4589/Pain is part of living

From Heroes Assemble MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Pain is part of living
Date of Scene: 03 January 2021
Location: Sublevel 2 -Training Facilities - The Roost
Synopsis: Laura and Phoebe get a little bit of training done and talk about a possible upcoming mission.
Cast of Characters: Phoebe Beacon, Laura Kinney




Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    For someone on the Missing Persons list, Phoebe spends an awful lot of time combat training, or reading up on things in Medical.

    At this moment, she has a pair of earbuds in as she runs through kata. She's clad in athetlic clothes, bare foot on some mats as she spins and rolls the staff over her shoulders and arms. Her eyes are closed, her movements flowing with the music that she's listening to drown out the world around her.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Even without the music it'd be hard to hear Laura come into the training facility. The petite mutant padding in with bare feet, each step placed to make the least possible amount of sound. Nor does she make any of the usual polite greeting noises.

She's wearing a simple faded grey-black t-shirt and matching sweatpants. Her inky black hair tied back into a pony tail. Slightly less usual though is the Katana she's got tucked under her arm.

She takes a sniff of the air and shrugs, watching Phoebe run through her kata's and making a silent assessment. Flaws in technique, reach of her strikes and naturally the optimal way to elimate her as a target.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    It's clear from her technique that this isn't 'show aikido'. This isn't what gets trained in most studios with awards and trophies and posters about doing your best on the wall. Phoebe could be a threat to the right person. Most of her work consists on keeping her attackers out of arm's range, dodging, avoidance, solid footwork -- and very strong, and some very *final* finishing. To trip someone, and then break their knee so that they can't pursue. A blow accross the nose to shatter it, to cause pain and disorientation.

    Gotham's heroes do not, in general, kill -- but they don't play around, either.

    Optimal way to kill Phoebe would be 'quickly' -- she has a healing factor to rival Laura's, when she's not healing others.

    And when she comes to a rest, bringing the staff down with a solid 'thump' of its butt on the mat, she opens her eyes --

    and almost jumps RIGHT out of her skin!

    "Laura!" she greets her, a little louder and needed. "I'm -- I'm sorry, did you sign up for time down here?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney tilts her head to one side, considers Phoebe's question for several moments, then shrugs. "No," she replies simply. "I suspect you are overdue for hydration. Unless you are engaging in a regime that tests your focus in a dehydrated state?" Not an unreasonable question with some of the heroes in the Outsiders!

She motions down at her sword. "I am just here to relax. If you have serious training planned do not let me stop you."

She sniffs the air again and her brow furrows. "After your training remember to relax your muscles with a cold water shower. It improves muscle and joint recovery."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Given that I should be ready to go on missions on thef ly, if needed?" Phoebe asks with a wry tone in her voice, and she breathes out. "I should take in some water, you're right -- but after a work out my muscles regenerate quickly. Part of the whole 'heals' thing." she smiles over to Laura, and she motions with her staff. "Relaxing with working out as well?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Keep in mind that you will struggle to sneak up on criminals if they can smell you coming," Laura points out solemnly. "Also even when you have a healing factor you should try not to overly tax it. As you might need that energy for a mission." From her tone it seems like an argument she's had used on her repeatedly that she's in turn repeating to Phoebe, rather than her own opinion.

"I don't really relax."

The petite mutant takes a few steps so there's a nice empty line of mat ahead of her. Then springs forward in a lunging draw motion that covers a remarkable distance for someone her size. The katana drawn and swung in a single smooth motion.

"But I find training acts as a form of meditation."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Not *everyone* has as good a sense of smell as you, Laura. Especially not Gotham's criminals. They don't call it the 'dirty underbelly' for nothing." Phoebe replies -- though she does give a cautious sniff at her shoulder. She smells like lavender and baking soda. She turns back to Laura and she gives a smalls mile. "Well, other than walking Scout along the roof, I suppose I've just had a lot of time on my hands." she states, and she watches, a less critical eye than Laura, but practiced. This was an opponent's move. How would you counter?

    And of course, the old addage of 'The best way to avoid trouble is not to be there' applies.

    "I do too. Ever since my dad di-- was killed." she corrects herself. "... he taught me basic aikido. When we went to classes together."

Laura Kinney has posed:
While she's not as quick as a speedster Laura still moves impossibly quickly for a Human. Even a moderately trained eye will be able to tell she'd be dangerous no matter what weapon she was using. A fruit knife or a hair pin would serve just as well as the sword. She turns and repeats the motion coming back the other way.

It somehow seems even quicker the second time.

"Never underestimate your opponent. Better to assume everyone can smell as well as I can than risk being caught off guard." A shrug and she sheaths the blade. "All of my tutors are dead." There's a certainty to her tone which suggests she knows this for a fact. "However they were not the sort of people who anyone will mourn."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Well, I should have known better than to find empathy on that front." comes a quiet, tired complaint from Phoebe, and she rubs the back of her head a moment as she watches Laura move.

    "One of the reasons why there's armor, I suppose, would be to help against scent-tracing. Never see the Bats in need of avoiding tracking dogs?" she comments quietly as she leans against a handy wall and watches. She moves like Cass. Not trained... drilled. Phoebe's eyebrows knit a moment, her lips pursing as she shifts her weight.

    "You never know. We only see one side to a person, and no one ever sees the same side."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney blinks a few times at Phoebe. "That was..." She sighs. "I was attempting empathy. But I do not really.. feel very much of anything. Would you find it more comforting if I told you my 'Mother' died too?"

There's a little shake of her head when Phoebe mentions armour. "I do not like to be slowed down or restricted by protective equipment. However I do find the grappling weapons the Bats use to be interesting. Mobility is as important to defence as attack."

She slips into a sequence of strikes, parries and dodges. As if fighting a dozen or more imaginary opponents. Before finally responding with "People who train child assassins do not tend to be well liked."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... no, no they don't." Phoebe replies quietly, embarrassed about her own lack of understanding as she leans her head back.

    "... mine's in a coma, at the moment. I'm sure they're going to contact power of attorney to her father. That won't be a good thing." she replies quietly. "I'm sorry, Laura. I've always been the one to do the comforting. It's weird not being able to comfort anyone right now." she admits quietly, and she kicks up her staff a moment, and she steps into Laura's space with a ready stance.

    "I've gotten a little work on them, a long while back. I don't think Red Robin thought I was ready for them yet. You need a lotta strength in your shoulders for it."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura doesn't seem to be upset or emotional about the situation. She may as well be talking about the weather for all it shows on her face. "I hope that your Mother recovers," she offers. There is at least a sense that she's sincere. "As for your legal situation I am sure we have the resources available to ensure you stay anywhere you want."

Her flowing attacks cease the moment Phoebe gets in close.

"Would you like me to forge you some identification documents? Drivers license, passport or perhaps a birth certificate?" Her mouth moves into the barest hint of a smile. "I can assure you I am much stronger than I look." A beats pause. "Not as strong as Miss Sandsmark or Conner. But still beyond what is typical for a baseline Human."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Well, that's good. Last time I sparred against Cassie, I ended up going from the garden to the second floor of the Embassy." Phoebe replies, and she eyeballs that little tweak of a smile. Hold onto that.

    "I end up on the second floor of the theater and Tim's going to be Super-Confused." she states, and she slips forward, fluidly, going in for a sweep against Laura's left foot, trying to knock the smaller girl off balance.

    "I don't think I need any of that yet. I wanna see what these Johnsons are about, and Diana already said that she would take guardianship for the next year or so if I can't get Emancipation."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney hops up over the sweep, sheathing her katana in the same motion. "If you wanted to spar you should have given me a moment to get a wooden sword," she points out, vaulting backwards with a series of cartwheels and gymnastic leaps. "I would not wish to damage your staff or clothing." Once she's got a little distance she carefully throws the katana to one side and slips into an open handed stance. Sword out of the way she springs back into close range.

"Who are the Johnsons?" She wonders, flowing around Phoebe like she's water. "And do we need to run checks on them?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Not everyone's going to be playing on a level field. I've been shot at while wearing just my jacket. It took weeks for me to get used to wearing armor." Phoebe replies, and she strikes a ready position.

    Her blows are all technical -- she's keeping Laura out of striking range. It's clear she's very, very comfortable fighting with a staff, and she's able to hold the conversation easily.

    "They're claiming they're my birth parents. I was abandoned at two years at a booze store in the Narrows. I've been running checks here and there, but it's hard when you've just got the Publicly Available stuff you're working with." she states to Laura, and she leans forward, dropping down to back-ankle-sweep and try and use her staff to get under Laura and send her into the air!

Laura Kinney has posed:
The trouble with technical fighting is that the motions are predictable. Between Laura's enhanced reflexes and her keen senses it's like she knows exactly what Phoebe is about to do before it happens. "The others would appreciate it if I didn't kill you during training." There's a touch of amusement. A joke perhaps? Or a warning? Perhaps both!

When Phoebe goes in for her back-ankle-sweep it's met by something she probably didn't expect. Laura slamms her forearm in the way and blocks. It /should/ snap the bones in her arm with a noise like wet sticks breaking. But weirdly it doesn't. There's something in her arm which seems too tough to break with a mere staff.

In the moment the staff is stopped her other hand grabs hold and yanks it. Trying to drag Phoebe bodily over or pull her weapon clear from her hands. "It's not one hundred percent accurate, but I should be able to tell if you're related by comparing scents."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Probably. Someone would have to take over walking Scou--T!" she gives a surprised end to her statement as her sweep is halted short, and she looks with amasement -- which makes it easy to remove the staff from her! The weapon now belongs to Laura -- but Balm's not just a one-trick-pony.

    Super senses can be a pain, especially when they may be overwhelmed with something like a brilliant flash of light!

    And then there is another staff coming to knock the staff from Laura's hands -- except this one is made of bright light.

    "That is so much easier than trying to get a hold of a DNA sample. Are you free on Tuesday?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura is already whirling away with the staff in hand, creating her own zone of control. The flash of light taking away her vision draws a smile. Approval perhaps? And forces X-23 to rely upon sound and smell for a few moments while her healing factor fixes her eyes. Of course her instinctive reaction isn't to go on the defense for that vulnerable moment.

Even as Phoebe is charging in with her new staff of light Laura's planting the end of the staff onthe ground and launching herself with it in a flying kick. If Phoebe doesn't flinch she'll almost certainly land her attack but concussive impacts heal quickly and Laura isn't bothered by a little pain.

"I can obtain DNA too if you want. It's just a matter of breaking in and taking the right items. I do not keep a conventional schedule, so any day is fine."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Pain is part of living.

    Phoebe braces, and as Laura launches her kick, the other girl neatly sidesteps, using her light staff to control Laura's leg and she draws back, tilting, rolling and attempts to slam Laura into the mats, face first!

    Ordinarily there would be a kiai, but they're having a nice conversation, even if Phoebe is a little winded. Holding the staff takes some measure of concentration.

    "There's a meet and greet. I'd rather not send any Outsiders into the Lion's Den, though I think you're better prepared than Daniel ever was!" she counters in thought.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney somehow manages to drop the staff and contort herself so her hands meet the mats first, coiling like a spring, and kicking back at Phoebe like a mule. Her own moves are near silent, no shouts or roars, and it barely seems like she's breathing. Never mind breathing heavily. The perks of mutant biology!

"I'm not afraid of Lions.... Although.... I don't think I know anyone called Daniel? Is that a codename for someone on the team? Regardless I do not think you need to be so reserved. We are all aware of the risks any mission might entail."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "OOF!" the strike hits Phoebe square in the chest, and the other girl tumbles backwards, landing in a crouch with a wheeeeeeeze of appreciation of a well placed kick, and she holds up a hand for a moment to call a time out while her own healing kicks in.

    "Daniel going into the Lion's Den, Old Testament story. Became sort of a Western euphemism for 'going into a dangerous place." Phoebe wheezes and then straitens up, and teeters slightly.

    "You don't pull punches, do you Laura? As long as I don't have to deal with stab wounds, still should be okay!" Phoebe gives a bit of a laugh.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney rolls and then springs to her feet in a single smooth motion. "Ah. I do not really read religious books," she admits with a shrug. "They do not really seem relevant to my lifestyle. Do you find them comforting?" She rolls her shoulders. "Either way people claiming to be your parents would not rank in the top fifty most dangerous missions I've been involved in."

"As for pulling punches... I am holding back so I don't cause you any lasting harm." She holds her hand up and there's a snikt as her claws pop out. "When I'm serious I use these." The claws retract. "I've also been avoiding striking nerve clusters or sensative areas."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "They did. They also caused me a lot of self-doubt when I was younger, but it made my mom happy when I went to church." Phoebe states, and she gives a shrug, and a laugh.

    "Yeah, I get it, Laura. My stuff's not high caliber, but I appreciate the help all the same. I'm going to go make a sandwich -- want one?"

    And at the skint --

    "See, that's what I said about having to deal with the stab wounds. That would make it way more difficult to make sandwiches, right?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura pads over with her bare feet on the mats to collect her sword. "I do not say that to be dismissive," she explains matter of factly. "Merely to re-assure you that we are willing to get involved and not afraid of the potential risks."

She tucks her katana under her arm.

She nods in the direction of the kitchen. "Yes, I believe I could eat."