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Post by Miss Martian on Jun 9, 2015 7:32:30 GMT
Tag:@dickgrayson Date: November 12th Location: Bludhaven, Dick's Apartment (for now) Time: 10PM
Forever and always. A lot of people relate that to some romantic notion bond, but it doesn't only pertain to romantic devotion. Forever and always is for friendship as well. It's the undying loyalty one has for another; the promise to always be there. Against all odds not matter what, you just never give up on them. Through the good times and the bad, you're at their side whether they want you there or not. Forever and always was a rocky journey but it also has its smooth sailing too; for the times they hit rock bottom to the times they are soaring through an emotional high, you're always there. In the physical presence or in simple spirit, urging them on, wishing them well, or just being around just in case that safety net needs to be deployed. Forever and always was a vow of friendship too. It was M'gann's for the entire team. They meant the world to her, each and everyone had a special place in her heart and even when they strayed, even when they seemed to drift away she would always just linger in some way, shape or form; just to be around in case they needed it. After all wasn't that what friends were for? He had been one of the first to welcome her along with Khaldur to the Team and accept her as one of them. They had grown up together in a way, back when first the Team had formed; Khaldur, Dick, Wally, Connor and her. She remembered how welcoming he and Wally were to her when her Uncle Jon first brought her to the cave to stay. They were the years that formed who she was today and like the others Dick had a part in her growing up and to M'gann that meant he had her respect and loyalty. Forever and always right? So enter a particular Martian girl that is flying across the skies, destination Bludhaven and more precisely Dick Grayson's apartment with celebratory cupcakes in hand or well technically telekinetically flying alongside her. M'gann had learned that Dick was maybe coming back to the Team so that meant celebratory cupcakes were in order. It wasn't like she'd never dropped by with food for him before; she had. Every once in awhile even if she never actually saw him she still dropped it too. She knew he was struggling, trying to come to grips with Wally's death like all of them and she also understood the pain and the space Dick required from the team to heal, but that didn't mean she abandoned him. So once in a while normally when Met U was down in Gotham for a football or basketball game and M'gann would have to cheer, she would make a stop over at his apartment and drop by and leave some cookies or baked goods she made the night before and just loop it over the door knob of his apartment in a plastic bag with a note that said 'Was just in the neighborhood =)' . She didn't even know if he ever got them or maybe someone else snagged them first but she hoped he had a chance to at least sample one of the few drop offs she'd made. This night had a similar feel. The basketball game ended and instead of M'gann getting on the bus and heading back with her squad, she stayed behind and headed for Dick's apartment instead. Spotting his apartment building M'gann alighted onto the rooftop, phased through the door on the roof and made her way down the stairway to Dick's apartment level and walked down the hallway towards his room number and then knocked on the door. If he wasn't home yet that would be fine for the Martian too, she'd just hang out at the lobby until she sensed his presence. After all that's what friends did. Still M'gann couldn't help the jitter of excitement she felt as she waited at the door, cupcakes in a plastic container in hand with a bright smile still dressed in her Bulldog's cheer gear.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 16:42:21 GMT
Dick had gotten the occasional mystery food items from M'gann, and he had gone from appreciating it, to being somewhat annoyed, and back again. It really depended on the time. His mood moved back and forth a lot, depending on what was going on. It depended if there were cases or problems for him to deal with in Bludhaven, or if he was thinking of Wally at all.
He did appreciate it, no matter what though. Someone still cared about him. He knew that a lot of his former team still cared. He cared about them as well. But just as he didn't go out to try to do things for them, they didn't do things for him either. It just wasn't always logistically feasible. He wasn't sure when M'gann was coming or finding the time, but he did appreciate it.
She was one of the reasons he had chosen to come back to the team. Her continued kindness was a big thing for him, and he really did love it. It showed him that he still belonged, no matter what had happened with the team. The sooner he finished moving out, the better. He was currently working on packing things nearly constantly, trying to figure out what was important and what he could just abandon or give away.
He heard a knock at his door. It wasn't uncommon that the people he had met would come by. He had told them all that he was leaving, instead of just disappearing on them. He went to the door and opened it without looking. He used to always look, but at this point he just chose not to. Maybe it was part of him wanting to find some sort of retribution onto himself for Wally's death, but that wasn't it.
"M'gann?" he asked. He looked around the hall, "Probably should have said Megan..." he muttered. He stepped back, "Um...come in, if you want." Maybe she wasn't here to stay, so he wasn't sure.
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Post by Miss Martian on Jun 19, 2015 2:44:43 GMT
"M'gann?" he asked.
"Hi!" came the usual chirp of warm greeting the Martian exuded. It took everything in her not to just leap over and give him a hug. Mostly because she was holding a Tupperware container of cupcakes and as her alter ego Megan Morse had no powers leaving it to dangle as she leaped over to hug him would be odd not to mention blow her cover of being a normal human girl.
He looked around the hall, "Probably should have said Megan..." he muttered.
The young Martian giggled, "It's ok. The amount of times that slipped out at school. I've gotten used to just telling people it was Scandinavian for Megan."
He stepped back, "Um...come in, if you want."
"Thanks." she said walking into the apartment with her container of cupcakes in hand and she took a cursory look around as she stepped in, then turned to Dick. "I heard the news and I was in the neighborhood. Met U was playing Gotham U tonight, so I skipped out on the after the game party to visit and old friend."
"I know you haven't officially returned yet but I made these anyways." she held up the cupcakes. "Welcome back." she beamed looking over at the young man. But then a sudden doubt hit her, what if he hadn't fully decided, what if she assumed wrong? The thought of perhaps asking first before making the cookies dawned on her but well too late now.
"Uhm...you are coming back right?" she asked.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2015 3:43:44 GMT
He gave her a smile when she stood in his doorway. He moved around and gave her a quick, small hug, managing to get around the tupperware container. He pulled himself back and looked at her, "I know you probably wanted to do that," he told her, "I figured it was too hard with those in your arms, so I hope that was a good enough hug for you."
It's ok. The amount of times that slipped out at school. I've gotten used to just telling people it was Scandinavian for Megan."
"Does that work?" he asked. He had no idea, but he was actually rather curious. He wasn't sure if it sounded Scandinavian, but he was no expert on it.
"I heard the news and I was in the neighborhood. Met U was playing Gotham U tonight, so I skipped out on the after the game party to visit and old friend."
He nodded as she came inside, "So, who won?" He wasn't overly interested in football, but he was interested enough in knowing if Gotham won or lost. And well, she seemed to enjoy it, so he'd gladly listen.
He gave her a smile and lifted the container from her. He walked away from her and set them down on the kitchen table before looking back and urging her farther inside. He gave her a warm, genuine smile at her last question, and simply nodded, "Yeah. I'm coming back. Barbara helped me realize I needed to come back..." Although it was mostly for her that he was coming back, but he didn't say that. He felt it was apparent on his face though.
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Post by Miss Martian on Jun 21, 2015 5:57:39 GMT
His smile was something she missed. It was a quite smile that if you knew him had a lot of meaning behind it. He had moved around her container of cupcakes and gave her a quick small hug which the Martian appreciated. It was like he'd read her mind, but then again they practically grew up together in a way, with the team so he'd know how to read her. If people were around one another the way the Team had been growing up, putting one another's lives on the line and not to mention seeing one another on the 'off days', you learned a thing or two about them and the nuances of their personalities and could read their body language like one could read a book. The small action, though seemingly insignificant or casual for most, spoke volumes to the Martian. He never forgot them, even in his distance she knew he was still one of them and she was glad the Team had him back.
He pulled himself back and looked at her, "I know you probably wanted to do that,"he told her,
"It's like you read my mind." M'gann teased though obvious it was exactly what she wanted; in case that beaming smile wasn't an indication.
"I figured it was too hard with those in your arms, so I hope that was a good enough hug for you."
"It was." she answered and to her comment on her telling people M'gann was Scandinavian for Megan Dick had asked.
"Does that work?"
"So far it does; probably until I meet someone actually from there, then I might be in trouble...Hmmm maybe I should have said Iceland. It's more remote and less people from there. I think their population is only a little over 300, 000 and they tend to have strangely pronounced names too, I mean look at Bjork." she replied as she came inside and talked about how she heard the news and came straight over after the game against Gotham.
"So, who won?" Dick had asked.
"Gotham. But it was a close game." M'gann replied with a smile though there was a slight hint of disappointment in the delivery. After all she was from the rival school and her team just lost. It was hard to deliver a totally upbeat news on a loss, especially against Gotham.
As she walked inside and took a cursory look at the place, it looked like a bachelor pad that Dick Grayson would be living in, she thought before she turned back to face Dick. "I'd give you the play by play but I'm guessing you just wanted to know who won." she smiled.
He gave her a smile and lifted the container from her as he walked away and set them down on the kitchen table before looking back and urging her farther inside. M'gann didn't need further prompting to follow the young man further in her smile widening as he gave her a warm, genuine smile at her last question about returning to the team.
"Yeah. I'm coming back. Barbara helped me realize I needed to come back..."
M'gann's smile broadened with some unspoken knowledge, nothing telepathic but more just that thing f knowing someone long enough that one could read the subtle queues, even from the slight inflection, halt and pitch of a word or name spoken; though it was also pretty apparent on his face too. Not that M'gann let on.
"And we needed you to come back too..." M'gann offered with a small smile. It wouldn't be overstepping to mention that the Team needed him as much as he needed them right? It wasn't the same without his guidance; his presence. Tim was great but he wasn't Nightwing. Khaldur was a solid leader but again he wasn't Dick. It just didn't feel the same without him, or at least not like it used to. It always felt like they were missing something. "Now more than ever."
"So of course that mean I made you cupcakes!" she beamed "Welcome back!"
She gave him another hug, this time longer and more of the 'glad you're back' variety than a 'hello' hug because it had been a long time and she missed him like she did all the other members still yet to return. It was like family, they were all like family to her and Dick coming back was like a part of the family coming home.
"I'm glad you're back." she whispered into him as she hugged him.
When she finally released him she stepped back then looked around a little more to investigate the place. "Soooo..." she said rocking back and forth on her heels and smiling as she looked about bout. "This is the famous Grayson Pad..." she nodded eyeing the decor and trying to figure out where the hidden areas would have been. All was never what it seemed with the Bat family. There would always be hidden stashes and areas, not to mention M'gann was curious what a real bachelor pad looked like and if she remembered Dick was somewhat of a lady's man so she was curious what types of things he'd have in his apartment.
"Its so...grown up...is this really what bachelors have in their pads?" M'gann asked. It was not the curious young Martian now speaking and trying to understand things. "Sorry, first ever bachelor pad I'm visiting...it looks a lot nicer than a college dorm..a LOT nicer."
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2015 0:58:22 GMT
While some time ago, Dick would have done anything to be away from his old friends and avoid humanizing interaction with them, he did appreciate having M'gann around. He always liked her, and she was just the type of person he needed to help bring his mood back around to rejoining the Team. Of course, it's not like he could't fix his mood as he rejoined, but it was a great reminder of what he needed to be, and who he had changed into, and why he needed to change back.
She confirmed that she had indeed wanted to hug him, so he smiled. He was glad he could at least still read the people he used to work with. No. Not the 'people'; his friends. He figured they still thought of him as a friend, and he needed to think of them as that as well. Not that he ever stopped, it just became confusing and difficult at times.
He chuckled, "Yes, Bjork probably gives you plenty of leeway in using Iceland," he told her.
"Gotham. But it was a close game."
"Well, out of bias, I'm happy that Gotham won," he told her, "Although let's not talk sports, if we have clear preferential choices."
"I'd give you the play by play but I'm guessing you just wanted to know who won."
Yeah, he didn't care much about the game itself. "Sorry, I've never been a big fan of sports."
"And we needed you to come back too...Now more than ever."
They did need him. He didn't want to be leader, but he did want to be back. He needed to come back. He couldn't keep going solo, or he felt it would kill him. He'd become just like Bruce. Dark, brooding, and lacking his lightheartedness. Of course, this was a serious world, not a game. He felt he'd lose it someday, but the Team would help him.
He picked up the cupcakes and opened the container. "Well M'gann, we should eat these," he said. "By the way, everything else you made so far has been incredible. Thank you, M'gann. It's been really nice to know you've been thinking of me, and that you've been helpful like this."
"I'm glad you're back."
She hugged him, and he wrapped his arms around her as well, "I'm glad I'm back too," he told her.
"Soooo...This is the famous Grayson Pad..."
He smiled and looked around. He had been packing up and doing the best he could to get things moved. It was sizable enough, with a kitchen and bar, and a table set aside. The furniture was nice, rather than just being old and crappy or anything like that. His actual furniture in the sitting area was also nice. He had put money into this, so it actually came off as a bachelor's pad. Of course, his bedroom was nicely set up for women, but it was hard for him to actually live up to bachelor status, considering his feelings for Barbara still burned.
"Its so...grown up...is this really what bachelors have in their pads? Sorry, first ever bachelor pad I'm visiting...it looks a lot nicer than a college dorm..a LOT nicer."
He smiled, "Most bachelor pads are probably nice like this. They're needed for the sake of convincing women to come back, after all." Not that he used women in the same way most seemed to, that was fine with him, "It also costs a lot more than a dorm would," he told her.
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Post by Miss Martian on Jun 29, 2015 2:00:02 GMT
When Dick approached and picked up the cupcakes and opened the container M'gann smiled. "Well M'gann, we should eat these," he said. "By the way, everything else you made so far has been incredible. Thank you, M'gann. It's been really nice to know you've been thinking of me, and that you've been helpful like this."
That was a relief to hear he got the stuff she left. It was hard telling in this neighborhood if it would have been left unpilfered or if someone would have taken it. It was also good to know he liked what she made, it made having done it worthwhile then as initially M'gann wasn't even sure he received it let alone liked it, but the point of it all was in the end to let him know he still had friends out there that cared; a team that cared.
"I'm glad you liked it and it looks like you've been taking care of yourself so that's good." she said. "I wasn't sure if you'd be too busy to find the time to make yourself a proper meal and stuff so when I was in the neighborhood I'd pack a little extra sum'in sum'in for ya." she smiled and winked and looked about the place. It looked really cool and after commenting on having missed him and giving a heartfelt hug that was returned, M'gann had pulled away to comment on his cool apartment.
It was obvious had been packing up and doing the best he could to get things moved but it still had that Dick Grayson style. It was sizable enough, with a kitchen and bar, and a table set aside. The furniture was nice, rather than just being old and yucky; it was obvious he had taken the time to pick the right things. His actual furniture in the sitting area was also nice. He had put money into this it was apparent, so it actually came off as a real bachelor's spread like ones that would make even Thom the Design Doctor from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy proud. She commented on how grown up and cool it was to which Dick replied.
"Most bachelor pads are probably nice like this. They're needed for the sake of convincing women to come back, after all...It also costs a lot more than a dorm would," he told her.
"Oh, I didn't realize that. I thought you did great to make it your own. I like the style." she said of his comment about doing it for the sake of convincing women to come back moving back towards him as she took a cupcake for herself and bit in, then asking him casually. "Does it work though?...The getting the women to come back that is? And how many have you convinced to come back here?" M'gann asked innocently, not fully comprehending the depth or full intent of it all. She might have dated Connor and La'gaan but they were all high school stuff, innocent and nothing past the kissing stages so the full concept of a bachelor pad still wasn't altogether explained yet.
Looking about some more and knowing there would be more to the place than met the eye, after all he was Bruce Wayne's protégé at one point it obviously had to have a secret something or other here to keep Nightwing separate from Dick Grayson.
"Soooo...where's the 'other' stuff?" she asked looking about trying to see if she could figure out where it was hidden. "You gonna show me or make me look for it?"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2015 3:17:15 GMT
"I'm glad you liked it and it looks like you've been taking care of yourself so that's good. I wasn't sure if you'd be too busy to find the time to make yourself a proper meal and stuff so when I was in the neighborhood I'd pack a little extra sum'in sum'in for ya."
"There have been nights where it's been hard to actually get myself something to eat, or to take care of myself," he told her. Some nights he just ran himself ragged, trying to help Bludhaven, or running his own missions. Sure, sweets weren't a good thing to sustain himself with alone, but they gave him something at least. He made up for it during the days when he was less busy. The calories were very helpful during and after the long nights. "So yeah, your contributions have been greatly appreciated."
He knew he needed to take better care of himself. He could blame it on Wally's death, and the fact that he had to make up for the lack of a hero, but he knew that wasn't true. He knew he couldn't keep using Wally as something to blame like that for everything in his life that was poor.
She liked the style. He gave her a small smile, "Thanks. It took a bit of time to get it right." It really had, especially so it looked like a normal place someone lived, rather than just a hub to be passing through between sleeping and fighting at night. He needed to convince people he was normal. "Um...yes, it does work," he said. How much should he tell her? He sighed, "You can't tell others," especially not Barbara, but he left that unsaid, "Seriously, don't tell anyone." He did some quick mental math, "Five," he told her, deciding that sounded about right.
Did she even realize what she was asking? She was innocent, and the way she asked...yeah, she probably didn't realize the implication, and he wasn't going to explain it to her.
"Well, I'll show you," he said. He'd already packed it away, but he moved around his boxes over towards his bar. He slid a decorative piece on the side of it away, and a panel slid open, "Took me some time to get that customized, but it was well worth it."
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Post by Miss Martian on Jul 12, 2015 7:54:28 GMT
"There have been nights where it's been hard to actually get myself something to eat, or to take care of myself," he had told her and it was what she'd expected...boys and their crime fighting, she thought. She understood his personality enough to know that there were probably some nights he'd run himself ragged, trying to keep the law and order. Sure, sweets probably weren't the thing of champions to sustain himself with, but a little added boost of temporary sugar energy never hurt; the calories would be helpful in the very least to burn. It wasn't like he was a couch potato. "So yeah, your contributions have been greatly appreciated." Dick finished and caused the young Martian to smile. "I'm glad. I didn't want you withering away out here on your own." M'gann replied jokingly. M'gann took a cupcake from the container and handed one to Dick before taking one for herself, then looked about his bachelor pad and commented on his style and wondered if the whole 'cool pad' thing really worked. It was her first foray into a real bachelor's pad other than seeing some on the show Queer Eye For The Straight Guy, and so was genuinely curious if all this actually worked on women. She thought so, or well she liked the look of the place enough to wanna come back but then again something told her there was more to it than that but judging from his reaction or rather tone of his answer she suspected she was right but also thought asking to elaborate might not be such a great idea. There were just some things she figured it best she remain unknowing and his tone and reply seemed to back up that suspicion. "Um...yes, it does work," he said then sighed, "You can't tell others," especially not Barbara, was the unspoken word but one did not need to be a telepath to know that part. It was kinda a given in M'gann's eyes. She'd watched enough OC, 90210, Degrassi and Gossip Girl to know things, and see that unspoken thing between Dick and Babs. "Got it." M'gann smiled in understanding but stayed clear from voicing it. She shipped those two in her head so hard sometimes she actually considered playing match maker, but also watched enough television to know that that often blew up in your face if the two weren't ready yet and Babs and Dick were the type to take their time and not be lead into things but rather just fall into it when they were ready. M'gann would just have to continue smiling internally whenever she witnessed their interactions. Humans were funny creatures and cute all at the same time with their secret yet not so secret emotions. But yeah she was team NightBat from the moment she detected that spark. "Seriously, don't tell anyone." "I won't." she smiled with that look of promise and understanding. "Yeah, Tim would probably have a field day teasing you about that, not to mention all the questions Gar would throw your way. Yeah don't worry, what happens in Casa di Grayson stays in Cassa de Grayson." she joked and gave a wink. "Five," he told her and she knew he was telling her the truth. Five seemed surprisingly small considering but then again M'gann didn't fully realize the full implication of her question. She was assuming a social type setting of hangout times and what not, she hadn't completely yet connected it to the intimate yet. She was still a bit too young and naive for that correlation. But she did know that even if just hang out times with other girls could be damaging. Hey she'd seen enough 90210 and OC to know that sometimes even just the implications of said company was enough to make Humans go bananas. Not to mention the teasing he might get from the others so no his request of silence would be honored. "Hmmm some how I would have thought you would have invited more here. I mean it's a really cool place and lots of people would appreciate the coolness of it. Then again you were probably too busy doing the Nightwing thing right? Kinda hard to be Dick when the crims don't exactly have a timely schedule or an appreciation for our social life. Seriously I'm surprised I am still on the squad and have friends for the amount of times I've had to bale on practices and squad social meets." M'gann replied totally misunderstanding the other reasons for the five. Then she moved things to more exciting parts or well for M'gann more exciting...seeing the super secret Batcavey things only minus the cave stuff and more just the Bat-stuff. Afte rall Dick was raised by Batman and that meant a certain amount of 'more than meets the eye' stuff which kinda sounded like a Transformer slogan but whatevs, it kinda fit. She followed Dick as she bit into her cupcake and watched as he moved around his boxes, M'gann helping mentally with her telekinesis just to make it easier on the guy. Not that he couldn't lift things but she was just being helpful even if she was still standing behind him munching on her cupcake, stuff still moved around as if of their own accord. Then in Batman style and fashion or well at least how M'gann would have pictured it as she'd never actually seen the man do his batcave act but she kinda gleaned it from others when she was younger and had was still learning about boundaries. Now though she didn't intrude like that and kept people's minds their own. M'gann watched as Dick slid a decorative piece on the side of it away, and a panel slid open, "Took me some time to get that customized, but it was well worth it."
And there it was in all its daunting splendor, with some simple codes entered into a slide panel a section of the young man's apartment turned into an armory/computer station/analysis lab. Seriously it took everything from M'gann to not outwardly squee out of excitement and instead the young Martian kept it together enough not to fangirl but instead just stare slack jaw in wonder and then whistle in appreciation of the equipment and the networking system Dick had. Ok so maybe a lot of the computery mumbo jumbo M'gann didn't really completely conceptualize but she knew hardcore tech when she saw it. Sure her Martian tech on the bioship might be more advanced but that didn't mean she understood all technology foreign and alien (or alien for her, on earth she was the alien but the word fit) particularly human computers. They worked differently than Martian tech and was less organic and more silicon and electrically based. Regardless it was incredibly impressive from a human stand point then again this was Nightwing she was with, impressive just kinda went with the territory. Cute, badass and smart, yeah M'gann could understand why the ladies like Zatanna and Babs liked Dick. He might not be M'gann's type but she could certainly see the appeal. Besides it was totally in to be a computer geek now. "Wow! I mean like...wow. I expected there to be stuff..." M'gann said as she moved in to get a closer look but making sure not to touch anything with her cupcake fingers as she licked the remnants of icing from them. "but like...wow! So is this how you keep tabs on what's going on in the city then?" she asked as she looked at the various monitors just as what sounded like police scanner was tracking the activity of the cops in the city. On another screen there was the daily news feed of another body found in the water by the docks with mysterious wounds. Another death from a meta except the police were baffled because the injuries were different from the other bodies found washed up to shore last month. In fact bodies were turning up with random injuries but all critical and most from metahuman style infliction except there was nothing to like all these deaths other than where the bodies seemed to always turn up and that metas were involved. There was even nothing about the victims that linked them to one another either as some were runaways, homeless people and the usual civilian lot of blue to white collar backgrounds. All the victims were different and nothing tying them together except their strange deaths and where they were found. "You know, strange stuff like that has been happening in Metropolis too." M'gann commented on the strange deaths they were discussing on the news. "It's just weird and when it's weird like that you know it means some kinda trouble on a grander scale."
It was then that she saw something in one of the monitor feeds. A group of what looked like costumed people chasing down a few young homeless (from the looks of their clothing) kids and they looked like they were fleeing for their lives. "Uhm...so like I know I came by on a social visit and stuff but ..." she pointed at the two running teens. "Think maybe we could put the welcome back cupcake celebration on hold for a few ticks and help those guys out?" M'gann asked pointing at the teens being chased. "Do you recognize the area they are in? Think we can get there before they end up a smear on the pavement? Cause those guys look like they mean serious business." she said of the costumed people chasing after the teens and seemingly almost toying with them as they made chase. OOC: Thought we could ramp up to the action now and still do the 'catch up' stuff along the way. If I got the gadgetry stuff wrong in dick's apartment lemme know I can easily rewrite. I just figured He'd be all set up and equipped and suped up for this kinda stuff. Also feel free to have the location of the running teens as close by or as far away as you'd like from Dick's apartment. And the four guys chasing the teens are metahumans you can make up their powers if you want but one of them has similar power sets to Disruptor from the Terror Titams. The rest I leave to your creative mind if you wanna run with it, If not I can
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2015 18:37:18 GMT
"I'm glad. I didn't want you withering away out here on your own."
Truth be told, he probably would have. Or if not, he’d be severely undernourished. Of course he was out fighting so much, and working the streets, but there was also the matter of him just not having much drive to do anything. Even the friendships he’d formed in Bludhaven amounted to little, and he spent a lot of time alone. Sure, he took dates out to eat, but that wasn’t much in the long run.
He took the cupcake that she offered to him and looked at it. He had yet to dislike anything she’d made and left for him, so he was thankful that she was always there. Sure, others might have dropped by and done something like this, but would their food be good? Probably not. It helped to have taste as opposed to just nourishment.
"I won't. Yeah, Tim would probably have a field day teasing you about that, not to mention all the questions Gar would throw your way. Yeah don't worry, what happens in Casa di Grayson stays in Cassa de Grayson."
Yeah, Tim would probably have a lot of fun with that. He liked Tim, but he didn’t want to give the younger man some ammo to use against him like that. Or well, any of them giving him a hard time on some of this stuff would suck. Of course, he was sure that some of them would surely respect him.
”I appreciate that,” he told her, ”And I know that you won’t tell anyone.” He was thankful that he had such a good friend in her, although if something slipped out sometime, he couldn’t be sure, but he couldn’t hold that against her.
"Hmmm some how I would have thought you would have invited more here. I mean it's a really cool place and lots of people would appreciate the coolness of it. Then again you were probably too busy doing the Nightwing thing right? Kinda hard to be Dick when the crims don't exactly have a timely schedule or an appreciation for our social life. Seriously I'm surprised I am still on the squad and have friends for the amount of times I've had to bale on practices and squad social meets."
”Well…” she didn’t get it. Ok, he wasn’t sure how much to say here. He was cautious with his words now, ”I was too busy being Nightwing, yeah. My human relationships started to fail. I think that’s why I loved being on the team, because we’re all the same, we’re all fighting, and we all struggle with our real, personal lives.” Well, he assumed they all did.
It had taken Dick some time to rig up everything. He had his hidden area for his Nightwing gear, and had some computers and stuff in there as well. Of course, he had other monitors and wiring, so he could send data from these computers to his television, or a laptop, or things like that.
He was fairly good with technology, but a lot of the stuff he should have was beyond him. His setup was kind of minor in comparison to what Bruce had, or the team had, but he didn’t care. It worked for him. He reached over and disabled his setup, letting it close on itself.
He loved what he had though, it was low-tech, but it was workable. It was small enough to hide, and he didn’t have the ego that Bruce had with that whole Batcave setup. Sure, the Batcave was cool, but did he really have to name everything after his moniker? Dick didn’t have that, and he turned out just fine.
He looked at the news report that M’gann was watching, and nodded, ”Metropolis too? I’ve seen a little bit of this on the news here, but I haven’t investigated it much yet.” It was always the plan to look into it, but he just hadn’t gotten very far into that one. He didn’t quite know where to start on it, not with how many Metas existed. It’s not like he had a prime suspect or anything.
When they saw the homeless kids being chased, he nodded, “I recognize the area,” he said, “I’ll take you there. We’ll deal with this one.” He opened his compartment again and pulled out his uniform. He started to pull it on over his clothes and set his cupcake on the counter. He placed his mask on.
”It’s about a mile from here,” he said, ”They’re running this way through by the look of it. We can cut them off.”
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Post by Miss Martian on Jul 19, 2015 15:20:07 GMT
”Well...I was too busy being Nightwing, yeah. My human relationships started to fail. I think that’s why I loved being on the team, because we’re all the same, we’re all fighting, and we all struggle with our real, personal lives.”
M'gann nodded in understanding. "Yeah, and it's not like you can go out and say, hey sorry I'm late, I was out in the sewers taking down Clayface with my friends." she chuckled. "Not exactly the lead in convo you want when you then ask how their day went. Then again with the Team, we just all get it."
Looking briefly out the window momentarily pensive in contemplation. "Kind of makes you wonder then if a 'normal' relationship is ever really going to happen or if this is it."
She then blinked realizing she'd spoken something on her mind out loud. Wow when did she start doing that? With a soft chuckle she turned back to Dick. "Not that there's anything wrong with dating people on the Team but you know, it'd just be nice to 'not' have to think or talk about the Light, or training or missions and just ...'be', you know?"
Then enter the newsfeed that caught M'gann's attention. ”Metropolis too? I’ve seen a little bit of this on the news here, but I haven’t investigated it much yet.” Dick had said as he too watched the feed and M'gann commented on the likeness of the dead bodies to ones in Metropolis. "Yeah it has the police stumped and because there's no pattern nothing linking any of the deaths they just seem so random. Except when you start looking at the times in which the bodies have all died they all coincide with every month. Same date and approximate time just the way they died is always different. Sometimes it looks like metas were involved and other times it's like death by blade or something so there's no real MO or even seemingly one person responsible. They all look like random deaths but really how random can it be if they happen one month apart exactly?" M'gann reasoned. But then they saw the homeless kids being chased on another screen and Dick nodded at M'gann's question of following, “I recognize the area,” he said, “I’ll take you there. We’ll deal with this one.” He opened his compartment again and pulled out his uniform. He started to pull it on over his clothes and set his cupcake on the counter as he placed his mask on. M'gann nodded and just as Dick got ready so did M'gann only her quick change up was a simple mental note to her biosuit which morphed into her black Miss Martian uniform, her cheer gear seemingly taken into the fabric then stretching out and morphing from white blue and silver to all black with a red X across her torso and her dark blue hooded cape springing up from behind her. "Ready." she said as she waited for him to put his mask on. ”It’s about a mile from here,” he said, ”They’re running this way through by the look of it. We can cut them off.”
::Alright. Lead the way." M'gann said as she looked towards the balcony doors where it seemed to open of their own accord though Dick would know it was M'gann's TK that did it. Out the back discretely they left and took chase. It felt good to be following Nightwing again. It felt like old times. M'gann linking everyone up (ok tonight it was just him and her but still) telepathically as Nightwing doled out the plan. Tonight's menu; kidnappers on a plate. Through the alleyways M'gann followed Dick, always amazed that for someone with no powers he could move so fluidly through obstacles and seem superhuman. All the Batfamily was like that and M'gann wondered are all humans capable of this or is it just that Batman knows how to pick them? As they neared the point of conflict the young boy was already cornered his pitched voice echoing through the alley way were sadly no one would see or even care to intervene. Not in this part of town and certainly not for some street kid that in the grand scheme of things probably amounted to nothing or barely nothing. "Please just leave me alone." the young boy said, his fists glowing a blue hue. "I don't want to hurt anyone...don't make me..." "Grovelling is pathetic and won't help you here...nothing will." the taller more daunting figure of a beautiful young woman in purple and pink gauntlets and uniform said. She seemed the enforcer and the most menacing; the one in charge. Her gauntleted fists started to glow a pinkish hue just as the boy's powers manifested and his entire body turned into some blue living energy. "I warned yo-" the young teen said as his body began to glow and tendrils of electricity arced out and lashed out at the young woman who simply smirked, crossing her gauntleted hands; the pink energies around her siphoning the blue arcs and while at first it was a blinding lightshow or screams and electrical bursts of energy, when everything settled the blue energies were snuffed out and what was left was the pink woman's form and with a malicious strike to the poor young man's gut, the boy was sent reeling back hard against the wall with a loud thud and grunt. "Get that suppression collar on him." the young woman ordered. "He won't be able to use his powers for a while."
OOC: The young woman is Disruptor (Angela Smith of the Terror Titans) who is the one in pink/purple and the main antagonist here. Her ability disrupts energies of any kind as well as metahuman powers. She is the enforcer of the Terror Titans and for this thread we'll just say it's her, Copperhead (Nathan Prince of the Terror Titans) His suit's helmet has two seven-inch-long fangs which were capable of piercing human skin, and are coated in a potent neuro-toxin that can paralyze a human instantly and cause death in 30 minutes.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2015 3:28:04 GMT
"Yeah, and it's not like you can go out and say, hey sorry I'm late, I was out in the sewers taking down Clayface with my friends. Not exactly the lead in convo you want when you then ask how their day went. Then again with the Team, we just all get it."
He smiled a little, “Oh, if only life in Bludhaven was that simple. I’ve got to deal with drugs, gangs, crooked police…a man who can turn himself into clay seems like it’s a lot easier! Oh, how I miss those days!” he joked.
"Kind of makes you wonder then if a 'normal' relationship is ever really going to happen or if this is it."
He looked down and let out a breath, “Well…” He hadn’t had any normal relationships in Bludhaven. Sex and sex alone wasn’t a normal relationship by any means, after all. He hadn’t had any interest in people for the most part. “I guess we can find normal relationships. We just need to look inwards, at the team. It’s not like it’s a great number of people, but it’s something.”
"Not that there's anything wrong with dating people on the Team but you know, it'd just be nice to 'not' have to think or talk about the Light, or training or missions and just ...'be', you know?"
He had had a relationship with Zatanna, and he did kind of miss her. He’d had sexual relationships while still on the team, but no real bonds with any of them. Of course, there was also his apparently unrequited crush on Barbara, a relationship he’d actually put everything into, if she’d come around. He figured he could get her there, though.
“You could always leave the team someday, with whoever you met inside of it. Sure, you’d have your mutual pasts, but…you wouldn’t have your futures.” Unless you were compelled into acting. He wondered if that’s how it was for Artemis and Wally, that they could just look at the past and not feel compelled to act again in the future, knowing the others were out there.
He also wondered if a relationship with Barbara would even work, or if the mission would overtake it.
"Yeah it has the police stumped and because there's no pattern nothing linking any of the deaths they just seem so random. Except when you start looking at the times in which the bodies have all died they all coincide with every month. Same date and approximate time just the way they died is always different. Sometimes it looks like metas were involved and other times it's like death by blade or something so there's no real MO or even seemingly one person responsible. They all look like random deaths but really how random can it be if they happen one month apart exactly?"
That was interesting. Certainly sounded like a case for someone like Batman to handle, that a great detective might be needed. Sure, even if the police realized that the time and date were the same, they didn’t have much to do. It was a big city, after all, with a lot of people. There was no way to watch everyone or warn everyone to stay wary at that particular day each month and that time. Dick wasn’t sure if this was solvable based on what they had.
“Probably not random at all. Planned, maybe for a random target though. Maybe they have an area chosen in advance, and just kill someone there.” Were the victims connected at all? Certainly the police would know that by now, unless they were all metas or something, which the police wouldn’t know.
As Dick finished dressing he saw that M’gann was already transformed into her uniform. He smiled a little, ”Wish I could do that,” he told her. He put his mask on when she said she was ready. He watched the doors open and headed out that way, feeling the mental link activate.
It had been a long time since he felt this. It was good. Nostalgic.
As Nightwing moved around obstacles and everything in his way, he kept wary. Of course, in the day, his mask probably wasn’t a huge help. He had to make sure people who knew Dick Grayson didn’t run into Nightwing or anything like that. That would be a horrible way to have his secret blown.
As they neared the location, Nightwing stopped and stayed crouched and hidden, listening in. He heard the conversation going on. He glanced out from behind his spot and saw the electricity being absorbed into the woman’s arm, then the boy was take down.
He spoke through the link, “Ok, there are two of them. I’ll take the snake guy, if you can take care of the woman. I don’t know what type of power disruptor she has, but if she does anything to your powers, we’ll switch.”
He just figured that he was better suited for the guy who looked more capable of physical combat, rather than someone who might be a meta. Sure, he could take a meta, but he’d rather let them stick to the areas they were probably more comfortable in.
“I’m going to get between him and the boy. If I can hold them both off long enough, do you think you can get the boy out of here and to safety?”
That was the top priority, after all.
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Post by Miss Martian on Aug 9, 2015 20:24:17 GMT
M'gann listened at Dick recounted his theory and it certainly made sense, maybe it was somewhat random to the extent of not knowing the victims right away but mostly planned in terms of when they did find a target they knew exactly what to do.
"See, this is exactly why we miss you on the Team." M'gann said as her teammate prepared and got dressed for the situation, M'gann doing the same only her changeover was a bit more fluid and less moving about grabbing things as all her articles of clothing were right on her. She just needed to give her bio-suit the mental nudge it needed to morph her cheerleading uniform into her Miss Martian stealth uniform.
”Wish I could do that,” he told her smiling a little at her quick change as he put his mask on.
"Yeah, not gonna lie, it's totally handy in a pinch." M'gann stated. "My bio-suit works with my telepathy but I wonder, with the right bio-patterns maybe a suit or material could be used to mimic human brain patterns. I bet Batman could figure something out like that I mean he has the facility, the money for the R&D and OMG how cool would it be to have his tux morph into his Batsuit on a whim. We could pitch it to him like that and then mooch off the tech for Team suits later...or well, it's a thought." she smiled meekly. "Sorry, I get excited about something and my mouth just runs with it."
And then they were off moving about roof tops and obstacles like some live action Bond movie or that really cool parkour movie D13 with the guy that did all his own stunts. It was insane and mind blowing that a human could move like that and then one watches Dick Grayson do that and suddenly impossible all seems possible. For a Human M'gann always admired the effortless fluidity in which Dick moved. M'gann wasn't sure he realized it but it really did seem almost inhuman. Most humans didn't have that flexibility, or agility combine those two things and it was only an elite few that could do what he did and even Batman was not as acrobatic. Then again Batman didn't need to be, he was just badass in his own way though. All the Batkids were exceptional in their own ways; extraordinary which was a testament to the mentor that trained them all. He brought out their best attributes to the forefront and made them all better for it.
It felt good to run alongside Nightwing again chasing down criminals, it was almost Nostalgic really. M'gann crouched down next to Dick wordlessly or well outwardly wordless; they spoke through the
::Ok, there are two of them. I’ll take the snake guy, if you can take care of the woman.::
::Got it.:: M'gann answered though she also outwardly nodded as she looked over at the blonde female.
:: I don’t know what type of power disruptor she has, but if she does anything to your powers, we’ll switch.::
::Sounds good.:: M'gann agreed to the plan. ::Besides, she might be able to disrupt energies like electricity but she might be susceptible to some telepathy. It's worth a try at any rate.::
::I’m going to get between him and the boy. If I can hold them both off long enough, do you think you can get the boy out of here and to safety?::
::I can give it a try.:: M'gann said with a smile as she flipped the hood of her uniform over her head and began to phase out of Dick's vision as she went invisible.
With that M'gann floated softly down towards the two unsuspecting Terror Titans and then used her telepathy to reach out from behind at the blonde woman's mind in hopes of causing her to fall asleep but as she entered the woman's mind she caught a glimpse of the woman's intent for the young boy and the grander scheme at play.
"Out of my HEAD girlie!" the Blonde suddenly shot out a hand that disrupted M'gann's cloaked invisibility. Had she just shut the woman down in the first place this would not have happened, however the Martain couldn't help but glean the plans in the woman's head which cost her that precious split second advantage.
"Ghah!" M'gann screamed as she was struck with a disrupting bolt; the energies coursing through her and momentarily disrupting her abilities. Still though M'gann wasn't completely helpless, she was like the others trained by the Black Canary and thus could hold her own in a fist fight which was exactly where it was going to go as the young Martian brought her knee up to strike the woman at the sternum winding her and causing her to stagger backwards.
M'gann then pressed the attack by running and vaulting over the woman that doubled over from her knee to her chest, the Martian's hands curling around the wires and tubing that dangled loosely from the woman's back to her gauntleted arms which looked like some kind of battery source to feed her disruption bolts. It was a gamble but M'gann had a hunch that was where the woman's power originated from. Dinah would be proud she figured that out all on her own and took the fight to the other woman; old school fisticuff style.
Hopefully Dick was faring better, M'gann thought as she prepped for a fist and grapple fight with the Blonde.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2015 0:44:44 GMT
"See, this is exactly why we miss you on the Team."
”I’m sure that others can strategize or think like I can.” He was sure that Tim was able to at least. He was helping to train Tim, and Tim went through the same training Dick had. Or well, Barbara could too. And he knew Kaldur was a skilled leader, and he was probably just as good at it. Dick really didn’t think himself anything special.
He laughed a little as she went on rambling about the biosuit idea. He could see it being implemented by Bruce for practicality reasons, and he wouldn’t mind getting a suit of his own like that. He’d have to bring up the idea with M’gann and Bruce sometime after he was integrated back into the team properly. He figured it would save most of them a lot of time in situations like this. Sure, if they were just together or training they probably were suited, so they were ready for missions, but a spur of the moment thing like this? It would be amazing.
”Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring it up with Batman sometime soon. I’ll just need your help with that one.”
As much as Dick loved his parkour and his maneuverability, he figured flight and going through solid objects and, well, everything M’gann could do was amazing. He did wish sometimes he could at least try or experience it, but at the same time this acrobatic approach he took reminded him of his parents and his past as an acrobat. He held tightly and dearly to that.
::Sounds good. Besides, she might be able to disrupt energies like electricity but she might be susceptible to some telepathy. It's worth a try at any rate.::
He nodded and sent a thought back, ::That’s what I’m hoping. It’s admittedly a gamble, but a gamble that would pay off if we’re right. If we’re not, tell me immediately and we’ll swap.::
He was worried for her wellbeing, and if she was in danger he’d gladly switch to someone she could fight. They needed to be efficient after all. Granted, efficiency would be for her to take the snake guy and he’d deal with the woman, but it would be nice and fast if she could just take them both out mentally quickly, and the woman would be the issue. Might as well get a feel right away.
As soon as M’gann made her move on the woman, Dick leapt out for the man. He didn’t look back to M’gann at the moment; she’d call him if she was in danger. If not, he’d look back soon and get an idea of what she was facing. He drew his twin sticks from his leg holster and dropped down at the man, slamming his weapons down for the man’s shoulders.
Copperhead evaded by moving back. Dick pressed the attack immediately, going into a quick sequence of strikes, moving up and down his body and jumping around at points in an attempt to confuse his opponent and get a good, solid blow in. He was wary of moving in too close, because he really didn’t like the look of those fangs.
As Copperhead made a move for him that looked to be a bite, Dick rolled under him and lashed both sticks at the back of his legs, taking him down to a knee at least. Dick span his sticks in hand and slammed them down at the man’s chest, who rolled away to avoid them.
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Post by Miss Martian on Aug 29, 2015 17:21:16 GMT
”Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring it up with Batman sometime soon. I’ll just need your help with that one.”
"*THAT* would be A-MazeBalls!" M'gann replied in her extremely excited voice. The idea that Batman just might get to use an idea of hers and actually make biosuit like uniforms for the Team. They could totally thank her later if it happens. And as always happens with M'gann, she never stuck to one topic too long and just jumped right into another expecting people just to keep up. "It's like the new catch phrase and WAY better than 'Fierce' because like no one watches project Runway anymore."
And with that the two young heroes were off to try and save the world or well in more specifically save a young boy from some strange twist of fate. Events were surveyed and then plans were hashed out, it was as if Dick had never left, things falling into place and M'gann as usual looking to the older boy and former leader of the team for guidance and a sound plan. M'gann was good at a lot of things but strategies and logical planning were more the fortes of the Bat crew and Dick happened to be part of said crew even if he distanced himself off, he was still part of them. You can take the boy out of the cave but you can't take the cave out of the boy. Or it was something like that the humans said except it involved trailers and stuff. M'gann nodded at Dick's plan stating that the disruptor girl might just be susceptible to telepathy.
::That’s what I’m hoping. It’s admittedly a gamble, but a gamble that would pay off if we’re right. If we’re not, tell me immediately and we’ll swap.::
::I will.:: M'gann said nodding obediently. It wasn't for her to question as Dick's plans were usually always sound. She could tell though that he was slightly worried for her and she offered the older boy a reassuring smile. ::Don't worry, I got this.::
M'gann had come a long way since her earlier days with the team when Dick was still Robin and no one knew his identity just yet. They've gone a long way since their early teen Team stuff. But M'gann's time away and training with her uncle had made her much more effective and her Martian abilities had grown and developed since then.
::I won't let you down.:: she had said before fading from vision and heading for her target.
Famous last words. It was not as easy as M'gann had first anticipated. Obviously this metahuman was not a noob and knew her way around a fight. M'gann screamed as she was struck with a disrupting bolt; the energies coursing through her and momentarily disrupting her abilities. Still though M'gann wasn't completely helpless, she was thankfully trained by the Black Canary after all and when powers were moot it came down to a good old fashioned fist fight only there really wasn't anything 'good' about that. The young Martian brought her knee up to strike the woman at the sternum taking the breath away from the other woman and causing her to stagger backwards.
M'gann smirked and then pressed the attack by running and vaulting over the woman that doubled over from her knee to her chest, the Martian's hands had curled around the tubing that connected to the woman's gauntleted arm bands which looked like some kind of battery source to feed her disruption bolts. The gamble worked and the brightly lit pinkish purple energies that surrounded her armbands flickered and died. The fight was on an even playing field now, M'gann without her TK or telepathy and the woman without her energy bolts and with a scream of frustration the woman moved on the offensive and shot a flurry of punches and kicks at M'gann. The young Martian did her best to block and counter punch when she could but the woman knew her way around a street brawl too...damn it. M'gann thought as she grunted from a kick to the ribs before being punched in the face causing her to stagger back this time with a bloody nose. It seemed her density shifting was also negated by the disruption beam the woman blasted her with and no telling when she'd get her powers back. M'gann hoped it wasn't permanent because the bloody nose right now throbbed and the taste of her blood was gross.
"Ok, you've got some skills I'll give you that." M'gann said as she wiped her nose and in a rather unlady like manner spit out blood from her mouth because she'd tasted enough and did not want to swallow it.
"I was arena Champion three times running you meddling little twit!" the woman said with irritation as she pressed her attack. "I've got more than just *that*"
"Arena Champion?" M'gann asked, sounding a bit confused. "What you're a washed up wrestling star?" she smirked but that was just the distraction, the real point was to be landed with a swift kick to the face in the guise of a scissor back flip when the other woman came at her. Her boot make contact and M'gann smiled, continuing her attack as the woman reeled back from the strike and take the woman down with a grappling foot sweep that pinned the woman's legs as she fell back hard against the concrete floor. Quickly M'gann moved to put the woman in a submission hold.
"Well I was State Champion with my cheer team and made Nationals." she said as the woman squirmed beneath her unable to break the hold without either dislocating her shoulder or breaking her arm. "We brought down the house with a cheer routine that was totally Amazeballs!"
"What?!" the other woman asked between her squirming and gasping.
"Forget it, you're old and wouldn't understand." M'gann said. "For all I know you probably still use the word 'Fierce'."
"What?!" the woman asked again, obvious she wasn't getting any of M'gann's references.
"Exactly." M'gann stated.
The Martian looked over to Dick to see how he was fairing. Without her telekinesis at the moment she really couldn't hold down this woman and help her former Teammate, but then again something told her that he probably had things under control anyways.
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