APRIL CATCH-ALL

[khajidont]

WHO: JAIME REYES / BLUE BEETLE III & OTHERS
WHERE: All around!
WHEN: Throughout the month!
WHAT: Yet another catch-all, thanks for bearing with me folks! As always, if you'd like a starter, hit me up via PM or on plurk @ WISDOMBITCH, and I'd be happy to whip one up for you! If you'd like to drop in a starter yourself, feel free - Jaime will be around being a college student/walking two dogs and/or caring for his big ol' snake/working at the garage/being domestic, whereas Blue Beetle will continue being his friendly neighbourhood superhero self, stopping baddies, dealing with mundane tasks and otherwise hanging out at JL HQ.
WARNINGS: None anticipated!

Comments

FOR AKIRA

[khajidont]

[ Jaime had only come here to drop off Tara's textbooks. He'd been putting it off for way, way too long (and honestly, it had been too sad getting rid of them when she was finally on her way to having a normal life) but it's just his luck that the teachers of this particular high school have a different task for him in mind. They want a college student to give a talk - an imPort college student at that, both for their few imPort students and because imPorts tend to impress the kids, no matter how inconspicuous they may look. They hadn't forced him into it, of course. They just talked about how helpful it would be for the kids, and how the event would have to be cancelled otherwise and, oh, it would be so tragic if even one kid decided not to go to college as a result of the school's negligence.

So really, what's a guy to do? Jaime's first bit of chatter is nothing but introduction and fluff: his name is Jaime Reyes, yes, he's an imPort, yes he went to high school here, and yes, he's attending college currently. About halfway through, he says, ] But honestly, there's no rush. I took a year's break after high school to save up cash and figure out what I wanted to do - sometimes you don't know what to do right away. So, like, don't feel too pressured --

[ There is a loud clearing of throats across the room from the librarian. Whoops. Jaime swallows. ]

But, y'know. College good.

[ He shrugs at the librarian at the back of the room. She pinches at the bridge of her nose. He spends the rest of his time answering questions, which unfortunately tends to take on the vein of did you ever get to meet Superman? and what cool powers do you have? and is it really like the movies? instead of any questions about college.

Akira's free to ask a question during the Q&A period - otherwise, he'll be able to find Jaime afterwards, ducked behind one of the shelves and pinching the bridge of his nose. Public speaking's the absolute worst. ]

[wahey]

[Akira wasn't present at the meeting. At least, not at first. At some point in the middle of Jaime's impromptu speech, he had burst in somewhat dramatically into the rear end of the library and started scouring the shelves in the back like he had lost something. But aside from that brief interruption, he stayed relegated to the background, continuing his mission mostly to himself.]

[It's only later, when Jaime is on his own, that he'll find a hand grasp his shoulder. Behind him is the stocky, just-over-six-feet form of Akira, looking extremely determined about the library shelves just ahead of them.]

Don't make any sudden movements. You'll scare him.

[Something soft, long-eared and furry is hiding between Volumes III and IV of a Greek Art History series.]

[khajidont]

Gah!

[ Jaime turns around and, of course, has to look up at Akira. Story of his life. ] You'd have better luck with other people not making any sudden movements if you don't sneak up on them, [ he says. He's a jumpy guy! He can't help it! But he does take care to move a little slower from here on in, eyes scanning the shelves. He can't tell whether or not this guy's an imPort, but Jaime's an imPort, which means that the chances of this being some sort of eldritch abomination or fire-breathing lizard or god knows what are pretty high. He's accepted that that's just the way his life goes now.

And then he sees the twitch of an ear. If that's an eldritch abomination, it's a very, very cute one. ]

Wait, are you looking for a rabbit?

[wahey]

[The rabbit freezes for a moment as it seems to notice something amiss just a few feet away. Akira quickly puts a hand over Jaime's mouth, lowering his own voice to a whisper.]

Quiet. He's shy.

[The hand on Jaime's shoulder lowers to reach into his own pocket and take out some dried pineapple treats. He offers some to the other import.]

He likes these.

[khajidont]

Oh.

[ Jaime has a lot of questions. What's a rabbit doing in the library? Isn't that bad for books? How did this guy lose him? Why does this guy feel comfortable putting his hand over a stranger's mouth when Jaime's first instinct is generally to lick whoever's hand is placed over his mouth after too long spent with an entire army of cousins?

Jaime doesn't lick his hand, of course, but it's a near thing. And, admittedly, having rabbit treats pushed into his hand is delightful. Jaime's never wanted to feed a rabbit before but, now given the opportunity, now finds it's something that he's one-hundred percent on-board with.

Slowly, he raises his hand towards the shelf and lets the tips of his fingers rest lightly against it, hoping that the creature will just hop over. He looks over at Akira questioningly, as if to say: is this what you're supposed to do with rabbits? He sure as heck doesn't know. ]

holy fuck thanks for being patient

[wahey]

[A small, wriggling nose pokes out of those books, getting a whiff of pineapple. It quickly jerks back to safety, though, not quite comfortable with eating out of his hand just yet.

Akira, a few feet behind Jaime, makes an exaggerated pantomime of leaving some of those treats on the shelf, first. Ease him into it. Get him used to those treats. Lure him out with your rabbit wiles, Jaime.]

WE'RE ALL GOOD

[khajidont]

[ Oh. Okay. This isn't one of the most bizarre things he's done - Jaime's done a lot in his life - but it's up there. This isn't what he was expecting when he strolled into the school today.

He sets a couple of the treats on the shelf, glancing back at Akira a little expectantly, and waits. ]

[wahey]

[YES. Thumbs up. That's exactly right.]

[Akira takes a step or two forward, his voice still a careful whisper.]

Keep going. Then try holding one at the end of your hand.

[khajidont]

[ Jaime gives Akira a thumbs up back. He's not sure why. It just seems like the appropriate thing to do. And, of course, he obeys - it's becoming clear that he's a pretty good student on account of the fact that he's just doing what he's told. This guy knows best, after all!

He rests one treat on the tips of his fingers, and, arm outstretched, he waits. ]

DOOKU

[khajidont]

[ The first time Jaime had been called in to perform his duty as a probation officer, it had been a fairly casual affair. He'd already known what Tara's deal was and, more importantly, knew that he wanted to help her no matter what. It hadn't been a game of cat-and-mouse where he wasn't sure where he was going to stand - she was a damaged kid that would lash out, but a kid nonetheless.

Dooku? That guy in charge of a sprawling criminal operation that none other than his own roommate had infiltrated, much to the detriment of his own sense of safety and comfort, and then tore down? That guy?

Whoof. This feels like it's above Jaime Reyes' paygrade. Then again, he can't think of anyone he'd rather keep an eye on Dooku - call him conceited, but if you want a job done well, you have to do it yourself. He at least makes an effort to look presentable when he shows up at the prison, hoping that it will help Dooku take him seriously, hair combed out for once and wearing the same blazer and tie combo he'd worn to his entrance interviews to college.

After he signs the paperwork he simply stands in the lobby, hands loosely tucked in his pockets, and waits. Dooku will be informed that he's to meet with his probation officer, after all, so he ought to know what to expect.

It's Jaime that doesn't know what to expect. ]

[dun_moch]

[Dooku doesn't simply walk into the lobby. He emerges, striding in with the regal bearing of one who might as well be announced by trumpets. He's wearing his black clothing from home again- sadly minus his cape and lightsaber- and is visibly relieved to once again be free of a prison jumpsuit (this time without the aid of a misguided fan, to boot).

He approaches Jaime with his hands behind his back, and looks the boy up and down as though evaluating him. When he speaks, his deep voice reverberates a little off the walls of the lobby.]

So you are to be my keeper for the next two months. I hope you are prepared, young man.

[khajidont]

[ Hey, do you know what's cool? Not this. This guy's immensely tall, got the sonorous pipes of exactly the sort of guy to lead a supervillain, and holds himself as though Jaime's the one being put on probation here, not him. Jaime clears his throat, feeling a little scruffy, and straightens his posture to stand at his full...

Okay, this isn't going to work. Dooku's a full foot taller than him. He's just going to have to do his best to try and make Dooku take him seriously. ]

What's there to be prepared for? Everyone says you've seen the error of your ways. As long as you follow the rules, we won't have a problem. And you are gonna follow the rules, right?

[dun_moch]

Oh, certainly, certainly.

[Dooku's voice is entirely too smooth as he answers, waving his hand as though to brush aside the mere idea that he would be anything less than fully cooperative.]

But there are other considerations you must concern yourself with beyond my behaviour. My safety, for instance. There are those who may wish me harm, especially after certain things I was compelled to say publicly.

[Thinking specifically of a certain cyborg general, here.]

[khajidont]

Right. [ Jaime takes a deep breath, feeling odd, as though he's on the precipice of being the Blue Beetle and Jaime Reyes. Every inch of professionalism he's clawed his way towards, every bit of authority he's learned how to project has been to be a superhero, never in his own skin; there's no need to be stern with his friends, at the garage, at school, at the hundred little ordinary things that make up his life. Now, he's tasked with acting more the superhero as a civilian than he ever has before. ]

That's fair enough. We can discuss that in the car, [ he says firmly, gesturing for Dooku to follow him out into the parking lot, towards some sort of tenuous freedom. He decided against bringing his bike or his cheerful blue volkswagen (a man his age shouldn't have nearly as many vehicles as he does, but here he is) and instead brought the neutral, sedate vehicle he'd inherited twice over. Once they're both inside, he starts the engine. ]

Tell me more about who you think poses a threat to you - and what you think they'd do.

[dun_moch]

As you wish.

[The Count follows behind Jaime, polite and cooperative. He does not visibly exult once they have left the confines of the prison behind, but perhaps he stands a little straighter and breathes a little more deeply once he is again in free air.]

My former associate General Grievous has made it clear he desires revenge against me. He is a fierce warrior, and will not be satisfied until he has me under his blade.

[Dooku pauses a moment, and his voice somehow becomes even more portentous.]

There is also the matter of the Phantom Thieves. They remain at large, and there is no guarantee they will not seek to assault my mind a second time.

[khajidont]

[ Jaime makes sure that his face is carefully still when it comes to the Phantom Thieves. He wouldn't put it past Yusuke to try to invade Dooku's mind a second time if necessary. That's only if necessary, though, and he has no inclination to protect Dooku from that should he relapse back into his old criminal endeavors - and, of course, he's got a personal in to try to keep it from happening if it would be unjust.

That leaves only General Grievous, which, for the record? Very sinister name. That's some real classic supervillain material. ]

I'm your probation, not a miracle worker. I'll do my best to protect you from any physical threats, but I have as many safeguards against psychic threats as you do. That said, I give you my word that I'll do everything in my power to make sure you stay safe.

[ Keeping his eyes on the road is a balm for this conversation. It helps him focus, keep all of the little details in his mind straight. ]

Tell me more about what Grievous can do.

[dun_moch]

Is that so?

[Dooku raises an eyebrow, half skepticism, half challenge.]

Very well then. I suppose we will both discover what your word is worth.

General Grievous was once my greatest warrior. I trained him myself to lead the Separatist Army and to destroy the Jedi. His strength, speed, and ferocity are all difficult to equal... And he is skilled with a lightsaber, as well.

BARRY (other jl members are free to use this as well!)

[khajidont]

[ After they manage to avert the deaths of thousands of people, an international conflict and something that would be very bad news indeed for all imPorts involved, it felt like something should have changed.

Instead, Jaime woke up the next morning, found that it was the right date, and found that he still had school, he still had work, he still had life to take care of. At the end of the day, nothing had changed. So, despite things feeling different, Jaime just shrugged and got back to work. What else could he do?

Which means as soon as three days after the whole ordeal had been concluded, members of the Justice League can find the Blue Beetle at Justice League HQ as though nothing had ever happened - he predominantly lives by the computer, tapping at the keys idly as he flips through open cases and surveillance of what needs to be done. He can eat and train elsewhere - this sort of thing is what he has to do here.

But even heroes need to take a break sometimes too, so you may well find him flaked out on one of the couches, snoring more loudly than someone his size ought to be able to (and boy, it sounds weird through that technological filter of his) or, of course, doing a little training, though more to stretch his legs than what looks like any real driving desire to get better.

[accelerate]

[ sneaking up on someone totally works when you have super speed, right? ]

[ the answer is yes. as that is exactly what barry allen — the flash — does. ]

[ out of costume (see the dedication here, jaime), barry speeds into the computer lab, sending papers flying and causing the monitors to shake. he walks up to the computer blue beetle — jaime reyes, idiot extraordinaire — is sitting at like he's just tiptoed into the room on delicate, slow feet. ]

Are you Googling — Schmoogling — [ this is the split second where barry empathises with joe west. kids and their weird terminology these days … he doesn't let it distract him, though. barry's looking stern af and like a boss. ] the best ways to almost kill yourself today?

[ technically … he'd done it once and on the one day that repeated itself multiple times, so today doesn't quite meet the criteria. ]

[khajidont]

[ Oh. Oh, cool. This is a conversation that he super doesn't want to have. He didn't think many people saw what he did besides Laurie and Shinji, but it seems that he sort-of-maybe-kind-of was wrong. That's got to be what this is about, right? He winces a little before spinning the chair around, still sitting cross-legegd in it. ]

You know that would probably be the opposite of the right thing to say if I was actually suicidal, right? [ He points out, realizing all the while that it's not the right thing to say. ]

[accelerate]

[ barry puts his hands up, and it's an easy admission to make, revealing no signs of stress, no signs of pushing himself into a zone of discomfort when he says: ] No, you're right. It wasn't. I'm sorry.

[ the thought oliver wouldn't say this flitters through his mind, because oliver queen is the epitome of leadership for barry allen. one day he'll learn. ]

[ unsure of where to place his hands, they go on his hips, then hang. if only making wind funnels was appropriate during mid-serious conversation. ] But you know what you did was really stupid, right? And I'm saying this because I know stupid. On my Earth, I'm pretty sure I was the most stupidest person in the universe. You could've gotten seriously hurt. Or worse.

[ "stupidest" isn't a word … case in point. ]

[khajidont]

I really doubt you're the stupidest person in any universe, [ Jaime says, expression softening a little. He sighs, resting the palms of his hands lightly on his knees, trying to search for the right words to say. He's seen enough people in his position take the final blow so nobody else has to by now and he's heard of even more - heard about every single blow every person there's a big, dumb statue of in Titans Tower took. ]

I'm not saying it was smart, 'cause - I mean, it obviously didn't work. But if there was a chance I could've saved the whole city from dying, I had to try. I mean, you're a superhero too. You of all people must understand why we do the things we do.

[accelerate]

[ barry nods, but wonders if that's the right response. should he be encouraging the blue beetle to think this way? being responsible for everything — from the wormhole in central city to the very windows he may blast from his super speed — is something barry allen usually knows very well. even now, with most of his memories removed, he can feel it twist in his gut. ]

Yeah. [ blue beetle deserves that much. what's the point in lying that he wouldn't have done the same thing? ]

But you sacrificing yourself in an attempt to save the world isn't what you should be doing, Blue Beetle. [ he wrings his hands together for a moment before he crosses his arms, believing, perhaps, he's caught his words … slowly, rather than quickly. gently, ] I think I had a friend who did that. [ his gut tells him yes, yes this is right. ] He saved my city by sacrificing himself. I'll always be grateful to him for it, but I'll always resent him a little for hurting my friend.

He should be here — here, on this earth, or back on mine, because he was worth more than one attempt to save the world. We should've had a better plan. We should've worked better together as a team, because this isn't worth your life. Saving it, over and over, is. Because this place needs you.

[khajidont]

...Don't we all have a friend who's done that?

[ That's just what comes with the territory. It's still something he struggles with but Jaime thinks that he's more or less come to terms with it. Knowing that you may have to sacrifice yourself for the greater good - that you may have to watch others sacrifice themselves for the greater good - is just part of the job. It's what they do. The day he's no longer able to do that is the day he should hang up the mantle; that's the day he'll be risking everyone else who relies on him and the day that he'll no longer be worthy of it. He doesn't want to die, but his life doesn't outweigh countless others - there's nothing particularly exceptional he has to bring to the table as himself. Does he do a lot of good here? Absolutely. Does this place need him?

No. That's the point of having so many heroes here. None of the cities rely on just the one hero. And, back home, no matter what, there will always be a Blue Beetle. It doesn't have to be him.

How does he say that out loud without sounding completely nuts? ]

Listen, that's... really kind of you to say. Really. And obviously working together was the right solution this time, especially after we got enough second chances to be able to make that kind of plan. But if what I did is what has to, then - I'm just not making any promises, that's all.

[accelerate]

[ that, they all have in common. regardless of the earths they hail from, barry knows, despite any protests he may wish to make to contradict it, that this is right. there's always someone who falls in the line of fire because they all have no other choice. but it doesn't mean it has to be the only choice. ]

[ even though this job comes with so many sacrifices, barry allen may never come to terms with it. always hoping for the best, for an outcome that doesn't involve the sacrifice of a friend … perhaps that's what makes the flash someone another superhero ought to be around. there's not always two doors — self-sacrifice today or surviving for another chance to make one — when there's always three. ]

[ he smiles, ] Then good thing we're a team, right? As long as we're all working together, no one's going to make the big hero choices. [ then it becomes very clear he's teasing, ] You can't take the main headline from us all, Blue Beetle. Come on.