Who: Irisa and Barbara When: Recently Where: Library What: Kicking ass and taking on a student Rating/Warning: Low/Attempted robbery by NPC’s Status: Complete
Barbara had just done a walkthrough of the library to ensure everybody was out and was locking the front door when she became aware of a presence behind her. Finishing the locking she slipped the keys into her pocket and turned, “Can I help you?” she said, no trace of hesitancy in her voice even when she realised there were three men who obviously weren’t there to use the library.
Irisa kicked a stone as she wandered down the street passed the library. It had been a boring day. She hadn’t managed to ditch school until lunchtime and the area of the city she’d been exploring had been pretty boring to be honest. She sighed heavily and looked up when she spotted a group of men approaching a woman at the front of the library doors. She paused behind a newspaper stand to see what would happen, ready to dash over and kick some ass if the guys started making trouble.
It was soon established that the men were after trouble and when one of them made a lewd comment and moved towards her Barbara sighed. Placing her bag down on the floor behind her she waited until they tried to lay a hand on her before taking them down.
Irisa gasped as the men started converging on the woman and started running across the road before she knew what she was doing. She pulled a knife out of her inside jacket pocket as she ran, intending to help the woman.
Barbara had just dropped the third assailant with a roundhouse kick to the head when the young girl came running up with a knife in her hand. Barbara was unsure whether she wanted to help or harm so took a defensive stance just in case.
Irisa slowed to a stop a few metres from the fight as the woman dropped the last man, staring in astonishment at the scene before her. “I’d ask if you were ok, but I think I should be asking them that,” she referred to the men groaning on the ground with her knife before putting it away in her jacket again.
Laughing a bit Barbara straightened, “Well yes, I’m fine them I cannot guarantee. Thank you for coming over, it’s very brave of you” she said.
“You’re welcome,” Irisa shrugged, nudging one of the men with the toe of her boot. “Dicks,” she swore at him. “I’d have happily helped, but you were so fast! How did you do that?”
"Indeed" Barbara agreed in slight amusement at the young woman's assessment of the unconscious men. "Oh thank you, a combination of martial arts training and other such skills. Its thanks in part to my dreams. A few months ago I was a normal business woman and librarian" she laughed softly.
“Seriously?” Irisa looked at her in amazement. “And now you can do this?” she pointed at the guys on the floor. “Can you teach me?” she asked eagerly, stepping over the man at her feet to stand in front of her.
“Yep, it’s like all of the training dream me did passed over onto me here” Barbara said, shrugging, something like that anyway. Barbara considered the girl in front of her, “Why do you want to learn?” she asked.
Irisa bristled a bit at that, why wouldn't she want to learn. "Because I can handle myself ok, but not like that," she referred to the other woman. "I'm better at throwing knives and shooting stuff," she shrugged a little. "Girl's gotta know how to defend herself as best she can."
Barbara nodded, “Don’t get me wrong I’m willing to teach you but I want to make sure you use it responsibly” The girl was young to already be boasting knife and gun skills.
"Look, I don't go around beating on the helpless, all I wanna do is be able to defend myself and if necessary someone else who needs help," Irisa shrugged as she spoke matter of factly.
“I’m not suggesting you do” Barbara told her calmly with a small smile, she liked this kids feistiness, “But take one moment to look at it from my point of view. I have an approximately sixteen year old girl in front of me who has already claimed to know her way around knives and guns, allow me a bit of caution”
Irisa took a minute to think about had Barbara had said, looking down at herself, the men and the empty street. She just shrugged nonchalantly and looked back at Barbara, “I’m enthusiastic?”
Barbara laughed at that, “Indeed you are” she said when she could speak, “Okay, you have yourself a teacher kid” she held out her hand, “I’m Barbara Gordon”
Irisa drew herself up straight at Barbara’s words, pleased she’d made a good impression. “Irisa, Irisa Nolan,” she shook the other woman’s hand with a hint of a smile. “When can we start? I’m free tomorrow,” she suggested. School didn’t count to Irisa, she learnt far more valuable things on the street.
“Tomorrow then” she nodded, “Once you’ve finished school, head over to this address” she pulled out a business card and wrote the name and address of a gym on the back of it.
“Why? What you’re going to teach me is more than I’ll ever learn in school,” Irisa groused. It would also mean she’d have to find something to do all day.
“It’s additional to what you’ll learn in school but it’s not more” Barbara told her, “There can be more power in words then a fist sometimes Irisa. And I want you to attend at least three classes a day if I’m going to train you”
“But I…” Irisa huffed. “They’re boring,” she told her grumpily. “The other kids are stupid and the teachers don’t give a damn.”
Barbara sighed, “It’s important to get an education” she said before relenting somewhat, “Okay, how about I give you lessons. Just a couple of days a week, I’m afraid I’m too busy for any more than that, but I think I can teach you enough to make sure you pass your assessments so you can at least graduate”
“I’d like that,” Irisa quirked a smile at Barbara. “I’m not stupid if that’s what you’re worried about,” Irisa said, looking down at her boots. “I just pretty much know what they’re trying to teach the others,” she shrugged.
"I didn't think you were. Quite the opposite in fact. I like to nurture intelligence and I hate to see it going to waste" she smiled, "I'll find ways to engage that mind of yours" she promised.
Irisa smiled at that, a genuine smile. There were very few people who said that she was capable of anything, apart from getting herself locked up that was. Nolan and this woman were the only ones who had ever expressed confidence in her. “Thank you,” she said quietly, almost embarassed.
“You’re welcome” Barbara replied, “Now I think I should give the police a ring to get them to take the trash away” she smiled.
Irisa gave a little laugh at that. "Sounds like a plan," she shrugged. "Want me to sit on one until they get here?" she joked.
Laughing Barbara replied, “Have a seat” with a wink, “Stick around until they’ve been sorted out and I can drop you home if you like” she offered.
"That would be great, thanks," Irisa dropped heavily on a man who was trying to get to his hands and knees and he gave a groan.
“It’s not a problem” Barbara said, “I don’t want your parents to be worried”
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Irisa replied. "They're dead, Nolan looks out for me now," she told her.
“I’m sorry Irisa” she apologised, though there had been no way for her to know.
"That's alright," Irisa shrugged. She didn't like talking about them all that much but the fact couldn't be denied they were no longer for this mortal plane. "Not like people with dead parents walk around with giant signs on stating the fact," she told her flatly.
“No, you have a point there” Barbara replied softly, “I’m glad you have someone who looks out for you though”
"Yep, Nolan saved me from this cult my parents had joined," Irisa explained. "Burst in with this squad of men with guns part way through a ritual and rescued me. He's taken care of me ever since."
“Oh my goodness” Barbara said, “Thank god that he did. Am I correct in thinking he is the one who has taught you how to defend yourself?” she asked, the advanced weaponry training making more sense now.
"Yeah," Irisa smiled. "I had a penchant," she shrugged.
Barbara laughed, “A natural huh? I’m looking forward to training you even more” she smiled warmly before they heard the tell tale sign of a police siren.
"Let me guess, lesson number one is always hand over to the proper authorities," Irisa joked as she looked towards the direction of the siren.
“Well done, I knew you were smart” Barbara nodded before the car arrived and Barbara explained the situation to them.
Irisa laughed at that and as the men were bundled into the car, she couldn’t help but stick her tongue out at the one she’d been sitting on, grinning as one of the cars pulled away.
Laughing Barbara pulled her car keys from her handbag, “So shall we get you home then?” she smiled.
“I suppose,” Irisa shrugged and followed Barbara, sticking her hands in her jacket pockets.
"Don't worry tomorrow will come soon enough" Barbara assured her, "Though I can't quite guarantee the same level of excitement"
Irisa laughed at that, "I'm glad, I don't think I could take seeing quite so much awesome everyday!"
Barbara laughed as she led the way to her car, it was nice and sleek, very obviously expensive. “I’ll try to limit the awesome” she joked.