16571/Another Day at the Gym

Another Day at the Gym
Date of Scene:	14 December 2023
Location:	Grant's Gym - Amusement Mile
Synopsis:	Wildcat picks up new students and meets an old friend.
Cast of Characters:	Ted Grant, Inez Temple, Nettie Crowe, Caleb Dykstra

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Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant is working out on the heavy bag. His punches reverberate through the gym and he's drawing a crowd. "The thing to remember about punching is that speed matters more than muscles of fist. Square of the velocity or something. Long story short, don't piss off a Flash. Anyway you got all these vigilante women and dang they hit hard, not because they're Amazon, but they know how to throw heat fast. Of course, if you have speed and muscles, that's great. Anybody want to try?" He stops punching and stops the bag from swinging.

Inez Temple has posed:
*Click*

There's the sound of a phone camera shutter clicking, and the flash of a camera light before Inez Temple stows her camera away in whatever arcane hammerspace she pulls the damn thing out of. Because it;s sure as hell not any pockets, given she's wearing a denim mini-skirt that would break most school's dress codes and a plaid flannel shirt tied at the midriff and showing the edges of bra. Pretty standard wardrobe for Outlaw, really, despite the early winter chill of Gotham. Present of course are her Stetson hat and cowboy boots, as well as her BAMF belt buckle, although she's left the guns and spurs behind this time. She's watching with amusement, leaning against a machine like the stripper version of the Marlboro Man. She even has a piece of hay between her lips, the drama queen that she is.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Those are all good things to keep in mind on Grant's side, and the door opens again, allowing a short woman with her gray hair braided and tucked into a bun, pinned neatly, with a couple of fly-aways. Gray jacket, gray jeans, a gray T-shirt showing some artful Celtic depictions of a Crow -- and accompanied by a black crow and a smaller gray-and-black hooded crow on opposite shoulders, like she's some sort of... Discount Odin.

    She doesn't have a piece of hay, but she does have an unlit cigarette hanging from her lips, hand-rolled type as she looks at Inez's backside, and then a small huff.

    "I can see why this place has so many reccommendations." she murmurs to herself good-naturedly, the old Crowe taking a look about.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Into Grant's Gym comes a young man, dressed for the weather and sporting a hoodie which he uses to cover his features. Alongside this young man, a young girl also enters, her head covered in a hoodie as well. They look around quietly and, observing Ted giving an explanation of his style, they keep quiet, observing the events.

The young man's eyes glance around the room at the students - or prospective students - here gathered...

And when it gets to Inez, well, the glance lingers for the extra seconds. Ahem!

Back to Ted...

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant squints at Inez snapping a picture, then motions for one of his trainers to take over. then the door opens and he notes the newcomer. You better note newcomers when you lived his life... and the crows get his interest as well as the unlit butt.

Then he squints again at Nettie. Tries to picture her with a lit cig and a flask in her hand, no crows. No... she'd be... wait... he is...

He walks over to Nettie, beeping Inez on the nose on his way. Did she ever buy a membership. Ted steps up to the diminutive woman who's presence rivals Ted's depsite his foot of additional body and says, "Annette?"

Inez Temple has posed:
Inez seems to be use to attention; even if she wasn't dressed like an extra in a really bad spaghetti western, she's still a tall drink of water stacked in just the right ways. Ted's playful boop on her nose gets a wrinkle of said feature, as well as a playful snap of her teeth as she watches with interest as he greets the newcomers.

Caleb's stares are met with a wink and a tip of her hat in salute, before she turns back to see him greet 'Annette' with interest. In her line of work, you pay attention to names and identities... never know when someone's gunna skip bail!

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    There's a pause in Nettie's step as she looks up to Ted. She watches the incoming noseboop to the tall girl -- that makes sense. She turns and looks to Caleb, and determines it's going to be a little impossible to get away with a 'he must be talking to you' -- he doesn't look like an Annette.

    "Well. I've not been called Annette since the War." Which one? Pick one.

    "HOw are *you* still around, Theodore Grant?" she asks with a smile, folding her hands behind her back. The black crow? That's been with her a while. The Hooded Crow is new, nd that pied little beastie hops a bit closer to Nettie's cheek in a modicrum of fear.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
The young man pulls the hoodie from his head, and the girl that's with him soon follows. Both have dark hair, and the similarities are enough to show they're siblings.

"Nice place...", the girl looks around more closely.

"Yeah, it is", the young man replies.

He moves to approach Ted when there seems to be a break, but Ted is found to approach an acquaintance, Annette.

So, he halts in his tracks, looking about and around, at the equipment Ted has spread around his gym.

To Inez - who hasn't been approached -, he offers a polite nod.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant says, "Annette, we definitely need to talk. This is amazeballs. I'll take a hug if you want. I... You are a sight for sore eyes, even if you cheated in our last drinking bout. I love the birds, my pal Doc used to walk around with an owl -Hootie! Umm excuse me."

He goes over to Caleb and Sheila. "You're gonna supervise this little girl, right? Kids make me nervous... I nearly sat on a couple and always with the questions, am I gonna them. Can they climb me? Didn't falling off the beanstalk kill me?" This display will not fool your average child.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Ah, best not give a hug. You recall that Addie got a little jealous, yeah?" she offers, and she motions to the birds on her shoulders. "And they take care of themselves, Red. Corvax and Torny." she introduces them neatly, and she gives a wry little smile over to Caleb and Sheila.

    "You look like the type that has to supervise their older brother, yes?" she gives a grin, and one of the crows appears to laugh.

Inez Temple has posed:
Inez smirks at Ted's awkwardness with the kid, and instead of continuing her lean against the counter transforms into hopping onto it, hands on knees and a shit-eating grin on her face as she watches the Champ deal with the two possibly-siblings and his reintroduction to his acquantance. Whatever business she's here for, apparently she's going to let it wait in return for a fun show.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
The young girl scoffs at Ted's remark, "I don't need to be taken care of..." Quick witty remark from her, "So, who's gonna take care of you??"

Womp womp. Or rather, *DING! DING!* Down for the count!

The young man's jaw goes slack, and next thing you know he's gazing sternly, oh so sternly, at her.

"What? I'm twelve!", Sheila says.

"Yes. But regardless", Caleb says.

Turning his attention to Wildcat, "She knows how to handle herself, Mr. Grant", looking at her again, "even if she's a little rough around the edges."

In the meantime, Sheila looks at Nettie, thinking, and then nodding, "On more than one occasion", she says jokingly.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant does a slow chin nod and holds up hands each the size of Sheila's face. "A lot of people TRIED to take care of me. Take your best shots. This is the only equipment that won't throw you across the floor. Go ahead. It'll help your street cred." He has to stoop a lot to get to Sheila's level. He looks to Caleb, "Kid has b... guts." There's a little gleam in his eyes. He is not playing now and somehow you know... taking a cheap shot at his nose or jewels might work... but Sheila would fare far worse.

"Hey wait a second, I don't want you to hurt your hands... Tony, get this chica some gloves. Yours oughta fit!" Tony complies swearing deadly vengeance. So what of they fit? Ted Walks over to Inez and Annette.

Inez Temple has posed:
"Round One. Point t' t' midgit." Inez crows at Grant as she leans forward, hat riding back on her head as she grins at the boxer. "Sorry, champ. Y' still got a couple more rounds or we gotta take y' out behind the shed?" She teases, eyes dancing with amusement from her perch on the counter.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "You'd best be gentle on the wee lamb. Looks like a stiff breeze could knock him over in a moment." Nettie states to Sheila with a wink before she straightens up, nearly upsetting her crows.

    Who walks around GOtham City with crows on their shoulders?!

    The with gives a small smile and pulls up a folding chair.

    "Now, this should be a show. Has your wee sister done up in any training before?" Nettie inquires to Caleb, before looking to Inez. "Make sure you've got some good pictures!"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Yes, she does", Caleb says. "I wonder where she got that from." All hands in the audience, feel free to point to him. "I take pride in being a good role model."

Sheila takes off her coat, allowing for more freedom of movement, and puts on the gloves offered to her. Caleb goes to wait on the sidelines, waiting to see how it unfolds. "Oh, I enrolled her at the Themysciran Arts Center. Met Wonder Woman, too - God, is she a presence up close!"

And the young girl, once having the gloves on closes and opens her fists to adapt her motion. She reaches Ted adopts a clearly trained posture. In her own time, she throws a punch at one of Ted's hands - and a kick at the other.

"She's Sheila, by the way, my kid sister", Caleb presents in the meantime, "I'm Caleb. Gotham born and bred, but currently in self-imposed exile." He makes the hush gesture. "Don't spread the word, please."

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant says, "This is boxing. You'd be disqualified for kicking. Show me your style punching. Sheila can feel the strength in his hands that do not move appreciable when struc. "Okay... stop. You need to put more of your hip into your punching. You don't have the upper strength of a guy. You gotta put your hips into it, use your. whole. body." He catches sight of Inez sitting on the counter and quite a sight it is. It is a momentary lapse, after all he's fighting a 12 year old. the next punch hits his hand and his hand actually flies back and bops him on the nose. Entirely his fault. Not really. Inez helped. Some blood drips out of Ted's nose and he straightens "Time!" He fixes a cold, calculating stare at Sheila.

Inez Temple has posed:
"Round Two, t' the cowgirl." Inez smirks from where she's leaning forward with her hands on her knees, eyes dancing with wicked amusement as she straightens up and flicks her hat back up and slouches back.

Sheila is given a wink, making it clear why she was leaning forward in that tied shirt. "Chilluns are t' future." She says in agreement to Caleb, eying him consideringly. Probably not a good idea to discuss exiles around a bounty hunter, but c'est le vie.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Nettie gives a wry smile. "Sheila and Caleb. Good names." she murmurs, and she leans her head back, taking a closer look when Ted gets struk by the girl.

    "... she's got a hell of a right hook, doesn't she?" she raises her eyebrows, her lips pursing. "Like her."

    The black and gray bird on her left shoulder eyeballs Caleb curiously.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Why, thank you." Caleb eyes back the crow eyeing him, apparently paying no mind. "But she does get carried away, sometimes...", he looks disapprovingly of her kicking move. He looks back at the crow still eyeing him, and takes a step away, maybe two. "So, what's the deal with the crows, here?"

He notices Inez sitting, and really the cause for Ted's distraction, and he chuckles when it happens. "Ouch..." But, why the hell's Inez now eyeing him, not unlike the crow on Nettie's shoulder?

His usual demeanor slowly drops to be on his guard...

In the meantime, Sheila stops when blood is drawn. "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Grant. I wasn't expecting..." She shudders when the stare is thrown at her; Caleb straightens from the place he was leaning against, his unchanging glance the determinant factor: it was all subconscious.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant holds his nose a moment till the blood subsides. Then he breaks into a bloodied smile. "Don't apologize. It was my own fault, but you... you saw me look away and took that shot. Darlin' would you like me to teach you to box? I mean... I can throw in some judo too. I wouldn't charge. You got talent, the eye of the tiger. I'll even give your brother a membership and some training."

Inez Temple has posed:
"We'll just call that a TKO." Inez suggests with a smirk as she hops off the counter where she was Sharon Stoning, tugging her skirt back down thighs with absolutely zero shame and making sure her hat is settled in right. "Iffin' y' don't want the Champ, I c' get y' hooked up with m' ol' teacher. Harsh Taskmaster, but damn good at what he does."

To Nettie, she winks as well at the comment on the right hook, and mimes a right hook. "Reckon' she cleans up 'er form she could be a contender." She squints, "Lead with 'er hips, 'stead of her shoulder. Center o' gravity's lower on us delicate flowers, an' she needs t' b' careful o' pointin' her toes causin' her t' telegraph." What? She's not just a good pair of legs. She coughs, though, and adds, "Yee haw?"

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "They're my familiars." Nettie states to Caleb. "Corvax and Torny. Say hello, lads."

    "Hello!" Corvax croaks, appropriately for a crow.

    "Uh... hi?" Torny states in a far more human voice, and then looks mildly ashamed and attempts to hide his head under a wing again.

    "She could be quite the contender. She's got a harsh spark, bit of fire to her. Not bad, for a wee tot." she gives a toothy grin. "Surprised Ted let her get a hit in. He must be gettin' a little soft." she jokes.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb idly nods to the crows, then looks at Ted. "Well, we're coming here to enroll, Mr. Grant. We could sure use the training."

Back to Nettie, "Oh, I think he forgot the basic rule: keep your eyes on the opponent", he says, nodding towards the Texan belle. "I don't blame him, though."

Blink. Blink. Wait... Talking crows??

He steps a couple paces in surprise. "HOLY CROW!!" Delayed reaction, much?