15986/NOT MY FACE!

NOT MY FACE!
Date of Scene:	30 September 2023
Location:	Midtown - Gotham City
Synopsis:	Riddles, faceless mages, a DRAMATIC ENTRANCE and Osprey getting a new hair style curtesy of KLARION, THE WITCH BOY
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Talia al Ghul, Austin Reese, Emiko Queen, Tim Drake

---

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    SO YOU WANNA PLAY WITH MAGIC? You should know what you're falling for
    Darling do you dare to do this, 'cause I'm coming at you like a --

    DARKHOSE COMICS PRESENTS: "NOT MY FACE!"

    It had been a stormy Saturday morning in Gotham City, and a fog was laying heavily over the metro area, coming rolling in off the unusually warm Atlantic ocean and mixed with the cool air coming down from the mainland as Gotham gets bogged down between two weather systems. METROPOLIS doesn't have this issue. NEW YORK doesn't have this issue.

    Maybe that's why the Gotham City News networks' meterologists have largely given up and said 'look, you're in Gotham, it's probably going to be drizzly and gray.'

    This is all complicated by a message that came from a burner phone to several contacts on Phoebe's contact list:

    >Meet me at the Abandoned Shamrock Bar near the Daggett Dome
    >I need help
    >-P

    And unusually, Phoebe isn't answering her phone -- that would be the most likely P on the list to contact two members of the Outsiders, and two members of the Bat Family.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia normally isn't the one that gets involved in this sort of thing. But she's trying to earn Phoebe's trust, and to maintain it. The girl has abandonment issues.. So having someone that she can request that will come to back her up is important. So.. Upon receiving the request, Talia goes to follow up on it. SHe has a large katana strapped over to her back, and isn't bothering on a facemask. No one will know who she is.
    And if anyone does so they'll make a point of avoiding her. If they move to attack her then that just means that they would be hostile either way, which resolves the issue. She comes stealthily through the night, going along the rooftop like the assassin she's been trained as.

Austin Reese has posed:
Now Osprey had been already been down near the Dagget Dome. He'd been checking out a new shop, in an area that was being rapidly gentrified, when his phone had buzzed. He'd dipped out of the store and out to his pickup truck, where he always kept a 'change of clothes'. Once dressed for the occasion, he took to the rooftops, crossing over the fog choked rooftops and across the gaps between buildings as he moved towards the abandoned taphouse.

He stops on a roof where he can look at the taphouse from the vantage point, <"Oriole, I'm on sight. Are you on comms?"> He figures he'll try the local comms first, see if he can get a hold of her before he goes in. He switches his domino mask to thermal to try to get a scan of the building and look for heat signatures.

Emiko Queen has posed:
The message isnt an unusual one... its that Phoebe doesn't answer a response that's suspicious. Fortunately Emiko happened to be in the Gotham area (Ollie has a few small business ventures mostly to rub Bruce the wrong way in millionaire fashion) so now Red Arrow was on the prowl to the site.

Say what you will about fog, it is good vigilante cover. If Osprey hadn't put his thermal vision on he might not of noticed her landing on the rooftop near him. She nods to the recent addition to the Outsiders. "Any word from her?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The Shamrock Bar was an Irish Pub. It's been closed down for a while, and the building it's housed in is split on its fate -- several developers want to knock down the Gotham Deco building entirely and start from scratch, but the building has a historic veneer that was -- you guessed it -- sponsored by a Wayne in the 1920's.

    However the building's been locked down tight. The only point that looks like it might have been an entry?

    An access hatch, nearer to Talia, is sticking up in the drizzling fog. How Opportunistic.

    ... or a trap.

    The building itself has a number of heat sources -- though some don't precisely look... human. Some are hunched over, or small, like rabbits darting back and forth in rooms. Maybe raccoons that got stuck.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia's not aware of the others coming in - she presumes that there are others coming to the summons, but she hasn't the faintest idea of who or how to get in touch with them. Instead as she comes over to the access hatch.. She simply goes to take another blade out - this one isn't really a blade, however. It's an extendable bamboo pole. She goes to put on a breathe mask, stands about three meters away, and goes to poke the edge of the pole over at the handle. Keeping it rather simple.
    If there's a gas trap, she'll be out of the way. If there's a tumbler, hopefully she won't be about to fall for it (ha-ha)

Emiko Queen has posed:
That is not good. If it wasn't for the stoic business expression Red Arrow would show more of the concern she felt. That and her heightened situational awareness has noticed other movement on the rooftop. She gestures to Osprey to not rush ahead and slinks in the direction of the presence. It could be an ambush.

Or it could be an older lady at a hatch. Red pauses, then realizes the woman is performing trap tests with the long stick, and nods approvingly of the simple but likely effective method.

Austin Reese has posed:
With no response, a frown crosses Osprey's face as he looks down over the building. This definitely feels like a trap. Without being able to pick up on anything via thermals, "Nothing yet." He replies to Emiko, "We should move in. Trap or not."

He doesn't think Phoebe would do a joke like this. It's not even a pun! He follows after Red, keeping to the shadows as he pulls one of his knives off of his bandolier. He peeks around past Red, and spots the woman at the hatch, head tilting just a little bit, to try to get a better view of what Red is seeing, "Who is that?" He asks, quietly.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Even worse, it's a Tumblr, and it's showing horrible fanfiction universes where it's a coffee house AND there's ONLY ONE BED IN THE APARTMENT ABOVE. /AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES/.

    There is no trap that's sprung. Sometimes, a hatch is just a hatch, leading to a the end of a utility hallway. Spider webs hug the pipes and wipre conduits, though there are footsteps in the dark, disturbed dust, leading down the hallway.

    A general com call goes out. It pops and hisses, like an electric snake in the ear.

    "Don't. Come. Come. Come. Don't. Phoebe's voice, unvocalized, comes over the communication arrays of those who have them. Snap, crackle. "Dark. Hurt. Don't. Come."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Well lovel. Someone isn't used to having guests. Or at least has gone out of thier way to make everyone feel unwelcome. And then Talia is going to hear that pleading voice of Phoebe - even without direct access to the communications, there's that -feel- of it. And of course this is onlygoing to make her curious. The hatch open, Talia goes to smoothly sommersault down it. There's not even a breakage of a spiderweb along her way as she goes to land cleanly and hoepfully silently along over on her feet in the dark hall.

Emiko Queen has posed:
"Someone who knows what she's doing," she replies to Osprey.

Then there's another weird call from Phoebe. This time Emiko visibly frowns. "Not time to fuss over it being a trap." The woman jumps down with little issue, so she darts over and follows suit. Something was really off about this, but it was a situation where that was more reason to investigate rather than keep your distance.

Austin Reese has posed:
Hearing the strange comm message from Phoebe, Osprey is definitely not happy with it, "Yeah that's literally the opposite of what I'm going to do." He replies, quickly following Red down through the hatch and into the building proper, <"Oriole, if you can answer me, do it, even if it's just a text or something."> He subvocalises over the comms, trying to get her to talk to him.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Someone who knows what they're doing, and was also on the invite list.

    The access hallway comes to a regular door, which was open, showing a regular old hallway. It's slightly musty.

    What looks like a raccoon crosses across the far end of the hallway in front of the yawning opening for a staircase. It bumps into the newell post, and then tumbles down the stairs with soft 'thumps'.

    Several of the doors ont his floor are open. They could have been apartments, or small offices on this floor. Probably have served as both in the building's time.

    There's a shadow cast in the cold, dull light from one of the doors.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Of course it's a scavenger. Because they can only expect that from birds in the belfry. Talia isn't making any sort of move to rendezous over with the others. She's waiting and expectant. But she's also playing the odds. The trouble present will likely make the others break caution and charge directly into things to investigate.
    So Talia stays back to be in a position where she can provide extraction if they need it. Because she doesn't expect them to have the caution inbred to not go head first into the inevitable chaos.

Emiko Queen has posed:
Well Talia is partially right when it comes to Red Arrow. She is trained to not just charge recklessly into dangerous matters, as an assassin needs to be precise and in control of their situation... but over the time of working with her family, her friends and other young heroic teams, she's also learned that sometimes caution only goes so far. Especially when a teammate and friend was potentially in danger in an unknown circumstance. So it comes out somewhere in the middle, and while not rushing blindly ahead into likely danger she is not holding back either as they work down the corridor and glances in the open rooms. The critter bumbles down the stairs at the other end, alerting to their presence. But it's the shadow gleaming from one of the rooms that eventually catchs her attention. She motions towards it to Osprey, then slinks towards that doorway herself, drawing her bow and an arrow to be ready just in case.

Austin Reese has posed:
Still no response, a grumble from Austin as he sneaks behind Red, moving across to cover her as she moves into position near the doorway, <"I'll move in first. You cover me after."> He chirps to her over comms, stepping up into position in front of the door, backing up to the wall. Subtlety be damned. He sprints full bore at the door, turning to drive his shoulder into it, with the intent being to knock it open and burst inside, getting a drop on whoever is in there. He is assuming it is not Phoebe, since she's in trouble.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    When our rescuers come across the room? The door is open, welcoming in fact. And within there is a figure.

    It's Balm. She's in her solid grays, her hood pulled over her head. Her hands are up, her arms bent and tight -- but as if sesneing the presence of her friends approaching, she turns -- and even in the gray, foggy light coming from the window, it's plain to see that there is Something Very Wrong.

    Phoebe has no face. Not even her domino is seen, just a smooth imprint with shallow dips where her eyes and mouth should be.

    She holds her hands up in the universal 'don't shoot' position!

    Meanwhile, there's a cackling from down the hall. Another one of the raccooons as founds its way out of the room -- also missing a face. It bumps into the wall, fur standing out at full height before it attempts to claw at its head, before scurrying off.

    "You know," creaks a high-pitched whine of a voice "You heroes in Gotham really ARE the most /BORING/ group I've ever come across! All serious and 'no don't do that' or 'I'm here to right wrongs' and no pi-ZAZZ! I could BORE Myself to sleep waiting on a little *excitement!*" states a being at the far end of the hallway, sitting above the window in the transom as if he were just perfectly balanced on the thin shelf. He's wearing short trousers, with tall black and white striped socks and narrow shoes. His suitcoat is also black, four-button and in an English cut. His skin is grayish-green, with dark eyes like those of a doll, emotionless and not matching the too-wide grin on his face, his black hair shellacked as if it were a helmet and not hair.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
And as the group goes on in, Talia's eyes go wide. Oh, she recognizes the figure. If not from in person.. She moves to keep her blade down, and stands still out there as the raccoon goes to start to cackle. Phoebe's own state is left uncommented on as Talia goes ramrod straight. And then moves over to speak very, very calmly and smoothly.
    "WItch-Boy, what brings you to Gotham engaged in such actions that are so beneath you? What reasons have brought you here and garnered your personal interest?" This being is rather high on the list of thautamurgic threats, and Talia has no intents on making them more aggressive.
    "This seems relatively cavalier for one of your stead." Becasue Klarion the Witch-Boy isn't the type to go around playing Bat-Mite, at least by normal reputation and inclination. Those that can read Talia's body language here would rather easily be capable of telling it as the 'Oh F***' response. Her tone is loud enough for the others to hear if they're not familiar with the Witch-Boy in question to recognize them.

Austin Reese has posed:
One of the early training that Batman made him do was to sit in front of the main console of the Batcomputer and memorize every villain Batman has even tangentially faced off against. So Klarion was on that list, and Osprey knows better than to try and fight him the old fashioned way. Have to try out outsmart him. So Osprey knows he's probably screwed when it comes to that, "You want entertainment? Can't you just magic yourself up a new season of Friends or something?"

He glances over at Balm a couple of times, though he doesn't say anything yet. Better figure out what the Witch-Boy wants, first. At least she's not...Well, perhaps 'okay' isn't the right word, but alive at least. He's sure this can be reversed once they figure out the magic behind it...Which usually Balm would do. Shit.

Emiko Queen has posed:
Well, things just got weird. Between Balm's state, and the new cackling arrival, and the woman finally speaking up to intervein. And while she doesn't know this weird boy, the way those around her react to him is a clear indication that he is not someone to be trifled with lightly. So she has to bite back the assassin desire to just put an arrow in his head to be done with it. As that probably would not work so easily, and ticking him off would only cause more problems for all of them. "Pretty intricate to set up just for some 'entertainment'," is all she notes, in a (admittably forced at this point) neutral business-like note.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm bristles, hearing Klarion speak.

    "HMPH. I came across someone who reeks of dark magic, death, and *hotdogs* and expected either a good story or a challenge," he whines, "Instead, her STUPID DOG starts barking its head off and it SCARED TEEKL and CHASED HER OFF and then *that one*" he points to the faceless Phoebe, who just points at herself, "TOLD ME SHE'D ALREADY FOUGHT WHAT WAS DARK AND WOULDN'T TELL ME ABOUT IT! STUPID. STUPID." he growls shrilly, and his helmet-like hair turns up a little showing two points like devil's horns. He swings his legs down.

    "So. One of YOU THREE have got to entertain me. Or I'll just keep taking people's faces off until I get bored."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to lower her blade and then muse. "Very well then, if you wish to have a face to take off.." She would advance upon Klarion. "Then let us make some sport of it. Because whimsy is so far beneath you. Where is the game in it? Where is the challenge? You are but a provocateur in the greater stream of things. Another being, higher even than you, would come and make sport of yourself in turn fo rindulgence in the fate o fsuch things so far beneaht you. Why do we not make a sport of it? So there is something risked, and something gained if won fair or unfair?"
    One had to pique the interest of a god-child.

Austin Reese has posed:
It might be best to let Talia talk to him, but Osprey is not about to stand around and let this go without at least trying his best, "What kind of entertainment do you want? A game? A show?" Somebody needs to get this kid an iPad and a Roblox account. Could save the whole world a lot of trouble.

Tim Drake has posed:
    Outside, the fog and heavy cloud cover remain. A storm is rolling into Gotham, the air heavy with condensation not yet ready to release. Lightning arcs overhead, and outside the window past where Klarion the Witch Boy sits, it flashes, illuminating the glass.

    Thunder rumbles. Another bright glimpse of lightning as it crackles across the clouds; this time it reveals a caped silhouette, seconds before the shadow comes crashing through the window, boots landing heavily. Red Robin turns, sweeping out with a roundhouse kick aiming to knock Klarion off his perch and onto the ground!

Emiko Queen has posed:
Emiko Queen kept glancing aside to make sure Phoebe was (relatively) okay other than the obvious condition, letting Talia handle the talking as she clearly had a better grasp on what to say and how to say it. The times like this, when she wasn't quite sure what to do, was extremely frustrating. Especially to her pride, though she kept that to herself.

Then there is a lightning flash and her attention snaps back as Red Robin makes a DRAMATIC ENTRY crashing through a window and going to knock the witch-boy brat off his perch. "Now -that- is entertainment."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I HATE ROBLOX! THAT STUPID GAME WITH THE BUS CRASH I ALWAYS GET EATEN BY PURPLE!" Klarion snarls at Reese, and he goes to raise his hand when lightning flashes. The crack and boom of thunder alerts it was near by, and then another flash with a dramatic, caped figure behind it.

    And then with a yelp he's knocked off his perch. He goes 'skidding' across the air (NOT wanting to get his shoes dirty on this nasty floor), and then stomps his feet, 'standing'.

    "No. NO NO NO. YOU. ARE. SUPPOSED. TO. BE. SCARED. OF ME!" he snarls again, and he brings his hands up. "SHE LOST HER FACE BECAUSE HER STORY WAS DUMB AND HER STUPID DOG CHASED MY PRECIOUS BEAUTIFUL PERFECT TEEKL. ALL YOU FOOLS ARE STAYING HERE WITH ME UNTIL TEEKL COMES BACK!" he growls, and then he huffs, and straightens his jacket, running his hand over his head as he gives a huff, clearly thrown off his entire game by Red Robin's absolutely perfect dramatic entrance.

    Balm just stands awkwardly to the side, sans face. How is she even breathing? She signs in Tim's general direction: <hi. face lost. long story.>

    "ALSO THAT ONE is not beneath me. THE REST OF YOU ON THE OTHER HAND -- except maybe the assassin -- TOTALLY. UTTERLY. BORING!!!" he growls, the hallway shaking and echoing with the shrillness of his voice. "NOW. Did *ANYONE* bring candy? I'm getting bored AND hungry!"

Emiko Queen has posed:
Great. He's got great magic power and an attitude. A dangerous combination to say the least. The entire building seems to shudder with his upset, though that could just be how obnoxious and loud his voice is.

"Throwing a tantrum is not going to scare anyone, or encourage them to 'entertain' you," Red Arrow replies crisply, as Tim's timely interruption has given her a chance to get her composure back in order. Back to business, for the most part. "Maybe once you calm down your cat will come out of hiding." What is it with magic users and cats, anyways. Then again, she appreciates them herself for being tiny natural assassins in their own right, so she can't really judge.

"As for candy." She pulls a couple of chocolate bars out of an utility belt pouch. "I am some, but I am not giving them to you just for yelling and demanding them."

Her boyfriend is a super-speedster, of course she keeps chocolate and other sugary snacks on hand. Sometimes that super metabolism needs a pick-me-up.

Austin Reese has posed:
When the window shatters and Red Robin bursts through and kicks Klarion right in the face, Osprey moves position, changing where he's at while keeping eyes on the still rather upset Witch-Boy, "How do you know we're boring if we just got here?" He asks, intent on proving that he's /not/ boring, though the priority is still getting Balm back to normal. After a moment he glances over to Red as she mentions having something, "Look, if you're hungry why don't we go get some Batburger and look for your cat?" He offers, still looking for a way to take him by surprise somehow. Clearly just kicking him in the dome won't cut it.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to fold her fingers togehter and then glance over at Klarion as the group would engage, "A game? You play this one poorly. You rant and rave.. But, very well then, let me give you a riddle. YOu wish to take off a face. Take off mine then. Take away all that rages, all that loathes, all that hides. All that rants, all that raves. Take off each face, each shell, each projetion. Take off each sphere. Take them off and look beneath. But not yet."
    Talia goe sto take a seat in a lotus position. "Tell me what you will see before you do. PRoject what you will see underneath all those masks, all those faces, all thsoe shells when you have peeled them away. TEll me wht it is before you do. Because, Witch-Boy.. How well do you know me? Where is the point of the game if you cannot know what you will have when you play your hand? Or can you not predict such a slight thing?"
    Seh has given him a game and a challenge. To see if he rises to it or that he fails it along with all the rest of the rage.

Tim Drake has posed:
    Does Red Robin look scared? No, not particularly. He has a shuriken grasped between his fingers, clearly poised to throw it should Klarion try anything. For now, though, he holds off.

    Phoebe gets a quick nod even though Tim's not sure she can see him. She seems to be sensing things around her, at least, enough to know he's there.

    "We're not interested in your games, Klarion. Give everyone their faces back and we'll help you find your familiar." The question of candy gets a shake of his head, because it's not even October yet technically, but then Emiko produces some. Huh. He glances towards Talia at her proposition to the Witch Boy. Tim's hand, holding the shuriken, lowers. Looks like he's willing to hear this one out.

    But he'd be down with a Batburger run too.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Ugh, no. I go to Batburger and *all* I ever get is *Robin*." Klarion states, sticking his tongue out. He looks around to the grouping, and seems to consider. He folds his legs. He looks to Talia. "If you riddle 'what's in my pocket' I'm throwing you out the way Red Robin came in." Klarion states to Talia, and then reaches over to snatch the candybars, which he greedily opens and eats on.

    "I'll even make it sporting. For each riddle I can't answer, I'll give a face back. But if I give you one you can't answer, I get to take *your* face." he steeples his fingers. "Teekl will come back to me. No stupid DOG is gonna get the best of her."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to fold her hands together, "Very well then, Witch-Boy. When you have taken off all my faces.. What am I beneath? Say what it is then you see me as. That you know me as. That you think I will be. Then, when you have made your prediction.. Strip them away. Pull all away that would block it forth. Tear it all off and then see what is beneath. Whether you are right or wrong. Failing that, Witch-Boy.. Then you must give one back. Failing that then.. I will give you but a simple riddle."

Emiko Queen has posed:
How rude. But Emiko doesn't resist him grabbing the candy bars away, as it does seem to calm him down a little.

Having to essentially play a game with a magical brat is annoying, but Talia seems willing to go along with it and play along, so she'll keep back at the ready and see how this plays out.

Austin Reese has posed:
Osprey's glad he doesn't have to answer the riddle. But then again he's just here in case the riddle thing doesn't work, he supposes. He does move position again, shifting around towards the side a bit. He's not doing anything untoward, but he's definitely preparing to

Tim Drake has posed:
    The shuriken ends up held in a loose grip at Red Robin's side. His gaze drifts away from Klarion, first to Emiko and then to Austin, offering them both a loose shrug of one shoulder before he returns his attention to the major threat in the room - the Witch Boy.

    Like the others not participating in the game of riddles, he stands to the side, ready to jump in should it become necessary. Standing by.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "It's yourself. Assassin. Mother. Friend. Daughter. Hero. All the masks you wear. Yawn. I'll give you that one and return a face I've stolen." he yawns, and he does return a face. It's not Phoebe's.

    A raccoon screeches and comes up the stairs, flailing about as it now has eyes and nose and mouth. It darts past the group of game-players and skitters into the utility hallway, glad to find the way out!

    "YOU." Klarion asks, his mouth now pretty saturated by the chocolate, and he points to Red Robin. "If you eat it, its sender will eat you. What is it?" he questions, and then taps his wrist. "Tick tock birdbrains." he states, and then leans over towards Emiko "Any more chocolate?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
There is a quiet laugh. "Very well then, Witch-Boy. A simple riddle then. One that is eternally simple. One knows all. One can do all. One is everything. One can do everything. So then.. Let me give you a challenge. What then.. is impossible?" She would query.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "AH-AH-AH! It's HIS Turn to ask me!" Klarion states to Talia, pointing at Tim "AFTER he answers mine. You're not the only one playing, you know." he snaps. And then points to Phoebe, who is still faceless. "SHE can't play because HER STUPID DOG CHASED TEEKL!"

    Balm flips him off.

Emiko Queen has posed:
Another candy bar is produced. "Of course I did not give you all at once, that would be foolish." Emiko says nothing more on how many she may or may not have, because that would give it away.

A raccoon scurries through, now with a face. Oh, that's a bit annoying because it wasn't Phoebe's, but she will give him credit for being clever enough to not take away the main thing keeping them... putting up with his antics.

Austin Reese has posed:
"I got one for you, Witch-Boy. Once it's my turn." Osprey offers, as he leans back against the wall, watching that raccoon scamper off. How many don't have faces, he wonders. How many more will he screw around with them before he frees Phoebe.

Tim Drake has posed:
    When the riddle is turned on him, Tim hesitates for a second, taking in a breath, before he answers with "A fish hook." Simple. But Red Robin doesn't look pleased at all to be involved in this, his mouth a straight line of distaste and his brow furrowed.

    But apparently it's his turn to play the game. "How can the number four be half of five?" he asks.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The Witchboy accepts the chocolate, and he points at Emiko "You're okay. I'll spare YOUR face if you keep giving me candy." he states haughtily, and then turns back to Tim. He narrows his eyes. He purses his lips a moment and gives a hum.

    "When written down, F I V E , IV looks like the Roman numeral for Four. Take away two letters, half the word. Now. YOU--" he turns and points at Austin.

    Another raccoon skitters by. It has a face. It looks very scared of Klarion. It picks up a piece of chocolate that Klarion isn't looking at and escapes out the window Red Robin opened.

    "Hope you know how history works -- Agustus was ten in 1870, but only five in 1875. How can that be?" he asks tiredly. "You don't look like the smart one of this outfit, just sayin'."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to muse over then. "And yet it is a simple enough challenge for one that can do everything. A rather simple riddle born out of something that is inherently an unsolvable contradiction. I'm sure that you know what it is then. IF one were to know all, and be able to do all.." She would smile.
    "Then what it would be then is simple. A command that could not be fulfilleda t all. Something that despite doing and knowing everything, that would be impossible."

Emiko Queen has posed:
Where this a normal situation Emiko would say she's been through worse. But it's not a normal situation and she doesn't want to tempt fate. Another candy bar, this one with mint centers to the chocolate, is produced. She'll take having to restock her chocolate stash over the alternatives, even if it annoys her having to cater to the whim. It at least seems to be keeping Klarion in a calmer state so it's worth biting back her tongue.

Austin Reese has posed:
Austin stands there for a few moments, thinking about the question that's being presented to him. He rubs his chin for a moment, "I think I know." He says, as he reaches a hand down to his side slowly, while motioning with his left hand, "He was born in 1880 BC." Austin says, as he grins a little bit, "So now you have to answer mine. What's brown and sticky?"

Slowly he pulls the pin on the small canister he just pulled out of his pouch.

Tim Drake has posed:
    The correct answer is acknowedged with a short, sharp nod from Red Robin, though there's no effusive praise for Klarion's quick wit. Tim just crosses his arms over his shoulders, fingers tapping impatiently against his arm as they cycle through riddle-askers and answerers.

    And he seems to figure out what Austin is aiming at, so his arms unfold in order for him to put his hands on his hips. All the better positioning to palm something from his own utility belt.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Eh, so you can do math. Whoop de doo. Sigh." he sates, and with a wave of his hand --

    There's a gasp. It unfortunately is from the Witch Boy and *not* the Faceless Feeb as a soft 'mrroow?' happens, and from directly behind where he's sitting, Teekl finds her way out of a room, where she had been curled up, potentially faceless and unable to respond. She looks rather miffed.

    "TEEKL!" Klarion calls out, and zips right over to scoop up an ash-colored cat with orange eyes, who looks to every member of the assembled group with murderous intent. So... typical cat.

    "All right, tough guy -- what *is* brown and sticky?" Klarion asks, his face flattening. "Is it a stick? Are you part golden retriever?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would curl her legs underneath her then. "And so, all knowing, all being Witch-Boy, I give you one simple thing in all your knowledge, all your power, and all your infinite capacity something that you cannot do. And this is the answer to my simpleness. Just one small, small thing."
    Her lips twitch upwards at the making of what is to her some grand jest.
    "Get lost."

Austin Reese has posed:
"Ah. First, you have to give Balm back her face since I got your's right." Austin says, stepping towards where Klarion runs off to once he sees the cat. Both of them together? That's even more perfect. Osprey finishes drawing the pin out of the small grenade as he palms it. He waits, watching. He expects Klarion to follow through and give Balm her face back.

Once he does, then he finally gives Klarion his answer, "Nope. It's riot foam." He responds, before he whips his arm around like he was pitching a baseball, throwing the impact grenade right at the Witch-Boy and his feline familiar. When (if?) it hits, it'll explode into a lot of extremely sticky, extremely dense, and very brown, riot foam.

Designed to hold super-strong metahuman rioters. It's what Red Robin and Osprey had been working on for a while, they got the chemistry to allow it to be kept compressed and then rapidly expand right, finally. This just wasn't how he was planning to use it the first time.

Emiko Queen has posed:
Thanks to her acute situational awareness Emiko is quick to pick up on Reese and Tim being up to something. But, being close to Karion because she was providing the candy, she doesn't risk responding and potentially giving it away....

Fortunately a diversion is provided in the return of Klarion's cat/familiar. Which gives Emiko a chance to move back a step and not be any potential lines of fire, making herself the least interesting thing in the room.

And when it does happen she smirks a little. She could join in, but lets the duo have their moment. Instead taking one of the remaining candy bars she has, unwrapping a bit and biting out of it, like she was watching some amusing stage play unfold.

Tim Drake has posed:
    And as soon as Austin rears his arm back to make the throw, Tim's managed to grab what he wants from his utility belt. In this case it's a string with several small weights attached, that he whips over at Klarion in the hopes of binding his arms so that when he's coated with riot foam from Osprey's thrown grenade, he'll have no chance of trying to work his way out of it.

    "I guess I'm glad we deviated from that last prototype, even though seeing people stuck in hot pink foam would have been amusing," he says, biting back a smile. "Would have ruined your riddle."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Fine, fine..." he reaches into his pocket and slings a bit of nothing in Balm's direction.

    Balm's face is restored, and she takes a deep breath of air, and clearly is looking very confused with 'how did I not die with no air?' expression, and then a 'magic is so weird' defeated expression as she sees what Austin has in hand. And at the news that it's Riot Foam she backs away, giving plenty of space.

    Klarion looks puzzled "/RIOT/ fo-- WH-- WHY YOU!!" he squeals out as he's hit. It is indeed sticky, brown, dense foam. He's caught. Teekl is caught in the foam and rolls like a rotisserie chicken as she complains as if this was torture.

    THe horns of Klarion's hair turn up harder, and sharper. He's wrapped, someone is eating HIS chocolate, and he's had to give THAT WOMAN WITH THE DOG her FACE BACK.

    "NO! NO NO NO!"

    And he manages to get one hand out, index and middle finger glowing as he tries for a shot against Austin!

    "OSPREY!" Balm calls out and she raises her own hands to try and block the blow.

    Klarion's power, rage, and will strikes Phoebe's spinning shield as she tries to protect Austin, only for some of the magic to burst through, creating a brilliant flash of light and a loud clang of bells enough to rattle the building before the foam expands fully, and Klarion is forced to dismiss himself (and Teekl) to save them from embarassment!

Talia al Ghul has posed:
And there is Talia, sitting over on the ground in a lotus position, looking ever so smug at the course of events. That done with Klarion fleeing, she would muse, "A lesson then, Witch-Boy. Hopefully one that willb uild itself. Better the bearer stung than the bee." That done,s he would flip herself up to her feet, glancing over at Phoebe to make sure that the girl was okay, and then would be heading towards the window. Leaving the girl with her friends and teammates. It was a victory to be celebrated by family.

Emiko Queen has posed:
Talia's departure doesn't go entirely unnoticed. Emiko gives a brief nod of acknowledgement in her direction, respecting how the woman kept her composure and focus while dealing with the Witch-Brat. But does nothing to try and stop her from leaving. She has her reasons... and the younger Emiko probably would of done the same.

This older and arguably wiser version however is fine with spending time with friends, family and team after a victory after Klarion vacates the location in a loud but thankfully harmless fit. She finds some not-chocolate biscuits in a pouch of her belt, crumbles them, crumples them in one of the candy wrappers and flicks it off to the side for the raccoons to find later. A sort of apology for having their dingy urban home invaded and exsitance messed with by Klarion's tricks.

She kind of has a soft spot for animals.

"I'll admit, when he used brown as a color I was expecting some kind of crappy joke." Emiko remarks with a smirk. "This was just as amusing though."

Austin Reese has posed:
The foam is expanding pretty rapidly as Osprey watches with a grin on his face. Though the grin changes a bit when he sees Klarion's hand stick out from the foam as it encloses around him.

"Shit."

Balm tries to block it. She manages to deflect a little bit, but Osprey still manages to take the blast full on to most of his face. He's knocked backwards, hitting the wall with a hefty thud and then falling back down onto his hands and knees.

It seems like he's still moving, though. Balm must have absorbed enough to keep him alive. There's a bit of a groan from him, "I'm still alive." He says, as he stands up, his hood falling off and showing his hair shocked completely white, save for the bit on the left Balm managed to block.

Tim Drake has posed:
    "Welcome back," Red Robin says to Balm on the occasion of her face being returned. He flashes a half-smile at her.

    And then Klarion is reaching out for one last riposte, this time of the magical variety. Tim only has time to extend a hand in warning but Phoebe already has a shield up, and really, what could he possibly do?

    Thankfully it seems Austin is going to be alright, though the hair color change earns a wide-eyed look from Tim that is, of course, entirely obscured by his domino mask. "Whoa," he says aloud, though.

Emiko Queen has posed:
Emiko Queen tries to not smirk too much, but can't help herself. At least it was just Osprey getting a dye job and not a die job. Or it happening to someone who couldn't of taken it. "I guess the end of this situation still got a little... hairy."

Sigh, she needs to stop letting Oliver and Bart rub off on her with the quippiness.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm makes her way over, giving a nod to Talia as she makes her exit, though her primary concern right now?

    Austin as his hood falls back, and Phoebe hitches her breath.

    "-- I got enough of it that you weren't possibly disintegrated. That is a LOT of dark magic he launched." she whispers. She bumps a pen light, and begins a quick look at Austin's face, checking over a couple of points before she leans back on her heel. She tilts her head back, and lets out a soft 'uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggh.

    "I'm only mad because you got to it before I did. Yeah. Your hair's gonna be like this. Deflection of a curse beam, lot of black magic. I recommend you head back and do a full exam to make sure nothing *else* got changed. Sometimes it can be cleared back. Like a few weeks ago? Saw some dude get turned into a chicken. That was a strong curse." Phoebe comments quietly, and looks to Red Robin, Red Arrow, and Osprey.

    "Thanks for coming guys. Do you know how hard it is to try and text when you have no face?"

Emiko Queen has posed:
"I don't want to imagine. Even training to not rely on vision alone would make it difficult." Emiko shakes her head a little. "Still, it's better than what could of happened to him. There's enough not-asshole magic users around to help him if need by." And a few asshole ones. But at least Constantine is a good asshole. "I'm sure Impulse won't mind, knowing one of his sweet stashes went to good use. Guess the kid has a sweet tooth." Like most kids.

Austin Reese has posed:
The quick little spot exam from Balm reveals that he seems like he's...Well still him for the most part, other than the hair, "I guess that's another one I owe you." He says to Balm, "He really doesn't like getting out smarted." He takes a minute to sit down though, "That was nuts. What was he even doing here?"

Tim Drake has posed:
    "Who knows, with Klarion. I'm assuming it's both of your first encounters with him?" Red Robin asks of Red Arrow and Osprey, though his attention lingers on where Talia made her exit stage left. Only for a little while, and then he gives a shake of his head, letting it go. "Chaos entities are just that: chaotic. He could have any number of reasons," he adds.

Emiko Queen has posed:
Emiko Queen says, "Or none at all, if chaos is his thing." Emiko nods a little to Tim. "First time him specifically, hardly the first time dealing with the supernatural.""

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "He asked about the dark magic I had hanging about me. Met up with Red Sonja and a new Asgardian that I didn't know last night. Foguht demon. Interrupted an infernal MLM-scheme. Was on my way back to rinse off the stench and he got mad that I wouldn't give him a hot dog. Idu chased his familiar. It was a mess." Phoebe states, and she stretches her jaw out. "I'm starving, btu I have so many reports to type up. Think I'm heading to The Cave." she looks to Austin "Legit, go and check every part of you in a mirror. You could be sprouting a tail or developing super-molars."

Austin Reese has posed:
Osprey actually chuckles a little bit, as he gets back up after a moment, "Tail could be cool. Unless it was like a short stubby useless one. I need something you can throw things with." He offers, "I don't THINK I have one though."