Searching for Information: Elodie Style [Open]

[Deleted]

Mere hours ago, an incident at Jump City Hospital, when an unauthorized and unknown person entered a closed ward. The Hospital wouldn't announced who was located in this closed ward, but anyone who had access to security cameras in the area would of noticed a very angry strawberry blonde arriving on the scene. Her body languages spoke of her anger as she stormed in 30 minutes after the incident, furious.

Security cameras inside the Hospital would show her yelling at several doctors and other employees before disappearing into the closed ward. Afterwards, the security cameras caught her leaving, oddly calm as she quickly left.

It was now nightfall, and a group of criminals were working on unloading crates of who knows what, not realizing that they were being watched. Should of left while you had the chance, Elodie thought as she observed these pathetic little ants work. She stuck to the shadows, waiting for her chance to strike. Once more she was dressed in her black suit, her trademark red hair hidden away as she waiting for her moment.

These men were on the lower chain when it came to criminals, meaning that they would be more than willing to rat out their boss or whoever has hired them when motivated correctly. And nothing motivated these lowlifes than the risk of getting anything from a mild shock to a scorching beam. Especially from a very, very angry teenage girl.

Finally, her moment came and Elodie emerged from the shadows, a smirk on her lips as they spotted her. "Hello boys," Elodie greeted them. They responded by charging her, as if they could actually take her down as she started to fight them. This is too easy, Elodie thought as she swiftly dodged their fists and grabs, sending out shocks to any of them that tried getting too close or tried running for it.

No one was getting away before she got her information.

[Kenni]

The East’s archer was brandishing a high-amplitude, freshly crackling Stun Arrow at one of Jump’s many lowlifes, in your standard dark alleyway set-up.

“Tell me what you know, NOW, or I play follow the leader with this liddle number as a cattle-prod; your choice, pal.”

Speedy wasn’t one to pull a Batman like this on a petty thief who looked just as petty as he did thievious, but he didn’t have much time.

If the security feed from Jump City Hospital just that afternoon, which the local news had featured for the uncharacteristic frenzy thrown up by the strawberry-blonde on-screen he'd caught interest in had been seen correctly, neither did this guy’s den of friends.

He’d had a rather decent conversation with the girl in the security feed, actually, a while back, as if they were a coupe of buddies just shooting the breeze over drinks. The talk had consisted of getting to know her a slight bit more, an unhealthy dose of revenge, and crossing the line into murderous territory.

Speedy had told the electricity-manipulator then, that he’d do his utmost to stop her, for it was in that way Speedy felt he could help her. This late in her tragic life, finally completing the circle of evil done to her family by finishing off those who’d orchestrated her family’s brutal treatment…he had to do all he could to stop that ‘completion’.

Elodie could still see her tormentors suffer, as unfairly as it might feel, behind bars, but there was no way she’d feel better just sinking to their level.
At least, not in the long run.
Well, according to the hero and his point of view, at least.

Ever since that cordial chat, Harper'd been doing his own research into that which had been committed upon his chat-partner's family between night-shifts, and the backtracking had led him to a serial number used in transactions of dangerous commodities capable of inhuman levels of voltage potential.

In this sector of Jump's criminal underworld, this type of code was used to anonymously request a very 'U-Haul'-like service for one's dastardly devices culminating in a more 'If it fits, it ships®*' USPS service at docks and private airports.

Anywhere in the country.
Or out of it.
For a low flat rate.

Speedy figured the rate must be even lower when you ship.

Enter Captain Larry Lowbrow the Luggage-lifter Lowlife with the nosehair prollem, which Speedy was about to help him with.

Whimpering at the sight of the dangerous charge right under his nose, the common thug spilled his guts.

They were a band of hired-hands to load a certain client's component-parts, that would fund sinister research overseas.

The crisping off of the thief's nosehair's did the trick; he kept talking.

The connection to Elodie's raging earlier that day?

Said research was connected to electro-shock experimentation towards the creation of mentally and physically enhanced super-soldiers.
Speedy grimaced as he outlined their client's plans in detail.

The creation of survivors was low, but had precedent.
If anyone knew that precedent well, it was Elodie and her damaged little siblings.

Speedy goaded the man forward until he reached the same work-bay as Elodie presided over from the shadows a few short moments prior to engaging the gaggle of men in combat.
He felt a smidge bad for the guy actually getting beat up at the end of his tumultuous evening with Speedy's backless threats first, then Elodie's real rage the last thing he had to process before passing out..

Larry was having quite the time of things tonight.

The least he could do right now, to help HER, though, was keep to the heights and offer her support in the case she looked like she needed it.

Immediately, against the thugs.
Later, if she’d have him, against the horrifying realization that other families could be torn apart by the ensuing research, should she not find those responsible through the trail set down by this dock-‘peration.

[Deleted]

 While their muscles made them physically intimidating and strong, it slowed them down in a way that made fighting them boring. And, when your as angry as Elodie was at that moment, you don't want boring fighting. You want it dangerous and fast, to unleash your anger entirely on them. The lack of a challenge only infuriated her more. "Is that all you got? I know 10 year olds who fight better than the lot of you!" Elodie yelled, dodging a punch with ease before grabbing hold of the mans fist, shocking it. The man fell back in pain, and Elodie couldn't help but smirk.

Now that was something she enjoyed hearing, especially from these pathetic worms.

Sure, it wasn't particularly healthy to enjoy the sounds of pain, but Elodie didn't give much thought about her health. All she cared about was getting some answers and beating the snot out of these men. And so far, it was going pretty good.

When the man fell back, his buddies decided that now was the time to all work together. Instead of their normal and rather lame way of attacked one by one (Seriously though, why the hell do they always seem to do this? Are they all really that stupid?) they all decided to simply jump on Elodie.

All twelve of them.

A loud curse escaped her as Elodie was tackled, momentarily disappearing from view underneath the mob of mooks. And then there was a charge that ran through the air, raising the hair on the skin of anyone foolish enough to be in the area, and a flash. The air was soon filled with the smell of burnt flesh and hair as mooks went limp and hit the ground, un-moving. Well, some were but they were only doing that due to Elodie crawling out from beneath them, her mask lifted a bit, revealing a bloody nose. She was holding herself funny, her breathing tiny puffs, which was due to some bruised or broken ribs. Her right shoulder was off as well, due to her dislocated shoulder.

And boy was she mad, swearing loudly at the men and kicking a few of them as she made her way over to the remaining mook: The one whose fist she had shocked. The idiot tried to run for it, but an electric arc to the legs stopped that. "Today is not your lucky day, buddy-boy," Elodie said darkly, kneeling down next to the man. "How about you make this easy for yourself, hm? How about you tell me everything I want to know with no fuss, and I won't hurt you anymore. I'll even let you go, so generous I am." Elodie said kindly with a smile on her face. However, that was quick to disappear when the douche spat at her.

Elodie smacked his head back onto the ground, keeping her left hand on his head while she snarled at him. "You shouldn't of done that, because now I have to force the answers out of you." Elodie snarled, glaring at him coldly as the man started to twitch and thrash around in pain.

"That pain your feeling? That's the pain you feel when you have an electrical current running through your brain. Hurts, doesn't it? Its scientifically the most painful thing a human can survive, and ooohh yes you will survive." Elodie explained to the man, before getting down to business. "Now tell me, who entered the MacKelter closed ward at Jump City Hospital today? Who were they and why did they do it, hm? What were they after?" Elodie questioned, nose flaring when the man refused to answer.

She continued to do this, demanding her answers and sending the electrical current through his brain to get him to talk. It was only a matter of time before it fully messes with his brain circuitry, leading him to feel disoriented and kick in that lovely little thing called short term memory loss in addition to pain which increases confusion and makes subjects like him much more malleable. However, the longer it started to take the more irritable Elodie became.

"JUST FUCKING TELL ME WHO THE FUCK IS IN CHARGE OF THIS!" Elodie was downright screaming at him, utterly oblivious to her surroundings. She just wanted answers and she wanted them now.

[Kenni]

There were several instances where Speedy made his bow taut and aimed at certain targets.

When the men were picking one-on-one showdowns with Elodie, he aimed at each.
When the men were dogpiling her, his knee-jerk reaction was to jump down into the fray and back her up before it became apparent she couldn’t get back upever again. Guys were heavy.
But when that long survivor of the massive electrical storm was under her powerful cranial influence…he knew this was no time for mere arrows anymore.

She was losing it, quickly.
She needed a human approach before she became one of the animalistic people she’d just put down, many of them permanently.

He threw his quiver to the side in the heat of the moment.
He had to reach her.

“Hey. HEY. BREATHE, ELODIE! COME BACK.”
A distress signal to the same hospital the girl was raving about information for from the tortured man on the ground went out from his T.Comm the moment his feet hit the ground, and the archer had his arm around her middle and HER arm she’d been using to rag on him (the one she was still moving comfortably; he’d have had to be watching with his eyes closed not to notice how she was nursing the bunk arm) twisted back, but not painfully-so; immobility was all he was after for the moment.

“What if he can’t remember? You’ll look sadder without any live lead, and my money’s on the majority of his boyscouts never waking up again!!” His tone was about as loud but infinitely more controlled than hers, despite the adrenaline rush. Sirens began blaring in the not-so-distant lead-up to the wharf, and Speedy searched the ground for something, anything shiny.

He all but dragged the soon-to-be likely kicking, biting, scratching madhouse on legs out of sight of the first-responders, kicking the last-man-standing’s and some other ‘mook’ ‘s cellphone along with them.

That was a total of 2 leads he’d gotten for her, and fortunately, the only part of these leads that could die on them was their batteries.

[Deleted]

"Speedy, go away. This doesn't concern you." Elodie said as she heard the archers voice, not looking away from the mook in front of her. She wanted, needed information and she needed it now. Who had entered her siblings room? Why? Did they take anything? If so, what did they take? She had to find out, no matter what.

When an arm went around her middle while the one she had been using to send an electrical current through the mooks brain was twisted back to immobilize her. "Let go of me!" Elodie snarled, looking over her shoulder at him, eyes full of hatred. He was getting in the way of her getting her information. Why is he even here? Is he stalking me? Ugh, great. A superhero stalker. Elodie thought. She had made the mistake of telling him just about everything; her siblings, the torture she endured, her need for revenge. Of course he would try to stop her from getting her revenge. Probably wanted the so called justice system to be enough for her, but it wouldn't.

"How can he not remember who the hell hired him? Hmm? And i'll find other leads. There are other worms out there, especially those who are more willing to rat out their bosses." Elodie said darkly, before quickly adding.

"And they'll wake up. I didn't kill them - just subjected them to electrification." She didn't say how she was waiting until she found the bigger fishes, the brains behind this operation. It was when she found them that she was going to subject them to electrocution, the deadly kind.

Elodie did in fact fight against Speedy as he dragged her away from the mook, out of sight of the first-responders. She had heard the sirens approaching, but she hadn't really cared. As if they could actually catch her. She kicked, hitting the back of her head against him while subjecting him to shocks of electricity. However, it was rather difficult to fight back with one arm twisted back and her other arm useless due to the dislocated shoulder. Also, his arm kept on touching her bruised/broken ribs, especially when she thrashed violently. And that hurt like hell.

"What the hell are you doing here anyway? Are you stalking me?" Elodie asked, glaring up at the red head. And then her voice got quiet as she stopped fighting as much as she had. "They got into their room Speedy. They got into their room and I need to know how and why. I need to know if they took anything and if so, what. I have to protect them.

[Kenni]

As long as he was a witness it certainly became his business.

"You think--you're the--only--one who can--track--down a lead if th--ey, 'eyeyey!-- put their mind to it..?" the archer replied haltingly between dodging his chin out of the way of attack from the frenzied femme below it.

At least the sparks attacking him were of the verbal and not natural variety.
For the time being.

“If you just take a second to cool down, we can be out of each other’s hair rightstraight. I like my hair. You look like you wanna pull it all out..”
He'd struggled with her until they were safely (despite the bumps and bruises) holed away in the alley made of ship-container after ship-container, concealed in the lengthening shadows cast by all the glaring lights and emergency personnel bustle just over yonder. Her masking, controlled-seeming tone-shift almost made him want to give her a hug or something, but upon a 2nd-second of thinking, he realized he’d basically been forcing a back-one on her for the past 6 minutes anyway.

He let another second pass.
He spoke in a tone that matched hers on the 2nd-second’s second-beat.
--beforeshecouldbeathimups’more.

“…we’re going to find out whatever these guys know. For your brother’s, your sister’s sakes. By we, I mean you, ‘cause as I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m not Cyborg when it comes to decoding secretech.”
At that point, he felt it safe to let go of her, knowing it wouldn’t do the villainess OR the high-tension girl Elodie any favours by being caught near the scene.

“But I also mean we, as in, I won’t let you run around in circles, or run headfirst into your own plans alone. Too many people will get hurt. Not the least of them..you.”

Picking up the two phones he’d confiscated from the confusing carnage crime-scene at stage left, he tossed the more complicated looking contraption to the electricity-manipulator, knowing well her aptitude with technologies.

He let the stalking comment slide, having already hinted at how he’d been tracking her concerns through her affectionately-termed ‘mooks’ laid to waste there, while he’d been dragging her away. The only thing that acknowledged she’d even brought it up was a flicker of a smile.

He could’ve made a few jokes, sure, but he’d already done that; right now was tinker-time.
Maybe he'd mess with her later, after her mood improved.

He had a good hunch they'd be able to dig some info from the phones, after all.

Working on the first device was yielding very little in terms of confidential, classified or even relevant information to Elodie’s cause, seeing as the moron who owned it didn’t even have a passcode for his screen-lock. He scratched his head and leaned against one of the massive containers acting as their alley, showing her simply the pilfered-from pawn’s laundry list.

Both that of laundered funds, and his dry-cleaning.

“This one’s a bust. How are things on your end?”

[Deleted]

"But this has nothing to do with you. This is something I need to deal with, not you. Besides, shouldn't you be getting so kitten out of a tree or something like that instead of bothering me?" Elodie questioned, glaring up at him. "And i'm going to rip it out if you don't get out of mine. Also, let go of me." She was clearly not okay with him dragging her around and keeping her immobilized with an arm around her middle.

He was still holding her like this, as though worried that once he let her go she'll go back or something.

Or totally kick his butt, which would very much happen.

Elodie's lips pressed together in a thin line as he spoke, though she couldn't help but snort when Speedy admitted that he wasn't that good at decoding things, especially technological ones. "As if that was a secret." Elodie said, moving away from him after he let her go. She turned back towards him, once more frowning at him. "And what makes you think i'll be running around in circles? I know how to make dirt bags talk and the right people to get information from. Some of which have more information than any one of your informants." Elodie said, smirking a bit. Thanks to Brother Blood, she was able to get a hold of information that not many knew of. "And the only people who'll get hurt will be ones who deserve it. And I wont get hurt. I'm a big girl, I can handle myself."

Elodie, even with only one functioning arm, was quick to catch the phone tossed to her. She was quickly thumbing through it, quickly looking over things, The idiot who owned this phone had been one of those types who basically couldn't function without their phone. There was plenty on it, though most of it Elodie found stupid.

"Oh," Elodie said quietly, holding it up closer to her face for her to see. "Whoever owned this phone was intelligent,perhaps far too intelligent. He put an encryption on his phone - i'll have to hook it up in my lab at home and go through it." Elodie observed, looking up at Speedy carefully. "Now, either you can go away, or you can head into my, what would your friends call it? Oh yeah, my 'evil lair'" Elodie said, already walking away to get to her car. "If your coming with me you'll have to drive. I'll need to change clothes." Elodie said, approaching a dark car and unlocking it. She then tossed the keys towards Speedy and then disappeared into the back seat. It was right there and then that Elodie actually started to change clothes.

Thats not awkward.

"Its in a gated community and the security guard wont let us in unless i'm out of uniform." Elodie called out, explaining as she changed clothes. She changed from her catsuit into a basic black skirt-suit with a white collared shirt, simple black pumps, and a pearl necklace. She took her hair, which had been done in tight french braids, and undid it before pulling it back in a strict bun. It took a while, due to her dislocated shoulder, but eventually Elodie looked as though she was just now getting back from the office. The security guard wouldn't be surprised to see her like this, for she has spent nearly the entire night at MacKelter Industries before. Though he may be surprised to see Speedy. "As long as he sees me, he wont raise any fuss nor will he tell anyone. I pay his salary, with holiday bonuses."

[Kenni]

He couldn’t help laughing at the kitten question.

“The last kitten the Titans dealt with was loud, blonde, and just as big a girl as you are; she did need lots of help, though, I’ll give ya that. Just ask Robin. Or don’t. Are you on speaking terms with any of the other Titans like this?”

At ‘this’, he motioned between the two of them a couple of times with his pointer and middle, finding it rather peculiar all of a sudden that she seemed so..familiar? Dare he say, or think it, comfortable around him?

But then, they’d just had a raucous tussle, so that idea went out the window.
Just like his mind would float a little later on when her car would become her makeshift dressing room,
and he her chauffeur.

"These guys weren't much of informants anyway, if I'm reading this laundry list right." he said exasperated, scratching his head.

Something was off about said laundry-list, which was why he kept returning to it.
Distracted, he tried to figure it out, without totally ignoring the girl in the process.

"Yeahyeah, you're a big kid now, and big girls don't cry. Right. Hop to it then, just try to leave your victims breathing above a whisper, next time. Actually, I'll make sure of that."

The way this guy's order kept repeating the word 'WaistCoats'.
In fact, it was the ONLY item on the list.
At least 20 times, then written backwards like over 60.

Why the capital placement?
Why would such a rough'n tumbl'ookin' thug even own/know how to spell 'waistcoat'..?
Or have more than one?

"Hey...Sparky. Does this repetition means anymat? I think it's...a code?"
He read it a couple more times, not yet registering what she'd said about changing.

"WaistCoatsWaistCoatsWaitsCoastW--WAIT. West...Coast? These numbers..d'you think they're directions? Coordinates! Maybe we picked the right phone after all! When we reach your place, lets try to check your guys' for a laundry list; maybe we can pinpoint somewhere in town these coordinate points refer t...--!?"


When he was conscrpted into following her home? No biggie. He'd simply fired up the car, turned the heat on some; it was turning out to be a chilly evening.
When he was informed she'd be changing?

The heat was turned down more than a few notches.

"I guess we're on a little more than speaking terms, then..! Lemme know if you need any. Any help..! I'll be..Speedy. About it."
A nervous laugh followed his jerky jokes, his eyes boring holes into the Subaru parked a few metres in front of Elodie's car, likely belonging to one of the incapacitated thugs being driven away by the last ambulances, leaving the two alone to their devices.

Nooot awkward in the slightest!

A younger Speedy would've looked back immediately.
He surely had enough time to try and peek what with her bunk arm slowing down the changing process, even if it WAS dark.

He simply sat there, frozen, muttering 'RachelRachelRachel!' over and over again until she'd joined him in the front seat again.

The momentarily taken aback archer started up the villainess' car, waiting for her directions, the tips of his ears recovering from matching his uniform's hue.

"So where's my change of clothes? Can I borrow that catsuit? And your dressing-room, too? Salaryman might still let it slip you're ennertaining heroes at your dorm, Miss." It could reflect badly on the other Titans if the guard thought there was any funny business going on with the ACTUAL Speedy and the guard's mistress.

Then again, he could just be considered a cosplaying fanboy.
Or a hired act.
At any rate, he wouldn't risk soiling his own reputation.
..on purpose.

He patted his quiver in the backseat though, indicating he was kidding; he'd been prepared, and brought his own change of civvies stored in the quiver on a regular basis anyway.

[Deleted]

  "Wait, Killer Moths daughter Kitten? God, shes a brat." Elodie said, making a face. Though she has never met the girl, Brother Blood had informed her about Killer Moth and Kitten while she was studying how to use her abilities with him. She had honestly wanted to meet Kitten just so she could beat the snot out of the girl. And then critize her taste in men cause her boyfriend, Fang? Ewwwwww.

When Speedy asked if she was on speaking terms with any of the other Titans like how she was with him, Elodie couldn't help but snort. "Oh please. If any of your buddies even saw me they'll be working on getting me placed in jail. I doubt they'll stop trying for a little chit-chat." Elodie said, and if you looked at it logically, it was true. She was a villain while they were heroes. "Besides, i'm barely on speaking terms with anyone nowadays. And the only reason why we're talking so much is because you keep on showing up to where I am at." Elodie pointed out, before muttering "Stalker." under her breath.

Seriously, how many times has he shown up when he clearly wasn't wanted now? Three?

"A laundry list? Ugh, how embarrassing..." Elodie moaned, frowning. "Eh, i'll just need to find more mooks to get information from. Usually they tell me what I want, especially when I demonstrate my abilities. Or when I tell them i'm affiated with Brother Blood. You should see the looks on their faces when I talk about Gramps - its priceless." First time she had name dropped Brother Blood, she had busted out laughing at the looks on their faces. She got alot of information from those idiots, too.

"Damn straight we don't," Elodie said as Speedy said that big girls don't cry. She sure as hell didn't. Not anymore. "And like hell you will. I don't need you to bloody babysit me. And i'll deal with them in how I see fit."

Elodie couldn't help but roll her eyes when Speedy called her Sparky. Couldn't he come up with a more original nickname? Yet again, he was called Speedy. As he asked her about the repetition of the guys laundry list possibly meaning anything, Elodie cocked her head to the side, thinking. "Most likely it can be a code-" She started to say, but was cut off when Speedy figured out the code. "Most likely they are, and once we get the information from the other phone we can pinpoint the location and find out whats there." Elodie said simply, though when she said 'we' she really meant 'me'.

What the hell is his problem? Elodie thought as she changed clothes, stopping momentarily when Speedy spoke then gave out a nervous laugh. "What?!" Elodie questioned, confused for a moment. Then it hit her like a speeding train. Oh my god.... Elodie thought, looking up at the front seat at him. "Noo, get out! Have you never changed in or out of uniform in a car before with someone of the opposite sex? Like, ever?" She questioned, then actually burst out laughing.

Now that was a rare thing to hear.

Elodie was still chuckling as she got up in the front seat, listening to Speedy mutter something over and over again.

"You would not be able to handle my catsuit if you tried putting it on, but you can get changed in the back seat." Elodie said, working on fixing her dislocated shoulder by bending her arm and rotating it upwards. Her lips were pressed together in a thin line as she did this, then slowly raised her arm slowly. When it got the point where her arm was slightly above her head, which was rather difficult to do in a car, she let out a hiss as her shoulder slipped back into place.

She rubbed her shoulder a bit, sending some electricity into her shoulder to stimulate the nerves to help with any left over pain.

"And if he did let something slip, then i'll just have to let it slip of his affair with Mrs. Rothschild." Elodie said, then smirked. "My neighbors suck at being sneaky. Its almost hilarious, seeing these multi-millionaires trying to sneak around and thinking their getting away with it."

"But yeah, might as well get changed in the back." Elodie said, waiting for him to get into the back seat before moving over to drive. She then gasped and looked away from Speedy as a thought crossed her mind. "Don't let me see your face! Keep the mask or put on something or whatever. I don't want to know your identity." 

That was probably a first for a Titan, or for a hero in general, to hear.

[Kenni]

Everything before the changing fiasco was forgotten.
Or filed away for later pick-back-ups should they hit conversational lulls.
The way things were going, though, it didn't seem like that was going to be an issue; this girl always had a retort at the ready.

He hadn't been ready for what he heard next.
It was unexpected laughter at their ridiculous circumstances that caught the archer-gone-Archibald the personal driver off-guard.

And it was infectious.

“Hmmnh..I’d say I’ve never, if it was true~.”
He tried to keep himself under enough control to drive safely, and when it had died down some, he lifted his mask a smidge to clear a bleary eye, in order to avoid them getting into a more dangerous accident.

Speedy winced as he realized what she was replacing over there in the passenger’seat. Next, he reached back, feeling for a specific arrow, and, unclasping the tip, revealed a preserved icicle in the shape of the tip’s mold. He offered the cold-steaming contraption over to her as a makeshift ice-pack to ease her shoulder’s discomfort.

He would've put it back in place for her had he noticed, but somehow that sounded more painful for the both of them than would be wise; should she keep a check on her reactionary electricity, even, to avoid hurting him while being 'helped', one couldn't fool natural pain sensors well for long without extreme measures; let's just say he wasn't in the mood to get her special mook treatment tonight.

“How’s that shoulder? Sorry for not noticing. You’really good at disguises..whether I mean pain, or that catsuit, I’ll leave that up to you.”
As they pulled up to the rich girl’s gated abode, Speedy put her car into neutral, expecting the much-discussed doorman to be on his way to valet park for Elodie or something.

It was rather unusual to be learning so much about her daily life and the people she came into contact with in such a setting, but it made him smile a bit at all she was willing to divulge about, whether she meant to, whether she liked to or not, herself.
They could almost be friends.

Almost.

At any rate, it was time to change before he got any closer. Being dark, it was good to strike quick and get it done. A mischievous grin to his neighbour, then it began.

“Now, we were discussing utilization of the amazing dressingroom on wheels, correct?”

Speedy’s tight red outfit was soon being stuffed into his quiver’s special compartment, a pair of grey chinos and a white polo whipped over his bare skin and boyshorts almost in the same breath.

He was called Speedy.

In a flash! The Titan transformed himself into his civvie-self, the mask deftly replaced with an opaque, silver pair of stunners. Shades in place, he left the car without glancing back at her once, and waited to be escorted to their workshop, the quiver and attached bow disguised rather convincingly as a set of golfclubs, whenever he’d had time to apply that little feature.

“Aren’t you coming? That evidence won't uncover itself.”  whistled the heroic miscreant.

A black golf-cap in place, and the East Titan’s transformation was complete.
Hopefully he wouldn’t have shown his last successful morph to his killer, in return for the whole display.

[Deleted]

 Apparently her laugh was infectious, for not soon after Speedy started laughing along as well. If anyone saw us right now, they wouldn't believe it. A villain and a hero driving and laughing together. Elodie thought, the image of someone seeing them making her crack up even more. Everyone would think they've gone insane. Or needed to see the eye doctor. She supposed it depended on who the person was. "Oh yeah? Then why did your face and ears turn as red as your uniform? And your nervous little laugh?" Elodie asked, raising an eyebrow at him. She had seen it while she had been changing, for she had been keeping an eye to make sure he hadn't been trying to sneak a peak. Sure, he may of been a superhero, but he was also a teenage boy.

Elodie was rubbing her shoulder when Speedy handed over an icicle in the shape of the tip of an arrow. At first, Elodie wasn't going to take it but then thought again. She reluctantly took the icicle and placed it where she was feeling the worst of the pain. When Speedy asked her how her shoulder was and apologized for not noticing, Elodie simply shrugged her good shoulder. "Its fine. I've dealt with worse than this." Elodie said, raising an eyebrow at him again. "What?" She questioned, not understanding a word he said about her being good at disguises and then something about her catsuit. And this is what happens when you space off. You become an idiot.

When they got to the gate Elodie leaned forward, smiling politely at the man in the security box who, while he did raise an eyebrow slightly, let them in without trouble. Elodie glanced over and leaned back a bit as Speedy grinned mischievously at her. Mischievous grins don't usually lead to good things. Luckily, this time seemed to be an inversion to that, for Speedy was talking about changing in the back seat. When he changed clothes, Elodie got them to the MacKelter home. It was a lovely brick home, picturesque like all the other houses on the block. Elodie scowled as Speedy, now changed into civilian clothing, started waltzing up towards her house. She quickly got out of her car, hurrying in her heels to catch up.

When they got to the front door Elodie had to press in the key code, which she did while blocking Speedys' view,. She let him into the house, turning on the lights as she moved throughout the house. "My lab is in the basement. Oh, and watch out, I have a dog-" Elodie was cut off by the sound of growling. A German shepherd appeared, eyes on Speedy. "Moe, no. Make friends." Elodie ordered, and instantly the growling stopped as the dog went to Elodie, licking her hand. "Moe, got to bed, okay? Go to bed." Elodie once again ordered, and the dog obeyed, casting Speedy a look before disappearing up the stairs while Elodie led the way down into the basement, into her lab.

"He's a retired attack dog. Very protective of me and my siblings. Bit one of our kidnappers in the face," Elodie stated, turning on the lights and heading straight towards desk in front of a section of the wall covered in computer screens. The entire room was filled with tables and other technological equipment, with some of her inventions either on the tables or near them. There were papers everywhere, nearly spilling out of thick binders on the bookcases and shelves, with design plans or some ideas on them. It gave a good impression on how her mind worked, how chaotic it was.

Elodie took off her heels and sat in the rolling chair in front of computer desk, hooking in the criminals phone and quickly typing away. "Word of advise: Don't touch anything. Especially things that look like ordinary objects - those are the most dangerous." Elodie advised, not even bothering to look at him. She was too busy, getting through the encryptionon the phone. "My my, someones been busy." Elodie murmured, information flashing up as she typed away. "Most likely the owner of this phone was the leader of those scumbags at the docks. Nice pick." Her fingers were flying, the keys on the keyboard clacking away as she worked through the encryption. "Ah ha! Got you Tyler Priestly!" Elodie grinned as she got the name of the owner of the phone and got a criminal profile of him. She clicked on it and it popped up on one of the many screens, glancing at it and letting out a whistle. Sure, there was some of the boring stuff you would find on a criminal profile such as theft, aggravated assault, pirated CDs and DVDs, etc. And then there was the ones that stood out.

Suspected in  the transportation of illegal goods.  Suspected in accessory in kidnapping. 

Elodie was now standing up, kicking the rolling chair away. "Known associates....phone records...." Elodie murmured, mostly talking to herself as she clicked and typed away, more and more things popping up on the different screens. A list of associates and their criminal profiles while another list was highlighting the most recent and most called number on Mr. Priestly phone. "I have all the beessttt tttooooyyyss," Elodie said in a singsong voice as Tyler Priestlys "Laundry List" appeared on screen. Yet his version was numbers. Lots and lots of numbers.

"Oh boy," Elodie said, rubbing her face. "This might take some time. Dammit."

[Kenni]

"Golly, it isn't everyday you get the jitters being invited in a girl's place. --When you're me."
Speedy popped his collar and slid his hands into his pockets, following his unlikely companion into the luxurious abode without most of the usual bravado he tended to bring to tet-a-tets with young ladies alone at their homes. This was all strictly business and beyond that, possibly a lead to the sinister underpinnings of whatever the agency responsible for the villainess' family tragedies could be planning next, nevermind where they could be located.
And jailed rather than made privy to their own personal bloodbaths, courtesy of their former victim here.

Moe met them almost instantly at the door.

"Diiiid'ee now. You must be so proud. Well. I'm struck withe thought I'd rather not look into a larger mask, nor lose my beautiful boyish features to your Moebile safety-pooch."
Speedy raised Moe a similar look, then fingered his nose at the dog's agitated tail and generally retreating frame, relieving the pang of sadness he felt when the girl mentioned how he also took care of her siblings so well, the poor dears.

"Sleep tight, pal. I'll be good."
He loved animals almost as much as he loved children Mas and Menos were on probation, but it didn't seem like this particular animal would've preferred his company, whether for him being a hero reasons or him being a strange boy in its master's house reasons.

Elodie got down to work as soon as they reached her lair; he narrowly avoided learning what secret properties a pair of craft-scissors, an old GameBoy Color, and a giant eraser 'for BIG mistakes' had in store for his fingers and general person, due to her well-timed warnings.
BIG mistakes.
Apt.

"If the urge strikes me, I’ll make sure to grab the weirdest lookin’ thingamajigger first. Thanks for the heads-up." mused the bespectacled Speedy, crossing his arms to stay safe, and leaning slightly on the back of her chair, another low whistle emitted from the Titan's lips as he watched her handiwork.

"You and Cy should have a WPM contest. I still haffta look down to find the number row."

She seemed to be pleased with the results those flying fingers were uncovering, by what mental faculties and means he knew-not. Her short accolade for the thug he'd relieved of his phone for their operation at hand was met with a smug doffing of his golf-cap, but it wasoon replaced with a half-frown.

"Abouuut how long are we talking? I can make snacks fer the wait!"
He reached for a screen-handle, the only thing separating him from a mini-fridge and toaster-oven containing separated room off of her workshop.

Going undercover and waiting around dangerous secret lairs while decoding other secrets; famishing work.

"What are your scanners picking up as far as patterns in the data..?"

While Speedy could just make Elodie a sandwich, he tried to display some of the bare-basics fo problem-solving his Batfriend mentor had tried to imbue his protege with in his ttraining-days.

...
He still made her a sandwich though.
He hoped she didn't mind German sausage or honey mustard.

OoC; Small end edit to be more helpful xD |

[Deleted]

"Most likely its due to the fact that you're in my house and therefore practically at my mercy." Elodie stated bluntly, not even looking at the boy. He was the first boy who was not one of her younger brothers friends to visit the MacKelter house, especially after their tragedy. First person who wasn't a MacKelter to be in the lab, though Elodie wasn't going to tell him that. It was odd, having another person down here with her. Sure, she did her best to ignore him as she worked, but she was acutely aware that he was there. It was jarring, seeing someone else with red hair in the lab from the corner of her eyes.

"It would be safer for you to touch nothing. But I suppose, if you honestly cannot keep you hands to yourself, you can touch some of the equipment. Only the technological ones, for they won't turn on without a power source and unlike me, you're not a living battery." Elodie commented, glancing over her shoulder at him to see what he was doing before turning around and typing away some more. As Speedy spoke on how she and Cyborg should have a WPM contest, Elodie could not stop herself from smirking.

"I would win. " Elodie commented, pausing to turn around and look at him. "I was completely retaught by Brother Blood after everything. Had to be because of my abilities as well as the side effects of the coma. It was like being a child all over again, and under his teachings, I went from unable to tie my own shoes to being able to do all of this. And, naturally, he trained me to be better than his enemy, Cyborg. He is rather obsessed with him, but I bet you lot know that. However, I believe that he considers me his best student. Never once had to be under mind control with him and trusted me enough to assist him with his upgrades." Elodie stated, then frowned and glared darkly at Speedy. "Are you releasing some sort of gas that makes people spill their guts out to you or something? Because i'm starting to really dislike this." She didn't know what made her becoming such a Chatty Cathy around Speedy.

Maybe it was because he was her enemy.

Maybe it was because he was a fellow ginger.

Maybe it was because he was the only one who listens.

Elodie sighed as she stared at the numbers, trying to make out any patterns. "Well, unless you know how to decode this mess, maybe a few hours. And go ahead," Elodie said, waving him off as she grabbed her chair and then just stared at the screen. "Not picking up any patterns...." Elodie said quietly as she stared at the numbers, thinking. She didn't more nor say anything, just stared at it. Sure, a few times she would start typing but it would come up with nothing. Think, Elodie thought, staring at the numbers. Those mooks at the docks are low on the crime ladder. They're not that bright, so the code needs to be something easy for them to decipher. It's a location on the West Coast, most likely here in Jump City, but they would still need an address... Elodie's eyes widened as she slapped her hands against the desk, shooting up to her feet. Elodie started typing away, pulling up the various zip codes in and around Jump City.

"Come on, come on...YES!" Elodie cheered as one of the zip code numbers was pulled from the mass of numbers, and hurried to another screen as it pulled up a map of that zip code area. "The entertainment district?" Elodie questioned out loud, clearly confused on this development. At least we got the general area. Now for the rest of the address.

[Kenni]

“Iiiunno, just seems secret lairs and nemesi aren’t common playdates is all. But I’ll shake it off for both our sakes.” he’d said, munching on one of his whole-wheat creations.
Speedy got over himself as quickly as possible and focused on the mission..until she had given him free-reign of, surprisingly, the more complicated-looking machinery in the room. Knowing her propensity for allowing heroes to suffer shocks though, he did as he was told initially and, should it not be instrumental to making lunch, steered pretty clear of most of her gadgetry.

"You've got an impressive space down here. The kid-bro and sis must've been major pains if they ever snuck their way down, eh? Messin' with yer gadgets. Gettin' crumbs all over the floor."
Here, he dusted his wheaty-hands off in the dustbin, attempting not to be a pain so as to not be given pain from her, for his pains.
"I've..never had siblings, so I'n not sure what it's like? But I bet you miss them with all your heart. I know I'd miss my smart, pretty sister with the best playroom in the house."

The archer sat backwards on a spare chair..that actually was part of some crane-contraption on wheels she must've been tinkering on, which he hadn't managed to set off yet, thank goodness. He listened to her elaboration after her downplaying of Cyborg's abilities.

Being given a crash-course in The Life of a Blood-Trust Orphan out of the blue, or rather, off of his tiny joke, was a new development. She’d been pretty open with him lately, and it was not only valuable intel, but kind of touching.
He scratched at his cheek softly a bit with his point finger, partly bashful, partly pleased he'd just been privy to how she actually thought and felt. Even if she was an enemy, they did go to school together; he could see her as just a normal schoolmate once in a while, and it was kind've refreshing.
His reply, not so 'refreshing' at first, unfortunately.

“..It’s. A big house, you’ve got here. Seems bigger when you’re alone—with Moe, I mean."

Yikes.

"You..you know how I like to talk; we can talk about whatever you feel like, Toni Spark.”
That seemed to be the nickname she’d found the most ridiculous during their last encounter with Deimos, so he thought he’d round off the insensitive, painful reminder he’d blurted out that she was pretty isolated in here, by recalling their fondest memories together; kicking each other’s butts.

“Anyway, most tell me it's my gorgeous eyes, and even though they're generally covered, you've got this habit've not looking in so much's my direction if you can help it. You're prolly just shy, but I understand if my charm is being perceived as some kind of intoxicating aura.”

More lighthearted conceit to draw attention away from her wounds.
He set a can of Dr. Pepper at an appropriate distance away from her work, watching the numbers march across the screen.

Suddenly, they were rejoicing.
At least, Elodie sure was.

"Who needs 'the best toys' when you've got the best tools?" Speedy tapped his head, applauding her mental efforts.

He lifted a hand instinctively for a highfive, then began changing back into his Speedy garb at the mention of the entertainment district. He could leave from a different exit than he'd entered as long as she knew where all the security feed was aimed in this neighbourhood. Otherwise, he'd just tuck himself away in her backseat, should she decide to drive back out past that guard again.

They had to assume that upon arrival to wherever the address positioned them downtown, they'd be right away up against the dangerous people that ruined MacKelter's life.

And he had to keep her in check to preserve whatever was really left of his schoolmate.
And quite possibly, quite gradually, his friend.

[Deleted]

"This wasn't always my lab. Used to be my moms before I took it over. And we weren't allowed down here without our parents." Elodie said slowly, quietly, as she saw things as they were before flash before her eyes. When in hearing that Speedy never had siblings and that she must miss them with all her heart. She looked at Speedy then, scanning him over as she crossed her arms before her. "You've never been in a comatose state, have you? I have, for 21 days. It is the current state of my remaining siblings." Elodie stated, frowning.

"While in that state, it is like being asleep. There's only darkness and your not all that aware that something is wrong. And then, if you're lucky, you wake up and everything is wrong. To come back to the world is a struggle. Constantly you have to work on remembering who you are, constantly wondering why. Why can't I move like I should? Why am I so tired? Why can't I write or tie my shoes? Why can't I think? And you will be tired, so tired, but you'll have to push through it." Elodie's voice was quiet as she went silent, thinking of her struggle. Of having to go through recovery with the emergence of electrical abilities. Of how the old man had pushed her, constantly pushed her, to get her to where she was now. "So I doubt they are missing me, for they hardly realize how much time is passing for them."

Elodie was really starting to regret bringing Speedy here, to her home, for he was saying things that were hitting her where it hurts. Such as now, when he pointed out how big the house was, especially since it was just her and Moe. "Do you think before speaking or do you just let the words roll off your tongue without thought?" Elodie snapped, glaring at him as he called her by some ridiculous nickname that he had given her when he and snake boy, Deimos, had taken her on. "Because whenever I look at you I feel the urge to zap you," Elodie murmured, looking at the numbers on the screen before her. She would of added the fact that his so called charm was going to earn him a zapping one of these days.

Elodie raised an eyebrow when he raised a hand for her to what? High five. She didn't high five him, simply stared at him until he went to go change back into his Speedy wear. "Hold on, we don't have the rest of the address yet." Elodie stated, looking over at him with a raised eyebrow. "Or do you expect us to go door to door asking 'Hello, have you been sneaking in closed wards at hospitals lately?'" She questioned, then looked at her screens and sighed. "It's best you leave though. After all, you're friends must be worried to where you have disappeared off to." Elodie stated, wanting him to go away. Besides, she didn't want him getting in the way of her revenge.

For she will get her revenge, no matter the price.