dear_mun | Voice Testing the Owl

And that's saying something.

You know Rorschach?

I've been working with him for about a year, now. Interesting guy. [Also a little crazy but you know. His dad dresses up like a bat so glass houses.]

Oh.

[Dan chuckles, feeling more than a little awkward. Should he apologise that someone else has to deal with Ror and all his issues? Well, he feels like he should, but that may be in poor taste.]

Yeah. Real interesting guy. Hope he hasn't, you know, caused any trouble, Mr...?

[That sounds good. A nice, polite way of saying "Hope Rorschach hasn't been too much of a dick to you, pal."]

Grayson. And he hasn't, really. [There were way worse inmates he could be partnered up with on the Barge, and he and Rorschach generally get along.]

Then again, he's way less crazy than plenty of the people I have to deal with at home, so my opinion might be a little skewed.

Edited 2012-10-20 05:33 (UTC)

Christ. I can't imagine anyone more... well, 'interesting' that Rorschach. Must say I don't envy you.

[More awkward chuckles because, lets face it, Dan is just awkwardness in human form.]

You'd be surprised. Although I guess I've never had to work with them this long term, in close quarters, one on one. [Thank God. :V]

From what I've heard, it kind of sounds like your world's costumed criminals tend to be on saner side than mine.

Well, we did have this one guy who pretended to be a super villain just to get beat up. i'm pretty sure that's the craziest super villain we've got.

It's the vigilantes you need to watch out for.

Yeah. I've met the Comedian, too.

[And that just makes Dan go quiet. Sure, the Comedian was a terrible, terrible person, but would it be right to say that outloud, seeing as the guy was dead?]

I see.

[Dick would not judge you at all, Dan. :V]

Is it really easy to just step away from it all like that? [Meaning guess who literally cannot fathom hanging up the metaphorical cape and tights.] I mean, you know what goes on out there.

[First he brings up the Comedian, now he's asking about the suit. Dang, Grayson, you sure know how to get to a guy.]

Yes, Mr. Grayson, I do know what goes on out there.

[Whoops, that came out a little snappier than he intended. Give Dan a second to gather himself.]

I- I'm sorry. It's just a difficult issue to talk about. Quick answer to your question; no. It's not easy to step back, but, at some stage, you have to do it.

[He's curious! And he's wanted to ask these questions for like a year, sorry Dan. :c

Dick just shrugs, not looking particularly bothered or offended by the changes in tone.]

I know it is. Sorry. But I don't know, I think the only thing that would stop me is if I physically couldn't anymore. And let's just say I don't know many people who retired and stayed retired. [... Two years on the Barge + everyone more or less finding out he was ~~kinda~~ Batman + the fact that you're Rorschach's quasi bff = Dick has maybe gotten a little lax on the secret identity thing, in this case.]

Rorschach? The crazy guy with that mask?

Mask always moving? Grumbles about filth? Yeah, that's Rorschach.

[Blank. Look. ...well. More or less; if you know how to read the patterns that's pretty much the equivalent. There's a neutral grunt too. So unimpressed, Daniel.]

Problem with fighting crime, Dreiberg?

[Dude, you called him 'flabby'. If you weren't such a great bro, Dan would have ~~attempted and failed to~~ kicked your ass.]

Just growing up, Rorschach.

[Hey, not his fault you don't like his truths. If you kept up with it instead of quitting maybe you wouldn't be flabby to begin with.]

So now paranoid and childish.

Interesting.

Hope resting comfortably in Veidt's brave new world.

[Not that he's bitter or anything.

Jerk. :( ]

[Oh no you didn't. Don't wave your death in his face, bro. That's just cold, even by your standards.

Also, you're the jerk.]

Stop it. You're going too far, now.

[It's not like he wanted you to die, Rorschach. Even though you're a stinky nutjob, you're still his best friend.]

You're acting like a child.

[BUT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS PARTNER. :(

The fabric of his mask is more a nuisance than a comfort now, clinging, constricting, and he pulls it free, balls it in his fist. A testament to what he's been through since they spoke last, perhaps, or maybe just renewed exhaustion setting in, the cause doesn't matter. He stares up at Dan, jaw tense, gaze blank, more expressionless than ink ever was, as if he's forgotten how to make them after years of hiding behind his mask, but it's still evident enough that he's less than pleased by the accusation. The face may be unfamiliar but the voice isn't, still the broken glass of the vigilante. The Admiral might have taken his face, and Grayson refused its return, but neither of them can take who he is. Force him to be what he isn't.]

Made choice, Daniel. Chose peace based on lies. On murder. Orchestrated by vainglorious traitor who named himself for a dead king.

Not like you. Told warden the same. Won't compromise what's right for promise of brighter future when path to get there is steeped in blood of innocents.

[The action makes Dan flinch. Not because he's shocked at how his partner- no, his friend's face looks - but because Rorschach has taken off the mask. He knows that Rorschach isn't unmasking out of trust. He knows Rorschach is still as paranoid as always. The flinch is from a strange sense of hurt. He always wanted his ex-partner to take off the mask because he trusted him with his identity; with what was left of the person, not the vigilante.

Knowing that this isn't about trust or friendship or even goddamn partnership makes Dan clench his fists. He almost wanted to demand that Rorschach put the mask back on, since it's so much easier to fight with a seemingly invincible vigilante than it is to fight someone so painfully human.]

Warden? Where are you, Rorschach?

[Dan can't bring himself to acknowledge the truth. He just can't. So he'll pick apart whatever other detail he can find.]

[It helps when he hasn't had access to it for almost a year, outside of an attempt at a replacement he had for no more than a few hours before it too was confiscated. Makes it seem stranger to wear it than not. Now it's his name that he hides behind, but even that's hard to cling to when realities shift so often. Sorry, Daniel, there's not a whole lot left to give out of trust.

He grunts. Unsettled, though more frustrated than that.]

Place called the Barge. It's a ship. In space. Piloted by a madman who steals the dead for rehabilitation. Makes deals with others, assigns them to inmates.

[Yes, he knows it sounds ridiculous.]

Couldn't say if it's an improvement.

...

[Clearly Ror has gone even more batshit insane. See this look on Dan's face? It's the look he used to give him insane grandma.]

Of course. A ship in space.

[And this face? Yeah. Not even slightly impressed. He knows what you're thinking, it's right there for everyone to see. You never were much good at hiding things, Daniel.]

Know how it sounds. Trust me.

[A tightening of his jaw. A trace of discomfort, but only a trace and only if you're looking for it.]

Would prefer alternative.

[He's never really had to hide things. Always thought honesty was the best policy. Especially when it came friends and ex-partners.]

Alternative?

[...Oh. If Ror is talking about what Dan thinks he's talking about, then this is incredibly uncomfortable.]

You mean being back home and eating my beans? Ha. Yeah. I'd be nice to have you break into my place at ridiculous hours, again.

[Subject change: go!]

Edited 2012-10-26 13:42 (UTC)

[Yeah, that's what he means. Sure. Eating beans in your kitchen. You may have more blank staring, Daniel; you know him better than that. The time for eating beans in your kitchen has passed.

...well. Until SOMEBODY gets his head out of his ass, anyway.]

Doubt will be much left after rehabilitation. Can't imagine Veidt's utopia will last.

[Yeah. He might be fishing. Hey, he's been stuck on an intergalactic prison for a year, he wants to know how it all turned out in the end.]

You're a superhero?

[color him interested. even under the mask, it can be difficult to hide his excitement. luckily, his tone of voice remains as cool - and hilariously gruff - as always.]

Was.

[Oh, god. Dan swallows because why is a child a mask. His face falls and his brow knits, he'd like to pretend it's all alright, but he knows what happens to masks and it's not right for a child to go through that.]

You? I mean, are you a superhero?

You quit?

[no, it really isn't, but he realized that a while ago. still doesn't stop him from going out and doing what he has to do, though.

at that next question, a nod follows.]

Mysterion. And you - ?

Edited 2012-10-20 23:42 (UTC)

Older than you, Daniel. Age not the problem.

Bird just too bloated. Too afraid to attempt flight again.

[ You knew the fat jabs were coming. He knows they hurt, though, every time. So does 'insane' - at least from you. ]

Well, I wouldn't really know much about you seeing as you don't ever see the need in sharing and I don't break into your house at ridiculous hours of the night.

[Dan still loves you, Ror. Even though you're a complete dick.]

And would you stop going on about my weight. I've gained a few pounds, so what?

You know what's worth knowing. Tell you more when necessary. Fine like that. Think I'm keeping something from you. Think I take off the costume and become someone else, like you. Wrong.

Don't want me breaking in, get stronger locks. Knock then.

[ He's all sorts of a dick, but this is his way of looking out for you, Dan. ]

Always very soft, Daniel, just everyone can see it now. Tricky Dick tries to clip Nite Owl's wings. You let him. Walk past filth every day, pretending not to see. Done with fighting, you get fat on your complacency. Think you've done your time like a good soldier. Good soldiers die fighting. War isn't over, Daniel. The fight has never been about you. Thought you understood that, when we were still partners. Learned it was just about costume and fun for you, just a feather in your hat. Fine. But disappointed.

Edited 2012-10-26 17:27 (UTC)

You really think of it as if we were pretending?

[Finally a sane face.]

Come on, Adrian. You know some of us weren't cut out to save the world. Still, it was fun, though.

[A hero in Dan's time of need, I know.]

I think we did well enough for what we had, but you're right, it was far from truly saving the world.

[an appropriate pause for this moment of how sad the world is kind of still really messed up and then okay moving on.]

How have you been, otherwise, Daniel? It's been too long.

[Not that Dan would mind more Rorschachs. More bestest buddies is always nice. But it's really nice to see someone who doesn't call him fat.

To his face, at least.]

I've been alright, I guess. Keeping up with rent, doing crossword puzzles. Nothing that impressive.

[He smiles, because, hey, Adrian's a nice~~ish~~ guy.]

What about you? Find that special lady, yet?

[Everything about Adrian is extremely heterosexual. Even his 'BOYS' folder.]

[so. heterosexual. he's so hetero it hurts. and the way he laughs a little at the comment is just be one of the hetero guys. totally.]

Sometimes it's necessary to occupy oneself with the mundane. As for me I'm...quite busy with my company. I have dreams that are bigger than simply finding someone to share my life with, surely you realize that.

[But it's not really sarcastic. (Is it? He has kind of mastered the art of insulting people pleasantly. Except, no, they're old team mates. Not this time.)]

Are you still living alone, then?

Voice Testing the Owl

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/KEYSMASH

STOP BREAKING MY COMPUTERS, ROR, GAWD!

IDWIW ALSO YOUR COMPUTERS ARE EVIL. SO THERE. :|

:( WHY DO YOU HURT ME, BABY?

BECAUSE HOW DO FRIENDS WORK :(

You can start by NOT CALLING ME FLABBY >:T

then PICK UP THE COWL AGAIN. :|

NOPE.MP3

:( WELL FINE. BE THAT WAY.

... /tosses cowl on

\o/

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