*Bruce nods*
"Never forget what it's like to be human, immortality brings with it certain problems. Ra's al Ghul started as a noble man with a noble vision. Now he is nothing but a madman and terrorist. It is late, we should all get some rest, tomorrow there is a lot of work to do."
*You clean up and head back to your room, and Cass turns down the bed for both of you*
*she giggles*
"I do believe this is the first bed we have shared."
"You'd be right... I hope you don't intend to be doing much sleeping." Sleep will come eventually, of course... sweet bliss. And I dig the tail; what kind of tail is it? Best would be catlike, then prehensile, then forked, then lizardlike (though I'd imagine that would've been difficult to miss), then horselike would be least cool, but still cool by me.
*Cass lets you take a look at her tail, it's a prehensile spaid tipped tail, she is pretty good at pressing it against her spine so it's not obvious*
*Cass nods and winks and you both find yourself falling to sleep much later than you entered bed in, and the knock in the early morning is a rude awakening.*
*It's Bruce with two carts, a cleaning cart for each of you*
"I have a Doctors appointment, and a board meeting to attend. I would start with the areas we all visit most, and work your way from there."
*Cass eyes up the work*
"Did I mention I'm not used to manual labor, but I guess it's for the greater good. Living room, Bruce's room, bathrooms, kitchen first priority. *she says this after doing a walkthrough of the mansion*
*The work goes about as fast as you would expect you get the following rooms done, spic and span before Bruce comes back, he is carrying perscriptions and he looks around*
"Looking good, let me put some steaks on, a good meal for a hard days work."
*he heads off to do that, you two are dirty and tired, and Cass suggests a shower, it strikes you as odd, since you just introduced her to the concept*
*she smiles*
"I'm a girl, we adapt to luxury very quickly."
hahaha. Well, I had mentioned showers before; I answer her with my brand of joking sarcasm, "Why not just wait for it to rain?" Of course I'm all over her in the shower, and I have already told her that there's no reason for her to hide her tail; I find it attractive. (Have always found things that most people find "different" or "strange" attractive.)
*she relaxes her tail around you, but around Bruce and others, you wouldn't know she has it, when pushed she says*
"It's a reminder of who I was, so while I am comfortable around you, I already have to use this...makeup....to do my visible skin pink. It is part of my punishment, I am human, but I have to work harder at it than most."
*You eat dinner, you sleep wake up, taking 2 more days to clean the mansion. The next morning after, Bruce tosses you two, training uniforms.
"I arranged for a new butler, and cleaning staff, it means you two will be on your best behavior."
*hands Cass a professional make up hit, with premixed pigments*
"That should make it easier to do what you need to do."
*He leads you two to the Dojo*
"You will spend many hours a day here, you will likely learn to hate this place. You will start by running 40 laps around the dojo before starting every morning. Start"
I will be insistent that Cass does not hide what she looks like. I tell her, "In my home world, we have a saying: 'Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.' Anyone who actually asks, we tell them you were born this way and leave it at that; I love you exactly the way you are. If the only way you will feel comfortable is to hide who you are, I won't be happy about it, but I won't stop you." I will force myself beyond what I feel are my limits in training; I feel this is the best way to make myself stronger.
*Cass smiles and says*
"I understand what Bruce's gesture means. If I were to go out mask less with my skin, it would be easy to trace back who I was. These people here now have families, if they mention that strange purple skinned woman, it would be easy to track all of us down. My love, there will be a time where I don't have to hide, and when that day comes I will not cover myself. This work, from what I understand is all about secrecy and your identity is the only thing you have that is yours.
*she kisses you*
"I appreciate what your saying, but I am my own woman"
*Cass is not used to the running, but the 4 miles, isn't too much a problem as long as there isn't a time limit, you on the other hand push yourself and are rewarded by not collapsing and finishing the running, Bruce is watching and when both of you are done.*
"That was ok for a first day, now your next task is to go to that machine over there, and do 10 sets of ten reps of for your arms, legs, back, and chest*
Of course, she's right. Still forcing myself to absolute exhaustion.
*You spot Cass, she struggles but takes a slow and steady pace and gets through it, she is spotting you and you are going on like gangbusters, but your energy is quickly gone, and your struggling to the point of Cass helping you the last couple of reps*
*Bruce smiles*
"Get some water, rest a bit before the next. We learned to know your limits, it is better to slow up, than push yourself over. If you were in a fight, and pushed yourself like that, the smart opponent would block or sidestep your blows, wait for you to tire and then pummel you when you were spent."
*he shows you medicine balls on strings*
"Dodge them, he hits one hard, hitting the rest, causing a gauntlet to start, do you go gangbusters through, or go slow and steady?"
((Str check 19, failure))
Best to take my time with this one... I'm a fast learner, plus I'm worn and weary in spite of the break.
*Cass takes her time and doesn't get hit by a one, moving fast enough to make it training, you do the same, and after you both are nice and winded*
"Now we start the actual training"
*points to a pole*
"Climb it"
*looks on to see your technique*
*goes a'climbing* (((ooc: goes to bed. lol.)))
*Neither of you can pick it up and he smiles*
"Use your own weight to provide leverage on your hands, and use your knees to hold yourself in place as you try*
((2 Failures, second time 33,38, both of you Climbing 1@1))
Sounds good to me. Man, I need to get really good at this stuff, if I'm going to stop crime; I'm going to need to get into peak physical condition.
*Bruce Nods*
"Your going to learn three different martial art styles, Tsutsuji, Mitzu Frenzy and Ku Fung, between the three of them, you have the tools to deal with any enemy, today I will introduce Tsutsuji, he spends several hours giving you both instruction on the basics of the style, what you will accomplish, and eventually, having you try it out."
((You 57, got it 1@2 Tsutsuji, Cass, 38, with some number crunching and being trained by a 3@1 Trainer, it's in there, 7@1 Bias, 1@1 Tsutsuji))
*You both grasp the basics of it, fairly easily, and Cass now feels more confident*
"That's cool, my body feels horrible, but I feel better like I can do most anything with it."
*You pause for lunch, water and dinner, and Bruce calls off training*
"Same tomorrow but I will teach the basics of Mitzu Frenzy, and the day after Ku Fung. When you two are good enough, I will teach you a technique that will allow you to sleep without sleeping, you will be alert. This will allow you to sleep in the city while listening to the police radios, as well as being fed information by me. This will not be a fast process, the city will just have to survive till you two are ready."
((OOC: He is building up your Strength, Agility and Stamina, as well as the three styles, that will be your day aside from a few hours of relaxation and meals))
Sounds excellent. I'm sure tonight I simply pass out, am woken too early, drag myself out of bed, and continue with more of the same torture as yesterday.
*You and Cass are too sore and tired to do anything but sleep tonight, you goto bed early, knowing Bruce will wake you at 4 in the morning*
*Wake, shower, breakfast, stat training*
"Mitzu Fenzy is a punching style, it is the fastest and one you will fall back on in the middle of a fight, the others provide a lot of interesting things to do, but this one will likely put you ahead of the game."
*He starts training you in the style*
*You pick it up, Cass picks it up a little better*
Kyler 1@1 Mitzu Frenzy
Cass 1@2 Mitzu Frenzy
((Kyler 24, Cass 51))
I compliment her on her skill with it and it secretly makes me want to try even harder.
*she smiles and laughs*
"You are so cute sometimes, your intentions were so loud, it was like a loudspeaker darling."
*you two settle for the night, get woken up the next day*
*Wake, shower, breakfast, stat training*
*Bruce says*
"This is Ku Fung, it's got a lot of interesting abilities, useful in the field."
*he goes on to demonstrate the style and train you in it's use*
((Kyler 93, fail, 34 success, Cass, 47 success))
*You try to learn, but stumble, you set up again, and learn it as does Cass*
J
She's good. I'm jealous. But it doesn't make me feel any different about her, just proud of her.
((Fast forward))
*This continues for a year and a half before something major comes up that can't be ignored, The Joker has escaped Arkham Asylum*
((Might be a pause as I consult the book for training times with a trainer and whatnot, will have a list of skills to add do your sheet))
((+5 Str, +5 Agility, +5 Stamina, +2 Density for breaking the 2@ strength and barrier 547 days of accelerated training, 22 max skill increases so let me start the list and rolling))
Of course he has... and so angry, too, that his nemesis, his friend, the yin to his yang has disappeared, I'm sure. I will have mentioned to Bruce about the posturing of Batman to scare people into submission and ask if he intends to teach me that too, or if I needto teach myself that.
Skills:
Kyler
3@2 Awareness B0@3
3@3 Increase Auditory Perception B0@4
3@1 Increased Balance B1@5
3@2 Move Silently (Stealth) B0@6
3@3 Hide (Stealth) B0@6
3@1 Escape (Stealth) B0@6
3@2 Pilfer (Delicacy) B0@8
3@1 Jimmy Door (Delicacy) B0@8
3@2 Pick Locks B3@2
2@10 Sprint B3@5
2@9 Run B3@6
2@8 Ground Based Tumbling B4@2
2@9 Tumble from Erect Position B4@3
2@7 Tumble to Erect Position B4@4
2@10 Quick Stand B4@4
2@8 Fall Impact Absorption B4@6
2@8 Handsprings B4@5
2@9 Evasive Tumbling B4@8
2@8 High Jumps B5@3
2@10 Long Jumps B5@3
2@9 Steerable Jumping B5@7
2@8 Balance Beam Walking B6@1
2@7 Balance Beam Contact Stunts B6@2
2@8 Bars & Ropes Hanging/Moving/Swinging B6@2
2@7 Assisted Flips B6@3
2@8 Bars & Ropes Contact Stunts B6@3
2@8 Balance Beam Non-contact Stunts B6@4
2@9 Tightrope Walking B6@4
2@7 Bar Non-Contact Stunts B6@5
2@8 Tightrope Contact Stunts B6@5
2@9 Coorperative Stunts B6@5
2@7 Rope & Trapeze Transfer B6@6
2@8 Flips B6@7
2@7 Non-contact Tight-rope Stunts B6@7
2@9 Immobility B6@9
3@1 Baterang, Damaging RF1, each one thrown at once -10sm, can return to thrower
2@9 Mitzu Frenzy, Fast Aggressive Weapon-adverse, RF 3, Hand and Arm, Def -5 SM, Off +5SM +10
2@10 Tsutsuji, Fast Defensive Weapon-adverse, RF 2, Throw, Def: -15, Off +5 sm
2@9 Ku-Fung, Fast Defensive Weapon-adverse, RF2, Punch, Def -20sm, -10dam, Off -10sm
2@9 Fake B7@2
2@10 Panoramic Awareness B7@2
2@10 Solid Punch B7@3
2@9 Power Punch B7@3
2@10 Leaping Kick B7@3
2@8 Crushing Grasp B7@3
2@9 Focused Push B7@3
2@9 Power Throw B7@3
2@10 Momentum Casting B7@3
2@7 Following Finger B7@4
2@9 Missile Escape B7@4
2@7 Muscle Blocking B7@4
2@9 Attack Catch B7@5
2@8 Choking Grasp B7@7
2@8 Limb Twister B7@7
2@8 Pain Inflicter B7@7
2@9 Stunning Strike B7@7
2@8 Blinding Strike B7@7
2@9 Control Resistance B7@9
2@9 Alert Rest B10@2
Cass
2@9 Awareness B0@3
2@10 Increase Auditory Perception B0@4
2@10 Increased Balance B1@5
2@9 Move Silently (Stealth) B0@6
2@10 Hide (Stealth) B0@6
2@10 Escape (Stealth) B0@6
2@10 Pilfer (Delicacy) B0@8
2@9 Jimmy Door (Delicacy) B0@8
2@10 Pick Locks B3@2
2@10 Sprint B3@5
2@9 Run B3@6
2@8 Ground Based Tumbling B4@2
2@9 Tumble from Erect Position B4@3
2@7 Tumble to Erect Position B4@4
2@10 Quick Stand B4@4
2@8 Fall Impact Absorption B4@6
2@8 Handsprings B4@5
2@9 Evasive Tumbling B4@8
2@8 High Jumps B5@3
2@10 Long Jumps B5@3
2@9 Steerable Jumping B5@7
2@8 Balance Beam Walking B6@1
2@7 Balance Beam Contact Stunts B6@2
2@8 Bars & Ropes Hanging/Moving/Swinging B6@2
2@7 Assisted Flips B6@3
2@8 Bars & Ropes Contact Stunts B6@3
2@8 Balance Beam Non-contact Stunts B6@4
2@9 Tightrope Walking B6@4
2@7 Bar Non-Contact Stunts B6@5
2@8 Tightrope Contact Stunts B6@5
2@9 Coorperative Stunts B6@5
2@7 Rope & Trapeze Transfer B6@6
2@8 Flips B6@7
2@7 Non-contact Tight-rope Stunts B6@7
2@9 Immobility B6@9
3@1 Baterang, Damaging RF1, each one thrown at once -10sm, can return to thrower
2@9 Mitzu Frenzy, Fast Aggressive Weapon-adverse, RF 3, Hand and Arm, Def -5 SM, Off +5SM +10
2@10 Tsutsuji, Fast Defensive Weapon-adverse, RF 2, Throw, Def: -15, Off +5 sm
2@9 Ku-Fung, Fast Defensive Weapon-adverse, RF2, Punch, Def -20sm, -10dam, Off -10sm
2@9 Fake B7@2
2@10 Panoramic Awareness B7@2
2@10 Solid Punch B7@3
2@9 Power Punch B7@3
2@10 Leaping Kick B7@3
2@8 Crushing Grasp B7@3
2@9 Focused Push B7@3
2@9 Power Throw B7@3
2@10 Momentum Casting B7@3
2@7 Following Finger B7@4
2@9 Missile Escape B7@4
2@7 Muscle Blocking B7@4
2@9 Attack Catch B7@5
2@8 Choking Grasp B7@7
2@8 Limb Twister B7@7
2@8 Pain Inflicter B7@7
2@9 Stunning Strike B7@7
2@8 Blinding Strike B7@7
2@9 Control Resistance B7@9
2@9 Alert Rest B10@2
*He presents you both with costumes and utility belts*
"My guys in R&D mocked up a new fabric, very strong, kevlar, your new costumes are made out of that, both of your capes can be used to glide, and utility belts, if you know me, you should know what's in them. Winch guns, steel cable, baterangs. Your training isn't complete, but it's good enough to send you out there."
Did he answer my question about the posturing skill? Either way, it's time to suit up and head out into the night; we're on a hunt for the Joker specifically, who generally doesn't do a great job and maintaining secrecy once he's struck, since he loves the attention and is probably trying to lure Batman into a trap, so we'll be aware of that while we take to the rooftops and maintain stoic vigil over the city; something tells me it's going to be a long night.
"As for the Batman fear, it's tactics, darkness, nothing special to that, other than criminals get scared, they tell others, and a legend is born. I'm sure with your Catwoman, it won't be too hard to scare people"
*You go down into the batcave and get into the seats, Cass's new catsuit is almost the same, latex on the outside, kevlar on the inside, skintight and leaves nothing for the imagination. Yours is a more recognizable one from Batman The Animates Series, no armor, Black and Dark Grey with a black Batman logo on your chest*
*You hear Bruce in your ear*
"He has been cooped up for years, might be with Harley Quinn, I have been keeping track, she's in an old abandoned candy factory on the south side of town, try there first."
"No, there's more to it than that, Bruce. The way you carry yourself, your poise, your voice, everything about the way the Batman carries himself to his enemies screams 'Fear me, for I am to be feared.' It makes men go weak in the knees and their hands shake so badly they can't even shoot straight." If he still disagrees, I am going to have practiced by myself to hold myself and act in a frightening manner, using Batman as I know him as my example, so that I will be believeable as the Batman. We will go there.
*Bruce smiles*
"Everyone has their own style, I can't tell you how to be Bruce, more than you can tell me to be you."
I will still try.//// We will go there, south side of town, abandoned candy factory.
*It's a quiet night, you make it there unmolested, you see lights on in the factory, and some faint music, Don Hoesque, there are windows about 20 feet up on a ledge going all the way around the factory, it's a pretty standard building, about a city block big, lots of truck and smaller doors, and skylights*
((I will have to see if there is a skill that isn't Biased out, but it won't be tonight me looking, did my paperwork today :P ))
((sure, it's a low level @0 psi skill, I believe, skill heading posturing.)) We'll go for a window; I'm searching for traps, as I'm good at, trying to be as quiet as possible.
((I will look for it later, won't need it right now))
*You look there is no traps at all, the windows are all open, it looks all clear, heading in?*
Quietly, yes. I want to get the jump on them, even though I'm expected.
*You make your way in, and both of you jump down to the mainfloor, very Batmanesque, what you see is kinda disturbing.*
*You see a 60 year old joker with white green hair, in a speedo with his face on it, sunning himself from a heatlamp on a loungechair in sand, with an umbrella nearby, Harley a 50 year old woman with her clown makeup in a string bikini that has gained a few pounds and age is sunning him with a giant frond, it's disturbing on so many levels*
*Harley says in her New Yawk accent*
"Mister J, we got company."
*Joker sounding like Marc Hammel*
"If it isn't my old friend bats! Come over here take a load off, and do I detect a new love of your life. It can't be Selena, she's dead, and I know, because I did it, remember Bats? I'm going to miss all that killing in my retirement."
*You don't think he doesn't know it's not Bruce, but it's hard to be sure with Joker*
I squint my eyes slightly, not letting my disturbed amusement show, and say to the Joker in my best gruff voice with my cape drawn around me, "Alllright, Joker, I hope you've enjoyed your little vacation, but it's time to get back to Arkham."
*he tilts his head and puts his finger to his ears*
"What is it that I hear, that's not bats."
*Harley nods*
"If there is anyone who would know da bats, it's Mr. J."
*Joker laughs, and coughs halfway through it and reaches for an inhaler*
"Excuse me, too much gas, anyway I'm retired, I have passed the reigns as it were. The Joker is dead, long live The Joker."
*Harley responds solemnly*
"I loved him and now he's gone Mr. J."
*Joker responds solemnly*
"We all must pass into the great beyond pumpkin."
*Cass says off the cuff*
"Are they always like this?"
"Pretty much," comes the response to Cass in Batman voice as I begin to cautiously approach the Joker.
*He sits there sunning himself, not making a move, waiting on you*
*Harley is smiling*
Walking to them, if they don't put up any fight I intend to tie them together, but I am sure there is a trap, or someone else around.