[OPEN Mingle] If music be the food of love…

[robintohood]

Who: Mingle post! Jason Todd (DCAU version) robintohood is also available in a separate top-level comment
What: Valentine’s Day season at the Descendant Karaoke Bar and Lounge
When: 2/1 to 2/13, before the February game event
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: None for now. Will update if needed.

[It’s early February and even a place as gritty and tough as Central City isn’t immune to the Valentine’s Day mood.

If one visits the Descendant around this time of the year, one may notice that some of the Gritty the mascot figures are holding fake roses and Cupid bows and arrows. Don’t worry. They’re safe. Really.

In addition, there are two types of songs getting a ton of play. On one side you got romantic and sweet songs such as Truly, Madly, Deeply, My Heart Will Go On, and As Long As You Love Me. On the other side is quite the opposite. These songs about heartbreak. A lot of them also are blow-out torch songs. Classic hits such as You Give Love A Bad Name, I’m Still Standing, and Should I Stay or Should I Go are getting performed with at least as much enthusiasm as the love songs, if not more. Even mobsters sometimes have rough love lives and need to blow off steam.

So whatever your feelings are about Valentine’s Day this year, come drop by for a drink, some entertainment and maybe a bar game or two. Chances are, you’ll be in decent company. Besides, what else could possibly happen in Central City this month?]

((OOC: Mingle post before this month’s big event! Have fun. Jason’s own top-level is right here. My contact information is on this journal's profile and I'm in the game's Discord server. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns as well. I also have a feedback post.))

Comments

[robintohood]

We usually keep the rotation pretty fresh every month. Anything specific you’re in the mood for?

[purplexing]

Sci-fi. [He waves around the book he's found.] A real page-turner, something to keep my mind occupied. Any recs?

[robintohood]

Anything by Ray Bradbury, Jules Verne, or H.G. Wells are always good if you want early classic sci-fi. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is comedic sci-fi and fun. Don't read George Orwell if you don't wanna depress yourself.

[Likely there are more Jason can think of but for now, these are the ones right at the top of his head]

[purplexing]

[Donnie grimaces a little.] Er, yeah. I think I'll keep my distance from depressing. Had enough of that.

[He mutters that part mostly to himself as he turns to consult the shelves again.]

Jules Verne's always good though. Might try Hitchhiker's though. I could go for fun.

[robintohood]

It’s a lot of absurdist humor so it’s a good escape. If you like that book, you can check out the rest of the series.

[Jason watches Donnie scan through the shelves]

How’ve you been?

[He did hear that mutter Donnie made]

[purplexing]

[The turtle runs a finger along the book spines as he skims the titles.]

Been better.

[He pulls Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, brow arching at the cover before he turns it over to glance over the summary.]

...you ever have to deal with people you've only met here suddenly just. Not being here anymore?

[robintohood]

[At that question, Jason becomes a little more serious]

Yeah. It’s happened to me before. Why?

[purplexing]

...not a fan.

[He sinks back down to sit, tracing the edges of the book with his finger.]

[robintohood]

Sorry to hear that. When did it happen?

[purplexing]

About a month ago. ...and then again this month.

[robintohood]

[Oof…]

That’s gotta hurt. Worst thing about these events is that they happen at random with no trigger.

[purplexing]

...yeah.

[It hurts a lot and he hates it.]

It doesn't make any sense.

[robintohood]

I don’t know if it’s supposed to. They happen just as sudden as people getting dropped it.

[purplexing]

[Donnie sighs. ]

Yeah but... people coming in was more predictable when the Confluences were happening, and those stopped for a while. I guess I can't really expect anything in this universe to be stable though...

[robintohood]

[Jason nods]

Yeah, that’s one way to describe this version of Earth. Do you think it’s good they went back home?

[The question is being asked because Jason knows not everyone has a good home]

[purplexing]

...I don't know.

[Donnie pulls his knees up, hugging his arms around them. He only has an idea of where Archie had come from, but who was Donnie to say that it was better for him here? It sounded like a complicated mess, but here could be just as complicated.

Hardison... The guy always complained about how different things were, how behind he felt, but he'd gotten along fine too. But he was a survivor. So was Archie.]

Maybe. I mean, who wants to be stuck here.

[Except that here wasn't so bad sometimes.]

[robintohood]

It’s not that weird of a thought, depending on where you were before the Confluence.

[And based on some of the stories Jason has heard from certain other Starfallen, it’s a strange blessing to be here instead]

[purplexing]

Yeah, I know. I wasn't saying it was. Doesn't really change anything though. They're not here anymore.

[robintohood]

[In a matter of fact tone]

And you miss them.

[purplexing]

...

Yeah.

[robintohood]

Sorry about that. It tough because of how sudden they happen. Not much else you can do except hope they’re okay and maybe somehow you’ll meet them again.

[purplexing]

[Donnie nods, not really convinced. It'd be kind of selfish wishing they'd come back, wouldn't it? He just wishes it didn't hurt so much.]

Guess it's just like a wake-up call, huh? I got used to figuring we might just be stuck here, but...it's not all bad. Staying in an actual apartment, meeting other people I can hang out with that aren't like, immediate family. Forgot it could just change without any warning.

[robintohood]

I think it’s normal to feel what you’re feeling when you’ve been here long enough and have settled in.

[Jason’s been on this version of Earth for over a year and has seen his share of people coming and going]

Not like we have a Confluence every single day. A typical day around here can feel pretty normal more often than not.

[purplexing]

[That's something Donnie's still unsure about too. Feeling like things here are 'normal.' With it comes the guilt of not getting any closer to finding a way back home, for him but most importantly for Leo. No one's saddled him with this problem but he's made it his to fix. That's just his thing.]

I...guess.

If you had to pick, would you prefer here or back wherever home is for you. [Or maybe there's no contest, the guy had said he was from Jersey, right?]

[robintohood]

[There’s a short pause while Jason thinks about his answer. The truth is it’s complicated for him. His Gotham is just a few steps away from being a hellscape but someone has to try and improve things for innocent civilians just trying to survive. His Bruce certainly isn’t doing things the right way.

On the other hand, as shocking as it was suddenly getting dropped off on this version of Earth and now dealing with the confusing mess that is the multiverse, he’s also had good things happen here. He has new siblings and friends he’s come to deeply care for. He has a truly uniquely deep bond with someone he loves. He’s making differences in his own way while being the Red Hood here.

Deep down, Jason knows he wouldn’t be happy if he was suddenly yanked away from all that and just dropped back into his Gotham alone.]

I’ve traveled a lot so for me, home isn’t entirely about a place.

[Donnie hasn’t reached the level of trust it would take for Jason to admit much but he’s sympathetic to how the turtle is feeling]