3722/Sitting on the Roof by the Bay

Sitting on the Roof by the Bay
Date of Scene:	23 January 2018
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Diana decided to find out what a stake out is like. Batman grudgingly agreed. Boredom ensues.
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Wonder Woman

---

Batman has posed:
    "Have patience," The darkness speaks.
    It's a long shadow upon the rooftop that the voice had come from, a rumbling tone of stern words given to the other who has chosen to share the night. At a glance there is nothing there. Darkness, a gravel covered rooftop, an old radio tower. But in the shadow of the water tower and the old billboard, should one look long enough, they would see not one silhouette but two. Yet it's the one that spoke that seems to be more at ease, more at peace with his place there crouched on the edge of that rooftop and with his regard leveled upon those passing so far below.
    "Sometimes it takes them all night to show up." He advises to the person who is there with him. Tonight his partner is not one of the other bat family, not even one of the other usual street vigilantes. Perhaps he chose this particular stake out on this night to give her a taste of what most of his detective work is like... or perhaps he just chose this sort of stake out to perhaps show her how boring it could be...
    So she wouldn't ask him again.

Wonder Woman has posed:
    If he was hoping to bore her to death, he's doing a very good job of it.
    Diana is more prone to action. Sitting on a rooftop staring down at the building below for hours on end? It was like watching paint dry. She'd never actually tried watching the pigment drying on a wall but she was pretty sure it was of equal excitement levels. She is half leaning on the wall surrounding the rooftop as she watches blow, blue eyes catching all movement. Which thus far has consisted of people entering and leaving the establishments. The only variety is their numbers. Sometimes a single person or a group but more often couples.
    "I thought your nights were more--active," she finally says as she glances to her cloaked companion, getting the the crux of things with those words. "From the stories that circulate, you are in a fight with a costumed villain every night. Did something go wrong?" Because no costumed villain must mean it's a bad night. The minds of superheroes.

Batman has posed:
    There's a slight rustle as he turns to the side somewhat, cowl shifting so he can look at her sidelong. "Not every night. But enough of them." He says that but then pushes himself to his full height, the cape curling around his shoulders and sides to hide him mostly from view save for those white irisless eyelets.
    "Right now this is where we need to be." He turns his head slightly, gesturing with a small nod off in the distance. "Nightwing and Red Robin are handling the North burrough. Batgirl has matters well in hand in Little Odessa. And Oracle will let us know if something breaks that needs our attention."
    He steps to the side and touches a hand to the belt at his waist, a faint click is heard but little else as he moves. Over his shoulder he tells her, "I told you it might be quiet." His lip twists very slightly, but perhaps out of view from her place beside him. "Feel free to pack it up if you can't take it."

Wonder Woman has posed:
    The earns a sidelong glance and narrowing of her blue eyes. "I can take anything you can," she says with a bit of a challenge to her tone, not going to stand by with him implying this is out of her abilities.
    Although standing by is exactly what she's doing. If it was a wait before a battle, it would be one thing. She could deal with that, the rush of adrenaline, the anticipation of that moment when the conflict would explode. But this sitting waiting for someone to come out of a building? No wonder he was the World's Greatest Detective if this is what he did with most of his time. He must have the patience of Penelope to do this night after night.
    She glances over that edge again, watching another couple come out of the building to hurry for a cab waiting by the curb, so they can get out of the cold. "I know we are waiting on their arrival but what precisely are they involved in?"

Batman has posed:
    Arms over his chest and his grim visage seemingly stern, he tells her calmly. "I don't know. Yet." He says and perhaps most nights he would be inclined to let that hang there as sufficient answer. It'd serve for Cassandra assuredly, or even Tim perhaps. But Diana, she might not receive that answer very well. And he knows it.
    So he shifts his weight to the other foot and then turns to look at her. "The pattern of their movements, some of the communications we've been privy to. It leads to tonight and this location being a focal point of their efforts." He leans back against the small alcove that hides the stairwell that leads back down into the building.
    From her point of view he looks as if he's looking at nothing, just biding his time. From his he's being fed a steady stream of information from various sources into the heads up display that brings the world to life around him, though often times it is muted. But right now, all information is important. "It's something they don't want me to know about. So I want to know about it."

Wonder Woman has posed:
    That earns a soft laugh from the Amazonian princess as she places her hand against that alcove wall, leaning her weight on it as she settles into a casual posture. "That sounds like as good a reason as any to find out," Diana murmurs as she glances over to the building again and watches another pair head indoors then a group of four or five exit in a burst of noise and conversation which fades as they walk down the sidewalk. She tracks them until they disappear from view around the next corner, their voices gone with the distance. Then she looks back to her companion.
    "And depending on what they are doing, we should be able to go down to stop them?" She's looking for that silver lining, certain there has to be one. A fight at the end of the night when their prey arrives would be satisfying at least after all this time waiting.

Batman has posed:
    For a moment he looks at her sidelong, but then he looks ahead. A small smile is there, but only for a moment before it slips away even as he murmurs. "Depending. Yes." He offers that insight, but then he shifts his weight slightly to the other boot, arms still folded over his chest and with the cape partially hanging over them. He lifts his chin slightly as he indicates the old building some distance away, the one that has been the focal point of their attention.
    "We might need to follow them, or see what other contacts they establish." He then looks at her sidelong and adds, "If you like, you can head back to the hall of justice and I'll call you when things get exciting." Another small smirk, but then his brow knits.
    Pushing off of the wall he touches a hand to the side of his head. He looks to the side, listening to the far off voice of one of the team then he frowns and gives a single nod. "Maintain surveillance. Get back up before you move in."
    He pauses at the edge of the roof, eyes cast down upon the building across the way from them. The frown upon his features casting him in a thoughtful way.

Wonder Woman has posed:
    "You are concerned." Diana isn't asking. It's obvious to anyone that actually knows Batman. While some might think a frown is his normal expression, he actually has levels of frowns. This one dips further along the spectrum than his usual brooding look. She turns her head, looking in the direction he had as though she might see the figure he had been speaking to. No such luck. Even with her eyesight, they are trained by the best at keeping out of sight so she sees no one. She looks back to the living shadow amongst the shadows.
    "If needed, I can go assist your teammate?" she offers quietly, pretty sure she already knows the answer. His people are a well oiled machine. The others will come to the assistance of the one at the situation. Or Batman himself will want to go. It's his team. His responsibility.

Batman has posed:
    "No." That's all she'll hear from him for a time as he stands there looking at that building. It never does get any easier, and it is always hard to delegate. If he had his way, it is doubtful that Batman would share his vigil with anyone. Doubtful that he ever would have had a partner unless circumstances had forced the issue.
    But a space of several heartbeats pass and he then shakes his head again and looks back towards her. "No, they know what to do." He says that, as if in part trying to convince himself that they have it under control. That doesn't stop him, however, from mentally running through all the scenarios where things could go wrong. Lifting his gauntleted hand towards her, he waves off the concern. "This is important." But after that... he does not elaborate at all.