[color=gray][color=red][b]"And what do you want here?"[/b][/color] He'd asked. He didn't like the look he received when he'd asked that question. He'd been given a look that seemed like it would briefly pre-empt violent repercussions if ever he'd seen such a look. Eilidh's soft Scottish lilt attempted to put a balm to the irritation in the air. And then the plot twisted further as Kali made an appearance. Red kept his mouth shut, and his eyes glued on the still unknown male, though. Not wanting to give away anything that may aid this potential threat in an attack. But his body language shifted as he acknowledged her. Became more cordial, if not less hot-blooded, at least less threatening. And truth-be-told Red did not particularly care for that much more than if he had remained aggressive... [color=gainsboro]"Lincoln Thrope."[/color] He introduced himself as. [color=gainsboro]"I was just telling Eilidh that a man named Carter Hall had recently directed me to this tower. I'm a member of the Titans Academy in Midway City."[/color] Hmm... The plot thickens, Red thought to himself. Carter Hall. The Hawkman. The Justice League mainstay who was quick to anger, and just as quick to violence. Figures if there was a league referral for this one it would be from him. Link's voice had trailed off. [color=gainsboro]"Or rather, was."[/color] He uttered with a reluctant sigh before continuing. [color=gainsboro]"I've been framed for murder. I have no allies left. Carter told me that 'Young Justice' would be my best bet."[/color] He had paused again, looking directly at Kali before levelling his gaze around the room towards Eilidh briefly and then squarely at Red himself. [color=gainsboro]"I guess what I'm trying to say is, I came to you all for help."[/color] He managed to spit out finally. [color=gainsboro]"Young Justice is my last hope."[/color] Red's cold logical mind quickly surmised the most rational way of handling the situation at hand. An unknown person seeking their help after a claim of wrongful accusation, citing a referral from a friendly. You offer help under the provision he agree to put himself under their constraint whilst they confirm his claim of referral. If he refuses, he's free to leave. If he stays, you confirm his story with Hawkman before putting the full weight of the team into aiding him in clearing his name. Clear cut and sensible. Whether this Lincoln would choose to put himself under their constraints would be another thing entirely though... but then, that's why you deliver it as an offer, contingent on their help. But then, of course more happened to complicate matters. Because nothing can ever be as easy as delivering the simple rational path to a solution. People and their problems... [color=white]"Lincoln... Do ye like Link?"[/color] Eilidh looked to calm and defuse tensions, addressing to his humanity, and allow for familiarity. [color=white]"We can help,"[/color] A sudden subtle, soft psychic wave passed between them. Wordless, but as if Eilidh was begging him a moment of patience and empathy. Which was little compromise. As he'd already formulated his plan for offering help himself... if this Lincoln would indeed allow them to take the precautions necessary to provide it. [color=white]"But ye have tae be honest with us about anything that's happened."[/color] He returned a silent wordless sense of approval to Eilidh. It hadn't been a consideration he'd made himself. To question him. After all, if the man was lying to them, anything else he could add would not be able to be trusted. But it might eliminate the need to ask Hawkman at all. After all, if they caught him in a lie, it would hardly be necessary. And if they confirm his story with Carter Hall, well, more information and context certainly couldn't hurt. For a few seconds static seemed to come between their psychic link, but Red didn't dare take his eyes off of Lincoln, to check on Eilidh. Perhaps he had some kind of psychic jamming power. Who knows? But he certainly wasn't going to let such a thing allow him to get the drop on him in a physical altercation. [color=white]"Errr, I... We might just want... Understanding, of what happened before... but yes. Help, yes we can help."[/color] And so Lincoln described a tale of such vulgarity as to not be repeated. And the fact he'd pulled it with the wrong person, which saw a mystical punishment thrust upon him did little to shift his sympathies. His tale, the use of social media, the cameras... it reminded him of someone from long ago. And the memory of her, combined with the victimisation of the girl in the story, only made him more hardened against the personality of this one. He'd still help him if his story checked out. His help didn't come with the contingency of people being those that he actually liked. After all, Justice for some isn't justice at all. But the more he knew about this one, the less he felt he wanted to know him at all. He stopped his sob story, the abandonment by the people who knew him best (go figure...), to raise his nose and with a big whiff declare that-- [color=gainsboro]"Wait,"[/color] Link paused taking a quick sniff. [color=gainsboro]"There's someone-"[/color] He began before pausing just as suddenly. The Wolf's nostrils flared as the cold iris suddenly flared red. [color=gainsboro]"No, there's something in the walls."[/color] It turned out Red wasn't the only one appalled by his story though. Kali drew still and fired her sidearm into Lincoln. Red once again, kept his eyes glued for any violent reprisal. He certainly understood the sentiment, even if it wasn't how he'd have personally reacted. [color=ff99cc]"Down, boy. Don't change the subject. That's just our resident chimera, Dandy. Also, if it isn't my favorite space elf. Hi, Varo."[/color] She addressed a familiar face, whom Red hadn't noticed had made a timely entrance. [color=red][b]"That."[/b][/color] Said Red, backing up Kali's comments and reminding Lincoln he could actually speak. [color=red][b]"Dandy's been in the walls a good year and a bit now. I figure they just like their privacy and they'll talk whenever they're good and ready. Dandy knows we're here. We've had a... rough couple of years."[/b][/color] Red heard Kali holster her weapon, whilst keeping his eyes firmly on their lupine guest. He didn't think someone would attack after she disarmed herself, but he wouldn't generally think a person he met would be capable of the things he mentioned he did in his story which put him in his own current predicament, so he wasn't taking any chances. [color=ff99cc]"That was for the girl in your story. I don't like guys like you, but you came to us for help and there's a town being preyed upon. Ju---Young Justice's known for taking in outcasts and strays, so we'll help. At least those of us that are willing and once this other werewolf is taken care of you might have a place here, but with absolutely zero access to cameras."[/color] 'Those of us that are willing.' It seemed clear to Red that the others weren't exactly sure where he stood on this issue. Suddenly Dandelion, having been made the recent point of attention. Dropped, or dripped, from the ceiling and reformed to make his first appearance in a long time. What had it been? Months? A year? More? Once his form took shape he announced a new problem to their attention. This Lincoln wasn't the only intruder in the building. Lincoln had taken the hint, and levelled his eyes on the larger man who seemed to have not stopped eyeballing him since he showed up. [color=gainsboro]"You guys seem like you're going through a bit of a rough patch,"[/color] his intuition for the social predicament he'd walked into apparently functioning just as well as those heightened senses he clearly possessed. The gunshot wound sealed itself up before their eyes. [color=gainsboro]"You probably didn't need me dropping a bomb into whatever is going on here. I'll find myself a hotel in the city and then ride out first thing tomorrow, I don't need to drag anyone else into my mess."[/color] He made to leave before dropping one final comment towards his having nowhere else to go. Varo suggested tracking down the intruder, but for some reason this still held importance to Red. He asked a quick silent question to Eilidh, [i]"Intruder - related? This one a Distraction?"[/i] to hopefully quickly search his mind and find if he knew anything of the other in their house. Getting a quick psychic response, he looked to hold the lupine guest. [color=red][b]"Wait! Yes, we're a little rough around the edges as a unit at the moment. But we can still help. As much as it might not seem like it... Our house is in order."[/b][/color] And that was when the lighting dropped out, only to be replaced with eerie red emergency lighting, and the half dozen Luthor-designed security bots rounded the corner. [/color]