little shadow, little shadow

[gevurah]

WHO: BATWOMAN and YOU
WHERE: various and some seedy locations in the City.
WHEN: between the nights of 3/19 till 3/23
WARNINGS: brb
SUMMARY: Caped vigilante doing her thing and running into people. FIESTA.
FORMAT: Quick, please! :c Just indicate when and where in the header and we're good to go.


[ Once again, she feels a prick of guilt when she slips out of the apartment, leaving Nill all alone for the night. It's the last thing she needs, but Kate reminds herself she knew what she was getting into when she first donned this uniform. It has to be done. This is her duty.

With that, she focuses on the tasks ahead of her for tonight. Time to get to work. ]

Comments

3/21. late night, scummy alley.

[christlike]

[ It's a decrepit alley like any other, draped clotheslines hung between the buildings. A homeless man naps away in a corner. Outside of the ambient sound of cars in the distance, it's quiet. And peaceful.

He sits, slumped against a wall, helmet tucked under an arm. The night is ancient, yet the frustration of not actually achieving anything is eminent; a day wasted in search, but no action. Eyes closed, Azrael rests. Inactive, at least for a moment. ]

ohoho

[gevurah]

[ The scenery is all too familiar; the smells, the piles of garbage and people tucked away into corners, another man desperately attempting to keep the garbage can he needs aflame for warmth.

Sometimes, it's as if she hasn't left Gotham. If it's not the Cityzens, it's the imPorts who provide familiarity.

Her footsteps would go unnoticed to the untrained senses. She walks along the edge of the roof, unaware of her company below. ]

winks at

[christlike]

[ At the subtle patter of feet on the roof, he stirs. It's not in suspicion that he rises, but a reminder of the world undeterred by his inaction.

There really isn't time for breaks, or rest. The City is a steeped with sin as it ever was.

As he moves, his helm slips from his grip and clangs loudly, sharply against pavement. Peering around, he stoops to pick it up, unfazed and unassuming. ]

[gevurah]

[ The noise alerts her, eyes flickering over to the source of the sound while she edges downwards onto a fire escape, making use of her shadows.

It's the red symbol on his chest that gets pause.

You're kidding me, is her first thought. ]

[christlike]

[ The helm is quickly slipped on, hood pulled loosely around his head. He straightens, and―

There it is. The sound had definitely moved, yet the windows high above weren't illuminated like the ones on his level. Looking into the shadows, he squints. Searching.

Extending out a hand, he moves it towards him. Beckoning. ]

[gevurah]

[ She steps out slowly, whatever dim light around them catching her cowl. Pointy ears, the long cape draped around her shoulders -- but most importantly, the bright red bat on her front. This isn't like the others, she knows he'll recognize it. ]

Azrael.

[christlike]

[ The curiosity drops with immediacy at the unexpected sight of her, replaced with a quiet, simmering indignation. Maybe hate. This isn't what he wanted.

Tilting his head downward, he peers up at her. ]

Batwoman. [ Rolling back a shoulder, he breathes. ] You're out late.

[gevurah]

[ Though they had never crossed paths in Gotham, his method of dealing with others wasn't unknown to her. He had babbled enough on the Network alone for Kate to take warnings under advisement.

She maintains her distance. ]

I haven't come for a fight, if that's what you're thinking.

[christlike]

[ Behind his mask, his eyes narrow. ]

Why else? Fighting is the only way you―all of you―purge yourselves of guilt.

[gevurah]

No.

[ Her voice resonates boldly, truth behind it. The guilt she carries is not the reason she fights. It's a complicated mess, but it's not the driving force behind her will and actions.

Duty, honor, country. ]

I don't do this for myself.

[christlike]

[ The furor behind his voice, the aim to embroil and to see conflict, falls. It's replaced by a certain ennui. ]

What are you doing? [ He hesitates. ] What do you want, Batwoman?

[gevurah]

I watch these streets and people as long as I'm here.

[ She eases through the railing, heading toward ground level. ]

[christlike]

[ He stands his ground, hand hovering close to the hilt of a blade. ]

Yet you save nobody. You may halt their deaths, but you do nothing for their virtue.

[gevurah]

That's not up to me... nor you.

[ She catches the hand movement. Tension starts to build around her shoulders. ]

Don't. You unsheathe that, I drop you.

[christlike]

[ The hand pulls back a few inches, then stills in a taunt. ]

I am a hand of God, Batwoman. I serve a divine purpose. The same cannot be said for you.

[gevurah]

[ She grits her teeth. It's always the religious nutcases with her. ]

You commit murder. You can't justify that.

[christlike]

I find it inconceivable that you believe that some people don't deserve death. [ His hand clenches, unclenches. ] Are we even?

holy redundancy batwoman...

[gevurah]

[ Those that found ways to strike at her, usually by targeting her loved ones, were the few that test her mercy. Memory of a threat she dropped on the True Believers rings clearly in her mind; the only question is if she would act on it.

Beth... ]

Like I said, it's not our call.

uh!!

[christlike]

[ He shakes his head, irritated. This is all wrong. ]

If it's not ours, whose call is it? Life is but a gift, not a right.

It deserves to be taken away, if used irresponsibly.

fight me!!

[gevurah]

We can stand here and have philosophical and ethical debates all night, but I'm not interested in that.

So I'll keep it brief and simple: you cross that line again under my watch, I take you down.

[ The biting edge in her tone barely conceals itself. ]

[christlike]

No. [ he seethes. ] No, you won't.

I hold no fear of someone like you. I won't stop for someone like you.

[gevurah]

I promise you, I will. [ Which means it's time to start digging for all the information she can find on Azrael. ]

[christlike]

[ He takes a few slow steps backward, arms open and out by his sides. ]

Don't sin for a shattered ideal. You'll learn that there are few rewards to reap, in time.