metalogs | [OPEN/CLOSED] A Robin came a-knockin’

Who: Jason Todd

robintohood and you
What: Jason’s been deaged back to his early Robin years. Antics ensue. Also contains one special closed prompt
When: January 3rd-4thish, during the age swap event
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: None for now. Will edit if needed.

[Somewhere in Central City is a small boy in a red, yellow, and green costume. It’s hard to forget someone in a colorful suit like that.

That is, assuming you can catch a good enough look at him. He’s effortlessly using his grappling gun and parkour skills to swing around and jump rooftops. You might see him as he tries to get a lay of the land.

Alternatively, you might see him fearlessly (or recklessly, depending on how you look at it) pounce right on top of a would-be armed mugger. He might not know where he is but that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop fighting crime. It’s what any good sidekick would do.]

Attic Safehouse above the Descendant Bar (Closed to people who use the safehouse)

[Later that night, Robin is exhausted but isn’t ready to trust just any place to rest for the night. For now, he’s just perched on top of the Descendant, near the attic window]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You're the first one of your species I've ever met so I can't really judge," Jason says. "Can you turn into other things too and just like cats?"

"Theoretically anything I'm familiar enough with, I can turn into, but the details? That's the sticky part. I don't usually bother with fur or hair for that reason," they explain.

However, they might be willing to do requests...

"Hmmm... Can you turn into a bird then?" Jason asks. He wants to see more of Sleeper's shapeshifting.

With a rippling of their mass, the oversized tabby becomes a four-eyed crow with a bright yellow beak and feet.

"I could do a robin, but that would be rude. And Dylan is currently using me as a pillow." The bird is oversized and roughly in the same place to not shift the kid.

Jason giggles, failing to hide how impressed he is by Sleeper's ability.

"Yeah, it looks like he's made himself comfortable. It's been a long day for him, huh?" He says.

"You try going from learning to drive to learning to talk overnight and see how happy you are?" Sleeper points out. "And one of the dads isn't exactly himself, either."

They lapse back to the feline shape because that's what people are used to.

"Shapeshifting is easy when you are technically all of one substance. I just mimic bones and organs if they're needed."

"I guess that would make things easy," Jason ponders. "So do you just look like an... Ooze if you're not trying to shift into anything?"

"We tend towards mimicking the life around us, but our natural state does somewhat puddle. It can be embarrassing to get caught like that."

Jason giggles again.

"Yeah, a puddle doesn't exactly scream terrifying predator," He grins. "But still must be really useful being any shape."

"It can be interesting." Not that they vary much. Most of the symbiotes have a preferred shape they tend towards.

"Can you even change how many eyes you have?" Jason asks.

He hops onto an armchair. Seems like they were all going to be here a whe so he might as well make himself a little comfortable.

"I can. I could be the perfect tabby if I wanted to, but what's the point? Talking animals are expected to be uniquem right?"

"Yeah, but you stick out even more with those eyes," Jason says. His tone suggests it's not a criticism though. "I thought shapeshifters try to blend in."

"It depends on the shapeshifter. Besides, appearing unique helps with my online visibility. Have to keep the followers happy," they explain.

And they'd already mentioned the use of a four-eyed cat at a bar.

"It's hard to resist a cat," Jason giggles. "Or at least that's how it is with people."

"And I'm truly hypoallergenic because I never shed hair or dander," they point out proudly. It's easy enough to leave no trace.

Under different circumstances, Jason would ask if he could pet Sleeper but he's still on duty so he has to be professional to some degree.

"Definitely one of a kind then. Plus, it's not often that it's okay to feed a cat chocolate."

"You shouldn't feed cats chocolate unless they're me."

"Got any favorites?" Jason asks. That information might come useful later on for bribing or for gift giving.

"I prefer dark to milk, and honestly, if I have to do milk, I prefer the European varieties to Hershey's. The way the fresh milk they use curdles in the process doesn't really add to the flavor profile," they say. "The chocolate covered bugs are nice..."

Jason tries to not make a face at the thought of eating chocolate-covered insects.

"I think I've heard of them. Like chocolate-covered ants?" He asks.

Not that he'll ever eat them.

"Most humans seem to think they don't taste that different from nuts with the chocolate. Or maybe puffed rice. It's just added crunch, with protein and vitamins that are really good for you," they point out. "It's actually more ecologically sound to raise crickets than most common food animals. Especially cattle. Cows are terrible for sustainability."

"I guess. Just don't take the ecological message too far and be like Poison Ivy," he says.

"Why would I want a world ruled by plants? They are very one-sided conversationalists," Sleeper says, with a flick of their tail.

"Not to mention not the most people-friendly people," he chirps. "But then again, villains usually aren't."

Edited 2023-01-15 04:41 (UTC)

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