@cjk [ audio ]

[signifies]

Hello everyone. My name is Clark. I'll try and keep this brief.

Firstly, I've drawn up a blank list and placed one on the bulletin board on each housing floor. If those with medical expertise feel comfortable, they can put their name, residence here, and — if they have one — specialisation, in case of an emergency. We have several residents who aren't from the same point in time, so if you'd like to volunteer to update someone's medical knowledge, please mark your name with an asterisk.

Secondly, ah-- [ a bit of a laugh. ] I'm from Kansas, which some of you might recognise as being host to some pretty bad weather. Now, I'm not going to say I'm paranoid, but-- I like to think ahead. So, I've made up some kits with some of the usual survival paraphernalia back home and distributed them between floors. Feel free to help yourselves if you need them.

[ No one has to use them, but he’d rather everyone knows they're available. ]

Thank you for your time.

( all replies in audio unless otherwise stated )

Comments

[signifies]

[ The way Dick says there's hundreds of them, but it's 1998. Maybe the timeline has shifted forward and this is coming for him.

He hopes. ]

It means a lot that you'd tell me.

[ He swallows. ]

What about you, are you going to keep working here?

[fingerstripes]

Not sure I know how to do much else. [ There's a small, sheepish grin that goes along with that. ]

...There's a lot of stuff I can't really afford to drop back home. [ Two cities that need him. The Police Academy. Barbara. ]

But if I've learned anything it's that there's pretty much no moratorium anywhere on people needing help. [ It might as well count for something. ]

[signifies]

[ Clark smiles wryly in turn. ]

No, there isn't.

[ They've said this isn't permanent, but Clark will believe it when he sees it. Dick should head home before Clark himself does. He thinks there might be a few things he can learn from other worlds by being here.

He hesitates, but he has to ask. ]

Would you like to work together?

sorry for the wait!

[fingerstripes]

[ His face lights up at once, all trace of tension gone in a second. ] I thought I was gonna have to ask.

I mean, uh- [ He's definitely a professional. ] I think it's better all around if we're not working at cross purposes.

np

[signifies]

[ Clark smiles earnestly. Dick's faith feels a lot like Lois' faith, even if he's put it in someone else. ]

Only Lois knows.

[ And now Dick. Clark's not at ease with the fact that other people might know this secret he's kept for so long, but he'd like to start this by trusting Dick. ]

[fingerstripes]

[ There's something nice and a little poetic about Clark having a Lois he can rely on in across alternate realities. And it means Clark isn't alone. ]

I know she's someone you trust a lot where I'm from too. [ A beat. His eyes drop down to his coffee again. ]

...It's not something I get to share very often. As long as I'm... connected to Batman, I owe him that.

[signifies]

[ He's happy to know the other Clark isn't alone either. Lois was the first person other than his parents to step forward and accept him. Clark doesn't want to know what he'd have done without that. ]

I can keep a secret.

[fingerstripes]

...Thanks. [ He hadn't really doubted it for a moment, but that doesn't mean it isn't nice to hear. ] I know it's probably not easy to hear. But it means a lot that you're willing to trust me.

[ And he hesitates there for a moment. He can't really sidestep the name thing anymore, and anyway, it's not as if he can tap dance around it forever.

His own Superman had done so much to show him that he could live without Bruce. Be something other than Robin, at a time when his whole heart felt wrapped up in those little shorts. The family he thought he'd lost forever. It had been a way to honor that, to honor his legacy and the gift of the story. But it's probably a little unfair to expect this Clark to be alright with a stranger standing on that part of his heritage. Will it even mean anything to him? ]

...So I should probably mention that I go by Nightwing now.

[signifies]

[ Clark will still need time for all of this to sink in. The bottom line is: he might have a new friend. He'd never say no to that.

Unfortunately, Clark doesn't know enough about Krypton to recognise Nightwing. ]

It's a good name. What does it mean?

[fingerstripes]

[ At least that answers that question. He shakes his head, a small smile tugging at the side of his mouth. ]

...One of those stories I should probably save for the rooftop.

Remind me again sometime, I'll explain what it means.

[signifies]

I'll hold you to it.

[ He smiles. ]

How do I call you when you're working?