Thoughts disappearing like tears from the Moon.

[amiga]

WHO: Huntress & YOU (open)
WHERE: Various locations in the City.
WHEN: Sunday night, Monday night, & Tuesday night.
WARNINGS: Possible violence?
SUMMARY: Huntress has work to do.
FORMAT: Tagger's choice. Please specify a time and location in your tag and I will match you!

She thought maybe she would take a break from her nightly excursions now that Dick and Damian were back. She's been working hard on her own, she hadn't missed more than one night a week ever since she'd returned from Venezuela. She'd earned her rest and her chance to enjoy some time with her brothers. In an idealized world, perhaps that would have been true. They were Bruce Wayne's children and their lives were riddled with dysfunction. In all honesty, taking a break meant getting out into the stinging night air and doing what was right in the face of all the odds. Nights like these, alternately spent running across rooftops and being bundled up in her cape were the true escape from the crush of reality. Out here in the night, she could be what she was born to be. She could live up to her name and potential. There was something very freeing about that, and she wasn't going to miss a night on the beat for anything.

Comments

Tuesday Night - Random Rooftops

[plains_hunter]

Thomas didn't have his uniform. He didn't have it on when he was taken, and they hadn't thought to bring it along with him. Probably falling apart in some evidence locker, now. A pity. Still, he was the restless type, and that wasn't going to stop him from nightly jaunts.

"Well now, isn't this a surprise?" he laughed, raising his voice to help it carry across the distance between them, "I figured I had these rooftops all to myself."

[amiga]

She didn't like being caught off guard, and as such her mouth set into a tight frown. Helena didn't recognize the figure on the roof before her, so she tensed up, just in case this fellow turned out to be less of a friend and more of a foe. She'd had these run ins before. They could be unsettling, to say the least.

"In this town, there's always someone sneaking around." She kept her tone low, neutral, so she could feel this situation out better.

[plains_hunter]

"What?" he asked, more than a little confused by the lack of emotive response, "No calling, no letters, not so much as a punch in the face. I must be losing my touch."

He moved closer to her, then stopped at the edge of one room.

"Hold on a second! I'll be right there!"

Thomas suddenly disappeared from sight, his form seeming to fall through the floor. He emerged near her, stepping through a semi-transparent doorway.

"Check it out. Interesting change, huh?"

[amiga]

"Interesting, sure."

Her brows knit in confusion, though hidden behind her mask. She still didn't recognize this guy, not his voice and certainly not his appearance. If this was yet another case of mistaken identity, it could stand to be cleared up ASAP.

"But I have to confess something. I don't usually write letters to people I don't know."

[plains_hunter]

"...Huntress, seriously. I knew we didn't part on the best terms the last time we met, but I didn't expect this. I thought we put all that business behind us when you shot me."

He crossed his arms and locked eyes with her, trying to figure out what the deal was. Was she doing this on purpose? Was he persona non grata with her? Did something jumble her memory? Was she from a time when they hadn't met? It could have been anything.

"Are you sure you don't remember me? Do I need to put my cowl on, to jog your memory? It's me, Thomas. You know, Catman?"

[amiga]

"Unless you're some alternate version of Catwoman, I assure you, I have no idea who you are." That was the only explanation she could come up with. Either that, or this guy was a friend of the other Huntress she'd been told about, the one from the other world. She disliked being mistaken for the other woman, but usually people were quick to realize their mistake. She couldn't recall it taking this long before.

"I'm afraid you've got the wrong Huntress, Thomas."

[plains_hunter]

"Wrong Huntress? What do you mean by tha-Oh. Ah, I see. This is one of those bizarre, science fictiony situations, isn't it? You're from some other Earth?"

He looked off to the side for a moment, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"Well...This is awkward, then. I apologize for the mistake."

[amiga]

She shook her head, feeling a little bad for him. This wasn't easy, she'd been in his situation with her own friends and family. "There isn't a need for that. I get mistaken for her all the time. I'm sure you're aware of the porter-machine's fondness for pulling people from alternate universes into this one."

[plains_hunter]

"I've been to some strange places, but the whole concept of alternate selves is still hard to wrap my hear around."

[amiga]

"You get used to it," she said with a small shrug, like she was something of an old pro. In some ways, she truly was. This was the third Earth she'd spent substantial time on, having visited the other Earth both before and after her own had been destroyed. She'd heard about the other Huntress, heard of the two other Helena Kyle's, born to different versions of her mother. It wasn't so hard, once she'd let go and just accepted it all.

"I'm sure you'll have it all figured out in no time at all."

[plains_hunter]

"I hope so," he laughed, giving a small shrug, "I always find a way to get by, anyway."

He gave her a small bow.

"Well, I won't keep you from your appointed rounds any longer. Keep on protecting the populace, I guess."

[amiga]

She gave him a curt salute, still unsure of what to make of this man. It was intriguing, how many people knew this other Huntress and made assumptions of her based on the other. One day she'd like to meet this other woman, shake her hand, maybe slap her for coloring so many misconceptions about Ms. Helena Wayne.

At least she kept fascinating company. If nothing else, she would have to ask around and do a bit of research on this 'Thomas the Catman' fellow.

"I'll do what I do best."

sunday | queens @ 2:56am

[gevurah]

[ She's been coming around Queens more often lately, ever since Tim tipped her off about Dent's appearance here. If he's been active, she needs to find out quickly and where he's been hiding.

Despite the fact she hasn't picked up on Dent's exact whereabouts, she'd heard through the grapevine about one of his lackeys. Spotted in the area only a couple of days ago. If they were still in the business with him, it's a good place to start.

When she found them, she listened in on the conversation for over an hour from high up above, but there wasn't anything she hooked onto. No mention of anything suspicious. But they had disappeared a little too quickly before she had a chance to pay them a visit herself. Damn.

Now she sits on the edge of a building, scanning the streets below before she comes to the conclusion that tonight's been a bust. She grits her teeth. ]

[amiga]

[Queens was out of her way, but she felt like making the effort to patrol the entire City was part of her job. Besides, she too had heard the rumors that Two-Face was back in town. She knew what he'd done to Kate, she'd seen the papers, and she felt like it was a personal duty to track the bastard down.

But she wasn't having much luck. Every end was a dead one. There was nothing she could find that was leading her back to Harvey Dent, or anything besides teenagers out past their bedtimes.

Typical.

She's about to call it a night, running between buildings toward the nearest subway station when she sees a figure perched on the ledge.]

How's the view from here?

[gevurah]

[ She didn't expect company or to see Huntress all the way out here. It catches her by surprise initially before it slips away and she regains her focus. ]

Boring. [ She answers, inclining her head to keep a watchful eye out anyway. Kate needs to find him. The trail's already cold, but she knows she can do this. ]

[amiga]

I was about to turn in myself. [She approaches slowly until she is beside Kate.] Who are we looking for tonight?

[gevurah]

[ It's been over a year since her arrival and operating in the City of this world. It means it's been months of adjusting herself to allies and team-ups more and more.

But at Kate's very core she knows this is something she needs to do by herself. The only way to end this with Dent is to go at it alone. ]

Not this time, Huntress. [ If she listens carefully, her voice is slightly tinged with an apology. She knows it's important to stick together, to trust each other, but Dent's gotten so far under her skin. ]

[amiga]

No?

[Her body tenses and she crosses her arms, a look of disbelief crossing her face.]

Why not? I can help you.

[She can't imagine why on Earth her assistance would be rejected. They'd worked so well together in the past. It's not like Huntress is incompetent or something.]

[gevurah]

This one's all mine. I've got it. [ She tries to ensure her. ]

[amiga]

At least tell me who you're after.

[gevurah]

[ A pause. ]

I'm certain you saw Red Robin's message about Dent being spotted here.

[amiga]

[Her mouth tightens. She had seen it, though the more pressing part of that message had been regarding Damian's death. She'd put family above hunting the enemy-- a mistake perhaps, but seeing as Damian was her only blood kin left, she felt an obligation to mourn him.]

That was weeks ago now. Are you sure he's still here?

[gevurah]

I don't know. [ She hates to admit that. ] But I will find out.

[amiga]

How will you recognize his crew?

[gevurah]

His obsession with duality runs deep. [ A disgusted smile. ] How many twins have worked for him, I wonder?

[amiga]

[What a creepy thought.] So his crew runs in even numbers. It wouldn't be a fair fight, you against a group.

[Not that Batwoman isn't talented and able to handle herself. Hel just doesn't like being shut out of an investigation, especially not something like this.]

He's been after a friend of mine, you know. He broke into her home.

[gevurah]

[ That gets a slight pause and she's taken a renewed interest in the conversation. ]

Kate Kane, yes? I remember he escaped that time.

[amiga]

That's her.

[Maybe she shouldn't have said anything at all, bringing Kate up could endanger her, or maybe give Batwoman enough clues to deduce Huntress's secret identity. But she felt she needed to do whatever she could for her friend. Batwoman had to understand.]

Every night he is on the loose is a night that Kate and Nill won't be safe. Don't you understand? You're not the only one with something to lose here, Batwoman.

[gevurah]

I understand. [ Who is she to Huntress? That means it's someone she's familiar with, possibly close to. To take this so personally... it has to be a good friend of hers.

Unmasking others is something she tries to avoid. However, she's pretty damn curious now. ]

But I've got this. I won't let him hurt anyone.

[amiga]

[She considers arguing, considers making a demand that she be allowed to help, if only for the sake of justice and the sake of her friend. But that won't get her anywhere, and she doesn't want to lose her closest ally.]

Alright. If things get out of hand, you can contact me.

[gevurah]

[ She turns on the heel of her boot. She doesn't want to discuss this any further, curiosity be damned. ]

Of course.

[ Spoilers: she won't. The resentment she harbors toward Dent runs deep. ]

[amiga]

[She frowns, then turns her back on the other woman, with a flourished gesture.]

I'll leave you to it, then.