Day 1: VIDEO

[exceptfebruary]

[ The man on the video is bald and pale skinned, with light blue tattoos around his skull reading JANFEBMARAPR (etc), the first three letters of each month. Glimpses of his shoulders reveal he’s wearing a bright red costume with a white date-themed cape. The camera is angled in such a way to give no indication of location other than a blank wall; Julian would prefer not to broadcast that to anyone that might recognize him.

His voice, when he speaks, is cool. ]

January 6th, 2016.

Today, an appearance, an arrival. My arrival. Unfortunately I didn't bring a gift. Still, I wonder if there are three of us today.

[ Julian's face darkens. The cold, fierce anger in his voice becomes very clear. ]

Perhaps it is fitting, but I would have preferred to remain where I was. I need to finish what I started. Or if not, to return to the City and continue my work there.

But no. I have been brought here, where the winter of politics has not ended. The Cold War’s end date should have happened already. For the Soviet Union, December 26th, 1991 at the latest. Yet the season still lingers.

[ He pauses and plays with his lip, considering. ] A new world. One that does not know the name Calendar Man. I'll have to begin my work anew. The Calendar Man will not be forgotten.

[ Julian looks directly into the camera. ]

I'll make sure this will be an epiphany.

Comments

Text; Private; ID is Scarecrow

[restingstitchface]

[Crane's attention lingers on this post. Others fade to obscurity as he plays it once, twice, thrice.

The first time he watches. The curious, patterned appearance of the man coupled with his name - not to mention his speech - makes it clear he's driven by a compulsion; one hiding an uncommon fear. The second time? He rewinds and listens for enunciation and tone. The cold anger of being forgotten lingers in every word.

His skin tingles. This is a rare opportunity; being forgotten isn't a phobia he gets to study often.

Lastly, he studies the recording for any micro-expressions.

This man had called himself Calendar Man for a reason. He responds with his real name and keeps their conversation private. Fears are special. Intimate. This man's revealing his openly, without denial. He can appreciate that.]

Athazagoraphobia.

Obscurity must be your own personal Hell.

Permatext (for now); Permaprivate

[exceptfebruary]

[ Scarecrow. Julian's almost pleased to see him. At least someone he knows. He'd only spent a little bit of time back in his own world and it wasn't in Gotham, but Halloween 2012 was still fresh on Julian's mind. They'd collaborated.

Crane was never nice, but they had managed a certain balance of sorts. And Julian is quite upset, lost in the missing time. He thinks Scarecrow's just trying to get under his skin as usual.

There's no use denying his phobia, but he's not in the mood for this. ]

I don't need the reminder, Jonathan. Not today. [ First name basis; he's deliberately setting the conversation as personal.]

Have you missed years as well?

[ video ]

[enucleation]

What is your work? [ calendar man REALLY. How do you people come up with these names. ]

Permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

Show, don't tell. Everyone will see soon enough. [ His tone and expression are distinctly ominous. ]

All I need is the right date to start with.

video;

[helpline]

[ well, now this is interesting. There's still a little tiredness in the Doctor's voice, but he's trying his best to seem chipper and interested. ]

Calendar Man meet Time Lord. I'm sure we'll get along interestingly.

Permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

Time Lord.

[ Julian is still angry over the whole situation, but that pings his interest. He's obviously curious. ]

A pleasure. What do you do?

[mightthinkthat]

Honestly, I've half forgotten your name by the end of this message.

I don't honestly mind a man talking to himself, but why am I involved?

[exceptfebruary]

Charming. [ The dry sarcasm is unmistakable. ]

You are all involved. Imports. The day of arrival is a special day, one that must be announced. And today of all days is a good time to arrive. Though I would not presume to call myself a king.

[video]

[timecapture]

[Oh, Christ, not this shit again. Max tries to be optimistic, but that sounds an awful lot like evil monologuing.]

Please tell me you're not a super-villain.

[They already have enough of those.]

Permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

You don't like them? [ He's evasive but not denying it. ]

text

[kinesia]

[ 'Calendar Man?' What world is this man from that such names are normal?

Grey has little to do but listen while the jungle surrounds Heropa. On another day he might have passed this by. Today, he doesn't. ]

what is your work ? calendar man

we know the dates already

permatext

[exceptfebruary]

The calendar is more than the date. It informs everything. It is infused with meanings. Importance. I make those meanings known.

text;

[infomodder]

I'm sure there are more than three of you today. There usually are.

[isn't he helpful af]

Permatext

[exceptfebruary]

Three would be the most fitting. But perhaps there's room for a drummer boy.

How many usually arrive?

Video

[aggressiveapathy]

Oh my god. It finally happened. The porter has his her 'best hits of' era.

Permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

[ Unsure if she's being sarcastic: ] Am I a best hit, then?

text;

[textualhealing]

Who's Anfebmarap tho? Old gf? Was she european?
Not a great idea to get lovers tattooed on your head btw.

video;

[exceptfebruary]

[ Normally he responds to how people reply, but he keeps the video on to show off.

He tilts his head as he moves across the months, a light finger pressed against each three letters as he goes through them. ]

January. February. March. April. May. June. July. [ He stops tracing lest he crane his head too much, but continues listing them. ] August. September. October. November. December.

The calendar. [ Pause. ] Technically European, yes.

voice;

[itistolaugh]

[ She's in no fit state for video, but text would not properly convey her highly important message. Voice it is. ]

Nerrrrrrd.

Permavoice;

[exceptfebruary]

Anything else you care to contribute?

video

[viced]

Oh motherfucker.

permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

Mayor Hundred. [ Pause. ] Though not mayor anymore, I suspect?

video;

[you_tried]

Sooo can I interest you in a 2016 Booster Gold Mancalendar?

[ #priorities ]

Permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

I will need calendars, yes.

video; ID reads Blue Beetle II

[deadkord]

Ohhhh boy. Who's next, Chronos? Clock King?

[ He pauses, considering. ]

Or, I guess Tockman's dead, huh? Then again, he's not the only one!

Permavideo welllllp 1/2

[exceptfebruary]

[ He knows how time displacement works. He knows that others come from different times than him. He doesn't doubt what Ted is saying at all.

But he had just been with Tockman hours before. He'd broken him (and two others, including Chronos, speaking of) out of prison. His shock is plain on his face. ]

What?

VIDEO.

[jyuced]

[ Well, those tattoos are kind of scary. What a weird looking guy. Is he a celebrity? ]

Yeah, it is pretty cold. [ Wait, what's happening? ] Oh, oh... you're a pro-wrestler, right? Then, autographs--! People will definitely remember you if you sign autographs.

Permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

[ Well, that's certainly a new one. Especially since the physical fighting aspect was always his weakest link as far as his supervillainy goes.

Flatly: ] A pro-wrestler.

I don't think I've ever been asked for my autograph.

text; from bat symbol

[chiroptophobic]

[ Julian is a passing mention in the data that Alfred wrote down for him. Bruce has long attempted to distance himself from his secret identity by creating an illusion that Batman and Bruce Wayne come from different universes, although there are a few people who know the truth now - had to, when he was indicted last year.

He knows that he's a threat, and everything about him - this post, his appearance, his obsession, makes it clear how; it is, not unusually, considering what he's learned about himself, like a story out of a comic book. He'll have to be careful--extra careful, considering he's tried and failed to hack his way into that communication between him and Crane.

So, he has to engage, to learn more. Rattle his wings. Make a big noise. ]

Sixty-five years worth of dates, all set askew by global xenophobia. How will you manage?

Permatext

[exceptfebruary]

Batman.

[ Crane had mentioned Batman was here, so Julian isn't surprised. He's almost satisfied to see him. The bat, for him, is as constant as the seasons. ]

A new history. New dates to learn, to study. I consider it a challenge.

I will adapt. Have you?

voice

[heavyhitter]

[ omg is this a real live weirdo villain... that's so exciting ]

So what's Calendar Man do?

Permavoice

[exceptfebruary]

What I wish. There are so many dates in the calendar worth noting. I make everybody understand their potential.

[darwinatrix]

And why, pray tell, should we remember you? What warrants that confidence?

[exceptfebruary]

Because I will make sure of it.

The Calendar Man cannot be forgotten. Even across universes.

video;

[angelfire]

[ The scruffy blonde man in the video doesn't seem strange or unusual. He bends into the video slightly, eyes dancing across the screen. What a funny little character. ]

How do you feel about September 29th?

Permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

[ Curious. Most did not ask for a specific date unless it had meaning to them. He thinks carefully. ]

September 29th. No major holidays. After the equinox, this year. World Heart Day. A Quarter day, Michaelmas. Why?

video.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya's response comes a little late in the day, after having recovered from the grime of Neverland. If there's been any lack for indicators of how much time has passed since he left, Kanaya is quite one, the age showing on her face to where she might look nearer to adult he last saw her as than the teenager she normally was. But her hair's different, shorter if anything, and she has a totally unnecessary pair of glasses resting on her nose.

Her expression is ambivalent, uncertain she's pleased to see him or not, especially with the indicators that he might remember her. ]

Mr. Day. We've run through quite a few calendars since we saw you last.

Permavideo

[exceptfebruary]

Kanaya Maryam. It is good to see you. [ Completely sincere. Almost too sincere. He's obviously staring. The Virgo. And she remembers. Possibly the best news he's gotten so far. ]

2013. 2014. 2015. And you have seen them all. [ She looks so much older, he assumes so. But she'd looked older the last time they'd spoken as well. ]

text;

[enigmaestro]

I, too, would like your autograph. Also: what is your signature wrestling move?

Permatext

[exceptfebruary]

Perhaps you should wait your turn, then.

[ There's a pause between that and the next text. ] There appear to be no wrestling moves to do with the calendar. [ Did he just look that up. ]

[Action]

[flyfishing]

[At the end of the Calendar Man's speech, some people might pick up on the muffles of a boy's laughter in the background.]

[Fly just so happened to be walking by his new roommate's room to introduce himself (because that's what you gotta do, you know?). Turns out he caught the super villain during his little monologue, listening in through his door.]

[The kid tried, and I mean he REALLY tried, not to laugh out loud but the end just slayed him.]

[I mean was he actually trying to be threatening? With a name like Calendar Man? Is he serious right now??]

[exceptfebruary]

[ Julian finishes and after that last dramatic statement, he can hear laughter outside his door. Suddenly alert (what if it's a Robin?), he quietly goes over to the door and listens for a second before opening the door wide.

Not only does your new roommate make ridiculous speeches, Fly, he also is wearing a bright red and white costume, in all its poofy-sleeved glory.

He's just going to stare at Fly a moment. Who is this? ]