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[khajidont]

[ When a familiar face pops up on the network, he's looking a lot less dead than he had looked during his last appearance. In fact, he looks entirely well aside from the dark circles underneath his eyes and a slight pallor to his skin, something that can be attributed just as much to stress as it can injury. ]

Hey, everyone. It's Jaime. And the Blue Beetle, I guess. That cat's extremely out of the bag.

[ He takes a deep breath. ]

I don't really know what to say, except that the Negotiator's dead, so everyone should be safe now - not that I'm the guy you have to thank for that, but the people who did were just doing the right thing. And that I'm sorry, for everything about happened. I knew that the Negotiator was bad news, but I didn't think - I didn't think he'd do that. But I knew. And I'm sorry I didn't do anything about him sooner.

[ He glances off-camera for a moment, teeth worrying at his lip. He looks like there's something else he wants to say, but he eventually leaves the matter be. ]

If there's anything I can do to help anyone who was hurt in all that, it's the least I can do. And... thank you to everyone who tried to help, or who fought back. From me and the Scarab. He -- I -- [ He shakes his head. ] Ah, damn it.

[ Words have never been his strong point. He cuts the feed. ]

[ NOTE: This post comes a couple days after THIS ordeal! If you'd rather see him in person, whether in the hospital (the first day), at his home, or evading the press, feel free to check out my CATCH-ALL. ]

Comments

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[flightforfreedom]

[ Poe looks honestly worried. ]

I'm glad you're alright, Jaime.

[ But it's not just you he's worried about. ]

Is Khaji da....

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[khajidont]

Oh. Yeah. He's - he's fine. I wouldn't be here if he wasn't.

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[girlybruiser]

Jaime!

[ Her voice is chock full of emotion seeing Jaime pop up on her screen. Clearly in need of rest, but he's alive. ]

I'm so glad to see you. How are you feeling?

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[khajidont]

I'm okay! I'm okay. I got out a lot easier than everyone else. I heal. [ The others - well, they didn't. ]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Jaime...

[Jacob looks downcast and trails off for a moment. Like Jaime, he sometimes struggles to find the words too.]

I'm glad you're still with us. And sorry, that you had to go through that.

[Especially on the Network, in front of everyone.]

[khajidont]

[ He exhales. ]

Thanks. I'm just glad Kaidan wasn't here to see that mess.

voice

[prayercycles]

[ To some extent, this all makes sense to him. Jaime and the Blue Beetle always had similar personalities, and made him feel welcome. Fortunato's far less surprised than he should be.

Doesn't make confronting this any more strange. ]

Jaime. Do you need anything? [ That's the first thing he can do, at least. ]

voice

[khajidont]

Oh... hey, Fortunato. No, I'm okay.

[ He probably does need something - but what that could be, he doesn't know. ]

voice

[queenofseers]

Well- thank fuck.

[ Despite the bluntness of that, it's sincere. Jaime and her aren't particularly close, but he's not someone she wants to see maimed on camera. ]

Good to see you relatively put together. And not that it's going to help you much, but sorry about your entire life being...you know, blown to shreds. [ There's no good way to put this, is there. ]

voice

[khajidont]

God. I don't know how I'm gonna show my face anywhere after this.

[ He's dreading it. He crept out briefly already and the press had already been hounding him. How's he going to go back to work? To school? To Church? ]

Thanks, I guess.

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[dragony]

There was nothing to do about him sooner.

[ no "hey", no "how are you feeling", not even a "you don't have to apologize". cool nice pep talk. ]

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[khajidont]

Yes there was. There's always a third option, even if you can't see it right away.

[ The way he says it is more mantra than anything else, a truth held close to his chest. ]

...how are you feeling?

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[storyseeker]

[Of all the swear-ins to have skipped.]

...I guess it's pretty pointless to ask if you're okay.

[He clearly is, and he clearly isn't.]

It wasn't your fault, Jaime.

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[khajidont]

Yeah, as it so happens, I heal fast.

[ He wishes it were something he could pass on. ]

I didn't pull the trigger on it or anything, but I knew. I knew he was dangerous. And that not doing anything about dangerous people didn't end well in the past.

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[kidsmenu]

Bon soir, monsieur.

I heard about this event, and was grateful I was not there.

Why do you take such responsibility? Were you his keeper?

text;

[khajidont]

Keeper's not the right word. But we were connected long before either of us showed up here.

I knew he was dangerous. I was keeping an eye on him.

[ Well. He thought he was. ]

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[nextsymbol]

Blue Beetle...!

[Should he still call him that? It's the only name he's known him by, save that one time atop a roller coaster, but now doesn't seem like an important time to figure it out. He rubs at his face, which is already a little wet--he's always been a bit sensitive and quick to tears, and that night had been terrifying.]

Are you okay now?? A-and Khaji Da....

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[khajidont]

Yeah, I'm - I'm honestly the last guy you gotta worry about after that. I'm fine. We're fine. We heal.

[ Not like some of the others. ]

You weren't there, were you?

[Text]

[ghoulking]

It wasn't your fault.

Are you alright?

[Text]

[khajidont]

I'm fine. But I'm not

You can be responsible for something without it being 100% your fault. You know that.

Did you get caught up in it too?

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[recommendations]

Blue Be-- I mean, Jaime-san....

[ Momo frowns, clearly Concerned™ but trying to be Cool and Professional. ]

I am glad to see that you are alright.

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[khajidont]

[ Ugh. And here are the kids who were counting on him to train them. Jaime's heart sinks. ]

...thanks, Momo. You weren't there, were you?

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[cassassin]

[ cass looks... tired, but not much worse for wear than usual. that shit on the moon had her run ragged. it feels pointless to ask if he's okay, so instead... ]

Anything I can do? To help.

private video.

[khajidont]

[ Other people have offered, and he didn't know what to say. Cass, though... she of all people might understand. ]

I don't know. I need to make this right, somehow. If you know how I can do it...

Private Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[What Barbara would really like to do is hug this boy and tell him it's going to be all right. But they don't know each other very well yet, and she knows how empty those words can sound even from your closest friends, when you're feeling like this.

Instead - ]

I've seen heroes go public before, voluntarily or otherwise. If you...need any help with it.

[khajidont]

Oh... Ms. Gordon.

[ Sorry, Babs. He's not on nickname terms with you yet - and more than that, she's one of Ted's friends, which probably makes this even worse. He's pretty sure Ted's never screwed up quite this royally. ]

I, um. Thanks. Maybe. I mean, I don't really know what to expect. It's usually not this bad, is it?