8718/The Lady And The Tramp - Did You Just Call Me A Tramp

The Lady And The Tramp - Did You Just Call Me A Tramp
Date of Scene:	10 August 2019
Location:	Batcave
Synopsis:	Lady Shiva is engaged by Batman to train some of his people, including Stephanie Brown.
Cast of Characters:	Spoiler, Lady Shiva, Batman

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Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie was told get at least four hours of work on the Batcycle simulator a night if she wants the lock on the real thing to ever be undone. And she intends to better that 4 hours by a good margin, and reward Barbara and Bruce's faith in her.

"Though I wouldn't be surprised if it's a test to see how long I'll wait until I try to pick the lock myself," she says with a grin to herself as she stands up from the simulator after finishing another run. The hardlight technology is quite impressive, making the simulation very much like the real thing.

"Ok, lets see what options are next. I so want to try the grapple line," she says, but it's way down the list in the advanced simulation sections. The blond, wearing her Batgirl armor but without the cowl, just clicks on the next one. "Tire friction," she says, skimming down the instructions. "Oh nice, the tires adjust to the surface. Spikes for ice? Nice!"

She hits start and leans back down over the bike, gunning it as the simulation starts up. Soon she's zooming through a course with oil slicks, icy lakes and even sheer glass at a 45 degree angle.

She makes it through, pulling the simulation bike back to the starting spot.

Lady Shiva has posed:
She had been sought. Asked for even. She was used to it, but this time it was different. She respected Bruce Wayne. Sure, she walked the line between hero and villian, a bit more on the villain side, but she always found the individual known as Bartman as a worthy adversary. So when asked to help train someone, it was a matter of flattery and utter curiosity that brought her to the Manor.

She had been shown in even willingly giving up all her weapons at the door. It took a while, even removing the smallest of death deliverers. Yet, truth be told, all she really needed was her hands as they were the weapon of choice. She found herself leanbing in the doorway a moment watching the the girl on the motorcycle simulator with crossed arms and a bemused smirk on her lips. When the simulator had stopped, she softly clapped her hands, still leaning in the doorway. "Well done. You have no mastered the art of escaping a fight. From what I am told...it may be your best skill at this point."

A small step took her further into the room, not even waiting for her to have a chance to reply. "Look kid. You are no good to Bruce dead. Or feeling on whatever this thing is. So slide of the bike. Your training starts now."

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie looks up, the blond showing a flash of surprise as she does not recognize the woman. Though that happens from time to time, it has gotten more rare the longer that Stephanie has been involved with Bruce and the rest of the team.

She climbs off the bike, hitting a stud and the bike fading away from the training room. "Wasn't all that long ago I think someone said I'd be more useful dead. So, I'm moving up in the world, I think," she quips softly.

Stephanie walks over to Shiva, glancing at the slender Asian woman curiously. "Ok," Stephanie says of the training as she checks to make sure this isn't some Damian hologram or something else set up to trick her. That would be just like him. "What kind of training is it?" she asks, ready to follow Shiva's lead.

Lady Shiva has posed:
She is mostly always serious. I mean, few jokes are cracked by the lethal assassin, but the comment about her being more useful dead does create the slightest of smiles. "Well you must be somewhat important. Bruce does not let just anyone on his /toys/. Protective bastard." She sizes up the woman more fully now, actually circling her with a critical glance. "Potential. I mean you look capable enough." She has not yet even chosen to entertain the woman's inquiry about what type of training.

She moves to step in front of the blond woman once again, positioning herself in a simple defensive posture. "Strike when you are ready. Don't tell me when." She focuses her glance on Steph's eyes. "Let's see what you know Little Bat. I don't know where to begin until I see what you know. This first strike is going to tell me alot." She winks. "Don't worry you can't hurt me."

Spoiler has posed:
Having started out her caped vigilante career at the age of fifteen-year-old, Stephanie - as Spoiler - had tended to favor big roundhouses and upper cuts, the exaggerated swings giving the undersized, underaged girl more power.

But she has since learned her lesson. Well, not learned. She's aware of the lesson at least, saving those fun punches for moments the bigger windups can be safely done. This won't be one of those moments.

Stephanie suddenly jabs forward with her left hand rather than her dominant right, attempting to land the short, compact punch on Shiva's body. She uses the momentum of the punch to bring around her leg in a hard side-kick then, rotating her body as she has been getting instructed to add power.

Lady Shiva has posed:
As Stephanie strikes, it is almost as if Shiva knew when they were coming. However, the look on Shiva's face is one who seems mildy impressed. The punch is sidestepped with a graceful shift of her hips, her arm sweeping down to intercept the side kick. She then moves to sweep the remaining leg the young woman is standing on, sending her to her back. She is then over the prone girl with a knif ehand to her throat. "Dead. Again!" She stands and offers her hand to the girl. "You are telegraphing the kick. I knew you would be off balance." Her words are veyr matter of fact, delivered seriously, but not in a mean tone. "Retract the punch. Step back on that kick. Out of my range. I know it sounds wrong. Just do it."

She assumes the position again. "Strike retract, step and kick."

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie should probably thank Damian in her head for his terse training style forged in the League of Assassins. As it makes it a bit easier to adapt the swift instructions from Lady Shiva.

Yeah, she's not really going to thank Damian though.

But it does help and Stephanie nods and retakes her ready stance. She doesn't hesitate, throwing the punch again but whatever the results, pulling it back and stepping as she does, moving in the direction that will keep her momentum from the punch going, but leaving her on a better footing to throw the kick from.

Lady Shiva has posed:
Again, a small smile as the attack is thrown with the specified improvment. This time, the punch lands as well as the kick; no obvious attempt to block it. However, she does try the sweep and this time is out of range, leaving the girl on her feet. "Good. You kept yourself out of range." She re-positions herself in front of her once more. "Until you learn to block everything...the best defense is to not be there in the first place." Shiva exhales softly and quickly directs. "Hands up. I am going to throw two strikes. One from each hand. Block them or avoid them, then counter." No hint of what kind of strike is given or where she itnends to put them.

There is a front palm strike to her face, followed by a spinning back fist to her throat. Both of the strikes stopping just shy of making contact in case they are not blocked or evaded.

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie smiles at the result and the praise of her success. She's ready to go into the next drill, lifting her hands and getting herself into good footwork for fighting.

The exchange lands just a slight brush to Stephanie's face, not enough the blow would have hurt even if not pulled, but not quite proper technique, though she did handle the second attack well, and then moved inside after her block to throw an elbow.

More training continues, Stephanie working up the good kind of lather. Her armor is extraordinary. It moves almost as well as her original Spoiler armor that had no armor to it, and better than when she added leather. Let alone the older style body armor that the final iteration used.

Finally it comes time for a break, Stephanie showing Shiva where the bottles of water and sports drinks are at. She drinks some Gatorade and says, "I really appreciate the training. So I guess you know that I'm Stephanie already," she says, introducing herself nevertheless.

Lady Shiva has posed:
The training did go well, for a first session. It was more of a recon session to see where the girl stood and where she needed to further her training. And when the break is called, the woman wipes her brow and reaches her hands behind her head to tighten her ponytail before reaching for a bottle of water. The top is twisted off and she takes a small sip, tilting the bottle to the girl before her. "He has a good eye for talent and potential. You may just live."

Another long sip is taken and she eyes the girl a bit longer. "I knew I was supposed to meet and work with a woman named Stephanie. I only assumed it was you. Bruce must have big plans for you. I do not offer my services often and to just anyone."

The water is set down and she once again circles the woman with a surveying glance, turning the conversation in another dirfection. "So tell me Stephanie, are you afraid to die?" The delivery is deadpan, plain as a white piece of paper and laced with a Chinese accent.

Spoiler has posed:
Like any good soldier, Stephanie takes no time to come up with an answer to that question. "Hell yes I'm afraid to die," the blond responds energetically.

Ok, maybe not like any good soldier. But she was decisive.

"I mean, well, I do some dangerous things that could kill me. And maybe the word 'unthinking' has been used on occasion about my mission reports," she admits, dabbing her toe at the ground. "But I want to live. This has been the highpoint of my life the last few days. I have a long way to go. I'm just not willing to sit back and let it stop me from doing what needs to be done."

Or, what is fun. That too.

Lady Shiva has posed:
Shiva takes a moment to ponder the girls' reply, a moment of deep refelctive thought before replying. "Ther eis a fine line between reckless and commited. There are those who try to be a hero and do things they are incapable of doing. Is that you Stephanie?" She gives the girl a steayd glance before speaking again.

"Oh they get the name in the papers about how brave they were and all of that. If they are lucky they get a street named after them or some building. Maybe a statue. You know who is most remembered? The living Stephanie. The living."

Her steps take her behind the girl now, leaning in and speaking softer to the back of her neck. "You must want to live...but not be afraid to die. For that small sliver of fear is all death needs." Her hands go to place on her shoulders now, still behind her. "That sliver of fear stops you from commiting to living." She then spins the girl to face her completely now, hands on her shoulders still. "If you commit to fight...you must always fight without the fear of death. Can you do that Stephanie?"

Spoiler has posed:
The blonde girl in the Batgirl uniform visibly agonizes over her answer to the first question. "Reckless," she repeats. "No. Perhaps, impulsive... if I'm honest," the college-student says. "It's not that I'm being stupid. Just... improvisation is a strength of mine. Planning and strategems... that's more Bruce's thing," the young woman says, giving a helpless shrug as she tells the truth.

"The other part though... yeah, I think I'm there already," Stephanie says. She rubs at her ribs for a moment though there isn't anything wrong with them. The wounds from the beatdown she suffered saving the bank teller's life in a situation likely to cost Stephanie her own for the effort are healed now. Wonderful tea and sticky goop that the League of Assassins have for such things.

Lady Shiva has posed:
She is honest. Shiva values that. She gets a lot of BS, being told what people think she wants to here. It clearly does more to impress the Grandmaster than disappoint her. "Planning only gets you so far Stephanie. Even the best plans can be blown to hell in the first mere moments of a confrontation. Being able to adapt is a skill many lack. Do not see this as a weakness. It is your greatest strength. You are unpredicatble and that is a superior quality in someone in your eventual position."

She reaches out a hand and lightly grips the chin of the young woman, making sure their eyes lock. "If you remember anything I have shown you or told you today, remember this: Do not seek glory. Glory will find you. Bruce is no fool. And what I am going to put you through...you will hate me. My very name will make your stomach churn. But know this...if I didn't think you could handle it, I would've walked after ten minutes."

Her hand then slowly released the chin lightly, moving to lightly tap the side of her cheek. "I like you kid."

Spoiler has posed:
As Shiva praises Stephanie's creative flair - "that's good, going to have to use that with Babs," Stephanie thinks to herself of the wording she came up with - it causes Stephanie to grin a bit. "Not everyone thinks so around here. But I appreciate it. I know moderation and all, but..."

But she's impulsive.

Stephanie's baby blues look back to Shiva, the young woman not pulling away or flinching from the grip. When she's let go, Stephanie gets a soft grin. "Why is it the ones who like me want to make me end up hating them?" she chuckles, but it sounds just a joke. "I do want to live. And save lives. So if you can make me better? I'm your girl," Stephanie agrees. "So, ah, what do I call you?" she asks. "I mean if you make me hate you I'll probably make up a few names. But not for use in polite company," she says with a bashful grin.

Lady Shiva has posed:
That bashful grin, even the cold-hearted killer cannot help but offer a slight smile to that. "Call me what you will. It won't bother me. Be creative." She has yet to step back from the blue eyed glance. "Impulsiveness is often seen as immaturity and lack of discipline. And it certainly can be. They are just trying to protect you. I...know that mere words are not going to protect you. There are times when you will need to improvise and be impulsive and I am going to make sure you are ready for that."

She eyes the young woman once more, seemingly trying to decide. "I am suprised Bruce did not tell you. Perhaps he was going to leave that to me. Sandra. Sandra Wu-san. That's what you can call me." She casually shrugs and then chides. "Or Pain bringer. Or "Please God...make it stop."

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie purses her lips and says, "You know if this is how you introduce yourself at parties... well actually we probably would do about as well in that kind of environment then," Stephanie says, giving a little self-deprecating grin. Though the way her eyes dart for a moment as she says it seems to hint at truth to the statement.

"I'm just kidding though. You probably knock them dead at parties," Stephanie tells the beautiful, tall, Asian woman. With all the poise and that bearing that makes people take her seriously. "Or, you know, just plain kill them," she adds to the lethal woman.

"Sandra,nice to meet you," she says with a smile. "Oh, Bruce is always keeping us off guard. I guess it's good practice," she says. "Though if one of his enemies walks in here and starts ordering us around, it's his own fault if we go along with it thinking it's another test." Even as she says it, Stephanie knows, it would still be their fault, for not picking up on the fact it was an enemy.

And he'd be right in that.

Stephanie says, "I attend the local university, and school is starting back up shortly. But I'm here as much as I can be otherwise."

Lady Shiva has posed:
"I don't go to parties if I can help it. All that social mingling and falsity that you actually care about what the other person is saying." SHe always seems to be surveying the young woman, a glance that may appear uncomfortable at times, but trth be told, she does that with everyone. "I won't lie I have ruined many a party. You know, the party tends to break up when the host is found dead and hanging from the balcony." Again, no real emotion with her story

"I am not your enemy Stephanie. If I were...well let's just say I am not your enemy and leave it at that. Do not wish to strain our ever growing relationship as it were." She winks and then ventures. "You truly have no idea who I am do you?" The asian asassasin blinks a few times and turns her head to the side. "Well this is relatively new. Not sure how to process that."

She then moves on. "I want your schedule of classes. I will not impede your learning, but you may be having some early sessions with me. I am much more pleaseant in the morning. Trust me. Understood Goldilocks?"

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie nods her head. "Absolutely, Mama Bear," Stephanie replies, riffing off the name with a smile that has mostly warmth in it. "I assume you know the whole, secret identity thing so preferably not attacking me around those who know me and all?" Stephanie says. "Because, you know, I work /really/ hard to come off as socially inept rather than...total bad-ass crimefighter," Stephanie says, nodding her head and with an expression that suggests the social ineptness is far from an act.

The mention of the death by balcony hangings does cause a little quirk from Stephanie's eye, which would further confirm the sense the girl is not a hard case in that way. "I'm not very well-read I'm afraid," she stammers, digging the toe of her boot at the floor. "Unless you're in a band or on the list of bad guys who frequent Gotham. Oh, or movie stars. Or, like... well, someone with abs like Aquaman. Met him a little while ago. Oh my god, TV doesn't do him justice," Stephanie says, shaking her head, and then falling silent.

"What were we talking about?"

Lady Shiva has posed:
Mama bear. That was a new one, and it causes a small eyebrow raise, but nothing overly concerning. "Absolutley. I know all about the secret name, undercover, hide from your mother...don't tell your brother thing. I live it kid. Well, I really don't care who know to be honest. What are they going to do?"

Her eeys fall to the digging of the boot into the foor, taking a moment to process how socially shy the girl before her can be. It is then, that the hardened killer takes a tactical approach to the training and says something she typivally would not say, the truth of it lost in the delivery. "Oh my God. I know right? I'd take my shirt off and do my laundry on those things." Her words are spoken almost with a sense of /clearly acting/ but with enough sincerity to possibly be believed. "Makes me want ot be a fish."

She manages a smile and adds, almost changing the subject on a dime. "Answer me this, and be honest. Are you ready for what I am going to teach you? I mean, really ready?"

Batman has posed:
"She's ready."

The vastness of the Batcave's subterranean network of tunnels and caverns is such that there are multiple ways in, and one could well fly a jet in one end without it being noticed at the other. That explains the Batmobile's arrival at the Cave while the pair trained and conversed.

The Bat himself looks as though he's been through the wringer. The bottom right of the cowl where it meets his jaw has been shredded away and is caked with blood, revealing what looks to be a deep cut - a bullet graze, to the trained eye. He's already tearing the cowl off as he mounts the stairs, glaring across the way at the pair of them in that neutral expression that is Batman.

"I wouldn't have asked you to train her if she weren't."

Spoiler has posed:
Stephanie laughs warmly at the comments about Arthur. "And he invited us to dinner sometime," she says of the Atlantean king and - if he ever needed to supplement the Atlantis treasure further - underwear model extraordinaire. Stephanie grins and then looks a little more serious at the question.

The blond college student is about to answer when Bruce's voice makes its appearance slightly before Bruce himself does. Stephanie's brows furrow with concern as she sees Bruce's state, but she doesn't move to interfere with the man who has his own routine for such things.

"I'm ready," she agrees with Bruce. "Look I was... I did what I did for good reasons but... it was just for me and because I thought I should. But this... I'm part of something now. And... and that really means a lot. I know other people may hear that and not really get it. But, trust me, it does. For me," Stephanie says, tone quiet, and without an injection of humor as is her norm.

Lady Shiva has posed:
That voice. She knows that voice and as it replies to her inquiry, Shiva slowly turns to face the figure known as Batman. "Well well, I was wondering when you would show up. Looks like your self into a little trouble. Come here." Shiva has no care for how he would typically do things. She raises her hand andmakes a beckoning gesture. "Let me see what I can do to stall that bleeding for now." She holds her hands in front of her, waiting for him to get closer. "Now Goldilocks. I don't doubt that."

She turns her head to the young woman, meeting those blue eyes once more. "I don't don't that at all. But i have an assigment for you. An assignment that needs to be done by tomorrow evening. I am going to test your perseverence, your patience, your memory and your obedience all in one simple task." She tilts her head to the side, a strand of hair falling before her eyes as she peers at the girl."

"How you ask? Quite simple. You are to go to Chinatown tomorrow before your next session. A place called the Jade Dragon. Oh Buddha help us, you are going to stick out like a rose in a rice paddy." She shudders a moment and conitnues. "It is a Tea House. Now Cheng dows not speak a word of English. So your perseverance task is getting him to understand what I want. A Guangzhou green-tea with a pinch of ginger, a spoonful of honey and a mint leaf. Good luck. The patience test will be waiting for him to make it. He is quite slow and is a perfectionist. The memory test is simply remebering what I want..and the obedience test will be if you do it at all."

She quirks her lips a somewhat smile that borders on humor and almost seductive. "Pass this test and I will keep training you." Was this all one big joke to get a green tea out of her? Perhaps? However, the woman is obviously serious. "Don't screw this one up Bruce. She has that something special. She intrigues me."

Batman has posed:
Bruce does not so much respond as grunt when Shiva asks to see the wound. If it were any of the others he would have just brushed her off and settled down to stitch it up himself, or at the most let Alfred do it. But he knows Shiva, and he does what she asks of him. He tilts his head back, standing there and letting the woman look at the wound.

His eyes glance sidelong to Steph and he says nothing, simply looking at her in silence as though taking the full measure of her and her abilities even while she stands there. He says nothing of the assignment as it is handed out, and if he finds it frivolous he doesn't let on.

Spoiler has posed:
Making mental notes of things is one of the things that Stephanie has been training in. Picturing herself walking into her apartment. The stand beside the door with a map to Chinatown and a circle there and "Jade Dragon" written on it. Continuing through the house, the next surface having the name Cheng on a piece of paper. And on and on, using the memory tricks tying things to familiar parts of her life to help remember them.

"Alright," Stephanie says. "Though if I can take the Batcycle out I could also pass a speed test on getting it back to you, still hot?" Stephanie opines, looking at Bruce with a hopeful grin. She's only two of those four-plus hour sessions into the training simulator so far. So Stephanie's expression shows she knows it's a hopeless request anyway.

Lady Shiva has posed:
Shiva places her hands on the bleeding jaw of the man before her, her eyes close and she starts mumbling softly in Chinese. She seems oblivious to anything else around her and after a small moment, she rmeoves her hands and the wound is still there but the bleeding has stopped. "Don't want to do all the work now do I?" She slowly pulls her hands away from his face and lightly pats his cheek. "You be careful out there Bruce. Gotham still needs you."

Showing that she did hear the words spoken by Stephanie, Shiva slowly turns and walks over to the young woman, placing her hands on her shoulders again lightly and looking back into those blues. "Shiva. Tell him two words. Lady Shiva. He will know what to make. Have it to you in 30 seconds no less no more." She says no more. Clearly the woman had decided that the young woman should know who she is. Without another word she releases her hands from the Stephanie's shoulders and nods once, turning to Bruce once again. "Don't beath the impulsiveness out of her completely. I am going to need that." And with that she starts for the way she came in, walking past Bruce along the way and leaving Stephanie to process everything.

Batman has posed:
"They're useful impulses," Bruce answers flatly as the bleeding stops, lifting a hand to gingerly touch the wound still present on his jaw.

He looks at the new Batgirl for a long moment, saying nothing as he moves over to the Batcomputer, "No vehicle until you finish the simulations. You agreed to that, you stick to the promise."

He finally settles himself down in the comfortable chair, letting out a sigh as the weight of the evening's events lifts off him somewhat. Then, he gestures to Steph: "Go get sutures and disinfectant. I need to get this cut closed."