batmanschmatman | 001 [video] introduction

Hayley Stark, inmate. Robert Capa -- we call him Capa -- is my warden.

Harvey Dent was a good friend while he was here. He graduated and went home to try to change things. I.. actually still have his coin. It's sad that most of you guys don't like him, although I guess most of you came from like, a totally different universe than he did? Because he wasn't the same as the comic book or movie versions and Eddie didn't know recognize him like Crane did and Eddie didn't recognize Crane as Scarecrow, so.. I guess it's pretty complicated?

Sorry. I know you guys are kind of.. secret.. about your secret identities? I don't really talk about it, though. I mean, except with you, but that's because I'm like, a total goon. I'm just curious about everything.

It's okay, Tim warned me about you knowing. And about the comic book thing.

Like I said, I've got my issues with him, but back where I'm from, he's... reformed, I guess. So it's not a big deal.

I'm glad. It.. probably would have been creepier if he hadn't, I'm guessing. I have a couple here if you want to read them. I'm not sure if any have you in them.. You were the first Robin, right? ..but you're welcome to look. I kind of not-so-accidentally told Harvey that Bruce is Batman that way, but maybe it could be equally beneficial to you.

I understand that. Did you know Crane and Eddie and Tim and Joker and all those guys beforehand?

[Ffffff, this is so weird.]

Yeah, I was the first Robin, and I knew all of them before I got here.

So... are these books like... popular back where you're from or what?

Uh, the basic story is pretty popular? Batman and Robin fighting villains like the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Poison Ivy.. stuff like that. The details are a little less common. Some people are into comic books and some aren't. But even if they are? There's a ton to choose from, from Batman to Watchmen and Justice League to X-Men. So not a lot of people know a lot about Batman. But I mean, there was a guy here whose life was really similar to Watchmen too and we've had Spiderman and some X-Men, so.. they might all exist. That's kind of weird to think about, actually. I'm not sure if it's weirder to find out stories are real or that real people have stories written after them..

[Hayley flicks on the video, holding up one of the comics.]

This is the only one I have with you, I think. I only have about six total.

[And that's... one of the weirder things he's ever seen. So he's going to stare at it for a minute.]

Speaking from recent experience? It's pretty weird to find out you're fictional.

[Hayley sets the comic on the desk and flicks through it a little bit, then glances back up at him.]

That's.. weird. I never really pictured you as being more attractive than Tim. I mean, no offense or anything? You just, you know.. You were kind of scrawny. [She offers an exaggerated smile.]

So what do you say, Grayson? Want to read about your own epic battle with Catwoman?

I've been told I aged well.

I guess so. We'll have to see if it lives up to what actually happened.

Not bad. [She sounds amused rather than flirtatious at all.]

You don't have to. These comics are pretty old and valuable, after all. I would hate to have someone reading them who doesn't appreciate their antique value, even if you are featured inside.

It's not like I'm going to set it on fire or anything.

Do you promise? Because I was worried that was the case.

[SARCASM.]

Edited 2010-12-08 06:35 (UTC)

I'll be on my best behavior. Scout's honor.

Why don't we do coffee late tonight? I don't really sleep too well and there'll be like, a lot less people around then.

Works for me. It's not like I keep regular hours either.

Cool. Dining hall?

[Hayley meanders to the dining hall as promised, the comic tucked into a plastic sheet and carefully held beneath her arm. She's in her usual red jacket and skinny jeans, a little nervous about meeting Dick but trusting he's enough like his comic self to not be a problem. Besides, her taser is tucked into her back pocket like always, hidden beneath the jacket so as not to be completely obvious.

She moves into the large room, glancing around to the one person on the opposite side and knowing it's not Dick. The inmate moves to the area near the kitchen to grab a cup of black coffee, then takes a seat off to the corner a little. She sets the comic and the mug on the table, folding her hands in her lap and waiting.]

[And Dick comes by a little while later, but as he's still not really sure what to make of this whole comic book thing he holds back for a second. But, after spotting Hayley, he walked over to her, eying the comic book on the table.]

Hi. You are Hayley, right?

[Because considering all the people here, it was perfectly possible that there were people who looked similar to others on the Barge, and God only knew he'd seen weirder stuff before.]

[The girl looks up at him with a smile bordering on a smirk, both coy and confident in her posture and expression. She glances around the dining hall and then back up to him again.]

Were you planning on meeting another teenage girl here to read about your own past? [She asks, amused. Then, after a beat, nods.] Yeah, I am.

You never know, apparently it's a popular thing to read. [Which, again, was. Weird. But he'd roll with it.] Nice to meet you in person.

[He sat down at her table, still kind of not exactly looking at the comic book.] So, are you fictional somewhere else too, or is that something reserved for a lucky few of us?

You too. [She smiled, offering her hand in greeting despite the delay, trying to be polite if nothing else. This was Dick Grayson, after all.]

I, uh.. I guess I hadn't really thought about it? I mean, I don't think I am. My life's really not that interesting and no one's told me if I am or anything, so I'd like to think it's not public knowledge. You never really know though, in a place like this. [She shrugged uncomfortably and grabbed her coffee, taking a long sip as much to force him to talk as because she genuinely wanted a drink.]

[And he'll be accepting the handshake. Inmate or not, she doesn't seem that bad at all. And let's face it, if she turns out to be trouble, he's definitely ready to handle that.

... Paranoia clearly just comes with being a Bat.]

Guess not. At least you're aware of the possibility? I'm just hoping this isn't the calm before the storm of my brain exploding or something.

If you've survived this far? You should be okay. At least you have some background, you know? I mean, you were a superhero and you fought these totally crazy people, some of who had powers and whatever. Try coming from normal California with no heroes or villains or vampires or magic or aliens or anything.. and then trying to get used to the Barge. I'm sure it sucks, having your life known at all like this, but at least there's that, right?

[She takes another sip of her coffee and sets it down again. If he wants to talk, she's happy to talk. If he wants to read, she's happy to loom. He seems like a pretty cool guy, though, and she can use more friends.]

[He chuckles.] Yeah, I can see where that would have been a little horrifying. Nice to know people can bounce back from the initial shock though.

[He reached over and slid the comic book towards him. He didn't move to take it out of the protective plastic though, still kind of trying to figure out how he feels about this.] So, am I allowed to touch it, or should I have brought some protective gloves or something?

You don't really have a choice. [She responds honestly, gaze drifting off for a moment, then snapping back.] As in inmate, I mean. I guess wardens might.

[Hayley doesn't stop him when he moves the comic, casually watching without caring too much about its condition. She laughs at his question.] It's totally fine. I just do that in case it starts.. raining in my room, or something. The Barge is a crazy place and I just like to think that like, the things that matter to me have some protection.

I'd say that's fair.

[So he'll carefully be sliding it out of the plastic before starting to flip through it, brow furrowed.] Man, how long has this stuff been going on? This book is older then I am.

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