IMEEJI INBOX

[mind_blown]

"This is Jason. Leave a message.

Or don't. I don't care."

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[iamverybadass]

[ Mutters a vague agreement and lets the final memory play ]



[ ... ]




[ He doesn't seem to be reacting to it, only staring at his phone screen in silence ]

[mind_blown]

[well, he can't imagine this memory's going over well....]

... Guess actual hell is proving to be mostly better than home. Still.

[iamverybadass]

[ His expression twists once or twice before he regains control of it, forcing it back into carefully controlled neutrality ]

In some ways.

[mind_blown]

In some ways.

[he allows.]

[iamverybadass]

[ Takes a deep breath and stuffs his phone back into his pocket ]

Whatever. It doesn't matter. Let's see yours.

[mind_blown]

It matters. At least a little bit.

[but he has his memories queued up.]

[iamverybadass]

...A little, perhaps.

[ Still pretty doubtful about that. Maybe birthdays just aren't a thing heroes get to have! ]

[mind_blown]

[he tried.

Not like he knows the answer to that one.

But, it’s time to press play.]

[iamverybadass]

[ The good news is Talon has forgotten about birthdays

The bad news is he's staring at Talia with a stricken look of alarm ]

You knew her?

[mind_blown]

[look, this is the first time he’s seen her in his memories, but he glances at Talon. Because a few things click in to place that he doesn’t quite like.]

Yeah. I did, I guess.

She must’ve been the one paying for the teachers.

[that he was killing.

He also realized slowly— was. Was she the one giving him a direction to channel his rage...?]

[iamverybadass]

If she was behind your instruction, then she was using you.

[mind_blown]

[there's... something akin to doubt on his face when he says that, but he quickly fades into neutral confusion.]

This must have been close to when I came back to life.

[he was younger... he can tell that much.

and it doesn't force him to address Talon's statement directly.]

[iamverybadass]

—Came back to life?

[ It's an effective distraction ]

[mind_blown]

Maybe.

[he considers.]

I'm not as young as in that Robin memory. But I'm younger than I am now.

[by a lot actually.]

Maybe-- at least 5 years ago.

[iamverybadass]

I didn't realize you'd...

[ Rather than actually finish that thought, he trails off weakly ]

I would have been eight then. ...Did we know each other then?

[mind_blown]

I don't think so.

[a brief pause]

Anyway.

Guess I knew your mom, kid.

That doesn't change my opinion on the shit she did to you.

[though she clearly didn't act like the same woman around him]

[iamverybadass]

I don't want to discuss the things she did to me.

[mind_blown]

Okay.

[iamverybadass]

[ He wraps his arms around his knees and scowls out at the city for a minute or so, breathing little puffs of smoke and sparks ]





Do you recall Lazarus Pits yet?

[mind_blown]

[the name doesn’t even ring a hint of familiarity in him.]

No.

But I got a feeling you think they’re important.

[iamverybadass]

They're used to resurrect the dead.

[mind_blown]

... and they’re connected to your mom’s family.

[he sounds joking but there’s definitely a sharpness in the look he’s giving.]

[iamverybadass]

And they're connected to my mother's family.

... It explains a number of things. How my grandfather managed to live as he did, for example. You, apparently.

[mind_blown]

[there’s a long silence.

He doesn’t look at Talon, instead looking out over the city, quiet.]

... our family is so fucked up.

[a quiet admission]

[iamverybadass]

Understatement.

[ There's really nothing else to be said about that ]