maskormenacelogs | [closed]

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WHO: Batman, Jonathan Crane, & Daisy Johnson
WHERE: Alabama, near Disney World
WHEN: Monday night, towards the end of the Halloween Event
WHAT: Batman confronts Crane, but runs into somebody unexpected...
WARNINGS: Violence, attempted suicide, will be edited as necessary

[Like the spread of Tony Stark's nanovirus, the sickness in Alabama spread too fast for him to start an early inoculation for a flu of unknown origin. Bruce knew the victims were all suffering from the same strain through blood samples taken from them when they were brought into hospitals funded by Wayne Medical, and through rapid sequencing he was able to compare similarities with old strains of Jonathan Crane's fear toxin.

He had been suspicious of him ever since the break-in at WayneTech earlier in the month, and after reviewing the security footage later on with Leonard Snart, decided to keep tabs on him with the personal number Jonathan had provided Bruce Wayne earlier in August when he had first arrived. He hadn't had a reason to lock down his location until now, after drawing a correlation between Crane and this new virus going around.

He tracked him to a large lattice tower miles from Disney, just far enough from everything to keep him safe, but close enough for him to enjoy the fruit of his labor. He could watch in relative safety from the top of the nearly thousand foot tall tower, now covered in fluorescent decorative lights celebrating Batman's least favorite holiday-- Halloween.

Batman doesn't bother with covertness in his approach, and steps off of the elevator towards the top of the tower, opening itself to a sprawling panoramic view of the city.]

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[Jonathan Crane had gone through a variety of experiences in his life. Upon reaching the latest of them his motives had little changed - to tear the repect he was owed out of people's minds, since they were so unwilling to offer it. If not for that respect he couldn't feel safe. And so he chooses to do what he does best. Control. Intimidate. Manipulate. All to secure himself from vulnerability.

And continuing his work lets him keep his rationality and sanity in face of the damage from his toxin. Intelligent as he is, he knows what his compound can do. It isn't a worry; he's moved on. How he hates the thoughts chiding him he's chosen poorly, but how he loves deflecting his own vulnerability into the lives of others.

People love to put things out in the open. Cell conversations proclaiming relationship problems; family breakdowns; public displays of affection. He doesn't understand what's different between them and the show he's watching here. Standing at the tallest point inside cinderella's fairytale tower. Staring out the window. Crossing his arms. Being a victim's as much a part of life as violence. Psychological or physical. This is for their benefit, really. Much as his own.

And like Batman he walks with purpose - and without hiding. Clasps his hands at his back and indulges in a stroll about the place. Feeling safe, secure and threatened only by how soon it would take the shine to wear off it all. As for the Batman, he's not that bothered. He's far more interested in the game than anything else.]

[Perhaps Crane is projecting, because this isn't a game to Batman, but a job. Batman steps forward into the center of the platform, arms hidden beneath the drape of his cape, his mouth set into a deep scowl.]

It's over, Jonathan. Give up and come with me.

[Those words are powerful - though his eyes are focused on observation, and so he only manages to twist himself into a better position. He's directing his attention at his work; processing what is happening. Not a good sign when his opponent is challenging.

There is a confidence in his stride that shouldn't be there with him looking so young.]

Jonathan. [His teeth are not so clenched as he talks. He craves his title.] And would you like me to call you by your first name too?

[A shrug, then he shakes his head. There's his answer.]

I'm here to end this, Crane, not encourage your pathetic power fantasies. If you want to do this the hard way, we can do that, too.

[He brushes one side of his cape aside, revealing his arm and fist.]

Well, I see you're as cheerful as ever.

[He clicks his tongue in his cheek and rattles his proverbial tail. I'm not scared of you. So bone-chilling. So stimulating. Look at the big, strong ~~bully~~ Bat!]

But I have no intention of fighting you, so you might as well stop posturing.

[He bares his teeth in anger and closes the distance between them in mere strides, wrapping his fists in bunches of his shirt and throws him up against one of the iron beams.]

Have it your way.

[The pain doesn't bother him. It's been a while since he's recoiled from somebody's presence. The first time he'd felt it sharp had been in school; but he could do without the nostalgia.]

That would be my pleasure.

[He looks behind him and there is a moment in which he notices everyone - but isn't spotted.]

Just put me down, would you? Gently. Would be nice.

[His sense of self-preservation leads him to wear Lincoln's face again. It's also simply because he's fascinated to see what will happen. But also the control. Of making people do things. If they're too thick to see through it, that's their problem.]

[Daisy came here and paid for her ticket because the idea of signing things for people and taking pictures was not her thing. Not that she didn't get stopped quite a bit, and the number one question she got asked was what was going on between her and Jesse.

Why did people care so much? Really? Jesse explained it was because of how open they were about being in a relationship, which basically showed every enemy your weakness, but, she still thought it was stupid.

She's on her way back to her car, and yes she took her car, when she happens to look up at the tower covered in Halloween lights. Something she hadn't noticed during the day, obviously. They looked nice, maybe a little tacky, but nice. What wasn't so nice was the fact that she had spotted some guy in a cape holding someone else up against a beam. What the fuck was happening?

Just wanting to see what the hell was going down, Daisy got on the elevator and off at the level they were on. From the angle she was at when she stepped off, the guy with the cape and suit's back was to her and she just saw Lincoln pushed up against this beam and held up by the cuff of his shoulder.

Her reaction is immediate, using her power in an attempt to send the other guy flying.]

What--

[He's in the middle of asking Crane just what he's doing when he hears the shutter of the elevator opening to his left. His attention is on her initially until he can feel the kinetic force of her shock wave in the ground around him. Without the time to react, he gets thrown hard nearly off the side of the tower, but recovers by throwing his body weight and rolling a distance between the two of them.

The metal beams around them shake and whine beneath the pressure of the force of her power.]

Who are you supposed to be?

[She wouldn't have let the guy fall off the side of the building, so she's a tiny bit relieved when he's able to right himself.

Daisy looked to Lincoln, who she hasn't seen in weeks again. What the hell was he doing up here?]

You okay?

[At the masked person's question, Daisy looks over to him. Clearly irritated.]

Does it matter? What the hell are you doing up here?

[The question is directed at both of them, but she's looking at the stranger. Yeah, maybe being this high up with a power like hers is a bad idea... So is the fact that this whole place is made of metal and Lincoln's basically an Inhuman Pikachu.]

Felt better, honestly.

[He's in the middle of picking himself off the floor when she talks. There's no attempt to move by her side - because he's not a coward who needs protection. Not now. The mob had served their purpose, and he's hardly going to have his fingers burned again after being used by the League. Still, it's strange to have the wind buffeting his face, blowing through his hair, under his neck. He had waited patiently to experience it when locked away. It's electrifying.

Maybe that electricity is why he's reluctant to spark the place up? Not that he can control that element. His control is mental - not physical.]

I told him he isn't no judge, jury and executioner. He didn't seem to like it.

You've got to be kidding me...

[He refrains from blanching, though barely, at the absurdity of the situation. He takes a long, steady look at "Lincoln," and then towards Daisy.]

Enough. This a charade, don't be an idiot. Whoever you think that is, it's Jonathan Crane..

[Daisy moves over to him though, standing near him, clearly in an attempt to protect him. At least until the other guy speaks up. Her first reaction is to call bullshit, but then the wheels start turning in her head.

He's been off since day one, which at first she thought was just because of what happened to him. But there was little things that added up to bigger things, all of which were not Lincoln. Maybe, okay, she was definitely in denial. Back home Lincoln was dead, and of course she was desperate. Is that really any surprise? Who would question it when someone you saw die is suddenly here? Okay, maybe someone who's not nearly as fucked up as she is.

Back turned from 'Lincoln', Daisy finally turned to face him.

There was so much she wanted to tell him as rage bubbled up inside of her, along with embarrassment for believing it for a second.

When you can't use your words, you use your fists. Right? Well, that is exactly what she did. Right for 'Lincoln's' face.]

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