#starred

-----

Graceful, but deadly.

Being worshipped should only be... a minor inconvenience.

Will that be all? Wonderful. Onto the next one.

[Through gritted teeth:]

I don't want to talk about it.

Very well; I'm en route.

Can I at least kill a bird while I'm up there?

Stand aside, or you will live to regret it. 

[Flatly:] The Bone Zone called me an icy psychopath. Which is fair.

[Softly:] I am... glad as well. Strange.

Bait and switch. They're the bait; I'm the switch.

Once again, Invisigal, we clean up your failure.

[Pleased:] New skills for the repertoire.

[Conversationally:] I remember this man-- and he's right to be paranoid. Secret police hired me three years ago to kill him. He pissed off the wrong dictator, who.. shall remain nameless.

[Cooly:] Well; this is perfect. My knives could use the fresh air. How thoughtful of you. 

[Exasperated:] Jesus, fine.

[Matter-of-fact:] Serves them right. You let your guard down, you perish.

[Darkly:] I don't think so.

[Strained:] Try that shit again.

[Sincere:] He may have been a pervert.. but, he was our pervert.

Finally, some criminals with class.

[Strained:] (Huffs) --This has become a more grave situation.

[Lightly:] How much stabbing is too much stabbing? 

[Strained:] (Grunts) --I am bleeding quite heavily, Robert Robertson.

[Strained:] Splashing. Not the most elegant solution, but... I was desperate.

Your eyes.. they are like mine. We are the same.

Is there a knife sharpener on the way?

[Eagerly:] I wish to play a faction of darkness deserter who has allied herself with the faction of light. I'll prepare my costume immediately.

Is that really how it went? 

[Condescendingly:] Are you sure?

[Matter-of-fact:] A cut for a cut. Seems more than fair.

[Matter-of-fact:] There's a difference between a chop, a dice, and a mince. 

[Lightly:] Hold out your hand, let me show you.

[Conversationally:] I do have that funny story about how I almost poisoned him.

[Interested:] Hm. You are braver than I thought.

[Flatly:] Fine. Return it tomorrow morning. Or I will cut out your tongue.

[Bewildered:] It's obvious the detonation was caused by an incompetent idiot...

I've evaded capture by seven foreign agencies; I can evade a fucking dog.

[Sincere:] Your sword is magnificent. Does it have a name?

(Sighs) --That feels good. Thank you.

[Amused:] Is it because I suggested a Kool-Ade poisoning (laughs)? 

(sobers) --'Cause that. was.. a joke. Mostly.

(Hisses) --Dammit. Gotta be more careful.

I'm pleased to report my success.

Not for long. I'll soon surpass you. Enjoy unemployment.

Of course... Mecha Man.

[Sternly:] No. And do not ask again.

[Warmly:] Hello, Darkness.. my old friend.

[Conversationally:] Told them if I stay.. there'll be shit in their pool. It worked like a charm.

[Bewildered:] Am I losing my touch?

It's an elegant trap. Simple, but effective.

[Relieved:] That is much better. --(Sighs)

Do not worry, Robert. I'll be incredibly thorough.

[Strained:] As a professional, I know when it is time… (hisses) --to retreat.

[Cooly:] Off-the-books assassinations.

[Sincere:] After a lifetime of solo work... I'm glad to have found a worthy partner.

Your confidence, Robert, as always, is deeply appreciated.

Stay beside me. I'll protect you.. no matter what.

[Conversationally:] I am not romantically interested in unexceptional people... but I'm up to the challenge.

Bribes? Doubtful. But, [Lightly:] how do you think they'd feel about menacing threats?

Swift as the night, sharp as my knife.

[Sternly:] We lose focus, we die. Understood?

[Stiffly:] I would kill this dog. I'm just not going to. I have my reasons.

If not for these blackouts, I'd know if the Prince of Darkness returns Feyn's feelings by now. [Darkly:] This is unacceptable. I crave revenge.

I will make them pray to their gods.

[Flatly:] (Grunts) --Slipping in a puddle. Is the most foolish way to hurt oneself. And yet. Here I am.

Hm, what a fun way to kill someone. [Lightly:] I'll have to use it again sometime.

[Pleased:] That was nothing. You should really see my butterfly stroke.

Prism, have you finished the book I lent you?

[Through gritted teeth:] He leaked my mugshot.

[Strained:] I can't go on like this.

[Amused:] Punch-Up's got a, uh... special technique. Real classy stuff. Maybe if you ask nice, I'll tell you about it.

It's clear that cutting Sonar has left us vulnerable.

Finally. I was beginning to believe Vanderstank's wife lacked both taste and sense.

Indeed. And I can assure you, he's a terrible assassin. 

[Darkly:] And I, as it turns out, am an incredible bodyguard.

Feyn of the Sunlands was about to confess her feelings to the Prince of Darkness. [Softly:] It is imperative I know how he responds.

[Casually:] Sure, I can take a stab at it. 

[Flatly:] ..Did you get that? I was trying to be funny.

No one will ever see me coming.

I've learned from my sources that the next tournament will be held at the refinery, in one hour.

[Lightly:] He's a grown man-bat hybrid, he can figure it out himself.

[Stiffly:] Punch-Up can't know about this. He'll tease me for weeks.

I ensured that my targets were only people, not paintings.

Sounds like a challenge... I accept.

Let me handle this.

(Hisses) --Shit. [Strained:] Okay, I need to go.

(Sighs) --Okay, I'm gonna go back out there.

This man has endangered more lives than me. I am impressed. 

[Interested:] And he kicked Flambae's ass.

[Matter-of-fact:] Please. They couldn't pay, so.. I cancelled the job. No cash, no kill. So far, SDN's always paid on time and in full; so, as long as the checks clear, I will kill or protect.. as they see fit.

Punch-Up.. you will be magnificent.

[Interested:] A Boeing seven-forty-seven. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of metal, hurtling through the sky...  Finally, a worthy challenge.

[Darkly:] This is gonna hurt. I promise.

I'll dust off my pointe shoes.

[Strained:] My sincere appreciation.

[Lightly:] I've always wanted to kill a Phenomeman.

(Grunts) --You saw nothing.

[Conversationally:] Personally, I prefer killing bodyguards, but.. 

[Lightly:] who knows? I could always surprise myself.

That mural is charming. Only a fool would deface it.

Consider me restored.

Punch-Up... do you have a charger?

[Sincere:] Yes. Well. I'm glad you're not dead. That would have been inconvenient.

Have you ever seen one of those bots try to cross the street? Disturbing. I will eliminate them immediately.

This child's work lacks elegance.

[Darkly:] Close your eyes. You're not gonna like what you see anyway.

Let me slip into something more... deadly.

I only travel through alleyways and, shadowy underpasses.

This is our twenty-fifth time being paired together.

Ugh, --I feel.. pruney. I hate. pruney.

[Exasperated:]

Oh we get it, you're emo.

Shit. Didn't realize my old syndicate was tracking me. 

[Lightly:] Some people are just obsessed, I get it.

[Playful:] Did you get shorter?

(Hisses) --This cut barely broke skin. I'm fine.

I've taken up sewing. I like the various types of fabric. 

[Aside:] ..And, stabbing things with needles.

[Strained:] It's fine. I'll walk it off.

It appears to only be a minor kaiju. Piece of cake.

Listen to those screams. Delightful.

[Strained:] I'm stepping back.

Fetching a child's lost balloon is not the best application of my talents.

[Relieved:] Ugh, --shit, that feels much better.

You know what? I did not need Phenomeman's assistance.

[With snark:] Perhaps Prism could learn to be less conspicuous.

[Softly:] This feeling... 

[Sternly:] Don't die, or I'll kill you. Got it?

My apartment was without power this morning and my tablet is dead.

Sonar, you have signed your death warrant.

[Flatly:] I'm confused. I thought that would be more difficult.

[Bewildered:] Ghosts are already dead. What the fuck am I supposed to do?

[Matter-of-fact:] I always carry dog treats.

[Flatly:] --What? It's strategic.

I'm what you'd call a multihyphenate.

[Sternly:] Emphasis on live.