Sure, let's say it's a trick

Everyone's so focused on solving the trick they don't notice the real magic in front of them. James Reed at your service, though some people call me Trick. I guess you could call me a thug for hire but with more talent. (DC OC currently works for mystery-villainess )

[hiredmagic]

  || reddiamondgirl

“Not many people venture this far into the Narrows at night.”

[mystery-villainess]

"Yes. Everything’s still on. But you hold your own." Looking him in the eye her face hardened. "You get caught, you better not talk. Because if you do I can guarantee you’ll end up at the bottom of the river. Do I make myself clear?”

[hiredmagic]

James gulped and slowly nodded. “Crystal, boss.” Even if she just dropped him in it again, it was still cold as shit and overall not a pleasant experience. “Did you talk to Melanie? I mean, is she in?”

[hiredmagic]

lostexperiment

“Okay. That was sweet. How did you do that?”

[lilboyyoyo-archive-deactivated2]

Axel gave the man a tiny smile. “I have, uh, ‘allies’.   The Rogues,”

[hiredmagic]

"I'm assuming you mean Central's gallery, considering you said you weren't from here. Axel...as in Axel Walker. Trickster. You're in the files. That also explains why you were frustrated when you couldn't figure out how I did the card trick."

[rex-paradoxum]

"мoѕт people are ғoolѕ. тнeιr opιnιonѕ do noт мaттer, ѕo yoυ ѕнoυld noт rely ѕo нeavιly on тнeм. мyѕтery and ι are ιnтellιgenт ιndιvιdυalѕ wιтн coммon ѕenѕe. oυr тнoυgнтѕ are ғar мore ιмporтanт," The Riddler stated in a stern tone, "oн, and don’т worry. тнe ιceвerg loυnge ιѕ a ғιne eѕтaвlιѕнмenт, ιғ noт a lιттle rowdy ғroм тιмe тo тιмe. ι aм acтυally very good ғrιendѕ wιтн тнe owner."

He grinned and chuckled at James’ last question, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette. He placed it into his mouth and lit it, before taking a long drag and withdrawing it, holding the burning cigarette in-between his gloved fingers. "perнapѕ…" He finally replied, white smoke wafting from his nostrils, "тнere ιѕ one тнιng yoυ need тo ĸnow aвoυт мe, jaмeѕ, and тнaт ιѕ тнe ғacт тнaт yoυ wιll never ĸnow мe properly. no-one doeѕ. ι нave a тalenт oғ ѕυrprιѕιng people. тнere ιѕ a reaѕon wнy мy ѕyмвol ιѕ a qυeѕтιon мarĸ."

[hiredmagic]

Watching the smoke he tilted his head thoughtfully. "I don't think you know it. You probably would have bragged or had that 'i know more than you' smirk. Which, in all fairness you do know more than me so maybe I'm wrong. It wouldn't be the first time."

James chuckled. "So basically, it's the same thing as her. At least I'll be used to it. I really don't understand what could possibly happen to a person to make them decide to hide every part of themselves, afraid of trusting anyone. Sounds awfully lonely, but at the same time it grabs people's curiosity. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing."

[cherryfinolahobbes]

Masks and Facades || Hiredmagic

[cherryfinolahobbes]

'It's a lot different to feed a mass of people behind a counter and to be out here in the thick of it," she laughed and shook her head. "But I'll be okay. i don't want to make things complicated, thank you,"

She knew that James had some sort of business here. She doubted it was legal, but at the same time, with as handsome as he looked, she was willing to turn her head to almost anything. "It is," Cherry agreed with him. "but it's a beautiful place,"

[hiredmagic]

James chuckled. "I can bet it would be. But it's not so bad to be on the other side. Fancy clothes, good champagne, beautiful women." Looking at her he smirked.

"If you think this is beautiful, you should see their ballroom. In fact, why not? Come on." He offered his arm."

[rex-paradoxum]

"well, ι lιĸe yoυ," The Riddler simply stated in reply, "ι enjoy мyѕтery'ѕ coмpany тoo, aѕ well aѕ тнaт oғ a coυple oғ oтнerѕ. yoυ don'т υnderѕтand тнe тype oғ world we lιve ιn, jaмeѕ. мoѕт go aвoυт тнeιr daιly lιveѕ coмpleтely oвlιvιoυѕ тo wнaт ιѕ really нappenιng. тнaт proveѕ нow prιмιтιve-мιnded тнey are, and ιт ιѕ тнaт ĸιnd oғ aттιтυde тнaт ι wanт тo elιмιnaтe. ғιrѕт goтнaм, тнen тнe reѕт oғ тнe world."

He had to laugh at James' words. He liked his attitude, and the fact that he didn't care what people thought of him. It was a quality that he himself emphasised with. "yoυ're a мιѕcнιevιoυѕ lιттle ιмp, aren'т yoυ?" He commented with a grin, "ι нave a ғeelιng yoυ're goιng тo вe oυr reѕιdenт ғιrecracĸer."

He reached a hand through his trenchcoat and into his suit jacket pocket, before pulling out his wallet. Opening it, he counted out $100 and offered the notes to James with an amused smirk. He was going to get along with this one just fine. "нere'ѕ a lιттle ѕoмeтнιng тo ѕнow мy approval. yoυ're doιng a good joв. ĸeep ιт υp."

[hiredmagic]

James chuckled. "Well that's a new one for me. Most people think I'm cocky, a show off, and annoying. I guess you and Miss M see things differently cause you two seem to be the only ones that think otherwise As for the world, I could roll with you taking over. Just leave the Iceberg Lounge in good condition. I like that place."

Taking the money and putting it in his pocket James smiled. Praise was kinda a new thing. "Thank you, sir." Thinking a second he absentmindedly played with the deck of cards in his hands. "Miss M once said there were only two people alive that knew her real name. I don't suppose you're one of them?"

[cherryfinolahobbes]

Masks and Facades || Hiredmagic

[cherryfinolahobbes]

Cherry's mouth went dry as James approached her. /She/ looked nice? He looked like he had walked out of a magazine. Her face was surely as red as her dress as she tried to stammer out greeting, "J-james," She smiled, shifting her clutch around in her hands. "You look...you look great," She hated that her voice was a little breathless as she looked at him, but found she couldn't look away either. 'i hope I'm not late,"

[hiredmagic]

"You seem a little out of sorts. If it's too overwhelming we can go outside. I don't want you to be  uncomfortable." James shook his head. "Of course not. You're right on time. Besides, I had to finish up what I was originally sent to do. This place is really something, I can see why they'd show it off."

[cherryfinolahobbes]

Masks and Facades || Hiredmagic

Cherry arrived at the huge, sprawling mansion and immediately felt overwhelmed. She thought she was used to people who lived the high life, but this was old world wealth. Tony had all his wealth and eccentricness contained in a single tower, vertical, with the highest and best technology to known to man (and some unknown). Even Norman’s extravagance was dwarfed by this.

Wayne Manor was a sprawling, Gothic home crawling with ivy and surrounded by wrought iron details. It was lit by lanterns that cast the home into golden light and dark, dancing shadows. The driveway itself felt like miles.

Inside it was a sea of people inside and Cherry began to wonder if she was ever going to find James. She felt so out of place here with all the milling people. She thought she was never going to find her ‘date’ when she finally located him. Her heart jolted in her chest as she hurried over to him, trying to avoid the press of bodies. 

"James…" Her heart began to skip in her chest as she gave a little wave, hoping he even remembered her. What was she doing here? "hi…"

[hiredmagic]

Oh, the reporters and paparazzi were having a field day. Not that they could get inside the mansion but a few managed it to the door. Gotham was a scum city but the elite sure knew how to throw a party, old style. And the Waynes? Well, they were kings when it came to stuff like this.

Acting high up, suave, and confident, that was all easy. It may have been an act but it fooled everyone around him. Pretending had always been easier than expressing what he really felt. Holding a glass of champagne and talking with some other elites he heard his name and turned. Smiling he excused himself and walked over. 

"Hello Cherry. You look stunning."

[rex-paradoxum]

"Granted, my most intense conflict may be with Jack, but most of the others have their irritating qualities about them too," The Riddler replied, "Jervis Tetch has a rather odd obsession with a fictional tale, Selina Kyle is nothing but a whore, and Pamela Isley...well...I shan't even bother talking about her fascination with vegetation..."

"Well, if you must know, there has been one other person who has managed to escape without the Batman's help," He added, "But that's all you need to know. Curiosity killed the cat, James."

[hiredmagic]

James let out a small chuckle. "Is there anyone you actually do like? Or at the very least tolerate? There's got to be somebody you don't mind having around."

He smirked, "Well then, I better hope I have nine lives. Cause I have a feeling my curiosity isn't going anywhere."

[rex-paradoxum]

"ғranĸly, jaмeѕ, ι do noт care wнaт тнaт ιмвecιle тнιnĸѕ oғ мe aт all," The Riddler remarked with a frown, "aѕ ғar aѕ ι'м concerned, нe ιѕ jυѕт aѕ eaѕy тo elιмιnaтe aѕ тнe neхт rogυe ιn тнe gallery. ι aм jυѕт вιdιng мy тιмe, and waιтιng ғor precιѕely тнe rιgнт мoмenт. ι ĸnow тнaт нe ιѕ well proтecтed, and wнen yoυ are dealιng wιтн ѕoмeone aѕ volaтιle aѕ jacĸ, тнen тιмιng ιѕ ĸey."

"goѕн! ѕo мany qυeѕтιonѕ!" He added, a smirk appearing on his face and a chuckle leaving his lips, "ιт'ѕ never a good тнιng тo вe тoo cυrιoυѕ, jaмeѕ, eѕpecιally ιn a cιтy lιĸe goтнaм. ѕoмe мιgнт geт тнe ιмpreѕѕιon тнaт тнere'ѕ an υlтerιor мoтιve вeнιnd yoυr cυrιoѕιтy."

[hiredmagic]

"You don't care about any of the rogues? I mean, I want Joker dead as much as the next person but one would have thought the rest were allies to you." But then again wrong assumptions could easily be made.

"Yeah, I know. I've got too much curiosity and it tends to get me in trouble. Especially when I ask questions about my boss. It's infuriating. You didn't answer the question though. Has anyone escaped your traps before? Other than the bat."

[lilboyyoyo-archive-deactivated2]

"Naaa, true.. I’ve never seen her really upset. But I doubt she’d get pissed at me," 

"Ahm, I don’t really know, to be honest.. I just kind of know two people from here, so," he shrugged.

[hiredmagic]

"As someone who has witnessed her lose her temper, I would not recommend it. It tends to end with bad injuries and bodies."

"I'd suggest making some allies. Preferably powerful ones. The trick wasn't a trick by the way. You won't be able to figure it out."

[rex-paradoxum]

The Riddler had to smirk at James' attitude. Despite being criticised he always responded with a polite or light-hearted comment. That was something else that he liked.

"regardιng тнe oтнer rogυeѕ, мoѕт oғ тнeιr reporтѕ нave вeen ѕlιgнтly eхaggeraтed aт тнe very leaѕт," He replied, "well, aparт ғroм jacĸ, вυт тнaт'ѕ only вecaυѕe тнey don'т нave тo add any draмaтιc deтaιlѕ. ι тaĸe ιт yoυ're aware oғ тнe joĸer? oғ coυrѕe yoυ are. well, everyтнιng тнaт yoυ нave learnт aвoυт нιм ιѕ тrυe, ι aѕѕυre yoυ. нe ιѕ an υттer lυnaтιc. a loѕт caυѕe, ιғ yoυ aѕĸ мe.

"aѕ ғor мy eхploιтѕ, well, ιт woυld вe ιмpoѕѕιвle тo lιѕт тнeм all, вecaυѕe тнere нave вeen ғar тoo мany reporтѕ wrιттen aвoυт мe. a proporтιon oғ тнeм нave вeen coмpleтely ғaвrιcaтed, вυт тнere are a cerтaιn nυмвer тнaт are genυιne aѕ well, ιғ only ѕlιgнтly one-ѕιded."

[hiredmagic]

"If there's anyone left in Gotham who doesn't know who the Joker is they need to come out from whatever rock they've been hiding under." The reports for Joker didn't have to be fabricated. He was so outlandish they didn't need to be. "We've worked with Joker a few times. Miss M doesn't trust him but no one wants that man as an enemy. I'm perfectly fine with remaining alive and not being blown up."

Sounded like the media. Always needed a story and the rogues were easy targets. "Have people escaped your traps before? Other than the bat I mean."

[rex-paradoxum]

"ғιrѕтly, do noт вegιn a pнraѕe wιтн "no oғғence" or anyтнιng oғ тнe lιĸe - ιт noт only gιveѕ тнe ιмpreѕѕιon тнaт wнaт yoυ are goιng тo ѕay woυld вe perceιved aѕ oғғenѕιve вy тнe perѕon yoυ are addreѕѕιng, вυт ιт ιѕ нιgнly ιrrιтaтιng," The Riddler remarked in a blunt tone, disapproving of James' choice of words, "ѕecondly, do yoυ vιew a loт oғ тнe мedιa? ιт ιѕ raтнer oвvιoυѕ тнaт yoυ do, gιven wнaт yoυ нave jυѕт aѕĸed мe. ѕυrely ι don'т нave тo тell yoυ aвoυт тнe corrυpт wayѕ oғ goтнaм cιтy? everyтнιng, ғroм oυr goverмenт тo oυr coυrтѕ and тo oυr polιce, ιѕ conтrolled вy ιndecenт oғғιcιalѕ. тнιѕ ιnclυdeѕ newѕpaperѕ and вroadcaѕтιngѕ on тelevιѕιon. тнeѕe oғғιcιalѕ мaĸe yoυ read wнaт тнey wanт yoυ тo read. wнeтнer ιт ιѕ тrυe or noт doeѕn'т мaттer тo тнeм. ιғ ι wanтed ѕoмeone elιмιnaтed, ι woυld eιтнer нιre leѕѕ ιnтellιgenт and leѕѕ valυaвle тнυgѕ тo carry oυт тнe deed, or ι woυld elιмιnaтe тнeм мyѕelғ. ι woυld noт poтenтιally ѕend a yoυng мan wιтн an aвιlιтy ѕυcн aѕ yoυrѕ тo нιѕ own deaтн. yoυr вlood ιѕ тoo precιoυѕ тo вe ѕpιlт ιn ѕυcн a way. jυѕт reмeмвer тнaт нavιng тнιѕ power doeѕ noт мaĸe yoυ ιммorтal - ι can ѕтιll end yoυr lιғe jυѕт вy pυттιng a вυlleт тнroυgн yoυr нead, lιĸe anyone elѕe."

[hiredmagic]

James looked down and nodded. "I'm sorry. You're right it was the wrong choice of words." Always did have problems finding the right ones to use. "Not putting a bullet in my head would be greatly appreciated." Not that it might now work anyway. Sometimes he could deflect it but other times not so much. "Actually, usually I don't pay much attention to the media but I was looking for something a while ago and had to look through quite a bit of it. You and several of the other rogues were in it repeatedly, especially considering how far back I went looking. Is there any that was true?"

[rex-paradoxum]

Open |?| Riddler

[rex-paradoxum]

The Riddler uttered a quiet chuckle, the smirk still etched firmly onto his face. He also began to wonder exactly what impression James had of him. Most forms of media portrayed him as nothing more than an insane criminal - a hooligan who was better of in an asylum than a conventional prison. They couldn't have been further from the truth. For a start, most of the reports made about him were completely fabricated in order to influence public opinion. Gothamites were very easily manipulated, and they were hardly intelligent enough to actually debate in their minds whether what they were watching or reading was true. Another point that had been underestimated was how much of a danger The Riddler was. Whilst he was only mildly intolerant of his acquaintances, he was a severe threat to any who opposed him. He had killed before without hesitation, and he was prepared to do it again to anyone and everyone who crossed him. The Riddler was not a person to be underestimated.

He watched James' actions with a raised eyebrow. He wasn't expecting him to be able to do anything quite like that.

"Impressive..." He remarked, giving a nod of his head in approval, "Such a talent is very rare and very valued by those who know what to do with it. You are extremely lucky, but you must also take care. There are people in this city who will take advantage of your powers for their own gain. Fortunately, Mystery and myself are not two of those people. Nevertheless, tread with caution. I can sense that you're intelligent enough not to fall too far into danger; I am merely giving you advice. Do with it what you will."

[hiredmagic]

Well that was not what he was expecting. For a moment his face morphed into confusion before going blank. He nodded looking down at the cards. "Yeah. I know. I've run into those kinds of people before.They tend not to take no for an answer." And it usually ended up with him being exhausted and hurt and some dead bodies.

  "No offense, but most people in this city would assume you would be on that list of people. So why aren't you?"

[rex-paradoxum]

Open |?| Riddler

[rex-paradoxum]

"Very good..." The Riddler acknowledged, smirking and giving an approving nod of his head. The boy clearly knew exactly who he was talking to, and he was taking care to watch what he was saying. He liked that. He appreciated people who had manners, as in Gotham they were a dying breed. He had always trusted Mystery's decisions, and for the moment at least, she hadn't failed him yet.

"It's a pleasure to have finally made your acquaintance,James - I would introduce myself, but you already know who I am, don't you?" He replied, his green eyes emitting an eerie glow. He wondered whether Mystery had told James everything about the gentleman standing in front of him. He decided against saying anything, though, instead adding, "Tell me...what exactly do you do for Mystery? How do you tick?"

[hiredmagic]

He nodded. "Yeah. The outfit kinda gives it away....and the eyes." Not to mention him being in the media so often that just about every person in Gotham could recognize him.

"Well...it kinda depends on the situation. I guess you could call me hired muscle but with more talent." Flicking his wrist the cards he was holding levitated and moved around in front of him a bit before returning to his hand. "I'm not as powerful as people like Klarion or Zatanna but I'm getting there. Training sessions help. Plus, I'm good at making evidence disappear...and occasionally bodies."

[rex-paradoxum]

Open |?| Riddler

[rex-paradoxum]

The Riddler regarded the young man with a frown, dressed in a well-tailored office green suit and an emerald coloured trenchcoat, his gloved hands resting on top of a long, elegant cane, the tip of which was adorned with a large, gold question mark. It was obvious that he had an expensive taste in attire - but he could afford it, so why not?

"Of course I know - I've been acquainted with Mystery for longer than you have, dear boy," He remarked, "And I have eyes and ears everywhere. I have just as much money and influence as Carmine Falcone...I'm just intelligent enough not to display my power to the general public...you really do have to watch out for the quiet ones..."

"The purpose of my visit? Well, I heard talk that Mystery had recently acquired an employee, and I wanted to see if he was...worthy, of the job. Do you have a name?"

[hiredmagic]

"I can kinda see why you guys get along now. You're remarkably similar. Like keeping low profiles, intelligent, tons of secrets, power in high places, and intimidating as hell." And that was on good days. James nervously played with the cards in his hands. Talking with a Gotham Rogue wasn't exactly on the list of things to do today and he wasn't used to being around them alone.

"It's James, sir. James Reed. What can I do for you?"