Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
~
Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
|
|
Post by Nina Stenet on Sept 26, 2013 21:17:37 GMT -5
There's a part of Nina that internally cringes at the way Noelle is talking about female doctors. If you were to ask her, maintaining the idea that a woman being a doctor is somehow extra special only reinforces the idea that there's a huge difference between male and female doctors - it's still sexist in a way. But she's not in the mood to go into a rant on the subject, so she simply smiles and nods. Not everything is worth getting on a soapbox about, after all, especially when you're easily exhausted.
Shawty is very quick to speak up again when the conversation turns to her, however, though once again she glosses over the compliments by nodding and saying, "She does pay me too much." But though that's said with a straight face, the way that Dr. Stenet laughs at the statement seems to indicate that it's more of a joke. And it is, sort of - Shawty has on multiple occasions complained that Nina keeps her so busy that she never has enough time to spend the money that she earns.
Neither woman pays much attention to the stumbling over her name, mostly because both of them are comparatively relaxed right now. Not surprisingly, they've both had a lot to worry about lately, especially Shawty, but this is one of those moments where they can be relatively certain that the odds of something very bad happening are low. If Noelle was affiliated with someone that wished Nina harm, then surely there would have been some sign of it by now. Instead there has been no indication that she's anything but what she appears to be, aside from Nina's suspicion about her possible past link with the FBI - something so easily forgiven.
Nina nods a little as Noelle accepts her explanation of the scars and adds, "Hmm, there's no need to worry about it anymore." She feels just a little bit guilty, saying something technically truthful but giving off the impression of something else - perhaps Edward rubbed off on her too much. She can't say that he's out of the picture - not yet, anyway - but once she gets a few things taken care of she has no doubt that her worrying will be over.
The forced smile is perhaps not unexpected - she'd imagine that there could be a number of different reasons why it would be hard for Noelle to talk about Agent Tiff, which is exactly why she'd explicitly said that she could refuse to answer, but she looks somewhat surprised when Noelle suggest that they talk about it elsewhere. But then she figures that it must simply be a long story, and she smiles and nods to the suggestion. "That sounds fine to me - Shawty's always telling me that I need to get out more," she replies with a slight laugh - prompting Shawty to nod at Noelle with a serious expression because, yes, she does always tell Dr. Stenet that.
After a few last pleasantries, Nina and Shawty temporarily go their own way. Unlike Noelle they have nothing to do in the meantime, so they end up going straight to the cafe to wait. And though Nina tends to be more inclined towards impatience, Shawty knows her boss more than well enough to keep her entertained in the meantime with a little conversation. In fact, it doesn't seem to be very long at all to Nina before she spots Noelle, looking surprisingly different in her changed attire - as practical as scrubs are, it's somewhat hard to show one's personality in such basic clothing. Waving her over, Nina smiles and comments, "Hey! That didn't take long."
|
|
Deleted Member
Deleted
Registered On: May 5, 2024 5:33:27 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 0
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2013 20:58:09 GMT -5
Noelle smiles brightly, even if she is a bit insulted. She had told the duo a time, and she was going to stick to it. It was just downright rude to specify a time, and then not uphold such an obligation. Glancing down, at her outfit, she hopes it's not as offputting as the drab blue scrubs she was wearing. At least in her skirt and blouse she'd a bit more..put together. Feminine. Just as her Matthew always liked, save for when they were out at the range, or she was out riding horses. Either way she motions to the two women to a booth she knows quite well; it's where she has spent many an afternoon, evening, morning, and middle of the night when she had to escape the tiny ICU room where her husband was wasting away. The cafe had great food, even it it did err on the side of greasy. And the coffee was even better.
Slipping into one side, she hopes the other two settle in as well. "Everything here is pretty fantastic to eat, trust me. I studied quite often here, and the coffee is pretty stellar, too." While her word choices may be a bit, well, outdated, She's quite animated about her passion for the tiny eatery. As soon as all three women order a beverage, look over the menu, and place an order if they wish. While her coffee, and their beverages are set out before them, Noelle is a bit panicky, her mind racing, her heart pounding in her chest.
How does she let out to this dear woman, that she's just met, who's been nothing but honest, and forthright with her, that the man who has caused so much trauma, and inflicted such a wound on her...is her own dear husband. Who was in a coma. Because for some reason he jumped off a bridge, to die. And didn't. So he was found and was in a coma. But now isn't. And woke up, in one of the few hours she was working in the same hospital and left. AMA, even. And he's the former FBI agent, who shot this woman.
"So. About that question you asked me earlier..." she starts quietly, her hand slightly shaking as she makes sure her left hand, wedding and engagement ring are clearly visible. She's already shifted two cards from her wallet, as well, just in case the jewelry doesn't clue in Dr. Stenet as to what she's saying. Afterall, Matthew Tiffany did shoot her, twice, in the knee it sounds like, just for not answering a simple question. Which is horrible, and something she's never seen from him in her lifetime.
He right hand slides her two driver's licenses to Shawty. One is from Texas, and has her full name on it, surname as 'Tiffany.' Her Gotham ID only shows her last name on it as 'Martin.' "Matthew Tiffany is my husband," She starts, looking Nina in the eyes, "And I apologize deeply for what has happened to you. Never in my thirteen years of being married to him, and five years of dating...has he ever behaved in such a grossly inhumane manner." She's almost ashamed, but more hurting for the woman before her, as she can do nothing but utter sincere apologizes on the behalf of a missing man that she is married to.
And even then, she has her own challenges to face. The next new round of questioning awaiting her, the possible threats, again, from those he did target and persecute during his stay, and how she is going to gird herself with strength and faith that she used to draw from him. Not just herself. It's a lot to deal with, but hopefully, the sharing of one of her biggest secrets will help her...to understand something.
Trying to stay composed, Elle is trying to keep a bright face on, the sweet Southern belle pulling on nearly everything she was taught as a girl. Never crack under pressure, always be a gracious hostess, and so forth. But she is more than willing to remove herself, rather than cause any more additional stress to the other two.
"I'm sorry if this is too much. I can go. I know what he has done, but I don't quite understand it...so if it's too uncomfortable, I can go." A hand starts to lay some money on the table, waiting for her id's if Nina would rather enjoy her meal without her presence.
|
|
Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
~
Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
|
|
Post by Nina Stenet on Oct 1, 2013 1:35:01 GMT -5
Nina certainly hadn't meant any offense by her greeting - sometimes time seems to drag on at a snail's pace, sometimes it flies by without being noticed, and the wait for Noelle was more the latter than the former this time. If anything, she was simply trying to reassure the woman that the wait wasn't any trouble.
She and Shawty are quick to join Noelle, Nina sliding in first across from Noelle with Shawty sitting afterward. Nina opts to just have water to drink and orders a large salad, but Shawty seems to take Noelle's word for it when it comes to the coffee and orders it herself along with a bowl of ice cream off of the dessert menu. As the drinks are passed around, there's expectation in the air thanks to the conversation that prompted Noelle's invitation here, but Nina sips her water does nothing to try to hurry the conversation while Shawty seems more preoccupied with looking around the quiet cafe.
Of course, once Noelle does start to speak, it immediately grabs both of their attention, though Nina more so than Shawty until the licenses make an appearance. Shawty's eyebrows lift in surprise, while Nina leans over to look too, her expression soon mirroring her assistant's. Well... this is unexpected to say the least. Though for Shawty at least, the reaction is rather short lived - this is definitely a problem for Dr. Stenet to figure out, and she'll simply go along with whatever her boss decides to do in this situation. Once she figures that they've stared at the different last names for long enough, she quietly slides the licenses back to Noelle.
As for Nina, at first her expression is probably largely unreadable at first, other than the surprise. This unexpected revelation has her head swimming in a broad mix of emotions, leaving her just a little dazed. It's not only her memories of Agent Tiff resurfacing yet again, but realizing that she told that story to... his wife... and she wasn't exactly delicate about it. And as Noelle apologizes, Nina is also reminded that there is more than one woman sitting at this table who fell in love with a man who has caused people a lot of harm.
In fact the flood of memories and emotions is so great that by the time Nina's mind catches back up to the present, she's hearing Noelle offering to leave - which prompts her heart to ache with sympathy. Without having to consciously make the decision, she reaches across the table to lightly take hold of Noelle's hand, looks the other woman in the eyes and firmly states, "I don't blame you." Her forehead wrinkles with sympathy as she quietly adds, "You aren't him. You're a lovely woman who has been nothing but sweet and kind to me since the moment we met. It would be ridiculous for me to fault you simply for who you love, especially if you didn't know what he was doing when you weren't even there." After all, Nina did know how Edward filled his time, and that hadn't stopped her. "Please stay," she adds with a slight smile, before sitting back up and letting Noelle's hand go.
"And let me apologize for... the way I told my story. If I'd known..." she says, letting that trail off because she's not quite sure how to finish it. What would she have done if she'd known? She still thinks that Noelle has a right to know what her husband did, but she sure that she would have been more sensitive. Then again, how exactly do you make that story easier to hear?
|
|
Deleted Member
Deleted
Registered On: May 5, 2024 5:33:27 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 0
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2013 6:37:48 GMT -5
While she may appear the near-perpetual almost wilting flower, Noelle is quite the opposite. She's a consummate lady, raised well, but delicate is something she is not. Especially in the past year with her husband, well, being away. So when those refreshing words do wash over her, Elle is quite at ease, her anxiety ebbing away as deft as her id's vanish back into her wallet, the money as well for the time being.
She's shocked as the other woman takes her hand, and firmly speaks, her blue eyes going wide as she nods in understanding. "I've known him for so long, and while I know, and am quite aware of his strong convictions, this is just...so out of character for him. And you, especially! We're both....Texans, not exactly large-bustling city types, but we're not shy of that, either. I just....thank you." She stammers, swallowing hard, her eyes quickly averted from Nina.
There are so many emotions washing over her, and it's quite clear on her face as her head tilts back ever so slightly, a wane attempt to keep the waterworks under control; the flash of anger at her husband's actions, the pain of his loss, and the calm of relief. As the two release their grasp, Elle quietly reaches into her handbag and pulls out a small cloth square; yes, a hankerchief, as she dabs at her eyes.
"No, no reason to hold back. I'm not going to break because I hear a bit of brutality of my husband's.. But now, I guess you can understand my shock that he's...awake, and gone. I thought for sure he was dead, you know. I came to Gotham about 2/3rds of the way through...his assignment here. And afterward, well, I stayed. Found an apartment, had a bit of time to myself, to, heal, you could say, after the loss of a loved one. Then....they called me. Said he had been found, and was out. It was like ripping off a scab of a nearly healed wound. I sat with him daily, when I wasn't in school. Then I worked. Then...this." Sighing heavily, she wrings the cloth in her hands. "So..hearing he's shot someone, isn't much. Just another clarity in life, I guess. I ...its a shock. And I needed those extra few minutes to get the things that were in his room. They're probably going to start the round of questioning again, since he's left the hospital, and even I'm unaware." She shrugs slightly, composing herself before taking a sip of coffee.
"He's a strong man, no doubt he'll return home, and this will all straighten out. Sooner, rather than later. Gotham has it's lovely parts, but some of the people are...strange. I was strongly advised to go by my maiden name, for a short while at least, to avoid backlash." Her lips form a thin line, as if even the small deception is irksome to her.
|
|
Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
~
Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
|
|
Post by Nina Stenet on Oct 2, 2013 3:40:17 GMT -5
As Noelle speaks of all the things she's gone through since her arrival in Gotham, Nina can do little but listen and nod sympathetically. The things she's gone through! As much as she can say that she personally dislikes the man, that doesn't mean that she can't take a step back from that and instead try to picture how it all would have felt from the perspective of one who loves him - being wrenched from one negative emotion to another as the man goes from being presumed dead, to alive but in a coma, and now to missing but also finding out he shot someone he shouldn't have... "The things you've been through... and you're still hanging in there," Nina says with a smile and a shake of her head. Yes, she can see how strong of a woman Noelle is.
But even though she can see how these things would feel to Noelle, that doesn't mean that Nina doesn't greatly dislike Agent Tiff. In fact, she's pretty sure that she wishes him ill. On the other hand... "Well, for your sake, if nothing else, I hope that you find him safe and sound. Perhaps he was simply confused when he woke up? I'm sure, finding yourself in an unfamiliar hospital a year later... In any event, this may be a large city but they should find him quickly," she says, giving Noelle a reassuring smile, "And this is good news, really - most people who are in a coma for that long never wake up, let alone wake up able to wander off. It's a good sign, even if it's concerning. I'm sure that when you're reunited everything will work out fine."
"That said," she adds, her smile disappearing and her voice taking a cautioning tone, "The advice you were given is very good. While I have enough faith in my fellow Gothamites to assume that the majority wouldn't feel any harder feelings toward you than I do, there is that minority. If I were you, I'd leave the city with him the moment you can - it could literally be dangerous to stay now that everyone knows he's awake, especially since it was mostly the worst of the worst he was fighting against. Of course, those are the people who actually deserved it, but they won't forgive him just because he was justified. But if you leave soon, you should be safe enough - I doubt they dislike him enough to follow him to another state." After all, though the government scapegoated him to the media, she's sure that everyone still blames the whole scheme on the government in general much more than one man. Still, if he's right within easy reach, it's all too easy to imagine what Gotham's dark underbelly would do to him. And though a part of Nina would see it as him getting what he deserves, Noelle could get caught in it and is clearly undeserving.
After she's said all that, she still feels like there ought to be more said. It takes a moment of thought, but then she's digging one of her business cards out of her purse. "If you do find yourself in trouble..." she starts somewhat hesitantly, unsure of how to say this, "You can reach me at my cellphone number. There are... people in this city dangerous enough that even the police can only do so much - the man who stabbed me being a good case in point. I know the people who can protect you. And since I'm currently making sure that man can't find me again, it would be very easy to give you a safe place to be too." She's sure she's just being overly cautious here, but she does know that if Noelle found herself in danger from the rogues because of all this, she'd be able to help. Or if not her directly, she has a way to signal Batman. And a part of her feels that it would be wrong of her not to therefore offer herself as a resource, just in case, even though she's sure it won't be needed.
|
|
Deleted Member
Deleted
Registered On: May 5, 2024 5:33:27 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 0
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2013 15:22:04 GMT -5
Entwining her fingers, Noelle nods, listening to Nina speak. While some, well, most of it she does agree with, she's not just going to up and leave Gotham. Especially considering she has a rather good job, and her husband may need some more treatments. After taking a sip of her drink, she smiles. "Well, where I'm from, we learn to persevere, and do it with a smile. Nothing is too large to overcome, and you always learn from the more difficult circumstances."
She's not trying to downplay things, but that is just how she sees the world. Her faith is highly important, as is her family, and mostly, her husband. She loves him dearly, even if these words may, or may not be true about his actions in his line of work. It does make one think about sacrifice and what does need to be done for the better of mankind, but at what cost?
"Oh, no doubt he'd be confused! They did fish him out of the river, and...who knows. There may even be some side-effects, mild-brain damage. I hope not, but still..no doubt he's quite confused about what is going on, but I hope he also realizes it's a second chance." A second chance to ..do whatever he thought he -had- failed at, if she knows her Matthew. Nodding again to Nina, she sighs lightly, as if the weight of it all is just a bit uncomfortable, not just a huge shock to her.
She is a bit shocked when she is urged to leave. While she does love Texas, Gotham is something new. There is a slight bit of confusion clouding her features as she shakes her head. "Oh, I know Gotham is no walk in the park, but it is a change, and it does need it's bright lanterns to offset the darkness. And why, if you're offering me this this advice, why haven't you done the same yourself? I haven't been harmed, my husband jumped off a bridge for reasons unknown..yet...you've been shot, and stabbed...and you're not packing up your own practice? Isn't that a bit...hypocritical to offer the same words, while not heeding them yourself, no matter if you are safe or not?"
She then smiles, hoping her words weren't too harsh. She didn't mean any harm, just to illuminate the discrepancies. "I hope that wasn't too harsh, I didn't mean it to be. But if you know of a more secure place, I'd be willing to entertain the thoughts, and idea."
|
|
Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
~
Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
|
|
Post by Nina Stenet on Oct 30, 2013 4:36:57 GMT -5
Noelle's reaction to her warning causes Nina to give a concerned frown. Which immediately gets a slightly pained quality as Noelle points out Nina's own choices. But the look disappears fairly easily as the other woman goes on to note that she didn't mean to be harsh. "No, no - I suppose that's fair to say," she acknowledges, taking a sip of her water to steady her thoughts further. Certain aspects of her interactions with Edward are just a bit touchy to her at times.
She takes a moment to reorganize her thoughts before she sighs and says, "The difference here is that I only have to worry about one man. One man can be dealt with - and will be soon - while you..." Her voice trails off as she tries to find the right words. But she finds herself instead starting articulating why she's having a hard time saying this. "I don't want to overly frighten you - for now you're probably safe enough. But I do want you to take this very seriously: if who you are becomes public knowledge, or the wrong person starts poking into things, you could easily need to worry about... well, all of them, conceivably. Most of them are well known for brutally murdering or doing even worse to people for far less than what your husband did, and if you are available as a pawn for their games they'll use you," she tries to explain, shaking her head as if to silently indicate that she's talking of things too horrible to think about.
"So please, just take him back to Texas, or wherever else you may want to go. Gotham doesn't have a monopoly on good health care, after all. Because you may not have been hurt yet, but you will be if you stay and I don't want that. Perhaps a part of it is that I don't want to see what happened to me happen to you," she says sincerely, before pushing her card over to Noelle, "And take this, please. I'm not sure what more I can do to help you stay safe at this point beyond saying what I'm saying now - like I said, for now you're fairly safe. But if that changes, it would be easy enough to invite you to join me. I've taken to hotel hopping, I have a bodyguard, other tricks up my sleeve, and if that's not enough I know someone better. The only reason I've not done that myself is that it would prevent me from getting back to the point being safe without having to go through all this." She frowns to herself, certain that she's doing a poor job of being convincing. But this is definitely important enough to do her best at that.
|
|
Deleted Member
Deleted
Registered On: May 5, 2024 5:33:27 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 0
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2013 5:05:29 GMT -5
Nodding in kind, Elle is sweetly understanding. She didn't mean to point out the flaws, but it was a bit mean to tell her to get out of the city, when she herself was staying. A bit peculiar, but she didn't know, or even want to know all of Nina's business, unless the woman wanted to tell her.
"Oh! But you don't see all of it, hon. Matthew taught me how to carry a handgun, and before him, well, my Poppa and I went out shooting on the farm. I know I look all put together and whatnot, but trust me. I grew up on a farm, riding horses. I'm not as fragile as I may seem." And she was in a sorority, for a short while, and...some people just tend to assume, if you have a southern twang and blonde hair that's all there is up there.
"And after he was hospitalized, I started carrying pepper spray, and took a few self-defense classes, too. So while I know there are those masks and madmen that roam the streets at night, I try to either be at work at those times, or at home, safe. Not that I used to have to worry about that, because Matthew would be home, but still. I thought about what he'd want for me..and just springboarded from there." She says with a determined glee.
Waving her hand at the two women, she smiles with a determined gaze. "We all have our scars to bare, even if they're not always visible. And I am so grateful for your help, Nina. I wouldn't wish any of what you've been through on anyone else, and...I just don't know if he wants to leave Gotham. There is a reason...he jumped off that bridge. And until him and I have gone through the whys and where of that, we're not going to just jump out of here on a plane and leave it all unfinished behind us. That wouldn't be good for anyone. " As she takes the cards, she tucks it neatly into her purse after she makes sure to look it over. "But if you ever did need a nurse for..well, whatever, I guess you can vouch for my skills. If the hospital starts to get to be too much, I'll give you a call. But all that hotel hopping has to have your back feeling horrible. I have an extra bedroom, and a pullout sofa if you two ever want to stop by. I don't have a bodyguard, exactly, but I have a direct line to the big guy upstairs, and so far, I haven't been let down yet."
Elle reaches out and places her hand over Nina's. "Frowning is good for no one, you know. It's nice to have a friend, even on the rainiest of days." She adds quietly, realizing that she may, possibly have found a friend, or two, in the most unlikely of places.
"And you have no idea how much I appreciate it that you're not...judging me for what my husband has done. That means so much to me..." She says in a quieter tone. She's already been slapped with labels she'd rather not have had in her life, most of them heartbreakingly untrue.
|
|
Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
~
Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
|
|
Post by Nina Stenet on Oct 31, 2013 2:23:26 GMT -5
As Noelle starts to talk about a handgun, Nina shifts uncomfortably. It's not that she's that opposed to guns - she'd never carry one if only because her gift is far more effective and far less lethal at the same time - but to be under the impression that a handgun is enough to ensure her safety... Oh, and pepper spray? Self-defense classes? What do you even say to that? Nina casts a helpless look at Shawty - maybe she knows what to say?
As it happens, Shawty does. Or at least, if it's possible to talk some sense into this woman in the first place, she thinks she might know the way. "Okay, you say you have a handgun, pepper spray, self-defense classes, and you stay off the streets at night. That's good! Very good! ...If you don't want to get mugged. Or if you're worried about walking in on a burglar. Or if you don't want to get carjacked. Or if you're worried about any normal criminals. But we're not talking about those. We're talking about criminals with bombs, machine guns, enough goons to count as a small army, death traps, toxic gas, cutting-edge technology, weird superpowers, and the list goes on and on. What do you have to protect yourself from all that?" she asks rather pointedly.
Nina quickly smiles her thanks at her assistant, before she says, "It really could get that dangerous, Noelle. And... well, to be honest, I'm not sure what to believe about God and... all of that. Life is complicated enough without adding in those deeper questions, if you ask me. But if there's a God, I don't think that He expects people to sit back and wait for Him to help them with problems they could have avoided. If anything, perhaps He's helping you now by arranging for you to meet us. And though I may turn out to be wrong about all of this, I dread to think about what may happen if I'm right. Whatever benefit there may be for you in Gotham, the risk is far too great."
Sighing a little, she adds, "Of course, it's your decision..." One that Nina feels very, very strongly about, but it's not like she could force Noelle to see it her way. Well, actually she could, but not without doing several highly unethical things. But as tempting as that is, Nina has her own principles to stand by.
And she can't help but smile a little as Noelle expresses her appreciation. "Like I said, you're not him," she says simply, "On my end of things, I'm somewhat surprised that you haven't assumed that it was my fault or that I deserved it."
|
|
Deleted Member
Deleted
Registered On: May 5, 2024 5:33:27 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 0
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2013 5:45:36 GMT -5
The once bright look on Elle's face fades quickly with Shawty's praise...and truth. Blinking rapidly, her fingers grip her cup tightly as she realizes there..is a lot more to Gotham that she was ever, ever aware of, or that her husband even told her about. So much darkness, and Matthew wanted to come here -why- again? Slowly she takes a sip of her drink, and nods.
"I...wasn't aware there was such a depth, to the criminal population here in Gotham. I had thought that those classes, coupled with what I already knew...would be enough. Thank you for telling me about this. I didn't know...they had superpowers. It almost sounds like a video-game...or some comic." She states quietly, shaking her head. "And while I'm quite faithful in my beliefs, I'm not going to the point of putting myself in danger with only a shield of faith. That'd be stupid. There is that saying that so many people misconstrue, you know. God does help those who help themselves. You can't just sit on your ass and expect him to do everything, you know. Grit and elbow grease does go quite a ways...but..I still can't say that I was aware...that this was the Gotham....I'd been living in." And the magnet she truly was with her husband out, aware, and as a walking target, it seems. A magnet that was soon going to be attracting most of these people to her, as well.
When Nina gets to her final statement, Elle laughs heartily. "You live here, just as I do. Innocent intil proven guilty, you know. And clearly, you weren't guilty."
|
|
Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
~
Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
|
|
Post by Nina Stenet on Nov 3, 2013 1:26:10 GMT -5
"Yeah, well, only a few of them have real superpowers," Shawty confirms, "More of them are just really smart and crazy at the same time. But it's like, it doesn't matter if they set you on fire with their mind or with a blowtorch - you're still on fire." Trust her to be the one who can speak of such things so matter-of-factly. Not only did she grow up in Gotham, she grew up in the worst part of it and is young enough to not really remember a time before people running around in masks at night was practically unheard of. She might have gone on, but the waitress interrupts that thought by delivering Dr. Stenet's salad and Shawty's ice cream.
The moment that Nina can see that this time Noelle is understanding the seriousness of this, a look of relief crosses her face and she's quickly nodding. "Yes! So you can see why I'm so concerned," she explains, "What makes the papers is just the tip of the iceberg - so many of them purposely avoid the spotlight, and are good at it too. But you ought to be able to avoid all of it entirely if you keep your head down and don't linger longer than you have to. So long as everyone remains unaware of you, you're just as safe as the next person in Gotham." Which is still quite a bit less safe than in many other places, but then again if it were that unsafe then nobody would live here.
As Nina starts poking at her salad with her fork, she can't help but smile when Noelle laughs. It's a good sound to hear amongst all this serious talk. "Oh, I wouldn't say I'm fully not guilty - it's more of a gray area. A lighter shade of gray, perhaps, but I suppose that I made the selfish decision. I only contend that I didn't do anything to deserve being shot. Jailed for a short time, perhaps, or a fine. Community service, maybe? It would be dishonest of me to say I did nothing," she admits, a frown tugging at her face. As justified as she'd felt at the time, given all that's happened since Nina can't say that she's now completely certain that she made the right choice at that point. Then again, she feels that way about every choice she's ever made that has anything to do with Edward.
|
|
Deleted Member
Deleted
Registered On: May 5, 2024 5:33:27 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 0
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2013 21:54:27 GMT -5
"This is so different than Texas, where the worst things really were the wildlife, and a few ...unruly, non-God-fearing sorts." Pursing her lips again, Elle nods to Shawty, before Nina takes over the conversation without a hitch. "But..if there is more than what the papers are showing..why isn't the police department taking care of it? Shouldn't they be on taking care of these...criminals and delinquents?" She asks, clearly not aware of the entirety of that is Gotham and it's underbelly. Nodding to Nina, she can't think of a thing that would warrant her drawing attention to herself. Other than the glaring obvious.
"That's part of the reason I was instructed to keep, and go by my maiden name, I guess. So that until the backlash over my husband had blown over...I could stay safe, even with the precautions I had taken. Hm."
"Well, different people see the world differently. If we all saw it the exact same way, it'd be rather boring. And I still agree with you. There was no reason for being shot. But we all go back and over-think our reasons for what we did in trying circumstances; that's just straight up human nature, sadly." Finally figuring out what she wants to eat, she asks the waitress for a bowl of soup, and a roll, her appetite finally returning after the events of the afternoon.
|
|
Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
~
Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
|
|
Post by Nina Stenet on Nov 30, 2013 19:15:01 GMT -5
Considering the question for a moment, Nina says, "Well, corruption among the police force is a part of it. It used to be worse, at least as I understand it, but there are still far too many police officers that would rather make money on the side than actually keep the city safe." Shaking her head, she adds, "But that's really only one issue - and only a symptom of the real problem. You see, the city of Gotham has developed a certain very negative culture - corruption can be found everywhere. In all professions, at all levels." In her mind, she pictures all the politicians, business people, and even more ordinary citizens who profit from all the money being passed around under the table. And while being discovered doing that is still career-ending for some, it isn't always and it's relatively rare for anyone to be exposed in the first place.
"And none of those who are corrupt want that to change," she continues with a sigh, taking out some of her frustration on her salad with her fork, "Of course, that's not most people, but most people are too afraid to stick their neck out and try to change that, they'd rather turn a blind eye, or they believe that there's nothing they can do about it. The number of people who are actually fighting it are few, and even the good and honest members of the police force get very little support and can only do so much without the help of the regular citizens." Especially since it would probably take a strong effort over a long period of time - such a thing would have a very hard time getting enough support any time soon.
"That's why the FBI's method didn't work - you can take away the current criminals, but others take their place and fight back harder. What is needed is for the culture to change so that the powerbase of the criminals is rooted out. And then we can be rid of them," she finishes. She used to not have such a solid perspective on this whole situation, but then Edward happened... And she's had an awful lot of time to simply think during her recovery. And while of course more of her thoughts have been on other topics - such as what should be done with Edward - thoughts on the broader scheme of things certainly worked their way in.
|
|
Deleted Member
Deleted
Registered On: May 5, 2024 5:33:27 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 0
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2013 21:16:06 GMT -5
"But that is almost...a full cleansing. Not quite an ethnic level...but a city level, and no one would ever lobby for that sort of thing. I guess your're right; that is why they brought in the FBI, and my husband...but it didn't work. Something...here, in this city, as much as I haven't been privy to it, has a hold on Gotham. Sadly." Shaking her head in sadness, she sits back as the waitress sets her own food in front of her.
"If those that are already doing well by bad means continue to do well, they aren't going to stop. They, too, need a way to pay bills and get food on their tables, and in this world, moreso in Gotham, it seems it doesn't matter who they steal, cheat, and step on to get whatever. I don't know how you can stay here, let alone me."
It's a glum outlook, and she can barely hold back her tears as the reality hits her. Swirling her spoon in her soup she now finds she has little appetite, but it would be a waste of food, not to mention rude to not eat with her guests. But the questions of will and when she will even be able to find her husband? Will Gotham see a better future, ever? Linger in her mind, and heavily on her heart.
|
|
Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
~
Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
|
|
Post by Nina Stenet on Dec 3, 2013 11:47:08 GMT -5
"Oh, that's easy," Nina says quickly, "As they say: location, location, location. And without going into too much detail about the supply chain of the equipment and chemicals I need for my business, this happens to be a very good spot for it. WayneTech is here, and they're our main business partner." Not that the same could be said in reverse, as what Stenet Labs produces is merely a drop in the pond to such a large corporation. It's a very, very good and important drop, of course, but it's still very small.
"Besides," she adds, "I've lived in the city for so long that you might say that I'm loyal to it - it has its flaws, but I'm hopeful that it will get better even if the evidence about where it's going in the longer term is debatable right now. But if it's to improve in the long run, it will be a very gradual process - it didn't become what it is now overnight, after all. And I'd like to think that if I left it would be that much worse without me." Well, perhaps her influence would be higher in that regard if she were more proactive in actually helping improve the situation, but she can at least add one business and two people to the tallies of those making money in Gotham through purely legitimate means. Just because so many make money here through corruption doesn't mean that you have to be, after all.
Still, it's crossed her mind before that she needs to figure out some way of doing more to cause that change that the city needs. Not that she has any inclination to throw on a costume and fight crime - there are already better people doing that, it's just not her, and she questions the effectiveness of that anyway. Still, she has more money than she needs and a superpower, so you'd think that there would be something.
|
|