we'll always be ready [closed]

[symmachy]

WHO: Scathach and Redbird.
WHERE: The streets.
WHEN: 8 May, night.
WARNINGS: TBA.
SUMMARY: Two redheads meet on patrol.
FORMAT: Quick, then whatever.

[It had been a few weeks since Scathach had gone on patrol. She had been so worried about Cassie that she had made it a point to stay in the dojo night after night, just to make sure her young ward didn't get into any trouble. Even though the apartment was basically a fortress, she wasn't about to take any chances. But Cassie was working on her pieces for her final critique, and the Warrior Maid knew that she wouldn't abandon her work for anything. So for the first time in a while, she felt comfortable leaving to patrol the streets.

How she had missed the evening air. And now that summer was coming, it was warm--not that she noticed heat and cold much anymore. But her nostrils flared as she breathed deeply, taking in the City's scents. She sat on a roof ledge, legs dangling over it, just looking out at the night. It was beautiful, even with the urban rush. At the moment, she wouldn't trade it for anything.]

Comments

[slingshots]

[ It's amazing how you lose track of people sometimes, even with the Network keeping everyone more or less connected. Carrie hasn't seen Scathach since... well, since she stopped going to the Dojo, and when was that? Around the time she'd asked Miho to be her teacher instead, about a year ago.

In short, it's been a while, and Carrie wouldn't mind a quick visit.

First, though, she has to see if she can manage to approach undetected. It's just one of those things you've got to test once in a while. So she starts from behind and a good distance away, alternatively creeping and making long, weight-lightened leaps. ]

[symmachy]

[To Carrie's credit, it was because of her enhanced senses of smell and hearing that she noticed that someone was approaching. Judging from the lightness of the steps and drops, it was someone small, probably a young woman or a small child. The latter seemed unlikely--not impossible, of course. There were plenty of children in this City who believed themselves heroes.

Though she didn't move, as soon as the stalker was a few yards away, Scatty spoke up:]

You're good.

[slingshots]

[ well, shit. She freezes, but only for a second. Then there's a sigh, a slump out of the pause. ]

Not good enough. How long'd you know?

[symmachy]

[She smiles to herself, getting to her feet and turning to face her companion. While her scent was familiar, the redhead couldn't quite place it.]

Longer than a normal person. If I were human, you would have been right on top of me before I'd noticed.

[slingshots]

Well, figure probably that's a start.

[ She closes the distance, hopping up to take a perch on the back of a gargoyle. A gargoyle had told her once not to do that, because you never really knew which ones were stone and which ones were alive, and just happened to be stone at the time. ...The advice is pretty much completely neglected by now, though. ]

So, hi, again.

[symmachy]

[She smiles, shifting her body so she's facing her new companion.]

Hello. I can't say I've seen you on the streets before. [Patrolling, of course.]

[slingshots]

Maybe not, but you seen me in the dojo, now'n then.

[symmachy]

[She flares her nostrils, catching the girl's scent again.

Yes, she recognized it now.]

Redbird?

[slingshots]

[ She doesn't miss that weird... sniffing thing (non-humans are so cool), and grins. ]

I was Robin, back then. More yellow, bigger visor...

[symmachy]

[Scatty smiles back, close-lipped. She nods.]

Yes, Robin. [One of many.] I remember. You're a good student.

[slingshots]

You're a good teacher, we're even. [ Not that she had many of her classes, but hey, it was enough. Back when she actually used to do that kind of them. ] Still teaching?

[symmachy]

[A nod.]

At the Institute and my own dojo. You still learning?

[slingshots]

'Course. Who ever stops? [ not people that traverse rooftops at night, at least! ] Not much for formal instructional stuff anymore, though.

[symmachy]

[That was an excellent answer, Redbird.]

There is nothing wrong with that. As long as you learn, it doesn't matter where.

[slingshots]

S'what I been thinking.

[ For half a second she considers asking for private lessons — but, no. She's not sure she wants anything to do with the dojo at all, or any of its missing faces. ]

[symmachy]

[Scatty would always welcome her at her dojo.]

Anyone who tells you differently is a fool.