John Jones is a manhunter (johnjones) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-04-05 16:27:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !complete, barbara gordon (batgirl), j'onn j'onzz (martian manhunter) |
Who: John and Barbara
When: 5th April
Where: Hotel
What: Meeting at an Easter fundraiser
Rating: Low
Status: Complete
Barbara wasn’t a huge fan of these large events, though she knew they were almost a necessary evil. She personally thought all the money that was spent on setting it up would be better given to the charity or charities it had been set up for. But she smiled and made conversation as was expected.
Most of the companies she was involved with already gave heavily to good causes and watched their carbon footprint and everything they were supposed to do. It had been hard to convince some - those still thinking they were an old boys network - but patience and perseverance paid off in the end.
Moving to the side of the room she sipped her water while taking a moment to people watch instead of mingle. Sometimes she just needed a break to regroup.
John was there, representing Red Planet International. He’d been slowly moving up in the group, and working with others to find ways to help people. His word was being taken more seriously, these days, and he found he felt both good and bad about that. Who was he to determine who got help? But he was trying his best.
So he wandered the party, observing, making contacts, and hoping he could learn and see some things to help people better in the future. When he spotted someone off by themselves, he took a fresh glass of water and wandered that way. He stepped up beside her quietly, and nodded to her.
“Pardon me. Mind a fellow people watcher?”
Barbara noticed him approaching, her senses seemed to be more alert since her recent dreams, so she wasn’t startled when he came up beside her and spoke.
“Not at all” she replied before turning her head to look at him. Her mouth dropped open in surprise for a moment before she caught herself and offered him a smile, “You’re representing Red Planet International are you not?” she asked. She had recognised him instantly from the dream world, despite some obvious differences in outward appearance, the helpful side effects of having a photographic memory. Though as she wasn’t sure if he knew her so thought it best not to mention anything yet.
“I am. And You are Barbara Gordon, of the Irvine General Hospital and other such fundraisers?” He glanced at her. “I’ve been a fan for some time. I particularly like fundraisers involving creatures of the night.” John was... hardly subtle.
That got a soft laugh from Barbara, “Well that clears that up then” she said, amusement lacing her tone, “We are both aware of each others identities, which is somewhat reassuring” she added with a smile. It was strange to know someone yet not know them.
John smiled as he watched the room, standing next to her. “It’s nice to know someone who knows me, truly. Or the other me. I am two people, as near as I can tell, though the personality of the Martian is mostly subsumed by this world’s mind.” He shrugged. Sometimes he talked about himself in third person. Which was just odd.
He turned a glance to her. “I am a fan, in any case, in both worlds, and both minds.”
“Thank you J’onn” she replied with a nod, “You certainly seem to have adapted well to the dreams, more so than some I know anyway” It was a difficult thing for some, especially those who were so different. Barbara had the happy luxury of being someone who was very close to her dream counterpart, though thankfully without the need for her wheelchair.
“So tell me more about the J’onn here” she requested.
His mouth quirked up and he nodded. "Raised in the midwest by an adoptive family of farmers known as the Kents, he went on to make his own name for himself as John Jones, mild-mannered cop. He made detective early after facing his childhood fear of fire, and rescuing a family stuck in a burning building during an all too aptly named firefight with heavily armed thugs. More recently, he has made the transition to civilian life in the wake of becoming engaged."
John grinned. "I don't think I can talk in third person anymore."
Barbara laughed, “No I imagine not” she said with a smile, “But thank you for the succinct update. And congratulations on your engagement, who is the lucky woman?”
John smiled softly, then chuckled. “The most beautiful woman I know. no offense. Aponi Jackson, known as AJ, and in her dreamworld, as Applejack.”
“How wonderful” Barbara said, seeing the love he obviously felt for AJ shining from him, “Are you going for a short engagement?”
John smiled to her, eyes warm. “Oh yes. We are getting married in May, we think. And of course, I will be sending you an invitation.” He nodded. “It will be nice to have a friend from the other world there, too.”
“Very short then” she smiled, glad to hear they had a date. She didn’t understand the people who got engaged and then didn’t set a date for years, what was the point? “Thank you, I shall look forward to it”
John smiled to her. “How are things for you, here?” He was curious how different this woman was from the woman he had once connected to every mind on Earth.
“Well I’m not a vigilante” she replied with a small grin, “I’m on the board of directors for a number of different companies and I own the public library so comparatively my life is much quieter here. I can’t claim the name ‘Oracle’ here, a lot happens without my knowing about it”
John nodded, listening, “It sounds like you went from information broken to silent partner. Not a bad move.” He grinned. “Do you enjoy it? Does this life make you happy?”
Barbara chuckled and tilted her head in acknowledgement, “I guess I did” she agreed, and it wasn’t a bad move at all, “I do and yeah, I think I am pretty happy. I get the urge every now and then to fight the bad guys in a more hands on way but it usually passes pretty swiftly” she joked.
John chuckled. “I prefer to do my waging from behind the scenes. I did get my hand in recently once, but it was a purely emergency matter.”
“Oh really?” she asked interestedly, “I have my costume, from my time as Batgirl, but I’ve still not dared to try it on yet” She’d thought about it but something in her was telling her she’d want to do more than just try it.
John glanced at her sidelong. “I know a place you could work out and exercise some of those old... skills. A gym run by Red Planet, and recently revamped with technology from dreamers’ worlds. It’s a advanced gym, and might just give you a chance to see if you will ever want to go out again.”
He chuckled. “My own battle harness from the dreamworld came across, too, but it is still in my closet.”
“That sounds like a good idea actually. Thank you” she nodded, working out might actually help and she’d be able to see how much of her skills had also transferred, “Something about trying it on would make it feel that bit more real”
John nodded and his mind reached out to hers, gently touching the outside of her mind. Here.. Warmth and welcome were in his mind's touch, along with an address, a code to put in to access the gym, and the look of it.
Barbara’s mouth formed a wordless ‘Oh’ when John’s mind touched hers, allowing her to see what she needed. It was strange and familiar all at once. She smiled, “Thank you” she told him warmly.
He nodded to her. “You’re welcome, my friend.” and he hoped that this would be the start of a friendship here. He could use friends.
FIN.