[ L O A D I N G ] @broken-winged-jaybird - Tumblr Blog

....

Pfftttt.

tired-baby-bird

[ C O N N E C T I N G]

[C O N N E C T I O N S E C U R E]

@dead-red-bird

I've been looking into the woman who helped us find Jade.

Hey Timmers.

....

The Sandlin one?

tired-baby-bird

Yeah, Lenna Sandlin. I haven't found a lot.

She's an architect and has a master's degree. Sharp fighter, descended from people who worked in the Irish mob and the English mob. Seemingly adept at combat. Smart.

i can't find anything dirty. Her grandparents left the mob years ago and there's nothing to suggest anyone's been involved since. So this is either someone who knows how to slip right under our noses, or...

[Soft huff, almost like laughter]

Oh no, a degree! New rogue coming to town, huh?

....

...Or she's just a lucky someone who happened to be at the right place at the right time?

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

Aster's skin started to prickle. A familiar sensation washed over her, the one of being watched. A common feeling in Gotham, to be sure. Her eyes flicked open and glanced around, eventually landing on Jason.

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, narrowing her eyes. Shifting her weight slightly, Aster questioned, “...What? Something interesting?”

Well, this should teach him not to stare, he guessed.

"Just heard you talking."

He shrugged, and there was a pause. It was getting uncomfortable to keep staring so he settled on watching the somewhat cloudy sky instead.

"A lot of us don't wanna be here."

He thought for a few seconds before continuing.

"How'd you get stuck here?"

Of course, she sighed. There are ears just about everywhere in Gotham. Can never be too careful.

Aster rocked back on her heels, glancing upwards as if mulling over her response. Finally, she settled on an answer, and let out a breath.

“...I'm a student here,” she explained, nodding towards Gotham U. “I shouldn't still be. I wasn't supposed to be. But Gotham did what Gotham does.”

Aster fell silent for a moment, as though caught in a memory. She wasn't going to unleash an entire sob story on some random stranger, no, of course not, but the question required an answer.

“...Last year, after I got my degree in archaeology, I was supposed to start working at a dig site over in Greece. That was just before one of Scarecrow's... Escapades.” Aster clenched her teeth for a moment, before squaring her jaw.

“...I shouldn't have been there, but I got injured and recovery held me back for a while. I'm still not a hundred percent. To pass the time I've just... Kept studying.” Her eyes fell onto another unfortunate rock, which was promptly kicked out of the way. The leg she used to do so, however, was clearly... A bit awkward, compared to the right side.

Jason clicked his tongue and hummed in sympathy. Oof.

"Yeah. Lot of stories like that here. The rogues hurt a lot of people."

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall behind him.

"You from here all your life, or...?"

“...Nah,” Aster responded, stretching her arms out to rest behind her head. Her sleeves shifted with the motion, revealing a glimpse of runelike drawings on her skin.

“Metropolis. ...Weird that I moved here of all places, I know, but I got tired of patching laser holes in my walls...and the Narrows are much cheaper. Transfer sucked but it's fine, I guess.”

He snorted softly, raising one eyebrow.

"Whoa. No wonder you hate it here if you came from sunshine city."

He blinked at the strange drawings, interest piqued, filing away the mental image to analyze later.

"What're those from?"

Damn it.

Aster glanced at her arms and eventually dropped them back to her sides, thumbs stowed away in her pockets. She narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow.

“...I'd say they're just tattoo concepts, but I get the feeling you're good at spotting lies. So...” She paused, as if debating how much to share.

Her eyes drifted down and to the side, out of... Embarrassment? Shame?

“They're just... Drawings. Notes, I guess. ...In a way. I misplace my journal a lot, so if I find an important symbol or rune while studying I just make note of it on myself.”

He nodded in understanding and offered a smile. Also, interesting. This girl could read people well somehow, if she figured right off the bat he was good at sniffing out bullcrap.

"Kinda like writing something on the back of your hand? I do things like that."

She tilted her head in place of a nod.

“...Yeah. Sort of.”

Though typically, notes on the back of one's hand aren't symbols of ancient magic. Regardless, she turned her attention back to the stranger in front of her. Aster flicked her eyes over him, almost suspicious in her curiosity, before she finally settled on his eyes.

“...So,” she drawled, “what's your story? You carry yourself a bit differently than most.” Even while “relaxed” he seemed on guard, almost as if he was taking mental notes on her, just as she was on him.

He shrugged, glancing back at the cloudy sky.

"Born and raised here. Mom was an addict, whole street kid sob story. Learned to tough things out. Have a better family now."

He whistled and laughed softly, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.

"Don't actually go to school here, there's just a nice taco stand down that street that I frequent."

She let out a hum of acknowledgement, and perhaps some sort of understanding. “Mm. Yeah, you seem like a true Gothamite. Glad you've got something goin' for ya, though. Family–” She paused as something unreadable crossed her features. “...Family's a, good thing to have.”

Aster let out a chuckle, and grinned at nothing in particular. “And I figured as much. You don't seem like the college type.” She raised an eyebrow. “Not to mention, my roommate did say those tacos are pretty great... I'd assume they pair well with sob stories of various sorts.”

He nodded lightly and stretched lazily, pushing off the wall he was leaning against.

"Yeah. I should probably be going, my little brother wanted me to pick him up."

He paused, glancing back at her.

"What's your name again?"

She nodded as well, and turned on her heel. She began walking in the direction of Gotham U, stopping only momentarily to respond.

“Aster. Aster Voss. And I am very late.” She kept moving, giving the stranger a two fingered salute. “See ya round, stranger. Or not. I've got a knack for disappearing.”

He grinned and copied the little wave, turning to leave as well.

"Good luck getting outta Gotham!"

He checked his watch and made down the street. Tim would be waiting for him.

#// end thread #that was fun!

Aster, meanwhile, was already halfway down the stretch to Gotham U. She would rather die than have to sit next to Dennis Collins again.

She'd be thinking about the prior conversation for a while.

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

Aster's skin started to prickle. A familiar sensation washed over her, the one of being watched. A common feeling in Gotham, to be sure. Her eyes flicked open and glanced around, eventually landing on Jason.

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, narrowing her eyes. Shifting her weight slightly, Aster questioned, “...What? Something interesting?”

Well, this should teach him not to stare, he guessed.

"Just heard you talking."

He shrugged, and there was a pause. It was getting uncomfortable to keep staring so he settled on watching the somewhat cloudy sky instead.

"A lot of us don't wanna be here."

He thought for a few seconds before continuing.

"How'd you get stuck here?"

Of course, she sighed. There are ears just about everywhere in Gotham. Can never be too careful.

Aster rocked back on her heels, glancing upwards as if mulling over her response. Finally, she settled on an answer, and let out a breath.

“...I'm a student here,” she explained, nodding towards Gotham U. “I shouldn't still be. I wasn't supposed to be. But Gotham did what Gotham does.”

Aster fell silent for a moment, as though caught in a memory. She wasn't going to unleash an entire sob story on some random stranger, no, of course not, but the question required an answer.

“...Last year, after I got my degree in archaeology, I was supposed to start working at a dig site over in Greece. That was just before one of Scarecrow's... Escapades.” Aster clenched her teeth for a moment, before squaring her jaw.

“...I shouldn't have been there, but I got injured and recovery held me back for a while. I'm still not a hundred percent. To pass the time I've just... Kept studying.” Her eyes fell onto another unfortunate rock, which was promptly kicked out of the way. The leg she used to do so, however, was clearly... A bit awkward, compared to the right side.

Jason clicked his tongue and hummed in sympathy. Oof.

"Yeah. Lot of stories like that here. The rogues hurt a lot of people."

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall behind him.

"You from here all your life, or...?"

“...Nah,” Aster responded, stretching her arms out to rest behind her head. Her sleeves shifted with the motion, revealing a glimpse of runelike drawings on her skin.

“Metropolis. ...Weird that I moved here of all places, I know, but I got tired of patching laser holes in my walls...and the Narrows are much cheaper. Transfer sucked but it's fine, I guess.”

He snorted softly, raising one eyebrow.

"Whoa. No wonder you hate it here if you came from sunshine city."

He blinked at the strange drawings, interest piqued, filing away the mental image to analyze later.

"What're those from?"

Damn it.

Aster glanced at her arms and eventually dropped them back to her sides, thumbs stowed away in her pockets. She narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow.

“...I'd say they're just tattoo concepts, but I get the feeling you're good at spotting lies. So...” She paused, as if debating how much to share.

Her eyes drifted down and to the side, out of... Embarrassment? Shame?

“They're just... Drawings. Notes, I guess. ...In a way. I misplace my journal a lot, so if I find an important symbol or rune while studying I just make note of it on myself.”

He nodded in understanding and offered a smile. Also, interesting. This girl could read people well somehow, if she figured right off the bat he was good at sniffing out bullcrap.

"Kinda like writing something on the back of your hand? I do things like that."

She tilted her head in place of a nod.

“...Yeah. Sort of.”

Though typically, notes on the back of one's hand aren't symbols of ancient magic. Regardless, she turned her attention back to the stranger in front of her. Aster flicked her eyes over him, almost suspicious in her curiosity, before she finally settled on his eyes.

“...So,” she drawled, “what's your story? You carry yourself a bit differently than most.” Even while “relaxed” he seemed on guard, almost as if he was taking mental notes on her, just as she was on him.

He shrugged, glancing back at the cloudy sky.

"Born and raised here. Mom was an addict, whole street kid sob story. Learned to tough things out. Have a better family now."

He whistled and laughed softly, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.

"Don't actually go to school here, there's just a nice taco stand down that street that I frequent."

She let out a hum of acknowledgement, and perhaps some sort of understanding. “Mm. Yeah, you seem like a true Gothamite. Glad you've got something goin' for ya, though. Family–” She paused as something unreadable crossed her features. “...Family's a, good thing to have.”

Aster let out a chuckle, and grinned at nothing in particular. “And I figured as much. You don't seem like the college type.” She raised an eyebrow. “Not to mention, my roommate did say those tacos are pretty great... I'd assume they pair well with sob stories of various sorts.”

He nodded lightly and stretched lazily, pushing off the wall he was leaning against.

"Yeah. I should probably be going, my little brother wanted me to pick him up."

He paused, glancing back at her.

"What's your name again?"

She nodded as well, and turned on her heel. She began walking in the direction of Gotham U, stopping only momentarily to respond.

“Aster. Aster Voss. And I am very late.” She kept moving, giving the stranger a two fingered salute. “See ya round, stranger. Or not. I've got a knack for disappearing.”

He grinned and copied the little wave, turning to leave as well.

"Good luck getting outta Gotham!"

He checked his watch and made down the street. Tim would be waiting for him.

Ok! So, Leslie’s clinic … where is that?

well, I do know how to find out, to the library and Ms. Barbara!

… ok so her main one is in such and such neighborhood, her other one is in Crime Alley. … I’ll go to her main one first as that’s the one she’s supposed to be at today.

Hi, Dr. Leslie? I’m Lenna Sandlin here to visit a patient? Her name is Jade..Wayne.

…

She’s down this way? Thank you, thank you so much.

@randomgothamgirl

Jade! You’re safe! Hi dear. 🙂

@broken-winged-jaybird

And you must be Jason, Jade has mentioned you. …I wonder why she gave me Timothy’s number if you’re her favorite?

Jade grinned, moving to prop herself up on some pillows as Lenna came in, which Jason hesitantly helped with.

"Len! Y' made it!"

She hummed a little and winced at the question, shooting Jason a look. Jason himself just looked a little baffled.

"Uh, well Jay's been outta the city for a while so I figured it'd make more sense t'give the number of a brother tha' was here."

Of course! But did it have to be the one who’s a ceo? /hj

Jason looked like he was trying not to laugh now. Jade groaned.

"I got two other brothers, one's nine an' the other lives in Blud. Sorry Len."

it’s ok J, I’m just glad I was already in a cold sweat from your situation or I’d’ve broken out into one from the thought of calling the man I want to work under soon, Jade. I don’t even know how you ended up in that place with.. are those slashing wounds in your gut?! And I do not want to know. Please don’t end up like that again.

Jade made a face. Jason shot her a look.

"Don' think I will, I'll try not to anyway."

Jason muttered something about how he was never leaving Gotham again.

Jason raised one eyebrow at her, trying for a look of mild curiosity.

"So... you were just calling and the signal miraculously connected while she was in trouble?"

well… yea? I guess that’s what happened. I was calling from my new apartment hoping for her to put me in touch with people willing to move furniture and boxes for the price of pizza and drinks. Only, instead I got static and pained wheezing. I suppose you could say the timing was a bit providential, and that the connection went through at all twas a bit miraculous.

He shot a look at Jade and shrugged.

"Weirder stuff has happened. I'm glad you were there when you were."

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

Aster's skin started to prickle. A familiar sensation washed over her, the one of being watched. A common feeling in Gotham, to be sure. Her eyes flicked open and glanced around, eventually landing on Jason.

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, narrowing her eyes. Shifting her weight slightly, Aster questioned, “...What? Something interesting?”

Well, this should teach him not to stare, he guessed.

"Just heard you talking."

He shrugged, and there was a pause. It was getting uncomfortable to keep staring so he settled on watching the somewhat cloudy sky instead.

"A lot of us don't wanna be here."

He thought for a few seconds before continuing.

"How'd you get stuck here?"

Of course, she sighed. There are ears just about everywhere in Gotham. Can never be too careful.

Aster rocked back on her heels, glancing upwards as if mulling over her response. Finally, she settled on an answer, and let out a breath.

“...I'm a student here,” she explained, nodding towards Gotham U. “I shouldn't still be. I wasn't supposed to be. But Gotham did what Gotham does.”

Aster fell silent for a moment, as though caught in a memory. She wasn't going to unleash an entire sob story on some random stranger, no, of course not, but the question required an answer.

“...Last year, after I got my degree in archaeology, I was supposed to start working at a dig site over in Greece. That was just before one of Scarecrow's... Escapades.” Aster clenched her teeth for a moment, before squaring her jaw.

“...I shouldn't have been there, but I got injured and recovery held me back for a while. I'm still not a hundred percent. To pass the time I've just... Kept studying.” Her eyes fell onto another unfortunate rock, which was promptly kicked out of the way. The leg she used to do so, however, was clearly... A bit awkward, compared to the right side.

Jason clicked his tongue and hummed in sympathy. Oof.

"Yeah. Lot of stories like that here. The rogues hurt a lot of people."

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall behind him.

"You from here all your life, or...?"

“...Nah,” Aster responded, stretching her arms out to rest behind her head. Her sleeves shifted with the motion, revealing a glimpse of runelike drawings on her skin.

“Metropolis. ...Weird that I moved here of all places, I know, but I got tired of patching laser holes in my walls...and the Narrows are much cheaper. Transfer sucked but it's fine, I guess.”

He snorted softly, raising one eyebrow.

"Whoa. No wonder you hate it here if you came from sunshine city."

He blinked at the strange drawings, interest piqued, filing away the mental image to analyze later.

"What're those from?"

Damn it.

Aster glanced at her arms and eventually dropped them back to her sides, thumbs stowed away in her pockets. She narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow.

“...I'd say they're just tattoo concepts, but I get the feeling you're good at spotting lies. So...” She paused, as if debating how much to share.

Her eyes drifted down and to the side, out of... Embarrassment? Shame?

“They're just... Drawings. Notes, I guess. ...In a way. I misplace my journal a lot, so if I find an important symbol or rune while studying I just make note of it on myself.”

He nodded in understanding and offered a smile. Also, interesting. This girl could read people well somehow, if she figured right off the bat he was good at sniffing out bullcrap.

"Kinda like writing something on the back of your hand? I do things like that."

She tilted her head in place of a nod.

“...Yeah. Sort of.”

Though typically, notes on the back of one's hand aren't symbols of ancient magic. Regardless, she turned her attention back to the stranger in front of her. Aster flicked her eyes over him, almost suspicious in her curiosity, before she finally settled on his eyes.

“...So,” she drawled, “what's your story? You carry yourself a bit differently than most.” Even while “relaxed” he seemed on guard, almost as if he was taking mental notes on her, just as she was on him.

He shrugged, glancing back at the cloudy sky.

"Born and raised here. Mom was an addict, whole street kid sob story. Learned to tough things out. Have a better family now."

He whistled and laughed softly, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.

"Don't actually go to school here, there's just a nice taco stand down that street that I frequent."

She let out a hum of acknowledgement, and perhaps some sort of understanding. “Mm. Yeah, you seem like a true Gothamite. Glad you've got something goin' for ya, though. Family–” She paused as something unreadable crossed her features. “...Family's a, good thing to have.”

Aster let out a chuckle, and grinned at nothing in particular. “And I figured as much. You don't seem like the college type.” She raised an eyebrow. “Not to mention, my roommate did say those tacos are pretty great... I'd assume they pair well with sob stories of various sorts.”

He nodded lightly and stretched lazily, pushing off the wall he was leaning against.

"Yeah. I should probably be going, my little brother wanted me to pick him up."

He paused, glancing back at her.

"What's your name again?"

Ok! So, Leslie’s clinic … where is that?

well, I do know how to find out, to the library and Ms. Barbara!

… ok so her main one is in such and such neighborhood, her other one is in Crime Alley. … I’ll go to her main one first as that’s the one she’s supposed to be at today.

Hi, Dr. Leslie? I’m Lenna Sandlin here to visit a patient? Her name is Jade..Wayne.

…

She’s down this way? Thank you, thank you so much.

@randomgothamgirl

Jade! You’re safe! Hi dear. 🙂

@broken-winged-jaybird

And you must be Jason, Jade has mentioned you. …I wonder why she gave me Timothy’s number if you’re her favorite?

Jade grinned, moving to prop herself up on some pillows as Lenna came in, which Jason hesitantly helped with.

"Len! Y' made it!"

She hummed a little and winced at the question, shooting Jason a look. Jason himself just looked a little baffled.

"Uh, well Jay's been outta the city for a while so I figured it'd make more sense t'give the number of a brother tha' was here."

Of course! But did it have to be the one who’s a ceo? /hj

Jason looked like he was trying not to laugh now. Jade groaned.

"I got two other brothers, one's nine an' the other lives in Blud. Sorry Len."

it’s ok J, I’m just glad I was already in a cold sweat from your situation or I’d’ve broken out into one from the thought of calling the man I want to work under soon, Jade. I don’t even know how you ended up in that place with.. are those slashing wounds in your gut?! And I do not want to know. Please don’t end up like that again.

Jade made a face. Jason shot her a look.

"Don' think I will, I'll try not to anyway."

Jason muttered something about how he was never leaving Gotham again.

Jason raised one eyebrow at her, trying for a look of mild curiosity.

"So... you were just calling and the signal miraculously connected while she was in trouble?"

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

Aster's skin started to prickle. A familiar sensation washed over her, the one of being watched. A common feeling in Gotham, to be sure. Her eyes flicked open and glanced around, eventually landing on Jason.

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, narrowing her eyes. Shifting her weight slightly, Aster questioned, “...What? Something interesting?”

Well, this should teach him not to stare, he guessed.

"Just heard you talking."

He shrugged, and there was a pause. It was getting uncomfortable to keep staring so he settled on watching the somewhat cloudy sky instead.

"A lot of us don't wanna be here."

He thought for a few seconds before continuing.

"How'd you get stuck here?"

Of course, she sighed. There are ears just about everywhere in Gotham. Can never be too careful.

Aster rocked back on her heels, glancing upwards as if mulling over her response. Finally, she settled on an answer, and let out a breath.

“...I'm a student here,” she explained, nodding towards Gotham U. “I shouldn't still be. I wasn't supposed to be. But Gotham did what Gotham does.”

Aster fell silent for a moment, as though caught in a memory. She wasn't going to unleash an entire sob story on some random stranger, no, of course not, but the question required an answer.

“...Last year, after I got my degree in archaeology, I was supposed to start working at a dig site over in Greece. That was just before one of Scarecrow's... Escapades.” Aster clenched her teeth for a moment, before squaring her jaw.

“...I shouldn't have been there, but I got injured and recovery held me back for a while. I'm still not a hundred percent. To pass the time I've just... Kept studying.” Her eyes fell onto another unfortunate rock, which was promptly kicked out of the way. The leg she used to do so, however, was clearly... A bit awkward, compared to the right side.

Jason clicked his tongue and hummed in sympathy. Oof.

"Yeah. Lot of stories like that here. The rogues hurt a lot of people."

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall behind him.

"You from here all your life, or...?"

“...Nah,” Aster responded, stretching her arms out to rest behind her head. Her sleeves shifted with the motion, revealing a glimpse of runelike drawings on her skin.

“Metropolis. ...Weird that I moved here of all places, I know, but I got tired of patching laser holes in my walls...and the Narrows are much cheaper. Transfer sucked but it's fine, I guess.”

He snorted softly, raising one eyebrow.

"Whoa. No wonder you hate it here if you came from sunshine city."

He blinked at the strange drawings, interest piqued, filing away the mental image to analyze later.

"What're those from?"

Damn it.

Aster glanced at her arms and eventually dropped them back to her sides, thumbs stowed away in her pockets. She narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow.

“...I'd say they're just tattoo concepts, but I get the feeling you're good at spotting lies. So...” She paused, as if debating how much to share.

Her eyes drifted down and to the side, out of... Embarrassment? Shame?

“They're just... Drawings. Notes, I guess. ...In a way. I misplace my journal a lot, so if I find an important symbol or rune while studying I just make note of it on myself.”

He nodded in understanding and offered a smile. Also, interesting. This girl could read people well somehow, if she figured right off the bat he was good at sniffing out bullcrap.

"Kinda like writing something on the back of your hand? I do things like that."

She tilted her head in place of a nod.

“...Yeah. Sort of.”

Though typically, notes on the back of one's hand aren't symbols of ancient magic. Regardless, she turned her attention back to the stranger in front of her. Aster flicked her eyes over him, almost suspicious in her curiosity, before she finally settled on his eyes.

“...So,” she drawled, “what's your story? You carry yourself a bit differently than most.” Even while “relaxed” he seemed on guard, almost as if he was taking mental notes on her, just as she was on him.

He shrugged, glancing back at the cloudy sky.

"Born and raised here. Mom was an addict, whole street kid sob story. Learned to tough things out. Have a better family now."

He whistled and laughed softly, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.

"Don't actually go to school here, there's just a nice taco stand down that street that I frequent."

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

Aster's skin started to prickle. A familiar sensation washed over her, the one of being watched. A common feeling in Gotham, to be sure. Her eyes flicked open and glanced around, eventually landing on Jason.

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, narrowing her eyes. Shifting her weight slightly, Aster questioned, “...What? Something interesting?”

Well, this should teach him not to stare, he guessed.

"Just heard you talking."

He shrugged, and there was a pause. It was getting uncomfortable to keep staring so he settled on watching the somewhat cloudy sky instead.

"A lot of us don't wanna be here."

He thought for a few seconds before continuing.

"How'd you get stuck here?"

Of course, she sighed. There are ears just about everywhere in Gotham. Can never be too careful.

Aster rocked back on her heels, glancing upwards as if mulling over her response. Finally, she settled on an answer, and let out a breath.

“...I'm a student here,” she explained, nodding towards Gotham U. “I shouldn't still be. I wasn't supposed to be. But Gotham did what Gotham does.”

Aster fell silent for a moment, as though caught in a memory. She wasn't going to unleash an entire sob story on some random stranger, no, of course not, but the question required an answer.

“...Last year, after I got my degree in archaeology, I was supposed to start working at a dig site over in Greece. That was just before one of Scarecrow's... Escapades.” Aster clenched her teeth for a moment, before squaring her jaw.

“...I shouldn't have been there, but I got injured and recovery held me back for a while. I'm still not a hundred percent. To pass the time I've just... Kept studying.” Her eyes fell onto another unfortunate rock, which was promptly kicked out of the way. The leg she used to do so, however, was clearly... A bit awkward, compared to the right side.

Jason clicked his tongue and hummed in sympathy. Oof.

"Yeah. Lot of stories like that here. The rogues hurt a lot of people."

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall behind him.

"You from here all your life, or...?"

“...Nah,” Aster responded, stretching her arms out to rest behind her head. Her sleeves shifted with the motion, revealing a glimpse of runelike drawings on her skin.

“Metropolis. ...Weird that I moved here of all places, I know, but I got tired of patching laser holes in my walls...and the Narrows are much cheaper. Transfer sucked but it's fine, I guess.”

He snorted softly, raising one eyebrow.

"Whoa. No wonder you hate it here if you came from sunshine city."

He blinked at the strange drawings, interest piqued, filing away the mental image to analyze later.

"What're those from?"

Damn it.

Aster glanced at her arms and eventually dropped them back to her sides, thumbs stowed away in her pockets. She narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brow.

“...I'd say they're just tattoo concepts, but I get the feeling you're good at spotting lies. So...” She paused, as if debating how much to share.

Her eyes drifted down and to the side, out of... Embarrassment? Shame?

“They're just... Drawings. Notes, I guess. ...In a way. I misplace my journal a lot, so if I find an important symbol or rune while studying I just make note of it on myself.”

He nodded in understanding and offered a smile. Also, interesting. This girl could read people well somehow, if she figured right off the bat he was good at sniffing out bullcrap.

"Kinda like writing something on the back of your hand? I do things like that."

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

Aster's skin started to prickle. A familiar sensation washed over her, the one of being watched. A common feeling in Gotham, to be sure. Her eyes flicked open and glanced around, eventually landing on Jason.

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, narrowing her eyes. Shifting her weight slightly, Aster questioned, “...What? Something interesting?”

Well, this should teach him not to stare, he guessed.

"Just heard you talking."

He shrugged, and there was a pause. It was getting uncomfortable to keep staring so he settled on watching the somewhat cloudy sky instead.

"A lot of us don't wanna be here."

He thought for a few seconds before continuing.

"How'd you get stuck here?"

Of course, she sighed. There are ears just about everywhere in Gotham. Can never be too careful.

Aster rocked back on her heels, glancing upwards as if mulling over her response. Finally, she settled on an answer, and let out a breath.

“...I'm a student here,” she explained, nodding towards Gotham U. “I shouldn't still be. I wasn't supposed to be. But Gotham did what Gotham does.”

Aster fell silent for a moment, as though caught in a memory. She wasn't going to unleash an entire sob story on some random stranger, no, of course not, but the question required an answer.

“...Last year, after I got my degree in archaeology, I was supposed to start working at a dig site over in Greece. That was just before one of Scarecrow's... Escapades.” Aster clenched her teeth for a moment, before squaring her jaw.

“...I shouldn't have been there, but I got injured and recovery held me back for a while. I'm still not a hundred percent. To pass the time I've just... Kept studying.” Her eyes fell onto another unfortunate rock, which was promptly kicked out of the way. The leg she used to do so, however, was clearly... A bit awkward, compared to the right side.

Jason clicked his tongue and hummed in sympathy. Oof.

"Yeah. Lot of stories like that here. The rogues hurt a lot of people."

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall behind him.

"You from here all your life, or...?"

“...Nah,” Aster responded, stretching her arms out to rest behind her head. Her sleeves shifted with the motion, revealing a glimpse of runelike drawings on her skin.

“Metropolis. ...Weird that I moved here of all places, I know, but I got tired of patching laser holes in my walls...and the Narrows are much cheaper. Transfer sucked but it's fine, I guess.”

He snorted softly, raising one eyebrow.

"Whoa. No wonder you hate it here if you came from sunshine city."

He blinked at the strange drawings, interest piqued, filing away the mental image to analyze later.

"What're those from?"

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

Aster's skin started to prickle. A familiar sensation washed over her, the one of being watched. A common feeling in Gotham, to be sure. Her eyes flicked open and glanced around, eventually landing on Jason.

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, narrowing her eyes. Shifting her weight slightly, Aster questioned, “...What? Something interesting?”

Well, this should teach him not to stare, he guessed.

"Just heard you talking."

He shrugged, and there was a pause. It was getting uncomfortable to keep staring so he settled on watching the somewhat cloudy sky instead.

"A lot of us don't wanna be here."

He thought for a few seconds before continuing.

"How'd you get stuck here?"

Of course, she sighed. There are ears just about everywhere in Gotham. Can never be too careful.

Aster rocked back on her heels, glancing upwards as if mulling over her response. Finally, she settled on an answer, and let out a breath.

“...I'm a student here,” she explained, nodding towards Gotham U. “I shouldn't still be. I wasn't supposed to be. But Gotham did what Gotham does.”

Aster fell silent for a moment, as though caught in a memory. She wasn't going to unleash an entire sob story on some random stranger, no, of course not, but the question required an answer.

“...Last year, after I got my degree in archaeology, I was supposed to start working at a dig site over in Greece. That was just before one of Scarecrow's... Escapades.” Aster clenched her teeth for a moment, before squaring her jaw.

“...I shouldn't have been there, but I got injured and recovery held me back for a while. I'm still not a hundred percent. To pass the time I've just... Kept studying.” Her eyes fell onto another unfortunate rock, which was promptly kicked out of the way. The leg she used to do so, however, was clearly... A bit awkward, compared to the right side.

ask-the-fishdick-deactivated201

Jason clicked his tongue and hummed in sympathy. Oof.

"Yeah. Lot of stories like that here. The rogues hurt a lot of people."

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall behind him.

"You from here all your life, or...?"

REBLOG IF IT IS OKAY TO COME INTO YOUR INBOX AND SAY THE RANDOMEST SHIT I CAN THINK OF BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO INTERACT WITH YOU.

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

Aster's skin started to prickle. A familiar sensation washed over her, the one of being watched. A common feeling in Gotham, to be sure. Her eyes flicked open and glanced around, eventually landing on Jason.

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, narrowing her eyes. Shifting her weight slightly, Aster questioned, “...What? Something interesting?”

Well, this should teach him not to stare, he guessed.

"Just heard you talking."

He shrugged, and there was a pause. It was getting uncomfortable to keep staring so he settled on watching the somewhat cloudy sky instead.

"A lot of us don't wanna be here."

He thought for a few seconds before continuing.

"How'd you get stuck here?"

//RP Blog Official Starter\\

A lone girl, age nineteen, walks her way to Gotham U. Her head is down, her shoulders squared, and her hands in her pockets as an aura of defeat seeps out of her like blood in water.

The girl–Aster Voss–sighs heavily, visibly sagging alongside it. “It wasn't supposed to be like this,” she mutters, kicking a rock out of her way. “If it wasn't for that stupid accident, I'd be doing field research by now... Instead of being stuck here.” Aster pauses, taking a deep breath. She lets her eyes flutter closed, and turns towards the cloud-covered sky. “...In Gotham.”

Jason wasn't sure what he was doing here exactly. Okay he knew exactly why, the taco stand a block down was great, sue him okay- he just wasn't sure why he was standing outside Gotham uni right now. Guess there were benches and interesting people to watch, but not much else.

He blinked a little when he heard Aster talking. Okay, well now he was curious and he felt a little bad for that because this was most definitely not his business. But he did look over, just to see who was talking. Hoped she wouldn't think he was staring.

The itching was the worst part.

Of all the freaking things that Jade was feeling right now, somehow the itching was the worst. Pain? She had a tolerance and a million techniques to block it out, not a problem (she thought like a liar, because this was most definitely a problem). Cold? That helped more than anything, helped the bleeding stab wounds in her sides stop their flow and grow numb. Exhaustion? That was just a routine feeling, not even anything new.

Itching really really sucked though.

Even the itching had it's purpose though, something for her mind to latch onto instead of drifting, a sense she could stand to feel, something that didn't let her focus on memories.

Memories...

"Ma? Momma, he's laughin'. Ma we need t'run, now."

"'m sorry sweet gem, y'know I'd carry y' outta here if I- If-"

"I need to stay with her. Run."

"No."

"Ja-"

"No."

"Gem, this isn' up for debate. When the door opens we're throwin' you out, an' you're runnin'. Y' run, straight to Pam's, an' hide there. If we live you'll find us."

"Y' think y're gonna live? With him?"

"No. Tha's why this isn' up for debate."

"Cathy. He's right outside the door."

"You'll run?"

"Ma!"

"You'll run."

"I won'-"

"Joe, throw her."

"Ma- Dad-!"

"We're sorry Love Bug."

"MA!"

Jade blinked. Huh, the ceiling looked strangely blurry. Her face felt wet too.

Little reaching fingers of sickly yellow-green reached after her, wanting to fill her and choak her like they'd taken her parent's right to breathe.

She blinked again. Now she wondered why.

Why'd I run?

Ever since then she'd run, her first defense, her last line of fire, the first thing before fists. Runner. Coward. She was good at it.

Can't run with locked doors an' sprained ankles.

She hummed softly in the darkness to give her mind a new thing to latch onto, since the itching was clearly flopping. A tune. Something from Return of the King, her favorite movie ever since Jason showed it to her. She remembered another voice humming that tune.

She latched onto him with her arms around his waist and felt that now it was relief and tears and something else she couldn't name that wouldn't let her breathe, holding him tight and feeling him hold her back and she heard him start to hum that tune from lord of the rings that they both loved but he taught her.

The ceiling looked blurry again. Her chest heaved but abandoned the hiccup in favor of calming the spark of white pain it caused.

Jay. Jay, 're y' comin'? I need y' t'find me again.

Now her eyes squeezed shut. Well, they always said she was like him, so so like her brother in so many ways broken and beautiful and strange and wonderful. Maybe she'd die the same way. Maybe she'd return.

Arkham.

This place was taking a couple bombs later. Fricking blood-soaked prison. His sister's prison. Something like Hatred curled in his gut. Hatred like lava melting his insides.

Tim's voice echoed from where he was running a little ahead.

"Two abandoned wings. You go left, I'll go right. Find her faster."

It sounded like panic and fear that was trying to make things practical enough to fit in a box. Like Jason's own voice when he responded.

"Two minute check-ins with O, remember? One missing is bad enough."

Tim gave a grim smile, reaching up to tap his comm as he stepped over a piece of debris without even breaking pace.

"Right. Oracle? We're at Arkham's abandoned wings, splitting up to search."

"Copy that. In and out, no detours, and don't be stupid. We're not here to kill the joker."

Tim was saying something else but Jason tuned it out. He was tired of waiting. Tired of letting the dragon of hatred curl in his gut. So he turned off the main hall, into the left abandoned wing.

After twenty minutes of half-frantic searching, he was going to have a couple words with someone about the size of this place. probably less than savory ones in multiple languages. That's when he heard the song.

Jade stoped humming and tried to lift her head a little. There were footsteps, really really quiet, someone who wasn't trying to be found but who was also emotionally compromised enough to rush it at the cost of total silence. Still someone good, who knew how to be quiet.

She frowned. Not joker. Joker wouldn't be trying to hide. Maybe a goon? Maybe-

Nope, that kind of hope hurt way too much. She kept her mouth shut and tried to make herself small.

Footsteps echoed loudly, heedless now of being found out, just desparate to find a little girl with midnight eyes. Loud curses in what was probably french followed when the song stopped.

"Jade? Songbird, please, can you hear me?"

Memories echoed in his mind. Late. Late late late. Maybe he was late, maybe the song was a taunting bit of hope on a string left to lure him in. Maybe he was just seconds too late just like- just like-

Screaming pain, sparks of red, fire swallowing him whole and his father was right outside the warehouse, right there, a few feet away and then further away from him than any bridge could ever cover in an instant of consuming red.

He couldn't be late.

There was something poetic, about the voice calling out to her being the same voice she remembered humming the tune she'd sung for him to find her. Her vision got really blurry for some stupid reason.

"'ere, Jaybird."

Her tone aimed for snarky and came out shaky and tired and wrong. She wondered wearily why he'd come, if he was cursed in this endless loop of finding her over and over and over again.

She'd wait to ask why he'd bothered to come again later.

Maybe he'd heard her calling.

GOD.

The panic in his heart flared at least three times more than it had already been. He knew Jade. Jade was strong and stubborn and wonderful to the last, and she'd looked him in the face that night when she thought he was there to kill her and she'd still spoken strong. To hear her voice broken and tired felt like taking the sharp, broken pieces and stabbing them into him.

Thirty seconds, the door's lock was picked.

Even less, he was across the room and wrapping her in the warmest hug he could muster while still being careful of her wounds. The blood soaked his clothes. He didn't care.

She coughed once and tried to freeze her heaving lungs at the pain that shot through her. There were two perfectly symmetrical gashes running down the sides of her stomach, both bleeding lazily, and a deep stab wound in her shoulder. There was blood on her face too, probably a deep cut below her left eye.

"Why'd y' come?"

Her voice was weak and her vision was tilting. Midnight black eyes opened blearily to stare at him.

Brother found her again. Was he just cursed to keep finding her? Why would he keep coming?

He laughed, soft and low and shaky. Of course. Of course she thought that. So alike to him and a strange opposite, because when he'd had undying faith that someone was coming no one got there in time, and when she doubted the worth of her life was when someone came for her.

"You don't get to die yet, Songbird."

He carefully let her down a little, enough to scoop her up in a bridal carry.

"Don't doubt that I'm coming next time, ya? Don't care if it's your mess or someone else's."

She let out a soft humming sound and closed her eyes. Hm. Okay, maybe next time she wouldn't doubt. She knew, Jason didn't make promises lightly, or break them ever. It was what taught her to trust promises again.

"'kay."

Her face scrunched up a bit in a childish pouty expression.

"Can we go..."

Another soft, broken laugh. Oh that expression looked strange on her. Bird with broken wings... Though maybe his little sister's burgeoning wings still had a chance to heal.

"Ya. We're going."

He slowly rose to his feet, still holding her loosely to his chest so the wounds wouldn't bleed anymore, and made for the door.

A sleepy hum escaped her lips and her face relaxed into a childish contented smile.

She was okay. She would live. Brother found her, found her and told her he would. Told her without words, silent promise. I love you, he said in the upturn of his lips, the tilt of his head. I will find you, over and over and over again.

I love you too, she returned in the closing of her eyes and the childish smile on her lips. I know you'll find me.