all these things must come to pass [complete]

[ornithophobia]

Characters:  notexcalibur, ornithophobia, ih8spiders , alphaspider... Also stalwartcane and only7percent . And now with Action seizeyoursouls.
Location: Commercial District
Rating: PG-13ish.
Time: August 10th.  Late afternoon, nearing 5pm.
Description: England's turn to take his medicine -- and a certain person happens onto the scene afterwards. Our villain finds this a serendipitous turn of events, but... In the immortal words of

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[notexcalibur]

It wasn't as though England asked to be put in charge of organizing groups to watch for Jonathan Crane. There were plenty of other people who knew more about the man than he did. And yet, England felt that this mini-project had breathed some life into him for the time being. It gave him something to do, made him feel useful. Certainly, he did not like standing around and watching innocent people get hurt. There was not much he could do, especially not without his partner. At least, for now, he felt like he was helping. Even if it was just a little bit.

At 4:44 on the dot, England left Death by Pastry to check in with the current shift. He had been doing this daily, for every patrol shift, taking notes on what the groups had seen and just to make sure they were in the correct spots. Sometimes he brought snacks to the volunteers to help keep their spirits up. No one had seen Crane, no one had reported any strange activity. England hoped that today would be different. If they could just gather some clues, one clue, they may be able to catch this criminal.

[ornithophobia]

You know what they always say: be careful what you wish for...

Scarecrow might have taken heed of that mantra as well. Was it too much to hope for the apparent head of the patrol effort to be out and about, alone? Did he not practice what he preached? Normally, he might have looked this one gift horse in the mouth, approached with caution at least, but he realised that it was simply more likely that -- like nearly everyone else in this city -- England just suffered from arrogance.

Nothing to be afraid of, then. After a cursory glance around the area to make sure that there was no one in the immediate vicinity (all the little precautions and motions had been learned by rote now) he moved in. Instinct said he should have simply gassed the man and gotten it over with, but he might be able to get some information out of him while he was still lucid. Assuming this wouldn't be another one of those "do your worst, I'll never talk" types.

Eventually, they all talked. It was just a matter of how long it took for them to crack.

"Looking for me?" The man probably didn't have to turn around to know who was behind him with a greeting like that. Innocuous, but ominous. Scarecrow stood at ease, but kept a wary, unseen eye on England. He didn't intend on another runabout on the first afternoon after his break.

[notexcalibur]

The sound of the voice seemed to cut through the humid air like a knife. It was so easygoing, and still England felt all the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Okay, deep breath. He knew he had to keep his wits about him, act fast.

In one fluid movement, England turned around to face Scarecrow, grabbed the PDA from his pocket, and calmly pressed the SOS button. He did not want to give off the impression that he was nervous, but also didn't want to seem too threatening (which he was sure he didn't, not to a man with a burlap sack covering his head). He was half-hoping that he'd be able to keep Scarecrow in the area long enough for more people to get there. If that meant he had to be a decoy, then that was alright.

[ornithophobia]

Though it wasn't likely England could tell with that mask on, Scarecrow's gaze traced a line between the PDA and him. Well, maybe this one was more prudent than he'd expected at first... Still, he didn't anticipate the inevitable SOS to be much of an issue -- he wouldn't take long now.

"Not the wisest of moves," he said, bland. "But that seems to have your general trend, as of late." What else could he call forcing his hand early? They might've had a nice chat -- what information he had on the toxin and its application, relevant fears, traumas, neuroses that might have explained believing himself a country -- but there didn't seem to be much chance of that now.

Well, another opportunity wasted. It was a shame, but he'd do what had to be done... Which in this case was a sudden movement -- his arm swept forward and a cloud of powdery white poison erupted from the sleeve, but it was a little too late that he realised that he might have kept too much distance between them for the toxin to do its work...

[notexcalibur]

England was able to move out of the way and cover his mouth before the poison reached him. He continued to keep a distance between them, debating whether or not to turn his arm into a blade. He decided to hold back on that for now.

"I don't want to fight you, Crane," he finally said, expression hardening. All he had to do was keep Scarecrow within his sight. They didn't have to be close. "But you should know that all of Death City is after you. You must be tired of running and hiding!"

[ornithophobia]

"Scarecrow," he corrected with the slightest hint of venom. God, they just kept insisting-- did the mask mean nothing for them? Still, he didn't press the point, opting to focus more on the task at hand: putting England out of commission while he could. With each second that passed, it became more likely that reinforcements would arrive, and he couldn't guarantee what'd happen to him then.

He wouldn't let it get to that point. No more words; he deigned not to answer the taunt, no, he was above those. With a deep long-suffering breath (as in how dare England make it difficult for him?) he began to close the space between them. Long, steady steps, inexorable. By all accounts -- his slight frame, somewhat ragged look, and of course the absurd mask -- the overall effect should have been ridiculous, but...

[notexcalibur]

"Scarecrow," England repeated quietly, taking a step back every time the other advanced. He knew the area fairly well, since he came by here almost everyday on the way to work. So he didn't feel trapped. "C'mon, man. If you come quietly, it'll be easier for you." He figured his words most likely meant nothing to Scarecrow. If only England could use his magic in this world. Even his immortality would have helped him against a human madman.

[ornithophobia]

Perhaps not so inexorable after all. England's words stopped him momentarily -- there was a long pause, a silence that might have been filled in with a suitably scornful laugh the next moment but no laughter came. He seemed to be... Considering the suggestion.

"You're talking about a... Reduced sentence, I take it?" He managed a laugh there, aimed at the very thought. Suddenly he seemed infinitely tired, as if this was more an ordeal for him than it was for everyone else involved.

[notexcalibur]

England was actually quite stunned when the other man stopped moving. He nodded slowly, worrying his bottom lip. He considered telling Scarecrow that, if he went to prison, he'd be able to rest and eat. But after he thought about it, England realized it might not be a good move on his part. So he stayed silent, remaining a good ways away from the estranged doctor. Damn it. Where the hell was his back-up?

[ornithophobia]

At England's silence, he gave a little toss of the head -- irritably, or maybe as if he were trying to clear his head of a thought. He didn't break the silence, but let it drag on absurdly (wasn't an SOS sent out?) before finally shrugging. It was a small gesture, palms out placatingly. Still, something about it-- he didn't seem so much throwing out a white flag as trying to pacify a frightened animal that was about to bolt.

"You're absolutely right. It's inevitable now, isn't it?" A long exhale, then somewhat ruefully, "Looks like I've lost the element of surprise."

He was starting to sound more like the Jonathan Crane that people knew before this whole mess. Reasonable. "Very well, then. You say it'll be better for me, and-- I'll have to agree." Palms up again. "What now?"