Operation Drag Booster Back

[canthandleacape]

Who: Booster Gold, volunteers for dragging his ass back
What: Booster wants to ragequit everything, several people would really rather he didn't.
When: Not long after this post.
Where: Somewhere around the southern edge of town.

He flew south. There wasn't any real reason for that choice in direction, he just happened to be facing north when he threw his phone off the roof. The choice of flight, though, that was deliberate. It was probably a mistake--flight made him way more visible than walking would, and he wasn't really going fast enough to make up for that, even though he could--but Booster didn't really care. Flying like this, where he didn't have to pay attention to where he was going, and didn't have to worry about putting on a happy face just in case anyone was looking, he'd always preferred that. It always helped him clear his head out some, and in a way, it was oddly comforting, being as alone physically as he felt emotionally.

Almost a shame it wasn't going to last.

Comments

[stinglikeabat]

Apparently, it's not clowns in general, just this one. But they can deal with the bad guy later; there's more important battles to fight right now. Emotional battles. Joachim steps in and claps a comforting hand on Booster's shoulder.

"And don't forget, you're not the only hero around these days. We can protect ourselves and the city right alongside you!"

[dentistwannabe]

Wait up. Jaime'd had a sinking feeling that Booster knew Ted pretty well, but to think that Ted was dead? And Jaime might've had a part to play in that?

The others might've gone for comforting words, but Jaime stood there awkwardly for a millisecond before rushing in and wrapping his arms around Booster. He doesn't say anything - not yet, anyways - because there's really nothing more that he can add.

Everything's going to be alright. It just... it just may not seem like it right now.

[gogoghostpowers]

Danny can barely find it in him to move. He was not prepared to see Booster crying. He was not prepared to see any adult crying.

Finally, though, he approaches and gently places his hand on Booster's shoulder as well, although he still doesn't feel as though his mental functions were back to working.

This must've been why he asked Danny if he could revive people.

"We..." He gulps and tries speaking again. "No matter what, we can help keep people safe...and with you, we can help even more."

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

It's hard to stay really mad at a guy that's just had a mental breakdown. Kotetsu does not join in on the buddy circle; it's crowded enough. He lowers his hat over his eyes.

"Oi. Seems like everybody's said about everything that should be said, but here's a little extra on top. I know it hurts that people have died. Always does. But you gotta ask yourself: is quitting what they would've wanted? We love people. We lose people. Heroes risk this more than a lotta people. Sometimes, doing this job means being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But lemme tell you something: they'd probably be angrier at you for quitting doing what you wanna do over it. So... think hard about that sorta thing, and think about what would really honor their passing, got it?" he says, at last.

Almost as if he's speaking from experience.

[canthandleacape]

Booster doesn't really know what kind of reaction he was expecting, but it definitely wasn't this. How can they still want him to come back after this? Why do they still have faith in him? He returns Jaime's hug and lowers his head as the sobs quiet down into a long silence.

How and why, does it really matter? They still want him to come back. They still have faith in him. They need his help, need him. Can he really abandon them now, knowing that?

No, of course not. He looks up again, and this time, he's smiling. It's a sad smile, clearly forced, and when he speaks, it's obvious that he's just barely holding back more tears. But however shakily delivered, the message is clear.

"Do you--Do you think they'll give me a new phone if I ask really nicely?"

He's coming back.

[trustycrowbar]

Gordon listens on as Kotetsu, Joachim, the whole group, slightly flabbergasted and feeling a little out of place, all told. He's not a member here, and he knew Booster was crucial to the Justice League but he had no idea...

That's a real look of relief on his face, however brief, when Booster asks his question. He leans down with a smile and claps a hand on the other man's shoulder.

"Don't worry about it. We'll get you one."