[R] Light in the Dark [Ilmenite x Arsinoe]

[and be blue]

More and more frequently, now, instead of lurking around the edges and just watching Senshi moving in the distance, Ilmenite had decided to move in and actually make contact. He was information gathering, hunting for facts, nuggets to offer up when he met up with Zink. Loose descriptions weren't cutting it anymore. He wanted names, and he wanted abilities.

So tonight he was looking for an opening. He danced around the edges of two auras that came across clearly too powerful, one that was just strong enough that he was going to avoid it for the sake of this experiment -- and finally caught a glimmer of something right around where he wanted to be.

It had taken him a while, but he had finally really gotten the hang of moving over the rooftops. Arsinoe would get the warning of approaching Negaverse, but otherwise he managed to stay mostly quiet, padding across the roof and trying to get a good look at the senshi before he was seen in turn.  

[TheMadHatter]

He was starting to find patrolling either boring or really dangerous. He always seemed to run into Negaversers that were far above his own level or nothing at all. At this rate he would have to start calling up his partner or Corvus more often if he wanted to be able to deal with anything more interesting.

He'd taken to his usual haunts this time though, despite his habit of being caught in allies, and was wandering around the edges of the city near the suburbs.

He was keeping his mind open this time and felt the aura coming closer to him. This was the first time he'd been able to feel one of them hunting him. Smirking slightly he ducked between two buildings and waited. If it was someone inexperienced he could just take them out now and be done with it. If not ... maybe he could get some information before he killed them.  

[and be blue]

No; probably not so inexperienced as to be taken down that easily. Ilmenite lingered, considering, on the roof above Arsinoe for what he considered a long time, but was actually just a matter of frustrating, boring minutes. The angle was wrong; it was impossible to tell what the senshi was doing, exactly, and it made him antsy and impatient.

It was a stupid idea, and he probably knew it was a stupid idea, but...Ilmenite couldn't quite help himself. He eased down the side of the building slowly, with his head cocked to listen and his boots [soft-soled, now, comfortable] making very little sound as they settled against the ground at the base of one building.

He paused just around the corner. Counted to ten. Then he poked his head around to see what he'd found.  

[TheMadHatter]

He was starting to get impatient by the time he heard movement on the side of the building. It wasn't a whole lot and he couldn't -really- be sure it was the negaverser at first rather than a pigeon or something but that was frustrating too. They weren't suppose to lurk around. They were suppose to attack without thinking. That's what they'd all seemed to do so far.

He hated it when things didn't conform to expectations they'd built themselves.

He leaned against the wall and waited. He could tell the aura was on the ground now and kept his eyes on the corners of the building. When he saw the head peek around he grinned and wiggled his fingers in greeting. They were too well hidden for his attack to be any use and if he let it off now he'd be boned if they were stronger than him.

At least it wasn't one of the ones he'd seen before. Maybe he could keep his cool this time.  

[and be blue]

The wriggle of fingers might have left someone else concerned, fidgety. Ilmenite, on the other hand, just looked somewhat relieved, relaxing and rounding the corner but lingering toward the far end of the building. He was cocky, right about now, but that didn't mean he was a complete idiot. Captain he might have been, but senshi had proven time and time to be self-righteous enough to do something stupid...

"Evening." It was joking, friendly, enough, with a tap of fingers near his temple as if to tip a hat. Ilmenite risked a look back over his shoulder before creeping deeper into the space between two building.

"...you look..." He hesitated, floundering for a good word, taking in Arsinoe's fuku with a quick little glance. "Well, don't you look unusual."  

[TheMadHatter]

"You look typical." At least the Negaverse were consistent. They were all easy to tell apart given the sever military twist to their outfits. "If you're looking for prey they've all gone home. No civilians for you to kill."

He was pretty sure he could run away fast enough to not end up as prey himself too. He knew this area well now and had figured out all the little twists and turns. There were other senshi about too and if it came to it he could go to one of them for help.

He wasn't used to the Negaversers stopping to chat though. Not unless it was childish remarks meant to get a senshi to fight them  

[and be blue]

"I think you have me mixed up with someone else." Ilmenite paused where he was, instead of getting closer, his attention shifting off of Arsinoe and up around them. He was making sure, briefly, that this wasn't a trap. Senshi just standing there and insulting a captain, obvious that he wanted Ilmenite to attack...

But no. No one else around them. He shot the other man another look, considering, and then tucked his hands into his pockets. It was possible he was reaching for a weapon, except he didn't need to reach for a weapon. So perhaps the casual pose was exactly that: casual. Absent. "What's your name?"  

[TheMadHatter]

"No, i think i know exactly what you are." They weren't 'who' anymore to him. They were all what's. He hadn't met any yet who deserved to still be called a who, not after the things he'd heard them say and seen them do.

And they kept asking for his name like he would be stupid enough to let them know it. He was gathering his own intell on their forces so what was to keep them from doing the same? They were monsters but unfortunately they weren't' stupid ones like the Youma.

"Name's aren't something i usually give to the likes of you. There's no reason for it."  

[and be blue]

The reply got a blink, like Ilmenite was surprised -- and then a very wide flash of a smile. He didn't actually burst into laughter, but his expression was amused, and his tone held a teasing edge to it as he wiggled his eyebrows. "Very melodramatic of you. Is that how we're playing the game today?"

He raised one scarred hand to wiggle his fingers at Arsinoe. If the senshi was used to serious faced Negaverse agents threatening him in a menacing manner, this was going to come as a surprise. Ilmenite was neither serious nor threatening as he pitched his voice low and dramatic.

"Halt there, you ne'er-do-well. Give me your name or..." s**t. What was a good ultimatum. He tipped his head, thinking about things villains did. "...I'll tie you to a train track."  

[TheMadHatter]

Really? This is what the ultimate evil of the universe was recruiting to their side? He almost shook his head and felt sorry for them. The Senshi probably had their share of stupid and idiotic members but at least they didn't go around pretending (normally at least) that they were superior in every way.

"It's very hard to tie someone to anything when they can light things on fire." That was safe enough information. It wasn't like he was the only senshi could manipulate fire and he hadn't said -exactly- what his powers could do. "Plus if we're going with old silent movies damsels in distress get tied to train tracks by the ne'er do well's." He uncrossed his arms and straightened up slightly.

He wasn't a damsel but he'd certainly call the other guy a rather irresponsible person. Sure the Negaverse agent was more powerful than him but anyone should know better than to walk into an alley like he'd done. It could so easily be a trap.  

[and be blue]

"Ah, excuse me, I seem to have cast you in the wrong role." He still looked hopelessly amused, distracted and bright-eyed, his own arms folding over his chest now. Certainly he wasn't insulted nor concerned. Arsinoe could think of it as irresponsible or dangerous, but the simple fact of the matter was that he didn't seem to be posing a risk -- so where was the harm in being here.

"Fair damsel, halt in your tracks or I'll tie you to the train track." It didn't quite come with a wink but a wiggle of his eyebrows. Perhaps flirting. Just a little bit. He couldn't help himself.

"I'll just have to find something flame-retardant to use." A pause. "I think duct tape is, actually, no?"  

[TheMadHatter]

Was this guy really that stupid? He wasn't a damsel, he wasn't in distress, and he wasn't going anywhere to 'halt' from. The joke, or attempt at one, was getting old.

"Duct tape is plastic, or close enough to it, and melts." At least he was pretty sure you could get it to melt if you tried hard enough. It wasn't an experiment he wanted to try while also being tied down with it though.

It would be so much easier if the idiot wasn't stronger than him. It seemed like every one of them he ran across was and he couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't defeat them on his own and they kept wanting to talk.  

[and be blue]

Did this guy really have that little sense of humor? Really took life that seriously, really was that boring? Ilmenite's smile faded out a little bit and his shoulders started to tense; this was neither useful nor fun, at this point, and he considered the end of the alley behind him absently for a moment before he responded.

"...I imagine that would depend on the kind of fire." His eyes resettled on Arsinoe and he shrugged a little. Perhaps they should have fight. That might actually have been enjoyable.

"And how hot it burns...?" Leading, certainly. He could at least get something, right?