128 [video]

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick looks a tiny bit in shock when he turns on the video feed and slowly holds up this enthusiastically patterned sweater for everyone to see.]

This is the third hideous sweater I've gotten from the Admiral since I got here. [Two years, Three Christmases. It's depressing. :|

He doesn't have much more to say besides that and reaches over to click off the camera.]

[Private to Tim]

I guess I should take the fact that there haven't been any reports of you or Jan winding up in the infirmary as a good thing?

[Private to Sara]

Are you ready for the next chapter in the "Awkward Ways in Which Sara is Introduced to Dick's Psychotic Family" saga?

[Private to Dean]

Any luck with Buffy?

Comments

Private

[psychic_hotline]

Wear the sweater and it's a date.

Private

[batmanschmatman]

Fine, but only because it's you.

Private >> Spam

[psychic_hotline]

I'll be over in five.

[It's probably less than that. And there's a degree of solidarity going on here, so you can be happy about that. Knock knock.]

[crossestheline]

Cute sweater. Did you get matching sweaters for everyone?

[ Private : Audio ]

[surfaceshine]

[Instead of answering the actual question - no, no luck, but then that's typical and he doesn't know why he's surprised - Dean replies somewhat belatedly, instead:]

Be a year for me in about a week.

[He's calmer now than he was before. Resigned. Sounds about normal, but there's the lackluster quality to his voice that gives it away.

Fuck these past two years.]

Spam

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick opens the door, wearing the sweater as promised, and can't help but laugh at her own gift from the Admiral, because just lol.]

Is that a train?

[batmanschmatman]

The Admiral gives them to everyone every December. Do your homework.

[ Private : Audio ]

[batmanschmatman]

[They have pretty much sucked, it's true.]

Sorry. [It's genuinely sympathetic, but not pitying. It sucks that the Barge pulls this stuff, and he knows better than to suggest maybe she'll be back, because there's a greater chance she won't.] Do you need anything?

Spam

[psychic_hotline]

[She glances down at it.]

Yeah, I'd accept that interpretation. At least it fits.

[crossestheline]

Someone has a case of the bah-humbugs.

[batmanschmatman]

Is there something you wanted to talk about, or is this just you trying to be funny?

[crossestheline]

A little of both, actually.

Spam

[batmanschmatman]

It looks good on you. [Everything looks good on you seems a little too corny even for him, but he does give her a quick kiss, grinning a little.] How are you doing?

[batmanschmatman]

What's up?

Private.

[crossestheline]

I heard the Joker was here before, were you here back then?

Spam

[psychic_hotline]

Bored out of my mind. Coming up on my two-month 'still no Inmate' anniversary. [She smiles at the kiss, closing the door behind her when she comes inside.] I'm okay.

[ Private : Audio ]

[surfaceshine]

[He didn't want to talk about Buffy; he'd intended not to talk about Buffy. It's useless to talk about it because she's going to be back and she'll explain it then.

But when he opens his mouth to say that no, he's fine, thanks for asking, what comes out is,]

Did she say anything to you?

Private.

[batmanschmatman]

He was here twice. Once maybe a year or two before I got here, the second time for at least a few months before me, and he vanished maybe a day or two after I showed up. We never spoke. [He just stalked him and got information from Tim.]

He wasn't from our world.

Spam

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick does get that and nods as he wanders into the apartment, heading for the nearest couch.] Well, you're always welcome to borrow Rorschach for a while if you want. Maybe he'll learn something about how being a vigilante should work if you're not going to operate by the "no kill" thing I've got going.

[ Private : Audio ]

[batmanschmatman]

I haven't talked to her in a while. [And when they had, she definitely hadn't said anything about thinking about leaving. But that didn't always mean anything here.]

[ Private : Audio ]

[surfaceshine]

Me either.

I mean, yeah, little bullshit things. Kinda chilly today. Ugh, I hate ravioli night. Off to work out. Things like that.

[He's quiet for a moment, tapering off like he might've said more and just opted out. Papers rustling, the chair he's sitting in creaking, the heavy thump of his workboots being propped up on his desk.

He desperately wants to reset his mood and this conversation, so he sounds a bit more neutral when he tries again.]

You and me haven't, either. How's things?

Spam

[psychic_hotline]

There's an idea, I don't think we've ever actually talked. Don't suppose you could make him shower first?

[She toes off her shoes near the door and settles into the couch, tucking her legs under her.]

[Private]

[peektuttut]

[Cute. There's even a huff that's almost a laugh.]

Please. If anyone's going to wind up in the infirmary, it'll be Jan.

Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[She debates for a long time.

She's been stewing alone for quite a while, and it would be a lot easier to just keep doing that. Thing is, though - she kept hearing him die, in that Port. She knows people come back here, but there are never guarantees. Say she loses him, while they're like this?

And then there was the heart-wrenching thrill of seeing Jason again. Different, but still family.

Her voice is a little soft. A little hesitant. Not typical for her at all, but - maybe that's okay.]

I bet you can work it.

Video

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick manages a sort of pained, self deprecating, I'm not sure if I want to set this on fire or not smile as he regards the sweater again.]

I guess it's not the worst thing I've ever worn.

[He's not really sure if he wants to talk to her about anything more serious than this, but this is okay. It's easier to talk about unimportant stuff when you're still nursing hurt feelings.]