8923/There Is Someone I would Like You To Meet

There Is Someone I would Like You To Meet
Date of Scene:	03 December 2021
Location:	Park Row - Bleake Island
Synopsis:	Alexander introduces Dinah to Lady Shiva. Another contestant is registered for the big punching thing, with all the people. Punching each other. And stuff.
Cast of Characters:	Alexander Aaron, Dinah Lance, Sandra Wu-San

---

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The day after Alexander had stumbled upon what assuredly was a secret for Dinah Lance left things in flux. An old friend out of nowhere finds her florist shop, visits her gym, discovers her secret, and then out of nowhere...
    << Heya, I think we should talk. There's someone I want you to meet. >>
    Which was followed with a time of day and an open public location in Gotham. The Wayne Botanical Gardens, nearly empty this time of year with the Winter's chill carried on a breeze from off the river. Most of the plants were in their wrought-iron greenhouses, some of the tropical ones with heaters running, though distantly from the entrance to the gardens one could see several lots where Christmas trees were being sold. It was still an hour until sundown, the air getting that slight edge to it. Yet other than that...
    It was a nice tableau all told. And right on time two figures were there at the entrance to the gardens, one she might recognize. One she might not.

Dinah Lance has posed:
The message came as Dinah was checking out her new digs supplied by ... OK, long story. The new Canary Cave, however, was something she really wanted to get into gear only to...

"Shit!"

She stared at her ancient phone's message. This isn't an accident. This isn't a coincidence. She'd hoped she'd pulled off the distraction but ...

... A certain kid was going to have to either demonstrate trustworthiness or be frightened into it. (Naturally, of course, she had no idea of the irony involved in that line of thought.)

Pondering while she worked out in her new private gym, pounding the bags so hard she started to bruise her knuckles, she finally came to a decision. She'd go. But the Canary would be there too. In the form of the outfit packed into her saddlebags. In case it was needed...

A few minutes before the appointed time, her new Ducati roared around the corner, fishtailing in a showy turn before she drove it into a parking garage near the gates. Then a short jog up the path to the designated spot landed her in the chill air at exactly the provided time. Distracting herself from the sense of foreboding she had, she went over what adjustments she'd have to make to the bike to suit her driving needs.

---

"Hello, Alexander," she says as she approaches, looking with mild wariness at his companion. "That was weirdly yet compellingly ominous. What can I do you for?"

Sandra Wu-San has posed:
To be fair, Shiva had asked for Alexander's help with her little personal quest. So when he had said he had someone she needed to meet, she had agreed. After all, she had no pressing business in town at the moment. Though she had heard whispers of a few contracts available if she was interested. None had really caught her attention enough for her to ask for more.

With Shiva, it was always what piqued her interest. It was the most random things at times. Other times, it was fitting with the persona that people had assigned to her. She didn't even know herself from day-to-day. That gave life interest. How dull to always know what one was going to do and living on a schedule.

She stood next to Alexander, completely at ease. Red shirt, black pants, shoes that looked like slippers which didn't seem appropriate for the seasonal cold, a black leather trenchcoat over it all that kept out any chill.

As Dinah approached, she looked her over curiously. Shiva's gift was being able to read body language, picking out things that others might overlook. A callus here, a movement there that might indicate a pulled muscle, a tightening of a tendon before someone pulled a trigger. All so minute they were invisible to most. She did not speak, allowing Alexander to make introductions.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Hey, Dinah." There is something subtly different about Alexander. His manner isn't that casual easy-going soul that she had known in the past when they had trained. There is a seriousness to his tone, to that stance as he holds a place beside Shiva.
    Dressed very similarly to how he was yesterday, what with his new black pea coat and blue jeans, his shoes are slightly different. They're black and leather and shiny? Curious. In any case he steps to the side as if holding between the two, serving the role of diplomat in the meeting of two parties.
    "This is Shiva." He lets that hold there for a moment before he adds, "She has a proposition for you. I can vouch for her honor in my own inadequate way."
    Then he turns and meets Dinah's eyes, and from this angle Shiva cannot quite see his as he tells her. "I spoke of you to her before yesterday and told her you were a strong student when we trained and you instructed me." Before yesterday.
    Then to Shiva he turns, "Shiva, this is Dinah Lance. She is a student of the arts and I would vouch that she would do well in any task you set before her." That said he then steps back, hands slipping into his pockets but his manner not easing. For his role has been fulfilled.

Dinah Lance has posed:
'Before yesterday.' Damn. The kid thinks he knows something and, bugger it all, he probably does. Dinah puts a pleasant face on, like she's in her shop and a customer who's not ... actively bad, but a bit annoying ... enters.

"I'm sure Alexander talked me up a bit too much," she says with an attempt at a sheepish grin that looks more like a gash in her face. "I learned a few things and I share what little I learn with friends. I don't charge or anything like that. I mean..."

Helpless shrug. Show off your harmlessness. She can't see the muscles beneath that bulky leather jacket, and she won't spot the favoured left shoulder from where that knife went in on patrol last week.

"...I sell flowers. This is just a hobby."

That gash in her face widens into something ghastly to behold. It looks almost, but not quite, entirely unlike a smile.

"Shiva ...?" Her brain latches onto the name and tries to remember something she may have read once. To place this woman. To figure out quickly what might be going on. "That's a lovely name. I'm Dinah. Dinah Lance."

A hand is produced and extended for a shake. A calloused hands with, as she notes now with some alarm, prominent bruises along the hand between the second and third knuckles of the index, middle, and fourth fingers.

Sandra Wu-San has posed:
Definitely a fighter. Which Shiva had picked up on from the physical markers. Though she already knew that from Alexander's recommendations. If the woman were not a fighter, Shiva wouldn't be here having this conversation.

Shiva considered the hand a moment. Honestly, it was something she preferred not to do. It was something people did in polite company and to impress others with their earnesty. But it was also fake. Well, generally speaking. Dinah seemed to actually be extending it politely. Most times she had seen it, it was a power move or begrudging. All those little nuances. It made her view of the world more truthful than what most people could see.

After perhaps a second too long, Shiva accepted the hand and gave a brief shake. Her own hand was callused in a way that, someone with the training, would recognize a fellow fighter.

"Thank you," was her response to the compliment about her name. "I have heard much about you. That you are a formidable martial artist. Which is what brings us to this meeting. I am setting up a small competition. For sport, not profit. The winner gets bragging rights, as they say. Only very special people are being invited and I would add you to the list if you might enjoy such?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    For his part Alexander would seem inclined to fade into the background in this moment. Those pale hazel eyes of his are distanced, focused upon the further off Christmas Tree lot, perhaps. Just a casual consideration, thoughts wandering about what to do for the holiday season this year. Or perhaps they're more unfocused and distant because he's trying to keep an eye on the stance and manner of both individuals at the same time...
    When Shiva takes Dinah's hand, however, his eyebrows do climb minutely. Perhaps a quarter of an inch, though they just as quickly returned to his calm manner.
    There is, however, a moment when his attention shifts slightly toward Dinah and for a brief instant there is... concern? Why so concerned? As if this moment had a weight of portent to it for some reason.

Dinah Lance has posed:
This is what's called a "phase change" in science nerd circles. A brief moment of indecision that registers in Dinah's eyes in the form of a subtle shrinking of her pupils (or was that because of raising them up to slightly brighter lighting?). Should she accept? What would Otomosensei think?

A very brief flash of anger now. Who fucking cares? The bastard was holding back on her and that pain still stings to this day. He didn't want to go all-out on his little bird? His little bird can go all-out in his stead.

And the phase change. The nervousness and lack of clarity melt in that brief flash of anger. In its place is relaxed certitude. She was good enough. No, she was the best.

"I'll do it."

Beat.

"I know that I'm supposed to say that I'm not worthy and that whole pile of horseshit, but ..." Dinah gestures to Shiva's hand. "... you don't like bullshit anyway, do you?"

Someone else reads people. Clumsily. Like a myopic against an owl. But still.

"So I'll put it down. This sounds interesting and it beats the Hell out of pushing flowers. I don't care about purses or contracts or money or such. I just want to know where I stand and how tall I stand."

Says the munchkin.

Inadvertent irony seems to be a strong point with this one.

Then the eyes glance over at Alexander. Before yesterday? Already then? ...

Sandra Wu-San has posed:
That actually earns a small smile from Shiva. It is not an expression that strangers get very often. Only those she knows and is comfortable with. So for Dinah to have earned it is a big moment. Yet, to most people, it would just seem the proper reaction and not be a moment of importance.

"I do not like bullshit, no. I find too many people say one thing while they are feeling differently. It is a level of hypocrisy that I find tiring."

She reached into her jacket, taking her time. Not slow motion but making sure it didn't come across like she was pulling a weapon. When she pulled the hand back out, she had a white business card between index and middle finger. She offered it to Dinah. It had a stylized silver Chinese dragon on it and nothing else. She offered it to Dinah.

"Your invitation. When the time comes, you will be notified of a location. Bring the card as proof." True a card could be given to someone else but Shiva knew who she had invited so would be able to pick out someone not on the list.

"There will be wide range of fighters. Different expertise and styles. Matches are one-on-one, winner moves to the next round. The rules of those matches will be determined by the two combatants. Open hand, weapons, first blood, so forth. This is purely a combat competition. No one with powers. Or perhaps a better way to phrase it is no powers can be used." She had no idea if Dinah had powers. She knew Alexander did. It was just a general rule.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The Olympian watches the two of them, and in the future he likely would see many such meetings, many brokered decisions between beings of Fate who had futures that promised strife to them and those around them. He could almost feel the twine winding around Clotho's hand and his response as Dinah makes that decision...
    Perhaps a touch of sadness in his eyes. As if knowing that in some ways this was the end of a part of Dinah, or perhaps a path that she sets foot on that will end in suffering and pain. Though there is a hint of pride for whatever reason. Their eyes meet in that moment and he closes his eyes slightly, gives a nod, then turns his attention back to Shiva when she replies.
    It's only after she's fallen silent that Alexander lifts his voice and asks simply, "Are you satisfied?" He looks toward Dinah, then back to her, one eyebrow inclining slightly.

Dinah Lance has posed:
As Shiva reaches into her jacket and pulls out a card--it's telling that while she didn't actually react to it like someone was about to pull, she did keep her eyes on the fingers like a hawk--Dinah herself sticks her hands in her jacket pockets, jamming them in against the November cold. One hand makes an appearance again, then the other, to accept the card two-handed paired with a formal-seeming bow. The card, reverently manoeuvred to her inner pocket, performs a vanishing act and the left hand is once again jammed in Dinah's jacket pocket. The other is run through her hair.

"If I'd known about this in advance, I'd have had some bourbon or something ready," she says, slipping that open hand back into her pocket. "But I'll instead look forward to the competition. I assume Alexander has told you my style is chiefly--not exclusively--unarmed?"

Her body is, after all, her deadliest weapon. She just can't use the deadliest part of it in this...

Alex's strange question brings a raised eyebrow. "Well, I'm satisfied for sure. I've put a lot of work into technique. It's nice to have a chance to test it."

Sandra Wu-San has posed:
"He has told me enough." Which didn't really answer Dinah's question. "I am trusting his judgement. There are many fighters but few are worthy of my attention." Which sounded egotistical as hell but with Shiva, it was a statement of fact. Most fighters were beneath her notice. Most would never amount to more than what they already were. Few had the strength of character to pursue the arts as she had.

Yet perhaps with this competition, she might find that one. The person who had that same drive. The person who was willing to put in the hard work. Someone she could train. Take to their ultimate abilities. And then battle them later in a final combat. That chance she might find her successor, allowing her to move to the next level of enlightenment after death.

One could hope.

"When you have your matches," Shiva said, implying she thought Dinah might make it past the first round. "You will work with your opponent for your match rules. If you cannot agree, I will decide."

Then she looked over to Alexander, giving that nod of her head. "I am satisfied. Thank you for the recommendation. I believe she will be a fine addition."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The Olympian looks between them both, then finally... he dares to crack a smile. That easy-going young man suddenly back with just that subtle tilt of his expression as he nods then murmurs quietly. "Nice."
    That said he takes a step back, "Alright, I think we're done here for now. I'll be in touch." Those last words given to both of them as he looks between the two though he does spare a small apologetic look to Dinah again, likely figuring there will be more to be said later.
    That done he steps back and nods, "Until another time." Before he turns and starts to walk off with that easy gait of his.

Dinah Lance has posed:
Something about Shiva's demeanour and deportment does this. After nodding easily at Alexander, even fingerwaving like a damned teenager, her behaviour to Shiva is entirely different.

The bow. Both hands out and on the thigh just below the hip. The head inclined slightly to one side, eyes retaining contact. She's all but come out and blurted the name of her teacher. Otomo. This is how he likes his students showing him respect: watchful, wary, but respectful.

Then, upon straightening, Otomo disappears and it's Dinah the flower-seller. The flower-seller with a secret. The flower-seller with more muscle than she lets on. The flower-seller with the bruised fists. The flower-seller with a shoulder injury that seems more than a bruise.

"Thank you for the opportunity."

And then the fingerwave. The turn away. And the walk on departure with just a hint more swagger than the jog coming in had.