Who are you?

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

Emotions always stand out to her, especially when she meditates. Something she's been doing a lot of lately. This time something stood out to her, almost called out to her, demanding her attention. The source was quite a distance away which made it all the more impressive that it reached her. It's that strong.

She cast herself towards the emotional beacon, but the closer she got, the more intense they were. It was a feast! But it was also uncontrolled. She expected to discover a child, perhaps a frightened woman. The reality snapped her back into her body with an audible gasp.

She had to see this for herself. If what she saw was true, things could unravel.

She left without a word to anyone, retracing her psychic steps, finding herself hours later in Gotham City. She comes to rest on the top of a building, her eyes narrowing as she senses out. It emotional signature is easy enough to locate, now that she has a taste for it. Then she's moving again.

She hovers over the street where her target is currently, and begins to tap into his emotions, soothing them. She wants him calmer before approaching him.

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[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

There was almost a snarl in his breathing as he went along the street. Eyes covered by the shadowing scowl he was clearly showing on his recently cut face. He was not in the mood to deal with much and he finished cataloging the evidence he took back from the recent assassination attempt on his life. But then it came upon him like a fog. A fog on the brain one could say. Almost how someone could feel a calling when receiving something they don't recieve much of or at all.

But it turned. It wasn't natural. It was in a manner but at the same time he felt like he was being watched. Not as if being watched by eyes by by hands. Though he starts to feel his emotions calm, his mind is jumping about a bit more. But finally he stops completely in his tracks and slowly starts to look up.

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

Her head tilts. He sensed her. Curious.

She doesn't hide from him. She simply acknowledges his attention.

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

And when those eyes finally see her, they narrow a bit. He has an idea who she is. Something different stings to the side of his face though. He can't place it just yet. Those eyes stare from behind the domino mask, but he is ready to grab any of the weapons close to hand if need be.

"Raven."

And his mind does recall who she is. Though more from his files then personal reasons.

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

"Yes."

She lowers herself down to street level, seemingly unconcerned about her personal safety.

"Who are you?"

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"No one. Just another guy late for the costume ball. Just another number." He's noticed too much attention brought his way. He's not so much the paranoid type, but this has caught his attention.

"Ya more then likely lookin' for the Bat, or Nightwing, or one of them types. Good luck with that." A slight beating of his heart increases. Raven is what he thinks of one of the good guys, but he also doesn't want to take a chance.

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

"I know Nightwing. I have not met Batman. I am not looking for them."

She picks up on his tension, and locks her eyes on him. She doesn't fall to temptation and manipulate what he's feeling, but she does let him know she is aware.

"I found who I was looking for."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

He between two thoughts that feel as natural as blinking. He thinks of pulling his weapon on her and making sure Raven won't be of any concern. The other is to run and he would have some manner or way he might be able to hide. Though it's the unknown that comes to mind first.

"Ya don't even know who I am. Been goin' by names here an there ya can take ya pick. Red Hood. Red Robin. Robin."

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

"Ah." She nods.

If she's picked up on the danger she is possibly in, she isn't showing it.

She's read what few files there are on Jason Todd...and his death. The very real fact that he's standing here, very much alive, answers quite a few questions.

Once more, she tilts her head at him.

"I'm not here to hurt you."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"That's nice. I'm still debatin' on that myself. But for now, what the shit do ya want?" He'd be more at ease but only so much can calm him after all he's been through. More then anything instinct has him at age just due to survivalism.

"So whatcha want?"

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

There's that feeling of something fingering through his emotions again as she levels her eyes on him.

"I came to see the source of so much rage and confusion."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"Ooookay. And now?" His brows raise in a question as he takes one step back with his right foot, though more in a defensive manner and less of a precaution to flee.

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

Now she frowns. Finally a reaction from her.

"I told you. I am not here to hurt you. Why do you fear me?"

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"Hard to see, the dark side is. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." A pause as he fishes around in his pocket to pull out a cigarette with one hand and then with the other he lights it. "In other words, I ain't got reason to trust ya worth shit. But fearin' ya isn't somethin' that's the issue."

A bit of an inhale to the smoke in his lungs and then he speaks. "I ain't always been in the best warm fuzzy feelin's for ya kind."

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

"That is besides the point."

Her chin lifts almost indignantly though it might be a touch of impatience.

"You react to me as if I disapprove of something. This is not the case."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"Well we found out ya wanted to find me. Poof, ya found me. Now what do ya want Raven. I'm one of the lil people an don't have somethin' that'll destroy the world. So what can lil ol' Red do for ya?"

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

She's quiet for a few moments, observing him without touching him empathically.

In those moments, a keen observer could pick up on something very cold about her, very stoic...and very alone. The moment is broken by a slight movement of her cape.

"I do not know what powers you may or may not have. Nor do I care. You do not pose a danger to me, but to yourself. Perhaps anyone associated with you as well."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"Raven. Spit out what ya wanna say cause I got work to do an y'keepin' me from it. So tell me what to do or get a steppin'." Red's patience is running dry and he's been so used to the blunt actions of how all works that he's used to facts hard and fast without mercy.

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

She frowns again. This time she does disapprove, and she lets him feel it.

"You must gain control of your emotions, Red Robin." She prefers this title to any of the others. "The ones that you entertain are too closely related to each other. One could easily be confused with the other, and you could hurt yourself or one close to you before you could control it. I would not see you add regret of that magnitude to your already impressive range of feelings."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

And a flare raises in the back of his head with just a tad of spite before he speaks.

"Ain't that a kick in the balls. This comin' from the daughter of a hellbent demon. I mean shit, why don't I take nursein' from Darkseid." And the sarcasm vanishes fairly quickly. "Ya know, nice of you to fly down from Mt Olympus an tell me how to live me life. Now I'm headin' off to beat the shit out of a loan shark that beat the fuck out of a crackhead that has four kids and each one of them needs a bite to eat. In other words, emotion is the only thing that keeps most of us from swallowing a barrel in our mouths an blowin' the back bits on the wall."

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

There's that wave of disapproval again.

"Did I say you should stop feeling them? I did not! Pay attention!"

She scowls openly and constantly now.

"So eager to be the victim, the martyr. I know this feeling well. It is just another level of wallowing in stupidity."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"Oh an ya gonna teach me how to deal? Is that the deal. Get to the fuckin' point cause we ain't playing Kung Fu the Legend Continues 'round here." And his teeth show in what would seem like a grin but there is no good graces in his face.

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

"I can. But you must be willing."

Her head turns to the side a little as she regards him closely.

"You want to use what you feel as fuel for your purpose. Right now, as you are, you are only reacting to the stimulous. If you think you are accomplished in what you do now, imagine what you could be when you are the master of yourself."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"I can't. Not once. Let it out. I'll feel how I do all day an night Raven, but I ain't gonna use it. That's the difference between Red Hood and Red Robin. Jason is in the middle."

You should finish this. She's unprepared for any number of attacks. And even if she were, you have enough within your disposal to deal with an escape diversion.
Where were ya when I got shot in the head? Oh yeah. Shaddup!

"Look. I ain't hatin' on ya. An damn charitable ya wanna help me with anger management, but my life is finally comin' together. For a change."

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

The conflict within him does not go unnoticed, and she arches a brow in open disbelief. Then she turns her eyes away from him, her cowl hiding them in shadow.

"For now, it may very well seem to be. But think on this: What happens when your rage turns on the source of your lust and infatuation?"

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

Taking his hand to his chin he rubs along it for a moment while looking off in another direction. It's actually a minute later he puts his hand down and looks back to Raven.

"So. What ya sayin' is... I need to read more fortune cookies? Lucky numbers are 53 7 12 and 84? See what the "gods" think? Thanks Raven, but no thanks. Here an now. That's my life. Ya supposed to be rottin' in the ground. I am. Donna is. How many more? It's all fucked up. So it's here an now that matters. Fuck the future an the past."

The sarcasm is actually put on the table for a while. "I appreciate whatcha tryin' to do. Really. But I'm gonna die in hate and rage and my soul is gonna feel at peace when I do. These are the cards we're dealt with. It's the universe making fun of us cause the universe is insecure."

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

Her chin lowers as her hidden eyes look to the ground. Then that cowl shakes slowly.

"No. You misunderstand. I am not offering you to be rid of your anger and pain. I am offering you a chance to use them as the tools they are instead of being consumed by them. But as you say."

Her eyes lift once more to him and there is that within them that is a haunting almost equal to his own.

"You hold the key to contacting me. Whatever the reason. Call me and I will come."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"Gotcha. Say sim sim sala bim an ya show up. Who ya gonna call? Raven. Cool beans." He clears his throat while looking to the left and right then back to Raven.

"So... I mean I wasn't bein' a total ass sayin' I have somethin' to take care of. So... yeah. Want me to throw a smoke bomb on the ground an I vanish or ya gonna do ya dramatic flyin' thing?"

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

It's probably the creepiest thing ever to see Raven smile, but she does so now.

"I thought I would walk for a while. It has been a while since I have been in Gotham. I like it here."

[last-joke-x.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Smell of piss, smog, an burnin' trash. Damn. That's sad. I actually do miss those smells."

Though a two fingered wave is being given in Raven's way. "Insert dramatic and amazing line here. Bye."

[blackest-bird.livejournal.com]

She watches him leave chosing to remain in silence. She won't interfere anymore than she has. She gave him a taste, small though it was, of what it's like to live in control. That's all she can do.

Peace to your soul, Jason. Regardless of what you believe, you have earned it.

Eventually, the shadows envelope her.