First Night [Action]

[cowledcrusader]

[In the middle of the previous night, a note will be left under the door of Clark Kent.  It reads as follows:]

Clark,

There are urgent matters to discuss.  Be on top of Community Housing 7 at midnight.

[The note is not signed and not dated.  Mysterious letter is mysterious.  The only question is whether or not Clark will meet him there at the appropriate time.   As for the rest of the night before then, Batman will keep tabs on Luceti.  He's looking for anyone in particular he might find useful.  If you want to be shadowed by this vigilante or speak with him feel free to be out and about minding your own business.  Don't worry about finding him.  He'll find you.

Be warned, he may not even stop to talk if he doesn't want to.  That's just how he is.]

Comments

[rabidrapido.livejournal.com]

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[...This dog is well trained and very intelligent. Doesn't seem like a thief, but it's definitely suspicious. What's he gonna do with that bag?]

[Action]

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[...He drew his weapons. He knows he's being tracked. But Leonardo doesn't know where he is quite yet. For now, Batman thumbs his utility belt and draws a batarang in case things go south. Otherwise, he won't move a muscle.]

[rabidrapido.livejournal.com]

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[...None of this is making sense. Wood? ...Is that hound smart enough to build a fire? Up in a tree a fair distance away. He's well concealed still.]

[rabidrapido.livejournal.com]

[Action]

[thesevencodes.livejournal.com]

[The night air is thick and slow, and Leonardo counts the steady pulse that vibrates beneath his skin. Three beats, sword hilts turn in his palms. By seven, his body has moved into a defensive position. Eleven, and the silence screams in his ears. At fifteen, he speaks.]

What do you want from me?

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[Sticks in a bag. Definitely a smart dog, but definitely doesn't seem like he's up to anything. Batman will just let him go on his way. If it were a person, he might suspect arson. But a dog? Nah.]

[Action]

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[Right now, Batman knows he has the advantage. He'll inch slowly around through the darkness, looking to flank Leonardo and keep out of his line of vision. That batarang is still drawn and ready if he sees him, though.]

[Action]

[thesevencodes.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't, and is beginning to feel the immediate dangers in the situation. The cold weather and time spent immobile stars to chill the reptilian blood in his veins; his swords dip slightly, his stance falters, and his focus may appear slightly strained. If he doesn't draw this person out soon....]

Come out. [Forceful, but with a hint of dreaminess. If Batman didn't have enough of an advantage already, Mother Nature has dealed him one more hand.]

[Action]

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[Good. He's navigated behind him, and whoever this is has lost his composure. Now's the time. Thankfully, one of the things Batman is trained in is ventriloquism... so Leonardo will hear the voice coming from all around rather than just one place. Have Batman's trademark no-nonsense voice.]

Who are you hunting, ninja?

[He says the word "ninja" with an inflection to suggest he's familar with them.]

[lookslikeajob.livejournal.com]

Bruce, about the external forces I mentioned... what do you think of the ones other than the Malnosso? The so-called "Third Party"?

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Mm. But for me to have a job people would have to be hurt first. Automail is only a popular business because of the war.

[Action]

[thesevencodes.livejournal.com]

[The sudden voice rips the cold right out of him, and he spins once with his swords held in the air. His eyes turn slowly across the distance as he measures the question within his mind.]

I'm not hunting anyone.

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

A tragic side effect of humankind's baser instincts.

...But I doubt you're doing your work because it's popular.

[Action]

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[...The intensity in his voice. It's not like Kyodai. No, the brutal honesty in the warrior's statement is pretty clear. Is that something of honor he detects? The voice will ring out again, less aggressive than before.]

Sheathe your weapons. There's no need for them.

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

I'd think they were fake if there hadn't been so many accounts of their attack here. Though I'm still not prepared to rule out that they are just another diversion created by the Malnosso.

If the Malnosso are telling the truth, they pose a great danger to everyone here. Their obsession with the concept of death is twisted. They've perverted concepts from Buddhist and Hindu philosophy in that they seek a death that is a final release from the torment of life. This combined with a sort of Aztec mysticism that enjoys the concept of ritual sacrifice. And they "save" anyone they can, because they think of themselves as messiahs.

They are the most dangerous sort of fanatic.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Yeah? And what makes you think that?

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[...This one he knows from experience himself.]

Pride. A sense of duty to one's family to honor what they've worked hard for. Like helping people that need it. And because those who are passionate about what they do are those who do it regardless of popularity.

[wings-thatwait.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess that's most of it.

[Action]

[thesevencodes.livejournal.com]

[He senses the lowered level of aggression, but isn't ready to let his guard down just yet.]

Show yourself first.

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[He follows behind a short distance, mostly keeping to the darkness.]

Do you find time to work on other projects besides automail?

[Action]

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

[He'll move out of the shadows enough that Leonardo should be able to see his outline. Currently, he's allowing his cape to drape all around him, concealing the batarang he is holding in case this ninja decides to try something. Batman appears stoic and unmoving, as if unintimidated by his foe, but not aggressive either.]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

In this place? The projects are mostly non-automail. I've made a watch and a mechanical mouse. I've also been wanting to try and build some other things I see in books, but I can't take up too much time in the smithy with my hobby. Sokka runs the place, so I usually help him with what he's working on.

[cowledcrusader.livejournal.com]

If you're interested in projects that are a challenge, I can give you those. Things that would prove useful in my line of work.

[He's indirectly asking you to ask him just what he does.]