OPEN - In the middle of the night

[sightlessly]

Who: Matt (playing the Devil of Hell's Kitchen Hadriel's Pantry?) and OPEN
What: Old habits die hard. Matt is hopping around the rooftops and backstreets of the city
Where: Honestly, anywhere -- from the city straight to the tunnels
When: Now, but encompassing various days/nights in the near future
Warnings: Matt's stupid "disguise" fashion sense. And PARKOUR!!!



[Matt has settled in, more or less, to his apartment, gotten the general layout of the city down. Very nearly even found a routine -- exploring, gathering supplies, going back to his new "home" and going through his mental notes, of what he knows and what he doesn't know.

But walking around the streets, cane in hand, doesn't give him everything he needs to know. And he may have sworn off his other life as Daredevil back in New York, but doesn't this count as an extenuating circumstance? Well, that's the justification he's using.

He's dressed all in black, pants, a long sleeve shirt, thick gloves, and a black knit cap pulled down over his eyes, the bridge of his nose, so only the lower half of his face shows.]



[Option A - City Streets]

[It's after dusk, but Matt does make his way along the streets, sticking to less-traveled ways. But that doesn't mean he won't run into someone else out and about in the evening hours.

In fact, it's Matt's luck that he may wind up dropping down from the rooftop, landing soundless -- right in front of some poor unsuspecting person.]


[Option B - Rooftops]

[Most of the time though, Matt spends his time above the city, darting around from one building to another. If he happens to run into anyone up here, well, that will catch his interest for certain, and Matt will approach.

Trying to come across as not a threat -- despite being a masked man all in black.] ...nice night for getting out... [He's bad at casual conversation in these situations. Usually he sticks to punching when he's wearing the mask.]


[Option C - In or Near The Tunnels]

[And since he was warned against the tunnels, Matt is definitely going to check those out. Yeah yeah, monsters. He knows.

Of course, he does have to make it past the outskirts of the city first. Maybe someone catches him before he can make it out that far.

Or maybe someone else is exploring, and may feel a hand on their arm and a low whisper,] Careful. There's something up that way... [Just a friendly alert that here be monsters.]


[Option D - Wild Card]

[Or catch him basically anywhere else.]

Comments

[sightlessly]

[Matt looks up and can't help but return the smile. Even if he can't exactly see the expression, he can hear it in her voice. And something about Margaery remains quite compelling. And despite himself, Matt smiles back -- even if it's likely a strange expression, given he's wearing a mask]

I don't know if I'd call it any less strange, but it is nice to see the terror level go down, at least a little.

[But oh. Well. Right. He hesitates.] Do you? [Smooth, Matt. Super smooth.]

[roseofthetyrells]

[she would be flattered in a good way to hear herself described as quite compelling. it's unlike any compliment she's ever received. most stick to her beauty with her keen mind being an afterthought at best. but perhaps a blind man would be able to see her in other ways?]

Very nice. It seems like ever since I came here, it's been terrifying. The fire, those paintball guns. I have to wonder if that's what it's like all the time.

[she focuses and listens more carefully] Yes. Yes, I think I do. [she pauses] Matt?

[sightlessly]

Yeah, hasn't been much time to catch your breath lately.

[Not at all. The fire was more worrisome. He stayed out of the paintball -- not wanting to be involved when he was worried about what it was doing to people. Or what was going on. Strange games.

His thoughts still derail when she speaks his name though. Ah. Too perceptive, in the end. He probably should have known.] Your majesty. [A sheepish smile.] This... probably seems strange.

[roseofthetyrells]

None at all, really.

[the fire didn't threaten her apartment directly, so she just holed herself up in there and waited it out. as for the paintball guns, she never even touched hers, just hid until she was discovered and nailed

Margaery's brains have always been underestimated (by everyone but her grandmother). she can't help smiling at him, though, at the use of her title] You of all people don't need to call me that. [her brow arches slightly] Perhaps a little. What were you doing?

[sightlessly]

Margaery then.

[He offers with a smile, kind of pleased by that. More than kind of really.]

It is a long story. But, I meant what I said. Trying to get an idea for this city, get the lay of the land better. There has to be a way out, has to be something that we're missing...

[That's his theory. And his hope.]

[roseofthetyrells]

Thank you, Matt.

[she feels her heart flutter a little at his smile]

--oh! That's brilliant! There has to be another way, a way to get around those creatures calling themselves gods. They're not even really gods, anyway. For one thing, a god doesn't die. They do.

[sightlessly]

No, they're not. Whatever they are... they're not gods. They're powerful, I'll give them that. But they're toying with us; I just don't know why yet.

[Matt frowns. Well, anyway, that's part of the patrol. That and he doesn't know everyone here, doesn't know if everyone in this city is the upstanding citizen sort.

All a matter of things he's looking into.]

Anyway, that's the reason I'm out.

[roseofthetyrells]

I've heard the reason why they keep us is because each feeds on a certain emotion. Whenever one of the creatures gets hungry, they provoke us into acting out in whatever way will feed them best.

[Marg doesn't know either and she's largely defenseless. she knows how to use a crossbow, but a crossbow isn't exactly discreet.

so the visit with her was just a bonus?]

I see. I think there's someone you should meet, someone who shares our views. His name is Trafalgar Law and he doesn't like the creatures, either. Perhaps if we worked together, we could find out more information?

[sightlessly]

They use us in games.

[He is not a fan. It is very clear from his tone.

Matt is far from harmless, but that's something he hasn't exactly been letting on, given how complicated what he can do is.

A pause.]

I haven't met him. But if he's of a like mind... working together... [He's bad at that, honestly. Really bad at it. But here it might be a good idea.]

[roseofthetyrells]

From what I've heard, that's one of their kinder methods. A girl--Rey, I think her name was--mentioned that people had been buried alive at one time.

[Marg is also not a fan and it's also very clear from her tone of voice. it's indignant, to put it kindly.

Marg plans to ask for help in learning how to defend herself physically. she assumes she has no one to rely on fully but herself and there are many horrible things that can be done to a defenseless woman]

I met him, ironically, at the party held by Delight. But he is definitely of a like mind and I think we can trust him. [Marg grew up learning how to conspire and work in a team to achieve a goal, whether that goal was to put her on the throne or kill a king]

[sightlessly]

[Sadistic. That's what it sounds like. Matt hates all of it. Beings like this that think they can toy with other people, innocent people, who just want to live their lives.

A pause, because what she says does have him wondering,]

Do you trust me, Margaery?

[He wants her to; they may still be getting to know one another, but she's already someone he's decided he wants to look out for, in this place.]

[roseofthetyrells]

[Marg would agree with him wholeheartedly and without reservation.

she gazes up at him calmly. she doesn't care about the odd outfit or the appearing out of nowhere, she cares about what she thinks she can see in him]

[she smiles] What a silly question. Of course I trust you, Matt.

[she'd be honored if she knew]

[sightlessly]

Good.

[Matt answers, smiling. And without thinking he reaches for her hand, with his own gloved hand.]

I'm glad. I trust you, too. Which is why... I really should explain.

[This. Why he's running around masked. Why being blind doesn't stop him from ninja-ing his way around the city.]

[roseofthetyrells]

I'm glad you think so.

[she squeezes his hand, once he has hers]

You don't have to if you don't want to. I want you to want to.

[and she means it]

[sightlessly]

[See now, this is new for Matt. Usually the people who happen upon his secret life want explanations. And he can't blame them. He still can't forget the way Foggy reacted, is still trying to repair that relationship.

So he's a little startled by that response. But his hand tightens around hers.]

I want to. But... maybe not out here. [It might be better to find somewhere inside, out of the street, away from prying ears.]

[roseofthetyrells]

[Margaery can be genuinely kind when it comes to people she truly likes or cares for. so when she says that she wants him to want to tell her, she means it.

he's not someone she would want to push or manipulate at all which is simultaneously freeing and terrifying. but she finds she likes the sensation, despite all the years of training she's going up against.]

Perhaps at my apartment? It's not far. [yes, that's probably for the best]

[sightlessly]

Great, yeah.

Here... [He reaches for the bag of groceries that she has. He can carry these. And since at this point the mask seems superfluous (and will only draw more attention than not, should they pass anyone as they walk), he reaches up to pull the knit cap off entirely.

His hair is a mess. But no help for it.]

[roseofthetyrells]

All right, then. Shall we?

[she has the grocery bag taken from her] Oh! Thank you. That's very kind of you.

[she smiles at his messy hair and reaches up to straighten it up a little] There you go. All better.

[sightlessly]

Lead the way.

[Matt agrees, though he pauses as his hair is sorted, exhaling a sheepish laugh. Odd the way a simple touch can feel so warm. Matt tries to tuck that thought away for now.]

Thanks. Pretty bad, huh?

[roseofthetyrells]

All right, then. This way. [she reaches to tuck her arm through the arm that isn't carrying her groceries and starts to lead him toward her apartment]

[well, Marg is blushing for real. she hasn't done that since she was fourteen]

Mmm. Not bad, just a little ruffled.

[sightlessly]

[And Matt follows along, letting her lead the way. Not how he'd expected his night running around in a mask to go, but not a bad outcome at all.

He can tell she's blushing, even if he can't see it. But he's polite enough not to mention or call attention to it.

Instead he smiles.] Perils of the vigilante lifestyle, I guess. Hat head.

[roseofthetyrells]

[they get to her spire and have to climb a flight of stairs to get to her apartment, but they arrive and she unlocks the door] There's a chair just to the left of the door and a couch along the left side of the wall. There's a small table in front of it, though. Here, let me help? [guides him around the table so he can sit on the couch

good, because otherwise she'd blush even more and maybe even get flustered

she smiles back] Is that what you do called?

[sightlessly]

Thank you.

[Murmured at her guidance, and he side steps easily around the table, moving along as he's guided until he takes a seat. His posture is on the tenser side of things. This explanation doesn't always go so well.

But he does want to explain, somehow, given that she's realized who he is when he was out running through the night.]

Well. It's what some people call it. I told you before I was a lawyer, what that entailed. But the problem is, sometimes people who commit crimes, who do terrible things manage to stay beyond the reach of the law -- by influence or power, money, intimidation. And people get hurt and have no recourse. So i tried to provide that recourse. [He'd sworn it off recently. But being here has given him excuse to thinking about stepping back into that role.]

It's a dark path though, and a very fine line between that and becoming what I was trying to fight.

[roseofthetyrells]

It's the least I can do.

[she sits by his side, with her hands folded in her lap. she sees how tense he seems and don't want to press him by reaching out and touching him

she waits patiently for the explanation]

So you fought to defend those who had no other means of defense? [she comes from a society where physical violence was often used as a means to settle disputes, so she's not as shocked or taken aback as most others might be]

The fact that you know the line is there? Doesn't that reassure you that you're not going to cross it? [she's seen knights behave in most unchivalrous ways, heard about their abuses of Sansa Stark. she's aware of how many people do cross the line]

[sightlessly]

I know where it is now. Always the chance I'll lose it. I came close a few times. One time I would've crossed it too, if I'd been successful. I tried to kill a man, to stop him. It was a mistake. There was a better way.

[In the end anyway, though even now Fisk is dangerous in his way. Matt knows that.

Still, the words are reassuring and he manages a smile.] So... not too freaked out yet? Because there's more.