hello hello I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello [largely open]

[thegoshdarn]

Santa Claus' workshop is simultaneously incredibly surprising and not surprising in the slightest. It's certainly a new experience, but its design and decoration make it essentially exactly what she'd imagine if she was asked to imagine what it would look like. Admittedly, she hasn't really believed in its existence since - did she ever believe in its existence? Hmm.

At least the red in her suit sort of fits in with the general color theme. The vocal distorter's off but the mask is still on, so she's really just what you'd expect from your third Robin up until she starts talking.

Which, to be fair, she's not doing a whole lot of compared to glancing around with interest while she waits for Cassie to find her brother and Kon and whoever else she deems appropriate.

Comments

[matchmadeinhell]

Nobody escapes the Konnish Hugsquishition! He came out of practically nowhere, zipping down from above at a speed most more mortals weren't capable of, only stopping just short of slamming into the unsuspecting Robin at speeds that were dangerous to squishy people.

"Tiiiiim! Buddy, am I ever glad to see you."

He hadn't seen his best friend since throwing him down over the bay outside Gotham and making it look like he'd killed him (a confrontation that Tim had safely glided away from with hints that "Match" wasn't what he said he was).

Before that, he hadn't talked to his best friend in over a year in a half and that year and a half had been a living hell. So yes, he was hugging the crap out of him, lifting him right off the ground.

And no, he hadn't stuck around long enough for Cassie to explain that this Tim wasn't their Tim and wasn't a him. She'd gotten to saying they'd brought in Red Robin and Kon had whooshed off at superspeed looking for him before she'd even finished the sentence.

[thegoshdarn]

On this occasion, Tim has no problem with any kind of Kon hug short of one that actually breaks ribs. Although she may be... mildly in shock. It's one thing to be told he's alive, it's another to go from being alone to being crushed in a Super-hug in .3 seconds. She doesn't even know what to say - she's kind of afraid if she tries to talk it's going to come out embarrassing and awful and possibly make her start crying, so for now she's just going to cling hug back.

[circusbat]

In general, Dick's never that difficult to find. At least, when he's not trying not to be found. So it doesn't take Cassie long to track him down and let him know about the new arrival. Since she also told him that she'd found Kon first, Dick figures he's got a little time to go and clean up.

So it's a while later when Dick arrives, leaning up against the wall and watching his little brother. Erm...sister. "You know. The weird thing is, you look exactly like our Tim."

[thegoshdarn]

He does have time. By then, she's at least removed the face mask, so that's less of a distraction, although the Robin suit and body armor are still doing a lot to obscure the actual shape of her body. "I'm guessing we'd basically be twins, genetically speaking."

So. Not that weird, from a certain perspective.

[circusbat]

"Certain chromosomes not withstanding." No, it's not that weird. Dick's seen weirder, after all. "So, you'll just have to put up with me calling you little brother for a while until things sink in properly."

[thegoshdarn]

Dry: "Why break the habit of a lifetime?"

She's very good at putting up with him. It's a talent.

"So. Santa's workshop."

[circusbat]

Dick pushes away from the wall, breaking out into a full grin. Partly at the dry snark, partly at the question. "Yeah. Santa's workshop. Weird, right? How much of the run down have you gotten?"

[thegoshdarn]

She ticks off points on her fingers. "We're here as myths that run on belief; the Man in the Moon is providing us with information; the Great Pumpkin is so far uninvolved. Have I got that right?"

[circusbat]

"The third is unconfirmed but I wouldn't be surprised to find out later down the line." Dick nudges her shoulder. "So far, so good. Though the Man in the Moon isn't terribly talkative. Or maybe we're just not on the right wavelength. So far, what we know is that there's a darkness from beyond the dawn of time--" And yes, he deepened his voice to intone that. "--that's trying to take over reality and if it can't have all of reality, it's fine with making certain the rest of us don't. It's also going after little kids, trying to feed off of their fear and take away belief from the Guardians of this world. Which is...kinda what we are, now."

[thegoshdarn]

"So we're here to protect the kids, thwart evil, and be bargain-basement childhood myths."

The first two, she can do. The last one's a little ehhhh.

[circusbat]

"It's not that bad, really. I mean, the better healing is pretty nice and the strength and durability increase is useful. Which gets better the more people believe in you, apparently." He shrugged. "I mean, there are worse deals. And it's not just this world. Sometimes, bits of this world fall into others and we need to go retrieve them. Which can be a trip and a half."

[thegoshdarn]

Sure they do. That makes perfect sense. "And we... what, just go back to our homes when this is over?"

[circusbat]

Dick tilts his head in consideration. "Well. To be honest, I'm not certain our hosts are too clear on what's going to happen once the day is saved."

[thegoshdarn]

"Because they don't know or don't want us to know?"

People who are capable of cnsidering that the Easter Bunny may not be on your side: Tim, ???.

[circusbat]

Yep. Definitely no real differences between his Tim and this one other than the fact that this one's female. It makes Dick relax a little bit more. "Judging from what I've been able to get off of them? Almost definitely the former."

[thegoshdarn]

None that are immediately apparent, anyway.

"Well, that's a few years of therapy's worth of cognitive dissonance I don't have to worry about, at least." Because she may not really believe in the Easter Bunny, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't have been somewhat scarring to find out it was real and plotting her doom.

[circusbat]

"Lucky us, not actually being in a horror movie." Because, yeah. Dick avoids them for a lot of reasons. "Did Cassie tell you who all is here from our world?"

[thegoshdarn]

"Superman, Kon," (and there's no wobble in her voice when she says his name, which requires a not-insignificant amount of control), "a few Legionnaires, and Harley Quinn. Am I missing anyone?"

[circusbat]

The look he gives her is sympathetic. It had been a surprise when he found Kon here as well. "No, that's it. I wasn't sure if she'd mentioned Quinn or not. The fact that she's apparently on our side was a bit of a surprise."

[thegoshdarn]

"Apparently."

The 'I'll believe it when I see it' is unspoken but implied.

[circusbat]

Cutting a glance to her, Dick tilts his head in acceptance. "She's not too bad, once you have her away from the Joker."

[thegoshdarn]

She shrugs up a shoulder. "Maybe."

Once again: she'll believe it when she sees it. Maybe Harley Quinn has the capacity to change, but her experience certainly doesn't make her all that hopeful.

[circusbat]

Which is why Dick is the one that keeps their little family together. He's the one with hope enough for them all. "Anyway. Did Kon give you the tour yet? He gave me mine when I arrived."

[thegoshdarn]

Not to mention one of the only ones with solid family experience.

"Not exactly." Their conversation hasn't happened yet had other things to focus on.

[circusbat]

"Come on, then. I'll give you the grand tour. Kinda light on rooftops, here, but there's some places here I'm sure you'll enjoy." He reaches up and ruffles her hair, because she's still Tim.