IC Contact Post

[outstandingbalance]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, 10000SPIDERS. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 *** 10000SPIDERS has joined 008.01.989.15 <10000SPIDERS> This is a placeholder.

Comments

[outstandingbalance]

[Sorry. Next time she loots a car from a dead person, she'll try to get something in better condition.]

If we do, you can blame me. Say I made you get in this death trap and you were too afraid to say no.

[iustitiae]

That's fair. Totally fair.

[outstandingbalance]

I'll assume by fair, you mean true.

[Her tone is dry, but also distracted as she tries to get all of her legs in the back of the truck and find a way to settle herself that isn't completely uncomfortable.

Soeki better appreciate what they do for him]

[iustitiae]

I imagine it won't come to that.

[he waits to make sure she's safely in the truck bed before actually getting into this horrible thing]

[outstandingbalance]

[It is every bit as bad as he thinks it is, from the way the rusty door to the creaky seat, to the cracked dash. Connor must really care about Soeki, because that's the only way to explain why he'd be caught in this heap.

Natasha just does her best to get comfortable.]

<isthenight> forwarded to after the jan event

[dickbats]

Apparently they can make dying count now

You're the only one I trust enough.

When can you come by for a debriefing?

<latrodectus>

[outstandingbalance]

What, like I show you mine, you show me yours?

[She knows he's serious, but in light of how many people she knows who have disappeared in the last month or so, she feels entitled to try to lighten the mood.]

I'm free now. Where am I going?

Re: <latrodectus>

[dickbats]

[Of course he's serious. That's why he's using the business screenname. Differences are important.]

Something like that.

Meet me by the lake. East side. I'll have to try to magic you in from there.

[outstandingbalance]

It might take me a little why to get there.

I'll met you in, say, an hour and a half?

[dickbats]

Sounds good. I'll be there.

[Though when she arrives, there'll be no sign of him. But that's mostly because he's being a jerk and lingering in a shadow while he waits for her. He can't quite abandon the theatrics.]

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha is on time, picking her way around the lake on light spider feet. She's not exactly surprised not to see him immediately, but she keeps an eye open. He'll show up when he's ready.]

[dickbats]

[He emerges behind her, his favorite place to say hi.]

Is it sexist to tell you that your hair looks amazing in the moonlight?

[outstandingbalance]

[She cracks a smile at that.]

I don't know. Would you tell a man that if his hair looked as good as mine?

[dickbats]

Hard to find anyone that good looking, but sure why not? I'd hate to discriminate.

[You know what? Screw it. He's going in for the hello kiss. Things will never progress if he doesn't do something about them.]

[outstandingbalance]

[That takes her by surprise. At this point, she wasn't expecting anything to go further than playful flirting. What with one thing and another.

She's not opposed to it, though she keeps it brief, concern coming into her voice.]

Everything okay? You seem a little worked up.

[dickbats]

It's fine, it's just.

[He hesitates.]

I don't share notes with people. It's a big step for me, okay?

[He doesn't force the kiss longer than necessary, instead taking her hand and urging her toward a ridged cliffside.]

[outstandingbalance]

I'm flattered you decided to make an exception for me.

[She gives a little smile, though it's businesslike. Then she concentrates on following him. The terrain isn't much of an obstacle.]

[dickbats]

Don't be. You know you're the most competent person here.

[He escorts her to a crack in the stone, just a subtle thing easily ignored.]

Okay, so usually I'll just shadow in from here. It'll take a minute to open wide enough for guests.

[He digs his claws into the crevice, and a breeze kicks up from nowhere as he tries to force enough wind pressure into the spot to push aside the heavy boulders sealing a cave opening.]

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha backs away a step reflexively as he starts his spell, the vibration from the rocks as they shudder making her sensitive "feet" go almost numb.

Casting a glance from him to the opening:]

This the cave you mentioned before?

[dickbats]

Yeah, it is.

[With a grunt of effort, it dislodges and shifts, rolling away to reveal an entrance just wide enough to accommodate her enlarged form.]

Sorry you had to find out about it that way. Having a Batcave usually isn't this literal.

[outstandingbalance]

How do people usually find out about it?

[She says it with a frown. At least she has an idea where he disappears to now, though.]

[dickbats]

They don't. Not without a whole mess of trust.

[Though he amends it a moment later:]

Amelia knows, though. She's the girl I train. She just might be more into this stuff than we are.

[outstandingbalance]

I don't think I've met her.

[She tactfully doesn't ask what he means by this stuff.]

Well, I'm here. And I'm ready to see whatever it is you want me to see.

[dickbats]

You'd like her. She's one of the good ones. [Natasha doesn't have to ask for details. Dick's proud enough to volunteer them.] Always trying to find a way to find justice here.

When things were at their worst in the attacks? She flew over to every attack site looking for survivors. Purest heart I've seen in a long time.

[As he talks, he escorts her to a catacomb network, a near pitch black that doesn't bother his pale eyes in the slightest.]

Can you see all right? I've got some torches around if it gives you trouble.

[outstandingbalance]

I have pretty good night vision these days. As long as there's a little light, I should be fine.

[Even if she couldn't, she could feel her way better than she used to be able to.]

How deep does this go?