[VIDEO]

[you_tried]

[The communicator blinks on, revealing the face of a reasonably handsome blond man in navy blue and blindingly gold spandex, wearing – are those orange sunglasses? What year does he think it is? How can he possibly think that looks cool? Whatever the case, he’s obviously impressed with himself. He’s grinning broadly, clearly aiming for dazzling but winding up somewhere on the border between cheesy and embarrassing.]

Goooood afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! Booster Gold’s the name, and I’m coming to you live from Wherever-We-Are-I-Didn’t-Catch-The-Name-Sorry, Florida! You might remember me from my many thrilling exploits – please, feel free to ask about those – or, slightly more recently, from the third season of Celebrity Dance-A-Thon. You probably don’t have that here. Don’t worry, I’ll give you the highlights. I didn’t learn to samba for nothing.

[There’s a brief hesitation, and he takes a few steps to the left, where the lighting is better. It really shows off his hair. That seems to have satisfied him. God, how is anyone this shiny?]

And before you ask, yes, I do sign autographs.

[Another gleaming smile. He must floss like a madman.]

Oh, yeah, and does anyone know where a guy can get a drink with a tiny little umbrella in it? First answer gets a free photo-op with yours truly. Don’t say Booster Gold never did anything for you.

Comments

[boobwindow]

Wait, back up, Booster.

[ She narrows her eyes, mouth hanging open slightly as she tries to find the words. ]

What do you mean "no one" else did? How?

[you_tried]

I mean no one. And how do you think? When in doubt, blame the guy with the mind control powers.

[boobwindow]

[ A measured pause.

... Right. Max developed those powers. Mind control of all of them.

That's as far as her line of thinking goes. It doesn't feel right. ]

Do you have proof he did that? I didn't think his powers were that strong.

[you_tried]

[ Oh, no. No no no no. Not this again. ]

... Proof? I— well, no, but...

[boobwindow]

Why would he need to erase our memories in the first place?

[ If Max is a threat, why didn't he wipe her mind on the boat? ]

[you_tried]

You're kidding, right?

[boobwindow]

I'm not.

[you_tried]

[ He doesn't want to get angry — it's not her fault — but damn it, this is the last thing either of them need. ]

He's a wanted criminal. He's a murderer! Why wouldn't he? For God's sake, he killed Ted. Tell me you remember that.

[boobwindow]

[ She hasn't risen to anger yet. Exasperation, always. She wants Booster to stop skirting the subject and get to the point.

And he does and she's left speechless for a few seconds.

Ted Kord was murdered, but not by Maxwell Lord, is what her (tampered) memories tell her. In response to his accusation, Peej throws him another unconvinced look. ]

It's not like that. [ She never thought she would have to defend Max Lord, but if it wasn't him, doesn't he deserve it? She raises both hands, trying to temper the situation. ] Max wasn't in control of himself.

[you_tried]

He what?

[ That stops him in his tracks. Max wasn't in control of himself. It's what he wants to believe — what was always in the back of his mind, before Max came back — even though he's pretty damn sure he knows better by now.

But he's more concerned about Peej. ]

You don't seriously believe that.

[boobwindow]

I don't... [ She trails off initially, averting Booster's gaze, like the answer will come to her from elsewhere. ] I don't know.

I wasn't there when it all went down and it's still hard to believe Max would turn his back on all of us. After everything.

He's been taken advantage of before, Booster. He's too close to our community. He's the perfect pick.

[you_tried]

[ For a moment, he looks like he's going to argue, but he can't. Not really. He sighs, shoulders slumping. ]

... I know. I can't believe it either. I mean... damn it, the guy wasn't perfect, but none of us were. He was our friend. And if J'onn looked into his mind, if he saw a good man...

[ He folds his arms, frowning. It's still hard to talk about, but admitting it to someone who actually knew Max is a first. ]

I can't explain it. I might not know what happened to him, but I know what he did.

[boobwindow]

He doesn't.

[ She doesn't mean to sound argumentative, though it's difficult to shake a heartbroken Max from her mind. ]

Max was just as shocked. I listened in on his heartbeat the whole time; he wasn't lying to me. He hasn't been taking the news well.

[you_tried]

You'll forgive me for not buying that.

[ But it's obvious that it touched a nerve. ]

[boobwindow]

[ She groans loudly, tapping her foot impatiently. ]

I want to believe you and help, Booster, but none of this is adding up.

[you_tried]

Don't tell me you're taking his word over mine!

[boobwindow]

No! [ She's a little hurt by that, but doesn't let it show. ] I'm trying to hear both of you out!

[ She owes them both that much with the history they all share. ]

[you_tried]

Well, it's his word against mine, and I don't know how I'm supposed to prove any of this!

[boobwindow]

Give me motive. Tell me what exactly happened, because Max is six feet under back home for me. Unless he's back as a zombie, which maybe I can buy since we don't exactly have much luck with friends coming back from the dead.

[you_tried]

Can we please not say the z-word? And anyway, if I explain, you'll just say "That doesn't sound like Max," which it doesn't, not our Max, anyway, and... ugh.

[boobwindow]

I understand your frustration. Half a year ago I was ready to put him in a body cast. I wanted to, for all the innocent lives lost back then. [ And Ted's. ]

But if there's a possibility Max was manipulated by someone again, we need to confirm it.

[you_tried]

[ And Booster was ready to kill the guy himself not a week ago, but that's probably better left unsaid.

What she's saying... it makes sense. And more than that, it's what Booster wants to be true. Which means it almost definitely isn't. ]

I'm not saying it isn't possible.

[boobwindow]

Then...?

[ She gives him a "What do you want me to do?" look. ]

[you_tried]

... I don't know.

[ He sighs, frustrated. This hasn't gotten them anywhere. ]

Look, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm kind of in over my head with this.

[boobwindow]

Then let's try to figure this out together.

[ What a day this is turning out to be. ]