Restless.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

When Sonia was a little kid, her parents used to take her to church. They were Catholics, sort of. They weren't fanatic about it - they didn't get up for the disturbingly early Mass, they didn't go to confession. They went to church maybe every other Sunday. Sonia didn't retain much from the sermons, except that if you were good (a vague, amorphous concept) you went to heaven; if you were bad, you went to hell; and if you were unlucky, you got stuck in purgatory.

Purgatory always seemed like the worst deal to Sonia. You didn't even have to actually actively do anything bad to get stuck in Purgatory. You could go there if you just happened to die before you got a chance to be baptized. You could go there if you screwed up and realized it but didn't pray hard enough to redeem yourself. And once you were there, just the waiting was so agonizing that you prayed constantly for the relief that Hell would bring.


It's been a while since Harvey was found guilty and sent back to Arkham. He might be in Hell on Earth, but Sonia is pretty clear on where she is, too. She's in Purgatory.

Well, actually, she's in Selina Kyle's safe house, trying to avoid Death By Vengeful Mobster. But still.

Sonia is not a patient woman. She isn't good at waiting. She's a doer - or at least, that's what she tells herself when she wonders if maybe she's being impatient or pushy. She just likes to get things done. She likes to be moving towards a goal.

She does not like to be stuck indoors all day because someone might put a bomb in her car.

At least nighttime provides a certain amount of cover for someone who's impatient and out of sorts and looking for something to do. Which is why Sonia has taken to prowling through alleys at midnight.

Looking for something to do.

Looking for trouble.

Comments

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

Looking for trouble.

What she finds might well be surprising. There are many, many things the rooftops of Gotham have seen and they have seen this sight before but it certainly not common.

There is a woman sitting in front of a small table. On the table there is a tea pot as well as two settings in front of her. There is one of the cups filled but it is not the cup directly in front of her, but instead, the cup across the table from her.

The woman herself seems to be in meditation.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Um... hm.

Sonia almost passes the woman entirely.

But she doesn't.

She stops, for a moment, to glance at the woman, over her shoulder.

It's almost as if she's trying to remember if she's seen the woman before.

Or as if she's sizing her up.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

There is a change in the woman, though she doesn't move at all. It is hard to tell, exactly, what the difference in her is. She hasn't moved, she hasn't looked up but there is no doubt at all that she is aware of Sonia.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

The change in Sonia is more obvious. Subtle, but she has tells. Her shoulders tense. Her posture shifts a little.

Ready for a fight.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

At that, Shiva actually looks up and looks at the other woman in silence. Slowly, she looks over the other woman from her feet all the way up her form, carefully.

"Who taught you?"

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Something her Sensei would say comes to mind.


"Good Question."

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

There is a brow arched at that and Shiva stands.

Mmmmm.

She crosses over toward Sonia, her stride almost .... casual.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Something about this woman.

Sonia turns her head, to watch her approach. Not facing her straight-on.

She slips her hands out of her coat pockets.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

Shiva stops a few feet in front of Sonia and looks at her.

"Truly?"

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

A look of what could be mild irritation flickers across Sonia's impassive face.

So the woman knows the Question. Hm.

"Yes. Why?"

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

"Prove it."

Shiva's position changes not at all.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Sonia's eyes narrow ever so slightly.

There's a pause, and for a moment it looks like she might just walk away.

Her attack is abrupt, almost out of nowhere. A swift blow aimed at the other woman's throat.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

Shiva pivots, turning, watching Sonia's hand move past her in space. Her hands are still at her sides. At the moment, she almost looks relaxed even still.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Sonia shows no outward sign of hesitation.

Elbow jab to Shiva's chest.

She's fast, and strong. Her face gives away nothing.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

She is strong and she is fast but she gives away much of her intent in her body language. Her face is blank but that is not what Shiva is looking at to read her intent. The elbow to Shiva's chest will leave a bruise as she moves away from it but not enough to avoid the blow.

Then again, with what comes next, it is obvious that she intended to allow herself be hit. Sonia is faster than Shiva thought she might be truly.

Shiva's hand flashes out and grabs Sonia's arm.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Sonia yanks her arm back towards her - not expecting Shiva to let go, but hoping to bring her closer. With her other hand, she reaches out to claw at Shiva's face.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

That will not do.

Shiva releases Sonia's arm, the claws falling a small fraction of an inch short of reaching Shiva's eyes as she pulls back. It may seem as though she isn't doing well but she truly isn't doing badly. Taking a step in, she makes a palm strike toward Sonia's solar plexus.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

It might seem like Sonia's doing well, but she's moving just a little too quickly. Not thinking things through all too well. She's running on adrenaline, reckless.

She blocks Shiva's blow, but it forces her back a step, putting her momentarily on the defensive.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

Shiva takes that step forward, making another strike toward the center of Sonia's chest. The same strike, just with the other arm, this time. Perhaps to see how Sonia will react.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Sonia blocks The blow with her other hand, but is now entirely on the defensive.

Well, not entirely. With Shiva this close, Sonia moves to swiftly bring her right heel down on the bridge of Shiva's right foot.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

Soinia's heel hits its target and Shiva seems to use the pain to fuel the next barrage of blows that come flying at the other woman, the last of them a kick which seems all but physically impossible with how close Shiva is to her.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Sonia is taken off guard. Scrambling to block Shiva's attack, she doesn't see the kick coming, and it sends her staggering back.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

And with that Shiva stops.

As if she'd been standing there, casually conversing with Sonia this whole time.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Sonia's sweating and winded. She gasps, catching her breath.

Her eyes don't leave Shiva.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

"He did not finish training you."

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Sonia straightens, gingerly.

"No."

It seems like she might leave it at that for a moment. But she doesn't.

"Who are you?"

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

"I am become Death."

There might even be a small chuckle from the woman, though that does not at all seem at all likely. The woman makes her way back toward the small table and the tea.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

"Oh," is all Sonia says.

She follows Shiva back to the table, but doesn't sit down. It seems... presumptuous.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

Shiva extends a hand toward the other side of the table and the still warm cup of tea.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

Sonia sits down.

She doesn't say anything. She gets the impression that this person is about as talkative as her.

But it's an amicable silence.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

The cup of tea stays there, in front of Sonia and Shiva doesn't move to fill but her own cup. "I was not expecting you but you may drink the tea." She was hoping for this woman's teacher but it is apparently not to be.

[sonia-alcana.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," Sonia says.

It seems a little strange to be sitting here, thanking the woman who moments ago she was fighting with.

But it's not like her life has made much sense up to this point, either.

[shiva-wusan.livejournal.com]

Shiva inclines her head toward the other woman. Her expression is generally blank, not seeming to care one way or the other about Sonia's presence. Though the fact that she didn't kill her mean, she probably cares a little bit.