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[h1][b][color=ff6130]Ellie[/color][/b][/h1]

Ellie was sat on her couch thinking of things. The girl had spent the last 20 years in this world, keeping people out of harm, and in those days she had seen a considerable amount of morally varying groups in more ways that one. Gray Dragons, the Night Hand, the hardass Valkyrie gang, to name a few. But in all those years, she kept to the streets. Ellie’s domain is the social underworld, where metas gather and conspire, for better or worse. There’re been plenty of vigilante groups around the block, and she looked around for them to keep tabs on them. Ellie never considered herself an authority in meta life, just someone trying to do something good, and keeping up with the word around town past sundown helped do that, it helped make rounds in Tenebrae easier knowing some other vigilante had the block locked down. Despite that, though, Ellie always kept to herself. She never cared much for the bragging rights behind cleaning up, though she’s certainly had a chat or two with other vigilantes, it’s just that she goes about this life differently. To her, it’s always just been the right thing to do, nothing more. It goes without saying, then, that this laboratory wasn’t ringing any bells in the slightest. 

Ordinarily, Ellie wouldn’t try to hit up something like this, it was just out of her area to break into places, much less break into fortified facilities. It made her appreciate, to an extent, the differences people had. There was always someone big enough to crack the bigger houses, it seemed. Then again, none of that really helped when it came to the actual plan, in which she was still drawing blanks. [color=ff6130]”Damn.”[/color] Really, she could only think in circles like this for so long, but that wasn’t helping anyone. Ellie hoped Takeda, or even that fine woman Dream had something they weren’t sharing just yet...[i]Ring. Ring. Ring.[/i] Who was that? Sophie? No. Her phone read “Private Number.” Takeda?

[color=ff6130]”Who’s this?”[/color]

[i]"Hello? It's Doctor Takeda."[/i]

[color=ff6130]”Thought so. What’s up?”[/color]

[i]"I, uh, hope I'm not catching you at a bad time, but um, have you heard of the Crane Factory? And who died there?"[/i]

[color=ff6130]”Crane Factory? Yeah, I was a kid when that happened, kinda. Who are you talking about?”[/color]

[i] "I, uh... Have reason to believe he's, uhm, alive? And if you could talk to him and see if he could help us—I mean, he's—there's his affinity with water and all..."[/i]

[color=ff6130]”Huh? Who’s alive? Not sure I know who you’re-“[/color]

Affinity with water...

Factory fire.

[color=aa6130]”Rain...Night’s on their way!”[/color]
[color=4a5b6c]”Yeah, I know. Look, kid. Get out of here, I’ll lead them into 8th and drop ‘em. If Fendrix asks, I’m takin’ the detour. He’ll know what it means.”[/color]
[color=aa6130]”You sure about that?”[/color]
[color=4a5b6c]”Yeah, get moving!”[/color]


[color=4a5b6c]”Leaving, huh.”[/color]
[color=aa6130]”After last time? Yes. This isn’t what I signed up for, I’m not doing this anymore, I didn’t come here to kill people.”[/color]
[color=4a5b6c]”Yeah, I wouldn’t blame you. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, kid. But you know Fendrix isn’t gonna like it. Watch yourself.”[/color]
[color=aa6130]”That’s on me. I’m not gonna ask you to keep secrets, but I don’t need you in this either.”[/color]
[color=4a5b6c]”Ain’t my place to worry.”[/color]

[i]“Um- Ellie?”[/i]

[color=ff6130]”...That man is dead. Gone.”[/color] She hung up.

He’s gone. He died in a fire. Was Ellie just trying to ignore someone like his dying to flames, or did she genuinely believe someone of that level was capable of being killed so easily?

No. Grayson died 20 years ago.


[h1][b][color=5a6b7c]Rainsinger[/color][/b][/h1]

Meta this. Meta that. The man who was apparently named Solomon revealed his face, nasty scar, some kinda haze. Sheesh. The getup was tacky, but hearing what he said, it probably made sense. [color=5a6b7c]”Funny mask. Hell, back in my day we just didn’t get caught.”[/color] No use hiding your face if no one sees it.

[i] "My name is Soliman Kader, I'm in charge of keeping the balance in this city, and with me are a team of Shadow Knights to carry out my mission."[/i]

New players. Interesting.

[color=5a6b7c]”Balance? Tch. That’s a new one.”[/color] There was never any “balance” in Tenebrae. You could always find some kook with a flashy ability out there stirring the pot. The idea just wasn’t there- balance? Unless the city’s just changed that much, Linus didn’t buy it, and this guy sure didn’t sound like a vigilante, let alone a guy to get stuff done. It seemed to him that this guy gave out orders instead over doing things himself. But, what would that type be doing, sticking his neck out by coming here? He had no idea Linus would he visiting. Did he just happen to be walking along the pier? No. He’s keeping his sources close to the chest.

[i] "Metas have always suffered a power struggle in Tenebrae, fighting each other and fighting this city. But with you here...It's a whole different story."[/i]

[color=5a6b7c]”Your point?”[/color]

[i] "A lot of corruption has happened in your lifetime. But, perhaps the years have changed you. I'll admit, I'm nervous that you're here. So, I wanted to approach you directly, and ask you to not get involved in anything that'll 'sink the city', so to speak. Or I'm going to have to deal with it, and I won't want to."[/i]

[color=5a6b7c]”Good one.”[/color] Linus’ body language gave nothing away, because there was nothing to be given away. Solomon obviously did his research, and yet still, he would openly threaten someone he outright admits to fearing. In his mind, Linus rolled the details in his head smoothly, something wasn’t adding up. When you’re in a position that he claimed to be in, you don’t tell someone you’re scared of them and then try to threaten them into complacency. That kind of behavior makes you look stupid, and weak. 

[color=5a6b7c]”I see the game you’re playin’ with me.”[/color] He said, bluntly. It was a mind game. An inconsistent one.

[i]”To put this in a better way, you've come at a critical time. I am days away from completing a certain project that will change the face of the world. There will be a struggle to get there. At present, I can contain it, knowing which metas will be in play."[/i]

[color=5a6b7c]”Uh-huh.”[/color] So, they’re still called metas around these parts. In the old days, that was unofficial slang that no one with any brass recognized. Back then, the official term was “freak.”

[i]"You though, are what is known as an alpha-class meta. Something I was not expecting, which is half the reason for our unexpected encounter."[/i] 

[color=5a6b7c]”I’m flattered.”[/color] Like hell he was.

[i]"I can offer you to join me. But, of course, I have a feeling you didn't come here looking for a job. So, I would ask that, for the next few days, move in the city peacefully. After that, it won't matter."[/i]

Linus cocked a grin full of amusement. Peace.

[color=5a6b7c]”Alright, Kader? Was it? Look, I can tell you got receipts on the people ‘round here. Trouble is, all you just said don’t add up. First, you say you’re nervous about me showing up in town. Then, you say you’ll...”deal with” me, knowing I’m an alpha, or whatever they call me these days.”[/color] He let the words sink in before slinging his pack over his body. A drawn out moment of silence between them.

[color=5a6b7c]”You ever consider practicing your speeches in a mirror first? I’m no expert, but I think you expected me to jump on the whole “You scare me” box so you could bait-‘n-switch me. I guess you thought you’d pull a fast one. Close- no cigar.”[/color] He proclaimed, cool as can be. 

[color=5a6b7c]”Know what? We’ll see what happens. If I feel like layin’ low for a while, then I sure will. Maybe I’ll go for a drink or two instead.”[/color] With that, he started to stroll down the pier, up towards Solomon and behind him. [color=5a6b7c]”And by the way, if your...Shadow Knights wanna come and “deal with me,” here’s a bit of advice, since you know me.”[/color] He added as he passed Solomon, dropping a hand into the man’s shoulder out of humor.

[color=5a6b7c]”Tenebrae’s a coastal city.”[/color] 

If Solomon Kader really did know as much as he did about him, he’s remember that the geographical conditions gave Linus a terrifying advantage. They don’t call him Rainsinger for nothing.

Without another word, he left.
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