Tightrope makes a sound that could probably have been a laugh it it weren't so stifled by a snort of entertainment, Sending another smile in Cruach's direction. "I guess I could try learning how to fight properly! but I don't know if I'd have much of an edge regarding my power." They lean backwards over the concrete lip of the building. letting their legs curve around it as they move in something of a controlled fall, babbling all the while. "I'd have to stand on something to properly break momentum.. but people are kind of.. icky? y'know?"

almost brushing their head on the floor of the suggested side-street, tightrope does a little head-over-heels somersault, retracting their legs to land quietly on the ground. "I'd.. prefer not to make a scene if possible, I never like to make much of a splash!"

Tightrope pauses on the building's lip, giving Cruach a smile as she approaches before stepping onto the side facing outwards, dangling over the edge.

"Oh? uh, well.." they make a so-so gesture towards Cruach with their right hand as they continue to scan the crowd below, not looking for anything in particular at a glance, but curious nonetheless. "It doesn't quite work that way.. the power-stuff I mean, I could fall from orbit and avoid scratching the pavement."

Tightrope's eyes fix on something in the crowd, a gleam of excitement spreading over their features. "I've never really been much of a fighter.. so I couldn't really comment, but uh.. do you want some food? I think I might go investigate that churro stand, if you're.. interested that is."

Tightrope paused at the comment, considering their actions. Had they overstepped in asking a question like that? Probably, but it wouldn't do to dwell on it, probably better to just try and impress the more experienced mercenary, perhaps an opportunity would present itself.

They nodded in response to Cruach's point about shortcuts, letting their power expand into the area to search for routes, points of interest and places they wanted to swing on or move to. Once, that kind of use had been overwhelming, but the changes were something they'd learned to work with. By the time they'd centered themselves, Cruach already moving in the right direction.

If it were possible for Tightrope to trip over themselves, they would have done so at being left behind. Fortunately at this point, movement was more or less automatic, helping them to transition seamlessly from a run into a somersault. Tightrope sailed legs-first into the air, extending the points to grab the lip of the next building over. As the legs retracted, tightrope accelerated at a rate that should have reduced their body to red mist, but in a smooth motion that took less than a minute, they unlatched their hold on the building just as they were about to slow down, launching and themselves over the rooftop and into the air.

The cape didn't bother bracing themselves for impact, twirling gracefully through the sky as they plummeted legs first towards the ground, landing quietly on a small overhang above the town square. With a little wave to Cruach to let her know that they'd survived the landing, Tightrope stared down at the newly set up night markets. A group of bristling, manifold stalls selling all kinds of incredible foods, baubles and tiny knickknacks, exactly the kinds of treasures they were after on an evening like this one.

Tightrope takes a few further steps up the side of the glass, crossing over to the roof with a deliberate, practiced motion, granting Cruach a moment to catch her breath on the rooftop. From this high point, it's all downhill, which would make it easier for the Owl adorned cape to keep pace.

A hint of a smile lingers on Tightrope's face from the complement, clearly enjoying themselves. "Thanks! It.. gets easier the more use it.." They let the sentence trail off, trying to think of a way to properly phrase their next words as they pace back and forth, clearly antsy about the time they've spent not moving.

"If you don't mind.. you're a.. Thinker right? you move the same way I do when I need to climb faster, only you're better at figuring out paths than I am." They look a little sheepish about the question, but quickly move the topic on before it's given a chance to get awkward.

"We shouldn't be much longer provided we keep heading north east, I have a feeling that's probably a shortcut of some kind, but I'm not certain, care to lead the way?"

Tightrope nods, taking a few 'steps' towards the overhang, before crossing over onto the roof, excitement evident on their features. "Pretty cool power! I wish mine was a little less.. visible I guess..." Tightrope takes a few steps towards the far side of the building before leaning over the edge and plummeting downwards, allowing their legs to act as a fulcrum to swing them up and into the air, before detaching from the roof and launching towards the far side of the street.

they twirl weightlessly, before landing on the glass in an impact that probably should have shattered it, but from what Cruach can tell, it doesn't seem to be damaged at all, like the cape doesn't seem to weigh anything.

Tightrope gives a wave, indicating for her to follow.

Tightrope takes a shitty looking burner from one of the folds in their costume and swipes the screen in Cruach's direction, sending their contact details over with a grin. "Should be all sent! I uh.. wouldn't worry too much about keeping up, I actually kind of just assumed that you could fly, what with the Owl theme and everything."

They puzzle over this for a moment. "Do you want me to go slow? I'm pretty fast, but I wouldn't mind if you wanted to take the lead, you know where you're going after all... I'm pretty new here." With a smooth motion, the leg tying them to the balcony stretches downwards, swinging back and forth for a moment before relinquishing its hold, sending tightrope spiraling through the air to land on the building across the alley from the two, standing horizontal on its surface once again.

They gesture towards the top of the building, waiting for the other cape to start moving before they continue.

"Hah I get it, Birds." they point to Cruach's Owl mask for a second, snickering at the pun. "I got a burner phone a while back for cape stuff, though I can't say I've used it much, I don't really have many contacts." They smile for a moment, their leg going taut as it makes contact with the side of the railing. "But uh.. thanks for the heads up, I'll make sure to set up a PHO when I have some spare time."

There's a moment's pause as they release the leg keeping them held to the fire escape, rotating once as their other leg rapidly uncoils and retracts, before pulling them over the side until they're standing horizontally on the bar of the railing, looking up at Cruach. "I should probably get moving, I was gonna go check out the city center before I got cold feet, want to come with?"

There's a sense of mirth to their voice, smile still plastered on their lower features. "If not, I'll settle for getting your PHO. I wouldn't want to miss out on an opportunity like this.. since you seem pretty experienced at this whole gig." Tightrope shoots her a pair of fingerguns, leaving the offer open.

Tightrope tries their best to follow along with the explanation, but they're visibly antsy about not having moved for the last few minutes. Still, they take most of it in, even in spite of them pacing back and forth. "So no capes, prioritize little guys.. got it." There's a moment's pause as tightrope visibly considers saying something, but then clearly thinks better of it, transitioning to a different topic. "Any you'd recommend? any good places to start? I'm new to the city, so I'm not well versed in where to go."

Tightrope's leg snakes out and curls around their upper body, before extending over the side of the fire escape. It's not a fluid motion, jarringly changing directions at right angles, but tightrope doesn't seem very bothered by it, still balanced on their other leg. "I don't have a PHO, not yet at least, was kind of worried about it being used to track me so I never really made one... do you wanna just.. exchange phone numbers or something?"

Tightrope considers Cruach's words for a moment. While it probably wasn't very wise to trust the first person they ran into on the job, they didn't have many options. Sometimes you needed to take a leap of faith, especially if you needed rent money as badly as Tightrope did. They needed an inroad to the cape scene, and this might just be the ticket they were looking for.

Tightrope stands, appraising Cruach. she was taller than they were, probably the kind of person who'd be seen as more of a threat in a pinch, which would be useful if things went south. "Mercenary huh? Earning money in as a civilian isn't exactly an option for me, so if you're looking for help... I'm interested."

Tightrope considers their options for a moment, but decides that honesty is likely the best policy, Cruach could be a lie detector for all they knew, and they didn't want to be put in a situation where they'd oversold themselves. "I'm mainly small time either way, not much of a fighter.. I don't imagine bounty hunting would be up my street for the time being, at least until I get better equipment."

The visible portion of tightrope's face smiles, and it seems relatively genuine. with a seemingly much calmer motion, the cape takes a few 'steps' away from the wall, their footfalls making no sound against the fire escape as they pace back and forth.

"I didn't design this costume for the cold, it sounds kind of silly saying it out loud, but I figured I'd be able to handle it." There's a short pause, Cruach can detect a hint of annoyance in their voice. "I guess I was wrong, but I suppose it could be worse."

Tightrope doesn't seem to like standing still, legs fidgeting in a way that makes it look like the points are constantly looking for something to grab onto. The cape doesn't seem too bothered by it, simply taking a seat on the fire escape railing, in spite of its rickety nature.

"I'm uh.. Tightrope, by the way.." The smile once again returns to their features, or at least to the ones not hidden behind the scrap of cloth covering their face. "You wouldn't happen to know where to get work around here, would you? I'm kind of.. short on cash at the moment."

Honestly, it was a bit surreal seeing another cape in action, surreal enough that it didn't trigger a fight or flight response, which was pretty good, Tightrope didn't want to embarrass themselves in front of a potential employer. Eyes veiled behind a ragged piece of cloth, tightrope's surprise is hidden to a certain extent, but awkwardness is evident in their demeanor as they scramble to get into a 'casual' position of leaning against the wall.

As their cloth of their costume flaps around in the wind, Cruach would likely be able to notice Tightrope's legs, which appear less like normal human legs and more like spikes of deep blue material that stick out at awkward angles, embedding themselves in the fire escape like they were welded into the material. Before Cruach is given any time to process this, Tightrope speaks, in an accent that sounds like its from somewhere in the north of England, maybe the south of Scotland? hard to tell from this distance.

"Uh.. hey, didn't see you there!" Nailed it, super casual.

Going out in costume for the first time makes you quickly realize one of the fundamental truths of cape life, that your costume won't protect you from everything. Of course, the cold isn't something you really plan around when designing a suit on a budget like Tightrope's, but it was by far the most pressing threat on a frosty winter morning.

Landing on the side of one of those poorly maintained city fire escapes, they took a moment to step out of the wind, taking sanctuary between two residential buildings. With a sigh, tightrope took a moment's pause to look over the dappled blue fabric that made up their costume, it was too light, built to maximize mobility rather than providing substantial protection. After all, at the end of the day, the best defense was simply not getting hit.

Still... Perhaps they'd have to consider getting a jacket.