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[batricide]

@hafid.alghul| ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[batricide]

[ Oh. It's you. He was expecting someone to go off on him for being a terrible person, this is a pleasant surprise. ]

It's his kind of thinking that made a mess of the justice system.

[ In his world, at least. Trials were a joke. It was a forgone conclusion that every baddie they booked would be out on the streets again in a month. ]

[rehandle]

I'm not here to discuss the justice system.

You and I aren't the only ones in this. Your ideas are solid, and you're willing to adapt them according to new information and suggested alternatives. You're not unreasonable, but a lot of people have recently been led to believe that you are.

If you start throwing punches at a well-liked brick wall, especially directly after you've pissed off the majority of people who happened to read your thoughts on the solution to our most recent problem, people are going to go and stand behind it pretty fast. And that sure isn't going to get it to move.

[batricide]

[ There's a pause.

Park of him is angry. Who is this guy to come in and tell him what to do and how to act?

But on the other hand - he's not wrong. And isn't this what he wanted? Someone to tell him what the hell to do? ( when o h when did he get so bad at directing himself )

He thinks about Clark. The symbol of justice for the world, a man made of steel and hope, able to reassure and play the game. Not like his father, not manipulating or conceding with the intent to use the other person's surrender against them. Arguing for him to be moderate. To take a minute to listen to reason. To relax. ]

I see your point.

[rehandle]

Good.

I got a little carried away myself. It's easy to do when someone won't allow themselves to even glance at another perspective.

[ lad's clever as anything. Heart's the problem, not the head, with him.

seems like Fitz' assessment was right on the nose. but the kid's head isn't so bad either, given half the opportunity to pause to consider. it's a relief. ]

Dr. Stephen Strange, by the way. I know you can see the ID and I know we've spoken before, albeit digitally and briefly, but if we're to be working together an introduction can't hurt.

[batricide]

[ He lets out a breath, crossing the room to douse his knuckles in antiseptic. Shouldn't have done that, shouldn't have made a mess of them, but it's not like they hurt. They'll just raise questions.

Working together gets a raise of an eyebrow, though. People don't like him, as a rule. People don't listen to him for a number of reasons. ]

Hafid al Ghul.

I've dealt with people like that before. I just expected someone with half a braincell to consider readjustments to the way things are done when two of our new scrubs decided to start a body count. It's not realistic. Not unless you want your secrets leaked and your weaker members dead.

[rehandle]

Be careful of making assumptions. We don't know that they decided anything yet. We just know what they did.

My biggest concern, which I think requires aspects of what you've put forward regardless and adding extra safeguards from there to ensure the physical safety of our number on top can't hurt, is avoiding exposure.

Today's taught us the dangers of a leak. If either of them had ever set foot in the safehouse or been connected in any way to the network, I don't think as many people would have objected to your initial proposal. And I don't think it would've mattered if they had: Morningstar would've taken things into their own hands, and for good reason.

Right now, the biggest threat to our collective safety and the safety of the public regarding us is the potential for leaked information. If we can't keep the IDless contained for as long as it takes to get them named and aware of the situation, but they know where we're based and who we are? We're in trouble, no matter their intentions. The easiest way to avoid this would be temporary separation, as you suggested.

[batricide]

I agree.

[ But there's something that's still bothering him. Something he can't shake. ]

I think we're being released for just that purpose. The enemy knows what we look like and where in the city we are. They're not sloppy enough to be caught on camera if they didn't want to be found. There's a high probably that we're Trojan horses, every single one of us.

If we can make a temporary, movable base for new arrivals that can be erected and torn down as needed, that would at least solve the problem of being found or compromised.

[rehandle]

Morningstar intercepted the bus containing the first intake on the intelligence that we were a weapons transport. I don't think you're off on this.

I also don't think whoever it is that's sending us out into the city has as much control over it all as they'd like to have. My working theory on the disappearances is that it's something to do with a fluctuation in whatever the system is that's plucked us from our respective original space-temporal locations. Which means that their technology is either unstable or beyond their understanding. It also suggests that we're still actively connected to our universes.

Of course, that's a lot of supposition, but if correct it at least means that their power doesn't extend to the ability to know where we are at all times, sneak into the safehouse undetected, reach back into our universes to leave a trinket from home sitting on our chests seemingly at random. We don't need to be as worried as we have been, we just need to be practical and cautious.

Which the suggestions you've made are.

[batricide]

[ That's all he wanted to hear. And nobody, ever, has to know that. Damian lets out a sigh and tilts his head back, staring at the ceiling with a frustrated scowl. ]

I've dealt with both dimensional technology and dimensional magic before. This has the markings of an inexperienced but powerful mage, or alien tech they've barely cracked and decided to start crafting weapons with. We're either being sent home as it loses its grip, or we're getting shunted into another dimension.

The items make less sense. I think that has to do more with the emotional link. Anything I've gotten was not equipment I carried or cared about but rather something old and sentimental.

My concern is we don't know what was done to us. We could be sleeper agents waiting to go off. When we disappear we could be being deployed halfway across time and space to fight a war of their making.

[ Haunting, actually. The stuff of actual nightmares. ]I actually do know what I'm talking about, whether anybody wants to listen or not is another story. I'm not stupid.

[rehandle]

People will listen to you if you stop being reactionary.

[ just. some blunt advice.

all of this is fascinating, however. and it’s the sort of thing that gets missed in the midst of heated discussion, gets buried when a person marks themselves out as someone whose words are dangerous. who isn’t interested in measured discourse.

in shouting to be heard, Hafid’s been his own silencer. ]

I have experience in a similar field. I’d like to meet and discuss this in person when you have time.

[batricide]

[ Yeah right.

He crosses his arms and leans back in his chair, scoffing... But there's truth in it. Something he knows, deep down. Something he can't escape. ]

I'm free during the days unless I'm training someone.

[rehandle]

Alright. Let's give it a day or two.

[ he figures somebody needs a little time to process the whole of this day - and he himself needs to focus in on the more immediate problem ]

After that, your first available day. Currently unemployed, so I'll defer to your schedule.

In the meantime I'm meeting with Markus to discuss the move later on. We'll consult the group when we're done, and you're welcome there, but remember what I've said. If in doubt, you can always pass on your thoughts directly to me.

@matches.malone

[reneger]

on my birthday you gave me an iou
i'm cashing it in

[batricide]

[ Fuck.

How long can he go without responding? He's going to test that. ]

[reneger]

you going back on your word, d?

[batricide]

What do you want.

[reneger]

ten minutes of your time
a meeting place of your choice

[batricide]

[ Fuck.

In lieu of a reply he just drops the GPS pin at the warehouse. ]

[reneger]

( it's as good of a response as any. he didn't mean immediately but whatever. jason makes his way to the warehouse. it takes him a good ten, fifteen minutes, but--he gets there. hands shoved down into the pockets of his favorite, dick grayson original jacket as he steps inside. )

D?

[batricide]

[ He doesn't do things by halves. Now or never. He keeps to the shadows, poised and ready to spring out of the back door if this is a trap. ]

What do you want, Jason.

[reneger]

( it's not a trap. he's unarmed, doesn't have anything in his hands. nothing in pockets. jason knows better than to come at damian with anything on him. he's--skittish. strong but wary as fuck. )

I want to talk to my little brother. Honestly, for ten minutes. That's all.

[batricide]

[ He folds his arms, moving no closer. ]

Time's already started.

[reneger]

( who raised you like this.

a step closer, further into damian's space, but jason's careful not to push it. )

Will you tell me how you're feeling?

[batricide]

[ He stiffens. ]

I'm fine.

[reneger]

Honestly, Damian.

( in comparison to all the other favors he could have asked for with damian's iou at least it's just this. )