VIDEO

[khajidont]

[ Good evening, Mask or Menace! Jaime's back, and while he doesn't look any older, he certainly looks tired and a little sour to boot, like someone just fed him a nintendo switch cartridge real bitter pill. It was a long month. ]

So, um... hey! I'm back. That was definitely the longest I've been ported out for, but I gotta ask: what happened while I was gone? Because I got back, and all of a sudden, like, half of the people I know are gone. Dick's gone, Tadashi's gone again, Fuu's gone, Sarissa's gone, so's my Mom...

Was this just the Porter, or what?

[ It probably is - people tend to leave in waves - but it's left him feeling a little shellshocked, and it's worth searching for answers at the very least. He raises a hand to rub at the back of his neck, playing a little with the hair at the nape. ]

Um, anyway. Good to see you guys who are still here. And for all the newbies, I'm Jaime. Nice to meet you.

Comments

[khajidont]

Yeah, me neither. And we never will be able to, I guess.

[ They've all been through so much. What could have been the last straw for people like them? To leave for good? All the retirees Jaime knows went back to it eventually, and typically speaking, died doing so. He hopes that hadn't been the case.

He shrugs. ]

I s'pose it doesn't have a whole lot to do with you either. What do you do, anyway? I just realized I've never asked.

[aboveand]

[The story of what happened to Tim was horrific, and truth be told he understood exactly why they felt that way. But it wasn't his story to tell, and even it was, it wasn't one Terry McGinnis should know.]

At least they were able to protect Gotham as long as they did, anyway.

[He gives a sheepish smile at the question of his work. He goes every day without complaint, but he can't say he's a fan.]

I'm a cashier at a year-round Halloween store. At least, that's what the paper said. In reality I'm more "costume model/guinea pig." How about you?

[khajidont]

Oh, man. That sounds like a job. [ And not an entirely pleasant one. It must get dull, waiting for Halloween to arrive. ] I'm a mechanic. [ Not an apprentice. A real one now. He got his certification and everything.

He turned out like his dad after all. ] It's not my assigned job, but it works for me.

[aboveand]

I'll trade you.

[His smile betrays that he's mostly joking.]

That's a pretty schway gig though, for real. Cars are finicky beasts. And don't get me started on bikes.

[khajidont]

I've been working with cars my whole life, so it wasn't that big of an adjustment. But if you're seriously looking for a change in career, hit me up. I got another friend of mine a job there last year - they treat us real well.

[aboveand]

I'll definitely consider it. I like motors, but I'm not sure if I'm good enough to turn it into a job.

Besides, if I don't wear a pirate costume outside our store, who will?

[khajidont]

I mean, literally anyone else.

[aboveand]

[Terry tries to feign shock, but his smile doesn't fade.]

That's not what they tell me at work!

[khajidont]

Yeah, and my Dad used to tell me that the radio was broken and could only play two channels at the garage. [ He cups his mouth with one hand, fake-whispering into the camera. ] He lied.

[aboveand]

[A hand flies up to Terry's mouth. He's feeling scandalized thanks to you, Jaime. Scandalized!]

No! Not the year-round Halloween store! There's no way that place would ever lie to me!