[Central City] Same Same, but Different

"Mortals? You are too glib, Richard. Those men were in my employ, you see. Poor dears, I fear they may never walk again after what you did to them. Water under the bridge! You had no way of knowing. Surely." "James" did not seem the slightest discouraged to remove himself from Wally, as he continued to move about the boy's person, lifting his chin, moving his arm, inspecting him as a scientist would a lab specimen. His absence of facial features made it more difficult still to discern his feelings while doing so - beyond curiosity, that is. Regardless, he took heed of his former comrade's repartee. It was... interesting, to say the least.

The ghost (for what else could he be?) then turned to regard Richard directly. "Oh, but aren't you the slightest bit curious, Richard? Though he is not the Flash, he does possess a familiarity with the Speed Force." He took a step back (more like a float-step back...), allowing him room to lift his cane and prod Wally's chest in a tapping motion, twice. Familiar streaks of white electricity shot out of him, if in sputters and sparks. "Why, I've never seen anything like it! And you say there is no relation? Most peculiar..."

It was now that it dawned on this stranger Richard's feelings towards this scene. It only perplexed him further. "But alas! If you claim he is yours, then I'll be sporting, just this once." James lowered his cane to the ground - it made contact against the ground with a sickening thud "...Wally, was it? Permit me to introduce myself."



The "man" took a bow, his etiquette well in hand with his manner of dress and speech as he pulled his cane arm back and tipped his top hat. "I am James Sinclair Dreyfus Craddock, Esquire, the Gentleman Ghost, at your service!" Once the gesture was finished, James rose to his full height, taking a moment to adjust his monocle. "And, most recently, White Knight of the Hellfire Society!" He tittered, sounding sboth like a pompous aristocrat and a seething nightmare. "I've been moving up in the world~"

Wally does everything he can to resist the urge to pull away as the specter examines him like one would with a piece of meat. His chin lifts and his arm moves at the other's whim while the mortal does what he can to calm his heart. The situation isn't dire just yet. His gaze follows as the ghost floats a step back, speaking to Richard.

A sense of ease at not being directly touched by the creature starts to settle on his shoulders when Wally is prodded in the chest. His teeth grit as pain bursts across his sternum and little sparks of red escape him. Instinctively, his hand goes over the spot where the cane had been, rubbing the spot as if to ease the pain. It takes all of his will not to swing on the stupid ghost.

He forces a good-natured smile on his face as James bows to introduce himself and he replies politely, "Pleasure to meet you, sir." Manners above all, Wally dips his head in his version of a bow. There is a 0% chance of him taking his eyes off James.

His smile turns a shade thankful as Richard explains just what the Hellfire Society is, taking note of the names mentioned. He wonders if it's too late to slip back into that soft country boy he had first offered Shade. "White Knight? That sounds high up," Wally says with awe and a dash of genuine interest in his tone, pulling his midwestern accent to the forefront. "You must be real powerful, Mista."

"I see. It's good to hear that some things stay the same in this modern world." Richard said with only the faintest hint of a smile behind his voice, not commenting on the tone. One could say he asked on purpose, but as a gentleman, he could not possibly comment. "Makes me wonder if she is still as lovely as ever." He paused, letting out a wistful sigh, before shaking his head. "But, nevermind that..."

He continued to watch the ghost as he returned to looking at Wally.

"My curiosity is kept in check by temperance," Richard returned with a huff, " and maybe you've gone bad of hearing at late. Because I distinctly told you mere moments ago not to mistake what I am doing for disinterest. Now, if we can get on with it." The Shade checked the time on his pocketwatch again before reaching out and tapping Wally with the cane. There was a sound like glass breaking as the hex placed upon the young speedster vanished, flowing off him like a faint mist. "Now, we can stand around here all evening until the Flash shows up, which I am not keen on." The watch was returned to its pocket as Richard looked to Gentleman Ghost again. "I might not be high on his foes list these days, but I'd rather keep him out of my business."

Expressionless though he may be, James Craddock was quite visibly dismayed at this turn of events. One might not have been able to discern such things, but for entities like him, there was an aura to his persona. What had been pleasant interest in this "Wally" had turned into foreboding curiosity. He lowered his hands on top of his cane, which touched the ground with a distinct clink.

"Quite. Until next time, Richard. Wally." James' farewell belied his sinister nature. His words were not spoken as a threat. They were spoken as a promise.

And then, the Gentleman Ghost was gone. A frigid breeze coursed through the streets, carrying away whatever had been in that shipping crate. Within seconds, there was nothing at all, dispersed to parts unknown.

"James" Wally manages to snarl as the Ghost turns tail and disappears along with whatever had been in the shipping crate. The Speedster takes a short breath as Richard pinches his nose, processing everything that had just happened and etching it to memory as best he can. By the time Shade is looking over at him, his anger has bled out and left only curiosity behind.

"Don't worry about it, Richard. I'm just grateful you broke that spell for me. It wasn't the best feeling." Wally sounds genuine as he talks, leaning slightly into the container with a frown. "I'm all for tripping traps meant for Flash. Though, I wonder why he wanted him. You don't happen to have an idea, do you, Richard?"

Green eyes glanced up at the older man. "Do you have a phone or a way to send messages? It might be best for us to remain in contact."

Wally snorts with a flicker of a smile. He can all to easily imagine how something that that would have affected someone without a tie to the Speedforce- helpless and frozen before James. He waves the thought away and turns his attention to Richard.

"Yeah. I'd rather they keep believing I'm the easier target, if you would kindly not mention otherwise," he says, rolling his sleeves down before rolling them back up. It is something to keep his hands busy. It doesn't occur to him to try impressing upon the Shade that he is an easy target. It would be hard to do with traces of Flash clinging to his expression.

Wally reaches out for the phone, a full grin finally breaking through the shadows on his face. There is the warm, happy lad that had followed him. "That's fair. Phones have gotten quite complicated in recent years. I'll add my number in here and memorize your number."

It only takes a second for this to be done, the Speedster uncaring about showing his ability now that he's been accosted by an overconfident specter. When he's done, he passes the phone back to the Shade.

"You find out anything interesting, please let me know. I'll be sure to do the same, alright?" He claps his hands together once before tucking them into his pockets, glancing around them. "We should get out of here before the cops arrive. Until next time, Richard?"