(closed) you better watch out. you better watch out

[eggplanting]

Who: Steph Brown eggplanting, Bart Allen, Cass Cain, Tim Drake, Jason Todd, Kon-El, Jon Kent
What: Slumber party with the DC vigilante/hero kids
When: Mid-December
Where: Bart's farm in Little Love
Content Warnings: hopefully none!
Notes: Threadjacking is encouraged, as is vaguely waving our hands at the concept of linear time so that we don't have to think too hard about logistics



'Twas the night week before Christmas, when all through the house...

Pretty much everyone was stirring, because there's a party to enjoy.

Calling it a party may be a slight stretch, when there's really only a handful of them and they're not going to get up to anything more intense than playing Mario Kart and watching movies from the 90s, but Steph thought that labeling it a sleepover might sound a little immature. The idea had percolated over the last few weeks; there's a good handful of them now, from roughly the same universe, but not all of them know each other well, and while Steph might not be as tactically minded as someone like Tim, it had seemed sensible that they do a little team building.

Also, it should be fun. That's very important.

With Bart being the only one living in a space that could actually be considered a house, she'd reached out to ask if he'd be cool with hosting, and had sent out texts to the rest of their friends once she had his approval. Not being a jerk, she'd also promised to swing by early to help set up, for all the set up that needs to be done when a handful of people in their twenties hang out. Mostly it involved grabbing a few extra bean bags, setting up the TV and game consoles, and adding a few seasonally appropriate holiday decorations.

The invitation texts served the secondary purpose of assigning everyone some kind of snack or beverage to bring, most of it falling into typical junk food fare. Chips and dip, soda, pizza rolls, pretzels (the soft variety, of course), mozzarella sticks, popcorn. People are welcome to get fancier, but she'd mostly suggested things they could eat as is, or food that's easy to pop in the oven. This isn't a gala thrown by Bruce, after all. And with none of them being particularly big drinkers, she'd just told everyone it was BYOB if they want to get alcohol involved in their evening.

It's unlikely any of them would want to get wasted. While they're all strictly off duty for the evening, 'drunken misadventures' isn't really the vibe Steph is going for with this whole thing; it's meant to be a relaxing, fun evening, where they can eat, watch movies, and get into unnecessarily heated arguments about video games before crashing wherever they can find a soft surface at the end of the night. As if they're normal young adults and not a gaggle of traumatized vigilantes and lab experiments.

Later in the evening, after they've all poured outside to make s'mores around an improvised firepit, she'll probably break out some silly party games, like Never Have I Ever, or worse, card games like Uno. Because nothing says fun like arguing over whether it's morally right to use two skips in a row.

Some people just want to watch the world burn.

Comments

[exponentially]

[ he got the invite and was a little bit surprised about it, honestly. he sort of has connections with some of the people here, but not like they do with one another. still, they'd needed a little help with setting up, and if jon's good at nothing else, he's great at picking up heavy things and moving them. he figured then that if it got awkward for him to stay afterward, there are dozens, hundreds of things he could be out in the world helping with: it wouldn't be hard to make his excuses and leave.

still, he's full of fairly wholesome midwestern charm for most of the evening. he plays mario kart or other multiplayer games with anyone willing to join in (he's even a little bit competitive about it, if rusty at first); he curls up on a couch or beanbag to watch a movie (pardon him if he dozes off on someone's shoulder); he's happy to start the firepit outside (heat vision, so convenient) and eat far too many roasted marshmallows.

if he gets a little distracted sometimes, head tilted like a puzzled dog, well.. it's hard to ignore work, even out in the middle of nowhere. ]

[kid_flash_found]

[Bart had heard the guest list, and while he hadn't yet had the opportunity to meet the newest S, he wasn't about to say no. And getting help early was also nice, even if it was mostly getting everything moved to be more convenient for party snacking.]

Thanks for helping with the furniture. I didn't really want to trust the scouts with getting the firepit right. They may be me, but they aren't me at my best and brightest.

[He'd have to think about running a gas line for a more permanent set-up if his place keeps being used as a retreat. Not that he minds.]

I'm going to do a final check on the girls for the evening to make sure they're all in the coop before folks really come in.

[exponentially]

[ he smiles at the thanks, shaking his head slightly. ] It wasn't a problem. I like to be helpful.

[ he nods toward the coop in question. ]

They all sound pretty content. I'll go with you if you don't mind, though. I miss working on a farm regularly. [ as much as he'd whined about it as a kid, those were years of (relative) normalcy that he'll never really get back. ]

[kid_flash_found]

[The coop and overnight run are only slightly separated from the house, because Bart really didn't want to have to go too far when letting the the girls shift for the day. A couple of chicken tractors are next to it under tarps because the girls are getting only limited range time while the snow' around.]

When I realized Alliance housing was a farm, I figured I'd better at least put some of the lessons I learned from the Kents to use. I've been growing heirloom crops and raising up these layers.

[He opens the gate to the run, and sighs as he has to bend and scoop up a bantam hen he's very familiar with.]

Meet Jane, our resident stargazer. She knows exactly where the entrance is, but likes to stay out anyway.

[exponentially]

Hey, Jane, [ jon greets delightedly, stroking the chicken's neck briefly. ] Guess someone's gotta' be the dreamer, huh?

[ he takes a moment to take everything in, pushing his hands down into his back pockets. ]

I didn't know you knew Ma and Pa that well. [ considering how happy they'd been to see kon again, though, he probably should have assumed. bart and tim are kon's closest, dearest friends. ]

[kid_flash_found]

[Jane ducks her head inviting more petting, making clear she's amazingly well-socialized, especially for a chicken. Bart can't help a chuckle at the blatant begging.]

They're all really used to people. I wanted to be able to actually come when called and not be jerks. You should see when Godzilla comes to visit.

[He continues into the coop, absently checking for eggs as he puts Jane in one of her favorite spots]

We'd sometimes get away from San Francisco that way. The Titans. Definitely a different kind of work to do.

[eggplanting]

[She hadn't thought much of invite Jonathan; she doesn't know him well, but he's brand new and a little younger than most of them (not that she's 100% clear on how old Kon and Bart are) and it seemed like the right thing to do, to help him get to know them better.]

Think fast, Kent.

[This is all the warning Jon gets before Steph throws a marshmallow at him.

He just looked like he could use one, is all.]

[exponentially]

[ it beans him right in the forehead.

he catches it as it bounces off, though, glance lifting to her face as he smiles sheepishly. ] Oh, thanks. [ he just holds it over the fire to toast it, of course, because there are much stupider uses for invulnerability than delicious roasty marshmallows. ]

I, um.. haven't really done anything like this before. [ not with people relatively close to his age, anyway, and not in years. there aren't a lot of farm parties in the 31st century. ] Thanks for inviting me.

[ he pulls the marshmallow out of the fire and sticks it in his mouth, teeth scraping any melty marshmallow off his thumb and index finger. ]

[eggplanting]

[It's kind of refreshing to not have someone be insanely hyper competent.

She has to pop her own marshmallow on a stick to roast, although she'd absolutely just use her hands if she was invulnerable.]

If it makes you feel any better, none of us have really done anything like this. We're just a weird collection of different After School Specials.

[Most of them didn't have normal childhoods or normal life experiences. It's just how it is, so Jon fits right in.]

[exponentially]

Yeah, not many farms in Gotham, [ he says with a bright little laugh, holding his fingers over the flame to burn the last little bits of marshmallow off, then rubbing the small dots of ash off. ]

I guess I just mean.. [ he trails off, head tilting a little uncertainly, not quite sure what he's trying to say. ] It's hard to meet people at home. [ with his identity being out there, that is. ] Well, there's Jay, but you know. In general.

[ a beat, and he perks back up, changing the subject. ] Anyway. Are you planning anything for New Year's? Other than bat-related work.

[eggplanting]

[That is so not what she meant and they both know it, a point Steph chooses to make by sticking her tongue out at Jon, because she's very mature.

Well, sometimes she can be, which is why she's refrained from saying anything snarky and is instead giving Jon a chance to explain himself, if he can.]

I get it.

[Gently, but she can recognize a topic change when she sees one, and will graciously allow it to work.]

Probably actual work. A bar isn't the sort of place that closes for New Year's. [It's tragic.] But me an' Cass might find something fun to do if we have the time. What about you? Gonna go watch the Ball Drop? Does that happen here?

[robintohood]

[Jason polite enough to just lightly nudge Jon off of his shoulder when the movie's over. he had noticed on and off tonight the distracted looks Jon keeps making and figures something's going on with him]

Had a good nap?

[The question is asked with a dry tone]

[exponentially]

[ jon jerks at the touch, shooting upright so fast he nearly floats up off the couch. for a moment, he looks like he's not quite sure where he is, staring wide-eyed and groggy at jason-- but then he blinks and his face goes hot.

he puts a respectful extra couple of inches between them, embarrassed. ]

Sorry about that. Guess I'm not much of a night owl. [ not exactly a surprise, considering his powers are intrinsically tied to the sun. ]

[robintohood]

[Jason's lips quirk slightly into a smirk]

Clearly you need to hang out with Bats more often.

[exponentially]

[ he shifts, turning to curl up more comfortably in the cushions. it's a slightly awkward affair, considering he's mostly legs, but he makes it work. ]

Mm, I used to spend a lot of time with Damian at night, but.. there's always so much to do, so many people.. [ there's always a need for superman. ] It's a little quieter out here, though.

[robintohood]

Yeah. Fewer distractions for all of us out here and harder to be glued to the police scanners.

[Jason doesn't know if he likes that or not. He understands the intention of having everyone out there but part of him also wants to be left alone]

[lowercase_el]

[Kon's been peripherally around most of the evening but he definitely has a lot more history with the others, so he's been chatting with them a bit more.]

[But now it's Jon's turn, as he sits by the bonfire.]

Hey, Jono, think fast.

[He tosses him a box. It's not huge but still a slight handful, wrapped in newspaper because wrapping paper is more expensive.]

[exponentially]

[ what is it with people throwing things at him tonight..

he catches this one, though, because it's bigger and looks like it could break if he doesn't. the nickname makes him smile dopily. it's been a while since he's heard it, and he didn't know kon knew it. ]

What's this? You didn't have to get me anything. [ he glances from the box to kon to make sure he's supposed to open it, then tugs the tape open. ]

[lowercase_el]

Of course I did.

[Even before Jon's super nice presents, he'd planned on baking him some nice stuff.]

[After the presents... well clearly Jon was being super thoughtful towards him, so he should be thoughtful back.]

[In the box is an assortment of treats and a few of them will be very recognizable. There's a tupperware of Ma's peanut butter and jelly thumbprint cookies, and giant repurposed coffee can full of peppernuts, made with Ma's super addictive cookie recipe. A large tin has biscuits that look as pillowy as when Ma makes them. There's also a jar of homemade blueberry preserves, something pretty typical for the Kent breakfast table.]

The biscuits are Ma's recipe. I make them with her a lot.

[But underneath it all is a binder and in it are recipes. A lot of them are printed from websites with little notes scribbled on them with slight alterations. A few were just straight up typed up in a word .doc. The directions for those are clearly in Kon's voice with notes like "Don't be a dope and overheat this like I did."]

I've been cooking a lot now that Tim and I are out on our own. Sooo I've been trying to recreate Ma's recipes where I can, either by writing them down or just finding similar ones and changing a few things.

I figure you probably remember some but now you have the ones I can remember too.

It's just, y'know, like a little piece of home. At least we can pretend our kitchens are back on the farm, right?

[exponentially]

[ he doesn't know what he's expecting when he opens the box, but food from home wasn't it. it smells like ma's kitchen, like years he didn't get to have with she and pa and kon, and as he takes each container out, he finds his throat getting tight with emotion. by the time he gets to the book of recipes, he's blinking back embarrassing tears. ]

Oh, [ he manages to eke out, voice trembling as he thumbs through the book and takes in some of kon's handwritten notes. ] This is.. Kon, this is-- [ he sets the book back into the box, then the box carefully down. he rises, then, circling around the fire and bending to curl his arms around the older teen in a fierce hug, face buried in the crook of his neck. ]

Thank you. You really didn't have to-- I really, really love it.

[lowercase_el]

[He seems a little surprised at the hug at first, but relaxes into it.]

[Okay, he wasn't expecting this much emotion over food and a recipe book but -]

[God, it does make sense, doesn't it? The family didn't talk a lot about it because Jon himself clearly didn't want to talk much about it but they'd told him what had happened to him. It'd happened before Kon had resurfaced. Jon was already his current age when Jon and Clark had taken him home and Ma and Pa remembered him.]

[Before Kon showed up Jon been locked away somewhere by a villain, where time happened faster, and come back older in the space of a heartbeat. But Jon had lived it. Whatever happened there.]

[He'd lived those long years alone.]

[He pulls away but only so he can drag Jon down to sit on the same log as him, and he wraps an arm around his shoulders.]

[It feels like a thing he should do. It's sort of a big brother move. Or an older cousin move? Whatever he is. (Clark has called him a brother and a cousin at different points. So is this his cousin? His same-age nephew? How the hell does all this work?)]

I know our situations were different, and I think mine was less bad, but I still know what it feels like to be homesick. And it sucks we only just got back home and here we are trapped in another dimension again.

[It extra sucks for Jon because he'd been gone for so long. So many years... And to be captured as a little kid...]

But at least we're both not alone this time. Whatever happens while we're stuck here, I've got your back.

And we can do some stuff to remind us of the farm. Maybe we can hang out sometimes and cook up some of Ma's fried chicken? Or something?

Have like a Kent dinner. You only need two Kents for it to technically be a Kent dinner. Plus there's that alternate version of your mom, so that makes three.

[mostdangerousbird]

[ Sometime after Tim starts drinking, he goes to find Jon Kent. He’s not drunk but he’s trying to keep himself to a level of annoyingly buzzed.

Being neither a heavy nor frequently drinker, he has overshot the mark. There’s a slur threatening the edges of his words and he’s markedly looser than normal. ]

Hey. I didn’t know what to get you for Christmas.

[ It’s abruptly apologetic. Jon’s Damian’s friend after all, not Tim’s, so it shouldn’t be a shock that he’s empty-handed, except for his own personal rum bottle. ]

After the party, if you want better security on your phone or your computer - let me take care of it.

[exponentially]

[ he wasn't planning to drink, but he figured, well, alcohol doesn't really do anything to his dad anyway, and a little eggnog never hurt anyone. now he realizes that as with most of his powers, he can't just assume it's going to work like his dad's.

in other words, he's a lightweight.

it's been pretty harmless so far, though. mostly it's made him sleepy and affectionate-- affection which is probably safest to give to kon instead of any of the more breakable humans at the party. his control is usually extremely precise, of course, but he's also never been this tipsy before. or tipsy at all, actually.

he blinks as tim approaches him, confusion crossing his expression briefly before smoothing into easy good humor again. ]

I didn't make you stuff so you felt like you had to give me something back, Tim. [ he absently pats the seat next to him, resisting the sudden and silly urge to hug the other teen. tim seems so stressed out sometimes-- even when jon had been a kid, the few times he'd seen tim around the other teen had seemed overworked and maybe a little bit underappreciated. ] I just want you to have a good Christmas. .. And stay warm. [ he blinks again, sleepily. ] Your uniform has short sleeves.. doesn't really seem practical sometimes..

[mostdangerousbird]

You made all that?

[ Tim had assumed about the pies, but the socks and mittens are a surprise. It’s a significant effort for his friend’s brother. Especially when said brother doesn’t like Tim. The well should be poisoned.

He drops down into seat leaning forward with one hand braced in his knee. The sudden motion set the corners of the room spinning. ]

Kevlar doesn’t breathe as much as the manu- maker claims, and I’ve got long gauntlets.

[exponentially]

You couldn't tell? I messed up so many times in the sock pattern. [ he'd made mistakes with all of the things he'd knitted, because sure he learns fast, and he can do things fast, but he's still not very experienced. ] I just didn't know what else to do.

[ you can't buy stuff for wealthy people. all the bats can afford whatever they want at home, and although they're not wealthy here, it still hadn't seemed like the right move. besides, he's still relying on alliance money, and it hadn't felt right to just buy things with money from an organization that none of them really agree with or believe in. at least he'd been able to transform the purchased yarn into something the alliance had no real hand in.

that feels like too complicated a thought to try to express right now, though, so instead he picks up a pillow to hug to his chest, placing each finger with exaggerated care so he doesn't tear it. ]

I pick things up pretty quick. It wasn't.. s'posed to be weird or anything.