video || needs more banana gin pls

[deadredbird]

[ Evening is falling fast in the African grasslands, the stars above peeking through the darkening veil of the sky. People occasionally pass by in the background, but Jason is the one filming, wearing an olive-colored t-shirt and a slight frown. ]Welp. Here we go

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[voice; encrypted]

[batmantled]

Hey Jason. You know? I’m here in the city. And there’s some guy running around, fighting crime, wearing that costume - you know, the one’s that’s kinda supposed to be mine when I get home? - but hey, I don’t seem too worried, do I? I mean, I know I’ve been a little off my game lately. How about Tim, does he seem worried? Does Bruce?

It’s Batman. Somehow I get the sense this might run a little deeper than a difference of opinion on a difficult situation. Batman, Jason. Next time use some deductive reasoning and scroll five network posts back. You’re paying for someone to fly eight thousand miles and work with you on something, yeah, of course they’re gonna blame you if something goes wrong. If somebody you put there walks into an orphanage tomorrow and guns down three hundred six year olds it’s on you. [fffff running his hands through his hair. God you piss him off, Jason.]

And you know? If you were gonna dedicate even twenty seconds to complaining about the people you chose for this after the fact then you should have had a process and screened your goddamn team a little better to begin with. If you’re putting people in a hot bed and you’re planning on depending on them? You’d better make damn sure they’re willing to die for your decisions before you’re in the field with them. Build some team dynamics. Have training sessions. Buy everybody some pizza and do bowling night. I don’t even know.

[voice; encrypted]

[deadredbird]

[ He smiles grimly. ]

You have no idea what he's doing, do you? Here, let me tell you. He's systematically going through the highest branches of government, subduing the leaders, and handing them over to the people. To their certain. Death.

[ Laughing suddenly, Jason just shakes his head like 'look at the balls on him'. ]

It's Batman, huh? Sounds like things get a little tougher in the future. Sounds like Batman got a little tougher in response.

Man, fuck this shit. I'm proud of the kid. [ The "kid" who is two years younger than him ]

{ Then he rolls his eyes. ] Dick, you have... no idea what the point is of an impromptu freelance merc group, do you. It's not planning and training sessions, it's fucking go. And please. Give me a little fucking credit. It's a fourteen hour plane ride, you think I can't tell what they're here for? The most suspicious asshole on that plane was Batman. Who was nice enough to tell me his plan beforehand, just not the part where he was going to skip out on us. We were supposed to do it together. Coordinate. But I guess he didn't trust me. Gee, I wonder who could have given him that idea.

[voice; encrypted]

[batmantled]

Yeah, well, you want "impromptu" and "fucking go?" You're gonna sacrifice nice things like cohesion and a chain of command. You want people to listen to you? You want them to trust you? Then you'd better god damn well show them you're worth trusting. Damnit, Jason. [No nerves touched here. :|]

But hey, you know, you got me there. I told him not to go near you, but who the hell listens to me these days, right? If he fucked up, don't think he's not gonna deal with me too. I don't want you ripping him apart in a situation that's already about to blow up in your face.

[voice; encrypted]

[deadredbird]

Uh, the rest of us managed to stay cohesive, you fucking moron. And guess what, I wasn't the leader — we decided to follow Wufei and Manchester, and we're doing just fine. As for trustworthiness, this is the first goddamn time this kid and I have met. I have nothing to prove to him. And I've been nothing but cooperative and willing to make compromises.

So fuck you, Dick. He didn't fuck up. He's doing it right and nothing's about to blow up in our face. And I said I'd take out his suit when we get back. You know why no one listens to you these days? The same reason I was shadowing your ass back in the city. Trying to make sure you're not about to go all PTSD after Wilson mind-raped you, flip out and have a fucking breakdown. That and you're a complete and utter fucktard sometimes. I mean seriously, you're not even here, do you know what's going on? No, so shut your mouth. We're not blazing through the grasslands here, but considering the situation? We're doing fucking fantastic. I think I've made some friends, fuck, even a girlfriend maybe, and I'm having fun. I'm so sorry that jams sand in your vagina.

In conclusion, you're fucking retarded, and you're gonna leave the kid alone. You know Bruce wouldn't let just anyone put the suit on.

[voice; encrypted]

[batmantled]

You’re gonna have to forgive me if your word on that doesn't exactly inspire my confidence. You and I tend have pretty different ideas on what constitutes "fantastic." And if you think for a second Bruce is gonna see this for anything but the clusterfuck it is then you’re delusional.

[There’s a small, fairly contained crash in the background. A little like the sound of someone hitting something solid and breakable.]

And yeah, suddenly my emotional well-being’s a priority? You give a crap if I can’t sleep at night? All the sudden you care if I have to think about it every time I leave my apartment?

[-just deflated]

Yeah. You know, believing that for a little while? It was fun while it lasted. Now you can blow it up someone else’s ass. I don't need a goddamn babysitter.

[voice; encrypted]

[deadredbird]

Why the everloving fuck would I give two shits about what Bruce thinks?!

Uh, you know what, Dick? No. You. Impaled. Me. You don't get to tell me what I care about. You know what I was thinking, hanging there? "Jesus, Dick's gonna be insufferable when this is over." I was thinking that because it was better than thinking about which fucking organs you rammed out my spine. Or what was dripping out the front. Or how much it hurt to move and breathe but I wasn't gonna give up, because shit was wrong. Yeah, I didn't do it for you, but I knew you were out there, fucked up bad.

[ His voice is rising. Somewhere in Africa, birds take off in flight and animals in the grasslands run scared while Jason's teammates exchange glances, or maybe just put on headphones. ]

And you come back at me with this shit! I gave a fuck! I tried to fucking be there! Why the fuck would I pretend? What could I possibly fucking gain from dragging you around the city and introducing you to my friends and making you meet Carrie? Oh, wait, I can gain a goddamn slap in the face for my fucking efforts. And you know what? Fine. This is it. You decided so. Apparently I spent the last few weeks scouring the city for clues on where the fuck Wilson went because I hate you. So enjoy doing that by yourself. Enjoy your dreams and flashbacks and panic attacks. You know, the ones I wasn't concerned about. Enjoy never forgetting. Enjoy that cold feeling every time you put on the suit. And? Enjoy the fact he doesn't care about you anymore. He took you, he used you, and he tossed you away like the garbage you are.

Merry Christmas.

[text; encrypted, sent maybe an hour later]

[batmantled]

You push it too far with Batman, you can plan on dealing with me.

We're not done, Jason.