The Magical Mirror of Annoyance

Izime zoomed in a bit further, the tiny bit on the driver finally seating into the screw that needed removed. All of his attention on the small box he was trying to reassemble, several coils of steel cable lying on the ground beside him. Izime carefully removing the case from the cable thrower before examining the uncoiled spring inside.

Izime still wasn't quite sure what the stuff was made of, but it held a butt load of kinetic energy, enough to toss these cables lightning fast a pretty damned good distance. This issue was the material was also tended to become incredibly brittle after use, maybe one in five spent throwers having a compromised spring. Either they ruined themselves as their curves warped from the wasted thermal energy as potential became kinetic or retained their forms, just becoming incredibly brittle. The springs material behaving like a ceramic after deploying itself cracking and shattering as it was reset.

Taking another tool with a series of interlocking circles Izime set it to the proper size, slowly cranking the spring back down. Listening for any signs of the brittle metal giving up the ghost, waiting for that telltale pop that signaled a failure. Smiling when the final ring slid into place returning the spring to its original state, fully charged with potential.

Reaching down he retrieved one of the cables he had rolled up and prepared earlier. Slipping it back into its chamber, ready to be re-launched by the trap. Giving the spring loading tool a smack on the top, watching as the circles snapped back. Releasing the spring which quickly caught on the cable ready and armed; giving a nod Izime reached over preparing to grab the top of the tiny trap ready for its final reassembly.

The process only a few steps but taking nearly an hour just to ensure the spring was managed safely and he wasn't asking Cradle to free him from a sprung trap or worse. Izime had the screw half-way back in when he heard the noise, glancing up at the bird he had just been thinking about as voices started to creep around the room. The sounds reaching out from the box of junk that say on the shelf, the idle chatter filling the concrete room quickly.

The raven glancing at him before they both looked over at the box where Izime was storing most of the junk items like cellphone batteries and spare magazines. Somewhere in there was a familiar voice calling out alongside some unknowns asking questions.

Izime ignored the sounds coming from the box as he tipped it over, watching as a small wave of crap was spilled out onto the shelf. Moving a few power bricks and a couple other off-world baubles Izime finally located the noisy thing.

"Oi! Izzy! HEY!"

 "Is it there?"

 "Hi-oh no one?"

 "Are you sure this will work?"

 "…."

"Just hold on a bloody damned minute!"

 "Were we in a toolbox?"

 "Wait we're moving!"

 "…."

"Wanker kept me in the bin."

 "I'm not hearing anything but breathing."

 "…."

"IZZY! Oy! You twat! CRADLE?! 'ELLO?"

 "Someone just sat us down?"

 "Is it there?"

 "Was that a bird?"

"Izzy, that you mate?"

Grabbing the handle of the very intricately carved silver mirror Izime was careful to hold it towards the ceiling while listening to the voices that were coming through the reflection. Two of the voices he recognized, one was his old drinking buddy, the other he had just talked to today. The mysterious male voice sounded familiar but not enough that Izime could place it off those few words.

"Yea, give me a minute so I can clear you a spot Constantinople." Izime knocked a few of the traps onto the ground, clearing a spot on the table a little distance away from himself. Carefully to make sure he was abusing the mirrors magical viewing portal, angling himself so he could check the surrounding behind the actual people while offering them a view of the sewers ceiling.

"What do you need Jim?" Izime looked over at the silvery reflection that cast a view into another underground room, unlike his sewers this was a cavern heavily modified. Dark Night's obviously, there were only so many heroes who had that kind of budget to blow on lighting. Izime quickly gesturing for Cradle to come and watch the mirror, the raven's curiosity enough to block any real view.

"Hey Izzy? Ah there's Cradle." Constantinople on the other end tilted his mirror trying to see anything beyond a concrete ceiling, the exorcist just barely able to see his friend if he held the mirror sideways. Finally, a black feathered head and black beak appeared looking down at them, Constantinople righted the mirror and asked the two, "How's Voltham treating you this time of year?"

"Profitably," Izime kept idly working on reassembling the cable thrower in-front of his while he talked, the dangerous part now over he was willing to multitask. Casually glancing over he called the exorcist out, wanting to avoid any attempts at getting played, "but I don't think your calling for another ten-thousand-year-old eye."

"No actually, I've uh got a client for you mate. Filthy rich too you'll love'em bruv," Constantinople smiled, nodding enthusiastically knowing already it wouldn't be nearly so easy. Hoping however that a quick move on the chess board towards Izime's wallet would ease the rest of the game he was about to play.

"Really now," Izime actually stopped working to seriously take a look at Jim Constantinople's cheeky smile as the mirror lay face up on the table. Giving a long look at the surroundings behind the often-inebriated exorcist and making a few assumptions as to his location, not a far reach considering Izime's company for lunch. "They wouldn't happen to own that Dark Cavern you're in and run a business empire of under the name Blane, would they?"

"Just happened to be trying out spelunk-ah sod it," Constantinople started to make an excuse before tossing the idea away knowing it was best to play it straight with the dealer of trinkets, "yea I'm at Dark Nights, what do you think of the place?"

Holding the mirror a bit further away from his face Constantinople gave a little walk around, ignoring Stan's complaints. If Izime wanted in there wasn't a whole lot Stan could do, maybe he could lock Jenkins in the basement with a shotgun. Even that was only a deterrent and not a solution; Constantinople watching as Izime gave an appreciative nod from the corner of the mirror.

"Dark, like I said, those spotlights have got to stress the eyes." Izime gave an honest appraisal of the cavern which was shown while Constantinople did a little spin with the mirror on his end, "What does Stan want?"

"To talk about how you know his secret identity obviously." Constantinople deadpanned at the obvious issue, knowing Izime wasn't an idiot and just wanted to make sure Stan was clear about his major problem.

"I do not trade information, that goes double for my own Jim." Izime shook his head at first before giving a bit of an accommodating nod knowing that this wouldn't be dropped so easily. It was obvious this talk was going to take place at some point, Izime had just hoped to last a little longer before being caught, "Put Blane on."

"Stan Blane and extended family, I'm Izime and I too am underground." Izime rolled his eyes as the joke went by without making a single wave, instead diving into the main point of his speech, "I exist as the gray market, so first I thank you for the contributions you've made to my sales. Before we waste each other's time, I'm sure you have questions; questions that I won't be answering. My market is something that can't be maintained without a bit of secr-"

"Honor among thieves, really?" Stan crossed his arms, biceps bulging as he tried to crush the oft'heard excuse. Irate that the 'reputable' salesmen was being so disingenuous, calling Izime out on his behavior. "I thought we weren't wasting each other's time."

The cowled crusader glaring at the man on the other side of the mirror who seemed to be unbothered, an attitude that Dark Night too no small satisfaction in correcting in his other villains. However, Stan was surprised to find that Izime wasn't as taken back as Stan had expected, instead the man's voice coming back with an air of annoyance rather than surprise.

"No thieves here, just a scavenger. I'm an up cycler unlike your reformed sticky pawed kitten." Izime decided to play a bit of hard ball with Dark Night exposing more personal information before detailing the finer parts of the sales. "Your climbing equipment is being sold on high-g tourist worlds, the rest mostly gets smelted down. The metal sold on run-down and repurposed generation ships where quality metal is a must for life. Any remaining silicon is processed by my bond Cradle, Cradle say thank you"

Constantinople was happy the bird only bobbed its head, the veins on Stan Blane's head could only protrude so far. Izime pressing on to only irritate the gloomy and shadowy crusader further as he tossed any of the Blane's concerns aside.

"If you've got an issue then you should start picking up after yourself, thankfully we know that's impossible. For both you and your adversaries," Izime chuckled as he considered the sight of Dark Night and villains both cleaning up their mess like children done at play. Izime gave a shake of his head at the absurd thought as he continued. "So, I will be keeping my shop open regardless of your willingness to be involved. In that same vein of blatant self-interest, you can rest assured I won't be revealing anything about anyone to anyone. Ever, simply put I don't stock information on others because it keeps my batteries profitable."

"I don't trust you." Stan admitted the major issue unable to completely refute Izime at this exact moment, several counter-measures already in mind. Though the thought of a degrading cord did raise the issue of what might happen if Izime wasn't checking those products.

"You don't trust anyone Stan that's why you have a counter for every major player from Radiation man to FazzPazz. Which I also know so if me simply knowing your name is what's got you worried," Izime waved his hand futility as Dark Night was a figure he knew he could never fully satisfy, "I obviously know a lot more than just that. It's not like I made any conscious effort to uncover your secret anyway, I just know things as Constantinople should have told you already."

Constantinople took that as his cue to end the eye poking, Stan fists already audibly popping behind him as he dealt with the information. Dealing with it the only way Dark Night knew how, bottling it up and becoming thrice as gloomy and broody. The exorcist hoping he could get Izime to play some kind of ball with the group of heroes that had taken an exception to his little side-shop. At least a face-to-face between the man who could rile up League Savior and the man who had managed to not rile the unknown galaxy.

"Told ye' Dark. Oi' Izime, I've also got a lady here who would like to make amends to Cradle," Constantinople tried to pull the conversation back towards a potential meet-up instead of a potential war in Voltham. "Psyis wants to apologize, in person."

Now panning the mirror towards the psychic, a feeble wave accompanying her inviting smile. The other half of the Dark Duo giving her a reproachful glance while Constantinople raised his brows expectantly towards Izime. The exorcist refusing to move from beside Psyis, brining both himself and the mirror into the the aliens face. Izime watching as Psyis tried to hold that smile while giving the blonde Brit a sideways glance obviously a bit uncomfortable with the sudden closeness.

"I told Psyis where she could find me outside of work, we can meet up in a few months if it's still bugging her." Izime gave Cradle a look watching for any negative reaction to the psychic's name, or the view of her in the mirror. Ravens could certainly hold a grudge after all, Izime not wanting to upset either side. "If she still wants to apologize to Cradle by then, bring some snack sticks. RAM or any computer memory it's the current favorite."

Constantinople let his brows drop giving the alien a bit of a shove as he walked away, the woman had obviously left him hanging. For being able to fly she was a terrible wing-alien when it came to convincing the solitary Izime to come out and play for a bit. The exorcist scratching at his stubble, instead deciding he may as well try and just ask honestly.

"Mate, I ain't seen you in a couple years," Constantinople turned the mirror away from the psychic finally asking directly if he could at least meet, maybe catch a show at the very least. Izime being nothing but work there was a chance he'd be pulling a shift at this second job, "are you playing Voltham?"

"I wasn't planning on it, the clubs here are rough and the bars are wo-." Izime shook his head as he considered Constantinople offer of going out for a brief moment. The small-time busker already imagining the bottles smashing against the wire protection in front of some back-alley watering ditch. Hearing a derisive snort however Izime looked up, finding that Constantinople shared none of those same worries.

"I know the man who started a brawl in a Reaver joint isn't complaining about the Voltham social scene." Constantinople cut Izime off directly not believing the excuse for a second "A pint jus' the one come on mate be chap yeah?"

"I'm not exactly dressed for a night out on earth Constantinople..." Izime paused as he considered the tanks of fear toxin and the fact he really hadn't hung out with his friend in about a year, maybe longer. It'd be a gift of sorts, not free by any means but if Constantinople wanted to drink Izime'd con the con. "Meet me at that grimy ass bar on thirty second and bring some chalk. I've got four tanks full of toxin stashed away for you anyway."

"You're a saint, I'll vouch for it myself after that little bang-up in the 6th circle." Constantinople beamed holding the mirror a bit further back so he could pull out the magical tool, "Still a right arse at the same time Izzy, s'why I love ya though. We'll be there and Dark Night promises to behave."

"Give me an hour to find a shower, clean up and then I'll be there, I've got to hit a shelter first" Izime looked at the pile of traps he had barely made any progress on feeling as if he'd never finish them. Procrastination wasn't exactly what he was doing however, Izime excusing his laziness for the same of so-called networking.