On losing a certain castmate

[backwordscompatible]

Don't look at me like that.  I'm fine.

At least one of us finally managed to escape this social experiment gone twisted, right?  Though it would've been nice if he'd thought to take the rest of us with him....

[That's not how it works, and you know it.]

Well, I've got to blame somebody, right?  It can't be the new Wardens.  Too soon in the relationship.

Comments

[wintershepherd]

More relationship rules, huh?

[ A tease, but a gentle one. It sucks when people go home. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[She doesn't know you in this game, Jack...but, at the same time, it's also hard to forget what they have in the game she does.]

[Which is why the power of Fourth Walling is awesome. Because she gets to remember. And smile back, almost teasingly, at the question.]

Do you really have to put it like that?

'Rules' is such a harsh word.

[wintershepherd]

How should I have put it?

[backwordscompatible]

Oh, I would never even think of putting words in your mouth.

[It's so much more fun getting to correct you.]

It's more like...common sense.

I mean, if one of us ever left the Turtle, we'd do our best to make the sure the other came with, right?

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, of course but... we're not going back to the same place.

[backwordscompatible]

Says who?

[Actually, she's pretty sure there's no way for that to happen...but stubbornness refuses to let her admit it.]

[wintershepherd]

... muns?

[backwordscompatible]

[She waves a dismissive hand in the air. Authority. Pah.]

Oh, what do they know?

[Rude]

Quiet, you.

Besides, Kyle's already admitted he could travel in between Universes. If he can, why can't we?

[wintershepherd]

... really? That's a thing?

[backwordscompatible]

Apparently.

What, did you think I was going to just let you go that easily?

[wintershepherd]

As if I'd be so lucky?

pffft kidding

[backwordscompatible]

[HDU]

[She'll just take her snowcone and go ho--oh, wait....]

Afraid you're stuck with me for a good, long while, Frosty.

[wintershepherd]

I hope I'm getting compensated for this.

[backwordscompatible]

Not a chance.

[What, isn't her mere presence compensation enough for you?]

[wintershepherd]

I'm holding a protest.

Right here.

[ folds his arms across his chest ]

This is me protesting.

[backwordscompatible]

[And this is her incredibly amused as she plops herself right down next to him.]

We might be here a while, in that case.

Which is such a shame, when you think about the things we have planned otherwise. Are you really willing to miss out on all that?

[wintershepherd]

[ N O P E. He's determined to hold his ground for at least half a minute. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[Chin in hand, she tilts her head at an angle as she stares silently back. Wondering how long before he cracks.]

[wintershepherd]

[ Holding. Holding. Weakening... ]

What kind of things?

[backwordscompatible]

[Getting there.]

[She smiles knowingly and--just to further mess with him--shrugs, as if she has no idea what the answer might be. When she absolutely does.]

[wintershepherd]

[ Hear that little whine in the back of his throat? He hates not knowing. ]

Not even a hint?

[backwordscompatible]

...well...maaaybe a little hint...

[She motions with one finger for him to lean in closer so she can whisper in his ear.]

[wintershepherd]

[ He obediently leans forward, awaiting the whisper. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[And whisper she does. Listing off a series of certain ongoing events...including one that the muns may or may not have only just recently started loosely plotting.]

[When she's finished, she pulls back with a very obvious wink.]

[wintershepherd]

Oh.

Well then.

[backwordscompatible]

Still protesting?

[wintershepherd]

No, I'm done now.

[backwordscompatible]

Though so.

[She turns, as if to leave, before throwing a quick glance over her shoulder.]

Coming?

[wintershepherd]

You don't have to ask twice.

[seethemoon]

Are you going to be alright?

[backwordscompatible]

[Hey, former sick buddy. You still suck as a pillow, but you'll always be a great friend.]

Define 'alright'.

If you mean with Robin leaving...I'll manage.

[seethemoon]

I know you'll manage. You always do. I want you to know if you'll be alright in that place now.

Do you have friends there?

[backwordscompatible]

That remains to be seen. It's a prison, after all.

But, yeah, I have friends. Artemis and Wally and M'gann are still there. And I've met a lot of other people who're still around.

[seethemoon]

That's good. Stay close to them if you can. [Spoilers: Overprotective genes run deep in the Kryptonians.]

I'm sorry I can't come, my mundane has enough on her hands as it is.

[backwordscompatible]

[What are you, her Supermommy?]

That's alright. I wouldn't want to wish prison on you, anyway. Even if M'gann would be happy to see you.

[seethemoon]

[Rude there's only one Supermommy.]

It can't be worse than the containment pod. I'm glad the rest of the team is alright though.

[backwordscompatible]

[Not if you clone him.]

Only by a slim margin.

At least, here, when we wake up, we still have clothes on. Weird jumpsuits, and I don't want to think about how they got on us...but being dressed is definitely preferable to space goo.

[seethemoon]

[A little grunt] I really didn't like the space goo. Or the space sickness. Or the space beast.

...I really didn't like space in general.

[backwordscompatible]

So I noticed.

[seethemoon]

Are the places you're in right now nicer at least?

[backwordscompatible]

Um...

[Should she try to attempt explaining what the Hell City was like?]

...the Turtle place is. Usually. Right now, it's not so bad. The natives have stopped glaring at us, and the people I've met there... [A fond smile appears, and even a subtle glance upward to the above conversation with one of said people.]...let's just say that sometimes, it actually gets a little hard to think about going home.

[seethemoon]

[Oh, he's seen that smile before. Usually when Dick is around her.

He immediately relaxes.]

Glad to hear you have good company in both places.

[backwordscompatible]

[...yeah, him too.]

[>.>]

Better than the alternative.

[seethemoon]

[A hum of agreement.]

Who are the new Wardens?

[backwordscompatible]

Courant and Savvy.

The first one's even perkier than M'gann. The other one's got more attitude than should be legally allowed.

[She's not particularly fond of either of them.]

[seethemoon]

You make them sound fun. What's the problem?

[redheadedspeedster]

I don't think it's too soon to blame the Wardens.

[They already took his food away and now his best friend is gone.]

[backwordscompatible]

...yeah, you're probably right.

[Shouldn't your priorities be reversed on that one, Wally?]

I never thought I'd live to see the day I almost miss V.