mrcrankypants (mrcrankypants) wrote in dc_heroes,
@ 2010-09-26 00:44:00

Entry tags:

The Quiet Never Lasts
Arthur was enjoying some quiet time. Lorena was busy elsewhere in Sub Diego and not nagging him for a change. He hadn't told her about his lunch date with Mera and he wasn't going to. Let her keep guessing where he disappeared to. It would do her some good. Not to mention save him from some nagging about seeing Mera again.

Arthur was on patrol around the outskirts of Sub Diego. He personally did this a few times a day and coordinated the other patrols. After the last attack it never hurt to be too careful.

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thedarkknight
2010-09-26 04:26 am UTC (link)

The bat-shaped plane streaked across the country at top speed as Bruce considered how he'd shape this request to Arthur. He could see the Atlantean king not being interested in getting involved and wouldn't blame him at all. If Arthur declined to join them, Batman wouldn't consider it an insult.

As Batman closes the distance between his location and Pacific Ocean, he engages several devices on the plane to seal it for submersion. As hatches tighten and pressure is equalized, he goes over the timing of events in his head for everything that's happened. He also notices that Clark wasn't among the people contacted for this and wonders if Superman took the fall of the Justice League hardest of all.

The wings fold away into the craft and soon, Batman plunges into the waters, headed toward Sub Diego to seek a king.

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mrcrankypants
2010-09-26 04:48 am UTC (link)

Batman won't find a king in Sub Diego. He will find an Atlantean living among the transformed humans. Arthur was just a citizen helping the others build a new city and adjust to life under the water. A king needed a kingdom and Arthur didn't have one. Right now he didn't want one. Atlantis was doing well under Mera and he was content to leave it at that.

Arthur felt the disturbance in the water before he saw the transformed batplane. He went to meet Batman, keepinghim from causing a disturbance in the city.

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thedarkknight
2010-09-26 04:11 pm UTC (link)

Batman cruises along beneath the waves, using his instruments to keep an eye out for any Atlanteans. He hoped Arthur's people here were under his sway, because Batman really didn't want to hurt anyone.

High-beam lights cut through the darkness of the water and shine on anything they touch. When he finally spots Arthur, he engages the loud speaker built into the plane.

"Arthur. You look well." Batman says. This is the equivalent of a "Nice to see you, how have you been?" from the Dark Knight.

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	mrcrankypants 2010-09-26 04:22 pm UTC (link)
	"Batman," Arthur said with a nod. That was Arthur's "Nice to see you too." "Perhaps we can continue this on the surface?" It was easier to communicate out of the water. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-09-26 04:27 pm UTC (link)

Batman wastes no time beginning the rise to the surface. He and Arthur are men of few words, which many labeled as "brooding" or "cranky". Batman found it annoying.

Not everyone wore their expressions on their face like Clark or Jordan.

When the ship breaks the surface of the water, the wings expand once again, allowing Arthur a place to stand if he wishes. The seals on the cockpit hiss with released air and open, and Batman stands.

"The Appelaxians are back. You encountered one." Batman says. It's not a question.

"This needs to end. It may mean working with...others." he says.

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	mrcrankypants 2010-09-26 05:00 pm UTC (link)
	Arthur came up out of the water and did stand on a wing. It was easier. Arthur nodded. "A short while ago one was attacking Sub Diego," he said. "I was able to defeat him." "I would not object to reforming the League," Arthur said. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-09-26 05:23 pm UTC (link)

"I don't care for the idea, but J'onn and Diana seem to think it would be best. No word from Clark or any of the others, either. They want to meet in Las Vegas. Zatanna will be there." Batman says.

The last sentence might explain why Batman isn't willing to work with any of them again.

"If you're interested, though, you can ride with me." Batman says, after a moment.

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	mrcrankypants 2010-09-26 05:35 pm UTC (link)
	Arthur smiled just a little. "I don't have anything else better to do." He did, but an alien invasion was serious business and Arthur knew Lorena could hold down Sub Diego. "A ride would be appreciated." A pause. "It is good to see you again old friend." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-09-26 05:48 pm UTC (link)
	"It's good to see you as well, old friend." Batman says genuinely. He calls few people in this life friends, but J'onn, Diana, Clark and Arthur numbered among them. Alfred often insinuated that he'd have more if he tried, but Batman usually ignored that. "How are things in Sub-Diego?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mrcrankypants 2010-09-26 06:20 pm UTC (link)
	Arthur shrugged. "Busy. A lot to do, little supplies and a lot of adjustment on everyone's part. Running Atlantis was easier," Arthur admitted. "How's things in Gotham?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-09-26 06:25 pm UTC (link)
	"Gotham is Gotham." Bruce says simply. The news will tell anyone about Gotham. "Then why aren't you in Atlantis? Your people would be happy to have you back, wouldn't they?" he asks, cutting to the heart of the matter. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mrcrankypants 2010-09-26 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	"Sub Diego needs me more and Atlantis is fine with Mera there," Arthur said. That was Arthur for "I don't want to talk about it". Whether it was Atlantis or Mera. "Are we going or are we going to stay here and chitchat?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-09-26 07:00 pm UTC (link)

"Get in." Batman says, gesturing to seat behind his. Translation: "Fine."

Soon enough, the plane will use its vertical take-off thrusters and become airborne, heading off toward Vegas. Bruce was pretty sure Arthur didn't get airsick, but he didn't ask.

"The console back there will show you meeting with J'onn and Diana, as well as the footage from the other areas the Appelaxians have attacked, to get you up to speed." Batman says, now focused on the task at hand.

The sooner this got done, the sooner he could get back to Gotham.

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	mrcrankypants 2010-09-26 11:17 pm UTC (link)
	"How many are we looking at?" Arthur asked as he started to watch the footage. "Do we think this a precursor to a much larger invasion?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-09-26 11:28 pm UTC (link)
	"Give the information from their last attack, J'onn and Diana believe there's one more left, the leader. If that's the case, it's probably going to be the toughest one to deal with. That's where we're focusing our energy right now. I also haven't detected any others entering Earth's atmosphere at this point." Batman says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mrcrankypants 2010-09-26 11:31 pm UTC (link)
	"I guess that's good news," Arthur said. Though he did wonder of Diana and J'onn were overreacting a bit. "Do we know where he is?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-09-26 11:37 pm UTC (link)
	"I believe I can narrow down the location from the data we've got, but I'd like to if J'onn and Diana have found anything else. Zatanna might even be of use with her magic. Just make sure you aren't alone with her." Batman says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mrcrankypants 2010-09-26 11:40 pm UTC (link)
	Arthur could tell there was a story there. "Is there something I should be concerned about with Zatanna?" Arthur asked. Not that he thought Bats would tell the story, but it was worth a try. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-09-27 03:05 am UTC (link)

"Between her and Hal Jordan, they're the reasons there isn't a Justice League anymore." Bruce says. He's sure that Arthur remembers Green Lantern's fall to the dark side. Zatanna and the others' decision to mind-wipe a super-villian also pushed Batman to work alone once more.

"Just make sure you don't do something she doesn't agree with or she might see fit to fix the issue herself." Bruce says.

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	mrcrankypants 2010-09-27 03:45 am UTC (link)
	Arthur believed they all had a hand in disbanding the League. If it had been important to any of them they would have found a way to keep it together. "I remember," Arthur said and kept his thoughts to himself. He didn't want to argue with Bruce. "The only woman I'm wary of is Mera." With good reason too. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-09-27 03:53 am UTC (link)
	"Once we arrive in Las Vegas, we'll compile our information and figure out a plan of attack. Hopefully, we'll have more to work with than just the five of us." Batman says. "If not, we'll make do." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mrcrankypants 2010-09-27 04:25 am UTC (link)
	"We always do," Arthur said. "Seems like old times." He wouldn't mind being in the League again now that he thought about it. Sub Diego will always be a priority with him, as well as Atlantis, but Arthur was a man of action. Not sitting around playing administrator. He was sure the US government would be happier too if he left Sub Diego. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-09-28 04:47 am UTC (link)

"Old times? Like coming up with plans on the fly because we all knew that Jordan or someone would change whatever plan we made right before the fight started?" Batman says. His voice is a rasp, but there might be a faint trace of amusement in his tone.

"And then there were old times like Diana trying to narrow down when the Christmas party was every meeting. Starting in January." he says. This time, Batman does smile, though his back is to Arthur.

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	mrcrankypants 2010-09-28 04:53 am UTC (link)
	Arthur chuckled. "Yes. Or the times Diana made us pick secret santas and we all switched names until we had our own name? I bet you dinner that if the League does reform the first item brought up at a meeting is the Christmas party." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-09-28 05:01 am UTC (link)
	"/That/ made her mad. It was always interesting watching her struggle not to use her lasso to make us admit who'd done it." Bruce chuckles. "I'm not taking that bet. We all know she's going to bring it up. J'onn or Clark will probably remind her if she forgets." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mrcrankypants 2010-09-28 05:12 am UTC (link)
	Arthur laughed. "I know. And it's pretty great watching all the films of it too." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-10-01 04:28 am UTC (link)

"She would kill us all if there was film." Batman says. Diana was definitely an amazing woman. They'd grown close during the League's heyday, as close as Bruce ever let anyone, anyway.

The last few years had driven a wedge between him and everyone, though. He trusted almost no one anymore, no matter how familiar...especially after losing Barry and Jordan's betrayal.

"Would you really rejoin if the League reformed, Arthur? Even with everything going on in your life right now?" Bruce asks.

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	mrcrankypants 2010-10-01 04:36 am UTC (link)
	"Yes," Arthur answered without hesitation. Sub Diego needed an administrator. Arthur wasn't an administrator. He was a man of action. "What about you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-10-01 05:04 am UTC (link)
	"Too much has happened, Arthur. Too many lines crossed, too many principles sacrificed. I cannot, I /will not/ be a member of an organization that allows such things, even if I count my allies among their number." Batman says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	mrcrankypants 2010-10-01 05:06 am UTC (link)
	Arthur nodded. "Fair enough. I understand your reasons." (Reply to this)(Parent)

	thedarkknight 2010-11-11 11:53 pm UTC (link)
	-(END)- (Reply to this)

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