when i was a young boy i tried to listen;

[xuffasch]

WHO: xuffasch & technophantom
WHERE: some shady alley
WHEN: tonight
WARNINGS: ghost is a stalker
SUMMARY: ghost is keeping tabs on heroes; damian notices.
FORMAT: i will follow with whatever c:

There was no doubt that this was where Damian belonged, where he felt the most comfortable. The days were spent avoiding people or bothering them, following his mood; but he never shirked from this duty. Patrolling the streets, taking down anyone he knew to be doing wrong. It kept him on the right side of the line, gave him something to do. He'd been out for a few hours when he noticed a shadow across his path, a presence he couldn't quite put his finger on. And that made him angry.

He ducked into an ally, and waited to see if the presence would follow. His eyes closed behind his mask, his hearing keen.

"You'd better come out, now, before I make you."

Comments

[hacktivist]

It wasn't unusual, this, for people who had finely tuned senses and even finer tuned caution, to detect him even when he was being careful.

No use pretending otherwise; he drifted out through the brick wall to Damian's left, holding his intangibility for a second longer than necessary. People sometimes did things, when they were startled - or even when they just felt annoyed.

"Hello. You've got good hearing."

It was his usual tactic, to delay while he deliberated, to give no information that wasn't directly demanded, stonewalling while he organized what he knew. While he decided what he was going to do.

[xuffasch]

There's no real acknowledgement of that compliment as Damian's eyes snap open and he glances at Ghost with a derisive look. He finds Ghost rather interesting to talk to, and so he's a bit disappointed that he would try spying. Disappointed, but also curious.

"My hearing, like all my sense, is perfect. Which just means you were doomed to fail from the start, if you intended to follow me for long."

[hacktivist]

"Hm." Ghost shrugs, not even trying to excuse his behavior, yet--since no apology seems to be expected, he decides not to offer one of those, either.

"I'm interested in you. Your activities tonight resemble looking for trouble."

[xuffasch]

Ghost's frank manner is at once unnerving and refreshing. Damian would probably prefer it if the man was a bit scared of him, or at least intimidated. The fact that he isn't speaks to his character.

"Looking for trouble is what I do. And then I deal with it."

[hacktivist]

For his own part, Ghost is similarly impressed that Damian is treating him as though he were anyone else - most people were unnerved, either by the smell or his appearance or his speech patterns, or some combination of the three. Clearly this one's made of sterner stuff.

"I could help you. Teamwork is occasionally as beneficial solo activity."

[xuffasch]

Damian huffs dismissively, waving a hand.

"Teams only work when both members have something to contribute."

The question, or challenge, rather, is clear: What do you have contribute?

[hacktivist]

"Are you asking for my credentials?" There was a silence, then Ghost extended one of his gloved hands, a 3D light hologram of the outside of the Vulcanus base at Hojere.

"This base was once an imPort torture facility and native-metahuman-cultivating laboratory. It is no longer." This careful not-quite-confession is brought to you by acute paranoia.

"My specialties are technological in nature; I am not suited to combat. The same cannot be said of you, obviously you have had extensive training in self defense."

[xuffasch]

Robin looks this over, nose still in the air to keep up with appearances. But his eyes behind the mask were taking it all in, and the next tut he made was thoughtful rather than dismissive.

Finally, he nods, and then just waves an idle hand. "Defense is the least of my concerns. For my enemies, however, it should be the first of theirs."