thesphererp | two | memory (two kids, you and me)

Night - that’s when you do your work in this stoplight-colors uniform, eyes and identity concealed behind a red domino mask. You’re out patrolling on your own tonight, and the sounds of an altercation ring out from the darkened alley below, sounds you find all too familiar. Three well-muscled men - thugs - have a fourth man cornered on the ground; he’s younger, unruly red hair tied back with a white bandanna, either too drunk or too apathetic to fight back as the other three take turns kicking him down over and over again.

“... Call yourself a superhero? You dirty lowlife drunk …” one says, showing the bottom of his boot to the side of the redhead’s face. This is your cue to jump in. You call out from the rooftop above with a easy-going tone that manages to still mean business.

“That, coming from a guy wanted for assault in three different counties?” The thug looks up in surprise, trying to discern who’s speaking, and you work quickly, hurling a bat-shaped boomerang at his head, knocking him out and to the ground. The second man you take out with a five-ball bola thrown and wrapped around his neck as you leap to the ground, not missing a beat in your banter: “They really don’t make anonymous thugs like they used to, huh? Look how easy you break.” You land next to the last of the thugs and crack your elbow right into the side of his head, and he too slumps to the ground, unconscious.

You step forward out of the shadows toward the redhead kneeling on the pavement in bewilderment, a triumphant smile curving your mouth. “There. That’s better,” you say. “You’re Roy Harper, aren’t you?” (You know exactly who he is.) “I’m Robin. Version two, actually - although I bet you could figure that out on your own.”

“Why,” Roy asks, eyes turned up on you, “why are you helping me?”

“They took these from you back at the bar,” you say, holding out a bow and quiver of arrows for Roy to reclaim. “I thought you’d want them returned. My predecessor told me once that you were a good friend of his, before you fell off the wagon. I wanted to let you know I’m here if you ever need a friend.”

Roy takes his weapons and pulls himself to his feet, shaking his head. “I don’t need friends,” he protests, a slight slur blurring the edges of his words, “friends just let you down.” You smile knowingly, because you’ve said the same thing in the not-too-distant past.

“We all need friends, Roy.” You produce a grappling hook gun from your belt and aim it at the nearby rooftop. “You change your mind, just come find me.” You fire the gun and follow the wire up into the night, leaving Roy standing in the alley below.

“I’ll be waiting.”

audio; un: j.doe

[and not too long after that memory broadcasts, jason's voice follows, sharp and shaking with rage at the intrusion:]

Get. Out. Of my head. NOW.

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[jason makes a sound too angry and bitter to truly be called a laugh.]

Sure. I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?

You just seem upset.

[Sorry, she takes things a little to literally at times.]

Something got in my head and broadcasted one of my very private memories without my permission. That’s invasive as hell, and yeah, I’m pissed about it.

So before... you were being insincere?

[She's at least learning.]

I am sorry. I know it isn't my fault but I wish I could help somehow.

I was being sarcastic. Do you not have sarcasm where you’re from?

Not exactly.

[A beat.]

I'm still getting used to sarcasm but I don't think I'm doing very well.

Huh. [no sarcasm. that’s new.] Well, I guess if you haven’t been around sarcasm your whole life, it’ll take some getting used to.

Maybe you can help?

[She sounds so very hopeful.]

Help you learn sarcasm? [that’s definitely something he’s never been asked before, hmm.] Yeah, I think I can manage that. I’m pretty fluent in sarcasm.

Thank you.

[She wants to know when he's upset and when he's not.]

Um... when should we start?

I think we already did. The basic principle for sarcasm is saying one thing when you mean the opposite. You usually pick it up in the speaker’s tone.

Like your tone just then?

Is it always the same tone or does it vary?

Yeah, like that. It’s a little different for everybody, but usually the tone’ll be something similar.

Okay.

[A beat.]

How do you respond to sarcasm?

In my experience? It’s usually with more sarcasm, sighing and rolling your eyes, or yelling. Possibly all three.

I don't like yelling but I can sigh.

[She inhales and then huffs.

It sounds more comical than it does disgruntled.]

How do I roll my eyes?

[he hesitates for a moment, because describing isn't as effective as showing, but the imperative of never intentionally showing his unmasked face on a video feed is a hard one for jason to shake. but it's not like that really matters much anymore, does it? he showed his face to the penguin and all of gotham on a live television feed, and none of that matters here anyway. the feed switches to a closeup view of jason's face - permanent dark circles under blue eyes, unruly dark hair falling into his face, expression set somewhere between sober and melancholy.]

Like this. [his eyes roll up and his expression shifts slightly to one of irritation.] Takes a little practice but I'm sure you'll pick it up pretty quickly.

[The face that stares back at him is lovely and sweet. Her eyes are pale blue with a hint of gray around its iris while wheat blond hair frames either side of her face. Her brows furrow in intense concentration as she attempts to mimic Jason's eye roll.

She accidently moves her chin too and the whole attempt looks absolutely ridiculous.] Oh. Hold on.

[She tries again and focuses on keeping her face from moving. Her eyes left, then up, to the right and then back at the screen. She does it faster the second and third time until it looks more like an eye roll. What she absolutely fails at is making her expression look irritated. Her expression is trapped between concentrated and confused.]

[she's pretty - fits her name perfectly, jason thinks, and offers her a crooked grin.]

Not bad, for a beginner. Keep practicing and you'll have it down in no time.

[She smiles at him and nods.]

I will. When I'm very good I'll even show you!

[She is SO excited to roll her eyes...]

two | memory (two kids, you and me)

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