[Open]

[forceforlight]

Who: Dick Grayson/Nightwing forceforlight and YOU!
What: April catch all
When: During April
Where: Rooftops around the city; a park
Content Warnings: Updated as needed


He knows better than to complain, especially after the past few months in Blüdhaven. It's been a long time since he's had a quiet, even after coming to this world.

Which is why Nightwing sits on the edge of a high rooftop, a bag of bagels on the rooftop behind him and a cup of coffee warming his hands. After all, early spring isn't any warmer in Michigan than it is in New Jersey.

"I'm going to jinx myself if I say it," he says to whomever shows up, without looking their direction. He's just really used to listening for people coming up behind him. "But, damn, it's quiet."



The name "circusbrat" wasn't taken on TikTok. Not that Dick had any real plans of what to do with it. So far, he'd posted a few short videos of him at a local circus school, doing some tricks on the silks and the lines. There were also a few from the park, with him doing some simple, if impressive, gymnastics.

Which is what he's doing now: filming himself doing handstands.

However, every time he starts, he ends up in a heap of giggles as Haley runs in and hops up to lick his face. "Haley, no," he says, gathering the puppy up and ruffling her ears. "We really need to work on your stay, don't we?"

Comments

[robintohood]

Jason takes off his helmet to reveal the domino mask he's wearing underneath before reaching to grab an everything bagel.

"You're not wrong. Surprised you found any place nearby with decent bagels," Jason says. "Apparently, we've been spoiled from living in Jersey."

He then takes a big bite of his bagel.

[forceforlight]

The domino UNDER the helmet never fails to be amusing. Dick's good, though, and doesn't mention it.

"Well, apparently the owner moved out for a job that paid well but sucked. So, instead, he got his grandfather's recipe and opened the bakery." Dick shrugs with a grin. "And yeah, we have been. But these are pretty good. Tons better than the mass market stuff."

[robintohood]

With his mouth stuffed with a bagel, Jason nods before he swallows.

"Supermarket stuff never hits the same as something more fresh," he then says. "Never thought I'd say it but I miss some of Gotham's food. Michigan's stuff is boring unless it's Detroit-style pizza."

Then there was Alfred's cooking but talking about him remains painful after Dick told Jason of their surrogate grandfather's murder.

[forceforlight]

"There's actually some form of decent pizza here?" Dick asks with a raised eyebrow. "Or is it just more interesting than anything else?"

It's a good question, after all. "I'd try making pizza myself one of these days, but I'm not sure the oven is quite right for it."

[robintohood]

"Depends on how you feel about deep dish and Wisconsin cheese," Jason replies before taking another bite. "If you're talking about Descendant's kitchen, you're paying if something goes wrong."

Jason thought he's been very generous enough employing most of his siblings. He has to set up boundaries too.

[forceforlight]

"I have an apartment, Hood. It even has a kitchen." Not every place does, he knows. Especially places cheap enough for most Unaffiliated to afford rent on. Jason actually does pay them really well, honestly. But they each have their own priorities for what to spend the money on.

"Besides, I'm not THAT bad." A pause, because that's not always been true. "Any more, at least."

[robintohood]

Jason snorts and then smirks at Dick, knowing what that pause was.

"Implying some experimenting had to happen. Titans has to help out with that?" He teases, knowing that his older brother was living with his team for a while.

[forceforlight]

"I've only just gotten permission to make anything warm in the Tower kitchen that involves more than a microwave or the electric kettle." He can't remember who bought the kettle to start with. Probably Alfred, as a gift to them. "Roy and Wally both pronounced me hopeless for years."

[robintohood]

Jason laughs as he reaches for a plain bagel next.

"Yeah, rich kids are useless when it comes to functioning in the real world. Such little shits too," he says, knowing full well that he was a rich kid but pointedly knows how to live by himself. Being a little shit was probably accurate though.

[forceforlight]

Being a little shit was DEFINITELY accurate. Dick reaches for a bagel as well, coming up with a cinnamon raisin one with a shake of his head. "There's a reason I sprang for a LOT of take out. Except for Wally. He had to chip in for his own." Nobody wanted to be the one who had to buy for the speedster.

[robintohood]

"Ouch," Jason says before taking a bite of his second bagel. "A Flash's diet would probably make a dent even in the old man's wallet."

[forceforlight]

"Probably also the reason why he learned to cook first." Cooking IS somewhat cheaper than takeaway, after all. If you know what you're doing and can afford to lay out for the starting stuff. "I think all those high calorie body building shakes come in handy these days, though."

[robintohood]

"Especially when you know you got a long patrol ahead you," Jason adds. "Maybe you can get one to sponsor you if you do enough of those videos."

[forceforlight]

Dick pauses, bagel most of the way to his mouth before he finishes taking a bite, an almost rueful look on his face. "I shouldn't be surprised you know about that. It's mostly just a bit of fun. Something I don't get a chance to do back home."

Showing off is only for patrols. Back home, the idea had been to get everybody to forget that he used to be a circus kid, after all. Here, it's harder to tie the various Bats together. Not a lot harder, maybe, but a bit.

[robintohood]

Jason lightly scoffs. Jason does try to somewhat keep track of his siblings and he figures they try to do the same to him. Better to know than be caught off guard when he least expects it.

"You got a whole new audience to show off all your flips. Get your furball in there somehow, and they'll eat that up too."

[forceforlight]

"I have a few things from the park the other week. Haven't posted them yet."

Dick reaches for the hip pouch he's taken to wearing, using the power this place gave him to reach in and pull out his phone. He pulls up the videos from earlier of him doing handstands and Haley deciding to lick his face instead. "I really need to work on her stay."

[robintohood]

Jason looks at the video and let's out a chuckle.

"And stop cute moments like that? I thought you had a heart, Nightwing."

[forceforlight]

"I mean, she's not good at listening to me, so it's going to take a lot more work." Dick grins, taking back the phone. "I may post it, though. Since everybody likes puppies."

[robintohood]

"Might as well," Jason agrees. "Apparently, people liking cute animals is a fact consistent across the multiverse. Sleeper's a good example of that."

[forceforlight]

"Yeah. I started following Sleeper once I found out about their socials." Dick considers the videos before picking the best one, turning off location and posting it. Late night posting seemed to be a thing, after all.

[robintohood]

Jason finds it strange to watch anyone in the family doing any social media postings but the risks on this Earth aren't on the same as back in Gotham and he knows Dick would be careful. They were all trained to hide their tracks.

"Pretty funny the fans still can't decide what Sleeper actually is. They like the attention."

[forceforlight]

It's still weird for Dick to do things like this. There's still some worry about the Joker in the world, but he's also 99% certain that the Joker knows who they all are. There's not much they can do to protect themselves against that.

"Cute. That's basically all people need, isn't it?" Dick finishes posting it, setting the phone aside.

[robintohood]

"Naturally," Jason says. He has genuine affection for Sleeper and is greatly amused by their antics. It's part of why they decided to become a symbiote bond. "Shame you can't give your dog a real Bitewing suit."

[forceforlight]

"Oh yes. Because that's exactly what I need to do: out myself on social media."

The stuff he does on TikTok isn't even THAT overly impressive. Not when compared to what a lot of others do. It's just that he happens to be a good-looking guy doing it. With an ass that won't quit.

It's gotten him a modest following, but nothing too major yet.

"Besides. Why would I want to go the influencer route when bartending is a lot more fun?"

[robintohood]

"True. A lot more valuable too. Amazing what people will say when they're not paying attention to servers," Jason admits. "What got you bartending anyway? Never thought of you as much of a drinker."

Or at least the Dick Jason knows back home didn't appear to be one.