Villainous Love (Closed for Armphid)

[Faux_Pas]

"...And taking a look at sports this evening, we have the final score of that extended game, double overtime, if you can believe that, Tom-"

"Oh, I think you need to believe something else tonight, Tom." The female voice that came through the earpieces of the three newscasters was unfamiliar, all three halting in their on air banter to place fingers against the pieces, Tom raising a hand to ask if the director was getting this feed. A nod was given in return, the director's own hand raising to point at the screen behind them. A video feed was coming through as well, a woman with a painted face, a giant grin on her face as she stood before an empty room, a single open bulb shining down upon her as she twirled and bowed. "Good evening, good evening, fair city! Tom, take a break. I'll be needing a moment with your viewing audience. Demographics, age 18 to 65? Baffo to you. Hello, everyone! Now, I'm sure you're all wondering just who this crazy woman is... Oh, I'm not crazy, not at all. Consider it genetics,dear city. Passed down from my father..."

"I recognize her now!," Tom gasped, nodding. "That's Barix' daughter! Remember him?!" "That lunatic that tried to poison the city?!" Anne, the co-anchor, suddenly sat up in her seat. "Your father is returning to the city?!"

The woman's face contorted slightly. "No! What? NO!" She glared at the camera, shaking her head. "This isn't about Barix!" "Ladies and gentlemen, we ask that you remain calm as this information continues to come in. We have exclusive information that Barix has escaped, and may be planning another attack upon the city- Miss, what else can you tell us? Are you working for Barix?"

Her face twitched even more now, reaching forward to snatch the camera off its base, the view of the room behind her changing as she paced the floor. "This has nothing to do with BARIX, you idiots! Listen to me! Why are you being so stupid?! I'm Marionette! Barix is gone, gone! Marionette, Marionette!"

"Barix' daughter, live with us this evening. Warning of her father's imminent attack upon Branch City. Marionette?" The screen had gone black. "Marionette?"

A quick flicker across the black, Marionette clutching the camera once again. "You don't seem to take me seriously, Tom... Anne... Perhaps a better example needs to be made." She stared into the lens, the smile curling upon her lips. "Best start thinking like Captain Hook, folks. Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock. Marionette's got some plans for you all... Something that Dad never thought of trying." Her smile dropped, a sneer taking its place. "Now back to you, TOM." With that, the feed cut off, Marionette tossing the camera aside and slipping across the floor. Her patience was shot now, gliding over to a workbench against the side wall. The typical villain's hide away. An abandoned warehouse. Not completely by choice, a hand-me-down from the man everyone seemed to compare her to. Dear ol' Daddy.

But he was all about the big explosions. Simply to make the fear. She didn't want to step out into dad's shoes. She wanted a name for herself. But why wasn't anyone taking her seriously?! Even her first attempt at a simple bank job-someone felt the need to point out she was using her father's former getaway van. The paint job she had attempted to give it didn't do very well to hid the giant X he had left imbedded in the metal. Fear over her father's believed "imminent arrival" almost made her forget her funds. Almost.

She needed to do something just for her. Just her own style. Something Dear ol Daddy would never, ever, have thought of....

 

[Armphid]

The newsfeed played in silence; the bluish light cast off by the flat screen television the only light in the spacious apartment for the moment. The figure watching it, light and shadow dancing over him as the images moved and the sound of the newscasters' reactions and Marionette's responses were all that could be heard save for a faint sound of autumn rain against the windows.

There were no lights on in the apartment because he did not need them. He could see in deepest dark as clearly as during the day; actually a little better. Darkness and shadows were his power; an inheritance from a mother he never knew, a fugitive from the Darkforce dimension who escaped to Earth for a time. He could touch shadows and shape them, mold them into different shapes, stretch them, make them 'real' and solid, or other states of matter. Shadows hid him better and more fully than others, hiding him even from cameras and other technology, even some super senses. He could even travel through shadows, if they were big enough. But his powers had limits. He had to touch shadows to effect them and he could not make darkness, only enhance dark and shadows that already existed.

The figure sighed, a man's voice speaking then, "You idiots." Marionette obviously had a plan to do something and they'd antagonized her further. And kept her from giving whatever clues she was about to. A hood or cowl was pulled back from his head, affixed to a wide, billowing cape. "You couldn't just shut up and let her talk. Honestly. There are times I wonder why I do this."

He was tall and had the build of a gymnast; strong and powerful while being agile at the same time. His tousled hair was an ash blond, his eyes were the grey of the sky before dawn, and full lips were in an aggravated grimace. His features were well shaped and clear, but not as sharp or strong as some others in his line of work and his skin was pale under his costume.

His costume was a fitted affair though it had a weave to help reduce the impact of blows and bullets and the vital areas had plates beneath. His outfit was not as armored as many; he counted on stealth and agility. Other than the billowing cloak it was sleek and streamlined; save for a belt that held a few pouches. His gloves went to his wrist but there were wraps on his forearms that made it look they went higher, as well as hid additional storage. His boots had the same look, though the wraps there were clearly belts buckled into place. The costume was mostly gray, broken up and given life and detail by twilight blue and purple. The hood had a rounded back when drawn up and seemed to have nothing but darkness within it, thanks to his powers, even when light was shined in his face. The cape had a ragged, irregular edge, and billowed and swelled as he moved. Perfect for making more shadows for his use.

Tenebrae, the Shadow Man. Defender of Arkham City and scourge of crime; the reason that criminals feared the night more than normal citizens. He had been a hero for seven years now and was still several years shy of his 30th birthday.

He and Blue Streak had a pool going on whether he'd make it that long or not. He'd bet against himself.

Tenebrae went back and played the disrupted part of the newscast again. Thank God for digital television. Barix' daughter. He didn't know much about her. She was beautiful; from what he could tell of her features under the paint. He also believed that she wasn't crazy and that she was dangerous. Probably more than her father, since he had been crazy and it could make him predictable in certain ways.

Something her dad never though of trying..."Maybe starting a theme restaurant? A career in the postal service?" Hey, one could always hope. So much for getting something to eat and some rest.

He pulled his hood up and felt the mantle he'd assumed fully fall on him. People who didn't live the life didn't understand the costume and what it did. It was armor, even if it wasn't armored. It swathed and girded you in your role and it made you larger than life.

Tenebrae walked out onto his little balcony and stepped into the shadow in the corner, traveling through the darkness between places. Marionette might not appreciate it but he took her seriously. He had to get on this thing now, before it got way, way out of hand.

 

[Faux_Pas]

"Idiots, idiots, the lot if them, fools..." Marionette sighed as she slipped out of her car; no longer driving about in Dad's old van (heaven forbid anyone else decide to take up the whole Oh No it's Barix crap again- she was liable to shoot the bastard in the head, and there was certainly no fun in the blunt approach...)

Blunt approach, however, was something that she was seriously contemplating for that damn news station. Obviously someone else researched their top stories for those parrots behind the desk. They based everything off what they thought to be correct, and refused to hear a new idea.

Reminded her of her father. She needed to stop that. Grinding her teeth, she stood before City Hall, shielding her eyes slightly from the starting to life streetlights above. The clock affixed to the front of the building, dangling from Lady Justice's scales. She smiled slightly at that, going to open the trunk of her car. Lackeys. That was one way dad had her beat. He had lackeys. She'd need to invest in those. How did one even get them? A Craigslist ad? The wording for that would be interesting indeed. She pondered this over as the two duffel bags were pulled free of the trunk, hoisting them up over her shoulders and heading up the steps.

She pushed her hip against the full panel glass door. No give. She grunted softly, stepping back to peer at it, then nodded, frowning. Well, no wonder. Locked up for the night. "Well, shucks. Guess I should just go home..." Her lips twitched slightly, starting to turn back around- Only to quickly kick her heel hard through the glass. "Oh look.Night hours."

The alarm was already sounding as she walked through the halls, waving her hands above her head and mimicking it loudly. "Briiiiiiing! Oh no! So scary!" She huffed again, continuing for the elevator. She stared at the doors for a moment. Contemplating. Walking was going to be awhile. Taking that, the cops could actually keep her contained rather quickly. But damn these bags were heavy. She hummed, debated, the finally jabbed her finger against the button. Oh, what the hell. She could find something to get out if she needed to.

The little ding seemed loud, even with that stupid alarm going off over her head. Slipping into the elevator, she rolled her eyes as the music STILL played even now. Girl from Ipanema. Seriously? She drew a breath, glancing back down to her bags that she'd deposited onto the floor. May as well start going through these before things get too... hectic. Squatting down, she began to rummage through them, now humming along to the song as she drew out her supplies- various explosives, a few knives, other objects settled about her as the elevator slowly climbed up.

The doors finally opened. Marionette stepped out with a smile, holding a smaller version of her bigger bundles, still humming away. Damn song. Stuck in her head now. The tune continued to leave her as she headed to the service ladder, climbing up to peer into the clock's inner workings. A bomb placed here, a few explosives there... The cord drawn down, back down, right over to the control box.Need to make sure she could get clear of it before setting that off.

"Tick Tock, Tick Tock." She chuckled, continuing her way back to the elevator. Time to grab her stuff and get out of here. Picking up her bags, much lighter now, she was back to humming, heading for the stairs. "Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema goes walking..." She paused in her movements, stepping back to peer into one of the corridors off the main hall, peering into it curiously. "And when she passes, each one she passes goes..." Her voice lowered slightly, a softer tone to her singing. "...Uh?"

She closed one eye completely, raising her hand to mimic a gun, "aiming" for a portrait of the Mayor at the end of the hall. "Kapew." She smirked, dropping her hand back down and laughing as she resumed her walk for the stairs.

 

[Armphid]

He melted out of the shadow into the real world and heard singing; he recognized the voice from the news broadcast. He'd gone out looking for her and found Marionette thanks to blind luck.

Which immediately made him suspicious.

Her voice was drawing closer. She was walking down the main hallway up here; should be passing his corridor any moment. "Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema goes walking..." She paused in her movements, stepping back to peer into one of the corridors off the main hall, peering into it curiously. "And when she passes, each one she passes goes..." Her voice lowered slightly, a softer tone to her singing. "...Uh?"

Tenebrae froze still in the shadows. He'd intended to jump her as she passed but the way she'd slowed...she couldn't have seen him. But she sensed his presence somehow. That hadn't happened in months. He had to respect that.

She seemed to shrug off her intuition then, making a finger gun at something down the hall and saying, "Kapew" before she laughed and moved past the corridor.

He smirked and drifted up the corridor and into the hallway as fast as he could. "Bang," he said softly. As she reacted, he went on, "I'm more of a bang man myself."

He made no attack yet, watching her closely, her very fine figure making it an easy task to do yet hard to maintain focus on. "Marionette, I'm glad I found you. Why don't we do something really unexpected and just have a pleasant conversation?" She was carrying a bag with her and it seemed like she might be on her way out of the building. Had she left something behind? "I know those idiots on the news got it wrong earlier but there's no reason the rest of the night has to be a frustration."

 

[Faux_Pas]

The painting spoke.
Well that was new.
Marionette soon back around, her painted eyes widening, her fake white skin matched by her own flesh color beneath as the man emerged from the shadows. Security? In that getup? Questionable. Not unless their uniform supplier was from Capes-r-Us.

No CAPES! The character from Incredibles suddenly drifted to her mind. Erma? Ira? Something along those lines. She'd have to look it up later. It would bother her for days if she didn't.

More important matters. Cape boy for one. She narrowed her eyes as he spoke, hesitantly taking a step back and adjusting her stance. He seemed to be attempting the calm approach, a man facing a crocodile. Slow and easy, hesitating steps. It was almost as though he didn't trust her.
Yeah, that was a wise idea.

"Really unexpected?" She repeated it back, slowly, mulling the words over upon get lips. "Just talk, huh? Talk talk talk. I tried talking, Shadow man. Look where that got me. Talking seems very pointless." She ran her tongue against her teeth, then hissed softly. "Idiots seems a kind definition... But to call the night a frustration... Oh, no. Not at all. I was working on relieving a few of those penny up aggressions the good ol' fashioned way. A nice little walk and making some art. Post modern expressionistic." She paused, glancing down to the little box in her hand. "But talking? We can try talking. But we do need to be... Quick about it. Art and inspiration wait for no one."

She smirked, licking get lips. "I'm running on a plan, a few ideas. Need to have a few now a days. Someone might steal it. Plagiarism. Accuse you of it too. No originality in this world anymore, you know that? Everyone its stealing something from someone else. You should be after them, y'know. Not me. The real thieves in this world. I'm just a girl wanting her own identity... Is that really so wrong?"

 

[Armphid]

This was working well so far. She was talking and she'd given away the remote in her hand; probably a detonator or release control. He'd have to try and do something about that.

But her comment about accusing him of plagiarism made his lips quirk into a smile under the blackness that his his face for a few moments. Her manner was somewhat fragmented but she wasn't. She had keen wits. "Might accuse yourself as well," he answered her. "Others have worn dark cloaks as I do before, very true, but others have worn pancake makeup and leather before too. Though few as well as you."

Wait. Why had he said that?

He moved forward very slowly and cautiously. He was sure she had more than a few weapons on her or in that bag. Just enough forward movement to get to the thin shadow of the remote's antenna. This would be very, very tricky to do...but the best outcome.

"Nothing wrong with wanting your own identity, Marionette. I think you have one already; a strong one and I've just met you." As he spoke he focused on the shadow of the remote and from there the shadow of her fingers on it; forming little tendrils of darkforce power. He'd slide them inside and keep the button from depressing if pushed first, then try to disconnect the battery. "I recognize you as an individual and a talented one. What would making an effort to prove your identity to fools accomplish? Are they worthwhile enough to know your identity?"

 

[Faux_Pas]

"Others have. But not quite like me." Marionette grinned with that, revealing the set of white that followed even inside her mouth, offset by the deep pink against her tongue. "We both have our hidden aspects. Steal an idea, try to make it our own. Everyone wants to be their own person. Or... Shadow man. Or, in my case, a freak in make up." She shrugged, still playing with her remote.

the compliment, however. What was that? An attempt to sway her thoughts?
It was lingering, that was for certain. Made her question him. Wonder about him. She narrowed her eyes, just a tad, as she pondered this.

"I have a strong aura." She nodded slowly, a solemn look to her features. "I met a psychic. Or something. Kept saying I had such a strong aura, overpowering. That it was a bit... lopsided. Not quite sure what that meant. But then he ended up lopsided too..." She grinned again, running her thumb up from her lip to the side of her cheek. "He refused to smile for me. That's just not nice."

He was trying to convince her. She knew all about this tactic. Good girls and boys get more friends, no one wants to play with the meanie- blah blah, tales she'd heard from her father, from the way he told his tales of other heroics attempted against him... Even heard it a few times herself when she was actually working for Barix. Trying to convince her not to follow in his footsteps. And look, she wasn't. She wasn't being a forceful barge-in-and-destroy-the-place type. She was being a sneaky, plotted, silent with a twist of her own flavor.

Like a Sprite.
Or Pepsi Lemon.

Damn 90's commercials. Leaving horrible indentations in her head that she just couldn't forget.

Where was she? Oh right, him.

"Of course you recognize me. I'm a threat. I'm the thing you don't want around here. But without me, what do you have? Nothing. You have a boring little city with idiots like that, running around continuing their ignorance, thinking themselves perfectly correct in every repeating mistake that they make. How they continue to be oblivious, and not realize how wrong they can be. Ignorance is NOT bliss. It's dangerous. Caving to the whims of the oblivious, to the ones who refuse to learn- it's not catering to the public. It's creating a world of idiots. If you don't show them the fault of their ways, they can never learn. It's like a puppy with an accident on the couch. Rub their nose in it enough time, they'll learn."

She licked her lips, then shook her head, tracing the remote with her thumb. "I don't intend to kill anyone. That's not the point. Death is not learning. it's the end of education. Destructive example. Comprehension from it being forced into their surroundings. That's what I want. I was my father's puppet for far too long. I plan to cut the strings of this city... Their reliance on others to fix what they've fucked up." She studied him for a moment, shaking her head. "Do you honestly enjoy it? Cleaning up after them? You do realize most of what you face is because of those fools... Because they simply don't take warning... You cater to them as well." She sighed, a soft sound as she closed her eyes. "They need to understand."

She pressed down on the button.
The explosives upstairs, nestled into the top of the clock... Any second.

Any...
...Second....

Her left eye slowly opened, peering down at the remote, then to him with a scowl. "I would suppose this is your doing?"

 

[Armphid]

There was something almost hypnotic about listening to her speak. Her voice was, well, it was wonderful for one. But the way she spoke and the bouncing nature of her speech drew him in.

Why did she have to want to be a villain? And be so crazy? It was always that way with the women in his life that he-

Whoa, hero. Dangerous line of thought there. She didn't want to kill, and he believed her, though he also believed she easily would. By her own words, she'd maimed someone for not "smiling" for her. And either way, she was still trouble in all kinds of ways.

Though when she tried the remote and glared at it and then him, he found the expression utterly charming.

This was not going to be an easy one for him. For a number of reasons, it seemed.

"Yes. I did want to talk to you but I was also sure you'd want to stall me to let whatever you had go off as much as I wanted to keep you here." He shrugged, the gesture seemingly at odds with his professional reputation. "But you're right. Only partly, but you're right."

"I do know that I end up saving a lot of idiots, and that there are stupid people out there who choose to live in ignorance." He took a tentative half-step towards Marionette. "But there are also people who are trying to make good choices and stand on their own but fear that they can't, or that get taken advantage of, or hurt. That's why I do this. If I can help one of those people, that's worth all the idiots to me."

So, what now? Try to capture her? He should. But he felt an odd reluctance to do so. "The police will be here soon; city hall's a place they get to pretty fast. What will you do now? I'd offer to take you in or encourage you to do so yourself, but I don't think that interests you."

 

[Faux_Pas]

"you'll only encourage them. How can they learn to stand on their own two feet if you're always there, always willing to help those who can't be bothered to help themselves..." She sighed, looking to her remote. "...And ruining the plans of those who CAN."

He was moving. She glanced over at him, barely raising her head, noting the change in position. "Hey now, big fella. Just because you killed my big boom, doesn't mean we'll be getting comfy cozy. I do like jewelry, but I think your bling might not be exactly my style." She gave a faint smile with that.

He spoke of wanting to help people.
Those taken advantage of. Hurt.
She couldn't understand why anyone would have compassion of that sort. Marionette knew the opposite of that. That the world was only full of people out to hurt you, and that you simply needed to beat them to the punch. Even her own father-

Wait a moment, he was still moving.

"Hold it right there."
He warned of the cops.
"I know what's coming. And I'm certainly not turning myself in. Thanks to you, the only thing I've really done is breaking and entering. Not exactly heinous acts there, now is it?"

She continued to watch him, confused on the fact he hadn't actually done anything to stop her, to take her down- aside from defusing her remote, somehow.

"If you really wanted to take me in, you would have done it by now." Her smile grew a bit more with that. "Whatever you did to my remote... You had more than enough chance, enough time. And you never took it. Why is that? Are you looking for a game...? Or is there even more to you than the cape and the shadows?" She dropped the remote, stomping down on it with a hard drop of a high heeled boot, pieces shattering upon the floor.

"There's a lot more to me, too." She looked over at him, taking a slow step forward of her own. "If you want to keep playing... To see what they all are..." She stopped directly before him, leaning her chin up just enough to be level with his jaw. "Then you need to let me stay in the game."

The sound of sirens caught her attention, quickly glancing back over her shoulder towards the bag she had abandoned. "Which would mean a hasty retreat right about now-" She snatched the bag off the floor, glancing back at him as she did so. "Think about this, hero. You talk about those who make their choices... but what about those who have none? Why do you think I took the name I did? Strings, Hero. Strings."

She slung the bag over her shoulder, heading for the window. "Maybe next time... We can play a little rough and tumble. I don't know about the cuffs. I don't even know your safe word...." She giggled with that, tossing the bag out, and following suit herself.

 

[Armphid]

"Bombs don't have to go off to be worth jail time," he answered a bit wryly. "You'll find that attempting to blow things up still tends to get people excited and you in trouble."

That had come out more warm than he wanted it to. The way she spoke made him want to smile; it shouldn't. For all of her charm, she'd still been about to commit an act of domestic terrorism and despite her claims there was no certainty it wouldn't have hurt anyone.

Despite her warnings, he was about to make a move when she spoke again, her smile widening and a slightly different tone entering her voice. He did stop now as she teased about not stopping her already because...she was right. He could have stopped her, grabbed her and tied her before this ever became an issue. With any other opponent, he would have.

So why hadn't he?

She took her own step close and he realized he was holding his breath. Her chin tilted up and she was so close he could smell her; a scent that was sweet and bitter with the heavy aroma of make-up. He should grab her now. Right now. And ignore the small, primal voice in the back of his head that was telling him to kiss her.

That would not help matters.

She was throwing her bag out the window, teasing him further, and he lunged into motion too late. As she tossed herself out of it, his hands grabbed where her heel had just been. "Marionette!" He hopped into the window, scanning for her, she had to be close by. "There are always choices. Make the right one."

Strings; did she feel she had to live this life? Was someone else controlling or ordering her? Ordering, perhaps, but control could exist in all kinds of forms. She talked about wanting to cut the strings of the city. Did she really just want to cut her own?

He dove after her. Despite his hesitation, he also wasn't about to let her get away. "If you want to cut strings, why not your own?" She moved with easy grace, managing the fall and landing. In contrast, he plunged to the ground like a dropped stone but rather than smash on the pavement below he dove into his own growing shadow like a diver into a still pool. A moment later, he stepped out of the shadow of City Hall itself, running towards Marionette.

The sirens were louder then ever and tires screeched as the police pulled up to the front and rear of the building. He grimaced; it was even odds for him if they'd talk or shoot. But there was a bomb still armed up there, even if the remote detonator had been destroyed. They had to be warned. Which meant Marionette...damn! "Another time, Marionette. Maybe you'll learn my safe word then."

He ran past her and out of the shadow of the building, to the front where the police were starting to move forward. His motion drew their gaze immediately and they turned their weapons on him. He dove again, this time into the shadow cast by the statue of justice and came up behind them, out of the tallest cop's umbra. "There's a bomb in the clock, Marionette set it. The remote's gone but it's still armed. Send the bomb squad in first."

 

[Faux_Pas]

She had heard him.
She hadn't wanted to, she hadn't even intended to stay as long as she did. The plan had been that if anyone showed up, she would bolt as soon as possible. That had been, of course, if the 'anyone' was an overweight, overage, underpaid security guard. Not Mister Cape and Shadows.

He was the one that could seemingly move without moving. Not her. That was one hell of a fall. She didn't know how to fly.
Cordlines. Slight of hand.
Magician's tricks.
But none of them were enough to block words.

Why had she even said it? Why did she let him even get a glimpse into her head like that?
Choices...?

He shouted to her once more as she took to the ground, his own form vanishing into the shadows that hid him so well. She was starting to get it. That's how he did it, wasn't it? He was somehow- That quickly-

"I wish it was that simple."
He was there already, a stride taking him to her, a push of those shadows that housed him. She tried to study him, the cowl that he wore, the face hidden beneath. The sirens were getting louder, a panic building inside her.

He let her go.
Disbelief held her for a moment, watching as he ran off to the swarming police. Not to take the decision lightly and chance him changing it once more, she was quick to be on the move. Abandon the bag. Abandon the car. Just get the hell out of there. Not much left to them anyway; the bag, simply notes on the hatred of Barix, scribblings of her head when it ceased to stop at night. The car, a mere stolen thing. No huge loss there.

Well, not for Marionette, anyway.
Her other side was going to be pretty pissed about that.




Another news report was on that night.
The two reporters that angered her were no longer on screen.
Marionette smiled softly as she curled on the couch, the makeup gone. Marionette was merely another half to the person sitting there now.

Alex. Just Alex.
She wondered often times why her name wasn't shortened to Alexa. Why her full name wasn't Alexandria.
Alexander.
Her father had wanted a boy. He was adamant on keeping everything as it had been, as he had planned. A plan can't stray. Fuck genetics. That's a boy.
A kid couldn't slow things down. Her mother was a mere sidefling he had, a henchwench he had met at some point.

"Don't fuck up my plans, kid. Just do what Daddy tells you, always do what Daddy tells you."

Always.
Alex hated it.
She truly, honestly, hated it. She wanted to have a normal life. How normal could things be, growing up in random warehouses, some abandoned factory, some delapitated home his men managed to find.
No school.
"Homeshooling" from her mother. Or the guy who refused to be called anything but "Uncle Rook" and wore a gas mask.

She managed to make it into college. It took a lot of work, something that shocked even her. Her father had left her with madness, absolutely. But it seemed a part of her wanted to surpass him in any way possible.

Barix did his jobs based on his strength and his brute force.
Alex. Marionette. Had different intentions.
Brains.
Both in her common life, and her... 'night life'.
Alex knew she was smart, but was so pressured by her father's thick will that it was impossible to break free...

"Marionette and Tenebrae can be seen here on security footage, taken from within the upper floors of City Hall. It's believed this associate of Barix was attempting to destroy the building to protest the current life sentence of the madman, only to have been thwarted by Tenebrae. How she evaded arrest is still currently under investigation."

"They got my bad side," She pouted, flicking the spoon now covered in ice cream at the screen, the words uttered by the reporters taking a moment to truly register. "Wait- They thought-" She stopped, then gave a shriek, hurling the remote against the screen. "What's it going to take?! What the hell do I need to do to get any of you to listen to me?!"

She was going to need a new television.
Taking a deep breath, she simply rolled over on the couch, choosing to sleep there than even attempting to go to her small apartment's bedroom. She was simply too tired... And besides, there were classes tomorrow.

 

[Armphid]

The cops had been pissed and not happy but they had been smart enough not to blow him off and go charging into city hall. Tenebrae had not stuck around for more than that; he had good working relationships with certain cops but the policy of the department was still that he was a dangerous vigilante who should be brought in.

Before they could recover enough to remember than and make him kick their asses, he was gone into the shadows of their squad cars. He rose out of that of the building, where he'd last seen Marionette. She was gone, as he knew she would be. But she'd left behind her bag.

He knelt down and pulled up tools of shadow to carefully poke at and then open it, just in case it was booby trapped. Not much inside and a possible treasure trove all at once. There were notes there; Marionette's writings? He'd have to check later.

He picked the bag up carefully before making his own escape, on foot at first, before diving into darkness and moving through the Shadowscape again.

~~~~~~~~~​

He got in just before the late news, clicking it on as he pulled down the hood of his costume and yawned, stretching his arms as he set Marionette's purloined bag down. There had been a few minor things on his way across town to stop and that was good but overall he felt...disturbed by tonight.

Marionette was so spirited, so lively, and despite her obvious intent to cause destruction, she hadn't acted malicious at all. Had that been an act or a ploy? Or was this really about making a philosophical point?

If it was, he had an idea who she was trying to make it to. The little bit of her scribblings he'd looked at here full of Barix and not in a positive way.

He pulled open the hidden closet where he kept his gear and started to strip down, hanging the garments carefully. Three other costumes hung there, he did rotate through them when they weren't being cleaned, super heroing in one of these outfits was bad enough sometimes, let alone in one that had a three day funk going.

He wish he had more changes, hell, more equipment period. But he didn't have the deep pockets that some people who did this had. Most of what he did have in the way extra costumes and that were gifts from said folks within the hero community; those who knew his financial circumstances and wanted to help out.

He tuned back into the news as they began to report on tonight's incident. The early 20's wonder flopped onto his couch wearing only his boxers and sighed at the feeling of laying down. His body was fit and trim; frequent use and training sculpting him into agile, lean, muscle under sleek skin marred in a few places by scars of close calls and near lethal wounds. It wasn't always easy being The Shadow Man.

"Marionette and Tenebrae can be seen here on security footage, taken from within the upper floors of City Hall. It's believed this associate of Barix was attempting to destroy the building to protest the current life sentence of the madman, only to have been thwarted by Tenebrae. How she evaded arrest is still currently under investigation."

He blinked and then groaned, "God...damn it! No one mentioned Barix but you assholes!" He should have known better than to expect them just to say what happened; they had to speculate. He looked up at his darkened ceiling, frowning as the anchor went to to talk about Barix's continuing captivity. Something about that...she wanted to establish her own identity she said.

He got the feeling that being called "this associate of Barix" wasn't what she had in mind. Would this push her into something more drastic?

He closed his eyes and shook his head. Think it over tomorrow after class. College student Kyle Moon had schoolwork to focus on.

And he really did need to get cracking on his thesis at some point this year...really, it was amazing he'd made it to his senior year, but still...he did want to graduate...sometime...

 

[Faux_Pas]

"Uugh." She was exhausted, but knew better than to let it affect her too much. Stop for coffee on the walk in to classes. Already she was regretting the abandonment of her car last night, but to let it stick around for too long was simply begging for trouble. Trading the plates was at least going to buy some time before the cops attempted to trace it. A smirk pulled at her lips as she sipped her drink while entering the main campus doors, overhearing the bitch of a Human Biology teacher complaining about how someone had stolen the plates off her brand new Escalade.

Alex made her way to the library, pushing her glasses back up as she slid into one of the seats, tugging a book on Psychology from her bag and settling in. There was still that exam later today, and then the assignment for Creative Writing. Her head wasn't exactly in the best spot for that; working off the rush of last night and all, but if she was going to keep her grades up, she would need to at least try.

Well... There were a few ideas brewing in there...
Though she wasn't sure if those were such a wonderful idea to be bringing up in class stories.
Another story about a magic kitten, then. That would work. Anything too over the top, too adventurous or possibly pushing the lines of her own other interests- that would make it far too questionable. She might be insane. but she was also not an idiot.

Diffusion of responsibility. Simply reading it made her recall last night, how Tenebrae insisted the people needed him. He didn't seem to get it. The city had become to reliant on him. They needed to learn, to understand... They no longer cared. They expected him to come save them. They lost any sense of responsibility over their own lives, their own fates. They had the control to change it, and they never even tried.
They didn't have to wait for him.
They didn't need to rely on him... on Anyone. They had the strength to do it, to do what she couldn't.

"You will always do what Daddy says, won't you Marionette?"
"I don't want to do this anymore, Daddy..."
"We all have to do things we don't want. I never wanted you, but I kept you, didn't I? Don't be an ungrateful little bitch, and do what Daddy says."

She shivered, the thought of her father's voice in her head causing her to slam the book shut, sliding it into her lap and taking a deep breath. Alex was exhausted. Far too little sleep last night, far too much concern on what had taken place. Shoving her book bac chair, making her way back to the library's entrance, nearly colliding with a group of senior guys. One gave a light laugh at Alex's lowered gaze and mumbled apology, scoffing as she moved to the opposite door.

She didn't get it either.
How her demeanors changed like that...
How the clothing, the way she held herself, all changed so easily.
A voice inside her was mocking her even more than that guy. Weak, pathetic girl. He laughed at you. You should rip his tongue out through his throat.

But she was late for class. That would only make her later...

 

[Armphid]

"So, no, I haven't gotten too much into it," Kyle shook his head as he and a few of his fellow Psychology majors stood in the foyer of the main library. "I've narrowed the topic down but it's hard to find a lot of good information, let alone make an experiment."

Research into super human psychology was a natural interest of his, being one, and having met lots of heroes and villains in his time. He even knew a lot about it but how did you put that into a thesis that could be supported? It's not like he could just say, "Well, I'm Tenebrae so I've met all these guys." It was just as unwise to try to talk to some of her heroic acquaintances and ask to interview them or have them fill out a survey.

As the group of seniors moved further into the library, they almost ran into a slender, pretty girl with her head down, glasses on her face, dark hair, and a bag bulging with books. She murmured an apology and darted around them. Derek, one of the other seniors snickered.

"Hey, don't be an ass. Like you've never run into anyone before," Kyle snapped. Whether he was the Shadow Man or himself, he hated being just being dicks for their social hierarchy crap. Besides, he recognized that girl. "I'll catch up with you later."

"Hey, wait," Derek said, "Don't be such a stiff! I didn't mean anything by it."

"Didn't you?" Kyle was already moving out of the building, looking around for...there! He lengthened his stride to close the distance between them, "Hey, miss? I'm sorry about that guy; he's kind of a tool. We should have been watching where we were going."

He smiled, waving a little, "You're in my Creative Writing class, right? I don't think we've been introduced, but I'm Kyle. You're...Alex, right?"

 

[Faux_Pas]

She was too lost in her thoughts, arguing and berating herself for not responding the way she should have, to even notice that one of them had followed her. It wasn't until he spoke that she even realized, spooking slightly and turning around, her bag clutched tightly before her. "Huh? I- What?"

Oh. His friend. Alex shook her head, trying to dismiss it. "No, it's fine. I'm used to it. Really, no big deal." Her gaze lowered again, recalling more of her father's own insults and scoffings. His friend was no different, no worse than anything she had already heard. "I wasn't paying much attention either. You guys were right there, and I was going too fast and..." She trailed off. She was rambling. Stop talking, stop talking now!

He remembered her. That caused her to glance up again, surprised at that. "Yeah. I- I sit in the back right corner..." She took a moment to look him over, recalling him even more now. "Kyle. I.. I know." Oh great, now she was going to come off creepy. "I remember from- our first day. You'd be surprised how good my memory can be." A hesitant smile came with that. "Alex. Yeah. That's me. Alex Werner."

He knew that already, too. He'd just said it. Idiot! "I'm sorry," She mumbled out again, shaking her head as the nervous smile grew, quickly looking back to the floor. "I guess my head was all over the place right now, and you kinda spooked me, and I'm... I'm rambling. Sorry. Again. I should stop that too. Sor- uh.Wait." She frowned as she closed her eyes, sighing a little. "I'm not doing well at all here, am I."

How could she do all the things she did at night, and be a skittish thing like this in the day?! She didn't get it either.

 

[Armphid]

She was so nervous. Was he intimidating her? He might be looming again. The physical mannerisms of being a super hero could stay with you sometimes; he had a tendency to loom if he wasn't watching it.

The nervousness also made her cute, which she was already, but that probably wouldn't be a constructive thing to say.

"Kyle Moon," he responded. "And I did kind of ambush you here," he answered with a shrug, "so I think you're doing fine. That's happened to me too, thinking about something and someone busts in on your thoughts. You're at least being able to talk, I usually just kind of stare like I've never seen a person before. The deer in the headlights look isn't a very good one; yours is better."

"I'm flattered you remembered my name, Alex." He wasn't sure exactly what he was doing here. Making up for Derek being a dick, yes, but what more than that? Just being friendly? "For what it's worth, I think you do the best work in our class. When we do that reading aloud share thing, I mean. Seems like you're holding back sometimes but you write really well."

Yeah, he wasn't sure what he was doing either. Part of him said he should just apologize again and take off. "Uh, are you heading to class? If not, maybe I can buy you lunch or something to make up for my, uh, acquaintance being a jackass?"

 

[Faux_Pas]

She forced a smile, still trying to clutch to her bag to keep her safe somehow. He had a presence to him- nice, certainly, but... Large. It was hard to explain. Something that made her want to cower back even more. Damn nerves. She hated how different the two sides of her could possibly be in a day... Thank god her father wasn't around to see this. "I have a lot on my mind in a day," Alex confessed softly, glancing up at him, that smile turning more genuine. "Oh, no. Deer in headlights. That always leads to trouble. For both the deer and the person mimicking them..."

Alex reddened slightly as he thanked her for recalling his name, glancing away briefly. The added compliment on her writing left her unsure on what to say in response. She had heard his writing as well, things she would listen intently to, things that the others in class were listening to... but barely acknowledging. "I'm afraid to say too much. There's things you can have in your head that you don't want to share. Everyone might think... you're crazy or something. Those thoughts that are best kept to yourself."

She was sharing too much. He didn't care on that stuff! Alex cleared her throat, drawing a breath. This was getting... strange. Maybe she should get going. Maybe she was holding him up. She could go find an empty classroom or something, hang out in there for awhile, try to clear out the now infuriated voice of her father screaming at her from the back of her mind. Apologize. Apologize profusely. Do something to soothe him; smash a few things later today or something. Maybe a good destructive romp through the Museum or-

"Huh?" Alex snapped out of her thoughts abruptly as Kyle spoke up, Class? Class! "Um, No- No, I don't have anything else right now... I could- Lunch? Um." She shifted slightly, considering this. She was rather hungry, having simply run to the college this morning after nearly oversleeping thanks to the night prior. And a chance to be somewhat 'normal', sitting with a guy and having something to eat? "That... Yeah. That would be nice. Thanks, Kyle."

He's only going to make fun of you. He's going to dump the food on you, call you a loser, let his friends laugh at you. Alex drew a quick breath, trying to ignore the sudden thought, the sudden voice of her father hounding her. Let Marionette handle him, you little shit. She'd love to show that other dumbass a taste of his own medicine. Come on. Get the fuck out of the way. Let Daddy's little girl take care of things.

"I'll just need to grab some tylenol really quick. I've got a bit of a headache going..." Headache?! You little bitch!

 

[Armphid]

He should be thanking her. This was nice, pleasant in a way he normally didn't get in his life. A little slice of, well, normalcy. No crisis, no fighting, just grabbing lunch and getting to know someone a little better. "There's a little stop and rob up on the corner this way," he gestured up the street that led away from campus and to the main drag of the university area. "You can grab something for your head and we can choose a place from there. Your call on eats; the sky's the limit...up to 21 dollars and 42 cents, anyway."

Kyle smiled at her as he started that way. "I know what you mean about not being able to not share everything though." He shook his head. "There are a lot of things I write about or want to write about that...well, no way to say it in class without there being trouble." Mostly about the rest of his life as Tenebrae; his adventures, his losses, his conflict, the whispers he heard in the shadows, the temptations, and the way it took over and dominated everything about him. Half the time he felt almost like the Shadow Man was the real person and he was just a mask the hero wore.

"Hopefully though we can both find a way to get that stuff out of your heads, you know? Maybe it just takes the right audience." The young man shrugged, "I'd like to think I can share that secret kind of stuff with someone someday."

"Heavy conversation for lunch, right?" He glanced over at Alex, shadowy eyes that were used to picking up on physical cues scanning her. She was timid and...afraid of something, not him, it didn't seem. "I can also understand if you don't want to talk about yourself with a strange guy, so...ah! What were you looking up in the library?" Seemed like a good place to start.

 

[Faux_Pas]

"Sounds great." Alex was actually getting comfortable with this. It really seemed it wasn't some type of joke, an egging on by one of his friends to see how far he could get her to agree. No one had stepped out from behind anywhere, he hadn't broken into giggling fits or made any snide remarks. he was actually... interested in hanging out with her.

She was almost unsure on what to do next.

"Sometimes it's when your imagination gets going too far that you realize.... There's a lot of weird stuff buried under those cobwebs." She laughed a little at that, the sound tapering off quickly. The way he phrased his thoughts on it hit rather deeply with her, an affirming nod and glance given to the taller man beside her. "Maybe. I'd be afraid to share too many of my- out there... thoughts with someone. You can only give away so many of those out of the ordinary bits before you go from 'quirky' to 'absolute nutjob', y'know?"

"Nutjob, huh? If only he knew, right, kid? Care to tell him what you did last night, huh? Or how 'bout when Daddy showed you what a crowbar can do to someone's-"

"Psychology." She spat the word out quickly in response to Kyle's question, in regard to her studies. "I have an exam coming up soon, and I was trying to memorize everything. So many different quirks to people out there. So many things you could never guess by looking at them. Aaand we're rolling right back into that...." Alex laughed, shaking her head and taking off her glasses a moment, cleaning them against her shirt before slipping them back on and glancing up at him. "Maybe... Maybe food is a better discussion. I'm always good with the standard burger and fries. How about Mac's? I worked there back in high school. Thankfully, they changed their theory on Year Old Grease cooks everything best."

The little store he had suggested was now right beside them, Alex pointing at the door for a brief moment, then smiling. "Be just a sec," She noted softly, then hurried inside. Grabbing a bottle of tylenol and plunking it on the counter, she found that the smile was staying even longer now.

Even if this wasn't anything more than an apology for his friend... it was still rather nice. Kyle was the first guy to really talk to her without making her feel too uncomfortable- or be trying to get into her father's good graces.

"I don't trust him. Something about him just ain't settin' right wit' me."

All the more reason Alex DID like him.
Paying for the bottle, she was soon back outside, shaking it gently and smiling to Kyle. "There. I just pop a few of these at lunch, and I should be all set."

 

[Armphid]

He couldn't help but grin as Alex cleaned her glasses, "Yeah, we do seem to be hitting that one note pretty hard." The young man shrugged, "But I'm in Psychology too so it may be we're both just thinking about those kinds of things a lot." And having some of them, in his case, at least to a minor extent. If putting on mad clothes and risking his life to attack evildoers wasn't a cry for attention or help, then what was?

"Mac's sounds fine. If you worked there and will still eat there, that's a pretty good recommendation. Though my Year Old Grease levels are a little low...maybe I'll swing by Cluck-U for dinner though." He nodded and gave a little wave as she headed into the store.

What was he doing?

Kyle leaned back against the building and looked out at the traffic in the street, not really seeing it. He had meant to apologize to the girl and make sure she was all right, then leave it at that. Then he'd recognized her and now they were going o have lunch. So...what was he doing? This wasn't just check on a cute girl.

They'd only been talking a little, but she was cute in more than just appearance. The way she'd talked about her writing, psychology, her deeper thoughts, it was very appealing. But this wasn't about her, but him. What was he doing? Was it just an apology? Getting to know a classmate? Flirting?

It better not be flirting. He wished he could have a relationship and it had been over a year since...best not to think about it. So it shouldn't be that.

But was it?

Hell. He turned and smiled as she came back out of the convenience store. Maybe this just was what it was and he shouldn't worry about it. "Good. I've had enough head splitters to know it's not nice going around and doing anything when your brain's trying to rattle loose in your skull."

He let her lead the way to Mac's; he'd honestly hardly ever gone there for one, and for another, if they knew her, all the better for her to take them in. "So, are you far enough into Psych to know what you want to focus on or do? I'm trying to study superhero/villain psychology as my focus...not that there's a lot of that which isn't just supposition, but still...it's fascinating. What about you?" As they reached the door, the made an effort to stride a bit ahead and open it for her.

 

[Faux_Pas]

"He's going to figure you out, you keep talking like that."

Alex didn't want to listen, not to the voice embedded in her head from a man she knew was locked away in prison. A voice that continued to haunt her, put there only by her own imagination, all the things he had said to her since she was a child. There was no one talking to her, no one harassing her. She knew that. She knew it. But why did she let it continue to bother her?

"What are you going to do when he puts two and two together about you? You're not fooling anyone. You can't have a normal life like you keep whining for. You're nothing but a mess. A freak. There's no such thing as normal for you. You keep trying to figure yourself out, but there's nothing to figure. You simply need to accept it. Accept me. Us. What you are..."

The sudden voice beside her, a real voice- It made her jump, her smile returning quickly in a sheepish nod. "I guess I was thinking too hard earlier. Suppose I should take more breaks between study sessions..."

Once inside, she was happy to find a booth, settling in and listening to him as he inquired on those studies. A shrug started to come through, her gaze falling to the table in a slightly widening stare as he explained his own reasons for taking the class.

She could hear her father chuckling.

"I'm not really sure," She replied slowly, shaking her head. "There's just- with all the weird things we have in this city, all the... odd people that seem to come out of the woodwork here. I suppose I just want to know what makes them tick. It's easier to know what your facing, the things you're afraid of... If you can try to find a logical side to it all. Everything- all of it... Even that Tenebrae guy can be scary. Some of the things the police say he can do... A man who appears in the shadows. I- I don't know." She frowned, playing with her napkin as she tried to find the right words for it all. "It just takes one little push for someone with a distorted view of the world to pull even more in one direction or the other. I guess I want to see what can cause those pushes."

A waitress. Oh thank god.
Alex shyly placed her order, refusing to look up from the table any higher than the notebook the woman carried. She found it so hard to look others on the face. Once the drinks arrived, she quickly popped two of the pills in her mouth, gulping them down with a pull at her straw, then looked back over to Kyle. "Okay," She sighed softly, a finger playing with the outer rim of her glasses. "We seriously need to find a new subject here. We just left the school.. and we keep ending up talking about the things we study!"

Her smile was hesitant, trying to study him without LOOKING like she was studying him. A hard thing to manage, to be certain.

"I guess I don't know what to do on a date."

He never said this was a date.

"Not that- this... I mean... I've never really gone out with a guy. Not that we're-! I mean... Oh god, maybe we were better off talking about our classes..." She grabbed her drink again, taking an incredibly long sip as she stared at the table, a deeper shade of red taking her cheeks.

 

[Armphid]

Their interests in Psych were on the same track, though in different ways. The way she spoke about it convinced him it was a deep interest for her and...something more as well. She did feel a need to know what made people like that tick, on a personal level, it wasn't just interest and curiosity.

He did smirk a bit when she said Tenebrae was scary. That felt good in a way that worried him. It was part of the point of the whole outfit and gig to be scary, Foreshadow had really laid that out for him early on, after he'd just put on a costume for the first few times. You had to be scary, to put fear into people who were often doing evil out of fear themselves; fear of other men, of poverty, of not being street enough, of whatever drove them to crime. You had to be scary enough that their fear of you was enough to make it a deterrent.

But he didn't like that it scared girls like Alex. She had no reason to fear the Shadow Man.

He just listened as she spoke; her eyes moving over him and pausing here and there, as if she were studying him. But that had to be his imagination, maybe a little wish fulfillment. When was the last time any girl had-

Then her 'date' comment went flying out and he blinked in shock before Alex tried to recover and turned bright red, though that shade intensified and deepened as she took a long drink, as if she could somehow suck back the last 30 seconds and make it like they'd never happened.

"I have to say this first, and I'm not trying to be a jerk, you are so cute right now that it's a crime." He wasn't trying to tease her; she was genuinely adorable in her embarrassment.

Kyle sighed, "You know...I was wondering before we came in here what this was myself," he offered with a slow smile. "I mean, it was just wanting to check and see if you were all right and apologize at first, but when I asked you to lunch...I wasn't sure why. I know part of it is that you're cute but still, why go to this step?" He reached one hand out to gently poke one of hers with an extended forefinger, "So, this doesn't have to be a date if you don't want it to be...but I'd be all right with it if it was."

Oh, boy. This could be a real mistake. But he just...he couldn't stop himself.

"So on a date, or a not-date, with a pretty girl, I'd like to talk about her and get to know her. And share a little about me too." Kyle leaned back in the booth to create space between them; being a superhero had taught him a lot about body language and he didn't want to be threatening in any way right now. "How about movies? I don't want much tv except on Hulu or Netflix anymore, I can never up with a show, you know? But I like to watch movies. I like comedies mostly; ones where I can turn my brain off and just enjoy but that aren't too stupid. I like a lot of older movies too; eighties and seventies stuff."

He shifted his position enough to make eye contact with her, if only for a brief moment. "How about you?"

 

[Faux_Pas]

Alex's face gained an even darker hue of red when Kyle called out just how flush she had become. Cute? Awkward, out of place, completely unsure- those all fit, in her mind. But cute? Not on her list of likely terms. The cup met back against the table, glancing at him for a moment. She was trying to find the right words to reply to that.... And lost them all the moment his hand.... Mere finger... Touched her.

Panic.
Ohgodohgodohgod what do I do?!
"Well. Knew this was gonna happen. Why not let Marionette take over and use that steak knife there to remind him to keep his hands to himself, huh?"

She ignored that as best she could, instead giving another smile. She head worried that he was going to say he regretted it. All of this so far, with the way he started that. But to instead hear he was enjoying, though just as confusedas her on why it was happening- it certainly lowered her nerves. Her hand started to open at the little prod he had given, wondering if maybe she should try to take it, hold his hand or something.

He drew back. Spread himself out. She let out a breath. Okay then.

Movies. Alright. Better topic.
"I don't watch many shows myself, either. The few that I've caught just seem repetitious of things that were out before, or relying on some type of stereotype to find an audience... No, I'm happier with the old black and white films, actually. Charlie Chaplin, Abbott and Costello... Or old horror movies. I'm a sucker for those. Legosi, Hitchcock... They seem cheesy now, I suppose, but they hold a true... Feeling to them."

This was going a bit better now. Alex was breathing. Not hyperventilating.

"Other than that, I like to check out museums... Just window shop on weekends. College life, y'know? Can look but not afford to touch. Even daydreaming can be too expensive at times." She sighed, then laughed, shaking her head. "Guess that's part of the reason for college, huh? Afford all the things afterwards, that you wanted during."

 

[Armphid]

She'd tensed up a lot when he touched her; her whole body went rigid. He wouldn't do it again then, without more of an invitation from her if such mild contact drew that kind of reaction. There was also a visible reaction as he reduced his immediate presence. Alex was a tense girl, no doubt about it. Some people just were that way, of course, but it made him wonder if something had happened to her to make her that tense.

He nodded at her comments about college life. "I hear you. I try to keep a pretty tight budget but things get rough sometimes. And I do a fair bit of looking at things I'd like to have but know I can't afford too. I think most of us do." Unlike her, his situation may not ever get better. His 'extra-curricular' activities wouldn't be compatible with most jobs out there in the real world.

Kyle shrugged, "I don't get a lot of time where I'm not studying," or out doing the Tenebrae thing most of the time, "so my interests kind of end there. I read when I can; fiction though I like to read history books too."

He stayed leaned back and away, looking out over the restaurant and then back at Alex. "I've never watched a lot of the old black and whites. Psycho, naturally, and one Halloween some friends and I watched the old Bela Legosi Dracula. Maybe I should check the older flicks out more; I've never watched any Abbott and Costello. But I think I know what you mean, that Dracula movie was goofy in some ways now but it had a kind of...charm and simple grandeur about it."

"The gesture and the drama too, those are fun. I guess hold overs from when it was all stage acting." He tilted his head to one side, "Any suggestions for movies I should check out?" He almost asked if she wanted to watch some of them together but given her reaction earlier that was way, way too forward.

 

[Faux_Pas]

"Window shopping is a college student's best friend. That daydream of things you want to buy after you graduate... But then, paying off all these bills are going to be the first big problem." Alex smiled a bit with that, playing with the straw in her drink. She was finally starting ot warm up with him. Something about him gave off a rather.... frightening aura, but it was most likely her whole fear of even being alone with someone-let alone a guy! One of his friends might show up at any second, or one of those girls who liked to harass her every day, or-

"You know my thoughts on all that." Not now. Just... Just not now. Things are actually going semi-decently, don't you even try to sneak your way into this and mess with my head. You can do all you want tonight with Marionette, I just don't want anything to do with it right now. "Ohhh, a free card with the wild card? I like that plan. Very well. Go play Little Miss Innocent. But you better be ready for tonight. I have plans."

She drew a breath, glancing back to him once again. She had missed a bit of what he had been talking about with that whole spat with the not-really-there voice of her father. She forced a smile, a touch lost for a moment on what he was talking about, but the return to the old films made the smile grow into a more sincere version.

"The old versions are just so much more interesting. Yes, exactly! The grandiose air to them. Bigger motions, and the way they carried themselves. I guess now it would possibly be seen as overdoing it, but I just... I loved it. They weren't afraid to call the attention to themselves. It made their characters that much more... amazing. Scary, in the case of Dracula and Frankenstein. As for Abbott and Costello.. They're cheesy and silly. Buffoons. Marcel Marceau, Charlie Chaplin... They were strange, but amazing. Some of the things that they were actually capable of... Those movements. There's actually quite a bit of grace to their silly motions." She took a sip of her drink as he asked on suggestions, idly speaking as she drew the straw away. "Maybe you could come over some time and watch a few of them. See if you like them or not."

She paused, staring down into her cup for a moment. Had- she just... actually said that? "If... If you want to or anything, I mean. You know."

He had just asked on what to watch! Of course he was looking for some to view- but, well, that didn't mean he wanted to watch them with her... But he was still talking to her, so maybe he was trying to ask that... but...

A plate was suddenly put into her line of vision, a soft sigh leaving her. Oh thank god.

"You know, it's funny...,' She started, reaching for the bottle of ketchup at the side of the table. "...I think this is my first time ever actually coming here with someone else. I tried to come here a few times with my father, but... Well. He was always way too busy with projects of his own, or telling me he had more work to go do. I guess that's part of what surprised me when you offered to join me. I always figured people were too busy to actually sit down like this. No one ever has time for someone else anymore."