notagain | WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL

ARRIVAL

▽ FULL NAVIGATION
▽ LOCATIONS
▽ STATUSES
▽ IC PROFILES
▽ IC RULEBOOK
▽ MURDER PROPOSALS
▽ PCS
▽ CURFEW
▽ ???
▽ ???
▽ ???

PASSENGERS: 41

You know how the story goes by now. One minute you’re somewhere familiar, and the next you’re suddenly somewhere else. Unlike previous times before, the source of your rude awakening isn’t a mystery. A harsh jostle causes your body to lunge forward as a tire jumps over a pot hole in the road. Try as you might, it’s hard to ignore the steady thrumming of an engine and the gentle sway beneath you. The faint scent of gasoline seems to waft from the outside, but as you look around you’ll notice that the windows are locked, tinted, and impossible to see through. Likewise, the door ahead of you appears to be locked as well.

Perhaps the scent is your imagination…?

Regardless, though the lighting is a tad dim, it becomes apparent that you’re inside a large bus dotted with the occasional seat and amid a jumble of other bodies. The people you were last with may be among your fellow passengers. Perhaps they are not. But worry not; there’s plenty of time to look around and get to know one another on this long, strange trip. It may even be wise to examine the staircase at the other end of the bus. Who knows what awaits you on the other floors?

Ah, but before you move too far it may be best to assess the situation. On the bright side, any injuries you incurred have been healed! Isn't it nice to have your limbs in place again? Miracles happen. But...what happened to your clothes? You’re fairly certain you weren't wearing this t-shirt before...and what's with the denim shorts? Maybe you were fortunate enough to get the knee-length version, but for those of you waking up in bootyshorts...well, we're sure you look great! And what better way to tie the whole look together than white socks and tan sandals? At least you'll be comfortable for the ride.

Lucky for you, your new threads aren't the only gift you'll receive upon waking up. Attached to your waist is a high-quality bag filled with some fun goodies for every passenger! For those of you who unzip your bag to check its contents, you will find:

-Dry shampoo
-Wet wipes
-Deodorant
-Travel pack of toilet paper
-Travel toothbrush + toothpaste
-Poncho
-A stylish travel guide

No other items are on your person at this time, even if you were holding onto it as you began your previous departure. That's a bit troublesome, isn't it? Not really; it's still a bus. Be grateful for the extra elbow room, alright?

Oh, and one last thing...on the wrist of every passenger is a small, equally fashionable white scrunchie. Not your style? Perhaps it's a good idea to give the travel guide another read.

Searching the bus from top to bottom will net zero results in the way of an escape. All of the windows are similarly tinted and locked, and the only exit door appears to be the one on the first level that can't be opened at this time.

But hey. You're all old pros at this, right? You know what to do next! Get to know the people around you, trade stories with your fellow passengers, and...well. Buckle up for the bumpy ride ahead.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[dick is so young and naive and pure

well maybe not pure]

Brown has a big mouth. [He rolls his eyes.] I should.

I'm his son. His blood son.

Maybe. It's saved us some awkwardness, didn't it? [ he's calm because the rest of the sentence is what he Didn't want to hear. yikesies. ] Right. Makes sense. With-- who?

[ it sounds a little strangled despite himself because he has a guess, based entirely on damian's appearance and bruce being the same brand of terrible across universes, but he hates that guess ]

[If the awkwardness of Dick's desperation to hear it's not as bad as he thinks it is bothers Damian, he doesn't show it. His piercing eyes carefully watch Dick's face.

Is Dick ready to close his eyes for eternity?]

Talia al Ghul.

[ dick is internally closing his eyes forever, yeah. his eyes are closed. he cannot see. he expected that, though, and despite the mild look of long suffering for a second, he nods ]

Sounds about right. [ bruce, god dAMN it. ] Alright. I won't ask more details, since I'd rather not add "potentially disrupting the time stream" to the list of things I've got to worry about. [ there's a beat before he smiles, light ] Although I did hear you demanded to be Robin, so it sounds like you were a pretty good fit for the job from the get-go.

[no, dick, please ask him about how he came to be born. it's a really fun story.]

As if the time stream isn't already going to potentially be disrupted because of all of this. [No, do NOT smile at him, Dick Grayson.] A butchered recount. I won the title, as it is my birthright.

I am the best Robin that Batman has ever had.

True, but let's not deliberately make it worse. [ and no, he won't stop smiling, because there's something about this small child calling robin his birthright and saying he's the best that's... well, it's interesting, anyway. ] Uh-huh. So what's the best Robin doing hiding in a kitchen cupboard for?

[ he would normally have his hands in his pockets as he casually asks this, but booty shorts, so. rip ]

[He snootily peers down--level??--at Dick because he knows Dick is just trying to twist his denim shorts.]

I'm waiting for the end of our ride. Away from all of these other idiots. You should be "hiding" in one so everyone doesn't have to see you in those shorts.

[ peer down from one whole inch in that cupboard, damian. he'll raise an eyebrow right back. steph called him difficult so he's not too surprised ]

As much as I miss pants, the sock and sandals dad-combo is what I'm sorry everyone has to see me wear. That, and I've outgrown most kitchen cupboards. [ this is a horrible au where dick grayson makes boring yet sensible fashion choices. he hums ] So what will you do if there is no end destination? Can't stay in that cupboard forever.

[STOP RAGGING HIM, DICK GRAYSON. ARGH. He's going to throw himself out of the bus through the toilet chute between Dick, Beau, Wei Wuxian, and Percy.]

Then I'll come out at that time, Grayson. Is there a purpose to this line of questioning? If we're meant to kill, why would the bus even be bothering to move?

[ absolutely not, ragging and encouraging robins/siblings is his entire duty? and this is strictly ragging time. ]

Just wondering what your plan is. [ :) ] I was on a cruise ship for the duration of mine. It's entirely possible we'll unlock more decks to this bus.

[ he's hoping? against it? but ]

[judgmentally looks at dick from the future when he finally learns about the thots demons]

A cruise ship is very different than a decker bus, Grayson. Let's believe in the best outcome we're not going to be stuck here for seven to eight weeks.

[ whoever tells the ten year old about the thots demons is on dick's shitlist forever. dick's optimism is dead inside after sex ship, but he nods ]

The best outcome being a weekend trip on the hell bus, in this case? Where you stay inside a cupboard to get away from everyone.

[Coming back to this thread is hilarious now.]

Preferably, I would rather the bus stop and let us disembark to whatever terrible, badly done-up place our kidnapping overlords are taking us.

But, yes, for the weekend, I will stay in the cupboard so people will leave me alone once they eat all the food.

[ hellish. ]

Good to know. [ but he nods ] Don't think food shortage will be a problem. These things seem to be fully stocked no matter what, but I'll leave you to your peace. [ though before that, he looks serious for a second: ] Look, I don't know what your status on working with people outside Batman is yet, but we might as well take advantage of the fact we're all here. We should talk later, all four of us.

[As expected, whether Dick knows him or not, Damian makes a face at teamwork. And all of them talking together later. Ughhh. He thinks about Stephanie, and then he thinks about Jason.]

Nothing would get accomplished.

[But, very briefly, very slightly, his face softens some.]

Grayson. [He frowns.] ...Don't be stupid. [It just feels too weird to say "be careful" right now!! Leave him alone!]

[ teamwork!!! swallow that pill, child!!! he's amused at that first part... and while he might not know damian, he can notice the flicker on his face. bruce's son indeed. it's noted, but he won't call him out on it. ]

Please, who do you think you're talking to? Wouldn't dream of it. [ casual assurance, like he hasn't noticed the potential layer behind it ] Try not to get into too much trouble yourself.

[ from his cabinet, growling at people. ]

[This is why Grayson is his favorite. >:(

except for the fucking demons part]

[ IT WAS A LIFE OR DEATH THING!!!

and also, sometimes, bingo ]

WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL - OVERFLOW

dick

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject