ask me no questions, I'll tell you no jokes

[fingerstripes]

who: Dick Grayson and YOU
what: TDM prompts and assorted starters
when: July 20 - August 1
where: everywhere
warnings: possible violence, monster fighting, bat angst




1. "When you live by the ruler you die inch by inch"

[ He's off duty now but still in his police uniform, bearing a growing collection of corrosive holes to show for it as the first fat drops sputter from the sky.

Still, he's undeterred. For once undeterred by thoughts of secrecy and masks as he climbs roofs and roadways, rescuing belongings, clothing hung out to dry, and the occasional beloved pet left out in a high spot.

He balances carefully, one-handed, cradling a small, struggling fox under one arm as he glances back for the frantic woman below who'd been directing him a moment before. ]

I miss anybody?


2. "Tell me your story, shovel the dirt"

[ Bearing an extra layer of protective gear over the Nightwing suit feels a little like overkill, but gear up he does for another sweep of the city after nightfall. Riverview's population tends to be unusually savvy to the frequent infrastructural challenges faced by the city, but not everyone follows the crowds when they move, and he's here to round up anyone who apparently missed the memo.

And anyone he finds he descends on quickly, dropping out of the sky and directly into their intended path. ]

Come on, let's get you back inside.



3. "I'd swallow anything offered as truth"

[ He'd filed back into the jungle alongside one of the teams, bringing up the rear as the boar-like beasts started to cluster. They're fast and they're angry this time, which make fending them off exponentially harder as they learn the habits of the team. As they adjust to whatever curve balls they throw.

An hour in he'd decided to switch tactics, leading an angry cluster of them off in the opposite direction of the rest of the team. Anyone with sharp eyes might notice Nightwing isn't moving quite as fast upon his return; his movements a little stiff, his fighting style narrower. Closer to the ground.

Still he stays on his feet; bearing an unbroken focus that dares anyone to suggest he needs to sit down. ]

Comments

CLOSED to Khisanth

[fingerstripes]

[ She's easier to hunt down on the network than he'd thought she might be. Easier still to find in housing, where he learns she has a room assigned.

It's tempting as hell to chase that lead down further. Follow it through to its conclusion, and hopefully find her on the other end. If the username is any clue, she doesn't appear to be making secrecy a huge priority here.

Still, while she'd mentioned to him freely that she went by another name in the city, she'd notably left out the part about the shape shifting, and that's a line of safety and privacy he doesn't want to cross uninvited. Not with someone he's hoping to know, on open terms. Someone he's hoping will be a friend.

Waiting it out by the perimeter instead isn't ideal in terms of expediency, but today he has the time, and he figures there's probably a limited number of exit points for anyone looking to become a dragon and vanish into the jungle in relative privacy.

He's eating a meatball sub while he waits, an extra wrapped neatly at his side. ]

[onblackwings]

[ His assumptions are correct, and his timing is good. So far Khisanth has seen no real need to defend her secrets too fiercely, and has fallen into the habit of using the same exit closest to her usual haunts to slip out of the city, usually even around the same time. She finds herself a little irritated to spot company at it today, though. She'd really prefer not to shift in front of some stranger, thanks.

Her irritated look at him as she approaches fades as she notices his meal, though. What is that? Not something she's had before, she's pretty sure.

She offers no greeting, at the moment too distracted to remember that's a custom humans prefer, even between strangers, eyes busy on his food. Her interest just piques all the more when she realizes there's a second one at his side, untouched. Maybe he can be convinced to part with it... ]

[fingerstripes]

[ Letting a smirk slip out would kill the suspense, so he's careful to offer an easier smile instead, lifting a gloved hand in a little wave. His timing is just right, apparently. ]

Hey there.

[onblackwings]

[ Her eyes fly to his again with the greeting, momentarily looking like she'd been caught at something. And she was, technically — scheming a way to part him from his food. Which is why she sounds vaguely wary with her answer: ]

Hello.

[ She stops not far off, one hand crossed under her chest and the other toying with a strand of hair. She didn't have a plan, really. She hasn't thought this through. So... to hell with it. She nods at the second sub. ]

Are you going to finish that one?

[fingerstripes]

As a matter of fact I'm not. [ And he holds the wrapped sandwich out to her, smile broadening a little in spite of himself. ]

Here. You lucked out, it's got extra cheese.

[onblackwings]

[ She brightens almost immediately, moving forward to join him at his seat. She doesn't move with the same grace he might remember from her other form — she moves like someone ever so slightly uncomfortable, maybe feeling unbalanced in heels or awkward in new clothing. But she takes her seat next to him, and then the proffered sub, unwrapping it with a pleased curiosity. ]

What is it?

[fingerstripes]

The best kind. [ He really hadn't expected the plan to work out quite this well, which leaves the field... wide open, in an odd way. Which means it's time to admit to himself that he hadn't really thought this through at all, past this moment. That he doesn't know yet what comes next. If he's planning to come clean. Tell her. ]

Meatball with a side of bacon.

[onblackwings]

[ Meatball. She recognizes that word, doesn't she? Someone had mentioned it to her... the boy, that's who. Yes, consider her definitely interested. She forgoes any thanks in the interest of instead taking the largest bite she can manage, graceless and enthusiastic.

And... oh. It's good. She looks pleased with this discovery, and leaves no hypothetical time for thanks at all between bites. She's got a meatball with a side of bacon to finish, okay. ]

CLOSED to Damian Wayne

[fingerstripes]

[ Without him Damian would have come on his own, and it's better for them to be together when the world is coming apart. Better that he can step in when needed. Protect him the way a boy like Robin needs. The way he doesn't in his heart of hearts trust anyone else to do.

It's the justification he would have used had anyone questioned him, even though he knows it's more than that. When he enjoys this as much as he does. Fighting side by side. Working together. ]

Robin. [ Dick's smile is dark and a little reckless, only just visible over the helmet of the hazmat suit he's wearing. He'd lost one set of escrimas already to the rain, so he's carefully wrapped those in the material as well. ]

You up for trying something new?

CRASHES IN HERE FINALLY

[bestrobin]

( For the first time in a long time, Damian felt as if he were fighting side by side with the Richard Grayson he'd become so close to over the years. It was almost as if they were back home, the two of them fighting side by side and moving forward through an obstacle like they'd done it countless times before.

He was perched carefully, not far from Richard, when he heard his name. His head snapped towards the other quickly, and the sight of the smile on Richard's lips made it easier to forget that they were in a world far away from their own, a pair of brothers from mismatched timelines. )

Such as? ( Damian called back over the sound of the rain, eyes narrowing thoughtfully through the helmet of the suit. )

[fingerstripes]

Divide and conquer. [ His grin stays razor sharp, attention only half on Damian now as he takes a swipe at one of their, moving to avoid teeth just a hair faster than he is. There's no hesitation in the way he tosses the instructions over his shoulder. ]

We split the potshots between us, draw them away from the rest of the team.

2. -ish [Planned Ninja Theft Meetings] August 1st

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie is dressed in darker clothing tonight. Her face is covered leaving two gleaming purple orbs to peek out of the darkness of her hood. Her outfit is back but there is no helping the straps of leather or the gleam of metal that dot the perfect darkness of her attire. Yuffie doesn't always dress appropriately but in this case she hadn't wanted to be known or caught. In her hand is a glowing object that, upon closer inspection, appears to be something magical.

She lands silently on the rooftop, not yet realizing that she isn't alone.] Got it! Mission accomplished. [There is pride in her tone as well as a seriousness that is nothing like Yuffie's usual candor.

A shiver twists uncomfortably up Yuffie's spine and she turns to level a glare at the darkness. Someone is there.] You aren't that stealthy. [She calls into the darkness, trying to keep the tension from her voice. Hopefully she's just imagining it and she's talking to herself.

Yuffie is 100% okay with talking to herself.]

[ooc: Let me know if you want anything changed.]

NO IT'S PERFECT

[fingerstripes]

Was it the stripes? [ He's a little impressed, actually, to he made so quickly, though he's careful not to let to show in his voice. He melts out of the shadows, palms open to show off the blue against black, wearing a sheepish expression. ]

Dead giveaway, every time.

<3

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie curls her fingers over her prize while laughing softly.] That's part of it. You're also so loud. You eating chips over there? You know what they say right?

You gotta bring enough for everyone.

[She likes teasing and while she doesn't want to let him catch her with her neat stolen magical item, she can't pass up the chance to make fun of someone.]

[fingerstripes]

[ He's not sure how to peg this one yet; if the banter is mean to distract him or if she's just friendly. Either way he's intrigued.

He tilts his head at a measuring angle, as if he's giving the matter serious consideration. ]

Well, who's to say I didn't? You haven't asked yet.

[thegreatninja]

[It's a bit of both. Yuffie's natural state is teasing while retaining a childish nature. It means that people under estimate her and it gives her an opening to either flee or strike. No one ever pegs Yuffie as the warrior that she is.]

Depends. What kind of chips?

[She can't hide the soft huff of laughter that exhales as she asks him to elaborate. Of course, he probably doesn't have chips on him but if he magically manages to pull something out of that skin tight suite Yuffie wants to know where he'd been keeping it. It doesn't look like it has pockets. Yuffe hates clothes without pockets.]

[fingerstripes]

Hmmm. [ He taps his chin, as if deep in thought. ] Power bar?

[ And he retrieves one from his belt, smile all teeth. ]

It does have crunch.

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie makes a show of rolling her eyes at him.]

Those things are gross. [She is trying not to laugh at him but it's becoming increasingly more difficult with each passing moment. She hasn't forgotten the stolen orb that's hidden in her pocket either.]

If a guy is going to give me food I'm going to make sure it's something nice. Maybe next time I'll let you take me out to eat.

CLOSED to Jonathan Kent

[fingerstripes]

[ Checking the ledger is a daily ritual by now, and the steady flow of people in an out has started to feel almost routine. The names that catch his eye have been few and far between, and he knows he should count himself lucky. Lucky that he can still look at it with some hope of objectively.

Today there's a name on the list that freezes the air in his chest. He doesn't believe it at first, stupidly, irrationally. He doesn't want it to be true, and so it isn't until a cold fist squeezes the disbelief out of his heart that he does.

He knows he has to pull himself together. That the sudden weight in his stomach, the tight lump in his throat is selfish.

And Jon. There's Jon to think about, and that's the crashing realization that finally startles away his numb sense of shock.

He doesn't know who Jon has. Who else he has other than them. He has to check. He has to know he isn't alone in the house, and that's the mumbled excuse he gives as he rushes out of the station, hours early.

It's around 7pm when Dick stops his bike outside of the Kent house, still in uniform as he takes the steps two at a time. Heart in his throat as he knocks on the front door, swift and firm. ]

Hey, Jon?

[supersweet]

[ Jon hasn't gone out. Thankfully there's food and he's managed to scrounge up what he needs, but beyond that, he's stayed in his bed. The letter remains tightly closed in his hand, crumpled and blotched in places, but still legible. Jon didn't want to move. He didn't know what to do. He knows Miss Jones will be informed and maybe he would have to leave? Leave the house his father and mother got for him, for their family?

It was too much. Jon's never been alone and he's never felt the loss cut so keenly before. For a while, he considers ignoring the knock on his door. But his father wouldn't want that. Wiping his face from the drying tear marks, Jon quietly makes his way downstairs and opens the door slightly. ]

. . . Hey.

[fingerstripes]

[ Dick can feel his face falling, and it's partly Jon's tear-streaked face. Partly the way the last little hope in his heart has to die with it.

He draws in a breath. Tries to rearrange his features into something reassuring. He's here for Jon, not himself. ]

Hey, kiddo. I-

I know "sorry" isn't gonna cover it, but... [ It's all anyone had had to say to him, once upon a time. ]

[supersweet]

[ His shoulders hunch and he raises his head, determined to be stronger. ]

My dad is Superman. Sometimes that means having to go.

[fingerstripes]

I know.

[ But the words steady him, probably more than they should. He'd needed to hear it.

His hand finds the boy's shoulder, offering a gentle squeeze. ]

But I think he'd probably tell us it's okay if we're not alright with that for a little while.

[supersweet]

[ Jon shifts awkwardly. He's never hidden how he feels, but now, more than ever, he wants to keep it away from prying eyes. ]

Nothing about this is okay.

[fingerstripes]

...No. It's not.

[ He'll see Clark when he gets home, and so will Jon. His Clark.

But this one. This one is gone.

He kneels down to Jon's level, blue eyes searching for his. ]

But you don't have to deal with it alone.