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[shadedsunlight]

Characters: Batman Ginia Solana and YOU. And you. And yes, you too.
Open? Yes!
Where: All around Schwanheim.
When: Evening of RD 13
What: Ginia is doing her part to keep the streets of Schwanheim safe. And testing out her new teleporting abilities.
Warnings: Maybe violence if someone wants to fight with her, otherwise, probably G/PG.


Compared to Davenport, the crime levels of Schwanheim is practically laughable. Your typical trouble-causing thugs, a few thieves making easy coin off the dull-minded villagers, and maybe a corrupt or at least loudly annoying nobleman or lady. When it came to patrolling the night for trouble, there was honestly little to be found.

It still doesn't stop Ginia from taking to the rooftops at night. It was relaxing being able to run about without the annoying hoards of gossip-seekers chasing her down (though apparently there were still enough gossipers active at night and tying up the thieves hadn't exactly been a subtle move) and there were plenty of shadows for her to test out her new ability on. Finding out she could teleport had been more of an accident, the sort of accident that involved falling through a wall and coming out a few feet away. After that, it was careful refinement, practice, and falling onto unsuspecting people at least once or twice. Having something akin to nightvision was also an added bonus.

Ginia perches on top of a tall building, a dark silhouette in the night with her armor on and mask up. She watches the street and the few people going to and fro. Similar to her first training exercise, she picks a person to follow and sneaks along on rooftop, moving as quietly as possible and leaping ahead through shadows. If they look toward her direction, she stealths, and if she runs out easy paths to follow or they enter a building, she gives up. and while it hasn't happened yet, if someone tries to give chase? Well, that would be a fun change for the night.

If she spots any bit of wrongdoing, she steps in, striking fast, knocking them out, and leaving them for the city authorities to find. That bit reminds her a little of home, a feeling that leaves her feeling nostalgic, sad, and sick.

When she's had enough fun for one night, she heads back to her new home, forsaking the front door in favor of shadow-stepping into the bedroom.

((ooc; TL;DR, feel free to catch Ginia at any point in the night. Be someone she stalks! Catch her as she takes down a criminal! Join her on the rooftop for a merry chase! As a warning, since she's trying to be secretive about things, Ginia won't be saying much at all. However, for anyone who has seen her in her armor, feel free to call her out on it.))

Comments

Why doesn't the stalker stalk a stalker? (Say that fast!)

[shadow_sage]

It's not exactly against the law, wearing dark clothing and hood and following guards on their rounds, but it certainly is somewhat suspicious. Especially in a kingdom threatened by some unknown force. It says something that the figure isn't noticed by them as it follows various paths through the city, learning the routes, learning about the guards, too, as the speak (or not) to each other. Whether it says more about them or the figure is up for interpretation, of course, but the fact remains; something is going on.

Stalkers start stalking starting stalkers!

[shadedsunlight]

Even without any criminal intent in mind, knowing the patrol routes of the local guards is a good thing to know. Ginia moves silently on the rooftop, sometimes disappearing a few feet and reappearing on another rooftop across for a better vantage point. The conversations held by guards are, unfortunately, only gossip and nothing she hasn't already heard herself, but there might be more.

As she moves along, she gets the feeling of being watched herself and turns invisible.

...okay, you win.

[shadow_sage]

If Liara hadn't been doing the same thing, it would be one thing, but the only reason she'd even noticed anyone else was stepping aside to rest (it had been a long day, but she was kind of used to that). It might not have even drawn her attention, not really, had that same someone vanished a moment after Liara started to study the figure.

Well, that was far more interesting than listening to guards talk about nothing. Pulling her own hood low, Liara half turned, using the cloak to cover her arm as she activated her omni-tool. As good a time as any to see what she could make it do without Loki there to instruct her on function.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia remains where she is on the roof, hiding in plain sight. It's a bit of a test to see if the person down below can see or track her. So far she's met one person who can, and she has a hunch Helios would be able to with the right spell, but no one else. The more she knows about the people around, the better.

[shadow_sage]

The scan didn't seem to be working; Liara frowned, but said nothing but one soft word, and the orange was gone, if visible at all. She turned and did her best to vanish into the shadows, too, though she could not truly turn invisible. The moment she wasn't worried about a guard seeing her, she started for the rooftops herself. She may not have been trained in infiltration tactics like a commando, but years dodging the Shadow Broker and then the Illusive Man had made her at least competent at the process.

Of course, finding someone who could turn invisible was something else entirely, but Liara was curious, a dangerous thing to anyone at the other end.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia remains still, having taken a seat on the rooftop to observe. Nothing so far, but when Liara begins to make her way up, that makes things a little more interesting. She stands and slowly moves into the shadows, scoping out her next jump point. A bit of a brat that she is, she bides her time, waiting until Liara is on the roof before she makes herself visible, briefly, and steps through the shadows to teleport from the top of the roof down to the ground. From there, she walks into an alley.

[shadow_sage]

Well that was something else again. A little smile, this time. Liara knew a few talented individuals capable of similar feats. Not identical, perhaps, but certainly not dissimilar. A glimpse of the form below, and then into an alley. Down? Much easier than up, and while there didn't seem call to prepare for a fight, Liara was aware that hunting someone like this was never without risk.

Still, it felt good to do something. Running, Liara simply jumped off the edge of the roof and slowed her fall with a mass effect field, dropping neatly into the alley the shadowed figure had turned into. The blue glow didn't vanish as she hit the ground and stood, prepared to try something new if the chase continued.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia stealths again the moment she's on the ground, walking a little bit into the alley before she turns. The spell - ability? At times she isn't sure what the proper term is - impressive and worth noting. Liara, you are an impressive one.

She sinks further into the alley, keeping as still as possible. The darkness is on her side; though everything is monochromatic, Ginia can see as clear as day. It's a dangerous game of hide and seek, but a fun one too. It's a taste of her old life, a dangerous taste, but one she missed. It was exciting staying one step ahead.

[shadow_sage]

"You are very good at this." Eyes scanned the darkness slowly. The glow still surrounded her, and she took a couple of steps into the alley. "I wonder if it something learned here or not." If it was, perhaps she, too, could learn the trick. That would be useful. Another step.

"I'm not with the guard or the king." She pushed her hood back, a little smile touching the corner of her mouth. The brought her into this world to use her as a pawn in their game; a tool of order. It was time she started making it clear her rules didn't match theirs. "Actually, I think I have something of a...proposal...for you."

Barefoot in nightgowns, that's how she dances in the rain!

[folklorist]

And here Ginia will see Helios walking silently through the town late that evening. He's been having some trouble sleeping lately, what with all those rumors going around and what not. It's so not true, none of them are true, and oh god how could people even think that?! They just moved into a house together was it really all that bad? Maybe he should move out...or, or something. He doesn't really know. Still Helios is just not even paying attention to where he's going, let alone noticing anyone on the rooftops following him.

Sundown to sundown, like she was washing 'way her pain

[shadedsunlight]

Schwanheim did seem to like the three of them as far as gossip was concerned. It was as if they had never heard of a small trio of three being good friends. Getting a house together was a logical step too. The houses were there, they would be in the world for an unknown amount of time, might as well make a little place of their own to be comfortable in.

Ginia spots Helios as she’s stalking the rooftops and quickly follows after him. She’s a little surprised to see him out at the hour, but there was a full moon and the weather was nice so it was good walking weather. She follows after him, curious how long it’ll take for him to notice he’s picked up a tail.

[folklorist]

It was really disconcerting and overall Helios didn't really like the gossip going around. People would now look at him even more when he walked through the streets to get food or other things and even the woman would turn away and laugh, hiding their mouths with a hand as they watched him. He was, for all intents and purposes, very on edge. It was just as well too given that it was nighttime and any sort of bandit or rogue could come up and steal something from you right underneath your nose.

But he did sense something and he stopped in his mulling walk through the town to look up at the roof tops and then his tick to the ground. "Hm." He'll ponder for a moment before continuing onward towards the edge of the town where the thorns kept out the beasts of the Two Faced Forest.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia fades into invisibility when he looks up toward the roof, reappearing once he looks away. She continues to follow until they're both standing - or in her case, crouching - at the edge of town. Out there only thorns and who knew what else waited. Were the thorns there to keep them out or to keep undesirables in? She glances down at Helios, wondering if he's seriously contemplating going into the forest despite the dangers.

Deciding the risk is too great, Ginia whistles to get his attention before she shadow-steps from the roof down to a nearby alley and steps out to where he can see her. Her arms cross over her chest and though her face is hidden by a mask, she glares disapprovingly at him. Really, bro? Really?

[folklorist]

He always wonders if it's too dangerous. Really he knows better after his encounter with the Chimera but, no, there's more at stake here than his fears. He can take care of himself at least and he may not find anything in that forest that would be helpful but he has to try. Having no other sounds around him and his own anxiety whenever he takes one of these walks alone makes that whistle sound far more high pitched and loud than Helios would have liked. So he jumps rather apparently too and he whips around to confront the mysterious figure. His breath hitches in his throat some and he moves away slightly. His smile is all but fake as he manages to gloss one over his obvious fidgety features.

"O-Oh. Ah. H-Hello. Lovely, um, night out for a walk isn't it?" Yes he is small talking while standing at the edge of the town's defenses and the terrible forest.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia deliberately looks from the exit and the forest beyond to Helios. While she doesn't identify herself, there aren't too many people around Schwanheim that would know any form of sign language, much less ASL.

/We're you thinking about going out there?/ the hidden look is no less disapproving.

[folklorist]

The ASL gives it away immediately to him. Oh dear. He was not expecting you or Giles to be around and awake this late at night. It's not as if he hasn't gone to the forest every once in awhile either...

"G-Ginia?" His eyes tick back and forth from the gate to her.

"It-it isn't anything dangerous, really. I was just going out there to, ah, take a look at things..." and try not to get eaten in very high on his list trust him.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia it is. She nods and reaches up to pull her mask down, showing her full disapproval as her eyes slip over to the gate again. While she hasn't been in the forest at night, she's heard about the dangers and everything about it sounds like a bad idea.

However, Ginia would also be lying if she didn't admit she was curious about what was possibly in the Two Faced Forest and she can tell there's something on Helios' mind.

/Safety in numbers. I'm a little curious about the place myself./

[consultmybooks]

Not everyone respects and reveres the heroes. At least...not everyone respects and reveres all the heroes.

The Sage who caused such a fuss as a ghost and is now using his powers to spy on people while engaging in immoral relations with a younger woman? Yeah. Some people might think he's fair game. Or at least, these three drunk toughs from the Drunk Duck Inn might think that much.

And, given that when they find Giles sitting on a bench by the bulletin board, he's focusing intently on his mirror and scrying something only he can see, blocking out the rest of the world to do so...it seems like a prime opportunity for some wrongdoing.

[shadedsunlight]

Who watches the ex-Watcher? Apparently his girlfriend. As he practices his scrying, Ginia watches from a roof. She's not hiding, just crouching at the top, but she doesn't make herself known to him. There's a lot on her mind and as much as she wants to be by him, sometimes a bit of space is good too. So she continues to sit up there, his silent guardian.

The surly group can be heard before she can see them and her eyes narrow as they approach him.

"Hey, you!" one man calls out, getting into Giles' personal space and leering down at him. His other friends fall onto each side, effectively surrounding Giles. "Think you're special, huh? Parading around with your fancy mirror, taking women half your age." He tries to swipe the mirror out of Giles' hands, but due to his intoxicated state, his hand swishes harmlessly through the air.

Ginia is long gone from the roof, having already teleported to the ground. She knows Giles can take care of himself, but she begins to creep forward while stealthed, ready to throw them on their asses at the next move. He's wrong about her being half his age - now the age gap between them is even more appropriate - but it still bothers her. It's the old question that comes into her mind; is she hurting his reputation by dating him?

[consultmybooks]

Giles can take care of himself. Giles has faced a lot worse than three drunks - there were some Saturday nights back home that involved five - and so even if it takes him a few seconds to return to the present, by which point someone has smacked his head into the back of the bench, he reacts quickly.

One hand lashes out to grab the hand on his arm, twisting it away and around to the quite literal breaking point. At the same time, his foot connects with the back of a leg and a second lout goes down like a puppet with no strings. But that still leaves one standing, and he's fumbling for the two-by-four he'd dropped in his surprise.

[shadedsunlight]

There's no need for him to worry about the third; the two-by-four is kicked away by an invisible force that quickly becomes visible as a boot-clad foot connects solidly with his jaw in a vicious kick. The man drops like a sack of potatoes.

Bastard. Ginia glares sourly at the unconscious man, then glances over at the two moaning louts trying to haul themselves off. She snorts dismissively, then looks over at Giles, giving him a second to see her before she steps into a shadow, disappears, and reappears on a rooftop.

[consultmybooks]

Really, having his girlfriend suddenly appear out of nowhere to help save his life is about as surprising as getting attacked in the first place. Giles stares at her, stares in outright shock at the place where she'd just been, and only just recovers enough to deliver one man on the ground a solid kick to the head to keep him out for a bit. Then, grabbing up the mirror that had fallen to the ground, he looks around for any sign of Ginia.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia whistles from the roof and offers a small wave to get his attention. She smiles from behind her mask and surveys the ground, finding a patch of shadow behind him. From the shadows on the roof down to the ground, she teleports easily, whistling again.

/Fancy seeing you out here./

[consultmybooks]

It's almost painful, watching her blur into nothingness like that, to the point that Giles takes off his glasses to rub at his eyes. He supposes he can understand, though - it's a technique for deception and stealth, and deception and stealth works a great deal better when no one can watch.

But he smiles in relief when he looks up and sees her on the ground again, hurrying over to join her in the shadowy alleyway. Glancing back at his fallen would-be muggers, Giles indicates that they should move on.

"I was, um, hoping to get away from people for a while. People generally, I mean - it's good practice, but now that the, the general townsfolk know what I can do, they've been at me for everything from lost cats to cheating spouses."

[shadedsunlight]

/I don't think those three were looking for a bit of scrying,/ she comments wryly, glancing back at the three unconscious men. Yes, good idea to move on to somewhere a little safer and potentially more quiet.

/On the bright side, I'm sure you could begin charging people for your scrying. Might as well get something in exchange./ Because while Helios certainly made enough from his magic show, a little more never hurt. In some ways she envies the two men; they have skills that can be useful toward employment. Her skills... well, if someone really wants something stolen or taken out, that's about all she's really good for.