video;

[crossestheline]

I remember not too long after I came here, someone rambled on and on about "lifers". Since then, not only have the two lifers graduated, but this guy right here has as well.

[Grins. He's finally been delivered his one way ticket out of here.]

Sorry, kiddos. There's no sticking around to play nice for me. There's a lot of work that I want to do in the place I'm going to, that I don't want to leave at the hands of some cosmic being who not only loses control of its ship, but dumps us off in a hellhole.

Graduating here is like drawing straws. Sometimes you luck out like me, find people who actually give a damn about you when you arrive, and get paired up with someone who sees you as a person, not a means to an end. Other people, get yanked around and screwed with constantly. This place needs a serious overhaul. I'd stick around to try and do just that, but I'd also risk losing a literal once in a life time opportunity.

[He can't risk suddenly disappearing or getting reverted back to an Inmate, which would prevent him from leaving with Bruce.]

I'll be around for a few more hours to say my goodbyes. After that, I'm out of here.

[Private to Jean]

Tell your friend I said hey.

[Private to Bruce]

I'm heading to your room.

Comments

[mistconduct]

Yeah, well I'm not 100% I even want to graduate, but since you won't be around to see, I don't think it matters.

[So goes the life of a petulant teenager. Still attempting to play wounded party but equally interested in the possibility of a going-away present, Chris crosses his arms and tries to look annoyed]

Oh, yeah?

[crossestheline]

Yeah, something that is going to make anyone who loves comic books back home so fucking envious, when you show them it.

[mistconduct]

....I'm listening.

[crossestheline]

Stop by my room and I'll show you.

[mistconduct]

Yeah. Yeah, coming.

[And he will be, inching out from his room and stretching his legs for the first time since Silent Hill]

[crossestheline]

[The door has been left open while Jason prepares to leave. When he hears approaching footsteps, he knows who it is.]

I'm going for a new look in the Earth I'm heading to, so I won't need this any more.

[Walks over to Chris, holding his Red Hood helmet out to him.]

[mistconduct]

[Standing in the doorway, Chris stares at it but doesn't reach to take it. It's only just hit him now that Jason's leaving]

...You serious?

[crossestheline]

I'm serious.

[Continues to hold it out to him.]

The real reason I want you to have this, is so you can remember what it was meant to stand for. The difference between wearing this over the cowl, means you get that sometimes you gotta cross the line to do what's right. You understand the life of one person isn't worth graveyards full of innocent people.

[Pauses before he continues.]

The important thing being sometimes, not all the time.

[He's sure Chris knows about all of the crazy, violent things he's gotten up to. He lost sight of his mission and gave into his madness.]

[mistconduct]

[Giving an uneasy, heavy nod, Chris finally reaches ou to take the helmet. It's real. Heavier than he expects, and real]

...So what are you going to do once you go back?

[crossestheline]

I'm gonna help Bruce rebuild his Gotham. The entire city got floored during an invasion.

[mistconduct]

That sounds like Gotham.

Seriously, it's kind of a mess of a place. You're just going to get shit on.

[crossestheline]

I've seen the worst Gotham has got to offer and survived through it. This time I plan on surviving through it with my sanity in tact.

[Eyes him for a moment.]

I've heard of people visiting others when they graduate, or telling others to visit them. Whenever you graduate, come and visit. You can see the progress we're making.

[mistconduct]

[He cracks a grin; graduation seems a long, long way off from where he's standing]

You couldn't pay me enough to step foot in Gotham, I'd get my ass kicked. Rookie capes get picked off by the dozen.

[crossestheline]

You're mistaking the Gotham I'm from for the one I'm going to. Bruce killed all of the major villains, after I died. Then the whole damn world got attacked and almost went up in smoke.

[mistconduct]

[He looks pointedly around them, at the Barge]

Riddler's here and so is Poison Ivy. You think the Barge just claimed them all and is going to send them right back to Gotham?

[crossestheline]

You're not listening. The Bruce here is not from my Earth. I met him when I was traveling the multiverse with Donna, Bob, and Rayner. That's the Earth I am going to.

[mistconduct]

Oh.

Oh. You're going to...that Gotham.


Shit. That's an adjustment.

[crossestheline]

Compared to this place? It'll be a breeze.

[mistconduct]

I don't know. The Barge sucks, but it doesn't strike fear in the heart like Gotham does.

[crossestheline]

No, the Barge is too busy dropping us off into shit holes like the last place went to. [Shrugs his shoulders.]

Doesn't matter where I go, I adept.

[mistconduct]

No, I know. I'm not worried for you. I'm just...fuck, I'm really going to miss you.

[crossestheline]

[Leaving this place is becoming more and more difficult, but he knows he needs to go. Steps over to him, lightly slinging an arm around his shoulder.]

Likewise. The multiverse is a small place, wouldn't surprise me at all if we run into each other again.

[mistconduct]

[Hunching his shoulders, Chris gives a bit of a sad grin, turning the helmet over in his hands]

I guess so. I guess it is.