[ the shitty thing about tunnels is that no matter how good the receptors, they still are able to cut out signal. the last bit of information he's left with is that there are hidden tunnels. the problem is with the hidden part.
it takes him a good while to figure out which boards could be removed, takes a good bit of tackling to get through to the tunnels and out the other side.
as soon as the signal is stable again, he switches to voice, his own laced with laboured breathing. ]
[ For all that the Shrike keeps the company of the Bad Boy and Bad Girl of Supergroup -- they are kind of a tool. They're enough of a hardass about the rules and their own moral code they could make B look like a rebel sometimes. Then again, plenty of people only know the first one, the one who very publicly disgraced himself and his team by murdering five people before falling off the map. 'Villains', sure, but people. So maybe that's why the Shrike is such a stickler. They do in fact have something to prove.
The point is, they don't even swear. So. It's probably saying how worried they were when the first response is- ]
Dick!
[ Yes. They were worried. Worried enough that they're on their way in after him, so there's the sound of movement over their own comms. ]
[ The reminder of the hostages keeps them from snapping at Nightwing for the laugh, for using Vivienne's 'Birdie'. No, no one's died on their watch, which they attribute to their constant vigilance, thanks. Nightwing isn't the only life in danger here. Though. He's the only one that agreed to be here and can possibly take care of himself, even.
Breathe, keep moving. ]
She started just after we lost contact. She's building up steam to pull as many as possible now.
[ Wren had been briefly worried there was some kind of intentional jammer before it became clear 'shitty signal due to underground' was all it was - Vivienne had deployed as soon as Wren said they were going in after Nightwing. ]
The Raven should be with her any minute now to back her up as well as make it a bigger distraction. He's set up some additional outside surveillance to give us more eyes while that happens. Assuming we can reach the signal.
[ The Shrike has no idea why he finds it so funny, both V's Birdie for the Shrike (he's been called renditions of that himself on multiple occasions), or the far from original diss of calling him by his name, not that they knew. ]
Don't think we can assume the signal's reachable anymore, Shrike.
[ the humour is mostly drained from his voice now, but at least his breathing has levelled out. he's stilled at the end of the tunnel, peering around the corner into the half-lit expanse of the abandoned platform where a splinter faction of the larger chaos The Shrike and their friends have been chasing has posted up for the week. ]
Think we can figure it out? [ he murmurs, gaze steady, as V's distraction starts to play out and a part of the group starts to exit. ] Just you and me? [ and quieter, like it's already a foregone conclusion. ] There's only one answer to that I'll take, by the way.
[ Not right now, but it'll pick back up when they get close enough to the outside -- hopefully those few seconds of extra data will be enough to help them make the best plan possible.
Until then, it's just the two of them, Wren coming up after Nightwing just half a minute behind. Still feels like a lifetime.
It's a lot to go into something like this with only one real backup, V and Tony on the outside. Nightwing has only ever been competent - understandable fire based mistakes aside - and reliable, so ... they feel better than they normally would about this, actually. ]
[ the words come coupled with a cheeky grin, the kind he flashes right before diving head first into something that may not be the best idea ever, but is the best he's got. Shrike can be depended on for something like that, even if they have a habit of trying to poke a bunch of holes into it first. not like it's not sometimes necessary to be that way.
though they struggle and trip, they manage to free the hostages without too much of a bantering. V and Tony are waiting outside and by a stroke of luck, one of the hostages knows their way through the tunnels well enough to lead them all to the outside. the rest they leave inside, ziptied in various positions leaned up against the cave for the police to take in.
Nightwing looks mostly pleased as he leans back against a van and tips his head in something like appreciation. ]
[ It may not be much bantering by Dick's standards, but for anyone other than Tony and Vivienne it's a lot for Wren. They're usually limiting their talk during jobs to giving orders, to telling people to stay on task. To sometimes ask what the fuck they were trying to do.
It's not unpleasant, the banter. File that away to be mentally dealt with at a later date. If they had to.
They're relieved to see V and Tony - Lady Vengeance and The Raven - no worse for the wear. Call it a Pavlovian response, but when V cuts lose there's always an undercurrent of danger for Wren. They've seen what can happen when she loses control. Though pointedly Wren is only ever afraid for Vivienne, not of her. Still there's a line of tension that eases to see their friends safe. Data shared, time to wind down and part ways. ]
I think so.
[ It would take an expert to hear that Nightwing has earned a little warmth from the Shrike instead of their cold business-like tones they have as default when working. Vivienne comes up beside the Shrike, draping an arm around their shoulder with all the body language that speaks to intimate friendship and maybe a little bit of possession there, even though she grins flirtatiously at Nightwing. ]
[ Thankfully, Nightwing is an expert at picking up subtle shifts in tone, especially from the stoic types like Shrike, and that much is obvious with the corner of his mouth tips up just so.
Before Lady Vengeance sidles up and he full on grins and shakes his head with endeared amusement. ]
Maybe invite me to something fun that doesn’t involve being buried alive by a collapsed tunnel.
[ But they all know he wouldn’t show up for that, not that it was meant to be as suggestive as it could come off. ]
[ Vivienne gives an exaggerated pout, Wren's quick there and gone again smile is hidden by their helmet. Their amusement still comes out in their voice, though, for those that can listen for it. Even with the modulator in it making it sound deeper than it is. ]
You too. Even with the accidental arson.
"Oh! Not everyone gets a free pass for that from Birdie! We should celebrate-"
I'm busy.
[ They say that very quickly, for someone who is clearly not in a rush to go anywhere just yet. ]
[ Nightwing laughs, a bright, easy sound that's coupled with a lift of both brows. ]
Busy...? [ As Nightwing, Dick is more animated, more of the performer, and the way he looks around this way and that is as much so. ] Is busy in the room with us? Or you mean, busy brooding?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
~shrikesback
it takes him a good while to figure out which boards could be removed, takes a good bit of tackling to get through to the tunnels and out the other side.
as soon as the signal is stable again, he switches to voice, his own laced with laboured breathing. ]
Hey. Not dead yet. Were you worried?
no subject
The point is, they don't even swear. So. It's probably saying how worried they were when the first response is- ]
Dick!
[ Yes. They were worried. Worried enough that they're on their way in after him, so there's the sound of movement over their own comms. ]
no subject
he quiets to listen to Shrike’s line and the sound of rustling. ]
I didn’t want to lose signal either. Are you headed toward me? Did V launch the distraction yet? I have eyes on the hostages.
no subject
Breathe, keep moving. ]
She started just after we lost contact. She's building up steam to pull as many as possible now.
[ Wren had been briefly worried there was some kind of intentional jammer before it became clear 'shitty signal due to underground' was all it was - Vivienne had deployed as soon as Wren said they were going in after Nightwing. ]
The Raven should be with her any minute now to back her up as well as make it a bigger distraction. He's set up some additional outside surveillance to give us more eyes while that happens. Assuming we can reach the signal.
no subject
Don't think we can assume the signal's reachable anymore, Shrike.
[ the humour is mostly drained from his voice now, but at least his breathing has levelled out. he's stilled at the end of the tunnel, peering around the corner into the half-lit expanse of the abandoned platform where a splinter faction of the larger chaos The Shrike and their friends have been chasing has posted up for the week. ]
Think we can figure it out? [ he murmurs, gaze steady, as V's distraction starts to play out and a part of the group starts to exit. ] Just you and me? [ and quieter, like it's already a foregone conclusion. ] There's only one answer to that I'll take, by the way.
no subject
Until then, it's just the two of them, Wren coming up after Nightwing just half a minute behind. Still feels like a lifetime.
It's a lot to go into something like this with only one real backup, V and Tony on the outside. Nightwing has only ever been competent - understandable fire based mistakes aside - and reliable, so ... they feel better than they normally would about this, actually. ]
We have to.
lmk if this works :)
[ the words come coupled with a cheeky grin, the kind he flashes right before diving head first into something that may not be the best idea ever, but is the best he's got. Shrike can be depended on for something like that, even if they have a habit of trying to poke a bunch of holes into it first. not like it's not sometimes necessary to be that way.
though they struggle and trip, they manage to free the hostages without too much of a bantering. V and Tony are waiting outside and by a stroke of luck, one of the hostages knows their way through the tunnels well enough to lead them all to the outside. the rest they leave inside, ziptied in various positions leaned up against the cave for the police to take in.
Nightwing looks mostly pleased as he leans back against a van and tips his head in something like appreciation. ]
You three got it from here?
no subject
It's not unpleasant, the banter. File that away to be mentally dealt with at a later date. If they had to.
They're relieved to see V and Tony - Lady Vengeance and The Raven - no worse for the wear. Call it a Pavlovian response, but when V cuts lose there's always an undercurrent of danger for Wren. They've seen what can happen when she loses control. Though pointedly Wren is only ever afraid for Vivienne, not of her. Still there's a line of tension that eases to see their friends safe. Data shared, time to wind down and part ways. ]
I think so.
[ It would take an expert to hear that Nightwing has earned a little warmth from the Shrike instead of their cold business-like tones they have as default when working. Vivienne comes up beside the Shrike, draping an arm around their shoulder with all the body language that speaks to intimate friendship and maybe a little bit of possession there, even though she grins flirtatiously at Nightwing. ]
"This was fun, don't be a stranger, yeah?"
((Absolutely lovely. Apologies for V.))
no subject
Before Lady Vengeance sidles up and he full on grins and shakes his head with endeared amusement. ]
Maybe invite me to something fun that doesn’t involve being buried alive by a collapsed tunnel.
[ But they all know he wouldn’t show up for that, not that it was meant to be as suggestive as it could come off. ]
Thanks for the good work today.
no subject
You too. Even with the accidental arson.
"Oh! Not everyone gets a free pass for that from Birdie! We should celebrate-"
I'm busy.
[ They say that very quickly, for someone who is clearly not in a rush to go anywhere just yet. ]
no subject
Busy...? [ As Nightwing, Dick is more animated, more of the performer, and the way he looks around this way and that is as much so. ] Is busy in the room with us? Or you mean, busy brooding?
no subject
I don't 'brood'.