the-twilight-man

[the-twilight-man]

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Entry 005: Birdwatching part 2

Okay, Listen, I’m still freaking out. This has gone way over my head and I frankly think I still shouldn’t be speaking but fuck if I know any better I should be dead!

So that fucking thing yesterday? Day before?

…

I cant remember. This all sucks. Why did I get brave who let me do that?

Fuck okay well it happened and I’m not caught yet so I’m counting this as a win.

So on my last update, Monday, March 17th, I sorta mentioned something about a Harbor meeting?

Turns out, it was a deal. Of course it was how clique. Oh, to go a day without a weapons deal, just shoot me now.

Seriously, it would be easier to smuggle it in Blud then just transfer it by car to Gotham that’s better.

Ship trade in ‘Haven has been dead for a decade anyways who cares. Damn, a aircraft would’ve been better if it wasn’t so expensive.

I got there late. I’m slow and unprepared but well hidden. Which is really my only talent and I still fucked it up.

Stray bullet hit my arm. Blood starts trickling out.

I thought I was going to die okay?

When that parasite was about to eat me? No fear apparently. Those sharp teeth not enough 2 scare me through my adrenaline.

But this stupid wound that still hurts like hell? It got me 2 shout.

And I was at a pretty low key place, behind them on the roof.

I wanted to just watch them. I got some moves learned! Sort of. Everything was so far away but it didn’t stop that bullet from hitting me.

Ugh.

So, shouting. Not a good thing to do when hyper vigilant vigilantes are taking note of ever person there.

It was like only 3 or 4 of them too. Bat- bat, bird-bird. Whatever.

One of them starts heading towards me. And after seeing how they took down those dealers? Hell no. I’m not dealing with that.

But I’m also not a complete idiot. I don’t move.

Trying to run away would only make sound and as I’ve said, I’m still new to this roof jumping.

I stand there. In the middle, to the side. Just next to the ladder.

I don’t know why I expected the Black Bat to climb up the ladder. Who the fuck thinks that?

No, I was so sure I could pull a hide ‘n seek and just, hide at the beginning so the seeker forgets.

But no, I don’t even get a chance because they fling up the side.

Seriously. Seriously, I hate these people.

I tense up just watching her glance left to right. Then lifts a hand to where her ears should be and says “Clear.”

I damn-near had a heart attack hearing that word.

Frozen still, watching them take another quick glance and left. Apparently a rooftop scream is not high on the priority list.

I didn’t dare move till after the fight was cleaned up and the sound of sirens and hushed voices faded.

I kept stepping on my blood to hide it to. But I keep wondering if it was caught on camera. I don’t even know if there were any there.

Surely there had to have been? It’s the harbor.

But its also old and I was on some random rooftop who cares.

Me.

Ok well, that’s that.

My arms still fucked. I can’t go to the doctors on account of, uhm, everything?

Is the bullet in there? I can’t see it. I don’t know if I can feel it. Ugh.

I’m so uncomfortable in this awful closet filled with cleaning supplies that can’t help me.

I’m going to try to sleep then move to another location tomorrow. Maybe write to a hospital? Ask for advice?

I’ll probably just end up Youtubing my questions. Won’t hurt anything but my bills. I am not going back to my library after last time.

I am so, so tired of moving where I sleep every time out of fear. And I think the wound is making me more woozy than normal, I usually don’t take 2 naps a day.

I guess I’ll just see how tomorrow is.

That’s all. Bye.

-The Twilight Man

[the-twilight-man]

Monday, March 17, 2025

Entry 004: Saint Patty's Day brainstorming

I should be a hitman. No, wait, an assassin. No one would see me coming.

Just, CRACK! Your dead!

Do you think if I put a bullet in my mouth and then sneezed it would shoot? Listen I'm working with a low budget here.

In fact, it's so low, I'm unsure how I'm still paying for my phone bill. Well, I do get money from others pockets and I do hang around...

*Cough*

Right. Might've just figured out a way to track me. If anyone actually gave a shit.

But seriously, I really do need a job of some sort. Just some way to keep me busy while also making enough to pay my monthly bills. Don't need much, just enough for my phone.

And maybe a ticket to San Francisco.

I still want to go across country.

Maybe the coins in the fountains would be enough? Who am I kidding, who wishes from fountains anymore.

If I knew how to wire money I would've done it already. Not like I could ever be caught. I mean, they could find my phone but what use is that? Tracking?

Yeah, sure.

I have as much attachment to this phone I do my hair. Which isn't much I swear.

Maybe I should start.

Is there a way for me to invest in a barber? Like a private one. Like how there's doctor patient confidentiality I could have barber client confidentiality.

Things to look into.

Speaking of looking into; I saw some shadows jumping on the rooftops while I was practicing.

Got curious and sneaked closer. Sue me.

It was just the Bats. Honestly I was disappointed. There's a lot more roof jumpers than you'd think. People looking for excitement, people looking for escape, people looking for a safer way to work. Honestly if the tops were all connected, biking up here would be safer than on those nonexistent bike paths.

Anyways, got to overhear some of their conversation before they scurried away. Seriously, isn't meeting on a rooftop super not smart? I know there's no way to predict me but, it was right on top of a apartment building.

What if someone just opened their window?

I feel like I'm rambling on topic right now. What was I getting to?

Uhm.

They were talking about something going on near the harbor. Because of course its going on on the harbor. That's where all the tea gets spilt.

So I think tonight I'll go down there and check it out?

I may be, almost? Completely helpless but watching them fight might give me an idea of how to start training.

Listen, I've really missed having a purpose. Even if I hated it.

And one day I'll look back to me being a complete amateur and laugh.

Or maybe I'll really be dead, who knows.

That's all. Bye.

-The Twilight Man

[the-twilight-man]

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Entry 003: Shopping

I don't actually have a place to live. Each night I scope around to find a place to sleep and pray I'm not found.

So it's really convenient for someone like me who has no money and no job. But, getting food is the worst.

Here's the pro's and con's of me going shopping at a supermarket.

Pro's:

Food

Lights are always bright which grants me basically free passage to get my groceries

I can get out of the rain

Con's:

So many people it's hard to dodge everyone

Have to be careful with what I take, could trigger an alarm

It hasn't happened *yet*, and I don't even know if that is a possibility but man am I not excited to find out.

Anyways, I've gathered my dinner and am now hanging out in one of my consistent spots. Obviously won't be saying it on here.

It's cold. Maybe I should take a blanket for once.

If you couldn't tell, nothing happened today. I'm yammering about my shopping trip. I got a bit scared after last nights close call.

Maybe I should travel to a different city. Get out of here for a bit. I returned to Gotham, my home town, after... everything. Probably searching for some safety or, well, comfort sounds a bit less debunkable. Needed some place I recognized.

I should go across the country, but I have no idea how to get there.

Ugh.

More brainstorming to do.

Alright I'm tired and the waters boiled. I'm going to eat dinner.

That's all. Bye.

-The Twilight Man

[the-twilight-man]

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Entry 002: Birdwatch

Twenty years of this and I still don’t know if I can be caught on cameras.

Not to brag, but I’ve been on Tv before and even then I don’t think the guy on screen was me.

It was like a vague idea of what I look like. But, to be fair, I haven’t seen myself in eons.

So, do cameras catch me?

I still have a heat signature. And I can be spotted in, uh, a certain circumstance, but does that mean this security camera can see me?

Because there is a difference between a video and a security camera. Or at least I assume so. I downloaded this app that was supposed to install night vision on my phone but all it had were ads. I still tried to take a picture but…

Anyways, I was just worried because for the first time in, well ever, I went out during the night.

In Gotham, the streets flicker and the ally’s are voids, not ideal conditions for my condition.

Thankfully, last night was a particularly clear night. The clouds parted for the moonlight to paint me a clear passage outside. But only if I’m on the rooftops, away from many shadows.

Which is why it scared the shit out of me when someone breezed past. I thought I was caught for some reason and froze. But nothing came of it.

I looked out to what had passed me, thinking it was a bird or squirrel. And—well—it was a bird? In some sense?

Welcome to Gotham we have way too many Robins. Apparently.

You know, I’ve met Batman before. He saved my life. Also ignored me and somehow sent me spiraling. A lot happened that day…night.

Anyways, it was some Robin that passed me I just know it. So I, sorta did something stupid. I followed him.

I might’ve been motivated to post again too soon because I have no idea why I did that. Batman is the exact kind of guy that would catch me.

But I followed anyways, only thinking about my next foot forwards and the words I would speak into my phone. Something like “oh I saw Robin trip and fall off a roof!” except I was the one who fell.

In my defense, I don’t do this. I don’t do this whole, whatever they’re doing okay?

I sit on my ass, and I watch fail compilations to feel better about myself. I’m somewhat ashamed.

But nothing felt worse than realizing I had made the loudest landing by falling on cans, and plastic, and cardboard, and old rotten food, and—and I, had landed in a dumpster. Not my first time.

It was loud. It had to be. A dog started barking and someone opened the window.

So, that’s why I’m asking: do cameras catch me?

It’s stupid to be writing it on this post as if someone will answer me but maybe if I write it down enough times I’ll magically come up with the answer.

Because there was a security camera I looked dead on as I climbed out of the trash. And then when I looked up, a pair of white beady dots was staring down at me.

I swear if…

So, that’s how my night went. Trying to birdwatch didn’t go to plan and I don’t feel like doing it ever again.

I smell, I’m cold, and I’m paranoid.

Thats all. Bye.

-The Twilight Man

[the-twilight-man]

Friday, March 14, 2025

Entry 001:

I’m finally coming around to transcribing my old recording from the 90’s. And by transcribing, I mean, I’m repeating what I said into my phone.

It’s been years since I’ve heard it. Took a few weeks to find the old thing.

Here it is:

Thursday, August 12 1993

“I feel stupid talking like this, but I can’t turn the word processor on.”

“The light from the screen hurts my eyes. So I’m telling this to a tape recorder.

Maybe somebody will believe it. Maybe I’ll believe it.”

“I figure there had to be a spill of some bizzare chemical at work. I don’t have another explanation.

Wish I could remember anything after leaving my desk.”

“No sense going to work. I’ll be there, but I’ll still be counted as absent.”

[End]

After this, I remember crawling around on the floor for an hour. Ended up riffling through my closet for a way to not be blind and found these old goggles.

Regarding the old recording; I’ve omitted some details in order to keep my identity a secret.

I don’t want to be found, not that /that/ would be easy anyways. But, I want to remain existing, even if it’s anonymously on a ghost blog.

Does that even make sense? Wait, I don’t want that written.

Uhm.

Staying silent all these years is killing me. Besides, I’m figuring out some fun ways to kill time.

That’s all. Bye.

-The Twilight Man