[OPEN]

[shorttempered]

Characters: Mark Grayson and OPEN
Date: July after the event
Location: Various
Situation: Now that everything's returning back to normal, Mark's getting used to being Invincible again.
Warnings/Rating: None, but will update as necessary!

A - Mark
[Mark had felt guilty abandoning his job for as long as he had, even if the circumstances were totally understandable... So he decided to make up for this by diving wholeheartedly into his work. Depending on when you walk by the Wayne Enterprises construction site in the Water sector, you can come across Mark doing various tasks at the site: helping the other workers carry beams, looking over the schematics... just generally overseeing the construction like he's supposed to.

At one point a worker informs him they left a tool at another site in a different district and can't continue, though a few minutes later that same worker miraculously finds it after feeling a gust of wind at their back...]

B - Invincible
[It was weird getting into the costume again, but a good kind of weird. He's grown so used to being Invincible over the last few years it almost seems like he's not himself when he's just being "Mark." Not that he dislikes Mark, but it's getting so hard to hide who he truly is. Being powerless was a good reminder of exactly who he was before he tossed that garbage bag into orbit and that he had survived far longer without his Viltrumite powers as he had with it.

...That said, flying was still the most awesome thing in the world to do. He can be found zipping back and forth all around the turtle, testing himself to see just how back to normal things are. Some laps are definitely better than others, as he once dips and almost hits a building during one of them. He's also not going to let a crime pass him by, especially now that the rest of the kedan won't threaten him on sight.]

[OOC: If you want to roll with something other than those two, feel free to either PM me, reach out to me at redconfession, or just start a thread, your choice!!]

Comments

(You'll get to it)

[shorttempered]

Really? I need to start paying better attention to the network...

[Mark bites his bottom lip.] And when did you guys learn what you were here for? I mean we just learned about... never-speak-his-name [His name for Malicant] a few months ago.

(... I'm the speediest tagger. Sorry.)

[demon_brat]

That might be wise. Much information is shared there that you might find... helpful. Among all that is not needed, naturally.

[And, a small shrug.]

The Emperor revealed she had brought us here to combat a threat to this world and she would let us return during her first audience. More information was uncovered slowly.

(Pfft please so am I)

[shorttempered]

Yeah, I know. It's just... depressing to read sometimes. All of the newbies coming in, scared, and the best we can do is tell them to buck up and get a job.

Shouldn't that have been the first thing to tell us? You know, before it got here?

(then slowly together... forward?)

[demon_brat]

[Damian shrugs, opening his palms out, slightly.]

A lot of the information that was reluctantly trickled out or uncovered should have been given immediately. It is possible that what is divulged is measured out to be appropriate for everyone, since not all arrivals are exactly ready to cope with the idea of an enemy of that scare to fight.

[There are children coming in. And he means actual children, not those broken as he is.]

And, yet... I agree. That should be known from the beginning.

(works for me)

[shorttempered]

[Blinks. This kid was a child, right? And not a mini robot or something?]

Well can you blame them? Either they're just sitting around minding their own business... or worse, thinking they're at the pearly gates, and the next thing they're dragged here and don't have a say in the matter.

(yes, good.)

[demon_brat]

[... not a robot. Just with most of childhood trained right out of him for years. People are trying to remedy that, but it's slow going.]

You are saying 'they' as though it did not happen to you, too.

... although I am rather certain that not all who arrived here after they have died ever had the concept of pearly gates. Some are from different worlds, and Christianity is not that universal.

[Shh, it's an important detail to bring up! Also, no, this kid is not even a little bothered talking about dead people.]

[shorttempered]

Well yeah, I'll admit that was me too, but I meant when I'm reading those posts on the network.

[Just... gives Damian a look.]

My family's [alien] atheist, so I know not everyone believes in Christianity. But it's still a commonly used trope in fiction regardless so I went with it. [Don't make him go all nerd on you.]

[demon_brat]

[Damian shrugs.]

There are people who have not heard of Europe, or English - I am rather certain that their fiction has very different tropes.

[Beat.]

Though I did understand you well enough. I am merely pointing it out to save you future confusion.

[shorttempered]

[You are so lucky he has a bratty little brother like you.]

I think you're just fighting me for the sake of fighting now. [He says it with a hint of amusement, rather than as an accusation.]

[demon_brat]

[... probably.]

>Tt.<

That does not make it any less true.

[He's not contesting the point, at least.]

[shorttempered]

[He's just going to count that as a win.]

Any other nuggets of wisdom you want to pass along?

[demon_brat]

[Not bothered by the nagging.]

Probably. I shall let you know when it is time to pass them along.

[Okay, that may hold a tiny bit of humor to it. Just a little.]

[shorttempered]

[Laughs.]

Sorry, you remind me of my little brother.

... and then it occurred to me that if Mark names him here, Damian'll know who he is.

[demon_brat]

[Damian's eyes narrow at the laugh, but, other than that and pursed lips, he lets it go, instead rolling his eyes.]

Of course I do.

[Beat. Wait.]

He must be rather peculiar, then.

whoops. Good job, Mark.

[shorttempered]

Oliver's... one of a kind.

Hey, at least it's somebody who won't be announcing it publicly... probably?

[demon_brat]

In what way?

[... One way in which Damian is his age... mostly: curiosity.]

Better not!

[shorttempered]

[Oh let's see... he's half-Viltrumite, half-Thraxan, he's purple, and he's about 6 months old but is physically and mentally about 13.]

...Oh you know, it's just a thing adults say.

Shh, he's a bat.

[demon_brat]

[... Damian's eyes narrow, the displeasure - and anger - not in the least disguised.]

There is little that adults say that I would not understand. Science, engineering, military theory, and economics included.

[Don't patronize him, Mark. Just. Don't.]

That means /nothing/ to him

[shorttempered]

[Holds his hands up a little in surrender.]

I didn't mean it like you don't understand. All I meant by it was that it's something adults say because everyone wants their kid to be special. It's just a saying.

Yet!

[demon_brat]

[Damian blinks for a moment.]

I... see.

[Not something either of his parents would do. But still, he is aware Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul are not exactly... standard-issue adults.]

STILL!

[shorttempered]

My brother's one of the smartest kids I know. Quickest learner you'll ever meet. [Literally.

Mark smiles a little and fights the urge to ruffle his hair. Something tells him he'd get bitten if he tried.] And seeing as you remind me of him, I wouldn't dare try to treat you like an idiot. I know how much he'd hate it.

There's time!

[demon_brat]

[Damian stares.]

I do not know how you manage to both insult and flatter at the same time.

[Oddly enough, there is little to no poison in his voice. It's more like a semi-detached observation. Mostly.]

[shorttempered]

[Frowns at that. Here he thought he was being nothing but friendly.] How did I insult you?

[demon_brat]

[It's just that Damian considers himself a fast learner, and pretty much telling him somebody he hasn't met yet is the fastest? Well.]

[But the boy shakes his head.]

It is of no consequence. I do understand the sentiment behind what you said.

[(Then again, when it comes to people, Damian isn't a very fast learner at all.)]

[shorttempered]

[Mark has no doubts about that, but when your brother's race can literally learn things by seeing them, he's sort of got you beat.]

He's my brother. I have to dote a little, you know?