[ text | un: jkent ]

[supersweet]

One of the things people don't do often is talk about the good things they've done or have right now. Sometimes being away from home is hard, so sharing helps!

So what's one good thing in your life right now? Yesterday, I got a cat out of a tree! It wasn't very happy but the owner thanked me a lot.

Comments

[smokedout]

...you wanna come get something to eat with me? least i can do for... bringing down this whole 'feeling good' thing you had going.

[supersweet]

You don't have to do that, Mr. Dodger. You didn't do anything wrong.

[smokedout]

i know. just don't feel right hashing out hard shit like this without y'know... some soda pop to even things out.

[Please don't make him admit he wants to do nice things.]

[supersweet]

I won't say no to soda pop.

Where do you want to meet?

[smokedout]

[Mission: success.]

let's meet up at the main entrance to the communal hall.

maybe we can find some of the good shit - y'know, the stuff that's been using the same recipe since before either of us were born.

[supersweet]

So how long ago was that for you? Like fourty years?

[smokedout]

i'm twenty five.

[R U D E.]

[supersweet]

That's still pretty old.

[smokedout]

you're just a munchkin.

[And also he's already down by the entrance, whenever Jon gets there.]

[supersweet]

Am not.

[ But he closes the connection as Jon heads over to the entrance. It doesn't take him long with his speed but Jon needs to slow down before he arrives, just to look more normal. Adjusting his glasses and hat, he waves to Dodger. ]

[smokedout]

[Dodger greets him with a lazy wave, leaning against the wall and smoking like the angsty dropout he is.]

So. You had me under the impression you were a normie - what've you got for powers, kiddo?

[supersweet]

I'm not supposed to talk about it. So you got to keep it a secret.

[ He's told a few people pieces here and there though. ]

Do you want the whole list?

[smokedout]

I'm all about secrets.

[Even people who have gotten in fights to the death with him here don't tend to know his full power set.]

Jack of all trades, huh? Sure, tell me as many as you feel comfortable giving me.

[supersweet]

Well . . . I guess I'm really strong. And fast. And I've got heat vision.

[ The others are shakier. Ice-breath, super-breath, flight . . . ]

[smokedout]

Hey, that's not too far off from me.

[He laughs as he lights a new cigarette with the snap of his fingers.]

I got... super strength, and fire powers, I can teleport and... I can turn invisible. But don't tell anyone that doesn't need to know, yeah?

[supersweet]

I won't.

[ Jon can keep a secret. He eyes the cigarette though. ]

Smoking's bad for you, Mr. Dodger.

[smokedout]

[Dodger glances down at his cigarette, and shrugs.]

Been smoking since I was your age - figure if I was gonna die from it I would have by now.

[No, Dodger.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon is quiet. ]

Have you died before?

[smokedout]

[...What a weird question. Especially from a kid.]

No, have you?

[supersweet]

Not in the normal way. But I know so many people who have.

[ His dad. Damian. Mr. Cobb. Krypton. His dad's other self, though he didn't get the miraculous return his father received. Jon didn't know all the details, but he knew enough. He was there when Doomsday returned. He watched as the time traveler's axe came close to killing his father. ]

Dying is easy, Mr. Dodger. Anyone can do it. Doesn't mean you should encourage it.

[smokedout]

[He's quiet at that. Jon's a pretty cheerful kid, so.. he hadn't even considered that he knew what death was like. It's mostly out of guilt at making him upset, that Dodger drops the cigarette and crushes it underfoot.]

Sometimes death feels like a better option than living.

[He knows that's way too heavy to be putting in a kid's head, but... honesty is always the best policy.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon is stronger than he looks, though he lacks the self-awareness to fully understand that completely. He is the House of El and has stared down the abyss. He cries easily and he gets scared, but Jon has never stopped fighting.

He beams as Dodger puts out the cigarette. ]

You just gotta find different things that are better. Like soda pop!

[smokedout]

[The melancholy doesn't leave his face, but he does smile as he reaches over to tip Jon's hat over his face.]

And tiny friends like you, huh?

[supersweet]

Yeah! Friends make everything better.

[ And Jon's never had any until coming to Riverview. Well, Kathy and Damian. But his relationship with Damian tends to fluctuate while . . . Kathy . . . Kathy was still a sore topic. He didn't resent her, but there's no real cure for realizing most of your home town and adults were lying to you. ]

[smokedout]

Can't argue with that...

[Dodger has had friends before... but none that he cared about as much as the ones he's gotten in Riverview. He's even killed a few of his "friends" from home without really mourning over it too much... so maybe he is improving.

They've been walking for a while now, and Dodger points out a convenience store.]

Pretty sure this is the place I found that had good stuff. I think they got snacks from other realities, too, if you wanna take a risk.