video; 001.

[ihope]

[The video flickers on without any trouble. The console's familiar enough that Lex doesn't have to fumble with it to get it working the way he wants. Behind him is the large space of a luxurious room that obviously originates from the Metal Sector. He couldn't see the harm in letting the, uh, 'citizens' of this In-Between see where he stands on trivial matters like his choice of interior decoration and he'd even gone and tidied up some before the broadcast, or at least that's what it looks like with two small cuts above his right eyebrow nothing but thin red lines now as opposed to the angry marks of earlier.]

[And the young man himself is seated comfortably, leaning to one side, legs crossed somewhere off-screen, left arm propped up on the table where the communicating device rests. A finger twitches and, right, he doesn't have anything around to grab a hold of at the moment. And so he begins to speak.] 'Tu Vishan. An In-Between of life, death, and dreaming.'

[And he has a sort of hushed voice despite the obvious intention to project to, well, the audience. And there's some light in his eyes that signals amusement-- or something resembling it. Excitement is either good or bad, never both. There's no upturn of his lips, no creased brow. He shifts, sitting straighter, peering closer into the camera, damn well expecting someone out there to listen.]

I'm supposed to believe this?

[He expects someone to listen, not to answer, because he just goes on.] The Kedan were generous enough to offer the explanation that I might not be dead, and to be frank, I appreciate any attempt of reassurance on the matter. I'd put more faith in it if I hadn't also heard the turtle had been in danger of dying. Spending the rest of my years aboard an ailing reptile wasn't exactly the life I envisioned. [He can believe abduction and drugs, but no deep sleep of his will ever revolve around an animal so stupid and slow. His voice turns wry. He knows he's not dead. He knows he can't be fully alive. The... Kedan were nothing from his waking world. That could only mean one thing left to figure out.]

[He's still seemingly calm. He's still only just sitting, just talking like he can see the company across the screen already. Like it's only a conference call he's taking from his desk. But now he sighs and he wants to smirk, but he doesn't. And now he'll be waiting for an answer.]

So who's the big dreamer?

[Show yourself, mastermind. A clear challenge, but after a second he tacks on a detail with clear concern and some well meaning urgency.] I also heard something about a clinic in trouble. Is there anything I can do to help?

Comments

[ihope]

[It's probably a good thing he never did think he'd get along with the kid. The look, the change in demeanor doesn't go unnoticed- Lex is just unflinching.]

[But it always did do something to his insides to observe how quickly a person will change the second his name leaves his mouth. Power, he thinks. His father did this. It's not pleasant, but it's what he has to work with and the tool is always ready for use.]

The one and only.

[A click of his tongue to boyishly emphasize.]

[backinakidflash]

[No, Lex did this to himself, when he decided to unleash Superboy against his own friends and teammates, and Tim ended up in a cast and Kon ended up a mess and AWOL and that was... no, not going there. Just skipping ahead to be mad about when Lex cured his own sister and then made her sick again. YEAH. Bart heard about how you'll be doing that one in 30 years, sicko.

The more he thinks about it, the more he'd like to take a boot to Lex's face now when he has the chance. But with time and cause-and-effect always being so muddled, Bart's worried that that'd end up being the reason he ends up wearing a giant asshat (besides, y'know, covering up the chrome dome) - because some kid in a costume gave him a well-deserved broken nose.

But Bart's not in his costume right now. He can still smile at the mental image like it's the happiest happy thought ever. He might not even need pixie dust to make it to Never Never Land right now.]

Huh. Cool. Well, Lex -

[He can call you Lex, right? Since we're all such buddies on the turtle.]

Welcome to the party.

[ihope]

[Not so fast, there.]

And don't I get to know your name?

[He'll be more than happy to accept the welcome and click off the feed afterwards.]

[backinakidflash]

[Ew, gross. But, really, he should have expected that Lex would ask his name. Ugh. Real names in the mouths of rogues - no. Lex isn't a rogue with a small or Capitol R, because that's somehow an undeserved insult to the Flash Rogues, who at least have standards and try not to hurt women and kids.

However, Bart's already said his name on this internet (inTURnet? He's trying to find a term for it in his head. It's a work in progress). Refusing it here would piss Lex off, short-run, and make Bart look like an idiot, long-run, when all the guy'd need to do is go a ways back in the feed.]

My name's Bart Allen.

[Said like a challenge, somehow, all too-tight smile and rising chin. Ordinarily, he would apologize for not introducing himself. There is nothing ordinary about Luthor.]

[ihope]

[He'll remember that. He'll remember the tight smile and the obliviousness. And the dare.]

Alright, Bart, I'll let you get back to whatever's so important. I'd hate to waste any more of your time here. [It's what he feels they've accomplished this far. He doesn't know why Bart's decided to stick around so long but now that he's gained something, he'd rather cut his losses and exit before a headache comes on.]