multiversallogs | I know it's hard but...

Entry tags:

I know it's hard but...

Who: Steph Brown, others [closed]
What: Monster fighting, rescues, healing
Where: All around Baedal
When: Over a two week period since Hasi broke reality
Notes: Everyone has their own thread starter, which are in no particular order, if there are any problems/questions please let me know!
Warnings: NPC death, gore, violence, monsters, PTSD, my inability to be succint, if I've missed any feel free to tell me

The monsters are new for her.

It's not that she isn't used to dealing with all the assorted bullshit that Gotham can throw at a vigilante, but there's nothing quite like this. There are people like Killer Croc and Zsasz and Black Mask, who might be horrific, but they're still people. These monsters are more like animals, but they're huge and violent and they hunt people. She's not trained for this, she's not equipped for this and she sure as hell isn't prepared for it. Getting the gun and new batarangs from Rex helps, and she adds a large hunting knife to her array of weaponry, but it still doesn't feel like enough.

It's terrifying, in a way that she doesn't have time to deal with, so she pushes that down and focuses on doing what she can. There's moments, as she faces down things that eclipse her worst nightmares, when she wonders if she should be hiding instead of out here fighting. But there are other moments, times when she wins, when she gets to reunite a parent with their lost child, and it doesn't matter that Steph is bleeding, bruised and exhausted, because she did good.

At the behest of Babs, and the reminders her own body sends, she forces herself to stop and rest once in a while. Usually she goes back to wherever Babs is, or Kate, if she happens to be resting at the same time. Her sleep happens in small bursts, a few hours here or there, curled up near Babs or Kate and letting the exhaustion take over. She tries not to eat too much, because she has no idea how long these monsters will stay in the city and she's scared that food will start running out. She's already started collect supplies, bringing them to the safe places and distributing them to people.

She doesn't think about the dead bodies she sees, or the injured people. A lot of Baedalites can look after themselves, but some of them can't and it's those who end up as smears on a wall. Except for when she has to stop to throw up, after seeing half eaten corpses; then she thinks about it, and she doesn't know how long she can keep going out and coming back alive.

She hopes no one will hold it against her if she gets killed.

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After stocking up on weapons and checking in on the network, Steph has to start thinking about what to do with herself. She could just patrol the city until she finds something to fight, but that feels like it's a waste. She's not particularly strong, and she isn't that well armed; her best option is to work with people, to protect them and make sure they're safe. It might be selfish, but she thinks of her friends first. A lot of them can take care of themselves, but her mind drifts to the photos on her CiD.

Kalinda had gone out earlier to take photos of the Candlelighters and their set up around Mafaton. At the time, Steph hadn't worried too much -- she trusted Kalinda to be careful. But that's different now that there are monsters lurking around and potentially looking for a meal. Kalinda might be able to handle herself against a Candlelighter or two, but Steph can't imagine her knowing what to do with a giant dragon or troll or any of the things Steph has seen but can't actually name. At first she tries to call Kalinda's CiD, but getting no response, she starts heading towards Mafaton, thanking her luck that she's only in East Gidd and not too far away. There's no point letting the lack of response worry her, there could be plenty of reasons that Kalinda isn't answering. Steph can panic later, when she knows her friends are safe.

As she runs, she pulls up the photos from her CiD, looking over them to work out where exactly Kalinda had been before the sky changed and monsters started pouring into the city. Steph suddenly regrets not learning the layout of Mafaton better -- but it's never been part of her patrol route, because it's not safe for her to be there at night. There are other ways to work out locations, though. Steph flicks through the most recent few photos, noting where the shadows fall, matching it up to the time stamp on the photos. It gives a rough idea of what area Kalinda was last in.

When she gets closer, it's easier to see the remnants of the Candlelighters' set up, partly abandoned now that there are more things to deal with. There are some corpses strewn about, bodies with their throats torn out, and Steph has a feeling this was retaliation from the previously trapped Mafaton citizens, rather than any of the creatures that came through. She has no sympathy for the dead Candlelighters. It doesn't take her too long to match the final photo to a nearby spot, she can even pick where Kalinda must have been hidden to take the photo. It's been long enough that Kalinda is no longer close by, so Steph heads up to the rooftops, figuring she can get a better view of the streets.

It's just a guess, but she thinks Kalinda will be smart enough to head home, so that's the direction that Steph goes, moving at a reasonable pace, trying to cover lots of ground without potentially missing anything. It's then that she sees a... something moving down the street. It looks humanesque, but seems to be missing the top half of it's head, and it's moving on all fours. It's moving with a purpose though, and regardless of where Kalinda is, Steph decides to follow this thing to see what it's up to.

Edited 2012-03-06 08:01 (UTC)

As it happens, getting from Mafaton to Flyside has proven to be quite tricky now that there are fucking hideous beasts pouring out of the sky. The one spotted by Steph isn't a lone creature, either. These things hunt in packs, and that becomes terribly evident when she's close enough to see past the mouth of an alleyway, where the sounds of a struggle are evident even amidst the rest of the chaos.

She'll have to give praise to the Gods after this, Kalinda notes to herself, if she makes it out of this alive. A sound escapes her throat, as much guttural as it is fearful, as she viciously swings the baseball bat clutched tightly in both hands at the nearest of the monsters slowly pushing her toward the wall at her back.

It connects with a loud crack! that would be far more satisfying if another weren't so ready to crawl over its fallen body to take its place. There has to be at least a half a dozen of them, and Kalinda is properly afraid for her life. All that shows on the surface, however, is a ruthless determination to live.

Let no one say she didn't go down swinging.

A second blow hits its mark, knocking her target off balance and into a pile of trash bags, but it leaves her open to an attack on her left side. Claws catch her bicep with a wet tearing sound that startles her and sends her staggering back. The bat stays held in her right hand, but her left arm now hangs useless at her side.

It's almost instantaneous, how quickly Steph has her grapple gun out and fired; there's a building across from her, and one just behind it that's a lot higher, and the claws of the grapple hook going into that one so she'll have the height and momentum to take them to the lower rooftop. She saw the swipe of those claws and knows Kalinda won't be able to hold out much longer, which means she has to get her out of there right now.

As soon as the hook is in the wall and a batarang is in her left hand, Steph leaps off the rooftop, angling her swing so that she won't smash into the wall Kalinda is backed up against. It might seem like she came out of nowhere, if Kalinda's attention is focused on the seplavites, because Steph is suddenly just there, her free arm grabbing Kalinda tightly around the waist as she drops the batarang in Kalinda's stead. Steph thinks it's fair trade.

"Stay loose," Is the only brief instruction she gives as she presses the button on her grapple gun to retract the line, which pulls them both up and out of the reach of the seplavites. It takes about five seconds for them to get to the rooftop Steph was aiming for, and she lets go of the grapple once they're close - she can go get it later - and angles them both so that when they land, Steph takes all the impact. It's never easy to land with two people, and she only manages to keep her feet for a few moments before she goes down. If things were different, Steph might take the opportunity to make a joke about her being on her back with Kalinda on top of her, but she's a little too out of breath at that moment.

And anyway, she doubts she'd be heard over the sound of her batarang exploding. At least the seplavites won't be troubling anyone else.

Kalinda is aware of a sudden change in the air around her, and a sound she can't quite identify (not until after it becomes obvious what's happened), and then her feet suddenly leave the ground, and she's soaring. She doesn't scream, or even gasp, she doesn't hinder or help. She doesn't even skip a beat.

Wooden bat clatters on the rooftop as the two of them land. They're both a little breathless, actually. Kalinda braces her right hand against the roof beneath her so she can push herself up to kneel. "Cut that a little close," she comments after the sound of the blast - which she does not even turn back toward - subside. "Thanks."

The move to her feet is slow and careful, all in the core and the legs so as not to strain her injury. She does hiss as she gingerly parts split fabric with her fingers to see to the cuts beneath. There's too much blood to really get a look at it, but not so much that she seems to panic. "That's a neat trick." She means the whole grappling-hook-swinging-through-the-air thing.

And yet, she doesn't seem surprised. Maybe nothing surprises Kalinda Sharma.

"Sorry, I stopped for ice cream," Which is clearly not true, but it's an easy to joke to make as Steph sits up, already eyeing Kalinda's wound and taking her gloves off in preparation of doing something about it. She does wish she'd got here sooner, but it was just a fair distance to travel, and at least she wasn't too late.

"It comes in handy on occasion," Steph stands, tucking her gloves into her belt and pulling out a small container of water, "Let me have a look?" She's going to insist on looking anyway, but asking for permission never hurts.

Steph is more than a little impressed by how well Kalinda is taking everything in stride; she knows she was right to let Kalinda in on the vigilante and anit-militia movement. It's always good to have someone on your side who can keep their cool in any situation.

It's fine is an instinctual response, and perhaps what might be expected. She doesn't say it, though. Instead, she unzips her jacket, easing it open and the collar back so she can carefully roll her shoulders and slide it off her arms to let it land behind her unceremoniously with a dull thud of deep purple leather to concrete. The dress underneath is fortunately sleeveless, black and cowl-necked. "I don't think it's serious," is honest while not being dismissive. Her head tilts so she can look down at the long scratches on her arm.

They're deeper than she would like. Though, really, she'd like them to just not exist, let's be honest. "I should probably have it looked at." The admission isn't entirely reluctant, but she's not thrilled about needing the help, either.

The ghost of a smile makes an appearance in Kalinda's face, showing better in her eyes. "I like the ears."

Steph steps close enough to take a proper look at the scratches, it's hard to tell how bad it is with the blood, which is why she's got the battle of water. She unscrews the cap, and then looks up at Kalinda, "I can do it." It's said with a sort of easy confidence, she was planning to patch Kalinda up anyway, even if she didn't think it should be looked at. Nurse Brown to the rescue.

The comment makes her smile, "Thanks, I'm trying to make them the new thing this season. You want a pair?" It's a terrible joke, but that's Steph's forte.

"This might hurt a little," Steph warns, as she gently lifts Kalinda's arm so it's horizontal, and then slowly pours the water over the wound to clear away some of the blood and hopefully anything gross that might have been on the seplatives skin. Her hands are steady and her gaze flicks between the wound and Kalinda's face, making sure it's not hurting too badly.

Some people close their eyes or turn away. Kalinda dutifully lifts her arm with Steph's coaxing and watches the water washing away the blood and what grime there is. "I do look good in purple," she quips contemplatively. They're well-suited in their own way.

Her face remains expressionless, but seems also tight somehow. Her teeth don't clench, and her eyes don't narrow, her lips don't draw thin, but still there's something tangible without being visual that suggests it's a front. "Do you make a habit of this?" she asks conversationally, and also somewhat ambiguously. With the implication of this being open to whatever interpretation Steph would like.

"I'll let you try on the suit one day," Steph replies, a hint of teasing in her voice and she's definitely not thinking about how Kalinda might look in the costume, that's hardly appropriate for right now. She hopes the joking around helps, though, because the tightness in Kalinda's expression doesn't escape her notice.

When the wound is clean, Steph lets go of Kalinda's arm to put the cap back on the bottle and return it to the pouch on her thigh belt. She answers the question as she digs around in another pouch, "More often than I'd like." Which is almost equally as amigious, although Steph is mainly referring to tending to wounds.

An individually wrapped antiseptic wipe gets pulled out, and once it's open she gently wipes down the wound. It'll sting, but it's worth it, and with that done Steph takes a proper look at the injury to decide exactly what she'll need to do.

"Just so long as you let me play with the grappling hook, too." It smacks a bit of if I don't laugh, I'll cry, apart from where Kalinda gives the impression that she never does cry. She does, of course. Just not where anyone can see it. Especially not anyone who matters to her in any way. Steph falls under that umbrella, incidentally.

"You really are prepared, aren't you?" She'd smirk if her face weren't already pulled into a grimace. "Probably needs stitches," she self-assesses. "Nothing you can't handle, I'm guessing." Kalinda pulls her gaze away from her own injury to stare back in the direction they came, even if she can't actually see down to the street. "You were looking for me, weren't you?"

"There's always conditions," She rolls her eyes to add to the effect, her gaze briefly drifting up to where her grappling hook is currently stuck in the side of a building; how rude of it, "I should warn you, you'll end up with a lot of bruises before you get it right." It took Steph a lot of falls before she could swing well on a line, at least she had the advantage of being trained in gymnastics, her landings were always decent enough.

The first two comments just get a nod and a faint smile, her attention's drawn by her belt again, this time for a pack of butterfly stitches, "These'll tide you over 'till we can get somewher safe." It's too risky to stitch Kalinda up so out in the open, and too painful without anaesthetic. She starts applying the first row of butterfly stitches with careful slowness, holding the edges of each cut together as she puts the sticky little bandages on.

It takes her a few moments to answer the question, "I was. I knew you could keep yourself out of the way of the Candlelighters, but when I saw monsters in the street..." She thinks Kalinda is one of the most capable people she's met, but there are some things you have to be trained for, and fighting monsters is one of them.

"I'm glad you came looking," Kalinda admits. There's no shame in it. Sure, she's more than capable at home and if this had been someone swooping in to save her from a mugger, she might have been slightly annoyed or offended. But it isn't as though she could take a class at the Y on defending herself from monsters that want to tear her apart. There are some things life simply doesn't prepare you for.

Unless you're Steph, apparently.

"What does the rest of the city look like?" Her chest feels tight, but she tells herself it's not out of any sense of panic. Her body's just reacting to the pain, and it's throwing her for a loop. Or trying to, anyway. She's determined not to let it.

"Me too," Steph likes Kalinda, she doesn't want her to get eaten by monsters. Once the butterfly stitches are all applied, Steph gets out a numbing and antiseptic gel and applies it over the wound. It should help with the pain, and hopefully stop any infections.

"So far most of the structure is intact, and Hellsing has already mobilized. But I think it's going to get better before it gets worse." It will get better though, Steph isn't going to give up on the city straight away. She wipes her hands off on another antiseptic wipe, then applies a guaze pad to the wound, taping it down with medical tape. "There, good as new."

Kalinda smiles briefly. It's a little tight, but it shows enough in her eyes to prove genuine. "Thanks." She crouches down then to retrieve her jacket, assessing whether or not the piece is a total loss. For someone who enjoys looking impeccable, the answer is more than likely yes, and it's a pity. She'd grown sort of fond of it.

"Where do we go from here?" She rises to her feet and gingerly begins to slide her arm back into her sleeve. First the injured one, then the other. It twinges a bit, but she'll be fine. If only because she's already decided she has to be. Next order of business is to retrieve her baseball bat. Its hers, damn it, and she's not going to just leave it here.

"You're welcome," Steph packs everything up, she has a designated waste pouch and all the packaging and used antiseptic wipes go in there to be disposed of later. Her gloves go back on as well, her hands flexing in the fabric until they feel right.

Steph looks around, both at her grapple hook and trying to make an assessment of the city in general, "If you think your home is safe, I can take you there. If not, Babs opened her house to refugees from Mafaton and you'd be welcome there." A friend of Steph is a friend of Babs, but she understands Kalinda might not want to go somewhere she isn't familiar with.

An assessing gaze is cast out across the rooftops, as though Kalinda might be able to see her house from here. And determine whether or not it's safe to return. It isn't so simple as that, of course, but the woman makes the decision after only a few moments of thought. Adjusting her grip on the wooden bat, she nods definitively. "I'll try your friend's place. Maybe I can help others there."

It sounds so much braver than admitting she feels she's in over her head in this situation, and would prefer not to face it alone.

"We'll definitely need as many hands as we can get," She knows Babs won't turn anyone away, which means things are going to start getting busy sooner rather than later.

"Just --" Her mouth twists in a wry smile, "One second. I need to get that back." And she points at her grapple hook so Kalinda knows what's going on, "Don't go anywhere." Not that Steph thinks she would, but some things need to be said.

Without waiting for an answer, Steph jogs across the rooftop towards the building her grapple is stuck into. After giving it another quick assessment, she leaps across the gap to grab onto a windowsill, hauling herself up. It doesn't take her too long to climb up to the hook, which she grabs, disconnects from the building and then climbs back down to Kalinda.

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I know it's hard but...

[Kalinda]

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