[ 009; video; locked from Norman and the Joker, just in case. ]

[bedeviledspider]

[ The video flashes on to show Reilly in his apartment, sitting at the couch, staring at the camera. Alone. ]

Has anyone heard from Ben Reilly recently? 'Cause I haven't. And he hasn't come home in a while. I'm starting to think...

[  He puts his head in his hands. ]

No, I'm-- I'm sure of it. He's gone.

[ Disconnects. ]

Comments

[pacifisted]

[He almost doesn't say anything, but, well. Reilly spoke to him first. He can return the favor.]

I can look for him, if you have something of his.

If you need to be sure.

[bedeviledspider]

[ Like ten minutes later... ]

I'm pretty sure. Still, let me look.

[pacifisted]

I'll wait.

[bedeviledspider]

[ Enjoy that picturesque view of the couch and the sounds of things being rustled through, Trowa. ]

Uh-- I've got a jacket. Why couldn't he leave the bike.

Will that do?

[pacifisted]

[He's sat through worse, believe you me.]

It will be fine.

Location?

[bedeviledspider]

We're--

I'm in the MAC. Let me give you the apartment number. [ and pretend it is here whatever it is ]

[pacifisted]

I'll leave now. Be there soon.

[Aaaaaand he's off.]

[ action? ]

[bedeviledspider]

All right.

...Thanks.

[ And so Reilly sits and waits (and secretly mopes) until Trowa comes. ]

[ action ] works for me~

[pacifisted]

[It takes him a while because, well, it's cold out. But going fast and being unrestricted to traffic helps.]

[Knockity knockity!]

[bedeviledspider]

[ He leaps for the door, although he manages to compose himself before opening it, giving Trowa a well-practiced look of stoicism. ]

Hey. I... forgot to ask your name, didn't I. Sorry.

[ And he hands over Ben's leather jacket. ] Here it is. What are you, like a psychic or something?

[pacifisted]

[He sees Reilly's look and returns it with one of his own. He's willing to help Reilly out, for now, but that doesn't give the guy friends-rights. Therefore: mostly-blank-face.]

No problem. Call me Trowa.

[He's not about to go into the apartment without being invited; the hallway works just fine anyway. He takes the jacket, staring down at it for a few seconds before flicking a glance Reilly's way.]

And... not quite.

[He tilts his head. Should probably give the guy a warning. Never know who knows what about other people's powers, anymore.]

Just don't scream.

[bedeviledspider]

[ If he had any idea what was about to happen, or that he forgot to invite Trowa due to his distraction, Reilly would have dragged him. Alas, he did not. ]

Don't worry about it. I don't scream easily.

And, uh-- it's Reilly. Reilly Tyne.

[ He took a step back. How bad could it be? ]

[pacifisted]

[Probably for the best.]

Reilly. Understood.

[It's not as harsh as some, but it's still a little freaky to anyone who hasn't seen it at all, let alone in person. Trowa's dark-colored clothes seem to fade and re-shade themselves to a much lighter tan, sinking flat against the skin and bursting out into thick fur. Muscle and height rapidly pile on out of nowhere, and after a few contortions that look like they ought to be horribly painful but really aren't, it isn't a boy standing there anymore--it's a huge beast trying not to scrape its head on the ceiling of the hallway. The whole thing takes a few seconds at most.]

Scent.

[It raises the jacket, and sniffs. Hi!]

[bedeviledspider]

[ It's certainly not what Reilly was expecting. At least, judging by the wide-eyed open-mouthed expression on his face. It wasn't fear, really, just surprise and confusion. A lot of surprise and confusion. ]

How-- no, never mind. I probably don't want to know.

[ Confusingly enough, he'll probably pick up an identical (aside from a few very subtle differences) scent from Reilly and the jacket. Might be a father-son thing, might be an odd fluke of clone genetics. Who knows. ]

[pacifisted]

[Not being set on fire, yelled at, run from, or called names is pretty comforting, and equally surprising as it probably is for Reilly, since the creature looks from left to right before pausing as if expecting something to happen. When nothing does, he leans forward, bending down to sniff at Reilly's head, too.]

...Hrn.

[Seems unable to make up his mind about something.]

You move. Back there.

[Gestures with a claw.]

[bedeviledspider]

[ It is all quite odd, and try as he might, he can't keep up the stoic facade long enough to hide it. Looking quite bewildering, he does as Trowa says, and moves back and to the side. ]

...Uh, okay. Sure.

[ Well. At least it beat getting ordered around by a demon. ]