( 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

bruce.

[batsymbol]

( screwdriver sets, power cords, computer tool kits, and other various hardware. things that sit in his basket as he wanders through the various aisles of the shop he's in. stocking up. yeah. that's exactly what he's doing for what he has in mind. because he needs to start from scratch all over again and this time, he's without the seemingly endless resources at his fingers whenever he needs them, so. it's stocking up on things he knows he'll need. things that will give him something to do.

if it's here you run into bruce, he's still dressed like a drifter, possibly as a means to keep a relatively low profile. at least he's without the raccoon eyes this time and has a cap on his head. progress. sort of. he typically keeps to himself, but if gets the sense of being watched, he'll look over, even if he doesn't say anything.

at some point, he'll stop to catch a glimpse of one of broadcasts from Fantastic on the tvs, a low hum heard in the back of his throat the more he listens. and while he might be speaking aloud to himself, it's still within earshot of anyone around, low and soft. )

Fantastic, huh?

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. )

[mostdangerousbird]

[ The teenager in the aisle picks his head up just enough to roll his eyes at the mention of Fantastic.

Tim’s basket is full of components. A couple of RAID cards, miscellaneous cables, a sound card - there’s easily a few hundred bucks in there, but no tools or casings. Whatever he’s building, it’s going to be custom.

He knows it’s an interesting person, so Tim’s leaning hard into nerd to fit the purchase. His hair is wild and fluffy without product, and he’s drowning in an oversized polo shirt in from the trendy brand of 2017. Khaki shots with no cargo pockets. Plain all white sneakers.

It’s Bruce. Tim adjusts his glasses, ostensibly tucking them more tidily into place, and tries to survey his purchases. ]

The quality of his speeches don’t merit the amount of air time he’s getting.

[ Tim’s real voice is a low tenor with a light Jersey accent. Robin keeps to his lower register and Network English. Right now, he’s stripping out the lower tones like he’s a 1930s radio announcer and imitating the local accent.

It’s not that he wants to hide. Tim isn’t sure he wants to have the conversation needed to have Bruce understand who he is. ]

[robintohood]

[Jason had planted a tracker on Bruce during their fight. How could he not? Jason knows this younger version of his adoptive father is going to keep being Batman and eventually he's going to cross paths with the Joker, assuming the psycho is still around. Bruce is obsessed. The whole family is to some degree.

Plus, Jason wants to keep pushing Bruce's boundaries and keep testing him. The man is younger and not as experienced as the Bruce Wayne Jason knows back home. There are weaknesses he hasn't worked out yet. Flaws in the metaphorical and literal armor. Jason wants to know.

Jason's been tailing Bruce for a while today and waiting to see if he'll be noticed. Closer and closer he gets and he keeps observing. Older Dick wasn't kidding that this is Bruce in an emo phase, even without the greasepaint around the eyes.

Soon enough Jason's within earshot of Bruce and he hears the man's comments]

Yeah. He's a real piece of work.

[Jason doesn't hide his Gothamite accent. It's not posh like one would have if they were raised rich. Instead, it's an accent that suggests he has a rougher livelihood. He waits to see how much information Bruce has already picked up and his opinion of the guilds]

[batsymbol]

( he doesn't bother to move his basket to the side. rather, he slowly throws a glance his way. stares. takes in the kid's features, his body language, what he is and isn't saying. typical bruce— batman things.

a slow turn of his head back towards the tv, catching whatever else fantastic is going on about, he's quiet for a moment. )

If you call that quality.

( still staring to the television, he mentally takes notes of this fantastic. )

What're you building?

[batsymbol]

( he'd found the tracker some time after and had been a little annoyed in it being placed on him. that was a first for him. he'd figured it'd been one of the kids he'd ran into. who else could it be after all? so rather than smash the thing or toss it somewhere else, he'd kept it on him, knowing that whoever had planted it would come by.

that was the point after all.

a slow turn of his head, he regards jason carefully when he goes and offers his own opinion of this fantastic fellow and bruce takes in everything about him. accent, features, body language. all of it put to memory while looking for things in typical batman fashion.

glancing back to the television, he listens in a little more. )

Seems like it.

[robintohood]

[Jason's also taking in as many details as he can, including what Bruce has been shopping for. He's clearly ready to set up shop somewhere. Has the man found a new Batcave already?]

Maybe it's just me but the speeches are all starting to sound the same. Pretty boy looks but maybe not enough substance.

[mostdangerousbird]

I didn’t.

[ call it quality. He implied that it wasn’t, but left it open-ended.

He’s upgrading his tracker and comms server to handle to additional load of another Robin and the flurry of shit that Jay is doing and improve the storage management in hopes of holding six months of remotely accessible data. He’s also building a gauntlet device for Dick Junior. ]

A Cartesian for automated customization of thermoset chassis on a Lilliputian scale.

[ Tim begins walking away before Bruce can put together that nonsense as a robot to paint my D&D minifigs. ]

You wouldn’t understand.

[batsymbol]

Making up for what he lacks.

( the words are soft — an observation of his own. there's still a lot about the guilds and their players he needs to look into. there's so much he needs to look into, it's a wonder he manages any amount of sleep. even if it's an hour or two. )

[batsymbol]

( there is the absolute faintest of smiles that just barely touches his lips when tim goes and says that and while he doesn't exactly follow after him, he takes his time in looking around at the things near him. it's a store after all. )

Nice to have a hobby here.

( a beat. )

Good way to keep out of trouble.

[robintohood]

[Jason softly scoffs]

Yeah. That's what it sounds like. It's a wonder how he wound up as leader.

[batsymbol]

The corrupt usually do.

( not that he's saying this fantastic fellow is corrupt, but. he's not not saying that either. bruce just has a history of dealing with the corrupt— in seeing them get away with too much— take too much from the people, all while standing on their backs. )

[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?

[robintohood]

Speaking from personal experience?

[The question is asked in a neutral tone but Jason's assuming the answer is "yes." Was Gotham ever truly clean from corruption?]

[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?

[mostdangerousbird]

[ The calculations are fast. What does this alias - let’s call him Henry - what does Henry say in response? Does he argue the implication of here? Does he ignore the man entirely?

(Tim doesn’t want to ignore him entirely. He’s curious.) ]

It’s an electronics store. It exists for hobbies.

[ With a razor straight back, Tim does push back on the trouble comment with the same level of protest that he uses to insist to his friends that he knows how to have fun. ]

I’ll have you know that trouble is my middle name.

[ He keeps it clipped and painfully precise with a hint of a sniff. You don’t know man. He dips cheeseburger Doritos in tzatziki. He’s wild. ]

[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. )

[torchbearer]

[ it takes all of kyle's restraint not to touch his neck where he's sure some hickies can be spotted. ]

Uh, yeah. One more than the other, sort of.

[batsymbol]

( a slow glance towards him, he looks back to the television. )

You'd know, wouldn't you?

[batsymbol]

( trust that bruce will make a mental note of those.

however, after a moment of consideration, he slowly sheathes the grapple back into place, fingers relaxing some. posture coming out of a defensive stance— just slightly. )

He mentioned you.

[torchbearer]

[ huh. ]

He did? I assume it was something terrible.

[ not that there's any real heat in kyle's voice. he just didn't think jason would bring him up to bruce at all. ]

[batsymbol]

( and that would be why bruce is here. for his own hobbies.

nonchalantly, he looks at a few items on a shelf, idly glancing back to the television with fantastic's speech going on again. there's still a lot of things he needs to figure out here. too much, for that matter. it's a wonder he gets any sleep at all. short as it is. )

Is it?