2804/Two Men and a Lady

Two Men and a Lady
Date of Scene:	11 October 2017
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Shiva speaks to Nightwing in front of Robin. She spills the beans on the challenge she made for a fight in one year.
Cast of Characters:	Nightwing, Robin (Wayne), Lady Shiva
Tinyplot:	Shivonic Plague

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Nightwing has posed:
    The wind is often brisk atop the rooftops of Gotham. The time of year is making the turn, lending a chill to the nights and causing what clouds that drift across the city to float low, obscuring the skyline and lend a spooky. Autumn has come upon the city and as proof its one tree has lost its leaves. But for the vigilantes who frequent the night time highway across the rooftops, all it means is they have to switch at times to thermograph to keep an eye on the population, and maybe a scarf.
    Both of which are in evidence for the moment as the pair of vigilantes stand tall at the edge of one of the abandoned tenements in the Narrows, casting their gaze downwards. It's been a quiet night, easy-going, barely a mugger to split between the two of them. But the new Robin's kept up perfectly, having learned much in his time with the family and showing improvement every instant he's exposed to new knowledge.
    For a moment, Dick catches himself smiling faintly as he eyes Damian askance. It's almost like seeing a young Bruce rushing about. But he shakes his head and comes back to the here and now.
    "Police scanner says that call was a false alarm. Cat snuck in through a broken widow." He touches a fingertip to the mask that provides much of his intel and his link to the BatNet. "And the Russians are keeping a low profile tonight. I dunno, maybe we're done? Maybe we finally beat up all the crime." His lip twitches slightly.

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian had kept up with his older counterpart. Currently looking over the edge of the building.

  "Yes, surely all of it is scared away." Sarcasm, so yummy. "If they are keeping quiet, it could mean one of two things, they are planning something bigger, or someone is encroaching on our turf." It's no secret that vigilantism in Gotham is pretty much run by Batman, but there were a few upstarts not associated with the group that have been coming more active in the city. To Damian, this presented an annoyance more-so than assistance.

Nightwing has posed:
    "Hey, it's possible." Nightwing offers in a tone of voice that says no it's not possible at all. But he starts to step to the side of that old apartment building. At the base of it the chain link fence surrounding the condemned venue is rusty, nobody having the gumption or perhaps the assets to purchase the place and revitalize it. Perhaps because of its location, perhaps because of the still rather high crime-rate in this neighborhood. Yet here they are.
    Crouching on the edge of the building he touches the side of his mask again, scanning through remote intel as he talks to his brother in arms over his shoulder, "Thing is, it's usually like a pendulum. The Russians go quiet, then the Ukrainians start to swing their ooh-oohs around." Ever so proper, Mr. Grayson.
    He stands up, kevlar and leather creaking as he adjusts the black scarf around his neck and grimaces. "But now they're both quiet, so what's that say?"

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian crunches some of the gravel underfoot, taking a moment to think. "Could mean collusion. As rare as that may be. Or that they are both retreating and possibly plotting a war between them." Robin very much doubts the former.

  Always the student, Damian removes his sword from its sheath, it was different from the one he had lost in the warehouse, still getting used to its style. A quick slash and thrust, shadow fighting. "So, what do you think it is?"

Lady Shiva has posed:
    A faint sound floats to the pair of vigilantes. The sound of the gravel on the rooftop shifting under the weight of a step. Practically no sound at all. It is the polite way to let them know they are no longer alone. The assassin version of a 'hello'. A soft voice follows a moment later. "Perhaps there is another option."
    Standing on the opposite side of the rooftop is Shiva. Her black trench coat shifts in the breeze, her long hair lifting and falling fitfully in the zephyr. Her stance is casual, hands resting at her sides, not moving closer as she give them plenty of distance. It gives her the same should their reactions be less than polite.
    She shifts her dark gaze to Robin then back to Nightwing, a faint quirk of her lips upwards in what might pass for her version of a smile. "Another Robin? I may have to speed up my timelines." Her words are for Nightwing, as though the other vigilant isn't even there.

Nightwing has posed:
    Rounding quickly, Nightwing's response is finished even before he realizes exactly who's there. Twin batons snapping into his hands as he slips smoothly into a defensive stance. It takes the space of a heartbeat, two, before he slowly straightens up, his forward foot sliding on the gravel as he rises. Behind the mask his brow furrows with consternation, but his first impulse it to look to Damian, make sure the boy is out of range of the woman.
    A step forwards and he says, "What do you want, Shiva?" Not exactly open with small talk, not with her at least. Nightwing glances to the side subtly, perhaps making sure no one else is approaching or around them. Then again, when has Shiva ever needed to work with others?
    "We had an agreement." He says that levelly, putting it out there as if using it as a weapon to be drawn forth in her presence.

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     The faint step does garner a quick turn from the former assassin. Holding his sword at the ready, one palm against the spine of the sword as it is held in front of himself.

  "Shiva..." He is aware of her dealings with the League. The young al Ghul defiantly keeps on edge. Hood up, and the pupil-deprived eyes of the mask fixated directly on her.

  "What agreement?" He asks the elder Robin, not moving his focus from Lady Shiva.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    That smirk that passes for a smile remains in place. Shiva never moves. She doesn't shift her weight nor change her stance. A statue if not for that wind dancing around her and causing those little movements of leather or locks of hair. That sense of peace surrounds her as always, not a care in the world that she is facing two of the most skilled combatants in this city. They classify above most of the Assassins and Hand members she has met. Yet, there is no sign of tension as she remains in place.
    "We still have an agreement," she murmurs. The tone would be accompanied by a wave of the hand were she anyone else. She knows to move her hands would cause them to react anew. Her hands remain at her sides. "You have eleven months before your payment is due."
    She turns her head a fraction, focusing on the new Robin intently now. The way he moves, the stance and posture with the sword. "I am not here to fight. This time." Her focus goes back to the elder. "I simply came to see how your training is progressing. You are training, aren't you, Little Bat?"

Nightwing has posed:
    There's a short glance spared for Damian. They might notice it, but it's so quick that it's gone almost instantly. Nightwing lowers the batons, but doesn't holster them yet, keeping them light in his hands, one faintly swirling in a circle once as he gives her a nod. "I am." He steps forwards, just enough to perhaps take the center line a little stronger, in case Shiva decided to move, putting him in the path before Damian would be.
    "Eleven months is a long time, I'll be ready." For a moment he stares at her, both of them saying nothing for that instant, but after the span of a few breaths he slides those batons back into place with a faint click as they lock into place.
    "Does something else bring you here, or are you just checking up on me?" His brow knits slightly, "Thought you might have had something to do with the Yingtze Tong thing that went down."

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian's brow furrows a bit more. His patience wearing thin, he lowers his sword, flourishing it as he had done since he was first taught swordsmanship, and swiftly sheathing it.

  He steps forward, keeping his fists clenched. "What are you talking about, Nightwing?" His tone was even, if not a good deal stern.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    A faint shift of her head from left to right. "No, that was your Ukrainians." Shiva replies, again the tone one that might have a shrug were she not who she is. "They took offense at the Yingtze Tong being near their territory and chose to make an example. I was in the employ of the Tong at the time but not at that location when the attack started." She does not share more but that little bit is likely enough for the apprentices of the World's Greatest Detective.
    She wasn't there when it 'started'.
    There was no sign of the Ukraininans being present at the crime scene.
    The Ukrainians were now lying low for some reason.
    "Im am certain they will return to business as usual when I finish my contract with the Tongs. Seventy-two hours."
    At the demand from Robin, she flicks her gaze back to him and the smirk is back on her lips. "Ahhh. He hasn't told you, Little Bird. Pity."

Nightwing has posed:
    For a moment Nightwing looks uncomfortable. Because in truth, no he hadn't told any of the Batfamily. He'd know the old man's reaction, and knows that others... might not have a positive reception either. But better to head this off as he can, otherwise Shiva might take entirely too much joy in relating the news.
    A scowl twists over Nightwing's features, then he looks aside towards Robin and tells him levelly in that steady tone he uses when imparting knowledge, as if from some position of authority. "Shiva sought a duel with me. I made an agreement with her to give me a year in exchange for her help against a group of human traffickers at the time."
    He can perhaps see the reaction this might bring to the fore so he quickly adds, "Time was critical, if I didn't get there in twelve minutes then lives would have been lost. So... I cut a deal." He turns his head slightly towards Shiva, as if making sure she has nothing to add. When, most likely, she undoubtedly does.

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian can only sigh slightly. "What are the terms?" The League has taught him much about formal combat. "And what exactly do you think you are going to do to win it?" Robin wasn't sure how, but there was a way to get Nightwing through this. "Well that explains the Ukrainians and their lack of activity."

Nightwing has posed:
    A hand lifts as if trying to stay Damian's words even as Nightwing looks over at Shiva. "We'll talk about it later." He starts to step to the side, footsteps even as he moves away from Shiva in a perpendicular manner, keeping her in front of him and eyes at attention. "C'mon..."
    Making his way towards the edge of the building, Nightwing unhooks the grapple line and keys it to life with a faint click, "Let's run down what she's said about the Ukrainians. Need to make sure." With that said he gets ready to depart, the device connecting to the gauntlet of his suit, clearly alright with letting the terms remain nebulous for now.

Lady Shiva has posed:
    "He asks the right questions. What do you think you will do, Little Bat?" Shiva murmurs although she doesn't wait for an answer. This moment is too perfect. Him having to share the secret he likely hoped to keep. She knows this could put her squarely in the sights of the Batman and his allies yet that doesn't deter her. Such things are trivial in the pursuit of her goals.
    She helped teach several of them, including Batman. It's only right she should be the one to test their worthiness now that time has passed.
    As they move to the edge of the roof, she waits until that precise moment they are poised to depart. "The terms are simple. We fight. One Lives. One Dies."

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian follows, as much as he wants to continue this line, Lady Shiva herself presents a danger in of herself. "A duel to the death?!" He offers, already swinging. "Fucking FOOL!" There will be words, for sure.