[IC] Young Justice

Timeline

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P L O T S U M M A R Y

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_{E P I S O D E O N E}

MEETING THE TEAM

The exact formation of the new Young Justice initiative had been weeks in the making, careful consideration of each mentor allowed each hero a spot on the team. The old Mount Justice got repurposed as a new home for the future leaguers. Some chose to arrive at the start of spring break, setting up their living arrangments. Others joined up later, allowing Red Tornado, the team's appointed caretaker to give them a tour of the HQ. The members met up and introduced themselves to each other. The next morning they immediately started of with combat training and an obstacle course, led by Leaguers Black Canary and Green Arrow. The training ended in disaster. Nymph lost control of her powers, putting Talon in danger. With the help of Metamorph, Cybergirl, Hex and Mirage the crisis was averted, but not without lasting physical and emotional hardships for the team. In an attempt to distract from the traumatizing morning events Red Tornado sent them on an obligatory shopping trip at the Happy Harbor mall.

_{E P I S O D E T W O}

SUIT UP

The team's first mission took place at the snow mountain regions of La Hoya Argentina, investigating a Kobra factory. For some this was the first time they did any sort of hero work. After a thorough briefing Batman split up the team in two squads Talon was selected to be the leader due to his covert skills. The team took the jet to the mission site, one squad taking up vantage points, the other infiltrating the factory. So far so good, until things started to go down south rather quickly. Nymph was tasked to be on comms but was incapicated due to the unforseen effects of the cold on her transformed body. This lead to Metamorph being spotted, and Kobra sounded the alarm, forcing the infiltration squad to extract before they were ready. The flight back to HQ was tense, with heated arguments between squad leaders. Mistakes were analyzed and reported back to the League. The team managed to find some important information on the activities of Kobra. The building plans for a chemical weapon, along with a list of cities possibly being targetted. Metamorph managed to aquire a sample of some sort of modified Kobra venom from the mission site. An important clue, leading the team to their next destination.

_{E P I S O D E T H R E E}

STAGE FRIGHT

Infiltrating Haly's circus posing as circus employees. The premise of the Team's mission in Gotham city. With the information uncovered by Alisa and the container recovered from La Hoya the team tracked down a supplier with the help of the leaguer Zatanna Zatara who has taken up a residency at Haly's circus. The Team arrived at the circus grounds in the afternoon, giving them the opportunity to visit the fair happening alongside the circus. It was a nice opportunity to get to know the new recruits better, as the possibility of them staying was becoming very likely. There was a lot of pressure on Zach with him being in charge of organizing the Team's performance. It was his chance to finally outshine his famous cousin Zatanna. Talon came close to discovering the identity of the supplier, but he was brainwashed by a mysterious woman hired to protect the supplier. Upon returning to HQ the Team seemed to have failed their objective. A couple of hours later the chemical responsible for Talon's strange behaviour and memory loss wore off. It enabled him to identify the supplier, leading to the Team's first semi successfull mission.

_{E P I S O D E F O U R}

DEEP DIVE

The Team traveled to Atlantis to escort a renowned geneticist and marine archeologist, Dr Bingley. Aquaman appointed Mirage as the Team’s leader and requested to bring the Professor to his research facility in Atlantis where they would exchange information and start up a joint study with Atlantean scientists. During the submarine ride to the underwater kingdom the Team encountered a giant squid. In its curiosity the animal mistakingly seemed to be attacking the submarine. They tried to scare it away. When the creature snagged Metamorph and appeared to try and eat him they were forced to retaliate, resulting in the death of the squid. This deeply affected Metamorph due to his connection to the Red. Meanwhile the Deluge, a terrorist group who hate surface dwellers attempted to sabotage the Team and their mission. They didn’t want Atlantis to be corrupted by the Professor’s research. They saw the joint study as the first step to the downfall of the kingdom. It is later revealed the Professor extensively studied a rare Atlantic race capable of powerful magic and has plans to eliminate the gene, by proposing an intervention in the pre natal stage. This is the same race Mirage descends from. It turns out that this is not a coincidence. Mirage is forced to reveal her true nature and the Team suffers multiple casualties.

_{E P I S O D E F I V E}

GROWING PAINS

The Team is getting ready for their next mission briefing. Instead of Batman, strangely enough the Martian Manhunter is waiting for them. Simultaneously Nymph is nowhere to be found. The Martian Manhunter shares with the Team that she had an accident during a study session with Professor Hall. It left her in a comatose state, trapped by her powers. The league keeps her in a small greenhouse at the HQ, while they try to find a way to help her. Talon has a talk with Black Canary. The combination of his perceived failures and the possibly irreversible condition of his friend causes him to leave the initiative.

Meanwhile the remaining members of the Team are sent to Taos New Mexico to track down a lead at the Meta-Human Youth Center. They team up with Omen, a team of young heroes operating from within the Youth Center. They are searching for their missing team member and share the Team’s objective. After some reconnaissance on site they discover the hidden location of Kobra’s operational lab, hidden in the sandy hills of the town. Braving the blistering heat and a possible ambush they manage to breach the factory. It turns out the missing teens have been subjected to Kobra’s neo-steroids. As a result they became incredibly strong with disproportionate muscular physiques. Not only that but they were being controlled by the hired Kobra agent, the same girl the Team faced in Gotham.

The ensuing battle claimed multiple victims. Metamorph was assaulted by the Kobra agent, who used a secret code to lift a mental barrier in KJ’s mind, forcefully shifting him from Ja to Kila. Cybergirl bravely defended Zatara and was brought down by fire and a debilitating attack on her internal systems. The damage was beyond repair and she became in operational. Rain fought the Kobra agent and Riley, one of the teens, while under the influence of the powerful pheromone. He was ultimately forced to inject himself with the same formula that was used on the teens to survive the battle. The Team triumphed and the teens were saved, they were shaken up but alive. At Mount Justice Batman was waiting to debrief the Team. The Team’s final ordeal before they could rest and lick their wounds.

[dreamingflowers]

_{E P I S O D E O N E : M E E T I N G T H E T E A M}

WELCOME TO MOUNT JUSTICE

S E C R E T S A N C T U A R Y

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^{May 3rd, 2021 | 11:00a.m. | Happy Harbor, Rhode Island}

The warm spring temperature harmonized with the cool sea breeze to make for mild and pleasant weather. Standing at the base of Mount Justice with the sun reflecting off of his red metallic form, was Red Tornado.

11:00am. This was when the newest arrivals of the Young Justice team were expected to meet Red Tornado to be welcomed to the sanctuary and more importantly, the rest of the team. Several other teens had arrived throughout this week. Much like the Justice League, they all had their own quirks and identities. He expected three new faces today, but was also tracking yesterday's arrival being a part of the initial tour of the Secret Sanctuary.

A few steps away from Red Tornado one of the new arrivals waited with him, having gotten there early, standing quietly next to the silent android. Daphne adjusted her sunglasses, pushing them back up her button nose. They hadn’t said a word to each other for the past fifteen minutes aside from a polite greeting. It was difficult to get a feel of his expression, since his metal face remained blank the entire time. It made her a bit uncomfortable, was she supposed to say anything? Fifteen minutes of silence was kind of long right?

When he suddenly started to speak Daphne nearly dropped her backpack.
“Follow me inside” His voice while definitely robotic wasn’t as monotone as she expected.They hadn’t spoken much, but it was easy to get used to. The android promptly turned around and walked through the underground entrance at the base of Mount Justice, without actually looking to see if the teens were following him.

They started the tour in the common area.
“There is a kitchen at your disposal where you may prepare food and eat it.” Red Tornado stated simply. Granted a tour usually wasn’t all that exciting to begin with, but having an android explain the functionality of a kitchen, well you get the idea.

The kitchen had a large, U-shaped couch, in front of which sat a coffee table and a wall-mounted widescreen television, with a variety of gaming systems attached to it. The lounge’s perimeter was made up of bookshelves that reached from the floor to the ceiling, containing a collection of the widest possible variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction.

“Any questions about the use of this room?”
He regarded the young heroes with the same set expression.

Taking their silence as a yes, he continued onwards.

They visited the dormitories, the gymnasium and the meeting chamber. All rooms accompanied by the same dry instructions of Red Tornado. The teens by now were getting admittedly bored, some showing it more obviously than others. If Red Tornado even acknowledged this fact he didn’t do anything about it, he merely carried on, as he was required to give them a full tour of the HQ.

Required until more pressing matters caused him to suddenly stop in place while leading the group to the next location. There was no indicator of someone else contacting him until he verbally answered to seemingly no one.

"Affirmative…" He paused and looked at the group he had been touring around and made a not so empathetic decision. "You three will remain here until I return to complete the tour. I should not be long." He gave a nod to the group before heading towards the Teleporter Room and leaving the sanctuary utilizing the Zeta-beam tubes. He left the teens to assume there was some important Justice League matter that needed his attention.

"That's unfortunate." Viktor finally piped up from the rear. He'd been quiet the entire time, observing and listening to everyone in his company. He had roamed the Sanctuary the night prior, but was looking for more insight from Red Tornado on every location within his new home. "Hmm."

[Crimson Flame]

”Finally, I thought he’d never leave!” A voice could be heard saying. “elkraps wobniar!” Suddenly, the room filled with multicolored flashes of light for a few seconds, as Zachary Zatara made his entrance into the room. “Hello everyone. I’m Zachary Zatara! Better known as... sthgil ni eman ym etirw“ He pointed his wand up, and the words Zatara the Great were spelled out in purple glowing letters for a moment before they faded away. As he did, he took off his top hat, and took a bow.”You may know me from Youtube. I’m close to a million subs. Like and subscribe! You... may also be familiar with my cousin. Zatanna Zatara...” He sneered for a moment as he mentioned that. Everyone knew who his cousin was, and it bothered him having to live up to the standards set by her and his uncle. Now was the chance to make it big on his own. “Everyone knows I’m the charming one.” The pearly white grin quickly returned to his face.

Then he turned his attention to the handsome boy in the group. That wasn’t himself of course. “So, who might you be?” He flourished, and a red rose appeared seemingly out of nowhere and he handed it to the boy. “I look forward to getting to know you better.” Then he kissed the boy’s hand.

[Courtaud]

TALON

The computerized voice of the Watchtower's Teleportation system spoke up throughout the entrance hall of the Mt Justice Sanctuary.

"League Identification: 036 - Nightwing and additional Authorized traveler."

In a flash of light, two figures stepped out of the teleport platform: the first, a tall and well built man wearing black armor not dissimilar from Kevlar, adorned with a blue bird symbol across his chest. He wore a domino mask to shield his identity. On his back were two sheathed escrima sticks. This was Nightwing. Secret Identity: Dick Grayson. The first protege of The Batman. He stepped further into the sanctuary hall.

"I'm telling you, my time here was some of the most formative and best memories I've had in this whole superhero business. The friends I made here have never let me-" He stopped when he realized that the young man who had accompanied him was still standing on the platform. Nightwing shook his head.

"Hey - I know this is going to be a change. It was a change for me too. I went from working primarily with just Batman - and he's not the most social guy - to a team just like this. I know it seems daunting, but I promise it will get easier. Just give it a shot okay? And if things don't work out, we can head on back to Bludhaven" Nightwing approached the young man, attempting to talk him into joining.

The younger man, wearing a similar black and brown armor set, adorned with a "T" insignia above his right pectoral turned away for just a moment, before reaching with his hands and signing "fine" in the air. Nightwing smiled and hit the young man playfully on his shoulder and lead him towards the sound of the rest of the young heroes.

"Now, when I first joined, Batman made me promise not to reveal my identity. At first, I kept up with that for awhile. But eventually, I grew to trust the team enough to share that part of myself. For now, I give you the same advice that he gave me. If you want to reveal that side of who you are, that's up to you. When you feel it's right. Otherwise - it's dark glasses at all time okay? When you aren't wearing a domino mask or that Court of Owls helmet of yours. In fact, maybe we take it off for introductions?"

The young man nodded, taking off the metallic alloy helmet and revealing his face. He brushed his dark hair out of eyes and adjusted the customized domino mask.

[Shard]

Location
💀 The Sanctuary.

Interactions
💀 Whoever.

---

“Ladies and gentlemen!” A ghostly voice echoed throughout the training room, “I present to you Casper!” It continued, a short pause lingering in an attempt to conjure forth drama on a stage beheld by none. Indeed, it would have been an awkward sight, seeing the Wraithborn unlocking further results with his dark magic. “A fearsome creature!” The voice carried on, now a sense of mockery present in those ghostly words. “Lord of the dead! He can rip out your soul, make a slave of your lifeless self! Like glass, he can shatter your very essence!” High praise, but patronizing words, all the same. “But what can’t this bundle of necromantic joy do!? Fly!”

As if on queue, Casper fell to the ground, yet again, a repeat of what had transpired throughout that morning. Was he able to feel the chill of a cold metal surface against his skin, the boy may have recoiled, but as it was, the Wraithborn slowly raised those eyes to meet his dear, close friend, Coal. ”Dude..,” phantasmal vocals added to the Wraithborn’s speech, a lingering echo accompanying every syllable, ”go fuck yourself..”

“Be still, my beating heart!” The bird offered in turn, small, taloned feet hopping in place before a flap of its wings brought the avien atop Casper’s head, messy black hair soft and silken beneath those digits. “Let’s go again, Cassy’ The Friendly Ghost!”

Clenching his teeth, the boy attempted to dismiss the rising frustrations building within. How many times had he done this? At the very least, attempting flight through his ghostly powers was far less obnoxious than getting stuck in the Spirit Realm, which he had managed to accomplish more than once. Indeed, Casper was an accomplished Necromancer, or rather, more accurately, an accomplished Wraithborn. However, it would be a lie to claim that he wasn’t still getting used to this existence. A single year prior, he was alive. Spells were cast through a medium of words, and incantations. However, now that very magic was not only a part of him, but what comprised him. It was his very being. Magic was no longer used through studious means, but rather through an effort of will, which was far more difficult than one could imagine. Regulating the effects, deciding on desired outcomes, and balancing the weave of magic stitching itself together both internally, and externally required practice. A feat Zatanna had attempted, and managed well. However, she could not be there holding Casper’s hand, and neither could his mother. No, instead, he had Coal. A best friend by all intentions, but an obnoxious hassle, all the same.

Energies of black and white began manifesting, licking across Casper’s frail body in a snake-like fashion, winds of darkness vaguely swirling around the Wraithborn. His feet soon elevated, rising from the cold, metallic floor as his body was carried aloft by the dark magic brimming from within. Like a ghost, Casper floated, a nearly weightless frame unbound by natural restrictions. This was, of course, until the Wraithborn fell, hitting the floor with a thud, and a groan. ”H-how long was that..?” Casper muttered, rolling to his back as phantasmal eyes turned to look at the ceiling.

“Like,” Coal commented, “nothing you should admit to in your Super Smash profile.”

Casper struggled to his feet. With all of his dark powers, the boy was not sturdy by any stretch of the imagination. A fall from the distance he had endured, little more than a few feet, was enough to hurt. ”I have to learn this..”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, Cas’! That’s my job!” Coal objected, a beak lightly pecking at the Wraithborn’s head.

”And stop trying to set me up with people..,” Casper rolled his eyes, a hand rising to gently grasp his friend between black claws, before dropping Coal atop the teenager's shoulder.

“Why!?” Again, the bird objected, “have you seen the fine fucking pieces of meat around here!? Perfect for you.” A proud statement, one the spirit clearly stood by, and one which managed another groan from the necrotic creature.

”This obsession of yours is really weird, Coal..,” the Wraithborn added, shaking his head as the teen continued out of the training room, and started down the corridor. If he recalled correctly, the new recruits were arriving this very day. They may have already made themselves known on the property, and knowing Red Tornado, he was certainly making sure that their arrival was full of exciting new impressions.

It became blatantly known when Casper came face to face with his team, the creature's tail slowly swaying from side to side. Social interaction was a bitch. “Hello, everyone!” Came a voice from the Wraithborn’s shoulder, causing the boy to flinch slightly. At least Coal was willing to speak for the both of them, and Zach had already started the fireworks.

[FunnyGuy]

Location: The Sanctuary
Interactions: Zachary, Casper, and Jack

---

The amazing display of magic, fireworks, and showmanship was a sight Viktor had not seen since his early childhood, and even then, they were not this spectacular. Unfortunately, the young man that he was today only winced and fought against scowling at the performance. As if Viktor had a true aversion to the magician who introduced himself, he watched him cautiously in silence.

Instead of feeling flattered, the sudden conjuring of the vibrant rose intrigued him. His guard slightly down gave Zachary the perfect opportunity to plant a kiss on his hand while stating his desire to get to know Viktor better. Both the words and the action made him take a quick step away from Zachary. Eh? Bewilderment crossed his face before his brow furrowed and he pulled his hand away.

Viktor hadn't had the chance of meeting Zachary when he had arrived yesterday, but he was sure he had heard his voice fill the halls of the sanctuary. He wasn't sure if he should have been offended or what? Zachary hadn't harmed him, but he felt encroached upon, and therefore he reacted defensively.

"Watch it or…" He balled his right hand, but stopped himself. "Just don't try that again." He relaxed his hand and turned his body conveniently towards the approaching footsteps of Nightwing and… Talon. Viktor knew of his existence but had never formally met him. Batwoman simply made mention, and uninterested, Viktor made no attempt to pry.

He made eye contact with the two before shifting his sights to the peculiar pale individual with a small black bird perched on his shoulder. When the bird casually greeted the group, he stared blankly, trying to keep a very very open mind. "Hi…" He didn't know how else to proceed. Was he supposed to strike up a conversation with the bird or the… He didn't know what this person was. So much was going on and he needed a quick escape. The tour was over anyhow. "I have to go do something."

Viktor really needed to work on his excuses.

[Crimson Flame]

Interactions: Viktor, Casper, Jack, Daphne (Mentioned)

The new guy blew him off, and Zach simply shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, nice to meet you to. This was fun. We should do this again sometime.” His tone was dripping with sarcasm as he waved him off. It was clear this guy would be one of those that would be difficult to be impress. Still, it could be done. It would just take a little work, and Zach was up for the challenge.

Meanwhile, Casper was standing there awkwardly, and it was his bird familiar that greeted him. The new guy seemed unnerved by it. At least, that’s what it looked like. It was hard to tell for sure. Zach couldn’t exactly blame him. The wraithborn was a fascinating example of magical power. But the nature of their existence just gave Zach chills, and not in a good way. Admittedly, Casper would be kind of cute if it weren’t for those creepy eyes. “Look what you did Casper. You scared him off!” Zach replied in a joking tone. “Well, don’t just stand there awkwardly. Go talk to someone. I bet the new girl is feeling lonely.” He said pointing to the other new arrival with his thumb who he only just now remembered was present.

Meanwhile, Zach made his way to speak to another new arrival that had shown up alongside Nightwing. It was Zach’s lucky day, another good looking boy, aside from the Domino mask... That was kind of silly but... Nightwing made it work, and frankly so did he. “What about you handsome? What do you think about all of this?”

[Shard]

Location
💀 The Sanctuary.

Interactions
💀 @Crimson Flame
💀 @Courtaud
💀 @dreamingflowers

---

“Listen to Zachy Boy! You’re scaring all the nice alive folk, Casper!” Coal’s voice made sure to make itself heard by the young Wraithborn. A pause lingered, ghostly eyes scanning those who had arrived. This would be Casper’s team, his new family, in Zatanna’s words. This was where he’d find close friends, rivals, and perhaps even the one thing Coal kept pestering him over, however unlikely that may have been. It was where his powers would develop alongside other extraordinary beings, some of whom pierced the veil of mundane reality with supernatural abilities. It was a rather exciting prospect, but it would have been a lie to claim that the Wraithborn wasn’t somewhat anxious. Would these people find comfort in his presence or disgust? Would they consider him an ally or an untrustworthy entity from beyond the grave? Zatanna had likely told the Justice League about the boy, informing them of his nature, one born through sacrifice, blood, and death. ’How many people had to die, so you could exist?’ It was a question posed more than once by many a magician aware of Casper’s nature. He could not recall the answer, which was far more painful than the query.

”Could it be the talking chicken..?” Came a response echoed by spectral whispers, before Casper’s eyes landed on Talon, or rather, Jack. Two swirling, white spheres within an infinite black abyss.

A mask, even among those he would come to consider allies? A mystery in and of itself draped in endless silence. How long would it take for these young, aspiring heroes to earn each other’s trust? How long before Zatanna’s promises came true? Indeed, some heroes; if that’s what they considered themselves, were far more outgoing than others. It had been readily displayed when Zach approached a newer member, Viktor. A flashy entrance, a memorable execution, but acknowledged by a tough crowd. Yes, heroes, nothing Casper had agreed to lable himself.

“Who are you calling a chicken, ‘My Immortal’!?” Coal returned, the bird hopping in place. It wasn’t a new nickname, but one even Casper had chuckled at in the past. The boy was self-aware and clearly didn’t care enough to be offended. “Alright, fine, why don’t you try talking to them? Take Mr. Houdini’s advice.” The spirit continued, a wing rising to motion at Zach. “Go ahead and introduce yourself. These people will have to deal with your haunting ass, after all!” Coal was right. Casper would need to introduce himself, and if Red Tornado was there, this suggestion would likely echo from two fronts.

What was he going to say? Shifting his attention from that mouthy bird to the team, Casper clenched his teeth. ‘Hello, I work the graveyard shift’? No, jokes weren’t the Wraithborn’s forté. He wasn’t funny, and any attempts at that were out of the question.

It did not require notable inspection to notice a vague, dim energy coating Casper’s frame. A black shroud, with tendrils of white sweeping across ever so softly, albeit a discreet presentation. Those who were aware of this boy, mainly Zach, probably understood that this energy guarded Casper against sunshine, its rays incredibly deadly, and creeping through every window. The Wraithborn’s hair, confessing to his supernatural existence gently flowed in tune with this magic, reminding an onlooker of underwater sights. ”I..,” Casper tried, his eyes turning to Daphne, the girl Zach had so kindly staged. ”I’m Casper..,” an introduction, one holding itself at the opposite end of Zatara’s explosive presence with the Wraithborn's tail drooping behind him, embarrassingly exposing his insecurities.

It was difficult, talking to others, a difficulty the deathly creature did not come across when communing with Coal. The bird followed a different set of rules. If truth made itself to the surface, one would see that Casper couldn’t imagine his life without the crow. Despite everything.

“Well done!” Coal exclaimed, “you’ll be able to hold full conversations with people in no time!”

[Courtaud]

“What about you handsome? What do you think about all of this?”

@Crimson Flame

Talon

Talon looked at the boy in the tuxedo style jacket. He recognized the garb as something not too dissimilar from Zatanna Zatara - a famous member of the League who had once been on the Young Justice team with his own mentor. Talon nodded at the boy in recognition of his question, but he wasn't sure how he felt yet in order to give him a real proper answer. Instead, Talon looked passed the boy and gestured at the large holoscreen in the mission room. He was impressed with the amount of space that was utilized in the area. Talon approached the wall itself and reached out with a gloved hand - he knew the history of the place. Originally a base of operations for one of the original iterations of the Justice League - then the JLA. His knowledge of MetaHuman history was a subject that was nearly beaten into him during his time with the Court of Owls, in between bouts of his physical training in order to reach his physical peak. But it was his hours in the library where Talon - Jack - felt most like an individual. But the Court did not care for that. They were only the owls. Now, rehabilitated by Nightwing, Oracle and Tim Drake - the 3rd Robin - Jack felt he was finally going to find what it meant to be himself. But to do so, he was shrouding himself in the garb of the Talon's. Was this right for him? Being here? Among his peer group, he wondered if he would stand out as someone without a proper childhood. Right away, Talon recognized the youthful exuberance of the others around him. They may have been waiting for this day for years, and their excitement was palpable. But Jack? What was his place in all this? In the world?

Would he find that part of himself?

Did he have that part of himself?

Not far behind the boy in the Tuxedo jacket, another boy - this one surrounded by a black shroud of energy - introduced himself by the name of Casper. Talon wondered what sort of trickery this was, or if this was some sort of shadowy metahuman ability. Talon was familiar with members like Deadman, but couldn't recall any Ghost Heroes. Talon listened as Casper's ornothological familiar chirped away loudly. He already felt like an outsider. Everywhere he went, birds. Talon recognized that the bird was able to speak, and wondered if he was some sort of transforming human/animal. But he was unsure of the relationship between the two. He did however recognize that the bird was loud.

[dreamingflowers]

Location: The Sanctuary
Interactions: Casper

---

Daphne watched the colorful display of lights and magic with an amused smile. Zachary Zatarra. She knew the Zatarra family. They were pretty famous magicians. It was usually Zatanna and her father who were on the traditional stage while Zachary was making it big on youtube. He definitely had the showmanship down to a t. He put on a great performance. It was nice to be welcomed with some cheer, even if it wasn't directed at her in particular. She witnessed the interaction between Viktor and Zach from the sidelines, surprised at Zach's obvious flirtation with him. He really wasn't beating around the bush. For a minute there she held in her breath and watched with worried eyes, trying to gauge if Viktor would get angry. He left and Daphne watched Zach go to another team member, who'd arrived together with his mentor Nightwing. He really wasn't wasting any time.

She didn't really care for his attitude at the moment, talking about her like she wasn't there, and ordering someone to talk to her. It didn't bother her too much however and she already forgot about it when a ghostly guy walked up to her. Daphne had no idea if he was a metahuman like her, or if he was even human at all. She tried not to stare too much and instead look into his eyes, which were admittedly also quite disturbing. Daphne kept a straight face and did not show any discomfort she might have been feeling. His voice sounded very far away, soft like an echo. It was surreal, kind of a ghostly asmr.

Daphne tucked a lock of hair behind her ear feeling a little anxious. She extended her hand out to him, knowing full well of his clawed fingertips, but she wasn't deterred by it.
"I'm Daphne, nice to meet you Casper" The teen girl smiled at him.

The bird perched on Casper's shoulder was being very sarcastic. She looked at the small crow, or maybe it was a raven? Daphne didn't really know her birds that well.
"Hey you, don't be a meanie" Daphne said in a disapproving tone, sticking out her tongue at him.

A light tune could be heard coming from her backpack. Her phone was buzzing!
She took off her backpack and started to rummage through it, trying to find her phone somewhere in the bottomless pit she called a purse. Finally she found it and she looked at the caller ID, it was Cain her brother. She looked at Casper with a sorry look on her face.
"I don't want to be rude, but I have to answer this quickly."

Daphne slung her backpack over one shoulder and answered the phone, walking out of earshot of the new arrivals, into one of the hallways.
"Hi Cain, what's up?"

[Shard]

Location
💀 The Sanctuary.

Interactions
💀 @dreamingflowers
💀 @Courtaud
💀 @Crimson Flame

---

One introduction complete, several more to go. The thought was nauseating. How many hands was Casper required to shake? It wasn’t difficult to deduce that others were somewhat unnerved by the Wraithborn, a fully understandable reaction to a creature such as him, but it had the power to lower what little incentive was there.

Casper’s slender, dainty digits wrapped themselves around Daphne’s own, claws gently embracing fingers for a socially acceptable display. Despite his appearance, and likely presumed chill, Casper’s skin came off as quite lukewarm. Neither cold, nor humanly heated. It was safe to say that the Wraithborn barely had a temperature, yet again pointing towards his inhuman nature. Indeed, he was not the only non-human member of the team, but he was certainly the most blatantly different creature among them. “I ain’t rude!” Coal offered, “it’s positive reinforcement, and shit!” The crow turned to his closest friend, head tilting somewhat as he noted Casper’s focus shifting from Daphne to Talon. He had not commented on her phone call, and rather took a moment to acknowledge Jack’s interaction with Zach.

The silence managed to intrigue. Where Viktor walked off in annoyance, and Daphne attempted a polite approach, this peculiar individual had not uttered a single word.

Casper had previously heard of Nightwing, one of Batman’s associates. It was fair to claim that his knowledge of these American heroes was quite lacking in comparison to his allies, something which made itself known to the young Wraithborn as this was the first time Casper had ever seen Jack’s mentor. Had he made the same promises expressed by Zatanna? Had Nightwing also presented this team as a family? What awaited them throughout this journey was yet to be seen.

Following Talon’s movements, Casper took note of every silent motion, as if the creature was waiting for a peculiar spectacle. It had required an impressive level of discipline on the Owl’s end to withstand Zach’s impeccable charm, one the Wraithborn was spared due to his less than appealing features in regards to the magician’s preferences.

“Keep trying Zachy Boy, eventually, you’ll be able to pull a fine piece of meat outta’ your hat,” Coal stated, his wing rising to point at Zatara. “But hey, this one didn’t run away!”

”The other one left when you started talking, Coal..,” Casper finally uttered, his tail now gently swaying as it had done before.

“I am innocent of this crime that you are accusing me of,” the bird flapped his wings before landing atop Casper’s head, making itself comfortable amongst thick, messy hair. “Anyway, now it’s your turn to introduce yourself to Deadly Silence, over there,” the spirit continued. “Come on, Cassy, one more introduction on the agenda. Maybe you’ll scare this one away, too. Three for three!”

”Someone called her..,” Casper rolled his eyes, ”that one wasn’t my fault..”

“She was probably faking it!” A rebuttal from Coal.

”...I heard the ringtone..” The Wraithborn countered. He had a point.

“Her powers are obviously phone-related, and she used them to get away from you,” the bird insisted. “Now, go and say hello to the Sound of Silence.”

If Casper breathed, the boy would likely have managed a heavy sigh. As it was, however, his eerie presence maintained itself with the apathetic aura always presented by the grave walker. He had often been told that deducing his emotions was quite difficult, and phantasmal eyes did not make the process easier. ”He probably heard me when I talked with Daphne..,” the Wraithborn managed, forcing a groan from his avian friend.

“That’s not how introductions work!” Coal chirped. “Come on, he’s still here! He might actually not be creeped out by you.”

”Fine..,” the boy yielded. Raising a clawed hand, he offered Talon a timid, if pleasant wave. ”Hello..,” There was likely no need to repeat introductions. Jack had certainly heard Casper’s name the first time, and so far, the undead’s social competence had not improved.

[Courtaud]

TALON

Jack waved to the ghostly boy in front of him. Though his pet was more than somewhat grinding, the boy at least was coming off as friendly enough. Still, Jack was momentarily distracted by the arrival of a young girl - another Teen Titan presumably. Jack couldn't place her. Despite Jack's proclivity to staying in the background or uninvolved, he was still able to recognize that she was beautiful. Jack felt a momentary inner strength to make eye contact with her, to nod at least as a greeting - but that's when her phone rang and she stepped away. Jack looked after her before turning back to Nightwing and the others.

"How soon after the tour will I get to engage in League Missions?"

Although Jack was primarily a non-speaking person, he had the capacity to do so - though only the context of immediacy, or related to missions. For example, Jack was capable of asking pointed questions and specifics, but when it came to expressing his individual feelings, he could not do so. This was entirely due to his upbringing. He was not an individual - he was one of a Court. He existed only as a flock of Owls with the others. Speaking about his personal feelings or his own thoughts - that rendered Jack nearly mute, or reliant on ASL - taught to him by Barbara Gordon - Oracle.

Jack had asked his question to Nightwing, but loud enough for others to hear and potentially answer. Red Tornado was to be the Team's Handler, and it may be that it would be some time before they would be deployed into the field. Jack hoped there would be some places here at Mt Justice that would let him be alone for a bit. Or a training simulator to keep him physically stimulated. He looked around at the others. Which would be best to pair off in the arena?

[DClassified]

_{Interaction | Daphne Or @Dreamingflowers
Location | Hall Leading To The Teleporter}

---

First few days here was a blur of boringness. He didn’t talk much to anyone as he spent time exploring the place and unpacking. Amai had said that it would take getting used to everything. For one, it was much colder in America in general and the air more dry. For two, the food always seemed much saltier or sweeter than back at home, which wasn’t always a bad thing. So far, his favorite thing since coming to this Young Justice place was....well, it was a tie.

The kitchen lounge room was cool with the giant screen. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen a TV so big, even when he was with Iwisa and the King Lion. Then again, there were many things he had seen since being back with Amai that he had not seen when away. King Lion did not allow him to do a lot, even though Ja did everything he asked. Iwisa sometimes let him do fun stuff secretly...He missed Iwisa...Why did it get so sad all of a sudden?! Sheeesh.

Regardless of that, his second favorite thing was whenever he got to see Zach the magic man do his tricks. It was weird, the words he spoke before something happened though. He was familiar with the different languages of his homelands and with American English, but not this strange dialect. It was probably explained to him at some point, but he didn’t focus much. It was more of an amazing sight to see things fly around the room or disappear and pop up out of nowhere.

Apparently, he was one of those that would stay on his team from now on according to Red Robot. He wasn’t sure why all of his bosses outside of Amai wore red. Maybe red was a boss color; Ja wanted to wear red one day. For now though, he was good with the green headphones that played music in his ears currently. His attire was simple, a white graphic t-shirt with various cartoon characters in it, black sweatpants, with similarly green and white hightop sneakers on.

Step bop-bop slide
Step bop-bop slide
Step bop-bop slide
Step bop-bop slide

Was his rhythm whie he danced down the hall as he neared the room. The piano tones in combination with the drums in his ears kept a smile on his face. He had made it a goal, in order to make better friends with his new teammates to bother one of them every day. With Red Robot telling him that new people were coming today, he thought it would be cool to go meet them. It was as he was just upon the doorway that the bobbing of his head bush slowed and his eyes peered forward.

Exiting from the teleporter room was a girl with brown hair and cream-colored skin. Ja couldn’t help but stare as she seemed to radiate something he was drawn to. Though, it wasn’t the same as when he interacted with animals it felt different. No, he knew The Red, it was a part of him as he was growing up and would continue to be for as long as he lived. His instincts were prompted from that side of him, and they seemed to be trying to tell him something about this girl.

Ja’s lips pursed for just a second before he made a gentle popping sound with his them. Maintaining his smile, he sort of just followed his instincts and her. Ja waved his hand though kept quiet as she was on the phone.

[Shard]

Location
💀 The Sanctuary.
💀 Heading into the kitchen.

Interactions
💀 Whoever he runs into.

---

It wasn’t a complete disaster. He had managed to greet two people, which in itself cemented more social interaction than the phantasmal teenager had confronted in a period of weeks. It was true that Casper arrived at The Sanctuary with the other early aspiring heroes, but other than scarce and short interactions with Zach, or Zatara as he so fancied, the Wraithborn had not made his presence known to any notable degree.

In truth, the constant talk of heroism, the Justice League, and fighting the good fight felt somewhat alien to him. It was fair to claim that Casper’s attention had been primarily aimed at those beyond the veil of life. It was, after all, how he had made himself known to Zatanna and Constantine. A mysterious figure stalking the darkness of unlife, putting an end to hauntings and shielding innocent spirits from vicious beasts, and Necromantic spellcasters. Indeed, Casper certainly had an area of expertise. A point of focus. However, Zatanna made sure to inform the boy of his potential, how he could very well stand between the threshold of life and death, similar to a certain ’Deadman’ Casper had heard of more than once. They were still to meet, however.

Equally so, it was folly to assume that those of a darker nature were unwelcome amongst this most colorful gathering of exceptional individuals. A girl with a red jewel centered in her forehead arguably carried an even larger stigma than Casper. The daughter of a demon, Trigon. Speaking of demons, Batman himself was trained beneath a man calling himself the head of one. Dark roots ran deep, and it was short-sighted to believe that Casper’s situation was any different. Others didn’t view him with discomfort because of his abilities, or even his past, would they have known of it. Rather, this hailed entirely from his nature as an undead being, of which he did not fault them.

”I’ll..,” Casper began, turning his attention towards the corridor, ”...see you guys later..,” he finished, before weightless steps began distancing him from Zach and Jack. His destination was the kitchen, for Casper possessed a guilty pleasure. He did not require food, but the taste of soda had wrapped itself around him with an iron grip. The Wraithborn recalled how his mentor, Zatanna, had called it endearing. No matter what, young adults such as Casper would always find themselves drawn to sweets. Not even the grave could push for an exception.

“So, where are we going, chief?” Coal asked, hopping to the Wraithborn’s shoulder, “had your fill? Gonna’ find a coffin to hide in?”

”I need a drink..,” came a response, clawed hands slipping into the pockets of Casper’s oversized hoodie. Where Zatanna and Zach were both quite well known for their propensity towards flamboyant regalia, the undead entity felt far more comfortable in cargo pants, canvas shoes, and a simple shirt, cloth of which was clearly baggy upon his scrawny frame. This would further bleed into Casper’s refusal to wear a super suit. He claimed that nothing quite fit him, and of course, believed that only those considering themselves heroes would buy into the concept. The latter was something he had kept to himself, however. Needless to say, it was impossible for Casper to hide his identity. Suit or not, the boy’s appearance would not allow for a double life.

“You don’t need a drink, Zombie Boy, you’re just addicted,” the bird added.

”Whatever..,” a fittingly short response from the Wraithborn as he continued down a seemingly endless corridor on route to the kitchen.

“Like, when you drink that shit, someone who actually needs it can’t have it!” Coal put forth a notable argument. It was true that Casper’s indulgence in nourishment was a fruitless endeavor, and that every bite of food swallowed, every drink enjoyed was enveloped by irrelevance.

”Who the fuck needs a soda, Coal..?” Casper raised a brow, ghostly eyes turning towards the avian on his shoulder.

“Thirsty people. Cas’! Thirsty people!” It was the end of the argument, moments before Casper eventually stepped into the kitchen, and a headache struck. A piercing sensation, one which remained present for a split second before promptly vanishing. With an alarmed expression, the Wraithborn nearly fell to a knee, clawed hands rising to grasp at his temples. A single word echoed throughout the boy’s mind, something entirely divorced from the conversation he had endured, and the surrounding world. A whisper once there, and then gone.

"C̵̪͇̹͖̠̦͓̞̍̅ȁ̷̫̰̣̺̘̹̌s̷̫̋̐͋͋̆͊̕͝͝͝p̶̞̌̃̀̈̄͋̇̀͌̕e̷͓͉̥͆́̀̑̉̔̚͠͠r̸̞̟̯͕͖͈͊̈̌̄̄̄̈́̏̇.̶͉̒̊̈͝.̶̩͖̭̍̇͒͑.̶̮̋"

[FunnyGuy]

Location: Lounge, Sanctuary
Interactions: Maybe Casper

---

Great first impression.

Viktor plopped down onto one of the couches in the lounge room, a slight grimace on his face. He initially thought getting away would make him feel a lot better, but he realized he had failed the whole point of this team thing. Zachary's gesture perplexed him. He didn't know if the guy was insulting him or being much too friendly. His eyes narrowed before he shook his head to get thoughts off his mind.

He couldn't let one awkward interaction ruin the day. He still had to introduce himself to the rest of the team, and he would. Seeing it as a task to complete would work for him.

He laid out the plan in his head. The lounge, where he now sat was the perfect environment for engagement in social interactions. He was alone in silence now though…

His eyes darted to the mounted television and he quickly reached for the remote. Entertainment could draw his prey… colleagues. Yes, his colleagues would definitely be drawn in by entertainment. Turning it on, the television immediately started playing the news. Though it was informative, it wouldn't do. He flipped through the channels until he eventually stopped at a reality television show depicting a pair of naked people attempting to survive in the wilderness. He caught the title on the lower left side of the screen.

Bared and Scared'? I think this will do.

He heard talking in the corridor that sounded a lot like that… he didn't know how to describe Casper yet. But it was he and his pet bird bickering before there were but steps that trailed into the kitchen. Viktor upped the volume on the television some. Perhaps he could lure… catch Casper's attention.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Mirage
Location: Dorm hallways
Interacting with: Alisa @canaryrose

“Okay. New people. You can do this. Again.” Kassandra stared into the mirror on her bedroom wall. It had taken her some time to settle in on Mount Justice. The shy Atlantean girl felt like the others didn’t really like her. It had been about a week and she still felt uncomfortable. There was a small voice in her head that told her that she didn’t belong. No one knew about it. Most days she listened to this little voice, a nagging, irritating, constant "friend" in the back of her brain. It wasn’t like Casper’s little bird. No, this was something far more personal.

“Maybe you can actually make a friend.” And who would want to be her friend, exactly? She was sure the others were just like Zachary. Schools of admirers and followers. People who really liked them. Nothing like her. Outside of this team and a set few in Atlantis, no one knew who she was, or cared to know. She was just the weird fat girl.

With a soft sigh, she smoothed her flowered dress and did some vague primping before stepping out her door, barefoot. The tour was probably over by now, so she could hopefully get around without running into the entire group. That would probably be far too much for her.

While she walked, she murmured to herself, practicing some greetings. “Hello, I’m Kassandra. Hi, I’m Kassy. What’s up, I’m Mirage, like and subscribe – no, I’m not even going to bother with that one...” Trepidation hit her halfway down the hall and she considered turning right back around. Inhaling slow, she did change directions, but for a different reason. She knocked, very softly, on another door.

“Hey. Um. Alisa? If you’re in there… you feel like going to meet the new people?” She was very much prepared for a negative answer, or barring that, silence.

[Prosaic]

---

---

<sub>“There are chords in the hearts of the most reckless which cannot be touched without emotion, even by the utterly lost, to whom life and death are equally jests, there are matters of which no jest can be made.”

Interaction: @FunnyGuy
Location: Lounge.</sub>

---

---

He was glad to be away.
His parents hadn't been terribly bothered by the idea of him leaving or well-- his father hadn't been terribly bothered by the idea of him leaving. It had been a relatively painless departure from one place to the other and he had arrived a bit earlier than necessary. It was weird, not being in Manhattan, but it wasn't bad and he figured he'd get used to the new sights and sounds with time. It wasn't quite like home but home had never been quite like home either.

The first night or two had nearly sent him into a panic when he'd woke up to unfamiliar walls on each side but now he was easing into it. He didn't feel the same lingering alarm but he did feel slightly out of place. He had never been terribly good with other people his age and now he was expected to collaborate with them, to work with them and befriend them. That all made him feel kind of itchy, kind of uncomfortable and very, very out of his element.

He had woke up that morning with a stinging sensation in the tips of his fingers, had tried not to focus on the blackened bits peeking out from the bandages on his hands. He had quickly changed into... nothing too exciting, anyone who had run into him in the last few days would have quickly grown bored of his sense of style. Black hoodies, black jeans, black boots. Like clockwork, no deviation. Today was no different, he didn't bother brushing his hair.

He took to the halls, kept his head down, kept his pace even. People were not Devan's strong suit, he doubted that they'd ever be, but it was stupid to pretend that he wasn't sharing his space with them. He may not have wanted to talk to them, really, but he knew that if he didn't then he was dooming himself to both a quiet and uncomfortable future. He made his way quite swiftly towards the lounge, boots flying over the floor with the quickened steps of a man on a mission.

Not that he really knew what the mission was.

By the time he got to the lounge, he was nearly overwhelmed by the sound of naked people desperately trying to survive the wilderness. Maybe I don't actually want friends. He thought grimly but forced himself to raise a bandaged hand in greeting. He could hear the faint murmur of Casper before that abruptly stopped.

"Uh. Hey." His words sounded uncharacteristically thick on his tongue. "Viktor, isn't it?"

[Shard]

Location
💀 The Sanctuary.
💀 The Kitchen.

Interactions
💀 @Prosaic
💀 @FunnyGuy

---

“Woah, what’s wrong!?” Coal exclaimed, the bird’s wings flapping as they pushed him aloft. Casper seemed unscathed, but in his line of work, danger was seldom accompanied by how things appeared.

”Did you hear that..?” A question left Casper’s lips as the boy stumbled onto the door frame separating the lounge from a long, winding corridor.

“Hear what?” Avian talons clicked onto a counter as beady, black eyes maintained constant focus on the Wraithborn. “Are we in the Spirit World, again!?” Coal chirped, his attention briefly shifting towards Devan and Viktor who had both made themselves comfortable in the area. “Because if we are, you fucked up! And you brought guests!” A wing rose to point at the others.

”We’re not in the fucking Spirit World..,” Casper confirmed, slowly regaining his composure. What he had heard was his name, a brief whisper, something calling out to him. The Wraithborn did not sense death nearby, nor did he feel the presence of spirits or those undying. That of which spoke to him did so from a distance, from beyond the shore. This was not an isolated incident, however. Spirits and other deathly entities had spoken to Casper in the past, but this felt somewhat different. Shaking his head, the boy turned those phantasmal eyes towards Devan and Viktor. Another being somewhat similar to the Wraithborn in regards to the disturbing nature of his powers, and a newcomer.

“Uh-huh.., well, let me know if something shitty happens,” Coal returned to Casper’s shoulder, “and holy shit, they’re looking at that Naked and Stupid show!”

”Bared and Scared..,” the pale creature corrected, his thoughts traveling from what he had experienced to the immediate present. Later, he would certainly need to look into what had been attempting contact. From his experiences, they were seldom benevolent and often seductive. It was likely better to ignore it, for now. The living were sent spam emails, and Casper was no exception. Only methods varied.

Approaching the fridge, claws wrapped themselves around the handle, and Casper pulled the lid open to produce a chilled drink. It was time to be social again. ”Devan..,” the Wraithborn spoke, offering the boy a soft nod. Like the others who had arrived early, Casper knew of them more so than he actually knew them. Viktor on the other hand, he was the one who had escaped Zach’s attempt at wooing. ”Viktor..,” the creature echoed Devan’s words, now having spoken to both of them. Was he getting better at this? That was debatable, but at the very least, he could finally enjoy that drink.

“Try speaking in full sentences, Casper. I think they’d appreciate it,” Coal expressed his opinion on the matter, much like he always felt the need to. However, he did not earn a response, those spectral eyes above Casper’s small nose aimed at his comrades, a tail slowly swaying in harmony with the sugary beverage he was so enjoying.

[dreamingflowers]

Location: The Sanctuary, Base level, near the first entrance
Interactions: Metamorph (Ja McCabe)

---

Daphne walked through the hallway both listening to her older brother and trying to remember where she was going. It would be really awkward to get lost on her first day.
"So is dad really okay with all this? Because I know he said yes, but..." Daphne looked out into the long hallway with a troubled look on her face. The past year had been crazy to say the least. There was the robbery, her metagene activating and now moving out to live with other young aspiring heroes. They barely had time to process things as a family. Her dad probably used his work as a distraction, the thought had crossed her mind before. Cain handled things as he usually did, by being overly concerned.

"You know dad Daph, he buried himself in work, preparing for your next session." There was contempt in his voice and he didn't bother hiding it. Ever since Daphne had admitted the study sessions were starting to get too much, Cain wanted to put a stop to it all together. He understood where his baby sister was coming from, by not sharing it with their dad, it didn't mean he had to like it.
"So when can I come over to drop by your stuff, paint your room, hang up your fairylights and shit"

Daphne smiled at Cain's reluctance and poorly faked enthusiasm. Lucky for him he wouldn't need to do all that.
"I told you before, they are keeping this place strictly confidential." She answered quietly, as if speaking of the hidden location of the HQ would somehow reveal it to Cain. Daphne realized she actually didn't know how to get her things here without her family dropping them of. She would have to ask Red Tornado when he came back.
"That's a dumb rule though, what if something happens?"

She rolled her eyes, knowing perfectly well where this was going. In the middle of Cain's rant, Daphne noticed someone waving at her. He was walking in the same direction as her and smiled. Daphne waved back cheerfully and smiled.
"Hi" She mouthed soundlessly.
"DAPH! Are you even listening?!"
Daphne moved away the phone from her ear and you could clearly hear her brother's angry speech, even without being put on speaker. It made her laugh and she covered her mouth with her hand. She tried to compose herself before answering Cain. The girl returned the phone to her ear mid rant.
"I can just call the Justice League" Daphne raised her brows, finding that very hard to believe. You couldn't just call the Justice League right? They were not like the police, they just acted on their own. Debating if it was possible or not would keep her on the phone for much longer though.
"Mmh, yes sure Cain"

"Well I have to go now, thanks for calling, I'll talk to you soon."
"Bye bye"

Daphne walked up to the guy and tried to stuff her phone back into her backpack.
"Hi I'm...Da" Cut off by her own clumsiness Daphne should have paid more attention to what she was doing as her bag slipped out of her hands and onto the floor. It landed on the floor with a soft thud, a small spray bottle of perfume rolling across the hallway.
"Woops" She uttered, immediately reaching down to retrieve her bag.
Feeling a bit embarrassed Daphne looked at the guy. He was still wearing his headphones, so she wasn't even sure he heard her before.

His curls immediately drew her attention. They looked nice on him.
Daphne held out her hand and smiled softly.
"Hi again, I'm Daphne, nice to meet you"

[FunnyGuy]

Location: Lounge, Sanctuary
Interactions: Casper and Devan

---

Viktor had been intensely watching the television show. He hadn't had the luxury of watching television until meeting Batwoman, but even then it was limited. She had not given off the impression of enjoying reality television and even if she did, she spent most of her time working cases.

To him, the show was a test of survivability. The participants seemed to lack the necessary knowledge and skills to do so adequately, but he concluded it was the point of the entertainment. Perseverance. Though he did not understand the naked part. Perhaps it was to present an additional factor to things?

Devan's hard steps reached his ears before his greeting did. Like a spider, he had waited silently for his… potential associate. And once greeted, he turned his head to face him, but he did not smile. Devan did not come off as a social butterfly, and so it made him the perfect person to begin with. In time he would be able to socially spar with the likes of Zachary… A suitable benchmark goal.

"Correct. Here, I'm Viktor… Out there, I just go by Rain." He said in an unintentionally cold tone. Despite lacking a warm tone, his body language showed that he was interested in talking with his eye contact and slight lean and pivot towards Devan. However, his eyes darted towards Casper who entered from the kitchen and greeted him and Devan with obvious unease. Names. Yes. He had gotten Devan's through Casper, but he needed the latter's name.

"What's your name? And what are you anyway? Alien? Synthetic?" Tact was not his strong suit.

[Prosaic]

---

---

<sub>“There are chords in the hearts of the most reckless which cannot be touched without emotion, even by the utterly lost, to whom life and death are equally jests, there are matters of which no jest can be made.”

Interaction: @FunnyGuy @Shard
Location: Lounge.</sub>

---

---

He had opened his mouth to say his name but Casper had beaten him to the draw, that was fine, it saved him a modicum of trouble anyway. He still said it, driven by the urge to at least appear socially apt in some manner or form. "Devan, yeah." He nodded to Casper, noting the same unfamiliarity that he was feeling. He and Casper weren't so different, of course, he'd known this through his short time here. Messy, scary powers.

Not exactly marketable, the two of them.

"Red Death, uh, out there. Like the short story." The name was one he often found himself reexplaining, or looking back on with embarrassment. He liked it, of course, it was his but it was fairly dramatic against a name like Rain.

Viktor's cold tone was not lost on him, although it mostly served to put him on edge. He didn't know whether they'd be arguing by the end of this discussion or not. He hoped not. Devan had a long history of what could only be described as "schoolyard scuffles" that had either ended in him gasping on the ground like a fish or the other boy going to the nurse. Luckily, Viktor... seemed affable enough. Not outright insulting. Not to him, anyway.

Maybe tactless was a better word than "insulting". Like someone who didn't know any better not to ask certain questions. He mostly wrestled down a grimace. "He's not an alien," He threw in neutrally (and still somehow too quickly, like someone who liked to debate), because it wasn't exactly... mean-spirited. "Jus' uh-" He nodded towards Casper because he certainly didn't know enough about his powers to explain them competently.

He knew it involved ghosts but that... was about the extent of his knowledge.