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File Z5287452 - No Context

[ While he's known for being pretty quick to assess a situation and pick up on what's going on, there hasn't hardly been time for that before Robin John Blake is addressing the network, a rather uneasy expression wrinkling his forehead, his whole being scrunched up while he tries to get used to using a video function that is nowhere near standard in his time and place. ]

Uh... Know this is gonna sound kinda weird, but— [ Believe it or not, John Blake, there isn't much you could say that the denizen of Wonderland would consider weird, but you go ahead and give it a try, buddy. ] Well... don't s'pose I'm dreamin', am I?

[ It feels like a good guess because he doesn't remember traveling, and he certainly doesn't remember leaving home, and since the last thing he'd done was attend a funeral, it could be a strange coincidence, a fabrication of his mind that's now semi-lucid, sitting here telling him how what he sees and feels can't be what's actually happening. People don't just appear in storybooks (and even if he did, it wouldn't be this celebrated tale). ]

Barrin' that, think I might be dead... [ It's mumbled in an off-hand way, as if maybe he's already considered it, but decided not to lead with that theory. Audible to the rest, even if he's quick to move on from saying it. ] But on the off chance I'm not either of those things, think someone could help me out figurin' what's goin' on here?

[ He likes to think a uniform would have added something to this request, but having just given up his badge for good, all he can do is address everyone as a regular guy — definitely not his first choice, since it usually does him no favors.

He looks like he's done, about to end the transmission, when something else occurs to him. ] —in person, if possible. Not really— Not really much of a fan of these things, not if I can help it.

[ He can't, not here, but he'll at least be content to try for a while. With luck, it won't even matter when he wakes up from all of this... ]

Be— [ A gesture over his shoulder. ] Gonna be outside for a while — out front. So... yeah.

[[ OOC: Video, audio, or action perfectly okay, just note. Will also match style. For starters, send a PM to this account or hit me up @ blakeroo on plurk. :) ]]

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[ A hand goes to the former cop's heart like he's somehow relieved to hear this tidbit of information. ]

No, I— it's not, it's... weird, sorry. My name's Robin — Robin John. Thought for a second—

[ He gestures. ]

Well, you get it now, I'm sure. Just a misunderstandin'.

[What. Tim looks completely poleaxed.]

Are you kidding me?

[ John thinks about it for a second and then reaches into his pocket and produces his wallet followed quickly by his license. It's offered over as proof, showing his serious portrait next to the designation Robin J. Blake. ]

Named after my mom's brother. Tend to go by John when I'm not goin' by Blake, though. Everyone calls me Blake — have ever since I played ball in high school.

[Tim takes the ID and inspects it, frowning slightly as he looks between it and the man in front of him. (Enjoy feeling like you're being IDed by a fifteen year old.) This is... bizarre. All the ways that their world almost-but-not-quite line up keep leading to odd notes of similarity and then striking moments of dissonance.

He finally hands the license back.]

Sorry. I was surprised. [Understatement.] The first person who was Robin took the name because that was what his mother called him.

[ License returned and wallet back in place, John laughs, but there's no real humor in it. So few minutes, and he's gone from confused to perplexed to downright exhausted. ]

And how d'you know that? [ He's exhausted, but not deaf. Common knowledge? He thinks not. ] You a part of all this, then?

[Tim's first instinct is to deny, deny, deny, but that seems a little pointless with everything else they've discussed, so instead he nods.]

Yes. For a couple of years, now.

Don't... take this the wrong way, but aren't you a bit young? Not sayin' you're not accomplished, but how old are you? Is that a normal thing to do at your age?

[There are enough people his age doing the superhero thing that he has his own team, so it's not like it's unheard of. Even if it's probably not the ideal after school activity.

But it's not even remotely typical either.]

I'm fifteen. It's not very normal, no, but... ah. [He shrugs a little uncomfortably. It sounds a little ridiculous when he says it out loud.] He needed help.

[ John huffs, nodding in understanding. ]

No kiddin' there. Did he ask for help? That'd shock me, if we're bein' honest.

[ Which they are. It doesn't feel like either of these two rely much on lying. ]

[Tim snorts quietly. Yeah, right.]

You said it yourself. I work alone.

[He actually holds his fingers up next to his ears to help illustrate his point. At fifteen, his "deep and gravelly" is neither very deep, nor especially gravelly.]

[ That gets a laugh — something way more genuine and bright than feels appropriate. Strangely enough, there's also a sense of relief at its heels, even if Blake's not nearly out of the shock that comes with showing up in Wonderland. ]

So, what've you got yourself doin' now? Hopefully bein' a kid at least some of the time.

[He gives him a slight grin.]

Well, I have been practicing my skateboard tricks, so that's something, right?

[Not that he's stopped doing the other stuff, but Blake had asked what he was doing about being a kid.]

[ There's really no denying that Tim's a bit cheekier than most kids his age, but more than that, he's incredibly genuine and John's not entirely sure whether he's impressed or worried for the guy in light of all of this. Being tough and smart and active goes a long way, but caring so much really does a number on a person, if Bruce is any real indication.

John smiles in return, and while he still feels like shit about this strange turn of events, still expects to wake up from this dream, he's relieved to see that life hasn't become so ridiculous and different that it's become unrecognizable: A kid can still be a kid (assuming they want to). ]

Yeah, that counts. Good for you, Tim.

[ He won't say he's proud because that would be very weird considering they've only just met, but truthfully, given the circumstances (and also given how Blake chose to spend his teenage years), he is proud to see Drake's at least making an attempt at creating a balance between helping others and helping himself; for John, it always seems like people like them — the Bruces and Tims and Johns of the world — have to suspend one for the other. ]

Look, uh... Feels like we could do this all night, but I'm thinkin' we prob'ly shouldn't. You wanna get together later, compare a few more notes? Maybe in a coupla days.

Probably. [Once they'd established that they had a lot of "same but different" going on, it was kind of cool to compare notes on where their realities overlapped and where they didn't. But Blake was right--they could do this all night, and he was still getting settled. He had a lot of mental orientation to do to start feeling a little less overwhelmed. Tim could sympathize. He'd spent most of his first weeks here feeling like this was a Mad Hatter dream.

He grins.]

Sure. I don't have any plans, other than perfecting my heel flips, and I'm pretty easy to get hold of.

It's been really nice to meet you, Mr. Blake.

[ What a good kid. Even with as little information Blake's managed to glean from this conversation, he's got a pretty good feeling about Drake. Of course, that's only going to make him 3,000% more likely to worry and nag. Sorry, pal. ]

Same here, Tim. Gotta say, that was... [ As he stands, he shrugs and offers out his hand. ] —it was a lot easier than expected, even if I can't say it's all hit me yet. Thanks for bein' patient.

You'll call if you need somethin'?

[Tim could probably use someone to nag him and worry after him. Not that he'd ever admit it.

He takes the hand and shakes it.]

Any time. It's an adjustment period--for everyone, no matter how chill they seem now. And yeah, I'll call if I need anything. [There might be a little bemusement in those words, though. Not many adults have taken much interest in him. Well, there's Georgia Mason, but she basically just treats him like an adult, which is more or less what he's used to. This seems a little different.]

Good.

[ While Blake couldn't begin to guess how Tim was treated at home, he's damn straight treating him as he would have wanted to be treated at that age. There's a respect a person has to maintain, both for the kid and the burgeoning adult as they argue for priority, because too much focus on one or the other does neither part any good.

No, there's always a balance, that's what he learned. And it's so independent in its definition, all a person can hope to ensure is that they're doing appropriate justice to that learning experience — that they're not hindering real, timely growth that takes a while to mature.

He smiles and gestures for Tim to keep his seat. ]

Don't worry, I can let myself out. Thanks, again.

[ And with that, he does as he said he would and closes the door behind him on his way to... well, wherever he needs to go next. ]

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File Z5287452 - No Context

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8'D