[center][b][u]12:54 AM, March 13th East Haven Residential, Hub City[/u][/b] A low hum rumbled from behind Grim's mask, the voice modulator catching the noise and deepening it to something akin to a growl. The vigilante had crouched, taking in the bootprints that appeared under the light coming from their visor and silently recording the path they took through the room and back out. She didn't suppose she'd be so lucky that it would lead right to Electrocutioner, though. The other two in her presence were speaking as well, Grim only flicking her gaze to them briefly before returning to the prints in front of her. "Yes." She responded simply, to both of their queries. It was tempting to just leave it at that, and a few years ago she would've, but having a sidekick at the very least made it easier to cooperate with others. Hopefully the puppy and Trenchcoat weren't moody teenagers under their disguises at least. "Electrocutioner. Escaped prison a week ago. Has a grudge against Lessee - had, now." --- "So, does he like...call [i]himself[/i] that?" Arcana couldn't help but ask, carefully watching every move the stranger made. "Also, what are we supposed to call [i]you?"[/i] Still, it was good to know the psuedonym of the person behind all of this. Behind the murders she was being blamed for. While their new "friend" didn't seem to be much for words, she also didn't appear to be interesting in fighting them. When it came to meeting new people, Karen found there was about a fifty-fifty chance of it going either way. "Do you think this guy intended to frame me?" --- "Hurm. New 'friend' said that Electrocutioner had a grudge against Commissioner Lessee. Likely he just meant to murder the commissioner and his wife, and people assumed it was you. Maybe he intended to frame you... Hunh. Must investigate further." The Question tapped his chin, pulling out his journal and scribbling in some quick notes on the case. 'Suspect: Electrocutioner, can control electricity, escaped from prison a week ago; had grudge against victim, and has had past dealings with gasmask guy.' The vigilante then shut his journal, pocketing it once more. He turned to the others, crossing his arms as he said to the new arrival: "Unclear who you are. Would like to know." --- "Probably just an easy out. No doubt he'd have gone after Lessee with or without you here. It'd be best to find him quickly - he used a pair of gauntlets last time, probably made new ones but in the time span he had they may not be perfected yet." Well, no more perfected than them being enough to fry two people. Hopefully the thing had run out of juice, though it was hard to say if it wouldn't be back up to full power as it neared twenty four hours since the crime. Grim finally rose up to turn back to the other two, once more eyeing them beneath the stoic visage of her mask. Princess Puppy probably wasn't in much danger considering her own powers, but Trenchcoat was a mystery. Still, they had asked a question and it would be rude to not respond - not that she ever really cared before. That was obvious. "I am known as Grim." --- "Spoopy," Arcana replied. Karen didn't like the idea of some crazy serial killer bringing his old grudges into her town, though, and so she would gladly work with Sir Spoopface here to bring him down. Who knows if there was someone else in Hub City that he might have a grudge against? All she needed was for this to become a [i]string[/i] of crimes instead of an isolated murder, especially given that many still believed [i]she[/i] was the one responsible. "Just tell me how I can help," she finally offered. "You seem to know all about this guy, so I'll follow your lead." Powerful though she may be, after all, she was no detective. She only did well when she had someone in front of her to beat up or talk down. --- "Hrm. Suppose you know most about killer, so would be logical to team up with you." The Question said, digging a sugar cube out of his pocket, pulling his mask up and popping it into his mouth. He pulled his mask down, making sure to toss Lady Arcana another sugar cube because she seemed to like them, before turning back to Grim. "What's our next step? Killer should still be in Hub, considering murder was only yesterday. Any way we could track him down?" --- Grim had gone still, visor and gaze focused on Princess Magic as she replied to her. A slight tilt of her head was the only indication Grim was puzzling through something as she examined her. She had been at this a long time, and experience had led to little things being able to drop the largest clue. For example, 'spoopy'. It could just be the local dialect, but as strange as Illinois was she doubted it. It sounded more like an emerging phrase from the latest times. Which meant Lady Arcana [i]was[/i] a moody teenager. Great. "I can handle it. I did before," Grim finally noted, not out of some stubborn pride but rather the new realization. Underneath the mask an elegantly shaped eyebrow arched up, unseen as she continued watching Miss Puppy, flicking to watch Trenchcoat toss her a small wrapped up object. Candy? She wasn't certain about the age range of him still, but offering candy to teenagers while wearing a trenchcoat was odd, at the very least. "After all, it [i]is[/i] a school night." --- When The Question produced a sugar cube, her eyes dart over to him expectantly. Smiling when he indeed offered her a piece, she popped it into her mouth with a contented hum, only to realize that the individual calling themselves "Grim" was now staring at her. It was weird, and she felt like she was somehow being read. When Grim declined her aid and mentioned it being a school night, she couldn't help but purse her lips. Was she a telepath like Wilhelm? Had she somehow deduced her identity? What had she said to give it away? No matter how she looked at it, this person seemed kind of sketch, and not in an obvious "flash you in a subway tunnel" way like Question. More like, she was able to figure you out with just a glance, and that was pretty damn scary. Glancing to her fellow vigilante-friend, Arcana tilted her head. "What do you think? Should we just..leave her to it? I mean, I feel kind of wrapped up in it at this point, to be honest." --- School night? What did Grim mean by that? It wasn't like Arcana was a child, she appeared to be in her early twenties at least. What, did Grim think they were both wannabe teenagers playing vigilante? It was then that Lady Arcana asked him what he thought, and he voiced his opinion: "I don't know who you think you are, [i]Grim[/i], but Arcana and I can help you. We're not useless." He crossed his arms, glaring at the veteran hero beneath his mask. "We're helping you out, whether you want us to or not." --- How stubborn. It was really no surprise though, Grim could offer suggestions and attempt to make it easier on everyone involved but people had a tendency to dig their heels in. Sometimes they had something to prove, other times she thought it was just to aggravate her. Rather than argue the point however the vigilante didn't even so much as give them a shrug, just turning her visor back to the floor. Though, it [i]was[/i] a little refreshing not being recognized as soon as she gave her name. Picking up the footprints that nearly doubled her own size once more Grim just moved passed the two other vigilantes to begin following the trail. Once again she doubted it would lead right to the front door of wherever he was hiding like a little cockroach, but hopefully it would at least give a bit of a clue where he had went. "Three places I could see him seeking out first," She rumbled finally, keeping her voice high enough to carry but lower than an indoor speaking voice. "Somewhere he could repair his suit if it got damaged, a power plant, or a bar - to celebrate." --- Arcana quietly followed along after Question basically stood up for their right to be here. While she hadn't been certain on how to respond to her rejection at first, she had to agree with her fedora-wearing pal. This was [i]their[/i] town, and she had actually been accused of [i]murder[/i], so it wasn't like she had a horse in this race. Horse in this race? Geez, she'd been hanging around [i]old[/i] people for too long. The footprints they were following eventually lead them to the front door, and it was there that Lady Arcana immediately noted the halmark signs of a forced entry. It wasn't anything that would've been visible from the air outside, but now that she was up close, she could see where the door had been somehow forced open, as there were gashes along the door frame similar to the bedroom. "Wait, so he entered through the front door?" Arcana blurted out. "But wouldn't someone see him if he was just strolling down the neighborhood in a bunch of metal?"[/center]