( open-ish ) dedicate and sacrifice my everything

[batsymbol]

Who: Bruce Wayne/Batman batsymbol
What: catch-all for the month, largely time travel and event focused
When: Throughout September
Where: Primarily the past
Content Warnings: TBD but let's just say Bruce being Bruce and Batman being 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

[batsymbol]

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. )

[avatarfortruth]

[ 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.

[batsymbol]

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

Champion how? Of what?

[avatarfortruth]

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.

[batsymbol]

( 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. )

[avatarfortruth]

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.

[batsymbol]

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. )

[avatarfortruth]

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.

[batsymbol]

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

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

[avatarfortruth]

[ She arches her eyebrows at him. ]

Are you planning to go up against the god?

[batsymbol]

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.

[avatarfortruth]

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.

[batsymbol]

( 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?

[avatarfortruth]

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.

[batsymbol]

( 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.

[avatarfortruth]

[ 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?

[batsymbol]

( 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.

[avatarfortruth]

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?

[batsymbol]

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.

[avatarfortruth]

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. ]

[batsymbol]

I don't know. He hasn't been seen since he was taken down. Since Chaos Gate took him with her.

( he's not so sure he's dead, personally. )

[avatarfortruth]

[ She hums, thoughtful, and leans back on her hands on the bedspread. Her voice is wry as she goes on. ]

I have some experience with people who have become beasts. In that case, it was a curse... but one that could be broken. I wonder if he might still be saved.

[batsymbol]

I was able to listen in on what was being said between the younger versions of his parents as well as this Neil Perkins and his aide.

( when being able to lurk within the shadows as a superpower comes in handy. )

Seems they feel they live in Starstruck's shadow and don't want to anymore. ( a beat, recalling the things discussed. ) There was talk of possibilities concerning the difficulties of altering ones DNA... and how taking out Starstruck might be an easier option.

[avatarfortruth]

[ Her brows draw together at that, concerned. ]

He'll need protection.

[ Unless this is how it happened. Could their jealousy have been the thing that turned Starstruck into a bomb, that shaped the future of this world? ]

I realize I have no leg to stand on when it comes to children being created for a specific reason... but that seems shortsighted of them.

[batsymbol]

Dick's looking into it.

( possibly tipping off an atomight that might be able to intervene in some way. )

The aide that was there... Agatha. Something didn't seem... right about her. I couldn't put my finger on it. Just a feeling.