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Post by Black Canary on Feb 16, 2012 22:36:32 GMT -8
Barbara was right Dinah had destroyed her comminicator in the heat of the moment while trying to run from her problems. She hadn't wanted to talk to anyone but at the same time she always felt that if she needed to be found Barbara would find her, she had before when Dinah needed her. After take a few deep breaths she continued a little calmer.
" I knew you would look into it which is why I came here but I really thought you would have more information." she shifted her Body position and leaned against Barbara's Desk.
"Its been a difficult couple of months and to finally come back here only to find out that green arrow or someone pretending to be him has been sited running around Gotham doesn't help the situation. I did my best to forget everything only for it to be thrown in my face as soon as I step foot back here...." Finally gaining control of her anger her mood shifts a little to more sadness than anger but she does her best to hide it.
"I'm sorry for barging in and interrupting your info gathering..."
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Post by Oracle on Feb 16, 2012 22:59:19 GMT -8
"I did have a fix on you in Russia for a while..." she confessed after a moment. "However, for as much crap as you used to give to Alice for disappearing on you-- I think the tides have turned for me to return the favor." She smiled just faintly. "Tall, blonde, and leggy sure can run fast." She was pretty sure Dinah would catch onto that one.
"I'm hoping that after tonight that we'll be able to gather a bit more information than what we know." She rubbed her forearm thinking about it. "From what I've looked into, no one has even been in contact with him. If anyone who any of us thought that would know where he was.... we thought it would be you."
And boy... That was definitely the truth there.
"I'm pretty sure that this isn't someone pretending to be Arrow. The arrows that were pulled are HIS trademark."
She inhaled thinking about a better analogy. "His arrows aren't like Batman's batarangs. Even though there's countless amounts of those lodged in the sides of buildings and what-have-you..."
She gave her a nod. "It's.... fine. REALLY.
"I'm glad you came by. It's nice to see you..... It's nice to HEAR you."
She fell silent for a few moments. "You've been missed."
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Post by Black Canary on Feb 16, 2012 23:22:21 GMT -8
Dinah smiled slightly at Barbara's comment and realized that she had done exactly what used to piss her off with Alice but in her own defense the circumstances were a lot different.
Bab's comment about arrow caught her off guard. Why would she know where this person was. "I have no idea who or where they are...as far as I know Ollie is dead along with a good portion of his beloved city..."
The realization that this might truly be Ollie hit her hard. She really didn't know what was worse, finding a guy pretending to be him or coming face to face once again with her one true love, but in that scenario that would mean that Ollie intentionally made her think he was dead, that he was responsible for all the pain that she has suffered...he had hurt her in the past but was he really capable of doing this to her after everything they had been through? It was a thought that Dinah really couldn't bear.
Snapping out of her own internal struggle she focused once again on what Babs was saying. "I hate to admit it but I kind of miss you chiming in my ear at all times of the night, it was nice knowing there was always someone there no matter what." She finally let a smile out for the first time in a long time.
"Alright so lets get down to business...What do you got for us Mr. No face?"
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Question
Junior Member
There are always questions.
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Post by Question on Feb 17, 2012 5:48:48 GMT -8
Everything that exists has a specific nature. Each entity exists as something in particular and it has characteristics that are a part of what it is. - Aristotle's Law of Identity. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Oracle and Black Canary are talking face to face for the first time in a long while, I use the opportunity to reapply my 'face'. Showing my true face to Oracle is enough exposure for one evening. Black Canary is bubbling over with emotions ranging from anger to sadness. What happen between her and Green Arrow is a heart sized wound at least to me. I couldn't read her mind anymore than I could anyone else.
"There was no to bury for either Bruce Wayne or Oliver Queen, after reports of their respective deaths. My convictions are not wholly dependent on lack of physical evidence. Let alone wishful thinking."
I hadn't had the opportunity to examine whatever the GCPD might have recovered from the locations where the Emerald Archer had fought various super-villains.
"What's more is that Oracle's old nemesis Calculator is up to his old tricks despite his corporate activities. Remember Aristotle on the Law of Identity to grasp my theory about him."
I wonder if I should mention the ones who are the 'late' Green Arrow's rogues, especially considering how raw Canary might still feel about about these two in particularl. Might as well just be out with it, still I feel rather weary for adding to her troubled look as it is or at least what i perceive to be as such in this moment.
"I compiled a list of super-villains who are on the move towards Gotham City from their usual 'turfs' and several are ones who have left the wrecked Star City for here. Merlyn and Electrocutioner in particular."
I produce a PDA I took from the Riddler after fighting both his hench ladies and him in hand to hand combat.
"This is what I was intending to give Oracle though to be fair be careful digging into this thing. I have this suspicion that Calculator and/or his liaisons will try to bury such information. Whatever you usually do to isolate a hacked device from your other computers, laptops, etc. is what I recommend for cracking this PDAs' encryption. Probably some kind of riddle knowing its former owner."
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Post by Oracle on Feb 17, 2012 15:03:04 GMT -8
Looking back to the two colleagues that stood before her, she rubbed her forearm absentmindedly as she made her way over to one of her workbenches.
Pulling a small black device she tossed it to Dinah. If she were back in town, she knew that she would need a new line of communication. "It's probably best you smashed your old com. I've... enhanced these new ones. I'll save you the techno-babble for once on these puppies.
"But.. this one should now counter any other kind of radio or microwave interference. Just... try not to kill this one too soon, would ya?"
By the time Barbara had turned back to Question, he had already reapplied his faceless appliance. If anything,s he could totally understand why Misfit would see it as creepy and... very un-trusting. But considering the fact that she was always so fascinated by any form of technology? It merely intrigued her.
When Question handed the PDA to her, she took it, examining it and flipping it over in her hand.
It was an older model. Nothing too stream-lined it seemed. "Just like anyone else attempting to run a 'straight business' that's a so called 'reformed criminal', I seriously doubt any of them are on the straight-an-narrow."
She held up the PDA, acknowledging what Question had said to her. "No problem. I wouldn't attempt to plug a foreign device into my system even if I wanted to." She grinned just faintly. "That's what a sandbox is for after all."
She wheeled herself over to her isolated machine and went to find an appropriate port device. "I have a feeling there might not be a whole lot on here.. especially if there were any specialized ties. But... I'm sure I can find SOMEthing on it that will assist our efforts."
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Question
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There are always questions.
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Post by Question on Feb 17, 2012 16:48:45 GMT -8
Black Canary's... Dinah's calling me No Face... it made me think of Jeremiah Arkham. The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane though more commonly called Arkham Asylum or just Arkham for those who have gone through 'her' revolving doors. As it turns out No Face was an imaginary patient to the increasingly unhinged former Warden Jeremiah Arkham and now he is deemed criminally insane. He claim to be following the plans and rules laid out by Amadeus Arkham (Arkham Asylum's founder).
No Face as it was learned was never really there, he was or is a figment of Arkham's imagination. It seems irrelevant to bring this up as it has no bearing on this situation or so it appears - tangents amok in my mind.
"I don't think we'll find all the answers in that PDA, but its the only solid lead I've found at this stage. Technology is synonymous with Calculator and you Oracle... its a strength and weakness for both of you. The scales are tipping... which I can't say from here..."
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Post by Black Canary on Feb 18, 2012 22:02:13 GMT -8
"Well if villains are moving in on the city than I guess its a good thing that I showed up, A little aggression therapy wouldn't hurt..." She moved out of Barbara's way so she could work.
Easily catching the box that Barbara tossed to her with one hand she opened it to check out her new coms. "thanks for sparing me the Techno Babble, you know its no use telling me about it."
"Doesn't look like you have a need for me here at the moment so I guess I'll take off. I'm staying at the Royal Hotel though you have your own ways of getting a hold of me..." She smiled and put on her Coms.
"let me know when you have a solid lead to check out" with that she turned and left the clocktower.
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Question
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There are always questions.
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Post by Question on Feb 18, 2012 22:55:02 GMT -8
I watch Black Canary leave, her departure is harder to take in stride than I thought. Women seem to enter and exit my life with almost preternatural speeds. I don't consider myself to be like other men, least of all like Queen or Wayne, but just the same, I am a man. The last woman I became involved with eventually became Wesley Fermin's wife. This event transpired during my time with Richard Dragon.
(Flashback - Hub City Intro)
On the eve her first political truimph, her opposition is found dead and she is shot by Wesley as he condemns her stances as Communist. The wound knocks her into a coma and within days the city is under siege from gang wars. It is also when Lady Shiva returns to my life while Professor Rodor continues to refine the mask application/removal process.
It is also then that nightmares began too.
Myra won't leave Hub City for her own safety. I can't say I blame her. The city needs men and women of her character. Wesley is still serving time for her attempted murder. I wanted to kill him for harming her It was only Myra's pleading eyes that made me reject taking him on in favor of getting her to a hospital.
She eventually woke up, but from then onward things became strained.
Staying in Hub City equals madness. The gang wars brought me into a temporary alliance with Shiva for I couldn't put an end to this fighting alone. I couldn't understand why she would help me after all this time yet why else leave me alive in the company of 'Sensei' after our first encounter.
The gangs were eventually brought to heel. Myra's coma broke not long after that. Still I though if Wesley were willing to shoot to kill her what other dangers would follow her time as Mayor. I believed I could persuade her to leave for her own safety yet knowing her as I thought I did she would never leave Hub.
Even after agreeing to leave on the grounds of safety, she changed her mind and went back leaving me to stunned to stop her. I thought I persuaded her, but I was wrong. Just another instance of being right that I couldn't stomach well.
I barely managed to mumble good luck Myra. On my mind did something else find words yet by then it too was late. I wouldn't make the same mistake with Rodor, he's been here all his life or at least longer than mine. I told him I was leaving and he accepted it at face value. His parting gifts included a better mask and more streamlined method for usage.
I didn't bring Hub City back from the brink alone. I couldn't get Myra to leave after her coma broke and now I'm the only one leaving instead. I already 'left' once before when Shiva took me to Dragon. I saw no reason to her actions or at this moment to mine In the words of Tennessee Williams: "There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go." - so I'm departing for ports unknown.
(Flashback - Hub City Exit)
It is not long after this that I heard of troubles in Gotham City and what happen in Star City. For days I just drove aimlessly and somehow found myself passing through Bludhaven. Almost curious why Nightwing didn't zero in on me, but then with what I heard and later read, it didn't surprise me.
I was right to imagine that the Bat Family is reeling from the loss of its 'father'/'founder'. Likewise Oracle's 'Birds' were each in their own suffering as was she or so I perceived through the pictures I saw.
As well as my own observations, I had been hanging around Gotham City longer than the amount of time it took to box the Riddler.
"What happened in Hub City has something to do with the questions that brought me here, but then it at face value pales in comparison to what happen here... more so in Star City."
Again I wonder why I'm spilling my 'guts' to Oracle.
"I didn't have thousands die including someone important to my world. I didn't see a crimefighting clan come undone - let alone turn on itself in reaction to one particular death. I didn't fake my death or appear to die either. I have no judgments for Batman or Green Arrow - only that their cities need them. I can't say for what I reluctantly call mine. Its simpler trying to answer other people's questions and not mine."
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Post by Oracle on Feb 23, 2012 2:47:44 GMT -8
Barbara gave a simple nod to Dinah. Even though things seemed to be heated there for a moment... it looked like things were finally cooling down. She knew from previous experiences that sometimes it was best to let Dinah ruffle her own feathers, so to speak, and just let things ride their course.
Other times?
Boy.
Her own stubbornness seemed to triumph over her own at times. Though, without Dinah's presence around in some way, shape, or form?
It seemed like things just didn't stand completely straight.
"I'll keep you connected in the event I find anything substantial." she said to her and she made a mental note of where Dinah had just told her where she would be staying. "If..... it gets too lonely over at the Royal... I still have your old room avaliable..."
Was Barbara being selfish at that point in time?
Maybe.
When Barbara heard the doors close, she focused her attention back to her screen.
Seemed that the PDA had it's own special encryption code on it.
Easy enough.
"Initiate program: Delphi One. Run crack." she paused as she watched the computer start to fold on her command. "Isolate. Cyrpto sequence Alpha One."
She turned to Question. "I guess you could call it a burning passion we both share..."
She blinked.
"Almost sounds like something a star-crossed, soul-mate would say to their significant." She chuckled at the thought, though shuttered internally at the thought of her and Calculator.
Drumming her fingers on the arm rest of her chair, she motioned. "It's... working it's magic. I'll have it cracked soon. See what kind of play-dates Nygma might have been attempting to keep."
Turning back to the Faceless one, she listened attentively. Taking in every word.
For those that weren't accustomed to Question's... way, they could easily find themselves in a massive pit of conundrums, ramblings, and confusion. But for her? It was easy to decipher.
"You know..." Her fingers traced the top of her wheel, her mind slipping back in thought. "When Huntress first came into the group... I had a hard time accepting her way of going about things. I even attempted to 'fix' her, without gaining a true understanding of the person she was from the start.
"I made a terrible mistake, and.. I learned I had to re-evaluate myself. I had to be HONEST with myself." Her eyes turned to where his would be. "In order to come across things full-circle, you NEED to answer your own questions before you can gain a proper understanding of accepting everyone elses'."
She stayed silent for a long moment.
It was rare that she went through these 'talks' with anyone other than those inside her own close-knit group. But every now and then... sometimes being the advocate for the superhero community meant giving a bit more than a patched line, an encrypted cross global call, or even a set of coordinates.
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Question
Junior Member
There are always questions.
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Post by Question on Feb 23, 2012 18:33:16 GMT -8
"I left Hub City after the gang violence subsided and Myra finally took office. She's the new Mayor. Her husband and mayoral predecessor is serving time for trying to kill her on the eve of her win. Her competition besides him wound up dead before the polls closed. Even by 'burying' the competition the city was sick of his drunkness among other things. How Myra ever saw a husband in him... I can't fathom or maybe I was jealous of him."
Jealous because he got her while I was off the grid training with Sensei.
"I never really found a way into her world. Even when she admitted their marriage was a sham, in name only, and so on. When he shot her, I was almost killed him for it. It was only her limp bleeding form that tore me back from a primal kind of vigilantism."
The doctors told me that I got her there just in time, but she remained comatose for weeks.
"I alternated between keeping watch on her at Hub City General, pumping the criminal underworld for information on Wesley's whereabouts. I learned that Wesley's 'supporters' were hiding him after what some of them termed a fiasco shooting. Another discover was Myra's daughter and that Jeremiah Hatch knew about her. He leverage Jackie's life against Myra marrying Wesley."
Hatch would ruin their lives unless she married Wesley. She did it for Jackie. After the shooting, Hatch took Jackie away from Charlton House. A place that's always been there for children like her. Nobody thought anything suspicious about a reverend taking a girl to see her mother in the hospital suspicious.
"The power behind Wesley Fermin was a Reverend Jeremiah Hatch. A Jonathan Edwards for our times. It won Fermin considerable support in religious communities as well as political allies who were like minded to Hatch."
It took weeks before I could track down Hatch as no one had seen him since he left Charlton House with Jackie.
"I finally came to the hospital one rainy night to find Myra awake and asking for Jackie. I had to tell her that someone took her under the pretense of bringing her here after the shooting. Myra asked for my trench coat. I gave it to her and we went to my car. I knew where to go."
It was a long drive to an abandoned church, but the place was brightly lit. Hatch made use of the church's candle supplies. It was like a grisly beacon in the darkness.
"I do my homework early. Why I simply didn't recover Jackie without telling Myra? It reminds me of why I couldn't allow Huntress to uncover the conspiracy against her alone. I couldn't leave anything to chance, I thought my odds would be better if someone went with me."
We took separate entry points once I parked and switched off the car.
"I found Hatch first and took his gun away from him by twisting his wrist. I saw Jackie tied to the altar. Hatch was going to sacrifice her. He said this would be Myra's offering to God just like Abraham and Isaac."
The parallels were sickening. I could have killed him right there and brought an end to this madness, but I didn't, I toss the gun away.
"Hatch went after his gun while I went to release Jackie. She looks truly out of her mind and all cried out too. I heard Myra's footsteps nearby. As I held Jackie in my arms, I see Hatch on his knees, a pool of blood around him, the thunder had masked the gunshot. The smoking barrel reveals that Myra shot him."
She drops the gun and runs over to scoop Jackie out of my arms.
"She says it is okay now baby, I have got you, that bad man will never touch you again, we're leaving now, we're going home."
Just as I failed with Huntress, with Helena, I failed anew with Myra, and as such I saw no reason to remain either. I made an anonymous call about the abductor who was in fact a Hub City reverend. The scandals quicklys subsume the aborted gang wars.
"The disgraced ex-Mayor Wesley Fermin and the manipulative Reverend Jeremiah Hatch were marked as co-conspirators in trying to rig the election in Fermin's favor despite his increasing unpopularity."
Hub City P.D. found Hatch's corpse and the murder weapon. The prints led them to Myra. The detectives upon learning how Hatch took Jackie after Myra went into a coma following the shooting during the election day decide her shooting Hatch was in self-defense.
"Myra in fear of her daughter's life was decided to have acted to protect Jackie against Hatch's murderous intent dressed up as religious sacrifice. It was an election year, it was meant to be a new age for Hub City, but it was only more of the same with variations."
I saw no cause for Hatch's murder, I got Jackie back without killing the man who would have killed her without hesitation because of his beliefs.
"Hub City was tired of bad news. The true circumstances of Hatch's death remain unknown. He was dead and the corrupt Wesley Fermin behind bars for his crimes. It didn't feel like justice. It felt wrong, but it was over, I couldn't change the past. I still dislike being right in situations like that."
Oracle and her 'Birds' have had encounters with Shiva before I'm sure.
"I saw Lady Shiva once more before she left Hub City again. She read me as I've read you. She was right about me, about Myra, about Fermin, and even about Hatch. I had nothing to refute her summary with."
I recall clearly what Shiva said to me.
"I can see what Myra did disappoints you. So you got the girl back, but that wasn't enough for Myra. She was out of action because of these men and they would use her own daughter against her. She was coerced, threatened, and she was yearning to break from it. Wesley sealed his own fate long ago and Hatch had earned her scorn."
I could see where the conversation was going and so could she. We part company, she had business elsewhere and I was going to leave Hub City.
"Myra wasn't going to leave now that both Wesley and Hatch were no longer looming over her. Public support, law sympathy, and more were assets to her. My feelings for her were draining away just as they had for Helena after what she did to deal with Cassamento ordering the hit that result in the deaths of her mother, her 'father', and her brother."
The hitman misread what Cassamento meant about sparing one.
"Ethics versus practices. Ethics tends to lose to practices."
Violence isn't my thing. I'll fight if I have to, but I will not kill for answers.
"Why did I believe Helena or Myra could change? Why did I fail to see what they were planning for the men who tried to control them?"
Women will always be a mystery to me.
"My questions take me to the brink of madness if I consider the events that trigger them for too long or so my perceptions tell me."
I need to sleep this off. I have already said too much perhaps.
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Post by Oracle on Feb 24, 2012 12:08:30 GMT -8
Barbara's eyes watched her monitors as her computer ended up spitting back a series set of anagram-type names and what seemed to be appointment times and dates.
Oh! A puzzle. She did enjoy these. Time to do some cross referencing.
As she worked, her eyes followed back to Question and listened to him as he spoke.
At one point, she stopped clacking at her keyboard to turn to face him. It really did seem like he had a lot on his plate. However, with him bringing up the past, might help him to better himself for future events.
"I've... learned that trying to control another, despite how much you want to... is almost impossible. It's best to just offer a hand where it's needed and let them take the steps needed, so should they want to.
"However, in destructive scenarios? A bit of a shove is more in order."
She had to admit, through everything, she never heard that 'other side' of Helena's story. She had her suspicions, but to hear the other side's order of events came across as a bit of a shocker. "With you looking back to re-analyze the situation, you are perpetually getting your questions answered."
At least, that was how she was viewing it. It might have ended up being a bit different for him though. Especially since this was probably the first time he was telling anyone the story.
If anything, it's a step in the right direction.
She glanced back to her station, watching as the acronyms ended up finding matches that could possibly fit the points that were in the PDA.
"Correlate isolated times to known data bank entry of logged Gotham activities: Police, Criminal, and Operatives."
She heard the notifying -chime- of her system as the command was accepted.
"Thanks again for bringing this--" she tapped the PDA sitting on her desk. "--to me. It's proving to be rather insightful."
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Question
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Posts: 87
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Post by Question on Feb 24, 2012 13:19:00 GMT -8
"Both times I felt things about them. I thought I was falling for Helena during our time working together and something similar overcame me with Myra. Almost kissed Helena the night we returned to Gotham together. Robin's arrival broke the moment. Tim had come with information I believe that was from you."
The outcomes I was working towards never happen, but then that's the reality check of being too right about individual behavior and mindsets.
"It was how Helena was confronted with her parents' marriage not being what she thought it was and what proved my suspicions about Cassamento."
Things kept going down the drain into the gutter from there.
"Omerta - that was her word for it."
In the time we spent together I learned more about her and afterward I had to wonder if Batman was right to be so suspicious of her.
"Batman...and I... were both right... and wrong about Huntress... Helena. He was right to worry about her intentions... he was wrong about her motives. I was right about her innocence with regards to the murders... I was wrong thinking that she could be changed by Sensei's training."
She is a better woman these days, but then we are all troubled by our perceived mistakes.
"Helena...Huntress... is a better woman... heroine... in these times. At least what you and they did in recent years is a testament to your team."
Question... nostalgic... it seems so silly.
"Hope whatever you find on Riddler's PDA answers some of your questions."
I take my leave and consider staying at the same hotel as Dinah. She might take such a decision the wrong way.
It took time to a find a place that would allow me a quiet place to sleep off the journey and the carthatic conversation I had with Oracle.
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Post by Black Canary on Feb 24, 2012 20:48:09 GMT -8
Dinah was still pretty upset with everything and knew she couldn't just sit in her hotel room and let it all boil inside her, she needed some kind of physical outlet. Quickly changing into a nice form fitting work out attire she decided to head out for a run to try and clear her head.
Was it really possible that Ollie survived? well of course it was possible but would he really do that to his friends....to her? could he really be that selfish not to think about how it would effect her? the thought of that made her even more angry. If it does turn out to be him running around Gotham he might wish he had died in Star City when she got through with him.
After a long internal battle of thoughts and emotions Dinah looked up and realized she had made it pretty far across town. Nothing like an eternal battle to take you mind off the activity at hand. She slowed a bit to give her body a rest. It wasn't the best part of town not like she was worried. She would feel sorry for anyone who dared to mess with her right now...
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Question
Junior Member
There are always questions.
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Post by Question on Feb 24, 2012 21:28:24 GMT -8
Still as troubled as I was by what happen in Hub City in the recent past, I would not want to be Green Arrow tonight or whatever alias he was using in place of his real name out of costume. Black Canary... Dinah Lance... isn't the only one hurt by the Star City tragedies. Things left unsaid are foundations for rifts and scars.
Should I warn him that she is in Gotham? What good would that do?
Giving informatiou out in the past has only come back to me and made me loathe being right anew. I know its him. Call it a gut instinct. Costumes are more creatures of habits than anyone else including me. There were many ways for more reunions to transpire in the days, the weeks, and even months ahead from here.
Faceless I might look yet even faces can mask people. Even someone like Black Canary, like Dinah Lance, but this is a given notion for me. I can think these things, but it doesn't necessarily make them true. Only suspect these happenings and characteristics.
Oracle would reach me, reach her, and others when the time is right.
Patience...still if there is one man I really would resent be mistaken for due to similarities of our names... is a current patient in Arkham. He is also a serial killer. Why I think of him right now well I can't say. My line of thinking goes on tangents which outwardly seem to have no connections to the initial thought process.
Just the same we all manage to leave wreckage in our wake regardless of what we do or don't do. Infinite realities there might be, but they are inconsequential to what looms before us in this one.
I told myself I would steer clear of the borough where one would find the Royal as to avoid another meeting with Black Canary. Her appearance at the Clocktower had thrown me off for a few seconds yet she isn't the first or last to surprise me by an action I didn't consider probable to happen.
I know it and others are always possible... yet probable is a different spin.
It is time to turn in... I check into a motel under an alias I seldom use because I don't have many nor do I often find myself needing them.
Without my 'face' I would be as anonymous as the homeless I pass along the streets. Whether its Gotham or Hub, the homeless are there. I could have easily been living on the streets as a kid if not for the Charlton House, which for a time was a place of refuge for Jackie, Myra's daughter.
I wonder what's become of Dinah's adopted girl since I last heard much about the Birds in the past few years. I suppose only Dinah could answer that one. I'm already too beat to ask more questions tonight, but that doesn't stop my mind from thinking about it.
The night manager is too busy arguing on the phone with some lady. I'm too tired to work out if she is a guest here or someone else important to his world.
I had other mysteries to deal with that didn't involve phone fights.
I took all the necessary precautions before getting into bed for sleep.
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Post by Green Arrow on Feb 25, 2012 2:37:46 GMT -8
"When when I think Im out, they pull me back in..."
Oliver Queen expected to see alot of things when he quietly chose to make Gotham City his new home following the near-destruction of Star City.
His ex-girlfriend out for a jog in the rough side of town wasn't one of them.
Sure, he had been wanting to keep an eye out of her, still always wanting to be her Guardian Archer, but things were different. He was different, and he wasn't sure he wanted his 'Pretty Bird' to see the type of man he was now.
On the deck of the nearest rooftop, Oliver stuck to the shadows, just as he always did. His leath clad hood casting a shadow over his face, further disguised by the dominoe mask he wore as well. The explosion that led to GA faking his death caused him to sacrifice his updated tools of the trade: advanced bow, bulletproof vest with attached quiver, nearly two dozen trickarrows. Now, he was but a simple man with simple gear.
Following the explosion, Ollie was able to stay out of sight as he gathered his tools in a cheap, run down stationwagon with only a few essentials: one of his old Green Arrow costumes from a few years back, his original quiver, a classic wooden bow, 3 dozen sharp pointed arrows, his last three trick arrows (handcuff, boxing glove, and extinguisher arrows) and...one more item.
A personal item.
In the pocket of his costume, Oliver pulled it out. He has become accustomed to carrying it with him at all times. It was the last thing he had of hers...well...something that was supposed to be hers.
Inside of the small, green velvet box, it looked back at him. Almost casting a judgmental gaze of its own.
A gold ring with a small, but sparkling, diamond looking back.
An engagement ring.
Years upon years of wrestling with himself, Oliver Queen had finally convinced himself to ask the love of his life, Dinah Lance, to marry him. He had it all planned out. He wanted everyone to be there. Hal as his best man. Roy and Conner right by his side. Mia by Dinah's side. Hell, would even be cute to see Lian as the flowergirl.
Then Merlyn came to town.
That...that son of a bitch...
In one swoop, Merlyn killed hundreds of people, and ended the live of Oliver Queen. His hopes. His dreams. His spirit.
Oliver's hand violently closed the box, finding himself shaking it radically with the anger and vengence only he could feel. His eyes closed, teeth gritted, and sweat rolled down his head and onto his cheek.
If only Merlyn were still alive just so that Oliver could kill that monster all over a----
Oliver stopped himself.
Caught his breath.
He knew that the anger was eating him alive. That his hatred for Merlyn had dictated so much of what was left of his life that, even in death, he was still able to eat away at Oliver's sanity.
Heh...Sanity.
The one thing you can never appreciate until its gone. And then when its gone, you ask yourself why the hell everyone else has suddenly gone so damn mental.
Oliver lets out a sigh as he re-pocketed the engagement ring. After all, there was no point in crying over the past. What's done is done. The world thinks Oliver Queen is dead, and no one can ever know how the infamous Green Arrow is a murderer.
Its for the best.
But just because Green Arrow is now one with the shadows doesn't mean he can't still at least try and do some good, and part of that is to make sure Dinah...his Pretty Bird...gets home safely.
Heck, he would do the same thing for any beautiful blonde who is forced to death with earth shattering devistation without the one person in the world she loves most's shoulder to cry on.
Right?
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