knowhen | EVENT ONE: JUNE 21ST-28TH

( he isn’t primarily interested in explanations. it’s disconcerting, yes, to be ripped away from gotham and end up in space—but it’s something he can deal with later. for now, he’s heard a distress call. as much as he may wish to grab the latest passerby and demand an explanation, his training takes precedence. it’s trite, but it’s something he’s had to learn—when someone asks for help, you give it to them.

so robin—because he is robin, he doesn’t dare take off the mask, and there’s nowhere to get clothing to establish two identities—is the one on patrol. the cortex seems like the best bet, but he finds the path there almost unnavigable despite having come from there only hours before. this is starting to feel too much like a trap, and all of his sense are acutely aware of the danger that could be lurking around each and every corner.

he goes upwards on instinct, climbing into the high beams arching across the upper decks. he feels safe where he can have a vantage point, hood pulled forward to shield his face as he gazes below him.

from there, he can see hostiles come and go—and he can also see others who must be like him, brought here with little explanation and no plan at all.

he won’t come down for just anything, however. it’s only when he senses danger that he might leap down to block an attack from an alien aggressor, to give someone else a chance to escape.

or he might catch a face that looks familiar, or at least useful. those people will find themselves stuck from behind—though not with enough force to do more than attract attention. robin will wait above, another piece of scrap poised in one hand, intent on seeing whether his target will notice his presence. )

[Nita took a wrong turn...somewhere, and is retracing her aerial path through the mess of girders and catwalks to try again from a familiar starting point. She knows just enough about Knowhere to almost be able to navigate it, and that's worse than being clueless, in a way.

Her darkvision is good, and as she zips past Damian, headed down, the brighter highlights of his costume catch her eye. It takes her a second, but that's totally a person she just flew past. With a quick and graceful motion she reverses course, and pauses level with Damian, hovering on her strange little ankle wings.]

Oh, hey. You're not stuck or anything, are you?

[He got up, and he's dressed like a superhero, so he can probably get down, right?]

( damian, of course, finds the implication very insulting. just because he isn't yet five feet tall, everyone seems to think he's some sort of invalid. it's exactly the kind of ageist behavior that makes most other people wholly unbearable.

it probably doesn't help matters that he puffs up like an angry kitten, shoulders squared and lips pursed before he says, hotly: ) Do I look stuck to you?

[Oh Father Neptune, he's adorable. Through an act of will, Nita manages not to giggle, and just shrugs.]

I'd rather offer to help someone and find out they don't need it than the other way around.

[She is an after school special in human(oid) form, yes.]

It would be laughably easy to take advantage of that.

( ugh, who just says things like that? gives away their motivations. unless she really isn't so kind, and is just trying to lull him into a false sense of security.

he doesn't know if he's ready to give her that much credit. )

[Nita is not in the running for any kind of Top 100 finish in the Duplicity Cup, and she knows it, so why bother trying? Being friendly has worked out well for her, if only because it tends to inspire scarier people to come to her aid when she needs it.]

Yeah? Are you gonna?

[She does not seem unduly bothered by this possibility.]

( arms crossed, he lifts his chin. )

I haven't decided yet.

[Must. Not. Ruffle. Hair.]

Oh, well then. Probably shouldn't have announced that. Now I'm on my guard.

[No she's not.]

Somehow, that doesn't worry me.

( his voice is flat and knowing, features warped into what seems to be a permanent look of disdain. )

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littlecousin - 2014-07-03 14:57 (UTC) - Expand

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xuffasch - 2014-07-06 22:42 (UTC) - Expand

[At some point in the battle when he finds himself needing more information, he heads up, too. The action itself is instinctual for him as well, knowing that what he sees from up there will give him a better perspective on what's going on and help him come up with a better plan. It's a tactic that he often used with Bruce, sitting high up to come up with the next direction to take. Half their conversations were held on rooftops and ledges, and those moments aren't lost to him.

Of course, now that he's here, now that he's different, he intends to apply it differently.

Or intended to, anyway.

The moment he spots the kid in the Robin costume, his mind goes blank—or some extremely emotional semblance of blank.

There's a twisting in his stomach at the shape of the R, and he takes note of the costume: this isn't the same kid that Talia showed him. The one there looked different: he had different hair, he was a couple years older, and there's, of course, the different costume. But this kid is still unmistakably a Robin.

Once the original visceral (and very emotional) reaction passes, he tries to focus. He tries to clear his mind. Robin, whoever that Robin is, is someone he should chat with. Jason knows he should steer clear if he wants to remain anonymous, but he's too curious. The desire for intel wins out (and frankly, his impulsiveness wins out, too). If he jumped down and got away without being spotted, he could find out more later. He knows that—but Jason's not always found what he should do to a T. That's always been his problem (or so Bruce would say, sometimes at inopportune moments).

So he acts, edging along the thin metal bar in front of him before he reaches another pillar and presses against it. He keeps himself out of view for the moment, but he wouldn't be surprised if the kid spotted him. If he's trained by Bruce, he's aware of his surroundings. He has to be.]

Hey, Robin. Didn't expect to see anyone from Gotham here. What a surprise. [His voice is soft, casual, lacking any of the antagonizing qualities that it might have otherwise. He wants to engage in a conversation, even if there's a relative uncertainty right underneath the surface, as well as the fact that he's just barely keeping his emotions in check.] Space, huh? Any idea what guys like us should be doing right about now?

[Guys like us. The control over his emotions is almost undone by his own words. They're both Robins, both individuals who wore that R as kids. He inhales deeply and waits for a response, utterly focused on the conversation that's going to take place.

He seems to block out his surroundings. (A bad move. A really bad move.)]

Edited 2014-06-24 03:52 (UTC)

( he's too well-trained to not notice todd's presence, even if the sight of him doesn't match up to the tone of his voice. there's something off; that much damian can tell immediately.

it doesn't help that he always has such an immediate and visceral response to the erstwhile red hood-- he hasn't known him as he's known grayson, or even drake. there's been no period to adjust, unless you count scrambling fights through gotham's streets.

(it doesn't help that so many people look at damian and see jason-- violent and unchecked, the tainted robins.)

but immediately damian's head snaps up, his eyes searching for todd's face in the semi-darkness. his lip curls and he immediately shifts-- halfway to a lunge, ready to go all the way if need be. )

There is no us, ( he spits out, forgetting anything else. ) You're on your own.

( it isn't what robin should say to someone asking for help. but damian decides this is a special case. )

[There are a lot of things that Jason has that could be counted as negative points against him, but he's pretty observant. The moment the kid's response comes, he turns to spot him, and he sees his positioning. That's someone prepared to fight. The fact that he's prepared to fight strikes Jason as a little funny, even if he knows he shouldn't be discounting him. They're all well-trained. Otherwise, they wouldn't be there at Batman's side. That's the simple truth of it.]

And you're willing to make sure I don't try to change that, huh? Why is that? [The casual softness from his tone is gone, replaced by a curiosity. He isn't forceful in his tone yet, but he is conscious of where his weapons are, if need be.

Jason's not up for a Gotham-style brawl yet. Hell, he's not even certain what measures he'd take there, and this isn't the time or place.

But he'll act in what necessary ways that the situation calls for.]

( if damian was prone to using the colloquialisms typical of his age, he might answer with "because you suck." he's never had a particularly favorable view of jason, and every encounter he's had with the former robin has only made matters worse. )

Why do you think? I don't like you.

( everything about his tone makes it clear that it's worse than that-- he despises jason. even if he ends up being the only other gothamite on this entire station-- the only other person from their universe-- damian still wouldn't be inclined to count him as an ally. )

What is wrong with you?

[Jason doesn't take long to locate his gun, fingers wrapping around the butt of it, but he doesn't move to do more than that, and he sure as hell isn't going for the trigger. But he's prepared for this going ugly, because he's used to a whole lot of ugly. The fact that this little Robin knows who he is unsettles him. Had Bruce trained him by using videos of him? Had he taught him the ways to not be Jason Todd? It seems likely, because there aren't a whole lot of other ways for him to know.

But the problem is, how could he tell? And that quickly? Jason hasn't looked (or, frankly, sounded) that young in years.

There are other reasons why this kid knows who he is, and the biggest one is that his return has been announced in advance. Was it Thomas Elliot? Did he decide not to bank on using Jason Todd? Odds are in that favor, but Jason's intel still doesn't line up with another Robin. That seems like something Talia would mention, right? That seems high on the list of things, anyway.

He starts standing slowly, keeping his back pressed against the pillar as he rises up.]

Starting to wonder if this is a case of mistaken identity, Robin. [It's said quickly, but there's a certain intensity to his tone. Jason doesn't like any direction this is going in. Any of the potential realities for why this is a thing at all don't look like they're his idea of a good time. Not one bit.] So you're gonna tell me who I am, how you know that—[The intensity breaks there, becoming a touch too incensed.]—and then we're gonna deal with that.

[Maybe not now, but they would.]

Edited (close your italics!! the html story.) 2014-06-26 21:06 (UTC)

( if it were anyone else, damian might be concerned that he'd been forgotten. but it's todd, so he doesn't bother to dwell on it. he certainly doesn't look the way he did the last time damian saw him, and there might be any number of explanations for that. bruce had managed to go through time, after all. and if this place is pulling them in from across space, maybe time isn't so far off...

but there's no time to think that though. todd is a threat, no matter how much he knows. and right now, damian has the advantage. so he smiles, slowly and deliberately, showing all of his teeth. )

Or what? You'll throw a tantrum?

Why shouldn't I know? You're a predecessor, aren't you?

( he's too wary of keeping up robin's identity to spell it out more than that, but he trusts that jason will know his meaning. )

Edited 2014-06-29 01:50 (UTC)

I did my homework. You aren't the one who picked up the boots after me. [And added in pants, for that matter. Sure, Jason hasn't had a chance to meet the guy, but he's seen the pictures of him. He wouldn't admit it (he can't admit it), but he's memorized every inch of that face. He's looked into him, too: smart kid, does well in school, has it all worked out for him. He doesn't come from the same roots as Jason.]

Or maybe Batman is looking into an army of brats. New kids to do his bidding so he can use 'em until they bite it. Jason's careful about his phrasing, careful not to let his own biases seep in. But he's almost too careful. The words are sharp and pointed, delivered quickly, but not with the same casual ease as he might on other occasions.] Could be a new thing, but that isn't like him. That's too many people in his network, too many ties that can be cut or severed or messed with. [He shakes his head.] That just doesn't seem likely.

So it's something else. You know me. That isn't something you pick up from videos. The ageing would throw anyone, and it hasn't thrown you. [There's a pause as he pieces it together.] So, time travel.

You actually don't know. ( that's said with a bit of surprise, but mostly a kind of vindication. he can use this, can't he? he can have the upper hand for once, instead of falling to todd's chaotic nature like he has in the past. he just has to think of how to play this.

but there's another, less logical, side of him. and that side is demanding that he throw the facts in jason's face. that he says exactly who he is, and see how the other deals with it. if he can, at all.

thankfully, that side doesn't win out just yet. he only scoffs. )

I'm the best of them. Not dead, not a failure. And since you were both, I'd say that makes you the worst.

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uneulogized - 2014-07-02 22:09 (UTC) - Expand

[sometimes when things get bad they get bad. (and that's all relative to experience, really—chased by ET thugs was definitely above being chased by megalomanic fire giants or a mob of Asgardian aggressors bent on throwing him into the depths of the worst dungeons in the Nine Realms.

this he could get out of!

probably.

so he goes scrambling at a run, trying to keep his hood up while being pursued by some interesting characters (not so strange, actually, from what he had seen in the branches of the World Ash.]

Really, honest, I didn't do anything!

[he calls back to his pursuers ... like he means it!]

( alright, so this kid is very clearly incompetent. but he is also very clearly a kid, and therefore damian can't just leave him to be ripped apart by aliens. the thought is definitely tempting, however.

damian skips over the beams he's nested in until he's a bit ahead of loki, then hooks his legs over one beam so that he can swing his upper body down to eye-level, extending a hand. )

Grab on. ( he says, curtly and without preamble. )

[Loki doesn't miss a beat—but Damian is in for a bit of a surprise. he reaches up to grab his hand, and puts his weight on it. he's a lot heavier than he looks, but he compensates by giving a spry little bounce from the floor and using the balance, grab on to the side of one of the rafters before partially hefting himself up.]

Much appreciated! These fine fellows gave me chase, and I hadn't even gotten to the "your mom" insults.

[he fumbles and kicks one of them in the head as they pass by.]

Whoops! Awfully sorry.

[but he's not sorry at all, especially not in the way he blows a raspberry in their direction.]

( damian lifts both his brows, a gesture mostly obscured by his mask. as soon as loki starts hoisting himself up, damian lets go and and nudges himself over-- putting a conscious space between them. )

Amateur. ( he mutters that with a roll of his eyes, although it's unclear if he's directing that at the aliens or loki himself. )

You didn't realize they were hostiles?

[he's good at not hearing what he doesn't want to, and doesn't ask for clarification. instead he crouches on the beam and peeks down at his now confused pursuers.]

There are always hostiles when I'm involved. I remain unpleasantly unsurprised.

[there's a quirk of his brow.]

You've a costume. Are you a some manner of Midgardian hero? Or are you a magical space-goer?

[well, he looks enthusiastic about it.]

Edited (icons: things i can choose ETA WOW OR NOT) 2014-06-26 02:15 (UTC)

It's a uniform. ( it's a costume. but he takes every part of being robin and twists it away from the former bearers of the name as much as he can, so right now the contradiction seems fitting to him. )

Robin. ( he says, as though that should answer all of loki's suppositions. ) I'm Robin.

[why else would mortals dress up? he gets a mildly curious look before Loki takes a look down between the beams again.]

Robin as in the bird, or Robin as in robbin'?

[too clever for school.

he delivers the punchline with a straight face before moving on smoothly.]

Robin, then. Well-met, I'm Loki of Asgardia. Consider all proper pleasantries extended and reciprocated.

Where are you headed?

( he could not be less impressed with that joke, and it's obvious in the way he tuts impatiently. )

Robin, as in Batman and.

( his dad has definitely been to space. and so has grayson. their reputation should carry, shouldn't it?

asgardia isn't a word he recognizes entirely-- norse, isn't it?--but loki is more familiar. some kid taking the name of a mythical god doesn't seem so strange, so he returns that with a curt nod. )

The Cortex. That's how we got here, isn't it? So it can send us back.

EVENT ONE: JUNE 21ST-28TH

damian wayne ✘ open

tinybat :3

fish princess :o

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