Gilbert Kinkaid Walker (veryperceptive) wrote in dc_nextgen,
@ 2012-12-15 02:24:00

Entry tags:

Chance meeting (for Zoe and Thomas)
The turnovers at this diner were still delicious. Not, of course, Uncle Jed's level of deliciousness, but delicious. He and Zoe were, for once, actually talking about academics on one of their 'study sessions,' because, well, broad daylight. Less chance to break out the stick and whatever Zoe wanted to practice her markswomanship with.

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	zoe_torres 2012-12-16 09:09 pm UTC (link)
	Zoe was hungry for carbs and finishing off a plate of fries. Academics was not her best subject, but daylight meant she had to play it safe. Fries helped her keep her mood and not tease GK by admiring flamingo lipstick. (Reply to this)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-12-16 09:53 pm UTC (link)

As much as any non-Alfred made turnovers could be good, these ones were. Which is why on this next visit to Star City he'd decided to drop by. Only reason really he'd found this place the first time at all was that it'd been near to where he'd done some thug-beating with Sliver. It wasn't a bad spot either, edge of the Triangle meant it was safe enough while he was still close enough to respond to anything and hear a few things he wasn't supposed to.

He noticed GK and Zoe once he'd entered, but pretended not to as he waited in line and considered what to do. GK being Sliver had meant a full bat-style background check which had certainly been...interesting. Zoe, he guessed, was the partner GK had mentioned before, but without seeing her 'in costume' he wouldn't say for sure.Of course she'd gotten a background check too, not as extensive as GK's though. Well, no harm in conversation, might bring up something vaguely interesting. Besides, it was more suspicious if he ignored them.

So after he gets his turnover and starts walking towards his seat, Thomas seems to recognize them and makes his way over with a friendly smile. "Hey! Didn't expect to run into you here? How's it going?"

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	veryperceptive 2012-12-16 10:14 pm UTC (link)
	And it's the Intense Gothamite. The first one. GK blinks, making extra sure not to stare because he just doesn't want to deal with that. "Oh. Hi. Thomas, right? Doing all right. What brings you to town?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-17 01:28 am UTC (link)
	"And why this part of town?" Zoe added. Because rich guys, GK not included, only came down this way for reasons that kept the two of them busy after dark. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-12-17 01:31 am UTC (link)
	"Yep, Thomas. Business and..." He holds up the turnover he just bought. "Turnovers." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-12-17 01:34 am UTC (link)
	"They are some really good turnovers," GK concurs. A little surprising that word of their deliciousness had gotten around quite so far, but they weren't really that far from GK's own place, he supposed, and the guy had to know people in Star who might skirt the edges of the place. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-17 01:41 am UTC (link)
	Zoe nodded just once, still deeply suspicious. But GK wasn't wigging out, so whatever he might be seeing, getting laid or jacked up on the latest drug wasn't it. "Pull up a seat." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-12-17 01:43 am UTC (link)
	"Thanks." Thomas goes to do just that, and clarifies as he sits down. "Business in town, not in the neighbourhood. Came by only for the turnovers." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

veryperceptive
2012-12-17 01:48 am UTC (link)

"Glad they're getting the reputation they deserve." Nope, no quick jonesing leaping out at him. There are wheels in the back of his head, admittedly, abut Gothamites and their intense psychological issues, but he lets them turn slow and quietlike.

"Hope the business goes well. Please don't feel the need to burden a simple artist with the details, though. Grandma has People for that." He smiles sheepishly.

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	zoe_torres 2012-12-17 01:59 am UTC (link)
	"I'd watch out here after dark then," Zoe advised. "They'll think you're here for another kind of business." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-12-17 02:01 am UTC (link)
	"Don't worry, won't do that. Most of it's dull to even the old hands," he chuckles. "And noted. No showing up here after dark, the business gets shadier. Bad as the rumours of it say?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-12-17 02:05 am UTC (link)
	"Depending on the quality of rumor, generally yes." The door to the diner opens again. GK found his eyes drawn to a bundled-up figure opening the diner door. Other people's being sissies against the chill made him feel tough. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-17 02:38 am UTC (link)
	Zoe glanced over at the new arrival out of habit. Also out of habit, her hand strayed to pick up the knife next to her plate. "It's been better lately, but still not safe." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-12-17 02:41 am UTC (link)

There's no indication from his eyes or any body language that he notices the knife move. But he does and had already surveyed the environment for how to best make and blocking, deflecting and counterattacking the stranger look clumsy and like an accident. In case of course, and strictly out of habit.

"How good are rumours ever really? But good to hear, Gotham's a bit like that now."

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	veryperceptive 2012-12-17 02:47 am UTC (link)
	And GK's staring a little too long, and "...Zoe, do you know that guy?" he whispers, his confusion clearly far beyond Zoe's reaction, which he's quite used to. Because an explanation would be nice as to why Zoe's being okay is among this guy's gold letters. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-17 03:06 am UTC (link)
	She took a closer look. "No. Wonder what that coat's hiding. It's ugly and it's took big for the weather." Because seriously, it wasn't the North Pole here. And why would she even care it was ugly? Too many shopping trips with GK. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-12-17 03:22 am UTC (link)

Thomas picks up on their conversation and does what's socially expected, turns to look at who they're talking about. Giant coat was suspicious and it wouldn't surprise him if the man was armed, but it was hard to tell, and given these two and GK's powers seeing something the rest of them couldn't...well, perhaps he'd need to do some accidental clumsiness that made a good attack after all.

"Suspicious guys around this part of town I guess," he half-shrugs.

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	veryperceptive 2012-12-17 03:25 am UTC (link)
	It was, indeed, an ugly coat. He'd be proud of her later. "...he knows you. He's ... worried about you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-17 03:58 am UTC (link)
	She nodded to GK, acknowledging his words and giving him a little shrug. "I need a closer look. Maybe he's from the neighborhood." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-12-17 04:13 am UTC (link)

Even if he couldn't hear what was said, he could lip read very well. This was certainly interesting though. GK's mental-ish meta powers (he still wasn't sure what they were) had picked up a connection there with the rather suspicious guy, but nothing confirmed. Thomas takes another inventory of his surroundings in case of a confrontation, he couldn't pull out any of the toys on his belt given the current company.

Now if only they could see the man's face...

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	veryperceptive 2012-12-17 04:19 am UTC (link)
	And when the guy received his coffee and lowered the collar of the coat to drink it, they got a look at the scruffy old man, but GK had never seen any such person before. Not that this was shocking. His experience with especially scruffy people had all been in more recent times than most. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-17 04:27 am UTC (link)
	Zoe stared rudely, but it couldn't be helped. She'd seen the guy once before. He'd made some creepy comment about her mom and tried to offer her a job. She might even still have his card. "I think he's an old client of Mom's." Her doubt was obvious. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-12-17 04:42 am UTC (link)

Thank you Alfred for acting lessons. Because without them it would've been hard not to betray his thoughts here.

Deadshot

Fuck, this was bad. Known assassin with a screwy code of ethics was right here. On scales of bad, this wasn't good at all.

Thomas quickly does a rundown of the number of civilians in here and which were first in the line of potential fire, while he keeps thinking. Nobody in here was this paygrade of assassin worthy, and his only connection to anyone here was the girl Zoe. But if this guy was in here just for coffee...he couldn't let this sort of lead get away from him.

So Thomas takes a breath, leans back in his chair, stuffs his hands in his jacket pockets casually, and shoots the other two a relaxed smile. "While you two talk, I think I'm going to get another turnover." He gets up and starts walking to the line nearby where Deadshot was, and looks away from where he's going to ask them, "Did either of you want anything? I can-" And his shoulder bumps into Floyd Lawton's as he passes. "-oof. Shoot! Sorry about that sir, did anything spill? I'll get you another coffee, I'm really sorry, should've been looking where I was going." As babbles a little, playing the part he's set out, he grabs a napkin off a nearby table and pats down the parts of the jacket where coffee's been spilt.

It's really an excuse for two things. Thief-trained sleight of hand to get some bat-trackers on the guy and so that he's close by, and the first in the line of fire should anything happen. It was easier to fake slipping and falling turning into a well placed kick than anything involving projectiles anyway.

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veryperceptive
2012-12-17 04:56 am UTC (link)

GK remembers the discussion of who might or might not be an old client of her Mom's. Last summmer, the stalker.
As for Thomas, he doesn't notice anything, not being aware of ridiculously completist bat-files, much less that Thomas was one of the people studying such things.

And then...

Thomas is apparently doing an amazing job at being both klutzy and dumb. Or... the words Shield people. What the heck, man, What the heck.

"It's fine, kid," Lawton says gruffly. Waving them off though he doesn't apparently pick up on the tracer's being planted. He gets a few napkins, and heads out, catching Zoe's eye and nodding just a little.

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zoe_torres
2012-12-17 05:06 am UTC (link)

Zoe was just as baffled as GK over Thomas' behavior. The slight nod at the old guy's exit made it seem like she might know something, but she really didn't. But maybe it was time to dig out that card with the phone number and get some answers. It wasn't like she didn't have back up this time if she needed it.

The knife made a casual reappearance on the table next to her plate. "Gonna have another turnover?"

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	cantkeepmeout 2012-12-17 05:09 am UTC (link)
	When the guy leaves Thomas turns to them and sighs. "That's what happens when you have too much coffee I guess. Jittery caffiene hands meets not looking where you're going. So...sure you two don't want another turnover?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-12-17 05:13 am UTC (link)
	"...I'm full, really." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-17 03:23 pm UTC (link)
	"You didn't have that much coffee," Zoe pointed out to Thomas. "And you weren't jittery when you sat down. Something in here spook you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-12-17 03:26 pm UTC (link)
	"You clearly didn't see my coffee machine this morning." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-12-17 08:28 pm UTC (link)
	"Let's acknowledge between us that today is a weird day, okay? We all know it." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-18 07:18 am UTC (link)
	"I want to know who that guy is." Zoe turned to look after the old man. "Yeah, it's a weird day. Order some turnovers to go. You'll want one in the middle of the night." Meaning, of course, that she would be the one up and looking for a snack. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-12-18 07:48 am UTC (link)

Thomas shrugs and gets some turnovers and returns. And doesn't do what tv says he should. Which is make a lame hurried excuse to get out and follow Deadshot suspiciously. No, he sits there like he has plenty of time and enjoys his turnover. Chasing would be too suspicious and a guy as good as Deadshot would notice. The moment he was free he could follow the tracker from a distance.

"Are you just going to ask him?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-12-18 07:58 am UTC (link)
	GK pauses. "Thomas, sorry for the abrupt personal question, but, trust fund baby to trust fund baby, did anyone ever try to get you to see a shrink? I had to go once or twice." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-18 04:15 pm UTC (link)
	Zoe recognized that GK was trying to change the subject. She /should/ shut up. She even tried. She failed. "You know any better way to find out who he is?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-12-18 05:08 pm UTC (link)

Thomas shrugged again. Civilians didn't know things, so he shouldn't. "Not unless you know someone who knows him. He seems odd though, like the type to steer clear from usually."

To GK he raises an eyebrow. That was certainly an odd and personal question. So he just wings the answer. "Yeah, some things, including in the company, require that. You know, IQ tests and psych evals and such. At least the guy doing it was nice enough, I've heard some horror stories."

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veryperceptive
2012-12-18 05:30 pm UTC (link)

"Yeah, the mental health industry in this country is totally corkscrew." Well, if it was just a random martyr complex, either the regularly-scheduled people would do something or they wouldn't. But a lot of coincidences have piled up about intense-yet-insecure Gothamites who know where the good turnovers are, and GK doesn't know what to think about that just yet.

"Well, Zoe and I were about to head out."

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	zoe_torres 2012-12-18 05:46 pm UTC (link)
	Zoe sighed. "He's going to make me study." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-12-18 05:52 pm UTC (link)
	"Well good luck then," Thomas chuckles. "For that and finals season and all." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-12-19 03:03 am UTC (link)
	Oh, it was finals season, wasn't it? "Thanks." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-19 07:03 am UTC (link)
	Finals? She was supposed to take on online. Maybe she'd better check the schedule. That would really blow her cover if Mom discovered her main focus wasn't in getting an education. "You guys can always hang out here for awhile and bond over the turnovers." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-12-20 02:06 am UTC (link)
	"Sounds like you're the one who needs more turnovers," he chuckled and got up from his seat and gave them a friendly wave goodbye. He had a high-grade assassin to track today. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-12-20 02:35 am UTC (link)
	"Okay, he's got a martyr complex," GK says quietly as soon as they've gone their separate ways with Thomas. "What are we going to do?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-12-20 07:13 am UTC (link)
	"I think I still have that guy's card. From when he offered me a job and I thought he was looking for a pick up. We could just call him and ask him what the hell he's doing." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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