16115/Oops I Ninja'd Again

Oops I Ninja'd Again
Date of Scene:	19 October 2023
Location:	City Center - Bludhaven
Synopsis:	Damian and Talia watch as Shredder attempts to recruit Caleb to his cause.
Cast of Characters:	Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne, Shredder, Caleb Dykstra

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Talia al Ghul has posed:
It's a late night over in Bludhaven. Talia and Damian are trying to engage in something that is rather alien as a concept to Talia, but that she's making an attempt at. Something foreign for her and her son. Namely 'quality time'. The two are on a rooftop, where Talia has her hair back.. And her normal katana slung up there. She's quiet - mostly as the covnersation has drifted to the 'small talk' category of things.
    The two have some bags of takeout food, on which them show a small little chibi ninja carrying a hamburger on roller skates, which reads 'Ninja Burger' and in smaller type on the bags 'Delivery in THirty Minutes or Less or We Commit Seppuku'. Talia is making the attempt sitting on the rooftop with her son. It's (to other members of the Batfamily) an amusing scenario.

Damian Wayne has posed:
"It was thirty-two minutes. I expected blood." This is said flatly by Damian. Was it humor? Only those that are closest to him know the truth as he takes a bite of his burger, the wrapper carefully turned to avoid spilling condiments on his outfit.

He would probably have a fit in a fight with Condiment King. "Have you done a patrol before?" he asks of Talia curiously, his green eyes hidden behind his domino mask. "We should find a shorter alias that Demon's Daughter. It is a mouthful and not quick to get out in the middle of a battle." And he's not going to yell 'MOM'. That's just silly.

A fry is plucked from the bag, dipped in the burger and snapped down.

Shredder has posed:
    The Foot Clan and the Hand have never been in concert. They have hundreds of years of conflict behind them. The rise of one usually is announced by the fall of the other.

    Shredder is looking to make them fall right now. So when word reached his ear of a common family who had single-handedly dismantled a strike team against them, it was certainly a matter for investigation. Scouts had been sent out to do reconnaisance, and the tracking of Caleb began.

    The Shredder has now finally been called in. Things don't make sense. This boy seems to have little combat ability, nothing of great note, no indication of superpowers. It's time to approach himself to interview. But the Shredder doesn't ask for interviews, he just has them at his leisure. He isn't on a roof, instead he is at the street level, next to a tree with a certain air of non-existence that manages to keep most people from noticing him even when he's not hiding. His mastery of stealth has grown past simply being out of site. His very presence seems to be non-existent when he wants it to be.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Aaaand here comes Caleb, the target of the sce... No, sorry, the target of the night!

Caleb, who's come to Bludhaven to a junkyard to get a number of used aluminum cans for a project he's working on for Happy Harbor High School's Halloween event. But, he got to the address of that junkyard, and... Nothing! No aluminum cans for sale.

No junkyard, either.

Now, Gothamites are suspicious creatures, especially when they get bullied by mobsters and have frequent attacks by murderous clowns. And this now smells like a trap - especially if you've been attacked by ninjas in the recent past.

He heads back to his car...

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul has not noticed Shredder- he's if anything sneakier than she is. He might be sneakier than a Bat is. He's definitely too good for her ot notice off the bat. So she goes to look down at Damian and quip, "Perhpas it's considered poor etiquette to do it in front of the customers. It discourages repeat business after all." She's not one to call advertising something.. "But, they got it up to us on the rooftop." When she hadn't given their exact location - or maybe she had.

She goes to take a bite of her own and finishes the sake that came with it - what, would a ninja thing send soda?

Damian Wayne has posed:
"I would have given him a larger tip." Damian comments in response, another bite of his burger to finish it off, crumbling up the wrapper to put it away. "It seems that this will be as it is most nights." he comments as he sips from his soda. Since he can't buy the sake.

And then he utters the words that one knows ruins all any chance at all of a quite and peaceful night of nothingness. "A whole lot of patrolling and nothing to show for it. All through Gotham the criminals rest, tucked away in their hidden nests."

Even Caleb, down below looking to gather metal isn't really much of a draw. "I am working on it." In regards to the poem. He hopes to have it done for the holidays.

Shredder has posed:
    "Mr. Dykstra," comes the Shredder's voice as Caleb starts to return to his car. "I would have a word with you." The master of the Foot Clan moves, and his presence arrives, one of those who have a looming presence. Someone you can't miss when they walk in a room, and not just because he is covered in sharp objects. He doesn't chase after Caleb, but simply takes a step forward, revealing himself as one with authority.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb stops at the sound of the voice that calls him; over the corner of his eye, he scans, a trained ear trying to locate the source of the sound. He already was starting to feel it was a trap - and now he's sure.

He's sursprised to see a large man with so much metal in him would make no sound or hide so well in the dark. But, he doesn't seem to be attacking - yet, anyways. But, after a brush with ninjas, that don't mean shit to him anymore. So, his posture is defensive.

"Lemme guess...", he says. "You're the one who's got aluminum for sale?"

No, that doesn't sound like he's joking - at all.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
And sitting up and over on the rooftop with Damian, Talia notices the figure in heavy armor talking to someone she can't make out. The Shredder's figure is impossible to mistake. She goes tense, immediately sweeping about the entire area and letting her eyes look about for the backup that the ancient, magical ninja would have with him. Her hand is going to the blade on her back out of more training than intent to leap down and confront him.

But the Leader of the Foot is in town.. And that can never be a good thing.

Damian Wayne has posed:
It's the subtle motions that Talia makes. The sudden tensing of her frame. What was a relaxed stance becoming far more alert. The hand on her blade. Damian drops any sense of goodwill he had in the moment. "Who is he?" he asks her. It's not that it's a big guy in metal. Those are around. Often. It's the fact that in some way, Damian can tell that Talia knows who it is.

And if he can get tactical information gleaned from her, he will. But at the moment, it seems nothing more than a meeting between a potential bad guy and a cronie. Nothing that warrants interrupting. Yet.

Shredder has posed:
    The Shredder isn't laughing or joking, either. "Presenting yourself so easily makes you a target for those who wish to have you dead. Given your present ability to attract negative attention, it isn't the best. Your search is likely to get you killed before you use that metal for whatever your purposes are." He approaches steadily, unconcerned with the defensive posture of Caleb, and if he's aware of Talia or Damian up on high, he hasn't shown it.

    "I will be direct, for I have little interest in skirting my purpose here. You have dispatched a Hand strike team, to my knowledge it happened single-handedly. You are rather unimpressive physically, you have little power that's been noted otherwise, which means that you must be either intelligent, or at least creative. Which do you think it is?"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Physically unimpressive?", Caleb cracks a joke - which is a giveaway to see just how much he perceives this is the hot pan. "Good sir, you should see my six-pack. Abs of..." He halts the sentence. "...I don't want to fall into that, but honestly, you don't make it easy."

He looks about, keeping his distance from Shredder - for more ninjas, for anything he could use to his advantage.

"But the thing is, and correct me if I'm wrong", he says, "I don't think you'd be coming here if it weren't to finish the job."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Hand on her blade, Talia goes very cautiously. "The Shredder. Leader of the Foot Clan." Which Damian has probably heard of. "They're a group on par with the Hand and ancient adversaries of them for centuries. The man is as dangerous as your grandfather, and has a reach just as wide." Talia's very, very leery of the man and very, very paranoid.

"He's much, much more.. Hands on than your grandfather." Ras, whom tended to delegate everything unless he was present giving an extended monologue.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Damian listens to the words from his mother and takes them in. A couple of years ago, he'd probably already sprung from the building and would be trying to ambush Shredder. Now, he's had a chance to be tempered, to become the blade that Grandfather always wanted him to be - only drawn when needed.

Not that Damian realizes this fact. But he can also tell that Talia is very much on edge. "I will not let him harm you." She doesn't need the the show of false bravado, but it is Damian. And he may actually be able to back up those words. Or at least reassure Talia.

Shredder has posed:
    The Shredder either doesn't get the joke that Caleb is avoiding, or he is unamused by the glance against it. His countenance is...well, steel. "If I were to desire the job finished right now, it would be," he says. "I am no ally to the Hand, and those who have a reason to take issues with my enemies may find me a welcome friend. I am the master of the Foot Clan, and depending on the outcome of this conversation, you may have protection when we part ways. So I am interested. How did you thwart a kill team from the Hand?" Because that's the detail, apparently, which he does not yet have.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Hand", Caleb repeats. "Foot", he repeats again. "But why would the master of a ninja clan show himself, is beyond me..." He's got no doubts that if they were coming to blows right now, this would turn out to be a whole lot different.

Because then it would be very personal.

"I'll indulge, then. When you want to hide from killers, you set in traps. Invading army gets thinned out. Deal with the remaining." He shrugs, "Not an easy feet, but you don't want to be unprepared for a physical confrontation, either." June's presence goes unmentioned.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to fold her arms together, "I'm not afraid of what he'll do to me. I'm wondering about what he'll do here. He.. Understands my position." A s an outcast. "So lon gas I do not.. Interfere in his affairs, he has mostly agreed to let me stay out of his." It's a mark of respect as much as anything else. It doesn't help that Talia is legitimately scared of the man.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Damian considers Talia's words as he looks back at the pair on the ground. He, too, wanted to know Caleb's answer. But as he hears it, there is disappointment in his features. "In other words, the Hand were not diligent, he got lucky, and here we are." A small snort from the Wayne scion.

"It does not seem he is attempting to secure a bridgehead in Gotham. But it bears keeping an eye on." he admits. "Especially if there are words between a growing feud between Hand and Foot that may spill into Gotham's borders."

And yes, Talia agreed to stay out. Damian, on the other hand, has no such commitment.

Shredder has posed:
    "It may be beyond you," The Shredder agrees. "Yet here I am. What you are describing is a solid understanding of tactical preparedness. Unusual in one that is so young as yourself. I value those who are in my clan, and as such I value people who bring things to benefit the clan. You both need help, and can offer help." There is a twinge in his attention, perhaps aware that he is being watched, perhaps a suspicion of something else, but it momentarily returns to fully focus on Caleb.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Is... Is this guy trying... To recruit him?

"Uhhm...", Caleb tries to find the words. "I thank you for your kind and completely without strings attached offer, but I'm going to go for a pass. I am really just a dumb american kid unluck enough to have been born in the worst city in the U.S., and I am really just looking for a quiet, boring little life - if ever that be possible."

He wonders just how bad this will get, now - big Heavy Metal Dude doen't seem like the guy who'll take a no for an answer.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
And this is bad. Shredder ranks as a 'need to swarm him' type. Talia evaluates.. "He knows we're here, we're not going to get anything useful that he doesn't want him to know." In other words, Shredder qualifies as a 'swarm and bat-pile' type. So they fall back for reinforcements and keep overwatch. And for Talia, hope that he's out of here by then.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Sloppy. Damian was sloppy and let Shredder see him. Batwing's eyes narrow behind the domino mask and it's clear that he's not interested in the offer, his hand resting on one of the blades at his side.

Talia cals for the retreat, and Damian frowns. He stares a few seconds longer at Shredder, and then as an errant piece of trash blows through, he's gone when it's passed.

Shredder has posed:
    Shredder stares for a long moment at Caleb once he responds. Declining not because he doesn't want protection, but because he wants to be extracted from the action.

    "Very well," he says finally. "One who is compelled to engage is one that cannot be relied on. As long as you make good on that claim and do not interfere with the Foot, then you shall not be hindered." He says. He doesn't try to counter-argue, he doesn't threaten. The offer was made, the offer was rejected.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb takes a deep breath, conflict being avoided - at least, for now. He starts to walk towards his car, and oh boy, does he have a story to tell now...