[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 frowns as he listens to Dick's story and sees the scar. Getting shot was always a real danger to their work. They've all been trained as well as they could but eventually something was going to happen, especially when none of them have superpowers. Then there's the Court of Owls. Jason supposes he shouldn't have been surprised that something from Gotham lore turned out to be real, on top of the other rogues that run around in the city.

"How'd that get fixed? One of the Justice League's magic users?" He asks.

[forceforlight]

The Joker used a memory crystal that the Court of Owls created to brainwash me into thinking I was his adopted son, but Barbara was able to get it back and my then girlfriend used it to give me my memories back so that I wouldn't shoot Barbara or you, even though it meant we were pretty much finished.

...Yeah, Dick's not going to mention the Joker part, at least.

"Magic, yes, but not the League. The Court of Owls was using something called a 'memory crystal' to try to brainwash me into being one of their Talons. Babs was able to steal it and my girlfriend at the time smashed the crystal to let me have my memories back." Dick takes a drink of his coffee and shakes his head. "Why are our lives like this?"

[robintohood]

"We're costumed Gothamites. It comes with the territory," Jason says dryly. It's not as though he expected anything close to what Dick's telling him. But it's certainly a given they would all have chaotic lives at this point.

He then finishes his second bagel before continuing.

"So it's just like the nursery rhyme? They went after some heads?"

[forceforlight]

Dick holds out his free hand and seesaws it back and forth. "Partly. But also because my grandfather on my father's side is apparently a Talon? I don't entirely understand it myself, but I know B spoiled their plans for me by taking me in. So now they take occasional shots at bringing me to heel."

Which actually reminded him. Now that Melinda was thinking about changing her name, he should probably give her that heads up.

[robintohood]

This night is just full of surprises. The Talon connection Jason hadn't expected at all.

"So you were always destined for the birds," he says. "It was just a matter of which one."

[forceforlight]

"I like the ones I fell in with best." He's made his own family. Bruce may have started it, but Dick does his best to keep things together.

It doesn't always go well, but he tries.

[robintohood]

"Ugh, don't get all mushy. What kind of nocturnal vigilante are you?" Jason says. He's not really complaining though. He knows Dick is the most openly affectionate out of everyone in the family. Somebody has to be with the work they do.

[forceforlight]

He needs a release from the memories. A reminder that things aren't so terrible. Which is why Jason gets a grin and Dick opens his mouth to say something--

--When his phone starts pinging.

His mouth snaps shut and Dick reaches for the phone, turning it over and checking his notifications. "Uh...huh."

[robintohood]

"Something up?" Jason asks, noting the sudden change in body language.

[forceforlight]

"Well. You were definitely right about one thing." He turns the phone around, showing the mounting notifications from TikTok. "Apparently, people really like Haley."

[robintohood]

"You're welcome," Jason smirks as he watches the notifications pile up. "Give me a portion when you monetize your account. The internet is a special kind of hell but everyone likes cute animals."

[forceforlight]

"I barely know what I'm doing with my own stuff. Not sure what I'll do with Haley." But he'll think of something. He thinks for a moment. "Do you think they make plush Fantastic toys?"

[robintohood]

"Likely. It's another way for him to make money off of his own image," Jason replies. "Why?"

[forceforlight]

"A lot of people get stuffed toys for their dogs." And Dick does NOT like Fantastic. Very few of the Starfallen do, he's found.

[robintohood]

Jason's lips widen into a grin as he puts together what Dick is thinking about.

"True. And why deny a sweet baby like Haley from having more toys? It'd be easy to find a Fantastic plush too."

[forceforlight]

"Probably best to get a couple, if I can. Second hand, of course." Because that's only economical. And not putting money in Fantastic's pocket.

He shakes his head. "I should really feel bad about using my puppy to take potshots at Fantastic, shouldn't I." It's not really a question.

[robintohood]

"She'll also be having fun and getting exercise and not getting hurt. It's just called multitasking," Jason points out unashamedly.

[forceforlight]

He should probably feel worse about thinking about using his puppy for monetization purposes, but needs must. None of them had spare billions sitting around in this world.

"Yeah, yeah, all right. I'll see what I can find tomorrow after I get up." Because he had a shift tomorrow as well, but that's later in the day.

[robintohood]

"Shouldn't be too hard. And we can't be the only ones who don't like him," Jason says. "Kinda surprising there aren't more of those kinds of videos now that I think about it."

[forceforlight]

"Probably a lot of people who don't want to get flack for not loving all of their 'saviors'. And Fantastic has an actual fan club." Dick shakes his head. "Wouldn't be surprised if he actually pays people to go around and give people grief on posts that aren't entirely supportive of him."

[robintohood]

"I wouldn't put it past him," Jason scoffs. "Can't believe I'm saying this but the League seems to do a better job of keeping each other in check."

[forceforlight]

"Even Booster wasn't this bad at his worst."

Did Booster have reasons to be that bad? Probably. Didn't make it less annoying. "Honestly, I'm pretty sure there's more going on behind the scenes than we're seeing. It's one reason I heavily considered joining up. But I couldn't justify it if they would have tried to stop me seeing you guys."

[robintohood]

Jason snorts.

"I'd love to see them try," he smirks. "Wouldn't be the first one of us went undercover for a little bit. There definitely has to be more going on with the Alliance."

[forceforlight]

"Oh, believe me. I gave it a lot of thought before deciding not to. It's always something I can take back later, decide that this sort of life isn't for me, I need more help." He waves a hand. "The lack of ID is the rough part, but like we've never forged that."

[robintohood]

"With the right connections, it might be possible," Jason calmly retorts. "Part of the problem is not knowing this place as well as Gotham's underground. And then you got the Society to watch out for on that end."

Jason himself has been managing so far and has a gang but it's definitely limited compared to what he could pull off in Gotham.