But if you just take off your mask

[fronttowardenemy]

WHO: Frank, HJ, and eventually Nelson.
WHERE: Nelson's house.
WHEN: Tonight.....
WARNINGS: glances at characters.
SUMMARY: Frank intends to talk to Nelson about his bad boyfriend -- but then said bad boyfriend is the only one home.
FORMAT: lazy


[ He should have sensed it from the start. He isn't sure how he missed it, and now so much seems clearer. The more Hooded Justice revealed himself, the less Frank thought of him. It would be easy to blame age, but there is only so much forgiving to be done on convenient circumstance.

There is one person who will know the difference, and Frank comes here now. He remembers the address, from the night he led Gardner here after too many drinks. He'd been upset over his partner -- and now that moment has a whole other world of implication.

His fist slams on Gardner's door. ]

Comments

[retropolis]

What?

[ It's directed to both of them in a way, but Nelson looks at Hooded Justice as if in doing so he'll be compelled to elaborate. It's within moments he realizes, though, that it's a futile expectation and turns back to face Frank.

He's wary, Hooded Justice's unease contagious. ]

Um -- why are you here?

[fronttowardenemy]

Damning?

[ It's a flatly spoken question. It is accusatory, but his tone isn't raised or harsh. It's blunt and it's unimpressed.

That aggression doesn't carry in his voice when he answers Nelson. ]

Came to talk to you about your partner.

But seems he doesn't like being called that.

[ropedin]

[ For a long moment, HJ said nothing, hovering behind Nelson now, eyes narrowed beneath his hood. What he and Nelson had was private, intensely private, and something that wasn't to be shared with, well, anyone. ]

He was determined to wait for you. [ He said bluntly. ] He still hasn't said why.

[ He didn't touch on the other statement. He wouldn't. ]

[retropolis]

[ Nelson stands a little more directly in front of Hooded Justice, unconsciously protective the more nervous he grows. ]

Well, we are teammates. That's not really a matter that needs clarification, I wouldn't think. [ He manages a smile, however uneasy, and straightens his shoulders. ] Why don't we just sit down and -- um, I can get you a drink, if you'd like -- figure this out? You may as well not take up any more of your time, if it's important.

[ It's casual enough, but Nelson's a little terrified of whatever this supposed talk is supposed to address. Especially if Hooded Justice is present for it. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

Captain.

[ His tone is stern enough, but it's also entreating in its way. ]

You know what I mean when I say that.

[ He can't discuss what he came for now, not with Hooded Justice already looking willing to kill him. If this escalates again, he can't even guarantee that Nelson will be spared some kind of backlash. That was the exact kind of thing he was trying to avoid, to cut off in advance, and now he may have just accelerated the issue entirely. ]

[ropedin]

[ HJ honestly doesn't talk this time. Now that Nelson's in the room, standing between him and this guy, it's easier to not lash out at the implication. He wants to, of course, but now his brain's actually catching up, and realizing that lashing out probably implies guilt.

He didn't need to move to loom behind Nelson, but he wasn't focused on his partner's head, but the one behind him with an eyepatch, his eyes dangerously narrow behind the slits cut in his hood. He may not be wrestling him to the ground (this time) but if looks could kill... ]

[retropolis]

[ Nelson's face discolors a little, bypassing red straight to a sort of purpley shade. Still, his posture doesn't falter and his gaze does for only a moment before it returns to meet Frank's again.

Well, he could sure use a drink. A little curtly, and quietly, he finally says: ]

What is there to talk about?

[fronttowardenemy]

[ There is a tense moment, where Frank looks between Nelson and Hooded Justice. There is no way to continue this conversation lightly; someone will snap and more will be broken than Frank's nose.

He wipes away the blood that stubbornly keeps dripping, looking at Hooded Justice for a lingering moment, before he addresses Nelson again. ]

Never mind it.

I'll go.

[ropedin]

Good.

[ He said it so simply it was almost obscene. HJ wasn't a man of many words, but this was even fewer than usual.

He was -- well, he was angry, and probably wasn't coming down from that for a long while. ]

[retropolis]

[ Nelson's shoulders untense slightly as his defensive shields begin to go down; he simply looks at Frank a little quizzically. ]

Is that all?

[ He's almost disappointed. Mostly because it means it isn't over. ]

Well... have a good night, then.