573/Justice Framed in Black and White

From United Heroes MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Justice Framed in Black and White
Date of Scene: 23 May 2017
Location: Gotham City
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Batman, Question




Batman has posed:
"Come on, ma'am, we don't have all night," the large man in an GCPD uniform says. His face is dark, hidden by the shadows of the alley, but his eyes gleam.

"No--please--I didn't do anything!" the woman says, backing up down the alley's length, glancing left and right in a futile search for escape routes.

"You hear that, Teddy?" the man says, glancing over his shoulder with a grin. "She didn't do anything. I don't know about you, but jaywalking's still a crime."

The man's face twitches and he nods. "Got that right, Freddy," he says to himself.

The woman's expression is one of horror. "Oh, god ... you--you're one of /them/, aren't you?" she asks breathlessly.

The man grimaces. "Whatever you're thinkin of sayin' ... don't."

Question has posed:
"So is impersonating a police officer." says a voice from the mouth of the alleyway.

Standing there with his hands shoved into the pockets of his overcoat, the lone figure is backlit by the streetlights, nothing but a profile.

He walks forward casually, the fedora on his head hiding his face. "Why don't you let the woman go, and we can have a discussion about your legitimacy."

Batman has posed:
The man twitches again, turning slowly from the woman.

She, meanwhile, finds a partial hiding spot in the shadows next to a dumpster, where she huddles, trying to stay quiet despite shivering in fear.

The man clenches a billy club tightly in his hand. "We /are/ officers." He blinks his eyes tightly shut for a moment. "Work-release and everything. So back up, 'cuz you're gettin' in the way of our duties enforcing the law."

"Yeah," he adds, snorting. "A crime's a crime and needs policin'."

Question has posed:
There is a shake of the figures head as he continues to walk forward, stopping just out of arms reach from the pair.

He lifts his head, exposing his face, or lack thereof, to the 'officers' in question, "I question your authority. Just because someone says you get to be cops, doesn't make you cops."

Batman has posed:
"Real funny," the man says, his body tensing. "Seems to us that's the way it's always been. Ain't that right?"

"Yeah, totally," he adds with a smirk. "Meet the new cops. Same as the old cops."

With that, the policeman leaps forward, swinging the billy club toward the base of the stranger's neck.

Meanwhile, the hidden woman tries not to hyperventilate, still looking about wildly for some as-yet-unidentified means of safe retreat.

Question has posed:
A small sigh escapes from the direction of the faceless man as he steps diagonally forward and to the side, maneuvering out and away from he incoming blow of the billy club.

He continues to causally talk with his hands still in his pockets, even as he launches a knee towards the solar plexus of the 'officer' that just attacked, "The 'old' cops were lead by someone who isn't a homicidal maniac, who has let other manics take over the streets."

The Question continues, "The old cops took an oath and didn't get their badges handed to them out of a box of Cracker Jacks." Following through in case his first strike fails to connect, the same leg that was used to knee the officer raises, and comes back down in an arch, heel aiming for the spot between the thug's shoulder blades.

Batman has posed:
The officer--or, at least, the man dressed as an officer--groans audibly as his breath is expelled from his body in response to the sudden kneeing. A moment later, he's struck on the shoulder blades and drops to his knees.

"Unghhhrhghhhhh..." he begins, doubling over to an acute degree. "Maybe ... *HUUURGHHHH*," he adds, attempting to inhale, "...that's how ... *HUUNGHHHH* you see ... it."

He attempts to stand, pushing himself up on one leg first. As he begins to stand, he tries a blind whip-attack with the club in the general direction of the Question--where he was a moment beforehand, that is.

Further down the alley, the woman spies a fire escape ladder that might /just/ be reachable. She very slowly and quietly tries to cross the alley width toward a poorly-balanced stack of pallets and crates beneath the ladder.

Question has posed:
The Question sidesteps the blind attack, causing the tip of the club to pass harmlessly by his side by less than an inch, and with no wasted movement he pivots on the ball of his foot, launching his foot at the elbow holding the club.

"I see a lot of things, and perspectives change, but certain truths are constant. One of those being that scum is scum. I'd tell you the tail of the scorpion, but there isn't enough time."

He looks to the other 'officer' with his blank face as he calls out to the woman down the ally, "I wouldn't try that if I were you, Ma'am. Odds are that you will just end up hurting yourself on those pallets.. I'm confident you will be able to walk out of here soon, without incident."

Batman has posed:
With a cry of pain, the officer drops his club, and it clatters noisily on the ground.

The woman freezes, breathing heavily, and raises her hands in fright at the Question's calling attention to her.

"Please ..." she says in a ragged whisper.

The officer cradles his elbow and attempts to rise. He sneers and tries--somewhat unsuccessfully and slowly--to stand. "You're not going to get away with attacking officers. Teddy, read him his rights ... okay, Freddy, no problem," he continues, face scrunching as he shifts personas. "You've got the right to remain silent."

"With a broken jaw, if need be," the officer continues, throwing himself at the Question to try and tackle the vigilante.

Question has posed:
Letting the officer charge him, The Question remains still up to the point of imminent contact and then rolls back,, falling and trying to plant a foot into his attackers groin and using it, as a fulcrum to assist the officer in his continued path and into the wall.

The Question continues his roll until his legs are once again under him, and he stands again. "I may have the right, but I doubt I have the ability."

Batman has posed:
The officer is quickly thrown upside-down against the alley wall, where he collapses, motionless, in an unconscious heap on the trash-strewn ground.

The woman, meanwhile, continues to stand frozen in place, tears trickling down her face as she stares at the confrontation. She seems to be holding her breath in anticipation of /something/ happening.

Question has posed:
The Question takes a quick look at the 'officer' to make sure neither pose any significant threat before turning to the woman and slowly approaching her

"Ma'am, are you alright?"

Batman has posed:
The woman, seeing the victor begin approaching her, suddenly starts dry heaving and sobbing. "Oh, God, don't hurt me, please, God, no, I--I--I..."

She drops to the ground in a heap not that different from the unconscious officer nearby. The only difference is that the woman hugs her head and stomach as she tries to catch her breath mid-sob.

"I just want to go home..." she manages to choke out.

Question has posed:
"I'm not going to hurt you, Ma'am." says The Question in a calm and gentle voice.

He reaches out to offer his gloved hand to her, "I'd be happy to walk you home the rest of the way, or do you want me to call you a cab?"

Batman has posed:
Very, very slowly and cautiously, the woman takes the Question's hand. "Please ... I'm so scared. I just need a friendly face." She braves looking up at him, and she blanches. "I ..."

The woman's voice trails off, but she keeps her hand in the vigilante's for the walk home.

Question has posed:
Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, The Question starts to walk and guide her past the unconscious officer, kicking the billy club further away from the crumpled body. "I'm friendly enough. Where can I take you? Are you close by?"

Batman has posed:
"I'm just a few blocks away," she says quietly, trying to avoid eye contact (or whatever the equivalent is, given that the Question doesn't have visible eyes). "Can we ... can we stick to better-lit streets?" She glances back to the defeated officer. "I don't want to run in any more of ... those."

Question has posed:
The Question nods once, "You'll have to led the way, but we can try to stick to the better lighted streets. I have no issues with keeping things out in the light. In fact, I tend to encourage it."

He motions with his free hand to the woman, "Shall we?"