16823/Paper Beats Rock

Paper Beats Rock
Date of Scene:	07 January 2024
Location:	Grant's Apartment - Grant's Gym
Synopsis:	Nobody puts Baby in a Corner
Cast of Characters:	Ted Grant, Clara Jennings

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Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant is a very kinetic person in public. At the moment he is reading newspapers very thoughtfully while keeping an eye on the joint. He finished the Bugle, which brought him disturbing news and a video on the paper's website he'd watched. Now he leaves his coffee untouched and tells Stretch, "I will need the bike tonight. The 'Cat is on the prowl." He pulls his scratch pad from his pocket and begins jotting notes down, including Clara's contact info.

Stretch walks over to the Champ, all clowning gone,"This'n's bad. Yew writing in yer little book. Yew need back up?"

"I dunno. I'm a little worried about Clara."

"Hey where's the little minx been?"

"Dunno. She is an adult."

"Clara would get carded at Chuck E. Cheese. Anyway, can't expect her ta just be hand delivered. Oh, Champ, we got a delivery inna back... "

"I'll get it. You get the bike. Tell Tony I need the new suit."

Ted precisely folds the paper, pockets the scratch pad before Stretch can see it and heads to the back, "Clara, yer killing me..."

Clara Jennings has posed:
    It is around noon that there is a package dropped off out back. A truck pulls out, a crate is swiftly unloaded, and away it goes again. As usual with deliveries, there is a knock at the door, followed by the delivery driver outpacing the Flash in their effort to avoid the terror that is contact with a human being.

    It is a good sized crate, made of sturdy wood. It is one of those things most people only see in movies, as cardboard is nowhere in sight. The label on it just says training equipment - delicate - open immediately.

    Inside, Clara is curled up comfortably, using a small LED light to read a book. With all the soft packing materials, she is very comfortable. And it is a good book. Her IV is carefully hung on the side of the create, so as to avoid being damaged when it is pried open.

Ted Grant has posed:
A crate marked delicate? This gym don't do delicate. No return addy. Hmmmph. Well, not like an explosion would do him any lasting harm.Ted grabs a pry bar and merely uses it to start the crate for him...did he hear a giggle? He tears the top off the crate! He'd ready for anything! Well almost anything...

Clara Jennings has posed:
    And inside is Clara, curled up with a book. There are at least three more set beside her. She has has a hand raised to block the sudden flood of light. The young woman is wearing a fuzzy white robe and a silk slip (black). The robe is new, but the slip appears to be rather her style. Her shifting about has made it ride up high enough to show considerable bandaging on her left thigh. There are several other, small bandages as well. And of course the IV, with an empty bag. She's switched it herself.

    She rises as swiftly as she can. Which is not very, and giggles. "Daddy Teddy!" She half hops, half falls at him in something like a hug. "I have the most amazing story to tell you!"

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant grabs for Clara, gets mostly robe. Regrabs getting mostly Clara. He's careful of the IV stent still in place. The fighter picks her up effortlessly in a cradle carry. He handles her like she's a load of nitro, He's that careful.

"Shipping yerself in your bedclothes, during a Gotham winter? You... what the hell? I'm taking you upstairs and seeing to ya first. Then you might get a whupping ta show my relief!" He carries the tiny academic slash danger doll upstairs, to the apartment.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara is rather used to Ted just scooping her up whenever he feels like it. She just enjoys the ride. And if she catches sight of Stretch or Tony on the way, she will wave to them.. Otherwise, she just holds her IV bag and books. Mustn't lose those! They were borrowed to her.

    "Oh, no, that was not really the plan, but they made sure I was kept warm. Very kind of them, really. A.. whupping?" That makes her a little sulky. And she never sulks! Except around Ted. Oh dear, that might even be a pout coming on.

    "You know, I prevented a robbery," she says once they are alone. At this point hiding what she did from Ted is just not even something she would try to do.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant takes her directly to her room. When did his guest room become her room? He doesn't dwell on that long. She feels deliciously warm at least, except he's sure her feet are getting cold the way he toes seem to curl. He sets her down on her bed and says, "This is no time for modesty. I know some medicine and /I/ want to check you out. It is a condition to you hiding here, understand?"

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara tilts her head at Ted and nods. "Okay. Well, then, let us check me out." She will slip out of the robe first. She then hesitates a moment, but well, he did say...

    Thank goodness she's wearing underwear, cause modesty is kind of a problem with her. She is able to take the slip off, but then her left hand is essentially locked in place to conceal her chest. Which it easily does. To no shock of Ted's, her panties are very unflattering. But regardless, they do not get in the way of examining the dressing on her thigh. Ted has likely seen a gunshot wound in the past. She was lucky! A bit higher and she would have almost certain died in moments. As it is, she has been stitched rather well together. Whoever did it was clearly a professional.

    Other wounds are small. She has a few lacerations on her arm, related to broken glass, and a bullet skimmed her right forearm, doing little damage.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant says, "You aren't covering any holes there are you? No. Good.I'll take your word for it. Gosh, there's a blush that'll me sunburnt. I seem plenty little girl. You're safe." He grabs the robe and settles it around her shoulders. He frowns. "You need a better robe. Wait here. Don't move. I'll help you wit' the... under things." He hurries out and returns after a few moment (including a thud and some exemplary swearing even Clara could respect with a sweatshirt, robe, and some socks. He does indeed help her on with everything unless she puts up a fuss. The robe probably falls to mid calf on Ted. On Clara it just brushes her toes. That done Ted finally puts her forehead against him and kisses top of her head, a little relieved. He continues holding onto her.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara really does not put up a fuss very often. Nor does she now. She could probably get herself dressed easily enough, but moving the IV bag around and avoiding messing up the bandages would be a lot more difficult. If anything, she is very compliant.

    "This is a like wearing a blanket," she says, laughing softly. She falls silent when Ted just takes care of her, though, and while some small part of her stiffens for just a second as he holds her, it is soon gone.

    "I am sorry to make you worry so much. I am okay, though. And well, I made it back. Do you remember the woman in the bar with the unusual eye? She just happened to find me right as I fell. Quite a lovely bit of luck, right?"

    She does not believe it is luck, of course! But maybe it will calm Daddy Ted down a bit. She can tell this all has shaken him more than just a bit.

Ted Grant has posed:
Shaken no. More like stirred. Ted checks the IV. Then he gives Clara a very gently hug. "It's a measure of the trust I have, that I'm not interrogating you right now. First you get better and then you will tell me just what goes on. For now... ya want some cocoa and/or company or to sleep?"

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Wow. Cocoa. "I would like cocoa, yes." She does not get that at home. Hm. Ted does not need to know that he is spoiling her, she decides. It is only right to let him show kindness. He will feel better! Also she really wants hot cocoa.

    "I would like company, too. Is it busy today?" She realizes that she is not sure what Ted does hour to hour in his job. It is his gym, but she is not clear if he is always busy training people or just making sure everyone stays safe. It makes her curious!

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant goes towards the kitchen. "I'll give Stretch and Tony command. No worries." He heads into the kitchen as stated and after a clatter, a crash, and some more language that would make Bluto blush he returns with cocoa. It's microwaved, sue him. He does have a pack of marshmallows with cookies stuck on them that just cover the top of the drink but leave enough room to sip. He sits down on the bed and settles around Clara, She does fit under one arm. Happy.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    Clara nods and listens as Ted works. It is easy to pick up some new words from him this way. Or, more correctly, to learn new ways to string them together into sentences. She would ask Ted about it, but she suspects he would disapprove.

    The cocoa is accepted gratefully. Clara does not care how it was made. It was made for her! And it tastes good.

    "I am not normally allowed to have marshmallows," she says. But she is obviously interested. And at the first taste will note, "This may be the best thing I have ever had!" The governess will be scandalized!

    For a little while, Clara is quiet. The drink is warm, it tastes good, and she is nibbling at marshmallows rather like a mouse.

    "I am feeling a lot bettter already. It is good to be..." She almost said home. Hm. That is not right, though, is it? "It is safe here. I am glad you are with me. It is not that I am not grateful for Opal, though! You know, she saved me. But, well, this feels more like a place I can belong."

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant is a little ashamed of himself. The girl trusts him. He will have some hard questions for her. This... will make her trust him even more. But this little bundle of sunshine is involved in a multiple homicide. She is in trouble up to her delicate neck. Fortunately, he is not a cop. Enough police told him that. It works both ways.

"Well hey, you called me daddy. You take me serious. You do the best Lindy I ever saw. When you get better, we'll do it again. For now, finish your cocoa and then you need a little sleep. I'll rub your head. Put you right out. I'm old, I know stuff." Like that he is massaging her scalp with fingers that have rolled frying pans and broken bricks. It is surprisingly soothing and gentle. Like a storm you hear outside reduced to white noise by thick walls.

Clara Jennings has posed:
    "I hope so! It was fun. There is a lot I still want to learn about dancing," replies Clara. But the drink is warm. And sweet. And she is tired. Even before Ted started to do that whole magical thing with the head massage she was feeling very relaxed.

    "Sleep sounds pretty good, yes. I think I will do that..." Thankfully she has enough of her wits to set her empty mug aside. It does not take long, and she is breathing slow and deep.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant looks at the small girl he adopted. No she adopted him. He thinks of all the mistakes he made with his life. All the kids he helped and a few he lost or had to leave behind. Someone told him forgiveness was bullshit. It proved nothing except people were better than you.

Atonement was the thing. Did you atone yet Ted? You certainly have the time now.

Clara's breathing sounds very close to a cute little snore at the moment. He reaches over and shuts the light. The rooms grows dark. Somehow as always, his eyes cut through the gloom, watching.

She's NOT a killer, not a Shiva. She responded to lethal force. She's a good girl.