Can't Sleep, Brain Keeps Screaming

After seeing Hadestown, the Batkids decide to play a challenge with Bruce during a particularly slow patrol.

"The idea is we time you for how long it takes for you to look back at us before we all head back to the cave by the end of patrol, Orpheus and Eurydice style!" Oracle said over comms, "The one who gets you to look back the fastest wins... I don't know, whatever they ask of you."

"I want a first edition copy of-"

"I want a bird aviary built for my birthday."

"No Zesti limits for a week-"

"I WANT A TRAMPOLINE."

Bruce sighs because he knows not playing along would be worse, "And so the games begin."

Bruce & Dick: 42 mins, 49 secs

Dick thought Bruce won't be able to resist whenever he feigns that owww my foot hurts and ahh I almost slipped!!

because Bruce has always been neurotic like that to check

Dick was conflicted; on one hand, he took the longest of everyone to get Bruce to look back; on the other ??? his Dad never looked back???

It wasn't actually until Dick's outburst that Bruce even looked back.

"DO YOU EVEN LOVE ME?"

Bruce, a little worried he meant that: Chum, we've been partners for nearly 20 years. Of course I'll know you'll be behind me at all times. I trust you.

"...CAN YOU AT LEAST LET ME BE MAD FOR 5 MINUTES!"

"And also you're an acrobat. Why did you think I'd fall for it."

Bruce & Jason: 9 mins, 54.5 secs

Bruce would later call this the longest "9 mins and 54 secs of my life"

He keeps asking Babs through comms: "Jason is actually there, right? He knows the game is happening?"

Babs is giggling and keeps saying she can't do anything except run the timer

Jason is so quiet that Bruce genuinely wondered if he's even there

Then he coughed and Bruce folded immediately. Zero pressure. He just had to be sure Jason is the one behind him.

The look on Jason's face was a prize on its own because he knew this myth by heart, he knows why Bruce looked back

Jason doesn't meet Bruce's gaze for the rest of patrol, and from under the helmet, his face is flushed red

Bruce & Cass: 29 mins 9 secs

Cass actually didn't know there was even a game; she came from her own nest so when she got there, Bruce thought the timer was running

And Cass was very used to not really talking to Bruce verbally except ???

Why isn't her dad looking at her? Why is he only grunting to her questions???? She can't tell what he thinks so now Cass is actually worried she did something wrong and she doesn't know it yet, and it's bad enough that Bruce isn't talking and his body looks like facing her was like exposure to venom.

"Did I do something wrong? :(("

Bruce finally relents because Cass sounded so sad and he needs to hug her immediately

And also because Babs opened comms and said "Uh... I don't think Cass knows how the game works"

Bruce & Damian: 9 mins, 54.7 secs

While everyone was having their turn, Damian was plotting

He decided to try racing Bruce via grappling hook because "You will HAVE to look at me if I'm in front of you"

And the race is designed so that Damian actually still stays behind while Bruce is lecturing him about how that's not how the myth workds...

and then he falls

Bruce immediately looked back and rushed to break Damian's fall, not knowing Damian had already prepared a safety net for himself

Later, Bruce is seen doubled over and wheezing from a panic attack, Damian is apologizing profusely while also fighting Jason because "FUCK YOU MY TURN WAS FASTER!"

Bruce & Tim: 31 mins, 18 secs

Bruce was holding onto for when patrol ends and everyone is back in the cave. It was Tim's turn and the boy was doing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, which is strange on its own

He is continuously begging Tim that if you plan anything, don't give me a heart attack like your brothers

And Tim is all "Me? No! I'm perfectly fine here, daddy o!"

The technicality holds because Bruce managed to get into the Batcave before he turned around and was gearing up to start scolding everyone for the game's immaturity

...and Tim was parked outside of the cave's entrance, with the most shit eating grin ever

Ok I put this on FB but it can't hurt to put here too. We need help with Fantine!

Dog location: Northeast Georgia, just outside metro Atlanta and near the NC/TN/SC borders. TL;DR: Really sweet stray dog has ringworm; current foster is immune compromised; need someone to help by housing her for the duration of her treatment. Only need a short-term foster (approximately a month is the estimate for ringworm treatment? up to six weeks, I guess) and we can help find a permanent placement for her when her treatment is complete.

Details: Fantine is a stray dog we have been fostering for about the last month, she has a wonderful temperament (very sweet and trusting with people, quite resilient, friendly to all the dogs she has met) and is about a year and a half old. She has had all her vaccines and flea/tick/heartworm treatment and was spayed almost three weeks ago. and is healing up from it really well.

She's also ringworm positive, and I have some serious immune-related health conditions. The vet who diagnosed her was worried about her staying in the house with me even though she has been in quarantined in the laundry room and we are being very cautious about biosecurity.