LOG CATCH UP

[goturheart.livejournal.com]

WHO: Slade and Hush
WHERE: Creepy warehouses
WHEN: UHHH during/around the time all this zany porter stuff is happening
WARNINGS: IDK nothing. Though, prob gon' be a lot of violence and stuff.
SUMMARY: Home videos and sadists having lovely chats
FORMAT: Whatever



Since his arrival, Hush had been rather “quiet” in the community (no pun intended). It wasn’t as if he lacked any significant tasks to do, in fact, it was far from it. A new place, new people, new epidemics… things he wasn’t familiar with. This called for drastic measures and planning. While he oh-so-wanted to tear apart that which infuriated him now, he had to hold back. He was a surgeon after all. Life was like an operation; it required careful procedures, any slip of the knife could shut down all vitals. The means of his operations were not useless.

Elliot was already somebody else. The signature bandages mummified his face, as this new appearance would certainly require healing. He did indeed love being the great “Bruce Wayne” for a day, but he foolishly outed himself too soon. His fury got the better of him. Now… now he had things under control. Already, he’d made somewhat of a new alliance with “Odysseus.”

Additionally, he was in the works of increasing his financial gain as well. How unfortunate that he was lacking here, but it was hardly as awful as it had been prior to his arrival. Now he was able to start anew. Casualties would be involved, as it was related to the extendability of life.

However, he first needed to strengthen this alliance. As of now, it was the only one he had that he could confidently say was something “close” of trustworthy.

Though he didn’t trust anyone.

So Thomas Elliot waited in the warehouse for his supposed "comrade." He wasn't certain regarding any specific expectations. He was however, willing to use this monstrosity of an ability if it came down to it. The thought sickened him... but everything happened for a reason. For now, it would be a tool.

The coaxing words of his mother echoing through his head. A failure. A disgrace.

This is what drove him.

Comments

[wantsapprentice.livejournal.com]

Slade was a full hour early to the specified rendezvous point, having already intended to scout out the area and make sure it was secure. Of course, it helped that he'd already made a bit of headway in this city's underground - not as much as he might have liked, but progress was progress. He had several projects in the works already and fully expected to reap the benefits of his industriousness in the coming weeks. For now, though, he was satisfied, patient in the face of success he knew would come. There was no room for doubt or hesitation - he simply made decisions and acted upon them. In his line of work, such assertiveness was essential and could make the difference between profit and failure or, alternatively, life and death.

Thus, he was fully prepared for his meeting with Hush - the only one in the city whom he'd found to have any sort of potential for this sort of business. The man had passion for what he did, at the very least, and Slade could respect that. However, reason was the rock upon which Slade stood, the force that drove his every action. After all, who would know better than he did the price of letting one's emotions get the better of them?

He didn't look back, though, focusing on the here and now as any good businessman should. Slade watched Hush's approach, concealed from view as he made his assessment. He waited a few minutes, taking note of the man's appearance (bandages, really - but who ws he to talk?), his stance, the possible locations of concealed weapons, and a few other things. Then, once he was satisfied, Slade emerged from the shadows, appearing in much the same way Batman himself might have chosen to. He was wearing his standard attire, having forsaken the anonymous black outfit he'd worn during the time of Robin III's imprisonment. He was letting Hush see him as he was, well-aware that the black and orange mask would most likely be readily identifiable if the other man ever chose to squeal. It was a calculated risk, though, especially since one of the Titans already knew his name. He was giving nothing away here except what he chose to, and that wasn't very much to begin with.

"Hush." It was a statement of fact, not a question. "At last we meet."

The words carried across the room, softly spoken but strong, cool and smooth like the oily blackness clinging to the walls.

YOU GOT ME JUST AS I WAS GOING TO BED DAAAMN YOUUUU

[goturheart.livejournal.com]

Tommy could feel the hair on the back of his neck prickle at the sound of the voice. It wasn’t one he was familiar with, nor did he necessarily see him from the start. Yes, the movement and the concealment were very similar to Batman’s. It was somewhat irksome that he wasn’t able to arrive first and in turn, be the observer, but at the moment, he was going to have to take his chances.

He turned around, facing Slade. Casually, he slipped both hands into the pockets of his beige trench coat, as he was silent for another moment, observing. “Odysseus.” His voice was low, coming out in somewhat of a breathless hiss. It had no particularly recognizable structure or tone. Instead, it was a decrepitly empty voice. His entire being was timeless. Dr. Thomas Elliot, the miracle worker. He was capable of turning back time with a scalpel. Sculpting the human body created justified feelings for those who received the surgery, but he saved the best of his work for himself. Just as easily as he’d crafted his face, he was capable of doing so with his voice as well.


Elliot gave a nod to the man, taking a step closer. His icy blue eyes focused in on the unfamiliar helm the man was wearing. Why was he hiding his face? The problems with masks were they always left the options of anonymous identity. There was the chance that he did indeed know this person and that all of this was a trap. At the thought of this, he felt a familiar tingling sensation in his fingers. No. Not now. Not now.

“You mentioned business,” he finally began. “So I am assuming we’re here to execute some sort of productive exchange.”

ASDKLFASHDJKHASDJK SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG MY COMP AND MUSE-SWITCH ABILITIES SUCK

[wantsapprentice.livejournal.com]

Slade almost smiled at the tone and posture, noting the affectation with something not unlike amusement. The emptiness that seemed to emanate from this man was a lie. Even through text, Hush had been unable to hide his passion, the rage and hatred he felt regarding the wrongs he'd suffered and the perpetrators thereof. The ice he wore was a mask, just as much as the bandages he'd chosen to wrap his face in, and thus subject to penetration, revealing the inferno beneath. Such was not the case with himself, the coolness without merely a reflection of a deeper, deadlier cold within - the kind that burned.

He did not return the nod, giving Hush a moment to assess him just as he himself had done. It didn't seem as though Hush recognized him, just from his body lamguage, but it was difficult to tell with hte entirety of his face covered. Still, Slade was fairly certain at this point that Hush had never met his alternate; his earlier assertion that he rarely paid attention to what others were doing seemed to support that.

Satisfied with that conclusion, Slade let Hush initiate the conversation, and as expected, the other man got straight to the point. Fair enough, he thought.

"We are." He spoke with ease, a confidence that allowed for no second-guessing or self-doubt, and when he moved, it was reflected in his very steps. "However, before such 'productive exchange' can begin, we must - as businessmen with very specific, personal," he stressed the word ever so slightly, "agendas - come to know each other better. So please," he pulled up two chairs, one for Hush and one for himself, "sit."

NONONO IT'S OKAY BB. NO RUSH

[goturheart.livejournal.com]

((ooc: OH GOD IT'S LIKE 5AM so sorry if this makes ajsifas sense. ALSO, I won't be able to reply for like a week 'cause I'm barreling off to New York BUT I WILL TTLY REPLY WHEN I GET BACK FO SHO and you can assume Hush is just creepering around with Slade or just being a genuine creeper when I'm gone))

The calm, almost elegant demeanor coming from the other man was of some consultation. At least he wasn't tainted with the qualities of some, much less desirable, characters he had acquainted himself with. On the other hand, it also meant that Odysseus was not a complete idiot and thus, wouldn't be won over as easily. One of the more redeeming qualities of those whom he worked with before was the fact that they were utter pushovers. They only bathed in the satisfaction of being rewarded with the enjoyment of deviance, which, Tommy could entirely relate to at times. However, he had a reason for everything he did. In the end, it all related to the thematic idea of "purpose."

For a moment, Hush eyed the chair almost with contempt? Though it was hardly readable. This seemed far too casual. For someone whom he'd never met, why was Odysseus so calm and informal with his mannerisms? That, and Hush simply disapproved of not being in control of the situation. That was only due to sheer arrogance on his part. Nevertheless, Hush sat down. This was necessary after all. "Knowing" each other. Simple enough.

"What exactly is it that you want to know?" The inquiry was equally as hollow as his other words, though there was still no underlying second guessing or doubt in his tone. He wasn't about to spill out everything, and some of what he said would perhaps be an "exaggeration" so to speak. Hush was good at both lying through his teeth and pushing away from the truth. Though, he would need to be a bit more cautious with this one.

HAKFDSHSAKDJHFKJHSADKJ THIS IS SO LATE I'M SORRY ;o;

[wantsapprentice.livejournal.com]

Satisfied that the other man had accepted the offered chair, Slade lowered himself into his own, regally almost, as though his mere presence could make it a throne. It was simply the way he was, the man behind the mask cultured in ways that would have shocked his enemies given the sorts of things he'd done. Still, it seemed as though he wasn't completely alone in that. Hush, at least, was well-read - few who led the sorts of lives they live were. He was rough around the edges, of course, but perhaps...perhaps.

"About you."

The statement was calmly spoken, in the same quiet tones as before, but just as with everyone he did, there was purpose in it. Slade did not expect Hush to tell him his life story - he didn't even expect a truthful answer. However, whatever Hush chose to say would tell him something about the man himself and give him a better idea over what to expect from him. It was very likely, of course, that he would be questioned in return, but he was perfectly prepared for that eventuality. After all, one didn't ask such personal questions without being ready to answer them - a lesson Robin III had yet to learn.

Soon, he thought to himself. Soon...

NP BB ILU FOR TAGGIN AND I BEEN GONE ALL WEEEEK SO THERE HAS BEEN NO HURRY OR ANYTHIN

[goturheart.livejournal.com]

It could have been irksome, the unreadability of "Odysseus," but Hush had dealt with his kind before. In the end, they all had a weakness. Each and every one of them would fall to their knees at some point, and Tommy needed only to find that particular level. Though, it would come in time. The two of them lacked any real history, and they were thinking of building monuments on the simple unified fact that they both hailed from Gotham, and had a distinct distaste for "bats."

Hush was silent for another moment. His icy gaze continued to drill into the man sitting across from him. He maintained his posture, not even twitching a finger through the duration of their conversation thus far.

"What about me?" He finally hissed. "You know who I am, where I come from, and by this point, I can only assume that given your intelligence is as high as I'm gathering, you've discovered what drives me as well. Or do you need me to further articulate?"

YEAH I KNOW BUT IT'S NO EXCUSE FOR ME TO BE LAZY

[wantsapprentice.livejournal.com]

For the second time in just several minutes, Slade found himself on the verge of smiling once again. He couldn't help it, really - Hush's reactions were so poignant, it was hard not to. It was different from dealing with someone like Robin III, or even Raven, but there was still something almost endearing about it. And naturally, the man had a point. Slade had figured out a great deal on his own. However, conversing through text was very different from exchanging words face-to-face - it was personal in a way Slade rarely bothered to be, simply because most people in the world tended to be fools and not worth his time. That fact that he'd even asked for such information spoke to his regard for Hush, though it was unlikely the man was aware of it.

"I have." Smooth and unperturbed. "Sometimes, however, it's better to go straight to the source with questions of this nature."

He wouldn't press for more details if Hush didn't want to give them - he had what he wanted already.

"Is there anything you want to ask me?"

It was a casual question - and yet another ruse - but he was curious about the answer to this one.

PFFFT SO IS THE LIFE OF RP NO SHAME NO SHAME

[goturheart.livejournal.com]

Apparently the answer was satisfactory enough. Despite the fact that they had a very similar mindset, Hush wasn't about to spill his life story to anyone. His story was one built on his own personal philosophy and decisions. Besides, as Hush, it was better to maintain his unlabeled status for the time being.

"If you want any specifics, you're going to have to ask." Though, this didn't necessarily mean he was willing to share. Of course he would provide an answer, but that didn't mean the truth would be told.

"And no." The retort was steely and unwavering. Getting personal would create excess baggage, develop false implications of comradery, or otherwise inspire less than desirable relations. Though, there was one attribute about this newcomer that was growing slightly bothersome: the mask. It was highly unlikely that he knew who this person was and he wasn't very forgiving when it came to trickery.

After remaining silent for another moment, he finally spoke. "I am however, going to need your word that we have not met before this."

*SO. MUCH. SHAME. SO MUCH.*

[wantsapprentice.livejournal.com]

Slade accepted the answer silently, having expected something similar when he'd asked. In truth, Slade really wasn't all that curious about Hush's life story - or at least not in the sense Hush was probably thinking of. He was curious about the world from which the man had come, so similar and yet distinct from his own, so any information Hush had would be welcome in the that regard, especially when dealing with others from that particular reality. Still, he couldn't fault Hush for wanting to keep such detail to himself since they hadn't been conversing very long. He would keep the semi-invitation to ask more in mind, though.

"Noted."

Calm, cool, and collected as always, Slade's mouth quirked slightly when Hush backtracked. Apparently, the man did want to know something, though he hadn't phrased it as a question. It was a curious demand, one that probably had something to do with past dealings Hush had had in his own world. He'd been duped, possibly even betrayed by former partners. Slade had no proof of this, of course, but it seemed to be the most likely explanation. Was Hush afraid of it? That they really had met before and that Slade was planning to double-cross him? Possibly. Still, it was too early in the game for such things, and since Slade really hadn't met the man before, any question of 'second-time' betrayals was a moot point. It was no skin off his back to provide the reassurance Hush wanted, either, so he indulged him.

"You have it."

The words came easily enough, the honesty there if Hush cared to pick it out. Slade had nothing to lose from it, and there was no harm in establishing some basis of trust, however superfluous it would prove to be.