Owner	Pose
Carrie Kelley	After a week and a half of practice at the new dojo that she had found, Carrie finally made use of the business card that Brooke had given her to reach out to the woman. A few quick emails were shot off, and she invited her to join her for coffee to chat and get to know one aonther better. Really, she was interested in how skilled Brooke had seemed. As unfamiliar as she was with the line of martial arts that she'd seen she wanted to get more information without seeming like a huge bother as well.     Carrie already got herself a table along with a drink as she waits for her potential new friend to show up. Her hair is pulled back with a few barrettes to get out of her face as she reads over the screen of her phone killing some time. It was a common enough sight at this cafe that no one really paid her much attention.
Brooke Harris	Brooke slips in quietly, wearing a red long jacket and black leggings. She looks around, then smiles and slips over to where you are gracefully. She glances around a moment to decide how tactical that table is, then slips in facing the door. "Hi there! How is things going?" She glances up at the menu a bit, tryin to decide if anything looks appealing, then looks you over a bit, checking for any left over or new injuries. "Feeling better?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley looks up from her phone when Brooke moves to join her. The odd glance around and strategic table seat earns a lift of eyebrows even as her grin deepens. "I'm doing pretty great actually. I've had a lot of good things happen, and I feel like I'm taking charge of my life again with my visits to the dojo. I'm really glad I found that place and got your advice on it." A curious tip of her head allows her to look over Brooke herself. She didn't have any further bruises, at least not visible ones. Nothing so dangerous as the bruises on her neck from the last time. "You seem a bit nervous. Everything all right?"
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods, "Everything is fine. It just gets to be habit after awhile to check places. Like washing dishes after dinner or locking your bicycle." Plus, she's been getting some tips from some of the martial artists in the area, and she's keeping her eyes out to see if she sees any of the local gang types. She isn't expecting them specifically, but there's no sense being caught off guard. She tilts her head and listens. "Oh? What's been happening?" She folds her hands together and listens to you, tilting her head interestedly.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley hmms thoughtfully. Lifting her mug of coffee a long sip is taken as her glance shifts toward the door herself. "I guess that makes sense. It's not a bad habit to have in Gotham I admit, though I tend to relax in this part of town. At least before sunset." After? No guarantee on anything. "Oh, it was a chance meeting. I was with one of my students in the theater when Tony Stark of all people came in. He's doing a lecture here and was checking out the theater and stage area. Directing videos is one of my hobbies, and I got him to agree to let me re-shoot the Avengers Mansion tour that is on their public website. It'll be a great opportunity to at least get my name out there. Though..." Her thoughts taper off with a slow building frown. "I'm not giving up on wanting to do that project. I just feel like my goal to be a movie director is kind of... Silly now. I never doubted it before. I just wonder these days if that's a waste of energy. Maybe I should be trying to do something more beneficial to the world."
Brooke Harris	Brooke listens quietly, nodding. She has a few things to say to respond to this, but it seems better to let your thoughts bloom out so she can discuss what's really on your mind. She doesn't want to interrupt you in mid-thought. So she just sort of listens and nods, "Oh?" She blinks at you and waits for you to work out what you are saying.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley fidgets with her coffee mug. Her fingers tap along the sides, the coffee inside swirling around with turbulance from the motion. Much like her thoughts. Her jaw had set with a stern, stubborn look. Finally she breaks from staring at the contents of her cup to look up at Brooke with a smile. "Sorry. Thinking out loud some."
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods, "I noticed. I didn't want to interrupt you from it." She watches you quietly for a moment to see if anything else comes out right away, then ventures, "Producing movies can be beneficial, if that's what you care for and you use that skill for right. But was there something in particular you were thinking about?" She tilts her head at you, with some concern. She said hello, and you immediately had deep thoughts; you must have something heavy on your mind.
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley smiles ruefully at the question. "I've just been thinking about my run-in with Batman and those ninjas a bit much, I think. I'm sorry I didn't mean to dump on you. Especially right after inviting you to hang out." A shake of her head comes along with a laugh. "I just want to do something to help my city more. I thought I'd do that with movies, help bring a brighter future to this dark city. More options. More choices. There's still things like *ninjas* running around though."
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods, "Yeah, things are kind of a mess. What are you thinking?" She tilts her head a bit. I mean, you invited her, presumably wanting to ask her something.. and she hasn't heard what just yet. She has her suspicions. "It sounds like you are thinking about a career change. You wanted to talk to me about.. SOMETHING, anyways..?"
Carrie Kelley	Carrie Kelley bites down on her cheek glancing away. The glare of light off her glasses momentarily hides her eyes from view. "You're right, I did ask you here for a reason. I wanted to ask you about your training. I don't know much about the martial arts that I'm taking now. I've read on Krav Maga, and some others to know that they're in use by current military groups around the world." Biting her lip lightly she hazards, "How... Which type is best for actually fighting? If you had to."
Brooke Harris	Brooke considers. "The easy answer is, the one that suits you. There's a lot that goes into it, though. Xingyiquan is one of the Taoist styles that was made for straight lines. Yang. It was actually created to train farmers to fight with spears quickly, so it has that going for it. Any art is made to solve a certain set of problems, so it turns into a question of what you need exactly. Also, what suits you. I had a woman come in bruised up, she just needed to learn to fight off her husband fast. I sent her to a boxing class and a judo class. That won't get her much farther than fighting, at least from the people in town, but it gets her there fast." She looks you over thoughtfully. "I had completely different things I was worried about; my enemy at the time was part of my own body. I needed control of myself first. But I got good at everything else too."
Carrie Kelley	"That... that makes sense. Different tools for different problems." Carrie hadn't quite thought of it that way before. It's the other part that gains her interest now though. Eyebrows knitting together with mild concern she looks Brooke over again. "Can I ask why? I don't want to pry into anything private, but... I admit I'm curious. You do seem to have very good control over your body from what I saw in the class."
Brooke Harris	Brooke ohs, and dismissively comments, "I don't actually have ovaries. I have to mind over matter every drop of estrogen. That wasn't the only thing I had going on, but it was a breaking point. My mother was into yoga and things like that, and some of the people I knew through her could do things like that. Drugs weren't working very well for anything, so I just... Took over controlling everything." She looks up at the menu, "I think I might want to get a mango smoothie, if that's okay?"
Carrie Kelley	"Oh." There wasn't much she could think to say immediately after that so she remains quiet as such a concept sinks in. It doesn't take too long at least before she huhs softly. "That is some pretty damn impressive control then. I didn't think that sort of thing was possible... That's kind of awesome." An easy grin comes again, and her coffee is drawn up for another sip. "Oh, sure! The smoothies here are pretty awesome."
Brooke Harris	Brooke nods. "Now I am good enough at it that I make a decent living doing acupressure massage and teaching classes. Now and then I knock a ninja around if they are bothering one of my old teachers or my students, and I try to not make too many waves so I don't draw too much attention. I'll be right back.." She rises and goes to acquire a drink, waiting in line and retrieving a glass of fruity yumminess.