Green-gloved hands ran through ginger-red hair, exposed fingers gliding seamlessly through the shaggy locks as icy blue eyes scanned the streets ahead. It was a fairly decent day, Ty guessed. At least so far. But then again, the sun, as well as the redhead, had only been up maybe a few hours, at best.

Walking down the sidewalk, Ty shoved his hands into the pockets of his blue jeans and stifled a yawn. He had alot on his mind, but most of it, he managed to ignore for now. He didn't feel like stealing, causing trouble, or even exploring. At least, not right now. Right now, he was just taking a walk, clearing his head. Relaxing. And what better way than strolling down the streets of New York?

Okay...maybe there were better ways, but this was Ty's way, it seemed. Nearby, someone had a portable radio on a windowsill, listening to a news report, and it made Ty's ears perk up.

"~No real details are known, except the culprit is a red-headed male, from teens to early twenties. Though it seems his only goal is a joyride, leaving the car usually several blocks away from where it was last left. Rare eye-witnesses claim the young man usually has a female with him. He is still on the loose, and any details on his where-abouts...."

A small chuckle escaped him and he found himself shaking his head as he walked by, tuning out the rest of the broadcast. Nonetheless, it seemed he had somewhat of a reputation going on, except no one really knew it was him.

Stopping, he leaned against a building, closing his eyes and taking a breath of fresh air.

The investigation of the bank robbery hadn't been dropped so much as it hit a wall. David had managed to keep the detective and whoever had been hired to aide from finding him. It hadn't been easy, and David had to give them credit for their impressive work. Impressive enough that David could see the value in having them on his side. It always helped to have those who could bring you harm under your control, especially if they believed it was the best for them. The detective would take longer for David to enlist and feel confident in his authority. After all, detectives often had close ties to the police, something that David would rather avoid. No big problem, David argued, he had all the time in the world. A new revolution of sorts was brewing, and this time it would strike so much more than the colonies.

David had his own way of searching into things. Not only did he read that advertisement in the newspaper, a source of intelligence that people these days were all too willing to overlook, but he had his network of informants. Offer a bit of food here, shelter there, and you gain yourself a nice little safety net of knowledge. One of his most reliable sources was actually a teen girl who saw people in mirrors. Once the girl knew someone's face, she could see them instead of her reflection, with shadows looming over whoever she checked in on. If there were no shadows, nobody was looking for that person. All he needed to do was lay low, checking in with his little sentry to see how intently he was being searched for. Ladybird had shown him who the investigator's assistant was, and knowing who was on the hunt made it easier to avoid detection. With time and patience he learned not only where Ginger lived, but of the separation between him and Ladybird. His intell did not say why they had fallen apart, only that they weren't living together. Now that was some bullet that he had managed to dodge. Had he known that at the time the two were living together, David would have exercised more caution in his visit to Ladybird.

The point was that at the moment Ginger was available for David's use. Enlisting ladies was easy enough. The fairer sex usually responded well with just talking. Present the facts in a charming manner and they will eat out of the palm of your hand. Men usually required more than just words to convince them. They needed to see something of what you were selling before they bought into it. So, to make a point David was sitting on the street corner, disguised once more as a homeless man. It was hard to predict exactly what Ginger would do in a day, but it was safe to say that he would travel within a certain radius of his home. So for the last few days David had been begging as a pretense to be able to spy on Ginger. Now he saw his mark approaching, so David lifted up the Styrofoam cup that held some change and gave it a little shake.

That event Ty had deemed the bank fiasco had been deemed one of those things that were better off not talked about, or even thought about. Unlike some memories, that one brought him no joy, though he did spend the detective's money rather well. Other events, the boy found it better to keep memories of with him, even if he knew there was no way in hell things would ever be that way again. But it gave him hope, and reminded him to try not to make the same mistakes again.

The news report made him smile that mischievous, somewhat insane grin that he sported quite often. He knew they were talking about him, even if no one else did. Heh...and to think he'd actually considered changing his ways and turning over a new leaf. No chance. This lifestyle was just as much a part of who he was as the gloves or the red hair. It just wouldn't be the same if he didn't cause a little trouble.

But as he heard the shaking of change in a cup, Ty looked at the holder, and showed that in a way, he'd changed and matured after all. Fishing into his wallet, he pulled out a twenty and dropped it into the man's cup. "Ya know...not too long back I would have played a game," he mused. "A game where I'd see someone begging and see how much change I could get from their cup when they weren't looking. But I realized...maybe there's more to life than that..." He shook his head slightly, giving a small chuckle. "When you have something great and lose it, you gain more of a respect for those that don't have much at all, and how much more the less fortunate value things than us that have alot. Guys like me...we don't realize how special anything is til it's snatched away--or we throw it out. And then...it's too late..."

The thief had no idea why he just spilled a monologue to a complete stranger, but it didn't matter. Ty just needed to get some things off of his chest, and who better than someone who didn't know him? After all, maybe that was what he needed, an unbiased ear. Besides, he just gave the guy a 20 for shaking a cup, the least the man could do was listen.

David listened quite patiently as Ginger started pouring his guts out. So far nobody had talked much to him, other than those who wanted to either evangelize to him or bring him back to some sort of shelter to spend the night. Then again nobody had put as much in his cup. It sounded as though the fall out of the bank investigation did more than separate Ginger from Ladybird. The mark had been doing some self examination, an activity that was dangerous when done too frequently. Not only that, but Ginger had just about admitted that he wasn't always playing the opposite side of the law from David after all. Excellent. It is much easier to enlist someone when they are of similar alignment to begin with. Making a mental note to check with his homeless informants on if they had fallen victim to Ginger's game, David tilted the cup towards himself. All in all he hadn't done too poorly with his begging. The change that rattled his cup was a good mixture of silvers and not too much copper. Adding to that message board in his mind was partnering up some of his more age advanced informants with the younger ones. Youth seemed to get you more funding.


“I remember a time,” David started, going slowly to make sure the weight of each word was carefully calculated, “I remember a time when I'd get more than just a twenty from my pickpockets.” And while he had said it with a small touch of annoyance, the conman still took that bill out of his cup and added it to his wallet. Said wallet was rather full for someone that was begging on a street corner. While David had the appearance of a homeless bum, the smell was not there, he had money, and there was his unmistakable British accent. The clothing might have changed, but this was the same soul who had entered the bank for an after hours withdraw. Here, after the investigation was dropped, was the man who had disarmed the alarm system and left Ginger's Ladybird to take the lead, and therefore, be a prime suspect. Of course how easily Ginger managed to get to that all depended upon what he knew. David had not spoken much during the actual heist, letting all that was said be done by Ladybird. The accent thing marked him as different, and David had been wise enough to keep his mouth shut. There was the serious talk that he had had with Ladybird in her flat though.

“My fee is usually eighty percent, but seeing as you are new to this I may be able to negotiate something a little more favorable to you,” he plowed on. It was best to keep Ginger slightly off balance through this all, to make it clear who had control in this situation. “On site training is a must of course. Can't allow any bad habits of yours to pop up at an inconvenient time can we?”

“I remember a time when I'd get more than just a twenty from my pickpockets.” Ty gave a light chuckle. "You're pushing it," he replied, then blinked. His pickpockets? Granted, Ty was more than just a run-of-the-mill pickpocket now, but something about this seemed...fishy, for lack of a better term. His suspicions were confirmed when the man pulled out his wallet and Ty saw it was rather fat for a beggar.

Of course, the ginger didn't recognize this man, even if he had seen him before. A change in appearance was a subtle, unspoken weakness to Ty's not-quite-all seeing eye. But of course, Ty didn't know that.

"Could be interesting," Ty finally replied, smirking a little after the man finished speaking. "But what exactly are you getting at? What's your angle," he asked, getting all questions out of the way before adding, "Eighty percent? For eighty percent, there better be a helluva somethin' in it for me."

It was like watching a light slowly turn on as Ginger caught on to what was being said. And here he thought that Ladybird was slow on the uptake. David had practically said to the man that he was a criminal, and he wasn’t taking the hint. The only other way that David could have made it any clearer was if he just said “I am the man you’ve been looking for”, but that gave the wrong sort of impression. Inwardly David sighed, partially out of annoyance, partially out of relief. He was happy that he did not have to spell things out too much. “Now you’re paying attention,” David said, grinning even if he wanted to cuff Ginger’s ear. Now what was it that David had to offer this man? With his other informants it was some of the most basic needs fulfilled, hot food to warm their bodies, shelter to protect them from the cold, clothing that was clean. Ginger was no homeless bum that needed these sort of things, and because of this he had to be offered something greater.

“Yes eighty percent, but as I said, I’m willing to negotiate a little. I expect quality results from those under my employ, and if they meet standards then they get that ‘elluva something’ to use your words. Homes for example, meals, dental and health. All that you keep is tax free.” Taxes were a universal thing, a hated part of society that translated across the pond. Even when you supported your government, you did not find paying taxes to be pleasurable. Just because Ginger had been a little crooked before did not mean that he could avoid the IRS. He had taken a legal job with that bank investigation and probably existed more in the country than David did. The younger man would have to pay his due, and David was offering him a way to keep what he had made, or at least a portion of it, out of the hands of a government that had in the past treated men like them unjustly. “I aim high, and you can expect more than just the cheap thrill of a few nickels from a Styrofoam cup. A job with me is better than any other offer you’ll get on these streets.”

A stranger was passing buy and David lifted up his cup once again, shaking it, only this time to be ignored. “You see how the world treats people, you know that this cannot be right. A man has to take all that he can to survive. Me wallet isn’t filled with tenners from sitting on me bum all day. I’m sure you’ve seen what I’m capable of. Just as I’m sure that you’ve been in a funk as of late.” The last two statements had some speculation on David’s part. He hadn’t the slightest idea that Ginger may have forgotten about him, nor did he know for sure that the mark had been in a funk. The second seemed a safe enough statement. Loosing your lady always stunk, but if you were living with her when she gave you the boot that had to hurt.

There was a very good reason Ty wasn't getting a grasp of what exactly this stranger was getting at. Ty's memory was returning, but it was still a little fuzzy from when he'd talked Noel into helping him forget a certain part of his life. Which he realized was a mistake, and though his memory was slowly fading into focus, there were still several holes in it for now.

"Heh...taxes..." The redhead gave a chuckle. "The only time I was ever taxed was one job where I tried to go...you know...straight. But those are days best left unspoken. Nowadays I look out for myself for the most part, though I will take an occasional offer. Ya know, there's good money in secrets. People that take things to their grave never counted on a guy like me enterin' the picture. However...you do make a rather...appealing offer." In truth, Ty was somewhat persuaded. Though he had no idea how this guy knew so much about him. Especially that he was in a rut lately. But...this would be a good way out of it.

"You're right. I have been in a bit of a funk. I'll take your offer. If nothing else, this should be just the thing to help get me out of it."

If you’re going to have a revolution, something that Sledgehammer felt every generation should have, there are some critical components were needed. Obviously there had to be some cause or ideal for people to rally around. David was aiming high, not just settling for human-mutant equality. You could say that everything was the same, but in the end it was mutants who got the short end of the stick.. The police force had specialized technology that was exclusively used on mutants. As if handcuffs, tasers, and guns weren’t enough. It might just be his country of birth being a monarchy speaking, but those born to power should use it. Even just talking about mutants brought up that particular “p” word. “What are your powers,” or “Why are children being born with these strange powers,”. Mutants had power, and yet the mutant rights issues that people were fighting for only put those with the power at a lower position.

You also needed to have an army. David had been enlisting in one form or another since he had first come to the country. If it wasn’t to prepare for the end of the world brought about by a unicorn, something that he still couldn’t figure out, it was gaining his own steady source of information. He had not been seeking people that would be engaged in combat, but he did have plenty of people loyal to him. Ginger was promising one more person in Sledgehammer’s ranks, but the question still existed of what he was going to do with the sap. There was the obvious answer of using Ginger’s mutation to help the cause. Having someone that could tell him exactly what happened did have it’s advantages. It surely helped with the private investigator. But David wanted Ginger not to think that he was being used the same as he had with the bank job.

“What you need to do,” David said, glad to know that his assumption that Ginger had been in a rut was correct, “What you need to do is get back to your roots. Partnering up with a law holder has brought you nothing but trouble I’m sure.” It was all a game of words. Words to have that niggling little voice that says to go straight to shut up. Words were something that David was good with, and he had some insight to what happens when you try to walk the straight and narrow. In the end you weren’t any better off. Sometimes you end up in a worse position than when you started. “Of course, going after beggars cups won’t be of much good. For one thing they are under my employment. “

Ty blinked at the man's next words, and scratched his head. "I feel like I know you from somewhere...but some of my memories are kind of a blur though. That's what happens when you dabble with your own memories, I guess," he said with a shrug. "Doesn't really matter, anyway. Past is passed."

He shoved his gloved hands into his pockets. "Name's Ty, by the way. And I don't steal from beggars' cups anymore; I put money in 'em now. Prolly the closest I'll ever get to the straight and narrow. So, by roots you mean scaling rooftops, picking pockets and the occasional breaking and entering? That I can do. But no vans. Long story." Flashing a grin, he gave another shrug.

"We 'aven't met in person," David said, realizing that there was something wrong with Ty. Here was the man that he had been searching for, dressed almost identically to the way that he had been that night. His face had more scruff then, but David still had a five o'clock shadow. How could Ginger not be able to remember him? David did spend a good portion of time ensuring that he was not memorable, especially not to those who had connections to the police. Even the marks for his con had to hae problems identifying him once the money had changed hands. That was why David felt he'd been blessed to not have startling features. His brown hair and brown eyes was a common combination, and even his mutation, so bombastic when put into practice, was easily hidden. Still, he would have thought that Ginger would have remembered him at least a little bit. Didn't his Ladybird coo to Ginger about the unexpected visit from David? If she hadn't that was all the better, but if she had, well, he best win Ginger over since he sure as hell wasn't getting any favors out of Ladybird.

“Yes, that sort of thing. I find meself without a proper cutpurse. Seems that I need people that can keep up with me, and I 'aven't the patience to try to train a new hand.” Conning people was something that David excelled at. He could weave lies with the truth in such a way that people believed what he said. He also could make cards fly so smoothly with his quick money fix that you couldn't see the swap. And while David could remove a wallet from a man's pocket without notice, he wasn't an expert pickpocket. He tended to focus too much on not being noticed by the mark that he may not notice who else might see him. David was prideful, but wasn't dense enough to admit when someone could handle a job better than him. If Ginger was good enough, he could come in handy with some of the scams that needed more than one set of hands.

Ty gave a nod, trying to place this guy. He didn't have a name for the maybe not quite stranger, but he knew he'd seen this guy before. And he had this feeling that it was important for him to remember. He could see flashes of the guy's face, but his memories were fuzzy. And trying to remember was giving him a headache. Eh, he'd just make a note to figure it out later.

The ginger gave a chuckle, nodding as he listened. "That, I can help you with." A grin that could only be described as mischievous crawled across his lips as he extended a gloved hand to the stranger; the old-fashioned way to seal a deal.

When a hand was offered to shake David looked briefly at it in confusion and a little bit of disgust before tucking his hands into the pocket of his jacket and raising an eyebrow. Why did this man think for even a moment it would be prudent to shake hands with a man who could smash his way through a brick wall just by making a fist. It had been ten years since David had done that. "Now I need to know some things. First of all I need to see how good you are," David said. He examined himself, seeing if he could clean up quick enough that they could walk about in the Financial District without too much attention drawn to him. Over all he did not look filthy, and a hand wipe taken from his pocket cleaned up the dirt and makeup. Brushing off the seat of his pants and setting down the cup the transformation between homeless bum and possible college student was complete.

"Secondly I need to know if you've severed ties with that private investigator. Let's say that working for me would be a conflict of interest," David started walking towards the nearest subway, zipping the black jacket up. His fingerless gloves were taken off and tucked into a pocket. Even if Ginger wasn't entirely disconnected from the gumshoe it wasn't as bad as possible. One of them could lead to the other, and it just was easier to talk to someone who walked on the same side of the law as him. "Keep up now iffin you want to earn your keep."

"Where I come from," Ty muttered under his breath, "handshakes are a sign of respect and sealing the deal..." Obviously being shunned had hurt the young man a bit; not that he understood the situation at all.

Ty felt that mischievous smile come back at the man's words. "Yeah...I can keep up. As far as that...detective...yeah. I still do side jobs for money, but...I tend to stay off the shoulder of the long arm of the law. Because that...well...that didn't work out so hot. Besides...I realized. What if I accepted one of those investigation jobs and ended up working my own crime-scene?"

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Ty followed; no matter where he went, he looked like just another young man.

Had he heard Ty's grumbling over the lack of a handshake it wouldn't have made any difference. David still would have ignored what the younger man said. It wasn't his style to say what he did, and it had become a habit for David to just act as though he were a bit of a germophobe. Ginger would learn soon enough, especially now that he was working for David. He was called Sledgehammer for a reason, and the threat of those hammers was enough to keep some of his employees in check. They didn't have to know that David never actually try to kill anyone.

“Good. I'd like for you to keep that connection,” David said, leading Ty down the entrance way into the subway. By now David had memorized the sub schedule and the lines. He also knew which of his informants were suppose to be on which sub. At this time of the day there should be two on this line, one going in opposite directions. Taking Ginger throughout the city was going to be a good way to introduce the new employee to the informants. They had helped him to find Ginger in the first place, but to their knowledge the man was still a threat to David. If he was walking around with David all casual like it would be a sign that they did not need to worry over Ginger. “Iffin that happens, the gumshoe asking you to look into your own crime scene I've ways of keeping the heat off you.”

From his wallet, where Ginger's twenty was safely tucked away, David extricated his subway pass and scanned it twice. "Of course you would be perfectly capable of feeding 'im wrong information. It's not as though he is seeing what you see is it?"

Ty followed, reasoning the man must have had reasons not to have shaken his hand. Maybe the guy had like...radioactive hands or something. Great...he was now expected to stay all cozied up with the law. "Okay, so I go back to working with the law on occasion...no problem." He let out sort of a sigh.

"That sounds like an idea, though unless I end up investigating cars I should be fine. But...yeah, I could easily give false information, and they'd have no way of checking up on it. Unless they find another mutant with a similar power as mine. Trust me, those are out there." He chuckled, remembering Noel; she was cool, but damn if it wasn't impossible to keep anything from her.