Owner Pose
Arthur Curry     The prisoner transfer went off without a hitch. A heavily armored modified prison bus which was equipped to house powered individuals saw to it that several special prisoners were deposited for new depositions in Washington. Four prominent felons with a myriad of powers were conducted to their courtrooms and when their statements were taken they were transferred to the nearby prison intended to hold such beings.
    It went well, the warnings had been for naught, and the next day it all turned out fine. Didn't it?
    And if so then why did that leave Arthur Curry with a weird feeling in his gut?
    "Computer?" The system in the monitoring room trilled its recognition of the verbal command. "Do we have data on Canary's whereabouts since her last scheduled monitor shift?"
    A moment of delay, then the calm female voice responded, "We do not. Black Canary signed out of operational activity since 08:37 hours yesterday."
    "Hnh." Arthur had said, pondering or a bit as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. Then after a time he wandered out of the Hall of Justice, into the chill morning air, expecting one thing but hoping for another.
Dinah Lance The prisoner transfer went off without a hitch. Aquaman was there making sure of it. So was Black Canary, though she was staying out of sight as she followed to make sure there was no chance of a break-out attempt. Not for most of them. But to make sure single prisoner reached her destination: Roulette.

She'd worried for nothing. She was often worried these days. It was private and thus, despite it affecting her relationships and work, she refused to talk about it.

Maybe that wasn't the healthiest of coping mechanisms. Yet, it was the one she had.

She was actually on her way to the Hall to do a bit of research. In costume, on her bike. She was approaching the ramp that led to the special garage they had underground for the members' vehicles, about to push the button that revealed it. Which is when she saw Arthur coming out of the building.

She pulled over to the curb and cut the motor, settling back to a comfortable sitting position astride the bike as she waved to get his attention. "You had watch overnight again? I'm going to need to talk to someone about swapping us. Unless you like the overnights?"
Arthur Curry     One thing or another.
    Arthur had used this exit near the ramp near the side, good enough place for when the few people who worked with the League who smoked... did so right around here. It had some privacy, out of the way a bit. But for Arthur it provided a good sight line for incoming traffic. Which is why he was there when she spotted him.
    She waved and he gave an up nod from afar, then lifted his hand in greeting as if to match that escalation. Down the side stairs he walks. Still wearing blue jeans, that dark charcoal grey hoodie. Was that the same one? Possibly. But once he's near he lifts his voice to rumble. "Hey."
    Then as if to prove a point he pauses before her, standing almost a foot taller than her as he murmurs, "Was meaning to talk to you."
Dinah Lance "Oh?" That wasn't what she was expecting. Certainly they worked together but they weren't chatty folks. So he has to be talking about work. She wondered if there had been some sort of alert last night but her comm never went off. Neither had her phone.

She flipped down the kickstand on the bike. She'd move it and park properly after they talked. As he moved up standing over her, almost looming a bit, she made sure not to react outwardly.

All he'd see was her looking up at him curiously. "What's on your mind?"
Arthur Curry     "This is gonna sound like I'm trying to bust your balls, but it is not ball busting." Arthur says that plain as day, his expression calm and his body language easy-going. Despite the chill in the air he doesn't seem to feel it too much, despite being a little underdressed considering.
    Tilting his head to the side, "Only thing that came up yesterday as a trouble spot was the transfer. So I poked around at that. Did some digging too. On the people in the vehicle. Also it niggled at me, I remembered the name of one of them sorta connected to you. So being the nosy bastard I am, I pulled up the case files. And what was there..."
    Arthur tilts his head the other way, then looks away from her, golden eyes distancing as he chews on his inner cheek again, a strangely thoughtful look for such a large and rough looking man. "Was very thin. Then I decided to ask you about it, only did I find out that you ditched outta your monitor duty, traded with one of the Bobbsey twins. So yeah. I'm not suspicious. Since I think I know enough of you to know there's nothing too crazy going on. So I decided to ask you right up."
    That said he then levels his gaze at her, "What's goin' on, Dinah?"
Dinah Lance Of course there was a record. But she'd made sure it was vague and buried. It didn't even show up on the logs for that day. It was her dealing with the situation and the only ones in the know were those involved in the arrest. Along with her.

"Nothing is going on." It sounded hollow, even to her. He must have picked up on her reaction to the transfer news. Which meant he was already pinging in on things. She could deny it. Refuse to answer. That was for the best, right?

"There were things involved that we didn't want going public potentially. It could shake people's confidence in their heroes." Which in truth was part of their reasoning. It was something they pulled out of their asses but it actually was true at the same time.

Her gaze had dropped a bit when she said that, a glance to the side. A hint of something more there. She took a breath and opted to just say a little bit. That should get him off her back. "And to protect me. Because it was fairly traumatic." She tried to downplay the trauma. "Kidnapping is the official charge. Unofficially she had set up a fight ring and was using villains voluntarily--and heroes involuntarily."
Arthur Curry     Arthur was doing his best to seem unintimidating, not pressing for eye contact, nor invading personal space. It was his best 'listening' manner he had and so he did just that. He followed along, nodding a bit at the point of confidence in heroes being shaken. Then he looks at her when she mentions it being to protect her. His brow quirks as he looks away...
    But when she finishes speaking he says only, 'Huh.'
    At least at first.
    he gears behind his eyes, however, are turning. He looks puzzled as his gaze remains somewhere past her. A few moments pass, barely the length of four or five heartbeats before he meets her eyes.
    "Did they use leverage on you, kidnapping? Or something else?" There's no pity in his gaze, which might have been a thing she was trying to avoid. Arthur always had a no-nonsense approach to cases, to problems. But he's aware of the impact this might have had on someone. Especially someone like Canary.
Dinah Lance She already said enough. It was easy to piece together. And she saw the moment when it clicked for him. But the follow up question was a surprise, something she had not expected to hear.

Sympathy. Concern. All those things that made her feel weak. Those were expected. Instead he focused on the situation that happened, not her emotional state from it.

It was better that way. It helped her keep it at a distance and examine it.

"A device. That controlled those who were not interested in participation. They were destroyed. And all plans for them. But Roulette is still alive so it could potentially happen again as we never found out who designed it for her."
Arthur Curry     "Ah." Arthur says as it clicks into place. Then a few more pieces settle into their proper spots and his eyebrows rise. He nods as he looks back at her and makes a face, that scowl she'd seen in the past though usually it was under more grumbling circumstances since the Prince of Atlantis had something of a reputations as a misanthrope.
    He proves that reputation by merely saying, "Fuckers."
    Which seems to sum up his thoughts. "So it preys on you some. S'why you pay attention to it. And her. Makes sense."
    He lowers his eyes and turns his attention to her motorcycle. "This is a nice hog, by the bye." He offers, though his thoughts are still churning, with him seeming a touch distracted.
Dinah Lance His summation of the villains involved echoed her thoughts. She was glad to find someone else felt as she did. But then he continued and she frowned a little, that he recognized it was preying on her thoughts. No use denying. "It does. It's been difficult to come to grips with. I am not one to be controlled by others. While I realize it was just fighting, having someone else directing my actions..." She shook her head.

"I want to make sure she doesn't get out. Ever. I will do everything I can to be sure of it." Which could be a bad thing if she took that thought too far.

Then he changed subjects and she looked at the sleep black Harley with all the chrome. "It is a dream to drive. I'll have to take you for a spin sometime. If you aren't too macho to ride bitch."
Arthur Curry     As she explains it's clear he's listening, his head bobbing at points. Though he still has that distracted look. Yet when she mentions she'll do everything to be sure of it... that earns her a look with one furrowed eyebrow and one quirked, gauging her.
    But then she makes that crack about being too macho and he snorts a rough laugh as he then meets her eyes and murmurs, "Super macho. Die of embarrassment. All my instagram followers would lose their shit."
    Which is a lie, he doesn't have an instagram account. Not he himself at least. There are a few dedicated to catching images of the Atlantean in the wild. Usually with him emerging from the surf looking all grim and growly. For some reason those get a lot of views.
    But then he sobers a little and looks to the side. Arms fold over his broad chest as he leans back against the railing that lines that drive up toward the garage. He looks at her, "So you're stuck here now. Since I am going to tell a story. So get comfy."
Dinah Lance Gee, wonder why those got the views.

Dinah can't hide the smirk as he makes the joke though. She does manage to not make a joke back. Though sheer will.

But then he settles in and she had noted he was a little distracted. Planned on asking but now he offered a story. She tucked her hands into her leather jacket. A pair of jeans were covering her legs cause it was entirely too cold to be out and about in fishnets right now. She'd do it when she needed to for vigilante business, but she wasn't doing it when she came here to do research. The blonde wig is in place though. But no face mask. It wasn't like it hid much anyway.

She leaned against the same railing at his side, glancing up at him again. "Go for it."
Arthur Curry     "So," The story starts. Arthur looks sidelong at her and now that the detective work is done and she told her bit of the story, it's clear he likely believes her. Or believes enough of it to trust her not to do anything too crazy. He's moved on. To the story.
    "A few years ago. After everything had gone to hell and we all broke up and went our different ways. I had this crazy situation. With this creature that I had no idea what it was. I mean, I learned a lot of things while I was growing up, a lot of things about Atlantis. But never heard anything about this thing. It was from the depths, very old, and very smart."
    He unfolds a hand from across his bicep and gestures with it, "I heard something was playing havoc with some settlements, taking people against their will. I figured I'd look into it was all cocky."
    He makes a face, shaking his head. "When I found it, and it took a while, it was this... ancient monstrosity. And it could make people and animals do its bidding. So we fought, but eventually I tried to exert my will over it. Since... the creatures of the ocean hold me in respect. But this thing... it is older than the oceans. And when I told it to surrender. It told me... not in words but in thoughts. That 'no'. That I should surrender."
Dinah Lance As he started into the tale, Dinah was paying very close attention. She didn't interrupt. Didn't ask questions. Those would come at the end after he got out the details. To do otherwise was pretty rude in this sort of situation. Not that she minded being rude at times but he was treating her with respect for her situation, without pressing. She could give him that same courtesy.

When he got to the part about it controlling people, she shifted her weight. Just moving it from her right foot to her left. Nothing more than that. It was an uncomfortable concept and her body gave away just how uncomfortable. Ocean creatures respected him. They didn't have to listen. They chose to. So it was different from this ancient being he was telling the tale of.

The thoughts it relayed to him had Dinah reacting, eyebrows lifting a bit and the question clearly in her mind. He was here so it looked like he hadn't surrendered. Or he'd be down there doing the bidding of the monstrosity still, right?
Arthur Curry     "And for a time, I considered it. It was subtle enough, insidious." Arthur says as he shakes his head then murmurs, "It got distracted when a friend of mine slammed into it, enough that I could focus again. But it was... one of the most disturbing feelings I had in my life."
    He shakes his head and looks at her, one eye scrunching up as he tries to convey the squick factor with those words alone and that facial expression. "It pulled down some pillars, triggered a cave in, and in the confusion got away. Or made us think it got away. But ever since that day when I had just that... feeling of doubt. I sometimes catch myself looking for it. I hear some bit of gossip, or a smell that reminds me of it, and I'm right back there."
    He smirks a little, "I mean just a few weeks ago, I was wandering the fish market and thought I had a tip on something that might lead me to it, but nope."
    He makes a face, "Anyways, what I'm sayin' is. I sorta get ya. I think."
Dinah Lance That summed it up well. Insidious. Only hers was not a choice. She was in her head. She knew she was there. But she had to listen. Had to go into that ring, fight against others. The moves she did while in the ring were her own, her mind, her instincts. But the reason she was there was because she was ordered to be.

She hated it. She didn't want to be in that situation again so that is how it different. Though, Arthur didn't want to be there either. But that encounter had scarred him. Damaged. Like her.

"I think perhaps you do. And that is why I am keeping an eye on anything involving her. Like you looking for your monster." She made a bit of a face, catching her bottom lip in her teeth before continuing. "I know where mine is. She just needs to stay there."

She looked up at him, giving his arm a friendly nudge with her elbow if he allowed. "Thanks for telling me."
Arthur Curry     "So what I'm saying is, if we go ride motorcycles, I drive." The way he says that, so calm, so matter-of-fact, she might not even catch the humor until his face twists up into a smirk. He nudges her back though just with his side, arms still folded over his chest as he takes in a deep breath.
    "Anyways, you start to feel rough about it, let me know. Or shit, there are probably a lot better more interesting people you can talk to about it. But let someone know." That said he gives a nod, "Do you have a way to deal with it now? Beyond traveling across several states to satisfy your curiosity about her imprisonment."
    Perhaps imagining that she might have some technique, some meditation, some mantra to help her focus or shift her thoughts away. To him, she seems just that well put together as a person.
Dinah Lance She is about to retort on the bike when he gets that smirk and nudges her back. It had been apparent he was kidding. Cause no way he seriously though she was going to let him ever drive her bike with her riding behind him. A cold day in hell before that happened.

When he continued, Dinah glanced down at the tips of her boots. Heavy boots with a thick sole, matching black leather to her jacket.

She was not telling him how she was dealing with it. To be honest, she wasn't sure she was dealing with it. She didn't want to lie though. "I'll keep that in mind should I feel the need to talk." She chose her next words carefully. "I just try to focus on my martial arts, my training. Keep myself centered through that."

It wasn't a lie. It simply wasn't the full truth.
Arthur Curry     The tall man bites the inside of his cheek, just worrying it a little as he listens to her. Nods. Then lifts a hand to brush away the concern of the moment, likely signaling that's as far as he's likely to press. He crinkles his nose, "Alright then, I'm tired of your yammering, go do your job, you slacker."
    Which, to be fair, she's known him long enough to recognize when he's just being a grouch. Though there were still a good fifteen minutes or so til she was due back to be on monitor duty. "Though I should be around if you need anything." He smirks as he meets her eyes then adds "And heck, play your cards right maybe I'll agree to go on that bike ride. I'll need a disguise though... something like... I dunno a pair of glasses."
    His smirk grows as he pushes himself forward a little and takes a deep breath. Then he looks at her steadily. "You gonna be alright, Dinah?"
Dinah Lance "Of course. Nothing I can't handle."

It sounded good. Very confident. It was not what she was feeling but it sounded convincing. She was rather proud of that.

Dinah did shake her head a bit at his disguise idea. "Glasses. I'll keep that in mind." Because certainly a pair of shades wouldn't do much to hide him. It was possible though.

"We don't get much time to talk," Dinah stated. "Outside when we are on missions. That's about it. How are things going for you?"
Arthur Curry     The tall man had been about to depart, even going so far as stretching and rolling one shoulder as he winced a little when it made a series of small crackles. But when she seemed not so inclined to mosey off he tilts his head and looks at her "Yeah we sorta don't."
    He leans to the side turning more to face her directly, resting his hip against that railing. "I don't exactly put myself out there to be fair. But..." He looks around, hen says, "I talk to some of our people now and again. Bats. Diana. Superman less so."
    So as he considers that he finally thinks of what she just asked him. How things are going. Hnh.
    "Well, the other week. I woke up and found a penguin staring at me." He looks up thoughtfully for a moment, then those golden eyes meet hers again as he murmurs, "Week before that I heard a dolphin of all things in Gotham's Chinatown. Went to find it and interrupted some Yingtze Tong who were having a meet between two crime families. They didn't appreciate my showing up."
    He shakes his head, "Kaldur showed up. He's a good kid. But other than that... my life's not so interesting."
Dinah Lance "I think we might define interesting differently," Dinah observes as she considers. Dolphin in Chinatown. That was not near the water ways. So that had to be a story in itself. Especially since it involved getting into some sort of crime family goings-on. The penguin may or may not be a story. Depended on where he was when he woke up. But it wasn't everyday someone woke up to a penguin. Admittedly, she didn't know anyone who could say they had.

"The Yingtze Tong are not known for their senses of humor," she states as she opts to follow that rabbit trail first. "I am guessing you were able to get the dolphin away and to safety but...what was a dolphin doing there in the first place? Exotic animal black market?" Because that had to be it, right? Or did the damn thing get lost in the sewers or the like?
Arthur Curry     "They," Arthur says with some severity, "Were gonna eat it."
    A nod is given, dour and stern as he murmurs, "Now I know people gotta eat, and Atlanteans we eat a lot of seafood naturally. But... we avoid sentient creatures since... yeah. That's messed up. This..."
    The tall man with the wild hair shaes his head and murmurs, "Was out of line. So yeah, I was pretty pissed off. I know Bats doesn't like people stomping around on his turf, but I felt justified."
    That said he grimaces and makes a face. "But ended well, got her situated with a new family. She's doing good last I heard." The dolphin apparently.
    "And you? Had any good fights lately?" His lip twists up, amused, knowing that Dinah has... a reputation for enthusiasm.
Dinah Lance It took a second to follow when it shifted from it to her. She had wondered if that might be the possibility. It would've been less offensive if they planned on keeping it as a pet. Maybe. It was really hard to see either as okay. Poor dolphin being torn from it's pod and subjected to all that. "Batman will get over it. You did the right thing."

She worked in Gotham often. Course, she had the blessing of Oracle and, by proxy, the okay at least of Batman. Well, he hadn't gotten in her face and screamed at her to stop. Which was probably for the best. She had a temper at times and that might be a bad time.

"Same shit, different day," was her answer with a lopsides one-shoulder shrug. "For me it is mostly fights when I go out in the field at all. Since no one ever listens. Course, I guess that's the same for all of us." And maybe if she was willing to use her Cry more and physical fighting less but that wasn't her style. The Cry was for when it was really needed. Most thugs she didn't have to go that far.

"Speaking of, you are one of those people I haven't gotten to train with. We need to hit the mats sometime. Or find a good brawl in a dive bar somewhere. Either works."
Arthur Curry     "See you pretend like I know how to fight," Arthur says as he refolds his arms, but he's leaning closer, head lowered slightly and eyes on her. "I'm one of those guys that just lucks out a lot and has the benefit of enhanced strength."
    Which is to say he's lying. A little. Or perhaps interpreting the truth freely. "I mean sure, I trained with a duelist and master soldier of my people, but what you guys do." Probably meaning her and Batman and other martial artists. "It's something else entirely."
    Then again he didn't exactly say no. Which is given more evidence when his next few words broach the possibility of him agreeing. "Besides, if we did train why would you be doing it? Filling folders on each of the league members with secret techniques to use against them?"
Dinah Lance That earns a laugh but Dinah shakes her head negatively. "Not at all. But you can't always count on your powers. Sometime, you might find yourself without them. I lost my cry for a time. A long story for another day. But I thankfully had my fighting skills to fall back on, to allow me to continue doing what I do."

She gave another of those shrugs but did push off the rail finally, turning to face him as she did so. "It's what I was taught and what I try to share with others. Never count on powers. We've seen it time and time again." Then the smile is back. "But I've seen you fight before. You may not practice karate or juijitsu or the martial arts of the land, but you are a formidable fighter."

She tilts her head a little and the smile broadens. "And last reason? I think it would be a hell of a lot of fun to fight you."
Arthur Curry     When she starts to explain it, and in such a concise way, his first reaction is to roll his eyes. Just a sideways roll as he holds up a hand to her as if proclaiming that she should, indeed, talk to it. But when he looks back he's smiling and giving a grudging nod. "Yeah, I know. I know. I've kinda had this talk before. I've trained in several styles though they're... more esoteric."
    He opens a hand to her, the back of it before her as if he was trying to present it to her. Or something invisible within it. "I could teach you somewhat, but we'd need a pool for some." His lip twists then sobers. "But my father's people, the Maori. I've learned Taiaha from them, and the art of the Haka. Could share some insight."
    Yet it's her last few words that cause him to shake his head slightly, "Why do you think it would be fun?"
Dinah Lance "Because fighting is always fun."

That is the truth. From Dinah's point of view, at least. She enjoys it. She always has. It is why she was such a good student through her life. From childhood. It was what she did and it was her passion.

One of them. Plants were another as she really enjoyed the peace she gained from tending to them. It was a form of meditation in some ways. To relax and calm herself. Besides, they were pretty.

"It'd also be fun to see your face when I kick your ass." And she says it with a bright smile, a little bit of a predatory edge to it. It's just a little too wide. A little too much.

Then she shrugs. "But I'd be willing to trade. You teach me some of your methods, I'll teach you some of mine. Mats or pool."
Arthur Curry     At her first answer he barks a rough laugh, a rare thing for him all deep and rumbled and bassy. He shakes his head and looks to the side then upwards as if seeking for help from the heavens from this volatile woman. But when he's looking back at her he's smiling a smile that reaches those eyes of his.
    "I see," He says. And though he may be acting as if he holds some kind of high ground here, she might catch a hint that he agrees.
    But when she makes that boast about how fun it'll be to see his face... he laughs again, more open as his eyes lift upwards then back down while he shakes his head some more. "Woman, your mouth is writin' checks that your, to be fair, rather impressive body can't cash." He crinkles his nose at her and that predatory edge is endured as he shifts to lean against the railing and leans slightly closer. Nothing marked or easily noticed but one of those small languages of the body that might only be noticed between the two of them.
    "Fine though." He looks between her eyes, as if seeing which blue iris holds the truth. "It's a deal."
Dinah Lance She doesn't back down. Standing at her full 5'5" height, as though she was a towering figure that might be intimidating, she just looked him right in those golden eyes. "Deal."

Then the predatory edge is gone and it's just Dinah there, smiling happily. "I need to get inside. Have some information to research and it's too cold out here for me. Not used to the depths of the ocean like some people." She smirks a bit and turns, then realizes she never parked her bike. "Dammit.

She shifted direction immediately and went back around the railing to her bike, swinging a leg over it and settling into the seat. "After I park properly." So much for her awesome exit. She fired the engine to life, the sound rumbling in the enclosed area.
Arthur Curry     It, indeed, would have been an awesome exit. He could tell she already had that victorious sort of sway to her that would've looked so cool... If she didn't derp the motorcycle. Which when she remembers he grins and laughs a little more, shaking his head.
    It's just before she guns the engine to life that she'll hear him say, "Seeya, Canary." And when the motor's roaring he gives a small wave before turning away and starting to walk back up the ramp toward that side door in the Hall of Justice.
    That girl was a trip.