abraxaslogs | ( open — august catchall )

Often enough.

( he doesn't think it's a complete lie. while he hasn't done anything of the sort here thus far, it's not his first time overall and it definitely won't be his last. he's still unsure of what type of place cadens is, what sort of people slither out of the darkness at night but he intends to find out.

he makes sure to keep his answers quick, short. anything more and he'll possibly give something away that he doesn't want to. )

It's a big city. I go where it's needed.

[ It all sounds familiar enough. It's not so different from what Peter had done as Spider-man before Tony picked him up (and after). Steve can even understand why it's important to hide one's identity when doing this kind of thing, as it's not like this stranger is operating within the law. Or so Steve would guess. He doesn't know how Cadens feels about vigilantes.

Maybe it's time to find out. If anyone would know...

Steve crosses his arms over his chest, then glances back over his shoulder toward the mouth of the alleyway. They appear to still be alone. Good.

As he turns back: ] And the local authorities are all right with that? Or do you try to avoid them?

[ He also doesn't yet know if this person is native to this place or a Summoned, nor does he think he'll get a concrete answer if he asks. ]

( if cadens is anything like where he came from, then they'll hate it. and the unfortunate thing about that is that he doesn't have foggy here who has connections all over the place to help him out. it'll take some finesse and some practice to make sure that he doesn't come into their focus. )

We can coexist.

( can they? that remained to be seen but it's what matt's going with. )

I have no issue with what they do and I'll stay out of there way.

( maybe. )

[ That answer is a copout, and that alone tells Steve that the masked man is intent on avoiding a run-in with the law (or the military) for as long as he can manage. Still, it's probably only a matter of time before someone notices. Steve already has, and he hadn't even been looking. ]

That doesn't mean they won't stay out of yours.

[ Steve crosses his arms, frowning to himself. This one incident will probably pass without much more notice, unless the criminal who just ran off starts flapping his mouth about it. But what about the next time? Or the time after that? ]

There are people where I'm from who do things like you. They mean well, they want to help, but that doesn't mean it doesn't get them in trouble.

[ It's likely that the stranger has already considered that risk, and decided it was worth it anyway. Steve can't say he disapproves, exactly. ]

You don't need to worry about that.

( matt's well versed in the trouble that it could get him into and he's ready for it. he knows that the authorities of this world are different than where he's from but the foundation remains the same.

the only thing that'll make this place more difficult is that he doesn't have a friend on the force. or he doesn't have foggy who has a friend on the force. it'll be something to navigate around. )

I can handle anyone that decides to make my business their business. It won't be an issue.

( because he won't let it get that far. )

All right.

[ The masked man seems pretty convinced that he has everything under control. In Steve's experience, anyone who's that confident is probably in for a rude awakening. Still, he doesn't immediately disapprove of what the guy is trying to do. He won't be going to the military to rat him out, and he's said his piece, for better or worse.

Which leaves another question, one that he hadn't wanted to lead with but that he's still curious about.

He takes one step closer and tilts his head, but there's no getting around it. The guy has a piece of cloth wrapped around his eyes. ]

You fight like that?

[ Steve's seen a lot in his day. But someone who literally fights blindfolded? This is new. ]

I do.

( and the explanation, it would just give too much away. there's not too many blind people in cadens and considering how he likes to joke around about it, mentioning it not would put an even bigger spotlight on him. )

It's see through.

( which it is not but it's the first thing that comes to mind and the easiest way to explain why he wears it but can still see. his identity is concealed and he doesn't have to worry about his eyes. )

[ See through? Steve raises a skeptical eyebrow, but he also doesn't know that he wants to go so far as to call the stranger a liar. Maybe it is some sort of special or enchanted fabric that allows himself to cover that part of his face without limiting his vision, but it sounds pretty farfetched to him.

He could call him on his bluff, ask to see the mask for himself to try it out, but he doubts that would be very well-received. ]

I guess that's one way to do it. [ He gives a small shrug, studying what he can see of the mysterious man's face before he relents and gestures to the alley's closest exit. ] Well, I don't mean to keep you from your work.

You're not.

( it doesn't take a set of eyes to know that he's being examined and he knows that it's much more plausible that his identity is figured out here rather than in new york. cadens was not a big place and it might be easy to identify him if he's not careful.

he'll have to figure out what he wants to do in that situation if it happens. )

Why are you out?

[ It's a fair question, given how quiet it is by now, and Steve gives a small shrug of his shoulders. ]

Couldn't sleep, so I figured a walk might help.

[ Maybe most people wouldn't consider it a good idea to walk around such a populated city in the middle of the night, but Steve isn't most people. It's hard for much to faze him after growing up in Brooklyn, and it's not like he needs to worry about ending up in danger. He can handle himself.

After a pause, he flashes a brief smile. ] You've at least made it interesting.

( matt almost smiles at that. almost.

but, it's a good enough answer that he does nod, looking away, listening for anything else that might be amiss while they talk. )

That happen a lot? People not sleeping?

( he knows it happens to him plenty, at least. maybe he'll be seeing steve out here more often than not. )

[ Steve shrugs, not sure he could comment on the general sleeping habits of the people of this city. He could speak to the Summoned, sure, and how those nightmares have probably left a lasting mark on them all, but he still doesn't know if this stranger is one of them.

Which means he isn't inclined to share too much. ]

I couldn't speak for anyone else. But seeing how you and I aren't the only ones out here in the dead of night, that probably says something.

[ It's a big city. Surely there are at least a few others who are struggling to sleep at night. ]

Anyway, I think this has been enough excitement for one night. [ He nods to the stranger and starts to move back toward the alley's exit. ] Might as well see how I do now.

Good luck.

( it was probably better not to remain too long, talking to someone who could recognize him if matt wasn't careful. so, he doesn't try and stop steve. he just nods and turns, disappearing back into the darkness of the night. )

( open — august catchall )

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