Author's Notes: The Scarlet Pimpernel was the novelized precursor to costumed superheroes - before Batman or even Zorro. He was an English fop who utilized many disguises to save French aristocrats during the Reign of Terror.
1. Sink Me!
"Okay, okay. The Scarlet Pimpernel?"
"Sir Percy Blakeney."
The whole table whistled, impressed.
"Finally, you're rooting for the proper hero – why not Chauvelin, Barney?"
"I'll give you fifty reasons why it's the Scarlet Pimpernel instead! One: he cares for his suits properly while Chauvelin, like Ted, does not; two: he is the precursor to the comic book hero; three: he was so badass he did make it to the comics in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen; four: he saves rich people; five: he relies on disguise, like me -"
Ted nudged Robin, rolling his eyes. "This is going to take a while…"
2. Od's Fish!
Some time and many scotches later…
"Forty-seven: In the movie, Marguerite is played by Jane Seymour, and she's smoking hot; forty-nine-"
"You both act like prissy girls about your clothes; and fifty, you both write poetry… though I prefer Percy's to your bathroom stall fare," Lily joked.
Barney leapt up, eyes flashing. "I'll give you poetry, Aldrin:
"They seek him here, they seek him there.
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere!
Is he in heaven – is he in hell?
That damned elusive… PIMPERNEL!"
With a flourish and a bang, Barney disappeared in a flash of flame and smoke, leaving everyone coughing.