16158/A walk to the other side.

A walk to the other side.
Date of Scene:	23 October 2023
Location:	Immortal Dragon Dojo - Brooklyn, NYC
Synopsis:	Damian comes the Immortal Dragon Dojo to infiltrate the Foot Clan, and is put to the test with Bunny.
Cast of Characters:	Shredder, Bunny Macleod, Damian Wayne

---

Shredder has posed:
    The afternoon has turned chilly as winter threatens the trees of the streets. While there aren't many along this street, the cast off leaves of those beyond rustled down with the bustling foot traffic, as if they too have a place to be.

    Along this walk is the Immortal Dragon Dojo. A smaller store front that's been converted into a martial arts studio. Inside it's surprisingly well-equipped. Fresh, clean mats. Walls that are decorated to a state that it truly feels like a person has gone through a portal to another land, this one with reverence for ancient Japanese culture Walls are in better repair than many of the surrounding shops, and from the front window training can be seen.

    Oroku Saki, the sensei of the dojo, sits before one of the students cross legged. It's a training regarding meditation at the moment. No jumps and leaps and flying limbs. It's a time of quiet.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Among the students is a young woman, her eyes closed. Her hair is in a pair of dutch braids, starting blonde at the roots and turning to gaded pink towards the ends. She is sitting in a mirrored position, lotus position, her hands cupped and palms upward at her solar plexus. BReathing stilled. Her fingers and toes twitch. She's struggling to remain still, but she is doing her best.

Damian Wayne has posed:
When Talia had informed Damian how dangerous Shredder could be, it immediately had the opposite effect than Talia expected. Or maybe Talia meant to get her son curious enough to stick his nose in. Talia's motivations are never really truly known.

But after researching where the Foot may have taken hold, he realized he'd need to take a trip to New York. And he really could not go as Damian Wayne, as he'd be easily picked out later if this went sideways.

Charlie had warned him not to go to the Mall to find a disguise. With that in mind, after some thrift hunting in both Gotham and online, the young man that shows up at the entrance of the dojo is dressed the part. Dark hair has been dyed a brilliant blue, pulled into a slickback style. His eyes are red, and pronounced canines stick out from over his bottom lip. He's dressed in a ripped 'Misfits Tour 2022' shirt, wearing a faded red flannel over it that's untucked. Blue jeans with ripped knees and worn Chucks complete the look of a young man that looks lost as he enters the Dojo.

And while he recognizes exactly what the setting is and could probably tell you everything that is in this room, he instead gets a wide-eyed curious look. "Wow, just like Demon Slayer." he comments, before seeing everyone quiet and practicing, so he tries to shrink up against the wall in a slump to make himself smaller.

Shredder has posed:
    The tall Japanese man who leads in the charcoal gi doesn't respond to the unique looking student's entrance. He sits perfectly still, his eyes shut, continuing the breathing excersize as if nothing has happened at all. Some might even think that he didn't hear the door open.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny is struggling to stay still, every ounce of her body language is screaming it, and she takes a low breath, in and out, one eye opening and looking at the kid coming in. 'Bout her age, she determines. Red eyes and enlongated teeth? Might be a mutant. Or someone who ran afoul of a werewolf or something. Who's to say?

    However the exercise isn't over until Oroku Saki says it is, so she also doesn't move, even though her fingers start to curl in and relax.

Damian Wayne has posed:
The visitor to the dojo is trying not to make a ruckus or anything, but when he comes across a weapons rack that has various polearms and spears that are blunted for training on it, curiosity gets the better of him.

Reaching up, his fingers draw over the smooth, worn wood. "I bet this is like... at least fifty years old." Probably nowhere near that. And there's a light tug. To test the feel of the wood.

Instead, the polearm comes free and falls over, clattering to the ground in a loud thud. "Oh shit! Sorry, sorry!" comes the muddled accented voice as he tries to pick it back up. "Didn't mean to interrupt nap time!"

Shredder has posed:
    Saki opens his eyes, narrowing on Bunny immediately, not on the new arrival or his clumsy antics. "You must be able to resist distraction," he tells her. "That which is outside can unsettle that which is within. You must learn to prevent that assault." His eyes shift over to the pole arm on the floor, and then to the young man who dropped it. His legs shift, and he presses up in one fluid motion to rise to his feet. He leaves Bunny and wallks steadily toward the blue-haired youth. "Can I help you?" he asks Damian's form, looking down with a hard gaze.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny had jumped at the arms rack coming down, the polearm clattering, and was about to ask if the new guy was all right, but freezes at the chastization from her master.

    She bows in apology.

    "I will do better, Sensei." she states quietly, and sits back down with the rest of the students, looking over to Damian in curiosity.

Damian Wayne has posed:
"Man, I am so sorry!" the young man calls over to Bunny. "You look good yogaing it up like that though. Just keep vibing, like the man said!" And that's when he's being approached by Saki. And while dude may not looked intimidating while sitting, he sure does now.

"Wow. Yeah. Okay. Don't know if this is the right place. But my folks just moved here. Get away from the racist crap we were getting back home, even if pops said it was a new job. Whatever, tired of getting calls from the school."

"I want to learn how to fight. Tired of getting picked on and bullied cause my style." A gesture over his looks, especially his face. "Some folks just can't deal and I want to make sure I can like... take a punch."

Then adds. "And give one back! Unless this is one of those 'only use your abilities for good and don't hurt people' places, in which case, I'll just bounce."

Shredder has posed:
    There is a pointed arch of one dark eyebrow from Saki. "And give one back..." he echoes the statement. "You may be a little unfamiliar with mutant politics if you close your opening statement with an implication that you don't want to use your 'abilities' for good. Surely you have encountered enough opposition that you recognize the propaganda that is fueled by such a statement. Yet you come to me, a complete stranger, and make a statement of that sort. Hardly the best way to gain allies. I think your first need is not to fight, but to belong."

    Saki takes the polearm under his toe, and kips it up to his hand, then returns it to its place on the wall. "To what kind of people do you wish to belong?"

Damian Wayne has posed:
"I tried belonging. I don't fit." On that, the young man can draw on his own experiences, which are the greatest teacher. "Parents wanted me to be something I'm not, like put on nice clothes. Go to school. Not get in trouble." A shrug of his shoulders as he scuffs his foot on the floor. "They want me to fit in this little box that they stuck me in."

"I'll tell you what I belong to right now." His hands clench at his sides, his fingernails broken and dirty. "I belong to secrets, hiding what I am, contempt, anger, family playing against family. You asked to what I want to belong."

"How about I start with something that ain't got all that."

Shredder has posed:
    The tall Japanese man gives a skeptical look. "Hiding what you are. You belong to secrets, yet you freely tell me that you're filed with contempt and anger. I'm comfortable with secrets, but what I'm not comfortable with is ambiguity." He frowns deeply. "Anyone here must be genuine. You are trying to pose yourself with an image. I don't know why, and quite honestly, it's not my concern. I'm not going to fix you. I'm not your parent. Nor am I interested in training a boy to become a more reckless version of himself. You cannot drive yourself by what you do not want. Before you can grow, you have to decide what you really /DO/ want."

    He looks back at Bunny. "Ms. Macleod. Why are you here?" he asks her aloud, apparently wanting to give her as a sample.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny hops to her feet as she's called upon.

    "To become a hawk that preys on serpents." she replies. She seems very serious. "Because my father rejected me outright for what I am. And I was tired of seeing others preyed upon because of who they were. Being here has focused my efforts on improving every bit of my physical and mental self. Instead of reckless chaos, there is stillness." she states, straightening up to her full almost five feet.

Damian Wayne has posed:
He's being reckless. And while he has Saki sniffing the bait, he's doing too much to avoid the bite. This is the time for patience, Damian reminds himself. He's allowing a bit too much of that anger out and needs to reign it back in. Fortunately for him, Saki gives him that chance by calling upon Bunny to answer.

Rephrase, rearm, reapproach. It is exactly what an assassin would do when confronted with his plan not working exactly as planned. The young man takes in Bunny's answer, arching a brow and looks back at Saki. "You can teach stillness, huh." There's a grunt, a frown.

He looks down at his hands again. "She's got a point, tired of getting called out and pushed around for what I am. But I'm not gonna parrot her answers. My prey ain't snakes. Mine are to handle those folks that get their kicks off pushing around anyone different from them."

He knows he could give the absolute right answer. But. "I live in constant danger for what I am, because I'm different. I want to be able to pass through life unobstructed, unnoticed, until the absolute moment that I need to make my presence known and do so effectively, efficently, and effotlessly while finding balance for myself."

Part of what he knows is true mixed with a touch of Assassin's Creed, just to muddle it and not tip his hand.

Shredder has posed:
    The master studies Damian for a long while, as if staring into his soul. "What is your name?" he asks abruptly. "If you are this desparate, I will allow you a trial period. Most will not make it through a trial opportunity, you may be no different. If I have misjudged you, then your resolve and intentions will prove themselves. Bunny here will be able to assist you. She will be your kyoshi." He suddenly turns to Bunny. "She has proven herself to be disciplined, cunning, and shrewd." He looks back at Damian expectantly.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny remains standing, though when she's assigned his kyoshi, she opens her mouth, perhaps to state that she's not really skilled enough -- but Shredder pronounces her disciplined, cunning, and shrewd. HEr cheeks burn in slight embarrassment. And she bows her head a touch, her blue eyes settling on her new classmate's green.

Damian Wayne has posed:
"So like the Earth Kingdom Avatar. Cool, cool." But when he's asked his name, there's an effortless, "William. Friends, if I had any, call me Will." A bow of his head to Bunny, a bit polite. "Sup, sensei." Which is also wrong, but that's the bit and he's stuck to it. He had thought Shredder would want someone headstrong and angry to take in and mold, a hot iron on the fire.

Instead, he should have gone with the more timid Bunny over there, his red eyes accessing her a bit.

Shredder has posed:
    Sensei Oroku doesn't correct him. He has handed the responsibility to Bunny. "Thank you, Ms. Macleod. You can let me know your impressions later." He puts a hand on her shoulder, heading back to the other students, and begins wrapping up their exercise.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Yes, Sensei." Bunny states, and she walks around 'Will' a moment. "So. Kyoshi means something like 'teacher' or 'professor'... but I'm not at that level to be called 'Sensei'. You could address me as senpai." she gives a kind smile to 'Will'.

    What kind of experience do you have? Just some school fights? Do you do any sports?" she asks conversationally, the smaller girl walking around as she takes stock in Will.

    "Stand like you're gonna punch someone." she suggests.

Damian Wayne has posed:
"Played some soccer, community stuff. Senpai." He knew that was the correct address, but. Will listens to her, and he shrugs his shoulders. "Plenty of school fights. Usually on the wrong side of those. Especially since these came in."

But when she suggests standing like he's going to punch someone, he cocks a brow. Well, alright. The stance he takes is sloppy. Legs too close, arm raised nearly above his head, his thumb tucked into his fist.

Everyabsolutelything he was taught against since he was four years old.

Shredder has posed:
    Saki, on the other side of the room, seems to be paying a cursory attention to the process as the other students stand and and are instructed to begin sparring. It's clear quickly that these are not the beginners. They have received ample training, and their form seems to be a matter which is of great importance to their sensei. Each landed blow, each failed block that is not perfect receives instruction.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny circles around Will. She gives a smile. "Yeah. I dropped out of highschool before anyone knew about mine. Luckily I pass for human." she explains conversationally.

    "is it okay if I use a baton to correct you? I know a lot of people are sensitive about strangers laying hands on them. For good reason."

    She smiles, and then begins to instruct:

    "Your legs are too close, making your center of gravity off. You wanna square your stance a bit. You'll get knocked over taking a hit like that, and you're too new to really do the flip-up thing. *I* can barely do it." she states, and she uses the baton to move Damian's legs into a better position.

    "And your punches --" she holds her hands up. Her hands are roughened. She has bruising along the backs of her hands. And this close Damian could probably see she's using make-up to hide bruising on her face that reflects a recent broken nose.

    "You want to punch with your thumb supporting your fingers. All that strength you're going to build up is concentrated here." she taps his knuckles, and gives a bright grin. "That's a good place to start!"

Damian Wayne has posed:
"Go for it." Will encourages, allowing Bunny to make adjustments as she sees fit. He seems very pliable to instruction. As she looks at his own knuckles, she can see that they are scraped, bruised and battered. A few old scars mark his cheeks.

She hiding her broken nose, so he doesn't call her out on it. Instead, when she adjusts his hand, he opens the palm slightly, tips of his fingers curling slightly as he settles into the position she set him in. "Like that?" he asks, and mimes throwing a punch to see how it feels.

Shredder has posed:
    Move, move, counter. One after another, the students continue to receive their instruction. They hit the mat, they get up again. Saki walks between them as they do. He strolls past them, and walks back to where Bunny instructs "Will". He doesn't say anything, he simply walks with his hands folded behind his back, circling them casually and watching.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Good, but when you punch, when you throw a blow, you follow through. Inertia means that your body wants to stay in motion, to keep moving with the follow through. and you can use that to your advantage." Bunny gives a smile, and she mirrors his stance, and as she moves it's fluid. Her footwork is impressive, she keeps her balance as naturally as breathing, and she moves her follow through with the baton. It's obvious she's familiar with the weapon.

    "Just like everything else, when you throw a punch, or kick, or you use a weapon, you have to be absolutely sure of yourself. You can't half-ass breaking someone's kneecap to make sure they can't follow you out."

Damian Wayne has posed:
For her, it's fluid. 'Will' on the other hand, sees every imperfection, every flaw. Saki has been training her and that shows. But there is much to improve upon. No. Don't do that. Damian has to remind Will not to get all judgy and start showing Bunny the proper stances.

He nods, listening to her. "So that's what he's teaching you? Like, how to keep someone in place so they can't follow you out? Pretty cool if you want to escape." he comments thoughtfully, watching the way she moves with the baton. He doesn't ask for a weapon or the like, instead, he focuses on following Bunny's movements, forcing a misstep here and there, just to keep him honest.

Shredder has posed:
    Shredder watches the form carefully as the new student is taught. He narrows his eyes, watching each form and each punch. "Class dismissed!" he announces with a powerful boom, far different than the steady demeanor that he's shown to this point. His students sparring come to attention, and bow, rushing to gather their things. The master doesn't take a tone like that often, and when he does, it has often shown to be very important to do what he says immediately.

"William," he says. "You and Bunny to the center of the mat," he instructs, walking away from them and past the center himself to the far side. He turns to face them.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "More than that, it's--" Bunny begins, and she turns, leaning back as the class is dismissed. The students leave around him, and Bunny takes a step to grab her own items when she and William are instructed to the mat.

    "You're doing okay -- just follow my lead." Bunny motions with her head towards Will, and comes to the mat, and drops down to a kneel aiwth a bow of her head to Oroku Saki.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Will tenses when Saki calls them out, his lip curling slightly around his canine as Saki dismisses everyone else except for Bunny and Will. Bunny's reassurance is surprising and he offers her a smile, though small as it may be.

A tilt of his head towards Bunny and he is following her to the center of the mat before settling on his knees, setting on his feet as a seat before dipping his head down. But his eyes remain open, watching Saki's feet in case he needs to quickly move.

Shredder has posed:
    "William, you will now defend yourself with what you have learned. Your ability to resist Bunny will determine whether I allow you to train." Definitely not the same type of challenge that Bunny was given. Saki turns his head to Bunny.

    "Ms. Macleod, I want you to use your full training to put him on the mat in under three moves. Bow and begin."

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny hops up to her feet. Toenails painted pink and purple, she looks underwhelming, especially wearing the gi. She gives a smile to William, and she bows.

    And once William bows, she immediately goes on the offensive.

    She uses her shortness to her advantage, coming in low and back-leg-sweeps, bringing her heel around to try and strike at Damian's ankles both to put him at the disadvantage, and slam him to the mat on the first move!

Damian Wayne has posed:
As he rises to his feet, Will barely has a chance to look at Bunny's toes, much less prepare as she immediately launches on the offensive. She goes low - where she has the advantage. It's a smart play. It greatly reduces her center of gravity while extending his hit box.

But she telegraphs her move. He can see the leg sweep coming as soon as she plants the ankle and as she comes around, one leg moves out of the range of her strike, planting into the ground to hold him steady while the other leg moves forward, catching Bunny's leg in mid-sweep to slow her momentum and soften the blow she's attempting.

The stumble is practiced, and allows him a sense of selling the attack while giving him that much needed moment to reset as he assumes Bunny will take that same time to prepare her next move. "Whoa, nice one!" he offers to Bunny enthusiastically.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    "Thanks!" Bunny chipperly replies as she reaches up, staying low, and grabs at Damian's Misfits tour shirt, grasping it steadily and using her remaining momentum to try and toss Damian, even bringing her foot up to plant at his solar plexus to give her an extra 'oomph!' to give him a throw. He could roll off the landing, it'd be easy enough, but she's trying to put him to his back and spring back over him -- it would be for a killing blow if it worked.

Damian Wayne has posed:
The shirt is grabbed, and Will grabs hold of her wrist with both of his hands. When the foot goes into his misection, he presses into it. She falls back on the mat, moving to throw him.

But instead of rolling, a twist of his hips turns him, releasing her wrist that she was using for the hold and he breakfalls into the monkey flip, moving Bunny to the side when she tries to come around to spring over him, instead twisting around so that he brushes along her back as she hits her feet and he twists around to face her again.

"That was good!" Maybe he's got an acrobatic ability to match those teeth?

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    What's tougher for Damian, saying that this girl's moves are good, or having to not prove he could have put her to the mat with a single counter?

    "Was going to say the same thing about you." Bunny gives a smile, her left hand low, curling up before she purposefully telegraphs a hit coming from above. There's a thin, gasoline-swirl behind Damian, purposefully she's misdirecting, and she sweeps her left hand forward, using a shield to try and trip Damian up and send him to his back!

Damian Wayne has posed:
Please, Damian is all about game recognizing game. But he's going to be the Bat, and noone, boy or girl, is taking that from him. And yes, he could have had Bunny on the mat a long time ago.

It's the third move, and Will is preparing for it. As she starts to show her hand and it would be so easy to break whatever punch and he planned to put her on the mat.

That is when Bunny snaps the shield into existence, something that Will wasn't expecting at all. It takes him out at the knees and he falls back to the mat with a solid 'oof!'. There's a momentary look of surprise as he regains his bearings. Apparently he does not have a spider-sense.

Shredder has posed:
    Saki's frown deepens. "Excellent, Ms. Macleod," he says, and then turns his full attention to the newcomer. "William, I am not a fool, nor am I known to tolerate being treated as one," he says. "You are not inexperienced. You are trained. I have seen many, many fighters in my life. Instead of being proud of your training, you have come in here pretending to be fully untrained. There is a difference between humility and deception. You have one response between yourself and my wrath," he says with a rolling boil in his voice. "For your sake, you would do well to choose your words carefully." The sensei's hands drop to his sides, as one who is ready to now act. Of course, those who are familiar with just how capable and dangerous Saki is will know that he makes no idle threats, and it would be rare that he could not make well on them.

Bunny Macleod has posed:
    Bunny gives a bow of recognition to Saki, and then as the Master presses forward, she pauses. She looks thoughtful, backing up a few steps and ready to use her shield to protect Wil, in spite of how it would turn Saki's wrath on her, her hands drawing up slightly as she looks from the back of The Shredder's head to Will. And she mouths: Run If You Can

Damian Wayne has posed:
Busted. And he knows he is.

And as much as Damian would /love/ a crack at this, he knows that does not get him the information he wants.

"Fine." he mutters, shoulders slumping. "In high school, I was the captain of my team's Karate Team, before my mutation happened. After it did, I was kicked off." he growls lowly under his breath. "That's when the bullying began. And because it was high school, all you are taught is defensive moves and basic strikes."

Which is what he stuck to. Everything he did was a fundamental. No special moves, no advanced arts. "I lied about my family. They threw me out after my 'coming out'." He shakes his head and bows. "I did not want to come here to deceive. I wanted to start anew. To learn to fight properly. Without the weight of 'proper and legal' in high school."

With that, he dips his head in a proper bow, his posture ramrod straight. "I ask your forgiveness, sensei and to train me in the proper art of the skills I know only the surface of."

Shredder has posed:
    Saki weighs carefully the words. After several moments he "If you truly want to learn to belong," he says. "You will be here on Thursday at 7:00 in the morning. You will be washed and prepared for class. I will prepare a uniform for you. You have much to learn. If you are faithful to your training and to my word, you will increase in your skill, and hopefully in your wisdom."