[The yelling is a cheap trick, but it's an effective one. John snatches back his wallet before he releases her hand, taking a step back to prove there is no contact between them. It also keeps her from getting close enough to try the same trick twice.
She's likely going to try to run away. No thief ever aims to get caught. If she does try to run, John curls his fingers to enchant various pieces of rubble to pile ahead of her pathway. Not enough to impede movement entirely. Just enough for a stumble. But hopefully it won't come to that.]
I just want to talk. But if you're insistent on being a little shit, that's your business.
[ she's never been above the cheap trick if it's one that works, and this one in particular has treated her well in the past. hey, she's more than willing to do whatever it takes to get by. it's how she's made it this far!
selina takes a few steps back from him the moment he lets go. she's ready to slip away into the crowd (being small for her age has its advantages, like disappearing among the adults milling about in the streets) and make her way to a nearby alleyway. get to a fire escape, head for the rooftops where she never has to see this guy again.
before she goes, though, before she disappears from his life forever, her curiosity gets the best of her ]
I need to know where exactly you found that phone.
[The phone itself wasn't important, but the person who it belonged to was. For burly man who stood head and shoulders above most, Chas Chandler was remarkably good at evasion. It was annoying.
John is prepared to use other methods of persuasion, but a simple request will do for now.]
It belonged to a friend who has since gone missing. Just let me know the location and we can be through with each other.
Not sure. [ selina just shrugs her shoulders. as far as she's concerned, she can be through with him whenever she wants to be. hell, she's only still here and humouring him because she was curious about what he had to say.
however, it's wholly uninteresting, turns out ]
You know, people go missing all the time in Gotham and sometimes no one ever sees 'em again. Just a little something to keep in mind while you're looking for your friend.
[John doesn't want to hurt a child, but he's not above the illusion of intimidation. He snaps his fingers, and in an instant Selina vanishes from the knees down. It is of course only a spell with body still intact, but not one which Selina can control.]
Including the ones that think they know everything.
[ and with that, she's about to turn to make her escape. with her curiosity now sated, he's gone and gotten boring. saying that someone's gone missing in gotham is like saying that water is wet at this point. it's a situation that comes up often nowadays. it's a crime that too often goes unsolved.
so good luck finding your friend, mister. really.
selina's thoughts of escape, however, are cut short when something happens to her legs. she has no idea what happened or how to fix it but she tries to keep any of that from showing on her face. cool, calm and collected.
it's just too bad, isn't it, that literally all of her panic is painted all over her face ]
What's going on is you're being incredibly unhelpful.
[A heavy sigh and exasperated roll of the eyes.]
You have your thieves and clowns and your overblown theatrics. Fine. This isn't my first time in Gotham. But this is what has been happening to the latest crop of missing persons. Vanishing into nothingness piece by piece until they have no body, no consciousness. If it's not stopped could easily happen to anyone. Possibly a teenage girl going about her business.
[There's no use trying to appeal to a sense of empathy. Go for the self-preservation.]
All I'm asking for is a location. I want to know where you found that phone.
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no subject
She's likely going to try to run away. No thief ever aims to get caught. If she does try to run, John curls his fingers to enchant various pieces of rubble to pile ahead of her pathway. Not enough to impede movement entirely. Just enough for a stumble. But hopefully it won't come to that.]
I just want to talk. But if you're insistent on being a little shit, that's your business.
no subject
selina takes a few steps back from him the moment he lets go. she's ready to slip away into the crowd (being small for her age has its advantages, like disappearing among the adults milling about in the streets) and make her way to a nearby alleyway. get to a fire escape, head for the rooftops where she never has to see this guy again.
before she goes, though, before she disappears from his life forever, her curiosity gets the best of her ]
Talk about what?
no subject
[The phone itself wasn't important, but the person who it belonged to was. For burly man who stood head and shoulders above most, Chas Chandler was remarkably good at evasion. It was annoying.
John is prepared to use other methods of persuasion, but a simple request will do for now.]
It belonged to a friend who has since gone missing. Just let me know the location and we can be through with each other.
no subject
however, it's wholly uninteresting, turns out ]
You know, people go missing all the time in Gotham and sometimes no one ever sees 'em again. Just a little something to keep in mind while you're looking for your friend.
I HOPE THIS IS OK, TELL ME IF I NEED TO EDIT
[John doesn't want to hurt a child, but he's not above the illusion of intimidation. He snaps his fingers, and in an instant Selina vanishes from the knees down. It is of course only a spell with body still intact, but not one which Selina can control.]
Including the ones that think they know everything.
IT IS GREAT I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
[ and with that, she's about to turn to make her escape. with her curiosity now sated, he's gone and gotten boring. saying that someone's gone missing in gotham is like saying that water is wet at this point. it's a situation that comes up often nowadays. it's a crime that too often goes unsolved.
so good luck finding your friend, mister. really.
selina's thoughts of escape, however, are cut short when something happens to her legs. she has no idea what happened or how to fix it but she tries to keep any of that from showing on her face. cool, calm and collected.
it's just too bad, isn't it, that literally all of her panic is painted all over her face ]
What the hell is going on?!
no subject
[A heavy sigh and exasperated roll of the eyes.]
You have your thieves and clowns and your overblown theatrics. Fine. This isn't my first time in Gotham. But this is what has been happening to the latest crop of missing persons. Vanishing into nothingness piece by piece until they have no body, no consciousness. If it's not stopped could easily happen to anyone. Possibly a teenage girl going about her business.
[There's no use trying to appeal to a sense of empathy. Go for the self-preservation.]
All I'm asking for is a location. I want to know where you found that phone.