When in doubt, throw people into something like the Danger Room

[cutting_edgex23]

X stops in front of a vast, dark cave mouth, head tilting as she studies it for a second.

Then she turns to Brienne and Harry.

"This is where we go in."

Beat.

"You are ready?"

Comments

[harryhotspur]

"Ready," Harry replies without hesitation. He's armed, how bad can it get?

[maid_of_tarth]

"And I as well." She has Oathkeeper, though she left the rifle she'd filched from the excursion with Sonya Blade in her room, feeling that would be cheating.

[cutting_edgex23]

X doesn't say anything else, just turns and walks briskly into the cavern.

The pathway slopes down, getting darker and darker as they go. When it gets closer to pitch black, X's pace slows.

But she doesn't stop.

Not yet, anyway.

[harryhotspur]

Harry's right on her heels. He... definitely didn't know that there was anything like this at Milliways. His hand drifts towards the hilt of his sword. Just in case, and all.

[maid_of_tarth]

Brienne keeps pace with Harry, looking ahead and listening intently. She had no idea of this place before, either, and inwardly says a silent prayer to the Seven.

[cutting_edgex23]

Several torches flash into light.

X pauses, squinting faintly as her eyes adjust to the light.

They are no longer in a cavern.

Instead they are on a cobblestone street. If there is a cavern above them, it is hidden far away behind the overcast and cloudy sky.

The street itself is empty. The windows of all the buildings are lit, however. And there appear to be people inside. And one of the doors is opening.

[harryhotspur]

Well that wasn't what Harry was expecting to see. He lets his hand fall from his sword, though he is still poised for-- something. Though now he has less idea than before of what that might be.

His eye is drawn to the opening door, but he does not move towards it, waiting instead for X's cue.

[cutting_edgex23]

X gives no cue, but a tangle of slightly tipsy teenagers tumbles out of the opening door, half engaged in yelling at each other and the other half --

Well.

The other half look like they're in the midst of a rough-and-tumble fight.

[maid_of_tarth]

Oh. So this is the test.

Well, Brienne has dealt with drunken louts before, and these are young ones.

She strides forward into their view, and says, in a carrying voice, "Stop this at once!"

[harryhotspur]

Harry takes a step or two nearer, but doesn't fully follow. Look, see, he can be patient! Though that's only partly his thinking-- it also seems to him that both him and Brienne stepping in might just look like they're trying to join the fight. So he hangs back a bit, and waits.

[cutting_edgex23]

One of the teenagers flashes her teeth at Brienne. They are the kind of needle-like teeth that predatory fish have.

This is accompanied by some hissing, too, and none of the teenagers stop fighting just yet.

Meanwhile, something is stalking Harry from the shadows.

X is --

Nowhere to be found?

[maid_of_tarth]

"Stop fighting," Brienne repeats firmly, feeling she ought to give more than one warning since no one seems in danger of losing life or limb--and that's when she notices the sudden absence of X.

And the--whatever that is--behind Harry. Too far for her to get to it first. "Harry, watch out!"

[harryhotspur]

Yeah, where did X-- he sees the movement in the shadows and hears Brienne's warning at about the same time, and his hand flies back to the hilt of his sword.

"Come skulk not like a thief, but face me, if you will!" Surely it's just another one of the kids?

[cutting_edgex23]

Oh, what's skulking in the shadows will indeed face Harry if he likes.

Because giant shirtless man-sized bats fear nothing and no one!

The tipsy teenagers continue their fight, which is now turning into something more like a brawl. At least one participating is bleeding, though only from the knuckles.

Needle-sharp teeth are sharp when you hit them, okay?

[maid_of_tarth]

Brienne decides Harry can cope with the oversized bat-thing for now, though she is watching out of the corner of her eye in case the bat proves a harder opponent than expected.

She turns back to the youths. "If you do not stop," she says very clearly, "you'll be arrested."

She tries to make her voice coaxing, though she's not very good at it. "See, one of you has already drawn blood--is that what you wish? Whatever your quarrel, there need be no harm done. Just walk away. There's no shame in turning from a drunken brawl. It's more honorable than persisting in it."

[harryhotspur]

Harry will leave the 'reason with them' tactic to Brienne and her humanoid opponents: his sword is out as soon as the bat-thing moves into the light. He's at the ready, but he doesn't attack yet. The bat-thing isn't armed, after all. It would be dishonorable-- at least until he's sure if it's after a fight.

"What would you?"

[cutting_edgex23]

Oh sweet Chthar, one of the drunken youths is thinking just now. Will this woman not shut up? Which is why, after a brief, desultory exchange of blows within the group, several of them decide to turn outward. Toward Brienne.

Fair's fair! Or something.

Meanwhile, the bat-man snarls. "Money! Give me money! Or I'll eat you!"

(Somewhere, deep in the shadows, X does not sigh.)

[maid_of_tarth]

Brienne supposes that it's safer if they're attacking her than attacking each other! She lifts her sword, still in its sheath, both as a final warning and in preparation for an attack.

...she keeps an ear out for the bat thing, in the meantime, in case Harry is in trouble.

[harryhotspur]

Harry's not worried about the bat thing yet (though he doesn't lower his sword). He laughs. "Money? I have none. What say you now?"

[cutting_edgex23]

The teenagers do not seem worried about Brienne's sword, sheathed or no.

In fact, the group splits, attempting to flank her. This is more fun than fighting each other.

Or at least it's new and different. That's almost the same thing.

The bat-man, meanwhile, does not look taken aback by Harry's laughter. "I'll just eat you, then! Less expensive!"

He leaps.

[harryhotspur]

In a strange way, Harry was hoping he'd say that.

As he raises his sword to defend himself, it does occur to him-- almost too late, but luckily not quite-- that this is X's test, wherever she's gone, and in an ideal world, he probably won't have to kill any bar patrons. So he stays defensive-- at least for now.

[maid_of_tarth]

Brienne is having a similar thought. The youths are bar patrons whom she is to protect, very well; they are not fighting each other and have yet to attack her. So she'll just wait, to defend if necessary.

"Begone," she repeats for good measure. Hey, maybe this time they'll listen!

[cutting_edgex23]

It is good to have dreams. It is also good to keep dreams achievable.

The needle-toothed teen gang decides that now is the perfect time to swarm Brienne, since they can now approach her from both the left and the right. They are really good at punching!

The man-bat, meanwhile, has leapt into the air an inhuman distance and is now gliding at great speed toward Harry. He is coming in feet-first.

Somewhere X is watching.

Or maybe getting into position.

[harryhotspur]

Well that's-- definitely a strategy he's never seen before! But hey, if you turn it on its side, it's not entirely unlike jousting, right? ...sort of?

In any case, that's what's vaguely running through his head as he does his best to sidestep the bat's trajectory and aim a blow with the flat of his sword.

[maid_of_tarth]

Brienne resignedly swings her sheathed sword like a staff to fend off the youths, slipping between them and moving into the doorway so they're blocked from coming at her from all sides. She stands there, branding the sword, as she says, sounding even more impatient, "Stop being fools and go home!"