batmanschmatman | 038 [audio]

Entry tags:

038 [audio]

I know it's kind of ridiculous to try to look for a point to any of this? But I still think it if we were going to be able to be contacted by people not on the Barge, it would have been more handy to let us pick who we could contact. And when to contact them in the timeline.

I hate time travel.

[Private to Costigan]

I saw you talking with Sullivan. How are you doing?

[Private to Hayley]

So, I met your Harvey.

[Private to Bruce; added a little later]

You told Crane?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Cissie winces at that. She can guess it's something along those lines. You don't go from a twelve to a five that quickly unless some other emotion interferes.] Yeah? How come?

We got into a fight. How much do you know about when Tim's from?

[She glances at him and debates how to answer that.] ...He's told me most of it.

He... God, I don't... [He runs his left hand through his hair, screwing up his face in frustration for a moment.]

He's angry that I took over for him. When we thought he was dead.

[Cissie actually stops walking at that, to stare at him. Because... seriously, what?]

Are you--of course you're not kidding. But what the hell?

I have literally no idea. Apparently, in his mind, I - all of us, whatever, got on just fine without him after he was "dead". And I'm standing here, thinking about what I've heard and see all this has done to Tim, and how I've been terrified of going home for even a day or two because I might have to actually live through that and I just... I don't know. This is what I've been afraid of happening ever since I found out the big secret, because he might be an asshole and he's really damn hard to deal with most of the time, but...

[He trails off and after a beat, slowly starts walking again.] I don't get how he can think that about us. About me.

That is such complete bullshit, [she says fiercely, falling into step with him again.] He does not get to judge how you all chose to deal with his death. I mean, okay. Out of loyalty to Tim, I am obligated to say that you could have handled things better, but that's--not really you, since it hasn't happened for you. And in all seriousness, you were all grieving, and if anybody gets making stupid decisions you'll regret later in that state of mind, it's me.

Yeah, I don't - None of that is me. I still don't really understand why I did or I'm going to do any of that, honestly. Like, I can see why someone would need to take over? And Tim's too young and Jason's nuts, so I'm kind of stuck, but I wouldn't take Robin away from Tim and I wouldn't like being Batman, especially under those circumstances, and I just... I'm tired of everyone being angry with me for decisions I haven't made yet, especially if it's just going to be lashing out and saying I don't care about them.

[Cissie sighs a little, trying to figure out how to respond to all of that.] It's not fair to get mad at you for stuff you haven't done yet. And... Look, Tim's been known to lash out and push people away when he's hurting too, and whoever else is angry with you has probably done it too. It happens, and it sucks, but what matters is that if people really care about you, you can fix it later. I'm not kidding--Bruce died. It screwed you all up. And I don't think it's a terrible thing if you do eventually grow to like being Batman. I mean, as far as future-you knows, you're stuck with it. If you hate it forever, you're going to be ineffective and you're going to resent everything about it. Then you may as well not do it. But I seriously doubt it's like you jumped into the suit the day after he died and the minute you put it on decided you found your calling. Come on. If you're going to be Batman, you're going to do it your way and you have to be able to live with yourself and do whatever gets you through every day.

Yeah, I know, I just... I'm having a hard time accepting it. And then to have it thrown back at me like it's something I'm looking forward to and going to enjoy when it happens is so unfathomable to me.

[He's quiet for a beat, sort of trying to process all of it.] Sorry, Cissie. I feel bad just kind of dumping on you.

[She gives him a little smile.] Don't be. It's better than keeping it bottled up inside and--like I said--I'm mostly uninvolved and already know the secret stuff. Besides, I didn't have to bully you into talking, so that's a plus.

[She takes a breath and shakes her head, scowling again.] Bruce is... a selfish jerk. I'm sorry, but he is. If he can't even let go of his own ego to consider what you must have gone through... I don't even know. But whatever he did to Crane was stupid and selfish and jerky too, because seriously? I knew Tim for almost a year before accidentally finding out his name, because he wouldn't let Tim tell us. And here he goes just... not even caring?

Once you get me going, it's kind of hard to get me to stop. [And that smile actually looks a little less forced and unhappy.]

That's what I don't get. I thought he was going to flip tables when I told him I told Costigan, and frankly, he kind of seemed like he was going to start stalking the hell out of him because he's got sensitive information and "might be a threat", but now he's just... jumping Crane and telling him who he is? Call me crazy, but even to Mr. Paranoid Control Freak, I think known villain from back home ranks a lot lower on the trust scale then my inmate.

He tried playing the "the Barge is a different environment, Batman is more important" card and bitched me out when I called him on it. I don't even know, Cissie. I just kind of can't believe this just happened.

Hello? Exactly. I think pulling that means he loses his right to get all picky about who you and Tim chose to tell. And that's just the stupidest thing I've ever heard. If Batman is more important, then what is he even doing on the Barge at all? If any of you pulled something like that, he would have flipped out.

He's here because he just died. I don't think he actually really cares or understands what this place is supposed to be about more then in a general sense of well I'm here now, might as well make the best of it.

[She makes a face.] I almost feel bad for his inmate.

I do too. I mean, seriously, I get that he didn't ask to be here and I doubt he has a deal with the Admiral, but it's not his job to police the rest of the Barge, and I think he thinks it is.

[That gets a light snort.] I think that's a lesson he should learn pretty quickly. The other wardens aren't going to put up with him interfering very much. I mean... I doubt Eames is going to let this go, or he shouldn't. The problem with this is that Bruce is denying it and Crane isn't the most trustworthy of inmates, and I doubt Bruce left much evidence behind. And that's just--unfair.

[Why yes, she is thinking of the time Tim had to spend a week in Zero for beating up the Joker after he killed Shego. If people beat on Crane for being a douche, he'd be getting attacked every week.]

I just don't get why he waited this long to do something. If he was going to attack Crane, why not do it right after he filmed Perry and Rex? And why tell him who he was if he's just going to play with him and act like "Bruce Wayne, airheaded socialite" in front of everyone else? He's really just making everything worse.

And not to sound horrible? Because he's a total jackass and everything, but I still love the guy, but I hope Eames does do something. If we're going to stop him from pulling this kind of thing every few weeks, people can't let him get away with it.

Seriously. Waiting that long to do something, it's... Look, this will be a horrible metaphor, but you can't punish children or animals so long after they've done something wrong that they don't remember what they're being punished for. And if one parent gives a punishment, it's not up to... the next door neighbor to come along and try to punish them too.

Not just him, either. If he was anyone else, it would be easy to prove it happened, and any warden that attacks an inmate--theirs or not--should be punished. Especially when it's not their place to step in. And that's not even getting into how much this might have damaged whatever progress Eames was making with Crane. It's not okay. Maybe I've been spending too much time with Howie, but if we're going to just undermine each other all the time without any repercussions, what's the point?

No, I think that's a pretty fair metaphor. I mean, obviously Crane isn't a kid, but delaying punishment for anything is rarely a good idea.

There isn't one. Especially when you know he's going to throw a fit when someone tries to tell him he's not doing a good job with his inmate.

I don't know, Cissie. I'm not really sure what my next step should be outside of just telling him to get the hell out of my life for a while. If he can't be bothered to let me know he's blowing our cover and god knows what else, what's the point?

[Cissie continues walking quietly, thinking. She's not sure this is a good idea or not, but it's a nagging feeling she's getting.] I think... maybe that's what you need to do. Or at least, you have to make it clear how much he's screwed up with this. I mean--hear me out. I think the only people who can get through to him here are you and Tim. Maybe Steph, but I don't know much about that. What would he do if any of you pulled that kind of stunt?

He'd flip out. [The answer was pretty immediate, and obvious. It wasn't like Bruce didn't trust their judgment, but he was definitely a control freak. It was why he'd wanted to meet Sylar and Costigan, and thank god he'd at least backed off on that issue.

Dick was quiet for a moment before laughing softly.] Costigan thinks I should try punching him in the face.

[That surprises a laugh out of Cissie.] It might surprise him, but it might take more than one punch to knock sense into him, if that's your goal.

Yeah, I don't think you're wrong. [And he's quiet for a moment, the faint smile sort of fading.]

I don't think the Barge is really the best place for him, honestly. I don't know if he'll ever really get it unless someone sits him down and makes it sound like our inmates are basically our "cities", and therefore Jim's the new Gotham or something. I mean, he trusted me with a city, he doesn't care about what goes on in Metropolis or Star City unless like, Two-Face is hanging out there... You'd think letting someone be in charge of a city's a way bigger judgment call then just one person's well being.

You would think, [she agrees, making a face.]

...You know, I think you and Tim need to talk about this. Figure out together how to handle it, because he'll have a harder time fighting against a united front than the two of you reacting emotionally on your own. And maybe he needs to hear that metaphor, but he might also need to hear what an ass he's being and... maybe you need to shut him out until he gets it. Maybe he needs, like, an intervention, but mostly I think the two of you probably know him best and have probably the best chance of getting through to him.

[Spam!]

batmanschmatman - 2011-04-12 18:46 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only