[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

[snowblindmods]

Welcome to Norfinbury. The time is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R and the date is E̛̬̞͖͖̫R҉͖̯̬R̼̻͉̰͎̳̙O̩͓͔̫͇͈̯R. This network has been provided for your use. Please interact politely with everyone else on this network.

Comments

[srsbat]

If you ask her, she'll know. I can't confirm even to her right now.
This house only allows text.

[armoured]

I didn't know any of the houses did that, how does it stop you using voice or video?

[Technology is still baffling to him.]

[srsbat]

[Poor sweet Al.]

Neither will go through when I try.
If not an environmental anomaly, the house could be made of material that blocks the signals.
Computer terminals seem to have been present at one time.

private;

[armoured]

[There's a pause where Steph contacts him, before he switches to private and responds there.]

You're, uh, Batman?

[God, he feels dumb saying that name.]

private

[srsbat]

[Freaking Stephanie. HOW MANY FRIENDS DOES SHE HAVE HERE?]

Yes.

private

[armoured]

Steph's told me about you, that you're working with her.

[He hesitates, voice softening and sounding even younger.]

She's one of my best friends. Not even just here, but-- in general.

private

[srsbat]

[Bruce understands. He would commend Stephanie, but that's always the hardest thing to get out of him. Saying so might make her keep from reaching for being better.]

She's told me you're looking for the Joker.

private

[armoured]

Yeah.

[He sounds so guilty, with an undertone of determination.]

He got away from me recently, but I'm tracking him down. I won't let him hurt anyone else.

private

[srsbat]

I'm looking for him, too. [Maybe it's something about what Al said. Maybe it's the fact Al has a young voice.] He's very dangerous. I don't want to get anyone else involved. I know what he's capable of, and it's never anything good.

But Stephanie spoke in your favor. Perhaps we can help one another.

[And then, you know, Bruce can be a heroic asshole and shove Al out of the way in favor of trying to take the Joker on himself! Naturally.]

private

[armoured]

I hope we can too, it's always better to have backup when dealing with something as serious as this.

[Al is a team player!]

But I do know what he can do, I've already faced him three times and detained him once.

private

[srsbat]

You shouldn't had to have faced him at all. [He feels almost like he's failed despite having absolutely zero control over this situation. Maybe that's the issue: no control.] Stephanie said you might know where he is.

private

[armoured]

Yeah, I think I do, he was with me until just a few days ago and he couldn't have got passed me. But I'm only telling you if you agree to work with me.

private

[srsbat]

I'll work with you.

private

[armoured]

Good.

[And Steph said he might be difficult.]

He's down in the entrance area, it's not that big a space so it shouldn't be too hard to track him if we collaborate.

private

[srsbat]

[Dammit, Steph.]

Are you in that area as well?

Re: private

[armoured]

Yeah, almost. I had to take a friend back up north, but I'm only a day or so away from being back and I know where he was when we-- uh, saw each other last.

private

[srsbat]

All right. This house transfers any audio and video to text. I'm going to contact you after I move. We can go from there.

private

[armoured]

Okay.

[Maybe that's why he hasn't questioned Al's credentials based on his voice, like most people do.]

Be in touch soon. Tonight.