Back-up

[able_cain]

Her orders tonight are simple. Rather than take a certain part of Gotham as usual, she's to make almost a full-sweep. Things have been weird lately, more than normal, and he is worried.

Just a quick stop. See if they're okay and keep moving. She understands what he doesn't say. He worries. Things are unusual. Unpredictable. He has to be

Comments

On the prowl

[scream_and_cry]

"Oh, Alice?" Dr. Crane is not averse to wandering around Gotham City at night. What does one have to fear about the dark, after all? "Where are you, you silly little girl? You have much paperwork that needs completing."

Crane sighs. His "secretary" Alice Logan ran off during the day, and he's been hunting her down ever since. What triggered this episode? Flashbacks to her encounter with Hush? LSD-style regressions from her exposure to fear toxin? Realisation of who she's working with? "I know you're somewhere near here, Alice. One of the doormen at that horrible little club saw you running by..."

He's not actually concerned, and he knows he's talking to himself, but she is a decent secretary, if a little clingy. And she's apparently headed off down this alleyway. "Don't make me wear my mask."

Re: On the prowl

[able_cain]

A bat-shaped shadow, and Cassandra is in front of Crane. She's heard that he's pretending to be legit these days, but trust is earned, not given.

He's moving like a predator, or rather, someone who fancies himself a boogeyman. And whatever his words may say, his body isn't lying.

"Turn around, Crane. Go home."

Re: On the prowl

[scream_and_cry]

Crane halts, puts his hands in his pockets, and then smiles. "Well, well. There's a blank face I've not seen in quite a while. Where have you been, Little Miss Bat?"

Dr. Crane's smile widens, as he rocks on his feet. "I think you'll find I'm just on a constitutional. I've committed no crime, so I would ask that you don't obstruct my path."

Re: On the prowl

[able_cain]

"Vigilante, remember?"

It may be hypocritical, but she doesn't work within the law anymore than he does.

"Who's Alice?"

Re: On the prowl

[scream_and_cry]

"My secretary, if you must know. She decided to go for a jog, and by the looks of it got lost. I felt like doing the decent thing and decided to bring her home." His face turns cold. "If I catch her I may fit her with a leash, to prevent any further upset and worry the likes of which she's caused myself and Mr. Nygma this evening."

"I presume you have heard that the two of us are now in the private investigation business. All very legitimate, I can assure you. But this does mean I've been unable to stay in touch with old friends..." He takes a hand from his pocket, and drums his chin in thought. "Heard from the Joker, lately?"

Re: On the prowl

[able_cain]

She suppresses the shudder.

"And the mask?"

She won't let on how much she heard, but she has more than enough reason to be suspicious of Crane.

Re: On the prowl

[scream_and_cry]

"Come, I'm hardly wearing it. It's in my hand, yes, but it acts as a comfort blanket... These streets are dark, and dangerous." He looks down at the mask, and gently touches the burlap with his other hand.

"Sometimes a man needs a crutch when in such perilous areas. I'm sure you'd agree. What of your mask, Batgirl? Does it not fulfil the same function?"

Re: On the prowl

[able_cain]

Covered eyes narrow.

"You're going to make a mistake soon, Crane. And we will be there."

She begins to step backwards into the shadow, looking more like a boogeyman herself than Crane at the moment. But then, that's what it's about. They both know how to manipulate fear.

[_darkknight_]

Batgirl steps backward into the shadows and bumps against solid muscle and Kevlar. The vice-like grip about her covers her mouth, and straight up they go, carried to the nearby rooftop accompanied by a sound - a high-tension line being retracted - as familiar as the grip around her.

[able_cain]

Her first instinct is to break the grip--a quick flex of her body shows where to push to knock away her attacker.

Yet memory and reason take over first, perhaps due to his training, and she does not fight against him.

[_darkknight_]

One they're on the rooftop, he loosens his grip but queries in a hiss, "I can name at least three people who would have killed you getting that close. Don't let your defenses down that easily."

[able_cain]

She hears the scolding, and takes a deep breath. Not out of exasperation, but out of focus. He's right. She let herself get too caught up. She should have heard him behind her. It was a careless mistake.

[_darkknight_]

The towering figure of her mentor stands, arms folded, and murmurs, "Report."

[able_cain]

"Catwoman is...tired. Overstressed. If Black Mask is not taken down soon, she isn't going to last anyway."

It isn't pleasant news, but he needs to hear it.

"Dragon's dojo has been undisturbed. Bludhaven is showing nothing unusual for Nightwing, and I did not find Robin."

She points down to the alleyway, signaling what she feels is the big news.

"Crane's secretary. He's done something to her."

[_darkknight_]

"Crane isn't rehabilitated. It's a matter of time." Batman's expression never changes, and his voice has no taste of satisfaction to it. "Whenever Catwoman allows someone close to her, like Bruce Wayne or her sister, she grows fearful and stressed. She'll survive. She's stronger than you think.

"Nygma met with Harvey Dent. If Catwoman is tensed, so is Dent."

[able_cain]

"It isn't closeness. It's anticipation. She wants it done, and will take the fight to him herself if he doesn't move soon."

She struggles for words to express what she could see in Catwoman's rhythym and movements, the tensions and stresses and where they led. Since becoming a part of this world of words, she has felt limited. And confused. So much more can be understood when the words are left out.

"Should I go observe him?"