maskormenacelogs | a little bit of rain I'd say is fair

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a little bit of rain I'd say is fair

WHO: NELSON GARDNER, HOODED JUSTICE, KAREN STARR
WHERE: House #5
WHEN: Tuesday
WHAT: Roommates getting used to each other. Make of that as you will.
WARNINGS: TBD??

[ It had been a strangely hectic yet peaceful couple of weeks for Nelson in particular. It went without saying the universe ending -- well, that universe -- had taken a traumatic toll on him, and the time spent in this one so far had been full of an overwhelming amount of new information and new responsibilities thrust upon him all at once. For Nelson, however, that latter was comforting. He quite liked the structure, actually, and he was happy to register in service to his country (it was his country, regardless of what universe they were stuck in) even if he wasn't clear on all the specific whats and whys.

Best of all, he felt reminded of home. You couldn't go anywhere without seeing artifacts of an era Nelson knew, loved, and took comfort in. He didn't even mind the television in their house because of its shape and the rabbit-ears stuck out of it at odd angles. It helped him recover, slowly, from what they had all just survived.

The hectic routine meant he'd been spending little time at home, however, except to sleep and enjoy the weekends when he wasn't walking around, running errands, preparing himself for his new job, and otherwise exploring. Hooded Justice lived with him, of course, but there was also someone else in the house that Nelson hadn't yet gotten to see much or spend time with.

The idea any of them might have been consciously or subconsciously avoiding each other didn't occur to him, either; he walks downstairs that morning as normal, wearing his robe and tiredly planning to make some coffee and read the paper in probable solitude. Routine does come easy to him. ]

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[ On the opposite end of the spectrum, Power Girl hasn't come to terms with all of this just yet and the truth is she may never. No matter how many times she barely survives worlds being wiped out of existence, it strikes a wound that hasn't completely healed since the first time she lost her Superman and Lois and Helena. Then losing them all again... Helena again back in the City.

Needless to say, she's been keeping to herself for the most part. She has so many questions and though everyone has experienced the end of the world for themselves, she separates herself from the rest. She's different. It's different for her. It's like a knife crafted from Kryptonite striking a raw nerve.

This roommate situation isn't so bad, but it doesn't help ease her loneliness. Still, after a long nap in her own bedroom she steps out and wanders into the are Nelson is reading. She rubs the corner of her jaw and stretches. ]

Oh, hey.

[ Her footsteps get his attention before her words do, and Nelson lowers his paper slightly so that he can see her. He smiles, still a little tired and a little uncomfortable only in the way living with someone you only barely know is uncomfortable. ]

Good morning. There's coffee if you'd like. I haven't made any food yet. [ He takes a sip from his coffee mug, then folds the paper in his lap and combs his fingers through hair still slightly damp from his shower. ] I think there's eggs.

[ Just as uncomfortable as it is for her despite having lived in the Brownstone for some time. However, the Justice Society is family and Nelson and Hooded Justice are still strangers to her.

She doesn't know anyone that well here. It's a little depressing to think about.

She does perk up hearing about eggs. ]

Morning and thanks. [ She angles her head, cracking her neck. ] I can whip something up for myself, though... you want?

Oh-- um. All right.

[ He looks at her with some surprise, though not unpleasantly. Sitting up further he stretches his arms and cracks his knuckles, trying again to relax a little to the idea of having a woman living in the building with them. He doesn't mind being discreet, but it's a challenge especially in cohabitation.

He takes another drink of his coffee and stands slowly, stretching his knees. ]

If you're going through the trouble already. I was going to fix up something after I did my morning exercises, but I got a bit sidetracked with the paper. Always interesting seeing what it's in the news.

Yeah? I haven't looked yet; what are the headlines today?

[ She's not used to cooking food for others, but Nelson's been nothing but kind with her and he reminds her in some ways of the older JSA members. Again, her heart longs for home. The one she's adopted and found new family in.

She navigates her way around the room, heading toward the kitchen. She greets her cat who is sneaking around a corner and the putrid smell hits her nose not a second later. ]

Cat!

[ Oh, he did his business on the floor. ]

Nothing all that exciting today by the look of it. Not that there's anything wrong with a little peace.

[ Nelson follows her but takes a brief detour before he meets her in the kitchen so that he can get a little more dressed, pulling on slacks and a shirt instead of his robe. He's relieved, at least, that if they needed a third roommate they were put with a young woman like Karen, who so far he finds inoffensive.

JR wakes up and follows him nosily as Nelson ventures back out to the kitchen as he ties his tie around his neck. ]

JR, heel. There ought to be some bread for toast and also bacon, too, unless it's already gone. It sh--

[ He stops in the doorway, JR standing behind his legs looking suspiciously at Karen's cat. ]

... Uh.

Some peace and quiet would be nice for a —

Uh...

Oh.

[ She freezes up, having forgotten about the dog she's seen around the house. Her cat's mostly been cooped up in her room until recently, but that might make it all the worse.

Orange fur bristles, his tail erect and form rigid as he stares with wide eyes at the dog. ]

... He's friendly with cats, right?

W-well--

[ The morning is suddenly much less peaceful, even though disaster hasn't yet struck. But it could; Nelson steps backward, socked feet straddling the line where the hallway met the kitchen, but manages to keep a lid on his distress. JR growls and lets out a single territorial bark but doesn't move from where he stands. ]

Y-yes, he... he's trained, so he won't hurt it. I don't know if that means he'll be friendly. JR, sit. Uh, I'm sure it'll be fine. He's only meant to attack intruders.

Wait, he —

Oh, crap.

[ The cat hisses loudly and darts off toward the couch, claws extending to dig into the material. There's a soft puncturing sound that follows before Karen tears after him. ]

A little warning next time!

Uh-- wh-what's going on over th--

[ Flustered, Nelson follows Karen and by proxy the cat, JR following behind him and letting loose another bark, brief and stern. ]

Warning about what? What is the matter with your cat?!

He's scared, obviously!

[ She rolls her eyes and chases after her cat who has sunk his claws onto the couch top. ]

Do not tear up that couch, cat.

He's destroying the house!

[ Nelson voice raises a little shrilly in volume as he looks anxiously at the couch, which he may not have paid for but will be bothered forever regardless if it's damaged.

Breathing carefully, he pushes JR back with his leg and motions with his hand for the dog to sit down and be quiet. The dog looks at him with betrayal but obeys with a whimper of defeat. ]

It's just a couch!

[ She shouts back and reaches over for her cat who darts from the couch, springing toward the kitchen and onto the counter. He slides over the table top, knocking over whatever was on the surface before crashing onto the floor. ]

Stop that already!

Then he's destroying the couch! This isn't a ghetto, we shouldn't have to put up with broken furniture and wild animals!

[ Nelson, no. He points at the cat accusingly, then wails behind his hands when the cat jumps on the table and begins knocking things over. A dish breaks and Nelson groans, collapsing in defeat into a chair. ]

He's out of control, what do we-- do I need to put JR somewhere?

[ Hooded Justice hadn't really thought to bring himself out into the rest of the house that morning yet, mostly because he never left unless he was fully dressed. He'd had to change his habits, with another person in the house.

But the commotion was enough to have him storming out, cutting through Nelson's hysteria and the other woman's shouts, with a booming voice. ]

JR. Come here.

[ To which the dog was immediately backing up and away from the entire nightmare, and HJ could only stare at the living room, which looked like they'd been looted. ]

What is that thing doing in here?

[ Go figure, HJ wouldn't like cats. ]

He's not wild!

[ She finally scoops her cat into her arm, with him struggling against her grip nervously. She rubs his neck softly to soothe him, scowling at HJ now. ]

He's a cat, not a thing.

[ She shoots back, unafraid of HJ. ]

[ Nelson is startled by Hooded Justice's appearance and not put at any more ease, save for the fact JR obediently rushes over and effectively removes himself from the situation. Nelson's fingers lace nervously in his lap and he bites his lower lip wearily. ]

It's her pet, Justice. [ Though he looks at the cat as if it were foaming at the mouth. He continues, exasperated: ] Well, they're going to have to learn how to live together! This isn't a war zone!

[ He tips a knowing look Hooded Justice's way. You too, it says. ]

Pets should not tear up furniture.

[ He replied icily, returning Nelson's very pointed look with one of his own. He didn't even have to look down at the dog once to know he was doing exactly what he was supposed to do. ]

I doubt it was the dog who was misbehaving.

[ He didn't even know, but HJ never finds himself at fault, and if he trained the dog, then it would be on his head if he wasn't trained properly. ]

Oh, please. Your dog scared my cat first.

[ She presses her cat closer to her chest, defensive. ]

He was just scared. He's not used to living with dogs.

[ Birds? Somewhat. Pieter's owl often hung around him and didn't venture far from his side. ]

JR can't live outside. He was raised to live indoors, he's a city dog. You should lock your cat in your room if he can't get along.

[ He worries his hands together again before standing, retreating back to the kitchen to get more coffee to help calm his nerves. Maybe some food for his stress as well.

He calls: ]

You two work it out, I'm not getting involved! It's too early for this kind of disorder!

[ Seeing Nelson head toward the kitchen led Hooded Justice to narrow his eyes at him, knowing exactly what he was heading for, or at least assuming -- perhaps unfairly -- that he would be getting more food.

He said nothing -- especially around someone else. If there was anyone who would continue to keep up a pretense -- it would be HJ. ]

If your creature cannot calmly assess a situation, then it should be handled properly.

[ He only shifted his eyes to her, arms still crossed over his chest, before he quoted something from what he assumed should be common sense. ]

I doubt you introduced him properly.

[ Karen doesn't back down, continuing to bristle at their accusations, as if she's the only one at fault here. ]

I never said anything about putting the dog outside. Who puts a dog outside in Florida weather?

[ She may be annoyed over the situation, but she's not callous enough to push for such a harmful suggestion. ]

And there's no disorder! Stop being so dramatic.

[ When Nelson exists the kitchen again he still looks miserable, even holding a fresh cup of coffee in one hand and a frying pan in the other. ]

I'm not being dramatic! [ He waves the frying pan dramatically. ] Well, what are we supposed to do, keep them on separate ends of the house? Everything would be fine if that cat weren't so high-strung.

[ He huffs in frustration. ]

HJ, don't be absurd. Cats don't train the same way dogs do, you know.

[ HJ just looks from Nelson to the cat again, before nodding. Rarely one to defer, but he was right. ]

And they're unsuitable pets.

[ Simply, before turning, and looking down at JR, who was very obviously still standing there. It knew better. ]

That one is the problem. [ Turning his head to look at the cat. ] The dog will not be locked up to avoid your creature, if it cannot contain itself.

You wanna go, pal?!

[ She lets go of her cat, who stays by her side to glower up at HJ as menacingly as a fluffy cat can. Karen, in the meantime, extends an arm to poke HJ's chest. ]

Stop acting as if you guys aren't at fault either!

[ Nelson looks at her both wearily and indignantly. ]

Hey, no fighting! [ He makes sure to look at the both of them so as not to seem like he's singling just one of them out, even holding his hand out as if to keep them apart. ] JR is trained. Justice here saw to that himself. He isn't going to bother your cat.

[ He rubs his temple and holds up his arm melodramatically, then. ]

They're only animals, they aren't worth the headache this is giving me.

[ Blatantly ignoring Nelson, HJ reaches out to grasp at the finger poking at his chest. His eyes narrow from behind the hood covering his face. ]

You will not touch me again.

Is that understood?

[ JR will behave, he thinks. This cat seems to be just as uncontrollable as this woman, in his opinion. Neither one of them pleasant company. ]

[ She tears herself from his grasp, eyeballing him hard and angrily. She ignores Nelson's pleas, heartbeat like drums in her ears. Now she's really mad. ]

Maybe if you dropped the attitude, buddy.

[ Nelson steps back nervously, afraid of what might happen next. He steps forward, moving physically between them now so that he'll be in the way if any fists are thrown.

He repeats: ]

No fighting! We aren't animals, are we? For goodness sakes... the least we can do is get along like adults. You don't see me getting into any arguments, do you?

[ Maybe not right at the moment, but when he does it's extremely loud. And not all that uncommon. ]

[ Good thing he moved when he did, because it wasn't too long that her challenge would go unanswered, and Hooded Justice's fist lashed out --

Thankfully into the soft meat of Nelson's shoulder. It wasn't one of HJ's hardest punches, but enough to swing. He was fighting a woman, he wasn't going to go all out. She wasn't Lil, after all. That one could take a punch even with HJ's powers.

He narrowed his eyes, after it hit, a look from the way his eyes narrowed that said he was very clearly annoyed at being stopped. He very clearly didn't appreciate being stopped. He didn't mind hitting Nelson necessarily -- just being interrupted. ]

[ Little does he know.

She doesn't seem surprised that he swings at her and whatever opinion she held of him has gone down the drain knowing he's violent enough to hit a woman, regardless of her being super powered or not. ]

Your friend's attitude needs an adjustment. [ She directs a finger at Nelson, angry. ] He tries that again, he will be sorry.

[ There's no way she can live here for long, she realizes. ]

[ Nelson winces, holding his injured shoulder and wrinkling his nose in continued frustration. It's not the pain so much, though it does hurt, but rather the fact Hooded Justice really is out of control and he has no idea what to do about it. ]

I--

[ He has nothing to say. He just drops his gaze, face going red as he continues to rub his shoulder and move out of the way. This is how it always is, caught in the middle. ]

Th-that isn't-- it-- what do you want me to do about it?

[ His eyes track the way Nelson rubs at his shoulder for just a moment, before it's right back on the woman. His eyes narrowing beneath the hood, and he felt a surge of anger spike through him. ]

Then do not touch me. And find some way to control your beast.

[ Out of control is putting it mildly. HJ didn't like this place, or what it represented -- or what they seemed to know. His temper was one of the hardest things to control, and he didn't show any intention of making the effort to control it as he stepped back. Only one step. ]

[ This entire scenario strikes her as both extremely suspicious and uncomfortable given Nelson's lack of confidence and inability. It's already beginning to worry her, but she also realizes confronting him before Hooded Justice is not the wisest idea right now.

Instead, she whips her head back toward HJ, her face red with righteous fury. ]

Call him that again and I'll show you a real beast, you pigheaded, testosterone laced ass―

[ The cat sneaks off into her room, distracting Karen briefly. She purses her lips, shoulders finally lowering, but tension still there.

She stomps in the other direction, heading over to where her shoes rest and stuffs her feet into them. It's tempting to slam his face into a wall. Instead, she slips into her shoes and swings open the door with such anger that when she slams it shut, the doorway cracks upon impact.

From outside: ]

And don't touch my cat!

[ Why can't we all just get along?? Were this a cartoon, the flopsweat would be radiating off of Nelson's face about now. When the door slams he winces, rubbing his hand over his face. ]

For God's sakes-- [ He turns to Hooded Justice. ] Can't you ever control yourself?!

[ He almost relaxed once she was gone. Maybe not necessarily relaxed, but the tension eased from his shoulders, and he just leveled a flat look at Nelson. ]

A show of force was necessary to demonstrate that we will not tolerate that creature's behavior.

[ No. No he cannot. ]

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a little bit of rain I'd say is fair

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