Owner	Pose
Dick Grayson	"Time flies when you're having fun. Ain't that right, Eugene?" Nightwing's gruff and grim voice, the one he uses when intimidating the hoi polloi of Gotham city, was edged with a certain sharpness to it along with more mockery than the Bat lets slip into his words. The former Robin carries himself like his mentor, but more informal in some ways and for some criminals it's worse. Like when he calls you by your firs t name and slams you up against the wall. "Where have all these ninjas been coming from?"     The wall /thuds/ with the impact of the older career criminal as he's slammed hard against the wooden structure. The youth in the black and the blue looks into the man's eyes though his own irisless mask is the only thing looking back at him. "Remind me when the last time was we had this many running around?"     Eugene grimaces as he's hefted into that old wooden wall, the warehouse they're in large and empty and quiet save for the rough movements of the man interrogating him. But he's a professional, he keeps his cool as best as he can as he replies, "It was... was that time I took that commission from the Yak."     "Right, that time you took the job from the Yakuza. So here I am, more ninjas, and who do I think of first?"     Eugene heaves such a heavy sigh, as if the weight of the world was heavy on his shoulders even as he's set down roughly back onto his feet. He answers, "Me. Cuz that's just my luck."     "Just your luck, right Eugene. So give me the skinny."     "There's nothing to tell you, 'Wing. honest. I'm not in that gig anymore."     "Why don't I believe you?"     "I dunno! I told you," Eugene grimaces, all six foot one of him. He's a big guy, bulky too, in his earlier life was a bouncer, other times he was a button man for a few gangs. Now... "I'm all legit now."
Lady Shiva	While taking care of some business in Starling, Shiva heard about the attack at the Hugo Building in Gotham City. Opposite sides in a gang war supposedly. There was more to it. There's always more to it.     She had returned, once her business there was completed. A few up-and-comers checked into. A master eliminated who had run his mouth a bit more than he should have. She didn't like her anonymity being destroyed by loose lips. One would think they'd have learned not to cross her. Yet, some thought themselves better. Maybe the police would be called in when his students reported him missing. They would never find the body.     Atop a roof nearby, Shiva watches from above with a hint of a smile. Good to see Nightwing was in town instead of Bludhaven. She could watch how his technique had improved under the tutelage of Richard Dragon. Or not. Seemed those skills weren't needed for this particular foe.     She took a few steps to the side, to allow the moonlight to be cast from behind her, setting her in silhouette against the glowing orb. It also cast her shadow over the pair below. "He's lying. Don't they always? It's so predictable and dull."
Dick Grayson	The shadow falls across them and for a moment Nightwing's response is given as if it belonged to someone else. "I got this." He says somewhat over his shoulder, presuming they'll hear him. But then his gaze lowers to take in the silhouette that is cast and rather pointedly it becomes clear that it's not his mentor. The lines are all wrong, smaller, but still ominous.     Under his breath the youth says to himself, "Crap." But that still leaves Eugene looking puzzled at the vigilante that is keeping him pinned there. "You uh, need some time?"     Looking back at the informant, Nightwing's eyebrows lift, a touch incredulous at the guy he's trying to question. Maybe he did go legit, since that was all out of character for him. "Yeah." He lowers the man and then shoves him to the side, causing Eugene to stagger a bit and stumble towards the door.     "I'm going to catch up with you again soon, Eugene. And you better have something for me."     "I'll get you an idea, 'Wing. Lay of the land. But deeper than that and people will give me grief of the 9mm lead variety."     But Batman's former partner waves a hand to send the man off. It lets him turn around and face that distant silhouette on the rooftop. He scowls again to himself and takes a few quick strides, leaping into the air and firing his grapple line into the lip of the skylight he'd used to enter the warehouse. It's enough to pull him up and flip him around to land in a crouch there upon the roof. Then it's just a matter of breaking into a sprint and leaping into the valley between buildings, the grapple line firing again and snaring into the concrete of the wall nearby to where Shiva observes from. She can hear it snap closed with a /clink/ even as some cement dust falls to the street from where the hooks imbed.     The next instant he's pulling himself up and over the side of the building, landing light on his feet and facing her as he draws himself up to his full height. No greeting is given, no hello. He just says, "You're early."
Lady Shiva	That earns that hint of a smile which shows her great amusement. "I am never early. Nor am I late. I always am right on time."     Shiva had moved while he transitioned from the warehouse to her current location. Now she is in the middle of the rooftop, standing facing the direction he arrives from. Her coat and hair shift in the breeze but otherwise she is still. Hands are empty and visible, arms relaxed to either side of her torso. No threat. No aggression.     "I did not mean to interrupt. I am quite certain he had much more he could have shared with you. With the right encouragement." There is a hint of amusement in her dark eyes as she says it. Her definition of that word and his may differ slightly.     "I was not here to meet you yet. It was simply fortuitous. I trust your training has been going well?" As though she is asking how a friend is doing with their exercise regimen at the gym. No hint of what she is, what she does. Just a nice conversation.
Dick Grayson	"This isn't exactly my first rodeo, Shiva." Nightwing says as he steps to the side. To most anyone observing them from afar it would seem as if they were two old friends, just meeting there, speaking amiably. There's little in his body language that most would pick up. But she can read the heightened tension, the edginess that's there as he tries to read the same in her.     Though after he says that last he turns his head slightly, his gaze following the moving figure of Eugene down on street level as the old henchman tries to beat a hasty retreat to the nearby subway station. The next instant he looks back at the Mistress of the Martial Arts and he says, "To be honest I thought you might have forgotten. Or maybe might get confused with that new guy running around trying to look like me." A small jab towards one of the other Robins assuredly.     But he lifts his chin, "What's the story?"
Lady Shiva	"The Red Bird?" Shiva asks. She may have been away but she still has information when she wants it. "He has far to go. The Baby Bird has more skill in combat." She considers a moment then continues. "Or the Spider. The sheer number of animals you heroes relate to is staggering," she adds as almost an aside.     He is uncomfortable. But not to the level he used to be. It's not a surprise. She's almost proud to have helped create that much change in him. She'd make an offer now but she's certain it would be declined. The fight will have to happen. It will be the way to get through to him.     "I do not forget challenges, Little Bat. Where is the lesson in such? We have nine days. I suspect the Bat will try to intervene again before it can happen. Or some of his soldiers. They do not wish to face what may come."
Dick Grayson	Folding his arms over his chest, he looks almost sternly across the rooftop at her. Some quips spring unbidden to his thoughts, comments, methods of defusing tension with humor or distraction. But with her he knows better than to voice them. There is a certain solemnity that is to be used when conducting such matters. Not that he has much experience with fights to the death. Such things tend to be fairly rare. And final.     "I'm not exactly in a rush to have things happen. But I'm not going to let him lay himself on the line or make sacrifices for my actions." Nightwing uncurls an arm from across his chest and points at her with one finger. "Set the time and the place, I'll be there. I have some things to wrap up and tend to." He glances over his shoulder after the long gone Eugene, the back to her. "Some people to talk with. After that I'll be there."     But then, even with his instinct to keep things civil... he can't help himself. "Unless you want to give up now and save yourself a beating."
Lady Shiva	There are very few people who have seen a bright smile from this woman. With those words, Nightwing earns one. Shiva gives a bright smile, a flash of teeth. For a moment, she might seem oddly familiar to him. Perhaps an older version of a woman he knows. Then the smile is gone and along with it the resemblence.     "Spoken like a true warrior. Wrap up your business. Say your goodbyes, in case you fail." That amusement is there in her eyes again. "We will meet at the warehouse where this all started. A conclusion will be reached." What conclusion is up in the air for everyone involved. He may actually be good enough to be a challenge. And someone who is a challenge can always win. She starts to turn away herself than pauses. "Eugene should tell you that the Hand is moving into your territory. It would be best to get them out quickly before they establish more of a foothold."
Dick Grayson	A grimace marks the arrival of her news and he heaves a scowling grunt that would almost be a sigh if he weren't trying for the tough guy thing and keeping himself so very stern. But he shakes his head and looks back at her, "I have no intention of saying goodbye to anyone. And don't go spreading any doom and gloom for people. Just do what we're there to do." As if he's someone to give her any orders, but he makes his sentiment clear.     "Then it sounds like Eugene has some explaining to do." He looks back towards her and says, "I suppose someone has already given you the talk about how you could be a force for good, turn over a new leaf, leave behind the murder thing." He shifts stance and takes a stride to the small two foot high wall that surrounds the rooftop. He plants a foot and glances back. "Probably a waste of breath to even bring it up."
Lady Shiva	That brings her up short as she stands on the edge of the roof opposite him. Shiva turns and looks at him curiously. "This is not what I do. I challenge. I enlighten. I teach. Some lessons simply require that final step to be learned." She tilts her head as she considers the rest though. Although in truth, she does kill for money. Thus murder is the appropriate term. It isn't something she does much anymore. Mainly she lives off her earnings from the past as she continues to seek her own enlightenment.     "The answer is No. No one has given me that talk." The hint of a smile. "Besides, all the animal names are taken." A joke? It couldn't be.     "I will see you at this time in nine days. The circle will be completed." She steps off the edge of the roof and disappears from sight.