awashlogs | Event Seven.

Entry tags:

Event Seven.

The lives of men, the lives of men
With every sheaf are bound!
We are the blessing which annuls
The curse upon the ground!
And he who reaps the Golden Grain
The Golden Love hath found.

he setting is actually rather miraculous. In the center of the Town, not far from the well, there are tables set up, complete with bright orange tableclothes, and at the tables, there is a spot for each and every character, both new and old. They have a fancy placeholder with their names written at their spot, and at each spot is a meal they've been craving since they arrived. It's colorful, and delicious, and can be as fancy and spectacular as they desire.

Of course, as nice as that is... maybe they should go save the people in the well first? There's definitely some yelling going on down there. Seems like there are some new friends, and the Town's welcoming everyone in style this time!

Enjoy the feast; you made it through the Town's tests and are still here!

Welcome to Awash's seventh event log/first intro log hybrid, everyone! If there are any questions, please ask them here, and don't forget to welcome all of the new players here! Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's been a lot of deceiving on the town's part. It takes a moment or two of focusing for Damian to realize Jon isn't an illusion. And that Jon--wow--isn't going to turn into a bucket of innards or be decapitated* no thanks to "magic."

*See: Damian Does a Bad with Portals feat. the Waynes and Elizabeth issue]

...Jon?

[His eyes fall to the offered sandwich before lifting again. At first, his face--bare face, he hasn't been Robin for a while--breaks into something surprisingly soft and relieved. And then, suddenly, it crumples, and he looks decidedly peeved and frustrated.] What are you doing here?!

If you're here, who's back home making sure everything isn't turning into a disaster?!

( he's met up with his father, already. saw the look on clark's face, heard him talk about how not-safe this place is, how he doesn't wish lois was here, that there's magic all around and considering the kind of stuff that can hurt them--

understanding clark's reaction wasn't hard. and now he gets the damian over robin bit, too. but jon is lacking the black-framed glasses, is wearing his bright red sneakers and the house of el sigil on his chest. and jon definitely doesn't moss that moment of relief, thanks. )

Uh. ( shoot if damian's not in costume and he is what does he call everyone else. why hasn't anyone explained these rules to him? how does this work. ) Wonder Woman? The Flash?

( they're not here right? he hasn't seen or heard about them. )

It's not like I meant to end up here.

[Great. Jon had the same issue he did when arriving. Being spit out of the dimensional well in uniform, only to frustratingly be linked to a hex code on the forum. He had to get rid of the Robin identity fast. Bruce wasn't here as Batman at all.

Quickly, he grabs Jon's sandwich wrist and holds it in place. His voice is a hissing whisper when he gets in closer.] Father is here. Yours, too. And Kyle. [He hasn't met the new, other Supes addition to their gang yet. There's a lot to catch Jon up on!! Speaking of:]

Have you already--? [GOD. It's all over Jon's mouth. He grits his teeth.] You idiot. Don't eat that. [It's too late. Doomed.]

This is a trap. It's a banquet. Fairies. You just signed your enslavement contract.

( it is all over his mouth. the delicious, peanutbuttery goodness slathered in strawberry jam, paired off with white bread. .

but then damian tells him not to eat it, says it's a trap and he's dropping the sandwich and all it's deliciousness right onto the ground, emptying the other half out of his hand and onto the table, too, before raising that wrist to wipe off his mouth against the back of a sleeve. )

I didn't know! I thought they were just being nice! ( not that he knew it was fairies either. ) How do I unsign it?!

[Honestly, Damian doesn't know for certain it's fairies. This is just a very educated guess based on what he's discerned about the place. Fairy tails? Folktales? Tests and lessons?

With food turning to ash in their mouths because there's no color, he can't imagine why they would be rewarded so suddenly and without reason. He's... a Wayne. There's always conditions for niceness?] You can't unsign it once it's done.

Being released depends on the legend, the fairies. [Now that the sandwich has been dropped, he releases Jon's wrist.] Sometimes, you're stuck in the feywilds under their control. There's a price to come back. Other times, they'll have a hold over you, and they'll be able to find you anywhere. Knowing this place? It could be anything.

You haven't vanished yet. That's a start.

( he hasn't seen any of that yet. just the well, his dad, the nicely labeled table places with food left on top of them that looked innocent enough, but apparently isn't. damian's not eating anything as far as he can tell, probably wouldn't lie to him about sandwiches. that's unneeded.

while jon doesn't stop to see every worst-case scenario, he can appreciate damian's ability to.

even if it means he can't eat his sandwiches anymore. why is this his life. )

What am I supposed to do if I do vanish into the feywilds?

( please impart your knowledge onto him in case he gets whisked off into the wild and doesn't know how to get back damian. )

[Thoughtfully, Damian glances around at the rest of the table, at everyone else. His voice is still a whisper because he wants Jon to be Superboy when the suit is on and Jon when it's off. Even here.] Don't panic like an idiot, is the first thing.

Look at your surroundings. We named this place Chroma. [Well, Damian wasn't here yet for it to be a "we," but listen.] If anyone else from here is with you, stick together.

Don't eat or drink anything there. Don't give them your name, neither names. Most fairy lore goes by three rules: one, [He holds up his fingers in unison with the list.] they can't knowingly lie--but they can still trick you; two, they can't break any oaths they make with you; and three, they can't harm you unless certain conditions are met, like a slight to them.

If they offer you a game for your freedom, make sure you know all the rules, or hold them accountable to their bargain. They have to say exactly what you want them to do and agree to it. No exceptions.

[He sighs, and then he frowns. This may all be for nothing, hell. It could just be congratulatory food. His face softens only slightly.]

I'll get you out.

( part of him kind of wants to open his mouth and ask damian why he knows so much about fairy lore but he figures he'll get a nice, long answer about having a degree in blah blah field and having known more about blah blah thing since before jon was blah blah blah and those details don't matter that much, it's better just to not ask, probably.

damian might mess with him but never in a life or death kind of scenario. jon trusts him. and does take a moment to look around when damian tells him to, eyeing every individual nearby, taking a moment or two to try and memorize their faces, just in case. )

Right, got it.

( you bet he'll remember those rules. remember details. )

I know, I trust you. ( with his voice lowering a little: ) Partners, right?

( nts: find a place to store his hoodie and find new glasses, since he didn't come here with his pair. )

[Watch nothing happen. He'll be a fool. It's fine. He's always a fool!! He's too serious. He will have ruined Jon's only chance at good PB&J for a while.

Feels bad man.] Iron. Don't forget. It's their weakness. If you can even find any. [But maybe being shot with an x-ray eye beam is just as good because, honestly? Yeah.]

Partners. [He's smiled less and only laughed once or twice here, but this draws a bit of a pleased grin to the edges of his mouth. He lifts his right hand. Dextera reminded him about this:

He curls his fingers together and extends a pinky. Promise. Pinky promise.]

Don't be an idiot. If anything does happen, you'll probably just come back here anyway. This place doesn't want us to go back home.

( look it's fine! he'll get over the lack of pb&j eventually. they'll figure something else out. with all their powers combined he's sure the bats+supers gang will get out of here in n time--or at least figure out a good way to get sandwich supplies. whichever!

a right hand is held out, and jon returns it with his left. intertwines their pinky fingers. a promise between partners. )

I won't. ( jon doesn't think he's ever acted idiotic. he's sure bringing that up would just garner arguments. ) And I won't leave you behind here either--even if I do get whisked off to a faerie land with an offer of some way to get back. Promise.

( though the pinky promise itself also reminds him-- )

Do you know sign language?

[Jon is always an idiot to Damian. But Jon is his idiot? Only he gets to call Jon an idiot. He'll rip the face off anyone else who does.] Yeah, okay. Spare me the good hero crap.

[Don't make him regret the pinky promise.

For a moment, his brows come together as if to ask, "Why?" Then he begins a short but convoluted mess of signing that's decently fast and "fluent." He smirks afterward.]

Yeah. Why?

( you got it, good sir. no more hero talk, or else he'll embarrass damian. or go on and on about how friends never leave friends behind, damian doesn't want to hear that. but he knows the intent behind their pinky promise, that's all that matters. )

Can you teach me? I met a guy who doesn't seem to talk much. He tried signing at me but I only got a little of it.

( it's very important to be able to communicate with one's peers. )

I haven't gotten whisked away to faerie lands yet so that's a good sign.

[Geez. Jon is just going to steal all his "friends" at this rate.]

I guess I can. [Like it's so Troubling. But it'll give him something to do besides plot and brood and worry.] His name is Dextera. He stays in Bluo with his chickens.

[Talking about mundane things is good. Damian's face stays more harshly pinched than usually, and that's probably because he's trying his damnest not to look relieved or happy. It's been a couple of months; he hadn't realized he missed Jon until Jon wasn't around.

It had been less we-should-be-here-holding-hands-nonstop and more... There had been things to happen, things he learned, things he saw which reminded him of Jon, and then Jon wasn't there to tell. He has so much to tell.]

I'll be the judge of whether or not you warrant condescension when we figure out if you're going to vanish into the feywilds. [Pls don't.] I need to show you my boathouse first. It's in Bluo at the harbor.

Don't go in the water. It's dangerous. Has anyone told you anything about this place yet?

( it's not his fault he's a little more sociable than damian, is it. he's just making friends! getting a good feel of the area around him, figuring out who's here, what people do here, language barriers, knowledge barriers. . the extra information is nice, too. a name and--chickens. yeah, makes sense. jon is also fond of chickens, they're nice.

but he beams a smile towards damian regardless. that pinched expression doesn't hinder jon any. )

Thanks! I promise I won't be difficult over it.

( being taught, at least. no guarantees for anything else. )

I. . haven't heard a lot about this place yet, no. ( but he. also realizes he's in uniform and damian isn't. the mixmatched identities aren't going to be easy to explain if he does strip down to civvies later and starts hanging around damian just as much. )

How far away is your boathouse? I can give you a lift.

[Yeah, welcome to his Struggle when he first arrived too, only to find out Bruce was here without the suit. It's why he peeled out of it like a cicada as fast as he could. Secret hero identity intecredity and all that.]

The town isn't very big. [Not compared to Metropolis or Gotham?] We can walk.

[His eyes lower to the place in front of Jon on the table.]

Take that too. You've already eaten some of it. Just eat the rest so you don't starve to death. It'll be the last time you get something as good until we can find a way to grow the ingredients and get color for them.

( it's a little easier to be superboy than it is to be jonathan kent. jon is always being cautious not to push too far, kick the ball too hard, careful to mimic what's considered human while maintaining an air of clumsiness only a human child should have. he doesn't have to worry about that too much in this hoodie. no one would think twice about how hard superboy throws something as long as he's not throwing it at anyone or anything it'd hurt.

but he gets the need to stay dressed down, too. the starving to death comment warrants a concerned look thrown damian's way, but jon does reach back to grab onto the plate, murmuring a soft "i'll bring this back when i'm done sorry" as if the table cares where the plate itself goes. )

I'm ready to go when you are.

( but also-- )

Do you want some, too? Or are you trying to avoid faeries.

I'm trying to avoid inevitable disaster. [Maybe the people who don't eat it get tossed around like garbage. Thanks, town.

He considers for a moment the food left for him. A deliciousness only Alfred Pennyworth could craft. He couldn't even eat it, fearing too much it was dangerous.] Call it an experiment.

I'm the control, and you're the variable. We'll see what the results are, if any.

( right, okay. whatever, that makes sense and he's not going to argue against damian anyway. starting petty fights over food is stupid and isn't going to get either of them any brownie points. )

Okay. ( food plate in hand and the other reaching for yet another sandwich-- ) Which way are we going?

[The only thing he worries about is Jon being whisked away and him being left behind. Kind of like the trial they had with the birds. They were all separated.]

This way. [GOD. He can't even scold Jon about being a glutton when, it's true, Jon should enjoy it while it lasts. So he kind of just looks exasperated while he waits for Jon to get it and follow.] I'll show you a map when we get there.

[With a quick glance at the other people present, he turns to lead.]

Who else have you spoken to besides Dextera?

Uh, a lot of people. Zelda, Kaoru, Roxas, Ruva. .

( while following right next to damian, just a step to the right. look he's socializing. making friends. although that does bring up another problem especially considering he doesn't have anything else to put on-- )

I told them I'm Superboy.

[Going out of the center of town isn't much different than the usual Robin-Superboy (he's older) flee. Damian makes sure they aren't being followed or, mostly, watched, but continues a steady pace so Jon will keep up or risk losing him to distance. He doesn't want Jon looking around, or they'll be suspicious ne'er-do-well delinquents.

With Damian, they're all of that anyway.]

It's fine. [Amazingly, Damian gives Jon a dismissive handwave.] You're just going to have to play dumb later when you're not in the uniform. The hardest part is going to be-- [Oh right.

Suddenly, he stops then waits for Jon to stop too.] Be still. Close your eyes. [They're going to have to find Jon's laptop first before going to the boathouse. Is it weird he assumes Jon is going to stay with him because... partners? Maybe Jon will like his roommates? Look...] Focus on yourself. Which direction does your instincts tell you to go? Follow it.

With your eyes open obviously.

( damian isn't being pissy and angry over every misstep which is new but liked, thank you. jon certainly isn't going to complain about it. he could complain about the orders, but--that's just asking for trouble when damian is already being nice and jon has no intentions of ruining that.

so he does stop in place. closes his eyes. takes a deep breath and tries to feel out the area around him, whatever damian was talking about. a deep breath in, slow exhale. and opens his eyes after another moment, reaching out to grab onto damian's wrist to pull him along towards the brick houses in bluo. )

This way.

( right, but also-- )

I don't think I'm good at playing dumb.

[Listen... He's had a very frustrating time being pissy and angry, only to get roadblocked to hell and back. There's even less here he can control on top of ~*magic*~, and he's having to re-evaluate.] I'm aware.

You could at least try. A white lie isn't going to hurt anyone here. [He follows Jon along for several yards, wondering if he should yank his hand back or not. He's not a child. But... he's Tired. Just lead him.] If someone came up to you and said, "Hey, you look kind of like that Superboy fellow..."

What do you say back?

I don't like lies. ( his nose wrinkles, but--jon does understand it. the importance of a secret identity. what could happen to people he cares about and loves if he doesn't maintain a line between his life as a child of earth and his existence as a child born to one of the last few kryptonians left.

doesn't like it. but understands it. which is why even while he's still holding onto damian's hand, leading him off in the direction that feels right, jon does manage to mutter a quiet: )

Really? I'm pretty sure he's taller, but I'll take that as a compliment.

Just call it equivocating then. [Look. He has a mile-long scroll of synonyms for lying. The response pulls a smug grin to his face, one of the first few he's had since being here. Good job, Jon. You bring the imp out in him.] That's more like it.

I knew you had it in you to deceive gently in favor of a greater cause. Now: the real trouble is what we're going to find. Your laptop. Everyone has one. It gives you access to an online forum and an e-mail system. Your handle is predetermined; it's a hexadecimal code, one of three colors: red, blue, or yellow.

The code is what's going to be the issue. Everyone you talked to as Superboy is going to get your code if you want to keep communication with them open. You're going to have to decide whether you're Jon or Superboy with the code.

[His voice lowers.] Father didn't come with his suit. He doesn't have it. I didn't-- [He frowns, pausing to find the right words.] I didn't want Father to only be Bruce Wayne and me only be Robin. [Basically, he didn't want them to be separated as dad and son except in private...] So I decided not to wear the suit.

[Digging his heels into the ground, he uses his arm to yank Jon to a stop.]

What were you doing right before you woke up in the well?

Edited (sorry i'm as anal retentive as damian) 2018-07-12 01:35 (UTC)

hm. bad.

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject