Anyone well-versed in the wide world of superpowers knew with great familiarity the secret and potent ability possessed by any gifted individual: the wild card.  The element of surprise could turn even the most peculiar, weak-seeming power into a terrific force to be reckoned with.  Few could boast more acquaintance with this reality than the enigmatic Margrave, whose unseen talent -ridiculed by some, those philistines- won him many a kerfuffle.  When he watched through narrowed eyes at the man and child phasing through a door, therefore, he scrutinized their every detail to the best of his ability.  A spike of apprehension pierced him as he heard the discharge of small arms, but only silence followed.  Either the gunslingers took down what the Margrave suspected to be Community intruders, or the parahuman foe could eliminate armed security guards.  He knew that this mission would be tricky, but already this brief exchange was reinforcing his conclusion.

[i]Not that peerless skill and indefatigable cunning cannot overcome this obstacle, as they have all others.[/i]

He exited the van shortly after Lillian, making no attempt to halt her advance.  It occurred to him that she might give the Wards away, but he reasoned that if she was on this team in the first place, she couldn't possibly be that careless, despite her eccentricities.  He watched her climb up the building from behind the cover of the van, with Overlook checking in just before she reached the roof.  [color=8F9779]“Reading you, Overlook,”[/color] he murmured.  [color=8F9779]”I would like to assure you that you need only sit back and bear witness to unyielding justice in action, but your watchful gaze is much appreciated.”[/color]  After that, he contented himself to wait while Tulpa designed and manifested a new projection, so that she might scout out the competition.  Her abilities puzzled him to no end.  While he keenly felt the unpleasant idleness to crouching around and doing nothing while his allies engaged in surveillance, he knew that he could do nothing but compromise their efforts for the moment.  When push came to shove, his utility and shocking combat mastery would come into play.

A few moments passed, with Tulpa engaging the team in a furtive whisper to relay her findings, until the girl appeared to swoon.  Despite himself the antihero reached out to help steady her, but before his hand even drew near she'd already regained some of her composure.  His hand closed, then receded, as he waited for her to explain the problem.

What she revealed didn't help much—even she couldn't pinpoint what affected her so.  She did indicate, however, that she'd be able to shed some light on the powers of the vagabond five before long, so the Margrave affirmed her suggested to move ahead.  [color=8F9779]”As you say.  I shall approach...no villain's baleful eye will spot me...”[/color]  Crouching, he began to shuffle toward the warehouse with as much speed as he could muster, narrating his stealthy trek in a whisper.  [color=8F9779]”Grave specter of the night...I move with discretion unparalleled, a riddle swaddled by a mystery, with ghostly tread I creep ever nearer to the odious ones...”[/color]