"I'm certainly not gonna stop him from parking where he wants." A glass of fresh squeezed orange juice is handed over to Ted, followed by Grace pointing a finger at a jar placed close at hand.
"Don't forget to pay up, Beetle." She's grinning as she says this.
"Batman has a reserved spot here? He must be loosening up. I wonder if he keeps a micro-tube of martini olives in his utility belt in case he has to be prepared for a cocktail party.."
"Already on little toothpicks, y'think?" She mimes swooping a cape around and pitches her voice in a lower register. "I tend to expect the unexpected."
She chuckles. "I've had trouble comparing him to Darkwing Duck ever since the real one showed up. Good thing that was back when the reality shifts weren't lasting too long."
"Well. It looks great on Star Trek, but living through it? It's all fun and games until someone's evil counterpart from another universe loses an eye.."
"Beetle. Thanks for coming out, and for all of you guys' help too." He's batting his empty rocks glass back and forth, before looking Ted in the goggles.
"I want to also apologize. He was my teammate, and I'm responsible to see these things before they happen. How's Big Blue holding up?"
"Based on what? You know, its funny. Lex Luthor has given, and lost more this past week than pretty much anybody from up on high."
Blake takes a drink, just warming up.
"But he'll always be on the cross for you all. And not only him, but me, even my partner over there trying to make nice with Green Arrow. Walk a mile in that man's shoes, Blue. Then see just how much your "suspicions" hold up."
Beetle sighs, burying his face in his hand, for a moment.
"Blake, I am more willing than most to believe in redemption, to give people a second chance, and so on. I actually think Killer Moth is a pretty decent guy, and I'd like to swap tech notes with him. And you've really shaped up, too. But Luthor.."
He shakes his head.
"I know he's lost a lot this week. And I sympathize - I do. But I've never met a more unrepentantly arrogant or ambitious man. He's also envious, secretive, manipulative... this isn't going to turn into a barfight if I keep going, is it?"
"But, but, but nothing...here's the deal." Setting his drink down, he focuses directly in Ted's goggles.
"I'm here as myself. Cameron is here, as himself. Dillon's here as a dick. We're not hiding behind our masks. You want to talk secretive, or manipulative? You had better take a good, hard, look at yourselves. We've been right on the front line for every problem that's come about. Something that most of your "League" can't say the same for. INCLUDING you." He gives an angry point to Canary. "Get off your high horse, and stop finding excuses against my team. Unlike the JLA, we own up to our sins." He downs the rest, forcing the glass down on the counter, before flipping some bills into the jar.
"This should cover your tally, and a good tip. I might lead a band of murderers, and rogues, but I sure as hell don't drink with hypocrites." He places the money back in his pocket and stalks off.
Beetle is unfazed as Blake storms off, and looks to Black Canary.
"Obviously, he didn't know Sue Dibny. Otherwise, he wouldn't call us out on the masks. I never understood the line of thought that equates the keeping of a secret identity to keep one's friends and family safe from murderers to the creation of secret plans for world domination."
He finishes his orange juice.
"I mean, I think the distinction there is night and day. And why was he going on about murderers and rogues? Nobody called them that, did they? I guess it's true what they say - cats only hear what they want to hear."
"Just orange juice for me, I'm driving a twenty ton flying insect."
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"Don't forget to pay up, Beetle." She's grinning as she says this.
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He nods, grinning, to Grace.
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"Here...try this. I am the terror that flaps in the night, I am the batteries that are not included...."
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He nods to Blake, in greeting, as he tucks a few large bills into the collection jar.
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"I want to also apologize. He was my teammate, and I'm responsible to see these things before they happen. How's Big Blue holding up?"
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Beetle shrugs a little.
"I have the suspicion that Luthor might've known more about the risks that he cared to fill you folks in on."
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Blake takes a drink, just warming up.
"But he'll always be on the cross for you all. And not only him, but me, even my partner over there trying to make nice with Green Arrow. Walk a mile in that man's shoes, Blue. Then see just how much your "suspicions" hold up."
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"Blake, I am more willing than most to believe in redemption, to give people a second chance, and so on. I actually think Killer Moth is a pretty decent guy, and I'd like to swap tech notes with him. And you've really shaped up, too. But Luthor.."
He shakes his head.
"I know he's lost a lot this week. And I sympathize - I do. But I've never met a more unrepentantly arrogant or ambitious man. He's also envious, secretive, manipulative... this isn't going to turn into a barfight if I keep going, is it?"
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"I'm here as myself. Cameron is here, as himself. Dillon's here as a dick. We're not hiding behind our masks. You want to talk secretive, or manipulative? You had better take a good, hard, look at yourselves. We've been right on the front line for every problem that's come about. Something that most of your "League" can't say the same for. INCLUDING you." He gives an angry point to Canary. "Get off your high horse, and stop finding excuses against my team. Unlike the JLA, we own up to our sins." He downs the rest, forcing the glass down on the counter, before flipping some bills into the jar.
"This should cover your tally, and a good tip. I might lead a band of murderers, and rogues, but I sure as hell don't drink with hypocrites." He places the money back in his pocket and stalks off.
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"Obviously, he didn't know Sue Dibny. Otherwise, he wouldn't call us out on the masks. I never understood the line of thought that equates the keeping of a secret identity to keep one's friends and family safe from murderers to the creation of secret plans for world domination."
He finishes his orange juice.
"I mean, I think the distinction there is night and day. And why was he going on about murderers and rogues? Nobody called them that, did they? I guess it's true what they say - cats only hear what they want to hear."
Ted chuckles.
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