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Post by Duela Dent on Jan 28, 2013 18:05:28 GMT -5
She'd been back at Titans Tower... Ehh, just over a week, now. A good number of them - the ones who didn't have the kind of history with her that the oldest incarnation of the group did - they were giving her a wide berth, and to be honest, Duela didn't entirely blame them; If she saw a girl with the face-splitting scars Duela knew she featured now? She'd back the heck away from them herself. That, unfortunately, didn't make her feel any better about it, not least as she looked herself over in the bathroom mirror, winding some bindings around her fists carefully. Her gaze kept trying to avoid contact with the mirror, but every so often, Duela slipped, her eyes travelling just that little too far up, meeting the reflection and each time, each time that happened, she could feel her stomach sink. She looked like a joke. A horrible, cruel, monstrous joke. And that was what had it had been - a vicious joke. It.. She looked disgusting. She felt disgusting. For all that people recoiled at the sight of her, or the particularly grotesque and curious ones asked her what it felt like, none of them could ever really get it. It wasn't even the healing process that bothered her, now, with the continued applications of the cream and the pills.
No, it was just the memories; Just how.. How easily the clown's knife had basically sliced her face clean open - so smoothly she couldn't even feel it until she was bleeding. Pounding the mirror with a closed fist, Duela stewed, finally hissing "Enough," to herself. It wouldn't do her any good to keep on dwelling on that at all, as much as it was tempting to as she concocted various ways to kill the clown. Part of her just wanted to fill him up with her marbles, see how long it took for just one of them to clickety-clack against another in the wrong way. She knew this wasn't the kind of mindset she should be fostering, given she was here, in Titans Tower, and that was basically second to being in the Justice League or whatever, but the question still rang in her mind - Why did he get to get away with it? Not just for what he'd done to her, but for everything he did. Why did he get the free pass, even after all the lives he'd ruined? It just wasn't fair. But then, Duela supposed, life often wasn't.
Dwelling on it, though, letting it brew inside her, that was going to get her nowhere, at least not right now. Right now, she needed to focus on getting healthy again; The doctors had advised plenty of exercise, eating her greens, healthy diet, blah blah blah diddly blah blah, the usual thing. 'Promote the healing process' and 'get fit', they said. Like it was her choice to spend that long sitting in a hospital bed with the worst food known to mankind and the same obnoxious view of Gotham City for several weeks on end. It made it something of a change to be back here; Titans Tower hadn't changed since the last time she was here, really - the faces changed, but by and large, you could always rely on some familiarity to make you feel more at home. And, aside from the absolute rage she felt simmering inside her at the moment, Duela was genuinely happy to be back here; Fastening the tape down around her fists, she trotted down a few flights of stairs in the general direction of the gym, intending to get a little bit of a workout going; She was, obviously, no fitness guru, but she knew how to throw a punch, she knew how to lift weights, and she knew how to run. So she could at least work up something o-- HOLY GALOOLEY! Duela shrieked, ducked, and cowered on the floor briefly as she entered the gym, something big and heavy sailing over her head and slamming into the nearest wall to the right of her; Almost thinking the tower was under attack for a moment, she finally picked her head up, only to find..
A punching bag. One of those big ol' ones, not the little-wiener kind that Duela would be content working on - one of those damn big, damn heavy, freakin' Everlast dealies. Duela gaped; It wasn't exactly uncommon to have someone with that level of strength on a team, of course, but you didn't expect to be nearly on the receiving end. "Ease up, huh? I only just got outta the hospital, never min' goin' back in," she remarked, shifting to a crouch and looking at the remains of the bag, before peering over her shoulder at the bag's rather... Ah, lethal foe... TAG: Wonder Girl
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Post by Cassandra Sandsmark on Jan 29, 2013 15:52:52 GMT -5
There were two sorts of punching bags in the Tower’s gym, Cassie has found. Well, an expert would probably be able to tell her that there were lots of little variations between them, so that there were actually more than the two types that she recognised. There was the type that she bothered with. And there was the type that she didn’t. The little kind, the air bags or whatever they were – the things about the size of her head that you were supposed to punch rapidly – Cassie just ignored and had done ever since she got the Armour. After all, when you were ‘just’ a five feet nine girl who punched like one, they were pretty good. But when you were a five feet nine powerhouse who punched on the scale that Cassie did now, those things were about as much fun as punching a pillow. Ok, she did use them sometimes, because they were good for practicing targeting her punches. Otherwise… She might as well punch jelly.
So, that left the other type, the big type. The ones with Everlast written on them, some of which were probably bigger than she was. Those were the ones that Cassie could be found thumping away at most of the time when she was in the gym, because those were the ones that could take even a decent punch from her without breaking. But it was definitely a case of them being better but not good. And that was because, if Cassie hit one of them with all her strength, they didn’t stand a chance either. She could smash one and, actually, tended to do so frequently. It seemed this gym wasn’t built for people as strong as she was. She really ought to get their fearless leader to do something about that, because honestly? If the only way for her to go all out was to wreck the joint, she was going to wreck it and his expenses be damned.
So, really, it was in his own best interests. Unless he liked replacing smashed equipment on a regular basis, in which case Cassie would be just delighted to smash some more for him.
It would sound weird, but she was actually feeling about as well-disposed towards Tim as she ever had been. That was really just general sarcasm, as opposed to her actually being grumpy. After all, he’d told her his name finally and, though it’d had its moments, their chat hadn’t resulted in her maiming him either.
Or wanting to either, which was probably more important.
Nope, Cassie was just in the gym because she felt like hitting things and the punching bags were the most convenient target that didn’t involve finding some criminals. Actually, the bags usually put up a better fight too, which was sad – crooks were so weedy these days. And there wasn’t any worrying about their rights or any whining afterwards. In short, this was why the team had been going through punching bags since she joined up.
The one she was currently working shook under the repeated impact of her fists, the blonde hammering it again and again with punches until it rocked back and forwards. Her expression was focused, controlled.
And then Cassie whipped around into a roundhouse, jumping to add a bit more force to her spin, and kicked the bag in the middle with sufficient force to shatter somebody’s ribcage. Something gave. Something was going to have to give, frankly, and this time it was the cable holding the bag up. It broke. And the bag went flying, right across the room, to smash into the wall right next to the door. Just as someone walked in – a girl, judging by the panicked shriek. Though, if it was one of the boys, Cassie was so going to mock them for that. In the meantime, she rested her hands on her hips and eyed the destruction with a smirk.
"Everlast, my ass,” She chuckled.
Then the girl – and it had been a girl – who she’d nearly clobbered with it spoke up, asking her to lighten up, because she didn’t want to go back to the hospital yet. Cassie just laughed, walking over to nudge the deceased bag with a booted foot. Though she was just working out, she had chosen to cheat and wear the form-fitting red bodysuit that was the starting form of the Silent Armour. Adorned with bronze, her lariat draped around her waist, she was outwardly the picture of confidence.
"I really don’t think you want to be telling the girl who can bench press tanks what to do, chica.” She drawled, offering a hand to the newcomer regardless. "The name’s Cassie, by the way. Please tell me you have a normal name and don’t get all paranoid about sharing it…”
TAG: Duela
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Post by Duela Dent on Feb 10, 2013 16:43:47 GMT -5
Naturally, Duela was intimidated the second she'd walked in the room; She didn't even need to see whoever'd kicked the bag to feel that slight terror coursing through her veins, but she quickly calmed herself, knowing that the Titans would hardly bring in someone who was super-violent and really nasty to people. Right? Right? She knew the group had a slight history of.. Well, less than stable individuals at times - Hello there Terra, for instance, and we shan't even get started on the intricate mess of history that was the old Wonder Girl's background, back when Duela had first encountered the group, and.. Well, to say nothing of Duela herself, because, you know, cross-dressing supervillain-wannabe girls were oh-so common, right? There was also the number of weirdos that had been recruited that one year, a number of whom had ended up in Titans East under Deathstroke's thumb, and..
Well, let's leave it there before 'Titans Together!' somehow became a rallying cry for a messed up bunch of supervillains who had been cast out by the actual group for being too weird. Or.. Hn. Duela's lips twisted thoughtfully; Hadn't that one already happened? Beyond the Terror Titans, Titans East.. Duela scoffed to herself, even though she was getting way off subject; What next, though, seriously? Titans Tea Party? Titans On Parade? Titans On Ice? Yeah, okay, she was being suitably ridiculous there, but.. Still. Yeah. Getting wayyyyyyy off the point here, D. With that in mind, Duela rose from the crouch she was in whilst investigating the absolutely ruined punchbag, but not before she'd given it a good prod or two; You know, like those times when you were a little kid and and you were in the park and you had a stick and your dad was like 'leave that alone it's probably infes--'.. Um. Nevermind.
Were those friction burns from where it had been kicked and punched, though? Wowzers.
Standing once more, she recognised the unfortunate bag's killer as the newest Wonder Girl - although Duela had heard a handful of the others whisper that you shouldn't particularly call her that - and she was particularly impressive. Possibly not Duela's type - when she actually decided what her type actually was - but still, totally impressive. Duela silently wished she had the kind of confidence the other woman was seemingly projecting rather easily. "I think if you thought I was actually telling you what to do, I'dve been punched through the wall and halfway into the city by now," Duela mused, not believing for a second that the blonde had taken her remotely seriously, although it had rendered Duela slightly more lucid than she usually was, just in case.. Well, she felt bad even thinking it, but what if she did try and put her through a wall? She didn't particularly want to be on edge, but when that was someone's first line to you, it.. Well, didn't exactly bode well.
None of which Duela was going to say, because.. Well, she'd already declared that she didn't want to go in the hospital again; "Really, though, I.. Uhm.. I didn't mean anything by it. I just.. Well, sorry," she mumbled, hanging her head slightly although she wasn't entirely certain what she was sorry for.
She eventually shook the offered hand, more than a little wary of someone with super-strength; There had, after all, been only one member of the team who actually had super-strength back in the days when Duela had first started hanging around the Titans like a pleasant smell (think a bakery or your favourite perfume, please - nothing nasty), and this girl was distinctly different than her. "Duela. Duela Dent. No relation to.. Well, you know, crazy Gotham baddie with a dichotomy obsession and a penchant for bisecting his suits, colour-wise," she replied, grinning slightly at Cassie's comments about 'normal' names, assuming that she wasn't a particularly huge fan of codenames; "You're in luck - I don't exactly have a not-normal name any more. Used to, but the.. The, ah, guy I borrowed it from - I kind want to rip his face off, these days," she mused, looking slightly wistful at the idea before she realised what she'd said and her gaze met Cassie's with a slightly embarrassed look on her face.
Talk about TMI, right? TAG: Wonder Girl
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Post by Cassandra Sandsmark on Feb 19, 2013 13:14:05 GMT -5
It really was only in places like this that you met girls with a Joker-fetish, Cassie decided, unsure quite how else to place the newcomer’s taste in hair dye and makeup. On the other hand, said girl had a point in that Cassie could have done just that with ease. "Honestly? I’m not entirely sure whether I’d punch you through the wall, into the wall or just through your ribcage.” The blonde offered with a smirk that wasn’t exactly ever going to be reassuring. But she was the resident hardcase, and she had a reputation to keep. It wouldn’t go to let people think she was all soft and cuddly now, would it?
But she snorted disdainfully at the apology, tossing her head back and flicking her mane of curly hair over her shoulders as she did so. Pathetic. Seriously, pathetic. "If I want an apology, I’ll beat one out of you.” The powerhouse snapped. "What in Hela’s name do you have to be sorry for anyway? I’m not offended – though if you don’t quit whimpering, that’s going to change…”
Cassie’s policy towards handshakes these days was to basically match whoever the other person was. People who were polite, she treated them nicely. Big guys who tried to be macho, those she left with crushed fingers. It seemed to work quite well and the big guys usually needed their egos punctured anyway. So, Duela, who didn’t try anything stupid like that, got a gentle grip – firm because Cassie was strong but not overly so. Just enough to show that she was strong, that she could control it and that she wasn’t some retiring little flower. That was basically it. As to the rest, well, she quirked an eyebrow up at the Two-Face reference, wondering briefly what were the odds that there was both a Gotham super-heroine and super-villain named Dent that weren’t at all related.
Pretty low, she’d have thought. But at least the girl didn’t have an obsession with silly monikers. That by itself earned her a few brownie points to make up for the ones she’d lost earlier.
People tended to overlook certain things about Cassie Sandsmark, usually because they were too busy not overlooking other things about her or paying far too much attention to those things and assuming that they were the sum total of what they needed to know about her. Their mistake, and it was one she was all too happy to make them pay for down the line. That was because what most people tended to forget was that Cassie Sandsmark was downright brilliant. Maybe not a genius, but smarter than most people she knew regardless. It just tended to get ignored because she loved a good fight and wore a uniform with that neckline. On top of that, she was a muscular blonde with a killer body, so stereotypes just didn’t play in her favour. Fine. More fool anyone who judged her because of that.
But she was brilliant. So, all it took to work it out was a quick sweeping glance over the girl, that noted the pale skin and the green hair and the scars, her implication that she was from Gotham and the baddie remark. Still holding the other girl’s hand, Cassie cocked her head to one side thoughtfully.
"I’m guessing you aren’t the only one who’d love to rip the Joker’s face off,” She noted with a scowl. "Personally, I’m not sure you ought to stop with his face – I’d just rip his whole head off. At this point, the creep deserves it and it isn’t like there’s this switch in our heads – kill someone and you’re automatically evil forever.” Cassie chuckled at the idea. "So, what was it anyway? Joker Girl? That seems to be about the quality of most ‘codenames’ in this place. All about pretending they’re just junior versions of some hero or villain. Gods, it’s so pathetic.”
TAG: Duela
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Post by Duela Dent on Feb 24, 2013 13:16:20 GMT -5
Duela's eyes narrowed slightly - clearly uncomfortably - as she eyed the other girl and wondered, for a moment, whether she was entirely serious over the stuff about punching her through a wall or 'just' - Duela resisted a scoff at that one - her ribcage, as if the blonde 'just' doing that to her should be some kind of consolation. It really didn't help that she was just new around nearly everyone here - the Titans line-up changed more than the average game of musical chairs featured people changing seats - and as such Duela was relatively wary about getting off on the wrong with people. She was pretty certain that Cassie couldn't just go about impaling people or punching them through walls, but at the same time, she wasn't willing to bet monet on the matter, she supposed. "Howsabout I don't get punched at all?" she proposed warily, the unease clear in the town of her voice; "I kinda like my limbs and internal organ-y things where they are and in the condition they're in," she mused. Bad enough her face was a complete mess without having the rest of her butchered, although she was fairly certain that Cassie couldn't be nearly as bad a person as the Joker.
Her wariness toward Cassie faded distinctly into annoyance as the blonde then began to lecture her and snap at her over apologising, when she had been the one to cause Duela to do so in the first place; Talk about hypocrisy - it was like the green-haired girl couldn't win, really. Either she got told not to boss someone around, suggesting she should wither in this other girl's presence, or she got told not to apologise, and Duela wasn't particularly in the mood for finding a middle ground; "Look, back off, okay? I apologised because I thought you'd meant I was telling you what to do. And I didn't mean to. That doesn't mean you get to bite my head off because I'm cowering slightly in the presence of a girl whose introduction to me was sending a punching bag like that flying over my head," Duela told her, slightly bolder than she would be usually, but she hadn't returned to the city and to the Titans after what she'd been through to endure something like this. If Cassie was going to beat her, or even threaten that kind of thing? Duela was sure as hell going to make sure there was a good enough reason for her to do so.
But she wasn't particularly interested in furthering confrontation if she could help it, and Duela quickly simmered down, wondering if showing that she had some backbone would ease things between the two of them. Shaking the other girl's hand, Duela's wariness faded completely when it was clear Cassie wasn't going to use her strength that could easily break bones here, but she was still clearly displaying her strength as much as she was restraining it. Pretty impressive. She did, however, catch the slightly dubious look when it came to her not being related to Harvey Dent; "No, really. No relation at all. Just a really, really weird co-inky-dink given I used to have a bad habit of impersonatin' Gotham baddies," she explained.
Thank god, too; As much as she regretted latching onto someone like the Joker and assuming he was her father for a period, doing it with someone like Two-Face could have been worse, in it's own way.
"I guess I could go for that. Play a mean game of soccer with it afterwards, too," she suggested bitterly, liking Cassie just a little bit more for her suggestion, really, when she had expected even her suggestion of ripping the Joker's face off to be frowned upon, really; She nodded almost furiously with agreement, however, at Cassie's assertion that killing the Joker wouldn't make a person evil forever; "I know. I.. I hate that idea. The whole 'slippery slope' thing? At this point, it's like.. Like some kind-of messed up immunity for him. I don't know what kind of karma that freak has, but it must be the best in the multiverse," she muttered; How had someone not killed him, yet? It was insane. "Um. Well. I called myself 'Joker's Daughter'. It was... Like, a more innocent time and I was younger and stupider. And.. Well, related to issues they tell me I have up here -" and she tapped the side of her skull with fore and middle fingers, "- But I claimed to be the kid of a whole bunch of Gotham baddies." She shrugged, clearly aware it was stupid and ridiculous, before she asked "So they call you Wonder Girl, but the word is you don't particularly like being called Wonder Girl, right?"
TAG: Cassie
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