[Sometime during the day, Dick will find a little bunch of yellow flowers placed on his pillow. There's no note or anything (not that the writing would stick around long), but if he asks around, he might find that this particular bloom's name is Rue.]
I'M SO SORRY this notif died somewhere in my inbox, lmk if this works!
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pixieboots
2014-11-19 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ It takes Dick a few days. Partly because he doesn't sleep there in that room, not ever, and partly because the mystery itself requires a little groundwork. It's groundwork that's interrupted two-fold by the flood and then the whirlpools, and by the time all the pieces finally click together Rue's flowers are dried and wilting. Once he knows for sure what they are he finds himself staring for a few minutes anyway, a tiny smile stealing across his face. Then he tucks them back into his belt.
He owes someone an apology.
Sometime early evening, once the water's receded enough to allow for reentry, Rue might spot a shadow by her window, followed by a light, almost tentative tap on the glass. ]
He owes someone an apology.
Sometime early evening, once the water's receded enough to allow for reentry, Rue might spot a shadow by her window, followed by a light, almost tentative tap on the glass. ]
[It's the tap that gets her attention, and she's immediately alert, eyes searching the room. When she finally spots the shadow, she walks over to the window and opens it a smidgen.]
Robin?
[One of them, at least. She really needs to figure out a way to differentiate name-wise.]
Robin?
[One of them, at least. She really needs to figure out a way to differentiate name-wise.]
Yeah, it's me. [ He's perching on the sill, grapple loose in his hand. He wouldn't blame her if she shut it in his face. ]
...You busy?
...You busy?
No, uh... nothing like that. [ There's that sharp little twinge of guilt again, for setting her on edge. But when she moves he takes it as an invitation and hops inside, shaking the chill off when the warmer air of the room hits his skin. ]
I was just, uh- [ In the neighborhood? Lonely?
Instead he reaches into his belt and comes out with a few yellow, picked flowers. They're a little crumpled, but new and fresh. ]
-I solved the mystery.
I was just, uh- [ In the neighborhood? Lonely?
Instead he reaches into his belt and comes out with a few yellow, picked flowers. They're a little crumpled, but new and fresh. ]
-I solved the mystery.
[He had briefly thought about including Dick in the message he sent out, but decides against it because of Dick’s age and when he came from. Dick has had enough surprises rocking his world so the least Tim could do is make it a little easier, however marginal it might be.
In the end he decides to ask Dick to meet him, because it might be better to do this in person. He uses video aimed at the ground once more, voice quiet and a little tired.]
Roof, block 6, ten minutes. Please.
[When Dick arrives, he’ll find Tim in civilian clothing, mostly hidden by the garden growing on the roof.]
In the end he decides to ask Dick to meet him, because it might be better to do this in person. He uses video aimed at the ground once more, voice quiet and a little tired.]
Roof, block 6, ten minutes. Please.
[When Dick arrives, he’ll find Tim in civilian clothing, mostly hidden by the garden growing on the roof.]
[ Something's wrong. He knows it from the moment he hears Tim's voice, that he's in trouble. That he needs him there ten minutes ago, not ten minutes from now. He makes it in about nine and a half anyway, losing the line mid-jump and letting momentum and gravity do the rest of his work. ]
Hey, Red- [ -and the name dies in his throat almost too late. Civvies.
He changes direction and drops into the garden instead with a soundless hop, waiting a few token seconds before he slides in between two fronds; still hidden, but visible from where Tim is standing. Robin doesn't know Tim.
Something's wrong. ]
...Tim?
Hey, Red- [ -and the name dies in his throat almost too late. Civvies.
He changes direction and drops into the garden instead with a soundless hop, waiting a few token seconds before he slides in between two fronds; still hidden, but visible from where Tim is standing. Robin doesn't know Tim.
Something's wrong. ]
...Tim?
Edited (i lied) 2014-11-24 12:27 (UTC)
[He looks up when his periphery vision catches the flash of yellow, not speaking until Dick finds a spot between the foliage. Instead of giving into the urge to scrub at his face with his hands, he sticks both hands in his jeans pockets, a reassuring smile in place. He knows it's unusual to contact Dick in his civvies, but there's no chance for him to change when Bruce is here.]
Hey, how are you doing?
Hey, how are you doing?
Yeah, we do. But I didn't know these ones. Not until I did more of the groundwork. [ Now that he gets to explain the process his face is lighting up a little. ]
The clue was good, Rue.
The clue was good, Rue.
[ So they are alone.
It's his cue to move, so he does, cautiously up and out of the foliage. ] Me? I'm, uh. I'm doing okay. [ His nerves are on edge, suddenly. ]
...What's up?
It's his cue to move, so he does, cautiously up and out of the foliage. ] Me? I'm, uh. I'm doing okay. [ His nerves are on edge, suddenly. ]
...What's up?
[The hesitation clues him in and he immediately feels awful, knowing it's his fault. He showed too much, he should've been more careful with his tone and choice of words. But he wasn't, so he probably freaked Dick out for no reason.
To be honest, the Bruce situation is really overwhelming in ways he can't let himself articulate yet, not even in his own mind. But he shouldn't have let it get to him enough to give it away over the comm, even if it's to Dick. Especially since it's to Dick, who isn't the older brother he knows and is too young and certainly not equipped to deal with any of Tim's issues.
He shoots him another reassuring smile, insistent in willing Dick to believe him.]
You didn't do anything wrong.
[He takes a breath.
Lets it out.
Takes another.
There's no point in stalling or hiding anything, it would only be worse in the long run. He knows there's no good way to break the news to Dick, and that makes him tempted to put it off forever.]
I need to tell you something. It's important, so hear me out?
To be honest, the Bruce situation is really overwhelming in ways he can't let himself articulate yet, not even in his own mind. But he shouldn't have let it get to him enough to give it away over the comm, even if it's to Dick. Especially since it's to Dick, who isn't the older brother he knows and is too young and certainly not equipped to deal with any of Tim's issues.
He shoots him another reassuring smile, insistent in willing Dick to believe him.]
You didn't do anything wrong.
[He takes a breath.
Lets it out.
Takes another.
There's no point in stalling or hiding anything, it would only be worse in the long run. He knows there's no good way to break the news to Dick, and that makes him tempted to put it off forever.]
I need to tell you something. It's important, so hear me out?
[ He can see it now, with no mask there to hide it. That Tim's upset. Tim. ]
Hey... [ His blood's running like ice but he edges in a step closer anyway, hand reaching out instinctively to light on his arm. ]
You're my friend. Whatever it is, we can deal.
Hey... [ His blood's running like ice but he edges in a step closer anyway, hand reaching out instinctively to light on his arm. ]
You're my friend. Whatever it is, we can deal.
Yeah. The best ones never give away the punch line. [ He holds the new flowers up, holding them out like a peace offering. ]
But these ones are just for show. To replace the ones you gave away.
But these ones are just for show. To replace the ones you gave away.
[Get a hold of yourself, Drake.
It's silly but...the hand on his arm is reassuring the same way it would be if Dick had been older, and inexplicably he does feel a little better.]
You and me, right? We got this.
[He plows onward, not waiting for a response to something he isn't sure he can completely believe, because he is in over his head and Dick is too young to be able to deal with this. Even so, the smile he has is more honest than earlier, and then it fades into a more serious expression.]
B is here, [He continues quickly before he can lose the nerve, steeling himself for the inevitable reaction.] and he's about your age.
It's silly but...the hand on his arm is reassuring the same way it would be if Dick had been older, and inexplicably he does feel a little better.]
You and me, right? We got this.
[He plows onward, not waiting for a response to something he isn't sure he can completely believe, because he is in over his head and Dick is too young to be able to deal with this. Even so, the smile he has is more honest than earlier, and then it fades into a more serious expression.]
B is here, [He continues quickly before he can lose the nerve, steeling himself for the inevitable reaction.] and he's about your age.
[ Something in his heart leaps so fast and wild with the first words that the next ones blend right in before Tim's demeanor registers again. Those words... ] B...?
[ About your age. It can't be. It can't be Bruce. Bruce is Bruce, Bruce is Batman. And it's one disappointment he's been through before. Hopes raised and then dashed.
But the way Tim said it... ] Wait, back... back up a few steps. Who's... [ He's desperate for the answer and afraid of it at the same time. ] -Who's B?
[ About your age. It can't be. It can't be Bruce. Bruce is Bruce, Bruce is Batman. And it's one disappointment he's been through before. Hopes raised and then dashed.
But the way Tim said it... ] Wait, back... back up a few steps. Who's... [ He's desperate for the answer and afraid of it at the same time. ] -Who's B?
I could've been nicer. [ His hand goes to the back of his neck, sheepish and suddenly, oddly shy. ]
...About what I, uh- said back there...
I shouldn't have said that.
...About what I, uh- said back there...
I shouldn't have said that.
Video (covered screen); two days after the new arrivals
littlestguano
2014-12-06 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
Are you busy? [He doesn't bother to introduce himself, assuming Grayson will recognize his voice.]
Edited (lol that wrong icon...) 2014-12-06 02:48 (UTC)
...No? [ It's only the covered screen that makes him (maybe stubbornly) cover his. ]
You know the voice is kinda obvious by now, right?
You know the voice is kinda obvious by now, right?
[There's a pause and then the cover is removed.]
...it was habit. I don't use the audio function. [Except for very infrequently when someone who knows his ID initiates a conversation. Which has happened all of once. Which is what he reminds himself as he fights down a very slight flush of embarrassment.]
I was hoping that we could meet.
...it was habit. I don't use the audio function. [Except for very infrequently when someone who knows his ID initiates a conversation. Which has happened all of once. Which is what he reminds himself as he fights down a very slight flush of embarrassment.]
I was hoping that we could meet.
Edited 2014-12-06 03:34 (UTC)
[ It earns him a quick laugh that's more relief than anything else. He's already worried; worried about Damian, worried about what he's going to say to Damian about all of this, and now the covered screen set his nerves on edge a little more. ]
Hey, it's okay. I don't use it either unless, uh- [ He doesn't have an answer that fits.
But a moment passes, and then he lets the cape slide down and away from the screen. Smiles aren't all that hard to fake so he tries one, waving at the screen. ]
...Yeah, sure we can. Where?
Hey, it's okay. I don't use it either unless, uh- [ He doesn't have an answer that fits.
But a moment passes, and then he lets the cape slide down and away from the screen. Smiles aren't all that hard to fake so he tries one, waving at the screen. ]
...Yeah, sure we can. Where?
[He knows better than to comment on his trailed off words.]
We can meet near the well and go somewhere from there. Ten minutes?
We can meet near the well and go somewhere from there. Ten minutes?
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