet statues once more, peering closely at every last detail she can see, "Yes, the supers are everywhere. So are the ones they fight, it seems. And SHIELD has a task force for that stuff? I never would have guessed. What do they do?" she wonders, turning a curious eye his way.

Indiana Jones has posed:
"From what I understand, find and protect rare and valuable artifacts. I've only recently been given the job and haven't been on any official missions as of yet, but I suspect they aren't going to be any different than what I am used to, other than I will have a team with me." Indy says with a smile.

"As far as compensation, for the movies, I didn't get a dime, but my son got some. Same with all the other shows, books and whatever based on my life. I was 'dead' at the time. I wasn't always so public about still being around, it is only a recent development that I decided to make my condition more publicly known, and I couldn't exactly show up when I was 85 looking like I was 40."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina appears genuinely interested in this news. "I never knew they had an interest in artifacts and stuff like that. I thought they just, like, fought bad guys around the world." Apparently not, and if this guy is involved with SHIELD and these artifacts...well, that might actually present a real challenge.

"Yeah, I guess they can't pay someone who's believed to be dead. I guess they wouldn't have been able to consult with you in that sense. At least somebody got something." Selina's finally put the phone away for more than about half a minute. The socialite must have taken all the glamour shots of the statues she can think of. "It's just nice to be able to see this sort of thing without going all the way to Egypt. Not everybody can afford that, and I hear it's not very safe over there."

Indiana Jones has posed:
"It wasn't in Egypt when I found it, where I got it from was less sandy and had more machine guns, but something like this belongs in a museum, to be admired by the public, not locked up in a private collection" says Indy with a nod. "But I am pretty sure I already said that before, so no need to rehash the same old thing. As for SHIELD, I think they are after more unique things that don't actually belong in a museum."

Catwoman has posed:
"Yes, you did," Selina verifies as his belief is brought up again. "But I don't hold it against you. It's noble, but what if someone had a claim to it through ancestry? How would you feel about that?" she asks, giving him a philosophical question to chew on before she considers the SHIELD side of things. "It sounds like they've given you some room to do your own thing, at least. Maybe they're after things that have some sort of 'special powers' to them." She offers air quotes to emphasize.

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indiana Jones shrugs and smiles. "If that is SHIELD's mission, I couldn't comment on it even if I knew."

"As for ancestral claims, I can't or wouldn't condemn anyone for that. But when something like this..." he says, motioning to the statue of Bastet "...is taken and bought or sold on the black market? That is a different story entirely. Illegal gains are not subject to 'right of property' if my lawyers are correct. If they aren't....well, at least I have some pretty good lawyers now."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina knowingly nods. "Yes, I'm sure it's some confidentiality, government thing. Sometimes it's nice to be a socialite. Things are so much /easier/ in comparison. You just have to look good in front of a crowd and smile a lot." Said socialite comes back with a nod that seems like basic acceptance of his talk about who has a claim to what. It might be best not to press that matter with him, so she leaves it at, "That said, there's a lot here to admire, and I don't just mean the artifacts. But, I do have other parts of the museum to see before it closes. I wouldn't want to waste my whole day in one area, as interesting as it is. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts about ancient Egypt and Bastet in particular one of these days, though. What do you think? Something over dinner sometime? I know a great place nearby that makes the best gyros." Those are, at least, a partly Egyptian thing.

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy's eyes twinkle just bit as he smiles. "Dinner? I could hardly refuse a request, Miss Kyle. I would be happy to accompany you sometime and you can pick my brain about Egypt to your hearts content. I am sure I will have you bored to tears by the time the dolma arrives at the table." He chuckles, "It was a pleasure speaking with you, Miss Kyle. I do hope you enjoy the rest of the exhibits. Have a good afternoon."

Catwoman has posed:
Selina remarks, "As long as we save room for the baklava afterward. I'm sure I can reach you soon." With that, she waves then turns to depart, the majority of her real reason for being here completed. Photos will be analyzed and blown up later, but there are still a few other parts of the museum to scout out just to see if anything's changed since the last time a certain someone slipped in for a late night visit.