Avalikia
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Registered On: Oct 25, 2010 17:23:29 GMT -5 ~
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Post by Avalikia on Feb 5, 2011 14:58:24 GMT -5
Admittedly, Selina really did not expect the cat to actually do anything. Stare at her, sure. That was a very feline response to most things, actually. The fact that the tom seemed to actually understand her though, made that strange feeling rise up in her once more that something definitely was odd about this particular cat. The fact that it was following her around really wasn't all that odd considering who she was. The 'mah' that he gives in response causes Selina to tilt her head to one side, as if it'd make her understand just what was up with him a little more.
Watching the cat do his thing from the cover of the decorative shrubbery, the familiar gravelly voice is heard from above and it's just about enough to make her freeze up completely. Robin was one annoyance. Harley was another of a different sort. Even Superman had made her consider giving up the necklace and calling it a night. Now that Batman was actually here, it was all she could do but give up right then and there.
Through the red tinted goggles, Selina looks up and gives the Bat a neutral stare for a moment, but keeps herself crouched down. "It's about time you showed up." She said flatly, and stood up, holding the necklace with one hand behind her back. "For future reference, don't try sending out your little amateurs all alone." This tidbit of advice was mainly directed at the absent Robin, since she did have him in her claws for a moment there. Literally.
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Post by cat on Feb 5, 2011 15:47:21 GMT -5
And he's... ignored. Well, glanced at - same thing. Eyes narrowing in annoyance, his collar gives the quietest of crackles as it tries and fails to translate his suddenly clear and passionate thoughts on that subject. The cat hops off of the fence and into the bushes, crouching there for a moment to consider this newest factor in the situation. He hadn't noticed that one until he'd heard that voice which, given his finely tuned senses, tells him immediately that he needs to keep an eye on that human.
The resulting conversation tells the cat much that he didn't know already - so the female he's been following is called Catwoman, huh? Not quite the insult to his species that it could be, he supposes. And this stealthy male in black is Batman. What does that make the odd-smelling flying one, Bluebirdman? Eh, but humans are ridiculous - what else is new? What other reason would they have to be chasing each other around like this?
When Catwoman starts talking he can tell that, whatever the reason was for all the running around and hiding, it's probably over. So he steps out from under the bush and starts walking back to her at an unrushed pace. Hopefully he can be done with running around now - it's not what he signed up for! He just wants to get his stupid collar fixed by someone who he can trust with it and suspects that she might be one. Then maybe he can get answers to all the questions floating around in his head - these people keep on saying things that make very little sense from the perspective of someone who doesn't know who any of them are.
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Last Edit: Feb 5, 2011 17:25:57 GMT -5 by simba
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Post by simba on Feb 5, 2011 17:25:22 GMT -5
"You're VERY outside your normal zone, Superman," Batman's voice stabbed out into the brisk nighttime air. "I could tell you where our mutual feline friend is, but first, tell me why you're in my city, the Batman demanded coldly as he squatted atop the roof's protruding edge. His ebony gauntlets clutched the marble cornice beneath him, his cowl-covered eyes remaining set on the garishly-dressed man in front of him.
...Until Catwoman stood up, anyway. Then again, maybe Superman's stupid enough not to even bother turning his head to look at her. Batman is rather enough a distraction for someone to completely ignore such a nuisance as Catwoman. "I thought cats like playing with birdies," Batman responded to her with a calm, almost amused twist of his voice. "Who's your new friend? Looks like his collar needs to get fixed," the Batman asked in reference to the tomcat standing just nearby the feline-clad woman. "I'll even make you a deal. Give me the stuff you stole, and do something for me, and I'll repair it for you." Making a deal with the devil? No, Catwoman was no devil. More a minor annoyance on great Mount Purgatory, pondering whether to slip down into the boiling furnaces of hell or to ascend into the heavens. Such a woman was, in fact, extraordinarily useful.
"Regardless of Catwoman, I still need to know why you're hear," the Dark Knight calls back to Superman, without turning his gaze from Catwoman. First, there was Kara In-Ze, now there's him. Batman has been called protective of Gotham; perhaps that was why he was so put off by the presence of another 'superhero' in his town. Superman was no superhero, though. He was a cheater. It was men like Batman who made real change in a town, after all. It was men who could live double lives; one to hunt down those who do wrong-doings, and another life to actually mend the scars they leave on a city. Superman? He was only good for punching up the occasional baddie and leaving an obscene amount of property damage in his wake. Do you know how much it costs to repair a gaping hole in the side of a century year-old art deco building? A lot, that's what. And insurance policies don't typically cover 'damage caused by a garishly-dressed superhero slamming into four supporting pillars and cracking off four tons of marble from the decoration outside while in the pursuit of someone who stole goods worth $1,000'.
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Post by redhood on Feb 6, 2011 0:10:38 GMT -5
Within his presences being here, Clark can tell that his company wasn't to be here. It was understandable with they're pasts working together in each other's way at times. "How is it out? when I'm taking down criminals like Catwoman for instance."But one thing he was right about being in his city. Batman did had the right to know about that. "Anyways, I'm here visiting. Anything wrong with that?" He said as he glared at Batman.
"Also, to let Bruce Wayne know that Clark Kent was in the city as well."indicating that he was here for some reason. He would go more detail but, knowing Catwoman around he didn't. He heard Batman talking to Catwoman as he tensed a bit. "Your gonna make a deal with a criminal?"He said with normal look behind it. Clark would intervine heavily and lock her up for her lesson but, He didn't bother as he knows soon or later he would have to fight with Batman. It wasn't right doing if it was even in his own city that he watches and defends. It would an offense of invasion. Clark wasn't here for that.
With the outcome, Superman didn't liked Batman's judgement but, he was relieved when he show up about as he can find her better. As Catwoman was still matching the night colors, Clark didn't wait to look for her as Batman had arrive to take care of this himself. He figured he didn't need to be here now anymore. "Since this is under control, I guess there is nothing for me to do." He slowly rise up in the sky with his back turned.
He thought Batman was soft on her. Clark figured that with him gone the better it would be here. As Batman wouldn't be on his throat as he is. Hell, it maybe would make those two feel better if he was out of sight. Before he took his leave, he spoke his last words to Batman. "I'll be around, if need to find me."With that said, he took off. He was gonna talk but closed his lips with nothing to say but air coming out. He was thinking that was blocking to said.
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Avalikia
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Registered On: Oct 25, 2010 17:23:29 GMT -5 ~
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Post by Avalikia on Feb 6, 2011 0:39:15 GMT -5
As amusing as the bicker fit between the two 'heroes' was, Catwoman actually had her eyes focused solely on Batman, waiting for the moment he wasn't paying much attention to her in order to slowly slip away. Of course, he just had to keep an eye on her the entire time. Jerk.
Grinning at his comment about cats and birds, Selina lifted one of her hands up to eye level and looked admirably at her metal claws, examining them in the little bit of light that reflected off their surface. "I don't mind it at all, but I don't think he enjoyed it all that much." Not that she recalled hurting him that bad. Maybe just a few scratches on his neck, was all.
The small figure of the cat that'd been following her for most of the night caught her eye, and she looked back at him before nodding and giving the feline a questionable look. "His collar?" She asked, and crouched down again, looking at the cat's neck, knowing better than to just reach out at him. By now she'd realized that he was at least different than the average street cat. "Your collar?" She asked the cat, since he responded well enough to the last thing she'd said to him.
The idea of making a deal with Batman that would wind up with her going home without that necklace was certainly less than ideal. But.. if anyone could fix an obviously technical gadget like a crackling collar that was emitting some sort of noise, it was him. Plus, helping the cat that'd trusted her enough to provide her company all night and escape from both Robin and help her escape and hide from Superman was the least she could do. "..Fine. What do you want?" She asked monotonously, and let the hand that was holding the bag behind her back fall forward before she slowly lifted it upward for him to take away.
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Post by cat on Feb 6, 2011 1:17:23 GMT -5
Oh, so the blue one is Superman? What's so super about him? Flying and smelling funny? The cat is unimpressed. Nor does he pay much attention to what Superman has to say about Catwoman - he's not even sure that he knows what a 'criminal' is in the first place.
When Batman starts speaking again, his ears go back. Most humans don't even notice him. Those that do generally don't notice that he's wearing a collar or pay much attention to the occasional odd noise it makes when it's failing to work. That this one would do all that and offer to fix it all in one smooth movement is... unsettling. The collar is his voice, after all, and you don't just go handing over your voice to someone you're not sure about. He stops walking while he's still several feet away from Catwoman and can be seen bristling just a little, not quite sure that he likes this at all. He'd really rather be the one making deals, but without his collar working he can't - a bit of a Catch-22.
When Catwoman asks about the collar he twists his head awkwardly to the side in just such a way that he knows makes it most visible despite his long fur - a metallic silver band all the way around his neck with a rounded bulge on one side where most of the inner workings are housed. Two small knobs jut out from the side of the bulge: the only external controls. And the number 63 has been written with a sharpie on the outside of the bulge and seems to be the only identifying mark. As he shows it he steadies his thoughts again, but whatever was on his mind comes out as a very weak crackle, demonstrating the brokeness of the gadget.
But he only shows it for a second or two before he turns back to face her with his eyes narrowed, looking suspicious and defensive. Still, that she's willing to give up that bag he saw her fighting so hard to keep in order to make a deal with Batman to fix it helps ease his fears considerably. Not only does that tell him that she's willing to sacrifice to help him, that also indicates that she trusts Batman with his collar. Of course, just because she's a nice human and trusts Batman doesn't necessarily mean that he trusts Batman. It helps, but not all the way. His eyes shift back toward Batman uncertainly, and then back to Catwoman. "Rrow?" he meows questioningly.
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Post by simba on Feb 6, 2011 19:00:05 GMT -5
The Batman sat atop the roof's cornice, not even bothering to glance over at Superman as he took off into the night sky. Batman didn't need to be told that Superman could be found, if he needed him. Batman would, in fact, find Superman in due time. But that due time isn't now; no, no, there are far greater fish to fry in the meantime. He just gave a little nod of his head in response to the other 'hero''s departure, before focusing his attention on the felines in front of him.
Batman leaped off the edge of the building; spreading out his cape behind him, he descended to the ground and landed deftly in front of Catwoman, pushing down to his hands to catch himself. He pushed himself back up to full height before looking down towards 63. "Yes, his collar," The Batman repeated himself once more before hearing her final word of agreement. "I need you, Catwoman, to gather some information for me," he continued to explain before crouching down to look more closely at 63's collar. His eyes narrowed as he took a careful look at the electronics. "I need you to get closer," Batman said to 63. "Let me look at your collar, please."
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Avalikia
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Registered On: Oct 25, 2010 17:23:29 GMT -5 ~
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Post by Avalikia on Feb 6, 2011 20:15:10 GMT -5
Batman wasn't the only one to ignore Superman as he flew off. Likewise, Selina didn't pay much attention to the so-called 'superhero' either, her focus instead diverted between the cat and Gotham's own vigilante. For the moment, it was mostly on the cat. The manner in which he showed his distrust of Batman was painfully obvious, though he didn't seem to be quite as suspicious of him as he could be.
The way Batman spoke to the cat was maybe a bit too firm for the feline's taste, from what she'd learned previously. Raising a brow and laughing to herself, she shook her head and looked back down at 63. "He's alright," She said in a calm enough voice, but with a hint of reassurance as well. "He can fix it for you." Given that she still wasn't quite aware just what the collar did or the extent of the cat's brainpower, she did feel kind of silly legitimately talking to the cat just as she would to another person. And this feeling coming from Catwoman.
Leaving the cat to settle whether he'd trust Batman or not, Selina turned back to him and blinked, kind of baffled at his request. "What kind of information?" She asked warily, since she wasn't exactly the type people turned to for that type of thing.
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Post by cat on Feb 6, 2011 21:00:27 GMT -5
Even after Catwoman's good recommendation, the cat's tail lashes back and forth uneasily for a moment. But, abruptly making up his mind, he walks right up to Batman while swearing within himself that if this human turns out to not be worth trusting he will personally murder both of them. Slowly and painfully!
And while Catwoman might feel silly talking to him like he actually understands, that they're both doing so now pleases him greatly, so now he looks more anxious about his collar than annoyed at the whole world like he has been for most of the evening. He's just as smart as these humans, after all, so it's exceedingly irritating to be talked down to as if he doesn't understand exactly what they're saying.
Sitting himself down within easy reach and view of Batman, the cat allows Batman to inspect away. The collar is held in place by a metal clip that holds the two ends of the band together very precisely. The reason for that is obvious when looking at the underside - wires travel through the band and the clip holds the ends together so they make a complete circuit around his neck. The bulge is obviously where the key components are, however, but four very tiny screws on the underside seal it shut. Other than that, the only additional thing of note on the collar is the tiny hole on the side of the bulge opposite the knobs.
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Post by simba on Feb 6, 2011 23:31:20 GMT -5
Batman glanced up at Catwoman. He wanted to make quite certain that he hadn't forgotten about those pretty shiny things she had stolen from the poor residents of Gotham City. His eyes narrowed a bit before looking back down over towards the small cat in front of him. He squinted his eyes a bit to allow the magnifying capabilities of his cowl to focus on the tiny electronics of the cat's collar.
"Hmmm," the Batman hummed to himself as he reached to his utility belt. He grabbed a few tools and, in particular, a very small and thin screwdriver. He worked with extraordinary care, slowly unscrewing the panel from the collar before setting them in his waiting palm. He popped off the panel and looked at the electronics inside. "It looks like I can fix it here," the Batman said simply before pushing his head closer, focusing closer on the intricate electronics.
"Information about a few people, Catwoman," the Batman said quietly as he pondered the collar in the back of his mind. It was pretty clear what was wrong... how to fix it? "Pamela Isley and the Ventriloquist, particularly."
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Avalikia
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Registered On: Oct 25, 2010 17:23:29 GMT -5 ~
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Post by Avalikia on Feb 7, 2011 0:15:37 GMT -5
63 was actually a very lucky cat. He'd ran into the two best people that he could've run into that night for his particular problem. A woman who completely adored his species and a man who was more than capable of solving whatever technical difficulties his collar was experiencing. Keeping her expression relatively neutral, Selina crouched down at the level of both of them and took a look at the instrument as well, just out of her own curiosity as to what it had going on inside of it, and what it did.
"Do you have any idea where it would've come from?" She asked rather abrubtly, assuming now that it wasn't just some stray cat that'd wandered off from a private residence nearby. Unless of course the cat's owners were capable of creating such a device. Her next assumption judging from his collar would've been at some sort of research facility, which put a considerable downer on her mood as well. Through her own goggles, she could see the number '63' etched on the outside of the accessory, and let out a huff of breath. "Probably some kind of animal testing place, huh?" She asked rhetorically, and stood back up, straightening her back out.
The details on the information Batman needed were still questioned on her part. "Pamela Isley?" She asked, not immediately recognizing the name. But after a second's thought, she remembered. That girl in green that she'd met at Bruce Wayne's fundraiser event hours prior. "She's new in town, for all I know." She muttered, and eyed him suspiciously. "Why? What's she done?" The Ventriloquist was an entirely different story. She knew of him. He liked to cause a lot of trouble in "her" sector of Gotham, the East End. Particularly in the casino, which was a bit out of her normal jurisdiction of the streets and alleys. The fact that he was so close to her however, just made her end of the bargain easier.
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Post by cat on Feb 7, 2011 0:55:39 GMT -5
Inside the casing, the inner workings of the collar appear to be an odd combination of sophistication and shoddy workmanship. The parts themselves are probably custom made and very refined examples of technology that manages to cram some very potent electronics into a very small space. However, whoever put those parts together appears to have been lazy and/or in a hurry about it - it's all pieced together properly, but one strong knock would probably loosen a few connections and really break the thing.
But the cat's been careful with it, and the actual problem is far simpler: this fine piece of technology is powered by a watch battery, which is doubtlessly quickly drained by the device. Chances are good that simply replacing it with a new one will have it all working again - at least for awhile. What it actually does is difficult to say just by looking at it since it's not exactly standard equipment, but the wiring in the band seems to be a sensor of some kind, while what's in the case seems to process the information that the sensor picks up. There are no markings on the inside of the device to indicate its origins - making the number 63 the only clue. Well, aside from the cat who was wearing it, that is.
Said cat remains quiet and passive as the two humans examine the collar, his only real movement being to twitch his ears to follow their conversation. Catwoman's guess at his origins cause his ears to flick back briefly, but he doesn't bother trying to comment on it. If Batman really can fix his collar right now, all the meaningful meowing in the world won't be able to compete with what he can explain within a few moments. If he chooses to explain, that is.
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Post by simba on Feb 8, 2011 19:43:14 GMT -5
63 was, indeed, an extraordinarily lucky cat. Either that, or extraordinarily good at getting in just the right place at just the right time. And given that Batman isn't one to attribute things to luck, his mind is most definitely on the latter explanation. This cat is clearly more than he seems. But, then again, Batman knew that from the moment he laid eyes on it.
"No," Batman responded simply, almost curtly, to Catwoman's first question. He knew full well that she would answer it with her own thoughts in time. And that, indeed, she did. "I'm not sure, but I doubt it. This isn't well put-together," The Batman commented before grabbing an insulated set of tweezers from his belt. He reached in and carefully removed the old battery. He put it up to his left eye and let the analytics in his computerized cowl do its work. Having indicated the type of battery, Batman reached back into a pocket in his utility belt. He pulled out a small collection of watch batteries before picking out one with his tweezers and carefully inserting it to where the previous battery was.
"It should work now, but it won't last long," Batman commented again before closing the collar's panel back up and working on screwing it back on. Damn, tiny screws are annoying, even for someone as skilled as Batman. "I'd like to look at the electronics with better equipment; I could make it quite a bit more efficient and set it up with a much better energy source." Batman finished and stood back up, turning his eyes back to Catwoman and holding out a gauntlet-shrouded hand. "Give me the goods now, Catwoman. These are going to the Police," he said simply. "As for Ms. Isley, she hasn't done anything. Yet." Batman let that last, pregnant word hang in the air. "I just want information on her. As for the Ventriloquist, I don't need to tell you why I want information on him. Help me out with these two, and I'll help your cat and his electrical problems. Deal?"
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Avalikia
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Registered On: Oct 25, 2010 17:23:29 GMT -5 ~
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Post by Avalikia on Feb 8, 2011 20:14:20 GMT -5
Just because it wasn't well put together didn't necessarily mean that a research lab was totally out of the question in Selina's mind. Granted she didn't think too highly of those that researched on animals, and she hadn't really gotten a good look at the physical shape of the cat just outside of what he looked like, but animal researchers to her were what quack psychologists were to the inmates at Arkham. Sadistic freaks like Jonathon Crane, for example. "Maybe they were in a rush." She muttered to herself, more pondering the thought over rather than actually asking a question.
Keeping her eye on the cat for a moment, she was pleased that he was so passive with the entire ordeal. Yep, definitely a special cat to not be worried about a big guy in a Batsuit messing with it's collar. Especially a collar that the cat seemed so protective of, and for good reason, she figured.
Eventually she looked back to Batman, and watched as he gathered up a tiny screwdriver, a pair of tweezers, and basically a pocket full of watch batteries from the belt. She smirked, quite amused with the plethora of items he carried with him at apparently all times. "Is there anything you don't have in there?" Catwoman asked sarcastically, actually a bit envious of the belt he'd incorporated to his suit. Sure, she was prepared enough for her heists and all that, but to be that ready for such a variety of things.. smart man, that Batman!
Looking down at the bag that held the necklace that she'd worked so hard for, there was a clear amount of hesitance in her handing over of 'the goods,' as he put them. Over a few seconds though, she did. And with a glance back down at 63, she chuckled. "Tell that to him. It's his collar you're messing with."
Thinking the deal over for a moment, Selina shrugged and rather pushed the bag forcefully into his hand, the urge to leave a scratch mark or four in the material of his gauntlet just out of spite. Deciding against it however, she simply scoffed and adjusted her goggles over her eyes, since they seemed a bit off-kilter to her. "You're supposed to be the great detective. Why do you need my help?"
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Post by cat on Feb 8, 2011 20:17:48 GMT -5
When Batman stops messing with his collar, the cat tentatively clears his thoughts... "Does it work?" squeaks the collar, causing the cat wearing it to flinch. And a moment later, "The knobs on the side adjust the pitch and volume - so for pity's sake will someone turn it down a little and make me not sound like an overenthusiastic female squirrel? I'm a male cat, and this is horribly undignified." Indeed, the description the cat gives of what is currently coming out of his collar is extremely apt.
He then turns his gaze directly toward Catwoman, "And if you ever call me a 'Good kitty' again, I will evicerate you and eat your entrails. Same with 'smart little guy' - do you have any idea how demeaning that is? Okay, fine, I'm a cat and that's how you humans talk to cats, but I'm a cat who can understand you and you know that now, so I never, ever want to hear anything like that ever again!" There's a short pause as the cat lashes his tail at the end of the mini-rant, before he adds, "And who are all you people anyway? I only know so much about humans, but I do know that running all over the place chasing eachother is not normal behavior. And it was very irritating! And you smell like wet rock." By the end of this second line of thought the cat's glanced back over to Batman.
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