[ This war of attrition has been waged for that exact purpose. Finding the edge that will undermine the Magistrate's operations and liberate Gotham City once and for all. Dick's insurgency steps closer and closer to that truth with every bit of intel they collect, every possible weakness they can learn to exploit.
At first, Dick's content to listen on as Hana shares her addendum to their plans. His eyes are forward, at the clouded sky before them, Hana piloting the machine in the direction of the Memorial Bridge. Her brief glance back at him, though, is what catches him off guard. He's unprepared to see her up close, to be reminded of how good she looks. Not to say, of course, that he's reduced to a sputtering mess at the sight. It might caught his breath very softly, but plausible deniability is on his side - he can stay he's still adjusting to the altitude change.
But there's no denying, at this moment, he could look at her for ages. A shame, then, that the eye contact only lasts a second. Hana has to mind the controls, steer the mech away from the Magistrate's detection-- all good reasons for their gazes to separate. "They won't even get a shot on me," she says. ]
From what I remember, I expect nothing less.
[ In some self-awareness of how he's feeling now, his tone is light. Proud. This might be a somber occasion, but their partnership today is something to celebrate. Despite that, Dick's just... grown concerned. He doesn't want her to think he's mad at her, or that he holds a grudge for how they ended things before. But he also doesn't know how much of himself he can just show right now. It definitely won't help the mission. ]
[ Whatever vehicles they all rode in, Talon's forces disembarked as soon as they reached the end of the bridge. Now, they're marching into the city. The procession acts to intimidate nearby civilians, announcing the consolidation of the Magistrate's power; the extension of Talon's reach. The villains Dick identified are distinct in the crowd of troopers due to their costumes, emblematic of their old looks but given a sleek, technologically robust Talon makeover. There's an attempt to cultivate a homogenous aesthetic, here, but Dick's not crazy about these combinations of red, white, and gray. ]
Comms on. Drop me off at the next rooftop... then get their attention.
For now, prioritize the troopers. The two stooges are mine.
[ Should Hana follow his command, the cockpit's hatch opens briefly for Dick to vault off of the mech. He rolls to cushion his fall upon landing on the designated rooftop, then looks up and signals at Hana to carry on with the plan. Without a moment to waste, he leaps from one rooftop to the next, grappling as needed until he's perched atop a building behind the procession.
If any trooper or new enforcer decides to turn around for any reason... they'll soon find Nightwing descending upon them. ]
no subject
[ Notably, it's the first time he directly addresses her, and it's by her moniker. ]
But fighting the Magistrate isn't as straightforward as I'd like it to be.
Excuse the cliché, but for every head cut off, more regrow in its place. There has to be a way to kill the entire hydra in one fell swoop.
[ This war of attrition has been waged for that exact purpose. Finding the edge that will undermine the Magistrate's operations and liberate Gotham City once and for all. Dick's insurgency steps closer and closer to that truth with every bit of intel they collect, every possible weakness they can learn to exploit.
At first, Dick's content to listen on as Hana shares her addendum to their plans. His eyes are forward, at the clouded sky before them, Hana piloting the machine in the direction of the Memorial Bridge. Her brief glance back at him, though, is what catches him off guard. He's unprepared to see her up close, to be reminded of how good she looks. Not to say, of course, that he's reduced to a sputtering mess at the sight. It might caught his breath very softly, but plausible deniability is on his side - he can stay he's still adjusting to the altitude change.
But there's no denying, at this moment, he could look at her for ages. A shame, then, that the eye contact only lasts a second. Hana has to mind the controls, steer the mech away from the Magistrate's detection-- all good reasons for their gazes to separate. "They won't even get a shot on me," she says. ]
From what I remember, I expect nothing less.
[ In some self-awareness of how he's feeling now, his tone is light. Proud. This might be a somber occasion, but their partnership today is something to celebrate. Despite that, Dick's just... grown concerned. He doesn't want her to think he's mad at her, or that he holds a grudge for how they ended things before. But he also doesn't know how much of himself he can just show right now. It definitely won't help the mission. ]
There's Firefly and Electrocutioner, down below. Surrounded by Talon troopers, no less.
[ Whatever vehicles they all rode in, Talon's forces disembarked as soon as they reached the end of the bridge. Now, they're marching into the city. The procession acts to intimidate nearby civilians, announcing the consolidation of the Magistrate's power; the extension of Talon's reach. The villains Dick identified are distinct in the crowd of troopers due to their costumes, emblematic of their old looks but given a sleek, technologically robust Talon makeover. There's an attempt to cultivate a homogenous aesthetic, here, but Dick's not crazy about these combinations of red, white, and gray. ]
Comms on. Drop me off at the next rooftop... then get their attention.
For now, prioritize the troopers. The two stooges are mine.
[ Should Hana follow his command, the cockpit's hatch opens briefly for Dick to vault off of the mech. He rolls to cushion his fall upon landing on the designated rooftop, then looks up and signals at Hana to carry on with the plan. Without a moment to waste, he leaps from one rooftop to the next, grappling as needed until he's perched atop a building behind the procession.
If any trooper or new enforcer decides to turn around for any reason... they'll soon find Nightwing descending upon them. ]