[Open]

[deadbythename]

Date & Time: Jan 18-23
Location: Lots of bars. Lots of dark, unpleasant places.
Characters: Jason Todd the Grump and whoever decides to interrupt his willful ignoring everything.
Summary: Jason Todd is willfully ignoring everything and spending most of his time up on lonely rooftops and occasionally drinking.
Warnings: idk, gloomy bullshit, swearing, we'll see.

[ Okay.  Jason wasn't an idiot.  It was really kind of obvious he wasn't going to be able to avoid everyone forever.  Exsilium wasn't Gotham and there just weren't enough places he could go until he just.  Ran into somebody.

Maybe he'd even run into Dick or that tiny girl Robin.  Or Joey...  Though that didn't bear thinking about.   Running into them eventually didn't mean running into them immediately.  All Jason wanted was space.  He needed to reorganize himself, needed to separate himself from the memories that of this place that still floated through his head.  Exsilium wasn't Gotham, but Jason was still himself.  The holster under his jacket was a reminder of that.  So he spent most of his time in bars, in the darker, shadowy parts, nursing a drink and listening. The rest of the time, he wandered, relearning the alleyways and rooftops of this weird ass city.  If nothing else, he'd be prepared for however long he'd be staying here. ]

Comments

[notbeth]

[ She can't help but look at him reproachfully. The mask is really what's throwing her off. But she has every right to be suspicious of anyone in a mask-- nobody wears them unless they've got something to hide. Typically something not good. ]

I'm not wandering. [ Blatant lie #1. ] And I know how to be careful.

[deadbythename]

[ He actually smiles, a little amused at the blatant lie. ]

Okay, kid, here's your free piece of advice: if you're going to lie, learn how to do it and learn quick. You're probably gonna worry the hell out of your parents either way.

[ He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his tablet. It takes a little tampering, but he gets it set up to make open calls. ]

You know your phone number? [ She's too well dressed and too clean to be a street kid.]

[notbeth]

[ There's the brief flash of "I've been caught damn it" on her face before her expression falls. If what everyone says is true, her dad won't notice her being gone. That's actually a lot more worrisome than him realizing she's missing again-- she wants him to come and find her somehow. ]

Hey, that's from the Initiative, isn't it? [ She points to the tablet. ] I'm not... from here.

[deadbythename]

[ He pauses. ]

You're one of the Transports? [ Or whatever the hell they were calling themselves these days. He frowned a little. That shock of red hair was starting to look worryingly familiar. ] What's your name, kid?

[notbeth]

[ Conflicted: should she give out her real name to this masked person? He's rough around the edges, but trying to be helpful. But she knows better, too. It's not always safe to give out your name to a stranger.

Blatant lie #2. ] It's Elizabeth-- Elizabeth Kane.

[deadbythename]

[ Ominous feeling confirmed. Of course. ]

Any relation to Kate Kane?

[notbeth]

... Maybe. [ Squinting. ] What's it to you?

[deadbythename]

[ He sighs. Heavily. ]

You wouldn't believe me even if I told you.

[notbeth]

[ Suspiciously squinting. ]

Try me.

[deadbythename]

I know you when you're an adult.

[ To hell with the time stream anyway. ]

[notbeth]

[ What? But Beth is dead. The fact she has to tell herself this makes her want to cry (again), but she manages to keep herself composed. ]

What does that even mean? [ Nobody's told her yet they've met her as an adult... ] There's no way.

[deadbythename]

Yeah, well. Time travel. I know you better when I'm a kid.

[ Because that's sure to make her even less confused.]

[notbeth]

[ She stands there, nonplussed. ]

I'm not an adult-- I mean, Kate's not! We're twelve! [ Oh, screw it. He seems to know this is really Kate after all and it makes her feel nauseous to pretend to be Beth. It only worked when she was still alive. ] I'm twelve!

[deadbythename]

[ Fuck, nice one, Todd. ]

Easy, kid, take it easy. I told you it was weird.

[notbeth]

And a big fat lie!

Did you live on base like us somewhere before? [ Because she has no idea who this guy is supposed to be. ]

[deadbythename]

No, I grew up in Gotham.

[ God, this was such a bad idea. The hell was he thinking dropping this on a 11 year old. ]

Look, I know this is all crazy and believe me, kid, I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm just. [ What was he trying to do again? ] Trying to be honest with you.

[notbeth]

[ Some of the suspicion -- not all -- disappears from her face at that moment. ]

You're... from Gotham? Really?

[deadbythename]

[ His accent is just not what it used to be, he realizes that. He can will it forward a little bit, though. He nods. ]

Born and raised there, yeah.

[notbeth]

[ Neither is hers; moving from base to base and eventually overseas does that. She sizes him up briefly. ]

Who're you, then?

[deadbythename]

[ He thinks about giving her his real name. It wouldn't mean anything to her and maybe she'll forget it, but he stops himself. ]

Name's Alfred.

[ He knows how to make it sound like the truth. ]

[notbeth]

Alfred...? [ She flares her nostrils. It's an old man-like name and she feels like she's heard the name before somewhere. ] So what's with the mask?

[deadbythename]

[ Tricky question. A smart question, yeah, but still. He doesn't want to freak her out again after she's calmed down. He taps the mask lightly. ]

Keeps the rain outta my eyes.

[notbeth]

[ She pouts. That's not a believable answer. ]

An umbrella works better. [ Or the raincoat she has on.

She contemplates something. ] You really mean it... that I'm older?

[deadbythename]

[ He grins. ]

Yeah, but the mask looks cooler.

[ He gives her a thoughtful look right back. ]

Yeah. [ At least he's pretty sure. ]

[notbeth]

[ She'd ask if maybe he's seen her mom, but... she looks more like her dad. Besides, Gabi's blonde. ]

It makes you look like a criminal. [ She looks away, uncomfortable again. ] How do I know you're not trying to trick me?