6161/Teams are Balancing Acts

Teams are Balancing Acts
Date of Scene:	08 May 2021
Location:	Sublevel 2 -Training Facilities - The Roost
Synopsis:	The Outsiders have a little informal training in the Roost and chat about why everyone in Gotham hates clowns.
Cast of Characters:	Laura Kinney, Phoebe Beacon, Conner Kent, Hope Summers

---

Laura Kinney has posed:
You can always tell when X-23 is using the Outsiders training rooms. There's just something about the blatant disregard for sensible health and safety measures and the impossible looking arrangements of gym equipment which screams Laura.

Plus people tend to curse her name when they inevitably get hurt using it.

Today she's set up four balance beams in a square formation. In the middle there's a vault table set at the same rough level as the beams. Just far enough that a very brave individual could leap over to it. And brave they'd need to be because someone seems to have forgotten to put any protective mats down.....

Little miss forgetful herself is busy making circuits around the course. Leaping to the center and back, then circling the outer balance beams at pace. All the while working in a variety of martial arts strikes and sweeps.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    It looks like the set up of an Extreme Tag run. Or at least part of it.

    Phoebe Beacon comes down into the training area, clad in her workout get-up with the loose shirt and 'activity' pants, and bare feet, and she purses her lips as she watches Laura work, her head tilting a little before the other teen makes her way towards one beam, and then drops her bag, extends a fancy-dancy extending staff a'la Robin, and vaults over one of the beams to try and come down and break Laura's stance, without uttering a single word!

    But a ninja she is not; she's still plenty noisy for Laura to catch!

Laura Kinney has posed:
Even if Phoebe had been a soundless ninja it's extremely hard to sneak up on Laura. Her nose lets her know who is coming even when all her other senses are focused on her workout routine. The sudden vaulting Phoebe gets incorporated into her routine as if it was planned. Laura leaps up, backflipping over her, and lands on one hand on the corner of the beam.

She looks over while maintaining a one handed handstand. Her own outfit is a close fitting set of yoga pants and a matching top. No shoes or socks, although she has put a little chalk on her hands and feet for grip.

"Good day Phoebe. I take it this means you would like to join me for some training?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I look forward to every day I get my butt handed to me by a teammate. Means I'm that much closer to paying it back." Phoebe states with a grin, giving her staff a spin again as she sinks down into a ready position.

    "Though if you have some pointers, I'm all ears."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"This particular set up is intended more to train balance and agility than direct combat skills," Laura admits with an upside down wave of her free hand. "Do you think you'll have a problem up on the beams?" She frowns. "If not it will limit me to only striking at your head and that will likely draw Robins ire."

It's one thing to risk her own safety and another entirely to put a teammate at risk!

"When I have used this set-up in the past I was told the rules were very similar to something kids play called 'The floor is lava'."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Well, egg on my face then." Phoebe states, and then she collapses her staff, and with an easy swing she brings herself up onto one of the beams, and there's a little bit of a wobble before she straightens up.

    "I'll heal before he knows I got hurt." the other girl gives a small grin, keeping her balance.

    "So, keep off the floor?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney gives an upside down nod. "We can also spar while up here," she offers. "But until you are confident in your balance I would not recommend it. I don't really follow any other particular rules for how I train like this... except that I try and make every pass a little more complex or increase the speed."

There's a pause and then Laura cartwheels off onto the next beam on the corner. "Oh it's a good idea to keep an eye out for any sections which get sweat on them. Aside from being too ambitious it's the fastest way to fall off."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I've done some light sparring on beams before -- but they were muuuch closer to the ground. Mostly to help the younger kids in class find their center of balance." Phoebe explains, and she gives a wry smile.

    "Doesn't it feel weird to have all the blood rushing to your head like that?" she inquires innocently.

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Not really," Laura replies, shrugging in one of the brief moments she's standing vertical before leaping along the next beam. "Even a trained human can manage about twelve minutes. My mutation improves my strength and physical abilities enough that I could likely stay that way for a few hours. Although I do not think it would be especially comfortable."

She shifts back to a more normal standing position and adds "The staff is actually a good weapon for this sort of situation. You can use it for balance, support and to vault between positions you normally wouldn't have been able to access."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "And my healing power stops me from experiencing some of it, but doesn't last forever. Good thing is that it stops me form getting sick so often. Bad thing?" she smiles, and then nimbly back-arches and cartwheels back, bare feet hitting the beam solidly.

    "Like, no alcohol or drugs affect me until they're in potentially large enough doses to kill me. I'm going to be *so* boring in college!" she jokes friendly-like to Laura

Laura Kinney has posed:
"If we had a full holographic training facility available I would consider putting together something more elaborate for this kind of training. Bigger jumps, ropes, overhead grapple points and platforms with motion." Laura muses as she resumes moving around the balance beams. Aiming to stay roughly opposite Phoebe so they won't collide. "But I doubt even Tim has the funds for such facilities for us."

She blinks a few times.

"People often say I am not very fun. Although I do not think it's related to my inability to get drunk or take narcotics. I doubt you would enjoy the company of people who only think it's cool if someone intoxicates themself, so perhaps it is no great loss?"

Conner Kent has posed:
"Perhaps it is not great loss," comments Conner stepping into the training room. "However, it is an experience I most humans want to experience at least a few times in their lives," he snickers when Laura mentions not being very fun. "You just need to try a little harder. Our background does not lean towards us being fun-loving people, hmm? I mean Hope, you and me. But I learned, and Hope is trying too. You are so serious and grim, Laura, you are going to get confused by a Bat of some kind."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phobe takes a step, and then cartcheels with one hand and lands backwards before stretching back again and righting herself.

    "We could always reserve time at one of those American Ninja gyms. Climbing ropes, balance beams, run-up walls -- all kinds of stuff." she suggests, and she gives a grin. "That's even in my budget to do an hour a week."

    And then she pauses a moment, and glances to Laura.

    "No, I would think that's more in relation to how you were brought up." she uses a euphemism. There's no gentle way to say 'your upbringing effing sucked'. "But you are learning. I mean, even your conversation skills have improved within the year or so I've known you." Phoebe points out, drawing one leg up on the balance beam and then dipping down, hand-standing.

    "Heya Conner! And it's not BAD being confused for one of the Bats. Batman at least recognizes when you do well, even if you're not part of the team." Phoebe points out.

Laura Kinney has posed:
"I came to the conclusion that improving my communication skills was essential for improving operational efficiency on missions," Laura informs solemnly, adding a double sommersault into her transit along the beam and then giving Conner a nod of greeting before moving on with her routine again. "As for an 'American ninja gym' I will have to look into this further. Perhaps do some recon. My family have had issues with ninja in the past."

It's like something in Logans genetics attracts evil ninja..

"I do know a few ways to intoxicate someone with a healing factor. For a limited time at least. But the amount and type of drugs we would need to bring into Gotham would probably make Batman very unhappy. Which I believe was something we are supposed to avoid?"

Conner Kent has posed:
"Hey, ladies," greets Conner, staying at the door after seeing the room setup, "do we need better training facilities? Hmm, maybe I can help in that... although I got the impression Tim expected us to have already good training and experience. Not you, Phoebe, you were a bit of a surprise. Maybe you will get access to Batman facilities soon? I don't know."

He facepalms at hearing why Laura is improving her communication skills. "Oh well, I am sure they will come handy for other uses too. But no, not bringing illegal drugs here. We are still... er... when Superman visited. Damn, we never found out about those super-drugs that got even Rose and me. Anyway. Maybe you could try some Asgardian mead or something."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Yeah, you should probably not make the local vigilante big guy mad. He'll make you pack it out and move to Metropolis. Or Starling." the younger OUtsider considers, before she brings her legs forward into a roll over her shoulder, and then pops back up.

    "In all actuality, I mostly joke around about not being able to imbibe. My dad was an EMT, and when drugs or somethign win over an addiction -- or will to survive? It wears on the EMT's who try to keep you alive long enough for you to enter into the Gotham Health System -- besides, still seventeen, still not old enough to drink." she states as she drops into a roll, and then up into a one-hand-stand, her legs drawing apart to adjust for balance.

    "--but improving communication for efficientcy for teammates is still good! It's not like we're going to be dragging you to open mic night at the Giggle Hut."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura begins to slowly but surely speed up. Taking corners sooner by leaping just that little bit further each time. "Training is an ongoing process. There is always someone out there who is better, stronger or faster. The best way to ensure you aren't beaten is to have trained harder than they did."

She glances to Phoebe. "I have stashes in both those cities and at least one back-up safe house I can use in an emergency," Laura admits with a shrug. Too paranoid to let on which city she means. "I don't think we need to improve this facility too drastically. That would draw unwanted attention. But we should certainly make as much use of the space available to us as we can."

"The Giggle Hut?" She blinks. "Do we have a mission to go after the Joker that I'm unaware of?"

Conner Kent has posed:
"You are also too young to be a vigilante, Phoebe," points out Conner. "I can take you to Mexico if you want to get a beer and not break any law. Anyway, if it can't impair your mental faculties at all, you can try just to see if you like the taste."

Moral or religious imperatives are another thing, and Conner is not going to comment of them.

"Giggle Hut? Is that a Karaoke bar? I would pay good money to see Laura in a Karaoke bar," comments Conner, grinning.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Ha haaaa -- if we had to take on Joker I would be hanging back. Part of the public school protocol has a special section for if a clown takes over our school; it involves readying morgues and alerting for appropriate-siz--HEY!" she states, and points to Conner. "Tim was younger than me when he started, and I've been doing my rounds for the homeless for two years. 'Too Young to be a Vigilante'. Just makes it doubly illegal." Phoebe replies, her nose wrinkling.

    "And no, it's a comedy club. BUt you can book it for karaoke if you reaaaally want?" she considers, rubbing the back of her neck.

Laura Kinney has posed:
"I can provide you with false identification documents if you want?" Laura offers helpfully. "If your healing abilities impact aging like mine you'll probably need to prove your age often. As for the breaking of laws... following an unjust or poorly thought out law is morally worse than breaking it."

She leaps onto the middle platform turns ninety degrees and flips backwards back onto one of the beams.

"I am not really afraid of the Joker. Clown themed gangs do not pose much of a threat. Although I do not like the risk of collateral damage." She gives Conner a look. "I do not sing."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "You don't seem to be afraid of very much, Laura, but the more connections you make, the more you have to risk. And me?"

    Phoebe rocks on her feet, and then draws down to one foot, on the ball, and back-leg sweeps in a large arc on the balance beam.

    "... I'm terrified of him. You have a psychopath with an a complete lack of empathy who acts as an agent of chaos, who has a violent cult following that tend to emulate his behavior, who either has no plan or a multi-layered plan to try and orchestrate as much chaos and pain for anyone who gets caught in the crossfire. I was distinctly told that if I were to encounter him, I was to alert the Bats and get myself gone in the other direction. With what Mickey did to me... I'm not... really keen on someone like that seeing how much pain it would take to break me."

Conner Kent has posed:
"I gotta say a crazy clown doesn't seems much of a threat," offers Conner. "But the joker is more than he looks. He is some kind weird criminal genius and I think Tim is afraid of him, so maybe you should too."

See, this is what happens when they are talking about Gotham, everything is dark and depressing. Even the clowns are worse than... nevermind.

"So, uh, you are both training," a Saturday evening of all times. "Any chance I can drag you two upside to watch a movie at the theatre later?"

Hope Summers has posed:
Hope Summers had intended to show up to this training session a lot earlier, but things got in the way..Specifically a really bad nightmare session after burning the midnight oil, followed by major hangover the next morning after drinking too much coffee.

So yeah, miss disciplined is not looking so disciplined as she steps into the training room today, hair terribly ruffled, eyes red and bloodshot, wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a plain white tank top, shoulder length red hair pulled up into a high ponytail.

"Phew, what a night.." she sighs, rubbing her eyes.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Lucky for Hope it won't take long before borrowing Laura's healing factor clears up most of her issues. Fatigue toxins? Easy. Hangover? No problem! Coffee... Well sadly that'll wear off too. But on the plus side the stamina and energy from being around X-23 should make up for that. And that's before the wellness aura of Phoebe can kick in.

"I /might/ have to resort to lethal means of pacification," she admits when Conner makes his point about Tim. "Which would not be ideal. But it /is/ very hard to bring chaos if everyone is dead..."

She pauses long enough to shrug and give Hope a greeting nod. "This is as much recreational exercise as it is training Conner. You are welcome to have a try if you wish. The only rule is do not touch the floor."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... there's a couple memorials that would argue with him not being a threat." Phoebe states gently to Conner, reaching down to use his shoulder a moment to recover balance -- and as an excuse to lightly pet his shoulder -- and then she continues on a cartwheel -- sans hands -- and lands easily.

    "Batman's rules -- no killing. As m uch as I ... hesitantly agree int his case, there is always a chance for redemption. Though in his case might be a snowball's chance in--"

    "Heya Hope!" Phoebe greets, giving a wave from where she perches on the balance beam. She looks her up and down, and gives a wince. "You going to be all right?"

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner floats up a few inches, then shrugs, smirking. "Not much of an exercise for me... Hope?" He steps down, looking concerned, and takes a hesitant step towards the redhead. "What happened to you? It is almost dinner time," not that it means much in their business. Odd sleep cycles are normal. "Did you get into a fight last night?" He glances to Laura, because yes, he knows Hope's favourite means of recovering quickly from all mishaps.

Hope Summers has posed:
Hope Summers blinks slowly, stretching her arms a bit, cranking her neck as she steps into range of Laura, and as always, she is grateful for her fellow mutant's healing abilities as they wash over her, almost instantly ridding her of the red eyes, the hangover, the exhausted ness...Even the headache.

"Phew, much better..Thanks Laura!" she smiles and nods to her. The others are given a slight nod and smile too as she heads towards the balance bars, leaving up higher than normal to grab them and swings slowly a few times.

"Dunno, I was up all night, going through some tactical notes..Got distracted by this weird movie on tv called Sucker Punch..Next thing I know..It's like I got sucked into the show or something..But it felt like I had fallen asleep, but wow..What a crazy realistic dream that was!"

She laughs as she swings around the bar, standing upright on her arms. She's been practicing. "So like, what y'all up to, lately?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Are you sure this was not a dream manipulation power? Or some reality warping ability?" There are after all countless mutants with such abilities. Laura pauses for a beat then adds "It wasn't Mojo was it?"

For a change of pace she throws in a ballerina twirl. Rotational movement on the narrow beam while balancing on just her toes adding in an extra level of difficulty.

"Conner may I ask. Is your flight ability like a muscle to you? Do you have to fly fast to improve your ability to fly faster?" Her attention shifts back to Phoebe. "I know the rules are no killing, but sometimes there is no other option."

As to what she's been upto... Well there's no reply for now. But then Hope probably knows that Laura isn't exactly a social butterfly. This might be the first time she's spoken to anyone all month...

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "About five-foot-six." Phoebe answers back chipperly. "Updating medical notes for the team, processing some blood samples of mine with an eye to try and science up plasma replacements without having to draw blood or use coconuts, due to allergen reasons."

    And she looks back to Laura, and she rubs the back of her head a moment as she stands on the beam.

    "I know... which is why I hesitantly agreed. Some people may just be too dangerous to allow to continue to live, but I'm not sure if I have the wisdom to determine."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Yeah, leave that to the judges, Laura," offers Conner. He certainly supports Tim's no-killing rule. Maybe because he never met the joker at his worst.

"As for flying. Hmm... no?" Conner is not sure of the exact mechanism that allows him to fly right now, but he tries to recall the explanation he heard. "I mean, it used to be telekinesis, but now it is something I do with the bioenergy I get from the sun and gravitons. I am not sure flying faster would make me faster."

He turns to Hope, to watch the quick recovery. "Heh. Showoff. What was this dream about that left you looking like a zombie?"

Hope Summers has posed:
Hope Summers listens with an arched brow, even as she swings around the balance beam a few times, before swinging over and around to straddle the beam with her legs this time. "Hmm, you were attacked by a clown, Phoebe? When did this happen?" she frowns and nods, "It's a sad fact. Some people cannot be reformed, and they present too much of a danger to the general public to be allowed to live." Hope shrugs, she's seen plenty of that sort where she came from.

Laura is given a slow, thoughtful nod.."Not sure, could be a psychic attack, I sure made enemies in other time streams, nit so many in this one though..And why in the middle of a safe place like here, without attacking others? Well, it warrants investigation. I need to see if I can find those people in real life. One of them looked kinda familiar."

She shrugs and smirks at Conner. "Sooo how fast can you fly? Have you ever really pushed- yourself?" as for her dream, she just chuckles. "Ever watched Sucker Punch? It was very similar but with different characters. Like we were stuck in some mental asylum, all of us in these glass rooms in a glass tower, trying to flee and escape to the basement.."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney shakes her head at Conner. "I wouldn't leave opening a jar of pickles to the judges in Gotham. Corruption here is so rampant. It does however make it fairly simple to obtain a steady supply of funds and equipment though." Because to X-23 organised crime groups are a lot like an ATM. And best of all taking supplies from criminals not only keeps her covert stashes full it also keeps them out of the wrong hands.

Well more wrong hands anyway.

"Best check in with our mutual mutant associates for a specialists opinion then," Laura suggests to Hope. "I think Phoebe was just refering to Gotham generally having clown problems. Rather than a recent incident."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "She's right about that. THe judges are pretty awful, and most of the good ones end up dying on the bench. Sometimes literally." Phoebe points out, swinging herself down to a seat as she straddles the narrow beam. Still not touching the floor, but she's pausing a little.

    "Technically my mom still only has partial guardianship of me; so she can't claim me on her tax return."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner shakes his head. Nevermind about the judges of Gotham. Most everything is some shade of awful in the city, anyway.

"Never watched Sucker Punch, is that a movie?" Conner shakes his head. "It was probably just a nightmare, but maybe not. So if you guys know a specialist in dreams or something..." silly as it sounds. Conner has seen weirder than dreams attacking people.

"I can fly from Hawaii to New York in less than an hour, so I guess well over five thousand miles per hour," about his flight speed. "Just 500 miles per hour when I had to use telekinesis. But it depends. I know I can get much faster if I leave the atmosphere. Only then I am spending far more energy to stay alive. I rather not to."

Hope Summers has posed:
Hope Summers hmms and nods to Laura. "Good idea, I'll check in with the Xmen, see if there have been any other similar threats lately. It's possible there's a powerful psychic at work.." she frowns at the thought. It's kinda unnerving really.

Phoebe's general clown fears has her fighting not to smile at that. Hey this is a serious matter! "Rampant criminal clowns huh. Who randomly decided one day that dressing up like a clown was a cool evil thing to do? Kinda gives real clowns a bad reputation.."

To Conner she smiles, sweetly at that. "It's a good movie. Hey maybe someone pulled that out of my mind and used it as a way to attack, drawing on some weakness? Well it wouldn't hurt to rematch it, you're always welcome to join me." she grins as she practises some graceful back handsprings on the balance beam.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney leaps from one of the edge beams back to the center point again. Holding another handstand while she talks. "Being able to fly that fast is a significant tactical advantage. And it certainly beats my usual means of getting from one country to another." Which generally involves smuggling herself into the cargo hold of a plane and half freezing or paying someone to smuggle her in. Usually in horrible conditions.

Adamantium claws might be great for combat but they're awful when it comes to metal detectors.

"Hope from what I understand clowns do not have a very popular public perception even ignoring the Joker. There is even a specific term for the fear of clowns. I can't recall it off the top of my head though. I have never needed to use that particular fear to interrogate someone before."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Choloraphobia... and the Joker isn't a-- you know what, I'm not going to get into an argument. You wanna know about the Joker, and beating people to death, kidnapping, the awful chemical composition that kills others with a big smile on their face? We have it *all* in the computer, along with the known list of victims." Phoebe states, unusually aggressive on the topic before she swings off the balance beam, and goes to grab her bag a moment. Bit testy on the subject.

Conner Kent has posed:
"Choloraphobia. Super-common phobia in Gotham," because of course. Spiders have nothing to clowns, ask any Gothamite. Conner moves to catch Phoebe when she looks about to fall for a second. But it ends up not being necessary.

"Lets talk about something else," he offers. "Sure, I will join your dreams anytime, Hope. Except, I don't think I have that particular super-power. Let us know if you have more nasty dreams, though. I might know someone that knows someone, y'know?"

Hope Summers has posed:
Hope Summers arches a brow at Phoebe. "Heey, you okay, Phoebes?" she frowns a bit in concern but shakes her head. Conner is given a slight smirk and shrug as she swings and flips to the ground. "Wouldn't you like to know what I dream about...." she reaches for her water bottle, taking a quick sip before glancing around, "But seriously, if I watch that movie again, maybe I'll find a clue..Besides it was entertaining, if anyone else wanted to join me. Orr, we could stay here and continue to train?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
"This topic might be very different to those who grew up in Gotham," Laura muses, dropping down from the balance beam square. Still doing the handstand and landing on her palms in a fashion that can't be comfortable. Especially when there aren't any mats down. "So I am sorry if I caused any offense."

She glances around the room, then flips neatly back to her feet.

"I do not know if I am in the mood for a movie. To be honest even when I am in the right frame of mind to watch one I do not generally understand them."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe takes a breath, and shoulders her pack.

    "Yeah... I forget that I'm not like you all." Phoebe states quietly. "I've gotta go get Scout for a walk. I'll catch up for that movie later."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Scout is invited too," offers Conner. "I have no idea if we have Sucker Punch in the cinematheque, but I will check. Hope, want to call for some pizzas or something? We can be ready for movies in about an hour."

Laura will get the movie explained, no worries! Well, if they can make heads and tails of Sucker Punch. Snyder might be too much for their young and impressionable brains.