InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I've fallen & I can't get up."

eddie likes to (riddlethem) wrote in doors,
@ 2014-03-26 19:05:00

Entry tags:

catwoman, riddler, stephanie brown

[Private to Selina K]
[Right after reading this.]

Meow face.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-27 05:18 am UTC (link)
	No, Eddie, I have no idea what you mean anymore. How does tearing me down prove anything? And some of us don't have the luxury of deleting memories. And me? I never forget. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-27 05:21 am UTC (link)
	You don't think we were competing? Then help me remember. Let me say I'm sorry. Do you think I went after the ring because I wanted you to get hurt? I thought I was smarter than Lex. I thought we could have everything we wanted. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-27 06:22 am UTC (link)
	I don't think any of it matters. But like I told Bruce, I'm doing more harm than good voicing my opinions everywhere. So, let's leave this here. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-27 06:24 am UTC (link)
	I want to hear what you have to say. You haven't said anything to me. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

spacecowboys
2014-03-27 06:35 am UTC (link)

You thought "we" could have everything "we" wanted. I'm not part of that "we," but I'm the one that almost paid the price. And would you have done the same thing if that little bomb was in Stephanie's head? No, of course not. You would have found another way to get what you wanted. But because it was me, well, the risk was worth it.

Maybe that was enough for me once. It's not anymore.

I'm not your Cat. I'll never be your Cat. I just didn't realize that was a requirement, not until now.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

riddlethem
2014-03-27 06:45 am UTC (link)

What did you want if it wasn't the Watchtower? [...] I wouldn't have let her get the bomb in the first place. I should have stopped you from the start. Joining the Suicide Squad is a stupid idea. Trying to outsmart Lex was worse.

I know you hate hearing this, so it'll be the last time I say it. Promise. [Blink.] You're a lot like her. I knew her for a long time. We fought a lot. Exactly how you and I are fighting now. She usually got the better of me. In the end, if she told me she needed something, I'd help. The problem with me and you is we're never honest with each other. Not even if we really need help. And, that's how I almost got you killed. We can fix something like that.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

spacecowboys
2014-03-27 04:34 pm UTC (link)

No, Edward. If she did it without telling you. If that option - not letting her get it - was off the table. If everything was equal, and the situation was reversed, you would find another way to get Watchtower. It would be worth the effort to find another way. You didn't need Hal. Bruce didn't need Hal. I told him J'onn was here, since Hal was off the table - or so I thought - but even without J'onn, there were other ways. If it was Stephanie with a bomb in her head, you would have found one. Bruce would have found one.

Honesty comes with trust. I don't trust you. I did once. I trusted you more than I trust Bruce. Once.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

riddlethem
2014-03-27 04:40 pm UTC (link)

That's not true. I know you think it was possible to get the Watchtower without destroying the city if Lex had the ring, but I calculated it differently. He was training an Arkham to use a yellow ring. That's about as bad as it gets.

You don't trust me because I gambled with your life? Even though stacking decks and playing cards with fate is what we do? Does that mean you don't trust Bruce either?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

spacecowboys
2014-03-27 04:43 pm UTC (link)

You wouldn't have done it if it was Stephanie. Don't bother lying, Eddie. Not to me. I know better. You would have used your intellect, or your little magic box to find another way. And Bruce would have too. And we all know it.

Do I trust Bruce? Not like I did before. But he didn't know about the bomb when he went after the ring. You did. But do you want to know the truth? I've been trusting you a little less every single day since I found out you told him not to trust me.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

riddlethem
2014-03-27 04:53 pm UTC (link)

You're wrong. I told you to get the bomb out, didn't I? If I told Stephanie to take care of something because I'm worried about her, because she means something to me, do you think she'd dismiss me? Or do you think she would have taken care of the bomb.

Something I said a long time ago before I knew you. Before I knew Bruce beyond the Dark Knight. I was your only friend for a long time, Selina. But, I didn't how to look out for other people. I only knew how to look out for myself. [Blink.] Maybe I am the big bad guy you've been waiting for. But, I know before I left that my mistakes and screw ups weren't out of hating you or wanting to hurt you.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

spacecowboys
2014-03-27 05:07 pm UTC (link)

I didn't dismiss you. I went straight to Marvel, but you had already gone for the ring without warning me in advance. Without even telling Bruce, so that he could decide with all the information.

And you? You wouldn't have lifted a finger while that bomb was in Stephanie's head.

It's fine to admit it. Bruce admits he thought I was an acceptable loss. He says he regrets it, but he admits it.

And I'm not angry - well, not any more than I always am. I'm sad, Eddie, and I'm done with the lies. Maybe the Cat you knew was stupider, or maybe I'm just done with the little riddles and the headgames. I know where I stand now. Where we stand.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

riddlethem
2014-03-27 05:16 pm UTC (link)

You don't get it. After everything I've told you about me, you don't see the problem. If I thought I could outsmart something, I tried. Even if I was wrong. Even if it got me thrown in Arkham again and again. Even if it blew up someone I care about. I didn't see the failure, only the victory. I thought I could outsmart Lex. I was sure. It might seem personal to you, but it's riddles and trying to cheat on tests that screwed it up. I wish I could count on my hands how many people I killed because I thought I was smarter than someone else. I almost got Stephanie killed the same damn way and she's got a scar to prove it.

I'm sad, too. And, I don't think you really believe that.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-27 10:35 pm UTC (link)
	You risked it because it was me. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-28 03:02 am UTC (link)
	Tell that to allll the people I let die on Earth-3. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 03:48 am UTC (link)
	Edward, we're going around in circles, and I don't believe you. Are we shifting this conversation? I just wanted to be sure before we did. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

riddlethem
2014-03-28 04:12 am UTC (link)

We're going in circles because you think this is about you and it's not. I spent five years choosing the mission over people. Stephanie did too sometimes. It's how we're programmed. And, what's worse, is that if I got in my head that I was right, then I didn't think anyone was going to get sacrificed. That's what happened with you. That's what happened for a long time on Earth-3 until I saw the bodies of my friends pile up.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 04:21 am UTC (link)
	Okay, tell me about Earth-3. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

riddlethem
2014-03-28 04:29 am UTC (link)

[Blink.] You know how hard I was trying to prove I could be a do-gooder? Well I got my wish and dragged Stephanie along for the ride. One second we're making waffles, the next we're getting hailed by Jokester in a middle of a war zone to fight Owlman. The best part, Selina, is that I thought me showing up was a blessing to these people. That I'd help save them instead of just post-pone their deaths a couple years.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 04:36 am UTC (link)
	[The Syndicate isn't exactly her favorite subject.] I can't say I like Owlman very much. So, you went back? But not home. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-28 04:40 am UTC (link)
	Exactly. And, in my universe the Syndicate laid waste to any kind of resistance in a matter of months. With me and Steph there convincing everyone to fight the good fight we extended life expectancy, but didn't really make any headway. We were next on the chopping block when we got zapped back. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 04:42 am UTC (link)
	We were fighting when I got zapped back here, but there were only four of us left standing at the time. I can't say the odds were very good. [...] How long? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-28 04:45 am UTC (link)
	Odds are never good against them. If you knew how many times I jump at a noise thinking they boom tubed after me you'd laugh. [Blink.] I didn't know you went up against the Syndicate. Was it all rogues against them or..? [Blink.] Five years. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

spacecowboys
2014-03-28 04:54 am UTC (link)

No, no rogues. Just us. It's what brought the Leagues together, somewhat, since it was all JLA plus one left standing. Maybe the rogues turned on them after I left, since Lex was running them at the time. Or maybe Owlman and Ultraman finally tore each other to bits over a woman. I don't know. [The cursor blinks.] Five years with the Syndicate? How the Hell did you manage five years against that? [And the cursor blinks and blinks.] I was worried they were here before. Do you think they're here now?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

riddlethem
2014-03-28 05:07 am UTC (link)

We were hoping they'd rip each other apart eventually, but I think Owlman liked playing with us too much. We're too fun. [Blink, blink.] Hiding, mostly. I'm an Arkham rogue first, so I know how to lay low for a long time without being detected. We had a literal underground base that worked out pretty nicely until it got raided. [Bliiiiiiiiiiiiink.] Well, it'd make sense to me. When I'm bored at night and I can't sleep and this fucking door doesn't open to Atwood anymore? I research all the little Syndicate rumors that pop up. There's talk of more facilities than the one you broke into.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 05:50 am UTC (link)
	I take it being back here is a blessing and curse, then? [The cursor blinks.] Maybe it's just a name. No one followed you, right? That isn't possible, is it? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Selina K/Eddie N

riddlethem
2014-03-28 05:59 am UTC (link)

I'm glad I don't have to fight anymore. But, I don't really know anything else. [Blink, blink, blink.] Muerte mentioned something on the journals about feeling an earthquake and I thought it might be Owlman following us back. Honestly, I don't even know how to prepare for the Syndicate coming here. Watchtower or not, the League is too green. They'll get wasted. So, maybe it's better if we just pretend it's not possible.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 08:04 am UTC (link)
	[The cursor blinks forever.] This world, this Gotham can't stand against the Syndicate. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-28 08:10 am UTC (link)
	And, that's why I can't get comfortable. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 08:15 am UTC (link)
	Comfortable or not, it doesn't change the facts. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-28 08:17 am UTC (link)
	What can we do? Waste time worrying about it? Warn the others? I've done this song and dance when there was actually a tiny window that things could go right and we still lost. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 08:20 am UTC (link)
	Even if Bruce manages to get all the little birds into the nest, and even if he brings the League in too. Even if all the hate that's eating at people in the Batfamily disappears, and I can't see that happening overnight. Even then, we can't win. I saw a much stronger Gotham fall to the Syndicate and, so it seems, did you. No, Eddie, maybe we just hope. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-28 08:23 am UTC (link)
	[Blink. Smile.] How much of that stuff do you have left? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 08:25 am UTC (link)
	I might be able to scrounge some up for a special occasion. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N riddlethem 2014-03-28 08:26 am UTC (link)
	I'll see if I can steal a little from Stephanie, then. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Re: Selina K/Eddie N spacecowboys 2014-03-28 01:48 pm UTC (link)
	Maybe it'll be enough. (Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -