1st Resurrection. Voice.

[crossestheline]

You know, there are easier ways to get a guy's attention. I know I'm not the easiest guy to get a hold of, but you could try the old fashioned way, and put something up on the sky. Leave a message on a wall, or anything that doesn't include zapping me into space.

Don't get me wrong. I appreciate you saving my ass and all, but I don't do the whole "space travel" thing any more. Though something tells me you're not going to take "no" for an answer, are you?

[Spam.]

[Jason blathers away into the device he discovered, hoping it grabs the attention of whoever is responsible for him being here. Maybe it will distract them and keep them from collecting him right away. In the meantime, he's making his way through the different floors of the Barge, trying to gather anything he can turn into a weapon and gain some information on his current whereabouts.]

Comments

[crossestheline]

Follow me. [Jason signals for Bruce to follow him to the stairwell. Every now and then, he steals a glance over his shoulder to make sure Bruce is still there and he isn't merely a figment of his imagination.]

[theonlyresponse]

[He follows, his footsteps now extremely quiet, the way he's used to sneaking up on people.]

[crossestheline]

It's freaky how it looks exactly like the newest apartment I got. [Opens the door and flicks on the room inside. It resembles a basic apartment that could be found anywhere in Gotham. There's a couch, kitchen, and coffee table with a pile of magazines on top of it.]

[theonlyresponse]

[He instantly checks for hidden bugs and cameras, but otherwise... the room looks comfortable. Much more so than Bruce's own extremely Spartan quarters. He wanders over to the couch, and sits down, his gaze flicks over the magazines.]

[crossestheline]

[The magazines chronicle the history of Gotham, the rise of crime in the city, some information on Wayne Industries and there are various clippings from the news of gang victims.]

How long have you been here for? [Takes a seat next to him and watches him closely.]

[theonlyresponse]

A month. [He's picked up the one that shows crime statistics, but before leafing through it, he looks at Jason.] What was happening to you before you came here?

[crossestheline]

I was dealing with a mess in Gotham. The you from my world was gone and the gangs in the city were starting to run rampant. I had an idea to bring them together so I could restore some order to the city.

[theonlyresponse]

Gone? [How dare a Batman leave his city - he at least had no choice in coming here, and he's died on the job, but the other one--] Where?

[crossestheline]

Darkseid happened. Everything goes to hell after that. [Leans forward on the couch, draping his arms over his knees.]

I tried to get Tim to work with me, but he wouldn't listen. He wanted to continue to fight things the old way. Meanwhile, people were dying and corruption was running thick in the police department.

[theonlyresponse]

What about Dick?

[crossestheline]

What do you think? He's in Gotham too but as useless as Tim.

[theonlyresponse]

I assume Stephanie, Cassandra, and Barbara were doing the same.

[crossestheline]

You assume right. None of them are willing to do what needs to be done. You think that was the first time Gotham's gone to hell? It wasn't. The whole damn multiverse almost went to hell and it keeps happening again and again.

[Frustration leaks into his voice. No matter how many times he tries to reach out and reason with the people he knows, none of them will ever listen.

Then again, after meeting the Bruce in front of him, he has a better understanding of why some are so reluctant to go down that path.]

[theonlyresponse]

[He doesn't answer, he simply reaches out a hand and puts it on Jason's shoulders. It's so strange, to be here listening to him, like there was nothing that took him away. And yet, so natural, like when they'd met, and compared notes, and realised what they had in common.]

[crossestheline]

[Jason's immediate reaction is to go tense and shift into a defensive mindset. From the moment he arrived on the ship, his defenses have been on high alert.

After drawing in a deep breath and studying Bruce, his muscles begin to relax. It's not easy for Jason to let his guard down, especially in a strange place like this. However, there's something about the connection the two of them share that allows Jason to lower his defenses and touch comfort in the gesture.]

[theonlyresponse]

If nothing else, you have time to think about what you'll do when you go back... since they won't.

[crossestheline]

Before you arrived, I spoke with a couple of people over my device. I was told that I'm here because I died again or was about to.

[theonlyresponse]

What else did they tell you?

[crossestheline]

I need to make better life choices.

[theonlyresponse]

[For the first time in a month, in years, Bruce laughs genuinely.] Aside from the usual welcome package?

[crossestheline]

[Hearing Bruce laugh causes a small smile to tug at the lips. It's a good sound and he hopes to hear more of it.

Leans back into the couch and shrugs his shoulders.]

Sounds like this place is a mad house, complete with reality being messed up.

[theonlyresponse]

We've faced worse. [We. He's finally given in and saying we; it's sinking in that this isn't a dream, and while normally he would be furious at Gotham being left alone he's noticed that time passes differently here than on the outside.]

[crossestheline]

We have. [Nods in agreement, also liking the sound of we.]

We'll get out of this place, one way or another.

[theonlyresponse]

[He takes out his communicator.] My cabin is level 4, room 17. I'm putting you on special access, [he shows Jason how to do it] so you can come and go whenever you want.

[crossestheline]

[Watches him, memorizing the instructions.] What's your cabin look like?