--See it Coming--

[eyesofaproxy]

[The fun thing about living in Hong Kong, other than being right there when the newest Bangboo hit the market, is how no one will bother you if you keep your head down even if you're making money without ever leaving the house. That's how Luó Zhé (or as he prefers to be called, Wise) has managed to keep up his hacking, after all.

Granted, it helps that he also runs like the only physical media story in the entire city, but even still that wouldn't make enough for him to have all the tech he has in his apartment. But details!

Wise is a hacker and a fairly good one, going by Phaethon online and offering his services to anyone who might need them, usually those who have been fucked over by black hats or other assholes. Sometimes he gets hired to do internet snooping to find if someone is in fact cheating, but he only takes those if he's really bored.

Today he is not really bored. Today he is watching the news, because rumor has it there was a major heist...]

Comments

[velvetinmate]

[A major heist by someone going only as "Joker", a daring phantom thief targeting the kind of assholes Wise goes after to help his clients.

Data, physical evidence of crimes, a well guarded treasure as an insult to the target's pride--Joker will happily steal them all.

(He favors the former two--he appreciates a good trophy, sure, but they're usually more trouble than they're worth, and sometimes something's a pain to sell if he'd rather just get cash.

This particular incident happened to see him stealing physical evidence of jackass's crimes and leaving it for the authorities, leading to an arrest. Always a good day when that happens!

He'll be stopping by that lone physical media store around, though--and smiling to himself when he sees what's on the news.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise (and his Bangboo Eous) look up when the door opens.]

Oh, hey Ren. Need me to change the news?

[Some folks don't like Joker, after all, but Wise absolutely loves following him.]

[velvetinmate]

Hey, Wise.

[Ren shakes his head.]

Nah, it's alright. Go ahead and leave it.

[Good way to keep an ear out for what people know about Joker, too... He starts browsing the movies, only kind of paying attention to what he's looking at.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise gives him a thumbs up and goes back to inventory as the news continues.]

...the victim is claiming that Joker must be allied with Phaethon as "there is no other way they could have forged those documents". The documents of course being...

[velvetinmate]

[Okay, that gets Ren to pause.]

Huh. That's a new one.

[Not that he dislikes the notion of working with Phaethon, but it's just that--a notion.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Right? First of all, since when has Phaethon been a forger?

[He is not that good, okay?]

Second of all, that sounds like something Joker'd advertise, you know? Really make everyone steamed.

[velvetinmate]

The accusation reeks of desperation.

[He tilts his head.]

Joker leaves calling cards, don't they? You'd think Phaethon would at least warrant a mention on those, or get to put their signature on it too.

[eyesofaproxy]

Right? Though now I'm wondering what they'd even use. The sun?

[velvetinmate]

Makes sense to me, given their namesake.

[He's never left any of his mythology phases in his life, okay?]

[eyesofaproxy]

Wow, other people actually get the reference? There's arguments on the internet all the time and I'm just like "guys, use Wikipedia..."

[velvetinmate]

Most people don't spend a lot of their formative years buried in mythology books from all over like I did.

[eyesofaproxy]

[That makes Wise laugh a little.]

Do we count "mythology series" as well as books? Because that was my entire childhood.

[velvetinmate]

[Ren laughs a bit as well.]

Yup, totally counts. Also? Same.

[eyesofaproxy]

[Wise keeps the conversation going until Ren has to leave. He does like him. He has excellent tastes.

That night, Phaethon sends the elusive Joker a message.]

There you are~

[velvetinmate]

[And Ren's rather fond of Wise.

But that night-- oh, oh that's an interesting message.]

Oh~? To what do I owe the pleasure, shining one?

[eyesofaproxy]

Flatterer~ Did you see the news?

[velvetinmate]

I did! That was quite the interesting accusation on the news, wasn't it?

[eyesofaproxy]

Very. You know what would be hilarious?

[velvetinmate]

Actually working together~? A sort of "hey, thanks for the idea!"

[eyesofaproxy]

Exactly. I can beef up your cybersecurity on top of helping you hit your targets and vice versa?

[velvetinmate]

I like the sound of that. We can add your signature to the calling cards, too, if you'd like!

[eyesofaproxy]

I'll need to think of one. Maybe a sun...

[velvetinmate]

It'd be fitting!

[eyesofaproxy]

Old-school digital style?

[velvetinmate]

Ooh, yes, definitely. I like it.