Fic: Yesterday (Teen Titans)
Mar. 10th, 2008 10:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seriousficTitle: Yesterday
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Roy Harper, Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, Teen Titans
Word Count: 2,359
Timeline: 1988, shortly after Roy gets Lian from Cheshire.
Summary: The following is a transcript of the first of what the media has dubbed the Roy Harper Tapes, recorded in the last years of the 20th century. Time and misfortune have damaged the recordings; despite our best efforts to reconstruct them, this transcript based on lip reading, eyewitness accounts, and computer playback is an invaluable aid to understanding and conceptualizing this remarkable look into the private lives of the “superheroes” of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century.
“The following is a transcript of the first of what the media has dubbed the Roy Harper Tapes, recorded in the last years of the 20th century. Time and misfortune have damaged the recordings; despite our best efforts to reconstruct them, this transcript based on lip reading, eyewitness accounts, and computer playback is an invaluable aid to understanding and conceptualizing this remarkable look into the private lives of the “superheroes” of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century.
Roy Harper was the ward and sidekick of Oliver Queen, one of the many to take the name of Green Arrow…” - Excerpt from information pamphlet.
Notices
WARNING: This video is only licensed for playback at licensed facilities. The Federal Deputized Metahuman Act provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or exhibition of this feature.
Due to academic controversy, and for ease of viewing, the dates and times of the recording have been censored. Also, the faces and names of those who have not signed release forms have been censored, with the finished product meeting the JLA’s strict standards for producing its membership. When names are not available, individuals will be referred to by their costumed identities. At times, you may hear someone refer to a secret identity, but with a clear enunciation of the appropriate superhero identity obscuring the alter ego. This is normal, and any attempt to uncover a secret identity beneath the lip pixelization or sound censoring can result in criminal prosecution.
[Video begins, early morning. Apartment of Roy Harper. Roy Harper stands in front of camera in casual clothes, fiddling with it.]
ROY HARPER: Is this thing on? Testing, one two, one two… [checks manual] Well, the little red light is shining… hold on. [static] Hello from the past, Lian! This is your father. Duh. If you’re watching this, it means… we’re really bored. Maybe it’s just you and me, maybe you’ve got a new mom, maybe the old one isn’t being such a bit… hey, maybe Dick and the boys are there… If so, I’m hoping beer won’t be outlawed. Anyway, we just got back, got you back, and I thought you’d want to know what it was like back… now. So, fix up a big buttery bowl of popcorn, this is a day in the life of a Teen Titan… and your dad.
[static. Video resumes in parking lot of the first Titans Tower. Camera is set up on tripod, with Roy Harper sitting on the hood of his car (see Psychology of Transportation exhibit in Hall B)]
ROY HARPER: Traffic in New York is… well, hopefully they’ll have that figured out by the time you’re grown up. Commute is a total *****. I’ve been thinking of moving into the Tower, like some of the other guys… but then we rescued you and… well, ****, the damn place has already blown up once. I don’t technically work here, but I’m on extended assignment with the Titans as part of this CBI audit thing. I’ve been onboard for about three weeks now. Apparently you can go home again. Who knew?
[Video cuts to interior of Titans Tower. Donna Troy (see Love Lives of the Superheroic exhibit in Hall A) is eating breakfast in an unidentified room, facing the window. She appears to be unaware of the presence of either Roy Harper or the camera.]
ROY HARPER: Heeere’s Donna. Lian, if you’re lucky, this could be your stepmother you’re looking at right now. If that’s the case… Donna, since I’m sure future me has been telling you how much more beautiful you’ve become since we met, here’s you as much less pretty. [points camera at self] And if Donna isn’t my future wife, then I probably put future me in hot water. Sorry, old boy, better you than me.
[Roy sets the camera aside, but leaves it filming. From this unfavorable angle, we can see him approach Donna.]
ROY HARPER: Hey, sugar-pie, when are you going to dump that Terry schlub and admit you want to rock the casbah with me?
[Donna clasps his hand in what some experts have dubbed a secret Titans handshake. Wonder Girl II and other former members of Young Justice have been seen doing this in public.]
DONNA TROY: Maybe in the next life. If you’re on your best behavior.
ROY HARPER: Yes ma’am. Hey, you wanna say a few… oh, you haven’t even seen Lian yet, have you? We’ve gotta get you over to my place. NIGHTWING says it’s just gas, but I think she’s trying to say da—
DONNA TROY: I’d really rather not.
ROY HARPER: What’s wrong, I thought you loved kids? Next to BLACK CANARY, you’re one of the most maternal people I know.
DONNA TROY: Just… not right now. Not really in the mood.
ROY HARPER: It’s Terry, isn’t it? I’m so sorry, I never would’ve joked about that if…
DONNA TROY: It’s not that. Not all that, anyway… we were talking about having kids…
[Next section of tape censored by request of subjects. Footage picks up in kitchen of Titans Tower. Camera zooms in and focuses on the backside of Starfire II as she leans into a refrigerator in search of a snack]
ROY HARPER: Lian, if you turn out to be a lesbian, I must be the best dad ever right about now.
[Starfire turns around, pretending offense.]
STARFIRE: You have a new toy for five minutes and you’re already using it to ogle beautiful women.
ROY HARPER: I know. I can’t believe it took me so long either. Hey, maybe we could film a little later in private?
STARFIRE: Will this filming involve the wearing of clothes?
ROY HARPER: Well, I might throw something on, but no promises.
STARFIRE: I don’t think so.
ROY HARPER: You sure? When you’re old and gray, you’ll want a reminder of how pert and perky you used to be.
KORY: [tapping chin] Welllllll…
[Nightwing enters, wearing Costume 1.]
NIGHTWING: Kory, don’t get his hopes up. It’s cruel.
ROY HARPER: Hey, it’s Nightwing, proving disco isn’t dead.
STARFIRE: Don’t listen to him, darling. I think your outfit is bad of ass.
NIGHTWING: Thanks.
STARFIRE: What’s disco?
ROY HARPER: Hey, lovebirds, got any words of wisdom for the future?
NIGHTWING: Like what?
ROY HARPER: I don’t know, your pick for the 2025 World Series… something you’d like to look back on and nod sagely about.
NIGHTWING: You really think we’re all going to be huddled around the hologram, watching this in 30 years’ time?
STARFIRE: Why wouldn’t we be?
[Nightwing shrugs]
NIGHTWING: Kinda thought I’d be dead.
[Roy groans and Starfire jokingly hits Nightwing]
NIGHTWING: Hey, if it gets me out of seeing Roy’s home movies…
ROY HARPER: C’mon, NIGHTWING, you’re making me look like a mook.
NIGHTWING: Wouldn’t want to infringe on your turf, I guess. Okay, okay. [camera focuses on Nightwing] Get Kory in frame, c’mere babe… [Starfire enters frame, Nightwing puts an arm around her.] Just find the thing you want most in the world and don’t stop for anything. Kory?
[Starfire puts both arms around Nightwing’s waist and squeezes.]
STARFIRE: Find the person you love… the people worth caring for… and hold on tight.
NIGHTWING: Oh, and Red Sox sweep the Series.
[Video cuts to tripod shot of Jericho I]
ROY HARPER: Okay, it’s on. Go.
[Jericho speaks for several minutes in sign language. See attached file for translation. After he’s finished, Roy steps in front of camera.]
ROY HARPER: Did not get a word of that.
[Jericho strikes Roy in the back of the head.]
ROY HARPER: That I got.
[static. Tape resumes on a close shot of Gar Logan’s (Fourteen Brides for Seven Brothers, True Intensity, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Valley Forge) face]
GAR LOGAN: Hey, Lian. Your dad’s in the can, so I thought I’d give you some ammunition to use in case your dad is ever a massive hypocrite. If he tells you not to spend the weekend with two Bavarian underwear models who can’t speak a lick of English, for instance… [sound of toilet flushing is heard in background.] Gotta go, more later, stay tuned.
[static. New tripod shot of Gar Logan, similar to earlier shot of Jericho.]
GAR LOGAN: Lian, your father is the most morally upright individual that I have ever met. His sense of fair play and honor is an inspiration to us all. [snickering is heard from Roy Harper, behind the camera.] Hey, dude, if I’ve gotta keep a straight face, you’ve gotta keep a straight face.
ROY HARPER: I’m sorry, man, you’re just so sincere.
GAR LOGAN: That’s why I’m gonna win an Oscar someday.
ROY HARPER: Yeah… Best Actress!
GAR LOGAN: Hey!
ROY HARPER: Sorry, sorry… Best Supporting Actress!
[Video cuts to static. Brief snippet of VICTOR STONE saying “get that camera out of my face!” is played, before twenty minutes of damaged tape plays. Tape resumes in Teen Titans meeting room. Nightwing is conducting a briefing.]
NIGHTWING: --nd dangerous. We round them up, put them back in jail, we all make it home in time for dinner I buy pizza.
GAR LOGAN: Breadsticks?
NIGHTWING: Breadsticks.
ROY HARPER: Hell, point me at them, I’ll bring ‘em all in myself.
NIGHTWING: Speedy, I want you working crowd control.
ROY HARPER: Crowd control? C’mon, NIGHTWING…
NIGHTWING: You’ve been riding a desk a little long for my taste to see active combat so soon.
ROY HARPER: It’s like riding a bike.
NIGHTWING: You wanna change things, you’re welcome to join us in training. Till then, you’re support.
ROY HARPER: Training? Are you kidding me? I just got my kid back—
NIGHTWING: And I’m not gonna make her an orphan. You got a problem with that, maybe you wanna lead this team, you’re welcome to sit this one out.
GAR LOGAN: Yeah, maybe Lian needs her diaper changed.
VICTOR STONE: Shut the hell up, small fry.
[Static. See amateur footage of what is believed to be the 11/27 Fearsome Five capture for possible details. Camera cuts to interior of T-Jet in the aftermath of battle. Raven I is healing wounds, many costumes are damaged. Gar Logan is filming. Nightwing is piloting.]
NIGHTWING: Hang back, Roy. Provide back-up, Roy. Now ****ing Gizmo is on the loose.
ROY HARPER: Hey, man, I saved your life!
NIGHTWING: I would’ve been fine.
ROY HARPER: With a gaping hole through your chest? Yeah, that might slow down us mere mortals, but for Batman’s protégé…
NIGHTWING: In this team, we follow orders!
ROY HARPER: What happened to you? In the old Titans, you never used to have such a stick up your ass.
NIGHTWING: The world’s a more dangerous place! We can’t just waltz in and waltz out, not if we expect everyone to come back home alive.
[Silence as Roy Harper looks around the jet. The rest of the Teen Titans are silent and their body language is rigid.]
ROY HARPER: So, we all know what this is about?
NIGHTWING: What what’s about?
ROY HARPER: No one blames you for Jason, man. Not anyone.
NIGHTWING: Tell Gar to stop filming this.
ROY HARPER: He’s filming…?
[Static. Video resumes with Roy Harper alone in an unidentified room of Titans Tower. He is still wearing his Speedy costume, but without his mask.]
ROY HARPER: I’m sorry you had to see that. Part of me wants to erase it, but… I think we could all use a reminder that it’s never beer and roses. In case you were wondering, Jason is one of the many reasons you will never be running with a bow and arrow, calling yourself Speedy Jr. … I’m not going to stay here much longer.
[Video cuts to the inside of a pizza place that has requested its name and location be withheld. The Titans, not including Raven, are present, along with TERRY LONG. Starfire pays for the pizza, stopping to face camera.]
STARFIRE: NIGHTWING wrote a check, see?
ROY HARPER: Yeah, well, we earned it. Bad guys behind bars, and nobody died.
DONNA TROY: Today.
ROY HARPER: Not you too…
[Most of the Titans remain at their table while Donna Troy and Starfire stand at the bar with Roy Harper.]
DONNA TROY: NIGHTWING’s right, things are getting more dangerous.
ROY HARPER: We still have fun, though, that’s the important thing. Me, personally, I wouldn’t give this up for anything.
DONNA TROY: Even your daughter?
ROY HARPER: Every day I fight, I make the world a better place for her.
DONNA TROY: I think I’d make the world a better place for my kids by being a good mom.
ROY HARPER: Well, the world can always use some of those. And good fathers. Salut.
[They drink.]
ROY HARPER: So, how long do we expect Achilles to stay in his tent?
STARFIRE: He’s planning a new training session. One that’s all about you. And if you can spare enough time to grab pizza with your friends, maybe you can spare enough time to put your best friend’s mind at ease.
[Starfire grabs a pitcher of beer and goes back to the table.]
ROY HARPER: Ouch.
DONNA TROY: She means well.
ROY HARPER: Wish I could meet someone as Stand By Your Man as that. Lian could use the support.
DONNA TROY: She has you.
ROY HARPER: Yeah, but I’m… me?
DONNA TROY: You’ll be a better dad than Ollie.
ROY HARPER: I wasn’t worried…
DONNA TROY: Yeah, you were. Stop focusing on the fact that you made mistakes and focus on the fact that you learned from them. You’re not the same man you used to be.
[Donna Troy reaches out to rub Roy’s arm, which is resting on the counter. Camera focuses on this.]
DONNA TROY: Lian’s very lucky to have you as a father.
ROY HARPER: Thanks. Could you do me a favor?
DONNA TROY: Anything.
ROY HARPER: Tell me the truth. Are things alright with Terry? Because I can’t shake the sense that… Donna?
DONNA TROY: What does it mean when the red light’s blinking?
[Tape ends.]
The preceding video was generously donated to the Bruce Wayne Memorial Museum by Lian Harper.
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Roy Harper, Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, Teen Titans
Word Count: 2,359
Timeline: 1988, shortly after Roy gets Lian from Cheshire.
Summary: The following is a transcript of the first of what the media has dubbed the Roy Harper Tapes, recorded in the last years of the 20th century. Time and misfortune have damaged the recordings; despite our best efforts to reconstruct them, this transcript based on lip reading, eyewitness accounts, and computer playback is an invaluable aid to understanding and conceptualizing this remarkable look into the private lives of the “superheroes” of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century.
“The following is a transcript of the first of what the media has dubbed the Roy Harper Tapes, recorded in the last years of the 20th century. Time and misfortune have damaged the recordings; despite our best efforts to reconstruct them, this transcript based on lip reading, eyewitness accounts, and computer playback is an invaluable aid to understanding and conceptualizing this remarkable look into the private lives of the “superheroes” of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century.
Roy Harper was the ward and sidekick of Oliver Queen, one of the many to take the name of Green Arrow…” - Excerpt from information pamphlet.
WARNING: This video is only licensed for playback at licensed facilities. The Federal Deputized Metahuman Act provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or exhibition of this feature.
Due to academic controversy, and for ease of viewing, the dates and times of the recording have been censored. Also, the faces and names of those who have not signed release forms have been censored, with the finished product meeting the JLA’s strict standards for producing its membership. When names are not available, individuals will be referred to by their costumed identities. At times, you may hear someone refer to a secret identity, but with a clear enunciation of the appropriate superhero identity obscuring the alter ego. This is normal, and any attempt to uncover a secret identity beneath the lip pixelization or sound censoring can result in criminal prosecution.
[Video begins, early morning. Apartment of Roy Harper. Roy Harper stands in front of camera in casual clothes, fiddling with it.]
ROY HARPER: Is this thing on? Testing, one two, one two… [checks manual] Well, the little red light is shining… hold on. [static] Hello from the past, Lian! This is your father. Duh. If you’re watching this, it means… we’re really bored. Maybe it’s just you and me, maybe you’ve got a new mom, maybe the old one isn’t being such a bit… hey, maybe Dick and the boys are there… If so, I’m hoping beer won’t be outlawed. Anyway, we just got back, got you back, and I thought you’d want to know what it was like back… now. So, fix up a big buttery bowl of popcorn, this is a day in the life of a Teen Titan… and your dad.
[static. Video resumes in parking lot of the first Titans Tower. Camera is set up on tripod, with Roy Harper sitting on the hood of his car (see Psychology of Transportation exhibit in Hall B)]
ROY HARPER: Traffic in New York is… well, hopefully they’ll have that figured out by the time you’re grown up. Commute is a total *****. I’ve been thinking of moving into the Tower, like some of the other guys… but then we rescued you and… well, ****, the damn place has already blown up once. I don’t technically work here, but I’m on extended assignment with the Titans as part of this CBI audit thing. I’ve been onboard for about three weeks now. Apparently you can go home again. Who knew?
[Video cuts to interior of Titans Tower. Donna Troy (see Love Lives of the Superheroic exhibit in Hall A) is eating breakfast in an unidentified room, facing the window. She appears to be unaware of the presence of either Roy Harper or the camera.]
ROY HARPER: Heeere’s Donna. Lian, if you’re lucky, this could be your stepmother you’re looking at right now. If that’s the case… Donna, since I’m sure future me has been telling you how much more beautiful you’ve become since we met, here’s you as much less pretty. [points camera at self] And if Donna isn’t my future wife, then I probably put future me in hot water. Sorry, old boy, better you than me.
[Roy sets the camera aside, but leaves it filming. From this unfavorable angle, we can see him approach Donna.]
ROY HARPER: Hey, sugar-pie, when are you going to dump that Terry schlub and admit you want to rock the casbah with me?
[Donna clasps his hand in what some experts have dubbed a secret Titans handshake. Wonder Girl II and other former members of Young Justice have been seen doing this in public.]
DONNA TROY: Maybe in the next life. If you’re on your best behavior.
ROY HARPER: Yes ma’am. Hey, you wanna say a few… oh, you haven’t even seen Lian yet, have you? We’ve gotta get you over to my place. NIGHTWING says it’s just gas, but I think she’s trying to say da—
DONNA TROY: I’d really rather not.
ROY HARPER: What’s wrong, I thought you loved kids? Next to BLACK CANARY, you’re one of the most maternal people I know.
DONNA TROY: Just… not right now. Not really in the mood.
ROY HARPER: It’s Terry, isn’t it? I’m so sorry, I never would’ve joked about that if…
DONNA TROY: It’s not that. Not all that, anyway… we were talking about having kids…
[Next section of tape censored by request of subjects. Footage picks up in kitchen of Titans Tower. Camera zooms in and focuses on the backside of Starfire II as she leans into a refrigerator in search of a snack]
ROY HARPER: Lian, if you turn out to be a lesbian, I must be the best dad ever right about now.
[Starfire turns around, pretending offense.]
STARFIRE: You have a new toy for five minutes and you’re already using it to ogle beautiful women.
ROY HARPER: I know. I can’t believe it took me so long either. Hey, maybe we could film a little later in private?
STARFIRE: Will this filming involve the wearing of clothes?
ROY HARPER: Well, I might throw something on, but no promises.
STARFIRE: I don’t think so.
ROY HARPER: You sure? When you’re old and gray, you’ll want a reminder of how pert and perky you used to be.
KORY: [tapping chin] Welllllll…
[Nightwing enters, wearing Costume 1.]
NIGHTWING: Kory, don’t get his hopes up. It’s cruel.
ROY HARPER: Hey, it’s Nightwing, proving disco isn’t dead.
STARFIRE: Don’t listen to him, darling. I think your outfit is bad of ass.
NIGHTWING: Thanks.
STARFIRE: What’s disco?
ROY HARPER: Hey, lovebirds, got any words of wisdom for the future?
NIGHTWING: Like what?
ROY HARPER: I don’t know, your pick for the 2025 World Series… something you’d like to look back on and nod sagely about.
NIGHTWING: You really think we’re all going to be huddled around the hologram, watching this in 30 years’ time?
STARFIRE: Why wouldn’t we be?
[Nightwing shrugs]
NIGHTWING: Kinda thought I’d be dead.
[Roy groans and Starfire jokingly hits Nightwing]
NIGHTWING: Hey, if it gets me out of seeing Roy’s home movies…
ROY HARPER: C’mon, NIGHTWING, you’re making me look like a mook.
NIGHTWING: Wouldn’t want to infringe on your turf, I guess. Okay, okay. [camera focuses on Nightwing] Get Kory in frame, c’mere babe… [Starfire enters frame, Nightwing puts an arm around her.] Just find the thing you want most in the world and don’t stop for anything. Kory?
[Starfire puts both arms around Nightwing’s waist and squeezes.]
STARFIRE: Find the person you love… the people worth caring for… and hold on tight.
NIGHTWING: Oh, and Red Sox sweep the Series.
[Video cuts to tripod shot of Jericho I]
ROY HARPER: Okay, it’s on. Go.
[Jericho speaks for several minutes in sign language. See attached file for translation. After he’s finished, Roy steps in front of camera.]
ROY HARPER: Did not get a word of that.
[Jericho strikes Roy in the back of the head.]
ROY HARPER: That I got.
[static. Tape resumes on a close shot of Gar Logan’s (Fourteen Brides for Seven Brothers, True Intensity, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Valley Forge) face]
GAR LOGAN: Hey, Lian. Your dad’s in the can, so I thought I’d give you some ammunition to use in case your dad is ever a massive hypocrite. If he tells you not to spend the weekend with two Bavarian underwear models who can’t speak a lick of English, for instance… [sound of toilet flushing is heard in background.] Gotta go, more later, stay tuned.
[static. New tripod shot of Gar Logan, similar to earlier shot of Jericho.]
GAR LOGAN: Lian, your father is the most morally upright individual that I have ever met. His sense of fair play and honor is an inspiration to us all. [snickering is heard from Roy Harper, behind the camera.] Hey, dude, if I’ve gotta keep a straight face, you’ve gotta keep a straight face.
ROY HARPER: I’m sorry, man, you’re just so sincere.
GAR LOGAN: That’s why I’m gonna win an Oscar someday.
ROY HARPER: Yeah… Best Actress!
GAR LOGAN: Hey!
ROY HARPER: Sorry, sorry… Best Supporting Actress!
[Video cuts to static. Brief snippet of VICTOR STONE saying “get that camera out of my face!” is played, before twenty minutes of damaged tape plays. Tape resumes in Teen Titans meeting room. Nightwing is conducting a briefing.]
NIGHTWING: --nd dangerous. We round them up, put them back in jail, we all make it home in time for dinner I buy pizza.
GAR LOGAN: Breadsticks?
NIGHTWING: Breadsticks.
ROY HARPER: Hell, point me at them, I’ll bring ‘em all in myself.
NIGHTWING: Speedy, I want you working crowd control.
ROY HARPER: Crowd control? C’mon, NIGHTWING…
NIGHTWING: You’ve been riding a desk a little long for my taste to see active combat so soon.
ROY HARPER: It’s like riding a bike.
NIGHTWING: You wanna change things, you’re welcome to join us in training. Till then, you’re support.
ROY HARPER: Training? Are you kidding me? I just got my kid back—
NIGHTWING: And I’m not gonna make her an orphan. You got a problem with that, maybe you wanna lead this team, you’re welcome to sit this one out.
GAR LOGAN: Yeah, maybe Lian needs her diaper changed.
VICTOR STONE: Shut the hell up, small fry.
[Static. See amateur footage of what is believed to be the 11/27 Fearsome Five capture for possible details. Camera cuts to interior of T-Jet in the aftermath of battle. Raven I is healing wounds, many costumes are damaged. Gar Logan is filming. Nightwing is piloting.]
NIGHTWING: Hang back, Roy. Provide back-up, Roy. Now ****ing Gizmo is on the loose.
ROY HARPER: Hey, man, I saved your life!
NIGHTWING: I would’ve been fine.
ROY HARPER: With a gaping hole through your chest? Yeah, that might slow down us mere mortals, but for Batman’s protégé…
NIGHTWING: In this team, we follow orders!
ROY HARPER: What happened to you? In the old Titans, you never used to have such a stick up your ass.
NIGHTWING: The world’s a more dangerous place! We can’t just waltz in and waltz out, not if we expect everyone to come back home alive.
[Silence as Roy Harper looks around the jet. The rest of the Teen Titans are silent and their body language is rigid.]
ROY HARPER: So, we all know what this is about?
NIGHTWING: What what’s about?
ROY HARPER: No one blames you for Jason, man. Not anyone.
NIGHTWING: Tell Gar to stop filming this.
ROY HARPER: He’s filming…?
[Static. Video resumes with Roy Harper alone in an unidentified room of Titans Tower. He is still wearing his Speedy costume, but without his mask.]
ROY HARPER: I’m sorry you had to see that. Part of me wants to erase it, but… I think we could all use a reminder that it’s never beer and roses. In case you were wondering, Jason is one of the many reasons you will never be running with a bow and arrow, calling yourself Speedy Jr. … I’m not going to stay here much longer.
[Video cuts to the inside of a pizza place that has requested its name and location be withheld. The Titans, not including Raven, are present, along with TERRY LONG. Starfire pays for the pizza, stopping to face camera.]
STARFIRE: NIGHTWING wrote a check, see?
ROY HARPER: Yeah, well, we earned it. Bad guys behind bars, and nobody died.
DONNA TROY: Today.
ROY HARPER: Not you too…
[Most of the Titans remain at their table while Donna Troy and Starfire stand at the bar with Roy Harper.]
DONNA TROY: NIGHTWING’s right, things are getting more dangerous.
ROY HARPER: We still have fun, though, that’s the important thing. Me, personally, I wouldn’t give this up for anything.
DONNA TROY: Even your daughter?
ROY HARPER: Every day I fight, I make the world a better place for her.
DONNA TROY: I think I’d make the world a better place for my kids by being a good mom.
ROY HARPER: Well, the world can always use some of those. And good fathers. Salut.
[They drink.]
ROY HARPER: So, how long do we expect Achilles to stay in his tent?
STARFIRE: He’s planning a new training session. One that’s all about you. And if you can spare enough time to grab pizza with your friends, maybe you can spare enough time to put your best friend’s mind at ease.
[Starfire grabs a pitcher of beer and goes back to the table.]
ROY HARPER: Ouch.
DONNA TROY: She means well.
ROY HARPER: Wish I could meet someone as Stand By Your Man as that. Lian could use the support.
DONNA TROY: She has you.
ROY HARPER: Yeah, but I’m… me?
DONNA TROY: You’ll be a better dad than Ollie.
ROY HARPER: I wasn’t worried…
DONNA TROY: Yeah, you were. Stop focusing on the fact that you made mistakes and focus on the fact that you learned from them. You’re not the same man you used to be.
[Donna Troy reaches out to rub Roy’s arm, which is resting on the counter. Camera focuses on this.]
DONNA TROY: Lian’s very lucky to have you as a father.
ROY HARPER: Thanks. Could you do me a favor?
DONNA TROY: Anything.
ROY HARPER: Tell me the truth. Are things alright with Terry? Because I can’t shake the sense that… Donna?
DONNA TROY: What does it mean when the red light’s blinking?
[Tape ends.]
The preceding video was generously donated to the Bruce Wayne Memorial Museum by Lian Harper.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-03-10 03:40 pm (UTC)I mean... wow.
What a great way to tell this story.
It's perfect.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-10 05:44 pm (UTC)Well, that is kinda the idea.
But it is very true to the era, and works so right, and is almost a documentary of how comics went wrong
By breaking up Dick and Kory. The possibilities were endless.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-10 08:15 pm (UTC)Wonderful work!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-10 09:17 pm (UTC)If you’re watching this, it means… we’re really bored.
Ha!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-12 09:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-11 03:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-11 10:56 pm (UTC)But mostly I'm caught in a great fit of nostalgia and 'Oh, whoa' for the format. :)
Q&A
Date: 2008-03-12 09:35 pm (UTC)Canonically, 1988 (I had to do research! Read back-issues to make it canon-compliant! *cries*). Of course, given the sliding timeline, who knows?
Did NY traffic ever get better?
:(
Is Lian Speedy in this universe?
She's Robin. It drives Roy nuts. ;)
Is Roy or anybody else in the video dead?
Dude, Jericho.
What did Joey say?
"If only these idiots understood sign language, they would know that I'm planning the demise of them and my father's butler. Under no circumstances will I allow the Titans to survive and corrupt my sister. She will remain chaste and innocent, and never risk her life as a superhero!"
In all seriousness, tho, I wanted to leave a lot of it up to the reader's interpretation. Although I do consider it a little dystopian that Lian decided to donate a treasured family heirloom to a museum.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-12 08:19 pm (UTC)That probably means Roy's gone, doesn't it? :(
srsly though man, great, great fic. I'm only so sad I got to it so late.
Good post.
Date: 2008-03-24 01:04 pm (UTC)