Owner	Pose
Phoebe Beacon	The time between Christmas and New Years is generally slow-ish for crime in Gotham. There's the occasional break-ins and muggings, but overall it dives with the introduction of the cold off the ocean and the holiday season, more and more people are home.     Tonight, she was Balm. Usually she would tag along with someone else in the Outsiders, occasionally she ran her own patrols to help when coverage was thin, or crime went up, or because -- just some times -- you need to separate what goes on in your day time and your 'knight time'. Yes. That was a pun.     She was capeless, a matte gray shadow moving through the night. The rod of Asclepius that marked her shoulder a dark black against her matte gray shoulder pad.     She was comfortable with the athleticism needed; twelve years of Aikido, five of it with personal one-on-one lessons with her sensei. Two years training under Tim Drake, sparring against assassins and speedsters and everyone she could. Seven months in the thick of the Occult, recognizing she was over her head when contending with Death Gods.     Adopted by Charles Beacon, who stayed in Gotham during No Man's Land to render medical aid. Grew up in the shadow of the heroes of the city -- both those who worked in charity, and those who worked in the dark. Expelled from the Coventry Public Highschool, where she disappeared out of a locked office on a third floor. Usually joked, when worrying about being watched, that she typically operated under the assumption that The Bat Knew All. And later that Tim Knew All.     So as she came to the edge of a building, six floors up, overlooking the neighborhood, the young woman in the armor specifically constructed for her by the aforementioned Red Robin leans against a rooftop air conditioner unit, taking in the lights and lay of the land.
Bruce Wayne	"Your guard is down." Batman's voice can cut through silence like a knife of volcanic glass, sharp and grim. He is perched atop one of the air conditioning units, cape drawn around him. The faint light of the moon paints his silhouette, the glowing white eyes of his cowl and the symbol of the bat upon his chest the only immediately noticeable features. There was no sound of his arrival. No faint scrape of footsteps. He is simply there. "You should be careful about that. The rooftops aren't the safe haven they seem to be."
Phoebe Beacon	"Y-eep..." To her credit, Balm does not jump. Her fingers do close slightly, reaching for the staff that hangs at her side as she turns her head, and there is just -- Batman.     "... they're not." Phoebe agrees quietly, her head tilting slightly beneath her hood. The white lenses of her domino mask register only the barest information on him. Height. With ears. Her lips purse a moment, and she breathes out. "Situational awareness at rest -- been in enough scrapes on rooftops between Gotham and New York. Should know better." she states in agreement.
Bruce Wayne	"You should," Batman answers flatly, "Red Robin is a good teacher, but some things only come through experience. Others can only be sought out alone." He says nothing for a moment. Whether he's watching her or listening to some radio feed or watching something happen down on the street is anyone's guess. "What do you hope to achieve with this?"
Phoebe Beacon	Balm is quiet a moment. She looks over the city, her eyes flicking to the feed at the bottom of her mask. It took a long, long time to get used to all the information streaming at her.     "Peace." she finally answers. "Whenever I put on the armor, I'm not as afraid. When people in Gotham see one of you," when they see a Bat, or a Robin "they're not as afraid -- unless they should be." she gives just the smallest of smiles, the barest uptick of her lips.     "Red Robin is an excellent teacher, but our experiences will never be the same."
Bruce Wayne	"Inner-peace is hard to find," Batman answers, just a fraction of warmth creeping into his tone, "I started this hoping to find peace Instead, I found it tempered the anger I had into something sharp and useful. A knife instead of a fire. This is something I want to do. The only thing I can do." "Peace out there? Maybe. I have to believe it can be found." His glance flicks back towards Balm: "I say this because you need to be sure. If this isn't you. If this isn't who you are down to your very core. You must stop. No one will think less of you. No one will begrudge you finding a life for yourself outside of violence."
Phoebe Beacon	Balm looks out over the City, contemplative. She curls a hand at her side, taking a deep breath. "I beleive it can be found. If not inner peace, then acceptance for what I can't change. I can't change what I am, only who people will perceive."     And she turns her head slightly, looking over to the Dark knight. "Peace, out there?" she gives a small motion of her hand, "strong maybe. I shall accept Hope." she replies, and then looks down to the city streets below them.     "I can't imagine living a different life now. Gotham, and magic, fighting crime, what happens in the dark. It's the life I chose two years ago. And the life I choose every night."
Bruce Wayne	"I don't deal in hope," says the Bat, "But I know it's a powerful tool." His eyes travel across the Gotham rooftops, off to the distance horizon where the nighttime glow of Metropolis can be seen across Delaware Bay. "Tell me more about Austin Reece. You know him."
Phoebe Beacon	Balm stiffens a moment.     "Austin Reese. He's foolhardy enough to try and sneak up on two costumed people to determine if they meant the city harm. Currently investigating on his own some biker-gang drug distrobution and general malcontent behavior. Had time in Jouvie for a liquor store robbery. Dent convicted him, I think. He refused to plea deal, so he's got a sense of honor. Recognized the design of the armor as something of local make." she motions down to her own armor, which definitely has Tim's design touches on it.     "He wants to help. He's not experienced, but with time, he'd make an excellent ally."     She then holds up her left wrist. "Also was not freaked out by magic in a tight situation with Tombstone."
Bruce Wayne	Batman nods his head, regarding Phoebe's words but not opting to response outwardly to them. He simply remains on his perch, looking out over the city. There's a long silence that he allows to simply exist before he speaks again. "What else is Red Robin teaching you?"
Phoebe Beacon	Phoebe takes a deep breath. "We had to pause for a time. I had to be moved to a secure location where I couldn't attract a necromancer's attention for a while. We spar, though. Often. Freerunning exercises. Basic rapell gun use. How not to be flattened against a building in high wind. Reading the datafeeds on the domino mask." Phoebe replies. "Restraint. Observation. Situational awareness." she adds. There is a small note of humor there.     "Red Robin has been an immensely useful mentor." she replies, "I'm thankful for it."
Bruce Wayne	"Good," Batman repeats, nodding his head, "And what do you know about him. Who he is behind the mask?"
Phoebe Beacon	At that, Balm turns, and she looks to Batman. "If there was anyone who told me to jump and I trusted to catch me, it's him. He's my best friend, and his quick thinking out of armor has saved lives without popping a single smoke grenade." she smiles quietly.     "He struggles with being the smartest one in the room sometimes, and he has a last name that must be very difficult to live up to, even if it gets him the best table in a crowded restaurant."
Bruce Wayne	"I understand. My question is - what do you know about him? I presume he's told you who he is under the mask. His name. As a result, I could assume you've come to conclusions about who I am." He looks at her thoughtfully. His expression is impassive, not revealing his intentions or thoughts.
Phoebe Beacon	She's quiet. That's a question she hadn't been expecting, really. How many people know who's under the mask? That's a secret that elements of the underworld would kill for.     She turns her head to regard the dark figure at her side. Her hands work in their gloves, nervously, and she feels her blood rush to her ears and her cheeks, darkening her dusky skin. She kicks her other boot again, against the rooftop as the wind picks up a moment, and she gives a quiet nod of her head.     "... you're not going to throw me off this roof, right?" Phoebe asks, and there was just that little nervousness, a little edge, defending with humour, and she breathes out as she turns back to the city.
Bruce Wayne	"Maybe," Batman answers, perhaps as a joke though his tone doesn't really let on either way, "We'll have to see." There's a pause, then he adds. "Given that you already know what you know. I don't see any reason in keeping you at arm's length. I Know you live alone, but I don't think that's conducive to training. If this is what you choose to do in my city, then I want to be certain you'll do it right."
Phoebe Beacon	"Oh." Phoebe states. She looks down. She'll probably survive. Probably.     She taps her fingers against her thighs, turning away her face, expression going neutral, though her shoulders tense a little bit.     "So. How do you want to work this?" she questions.
Bruce Wayne	"You know where to go," Batman tells her, "I don't need to give you an address. Just make your way there, and you'll find the arrangements have already been made. If you'd rather stay where you are, that's fine too. If I don't see you there in the morning, I'll assume you've made your decision."
Phoebe Beacon	"... I'll be there." Balm agrees. She looks over to Batman, and gives a slight smile up to him, and then back out over the city.     "Thank you." she adds after a moment.