3007/Pot Meets Kettle

Pot Meets Kettle
Date of Scene:	29 October 2017
Location:	Hall of Justice
Synopsis:	Artemis goes to the Hall of Justice seeking Diana. Instead, Batman is there to deal with her.
Cast of Characters:	Artemis, Batman

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Artemis has posed:
    It's early morning when Artemis arrives at the Hall of Justice. She would prefer not to be there. Things cannot always be helped. Her first stop had been at the Themysciran Embassy but Diana was not present. The Amazons there were not willing to share any information with their Bana-Mighdall sister. A few were polite enough but it was the Princess they were talking about so they took no chances. Others were less polite but it was something Artemis had grown used to long ago.
    She had left a message on Diana's phone but Artemis was not known for her patience. She needed to be doing something.
    A quick trip brought her here, hoping that the Ambassador would be at the Hall.
    Entering through the main doors as soon as they opened, her long stride eating up the distance as she approached the first security guard she saw. Towering over him, she looked him directly in the eye and demanded, "I would see Wonder Woman. Now."
    Nonplussed, the guard looked to his fellows who were all eyeing the tall redhead warily. "Uhm, if you go over to the desk, you can make an appointment."
    Artemis scowls. "I don't need an appointment. She is my sister in arms and I would speak with her."
    He shifted slightly, putting himself a little more between her and the door even as a drop of sweat ran down the side of his face from his temple. "Everyone needs an appointment unless the members are in the lobby. So you can wait for her to arrive or you can make an appointment."
    Artemis continued to glower at him then simply reached out her arms, picked him up and set him to the side so she could reach for the door.
    The guards all started to converge.

Batman has posed:
    The door opened before her even as those guards started to rush from various patrol points, their footfalls heard in the halls as people start to move quickly, a flurry of activity is heard on the comms between them, some calling for back up. It all looks like a possible terrible misunderstanding, especially when the men start to reach for their firearms as shouts are hurled in her direction, angrily, aggressively.
    But when she gets that door open and starts to turn down the hallway in her search for her sister...
    A man in black stands in that hallway, the cloak he wears covering his form entirely so that he seems to be nothing more than a cape and a cowl. The bright lighting of the hall seems to do nothing to lessen the impact of the man's appearance even to those guards who suddenly are setting eyes on the figure for possibly the first time.
    "Sir?" One has the gumption to ask.
    "I'll handle this, go back to your posts."
    And, to their credit, those guards do retreat... their footsteps pensive as they put their weapons away. One shoots him a last glance before he rounds and closes the door behind him.
    "Artemis." That rough voice covers the distance between them. "Why are you here?"

Artemis has posed:
    Stopping in her tracks when she sees the cowled figure, Artemis can't stop herself from frowning. While she will hide the softer emotions, the darker ones are her go-to in all things. It isn't even feigned for this is the last person she wanted to see. Their last meeting had been less than pleasurable. She still wanted to punch him, even after this much time. Normally, she would give into those impulses but this was not the time.
    Someday she would get her chance.
    "I am looking for Wonder Woman. He denied me access as though I were a base criminal instead of her sister." Doing his job didn't matter. It was all about her finding Diana. "I need to see her immediately. She is not at the Embassy nor is she answering her phone. Time is of the essence."
    She positions herself there in the middle of the hall, legs shoulder width apart, arms held loosely at her sides but he's good enough he knows she is ready to move if she must, to defende or attack. It is a part of her being. Then her tone hardens as she speaks. "Get her for me. Immediately."

Batman has posed:
    "With your concern about security the last time we spoke I imagined you would understand why a guard would deny you entry to a secure area." The tone he uses when he delivers these words is a stern one, judgmental and sharp as he starts to walk towards her slowly. He stops a few paces from her, giving her the respect to her talents that they deserve before he answers her in that same tone, "Diana isn't here."
    He lets that float there for a time, then he adds, "I don't know where she is. We don't formally keep track of each other." Another moment and then he's walking towards her... and past. One arm sliding out from underneath the cape and gesturing to the side of the hall in one direction. "Maybe I can help."
    And after he says that he takes the turn and starts to walk down the hallway, leading her deeper into the Hall of Justice and perhaps expecting her to follow.

Artemis has posed:
    Arguments pop into Artemis' head but they are weak at best. She knows he's right. If she were in charge of security, there would be a body on the floor that had to be disposed of before it started to smell. Is she going to tell him that? Never.
    As he moves toward her, she watches him carefully but he doesn't attack. He could have easily enough, particularly when he brushed past her. She turned as he passed, keeping him in sight as he continued on his way. Him? Help? She almost laughs at the idea but it's a momentary thing. Instead her eyes narrow. He is known for his mind as much as his skills. The World's Greatest Detective. Perhaps he could help. But she was so loathe to ask. Would it be asking since he offered? Perhaps that would allow her to save face.
    Then he is around the corner and moving away. For a moment, she bristles. She was not a dog, expected to come to heel! Her fingers curl into fists and she opens her mouth. She snaps it back shut a moment later.
    She followed him, catching up quickly, falling into step. Goddess knew she hated this but she needed help.
    "I am on a Quest for some legendary weapons. Ones that were given to the Amazons by the gods. Diana directed me to a man and he directed me to others. I have been following up with them but I find one of them is missing, reported to the police. They will tell me nothing," she adds with a snort of derision. "How do they expect assistance if they do not share?"

Batman has posed:
    "Motive," Batman says as he walks down that hallway, his footsteps carrying them silently towards a distant double door that will whisper open once he gets close enough. It opens revealing a control room with a bevy of monitors and systems all flickering in a room that has a muted light level, allowing those LEDs to brighten anything that passes near them, casting their blues and reds onto the fabric of the Batman's cape like the lights from a Christmas tree.
    "They can't be sure of your motive, and so cannot trust you with what information they may have, though it is unlikely they have any that will be of use to you." It's inside that computer room that he'll turn a chair around that sits in front of the many banks of data displays. He starts to sit in it but then gestures with a hand towards one of the other seats should she wish for one.
    Once he's settled he tells her, "There are collectors in the United States, several prominent. They would be good points of contact, but if you come at them as you normally do so chances are they won't be very helpful or you'll suffer backlash from the law enforcement community."

Artemis has posed:
    The seat is scrutinized closely, as though Artemis suspects this is a trap. When the chair doesn't leap up to attack her, she carefully sits but remains perched on the edge. His comment gets a rude snort as she lifts her chin, that long red ponytail shifting behind her as the ends pool in the seat behind her. "If my motive were ill, I would not have offered to help," she says like she is speaking to a child. She continues in a more conversational tone. "Patriarchal beings think strangely. It is all suspicion and disbelief. I have skills that may assist them but they choose to ignore them. I must find Dr. Broward. He did a research paper on the Bow of Ra. There were details in the paper that were not known to those who have never seen the weapon in person."
    While talking, she's been looking around the room at the myriad of equipment. It is beyond her skill set. She can use a computer and basic technology but all of this is a bit more than what she has dealt with. Then something sinks in. She turns her head sharply to him, hair shifting behind her. "What is amiss in my manner?" That frown is back on her face. "It is no different than your own."

Batman has posed:
    "If all you have is a hammer..." Batman starts to say, but then the displays start to churn forth with data, giving a list of references that slide over the monitors. Some of the names are highlighted, some of them are not. But they all went this tapestry of connection that might ultimately be of aid to her.
    "Tell me more of the bow. Dr. Broward is a good place to start." He manipulates some of the displays with fingertips lightly touching keypads and at times the monitors themselves, the touch causing the data to flicker. He furrows his brow after a moment as one monitor starts to glow slowly as it highlights some information.
    "Do any of these names sound familiar to you? McGillian, Remington, Howards, Aaron, Grey." He turns the monitor towards her and has the images of the accompanying owners of those names come up in succession.

Artemis has posed:
    Saved by the displays. Artemis' drops her line if inquiry and turns her head to look at the screens. She wheels her chair up next to his own as she tries to flick through the information. It's going by too fast for her but she picks up bits and pieces. Without glancing away from the data, she explains, "The Bow of Ra was created for the Shim'tar to wield. The Shim-tar is the warchief of the Bana-Mighdall." She isn't sure if he knows what that means so she adds, "We are Amazons who broke off from Themyscire long ago and have a place in Egypt where we remained hidden from the outside world." Then she continues on the original narrative. "The bow holds incredible power and is said to have the power to destroy stars. It is a tool that the Goddess made to help protect our people." She goes on to give a brief description of the bow with the added caveat. "If anyone thta is not the Shim'tar, or a candidate for the position, tries to wield it they will be burned to ash instantly. Perhaps reports of spontaneous combustion would help."
    The monitor turned her way is scrutinized as she flicks her emerald gaze from one image to another. "This one!" She puts her finger above Remington. "He was suggested to me by one of the professors I spoke to. The others are unfamiliar."

Batman has posed:
    As she speaks he'll occasionally add in a few pieces of information, a small field added here, a change to the range of drawn data there. It doesn't take too terribly long for him to narrow the information down to three names with Remington amongst them. "Charles Oswald Remington, British. Collector." Batman's voice is a low rumble, "No reports of spontaneous combustion, could just be myth." He says perhaps talking to her but perhaps more to himself.
    "Start with that one," He gestures towards her side, "Your phone should have the information now." He starts to stand up, even as some of the displays flicker off though a few continue collating data while he moves. "Try tact, Artemis. Present yourself as a possible buyer. Nobody will want to answer questions if you present yourself as an enraged Amazon."
    For a moment he folds his arms over his chest, fingertip lightly rubbing under his chin thoughtfully. "If you can handle it, could arrange an alternate identity for you. If that is something that would be within your skill set." Oh now that has to be a challenge, a gauntlet thrown before her.

Artemis has posed:
    "I am not enraged," she says in a lower tone than she normally uses, that frown still firmly in place. Artemis rises to her feet, reaching into one of the pouches on her belt to pull out her phone. She unlocks it with a series of thumb movements then taps the screen a few times to verify she has all the information on the buys. Remington's is at the top but she quickly flicks through known locations and finds a couple are closer geographically speaking. She may have to change up the order. Pushing the button on the side, the phone goes dark and she slips it back into the pouch
    That emerald gaze comes back to him, as hard as the gems they resmble. "I have had to assume many identities in my lifetime," she says with an edge to her tone. "One more would be no challenge." Considering the examples she's set so far, she's likely lying about it. She's not going to back down from the challenge. "I can handle anything you throw in my direction."

Batman has posed:
    "Perhaps not now. But often and easily." Just as quick as that he's back with that rejoinder as she mentions about her anger management, or lack thereof. But Batman doesn't turn away, doesn't step back. He stands there, that enigmatic and grim figure of a man even as she works the phone and flips through the data display.
    But then when she takes up that gauntlet he gives her a nod and turns away, the cape flaring for an instant then snapping as he moves. "When I heard you had returned I worked this up." He says to her as he moves towards the other end of the room, several electronic lockers stand tall and imbedded in the wall, their displays blank for now.
    Batman steps up to one and keys in a sequence of digits, the datapad beeping faintly with each keystroke. With the final one the door whisks back from the contents and within is a carry all bag and a glasses container. He picks them up and extends them towards her, "This should have a suitable identity, the glasses are a data display surveillance module that will gauge the social situation around you and give you different avenues of approach and even suggest dialogue or topic changes. I've keyed it for your operation. It won't do the entire job for you, but will help."
    Then he draws them back and steps closer to her, irisless white eyelets meeting her gaze as for the first time he says sharply, his voice almost a growl. "You kill no one. Nobody dies. If you have to resort to violence you've done something wrong."

Artemis has posed:
    Artemis waits. She doesn't follow or rush over to see what he is doing. It's all in his time so she simply stands there, following his movement with a turn of her head and nothing more. As he draws out the bag, she tekes two steps to close the distance. A hand catches the strap, holding it easily. The glasses case is taken into the other hand. She shifts the bag up onto her shoulder then opens the case to look at the glasses inside. A brow is arched as she flicks her gaze back to him. "Glasses? My vision is not impaired." Of course he knows that but his explanation for why he is giving her the glasses has her hand tightening on the case a bit, knuckles whitening. Before she can respond with her comment about what he can do with that programming, he is stepping closer.
    She tenses as she senses that difference even before he speaks. His tone is a threat, pure and simple. It may not be meant that way but to her it's the only interpretation. "You are not my better. You do not tell me what I will or will not do. If I am threatened," she returns in her own soft growl, chin tilting down slightly as her ponytail whispers against her back with the movement. Her eyes are half hooded as she regards him evenly. "I will do what I deem necessary."

Batman has posed:
    "So long as we both understand each other," He answers in that gravelly tone, then he turns away and starts to walk towards the door, his cloak catching the wind faintly and curving like a wing for just a moment before he reaches the other side of the room and plants a fist against the datapad, causing the door to whisper open.
    TOnce the door slides fully open he'll turn over his shoulder and tell her levelly, voice still gruff but controlled. "I'll tell Diana you were looking for her." He steps out into the hallway and motions down the hall. "Good luck." He'll offer to her, and though it's not an angry dismissal... it's still a dismissal all the same.