[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/8JSMqvi.png[/img][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjk2LjAwMDAwMC5SM0pwYlEsLC4w/vanemnoncommercial.regular.webp[/img]

[b]Location:[/b] East Chicago Streets[/center]

“Vague- [i]Vaguely[/i] threatening?!” The shadows that still wisped around Grim’s feet abruptly began gathering behind him, barely solidifying into the shape of an ornate chaise in time as he tipped backwards, arm thrown above his head. The shadow claw that was beside the hero, still and quiet, abruptly clenched into a fist that swallowed the knife within it. It then morphed, twisting shape to a waving hand fan still connected by a long inky tendril to the ground.

“Imagine! I, Grim, being only [i]vaguely[/i] threatening! I should retire. Tell Timmy I’m being sent to Pawpaw’s farm. I’ll chase chickens and relive my glory days of striking fear into criminals.”

In a mimicry of his first appearance the chaise beneath Grim, the fan, and Grim himself sunk into the ground, before he stepped out once more. This time he cleared his throat, the sound distorted and rumbling akin to an animal’s growl. Something in the hero’s posture changed then, hands resting on his hips and ramrod stature looming tall.

“Tonight, you stopped six kidnapping attempts.” The change could cause whiplash, the playful lilt of a deep voice now serious and factual. “And [i]I[/i] found the signs of large scale human trafficking [i]into[/i] the city.” Here, the masked hero paused briefly. In truth, he couldn’t be a hundred percent certain that all six call ins to the police could be laid at the feet of this masked woman, but considering the pathing of each incident flowing into the other, it seemed almost like a patrol route. Perhaps it was mere coincidence, but as they say: once is chance, twice is coincidence, third time’s a pattern.

“Someone is looking for a large amount of bodies. So, arctic fox, I ask you: what do you know?”

An alert rang out.

Grim stayed rock still for a moment before he lifted his hand, and in the darkness cast in the alley his phone seemed to merely emerge from his palm. The red glow of the mask tilted, before the hero hummed thoughtfully.

“A fight at some nearby apartments.” He dutifully informed the other mask, the light of his phone washing out some of the black of hiw own mask and hiding in the ridges of metal. All at once Grim’s posture relaxed, and he flashed a quick finger gun with his free hand. “I’d still love to chat you up about tonight, but looks like some powered thugs are getting into a street fight - or trying to kidnap people right out of their bed and facing resistance. Who knows?”

Almost like a call to arms a howl sounded faintly, followed by a crash like a car wrecking into the side of a building. Grim didn’t flinch.

“I’m going to find out either way, if you care to join.” He stepped to the side, abandoning the guard dog position from the end of the alley to motion towards the wall at his back in a sweeping gesture. Instead of slapping into the brick, the shadows against the side of the alley seemed to darken and his arm emerged right into the wall up to the forearm, an invitation.