17358/Warranted Business

Warranted Business
Date of Scene:	06 March 2024
Location:	Grant's Apartment - Grant's Gym
Synopsis:	Ted sees first hand some of Blue's business and she unexpectedly exposes her vulnerable side.
Cast of Characters:	Ted Grant, Blue GhostEyes

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Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant's gym is actually pretty busy by day. In fact you might even catch a meta or Mutant exercising and trying not to show off. this is a work day for Ted. He does come down to assist the trainers and work out as well. Like now.

Ted is lifting a set of 400 pound barbells. A couple trainers stand by to spot. He's been doing it a while now, a little toxic masculinity? Not in Ted's case. Showing off, for sure. Many eyes are indeed on him. A little something for the ladies... bring your friends. Ted at this point is nearly immune to the soreness of working out. He's doing this for a while. It is mostly showing off.

It's very bad to show off when you have a girlfriend who is a scion of Coyote or one of those tricksters.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Having snuck in and taken up a space nearby to watch where no one has noticed her, Blue takes in the situation with a great sense of amusement. Her trickster nature warring with her desire not to embarrass her new beau in front of everyone. There's also a fair bit of obvious admiration in her expression, if anyone were to actually notice her. She's good at blending into the background when she wants to.

'Decisions, decisions..' Blue thinks as she watches Ted. 'Oh damn. My better nature loses..' Hopefully Ted will forgive her. This is going to tax her strength a bit and she has to be careful but it is definitely within her abilities. The Native American woman with the strange two toned eyes is suddenly there in the crowd and having moved through it, she stands over Ted, grabs the weights with one hand in the middle and lifts it over her own head. She transfers it to her other hand, making it all seem easy even though it's a bit difficult and then uses both hands to toss the weights up in the air and catch them a few times.

Grinning wickedly she carefully lowers the set and offers it back to Ted with a cheeky grin. "Hiya Honey." She's dressed to impress in black leather boots and belt, knives and daggers attached to both and a sleeveless black denim shirt unbuttoned but tied closed under her breasts. There's a leather strap attached diaganoly across her chest with more knives and a couple of flasks. She tucks her hair behind one ear and steps back, shooting Ted a quick apologetic look.

Ted Grant has posed:
The response is a couple muted claps. The spotters step back, wondering is she a villain? Does Ted still fight villains. there's a brief peal of laughter until Ted replaces the barbell. He stands up, a little rueful. then he gives a wry smile as he sweeps her into a hug, that lifts her off the floor and kisses her.

"You better cool this shit. Wildcats eat coyotes." He seems determined to establish that he is indeed still the male, head nuzzling her.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
"Coyotes eat everything." Blue replies blithely. She's smiling though and returns his nuzzle and kiss eagerly. "Sorry. You were so intent and hot, really hot but I just.." She looks sheepish now. "Couldn't help myself." She leans forward and whispers into his ear. "I'll make it up to you later." Her arms wrap around Ted for a hug and this time she does resist the temptation and just hugs, doesn't try to lift him up or anything.

"You really did look great." Blue grins and winks. Her eyes seem to focus on something behind Ted for a brief instant and then narrow. The warmth and light switches over quickly to something cold and deadly, giving those often beautiful orbs a strange, otherworldly vibe.

"That guy..." She mutters as she tucks herself against his chest and tilts them so she can study the lone man working without a spotter over by the corner. He looks familiar and stands out because he's ignoring every thing else happening around him. It might take her a minute to place him though.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant looks down at Blue. "Yeah well... you make me feel like I need a training bra -doing that shit. I guess I will have to prove myself to you later. After I make dinner." He gives her a playful swat. Well, mostly playful. He looks over at the guy. "That guy... Elmer... he's behind in his dues. Okay I'll get him to my office. I will back you up... as I like the view behind you." He gives her a gentle pat as he says this.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue looks up at Ted and smiles. "Sorry. I'll do better. Dinner sounds great." Her eyes crinkle mischievously when Ted swats and then pats her rear. She totally had that coming after what she did and is clearly amused, and suspects she's in for more later. When he mentions getting the guy to his office and backing her up, a thing that very recently would have caused her to bristle, Blue nods just nods in agreement. It's not always going to be this easy, her adjusting to forming real relation and partnerships again but today her better sense wins out. Maybe she's becoming better at opening up or maybe it's just she already got the shenanigans out of her system.

"There are like ten outstanding warrants for that dude's arrest and they think he's a serial killer." Blue says softly. Her expression is no longer light and amused as she realizes where she knows the guy from. "How soundproof is your office?" There's a very dangerous note to her voice as Blue asks the question.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant smiles, resting a hand on her hip about as low as he could go in public, and a half inch further. "Oh it's soundproof. Many's the time I went in there for a... it's soundproof. //Hey!// Elmer! I wanna talk to ya. Put down the weights. Come onna my office."

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue looks at Ted with a raised brow but doesn't comment. It's not like she was any different before she decided to withdraw from people for a few years. When Ted calls out to the man, Blue has already cast a minor illusion to hide her weaponry. It might draw a few looks from anyone still paying attention to them but Elmer wasn't and since Blue is studying an old poster of Ted intently when the man turns, he immediately dismisses her as a threat and goes to follow Ted to his office.

Waiting until after the man steps inside, Blue swiftly moves across the room and slips inside before closing the door and locking it. Her nostrils twitch and she nods. The man is a human but it has been her experience that humans can at times, be worse than any of the usual monsters. "He's human but that doesn't mean he ain't a monster."

The look on Elmer's face is classic but he quickly tries to bluster his way out. "I dunno who the hell you think you are bitch but you better move right now. You can't keep me here!" And he grabs ahold of Blue's shoulder with the intention of slinging her across the room into Ted who sees as the threat. Women are nothing to this guy, he preys upon them. Poor evil shit is in for another surprise when Blue doesn't budge a fraction of an inch. She just waits to see what the guy does next.

Ted Grant has posed:
Bitch? He called Blue a bitch. Okay she can be liberated in a moment. The guy may be nearly Ted's size, but Ted has speed going for him. He comes at him and pivots come in from behind. He grabs Elmer by his weight belt and lifts him, The guy is tall but that works against him. Ted has to lift him less distance to smash his head into the low ceiling. Elmer goes crash going up, and goes crash going down. Indeed humans can be dangerous. Elmer blinks once sitting on the floor, then falls over.

Note to Blue: impugning Ted's manhood makes him more dangerous.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Well, that answers that question. Part of the reason Blue remained still was to see how Elmer reacted but she'd also been curious how Ted would react and how she'd feel about it. She's interested and a bit surprised to find that she's okay with this. Ted just defended her.. what? Honor? That isn't a trait she associates with herself so he defended her, she supposes and while she doesn't need that.. it still makes her feel pretty damn good. Girly really. Huh.

Having remained silent for a full minute in a half, clearly thinking, Blue finally looks up after kicking Elmer lightly in the side and moves to Ted. She gazes up into his eyes and with a wry amusement admits "Well honey, you know, I kinda am a bitch.. but thank you." Then she kisses him soundly. "I don't want to turn this guy into the cops just yet. The informant who told me about the serial killings.. they don't have any actual proof and while they can lock him up for those warrants.. if he did what they think he did, that ain't enough. I wanna try a thing. See if I can find out for sure if he did those things."

Stepping back, Blue dismisses the minor illusion hiding her weapons and fishes in her pants pocket for a zip tie to bind Elmer's hands. "I need to go to where he lives., is that something you got a record of? He might not have lied about it to his gym."

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant is kissed. "I know you are. But the tone makes the music!" Elmer is now sitting up and manages to croak out, "Why don't ya get a room?" Ted hammer fists him.

Yes, she can be tough as nails but she can also be soft and refreshing as the underside of your pillow. Besides... that look she gave him. He goes over to look over the records, in a rolodex of all things. "We make the guests bring in utility bills to prove residence. So this address should be worth checking... he probably used it as a base... God, I hope whoever lived there is... living somewhere else."

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue grimaces. She's relatively sure what she'll find at the residence if it is the man's residence. Normally a killer like this would hide his work space from his living space but this guy isn't all that bright, just sadistic and also, it's Gotham. People ignore things and mind their own business more here.

"He's too big to throw over the back of my bike.. I need to bring him with me. You got a car or van or something I can borrow?"

"Hang on though I got some stuff in my back I need.." She darts out to the parking lot and unlocks the leather bandolier on one side and removing a satchel. It should have everything although.." She looks toward the gym and considers. Ted will probably want to go with her. Blue thinks for a few moments and then opens the opposite bag and puts a few vials of different things into her satchel before closing and locking them both.

Then she heads back to Ted's office. She's still debating trying to convince him to stay behind. He hasn't seen this side of her but maybe the place will be a bust. On the other hand if things are going to work out between them then she can't hide parts of herself, can she? Well, she could.. but really doesn't want to. That life gets old fast.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted has Elmer trussed pretty securely when she returns. He asks bluntly, "You want me to come with you? I'll stay in the van of you want. I'll do it. But this sort of stuff will get old fast." He grabs her up in a tight hug. He also succeeded in facing Elmer away from them, to minimize silly comments.

He dangles the van keys in front of her, and sits on the corner of his desk. Holds out both arms to her, waiting to see if she grabs the keys or him.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Her eyes obviously go to the keys first but there is no hesitation as she steps forward and tucks herself tight against Ted's chest so he can hold her. "I want you to go with me. Maybe this will be nothing but if it isn't.. well. You should probably see. I don't want to hide any parts of what I am from you." Blue says quietly. After Ted lets her go, then she'll get the keys and leave the carrying of Elmer to him. She really didn't mean to put him in such a spot earlier with her trick, it's just hard for her to resist that kind of thing from time to time, or maybe sometimes. Okay, a lot of times.

Blue also lets Ted drive since she doesn't know her way around Gotham and also doesn't really drive cars. She's good at a lot of things but driving cars isn't one of them. It takes about half an hour to find the place, a dumpy house on a dirty street where trees and overgrown hedges seperate the large yards which are mostly wild or filled with junk and trash.

"Ugh. This is gonna suck." Blue studies the house and her eyes narrow and seem to focus on one window before she drops her head and rests her chin on her chest. "Fuck. I really wanted to be wrong."

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant has seen a lot. World War 2 was no joke. Depression era street life was no picnic. He's seen a lot and he works smarter these days, not harder when he can. So he grabs Blue before she can exit.

"Wait -we gotta call the cops on this anyway. Go kick in a window. Make it obvious. We'll call in a report of a prowler, say they were dressed like a clown. While they sort things through, we take kick me Elmo here to Jim Gordon."

Okay maybe he is a little protective. It's her fault going all gushy on him!

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
"No." Blue smiles gently at Ted as she disagrees. "I mean, we'll do that but we have to do something else first. They're waiting. I can give them what they need." She exits the car and hop/slides across the hood and opens Ted's door. "I'll show you, okay. C'mere." She'll tug Ted onto the yard and pull a glass vial of a pale white liquid from her satchel and then asks Ted to close his eyes. She smear a bit of the liquid on his eyelids while chanting softly and expertly in some ancient native tongue.

When she's done and he opens his eyes Ted will See. They are outside now. Twelve ghostly apparitions. Young women and all look sorely used and abused. There's a hunger in their expressions as they look at the car and a sense of terrible dread, fear and rage.

"I need to get him inside. They'll handle the rest. Then we can call the cops. They'll be tied her otherwise. He not only kept their bodies in the back yard, he kept trophies. I have to free them. It's the right thing to do and this many restless angry spirits will turn bad fast."

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant feels a chill he hasn't known since the Specter was a team mate. He looks at the shades all around him. He feels them staring at him, a man then soften a little as they realize he's not that kind of man. One holds her hands in front of her demanding, "Where were you? Hero? Many lives? Running your business? Chasing tail?"

He doesn't have an answer. He never did for this sort of thing. But he walks over to the car and gets Elmer out, putting an arm hold on him that hurts whether you go quietly or not. "Here, babe. Do that magic on him. I want this piece of shit to see what's in store!"

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
"Silence." Blue commands the spectre. She will help them but she will not stand for them disparaging her man. "You are my responsibility and not his. Now come." Blue intones after doing the same ritual to Elmer. She drags him kicking and screaming into the house where the tortured spirits gather around him in a circle and then steps back until she and Ted are by the door.

"This won't be pretty." Blue warns. Piercing blue and brown eyes look upon the souls and Blue nods, her face a mask of neutrality. "Take your vengeance and then begone from this world. The next awaits you."

All that can be seen is a raging swirl, a white tornado of wind and emotion that bears down on Elmer but they can feel a hint of the effects by the door. Elmer screams.. and screams, and screams some more. He cries and babbles and yells until he's hoarse and then mute. When the spirits finally seperate, the man lies prostrate on the floor, breathing yet but eyes staring sightlessly and drool dribbling from his mouth. "He'll spend the rest of his life imprisioned in his own mind, facing everything he put them through over and over without end." There is a dark satisfaction in Blue's voice and she doesn't try to hide it.

Together they watch the spirits turn peaceful and fade away. Blue takes a shaking breath and visibly gathers her courage before looking up at Ted and waiting to see his reaction. She's afraid and isn't used to caring quite so much what anyone thinks of who and what she is. It's been a very long time since that mattered at all in fact.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant looks at the man rolling on the floor. Justice, not law. Didn't Skinner and Flint spend the rest of their lives in prison for what they did to him, after he beat them almost to death?

He turns to Blue who seems all in and picks her up without a word. He says, "Let me give you a little rest." He lies. It's just Ted wanting to demonstrate his muscles have a use in a world like this. Nevertheless, Blue is a light and welcome weight on him. He kisses her forehead, no sex, just affection and concern. Maybe he's a little worried about himself and whether he is up for what he volunteered.

But then, there's that look in those beautiful blue/brown eyes.

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue hides her face against Ted's neck for a long moment and just rests in his embrace. She's shaking actually, he'll probably notice pretty fast. She understood the expression on his face. "It's not all like this, what I do. It usually isn't actually and ghosts are often just remnants, pale imitations of what a person once was still doing what they used to do. Others are different. Some like ones that were here and, well, other kinds. I help them when I can because it's a part of me. In my first life, I don't remember most of it now but I was a Shaman. I can't turn my back on that. I don't expect you to come with me for things like this but I felt like you needed to know about it, see it for yourself."

A shaky sigh and she shifts so her legs are wrapped around Ted's waist and her arms around his neck and Blue just clings to the man. "Can we go now? If I haven't scared you off permenantly?" Her tone is only half joking.

Ted Grant has posed:
Ted Grant gets Blue in the car without a word. They need to get out of here. Then he'll call the police with a burner phone. He is silent the whole time, thinking. After he makes the call, wipes off the phone and flings it out the window he finds a quiet shady street and parks the carnear a bench. He gets out of the car and walks Blue to the bench, steering her by her shoulders. He tugs her onto his lap or tries or at least holds her tight, as her knives will allow. He'll hold her till the shaking stops.

"You never saw shit go down with a Lord of Order, or the Vengeance of God. I have. I don't scare easily. Put your head on my shoulder. Close your eyes. Rest for a bit. Then we'll go to my place and I'll make you some dinner. You can freshen up and put on something cute and things will be better."

Blue GhostEyes has posed:
Blue goes so limp in his arms once she hears what Ted has to say that he has to catch her lest she tumble from his lap despite his hold on her. She pants and shivers, eyes shut closed in shame. She doesn't do this weak vulnerable shit. That's what she always tells herself but the truth is, when she doesn't let herself feel then she ends up closer to the side of monsters than not and that is never good. She was slipping that way until that chance night in the cemetary set her on a better path and allowed her to be so receptive to Ted when they crossed paths again.

"I wan't to apologize but I can't." Blue say once she finally regains some control. "Just.. thank you." She snuggles close and does as Ted said, just rests, the strong emotions more tiring than if she'd run from the Bronx to Gotham and back. Or so it feels. She didn't scare him away. He still wants her. She's never wanted him more. Maybe one day she'll tell him about that. How Johnny really felt. Maybe she won't. Either way, this right now is exactly right. "Teddy." Blue murmurs. Her voice sweet and filled with emotions she isn't ready to name but feels all the same.