Owner	Pose
Alison Blaire	Alison doesn't usually frequent The Battery, which is a shame because it is a very nice area. It feels incredibly safe at pretty much all times- but during her college years, the are had a reputation for being dull. The area generally dies down at night and it's very hard to convince people to go out in Battery Park City relative to other neighborhoods, so it was never in her regular list of haunts. As she jogs past the seaglass carousel, she wipes some perspiration off her brow. It's always best to get your jogging in early in the morning, before the stifling heat starts. Checking the time on her fitbit, she decides it's been enough and starts making her way out of the greenery and towards State Street, so she can get to her car at Quick Park across the street. There's a busy day ahead of her.
T'Challa	Occasionally, Avengers are called on for public appearances. Captain America is a popular one. Iron Man. Thor. Black Widow. Not even the Black Panther, King of Wakanda, is exempt from these things. It's not just a group of individuals come together for the good of mankind. There is also marketing, promotions, press, and all that. As such, T'Challa has costumed up for a meeting at a local school in the Battery Park City area. Outside to take advantage of the nice weather, there is a stage set up with balloons and Avengers-themed imagery. The ideas behind such things are not lost on the man. For matters big and small, it's commonplace to utilize propaganda in different ways, and that's what it essentially is: presenting a particular message. The kids are just getting a kick out of being able to see a real hero up close. More than one have demanded a ride on the man's shoulders, or to touch the ears of his costume, a few wondering where his tail is. The things one has to put up with in the interest of doing good.
Alison Blaire	There were a few schools that were to attend, and most of them are here. However, the organizers are worried because they are one bus short. Attempts to contact the driver have been fruitless, and the school has verified that the bus full of children did leave at the appointed time. Inquiries are being made. As Alison reaches the street in her warm-down, she takes deep breaths and begins her cooldown stretches. She's a sweaty mess, that's for sure: hair pinned back in ponytail, jogging suit and sweats. She used to be photographed in this condition often by some paparazzi until she started a fitness segment in her own Youtube channel ("Dazzler Sweats!") which took the thunder out of /that/. And it helped share her love for jogging with her fans, so double positive, right? rThe sounds of sirens coming up the street. Alison frowns and, taking advantage of a crossing light, jogs her way across the street. She's curious. And, just past that open-air stage, the missing school bus arrives. And doesn't stop. Some quick-minded teachers immediately start herding the children off the staging area, since the bus is clearly speeding at the top of the street and its trajectory uncertain. The reason for its speed is soon visible: sirens, many of them, approaching.
T'Challa	There are more questions. If he is a King, where is his crown? Does he know another King, LeBron James? Where is Wakanda? What is his suit made of? Black Panther answers all of these questions with the typical skill of someone used to dealing with much tougher ones, and does so in an even charming way without giving up any real secrets. There are a pair of Dora Milaje present, in uniform, though for this event it was agreed that they would leave the spears elsewhere (not that either of them liked it). They are not technically Avengers anyhow. T'Challa catches some of the chatter about the bus that's late. Traffic can be a thing, but the school it was coming from is close enough that it really shouldn't be delayed much. It is something he keeps on the radar. Then, the sirens can be heard, and a murmur begins to rise as concern builds. This is not part of the show. As soon as the decision is made to get children out of the potential path of danger, the King directs the Dora Milaje to assist. "I will see what is the matter," he informs them along with one of the faculty leaders. Many of the children understand they are Seeing Something Here, as he moves away from the stage with a leap, starting a run in the direction of the sirens - and that bus.
Alison Blaire	The screaming of the sirens pierces through the usual bustle of your average busy street. The bus from Leman Preparatory School barrels down Whitehall street, and soon enough the pursuing police cars appears. It is a good thing that the children were moved, as the bus will pass dangerously close to the area. Down the street, Dazzler has started running again after pulling up the local news. Police chase. A school-bus full of children is involved. Children. Alison Blaire spreads her hands and chooses her timing judiciously to avoid blasting any bystanders. She steps off the curb and onto an empty patch of the street. Once she has enough of an open space around her, the blast of energy from her hands make her airborne, flying North up the street, high enough to get a bird's eye view of what was coming.
T'Challa	There is no Spider-Man visible to slow the bus with lines of webbing. No Superman to simply lift the bus up and discontinue its path and momentum. There are numerous other heroes whose various ways of being able to put a stop to this would come in handy, but for the moment there is only the Black Panther. And, apparently, a flier overhead. Not one he immediately recognizes from his spot below, but someone to keep an eye on. Could be friend, could be foe. With eyes on the bus and the pursuit in progress, he continues toward it. Whatever he can do to slow it down once the distance is eliminated, well. It will be a good test of Shuri's design capabilities. He could only pray to Bast that it would be enough, given the size and speed of the bus.
Alison Blaire	Technically, speaking she's not a flier so much as a 'burster', releasing the accumulated light and sound in photonic blasts that work as propulsors- but to the lay person, that's pretty much a flier, and she doesn't belabor the point much because it gets her airborne! But it does come with more limited maneuverability. As she spots the bus and the very famous figure running behind it, The Dazzler adjusts herself for her next burst so that she is bursting along the same path as the bus in order to land on top of it with a more gentle angle. She isn't invulnerable, so landing on it while flying from the opposite direction would shatter her legs. Thud. See? Better! However, standing on top of a moving, swerving school bus was not part of her training, so she almost ends up falling off. A quick, low crouch to reassert her center of gravity is what saves her. Those roofs are /slick/. She turns around to look for Black Panther, her blond hair unmoored from its ponytail and flying freely in the wind now. When she sees him, she raises a hand to catch his attention to let him know there's a friendly operative nearby. For what that's worth. She's on top of the bus now, but she's not sure she can blast a controlled-enough blast through the roof without unintentionally hitting any children. She doesn't know if there are any hostages close to the driver. And she sure as hell doesn't have the claws to clamp down on the metal and peer through the side windows to check out the arrangement.
T'Challa	The woman in the air is coming closer, and for a few moments Black Panther is uncertain of her identity. Then, there's a bit of two-fold information that comes through. For starters, facial imaging technology in the lenses of the mask. Also, Shuri suddenly in his ear. "Brother, that is Dazzler! Once you have stopped this, get an autograph from her for me or I will be very displeased!" "You did not tell me you were monitoring this, sister," is all T'Challa says through their communications. To which Shuri responds, "Yes. Now you will be wondering when I am paying attention and when I am not. Now go be a hero!" His only answer to this is a grunt of annoyance. Siblings. The woman may catch a nod, but Black Panther is otherwise occupied in steeling himself to stop or slow down the bus, digging claws in the feet of his suit into the pavement for extra stability. The properties of his suit will absorb much of the impact, but a bus is not a car. As he spreads his arms wide to 'catch' it, the driver steers right into his path. The impact is enough that, while it mildly decreases the speed of the bus and shakes the children around a little, it has enough force to send him flying at an angle, bouncing off a parked car before skidding down the street until he can stop himself. Shuri is in his ear again. "I could have told you that was a bad idea." T'Challa grimaces, but is already picking himself back up, much of his suit beginning to glow purple where the linework is. "Then why didn't you?" "Because you need to learn your own lessons, even still," Shuri chides.
Alison Blaire	"Holy shi-!" Alison is shocked at seeing Black Panther just /flying/ off. She knows the Wakandan King's suit is sturdy, but she can't just dismiss that. As T'Challa gets up, Dazzler is already on her way, blasting off the roof and landing nearby in a slightly clumsy landing. "Black Panther, are you alright?" she says, a little breathlessly. Her portable water bottle flew off somewhere when she took off. Hopefully not someone's windshield. "I can get you on the roof," she says, when the Avenger gets to his feet, "It might be easier there." A glance at the retreating bus. Those sirens and the commotion are being absorbed by her powers. Not that she was running low on juice, she always made a point to keep herself as much in the green as possible. "But I need my hands to be free when bursting."
T'Challa	As the eyes of the mask narrow, Black Panther has to contend with Shuri laughing in his ear. "Sister, I am going to mute you now." She immediately warns, "What? How? Don't you da--" Aaaand, done. He'll deal with the fallout of that later. Sometimes, he just has to be able to concentrate without the teasing. It helps to know enough to add on to the features she put in place. Upright again, he looks over himself as the bus continues past and Dazzler gets over to his side. "Only my pride is wounded. I should have simply leapt to where you were." The bus has slowed down, but she could be of help. "Do that, and I will take it from there. The children must be protected. Can you aid in that?" After agreements are made on the strategy, when she goes airborne again he takes hold of her ankles so he can catch an assist, ready to land once closer.
Alison Blaire	Once up on the roof, T'Challa's claws allow him to do a quick peek. There is a gunman sitting in the front sea, and the driver, who is also an accomplice. The bus' regular driver, a portly woman with a ruddy face and platinum hair, is tied in the back, where most of the kids are huddled. Apparently she might have tried to put up a fight and was subdued, but she doesn't seem harmed otherwise. Bank bags are scattered across some of the front seats, some with their dye bags already deployed, tinting their area bright green. Some of the reports Shuri might have given BP would include the fact that this was a robbery further up north that ended up in a car chase, which ended with the perps crashing their car, abandoning a wounded comrade and taking the bus and children as hostages for a getaway vehicle. A quick conference in strategy, and Dazzler is off to play distraction. The bus is headed for the Brooklyn bridge, where traffic is becoming dense. It is unlikely the driver will slow down for traffic, so there is the potential for multiple fatalities. They needed to be stopped now. Dazzler jumps off the roof and lands on the hood with a /thud/, spinning around quickly to face the driver and gunman, blazing light collecting in her hands as if she were about to blast them with a concussive proton blast. Of course, she isn't, that would endager the children. But what she is doing is being a distraction, while also putting herself in danger. This is very evident as the gunman brings his gun to bear, ready to fire-
T'Challa	Be it from Shuri's reports, Dazzler's info, or his own eyes, Black Panther quickly assesses what they're dealing with inside the bus. He is able to tell where the passengers are located in relation to the thieves, and that there are only two up front. Easy to deal with, but the more challenging part will be keeping everyone else safe. His landing atop the roof is soft thanks to the dampeners in his suit, and the view from inside is blocked. With Dazzler seeking to distract from the hood, T'Challa wastes no time as his claws dig into and /through/ the metal making up the roof, peeling it back as if opening a tin of sardines. Before the gunman can get a shot off, Black Panther is inside with one hand around the weapon, another slicing through it as well. One well-directed punch leaves him unconscious, then as he steadies the steering wheel he yanks the driver out of his seat, slamming his head against the console to leave him seeing stars. Now the Avenger has taken over driving duties, and it is a simple task to safely bring the bus to a stop without hitting anything else, without reaching the bridge itself. Upon putting the bus in park and turning the engine off, he motions for Dazzler to join him in order for them to tie up the thieves, then the children along with the proper driver are looked toward to see how they are faring. "You are safe now. Are any of you injured?" he asks, the first words spoken since getting back to the bus.
Alison Blaire	The children are, fortunately, unharmed, but it does take some time to calm them down. Initially frightened, they slowly transition into the excitement of having been saved by Black Panther. Soon enough, the police have caught up to the bus and there are statements to be made. Once done tying up the men inside the bus, Alison prepares for the onslaught of police and media that are about to descend on us. She looks like hell, sweaty and disheveled, and wearing her least flash workout attire in order to escape notice, while King T'Challa looks as good as he usually does thanks to the bespoke suit of armor. The tabloids are going to have a field day. She shoots the king a small smile as one of New York's finest approaches them for statements and paperwork, and says, "You know, I was just out for a jog."
T'Challa	First things first: calming the children down. Black Panther's suit still pulses purple in places, but he is able to channel it out harmlessly rather than needing to release a burst of force. It simply would not do for that to be the only way. Knowing kids, once these boys and girls get over the trauma of being hostages on a hijacked bus, some will undoubtedly brag about how they were saved by the Black Panther and Dazzler, and got to meet both of them. The poor bus driver is also freed and helped out as the police and other responders congregate. Once the statements are given, the thieves packed away in squad cars, and money recovered, it leaves Black Panther near Dazzler. "It seems it was a good thing you were," he answers. "This might have gone worse without you there."
Alison Blaire	"You're very kind, but I was just the taxi service," Dazzler grins, crossing her arms, "But thank you. It's not every day I get to help an Avenger out." Suddenly, she seems to think of something, "Actually, would this be a good time-" And there is a blast of sound. Alison reaches into her sweats and takes out a phone that had miraculously not met the fate of her water bottle. Upon seeing the name flashing across the screen, she sighs. "It's my agent. He's probably seen the news and is having kittens right now-" pause, "No offense. I have to take this but- would it be ok if I dropped by the Mansion sometime? There's some things I've wanted to talk to an Avenger about..."
T'Challa	Black Panther watches after the children as they're led along. The bus itself will be checked further as part of the crime scene. "The role you played is not as important as the fact you played a role, and you did more than just play 'taxi,'" he states. Before much else can be said of that, the phone provides an interruption. If he's rolling his eyes behind the mask at the 'kitten' comment, it goes unnoticed thanks to the lens coverings. "If you would like to speak further with one of us, I will inform the rest to expect you soon. Thank you for your assistance." By the time she's gone, a familiar voice cuts back in. Shuri has managed to unmute herself, somehow. "--ever do that again! And did you get that autograph I wanted?" T'Challa allows a brief sigh to escape, mostly silent. "I have been occupied with more important things, Shuri. It sounds as though there will be another opportunity soon." "BROTHER!!"