057 [voice]

[batmanschmatman]

So, what does this place have against goodbyes, anyway?

[Private to Tim and Dally]

Have you seen Steph?

[Private to Arthur]

Hey. Are you busy?

Comments

Private

[paradoxlol]

No. What's up? [Not that he can't guess.]

Private

[batmanschmatman]

I'm in need of some distraction, if you're up for it.

Private

[paradoxlol]

Sure. The sparring kind or the drinking kind?

Private

[batmanschmatman]

Sparring okay?

Private

[paradoxlol]

Yeah. To be honest, I could use it after that port.

Private

[batmanschmatman]

Punching dinosaurs wasn't enough for you? [Halfhearted attempt at humor is a go.]

Private

[paradoxlol]

[Small laugh.] I had to play mother to some. I need to work off these maternal instincts now.

[Pause. BRIEF MOMENT OF SRS.]

So, I take it you were blindsided by this, too.

Private

[batmanschmatman]

Sounds like a fun weekend. [Because focusing on that is a lot easier to deal with than what else happened.]

Yeah. I mean, I knew Wally was heading home as soon as his deal was over, but I didn't think both of them would just disappear like this within hours of each other.

Private

[paradoxlol]

It was a blast.

I always liked Steph. She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders-- something we could always use more of on the Barge.

Private - randomly, want to turn this into the heyso btw I know you know but conversation? xD

[batmanschmatman]

Yeah. She's definitely a good kid.

The CES work for you?

Private - haha SURE

[paradoxlol]

Yeah. What time?

Private - Excellenttt

[batmanschmatman]

Whenever. I'll be up there. [Because lol can't exactly deal right now. :|]

Private - SPAM, I PRESUME

[paradoxlol]

Give me thirty minutes.

Private -> SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

Sounds good.

[And Dick will be up there waiting, not too deep in, perched in a tree and generally looking a little antsy. He's been climbing and practicing some acrobatics while waiting, trying to distract himself from everything.]

SPAM!

[paradoxlol]

[Arthur shows up, dressed down for some exercise, chugging on a bottle of water as he enters. He glances up in the tree with a slightly arched brow.]

Hey.

SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick manages a small smile and hops down, landing neatly before straightening and brushing his shirt off.]

Hey. You all set?

SPAM!

[paradoxlol]

[Arthur nods, setting the bottle aside on a tree stump, then offers a friendly smirk.] I think I'm ready to kick your ass.

SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

[Which gets Dick's smile to stretch out into a wide, amused smirk of his own as he takes a defensive stance.] You're welcome to try.

SPAM!

[paradoxlol]

I'll have you know I've been practicing.

[LET THE MANLY SPARRING BEGIN.]

SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

[AND AFTER IT IS OVER, Dick is plopping down in the grass and very offhandedly saying:]

You know, sometimes I hate this place.

SPAM!

[paradoxlol]

[Arthur takes a seat on the grass, too, leaning back against the stump he placed his water on. He grabs it and takes a drink.]

Yeah, me too. [He chuckles a little.] Actually, most of the time.

SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

[Which got a chuckle out of him too.] I guess at least we get to meet interesting people?

SPAM!

[paradoxlol]

Yeah, and I always wanted a job with a lot of travel. [He pauses, then adds more seriously:] I'm sorry about Steph.

SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick's quiet for a moment, shifting slightly and staring off into space for a few seconds.] We weren't that close back home. I wasn't in Gotham that much, and when I was, I wasn't spending time with her, but... Now I kind of wish I had.

SPAM!

[paradoxlol]

[He nods, saying nothing, thinking on that. Those kinds of regrets... Better suited for someone who's dead.] You've still got time, at least. After the Barge, I mean.

SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

Yeah. [And a half smile.] She's going to be so pissed if she remembers the Barge when she gets back home.

SPAM!

[paradoxlol]

Maybe she'll appreciate the break from the ports, floods... dinosaurs...

SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

Well, we've got equally psychotic stuff at home too.

SPAM!

[paradoxlol]

Like Nygma, right? [Juuuuust a joke. Arthur really doesn't have a problem with the man, but he knows he's from the same world as the rest of the Gothamites.]

SPAM!

[batmanschmatman]

Him, Joker, Two-Face... We've got a lot of colorful people around. [Dick... is pretty positive Arthur suspects something about the Gotham crowd besides just magically being good at crises, but it's not exactly an easy thing to work into conversation as is.]

[Private]

[peektuttut]

[DICK WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?]

I can't fin her anywhere.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

[I DON'T KNOW BUT I WANT IT TO STOP.]

Are you okay?

[Private]

[peektuttut]

[SOB ;;]

Yeah.

[Pause]

You know Conner's gone, too.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

What? When?

[Private]

[peektuttut]

A few days now.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

I'm sorry.

[Private]

[peektuttut]

I know.

Private-

[lostundercover]

You want to go running?

Private-

[batmanschmatman]

That would be great.

Private-

[lostundercover]

[Who's got two thumbs and is the master of not talking about it? This guy.]

Tonight before dinner work for you? CES?

Private-

[batmanschmatman]

[omg can he give you a hug, Costigan. :c]

I'll be there. Thanks, Bill.

Private-

[lostundercover]

Sure, yeah. Any time. Maybe every day for awhile? It's a good way to think about other things for awhile.

Private-

[batmanschmatman]

Yeah, definitely. I'm game if you are.

Private-

[lostundercover]

Absolutely.

Private-

[batmanschmatman]

Thanks. Seriously.

Private-

[lostundercover]

Sure, guy.