metalogs | ( open-ish ) dedicate and sacrifice my everything

[ The Diana who arrives back at the motel – very nearly at the stroke of the three-hour mark – is different from the Diana who left, although not in any very obvious way.

Aside from, of course, the gorgeously crafted bow which she wears over her shoulder, the quiver of gleaming arrows now tucked against her back. But these things, new as they are, don't encompass the whole of the difference; for one thing, she was almost late, which is unlike her, and for another, her expression in one of someone wandering deeply within their own thoughts.

But she did make it back, even if it was only with a minute or so to spare, and she comes with at least some information that should be useful in their search. She lands lightly some distance away from the motel, trying to stay inconspicuous (difficult for the princess of the Amazons at the best of times, even though she isn't wearing her costume). The pink headband bobs at the edge of her field of vision as she opens the door to the room they'd shared. ]

Bruce?

( a minute or two to spare is still within their agreed amount of time, so. lucky her. at least in that regard.

he and dick had taken it upon themselves to do a bit of investigating while diana had set out to see ~~cupid~~ eros, much to bruce's uncertainty about the supposed god. after all, they aren't anything he has personal experience with outside of myths and legends read alone in libraries or in bed from his parents. to think they actually exist or some form of them does... just something else he's had to wrap his head around since finding himself in this place.

he's there when diana arrives, scribbling things down in a journal, a glance up from where he sits on the chair there, slightly bent over. it's hard to miss the bow and quiver she's sporting on her back, but there's also something else there. something that wasn't there before. something beneath the skin. )

One minute left.

I took a little extra time on my way back.

[ It isn't an apology, just a note. She'd needed it, the extra time, to try and clear her head. Now, she sets bow and quiver onto the bedspread, then removes a folded piece of parchment from her pocket and offers it to him. ]

But I'm pleased to say I do not return empty-handed. This map shows us where she will be... when the time is right.

( blue eyes quietly watching her, a hand lifts to take the paper between two fingers, a slow turn of it towards him. glancing to it, the way bruce's gaze settles on a particular spot on the map; recognizing it. )

And when is the time supposed to be right?

( the annoyance of such a thing not easy to miss there in his voice even as he asks that. )

Gods don't work on human timetables, Bruce. But we'll know.

[ That, she has absolute faith in. She takes a seat at the edge of the bed and takes off the headband, raking her fingers back through her hair and rubbing gently at her temples. ]

If you wanted to be sure, you could go and stake the location out.

We could be there for who knows how long.

( he's not saying no, but. there's just a lot more to all of this now that he and dick have come away finding. suddenly, he's not so sure how much time is needed for any of this.

looking up from the paper, however, he regards her with that same look he'd had the moment she'd stepped into the room. )

What'd he want for those?

( the bow and quiver, he means. )

[ Your love... tell me of it.

She blinks the thought away and meets his studying glance with her own clear one. ]

Those were a gift.

[ Which is true. She hadn't asked for them; the god had given them willingly. But she relents, unwilling to elide the truth. ]

To his champion.

( there it is. and with it, the slight judgmental look in his eyes. not necessarily towards her, but. involving her. )

Champion how? Of what?

You really should read more mythology.

[ Spoken mildly, as she sets the headband aside. Nearby, the divinely-formed bow and quiver gleam gently against the bedspread. ]

I will fight in his name; I will be his weapon, should he need one. In return for my allegiance and loyalty, he will offer his love and aid.

[ Hopefully. The gods can be fickle; very fickle, indeed. ]

You may think of it as a contract, if you wish.

( maybe he just wants to hear it.

still, the look on his face is one that doesn't particularly seem too thrilled with this idea. with this contract, as she puts it. )

Allegiance and loyalty.

( not at all phrased as a question, but. more in... disbelief. )

They are not alien concepts to everyone, you know.

[ He doesn't seem pleased. She isn't all that surprised, given their conversations the night before. ]

The pertinent point is we now have a method of finding Chaos Gate, as well as god-forged weapons should that meeting result in a fight.

Should you even be making pacts with Gods in this time?

( they're not from here after all. this is the past. actions here will cause ripple effects throughout the years to come... possible consequences. )

This is the time we're in. I can't offer him service he might receive, depending on if we get back or not.

[ All the softness of the night before is gone from his eyes. That, too, isn't surprising, but it makes her think wryly of the god's interest. ]

It's done. He gave me his price; I was willing to pay it.

And what if that price has you against me and Dick?

( assume the worst? overthink? not bruce wayne. never. )

[ She arches her eyebrows at him. ]

Are you planning to go up against the god?

Gods are wrathful and vengeful at the drop of a hat. You could end up having to go against people who don't agree with him. People you know.

And here I thought you knew nothing about the gods.

[ Despite the mildness of her tone, there's something steely beneath it. ]

In general, I would suggest not invoking their wrath or vengeance. In specific, I think it unlikely that Eros would have me turn against my friends, the people I care about.

[ Impossible? No. But unlikely, considering the god's intent to spread love. ]

If you're concerned, please know: I have not given up my free will.

( he's hardly convinced by that — by her attempt at providing reassurance that they might not end up on opposite sides at some point. for him to be skeptical is simply him being himself. always speed running straight to the worst case scenario of a situation. sometimes more than one. and the ways they can be prevented, if at all.

eyeing her, he huffs. quiet. a swipe of his tongue over his bottom lip, he looks away momentarily. )

And if Eros ends up like Chaos Gate at some point?

Then he will be my responsibility to deal with.

[ She leans forward, as if she might convince him with the strength of her will alone, with the way she holds his glance with hers, steady. ]

But today, Eros is not under suspicion. I told you I would seek aid, and I received aid. Let us work with that, please.

( there is a look there in those blue eyes of his that diana might be familiar with. the one where bruce isn't about to let something go, despite it coming off that way. where it will sit in the back of his mind, not be forgotten, and be addressed again at some point most likely, if even only to himself and his thoughts. letting go of things is not anything bruce is particularly good at, after all.

but for now, his jaw tightens for just a moment. )

Fine.

( he'll focus on that instead. it's why they're here after all, so. turning the map around for her to see, he hands it back to her by the tips of his fingers. )

There's a place on here Dick and I have been looking into.

[ She takes the map back, setting it by her hip, and gives him a small nod; a silent acknowledgment that they will, in all likelihood, come back to this.

For now, she invites him to continue: ]

What have you learned?

( or he'll push it all down until it's more or less ignored. who knows with bruce sometimes. )

The area you indicated where she'd be is a spot Dick and I followed up on. A man lives there. Neil Perkins. Family lawyer who seems to be having secret meetings with Anne and Max.

( a beat. )

Fantastic's parents.

Her broken heart.

[ Softly mused, almost to herself, before she turns her focus back on him. ]

What did the Shining God do to Fantastic, Bruce?

Manipulated him, from the looks of it. Physically and emotionally.

( the others have more of a history of sorts in having dealt with or being around fantastic than bruce does, but. he'd seen the end result of everything. )

Turned him into a beast that had to be taken down.

So he's dead?

[ Is. Will be. He hasn't even been born yet, in this world, she thinks, and his future is already written. ]

bruce — all good fortune

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