031 [audio]

[batmanschmatman]

[Filtered away from Hoffman]

The hardest part of the job is always realizing that you can't prepare for everything. You can't be everywhere at once. And you can't always save the people you care about.

I'm not just talking about here, or about being a cop, but really, no matter what you do, if there's some level of danger posed to your or others, or even if there isn't, you're going to eventually have to face what it's like to lose someone you care about.

And you never feel more powerless then when someone you love gets caught in the crossfire of some psycho with a gun. Or a crowbar.

I've seen a lot of violence. And I've lost a lot of people. And it never gets any easier feeling like you failed, even when there's logically nothing you could have done to prevent what happened, because you cared and you should have been there for them. And honestly? I'm tired of it. I'm tired of seeing people I love die, or get ripped apart or tortured or crippled or blown up because something went wrong.

So when you can do something to help? When you can intervene and you can do some good and maybe save someone, even if you're putting your life on the line? You do it. It's never been complicated for me.

[Strikes readable by Bats minus Jason (sorry buddy :c). The whole post is public for maybe five minutes before he deletes it, but feel free to assume your character caught it before he did.]

[Private to Bruce]

Can we talk?

[Private to Tim]

How are you doing?

[Private to Costigan]

You want to go for a run or something? I promise I won't break anything or try to hold your hand.

Comments

private;

[gingerspeedster.livejournal.com]

Did you catch your friend in time?

private;

[batmanschmatman]

Yeah.

private;

[gingerspeedster.livejournal.com]

Good. I'm sorry I was too busy to take care of it myself.

voice; private

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

Sometimes you have to learn to back away.

What is it, Dick?

private;

[batmanschmatman]

Don't worry about it, Wally.

voice; private

[batmanschmatman]

I can't.

Nothing. I just kind of... wanted to talk.

private voice;

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

[ She sees the post go up. It goes back down before she can think of a good response. It takes her a long time.

About half an hour later, she decides to message him. ]

I'm sorry. For everything.

voice; private

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

Is your room emptied by now?

private;

[gingerspeedster.livejournal.com]

I'm just glad she's okay.

...

She is okay, right?

[Private]

[peektuttut]

[He is not. Addressing. Any of that. Because oh God. :c]

I'm good. You?

voice; private

[batmanschmatman]

Yeah.

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

Could be better.

How's your arm?

private voice;

[batmanschmatman]

It's fine.

[It's not, he's just. Not in the mood. >>;]

private;

[batmanschmatman]

She seems to think so.

private voice;

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

Will you stop being angry at me if I ask real nicely?

[Private]

[peektuttut]

Obviously.

Sorry I couldn't help. [WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME HELP.]

spam!

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ He doesn't tell Dick that he's going over - it should be obvious enough by his question. So he just goes over, dressed in a loose shirt because he'd barely manage to deal with his wounds. There's really not been that much time, and Dick is more important. Especially since his place is the makeshift infirmary - Bruce will just take care of his wounds there.

At least his face is clean of blood and the cut at his temple has clotted over.

When he reaches Dick's room door, he knocks sharply at it. ]

[Private]

[batmanschmatman]

Oh yeah, taking out Angelica was totally lame of you.

[Private]

[cisskabob]

[...Oh yeah, she saw that. And was totally with him until those laaast sentences, because ohgod, way to unintentionally stomp allll over those I-quit-superheroing-and-even-though-it-was-the-right-thing-I-still-feel-like-a-loser-about-it issues.]

Sometimes it is complicated.

[But that's not her main point right now. So--clearing throat and moving on.]

How're you doing?

private;

[gingerspeedster.livejournal.com]

But you don't?

Want me to drag her bodily down to the infirmary?

spam!

[batmanschmatman]

[Dick came out pretty unscathed, all things considered, so the most injuries he's hiding are just the left overs from his fight with Slade. The room is sort of a mess, but not necessarily more so then usual - he is, after all, a slob - and he's just running around in jeans and a t-shirt.

At the knock on the door, he heads over to answer it, and immediately very concerned, taking in the cut on his face and knowing there were probabably more injuries he was hiding.]

What happened to you?

private voice;

[batmanschmatman]

Do you get why I'm angry with you?

private voice;

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

Because I made friends with another serial killer and it got me electrocuted?

spam!

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ He shrugs a little, stepping into the room. The mess of the apartment/cabin doesn't surprise him, though he does turn back and raise an eyebrow at Dick over it, jerking his head to motion that he means the state of the room.

And he's very glad to see that his oldest had, at least, escaped unscathed. He knows that his children can all take care of themselves, but the assurance is- a good thing. ]

I was attacked by an alien and then caught in an explosion.

[ The explanation is entirely bland, and he's looking around the place slightly. ] Where's your bandages?

[Private]

[peektuttut]

[Snerk.] Totally.

[Buuut serious again.] I meant after.