thenewoutsiders | Enter: Connor Hawke

Amusement Mile, 91 Sorkin Avenue. Gotham City.

Home.

You knew it was going to be hard, making a clean start for yourself far away from the Arrow Clan. You didn’t think it was going to be this hard. But with most of your boxes unpacked, and tenants displaced by a gentrified Burnside filing into this once abandoned entertainment district- thanks to your generous, rent controlled prices- you’re finally back in the landlording game.

At least this was a cheap get. Even with all the gentrification going on in this neighborhood, for some reason the buildings down this part of Sorkin Avenue were priced to move. You figure it’s just Gotham- people get scared and leave town all the time. Fortunately for your tenants, they’ve got a superhero for a landlord.

There’s still a lot to do. There’s that zen garden you want to put up on the roof, that isn’t even close to finished. The Bailey family on the second floor still isn’t getting water in their kids’ bathroom. Not to mention—

You’re interrupted from meditating in your spartan spare bedroom by the ring of a doorbell.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

not_easy_being_green

Connor slips quietly back into his apartment through the window, having left Steph behind a few blocks out to avoid any potential... awkwardness with Lemmy.

He takes his time, stripping away his costume and stowing it in the closet for now. He'll have to clean it later, after... everything... but he's too tired for that now.

Before showering, he takes a moment to examine his wounds from earlier - or rather, his lack of them. There's no longer any trace of any of the injuries he'd sustained throughout the fight with Grundy, not even a hint of the cuts, bites or burns.

He'd tried to brush it off after the incident with Sal, but he can't deny it anymore. He's clearly healing quickly, much more quickly than he should.

And he knows exactly why. The dragon's blood. The same blood Hoon had tried to use to become a god. Connor hadn't been in it long, had thought the effects had faded after the brief rush of strength had left him.

Obviously not.

He flexes his hand. Closes his eyes. Breathes. He's... he doesn't know what to do now. Who to talk to about this. He supposes he should see someone about it, at least try to get a sense of how permanent it may or may not be.

A small, quiet part of him almost hopes it isn't. He doesn't want this. He doesn't want to profit from that entire thing.

He doesn't want the blood on his hands to have made him stronger.

Connor pushes it away. Takes a quick shower and tries to meditate for a little while before giving up and getting dressed. He pushes his newfound abilities to the back of his mind, as much as he can.

He needs to go talk to Lemmy.

From:

newoutsiders

You go to Lemmy's apartment, to find the door wide open. His friend from earlier is sleeping on the couch.

"Dude!" Lemmy says. "Dude, wake up! You gotta see this!"

From:

not_easy_being_green

"Am I interrupting?" Connor asks.

From:

newoutsiders

"Mr. Hawke!" Lemmy says, turning around. "Nah, man. I was gonna try to tell Spencer about my new superpowers. But, you know, once he's like this, he's just gonna wake up when he wakes up."

From:

not_easy_being_green

Connor nods, a little absently. "I think it might be a good idea for us to... talk." He glances at the open door. "Privately."

From:

newoutsiders

Lemmy taps his nose and smiles knowingly. "Roger," he stage whispers. "Come in and close the door. Spencer's not gonna hear any of this. Besides, he's cool."

From:

not_easy_being_green

Connor does so uneasily, then turns to Lemmy. He's clearly feeling a bit awkward right now. After a moment's hesitation, he says, "How are you doing with... everything?"

From:

newoutsiders

"Awesome!" He blurts out. "Never felt better in my life. This was a great night for me. Solved that ghost mystery, blowing up on CapeScape, and- oh yeah, you might have missed this- I got FREAKING SUPER POWERS, DUDE!"

From:

not_easy_being_green

"I'm glad you're taking it well." It could have gone either way, really, but he guesses Lemmy was comparatively lucky, not having been forced to work for Grundy like the others. "Do you know how they took you? With Grundy - gone - the abductions should stop, but if it's at all possible to track down any of the others responsible..."

From:

newoutsiders

"Well... I gotta come clean with you, dude," he says a little sheepishly. "I moved in after all those disappearances to track down the ghost here. I dunno if the last super told you, but people said this place was haunted." He laughs. "I guess we know it was just those zombie guys now, huh? Anyway, yeah, I was going to get a pizza, when I saw somebody weird in the building. I tried to tail him- and the douchebag turned a corner, and when I followed, he JUMPED me! Next thing I know, I'm in the swamp getting strapped into some crazy machine."

From:

not_easy_being_green

"I know, I saw your site." He looks a little startled as Lemmy continues, "He was in here? What did he look like?"

From:

newoutsiders

"I dunno, man. He was just a guy. He ran out with a few other guys when the base was under attack, and I heard him start shooting right before I went under again."

From:

not_easy_being_green

And of course, there are no security cameras. "Maybe this goes without saying, but if you see him around here again... make sure to detain him."

Connor takes a breath. "Speaking of... things that probably go without saying... I know my secret identity kind of... isn't... but I'd still really rather not advertise anything..."

From:

newoutsiders

"Sure, sure," he says, waving it off like it's no big thing. "I didn't mention your name. I just told my followers I've been busting Grundy with DGA. Dreamy Green Arrow," he clarifies. "You're, uh, kind of a meme."

From:

not_easy_being_green

"I'm a what?"

Connor is, by now, unfortunately aware of his CapeScape fame, but he has no idea what a "meme" is.

From:

newoutsiders

"What?" he laughs. "You know man, a meme! I dunno how to describe it. I guess, basically, it means you're famous on the internet, but also kind of a joke people use? Don't worry, in your case it's a flattering joke. It's all about how good looking you are."

From:

not_easy_being_green

"Great. This is the thing with the person who's been impersonating me on - what was it? CapeScape? - again, isn't it?"

From:

newoutsiders

"Ha!" he shouts, victoriously. "I *KNEW* that wasn't you! Half the guys on CapeScape are, like, roleplay accounts. I mean, yours was verified, but I always told people, that's not you. The real Olive Arrow is way too much of a shy doofus to post about himself online. Uh... no offense."

From:

not_easy_being_green

"Uh... none... taken?" 'Olive Arrow?' "I literally only just found out about it a few hours ago. Do you know if there's anything I can do about it?"

Edited Date: 2014-11-15 07:06 pm (UTC)

From:

newoutsiders

"I guess you could put up a complaint..." he says. "I dunno if you want to involve lawyers. That could get really messy, what with your identity and all... oh!"

Lemmy snaps his fingers, which produces a metallic *TUNG* sound.

"You can record a video refutation, and send it in! Prove that it's really you, and post your OWN video, about how this other guy faked it! I can help you record it, if you want."

From:

not_easy_being_green

"Oh. I'll have to-"

He thinks about the video from the diner.

He thinks about all the people who've seen it by now.

He thinks of Kyle finding it.

"You know what? I'd really appreciate it. My costume's in my apartment."