15319/A Difference of Patrol

A Difference of Patrol
Date of Scene:	06 July 2023
Location:	Alley
Synopsis:	Red Hood and Misfit connect after some criminal wrangling. One of the longest chats they have had went well enough. Assassins?
Cast of Characters:	Jason Todd, Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe

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Jason Todd has posed:
It never fails. You try to cut a criminal a break on his future dental reconstruction bills by asking them questions. Nicely even. You try to be the Good Guy and establish a reputation of being firm but fair.

You try.

But this is Gotham. Criminals here are both smarter, yet dumber. Cowardly yet foolhardy. And that all really means they make you get the answers you want by doing it The Hard Way(tm).

Standing in the shadow cast by one of the massive container cranes standing in Gotham's Port, Red Hood regards a criminal sprawled on his ass on the ground. The man is grimacing, bloodied from the nose and mouth. A mouth now missing his "Thoo Fronth Theeff".

"You should have just told me to start with Reggie. Now you're going to have to try and find those teeth before GCPD shows up."

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe has posed:
    Charlie meanwhile wasn't that far off, she had just wrapped up a pretty standard milk run. Wanna be mugger you see. It was quick. Easy. Punch to a vulnerable part on the back of the head from the cover of darkness. Zip ties. The would be mugged setting off safe to call it in to GCPD, though Charlie also geotagged the bad guy, popped her video to GPCD with the tag, and was off again.

    The differences several streets over is so stark. Not that she had questions for the criminal and crime she interrupted. It was easy. On tape. You know. She isn't detectiving. Not the easy way. Definitely not the Hard Way (tm).

    She pops up to the roof and starts to patrol again, her goggles enhancing her vision as she leaps along skirting the docks and looking for trouble. Which unsurprisingly it is Gotham, she finds. The young woman skids to a halt and leaning to look down into the shadows cast by the cranes. Honestly the red mask is very distinct. Also her HUD in those Oracle designed goggles flagged Jason out of the corner of her eye. "Huh." she posits thoughtfully.

    There is a small displacement of air and one of the shipping containers, a smaller one, down and back a ways from Jason and his Criminal creaks lightly. "Crackers that looks like it really hurts." only one person says stuff like Crackers instead of cursing or being grim and can get that close before giving away a sign. It sure isn't the brooding family members.

Jason Todd has posed:
That tracking and alerting software works both ways, of course. Red Hood had been somewhat annoyed when it showed up in his mask's HUD originally. But it is hard to remain mad at Barbara, for one. Plus the situational details it now provides have become hard to live without. Such is the price of things being easier. Not like the old days. Uphill. Both ways. In the snow. Have you seen how it snows in Gotham?

Seeing Misfit's tag as she got within a block, Red Hood noted it. But then it blinked from indicating she was just 'in the area' to actually reading "Crackers" as the comment under the Misfit ID tag now within thirty feet of him.

He was only a little familiar with her abilities. Enough to know that portaling was a part of them.

Moving over, Red Hood kneels down and proceeds to zip tie off Reggie's wrists. Now trying to find his teef is going to be even harder.

Turning away, Hood looks toward Misfit.

"Misfit."

A last glance at Reggie before he looks back to her. "Need something tonight?" It's a bit terse but it could just be that he's stilli n Bad Cop mode from his chat with Reggie.

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe has posed:
    It's all tech that Charlie grew up with really. Setting aside her really haphazard introduction to Barbara declaring herself to be the New Batgirl in what could only charitably be called a party city knockoff costume. She has been kept safe and equiped by her adopted mom and mentor.

    Her legs kick a touch, letting the heels of her heavy steel toed ass kicking boots thump softly against the metal of the container she is sitting on the edge of, gloved hands gripping the edge of the metal as she watches Jason work to secure the baddie.

    "Hood." she returns back, not in mock stoicness, but she does try to put on a serious business edge to it. One could maybe mistake it for mocking, but truly she is trying to be serious and not screw that up. She tries very hard.

    "Oh, no don't need anything. Noticed you over here while I was sweeping the docks and wanted to check in if you needed anything actually." that sounds genuine, and maybe a bit like the teen is bored. "Going to chase down the intel you got?" for all her crackers, she doesn't seem horrified at the bloody mouthed criminal. This life does wierd things to kids.

Jason Todd has posed:
Hood regards Misfit from behind his mask. The slight tilt of that mask seems to reflect the measure of puzzlement he is regarding her with. It isn't out of disrespect. She's out here doing the grunt work with the rest of them. That takes balls for the best of them to do, honestly.

It's more that he has had so few interactions with her that she was an unknown quotient for the most part.

"Not tonight. Ol' Reggie gave me answers, eventually, but it is going to require patience to act on."

He pauses a moment, holding up a gloved finger. Turning away he iniates the quick GCPD auto dial that offers a helpful robotic voice to inform them of a criminal waiting for them and the location.

Looking to her again, he notes. "GCPD will be here shortly. Probably should find outselves somewhere else before that."

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe has posed:
    Well. He didn't growl at her. Or brood at her. That seems like a win in her book really. Because for all the puzzlement he has about her and her being an unknown quotient, that goes both ways. She has done quite a bit of work with Spoiler, Batgirl, Robin, and all. She has very little idea what makes Jason tick or how he works.

    She bobs her head though in a nod. "Ah. The thing everyone keeps telling me I don't have enough of." she quips then smiles and she shifts and kips up to her feet on the low shipping container. Her head cocks looking down at Reggie and then to The Red Hood. "It always puzzles me why they get into this gig.. there is no way they have dental or medical to deal with the consequences of this line of work." she glances over her shoulder at a building over yonder and then back at Jason. Giving him a quizical head tilt. Then she steps back and is gone in a slash of what can only be described as pinkish purple smoke. Most criminals would think bat-smoke-pellets just wierdly colored.

    Jason's HUD though shows her ping way over on the rooftop she indicated.

Jason Todd has posed:
The truth is that Red Hood has gotten less, well, prickly. It hasn't happened over night. But looking back over the last year and some change, there is a slow deviation of behavior from difficult to deal with that has moved in the direction of easier to work with. Sometimes better than that.

His behavior to night is about par for those he isn't familiar with.

A nod in regard to the indicated building.

Not long after, Red Hood emerges from the shadows on the rooftop after making his way up there. No teleporting for him.

Walking over to the edge of the building he looks out over the Port and harbor. A few blocks away, the reds and blues of squad car lights are casting odd light shows on the sides of buildings as they approach the Port.

"Looks like Reggie won't be lonely for long."

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe has posed:
    Charlie just hasn't had much interaction, and his rep is pretty fierce in Gotham. Violent. Prickly is a mild statement. Sure the family trusts him but low interaction means low familiarty.

    "I imagine he knows what he signed up for doing crime in Gotham. I mean.... it isn't like the bad guys don't talk about us and know what can happen right." she just shakes her head thoughtfully. "and yet they keep on doing it... for all sorts of reasons. Like money.. greed.. power.. lust. vices.. addictions.. desperation.. extortion. I feel bad for the ones tricked or blackmailed into it. Sure there is still throwing yourself on the mercy of the courts but .. the ones who didn't setup to be ensnared are victims in their ways yah know."

    Honestly while Jason has become less Prickly over time, Charlie has been growing up and actually trying to get good grades when she isn't working the patrols. That and god only knows the stuff she has seen in the Dark. Something come to think of it a good amount of the family might not be aware of other than Babs and Bruce.

    "What is Reggie tangled up in. Falcone's latest angle. Two face.. something else?" curious look over her shoulder as she sits on the edge of said building watching the harbor and Reggie and the incoming GCPD over yonder. "I meant the offer if you want help running it down in the next bit."

Jason Todd has posed:
Nodding Red Hood agrees. "They know. But they're foolish enough to believe they'll be able to operate and beat the odds that we're ever going to find them."

"There are some who fall on bad times and try to survive however they feel they can. Desperation makes a person do things they never thought they would or could do. It's unfortunate. The system has failed those types, no question."

"Not anything with Falcone's business. He's been a dealer for a teacher trying to go all Breaking Bad. They call him Grigory the Chemist."

As the squad car rolls up on poor Reggie, Red Hood adds, "Grigory has been good so far. Like I said. It isn't something that could be rushed. Pushing to hard and he's just going to pack up and move. I'm slowly squeezing his world in around him. I'm going find him and I'm going to shut him down."

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe has posed:
    Charlie's nose wrinkles at the mention of a drug dealer. She clearly doesn't like them at all. "Connected to the Russians?" look at Charlie, actually maybe grudgingly and through hard labor learning some of the more intellectual side of this vigilante business.

t"So no rush, not worried about Reggie squeeking getting back up the food chain and spooking this chemist?" her feet start kicking again, little heel thuds on the building as she watches the cops roll up and get out to examine the downed criminal.

    "Sounds like an interesting case. I haven't had anything interesting happen in Gotham since that lady clocked me in my civvies and swiped my utility belt to teach me a lesson about always having my guard up at all times." she realizes how that might sound and pre-defends "Sshe is associated with the JL-D though but it scared the crap out of me.. she didn't know who I was though until she ran into me in their HQ and ..well still doesn't know my name at least.. though I think I may have her first name down now."

Jason Todd has posed:
Shaking his head, Hood admits, "It isn't clear. I don't believe he is. I haven't found any proof at least. It could be possible, I suppose."

"There's always a rush to get this shit off the streets" he responds, a little more quickly than is polite. It's clearly a sore spot with him.

The incredulous look given to Misfit may as well have included little digitized eyebrows raising over the optics of his mast when she admits someone stole her utility belt to teach her a lesson.

"...That isn't the sort of thing you want to be telling any of the rest of us, probably. Oracle maybe. But she's more patient, forgiving even."

"You have a name? They were supposedly part of Justice League Dark?" Yeah he's frowning now behind his mask.

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe has posed:
    "Yeah her name is Talia." she frowns and shakes her head. "She is ... incredibly fast and a really good fighter. I caught her a few times since that day by the cafe lurking on rooftops and doing stuff around Gotham. She seems to know the score and she is definitely associated with JLD."

    Her heels kick a bit more. "I'm pretty sure she could swipe the belt off just about anyone." a mild complaint. "I realized it right away, she just.. knew exactly where the latch system to release it was bypassing the security in one move. She has definitely handled them before." there is a sulking grumble to this complaint.

    Also one could say that. "She said it was a training test... not the first time someone in this town has jumped me to make sure I'm on my toes. I smacked her and took it back right away."

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood just shakes his head at the name.

"Talia.. Talia al Ghul? Dark hair?" He shakes his head again.

"She knows how to remove your belt because she knows Batman. Her father wanted him to become the next head of the League of Assassins. Ra's didn't -- doesn't take rejection very well." And what's more, she knew Batman in the biblical sense. But Jason wasn't certain how much of the Family Business Misfit knows. He wasn't going to be the one to give away Family Secrets. He's already enough of a prodigal he doesn't need to create problems. "Also the one who decided I was better off not being dead" he notes. It's as if sometimes he isn't entirely convinced of her good judgment.

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe has posed:
    "See.. I mean... I didn't know all of that..." she blinks behind her goggles. "I'll need to talk to Oracle about it more." she ponders. "Also I am not sure that is all my fault. She just said the way I walk gave a whole lot away..."

    Which makes a lot of sense, her primary sparring partner and trainer is Cassandra.

    "I do feel better about cold clocking her in the back of the head and taking my belt back though." a faint grin at that. "Geeze..."

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood shakes his head, looking out toward the harbor.

"Talia is..." He shrugs. "Talk to Oracle. This is more her bailiwick." Nice way to get out of the rest of this conversation. Kind of like finding an open seat in one of the Titanic's scant life boats.

"She.. isn't exactly an enemy at least these days. But I'm not sure how many of Batman's good graces she has earned either." The truth is he knows more but again, not knowing how much of the Family Misfit knows from behind the masks, it's too much to risk getting into right now.

"If she sets her mind to it, she is very dangerous. Don't under estimate her."

Pausing as an alert pings in his optics, he turns back to her, "I need to get going, Misfit. I've got a very hungry cat that will go into a frenzy and shred everything in sight if I don't get back to feed him." Not the usual reason for someone to duck out but at least he sounds sincere enough it isn't just a story to blow her off.

Charlotte Gage-Radcliffe has posed:
    Charlie kips up to her feet again. "Okay I'll shake down Oracle and see what I can find in the computers too." assignment accepted. Thing is, she knows a lot. Been to family Holidays. She is just notoriously bad about doing the actual research and detective work.

    Well hopefully she lives and learns.

    Definitely hope she lives.

    "Thanks Red." she salutes off to Jason and then steps backwards off the building, vanishing before she drops more than a story. Her ping vanishing from the proximity alerts too, back at the Clocktower.