9032/That Penance Stare Brings Back Memories

That Penance Stare Brings Back Memories
Date of Scene:	10 December 2021
Location:	Alleyways: Brooklyn
Synopsis:	Gilgamesh runs across who he thinks is an old acquaintance: The Ghost Rider.
Cast of Characters:	Daniel Ketch, Gilgamesh

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Daniel Ketch has posed:
If the Ghost Rider would patrol the streets of Brooklyn with the same devotion some other vigilantes patrol their neighbourhoods, the crime rate of Brooklyn would plummet to near zero. Unfortunately, this particular Spirit of Vengeance does not have a good... lets call it 'working relationship' with his host. Generally he only shows up with someone is unlucky enough to draw innocent blood within a few hundred yards of Daniel Ketch.

So, maybe once or twice a month.

Organized crime groups have learned to clear the streets those nights the flaming skeleton is seen on the streets. The police keep wasting time trying to catch him, but it barely slows the Rider down.

It is mostly the lowest level scum, the craziest, sometimes the most arrogant that get caught on the Ghost Rider vengeance-driven vigilant sprees. Few super-criminals, really, but plenty of gangers, muggers, drug-pushers and the occasional genuine supernatural monster.

Today it was this crack house built on an abandoned retail store. Just around the corners. Used to be a real popular place for Goths, years back.

There were a couple gunshots first, then the condemn forefront window explodes as the Ghost Rider drives into the street, turns around, and riders UPWARDS the building facada. Three males in gang colors follow him, dragged by a chain. The screams in pain as glass shards scratch them, then in terror as they go up, and up, at over a hundred miles per hour.

Gilgamesh has posed:
Crime. Crime never changes. Except when it does. Gilgamesh has experienced street crime a few times in the last fifty thousand years and has some idea of what to look and listen for. Like the sounds of violence. When gunshots reach his ears the Eternal flies towards them dressed in his black and gold uniform, looking quite ready for business. What catches him offguard is the motorcycle driving up a wall, piloted by a man with a flaming skull for a head.

Gilgamesh nearly smiles when he sees that particular visage and flies in closer for a better look, checking out what's happening. He hovers near the roof.

"Is that a Spirit of Vengeance I see before me? I am Gilgamesh, once the Warrior King of Uruk," Gil proclaims loudly, hoping to be heard over the sound of the bike's engine and the screaming gangsters. "I know you have no need of assistance, but I offer it nonetheless."

Daniel Ketch has posed:
The Ghost Rider reaches the rooftop and the motorcycle screeeeetches and roars as it comes to a full stop. Completely unnecessary noises given its nature, but somehow, the rides of the Riders always play the role.

The gangers come flying, landing on a heap a few yard ahead. Given the speed, one would expect to splatter against the concrete, but somehow the chains release them relatively gently. Maybe some broken bones, but mostly just bruises.

The Gilgamesh appears, and the flaming skeleton turns his head, giving the Eternal a few seconds of glance. "I am the Spirit of Vengeance," he confirms in a deep bass voice. "I know not Uruk, why do you..."

There is a shoot, and something metallic bounces off the Rider's skull. He turns, to see one of the gangers had the courage to pull a gun and shoot at him. The other two are trying to crawl away.

The Ghost Rider breathes a cloud of fire on the three of them, and although they don't seem to be burning, the start screaming again. In agony, not just fear.

Gilgamesh has posed:
"I knew your predecessor, Spirit," Gilgamesh says as he levitates nearby, watching the Ghost Rider breathe fire on the men and studying the scene. "He rode atop a giant spider, chains swinging and fires burning, dealing out destruction to the wicked. A staunch ally was he, and a most formidable foe to his enemies."

Based on the way he just looks on it seems like the immortal being has seen similar things in the past and doesn't necessarily disapprove. He floats to the rooftop and steps onto it, looking down at the men writhing in pain.

Daniel Ketch has posed:
The Ghost Rider looks back at Gilgamesh. It is hard to read an expression an a flaming skeleton's face, but his momentary silence might hint his confusion. "I don't remember such," he finally admits.

The screams have ended, as the three men have fainted. "But perhaps there are others," he adds, not sounding too curious. The Spirits are not human, curiosity and whatever else doesn't directly relates their mission are very secondary concerns.

"But I do not need assistance dealing with rabble like this, Warrior King," he adds, looking at the unconscious trio. "They cause much harm, for so petty creatures, but they are little truble."

Gilgamesh has posed:
"I'm glad to see one of your ilk about, whether or not you're the same Spirit that I've known," Gilgamesh says seriously, keeping his expression even and controlled. "I am quite ancient, but I can't forget seeing a powerful entity lay waste to hordes of evildoers." One of the unconscious guys is nudged with his foot, seeing how out of it he might be. "Hmm. Not dead. No chance for repentance if they're shuffled loose the mortal coil, right?" He does seem somewhat surprised by that.

"Humans are capable of great acts of good and evil. These men obvious made poor choices in their lives, but I hope they can be redeemed," the Eternal says before taking a look around. "Are you hunting anyone in particular tonight? Any quarry of note?"

Daniel Ketch has posed:
"I do not kill," states the Ghost Rider, neither confirming or denying the reason is to give a chance or repentance. It might be he never considered for long the reason behind his code or morality. He just 'knows' right from wrong. Kill feels wrong, at least when he does it.

"Hunting?" He shakes his head. "Everyone deserving vengeance is someone of note. I will hunt them all from here to hell if I must, why do you ask? Do you know of monsters requiring hunting? Ah, I suspect you do."

Gilgamesh has posed:
"I have long since stopped killing men, myself," Gilgamesh says in a rather agreeable manner. "My advantages make it so that I don't have to, but other beings may have a different fate if they try to destroy someone undeserving of having their life ended."

"Unfortunately, I do not know anyone or anything that needs to be destroyed or..." He gestures towards the guys out cold on the root. "Otherwise dealt with. It has been some time since I've played the hero." Then there's a momentary pause, "There may come a time, however, when this world is threatened by a most nefarious creature. One quite deserving of vengeance. If they arrive can I call on you?"

Daniel Ketch has posed:
"I am no hero," replies the Rider, "heroes inspire hope, and my task is not so... beneficial." He looks at Gilgamesh again, trying to assess if an ancient being as him would have committed crimes deserving hellfire. But if he did, he can't feel them. Few souls are dark enough for him to notice without a recent deed.

"I will act to protect the innocent," he decides. And this is unusual in a Spirit of Vengeance. They tend to be reactive and monomaniac, going after the guilty after a crime, not moving to prevent the crime itself. "But I am not easily found. Now, I am going to destroy the stash of poison these three had hidden. Farewell, for now," he rides down the building wall, to burn the drugs and the blood money. And oddly enough, he will also leave enough evidence so the police can arrest the three drug pushers.