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The gym is an impressive affair, even by New York standards where everything seems bigger and more advanced than anywhere else with all the corporate money being slung about like confetti. The Professor spared no expense in making a workout localle for the students and residents that could even accomodate most of the more physically endowed, though the resident token 'ordinary' human girl isn't concerned with those amenities. She's more occupied with the open space that's been set aside for gymnastics workout and such.
Cassandra is in the midst of one of her martial arts routines. Her feet spread wide and breathing audible as she slowly works her way through a routine with dynamic tension emphasizing every movement. Her posture is nigh perfect, though her arms and hands generally mimic the movements of animals. Only occasionally does she actually through a punch, most of her hand posturing is open with fingers spread and crooked like grasping claws that slowly and purposefully clench as though crushing and tearing. Her expression is determined with the effort, and her visible physical condition shows that it does pay off.
*
It's been ages since she wandered these halls. Well, fine, a handful of months if one uses the traditional calendar, but still. It's purely coincidence that Danielle chose to visit on a holiday weekend. After the usual spring semester is done. It had nothing at all to do with nerves or anxiety or anything like that, honest. She pauses at the entrance to the gym, then pokes her head inside. Movement further in draws her attention, and she quietly enters the rest of the way, hands tucked in back pockets of her jeans as she watches the intense 'dance'.
*
Cassandra Cain will soon wrap it up with a flurry of finger strikes and snap kicks that lead to a fist in her palm being thrust forward before drawing both fists back to her hips completing the mainstream salute of Kung Fu. She goes to grab a white towel laid nearby on a bench to pad the beads of sweat on her brow away, then notices she has an audience. She'll stare at Danielle for a long moment without blinking, taking her features and demeanor into memory before finally saying in a deadpan tone,"Hi."
*
"Hey," replies Danielle. Now that it's a touch safer, she pads a few steps further in. "I'd apologize for interrupting, but you were pretty focused." Her body language is relaxed, her tone calmly genial. "Hope you don't mind me watching the tail end of … all that," she wiggles one hand vaguely towards the center mat. "I just haven't ever seen moves like those. Not in person, anyway."
*
Cassandra Cain will eventually blink after Danielle's explanation. Her posture remains stock rigid as she turns to face her fully with the towel over one arm. She collects her thoughts for a few quiet moments, then replies,"Hung Gar. Five Animals. Is…Kung fu." Cassandra's mode of speaking is slow and deliberate, almost like that of an autistic person. Her words don't come readily or easily.
*
Danielle takes a long moment in her turn to study and consider the other girl. "Hung Gar," she echoes after a moment. "Well. It's a very impressive style. Much more impressive than my 'Stab Until Dead' technique, if I'm honest." She takes a few steps closer, nearly to that point of social distance where handshakes seem to become common and expected. But she stops just short and inclines her head slightly in a nod instead, "My name is Danielle. I'm…. well. I went to school here a while back."
*
Cassandra Cain has an almost blank expression as she regards her while speaking, not even blinking. Only when she finishes speaking does she blink. Then she smiles modestly, and replies,"Cassandra." She folds her arms loosely and quirks her lips a little as if chewing on something, then says,"I…thanks. Words…hard."
*
Dani smiles understandingly, though it's doubtful she understands more than 'words hard'. "Don't force it on my account, hm? Whatever works for you," she offers, then glances around the quiet gym. "Next time I come by, I should bring a change of clothes. The Y's got nothing on this place. Though I should probably clear that with the higher-ups first."
*
Cassandra Cain gives another modest smile at this, though her expression is mildly confused at the point about the Y. She'll ask,"The…what? What is Y?" She cants her head slightly then, giving an almost avian look at her of curiosity.
*
"Y is short for Y-M-C-A," Danielle elaborates as she meanders a bit, drifting towards some of the equipment over yonder. "Young. Men's. Christian. Association. It's a group that runs a bunch of public gyms and swimming pools in town. They let anyone and everyone in, but they are pretty simple and basic facilities. Better than nothing, but nothing like all of this." She pauses near one of the weight-machines, glancing back over at Cassandra. "They also give lessons. Kung fu, karate, yoga, swimming, and so on."
*
Cassandra Cain hmms quietly at the explanation about the YMCA. She knits her brow a little bit as she contemplates it for a few moments, then says,"Don't know karate. Know Kung fu. Ninjutsu. Kenjutsu. Learned from…Hand." She shrugs nonchalantly then at this elaboration.
*
Danielle fiddles a bit with the machine, before sitting on its bench and doing a couple of reps with none of the weights. It's not *quite* playing with the equipment, but it's close. "I tried to learn karate, but I don't have the patience. Kenjutsu…." she stops toying with the machine and leans forward, elbows on knees. "Is that swordwork? And.. 'Hand'? What is 'Hand'?"
*
Cassandra Cain nods after a moment at her points about karate and then kenjutsu. She then replies,"Erm…Hand are…ass-ass-ins? Old cult. Ken-jutsu is sword fight, yes. Kah-tah-na."
*
Danielle digests the assassins tidbit with a bemused half-frown, but nods slowly, "Assassins. I suppose I should not be surprised a cult like that is out there. Hmm. I don't know kenjutsu or katana, but I know sword fight." She offers a cheery smile, and, "Maybe one day we practice swords together?" After a beat, she raises a finger and adds, "Though my sword fighting is not …" What's the right word that Cassandra might digest… "Not pretty."
*
Cassandra Cain smiles modestly at what she has to say, still retaining her still posture all the while and her unblinking gaze until she goes to reply. She says,"Ok. Fight…not pretty. Not…Ken-do." She knits her brow as she focuses on her words, having a hard time stringing them and finding them.
*
Danielle is patient each time Cassandra speaks, giving the other girl time and space to find the words she wants. Unconsciously, she's begun to mirror the way Cassandra listens so intently before responding, and holds her nodding until those halting words finish. "Fights are often not pretty," she agrees. "You are a student here, Cassandra? This school?"
*
Cassandra Cain squints a moment at the question, though she manages to figure this one readily having been asked it plenty of times before apparently. She replies relatively promptly,"Yes. Professor Xavier brought me."
*
Danielle's smile widens a skosh, "He is a good man. A bit… well, nevermind. He is a good man." No sense getting into Dani's issues with authority figures, since it's not something she really understands that well herself. It just is. "And this is a good place."
*
Cassandra Cain rightens up slightly as she nods at the last point. She'll refold her arms slightly and ask,"Do you…are you here? A student?" She blinks once at this point, curious.
*
"I was," Dani replies, pausing to consider how much to elaborate. "I was a student, then I had to leave to hunt a monster. Then…….." That 'then' is followed by a vague, circular hand gesture as she tries to boil it down to bite size. "Then I changed."
*
Cassandra Cain blinks at this, seemingly confused for a moment by this explanation. She nods after a moment, then just replies,"Ok."
*
Danielle grins ruefully, and stands up with a bit of a shrug. "It is hard to put into words, and I was there. I came back with a horse that flies."
*
Cassandra Cain raises her brows as she visualizes this, a flying horse. Being at a school that features people able to do all sorts of things, she doesn't have a difficult time accomplishing this in a number of different ways, but she eventually replies,"Ok…has wings? Floats?"
*
The Cheyenne chuckles and gives a slight nod, "Wings. Large feather wings. Also probably a little magic, I think." Normally, Dani might not volunteer quite so much information, but somehow it's okay with the vocal challenges Cassandra has.
*
Cassandra Cain oohs at this explanation, eyes widening at this visual. She purses her lips again, quirking them to the other side this time, then starts to the door slowly."Should go…cafeteria. Then clean. Good talk."
*
Danielle inclines her head again in a half-nod, half-bow. "Good talk," she agrees. "It was nice to meet you, Cassandra." She'll leave a note in someone's office that she stopped by. Probably.
*
Cassandra Cain nods a couple times to her, returning the bow. She'll then make her way properly out. Likely to the cafeteria exactly like she said,"You too."
*