[Tim just rolls his eyes with a smile at Peter's teasing.]
You'll have to choose another 80's romcom in which to whoo me with. I think I'm more partial to being serenaded with a high school marching band ala Ten Things I Hate About You.
[Tim nods to the question about secret identities]
Yeah, secret identities are extremely important to Batman. Secrets in general really, even when the League was founded the other members didn't know who was underneath the cowl. They do now but it took a while.
The billionaire thing pays for more than just the suit and equipment. There are so so many gadgets, the batmobile, the batplane, all the safe houses.
[Not to mention the space station hovering up in space but he's only giving away so much right now]
Don't tempt me. If you think I won't try and find one here, you underestimate me.
[ And now, just because, he kind of wished he thought he could find a marching band there. Just for the Hell of it. ]
I get that. A lot of people who knew mine are dead now. Or... or going through a lot worse. I don't know where Harry is now. So I get it. That's the weirdest thing here for me because everyone hears the name Peter Parker and they just know who I am and they see Spider-Man and they know who is under there.
Luuuucky. I'm pretty much me and myself and paying the bills hand to mouth basically.
[Tim laughs and shakes his head] If you find a way to serenade me like that then I will write a poem about how much I don't hate you, or do hate you, depending on how good that performance is.
[He'd better not because Tim doesn't know if he can do poetry but it's an amusing image]
Yeah, I haven't quite to that point but I found my identity reveal on one of the old Finders. Apparently, the old me had to go through this but on a more widespread platform. It appears most who knew are gone now though.
There are still a lot of heroes like that. Huntress in my city does it on a teacher's salary which is just kind of amazing.
Oh so now we're judging my singing. Maybe if I sing. I see how it is. Though no one has ever written poetry for me. Never even gotten flowers. Someone's going to need to step up their game.
I guess they figure we can't connect if we have secrets? Or trauma bonding, maybe. Whatever it is, I keep finding myself excited to be open about it... and then terrified.
[ People who knew died, or got hurt. He hates that those options come up the most. ]
If I had gotten my degree, that would probably be me. And still selling photos on the side to make it.
No flowers? Well, that's just a tragedy. You might count yourself lucky, my longest relationship started with a brick to the face. Flowers would have been nicer.
[And it ended with her faking her death, coming back and hiring a hitman on him causing the burns scars that still sit on the back of his neck and head; hidden under hair currently. He now wonders how he thought it could end any differently considering its beginning]
I think they just like to stir the pot and gauge how we act under stressful situations. Or perhaps they don't like the lies. [Tim sighs with a shrug] We are 'LIERS' after all.
You wanted to go into teaching? teaching what and at what level?
And you stayed with them? A long time? Or was longest like five minutes and then brick to the face?
[ Because he's just trying to imagine and he's not sure he can. ]
Riiiight. And have a deceit gene, or so they say but no one has ever seen studies. Or why they care. Also not revealing things is not the same as lying in my book but what do I know.
I thought about it. It was that or lab work, and would depend on a few things. Science, applied chemistry and biology likely. Maybe middle school. Where they're excited to learn and I have more leeway with experiments.
[Tim actually laughs at that] The brick to the face was before she even knew my name and we didn't start dating until a bit after that. It was complicated as we were both dating other people at the time.
But definitely in the Sciences, I see. I feel like you have a skewed view of how teenagers feel about high school though. I don't remember many people who were excited to learn in the many high schools I've been to.
Oh well, I suppose Hollywood hasn't thought about that kind of a mute cute in a romcom. I guess it's a bit too violent. [ It's easy to try and make jokes and tease about things, but he can't help but ask as well. ] So how did it all turn out? What happened?
Hey, I was the beat up kid bullied in high school, so trust me I know how bad it is. I also know how much one good teacher can help too.
But it doesn't matter. I didn't go to college so no teaching in my future. Definitely wouldn't work out with having to dash out at a moment's notice either.
[Tim's face falls at that question even though he knew it was inevitable since he bought Steph up in the first place]
Not well. [He eventually gets out after some thought on how much detail he wants to give this. Not much is the answer] We might get back to friends again someday, she'll always be in my life. She's my sister's best friend and Cass wouldn't put up with any hostility between us while she's around.
Just because you haven't gone to college yet doesn't mean you can't but yeah I suppose running off at every emergency isn't going to work. You really need some help back at home.
[ Peter flinches then, realizing he's bringing up bad memories for Tim and that is definitely not what he wanted. ]
I'm sorry for bringing it up. I really do hope things get better for you both though. I hope your sister can help you with that.
[ Peter imagines having a sibling must be nice, especially in situations like that. ]
I mean, yeah. I guess. Just don't see the point in it. I don't need it for the job I won't give up, and not many things I could do with it that won't reveal me.
[Tim shakes his head] It's alright, I think she's much happier where she is in her life now and I am, well where I am isn't really on her. [Her 'death' and return hadn't exactly done good things for him but she was only one straw on that camel's back]
I guess that's really up to you. I can't exactly criticize that decision since I didn't even finish high school. I'll likely do my GED and take some online courses at some point. [He knows some of the Wayne Enterprises board members are getting louder about his lack of official qualifications]
[Tim shrugs] I don't know what that would look like anymore to be honest but I suppose I'm at that age where I've got to figure that out.
[He grins at that comment] I'm the ultimate nepo-baby and they absolutely hate me. And yet, the likeliness of footage being released of me giving an ice statue of a penguin a lap dance or mistaking the mayor of Gotham for a valet is next to zero so I'm still an acceptable substitute for Bruce.
You make it sound like you're an old man. What, are you a couple of years older than me?
[Peter certainly doesn't look that much older, early twenties is the maximum Tim would guess. He does a full-on laugh at Peter's reaction though]
Bruce, my adoptive father. He was known for his um... antics when he went out to party. He hasn't been that crazy in a little while though. He's a giant teddy bear really.
I feel like one most of the time. [ He considers that for a moment. ] Yeah. I'm 25. I just feel old, I guess.
[ Which is really all his own doing and he knows it. ]
So very rich and out partying? Still sounds painful. Also fun. He would have also made me a ton of money because I might have taken pictures of someone other than me.
A couple and eight years is basically the same. [Tim waves this rather large difference away like it's nothing] You look fairly well-preserved to me.
Very rich and known for a lot of rather memorable social faux-pars. Honestly, I think he does some of them on purpose so that the papers keep the focus on him and not the rest of us. I've heard stories about the first time the paparazzi ran a story on the countdown to when Dick Grayson turned eighteen and legal.
He would have made you a lot of money. He would have paid you more to not photograph his kids.
[ Peter can't help but to laugh at that. ] Practically the same age.
[ And yet how long has this kid been doing the same thing he has? Since about the age Pete had been when he started. That makes him feel old too. ]
Oh I would do it. Makes sense. [ He arches a brow at that. ] Okay, ew on that one. One paper ran an expose on my ass in the suit and talked about my possible exercise routine to get that peach.
[ He shrugs slightly at that. ] He wouldn't have had to pay me, though I do like easy salaries.
[Tim can't help but chuckle at Peter just conceeding that so quickly to him]
Not attempting to be insulting here since you're a photographer which isn't automatically paparazzi but the job is basically legal stalking. Follow someone around until they do something interesting and get a picture so you can write about it and tell everyone.
Depending on what publication you work for if they don't do something interesting, make it up.
[You had mentioned that the Daily Bugle weren't exactly big on facts yourself Peter]
Yeah, well... I can't deny that. I mean, I deal with both sides of it, after all. Why it amuses me I'm paid to stalk myself.
[ Because as much as he profits from it, he knows how bad it is. ]
And sadly those that pay the best, are the worst for it. I've been assigned to a lot of jobs I didn't want to do, and just because the city is what it is, it usually turned into a need to be there moment for my other self.
I mean, I do a lot of interesting things, and Jonah still paints me as a criminal for stopping criminals.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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You'll have to choose another 80's romcom in which to whoo me with. I think I'm more partial to being serenaded with a high school marching band ala Ten Things I Hate About You.
[Tim nods to the question about secret identities]
Yeah, secret identities are extremely important to Batman. Secrets in general really, even when the League was founded the other members didn't know who was underneath the cowl. They do now but it took a while.
The billionaire thing pays for more than just the suit and equipment. There are so so many gadgets, the batmobile, the batplane, all the safe houses.
[Not to mention the space station hovering up in space but he's only giving away so much right now]
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[ And now, just because, he kind of wished he thought he could find a marching band there. Just for the Hell of it. ]
I get that. A lot of people who knew mine are dead now. Or... or going through a lot worse. I don't know where Harry is now. So I get it. That's the weirdest thing here for me because everyone hears the name Peter Parker and they just know who I am and they see Spider-Man and they know who is under there.
Luuuucky. I'm pretty much me and myself and paying the bills hand to mouth basically.
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[He'd better not because Tim doesn't know if he can do poetry but it's an amusing image]
Yeah, I haven't quite to that point but I found my identity reveal on one of the old Finders. Apparently, the old me had to go through this but on a more widespread platform. It appears most who knew are gone now though.
There are still a lot of heroes like that. Huntress in my city does it on a teacher's salary which is just kind of amazing.
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I guess they figure we can't connect if we have secrets? Or trauma bonding, maybe. Whatever it is, I keep finding myself excited to be open about it... and then terrified.
[ People who knew died, or got hurt. He hates that those options come up the most. ]
If I had gotten my degree, that would probably be me. And still selling photos on the side to make it.
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[And it ended with her faking her death, coming back and hiring a hitman on him causing the burns scars that still sit on the back of his neck and head; hidden under hair currently. He now wonders how he thought it could end any differently considering its beginning]
I think they just like to stir the pot and gauge how we act under stressful situations. Or perhaps they don't like the lies. [Tim sighs with a shrug] We are 'LIERS' after all.
You wanted to go into teaching? teaching what and at what level?
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[ Because he's just trying to imagine and he's not sure he can. ]
Riiiight. And have a deceit gene, or so they say but no one has ever seen studies. Or why they care. Also not revealing things is not the same as lying in my book but what do I know.
I thought about it. It was that or lab work, and would depend on a few things. Science, applied chemistry and biology likely. Maybe middle school. Where they're excited to learn and I have more leeway with experiments.
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But definitely in the Sciences, I see. I feel like you have a skewed view of how teenagers feel about high school though. I don't remember many people who were excited to learn in the many high schools I've been to.
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Hey, I was the beat up kid bullied in high school, so trust me I know how bad it is. I also know how much one good teacher can help too.
But it doesn't matter. I didn't go to college so no teaching in my future. Definitely wouldn't work out with having to dash out at a moment's notice either.
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Not well. [He eventually gets out after some thought on how much detail he wants to give this. Not much is the answer] We might get back to friends again someday, she'll always be in my life. She's my sister's best friend and Cass wouldn't put up with any hostility between us while she's around.
Just because you haven't gone to college yet doesn't mean you can't but yeah I suppose running off at every emergency isn't going to work. You really need some help back at home.
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I'm sorry for bringing it up. I really do hope things get better for you both though. I hope your sister can help you with that.
[ Peter imagines having a sibling must be nice, especially in situations like that. ]
I mean, yeah. I guess. Just don't see the point in it. I don't need it for the job I won't give up, and not many things I could do with it that won't reveal me.
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I guess that's really up to you. I can't exactly criticize that decision since I didn't even finish high school. I'll likely do my GED and take some online courses at some point. [He knows some of the Wayne Enterprises board members are getting louder about his lack of official qualifications]
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[ Not that he can say the same either but he can hope so for others. Especially for Tim now that he's gotten to know him.
He arches a brow at that, smiling a bit and curious.]
No diploma and head of a major company. They must love that.
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[He grins at that comment] I'm the ultimate nepo-baby and they absolutely hate me. And yet, the likeliness of footage being released of me giving an ice statue of a penguin a lap dance or mistaking the mayor of Gotham for a valet is next to zero so I'm still an acceptable substitute for Bruce.
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You should try. At least before you're my age and you feel like you're too old to figure it out.
[ He's not even that much older than Tim, not really, but he feels it.
Bruce stares at him for a long time after that, arching a brow. ]
Wait, who did that? Also a lap dance for an ice penguin sounds painful.
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You make it sound like you're an old man. What, are you a couple of years older than me?
[Peter certainly doesn't look that much older, early twenties is the maximum Tim would guess. He does a full-on laugh at Peter's reaction though]
Bruce, my adoptive father. He was known for his um... antics when he went out to party. He hasn't been that crazy in a little while though. He's a giant teddy bear really.
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[ Which is really all his own doing and he knows it. ]
So very rich and out partying? Still sounds painful. Also fun. He would have also made me a ton of money because I might have taken pictures of someone other than me.
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Very rich and known for a lot of rather memorable social faux-pars. Honestly, I think he does some of them on purpose so that the papers keep the focus on him and not the rest of us. I've heard stories about the first time the paparazzi ran a story on the countdown to when Dick Grayson turned eighteen and legal.
He would have made you a lot of money. He would have paid you more to not photograph his kids.
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[ And yet how long has this kid been doing the same thing he has? Since about the age Pete had been when he started. That makes him feel old too. ]
Oh I would do it. Makes sense. [ He arches a brow at that. ] Okay, ew on that one. One paper ran an expose on my ass in the suit and talked about my possible exercise routine to get that peach.
[ He shrugs slightly at that. ] He wouldn't have had to pay me, though I do like easy salaries.
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He's not the first celebrity child who has been given a countdown and he likely won't be the last. I'm hoping to skip by unnoticed but I doubt it.
[As it is, he's likely to spend that birthday in this city for perhaps the second time.]
Yeah, he would have offered it regardless. It's not like he can tell who will or won't try and follow his kids around.
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[ He's really not sure he could argue that. ]
Doesn't make it less gross. Not a crime should be the least of someone's thoughts on that.
That's true, which is sad because minors should be off limits. Unless you're the minor taking pictures of yourself, that is.
[ Or no one could tell he's a minor behind the mask. ]
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Not attempting to be insulting here since you're a photographer which isn't automatically paparazzi but the job is basically legal stalking. Follow someone around until they do something interesting and get a picture so you can write about it and tell everyone.
Depending on what publication you work for if they don't do something interesting, make it up.
[You had mentioned that the Daily Bugle weren't exactly big on facts yourself Peter]
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[ Because as much as he profits from it, he knows how bad it is. ]
And sadly those that pay the best, are the worst for it. I've been assigned to a lot of jobs I didn't want to do, and just because the city is what it is, it usually turned into a need to be there moment for my other self.
I mean, I do a lot of interesting things, and Jonah still paints me as a criminal for stopping criminals.
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Plus it's not like you're taking money from someone who earns it honestly.
[Tim just shrugs, it certainly didn't sound like this man deserved the money from his lies and fear mongering]