He had found her through other channels than her business, so he has no idea what sort of services she thinks he might be there to avail himself of. Is she mind control for hire? No. He doesn't even know if she can do anything like that.
That she's so unworried by being literally accosted on her doorstep could mean she's either genuinely innocent, or she's confident enough in her own abilities to keep herself safe.]
[Honestly it had been months since she had heard from Martin much less seen him in person. Had it been when she was stuck with Jon? Or maybe when Glitch had been threatened by Maul? Either way it's a nervous confusion that fills her expression.
She shifted on one foot uncomfortably as she tried to think of how to respond.]
Uh... Sure? I know him-He's the guy with the spider webs, right? Well he didn't have spider webs but we got stuck in them once.
[Martin had said he hadn't known her, but then... his memory had been gone. Or had he been lying about that too? Just pretending to lure Bucky in? The mention of spiders makes the tension in his shoulders grow, expression dark.]
He said he saw you-- eight days back.
[She doesn't look guilty, just confused.
He's so goddamn tired of not knowing the truth, and not knowing how to get at the truth. There's a moment of hesitation before he decides to lay it out bluntly, confronting her with it might jar loose a reaction. He loosens the knife in his sleeve carefully before speaking.]
[The confusion in her voice only grows. She wracks her brain trying to think of when she might have seen Martin. Was it at the grocery store? Maybe the comic book store? Did Martin even read comics?
The next accusation is where this turns into genuine worry. She sucks in a breath and her hand moves to touch at a box-like object hanging from the back of her belt. She didn't know what this guy was up to but it always helped to have Crescent Rose ready.]
Uh- Yeah, I don't have a clue what you're talking about, buddy.
[She looks genuine in her confusion, and he wants to believe her. He so desperately wants to believe that there are no more people here who can tie strings to his mind and manipulate him like a puppet, but how the hell can he tell if she's speaking the truth.
His expression is hard, and there's definitely an undercurrent of threat in the air.]
He described you to me, that's how I found you.
[He watches her carefully, aware that she's got her hand on something that could easily prove to be some sort of weapon.]
Can you prove where you were on that day? Prove it wasn't you?
[The hard expression isn't lost on Ruby. Her grip tightens on the box at her back but she needs to put a bit of distance between the two of them before she can just pull out her scythe.
And what he's saying doesn't really add up either, so she's hoping she can talk her way out of this.]
Yeah, well-I've seen him around before but I'm surprised he'd think of me specifically.
[It's been months since they've last seen each other after all.]
...I don't know how you want me to do that?
I think I was hanging out with my girlfriend that day? I could call her up and you can ask her?
[She definitely seems like she's innocent, especially not remembering exactly where she was. In his experience, liars give more detail in an effort to make it look as though they're not lying, coming up with exact scenarios. People telling the truth are the ones who don't remember alibis, because they had no reason to believe they'd have to remember the day in question.
It doesn't mean he believes her, but it does add to the mounting possibility of Martin lying about more things.]
Yeah. Do that.
[After all, the girlfriend couldn't know he'd come looking today, so they haven't had time to get a story together.]
[Ruby usually had a hard time remembering what she ate for breakfast so expecting her to remember what she was doing eight days ago.
It's been a long time since she's been accosted by someone like this and so far Bucky was a whole lot less stabby, so she was willing to work with him at the moment.]
Yeah. Sure. Let's do that.
[She holds up her free hand and reaches into one of the pouches on her belt to pull out her Fluid. She takes it out and starts to dial up Ange.]
Hey-uh Ange! Uh-How's it going?
Are you busy? I've just got a guy here with a couple questions for you.
A guy? It's like every single time you contact me, things get a little more omnious.
[ She sounds amused though over the Fluid. Mostly since Ange has absolutely no idea of what's going on at the other side of the line here, and so assumes this is probably just one of Ruby's usual Shenanigans rather than anything more serious.
He knows that name, but surely not... It's not that unusual a name, there's probably someone else here called that too, it's unlikely this is the same Ange who has been kind to him every time they met. Who saw his memories and shared hers in return, albeit involuntarily.
Except it is.
There's a shift in his expression, a minute change to shock, that gives away that he recognises her voice. It doesn't stop him asking the questions, but it does make him hesitate a moment before.]
[Oh thank goodness she picked up. Ruby doesn't outright sigh in relief but she feels a bit of the tension drop when she barely manages to pick up on the hesitation before he speaks.
Did this guy know, Ange?
That was good. That meant she picked the right person to corroborate with.]
Yeah, sorry about that. It's not intentional. And there's definitely not anything ominous going on here, right buddy?
[Look. If Ange knew him, she wasn't going to just throw him under the bus incase they were friends.
But she was going to have to wait and see how Ange responded to his voice before she could make a judgement call like that.]
There's an obvious pause on Ange's end of the line now, because she's trying to process what's happening. She could be mishearing it, but that other voice that isn't Ruby's sounds just a little too familiar. But why is he there, and asking that question--
Is he checking an alibi. There's no way that question could be anything else, right? Ange's two seconds away from just dashing over there to demand the both of them tell her what's up, if not just for the fact that Ruby sounds very much like the usual. ]
Wait, why are you asking her that? I mean-- eight days ago.. [ It's clearly not something Ange can remember from the top of her mind, letting out a small sound as she scrolls through the dates to even figure out what day that was. ]
Yeah, we were hanging out that day. But.. why is any of this happening? What did you do, Ruby?
[It's definitely her, and she's recognised the sound of his voice as well if the way she asks her return question is any indication.
He glances at Ruby when she feigns nonchalance, but perhaps she's just trying to make sure not to get Ange tangled up in this, not put her in danger. He can understand that. Especially since it's looking very likely now that he's been sent on a wild goose chase.]
It would've been in the morning, you were together then?
[ But Ange's voice trails off rather abruptly near the end there. Because she's thinking about the other stuff that's being said here - mostly the things Ruby is saying. Working something out? Someone spreading rumors?
She contemplates it for a moment, but then there's some sounds like Ange is grabbing something and moving, along with a slight grumble. ]
Wait, who's been spreading rumors about you? How dare they? And they lied to poor Daniel too on top of it? [ Even if 'Daniel' maybe be the one interrogating Ruby over here, it's not like she's going to blame him if he just heard about all of it from someone else.
But Ange is sure starting to sound agitated. If she gets her hands on the person who did all of this..!! ]
Hang on, neither of you move an inch. I'm coming right over.
[Some of the immediate potential violence in his posture seeps out when Ange confirms they were together, pretty much solidifying that Martin had lied.
It makes sense, the man had done nothing but manipulate and lie to him that whole time, maybe even from the time they had met if it had all been one long con. But why had he tried to send Bucky after this woman? What had Ruby done to make her a target this way? Especially when Martin knew that he had killed one person over mind control already, which means he must have known that to send Bucky after her was almost a death sentence.
He frowns at the phone, not wanting Ange any more involved than she already is.]
You don't have to.
[His gaze flicks up to Ruby, assuming she also doesn't want her girlfriend here for this.]
[Ruby sees the change in his posture and she gives him a knowing little smile. She focuses on the phone.]
Hey Ange, I think we just got this all taken care of. Thanks for your help but I don't think you're going to need to come down.
[She looks back to "Daniel."]
I'm going to ask him to fill me in on just what happened and then I'll pop over to your place and let you know what happened? Okay. We can watch a movie and grab dinner.
[She gives "Daniel" a little wink. If they weren't enemies then there was no reason they couldn't be friends, right?]
[ There's some genuine stammering going on over the phone here. Ange genuinely sounds caught off guard by what both of them are telling her. It'd be one thing if just the guy had told her to not come over, but then Ruby is saying the same thing.
And she feels weird about all this. And that's the reason she does want to come over, but she feels kind of silly now when they're both telling her not to. And then Ruby buttering her up with a date promise.
A tone crawls into Ange's voice that's usually very unlike her. It's pouty, almost childish. ]
Okay. [ FINE. She's giving in. Ugh. Stupid. ] But if you're not here within the hour I'm going to somehow track down the person who did this to both of you and give them a piece of mind myself.
[He had been on the verge of starting to relax now that the immediate danger was passing, now that he's almost completely sure that this woman was just as much of a victim of Martin's lies as he was. But then Ange had to say that, and he feels his stomach swoop uncomfortably.
If she takes it into her mind to seek out Martin...
He's not sure if the man will stay dead, he's heard that they don't always here, and he doesn't want to put anyone else in the path of danger.]
No.
[It's immediate, emphatic, and dark.]
You can come here. [It's the lesser of two evils. At least all he's planning to do is talk.] Nowhere else.
[Okay. That was unexpected but honestly. She kind of understood where this guy was coming from.
By his tone her best guess was that he was trying to protect Ange from Martin. ...Who had lied to him about her. And honestly she was a little confused about this. She still needed the full story herself.]
Okay. Okay. I guess you're free to come down here then, Ange. I wont argue with that.
[ The sudden flipping around on 'Daniel's' part is.. weird. For sure. But everything about this whole incident has already been weird enough, so it's easy for her to shove that part under the carpet and not pay too much attention to it.
Especially since she's definitely continuing to head in their direction by now. She had already been on her way, then stopped when told to, but now she's going again, which means-- ]
Alright, I'm almost there. Hang on.
[ And, true to her word, a few moments later Ange is there already. It's only then that she hangs up the call on the Fluid, shoving it into her pocket.
(She may seem kind of out of breath. Did she rush over here? Clearly not.. obviously not.. What would give you that idea! Not like she was worried or anything!) ]
Okay, now I really need to know more about this whole situation.
[Bucky looks much worse than the last time he'd seen Ange. Though his clothes are clean and dry (and not his, slightly too long and slightly too large), he has the look of a hunted man. Dark smudges like bruises under wild eyes, and a tension to his posture that suggests he's ready to fight or flee at a moment's provocation.
His stance does, however, loosen a little when she enters, in a clear indication that he doesn't consider her a threat.]
Martin sent me here to kill you.
[His gaze flicks to Ruby, his voice flat. Since he's decided that she isn't a threat either, or at least not the sort of threat that Martin wanted him to believe, she deserves to know the truth. It's easier to keep his voice and expression neutral as he speaks, hide the fear and turmoil of the situation beneath bland tones. Like giving a mission report.]
He told me that you erased his memories, played with his mind, and sent me after you. I don't know why he wants you dead, but he knew what sending me after you would mean.
[ Geez. Somewhere between the way Bucky looks like he's been to hell and back, and the way Ruby is so flippant about almost being murdered here, Ange kind of wants to hold both of their hands and drag them both to sit down and chill out with a cup of tea.
Not that she will, of course - but she definitely worries. About both of them. It's visible in her eyes too, since her gaze softens with worry. ]
Yeah. Ruby.. she doesn't have any powers like that. [ Ange refuses to believe it's something the other girl could've kept from her. Ruby just isn't like that.
But that leaves the troubling other side to all of this. ]
But Martin isn't like that either. I've known him for so long, and-- [ She shakes her head. ] I can't imagine that he'd try to get someone randomly killed.
[ But she believes the guy standing here too. So if he isn't lying, it only leaves one possibility. ]
I don't think you know him as well as you think you do.
[He appreciates that both of them try to set him at ease by explaining just what Ruby's powers are, and frankly both of them are taking this much more kindly than makes sense to him, but it doesn't change the fact that Martin sent him here to kill one of them.
He knows what they mean, though.
He hasn't known Martin for long, but his impression of the man before today had been one of a kind and well-meaning, if slightly awkward, man. Not now. He had seen the spider under the web, and he wasn't going to forget it in a hurry.]
He's dead. [Probably not the something that Ange means, but he feels they deserve to know at least that much.] I killed him for trying to-- But I still had to know if he was telling the truth.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He had found her through other channels than her business, so he has no idea what sort of services she thinks he might be there to avail himself of. Is she mind control for hire? No. He doesn't even know if she can do anything like that.
That she's so unworried by being literally accosted on her doorstep could mean she's either genuinely innocent, or she's confident enough in her own abilities to keep herself safe.]
I need to talk to you about Martin.
[He watches her carefully when he says the name.]
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She shifted on one foot uncomfortably as she tried to think of how to respond.]
Uh... Sure? I know him-He's the guy with the spider webs, right? Well he didn't have spider webs but we got stuck in them once.
What about him?
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He said he saw you-- eight days back.
[She doesn't look guilty, just confused.
He's so goddamn tired of not knowing the truth, and not knowing how to get at the truth. There's a moment of hesitation before he decides to lay it out bluntly, confronting her with it might jar loose a reaction. He loosens the knife in his sleeve carefully before speaking.]
He said you wiped his mind.
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[The confusion in her voice only grows. She wracks her brain trying to think of when she might have seen Martin. Was it at the grocery store? Maybe the comic book store? Did Martin even read comics?
The next accusation is where this turns into genuine worry. She sucks in a breath and her hand moves to touch at a box-like object hanging from the back of her belt. She didn't know what this guy was up to but it always helped to have Crescent Rose ready.]
Uh- Yeah, I don't have a clue what you're talking about, buddy.
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His expression is hard, and there's definitely an undercurrent of threat in the air.]
He described you to me, that's how I found you.
[He watches her carefully, aware that she's got her hand on something that could easily prove to be some sort of weapon.]
Can you prove where you were on that day? Prove it wasn't you?
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And what he's saying doesn't really add up either, so she's hoping she can talk her way out of this.]
Yeah, well-I've seen him around before but I'm surprised he'd think of me specifically.
[It's been months since they've last seen each other after all.]
...I don't know how you want me to do that?
I think I was hanging out with my girlfriend that day? I could call her up and you can ask her?
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It doesn't mean he believes her, but it does add to the mounting possibility of Martin lying about more things.]
Yeah. Do that.
[After all, the girlfriend couldn't know he'd come looking today, so they haven't had time to get a story together.]
Audio UN: RadRidingHood
It's been a long time since she's been accosted by someone like this and so far Bucky was a whole lot less stabby, so she was willing to work with him at the moment.]
Yeah. Sure. Let's do that.
[She holds up her free hand and reaches into one of the pouches on her belt to pull out her Fluid. She takes it out and starts to dial up Ange.]
Hey-uh Ange! Uh-How's it going?
Are you busy? I've just got a guy here with a couple questions for you.
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[ She sounds amused though over the Fluid. Mostly since Ange has absolutely no idea of what's going on at the other side of the line here, and so assumes this is probably just one of Ruby's usual Shenanigans rather than anything more serious.
Oh, how she is about to Learn. ]
Sure, what kind of questions?
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He knows that name, but surely not... It's not that unusual a name, there's probably someone else here called that too, it's unlikely this is the same Ange who has been kind to him every time they met. Who saw his memories and shared hers in return, albeit involuntarily.
Except it is.
There's a shift in his expression, a minute change to shock, that gives away that he recognises her voice. It doesn't stop him asking the questions, but it does make him hesitate a moment before.]
Eight days ago, were you together?
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Did this guy know, Ange?
That was good. That meant she picked the right person to corroborate with.]
Yeah, sorry about that. It's not intentional. And there's definitely not anything ominous going on here, right buddy?
[Look. If Ange knew him, she wasn't going to just throw him under the bus incase they were friends.
But she was going to have to wait and see how Ange responded to his voice before she could make a judgement call like that.]
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There's an obvious pause on Ange's end of the line now, because she's trying to process what's happening. She could be mishearing it, but that other voice that isn't Ruby's sounds just a little too familiar. But why is he there, and asking that question--
Is he checking an alibi. There's no way that question could be anything else, right? Ange's two seconds away from just dashing over there to demand the both of them tell her what's up, if not just for the fact that Ruby sounds very much like the usual. ]
Wait, why are you asking her that? I mean-- eight days ago.. [ It's clearly not something Ange can remember from the top of her mind, letting out a small sound as she scrolls through the dates to even figure out what day that was. ]
Yeah, we were hanging out that day. But.. why is any of this happening? What did you do, Ruby?
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He glances at Ruby when she feigns nonchalance, but perhaps she's just trying to make sure not to get Ange tangled up in this, not put her in danger. He can understand that. Especially since it's looking very likely now that he's been sent on a wild goose chase.]
It would've been in the morning, you were together then?
[Damn it.
Damn Martin Blackwood.]
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[She feels bad roping Ange in on this but she wasn't exactly sure what this was and it was her best chance to figure out what was going.
She gives a half hearted little shrug and looks to Bucky before she glances to the phone.]
I think someone's just been spreading some rumors about me, I don't think it's anything serious.
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[ But Ange's voice trails off rather abruptly near the end there. Because she's thinking about the other stuff that's being said here - mostly the things Ruby is saying. Working something out? Someone spreading rumors?
She contemplates it for a moment, but then there's some sounds like Ange is grabbing something and moving, along with a slight grumble. ]
Wait, who's been spreading rumors about you? How dare they? And they lied to poor Daniel too on top of it? [ Even if 'Daniel' maybe be the one interrogating Ruby over here, it's not like she's going to blame him if he just heard about all of it from someone else.
But Ange is sure starting to sound agitated. If she gets her hands on the person who did all of this..!! ]
Hang on, neither of you move an inch. I'm coming right over.
no subject
It makes sense, the man had done nothing but manipulate and lie to him that whole time, maybe even from the time they had met if it had all been one long con. But why had he tried to send Bucky after this woman? What had Ruby done to make her a target this way? Especially when Martin knew that he had killed one person over mind control already, which means he must have known that to send Bucky after her was almost a death sentence.
He frowns at the phone, not wanting Ange any more involved than she already is.]
You don't have to.
[His gaze flicks up to Ruby, assuming she also doesn't want her girlfriend here for this.]
We can sort this out between us.
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Hey Ange, I think we just got this all taken care of. Thanks for your help but I don't think you're going to need to come down.
[She looks back to "Daniel."]
I'm going to ask him to fill me in on just what happened and then I'll pop over to your place and let you know what happened? Okay. We can watch a movie and grab dinner.
[She gives "Daniel" a little wink. If they weren't enemies then there was no reason they couldn't be friends, right?]
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[ There's some genuine stammering going on over the phone here. Ange genuinely sounds caught off guard by what both of them are telling her. It'd be one thing if just the guy had told her to not come over, but then Ruby is saying the same thing.
And she feels weird about all this. And that's the reason she does want to come over, but she feels kind of silly now when they're both telling her not to. And then Ruby buttering her up with a date promise.
A tone crawls into Ange's voice that's usually very unlike her. It's pouty, almost childish. ]
Okay. [ FINE. She's giving in. Ugh. Stupid. ] But if you're not here within the hour I'm going to somehow track down the person who did this to both of you and give them a piece of mind myself.
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If she takes it into her mind to seek out Martin...
He's not sure if the man will stay dead, he's heard that they don't always here, and he doesn't want to put anyone else in the path of danger.]
No.
[It's immediate, emphatic, and dark.]
You can come here. [It's the lesser of two evils. At least all he's planning to do is talk.] Nowhere else.
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By his tone her best guess was that he was trying to protect Ange from Martin. ...Who had lied to him about her. And honestly she was a little confused about this. She still needed the full story herself.]
Okay. Okay. I guess you're free to come down here then, Ange. I wont argue with that.
As long as we're getting the full story now.
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Especially since she's definitely continuing to head in their direction by now. She had already been on her way, then stopped when told to, but now she's going again, which means-- ]
Alright, I'm almost there. Hang on.
[ And, true to her word, a few moments later Ange is there already. It's only then that she hangs up the call on the Fluid, shoving it into her pocket.
(She may seem kind of out of breath. Did she rush over here? Clearly not.. obviously not.. What would give you that idea! Not like she was worried or anything!) ]
Okay, now I really need to know more about this whole situation.
no subject
His stance does, however, loosen a little when she enters, in a clear indication that he doesn't consider her a threat.]
Martin sent me here to kill you.
[His gaze flicks to Ruby, his voice flat. Since he's decided that she isn't a threat either, or at least not the sort of threat that Martin wanted him to believe, she deserves to know the truth. It's easier to keep his voice and expression neutral as he speaks, hide the fear and turmoil of the situation beneath bland tones. Like giving a mission report.]
He told me that you erased his memories, played with his mind, and sent me after you. I don't know why he wants you dead, but he knew what sending me after you would mean.
no subject
Jeez, Ange. It was just someone trying to kill her. That was pretty normal for her.
She keeps her focus on Bucky when he starts to describe just what Martin had done.]
Yeah. I can't do anything like that at all. I swing around a big scythe and move at super speeds. It's cool.
But nothing like mind manipulation-I have enough impulse control as it is. Definitely don't have the patience to mess with anyone else's minds.
[She glances over to Ange and shrugs.]
Right?
And I haven't seen Martin in forever. Can't say I even made him angry the last time that happened.
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Not that she will, of course - but she definitely worries. About both of them. It's visible in her eyes too, since her gaze softens with worry. ]
Yeah. Ruby.. she doesn't have any powers like that. [ Ange refuses to believe it's something the other girl could've kept from her. Ruby just isn't like that.
But that leaves the troubling other side to all of this. ]
But Martin isn't like that either. I've known him for so long, and-- [ She shakes her head. ] I can't imagine that he'd try to get someone randomly killed.
[ But she believes the guy standing here too. So if he isn't lying, it only leaves one possibility. ]
Something must have happened to him.
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[He appreciates that both of them try to set him at ease by explaining just what Ruby's powers are, and frankly both of them are taking this much more kindly than makes sense to him, but it doesn't change the fact that Martin sent him here to kill one of them.
He knows what they mean, though.
He hasn't known Martin for long, but his impression of the man before today had been one of a kind and well-meaning, if slightly awkward, man. Not now. He had seen the spider under the web, and he wasn't going to forget it in a hurry.]
He's dead. [Probably not the something that Ange means, but he feels they deserve to know at least that much.] I killed him for trying to-- But I still had to know if he was telling the truth.
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