( open ) surrender all your dreams to me tonight

[dothelokimotion]

Who: Loki Odinson dothelokimotion + You
What: Fancy Opening Night
When: May 11th
Where: The Opherium, Central City
Content Warnings: n/a


( i. grand opening — mingle and drinks )

[ welcome to the opherium. open to all metas, provided you’re up to the dress code. so make sure you’re dressed to the gills with your fanciest clothes or you might just be asked to leave. you’re ushered into a grand hall. there are appetizers like shrimp cocktails and little quiches placed on large tables for you to nibble on and champagne glasses being passed around by waiters. located in the middle is a large chocolate fountain for all you dessert lovers (loki. it’s for loki). grab yourself a drink and go hit up a familiar face. ]

( ii. dance dance )

[ and of course, once the mingling and networking is done, the staff come to clear the chairs away and leave plenty of room on the dance floor. the lights go dim, casting soft shadows against the wall. slow waltzes begin to filter through the hall as gently encouragement to go find a partner, maybe hold them close, enjoy a little . . . company and more.

or maybe you just want an excuse to step on someone’s foot. equally valid. in fact, there might be a little magic in the air that tugs you towards someone you want to be with . . . ]

( iii. star gazing )

[ the party is winding down. maybe you’re ready to go back. curl up on bed after a late night with drinks and dancing. or perhaps you’re feeling a touch of wistfulness, a need to seclude yourself after all that jazz. consider then, finding yourself a nice quiet corner on the upper levels of the theatre, where there are some nice balconies for you to collect yourself.

and there are always the stars to keep you company. ]

Comments

[robintohood]

[Which part? There are so many questions that have been brewing in Jason. The calm exterior he had been keeping tonight starts to further crack]

Why bother? If I couldn't change your mind after putting you through all that, then I know you'll never do it. You'll always be the same dark knight with some dark-haired orphaned boy by your side to be your loyal soldier. You're up to what? Five now? That's what I was told from--

[Jason makes a hollow laugh]

My little brother apparently. My replacement.

[Jason's stomach twists upon him saying that last word. It feels so wrong but it's an ugly truth]

[the_caped_crusader]

You mean Tim.

[ though they have a... different... relationship now, he still looks at this earlier version of jason and sees the same look deep down that still lives in his jason's eyes. a bitter look that he hid as a child, behind all of that precociousness of his. ]

There were other Robins after you, but none of them ever replaced you.

[robintohood]

[Jason glares at Bruce]

Could've fooled me. After everything that's happened, why the fuck would you bring more kids into this?

[the_caped_crusader]

Tim figured out who I was, and saved my life from Two-Face. Damian was birthed and trained by Talia and the League without my knowledge. Cassandra was raised alone and trained to become the perfect killer by her father, David Cain. Stephanie is the daughter of the Cluemaster, and decided that she needed to do something to stop her father from hurting more people.

[ he pauses, taking a breath. ]

And all of them had the same look you and I have. The one that told me with or without me, they were going to pursue a life of justice. To help people. To make change. I might have taken them in, but they all have their own story. Their own reasons. Just like you had with Robin. Just like you think you have now with the Red Hood.

[robintohood]

[Jason looks away in disgust? The information Bruce just dumped on him is overwhelming too. Jason always knew how dark the world could be but it was depressing and infuriating how many ways cruelty could be committed.

Bruce could be lying but the likelihood of that was slim to none as far as Jason knows. It's too personal and too elaborate to be a lie.

Finally, he looks back at Bruce again]

Must be good to have a whole lineup willing to follow the "right" codes then, huh?

[the_caped_crusader]

They make their own decisions, Jason. If they decided to walk a different path, then I would stop them, too.

[ said matter-of-factly. ]

[robintohood]

Have you ever had to?

[Or was he the family fuckup?]

[the_caped_crusader]

[ a long pause. ]

No.

[robintohood]

[Why the pause? That should've been an easy question to answer...]

Nothing like with me then, huh?

[the_caped_crusader]

Jason, a few months ago I fought my universe-displaced father. I've been in fights with all of you at one point, for one reason or another.

[ the pauses are because even he knows that saying the truth is hard sometimes. jason is always othering himself from the family, he's not looking for more reasons to drive him away. ]

But no, nothing like with you.

[robintohood]

[Christ, multiverses are messy. That piece of information is too absurd not to be true. For just a moment, sympathy crosses Jason's face. As furious and hurt as Jason still is over everything that's happened, he can't seem to snuff out his familial love for his adoptive father.

Then his expression hardens again as an emotional defense. No. He can't let himself be vulnerable again]

Lucky for all of us then.

[the_caped_crusader]

I'll tell you what I told him: You're welcome home whenever you want, Jason. The doors are always open.

[ and his otherwise hard expression softens, as the two of them are constantly contrasting with one another. ]

But my one rule still hasn't changed.

[robintohood]

Of course it hasn't. I don't expect it to change at this point.

[There's no surprise, just disappointment in his voice]

Why would you still take me back after everything I've done and all the people I've remorselessly killed? Why did you save me after I tried to kill us?

[Those few seconds when Bruce yanked Jason away before the bomb could kill both of them still play in Jason's mind. He had been struggling to wrap his head around Bruce's motive for that]

[the_caped_crusader]

Because you're my son, Jason. Because I love you.

[ rip jason todd. born 8-16 died (again) 5/13/2022. he was son. ]

[robintohood]

[Jason's quickly learning that his family members know how to emotionally short-circuit him. God fucking damnit, Dad. How long has it been since Jason heard those words from him? Or even anything close to it. It feels almost surreal. Jason hadn't anticipate that kind of response. When he decided to confront Bruce tonight, he was ready to violently lash out and at least try to punch Bruce a few times. But now instead, Jason was stunned. There's a long moment of silence before he finally finds some words to say]

Even after everything I've done?

[Part of Jason wants to believe Bruce. But he doesn't want to set himself up for a massive disappointment again]

[the_caped_crusader]

Forgiveness exists for anyone who really wants it.

[ bruce steps forward and sets a hand on jason's shoulder. it's what he believes for anyone who's done wrong. for anyone who's committed a crime. even his rogues. all of the people he fights. of course the same is true for jason. ]

You know that, boy.

[robintohood]

[Jason stills but doesn't move away. The gesture feels nice, even comforting for him. Again, it's been too long since he had anything like that. But then the part of Jason that wants to shield himself from emotional hurt trucks on]

Even if I don't regret most of my actions?

[It all feels too good to be true. He can't help but keep questioning]

[the_caped_crusader]

[ he takes his hand away, but doesn't put any distance between them. ]

That's your journey to take, Jason. I can't be the one to give you absolution, but I can be there to help you through it, if you want it.

[robintohood]

[Jason's expression softens again. Try as he might to snuff it out, he misses having a family again. Being alone hurt sometimes. Part of him is tempted to take Bruce's offer.

But he can't fake remorse for his actions either]

I've killed dozens of people already. By most people's standards, I should be sent to Arkham or Blackgate instead.

[the_caped_crusader]

And to your standards?

[robintohood]

[Bluntly]

No. I shouldn't have to go to either place. I did what I had to do. Simple as that.

[the_caped_crusader]

Mm.

[ a little noise, but always noticeable from him. he wonders if he doesn't regret anything he's done, then what kind of person is he now? can he reach him sooner than heh reached his jason? they were both so similar, a surprise, considering the versions of people he's encountered over the years. ]

And how do you plan on moving forward?

[robintohood]

Just keep doing what I've been doing. I still mean what I said last time. I can't just follow your ways anymore. The difference now is I know I can't rely on you or anyone else anymore. I have to do things alone.

[Jason's aware it doesn't sound like the most thorough plan for his future but it's the one he's settled]

[the_caped_crusader]

You're saying you mean to keep killing.

[ in so many words, that's essentially what you're telling him. ]

[robintohood]

[Flatly]

Are you honestly surprised by that?