9906/Knightfall: Summoning the Bat...or /a/ Bat

Knightfall: Summoning the Bat...or /a/ Bat
Date of Scene:	04 November 2019
Location:	Central Heights, Old Gotham
Synopsis:	Catwoman lights her own Bat Signal. Batman responds, but who really shows up?
Cast of Characters:	Catwoman, Nightwing

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Catwoman has posed:
What do you do when you want to get the Bat to show up? Crazy as that may be, there are ways. One is to commit an obvious, high-profile crime that's sure to draw a response, but that is not always preferred. There's always the untraceable phone a certain someone has, but that's low-profile. Another is to summon him yourself. The trouble is, the Bat Signal is at the Gotham City Police Department headquarters, and just trying to waltz on over there to use it is a sure way to draw unwanted attention, quickly.

That doesn't mean another Bat Signal can't be used.

Which, as it happens, is precisely what Catwoman has done, securing herself a portable searchlight she's positioned on the roof of the Gotham Art Museum. It's a place she's well familiar with, but it took a little help from a few 'friends' to get it up there unnoticed. It's nice to be able to call on someone back in the home neighborhood.

Once they're gone, she cracks her knuckles and taps the switch with a fingertip. "Time to see who shows up first," she says to herself, banking on the probability that she'll only have five to ten minutes before the cops pinpoint the location once they've spotted the rogue Bat Signal projected against the overcast night sky. There's a reason she's got a portable radio tuned to the police scanner. The beam lights up at the exact stroke of midnight. Then, she waits.

Nightwing has posed:
The first indication of arrival is the sound: a familiar sound, that of a flapping cape in the wind, the unfurling of black cloak catching air to brake, and come down silently on the edge of the rooftop.

The shape of the arrival is crouched at first, from the sleek landing, stealthy in the angled pitch black shadow from the neighboring building. He stands flawlessly, staying on that edge, observing the roof and those on it. Those that would cast the beam of summons into the sky from a location other than the usual one. He's on high alert, of course.

All of the shape says Batman. It IS Batman: it isn't anyone else. The suit is a newer version, it has a sleeker feel to it than some, as if the armor might be more technologically heightened and less bulk is needed: but all of the styling of it matches the Bat. Not one of the batlings or birds, but Batman. The posture and weight of the presence matches, as well, including, for the moment, the narrowed stare. He stays there in easy crouch on that raised cement edge, clearly waiting for the woman he's observed next to the spotlight to react.

Catwoman has posed:
12:01: radio silence
12:02: report of a drive-by in Red Hook, units responding
12:03: report of the Bat Signal spotted in an unusual place
12:04: report of another pair of shootings somewhere around The Narrows, units responding

Catwoman frowns, pacing near the light. The police are already aware of the signal in the sky. "Come on," she frowns, all but hissing under her breath.

12:05: call to mobilize units for a burglary in progress in China Basin
12:06: request for units to respond to the Bat Signal somewhere around Central Heights

Now, the feline fatale paces near the searchlight, debating whether to shut it off and scram or wait it out a little longer. She knows the rooftops. The police don't. She only hopes they don't send out something in the air. Even if they converge on the building, she could be gone by the time they reach the roof.

12:07: radio silence
12:08: update - location may be Gotham City Hall
12:09: confirmation - not Gotham City Hall, keep investigating
12:10: more rapid-fire voices, calling to scramble a bird in the sky

"Shit," Catwoman says, and just as she flicks off the light, she sees it. Or him. She sees the cape, the figure at the edge of the rooftop. A hand settles against a hip, eyes sharpening on the shape before her. "Took you long enough. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show." Her voice? She attempts to keep it neutral, impartial, but she can't hide the hopeful tone. The volume on the police radio is turned down to a near-whisper.

Nightwing has posed:
The figure that can only be Batman remains where he is, though he does draw in one leg slightly, adjusting his crouch there. Gargoyle like, he remains otherwise motionless for a time, forearms leaned on his knees with unusual balance.

This is Catwoman, and that means he'll need to be extra careful about what he does, to see what she wants. He's aware of his differences from the Batman she is used to, and a lot of caution is coming into play.

There's silence in response, at least at first. Silence that draws out, before he responds, finally. "You wanted my attention. You have it." The voice modulator does all of the heavy lifting, and the cool tone does the rest. For now, Batman has remained in character, though how long that will last remains to be seen.

Catwoman has posed:
Catwoman watches this Batman with all the attention she'd put into casing a place prior to a job, the focus she'd devote to reading a person to see what they're about. The hopeful expression, however, shifts quickly.

"You sound like him, but you're not him. I was crossing my fingers /he/ would show up, but you're not him." Arms cross, a defiant stance, remaining the fifteen or twenty feet or so she is from him, near the deadened light.

12:11: report that the Bat Signal is gone, where was it?

"Ask me how I know, or don't." Now, she sounds...hurt. She can't hide that. She doesn't try to.

Nightwing has posed:
Dismayed, the Bat tilts his head, and then hops down off the edge of the building, moving to stand in the same motion as he lands, drawing to his full height. He doesn't have the exact height as Catwoman could have hoped, and the bulk is less. Even if Batman had lost a lot of weight, or wore some heel, things are still different. Dick's movement is more of a slippery shadow, a dancer's style in it.

"I am Batman," Batman answers her, firmly. "Now."

There's an admission there, though not one easy to pin. He's staying in character, keeping his voice even. "What suggests I'm not?" He approaches, in a motion that comes around to one side more than it does directly, and then stops well away from her.

Catwoman has posed:
"That's what I was afraid of," Catwoman answers bluntly, already sounding as if she's starting to put up a proverbial wall between herself and this imposter, this fake, this wannabe, this...cosplayer.

She tilts her head so it's clear she's barely even looking at him now. With a hint of coldness creeping into her tone that grows similar to the weather on this chilly night, the famous thief adds, "You still move too much like an acrobat...Nightwing. And the build is not even close."

Nightwing has posed:
No, this isn't the Bat she knew... because his response to that is to cross his arms over his chest, release a slow breath.... and to return her snark with empathy. Of course it's Nightwing, and his reply proves it. "Do you have a message you want to convey?" Dick asks, his tone similarly distant like hers, but the content of it isn't that.

Dick looks over at the searchlight, feeling the warmth still radiating off of the heated, huge lamp, as it begins to cool.

Catwoman has posed:
The lamp is not so large as the traditional one at GCPD HQ. Its illuminating power? Dimmer. Its reach? Less. It is a comparison that comes up short to the real deal, just the same as anyone else would stand up to playing the Bat.

12:12: a call to find that signal, goddamnit, whether it's some kid playing a prank or something else

Catwoman turns away, arms shifting to wrap around her body in a self-hug. It allows him to see all of that side of her. It gives him a chance to capture her right then and there, should he try. "They said Batman was still alive. If you're out here playing at being Batman, then he's truly dead or not coming back. Either way, it doesn't matter any more." The voice carries his way courtesy of the wind, but only because of it.

Nightwing has posed:
The insults about playing are irritating: he didn't have a big brawl with Killer Croc to be called a child, but if such things really got to him, he would be way too sensitive to deal with the boys in his family! Dick remains standing there, his arms remaining folded, listening to her.

For a time, that's the service he provides: being there to listen to her, her loss and feelings about it. He does watch her, but seems to be making no moves to get closer or attempt an arrest. She asked him here for this.

There's only the roof, the dark night, and the soft sound of the wind flapping at the edge of his cloak against the backs of his legs. His responses have not seemed to help; perhaps just being an ear is what she desires.

Catwoman has posed:
And the 'playing' comment wasn't intended to be taken that way, either. Doesn't mean it can't be. She's hurting. He's probably been through worse since the battle that left the world believing Batman and Superman were no more.

He can see the claws of both hands squeezing at the backs of her shoulders enough to leave small impressions after they've slid away an inch or so. Not enough to pierce catsuit or skin, but they alter the reflection of city lights off the surface of the material.

"Is that it, then? You're just going to stand there quiet as a statue? At least you've got that part down. He did that all the time." Catwoman still can't bring herself to look yet, not turning around, not even over a shoulder. "Did he tell you this was your destiny? That Gotham always had to have a Batman?"

12:13: no sign of the Bat Signal's source, still looking, chopper en route in a few minutes

Nightwing has posed:
The Batman before her isn't baited with the comment about statues: it's a compliment in a way, but he does angle his head down to look at the roof. He keeps tabs on her, of course: he's familiar with her to a good degree, much as she is with him.

"Gotham does need a Batman," growls the voice modifier, adopting the proper Batman tone. She may not be able to look, but she'll be forced to hear it. "This was not the way I wanted it. But I will do it. For as long as I need to."

But this isn't a role Dick wanted: no, the position was not taken lightly nor eagerly. The dedication to the cause, though, that is something else Dick has down, along with being a statue, when he's intentionally trying to mimic Bruce. A statue isn't his natural state, or something comfortable. Dick is in a weird place in-between trying (and overcompensating) and finding his own way.

Catwoman has posed:
"Maybe you'll make a good one," Catwoman answers, the shrug evident both in the shifting of her shoulders and the skeptical tone she uses. "You always were devoted." She knows that much.

12:14: shots fired in The Narrows, two cars speeding away, send units

Then, a sniff. A quick shift of a hand up toward the face, an adjustment of the goggles. "No matter how many people might be Batman, there will only be one Catwoman. Keep the light. It was a one-time thing. I know what I need to know."

Nightwing has posed:
"There will always be someone to hold his torch, until he can hold it himself once again," is Dick's reply to her. Firm, but there's feeling in it, underneath, that even the voice modulator can't destroy. Dick is a people person, and the mantle is a heavy adjustment for him. One thing or the other will have to give, if he continues. He may be a good one. Time will tell. He starts to say something more, perhaps about hope, but it drowns in his throat.

Batman isn't about comfort. So he sticks to being Batman. And, as she isn't turned to look at him, she might not even notice that he's vanished, until she finally checks on the bat. He's gone.

Catwoman has posed:
There is a faint but notable tensing of the cat burglar's body at something 'Batman' says. It has to be about holding it himself again. Catwoman's expression is hidden, however. No way of seeing whatever's etched across her face to go along with the stiffening in her stance.

Did he just tell her Batman is not really dead? Or is it just a misdirection, an attempt to get her to think it'll all work out in the end? The general public needs Batman to look to when it comes to facing down the darker elements of the city. They don't have to care who it is. They don't have to know. They wouldn't anyway. Most of them have never seen him up close, never spoken to him.

By the time Catwoman finally looks back in the direction of the searchlight, the rooftop is empty once more. A final sniff. "At least you know that part."

12:15: converge on the Gotham Art Museum, good chance the signal came from there

"Took you long enough," she says, the same thing that came out of her mouth when he appeared. Then, she too is gone, eyes glistening in the low light. She told herself she wasn't going to cry no matter what she learned. She was wrong.