ROBIN √ 001 √ 3-19-13

[usedacrobatics]

[The gear snaps on after falling out of the bag. Heard in the background is the sound of a Pokeball releasing its occupant, and wings flapping. The Pokemon, a Taillow, nudges the Pokegear towards the edge of—yes, it’s a roof. The bag was tossed up on to the roof of Mom’s house, the gear and Pokeball were jostled by the impact, and they are now both looking over the edge at a boy dressed in a red and black bodysuit, with a yellow and black cape. He’s climbing out of the bedroom window. The Taillow focuses the camera on the “R” logo on the kid’s chest. It looks important!]

Ooookay. Definitely not in Kansas anymore. Kansas would be so good right about now.

[He edges a little further out, seating himself on the windowsill, back towards the outside, and sizing up the roof. He catches sight of the bird holding the camera and grins, the eye lenses of his domino mask widening to reflect slight surprise. He doesn’t realize that it’s recording yet.]

Me not being in Kansas anymore must make you Toto, huh? Or Dinah. Birds holding cameras seem a bit more Wonderland than Oz, but I’m not the expert. So long as you’re not Cheshire, I think we can work with it, though.

[He looks back up at the roof, still grinning. He grips the edge with both hands, and pulls himself up with a grunt, and mutters:]

Since when does this require effort?

[Another grunt of exertion, and Robin forces his body upwards into a handstand, trying to balance on the edge of a sloped roof, before turning a quick tumble into a crouch.
It… doesn’t work that way. His legs are wobbling slightly, and when he tries to swing into the tumble, his balance shifts and he topples over with a brief yell of shock.

In the opposite direction.

Off the roof.

Shocked yell out of the way, Robin begins trying to grip something, anything on the wall while the Taillow squawks in distress and drops the camera. The Pokegear rights itself on the ground just in time to see the bird grasp the Boy Wonder’s cape.
It slows his descent, but the weight is too much for a small, level 5 Taillow and the two crash into the ground, Robin groaning as his knees absorb the impact. He gives the bird a pained, but grateful look.]

Well, you have Superman’s color scheme down. We can work on the rescuing thing.

[He flops over, lying on his side. Taillow uses his wings to shade his eyes from the sun, and Robin gently strokes the bird’s breast. Annoyed:]

I cannot believe I just fell off a roof. Nobody saw that, right? I just fell off a roof.
Batman would kill me if he knew I actually fell off a roof. I mean, there goes my reputation. Say nothing of the mystique. A roof. Not even a big roof. It’s only two stories—and—

[He notices the Pokegear Taillow dropped. It’s lit up.]

Why is that thing—

[Click!]

Comments

video;

[nostabbing]

[Ouch. That looked kind of painful. Also graceless, which for Parker is sort of the more prominent concern, because style is important when you're doing things like rooftop acrobatics.]

The Russian judge gives it a 4.2 out of 10. That dismount nailed you, instead of the other way around.

video;

[staystraught]

And apparently, everyone saw that.

I'll make it up on the uneven bars.

video;

[usedwatergun]

"Those things" tend to do that a lot. [Cringe of empathy, you are getting one.] Are you alright?

video;

[staystraught]

I've seen worse. But the world's smartest bird helped me, so I can't complain too much.

Video

[starspangledavenger]

I lost a considerable amount of my strength when I got here, some even lose special abilities. So, you'll probably end up relying on your Pokemon there more than your realize.

[thinks this kid looks like a comic book character with the cape and mask]

Video

[staystraught]

[like Cap one to talk about that, really]

That would explain... a lot.

[Robin's rather truly miffed by this development.]

You mean, this place takes away super powers. And not just super powers, but it's dampened my natural abilities?

[Natural abilities that he'd spent his entire thirteen years perfecting. Yeah, miffed.]

Video;

[sweettalker]

Seeing as you're more worried about Batman getting on your case I'm guessing you're not hurt? [She might still sound like she's a little worried in her questioning, though.]

Video;

[staystraught]

I'll have a couple bruises in the morning, but nothing really worth concerning yourself over.

Thanks.

[video]

[notchinese]

Nice welcome. Very nice. [She tucks some of her hair behind her ear.]

You going to be alright?

[video]

[staystraught]

Sure. I'll amuse myself by guessing if my bruises'll be purple or yellow.

video;

[angerpoints]

[Batman? Superman? Is this guy for real? Also, ouch, how embarrassing! And here Yusuke thought he'd publicly made an ass out of himself when he first got here.

At any rate, please hang tight for, like, 3523429 people cracking the same joke at your expense, Dick:]

Nice one, Batboy. You learn that maneuver at a comic book convention?

[THIS ICON IS NOT INCREDULOUS ENOUGH TO ACCURATELY DEPICT THE FACE HE'S MAKING AT YOU RIGHT NOW, WEIRD KID IN A SUPERHERO OUTFIT. Try this face instead. With credit to LJ user "tothe_slaughter" for capturing this delightful facial expression in icon form.]

video;

[staystraught]

[And he's just going to reuse the same ol' line:]

Comic books are for nerds. Strike one.

[Still, he rolls out his shoulders.]

But you didn't call me "Bird-boy," so I might be petitioned to overlook your whelming cleverness.

[video]

[punchandkiss]

[There is a viking girl with a Sentret on her shoulder applauding that complete lack of balance.]

That was almost impressive how bad that was.

[video]

[staystraught]

[He's got the slightest raise of the brow for you.]

Next time, I'll break my neck, too.

[hammerfell]

[Thor isn't about to judge, as he keeps forgetting he can't smash rocks and tear trees out of the ground and he's actually getting tired and the only reason he's not a mass of bruises himself is he's wearing armor. This is so much worse than the time he was banished, even if he is putting on a brave face about the situation--it seemed that before he was just a powerless Asgardian, and now that he's honestly human it's taking some adjustment.]

Just do not fall off of any taller roofs, my friend. You shall adjust eventually.

[...okay so he doesn't have much experience to speak of, but he makes up for it with hopeful optimism?]

[staystraught]

Eventually, he says.

[It's a sore subject to him; he could, if he had to, honestly live without the martial arts, but his acrobatics are closer to his heart and self-identity.]

It wouldn't normally be a problem, because I'm a professional and I carry lots of safety equipment, but my belt with all my toys in it is gone, too.

Video

[for_realsies]

*This girl looks excited.*

Yay! Heroes in masks with secret identies. Adam would be so happy about all this!

...If he was here, maybe he'll show up eventually.

Has someone filled you in on all the fun stuff awaiting you? And told you that playing on roofs is bad?

Video

[staystraught]

[Okay, and performer that he is, he can't resist striking a little pose and letting his cape flap dramatically.]

"Something something" Pokemon, yeah. I remember the spiel from the games.

People showing up at random is just a thing, huh?

(Video)

[aheroofjustice]

(Congratulations, Robin: You get a light bout of excited laughter along with blue hair, as Sayaka pops up on the screen.)

Guess I can be generous today. You get a 6.5 for that one!

Nice Pokemon; are you new around here too?

(Video)

[usedacrobatics]

Better than the 4.2 I got earlier.

[Cant't quite keep from looking annoyed, unfortunately, but he's making an effort not to project that in his voice.

He does reach out to stroke Johnny's breast. Very feathery.]

Been here all of an hour. Did you have some creepy woman folding your socks, too?

video;

[thewhite_symphony]

You ... [ This young boy ... looked so familiar. It was odd.

She had briefly talked to another Robin a long time ago. He was a friend of Wally. ]

Have we met before? [ Then shook her head. It couldn't be possible because it looked like he was new. ]

N-no. I couldn't have ...

video;

[usedacrobatics]

Somebody else told me earlier that they most definitely had met me before and they had video evidence to prove it.

[He throws his cape over his shoulders with a sort of helpless shrug.]

You'd have to tell me.

video;

[timelymaid]

You know a man who is a bat? [ HOW INTRIGUING. Oh, also: ]

And I have something to help out, a little!

[ Expect the following delivery to your gear right about now. ]
_____________
ATTACH: beginnersmanual.doc

video;

[usedacrobatics]

Nah, he just plays one on TV.

[also oh thank god SOMETHING TO READ.]

You're prepared.

video;

[cakelover]

Ah, things are a bit harder to do now, right~? It's weird, it is.

video;

[usedacrobatics]

No kidding. I hate to brag [that is a lie] and I've got nothing against criticism [normally not a lie, but after some of the stuff he's heard today...], but I'm good, okay? I don't fall like that. Ever.

Video

[nasa_dreams]

[Omg. OMG. He's literally so happy right now!] Dude! You're finally back!

Re: Video

[staystraught]

You are the third person who's said that today. I hope that's a good thing.

[The others seemed friendly and the shock was beginning to wear off, but...]