#;; ᵗʰᵉ ᵃʳᶜʰᵒᶰ [NPC]

[schattenmagier]

// Finally finished Lilli's boss in the vigilante verse :D I tried my best jbgghdhgf

Written out info under the cut!

Name: Wesley Brooks

Retired villain who was known as 'Archon' once

Has his own bar now, and works there now as cook and security

6'10 / 210cm

He's 70 years old

His abilities inlcude: Super strength, increased duarbility, can grow in size up to 32'9 / 10m

If he grows in size, his strength also increases. But it leaves him in terrible pain for weeks after he grew back to his normal size. So he barely ever uses this ability anymore)

Likes to make dad jokes

Sees Lilli as something like a daughter

He knows that Lilli is the vigilante Schatten but has never revealed that yet. She isn't aware yet that he knows

[schattenmagier]

Christmas time // Drabble

" Yo, Lilli, you should bounce home for the night! I’m bettin' you got someone waiting for ya over there, right? Family and all that jazz? "

Wesley suddenly adressed the barkeeper, who was once more just staring at nothing, and deep in thoughts. It actually startled her a little, before she looks at the former villain a little confused. Ah. Right. Because of the holidays and all that... It's not like she doesn't knows what christmas is... she just never had celebrated it before. And to start now seems so... weird. So foreign. Hm, at least she can participate in the whole gift-giving thing.

" Ah- Yeah. I mean, I don't uh... really have anyone vaiting for me but uhm... I still need to hand out some gifts I guess... "

Mostly as Schatten to some of the people that she... had either become good or even friends with. Not to many, so it shouldn't really take all night. What she is going to do after that... well. Not much. Perhaps she will hang around outside as Schatten a bit. Or maybe not... Probably not actually.

Wesley just raised a brow at her answer, already able to read behind her words that she isn't really going to spend christmas with anyone. While she said she is going to hand out some gifts, and he guessed it will be as her little troublesome vigilante persona, he doubted she is gonna spend to much time on that. And he really didn't wanted her to stay home, and eat whatever junkfood she ordered, all alone. Makes him wonder a little if she ever felt lonely. Lilli never showed signs of that when she was around him, or talks about her private life. Even if that was a very rare thing to happen.

Still... he could at least offer her to not be alone on this night. And he wouldn't mind some company either.

" Aight, I see what you're sayin'. When you finish playin’ Santa, come hang at my spot, yeah? If you feel like it! I was gonna throw together some food for the occasion anyway! Wouldn't be opposed to some company, ya feel? "

He really hopes the offer didn't seemed so weird. But Archon was pretty sure she won't take it the wrong way. It had been very obvious that he was seeing her more like some kind of daughter than anything else. Heck, even their customers joked about it occasionally, much to her distaste.

And he can see in her face that she was indeed surprised by that offer. And the woman was silent for a long moment. Wondering how she should answer or how to decide. She doesn't really has anything to do after the gift stuff. And it's not like she is gonna lose anything when accepting the offer. Besides... Wesley's food is so very good, and it will be a hassle to find a good restaurant that will be open this night so...

" Uh. Okay. Sure, uhm. Thanks! I will uh... I will call you when I'm done handing out the gifts then? "

And that immediately brought a smile to the old mans face, and he gave her back a pat. A maybe to strong one, because her glasses almost slipped from her nose if she had not caught, and pushed it back into it's place.

" Nice! Then I will see ya later! "

[schattenmagier]

Closing Time // Drabble

Something was off about her today. That's what Wesley had noticed about his employee. His only employee. Lilli had zoomed out a lot today. Usually she is very focused, and paid attention to everything that was going on in the bar. She did react when she was addressed by customers, but after answering or fullfilling their order, went right back to staring at nothing again. Thankfully it was a slow evening, and most of the customers had already left, leaving glasses, and plates on their tables. And again, she hadn't went to clean up like usually. The former villain wasn't angry at her, of course not, just... concerned. He could just guess that it had something to do with her... secret escapades.

Oh, yes. He knows about her second life. Heh, the vigilante Schatten. It had taken him a bit to figure it out, but because he saw her almost everyday made it more obvious to him. He saw it in the way she moved, and especially in her eyes. He knows the eyes of a killer when he sees them. But Wes won't reveal it. No reason for that after all. He wasn't a villain anymore, and she... Well. She wasn't really trying to go for villains or heroes. While Schatten did annoy and played around with them, she usually hadn't had a killing intention towards them. Except when she was provoked. He knows that she had killed, but what her actual goal is was even a mystery to him. There were rumors, yes, but that's all there was. Actually, he even noticed that she had spread some of those rumors herself. Smart girl. Causing confusion.

A customer approached, asking her to make a drink, and while she did smile and nod, he can see that she was barely there. The woman still went to make the ordered drink though, so perhaps he was concerned for no good reason. Wesley went back to the kitchen, just to clean up a little, and turning off any kitchen devices for the night. And after a few minutes, he returns behind the counter... just to see Lilli still on the same spot. With pouring some alcohol into a glass. And pouring... And pouring. More than the glass can hold. It had already spilled over. But she didn't seemed to notice. Yeah, okay. Maybe his concern was justified.

With a sigh, the tall older man walks over to the smaller woman, and places a hand on her shoulder. Which makes her blink a few times before she finally tilted the bottle back upright.

" Ah- Shit- Sorry, Boss! I vas just- "

The barkeeper spoke, but then hesitates when she noticed she had accidentally slipped back into her accent. Quickly, to hide her mishap, she cleared her throat and gave her boss a sheepish smile.

" Sorry... I think I am kinda tired. Didn't really... slept well last night, heh... I uh- I will make a new drink, and clean that up in a moment. "

And before Wesley could say anything, she had already started to prepare the drink, finishing it rather quickly, before sliding it over to the guest. And without pausing again, she also went to immediately clean up the spilled alcohol.

Tired, huh? The former villain could imagine that if she is out all day as Schatten. He was also not sure if it was only that. One thing was obvious though... he can't let her continue to work like this. Not for today. So again, Wes let's out a sigh before his attention was on the few remaining customers. Sure wouldn't be to bad if they closed up shop a little earlier today.

" Aight, people! Down those drinks! We’re hittin’ the lights a little earlier today. "

A row of unhappy murmurs went through the bar, but everyone did as Archon said, and finished their drinks before paying, that had to be paid, and leaving. And to Lilli it was pretty obvious that he had done this because of her. Fuck! She should know better! Concentrate more! Especially if she is here! She can't always put this on being tired. Wesley was a smart guy, he might figure something out- Her eyes went to the old man, but he simply smiled and shrugged at her. And before she could say anything, he already started to speak.

" Listen, I know what you wanna say. But don’t sweat it, it ain’t no thing. Just go home grab some shut-eye, ya know? "

The barkeeper is silent for a moment, studying his face, before looking away, and letting out a sigh of her own. Well, didn't sounded like he had figured something out. Rather, it sounded like as if he was really simply concerned for her.

" Okay, Boss. "

Lilli mumbled, before pushing past Archon, to go grab her stuff and change into her motorcycle gear in the backroom. Wesley stayed back, and rather went to clean up the rest of the bar. Just cleaning some tables, and putting dirty dishes into the kitchen. He was mostly waiting for the vigilante to finish. But he can't but let his thoughts wander again. Wondering mostly if ever the time comes in which she becomes more honest with him. While he surely wouldn't say it out loud, he had started to see her as something alike to a daughter. Which had been mentioned by some guests as well. She hadn't liked that. Thinking back on her reaction made the man actually smile a little. Perhaps... one day she will take her masks off around him.

With helmet under her arm, the smaller woman returned from the backroom, just to sheepishly glance at Wesley again.

" Uh. I'm going now. "

Archon's attention was immediately at her. And seeing her sheepishly look at him like that... makes him feel somehow bad. Perhaps she was simply embarassed because of her mishap earlier.

“ Okay, Lilli! Have a good night then. And hey, be safe out there, alright? ”

His words made the woman hesitate for a moment. Be safe out there... He means when she drives home, right? Why didn't it sounded like that though? Lilli simply decided to brush it off though, and gave him a small smile, before exiting the bar.

" Of course I will. Good night... Wesley. "

[schattenmagier]

The vigilante was pretty sure that she was just as much watched by Beetle, as she watched the two villains. Which was fine with her. She had a lot of excuses, if she went ahead and asked why she was observing them so much. But for now, Lilli didn't say anything and rather simply smiled. Like any good barkeeper.

" Then I suppose I am going to mix you up something fruitier! Of course, nothing to strong. And it's no trouble for him, don't worry."

And she keeps her word. The moment the drink is finished, she shoves it over to Beetle. In the exact same second the door to the kitchen opens, and a very very tall older man stepped out... with a plate of sandwiches. Lilli doesn't even turns towards him, she simply started to clean some glasses. Wouldn't surprise her if people knew Wesley. He was a villain once after all. Even though he stopped being 'Archon' long before she became Schatten.

" Ayo, sandwiches are done! I'm guessin’ you ordered, right, Miss? You got real lucky! Had everything I needed for ‘em today! HAHA! "

And the guy was loud. The vigilante had often told him to tune it down, but.... his booming voice wouldn't let the man be quiet for long. Lilli just rolled her eyes at that.

" Yes, Boss. And you should have just called me than bringing them out yourself... "

" Hey! Didn’t I tell ya not to call me boss? And c’mon! I gotta make sure every now and then that all the customers are bein’ nice to my favorite little barkeep here! "

At that the woman again rolls her eyes, but it also made her smile very very lightly, before making a handmovement towards firebird that basically said 'It's fine'. She again noted though that he was able to remove those wings. Good to know.

Oh, someone was attentive enough. Beetle was very aware that her attempts at drawing attention away from her companion had limited success. This had never been her forte. She'd always been the one to blend in, sneak up to the rooftops, and fire from afar. Distraction (and raw destruction) was Firebird's thing.

"Hmm.. I do like fruitier stuff - "Now she looks at the menu. With discreet glances at the bartender once in a while. Eyes hidden behind a visor followed as Lilli went over to the kitchen. She raised an eyebrow as she noticed the dent in the doorway.

"I said maybe sandwiches... but y'know what sure, sandwiches it is." If sandwiches weren't even on the menu in the first place.....would they even be any good?

"You sure it won't be too much trouble?"

Meanwhile, there's a clunk as Firebird detached his wings and let the wing tips hit the floor. He glanced up and mumbled a 'sorry' before getting around to packing it up into what seemed to be one of those very large gym bags.