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Huntress' eyes bore into you like silent judging drills. Question's blank face just sort of rotates towards you. The entire car is silent for about fifteen seconds.

"I also pointed out this car and you both as my co-workers."

"So we're supposed to be your clutch or something?"

"Den." Question chimes in. "A group of snakes is called a den, or a pit."

Huntress stares him down. Question holds it a few moments before turning and facing straight ahead. "Just trying to help."

"Well you aren't." She turns to you. "You aren't going to that meeting alone either. I'm coming with you."

>"I was told to come alone and I plan too."
>"I was told to be alone so if you'd have to be hidden."
>"I'd rather have Question join me on this."
>Write-In

>>5832082
You do not know how much I wish we could have gone 'The Cobra doesn't make deals' in our best nick cage.
Can we get like, a cobra jacket?

>>5832878
>"I was told to be alone so if you'd have to be hidden."
I don't have a plan. Cobras don't plan. They STRIKE. From the SHADOWS.

>>5832878
>>"I was told to be alone so if you'd have to be hidden."
Tunnel Snakes rule!

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>>5832878
>"I was told to be alone so if you'd have to be hidden."

>>5832922
>pic related

>>5832951
We need snakeskin shoes.

>>5832878
>"I was told to be alone so if you'd have to be hidden."
Italian-American schizo psychic city boy cop becomes snakeman gangster on the side?! What will GCPD think?!

>>5832961
"Just another say in Gotham. Fuck's sakes."

>>5832962
"Meta cop assumes fake criminal identity asspulled on the spot based on unexpected psychic vision of kid at Gotham Zoo." I can see the headlines now. It'll be discussed over the coffee breaks for weeks when the rest of Precinct 1 finds out

>>5832985
>"The Cobra; newest scum or clever sting by Gotham's finest?"

>>5832961
>>5832942
>>5832923

"I was told to be alone, so if you're coming you need to be hidden."

She huffs and folds her arms.
"Why don't you just tell them that you don't go anywhere without your 'pit' or whatever?"

"Huntress, I don't know these guys. They think I'm useful because I might have info on Calc or from him that could help with whatever this kidnapping is. I cannot be setting terms before even meeting with Anarky."

"Why are you even going to this meeting in the first place?" She asks you, her voice rising slightly. "You agreed to help us and it seems like every day you have something new to handle that isn't part of our deal to take down Mandragora."

You sigh and offer a weak shrug.
"That's Gotham." You say simply. "Shit happens. But if I can stop a kidnapping, then as a police officer I am obligated to do so."

"Then get your boys in blue to back you up. Set up a sting." She replies. Her expression changes as she notices yours.

"They don't know you're out here do they?" She laughs and leans back in her seat. Question looks at you sympathetically, at least you think.

"Officer DeLucia has been suspended for a few days. It won't affect any of our plans."

"You knew!?" You and Huntress both say at once.

"I have my sources." he replies stiffly.

"Then you know it was because of my ability."

Question nods his head.
"I'm sure the CSU Head only had your best interests at heart. His report seemed quite remorseful. I think he likes you."

You hold up a hand.
"It was the CSU you snitched on me?"

"Snitched? Officer, it was only part of his duty. He was obligated."

You hold up your hands.
"You cannot spy on the GCPD, Question. This isn't okay."

"I only found out because I bugged Officer Hawthorne's phone. He was discussing your suspension with Commander Reiner."

>"Tell me everything."
>"Well stop, deactivate the bug and stop looking into Hawthorne. I told you he was clean."
>"How many bugs do you have? Have you bugged my phone?"
>Write-In

>>5833026
>>"Tell me everything."

>>5833026
>"How many bugs do you have? Have you bugged my phone?"

Goddammit Question

>>5832985
This could be a good thing!

The other cops will stop bullying us for being meta, and instead will start bullying us for being a dumbass.

>>5833026
>"Tell me everything.”

We already know he bugged our phone.

And seriously, they’re right. We need to go in there wearing a wire with a SWAT team in tow. If there’s even a 1% of a 1% chance we can bag ANARKY, we need to take it.

Even if we need to our ourselves as the Cobra to Hawthorn.

>>5833098
Well the Cobra isn't a real person. Just like John Smith isn't a real federal agent. And I really doubt we plan on actually trying to do some dumb persona shit on the side. That's silly.

>>5833098
+1

>>5833098
>>5833135
>>5833056

"Tell me everything." You say quietly, you feel guilty about gleaming things from a private conversation but you can't help but be curious.

"Nothing to tell, Officer. Hawthorne seems as clean as you say, he tried to fight for you to get out of the report with only a verbal warning on your jacket. Otherwise it was the usual about how he's healing." Question takes a few moments at the end of his statement to turn his head downwards. "There was only one other thing."

"Which is?"

"Today is the anniversary of his Wife passing."

You freeze, suddenly guilt falls on you like a ton of brick.
"I'm a piece of shit." You mumble rubbing your face.

"You're human, Officer." Question states. You look past him and see even Huntress' stone gaze soften. She just gives you a small nod and looks in the backseat.

"Should he be hearing all this?"

"He's deaf." Question replies, you stand there still beating yourself up internally. Huntress nods and turns to face Bass Head, he's been looking between you all with a curious gaze, Question seems to be the main focus of his curiosity. Huntress lets off a flurry of hand symbols and movements and it brings a shine to Bass Head's eyes.

"You know sign language?" You ask, pulling yourself free from your own brain.

"Learned it as a kid, didn't really have a choice. One of my instructors were deaf."

"Well if you have your hands full he can read lips as well."

Question turns around fully in his seat.
"Good to hear, are you hungry?"

"Q.." Huntress says quietly

"Are you not hungry?" Question asks turning his head to her.

Huntress reaches out and pokes Question in the lower half of his face.

"Ah." He says, running a gloved hand over his smooth face. "I see. Ask him if he's hungry then please. I feel like Burgers."

"After digging through their trash all night?"

"Especially after digging through the trash all night. My investigations require fuel."

You shake your head, thankful to be back in the realm of controlled insanity.
"You both really don't mind holding him?"

Huntress shakes her head.
"So long as we handle this Anarky business quick so we can cut him loose. I'll be meeting you tonight so I guess it's up to Question to handle him."

"I'll need to learn the sign for 'Search for bugs' and it'll be fine."

You and Huntress share a horrified glance and share a sigh before you head your seperate ways.

About an hour later dealing with the morning rush you end up at the Blue Brass, like you had told Hawthorne, with it being closer to eleven now you see the bar is filling out for the lunch rush. Hawthorne sits at a bar with a large mug of a half drank beer and his arm sling resting on a stool beside him.

You approach him from behind and toss out a greeting. He responds with a silent nod and throwing up a hand to the bartender.
"Joe's Pale." He calls out before looking to you. "That's your preferred right?"

You pick up his sling and toss it into his lap.
"It's cheap that's for sure."

"I'll drink to that." Hawthorne says with a tight smile. He drains the last half of his beer and taps the bar throwing the bar tender two fingers. He nods and get's to work filling a second mug. You settle down and look over at Hawthorne.

"What number you on?"

"Four. I drink slow, been catching up on some reading." He lifts his phone off the counter and wiggles it. "Some Electronic Files for my cases when I get back."

>"So what's the occasion, are we drinking to celebrate your good health?"
>"Well I have some catching up to do then."
>"I need a drink after my day, Bass Head is safe but it didn't go smooth."
>"I am the Cobra."
>Write-In

>>5833166
>"I need a drink after my day, Bass Head is safe but it didn't go smooth."
>"And I'm sure you're gonna love how that whole thing went... But maybe I can tell you somewhere else, it's to embarrassing to say on public"

>>5833166
>"I am the Cobra."

>>5833223
supporting

>>5833223
+1
So begins the story of Mark "The Cobra" DeLucia

>>5833166
>>5833223
Yup, this. Hopefully it at least gets a chuckle out of him.

>Captcha: HA888
…well THAT’s ominous.

>>5833120
Whether we embrace The Cobra or not, it’s out there now.

Now there’s a kid we scared shitless who’s gonna go talk to Anarky about Calc’s crazy minion Cobra and how he’s gonna hand over his boss. There’s no telling how far this will go.

>>5833223
+1

>>5833223
>>5833227
>>5833233
>>5833237
>>5833240

"I need a drink after my day, Bass Head is safe but it didn't go smoothly."

He gives you a quizzical eyebrow raise and nods for you to continue.

"I'm sure you'll love how this all went down. Maybe I can tell you somewhere private? It's a little embarrassing.

A sincere smile breaks out on Hawthorne's face.
"That does sound good, no better place than right here. Jimmy can keep a secret can't you Jimmy?" He probes the bartender, Jimmy runs his fingers over his lips and throws away an imaginary key as he approaches with your drink.

"I don't know." You say quietly. A frosty mug is set in front of you and Jimmy leans in with a hand on under his chin. You go to take the mug and Hawthorne places a hand on it.

"Uh uh. You don't drink for free, son. Regale us with your experience."

You feel your face grow warm and you sigh.
"Alright fine.." You begin before letting them know the whole scoop. Minus Question and Huntress of course. By the end of it, Jimmy has a sideways smirk and Hawthorne is holding his stomach and wiping a tear from his eye, the hilarity of the situation increased by alcohol.

"Oh holy shit, Rookie. Say it again." He insists

"Hawthorne, I haven't even finished my beer yet."

"Come on, I'll buy you another round just say it one last time please." He signals for Jimmy to pour and Jimmy does, while leaning close enough to still hear you that is.

You sigh deeply and close your eyes.
"This is a sorry excuse for an ambush, and it's not gonna work on a cobra." You begin

"Why...Why won't it, Rookie?" Hawthorne asks choking on his own laughter.

"Because The Cobra is an ambush predator." You repeat in a low tone.

He doesn't let any out but you see Jimmy's mug hand shaking as he holds back his own giggles and you swallow down the rest of your beer, letting the burn of your embarrassment shine. Hawthorne takes a few ragged and rapid breathes to compose himself. You'd never seen the man laugh so hard or smile so wide in your entire time with him.

"Yeah, glad you enjoy the story of me almost getting killed."

"Lighten up, Rookie. You put me on my ass and I'm three times the man of any Anarkist." He sighs and shakes his head. "Fucking Cobra. What were you thinking anyways? You're suspended so going to that meet is out of the question, any evidence coming out of that is fucked."

You grab a fresh mug from Jimmy and look to Hawthorne.
"Why? I didn't use any force or use my position as an officer. The guy pretty much gave the meet and intel to me."

"Fruit from the poison tree son."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning Dent isn't gonna touch this with a twenty foot pole even if you were the one holding it. Anarky is wanted by more than Gotham Police son, he's federal. That little commie prick glows like lava and anyone who gets too close is gonna get melted. The smart play is to pass it off to the Commander and let that work itself out."

"Without me?"

"Without you." He says as if it were as apparent as the sky being blue. He notices your glum expression and sighs. "Look son, you can't be the hero all the time. It's part of the job. That kind of work is for Undercover and the Masks, it's just above our paygrade. Let it go."

>"You're right. I'll call the Commander in a bit and pass off the intel."
>"You're right, but maybe I should just take it straight to that ARGUS Agent who's hanging around the precinct."
>"I understand if you think that, but I think this is a chance to get a big win for the department."
>"No way, after the way Dent and that Agent treated me I'm not handing them a career making case without getting a piece of it."
>"I can't. They have a kidnapping victim planned, someone IN Gotham. We protect our own around here."
>"Shit. Maybe someone should pass it on to Batman then. Maybe he'd finally make an appearance."
>Write-In

That's all for now until Sunday my friends, didn't want to leave the thread with only two updates before I took my weekend so I stayed up late to squeeze another in. As well here is a link to the archive of Thread One for any new readers:
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5755137/

Gay shit below:

Thanks for following me through these three threads, it means a lot that people would like my writing enough to follow and play along like this with my wack schedule. Also a major shout out to the other QMs who have shown me a lot of kindness, IndonesianGentleman who made the fantastic cover art for this thread and Hypercrisis Bro who wanted to give a nod to my game in his own (Batquest) which is really cool. As well I want to shout out Naruto: Feeling Blue which is one of my personal favorite reads at the moment, it should be coming back for a second thread soonish so keep an eye out and check out all those fine QMs quests. Have a good weekend guys.

>>5833329
>"I can't. They have a kidnapping victim planned, someone IN Gotham. We protect our own around here."
Honestly, ARGUS is most likely gonna be ham-fisted about it, the police has a mole and Batman will either jobb or have something more important to take care of.

>>5833329
>>"I can't. They have a kidnapping victim planned, someone IN Gotham. We protect our own around here."

>"You're right, but maybe I should just take it straight to that ARGUS Agent who's hanging around the precinct."
We're skirting WAY too close to the cape shit that we criticize if we end up doing in without informing anyone. I think we should at least get ARGUS authorization. Anarky is a valuable target, and keeping the intel between just us and the superfeds makes it way less likely for Anarky to either get tipped off before the meeting or to escape the clutches of what is essentially two nutjobs with a crossbow and a gun respectively.

Plus, you know, shit can't hit back at us as hard if we get fed authorization on it. And putting Anarky right into their hands would get us and the department some brownie points with them, possibly.

>>5833394
>trusting the feds
It's not a question of if they will fuck us over, but how.

>>5833418
Yeah, but think about how much harder they'll fuck us if they learn about this shit after the fact.
You really wanna give them that ammo?

>>5833329
>"You're right, but maybe I should just take it straight to that ARGUS Agent who's hanging around the precinct."
>"But there's one more thing... They have a kidnapping victim planned, someone IN Gotham."

>>5833343
This is currently one of the best quests on the board, so keep up the good work, DQM!

>>5833329
>"You're right, but maybe I should just take it straight to that ARGUS Agent who's hanging around the precinct."

I’m not thrilled at the idea of sticking our neck out for fucking Calc of all people, the bio-terrorist who’s threatened to kill two children.

Anarky is out of our league anyways. And now that we’ve been given a recognizable gang alias AND have our face in the newspapers, I don’t think we should be hanging around these guys much more.

>>5833442
+1

>>5833442
+1

>>5833343
you are doing a fan-fucking-tastic job and if its not too much trouble can we see what batman has on file on mark

>>5833343
Just dont off yourself on us like our late Henchman Quest QM.

>>5833442
This

>>5833329
>"I can't. They have a kidnapping victim planned, someone IN Gotham. We protect our own around here."

>>5833442
+1

>>5833343
love yer writing, love yer character

>>5833329
>>5833442
>>"You're right, but maybe I should just take it straight to that ARGUS Agent who's hanging around the precinct."
>>"But there's one more thing... They have a kidnapping victim planned, someone IN Gotham."
Yeah, I agree. But also, >"Because I'm the Cobra."

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There's something in gotham's water supply, I have no other way to explain it. Something that makes literally ANYONE turn into some sort of capeshitter eventually. Our boy held strong for 2 threads, but now it's all over, the snakeskin jacket is coming, I can feel it.
Remember how many masked identities henchman quest ended up having? This is our future.

>>5835050
Oh please, we could never be that cool. And we don't even have a super badass rival. We'll never be him. Ain't no way.

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>>5835050
>There's something in gotham's water supply, I have no other way to explain it.

>>5835050
>There's something in Gotham's water supply
Yeah, lead. Do you know how old the fucking pipes in this city are?

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>>5835378
The only lead you'll be drinking is this magazine full of it

>>5835378
Lead does lead to a sharp increase in criminality due to anger and stupidity heightening qualities generationally

>>5835050
The only thing in the water is Venom. Cobra Venom!

>>5835864
Did you know there's actually some correlation between the drop in violent crime in the US and the drop in lead exposure over time?
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead%E2%80%93crime_hypothesis

>>5833442
>>5833470
>>5833537
>>5833628
>>5834134

"You're right. Maybe I should just hand it over to the ARGUS grunt who's been hanging around."

Hawthorne lifts his mug up and takes a long sip.
"Maybe." He says flatly.

"But there's another thing, they have a kidnapping victim planned, someone IN Gotham."

"Shit." Hawthorne mumbles. "Any details on their target?"

"None except apparently the museum was their chance to get em and they failed."

"Shortens up the list, Dent?"

"No, he was on the chopping block. The guy who came after Harvey didn't exactly have zipties and a bag with him."

"Fair enough, Wayne then?"

"Would be an obvious choice, Wayne is out and about though, plenty of places to grab him if they just had some patience."

"Maybe now that Anarky is back from exile they got that back too. Could be his new plan to skip the theatrics and get to a low down, old school kidnapping. Maybe they want you to drive the van." Hawthorne chuckles at his own joke at the end.

"Come on, it's not funny. This is someone from our city, we protect ours here."

Hawthorne sighs and looks down.
"Yeah, you're right. Get the info to ARGUS, see if they have any space for you and me to get involved."

"Involved?"

"Wouldn't be the first time I worked with Feds, Rook. Make the call and if he has room we can work it as a special assignment, I'll pull a favor. If there isn't room then we just sit here and drink tonight I suppose."

You push up from the stool with a nod and head outside into the brisk noon air. Fall was starting to grip Gotham in full now, you pull out your cell phone and look down at it.

>Call Agent Gideon and give him the information.
>Call Huntress, tell her you're confirmed for tonight. You'll have to lie to Hawthorne.
>Call Nia, If she want's to prove the League cares about more than just the big picture then this is her chance.
>Write-In

>>5836693
>>Call Agent Gideon and give him the information.

>>5836693
>Call Agent Gideon and give him the information.

>>5836693
>>Call Agent Gideon and give him the information.

>>5836693
>Call Agent Gideon and give him the information.

>>5836697
>>5836714
>>5836719
>>5836730

You sigh and decide it's best to leave this to bigger fish. It was exhilarating to be on your own and to only have yourself, your wits, and your gun to rely on. But that isn't why you got into police work, to be a rogue cowboy, you got into this to help people and to show that everyone, even meta-humans, should be held responsible for what they do. Accountability. It's a word that echoes in your mind, you took an oath for a reason and you won't betray it for a shot at glory.

You dial the front desk for the GCPD.
"Officer Greene? Can you call Agent Gideon to the front desk? Tell him Officer DeLucia has information for him regarding a POI."

You wait a few moments and the line crackles as the phone is passed off.
"Agent Gideon, what's the news DeLucia? Progress on the SIM Killer?"

"No sir, someone else who may be of interest to ARGUS however."
You spend the next few minutes informing the Agent of everything you found out, the kidnapping, the return of Anarky, and this time you leave out the mention of 'The Cobra.'

"Holy Shit, DeLucia. This actually is big news, I'm gonna give a full report to my boss on this. She may be in contact with you."

"And Hawthorne and I?"

"It could take the sting out of making something in Gotham a federal case if we bring in two GCPD Officers to be liaisons."

"Appreciate it, Gideon."

"You did good bringing this to me, DeLucia. Your government thanks you." The last part sounds a little plastic but you still thank him for his time and hang up.

You bang out a quick text to Caesar as well.

"Bass Head is all good, he's with a friend of mine and his.." You pause as you think about it. "Wife. All is good I'll call you soon."

You pocket the phone and breathe easy. You feel a weight off your shoulders, that is short-lived as you remember Huntress saying she'd come with you tonight. You'll have to let her know that you passed it off to ARGUS. Suddenly that weight is back.

>Call Huntress now and explain
>She can wait, go have some drinks with Hawthorne and relax
>Head home, text Hawthorne the news about Anarky and go home to just est for the day and relax.
>Text Banks, see if he's up and recovered enough to come to the bar.
>Write-In

>>5836805
>>Call Huntress now and explain
best we get this out of the way

>>5836805
>>Call Huntress now and explain
Better she get pissed off now rather than during the operation. She'll get over it.

>>5836805
>Call Huntress now and explain
She won't understand, mind you. Probably even Question won't. They're like Nia in that way. Jut let her know we thought on it, and we had to do the right, legal thing.

"But what about the kid?" she might say

Well, it's one thing to save and protect a child, and another thing when it's for our own glory or ego. We got all swept up in it, but when we cooled off, it just wasn't us. Sorry, not sorry.

>Go have some drinks with Hawthorne and relax afterwards
We'll need a cold one.

>>5836805
>>Call Huntress now and explain

>>5836805
>Call Huntress now and explain
Anarky is not the goal. Mandragora and the GCPD Mole are. Siccing the feds on Anarky might do us more good than harm later

>>5836834
Question, however, is going to slap us with lukewarm pizza and ask us if we have drank anything offered to us by glowies.

>>5836805
>Call Huntress now and explain
Should probably give her some kind of opportunity to do what she wants. Maybe a promise to keep her in the loop for when we go for Mandragora or something?

She shouldn't get THAT mad, right? It's not even about that mafia family she wanted.
Ah whatever, can't please GCPD, feds and vigilantes at the same time.

>>5836813
>>5836816
>>5836819
>>5836828
>>5836834
>>5836886

You sigh and take out your phone again after thinking on it. She doesn't seem the type to enjoy being stood up. After a few rings you hear her pick up.

"Hello?" She answers in a surprisingly nice sounding voice.

"Uh, Hey. I was calling to talk to you about tonight."

"About the reservation?"

The pieces click.
"Ah, this is a double speak phone call isn't it?"

"Well I'd hope you would know, you set the reservation." She replies

"Well it's off. I passed the case on to ARGUS after sitting with it for a bit."

There's a long pause, you hear some muffled speech and can make out the words "Guest room" before a few more seconds pass and Huntress speaks to you in a tone you've heard far more often from her.

"Why the hell did you clue ARGUS in on this?"

"Because I thought about it and I'm a cop. I don't do shady meetings with crime lords in my spare time, that goes against everything I've been telling you people."

"Okay, but does this not still leave the kid in the crosshairs?"

"You two are the ones who told me that ARGUS is an unstoppable federal boogie man. So I fed a big fish to them to clear us up."

"Clear us up for what?"

"Mandragora. You were right, we've sat on it too long. We need to start making actual progress on this, we know he has something to do with the SIM Killer and something to do with Calc. Whether he's just acting as a sort of tour guide for his guys we don't know, but we can find out."

"You have my attention. Find out how?"

"The mole in GCPD, I have a hunch on who it could be. Hawthorne does as well."

"Well from what Question told me if that salty old man has a hunch it's generally correct."

"You and Question have talked about Hawthorne?"

"We talk about a lot of things, Mark. Don't worry too much about it, he's only had good things to say about you both." She pauses a few moments. "For the most part."

"What does that me-" Your question is cut off by the call ending. "Son of a bitch." You mutter to yourself. Your phone buzzes and you see a text.

"Coming back in?" From Hawthorne. You pocket the phone and turn back to go inside. You need a cold one to unwind all that mess in your head.

"So then the rookie looks at em and he says 'I can see your soul.' all ominous and shit." Hawthorne laughs heartily as he tells the story to a few officers from Precinct 2 who gathered at your table. You'd been seated like this approaching an hour or two now, Happy Hour was well into effect.

"That's some wild shit, DeLucia can you really do that?" Asks a shabbily dressed officer, nametag: O'Lee

"No." You say laughing. "But they didn't know that. They were just kids, figured a little scaring would do the job."

"Shit, if it was me the second a guy threatens to flame me with a can of hairspray I'm busting my own spray out." O'Lee says, to a chorus of agreeance from the other small group of officers.

"You can't be afraid to get your hands dirty." Another officer chimes in.

"He isn't." Hawthorne interjects putting an arm around your shoulder, well and truly buzzed he loosens up. "This kid here put me on my ass in a sparring match."

You wave dismissively to a small wave of props and raised mugs.
"Did he tell you he could have been a Gotham Golden Glove?" O'Lee asks, a few people laugh. "Cause he tells everyone about that."

"I don't doubt it, Hawthorne has hands like lead cannonballs." You say shaking your head and finishing the last dregs of your mug. "I'm gonna grab another beer, anyone else want a top off?" You ask. You get more answers than you have arms.

"I'll help you out, kid." Hawthorne says smiling. "But we ain't paying for em, it's pay to play around here."

You both walk away from the group and you feel something you haven't felt in large amounts before, you feel accepted. The men over there all laugh and joke with you like anyone else. The same ball busting and the same stoic respect they give to Hawthorne. You wonder how much of that is due to you being Hawthorne's rookie.

"A round of mugs for the table, Jimmy." You say, Jimmy gives you a silent nod and gets to work filling up mugs.

"This has been a good time, son." Hawthorne says, almost to himself. "Thanks." He gives you a pat on the shoulder and you just smile in return.

"You seemed a little down but "The Cobra" seems to have brought up your spirits a little."

"Yeah." He says breathily. "Just that time of year I guess. I'll be alright though, always am."

You just respond with a nod, a nod that says 'You can talk to me' Hawthorne replies with his own nod. 'Not today, but maybe someday'

Arms laden with mugs and beer you get ready to turn around when you hear a familiar voice.

"DL, what's happening? Mind grabbing one more?" A very chipper voice breaks through the crowd. You turn and see Officer Rogers in civilian clothes, eyeing up your mugs with that same wide toothy grin on his face. Hawthorne stands tall and eyes the Officer up.

"Is this Recruit going to be an issue, Mark?" He asks you.

>"No sir, he and I are good for now."
>"I don't know, are we cool or not Rogers?"
>"I think he might be, probably would be better off drinking by himself."
>Say nothing and walk past them to deliver the beers
>Write-In

>>5836970
>"No sir, he and I are good for now."
This fucking guyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Put a pin in it for now, let him think we're none the wiser.

>>5836970
>"No sir, he and I are good for now."

But put laxatives in his beer

>>5836970
>"No sir, he and I are good for now."
As annoying as he is he hasn't done anything that deserves us cold shouldering him, YET.

>>5836970
>"No sir, he and I are good for now."
This fucker is max suspicious, but we have nothing real to show for it yet. The best thing to do is sit tight and act normally

>>5836970
>>"No sir, he and I are good for now."

>>5836970
>"No sir, he and I are good for now."

It wasn’t Rogers who reported us to the watch commander… so I dunno what we have to pin on him here.

Still hate the guy though.

>>5836970
>"No sir, he and I are good for now."

I suspect he is a psycho or will turn into a villain when we confront him and the other cops turn their back on him because it turns out he is a creep or something.
Or maybe our QM will do a twist and make him a swell guy in his private life that feeds the homeless and has a loving family

>>5836970
Would Roger's have lost the 'game', if we went for it? I can't remember. Want to reference that somehow.

>>5837136
Watch it just turn out he's overcompensating for being a dick way back and we're just being overly dickish for way too long lol

>>5837367
>tfw rogers is just autistic

Hey guys sorry for the late communication here.

I have a family member in the hospital set for some emergency surgery tomorrow so I don't think I'll be able to focus on writing much tonight. Provided everything goes okay during the day tomorrow I will resume posting then. Apologies for the interruption fellas but that's life.

Fill the time by telling me things you'd find cool to see in the game going forward.

>>5837792
Don't get QM Curse'd

>>5837792
I'm enjoying the quest quite a bit so far. I'm pretty interested to see through some of these existing plots (the Bertinelli/Mandragora crime family drama, where Anarky fits in), but after that it would be pretty cool to explore some Cadmus/Task Force X stuff or even a Joker breakout and something like No Man's land from a ground-level perspective. or, shit, even something involving Gotham's supernatural elements, like Swamp Thing, Grundy, Amadeus Arkham, and Zatanna. Lots of fertile ground that you don't normally see a relative 'normie' who actually respects rule-of-law caught up in.

>>5837792
Oh, and while I suppose it should go without saying, best of luck to you and your family. Take the time you need. Real life comes first.

File: hitman.png (314 KB, 500x757)

314 KB PNG

>>5837792
>Fill the time by telling me things you'd find cool to see in the game going forward.
This is probably wishful thinking on my part, but I'd love to see some of Tommy Monaghan and his bunch make an appearance.

>>5837792
Where's my boy Harvey Bullock? Also good luck to your family member, don't force yourself to write if things are too stressful.

>>5837792
No worries QM. Take all the time you need, and best of luck to your relative!

I saw someone else saying they wanted a ground-level perspective of a massive city-wide event. A riot response scenario might be fun to play through, maybe if the Joker’s henchmen get a little too riled up.

>>5836970
>"No sir, he and I are good for now."
I know it's an easy nickname to think up for DeLucia, but him using the same nick for us as Caesar has me paranoid.

>>5836975 +8

"No sir, he and I are good for now." You say, resisting that urge to set your jaw, he creeps you out but thinking on it he hasn't given any sort of real reason to distrust him. But you still do.

"It's all good in the hood, sarge." Rogers replies with a doofy grin.

Hawthorne grumbles to himself and takes some mugs off your hands.
"I'll go drop these off."

"I don't think he likes me very much, not that I can blame him." Rogers says, that smile fading for a second as he thinks back on their first encounter. He shakes his head slightly and looks to Jimmy holding up a finger. "One Joe's Pale Ale." He asks.

"Add it to the Precinct 1 Tab, Jimmy. It'll be handled."

Jimmy gives you both a silent nod and moves to fill the mug.
"Fucked up what happened to you." Rogers says leaning on the bar. "Whatever happened to the blue shield you know what I mean?"

"What?"

"The CSU, writing you up. I watched him do it and pass it off to my TO."

"What the fuck? You didn't say anything to me about it because?"

"Because you left for coffee with your TO and never came back. I didn't get the chance."

You sigh and rub your eyes.
"Yeah we got a lead and went to check it out."

"What was the lead?"

"It's not your case man." You reply, alcohol lowering your ability to hide irritation.

Rogers takes it in stride just nodding. The mugs get dropped down and you go to grab them as Rogers extends a hand.
"Look man, I know you don't really like me. I don't blame you either I was a real piece of shit when I didn't even know you."

You raise an eyebrow in response to this.
"Okay?"

"Look man. After you kicked my ass I looked into you, the gas station, those Anarky guys in a parking lot. I read the AA Reports and you're a born negotiator, then you're at a scene picking things up and putting them together like Nana's favorite puzzle. You have the makings of a good detective or a good negotiator and those are both high end jobs in the PD. Jobs I'd like one day you know what I mean?"

"I don't really, Rogers. Can you just speak plainly?"

"I want to learn to be like you, learn how you break down a scene, how you break down a person and get them to listen to reason even when they can't reason themselves. I think you could teach me a lot and we're both rookies so maybe this is like a friendly rivalry type thing." He speaks as if he can't stop his train of thought from carrying on without him. You have to hold out a hand again to get him to stop.

"This still doesn't tell me what you want from me, Rogers."

"Teach me how to do what you do." He replies simply. "If the answer is no, just tell me now and I'll drop it. But you're destined for bigger things than a beat and I want to be along for the ride if you'll let me."

He hits you with that smile as he waits for an answer, his hands still resting on the beers. Their foam tops slowly popping and deflating.

>"No." Grab the beers and walk away.
>"I'm a rookie myself, I don't think there's anything I could teach you that your TO couldn't."
>"We could meet up outside of work, a bar or something and talk shop if you want. It won't be free though." (Ask for what in return?)
>"I have a duty to help my fellow officers, lets meet up again sometime and I'll see what I can do for you."
>Write-In

>>5838839
>"I have a duty to help my fellow officers, lets meet up again sometime and I'll see what I can do for you."
>"I'm going to warn you right now, though... Part of it's my abilities. I try not to let them do ALL the heavy lifting, but they're useful. I'm not sure I'd be AS good a negotiator or detective without them."

>>5838839
>"Now you're starting to sound like my ex. I never understood why everyone wants to dream big - I'm happy to just stick to the beat and help the little guys where I can. I'll leave Grand Destinies to the guys like superman. Anyways, I'm barely getting a hang on things myself, so I'll have to pass for now...maybe when things are a little less hectic. Knock on wood."

>>5838843
supporting

>>5838839
>>"No." Grab the beers and walk away.

>>5838836
>>5838839
>"I have a duty to help my fellow officers, lets meet up again sometime and I'll see what I can do for you."
>"I'm going to warn you right now, though... Part of it's my abilities. I try not to let them do ALL the heavy lifting, but they're useful. I'm not sure I'd be AS good a negotiator or detective without them."

>>5838843
>>5838869
>>5838963

You nod, you get why maybe he's been a bit too pushy with trying to be your friend now.
"I have a duty to help my fellow officers, lets meet up again sometime and I'll see what I can do for you."

"Awesome." He mutters, his eyes light up with excitement and that in combination with his smile makes you uncomfortable again. You feel goosebumps rise, shivers or just your own hang ups you can't tell.

"But." You state holding up a finger, dulling the luster in his eyes. "I'm going to warn you right now, though... Part of it's my abilities. I try not to let them do ALL the heavy lifting, but they're useful. I'm not sure I'd be AS good a negotiator or detective without them."

He shakes his head.
"No no, you're different I can tell. What's the saying? It isn't the tool it's the man wielding it." He seems to hesitate a little. "Speaking about your power though, do you have like anyone to talk to about that?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean like, obviously it takes some kind of a toll on you. CSU definitely noticed, if it takes a physical toll then I can only imagine the mental or..emotional toll."
Something about the way he says emotional makes your skin crawl.

"You really need to work on sounding less creepy, Rogers."

You see his cheeks turn a light red as he rubs his neck and looks down.
"I guess so, I just can't help myself. You interest me and I feel like you can teach me a lot."

"About police work I hope, my abilities are a little personal."

"Of course I won't press on that anymore, just y'know if you ever wanna talk about it I'm around." He gives you a dulled smile, obviously held back from his full toothy potential. Before you can answer another figure approaches, in a fresh dress suit, vest and with a new shoulder holster Gorchakov approaches. He lets a toothpick bounce between his lips with each step. He plucks it out of his mouth before offering you a hand.

"Officer DeLucia. I'm Charlie Gorchakov, I wanna talk to you about an opportunity in the GCPD."

"Detective. I was just finishing up a conversation." You motion to Rogers who stares Gorchakov down.

"Well, he can take a walk." He turns to Rogers and extends the toothpick out to him. "Find a place to throw this away. Give me and Officer DeLucia a moment alone."

Rogers smile is miles away and you see a small fire behind his eyes. Your neck hairs rise, something is in the air between these two but you can't tell what, your come down from the massive influx you had in your dream seems to really dull your senses. Rogers slowly reaches out and takes the soggy toothpick.

"I'll find a place for this, sir." He says quietly.

Gorchakov grunts in response and leans on the counter between you both. Rogers gives the back of his head a few more seconds of intense staring before turning and walking off. Dropping off the two beers he had been guarding at the table with Hawthorne before turning and heading to the bathrooms. Hawthorne from the table watches you and Gorchakov carefully, he continues to laugh with the other officers but his eyes never leave you two.

"You just sent away the man who had my beer, detective." You say with a frown.

The detective waves to Jimmy.
"Two glasses of Old Fashioned on ice, James." He turns to you and flashes a smile. "My treat."

You nod in response, still suspicious of Gorchakov approaching you randomly.

"What's on your mind detective? Seems everyone is fighting for my attention tonight."

"You're the belle of the ball, Rookie. Legacy TO, Good record from Day 1, Abilities that make you more cop than most people on duty today, and not to mention a loop in on a budding Serial Killer case and a personal savior of the mayor. I'd be surprised more people aren't trying to get in your cotton beat pants." He ceases speaking as the drinks arrive, he hands Jimmy a folded twenty and slides a drink to you. He takes a long sip and sighs. "James can make an Old Fashioned like nobody else."

"Detective." You say, the frustration of your multiple interruptions finally weighing on you.

"Right, right apologies. I'll skip the foreplay, I think you're wasted working a beat and I heard a very interesting story about you and a cobra. Could use a man like you in UC." He gives you a dangerous look over the rim of his glass.

You freeze.

"I hear things, being a detective means having a nice little network of CI's outside and in house."

"And you think because of the Cobra stunt I'd be good in Undercover?"

"Mhm." He says quietly, already draining the last of his drink and tapping the counter for Jimmy to re-up.

"I don't think Officer Banks will appreciate me moving in on his turf. I know he's been trying really hard to get into UC." You spin the glass in place on the bar top.

"Yeah well, no offense to the kid. He ain't cut out for it."

"What?"

"He stinks!" He says, taking a sip from his freshly refilled drink. "He couldn't trick a rookie fresh out of academy and I mean especially now he isn't built for it."

"Especially now?"

"His burns are what we in the know call 'Operational Risk' it's really hard to forget a guy who looks like a toy soldier who spent too long under the magnifying glass. Working with you would be better not only operationally but also on my eyes, because that kid. Yikes. I get taking one for the team but you'd never catch me ruining this pretty face saving a tool like Dent." He chuckles at his own joke.

You feel your hands clench the glass.

>Throw your old fashioned in his face. "Fuck you."
>"I'll have to talk it over with Hawthorne, but UC isn't high on my priority list."
>"I think I'd rather spend every day on the beat with Rogers than work a single case with you."
>"Yeah he is pretty noticeable now, probably not a good fit for UC."
>"I'll take you up on that offer. I'd make a good undercover I think."
>Write-In

>>5839079
>>Write-In
>"I did my best to keep him alive and healthy and you're going to insult my handiwork? Besides, you really think he would fit in better if he looked plain? Half the goons in this city have ink, or scars, or piercings, or all sorts of crap going on. And don't get me started on the turnover rate, there's a new thug every couple days in any given gang. All I'm saying is if you can't shape him up to work past that, maybe give him some makeup tips or prosthetics - that's something you guys know how to do for deep cover, right - then I probably won't do much better in his shoes, my face has been in the papers."
We've been drinking. If he gets really mad and pissy just blame it on the booze. He doesn't know we aren't that buzzed yet anyway. Prick.

>>5839087
+1
the booze is on our side, plus we're right
we worked our ass off that event and we saved Banks' life

>>5839079
>"I'll have to talk it over with Hawthorne, but UC isn't high on my priority list."
Let's be diplomatic. Neither yes or no. Remember Gorkachov is suspicious as hell and currently our main suspect for the mole in the department.

>>5839079
>>"I'll have to talk it over with Hawthorne, but UC isn't high on my priority list
polite but not an outright rejection

File: gotham cop.jpg (433 KB, 1200x1500)

433 KB JPG

Got inspired by thread cover, made some fanart.

>>5839079
>>5839087
>>"I did my best to keep him alive and healthy and you're going to insult my handiwork? Besides, you really think he would fit in better if he looked plain? Half the goons in this city have ink, or scars, or piercings, or all sorts of crap going on. And don't get me started on the turnover rate, there's a new thug every couple days in any given gang. All I'm saying is if you can't shape him up to work past that, maybe give him some makeup tips or prosthetics - that's something you guys know how to do for deep cover, right - then I probably won't do much better in his shoes, my face has been in the papers."
This, but every "I" or "my" should be 'The Cobra'.

>>5839087
+1

>>5839383
We're drunk enough, let's roll with it. He loves us pulling out the Cobra out of our ass enough to walk up and try to make us his new undercover dupe, he's gonna get the FANGS

>>5839079
>>Throw your old fashioned in his face. "Fuck you."

>>5839087
This.

Even more on the tail end of that.
"maybe" down the line when we aren't nearly as famous... but down the line we're gonna be too 'hot' for it.

Also it's not that hard for him to hear about the cobra. We literally just shared that with everyone in that bar. This motherfucker talking about "CIs" and whatnot when half the bar and precinct 2 knows.

>>5839383
+1

This guy’s a grade-A tard if he thinks that getting the famous hero meta cop into undercover is a good idea, but a goddamn burn scar is too revealing.

By the way, does anyone else think this guy glows a little bit?

>>5839292
Thank you very much, Anon! This is fucking rad, I'll make a folder for these and save them for future threads.

>>5839087
>>5839099
>>5839385
>>5839464

Writing.

>>5839292
could you fit in those Batman TAS police blimps in that?

Those things are so iconic.

>>5839292
Nice work.

You do your best to push aside your annoyance and put on a tipsy smile.

"I do my best to keep Banks alive and you insult my handiwork? Ice cold detective. Besides, you really think he would fit in better if he looked plain? Half the goons in this city have ink, or scars, or piercings, or all sorts of crap going on. And don't get me started on the turnover rate, there's a new thug every couple days in any given gang. All I'm saying is if you can't shape him up to work past that, maybe give him some makeup tips or prosthetics - that's something you guys know how to do for deep cover, right - then I probably won't do much better in his shoes, my face has been in the papers."

"Is that right? Too famous for UC?"

You shrug and give him a dumb smile.
"Just saying it doesn't make sense to put the famous meta-cop into undercover. I'm slick enough to slide by but a burn scar is too noticeable?" You laugh and shake your head.

Gorchakov stares at you with a granite jaw, you see it tense.

"Yeah well maybe you aren't as famous as you think buddy."

"Yeah?" You toss out lightly with a raised eyebrow.

"Go out on the street and ask anyone about the Meta Cop from GCPD. See what they say." He says, picking up intensity as he goes along.

"What?"

"Go ahead ask em, ask em what that cop can even do. Wanna hear some theories I heard from in department? Some people think you read minds, a couple of em say you can brainwash people, and I even heard once that you could shapeshift. You know what that tells me?"

"That I-"

"That you aren't as 'famous' as you seem to think you are, Rookie. I mean hell you didn't even get credit for saving Dent." He chuckles and downs his drink.

"Wait what?"

"You never got name dropped, not a picture, not a description, and the real kicker is it just calls you what everyone sees. 'Meta-Human Officer' isn't that a bitch." He says smiling now, he takes the old fashioned from your hand and leans back. "Bruce Wayne got more coverage than you, Banks and Hawthorne combined and you know what he said? He thanked 'The Brave Officers of the GCPD' and then shook a few hands and probably made half a million dollars in residuals by the time he walked off stage."

You hold your tongue and just look at him, doing your best to make your eyes confused and unfocused.
"I'm not really a fan of press conferences so I'm glad he took that bullet for me." You joke. Gorchakov polishes off your drink as well and rises to a stand from the bar stool.

"Maybe you're right though, maybe this sort of move isn't in your best interest. I'll pass it up the chain that you aren't currently interested in any special assignments or promotions. Maybe after languishing in Hawthorne's shadow for a few more years you'll come to me ready to play outside the junior leagues. Until then I suppose I can settle with Banks until he burns himself out." He chuckles again as he pulls out another twenty to throw on the counter, clean and crisp. "I crack myself up, enjoy a few more drinks. On me."

Gorchakov walks away and you finally relax. You sigh looking over to Jimmy who watches you with a raised eyebrow.

"You didn't say anything to him about The Cobra shit did you?"

Jimmy shakes his head. You sigh, the bar was practically empty when you mentioned that. You'd just spent the last hour telling people about the Gas Station and the Anarky stand-off and not once did you mention what went down at the orphanage. Whoever Gorchakov's snitches are they work fast. A sudden rail of ice cold blood shoots through your heart as you realize.

You might have been seen talking to Question and Huntress.

You put your head in your hands and feel something clap your back, you jerk your head up and turn to see Hawthorne.
"Everything good, son?"

"Yeah, just Gorchakov trying to poach me from beat to be his errand boy or protégé or something."

"You still have your theories about him?"

>"If anything I'm completely sold now. I think he's our mole."
>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."
>"I don't think it's him, guy like that doesn't seem careful enough to stay unfound for this long."
>Write-In

>>5839824
>>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."

>>5839824
>>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."
His response to being told he should work harder and do his job is to try ego destruction on a rookie. What an absolute dweeb lmao. Bet he peaked in high school.

Should definitely send a tip to Question about possibly being spotted though. I trust him not to do something really stupid or illegal. Well, -too- illegal. He probably doesn't pay for cable.

>>5839824
>>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."
what a guy

>>5839829
+1

>>5839824
>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."

>>5839079
+1 to >>5839087, but also finish it with:
>"I'll have to talk it over with Hawthorne, but UC isn't high on my priority list."

>>5839292
Badass!

>>5839881
Oop, should have updated first.

>>5839824
>"If anything I'm completely sold now. I think he's our mole."
He knew we were doing weird shit off-duty and brandishing our piece. He may have never seen Huntress of Question, since they didn't get out of the car at the orphanage if I remember correctly, but if he WASN'T dirty and saw a cop pull bizarre shit like we did while off-assignment, he'd have questioned or reported us... Because to anyone who doesn't know what we're up to, WE would have looked dirty.

>>5839824
>>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole." (lie)

Jimmy is still literally sitting right there.

>>5839824
>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."

>>5839918
Watch Jimmy pull off his mask to reveal Jim Gordon

>>5839824
>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."

>>5839826
>>5839829
+6

"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me to do anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."

"Then what did he ask you?"

"He asked me to consider going into UC, and when I told him no he went on some rant about living in your shadow and how I don't get any respect or whatever."

"Sounds like projection." An unknown voice chimes in.

You and Hawthorne both look towards Jimmy, who dries a mug with a towel while giving you both a shrug.
"You pick things up tending bar. You also learn how to keep secrets." He says, his voice very delicate.

Hawthorne chuckles and taps your shoulder.
"Well forget about him, Gorchakov is a known shitbag. Slacks on everything that doesn't have a commendation or praise attached. He's a Glory cop, he wants what you see on TV where the cop enters the room and the crooks starting shaking in their boots. But a guy like that, all he's ever good for is being some department head's lapdog."

"Who's lapdog is he then?"

"Head Detective Wallace Meyer. Guy runs an inter-precinct team directly under Gordon, bit of an elite club but Gorchakov got in by putting in some work with Meyer and handling some cold cases for him. He can be a good detective when he has to be but there needs to be something in it for him."

You look at the door Gorchakov walked through and stare for a few seconds.
"The other Detectives though? They're solid."

"As they come." Hawthorne says with a nod. "They just need to be socialized a bit more and maybe people will stop treating them like the boogeyman."

"Boogeyman?"

"The handle the most sensitive cases for the department, including most of IA investigations."

"Oh." You say simply.

You and Hawthorne stand in silence for a few more moments before Hawthorne breaks the silence.

"What do you want, Rookie?"

"I'm sorry, sir?"

"For your career. What is it you're aiming for with all that you're doing? You have your finger in a good amount of pies right now and that's well and good. But the Baker is gonna make you buy one at the end of the day."

You stroke your chin and think, what ARE you looking to achieve in the GCPD?

>"As long as I can help someone everyday, I don't care if I walk a beat the rest of my life."
>"Administration seems like the biggest way I could change things. Commissioner DeLucia has a ring to it."
>"What you do, sir. Being a TO and teaching other officers about how to be a good cop is all I could really want."
>"The SIM Case and all this Mole talk has me thinking about going Detective. Putting puzzles together.
>"Well I got a call from the Justice League so maybe I'll put on some spandex and a mask."
>"Agent Gideon probably has an in at ARGUS, maybe one day I could go federal. Help people see Metas in a new way."
>"I could do what you do, go the sergeant route. Try to be a leader while keeping close to the streets."
>Write-In

>>5839987
>>"As long as I can help someone everyday, I don't care if I walk a beat the rest of my life."

>>5839987
>"The SIM Case and all this Mole talk has me thinking about going Detective. Putting puzzles together.
>"My connection to the city, it lets me in on stuff that could make or break most cases. Feels like it'd be the best immediate use of my "talents", ya know?"

Wonder if shivers would be useful at all in commissioner's chair.
Would be a massive flex on all the capes, too. Have powers? Wanna help? Just rise through the ranks into a position of power, bro.
Supra-natural detective is way more romantic of course.

>>5839987
>"As long as I can help someone everyday, I don't care if I walk a beat the rest of my life."
it is our core it is what we make decisions based off of. Plus i really like the patrol sequences and all the interactions in them.

>>5839987
>"As long as I can help someone everyday, I don't care if I walk a beat the rest of my life."
Negotations are good, too.

>>5839824
>"The SIM Case and all this Mole talk has me thinking about going Detective. Putting puzzles together.
Detective De Lucia has a nice ring to it. Plus it works really well with shivers.

>>5839987
>"As long as I can help someone everyday, I don't care if I walk a beat the rest of my life."

>>5839824
>"I don't know yet, he didn't ask me anything shady. He just seemed like an asshole."

Screw this guy. I’d rather be on the beat for my whole career than take marching orders from this prick.

What kind of professional cop takes rejection like a loser at a club?

>>5839987
>"The SIM Case and all this Mole talk has me thinking about going Detective. Putting puzzles together

>Maybe moonlight in negotiations too, I seem to have a knack for it.

>>5839987
>>"What you do, sir. Being a TO and teaching other officers about how to be a good cop is all I could really want."

>>5839987
>>"The SIM Case and all this Mole talk has me thinking about going Detective. Putting puzzles together.
or go full ambition
>>"Administration seems like the biggest way I could change things. Commissioner DeLucia has a ring to it."

>>5839987
>"The SIM Case and all this Mole talk has me thinking about going Detective. Putting puzzles together.

That seems to be the place where we can achieve what for some may be impossible.

But honestly, being a TO doesn't sound bad either, even being a beat cop isn't that bad.

>>5839987
>"The SIM Case and all this Mole talk has me thinking about going Detective. Putting puzzles together.
...but ultimately:
>"As long as I can help someone everyday, I don't care if I walk a beat the rest of my life."

File: Spoiler Image (521 KB, 1200x1800)

521 KB JPG

>>5839797
>could you fit in those Batman TAS police blimps in that

>>5840260
This anon is MVP. New title card?

>>5840260
Another one for the collection. Thank you, Anon, for the artwork.

For American Anons Happy Thanksgiving. For my non American anons, I hope you guys have a good day. Game will resume tonight as usual.

>>5840260
Very based

>>5839987
>"Administration seems like the biggest way I could change things. Commissioner DeLucia has a ring to it."

I want the big chair! though I don't know if our boy could shuffle all the egos of the Department

>>5840393
City knows best though

>>5839987
>>"Administration seems like the biggest way I could change things. Commissioner DeLucia has a ring to it."
Break the meta-glass ceiling and prove to all these spandexed wimps that you don't need to put on a mask to change the world

Somewhat off-topic, but DeLucia's current off-duty carry piece is a snub-nose 38 special, right?
If it is, we should probably consider upgrading sometime soon given how much more eventful life has gotten.

>>5840374
QM, will you use any of the Arkham games as plot? Or are you basing this only on comics?

>>5840695
if i remember correctly the qm said that the batman canon was fluid

>>5840698
I would like to avoid Batman's fluid cannon.

>>5839987
>>"The SIM Case and all this Mole talk has me thinking about going Detective. Putting puzzles together.

Detective
>>5839995
>>5840104
>>5840125
>>5840164
>>5840199
>>5840205
>>5840726

Admin:
>>5840164
>>5840393
>>5840550

The Little Guy:
>>5839994
>>5840066
>>5840070
>>5840110
>>5840205

Writing.

>>5840695
I am kind of cherry picking things I like from a multitude of Batman stories, The Arkham Games have some influence on what I have in my internal 'canon' of Beat Cop. As far as biggest inspirations so far A Serious House On Serious Earth, Batman TAS, and the wider DCAU as a whole. JLU and that are the guiding lights I'm using for the most part though. At the end of the day though if this ever feels like purely a Batman story then I have probably veered off course from my original goal.

>>5839995
"The SIM Case and the talk about moles, it has me thinking about going detective some day."

"Yeah?" Hawthorne looks at you slightly surprised.

"Putting together puzzles, not to mention my connection to Gotham. It let's me in on things that can make or break most cases. Feels like that would be the best immediate use of my 'talent', if you know what I mean."

"I do, I felt the same way once. Working Narco and SWAT, I thought I had my fill of the streets. Got an offer for detective but the longer I stared at the paper the more I didn't think I could leave it behind." He stares blankly at a spot on the bar and picks at it absent mindedly before continuing.
"Just don't walk the beat so long that you end up wearing a groove down, one day you may look up and see it's too steep to get out." He looks at you, his eyes surprisingly sharp despite his drinks.

"Promise me."

"Sir?"

"Promise me you won't spend your entire career walking a beat if it isn't exactly what you want to do. Don't let fear stop you from taking a leap to somewhere better."

You inhale and let his words ruminate. Looking back up you answer with firm purpose.
"Sir, as long as I can help someone everyday, I don't care if I'm walking a beat, digging through cold cases, or loaning out cars in the motor pool. It's who I am at my core, I just want to help."

Hawthorne holds your stare nodding, extending a hand to you. You grasp it and he gives your a firm handshake.
"If you end up in the motor pool, the only cold case will be where I put your body. My rookies don't end up in the motor pool. Don't go blemishing my record now." He smiles. You smile back.

"I want you with a detective's shield before I kick the bucket, otherwise my ghost boot and your living ass are gonna have a meeting." He slaps his arm around your shoulder as he chuckles and guides you back to the table. You laugh with him and give him a two finger salute.

"Yes sir."


Hours Later...


You stumble up the steps to your apartment, your stomach feeling bloated and tight from the raw amount of beer you put down with the Precinct 2 boys, your bladder screams as you fumble with the keys to the front door and upon getting in it's only a short jog to relief. You let your head hang back and think about your day, given how poorly it started you aren't too mad about how it ended. You exit the bathroom and decide to go get ready for bed, without the mounting pressure of potentially pissing yourself you notice something strange, your living room is cold and the air has a scent to it. Almost floral and sickly sweet. You cast a glance around and notice your side window is slightly open. Your heart sinks to your stomach as you drop into a ready stance and pull your gun from it's holster. Armed and Buzzed isn't a good combination. You wish you could call in right now but your phone died at the bar. You silently curse yourself out and vow to get heavy locks for every way in and out of this apartment.

You creep slowly, avoiding the parts of the floor you know creak. Whoever is here definitely knows you are as well, but for whatever reason they didn't jump you as you took your leak. At least there's some honor among criminals, you think to yourself as you edge closer to your bedroom door which is cracked ever so slightly open. The warm glow of your bedside lamp peeking out from between frame and door edge.

You stack on the door like you had at the gas station and try to get a peek through. All you see is a figure on your bed with their back to you, only getting a glance of some shoulder and a deep tan trenchcoat.

You take a breath and try to think through the haze of alcohol. Just as it always has, the drinking drowned out the voice of Gotham. You're flying in the dark.

>Throw open the door, aim your weapon, and bellow your loudest "GCPD."
>Try to crack the door a little more, get a better idea of who and how many are waiting for you.
>Stack up on the side and swing the door open slowly, letting out a "Hello?"
>This is fucked, the only right move is full withdrawal. Get out of the apartment and find a neighbor or someone else to give you a phone.
>Write-In

>>5840850
>Throw open the door, aim your weapon, and bellow your loudest "GCPD."
I would go for the Ehrmantraut Maneuver, but something tells me they'll just keep waiting on us to come into the bedroom.
Might as well do so on our own terms.

>>5840850
>>Try to crack the door a little more, get a better idea of who and how many are waiting for you.
i know its not the question because he would be in our living room and not our bedroom

>>5840850
>Try to crack the door a little more, get a better idea of who and how many are waiting for you.

>>5840850
>Try to crack the door a little more, get a better idea of who and how many are waiting for you.

>>5840850
>>This is fucked, the only right move is full withdrawal. Get out of the apartment and find a neighbor or someone else to give you a phone.
Poison Ivy?

>>5840850
>Try to crack the door a little more, get a better idea of who and how many are waiting for you.

>>5840850
>>Write-In

We don't need to expose ourselves at all to talk to them.

>>5840850
>>Throw open the door, aim your weapon, and bellow your loudest "GCPD."

>>5840863
>>5840872
>>5840878
>>5840941

You reach out slowly barely grasping the edge of the door with your fingertips, you keep your gun hand pulled back so you can react as fast as you need too. The door starts to widen revealing more and more until you see familiar hair.

The room illuminated not by the warm bulb of your bedside lamp but instead some candles. A tall bottle of something sits there as well. You straighten up a little and say softly, still keeping the gun behind the door as you open it and slightly step in.

"Uh..hello?"

You see the face of Banks' Ex. Her eyes red and puffy even in the candlelight, light streaks of black barely covered with foundation. She looks back startled, head whipping like she just came back from a daydream.

"Hey there Officer." She says quietly. She stands and twirls around, her hands pulling clumsily at the looped belt around her waist. The trench coat opens to reveal a set of lace lingerie, she opens her arms and gives you a strange expression. Smiling but her eyes still look like they want to cry.

"What the fuck?" You whisper to yourself.

"I figured you were shy so I'd try a direct approach." She sniffles and raises her eyebrows.

>"Ma'am, I don't think you're alright right now. Do I need to call an ambulance?"
>Pull your gun from behind the door. "You need to get out of my fucking house or else."
>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.
>"You could have just asked me out to dinner or something."
>Write-In

>>5841005
>>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.
Yeah no, this is super fucking sketchy. We need to get where somebody can hear us make a ruckus.

>>5841005
>>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.

"Ma'am, this is extremely inappropriate and I cannot deal with this right now."

>>5841005
Guess who just got told in no uncertain terms that they got dumped ages ago? Oof. Poor girl. Unfortunately, immediate rebound sex really doesn't work the way you want it to. Also hardcore stalking, B&E, potential sexual assault. Fuck lady next time leave a letter or something. This is the problem with unstable women.

>Write-In
>"You got guts breaking into a cop's place. But it won't make the hurt go away. Talk to me, a shoulder can be a lot more comfortable than a warm bed, figuratively."
But do be sure to get a better look around, just in case. You never really know when someone is just a sacrificial lamb.

Then again, maybe we should just back out and get some backup. Preferably female backup, just to dodge allegations. But I don't need her to break down even harder and take a pair of scissors to her throat or something.

>>5841014
>this is the problem with unstable women
No, this is the problem with this fuckass apartment. The shoddy locks on the windows and doors make this place the number one hangout spot in Gotham.

>>5841017
Also very true. I was gonna suggest we find a new place to stay after this. Because the landlord is clearly not going to put better intrusion prevention hardware in.

>>5841014
Fine, I'll amend my gut reaction.

me >>5841013
>>5841005
>>"Ma'am, I don't think you're alright right now. Do I need to call an ambulance?"

I still saw we move away from the door first and message someone we know. something like 'HELP. STRANGE HALF-NAKED WOMAN IN MY APARTMENT'. Just to cover our arses.

>>5841021
Nah anon, trust your gut. Instinct is surprisingly right a lot of the time. I'm going with mine after all. This is Gotham, half the time anything happens it's because there's a gun on the other end. She very well could be forced into doing this. Being prudent is always good policy.

And staying away from her is very, very wise kek.

>>5841005
>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.
Nope. We are not nearly drunk enough for this. This seems like a good time to go see how Bass Head is settling in with Q, and Huntress.

>>5841044
>This seems like a good time to go see how Bass Head is settling in with Q, and Huntress
That sure would be a great thing to do if we had our keys, weren't piss drunk, and had a phone that wasn't dead.

>>5841005
>>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.

>>5841005
>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.
Yeah no

>>5841005
>"Ma'am, I don't think you're alright right now. Do I need to call an ambulance?"
You know, I briefly considered that it might be her but then thought "nooo surely she isn't THAT insane" but I guess I was very fucking wrong.

>>5841014
+1

>>5841005
>"Ma'am, I don't think you're alright right now. Do I need to call an ambulance?"

>>5841005
>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.

Let’s tally this up, shall we?
-Banks has been struggling with this lady.
-Banks used to work for Gorkachov.
-Gorkachov knew about The Cobra (TM) after a grand total of… six… people excluding us in the whole world knew. So he knows a lot more than we think he does.
-We suspect Gorkachov of being the GCPD mole. Who we are currently tracking.
-And we just pissed him off and he threatened retaliation IMMEDIATELY.

Time to lawyer up, boys. We’re being entrapped.

>>5841005
>"What the fuck?" You whisper to yourself.
Kek. Everyone in this city is crazy.
>>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.
Peak drunk logic. See crazy lady in lace who has broken into our apartment, turn 360 and walk away.

>>5841005
>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.
>>5841210
oh shit that's a nice catch

>>5841005
> Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.

We should ask Question to help us find a better place to live even if he will suggest some abandoned bunker

>>5841005
>>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.

>>5841402
How about a place with a working deadbolt?

>>5841220
>turn 360 degrees
The only proper response to a break-in… spin in a circle and walk straight forwards!

>>5841005
>"…It’s not you, it’s me - I’m WAY too wasted for this."
>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.
DEFINITELY something in the water.

>>5841499
This bitch is from Bludhaven if I remember correctly. She didn't need Gotham to go nuts.

>>5841005
>>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.
If she engages us im firing 47 warning shots point blank to her back

File: 360 walk away flamer.gif (38 KB, 300x200)

38 KB GIF

>>5841485
gotta keep your eyes on the threat tho

>>5841014
+1

>>5841005
>"…It’s not you, it’s me - I’m WAY too wasted for this."
>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.

>>5841005
>>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.

>>5841005
>Close the door and leave your apartment. You are not dealing with this without someone else here.

She is gonna end up on as one of our boy's villains, won't she...

Aaand the worst thing is, she is most likely gonna escalate to abducting one of our colleges and threatening their lives.

>>5843984
>floral scent
>crazy lady
>fluid Batman canon

Are we looking at a proto-Poison Ivy here?

>>5840937
>>5844016
Anons, I think it's just perfume.

>>5844016
Incel Ivy

>>5844482
Forbidden fruit indeed.

>>5841012
>>5841013
>>5841044
>>5841068
>>5841076
>>5841210
>>5841220
>>5841354
>>5841402
>>5841465
>>5841499
>>5841725
>>5842771
>>5843096
>>5843984


You freeze like a deer in headlights and stare at the woman. She shakes slightly as you lean back and grab the doorknob again.

"No..." You slowly whisper as you shut the door breaking off sight. Followed by the click of the door latching are the muffled sounds of sobbing. You exhale and look down at your gun. You aren't drunk enough for this. Or you're too drunk for this. Regardless, the best move is to just get out. You walk back to the front door nd grab your coat before stepping into the hallway and heading next door. Mrs.Dover is your neighbor and landlord, at least she is now since her husband died. You knock and pray that her bedtime isn't before ten and to your surprise the door opens.

"Oh Marcus! I've been waiting up for you." She tells you, her old bathrobe tightly tied around her waist. Her silver hair sits neatly rolled in plastic rollers.

"Does it have anything to do with the woman in my apartment?"

"Yes, Shelly came by earlier actually."

"Shelly?" You say, holding onto the door frame and leaning, suddenly feeling quite tired.

"Mhm. She was looking for your spare key, couldn't find it though so I went ahead and let her in." She leans in. "I know your lease says to tell me if you have someone move in, Marcus. But you're a good boy so I know if you're thinking about bringing her in that she's a good one."

"Mrs.Dover I-"

"You don't have to tell me anything, I don't want to be nosy. If you'll be up though I could brew a tea or coffee and we could-"

"She's not my girlfriend, you let a stranger into my place!" You snap. You put a hand to your forehead, suddenly being flooded by emotions. You're finding it hard to maintain patience but you try to manage. Mrs.Dover suddenly looks very down.

"Oh..I'm so sorry." She whispers shrinking from the doorframe.

"I just need a phone so I can call the cops, I don't wanna be alone with her, she isn't well mentally." You hold out a hand and continue to rub the bridge of your nose.

She nods and shuffles off to bring you the phone, a few minutes later you hang up on dispatch and sigh deeply. You look back to your apartment and shake your head. Mrs.Dover waves a hand at you.

"Do you want to come in for a tea or a coffee? While you wait?" She asks quietly.

>"Yes Ma'am, I'll take a coffee."
>"Some tea sounds great."
>"How about an Irish Coffee, if you don't mind."
>"I should probably wait in the hall for units to show up."
>"You've done enough, I'll wait out here."
>"I want to apologize for snapping at you, I've had a long day but you didn't deserve that."
>Write-In

>>5844794
>"I want to apologize for snapping at you, I've had a long day but you didn't deserve that."
>"Just a glass of water, please."
Shit situation all around

>>5844794
>>"I want to apologize for snapping at you, I've had a long day but you didn't deserve that."
>"Some tea sounds great."

>>5844802
I mean, as a landlord who knows people broke into our apartment like... A week ago... She really ought to know better.

>>5844794
>"Yes Ma'am, I'll take a coffee."
>"I should probably wait in the hall for units to show up."
>"Sorry for being snappy, though."

>>5844806
supporting

>>5844794
>"Yes Ma'am, I'll take a coffee."
>"I want to apologize for snapping at you, I've had a long day but you didn't deserve that."
>"Also I am very slightly drunk."

>>5844794
>"I want to apologize for snapping at you, I've had a long day but you didn't deserve that."
>"Yes Ma'am, I'll take a coffee."

>>5844806
>as a landlord who knows people broke into our apartment like... A week ago... She really ought to know better.
But those were ruffians and crazy folks in Halloween costumes! Besides, what kinda criminal would ask to be let in?
I'm just reiterating her thought process, I don't actually agree with the points above.

>>5844951
Next your tell us she's a sweet doddering old lady and not a hardened criminal mastermind hellbent on causing as much suffering and devastation as she possibly can.

>>5844956
I won't lie, there IS a non-zero chance that she's actually the Joker in a wig.

>>5844942
>>5844806

"Yes Ma'am, a coffee would be very nice. I'm a little.." You let your sentence drift off.

"Tired?"

"Yes ma'am, sorry for being snappy."

"I understand, come in."

She waves you in and gets you a cup of some instant coffee, most of the time it takes to make your mug you pace in front of the door, checking out the windows occasionally. As she approaches you with a steaming mug she offers it up in two hands, you nod thanks and take a sip immediately upon getting it, the dark coffee is ambrosia to the drunk Gothamite. You see her lean back satisfied and see her watching you in shock. You chuckle.

"You get used to the heat, never know when I need to gulp it down and hit the road."

"I suppose I never thought about it like that." She chuckles as well. "Gerard was a big fan of his coffee as well, I could never really stand the stuff myself. I still find myself going to buy some when I'm out for groceries." She sighs and let's her eyes look back upon some memory. You think about what you could say next when you see the red and blue lights hit her curtains.

"Son of a bitch." You mumble

"Is that not good?"

"I told them no lights or sirens, don't wanna freak her out."

"Poor thing." She mumbles

You walk into the hallway and wait maybe two or so moments before two uniformed officers approach, you recognize one. Officer Bunko, the same who took Caesar and his Mom's statement.

"DeLucia." He says, you see bags beneath his eyes. "I heard you had an unwanted guest. Where is she?"

"The room, I think she's a little sensitive right now."

"ES?"

"Unstable but not violent, wouldn't put it past her to lash out though."

"Roger that, any unattended weapons in the house, aside from kitchen knives and the such?"

You try to rack your brain, the coffee and time pulling on the earplugs that deafened you to Gotham and the fog that blinded you to thinking too deeply. It clicks. You feel a cold crushing pain in your chest, it drops to your gut like it was made of lead.

Your service pistol. You were suspended. You never took your gun out. It's been in it's usual place this entire time, your bedside table. You blink a few times and see Bunko raise an eyebrow.

"DeLucia?"

>"It's fine. Head in." (Lie?)
>"My service weapon is in my nightstand, a few feet from her."
>"She may be armed with a pistol."
>"Can you guys actually just stay here in the hall as back up? I can head in alone and coax her out. I don't want to freak her out and I definitely didn't want to freak her out alone."
>Write-In

>>5844977
>"My service weapon is in my nightstand, a few feet from her."
Gonna have to glue the fucking thing to our hip from now on.

>>5844981
+1
it just keeps getting worse

>>5844977
>"My service weapon is in my nightstand, a few feet from her."
"Officer Bunko is helping me find my gun"

>>5844977
>>"My service weapon is in my nightstand, a few feet from her."

>>5844977
>>"My service weapon is in my nightstand, a few feet from her."

>>5844977
>"My service weapon is in my nightstand, a few feet from her."
Hope that will keep them from wanting to shoot on sight.

>>5845371
Maybe she just won't touch it?

>>5845378
We're in Gotham, she's from Bludhaven. You do the math.

>>5845386
Well then she'd already HAVE a gun and not need ours.

>>5844977
>"My service weapon is in my nightstand, a few feet from her."

How could this possibly get any worse.

>>5845398
She uses the gun to kill herself right in our bedroom, and this entire event hits the papers.

>>5845402
Holy shit.
I just had to ask…

>>5845440
But hey, at least it's not raining, right?

>>5845444
>Cue lightning strike

>>5845444
>But hey, at least it's not raining, right?
Saying that in Gothan is basically inviting God to piss on your head.

>>5845444
We ask so optimistically, while standing in 6 inch flood waters…

>>5845528
I didn't know He was kinky like that

>>5844981
>>5845023
>>5845105
>>5845182
>>5845187
>>5845371
>>5845398

"My service weapon is in my nightstand."

"Ah no.." Bunko says "Is she?"

"A couple feet away from it, I have no idea if she found it yet."

"You know then.." He trails off

You nod and sigh.
"Do what you gotta do."

Bunko nods to his partner and they both draw their own weapons. He grabs his shoulder radio and calls in:
"This is Bunko, on scene of the 10-51, possible 10-72 have EMS on standby." You hear the affirmative come through the radio and he sighs. "Let's get this over with."

"Want any assistance?" You ask. Bunko looks you up and down and shakes his head.

"You need to dry out, if anything goes sideways I don't want 'armed a drunk suspended officer' in my jacket."

You nod in understanding and move to sit on the window sill at the end of the hall. Bunko approaches your door and gently turns the knob.
"GCPD!" He hollers as he opens it. Your apartment replies with icy silence. Bunko looks to his partner, nods and they both head in.

You hear them walking through your old apartment, their heavy boots echoing out into the hallway, Mrs.Dover looks at you worriedly. You hear their footsteps and voices become muffled as they move deeper in.

>Get close to the front door, don't go in but stay close enough to hear what's going on.
>Head inside, he didn't want to arm you but you can still be back up through talking to her or offering advice
>Hold your position, you were told to wait and Bunko is still a superior officer.
>Write-in

>>5845889
>>Hold your position, you were told to wait and Bunko is still a superior officer.
I hate it but this is the right move.

>>5845889
>>Hold your position, you were told to wait and Bunko is still a superior officer.

>>5844977
>"Can you guys actually just stay here in the hall as back up? I can head in alone and coax her out. I don't want to freak her out and I definitely didn't want to freak her out alone."

>>5845889
>>Get close to the front door, don't go in but stay close enough to hear what's going on.
technically we aren’t going in

>>5845889
>Hold your position, you were told to wait and Bunko is still a superior officer.
The die is cast and we are still drunk
Let's just sit this out

>>5845942
Ah shit, I was too late.

>>5845889
>Hold your position, you were told to wait and Bunko is still a superior officer.

>>5845889
>Get close to the front door, don't go in but stay close enough to hear what's going on.
I wonder how Banks will react if we get rid of his ex problem by getting her shot, lol.

>>5845942
We're drunk AND we're suspended. If we acted on this, we'd be acting as an PLAINCLOTHES without permission while drunk and while suspended.

Our skills may be optimal for this situation, but that's the kind of thing that upgrades our suspension into an investigation. We're kinda SOL here, especially thanks to the CSU officer.


Sadly, if this goes sideways, the landlady will be the one absolutely royally screwed for this. She knew something bad happened here before, let someone in without permission into a known officer's home, where a gun was present. Even if we don't want to press charges, the city of gotham will effectively be forced to if things go bad. If things 'play out okay', then they can sweep it under the rug.

Real issue we should be asking is how she managed to get inside the home. Also how the woman didn't think something was wrong with a woman in a trenchcoat trying to get access.

>>5846181
>where a gun was present.
THAT part can't be held against her. As she would have no way of knowing. If she was abiding by privacy clauses in the lease or whatever at least. At least I think. Unless someone here is a lawyer in the state of new york. Which Gotham would be in.

But otherwise yes, she didn't perform due diligence and all. The prosecutor would probably try to hit her with as much of the book as he could. You know how prosecutors are.

>>5846188
>Unless someone here is a lawyer in the state of new york. Which Gotham would be in.
I thought Gotham was like old Chicago or something.

>>5846196
Gotham is not!New York City. And I don't mean that in the comics only. At one point some satirist in the early 1800s and called NYC "Gotham". But Gotham City has always been analogous in location with NYC.

>>5845895
>>5845904
>>5846029
>>5846033

You lean back, letting the cool glass of the window seep through your shirt, you just want this to be over so you can get some sleep. Your peace is broken by shrill screaming.

"WHERE IS TONY! LET GO OF ME I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE WITHOUT TALKING TO TONY!"

You hear shuffling inside now, the words of Bunko are muffled since unlike Shelly he isn't screaming. But considering this yelling isn't being matched you breathe out a sigh of relief, she's probably unarmed.

"MARK, I'M SORRY MARK. PLEASE!" She calls out for you now. You shake your head and rub your temples, you can taste the hangover already. A few minutes pass and you hear the clunking and thumping of your furniture being kicked around as the two officers walk out holding her beneath her arms, her hands cuffed low and her ankles sharing the same jewelry.

She squirms and flails. Bunko throws you a tired look.
"Jesus Christ, DeLucia what did you do to make her so wild?"

You hold up your hands defensively.
"This has nothing to do with me."

"I know your bosses! Let me fucking go now! I want to talk to Anthony Banks."

"Lady, you aren't talking to anyone until you relax." Bunko replies to her harshly, pulling up on her arms as she hangs between him and his partner.

"Go in and make sure she didn't sneak anything. We'll put her in the shop and come back up to talk what happens next." He grunts as he starts to carry her away.

"Don't let them fucking do this to me, Mark! Get Tony on the phone, tell him he needs to help me!"

"You definitely need help." You mumble to yourself before heading inside.

Your apartment is a mess, she looks like she kicked over half the furniture you own, your small coffee table lay on it's side, your recliner tipped back completely, and your room is even worse. Pillows in random corners, your sheets are in a pile at the foot of the bed and she snapped one of your curtain rods yanking them down. You ignore the mess and make your way to the night stand, you pop it open and sigh a breath of relief. Your gun is still here. The relief is replaced by confusion. Beneath your gun is a folded piece of paper, you lift the pistol and pull it out only to discover it wasn't paper but a folded photo. You open it up and feel something grip your throat tightly.

A photo. You standing outside a vehicle, speaking to a man without a face. Scrawled across it in scratchy lines of white ink is a phone number, the area code is Gotham. You put your hand to your pocket but remember your phone is dead. Muttering a curse you plug it in and stand up, staring down at the photo. Your charger blinks as you stare. Only broken from your despairing trance by the sounds of heavy boots and heavier sighs from your living room. You fold the photo and tuck it in your pocket as you head out to meet Bunko and his partner.

"Gun alright?" Bunko asks, taking off his hat and slicking back some sweaty hair.

"Yeah, it's alright. She probably didn't even know it was in there."

"Good for us." Bunko's partner, Chen, says. "She was scrapping hard with just pillows and high heels. If she had some heat.." He trails off and shakes his head.

"So DeLucia, I gotta ask. This isn't like a lover's dispute or anything is it?"

"No, I've met her maybe twice. She has this obsession with Banks and she knows that he and I are friends so maybe she was just trying to get to him through me."

"So he and her are?"

"Broken up. Although she has some trouble believing that."

"Yeah, crazy broad belongs in Arkham. She tried to bite me while I was restraining her." Chen chimes in again holding his unbitten hand for emphasis.

"Are you gonna want to press charges? She assaulted two officers tonight so at the very least she's getting the ward. You want her on breaking and entering?"

"Breaking and entering?"

Bunko nods and points to your open window.
"Lock on that is busted, looks like she just took a screwdriver or something and jammed it through the gap until the lock warped enough for her to open it. Only a trick you can do on these old ass windows."

"You should get your landlord to replace this shit, you get broken into more than piñatas." Chen continues to chime in, now walking around your kitchen and giving your fridge the up and down.

It clicks for you, you got broken into twice tonight, whoever left this photo and probably Shelly right after. You close your eyes tightly. Are you cursed to be the most unlucky man in Gotham?

"DeLucia, she can't sit in the truck all night. Are we pressing charges for you or no?"

>"No charges from me, just make sure she gets psych and not a cell. She needs help."
>"I have to be honest, we can't give her breaking and entering, my landlord let her in. Whoever broke in also left me something." Show them the photo
>"Yes charge her, make sure she knows never to come around me again either."
>"Charge her, call up Banks see if he wants to get an RO on her, she's going off the deep end soon.
>Write-In

>>5846236
>"No charges from me, just make sure she gets psych and not a cell. She needs help.
>And call up Banks see if he wants to get an RO on her, she's going off the deep end soon.
Probably should talk to Question about the blackmail.

>>5846257
+1

>>5846236
>>5846257
Support

>>5846236
Out of curiosity, can we tell which particular meeting with Question this photo has on it?
Because there's important clues to WHO could have taken the photo depending on that.

>>5846325
Yes, it is very clearly from earlier today outside the orphanage. Sorry if that was vague. I have one more update this morning in me, so I'll leave this up a little longer so some of the morning crowd can get some votes in or influence some dialogue.

>>5846325
Wise moves. Q&H could track them down knowing when this was from, plus the vantage point

>>5846257
supporting

How well do you guys think we could tank the blackmail? Would we end up straight up arrested?
Also, what year is it? I think "social media" was mentioned once, but IDK. Gotham is a place out of time.

>>5846347
Pretty well I think. We were talking to a confidential informant about an ongoing investigation. Totally normal police stuff.

>>5846351
We're not the first cop to get help from capes on unusually tough cases. And we won't be the last

>>5846257
>>5846292
>>5846295
>>5846339

"No charges from me, just make sure she gets psych and not a cell." You hear Chen scoff, you give him a pointed look. "She needs help." You state flatly. "Also see if you can contact Banks, he may want to consider an RO, she's heading for the deep end fast."

Bunko nods.
"Understood, I'll get someone from the station to call the hospital."

He looks over and whistles sharply. Chen turns with a hand on the handle to your fridge.
"Get off his fucking fridge, we can get you something if you're hungry." He mutters to himself something about manners. He puts his hat back on and gives you a tip. "We can handle the paperwork since your statement seems to be along the lines of: You came home, saw a crazy woman, left and called us. Sound about right?"

"It does." You say offering a hand. He shakes it firmly and jerks a thumb towards the door. Chen sighs and releases your fridge. He gives you an up nod and heads out with Bunko trailing behind, quietly chewing him out. The door closes behind them and you deflate, you rub your forehead and start getting lost in a spiral of thoughts. This picture is clearly blackmail, but it's easy enough to shoot down you think, just a meeting with a CI. You imagine telling that to Commander Reiner and envision his eyebrow arching high.

"Your CI is the faceless man who assaulted you? The man we still want to bring in for the murders at the car warehouse? I'm only learning of this now for what reason?"

You sigh. You're so fucked. You speed walk back to the room and pick up your phone, it has just enough battery to turn on. You get to your dialer and stare at the numbers, pulling the picture from your pocket you begin to dial. The air around you freezes as you hear a muffled ringing from the living room. You slowly lean down and pick up the familiar sidearm, it brings you some comfort but not much. You leave the phone calling on the bed and slowly make your way out. Gun at a low ready, you keep your eyes on the window as you move to the source of the ringing. Your fridge. You go to grab the handle and realize, you don't want to smudge and potential prints. You put your hand in the bottom of your shirt and pull lightly at the lowest point. The door swings open.

In the middle shelf sits a flip phone. It rings one last time before the voicemail kicks in, you see:

MISSED CALL: SPD DIAL 1

You gulp and reach out, touching the phone only with the parts of your hand that are covered. You move it to your counter and flip it open. Tapping one with a cloth covered index finger, then tapping the speaker. You put your back to the counter and keep your eyes scanning the apartment. Twisting shadows making innate threats while fear is turning you stone cold sober.

"Hello Detective." A voice comes out from the phone. Modified clearly, it's voice is high pitched and cherub-like. Impish.

"It's Officer, who is this."

"An admirer of your work, and your abilities. Detective." The voice spikes on the final word, it's gleeful in it's defiance.

"I'm just a rookie buddy, not sure I'm worth all this." You say, making your own voice light. Don't let it know your nerves are shaken.

"Not based on your actions. Hunting me, chasing leads, pulling in outside resources, and that's just the tip of what I think you'll do Detective."

"Hunting you.." You repeat the phrase and let it hang in the air. The SIM Killer.

"Hunting me." It confirms. Again, gleeful. "Asperation births action, Detective. Word is you want that position, you certainly act like it."

You remain silent. It's prodding you, it wants a reaction.

"The cold shoulder is certainly a tactic, make the suspect uncomfortable so they fill the silence with words. Words mean information, information is God in your world. The same can be said of mine."

"You were at the bar." You state.

"Maybe, or maybe my mole is very very good at getting me my intel quickly. Funny how fear does that to a person, when someone thinks you'll do anything to them they suddenly want to do anything FOR you." It chuckles to itself.

"Mole?" You ask, playing dumb, trying hard not to overplay your hand.

"Yes, the same one you and Hawthorne discussed at the hospital." It chirps. "You are a subtle man, hard to know what's going on in your noggin but Hawthorne? He's your classic case of Brawns over Brains, requesting those files through official channels. Very very sloppy." It sings the last words. You grit your teeth, you can't shake this feeling in the back of your head.

"What do you want?"

The phone is silent. The vacuous silence of your apartment is louder than jet turbines, you can hear your blood rushing. Or is it your blood? You feel as if you're going to take a leap, like the first time you asked Nia out.

"Companionship." It replies finally. "You and I are connected, through this city. Through our abilities."

Now it's your turn to remain silent. The voice continues, it senses your hesitation.
"You write very good reports, Detective. Very detailed. I know, that you know. So we don't have to pretend like we don't. I just want to know how you do it."

"Do what?"

"How do you make it heel? How do you keep the city from burrowing in your ears like some sort of insect. Laying it's eggs until they buzz in your head. The endless noise. The hate."

"We hear different things." You state flatly, not intending to play this game.

"I know that for sure, because I was bombarded with orders to hold you down and drive a knife through your eye. To pull your brains out of your skull and seek my answers there. But I'm not crazy. I know better. That's why I resist."

"You resist?" You ask disgusted. "You've killed tens of people, just that we know about. You're a sick fuck."