tushanshu | seven : a scary conversation [AUDIO]

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seven : a scary conversation [AUDIO]

[Hayley sighs a little, then sounds mostly disappointed. Those paying close attention can probably tell it masks a level of anger.]

Seriously? Is no one talking about the whole people getting murdered thing?

[ooc: Action for Superman is in first thread]

[100% Trek encrypted to: Clark]
[There's the longest pause before she speaks, extremely quiet and definitely scared.]

So I, uh.. was dead.

[100% Trek encrypted to: Lois]
[Her voice is mostly level when she messages Lois, but clearly hiding something less neutral.]

I know you and Clark tell each other everything, so whatever. I need some time off from the radio.

[100% Trek encrypted to: Bruce Banner]
You need to see something. Can you come over later?

[100% Trek encrypted to: Dick Grayson (comics)]
You know, you never actually told me who your family members are.

[100% Trek encrypted to: Jason Todd]
Tell me you're not too busy for a drink.

[100% Trek encrypted to: Maxwell Lord]
[There's a pause, then Hayley sounds more pleasant.]
Hey.

[100% Trek encrypted to: Chekov]
Will you help teach me how to encrypt things? I want to learn.

[100% Trek encrypted to: Loki]
What makes a soul any different from just like, memories and neurons and whatever?

[100% Trek encrypted to: Jor-El] - (added a short while later)
You have all the same powers Superman does, right?

[100% Trek encrypted to: Bruce Wayne] - (added a short while later)
I'm sorry, about work. I just need a few more days off and then I'll come back. Please?

[Assume she hasn't shown up the last week or so.]

[100% Trek encrypted to: Sabriel] - (added a short while later)
I want to learn magic.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know my morals are known to be a bit loose, but I don't condone underage drinking. [Except, he's sending her a location] See you in 30.

[Hayley notes his silence about his own murder, but says nothing. She ends the feed, a silent agreement to his time and place, taking the extra time to make herself look somewhat presentable for the outside world. While she's still a little pale, her face worn with fatigue, at least she's less likely to be mistaken for plagued.

And just over 30 minutes later, she's at the location he sent her, hands buried deep in the pockets of her red jacket. For once, she's left her taser at home, wanting to feel the controlled risk of getting to know the dark and twisted enigma from before. Hayley immediately begins looking for him, wondering where it is she's supposed to be meeting him exactly.]

[He didn't pick a friendly venue; all the surfaces are sticky, there are kedans who barely look humanoid, though still bipedal and there's a smokey haze touching the floor - the source of the smoke seems to originate from the kitchen where a grinding noise filters in and once in a while takes over the slow string song that's playing. Jason is a dark red figure at the far corner, hunched but casual.

He doesn't wave her over, lets her find him instead while he nurses three fingers of something alcoholic. He chuckles when he sees her approach his table.]

Look at that. We have so much in common.

[He touches the lapel of his red hoodie and leans back. There's a glass of what looks like a copy of his own alcoholic drink, but it's just apple juice.]

Have a seat and I already picked your poison. Tell you the truth, it all tastes like apple juice after a while.

Edited 2013-10-08 03:38 (UTC)

[It takes Hayley about a minute to realize the shady guy in the corner is the one she's looking for - after all, they only met once prior to this - and approach him. Being in this place boosts her mood, elevating her anger and willingness to do what's needed while helping her to bury the pain and fear that have become her constant companions.

She glances down at her own jacket, then looks to his with a mild rolling of her eyes. But she takes the seat across from him and doesn't hesitate to take a sip of the drink meant for her. Then she sighs as she returns it to the table.]

If you're not going to let me have alcohol, at least get me a soda or something. I don't really like apple juice.

[She gives him a look of skepticism. Hayley knows there's no alcohol in it; she's had enough drinks in her life to realize that. Or, at the very least, not enough to merit being called alcoholic.]

[There's a second where he laughs, for real. Even though he is full of sarcastic remarks meant to be witty and produce some sort of humour, he doesn't laugh much. He smirks. He fakes grins, but he doesn't laugh much. He reaches in his pocket and produces an empty bottle with a picture of an apple on it.]

They don't have soda here, or apple juice. I brought that in.

[He tosses it in the corner and leans forward on the table. He takes a sip of his drink, then pushes it towards her. Because he really doesn't condone alcoholism of any kind. And with what she told him, she'd probably develop it. And he's seen how that goes in his mom. No one needs a repeat of that.]

Wanna tell me what happen or do I have to kill some of your braincells first?

[Oblivious to how rare a laugh from him is, she simply smiles in apathetic appreciation for his humor in general. It's certainly better than the concern and coddling most have been treating her with, or the anger they've been taking out on her just because she was the first one to say something.

Hayley is actually surprised at his explanation of the drinks, both that he made the effort to bring her something and that he's now offering her his own drink after such insistence that she not imbibe. Either he's changing his mind out of pity or his own drink doesn't have alcohol either; those are the only two options in her mind.]

I think you'd have to kill a lot of braincells for that. [She reaches forward to retrieve her apple juice and takes another sip of it. No, the girl's not fond of it, but the gesture of refusing his pity is more important.]

[He doesn't do concerned and coddling. It kind of escaped him as something you should do after someone has died. After all, look at how well he turned out. He takes his drink back when she goes for the apple juice instead, wise choice? Maybe? Whatever, he doesn't care. His eyes are on the prize, and that's the murder details.]

Well, it can't be too hard considering you've been "murdered" recently.

[He looks away, at the bartender again. A sure sign of him losing interest. But he is persistent, always has been.]

But if you prefer, I can pretend to thread lightly and we'll beat around the bush for a while before you finally make up your mind, take that drink -- or not -- and tell me. [He pauses, just enough time to let her think he's finished before speaking again.] So, how's the new clone body treating you?

[Hayley grimaces at his so blatant and tactless mention of her murder. She certainly didn't call him for his caring or politeness, but she really wasn't planning on talking about it either. Her smirk has faded into a neutral expression, but she actively bristles when he asks about her 'clone body.'

Coming to terms with her death is bad enough, but trying to face the philosophical implications of having her consciousness transferred from one body to another is overwhelming. The scars she received in her time here are gone, an uncomfortable reminder that she's not entirely herself anymore. Though, whether she ever really was upon arriving here is something else entirely.]

The clone body's fine and I don't remember my murder.

[The reply is meant to be nonchalant, yet comes with an unintentional edge of bitterness. Hayley reaches out to try to take his drink then, taking a long sip if he'll allow it or otherwise just frowning at him.]

[Nothing philosophical here. It's that easy to be disassociated when it's happened to him before -- back home -- where there were no explanations for him to dwell on, just the concrete fact that he was back. It's be the same thing here. He's a lot more focus on her murder than the fact that she died and came back. Seems legit to him so he shrugs it off and shrugs her discomfort at the topic off.]

So, why am I here? I'm not the kind of person you want to coddle you.

[Part of him is wishing she'd say revenge because that, out of everything and out of his whole life here, makes sense.]

Did you really got me all the way out here for free booze? [He makes a sound, false disbelief, at her nerve] Look at the gonads on you.

[It's a good question and one she's not entirely sure she can answer. Free booze, sure. Someone who wouldn't shower her with pity. Someone dangerous that she can't trust. A game to play, to keep her mind active and focusing on something besides the philosophy of death.]

I invited you for the drink, the charming company, and because I never learned my lesson about curiosity killing the cat. The question is why did you accept? You don't have your own tragic murder to empathize over, you barely wanted to give me a drink, and yet, here you are..

[She gestures vaguely at him before taking another sip of his drink.]

[He watches her drink for a moment, gauge reactions and observes while running background measures. Things he can take in to measure just what state she's in before responding with his baseline neutral and blank expression.]

You got murdered. I want to see which road you want to take.

[Because he doesn't have a tragic murder to emphasize with. The only thing that keeps him from leaving is just that; seeing if she'll take the road that he favours, and the want to see her goals accomplished, if it comes to that.

And just maybe, it justifies his own actions more.]

[Hayley freezes for a split second as she pulls the glass from her lips, an uncontrolled response to his words. Then her expression is a calculated smile again as she returns the glass to the table. Jason is definitely not the company she expected when she invited him, but the intrigue is more than she could have hoped for.]

So what are my options?

[She knows what her options are and already has an idea of the path she wants to take, but she's more curious to know where his head is at. Is he another shadow, here to tell her how allowing Jeff to kill himself was wrong? Or is he a Jeff himself? It seems impossible to find someone like herself.]

[No way, girlie, he thinks. She seems to be looking at him for directions, and he's not going to give them up that willingly whether she decides to take them or not. Thinking two steps ahead, telling her anything of the sort reveals too much about himself. She's seen his face as it is, that's enough for him.]

They won't be your options, if I tell them to you.

[Hayley gives a halfhearted shrug as she straightens, resting her hands idly on the table and watching him. 'I want to find him and do whatever it takes to make him kill himself' would be the honest answer, but she's not about to blurt that out to a near stranger. Instead, she feigns some degree of uncertainty.]

I don't know. I guess I'll wait and see what happens, you know? I don't- uh, I don't really remember that much? So it's hard to figure out who it was.

[He snorts. Typical answer. And she seems anything but. He can run with that though, if that's what she wants. If it'll give her the time she needs to come to a solution.]

Wait and see - you're joking, right?

[He sighs and shows his disbelief.]

Fine. Forget figuring out who it was. What will you do when you find him? It's a small turtle we're on, red.

[She shrugs, shifting in her seat as if uncomfortable with the idea. Then Hayley looks directly at Jason and replies with a perfect balance of testing and dismissal.]

Well, it's not like I can just kill him.

[The look remains after the words have been spoken, waiting. It's the perfect way to gauge his response, to see what path he might support or encourage. She wouldn't really kill him anyway, especially not with the whole clone thing, but it's a simplified version of deeper thoughts.]

[He holds her eyes steadily when he says:]

Why not?

[His question is an invitation in to his psyche and his methods. He doesn't care if Hayley tells anyone else or warns the supes. All he cares is if Hayley will fit the right pieces together.

An eye for an eye.

Then he shrugs, leans back and takes a sip of his drink, switch back to a more casual stance.]

It's not like we die here. You're the proof of that.

[Of course she knows he might be goading her, leading her on to test her and direct her straight into a trap. But Hayley's still fourteen. At the end of the day, she's a little reckless and more interested in getting things done than worrying about her reputation. Even if he tells everyone, it's not like she actually did anything and she can play it off.

She straightens, immediately dismissing the facade of uncertainty from a moment before. Her tone matches his own, nonchalant in her admission.]

Then death isn't really enough.

[Who's he got to tell. Besides, she can ruin her own reputation. He's just helping along the way. Whatever gratification he gest from this, the validation he feels when/if she follows through with what she's saying right now comes first.

Dropping his own mask, he stops smiling. His expression turns cold and detached.]

Then what is enough? What are you going to do to make sure it never happens again?

[Hayley shrugs. Where Jason is cold, her default method of apathy is sarcasm and flippancy.]

Everyone's different. [This isn't her first rodeo.] Until I remember what happened and figure out who it is, I'm stuck waiting.

[She's upset about that fact, which bleeds into her words. After a beat, she adds:] Unless you happen to have a piece of green rock lying around you're not using. That could help.

[So, this is it. Gloves off.

Faintly, he wonders if this was what he was like after. After coming back.]

I don't know anything about pieces of green rock. [Because he can't start associating himself with them. Even if it's to a 14 year old that doesn't have much of a reputation. He stares, assessing. He decides on one thing; no, he was much angrier.]

How is that going to help you find out who killed you, short stop?

[With that, Hayley reclaims his drink and takes another long sip, pauses, and then finishes it off. She sets the empty glass between them again and gives a facial shrug.]

No reason to tell you if you don't know. [It's meant to be just as juvenile and petty as it sounds.] And hey, as much as I love your insulting little nicknames? I got my drink and I can't see how you'd help, so.. pretty sure we're done here.

I guess we are.

[He looks down at the glass and signals the bartender for another. He has no intention of leaving, not just yet.]

Funny, I don't know why you thought I would help you in the first place. Unless you know something about me that could help.

[It's about the reaction she was expecting, him remaining where he is and asking for another drink. But his comment provokes a response and Hayley is actually surprised to find that she has no burning desire to get away from him, in spite of his obnoxious pet names.]

I told you.. I was in it for the drink. [She shifts in her chair, but makes no motion to leave.] But you said you wanted to know what path I'd take. Why do you care? Or is it that you only cared if I chose the one you wanted me to, so now you're over it?

Were you.

[Not even a question. She could've gotten drinks anywhere, and he's not an easy person to convince to have a casual drink about. He has every reason to assume that she wanted something from him that's not a drink.]

Why shouldn't I care? Someone got murdered. You think I'm that uncaring?

[No smiles, no smirks. No masks.]

seven : a scary conversation [AUDIO]

audio; encryption 100%

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