[Filtered to Kirk, Shego, Claudia, Steph, Kon, Kara, Cassie, Steve, Sara, Buffy and Merlin.]

[Dick's sounding considerably more cheerful than he has over the last couple days, if only because he has an evil plan and doing nice things for other people usually works pretty well in terms of yanking him out of pits of depression.]

So today's is Tim's birthday, I'm throwing him a surprise party, and you're all invited. Meet at my room after dinner, and don't tell him anything. [Or else.]

[Private to Claudia]

Hey. I know you're kind of in a rough place, so no pressure if you're not feeling up to it, but we'd love to have you there.

[Private to Rorschach]

I know this isn't really your thing, but it's Tim's birthday and I'm throwing him a party. I'm just inviting a couple people, so it's not a huge get together or anything, so if you want to make an appearance, I'd be happy to see you there.

[Spam for Tim]

[At some point while Tim was out of his room, someone - cough - has broken into your room and put red, green, black and yellow streamers everywhere. Everywhere. Enough that it almost looks like someone was trying to host a high school dance or something in your apartment. There are also a couple matching balloons.

Oh also there was a note taped to your door in very nondescript handwriting that said "You forgot something, didn't you?" because it's just not a surprise birthday without leaving vaguely incriminating notes taped to people's doors.]

[ooc: If people are interested in doing a log or something, I can throw it together, or we can just assume a fun time was had by all. Whatever works best for everyone. c:]

It's been over a year and a half since I've been home for more than a few hours. I can pretty safely say this isn't the welcome back party I expected. [There's some humor there, but he mostly just sounds... tired. Maybe a little in shock. There's a short pause, and there's some quiet, largely unintelligible conversation with someone that sounds like Tim for those with good ears before Dick continues, and his voice is harder, more focused.

This might not be their Gotham, but they sure as hell aren't going to let it burn to the ground, and Dick is stepping up into leader mode. Which means bossy, lecture-y Bat, so sorry about that guys. :c]

I understand that for some of you, this is like stepping onto a set of a movie, but these are not characters from a cheesy kid's cartoon. They're violent, psychopathic murderers. If you see the Joker, or anyone dressed up in clown make up, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction. Do not try to engage him or any other costumed criminal unless you have no other choice. This isn't me trying to lecture you on laws of reality or common sense, it's advice to keep you safe.

Anyone who's able and willing should support the GCPD in any way they can. I understand first priority is keeping your inmates and yourself safe throughout port, but I'd be appreciative to anyone who's able to help stop this from getting worse. [And here he's warden filtering directions to the GCPD headquarters and Gotham General, with a note about how he's not sure either will be operational, but they're enough of a jumping off point to orient people and he'll provide further information once he gets updates.]

Stick together, and watch each other's backs. If anyone starts getting reports of or runs into anyone who's fallen overboard, keep people informed. Keep track of your inmates.

[Filtered Separately to Steph, Cassie and Superboy]

Tim and I are headed to see how bad the damage is. [Meaning, they're finding the Manor and the Cave and seeing if there's anything they can salvage/any proof that people they care about are still alive. :|] Try to organize anyone who's willing to help to start getting things under control, and make sure someone's helping out anyone who doesn't have combat experience who decided to leave the ship. We'll be able to help in a couple hours at most.

And I know this isn't a major concern on the Barge, but try not to be too open about our identities, especially on public filters. We don't know who could be compromised, and who they could pass the information along to in this world that could endanger our counterparts when things go back to normal. [Assuming they're still alive, anyway. :|]

If we find any information about [what happened to everyone else and if they're alive or not] you'll be the first to know.

[Filtered to Steph and Cassie]

Keep an eye on him. I trust you both to be able to figure out where to start working.

[Filtered Separately to Kirk, Shego, Buffy, Dean, Sara and Steve, forward dated to after he's got some more gear]

I need to meet with you in person at your earliest convenience. Assuming you came into port.

( And a Private to Rorschach and a Spam for Tim to spare your flist. )

[ooc: Dick is slipping pretty heavily into Batman mode, so he probably won't reply to trollish responses, and Tim will probably be chiming in as well. Dick will be out and about in port in the Batsuit pretty much the whole time, and I'll be putting up a log for that later in port for anyone who wants to run into him, and will obviously be tagging around with him! Batman tags will probably be coming from isthenight because omnomnom icons.

FEEL FREE TO ASSUME THIS IS A WHILE AFTER THE ADMIRAL'S ANNOUNCEMENT. I just got impatient and wanted to post. :V]

[Extremely Broad Friends Filter - if you've had a single positive conversation with him over the past year and a couple months, you're on it.]

So, has anyone noticed anything different about themselves?

[Private to Tim]

How do you feel about sparring later today? [This is totally not code for I'm checking up on you and if you choose to read that into it well. Dammit Tim. Why would you ever think that? It's not like that's something he would do. >>]

[Private to Buffy]

So. [This is a little awkward. :c] Should we maybe talk about what happened?

[Private to Jim, added later]

Can I come over?

[ooc: Dick's totally unaffected. Come bother him though. c:]

Is there a hole people are crawling into to die?

If so, I would like directions.

Or a road map.

Whichever's easier.

[Private to Shego]

I believe I promised you a 'ha ha I told you so'.

[Private to Jim]

So. Sorry about that.

[Private to Rorschach]

I promise I'm not usually a fifteen year old girl about. This kind of stuff. Or you know. Anything.