i'll be the bright, in black

[gevurah]

WHO: BATGIRL and BATWOMAN
WHERE: Around Heropa.
WHEN: Let's go with tonight.
WHAT: Only in RP world will the two be allowed to meet.
WARNINGS: TBA.

---

[ The wind that hits Kate's face is a welcomed delight as she swings through an alleyway, volleying upwards as far as she can into the night sky before firing her grappling hook onto a building across, pulling herself toward it. Her cape spreads behind her, like a pair of great, dark wings. Her movements are precise and graceful, but quick and powerful; anyone who manages to catch even a glimpse of her will see her maneuvers have years of experience backing them.

It's only been two days since she was last out, but it feels like two weeks. She's been wrapped up in her own thoughts for too long, almost suffocating. Her heart still aches, but when she's out on rooftops or on the dance floor, she can let everything go. She can forget for a couple of hours and let the energy of the air or music fill her instead.

She keeps to the shadows for the most part, but every now and then a shock of red appears, along with the tail end of a cape disappearing around a corner or back into the darkness. ]

Comments

[bratarang]

[ Steph, on the other hand, isn't on the move. she's on a roof, actually, with a pretty good view of what's going on below-- which is how she spots her. it's only for a split second, when Kate makes a sharp turn and vanishes, but Steph knows when she's spotted another Bat.

she drops down, silently, behind the redhead. admittedly, she doesn't get to do the thing very often, so on the inside Steph is pretty excited. her features on the outside are relaxed though. ]

Hey, Batwoman. Nice night.

[gevurah]

[ After three years of hitting the rooftops and repeatedly running into people between the City and Heropa, Kate's grown accustomed to the idea she's never completely alone in the middle of the night. If she somehow hadn't caught on, her senses would have picked up on it, but it's both the acknowledgement and trained senses that alert her to someone else's presence.

The voice registers, despite the large span of time it's been since she last heard that particular, friendly voice.

She changes the direction of her swing easily, cutting across to the right and perching herself against a ledge. Her cape drapes around her shoulders, though the bright insignia on her chest can be seen. ]

Batgirl. [ She lifts her gaze. ] Appearances are deceiving, as you know.

[ It is quiet compared to Gotham, but something is always happening, somewhere. She only needs to find it. ]

[bratarang]

That's why I'm out. [ a pause. ] And why you are, too, I guess.

[ Steph hasn't really gotten a chance to work with many of the Gothamites over the years. or the ones she has, it was either back when she was Spoiler or very recently as Batgirl. Batwoman, however, is definitely on the list of "people she most definitely wants to kick butt with but for some reason never runs into."

so, she's gotta keep this cool. she's cool. Stephanie Brown is totally cool. ]

Wanna team up? [ that's probably not keeping it cool. ]

[gevurah]

I tend to fly solo.

[ Despite the numerous team-ups over the past three years, sometimes by necessity and other times because she could actually put her faith in someone else and not wind up disappointed.

She watches Batgirl closely, contemplating in the meantime.

It's a dangerous road for her to tread so soon, but if there's anyone she is willing to work with, it's another Bat. ]

But if you've got a case...

[bratarang]

[ she manages not to roll her eyes at the solo comment. it's such a Gotham thing to say, but she knows that Kate sticks to it more than others manage to. there is a reason they don't see her often at Bat meetups.

but then she shows interest. and Steph does, in fact, have a case. it's nothing major-- just a small time drug ring that hasn't really gotten its footing yet, but it's a job and it's better to take care of it not before they do get big. ]

Yup. Drug dealers. Their HQ is supposedly close by to here.

[gevurah]

[ Now that grabs her attention. Heropa doesn't tend to have much in the ways of organized or highly illegal crime, so if Batgirl is inviting her into her case and allowing her to punch a few drug dealing scumbags in the face? She's in. ]

In the middle of Superhero Central? How unwise of them.

[ She takes out her grappling hook, rising to her feet now while remaining on the ledge. ]

Lead the way.

[bratarang]

[ on the inside, she is cheering for her victory on managing to team up. on the outside, she... well, she's smiling, so it's not like she's really hiding it. but once Steph has the okay, she will leap off the roof, her hook attaching itself to the next one.

it's a few blocks away, in a pretty discreet looking area. it would be hard to guess that something fishy was going on, except there's a guy who looks like he's paying too much attention to the people passing by. probably a lookout.

Steph stops on the roof of the building next to the one he's standing in front of. ]

Here we go.

[gevurah]

[ She trails right behind Batgirl, watching for every turn she makes to stick close and keeping an eye out for any other potential rooftop goers that might make an appearance tonight. Two's a company, three's a crowd as they say and Kate has very little interest in being part of any makeshift group. While she doesn't know exactly how Batgirl operates, she has an inkling that she can work with unlike with a complete stranger. Too many variables to consider.

Funny though, she seems to know a little more about the Robins than the Batgirls.

She lands beside Steph, grabbing the ends of her cape so it doesn't accidentally alert the lookout to what he's supposed to be watching for. She reaches into her belt, producing a small pair of binoculars. ]

Let's see where his friends are.

[bratarang]

[ like Batwoman, Stephanie is sort of clueless on how the other works. but she figures that anything should be easier than working with, say, Batman. first time partnerships can be clumsy, but it should help that these guys shouldn't be too much of a problem for them. it really shouldn't take too long either, if the intel's right.

she pulls out her own pair of binoculars and points them at the same direction Kate is. it's hard to tell at first. most of the windows are curtained, and the glow of television screens can be seen shining through glasses of an apartment complex next door. it kind of reminds Steph of home.

one of the curtains shifts slightly on the third floor, and it appears as if someone is looking down towards the lookout. hmmm. ]

Maybe...

[gevurah]

[ She keeps the binoculars pressed close, observing every movement of the lookout's. Though his stance barely shifts, she does catch the occasional glance upwards ― toward the apartment Batgirl's set her binoculars on. She follows the trail and sees the curtain pull back quickly, obscuring already a dim lit room.

She sets her binoculars down after a quick search up the streets below, glancing sidelong at Batgirl. ]

Why don't we say hello?

[bratarang]

We'd be pretty rude guests if we don't.

[ after pocketing the binoculars (where do they keep all of these things?), steph looks down towards their guy. luckily, jumping from rooftops and landing soundlessly behind unsuspecting people is... okay, steph needs to work on the soundlessly part, but tonight she at least doesn't embarrass herself in front of kate. ]

[gevurah]

[ As Kate follows her the entire way, she grimaces slightly at the level of noise Batgirl makes, partially surprised she hears it at all. It's hard to tell if she's rusty or new to their duty.

Her movements are quiet and precise as always. She looms behind the lookout, who hasn't clued in yet to the noise he may have heard right behind him.

Finally, when he turns around, he nearly yelps and scrambles for his pockets, but Kate slips in between, grabbing his wrist tightly with one hand and the other covering his mouth. She slams him against the wall. ]

Not a word.

Bones in the wrist are very delicate things.

[ It silences him immediately, though he still looks as if he's ready to bolt if Kate releases him. ]

[bratarang]

[ while kate manhandles the guy, steph takes a look around to make sure they hadn't somehow missed another guard. given that no one comes running to his rescue, they’re probably safe. ]

So! We're going to play bad cop and worse cop. You can decide which is which.

[ a pause. no noise is heading their way. ] Is this your HQ? Hideout? Lair? What are the kids calling it these days...

[ he tries to struggle. ]

[gevurah]

[ She keeps him in her grip and squeezing his wrist is enough to get him talking quickly, afraid Batwoman is going to make good on her threat. So much for criminal teamwork.

He keeps his voice low, afraid of being overheard -- probably by his own buddies in the apartment above. Nobody likes a rat, but Kate could appreciate their use.

It turns out it's none of the above; it's one of the guys' apartments they are using to make a quick drop-off. He doesn't know where their usual hangout is or where else business is conducted, thus cutting short their conversation. ]

Go. [ "B-But they'll... they're gonna kill me now." ] No.

[ She glances over at Batgirl. ]

We won't let that happen.

[bratarang]

[ it kind of makes her a little sad when they always say that. it just makes this kind of life even more deplorable, the fact that they're only loyal to each other out of fear instead of loyalty. very, very sad.

she shakes her head to get rid of the thought. on the job is not the best time to have deep thoughts on the motives of criminals. ]

You're in good hands. [ he stares at the two of them, obviously doubting their words. in the end, though, he does run, casting glances over his shoulder as if to make sure they weren't going to attack again.

once he turns a corner and is out of their sight, she looks towards the apartment. ]

Shall we make ourselves at home?

[gevurah]

[ It's not as though her words were never genuine, but Kate preferred the air of mystery -- and the underlying threats -- when sparing someone's bones for the night. Keeping them guessing worked in her favour often.

She nods, lifting a curled hand just above her sternum and cracking the knuckles. ]

Ladies first.