( open ) and what's the worst you take

[batsymbol]

Who: Bruce Wayne/Batman batsymbol
What: July Catch-all, Bruce assimilating to things, Batman being Batman
When: Throughout July, some August things too
Where: Primarily Central City, will mention otherwise
Content Warnings: TBD but let's just say Bruce being Bruce and Batman being Batman.



BRUCE or BATMAN

open to both [brackets] and prose, i'll follow your lead if you have a preference. if you want something else with bruce or bats, shoot me a PM or PP at telekinetics to discuss. otherwise things we've planned/discussed can be dropped in here as well. starters in comments.

Comments

batman.

[batsymbol]

( when night falls, the bat comes out in central city and there's always a few spots to find him. if you look close enough, as he tends to keep to the shadows.

cape wrapping around him, the rooftop of a high-rise is one spot. crouched down on the ledge, binoculars held to his face, he reaches down to his utility belt and adjusts something there. listening. watching. searching. for someone in particular? seems like it. or maybe he's just getting a lay of the land. there's room up here at least for someone else. provided you don't try and sneak up on him.

in his search, the bat ends up in a couple brawls on the streets, typically more in the shadowy parts. punches are hard, kicks are heavy, and thugs are thrown into walls with such a force, it comes with a growl from the bat. this isn't personal by any means, but he's making it be. it's obvious in the way he's going hard on them. there's a few more rounding the corner to jump him, so you're free to come in with an assist. or you can just watch. it's not like he's going to stop either way. )

[torchbearer]

[ well now. green lantern waits until he's finished before descending nearby. he wonders if bruce will know him, so he's careful not to startle. he really hopes he doesn't get a batarang in the face. ]

Still playing rough, huh?

[batsymbol]

( he may not get a batarang in the face, but he'll definitely get a glare— grapple unsheathed and fingers curled into a fist he holds up. there's a lack of recognition there in his eyes, as there often is with everyone he comes into contact with here. )

Looking to find out yourself?

[torchbearer]

What? No. C'mon, man.

[ kyle holds his hands up. not that he's worried. he's powerful enough to weather any attacks from bruce, but he also knows better to underestimate bruce. ]

I take it you don't recognize me?

[batsymbol]

( bruce doesn't let up on his stance. or the glare. )

Should I?

( that might answer that? )

[torchbearer]

Yes? Obviously?

[ why can't he catch a break. he sighs for a moment. ]

It's Green Lantern. From the Justice League. We're, uh, coworkers.

[batsymbol]

( justice league. green lantern. names that don't mean anything. but one that holds recognition then after a second. )

You know Jason.

( it's said more as fact than a question. )

[purplexing]

[Seems like no matter the political climate, there's no shortage of thugs still willing to make trouble for people.

The guy looks like he's got it handled, but Donnie'd feel kind of bad if things turned out the other way. He decides he can use it as an excuse to get back into the swing of things.

Down he drops, the end of his bō catching one guy under the chin just before the turtle teen lands on the shoulders of another, shoving off to send them crashing into the other. Once he's on the ground, Donnie spins his staff, a knife clattering away as he disarms the remaining thug before thrusting the end of his weapon towards the man's gut, swinging it back around over his wrist before cracking it over the guy's head and sending him crashing towards the ground.]

[batsymbol]

( amidst the dance of thrown punches, he catches a glimpse of another dropping down into the brawl and he readies himself to deal with the "new challenger" that's appeared. it's only when he's thrown the last thug off him and against the wall harshly, that he curls a hand into a fist and nearly unsheathes his grapple when he catches sight of just who has dropped down into this violent little party here in the alleyway.

short-lived, however, when he spots one other thug coming up for the other here. movements swift, he swings something towards him — a batarang — knocking it hard into the thug and toppling him over. and out, from the looks of it. )

[purplexing]

[Donnie notices maybe a second later, but by then something's flown past his face and he hears the thud of a body just a ways behind him.

He sneaks a quick glance over his shoulder just to make sure no one else is trying to get the drop on him before he looks back towards the darkly clad figure. A little late to reconsider interfering, he supposes, but he can't help for the sheepish look even as he thinks this guy would be utterly terrifying to run into in a dark alley.

...which is...exactly where they're at right now. Hah....]

[batsymbol]

( that's the whole point after all.

a quick survey of their current situation and how it seems to have been dealt with, his focus lands back onto the other here. the other who he's not familiar with — like with everyone here — or what his intentions might be. granted, he's not coming right at him with that bo of his and, from the looks of it, he'd dropped in to provide an assist, but. batman is batman. which is always suspicious of others. )

You're pretty good with that.

( the bo, he means. )

[purplexing]

[The kid manages not to try hiding behind said bō while he finds himself under the dark figure's scrutiny. He blinks at the compliment, which at least helps him relax just a tiiiiny bit.]

Oh, thanks. And um...you're...pretty good with the whole beatdown thing- you probably had this all under control so sorry for jumping in..?

[batsymbol]

( more or less, he did. or maybe it was a good thing to have an assist, if only to have him dial it back a bit. just a bit.

either way, a hum that rumbles deep in the back of his throat is what he gives in terms of a reply at first before he moves away from the mess on the ground. boots heavy. )

You were looking to help.

( an observation more than a question. )

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Dick is doing something similar. Or at least he'd say he was. Part of it is getting the lay of the land, part of it is that staying in the safehouse all the time would drive him insane.

He's not shocked to see Batman in a street brawl, but his movements are more aggressive than they've been in years. Instead of being efficient, he seems to be taking out anger on them. Dick sighs to himself.

He spots the thugs coming around the corner and decides to give Bruce a hand... and perhaps save them from an unnecessarily severe beating.

Silently, he jumps down from the fire escape he's been hanging out on and slams his entire body weight onto the back of two of them. They crumple and hit the ground with a groan. A third lunges at Dick, who just sighs and side-steps. The third thug tries to dart at him again, but Dick just disarms him this time. The knife clatters to the concrete and Dick uses the man's momentum against himself, throwing him to the ground.

Dick grabs their weapons in case they try to get up anytime soon and tosses them in a dumpster. He dusts his hands off dramatically. ]

You know, I think they got the message, Batman.

[ Dick's dressed in all black with the hood of his hoodie up and dark glasses on his face. His voice is pitched a little lower but still maintains that playful lilt to it. ]

[batsymbol]

( it takes a second for him to notice the assist dropping in but, when he does, it's met with a fleeting flash of surprise on his face. his assist is young, small... and not at all dressed in ways that could protect him from being shot at or stabbed unexpectedly. )

What're you doing here?

( his voice is low — a growl, grabbing one of the thugs by the back of the collar there in the floor and dragging him off to the side, throwing him atop another already down and out for the count. )

[hackingyoursensors]

[ Oh he knows that tone of voice. Bruce is pissed. He winces. ]

I was in the area and I saw the brawl from the rooftop.

[batsymbol]

( he's still high from the adrenaline coursing through his veins. natural adrenaline from the fight, not from the injections he has in his utility belt.

steps heavy from the boots he wears, he eyes dick through the black greasepaint beneath his mask, kicking one of the thugs down who tries to get himself up. out cold. )

What're you wearing?

( he's seen the others. they have suits. this? this is not a suit. this is him throwing on whatever he can to use as a disguise and call it a night. )

[hackingyoursensors]

[ He sighs. Not having his gear really does suck. ]

What I have. I know, it's not exactly impressive.

[batsymbol]

( again, he eyes him as he moves another unconscious thug over to join the pile. kneeling down, he starts to search them. )

Does he know you've got this?

( he being jason. he's not about to name him out here on the streets after all. )

[reneger]

( after the jailbreak, heron's identity had to be burned. which unfortunately also means jason's fancy gear has also been burned. he can't wear the same shit heron went out in, not visibly. so when he approaches bruce from behind while he's brawling some idiots, jason's not wearing the same shit he had when he'd been playing at being heron, at least not visibly.

there's a brown leather jacket layered over a red sleeveless hoodie, hood pulled up over his hair and there's still the red domino mask under it. he'd never lay claim to being creative, jason leaves the making shit up to other people.

instead of cargo pants, he's just got the thin but strong bodysuit covering his legs, and the same combat boots as before. because shit costs money, and jason doesn't have wayne money to steal. he's careful to keep his steps silent, doesn't interrupt the fight any, not yet. he spends a good few minutes just watching, before jason even opens his mouth, )

Damn, B, your form is garbage.

( it isn't. he's just an asshole. )

[batsymbol]

( he's a little busy with the dance he's involved in with the group he's decided to take misplaced anger out on, so even if jason weren't being careful to keep quiet, he probably wouldn't even notice right off the... bat.

one ends up flipped to the ground, another's head cracks painfully hard against the brick wall when he's thrown, the other coming towards bruce is slammed in the face with an elbow, then grabbed and tased on the neck with the taser he has built into his gloves.

when jason finally speaks, a quick swish of the cape, and a batarang is forcefully and swiftly thrown in jason's direction before bruce gets back to the two he's dealing with. )

[reneger]

( that's adorable.

and luckily, jason was ready for bruce to throw shit at him from the moment he opened his mouth. the batarang goes flying, and jason off to the side just enough to cause it to miss it's target and instead hit the brick wall behind him. he doesn't move towards bruce or his thugs, just reaches down to pick up the batarang between his index and middle fingers. stands himself up straight to twirl it between his fingers. )

This new? It looks new. And shiny.

[batsymbol]

( another one flipped to the ground, he's joined by the last after bruce yanks him in by his arm and drops his elbow down to the back of his head, letting him fall with a heavy thud. he takes a moment — just a moment for a catch of his breath before he slowly turns some towards jason. eyeing him.

because of course it's jason. he'd thought as much a second after hearing his voice and, with seeing him out and about like this, it's safe to say kyle hadn't arrived too late like he'd been worried about.

in typical bruce fashion, he doesn't say anything and, instead, drops down to a knee and checks the ones unconscious there on the ground. as if it's routine by now. )

[reneger]

Making sure you didn't kill 'em? Sure would hate to see you stoop that low, Bats.

( but he's snorting, taking the batarang to rest it between his thumb and index finger, before he's tossing it right back over to bruce--aimed straight for his stupid cowl. he choreographs the move, makes it clear what he's doing so bruce'll have plenty of time to move away from it.

doesn't give him nearly as much warning when he pulls out a gun and shoots straight for his chest. for the armor. jason's firing rubber bullets, less lethal but still plenty painful even through kevlar. this isn't a fight, not really. this is jason starting shit. )

[batsymbol]

( bruce isn't in the mood to play games. especially with a punk who seems to enjoy using him as an emotional trigger for his own misplaced anger. so when the batarang comes — when he makes it obvious what he's doing, he twists to let it fly past him and that's when he catches sight of the gun coming out. it's all quick when it happens. the narrowing of bruce's eyes beneath the thick black greasepaint, the bullets fired off without so much as a second thought, and the way shadows seem to swallow bruce up — make him disappear into them and, seemingly, into the night as well.

that's not entirely the case, as he reappears a little ways behind from jason, out of the shadows just as he had disappeared into them. )

Are you finished? I'm busy.