Owner	Pose
Jason Todd	Gotham has never been one of the safest cities in the world. Even with the constant patrol of Bats and Bat-related periphinallia around the city, there was still plenty of crime out there. It's why the night self-defense class at Gotham U was one of the more popular classes from young women on campus. Enough so that it is no longer a class for beginners. While the weekday classes were aimed towards the beginning and intermediate classes, the weekend classes had been set up for advanced students. This class covered not only defense techniques, but also in meditation. Tonight, the sensei that leads the class has been a little late in getting set up. At the office outside of the gym, he could be see talking to someone, a young man from the looks of it. The conversation looks quiet, if somewhat formal, as the girls that take the class are given their privacy to change into their gis and prepare.
Carrie Kelley	It wasn't the first time that Carrie Kelley had taken this class, or versions of it. She'd taken one at least every semester since starting just to be sure she was kept up on her skills, mediocre as they were. This was the first time she'd taken the advanced version though. While the other girls chat together and get ready she does as well looking rather stern and perhaps even a hint angry. The other girls would occasionally give her a sidelong look before whispering among themselves. Likely it was due to her current state that the gi made all the more obvious where it parted from around her neck showing off a line of bruises that were only just starting to go from angry purple to that sickly yellow-green of healing. As if that weren't bad enough she also had a scabbed over razor-thin cut on the right side of her neck. Not too deep, but enough that it stuck out all the more. A sharp tug of her belt comes and she turns to walk out into the training area proper. The others could take their time but she stands with arms crossed over her chest waiting for the class to start. It gives her plenty of time to see the pair talking outside the gym from the open doorway. Curious.
Jason Todd	After an exchange of handshakes, the younger of the two steps back and gives the sensei a polite bow. He's had training of some sort, it appears. Stepping out of the office together, the young man looks like he just came from the streets. While he is handsome with dark hair and blue eyes, and an athletic build, his dress is that of someone that's more retro - with the band shirt and flannel shirt and blue jeans with rips in the knees. Catching Carrie's eye for a moment, he offers her a brief smile before he's heading off towards the athletics room. The sensei arrives at the class and brings them to order. "Alright. We're going to be practicing fending off an attack tonight. I have a volunteer to play the roll of the attacker - while he's getting ready, I want you all to pair off and practice basic parrying techniques until I call you up."
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley gives an unconcious smile in return to the unknown man before her attention is stolen away by the sensei. She uncrosses her arms for a few quick swinging stretches to loosen her shoulders and back up a bit, and then moves to join up with the others to partner off as requested. The movements are ones she's practiced before and falls into easily, even while mentally noting how to make it better. It sure hadn't worked out for her when she actually needed it, after all. Then again, they DID have swords. That had thrown her off more than a bit.
Jason Todd	Finally the young man comes out. His head is padded against strikes, and he wears a pair of open-palm gloves, but that's it. He moves to stand in a little circle in the gym as the sensei calls the class to order. Assembling the women at the circle, the teacher gestures. "Class, this is Mister Smith. He'll be assisting you tonight." Jason, for his part, brandishes what looks like a prop knife in his hand, so that the girls can see he's no here for harm. The teacher continues. "If you are in a position where you find yourself cornered, the first thing you want to do is to scream for help. Loudly." the sensei instructs. "And then there are three places that you may attack." With that, he turns towards Jason to have him attack. Jason moves in for the attack, and the sensei instructs. "First is the groin. A sharp knee." He raises it up, but doesn't strike. "The next is the eyes." His fingers raise towards Jason's eyes. "The last is the throat - you can strike with an open palm and knock the breath out of him. "Who would like to go first?"
Carrie Kelley	"When has screaming for help ever *worked* in Gotham?" The words spill out of Carrie's mouth before she even has time to think about it. It was an angry snark, one that she hadn't meant to come out if the momentarily surprised look on her face is any indication. It only lasts a heartbeat as her lips purse in a stern line. A deep breath is taken, slowly, and exhaled to calm herself down with a mutter of, "Sorry sensei." Except she'd done this before. Numerous times. This was the same stuff taught by others in every other class she'd ever taken. What made THIS 'advanced'? Her green eyes skim to the side looking at the others to see if any of them would step up first. No takers though, as they were all doing the same to see who would be brave enough to do so. "I'll go," she decides after another moment. Stepping forward on the mats she approaches Jason looking him over as she does. This wasn't some skinny kid pulled out of class to help in this. He was way taller and stronger seeming than others. Less padding for once, too. A smile is flashed as she offers, "Ready when you are."
Jason Todd	The comment from Carrie actually causes the young man to smile. There's a wry glance to the sensei, who frowns towards the redhead. "Very well, Miss Kelley. Mister Smith, when you are ready?" There's a nod from Jason as he steps forward, preparing the knife menancingly. And it seems like this will be like every other class that Carrie has done before. He's going to really stand perfectly still and let Carrie attack? That's when she learns this is the advanced class. If she dares to just go through the motions as she had before, she will quickly find herself on her ass with the knife to her throat. If she comes in on a normal attack, Jason will defend, but not make a move to attack her yet. It depends on how she decides to treat the class in this momen.
Carrie Kelley	Taller than her. Stronger than her. Holding a knife. Fake though it may be it was practice for the real thing, and Carrie had been doing her own research. Youtube was a decent resource for building on the 'basic' training she'd been given in prior classes. Now it was time to actually try it. One step is taken forward shifting her weight in approach. It's followed through with her arm swinging upward to catch at his knife-weilding wrist trying to hit it upward, and loose. Even if it doesn't dislodge the knife it gives her enough of an opening to follow through with a kick right between the legs as she attempts the Krav Maga disarming technique she'd watched, rewatched, and practiced at home.
Jason Todd	If she expected Jason to admire her and allow her the easy hit, it was going to be a long night. As Carrie goes on the attack, Jason can see the hallmarks of a girl - a person - that has been through this before. The shift in weight causes Jason to adjust. The knife is tossed, forgotten about for the moment as the other arm drops, an open palm that strikes at the shin of the leg that lifts towards his crotch. She's trying to keep him close - he's seen that technique before - it was one of the first moves that he was taught. "Krav Maga?" he asks with a lift of his brow. "Quick and dirty. Efficent." he offers to her. A small amount of admiration is there. But his moves are different - it's Systema he's using, his defense taking advantage of her anger and quick attacks in a prolonged stance, as he continues to defend and strike to test her defenses, then he starts to try to drive her backwards, his motions fluid as he feints the sweep of a leg, only to be brought around to bring his stance firm and strike with his hands at her shoulders to disable them.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley wasn't seeking praise or approval. When he deflects her knee she drops it quick to regain her balance. Sure, these moves were new to her actually trying out. That was the point though; she was trying to find what actually worked. The disarming part had done that well enough. His automatic block meant that part may not work if someone was familiar with it as he apparently was. "Yeah, I Googled it." Googled, watched video after video until she could't remember which ones she'd watched ten times already. The moves Jason starts with weren't familiar though. Similar, but... Not. More research was needed, clearly. It doesn't take long for him to find that opening to hit her shoulders, a look of pain rippling across her features even as she swallows any noise of discomfort. Silently she reacts by dropping down with knees bent as her arms go slack and tingling numb with discomfort. Rather than end it there, as she likely ought to, she makes one last desperate move unwilling to just *quit*. From her crouch she jumps back twisting her weight in a flip. Gymnastics from ages ago. A backflip was easy, even with arms limp, but she attempts to at least catch him in the face with a foot in the process. It wasn't completely ineffective a move--It would work if she'd practiced it before this way. As it stood it was a last ditch, stubborn effort, to try and get one last hit in.
Jason Todd	"ENOUGH!" that comes from the sensei - not because of Carrie's insistence - but because he can see the danger. Jason was clearly starting to enjoy the brawl with the spitfire, even as he catches the kick at the bottom of his chin and backflips away from her in the opposite direction, landing in a ready stance. The girls are all looking pretty aghast - not just at Jason's skill - but Carrie's as well. Landing on his feet, Jason snorts a little. "She was doing well enough." he gives Carrie a wink and then bows to her respectfully. The sensei steps in however, "Miss Kelley, you and I will talk after class. Mister Smith, with me for a moment. The rest of you, pair off and practice." Thus ends Jason's brief foray into helping teach self-defense classes at Gotham U. But he's going to hang out around outside the gym - he knows that there are guys that usually hang around to try to get close to the girls.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley lands with only the slightest stumble of recovery just as the sensei calls it. It's then she blinks rapidly realizing just how much they'd been going at one another. Face red, she nods firmly at the teacher looking more than a little embarrassed at this display. "Sorry," she mumbles even as she gives the standard respectful bow to Jason in turn. The rest of the class goes along the normal lines with her sitting out for obvious reasons. The talking to was rather unpleasant and filled with a lot of apologies before finally she's allowed to leave. Stepping out the door dressed in her casual clothes once more, she stuffs a few items into her pack with a self-depreciating mumble of, "Way to go Carrie, that was brilliant. Idiot." More angry at herself at this point than anything she sighs quietly stepping out of the gym into the cooler air.
Jason Todd	"Yeah. That was pretty stupid." it's a voice from the figure that's sitting on the side of the stairs when Carrie comes out. Jason apparently waited for her as he gives a smirk in reponse to her own depreciation. "Guy's cut rate anyway - he's only teaching here because he couldn't cut it with his own place." There's a shrug at that as he considers her. "So what's got you all riled up?" he finally asks, though the tone he uses makes it clear that he may not even really give a damn - but if she wants to talk or yell, he's going to listen.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley snaps her head in his direction earning another little wince before she schools her expression to something more neutral. Smirking with a wry, bemused look she turns toward him slinging her bag back over her shoulder. "Here I figured you were a friend of his. I was just... I don't know. I've taken these classes with others before. I just wanted something more functional." "I don't think you'd believe me if I told you." Another amused smile, and she tips her head at Jason. "The whole self defense thing though, I learned a lot of that doesn't really do much good. Like the whole 'pretend to faint, become a dead weight, then try to crack them in the face with the back of your head'? Yeah. That didn't work out." A hand lifts to her bruised throat to rub it lightly in recollection.
Jason Todd	"Yeah. No. It was a paying gig. Shit happens." Jason shrugs at that as he moves to rise up. "Your shoulders alright?" he asks as he tilts his head towards her thoughtfully for a moment and considers her. Especially when he notices the bruising on her throat. His hands grip into small fists for a moment before he lets out a breath. "Yeah. Gotham is the type to kick a rock when it's down." he says with a grunt as he doesn't get too terribly close to the woman. "So. You hungry?" he asks her finally. "There's a 24 hour Chinese dive just off campus. Dumplings are pretty damn tasty at this time of night because it's the only time they're fresh."
Carrie Kelley	A softer, more genuine smile is given Jason at the question of her shoulders. "Hurts a bit, but no lasting damage. I'm a redhead. We bruise easy," she explains with a faint chuckle of amusement that tapers off with a faint sigh. She can't help but agree with that. "Gotham's... Gotham. Grew up here, I know how it is. Just usually I could outrun most things." Usually. "Wait, wait. You know of a Chinese place around here that does dumplings? And I haven't heard of this before now?" Carrie's eyebrows shoot up with a look of incredulity. "Oh yeah, we're going to have to fix this. Chinese is my thing." In spite of him keeping his distance she offers a hand out toward him. "I'm Carrie Kelley, by the way."
Jason Todd	"Grew up here too. Know all about that. Jason Smith." comes the response from the young man as he pushes himself up. "You can only run so far in this city before you find yourself someplace you can't run from." Like a well-made coffin six feet beneath St. Mary's Cemetery. "I'll try to avoid the crass comments about redheads and bruises." he offers with a smirk as he tucks his hands in his pockets to start to lead the way. "So what happened to the neck, or do I get to play twenty questions starting with 'Mugging?' and ending with 'Kinky?'."
Carrie Kelley	That gets a snort of derision from her. Kinky indeed. Still it has her smiling at least so that's a start at least. Falling in line beside him she manages to keep up easily in spite of the height difference. When you were short you just learned to deal with it after all. "Ninjas." A sidelong glance is cast to Jason to watch his reaction to her response still wearing a rather amused smile in the process. It wasn't the usual answer to such things after all, even for Gotham.
Jason Todd	"Ninjas. What, you one of those cape and cowl types?" Jason asks as he makes a flapping noise with his hands. "Wait.. redhead. Were you Batgirl?" It's asked oh so playfully, but he glances aside at something he just said as he moves along the sidewalk along the side of the street towards the row of restaurants that cater to college kids and late nighters. His pace does slow so she can keep up with him rather easily. "So, you aren't taking these classes just for the fun out it. What are you majoring in?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley responds to being Batgirl by extending her arm to punch his shoulder with a little love-tap. "I don't think I'd be taking a self-defense class if I was. I told you that you wouldn't believe me." After telling the first few of her friends she'd learned that lesson well enough. "I got used as a shield by some during a fight. Don't plan to be in that position again." The rest is left off about how it was a fight between Batgirl and Batman. "I'm majoring in theater currently. Not the aspiring actress sort. I want to actually direct things," she quickly explains as the topic of her studies is touched upon. "I actually teach acting classes for some highschool students to help pay my way through college, and I'm also taking computer programming because I realize that my profession is kind of difficult to get into. Got to have a backup." A solemn nod is given even as she looks toward the restaurant with a broad grin. "What about you? What do you do when you're not beating up on women?"
Jason Todd	"At least your fights will look somewhat realistic." comes Jason's response as he smirks at the love tap to his arm. "So you were ninja bait, huh? You don't look like the type that would be flushed with cash." he points out to her as he makes the turn down a small alley. It runs next to a more mainstream Chinese buffet type place, but he's moving to a lighted sign above a door on the wall written in Mandarian. "As for what I do? Odd jobs. Like this one was." he says with a shrug of his shoulders. Apparently, that wasn't a big loss for him as he opens the door for her, before gesturing for her to enter. This isn't like the faux decorations in the mainstream restaurant - is that live rooster in a cage?
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley does look around curiously as she's led off the side street toward another door. That one at least had actual Chinese in the window from what she could see by the writing. Even if she wasn't able to read it. "No, I was visiting the old part of town where my folks live. I was walking to the bus when the next thing I know there's three ninjas. Like actual honest-to-god ninjas with swords. They were running from Batman." In through the door she slips glancing at the rooster in a cage with surprise, but no sense of being about to leave. "Okay, now this is definitely no where I've been before."
Jason Todd	"Batman, huh. Is he all like they make him out to be in the papers?" Jason asks. And it is exactly the place that he likes to frequent. There's a game of dice going on at one of the tables. There's none of that faux Japanese rock music playing. And it doesn't even follow the smoking code, the smell of tobacco heavy in the air as he moves towards one of the booths. The waitress is a young Asian woman, probably barely out of her own teen years as he drops into the seat. "So instead of contuning to run, they turn and fought. Did you stay around to see how it ended?"
Carrie Kelley	"He was... big. And intimidating. It was like the perfect intro to a movie. Dramatic and just THERE," Carrie explains as she joins him in the other side of the booth. Her hands lift to gesture showing just how 'bam' it was. "I didn't stick around for anything. I guess I was a convenient target because they grabbed me immediately. I mean, there were two in front of me and I pushed my umbrella at them hoping it'd tangle up their swords so I could run. I didn't know about the guy behind me till he had me." A look of chagrin creeps over her face at such an admission. If she were a really good fighter that would be a rookie mistake. "I kind of had to stick around. He didn't do anything though. There was this girl he was with who came in from behind and got them. I don't know who that was, but it was like... just shadows moving." Her hands drop with a sigh. A menu is fingered thoughtfully. "I guess that would seem pretty amazing to most everyone in Gotham. I just felt helpless though. Didn't like that." Her chin drops down to prop on her open hand while looking over at Jason. "So you're probably going to have to help me out here with what to order. My chinese isn't that great."
Jason Todd	"Yeah. And the revolving door of justice will have them back out on the streets as soon as they have a couple of lawyers." He shrugs his shoulders at that as he studies her features for a moment. "So you survived your first experience with the Bat and his family. That deserves a drink." With that, he lifts his head, speaking in rapid fire Chinese to the waitress, placing the order for the pair. "Want your dumplings fried or steamed?" he asks her curiously before turning his attention from Carrie back to the waitress.
Carrie Kelley	"Hadn't thought of it that way, but I'll take it," Carrie responds with a grin. "Yeah, they probably will be, I guess. I thought of becoming a lawyer once but it seems kind of pointless. I think that's why I like directing, and acting. I mean... It's not much but at least for the length of a movie you can give someone a sense of hope again." "And that entirely depends. If they've got soup dumplings, steamed, otherwise I'm not afraid of eating fried foods. How'd you find this place, anyway?"
Jason Todd	There's a pause as Jason considers the question. "When I was around seven, owner of the place caught me eating out of the dumpsters one night. Took me in, taught me the language and fed me in return for me cleaning up the place." The young man gives a shrug of his shoulders. "Used to collect the plates from tables, chase away the rats." He winks at her at that one. "Yeah, a lawyer in Gotham? That's like being a drop of water in the ocean. Going to use this as your chance to get out of town for good then?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley listens to Jason quietly when he tells her this information. Maybe he was pulling her leg. The chances were probably pretty good he wasn't though. This was Gotham after all. "Nothing wrong with that. I used to help my landlord out by cleaning out apartments, picking up rent checks, and running for groceries for the older folks." The corners of her mouth curl in faint amusement. "Gotham born and raised. Like I'm going to let some ninjas chase me out of town." "To be honest, I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. Running afraid isn't one of them though. I know that."
Jason Todd	There's a laugh at that. "Shit, there's probably a sob story for every person in this town - from my parents died all the way to spoiled brat that killed their own parents." He rolls his eyes at that as Jason finishes placing the order and a pair of drinks are brought to the table. "Didn't know if you were old enough to drink, but this place don't exactly ID, especially someone that's grown around here." He takes back his shot of sake and downs it quickly, setting it on the table before he considers the redhead sitting across from him. Reaching over, he gestures with his hand. "May I?" he asks, waiting her permission to touch her chin and tilt her head to get a better look at the injury. "Don't worry, I don't go biting on the first meeting."
Carrie Kelley	"Well... I'm not, but I guess I could use a drink after everyhting that's happened. When in Rome. Or Gotham," Carrie decides as she takes the shot of sake herself. A deep breath is taken, and she knocks it back with a peculiar look from the burn. "Holy crap that's strong." Laughing at her own response the glass is nudged away. The curiosity of her injuries earns a loft of her brow. "Biting, huh? Good to know what to expect in the future." Flashing a wink she tips her head to the side so he can see. They weren't bruises of a hand, but likely of being caught in a choke hold that was being made use of. "Guy got a bit rough after I tried that stupid faint trick. That's when he brought the sword up. I didn't know how to respond so I... didn't." Which was probably best at that point given she has a cut on her neck as well as that bruise.
Jason Todd	"Yeah, dead weight doesn't work when a hand's at your throat. Just means you need to work on your safe word." Jason responds as he releases her chin after examining the wound and then smirks easily at the redhead. "Strong is the right word for it." As they talk, the dinner of steamed dumplins in soup arrives for Carrie, followed by a small wicker basket filled with steamed dumplins for Jason. "You can put vinegar on it, but if you don't want that smell, have some of the pineapple for dessert. It'll help break up the blood and get it back into the system." he offers to her as he takes a pair of chopsticks to tuck into his meal. "That sure you're getting a future date, then?" he asks her with an amused smile.
Carrie Kelley	The arrival of food earns a little groan from Carrie in anticipation. "This smells amazing." She's already picked up chopsticks and arranged them properly to hold. Even if she wasn't able to read or speak any variation of the language, she knew how to use chopsticks. "Vinegar, huh? I think the pineapple sounds like a tastier method. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks." Date. That word alone causes her to turn red-faced. Another flaw of being a red head was very pale skin suseptable to flushing easily. "Oh, I don't know about that. Maybe?" Quietly she chuckles. "I thought I might see if you could teach me a few things. I mean you are a better fighter than I am, clearly. I could pay a bit too for some lessons. If you're up for it."
Jason Todd	"Teach you? I mean you were doing pretty good there." Jason offers to her between bites, taking some of the sauce to dab on his own dumplins. "I don't mind - I mean, maybe you should practice with me once before you decide to pay me." he winks at her. "Unless you want to tell your friends you're paying for a guy to spend time with you." That brings another smirk to his features. "Why is it that you're wanting to learn, Carrie?" he asks her curiously. "You wanting to just defend yourself, or is there something else that you're looking for?"
Carrie Kelley	"I'm good at researching stuff. I can watch all the youtube vids in the world, and read all the books I get my hands on, but there's only so far that can work without actually trying it out." Carrie plucks up a dumpling with her chopsticks letting her breath cool it before biting. It's chewed on thoughtfully, and her eyes slide to the side in thought. "I don't know yet. I just... It's better than doing nothing." There's a stubborn set to her jaw as she regards a spot on the floor not meeting Jason's eyes. It's breif, and she chews on her lower lip lost in thought. Finally her gaze snaps back to him recalling herself with a grin. "Or maybe I just want to spend more time with a cute guy."
Jason Todd	There's a chuckle at that. "You haven't seen me undressed yet, you might change your mind." Jason offers up dryly as he reaches behind him to take out his wallet to pay for the meal. "Think about what you want to learn. When you know the answer, I'll give you my number to call me. Or you know.. whatever have you." he grins at her. "You're not so bad on the eyes yourself, after all. And I wouldn't mind working you up into a sweat." "...with training." There's that smirk at her again as he works on tucking away the last of his dumplins.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley remains red-faced at the continued teasing. Resolutely she sets to finishing her own soup dumplings with delicate, quick bites. She was hungry, and this was good, after all. It was a nice filling end to an evening of getting her butt kicked. "Fair enough," she agrees quietly. "Though I don't think there's much that you could do to scare me off." Pause. "I mean, not that I'm trying to get you naked... Oh geeze I'm going to shut up now." Her face finds her hand just rubbing it over her face. "I blame you for getting me drunk." Still she's smiling and not sounding actually upset in any way, or even drunk in the first place. "I guess we'll just see how things go, Jason."
Jason Todd	"Oh please, dig that hole a little deeper, I'm enjoying seeing how much of you turns such interesting shades of red." Jason offers playfully in response to her. "Do you want me to call you a taxi home?" he asks her as he sits up. After all, he's not going to abandon her in this part of town - and he's pretty sure that she don't want to see his place, either.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley grins at that only to give a shake of her head. "I should be fine. I'm not too far away from here myself, and I down have a tazer now." Her bag is hefted up for example, and she shows off the pink device inside. "Not the type I wanted of course, but apparently you need to be police or have a security license for those."
Jason Todd	"Pink. Cute. Does have a Hello Kitty license as well?" Jason grins as he sets down the cash to pay for the meal, and then takes out a small slip of paper. Writing down his number, he slides it over to her. Isn't it usually the girl that gives the guy the number? Oh well, modern society. "I guess I'll be seeing you around then, Carrie." he offers to her, a touch of his fingers to hers as he hands over the paper.
Carrie Kelley	"Don't look at me. I am not the one that designs women's defense devices. Seriously, I don't get why they have everything be 'fashionable.' Ugh. It was either pink or leopard print." Her eyes roll with the tip of her tongue sticking out in mock disgust. When the paper is offered over she reaches to accept it. That little light touch of his hand to hers lingers long enough that she flits her gaze to his still blushing heavily. Her lower lip is bitten in response as she gives a quick nod. "See you later, Jason."
Jason Todd	"Wouldn't complain about seeing you in a leopard print either." Jason winks over his shoulder at the woman as he moves to head out of the restaurant. And there is part of him that considers making sure that she does get home safely - but he doesn't want to make her feels stalked.