Julian Day | Calendar Man (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
exceptfebruary) wrote2018-08-01 08:01 am
exceptfebruary) wrote2018-08-01 08:01 am
Entry tags:
Mask or Menace: IC Contact
Julian Day. [ Day, month, year. ]
Text | Video | Voice | Action
Text | Video | Voice | Action
[ That Bane turned up and the events of the long Hallowe'en hadn't - everything about Crane's universe was wrong.
Scarecrow's actions and Carmine's fate make sense in terms of actions taken, even if the events were out of order. And a part of him approves. He has no love lost for Falcones. ]
A different fate, but not one I would mourn. They tried to keep up, the mob. But they were eclipsed by those of us who were more. The ones who gave ourselves new names and fought the Bat.
[ Pause. He's afraid to confirm his suspicion, but he needs to know - ] But "we" as... colleagues never happened for you, did it? You haven't met me.
Scarecrow's actions and Carmine's fate make sense in terms of actions taken, even if the events were out of order. And a part of him approves. He has no love lost for Falcones. ]
A different fate, but not one I would mourn. They tried to keep up, the mob. But they were eclipsed by those of us who were more. The ones who gave ourselves new names and fought the Bat.
[ Pause. He's afraid to confirm his suspicion, but he needs to know - ] But "we" as... colleagues never happened for you, did it? You haven't met me.
[There's a pause on Crane's end. He's not afraid of telling it like it is, brutally, truthfully, but he has to manage Julian at the same time. Plus there is a fellowship between those from Gotham who are... more, as Julian puts it. Even for those from a Gotham where everything was evidently wrong.]
No. Not yet. Yet, much as I hate my present confinement, it seems here there is semblance of family. I am not as ignorant as to believe our emotions and feelings are the same, but the symbols, well, they speak for themselves, don't they? The Batman is a constant, indelible presence in all our lives.
No. Not yet. Yet, much as I hate my present confinement, it seems here there is semblance of family. I am not as ignorant as to believe our emotions and feelings are the same, but the symbols, well, they speak for themselves, don't they? The Batman is a constant, indelible presence in all our lives.
[If Will doesn't know where he lives, well, this package shows up at Julian's work before the whole Russian invasion thing goes down. If he does know where he lives, you know what, just. Follow your dreams on this, Zoe, really, it ain't no thing.
The package is wrapped in gift paper that, of course, resembles the calendar. Fret not, Julian, this isn't wrapped in legitimate calendars, just paper that looks it. Will isn't so rude.
Inside are multiple calendars, however! With various fishing themes (like this and this), including some that are just beautiful photography of marine life in general (sea turtles, coral reefs with exotic fish, whales, manatees, sharks, dolphins, the works), and a few that are simple landscape types, though the landscapes are all lakes, rivers, streams, and one calendar in particular is stunning pictures of underwater areas minus the focus on animal life.
All told, there are twelve calendars waiting his approval or disapproval. Underneath them is no card, but a short letter casually written on a piece of small loose leaf notebook paper.
This is the sort of selection we got in at the shop. Even though it's already a month and a half into the new year, I thought you might find these worth interest. Thank you for gift. The house thoroughly enjoyed it, and we hope you enjoy these in return.
There is no signature outside of an ink print of a raccoon paw. ♥]
The package is wrapped in gift paper that, of course, resembles the calendar. Fret not, Julian, this isn't wrapped in legitimate calendars, just paper that looks it. Will isn't so rude.
Inside are multiple calendars, however! With various fishing themes (like this and this), including some that are just beautiful photography of marine life in general (sea turtles, coral reefs with exotic fish, whales, manatees, sharks, dolphins, the works), and a few that are simple landscape types, though the landscapes are all lakes, rivers, streams, and one calendar in particular is stunning pictures of underwater areas minus the focus on animal life.
All told, there are twelve calendars waiting his approval or disapproval. Underneath them is no card, but a short letter casually written on a piece of small loose leaf notebook paper.
This is the sort of selection we got in at the shop. Even though it's already a month and a half into the new year, I thought you might find these worth interest. Thank you for gift. The house thoroughly enjoyed it, and we hope you enjoy these in return.
There is no signature outside of an ink print of a raccoon paw. ♥]
[ The use of the word family hit him hard. Julian's family, his real one, was never much to speak of. Neglect would be an understatement. And unfortunately, it had been quite some time since any of the Rogues felt like family to him. If they ever did.
Perhaps he craved it. Perhaps that's why he joined the Misfits, why he put together the Time Foes.
He pauses again, chewing his lip. ] It must be dire, if the few of us that are here are a semblance of family. There's so many of us. A gallery of symbols.
But yes, we will always have a Batman. Our sun. [ Which decides the length of the year, the seasons. It is integral to the existence of the calendar, like how the Batman is integral to his rogues. ]
Perhaps he craved it. Perhaps that's why he joined the Misfits, why he put together the Time Foes.
He pauses again, chewing his lip. ] It must be dire, if the few of us that are here are a semblance of family. There's so many of us. A gallery of symbols.
But yes, we will always have a Batman. Our sun. [ Which decides the length of the year, the seasons. It is integral to the existence of the calendar, like how the Batman is integral to his rogues. ]
[Crane falls silent. If the use of "family" had hit Julian hard, the word "always" was ruminating inside his own mind. His answer doesn't come for a long while. The Batman was a constant present in Julian's life. He was like the sun, yes.
And unfortunately he could be quite angry when reminded of what others possess, and of what he lacks.
He speaks, finally, controlling himself.]
Julian. Have you ever wondered what the moon would look like without the sun?
[There's a firm point to this. The moon only shines because it reflects the sun's light. Take out the sun - take away the Bat - and what happens? Does the moon become nothing? It still exists. But still...]
And unfortunately he could be quite angry when reminded of what others possess, and of what he lacks.
He speaks, finally, controlling himself.]
Julian. Have you ever wondered what the moon would look like without the sun?
[There's a firm point to this. The moon only shines because it reflects the sun's light. Take out the sun - take away the Bat - and what happens? Does the moon become nothing? It still exists. But still...]
[ Julian had met other bats in the City. Other men (and women, for that matter) who had taken on the mantle. He had met people from his future who had said they'd fought the Batman. Julian didn't particularly care about who wore the mask. The symbol, as it were, was more important.
Cycles. The calendar was one big cycle, and everything would come around again in some form or another. Spring would always follow winter, January 1st would always follow December 31st, and - ]
Though the new moon is dark, eventually the sun will return and it will become full again. [ Nightwing will become Batman, and the cycle will continue.
But more worryingly is that Crane wouldn't ask without reason. Julian had noted that reaction. Whatever reason Crane was asking for, it was important. To Crane, but also to him; the Batman in this world was part of Crane's matching pair. If something happened, what would that mean if Batman ever ported out? ]
Tell me. Where did the sun go?
Cycles. The calendar was one big cycle, and everything would come around again in some form or another. Spring would always follow winter, January 1st would always follow December 31st, and - ]
Though the new moon is dark, eventually the sun will return and it will become full again. [ Nightwing will become Batman, and the cycle will continue.
But more worryingly is that Crane wouldn't ask without reason. Julian had noted that reaction. Whatever reason Crane was asking for, it was important. To Crane, but also to him; the Batman in this world was part of Crane's matching pair. If something happened, what would that mean if Batman ever ported out? ]
Tell me. Where did the sun go?
[Crane manages to merge disbelief with scorn in his voice seamlessly.]
It exploded.
[He had heard about the plane flying out to sea. How it had exploded in a final sacrifice to save the city. He didn't particularly believe it. The problem, as it were, was thatthe real Batman had never shown his face afterward.]
It exploded.
[He had heard about the plane flying out to sea. How it had exploded in a final sacrifice to save the city. He didn't particularly believe it. The problem, as it were, was that
What? [ His reaction is incredulous, losing his composure for a second.
There's a pause as he regains it. ] Explain.
There's a pause as he regains it. ] Explain.
[ Julian can count the number of presents he has gotten in the past few years on one hand. To Calendar Man, this is one of the most thoughtful gifts he has ever gotten. Which probably says a lot about his life. But he just likes calendars. And even if the seas don't hold much interest to him particularly, he likes that they're all different and that there's twelve. He also appreciates that Will likes fish, and these calendars come from him, and it makes them seem like they have more meaning to the theme.
Julian puts together a response but is interrupted by the imminent Soviet invasion. From Mexico he sends a postcard to their house, depicting a dog lying on an Aztec sun calendar, pretend that's a postcard that exists somewhere.
On the back is written:
The calendars were greatly appreciated. I took them with me, so I wouldn't have to go without.
I do hope you're not inconvenienced by the current situation. I would hate for something to happen to you before April arrives.
- Julian Day. ]
Julian puts together a response but is interrupted by the imminent Soviet invasion. From Mexico he sends a postcard to their house, depicting a dog lying on an Aztec sun calendar, pretend that's a postcard that exists somewhere.
On the back is written:
The calendars were greatly appreciated. I took them with me, so I wouldn't have to go without.
I do hope you're not inconvenienced by the current situation. I would hate for something to happen to you before April arrives.
- Julian Day. ]
[An immediate response, though his voice is calm and controlled and more detached, as though he's separating himself from the loss.]
Gotham lived under the threat of nuclear winter. For five months people withered; surviving till tomorrow became less of a guarantee. Bane isolated Gotham from the world and kept its people hostage by wielding the threat of nuclear detonation. But if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
[Percy Bysshe Shelley. Crane clears his throat and his voice is slightly higher.]
Batman sacrificed his life for Gotham.
Gotham lived under the threat of nuclear winter. For five months people withered; surviving till tomorrow became less of a guarantee. Bane isolated Gotham from the world and kept its people hostage by wielding the threat of nuclear detonation. But if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
[Percy Bysshe Shelley. Crane clears his throat and his voice is slightly higher.]
Batman sacrificed his life for Gotham.
Are you certain?
The clouds or the sunset may hide the Sun from our eyes, but it will always rise again. One way or another. There can be no spring or summer without the Sun, after all.
[ There will always be a Batman. There has to be. ]
The clouds or the sunset may hide the Sun from our eyes, but it will always rise again. One way or another. There can be no spring or summer without the Sun, after all.
[ There will always be a Batman. There has to be. ]
The people erected a memorial.
[He says matter-of-factly, like he's giving expert testimony.
But underneath it he's regarding their conversation with a cold, detached interest.]
Yet they believed he murdered Harvey Dent. You can calculate the movements of the calendar, Julian, but not the madness of people.
[No guns. No killing. He inhales deeply.]
I am certain he is alive.
[Might even have seen the sun again, personally. But it's not the same.]
[He says matter-of-factly, like he's giving expert testimony.
But underneath it he's regarding their conversation with a cold, detached interest.]
Yet they believed he murdered Harvey Dent. You can calculate the movements of the calendar, Julian, but not the madness of people.
[No guns. No killing. He inhales deeply.]
I am certain he is alive.
[Might even have seen the sun again, personally. But it's not the same.]
I believe you're right.
[ He pauses, something that Crane said just sinking in. What is this about Harvey Dent being murdered? Maybe Harvey wasn't really dead? That sounds about right for Gotham.
Still, it was unsettling. The implications. ]
He wouldn't have murdered Harvey Dent. Why would they think he did?
[ He pauses, something that Crane said just sinking in. What is this about Harvey Dent being murdered? Maybe Harvey wasn't really dead? That sounds about right for Gotham.
Still, it was unsettling. The implications. ]
He wouldn't have murdered Harvey Dent. Why would they think he did?
[He presses his lips together. His tone is blank and emotionless. The disappointment.]
Conspiracy. The Batman took the blame for Harvey's appalling crimes so that Gordon could, to his shame, build a lie around his fallen idol. Both concealed Dent's madness from the public, and presented Dent as the shining example of justice.
They lied to the people of Gotham.
[A beat. His tone almost hides the fact he's full of glee. Almost.]
It wasn't accepted well.
Conspiracy. The Batman took the blame for Harvey's appalling crimes so that Gordon could, to his shame, build a lie around his fallen idol. Both concealed Dent's madness from the public, and presented Dent as the shining example of justice.
They lied to the people of Gotham.
[A beat. His tone almost hides the fact he's full of glee. Almost.]
It wasn't accepted well.
NO HEIGHTS TODAY I MEAN IT
2ND FLOOR OR LOWER
DO NOT MAKE ME FIND A HARNESS
2ND FLOOR OR LOWER
DO NOT MAKE ME FIND A HARNESS
Edited 2016-03-01 01:18 (UTC)
Possibly.
But I do not understand your obsession with my footwear.
But I do not understand your obsession with my footwear.
in the future you're going to step on a rusty nail and lose a foot to infection
then the other foot to a beartrap
true story
then the other foot to a beartrap
true story
[ Oh. She knows. ]
A harness would be undignified.
A harness would be undignified.
that is at least 70% of the point
seriously i will sit on you all day if i have to
seriously i will sit on you all day if i have to
So Harvey died. And no one knew him as Two-Face. [ A Gotham where Two-Face was kept secret. Begrudgingly, Julian can see how that can make the timeline skew off from how it was supposed to go. ]
But you knew the truth?
But you knew the truth?
[ What. ]
What?
What?
Edited 2016-03-01 01:55 (UTC)
But it's Leap Day. Unless you have alternative suggestions for how to mark the date?
yep
no-feet day
that's your future
if you don't start wearing some goddamn shoes when you go out
no-feet day
that's your future
if you don't start wearing some goddamn shoes when you go out
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