metalogs | open-ish.

Entry tags:

open-ish.

Who: Bruce Wayne/Batman

batsymbol and others
What: a halloween-themed housewarming
When: end of october
Where: primarily central
Content Warnings: TBD but let's just say Bruce being Bruce is always likely

It's Friday October 27th when this housewarming shindig happens at the townhouse in Central he's recently purchased for himself and with it being so close to Halloween, he decides to decorate it a little. Or maybe a lot. He's still trying to get the hang of this whole Bruce Wayne thing.

Either way, the lower floor of the five-story townhouse is decorated for the spooky season and the one floor he'd prefer people to stick to since he's not the only one who lives here. There's food and refreshments available with something hopefully for everyone and if you're in the mood for something a little more spooky for a drink, there's this little guy lined up along one of the tables to be enjoyed, the flavor being a tart pomegranate with a touch of sweetness to it. Yes, it can also be alcoholic and yes, he has someone stationed there to ensure those of age to drink are the ones taking the alcoholic version of that.

On your way in or out, don't forget to say hi to the concierge for the night and feel free to take your complimentary pumpkin bucket filled with candy he has for guests. Don't worry about checking the candy for trackers. It's not like he would ever do such a thing. 😇 Happy Housewarming Halloween.

ooc notes: just a stupid little housewarming mingle thrown together where bruce makes an attempt to Do Something for his kiddos and friends he has here. Diana also lives within the townhouse and so friends of hers are welcome to stop by as well if she'd invite them. whoever the kiddos want to bring along with them are also welcome to stop by but please stick to the first floor where the shindig is or else bruce is going to be Disappointed aka i'm still figuring out the rest of the floors.

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[Jason rolls his eyes. Ugh. God. Of course they would wind up picking the same costume]

Bet I can use a sword better.

That ain't a bet you want to make.

( given jason's fairly confident he could take junior's pointy toys and shove them straight into him, which would be a really painful way to learn he's not better at slashing at people than jason is. wouldn't even be the first time, would it? )

What's the score at currently? Three to zero?

[Darkly]

Only for now.

[Jason knows he shouldn't start more fights with his double but he can't help but talk back and defend himself]

You think you're gonna catch up to me? 'cause I've got years on you. An' a hell of a lot more experience. You figured out your post-Robin training all on your own, didn't you? I got the League of Assassins sending me off to the best of the best. An' all the years after I'd spent fucking with B, working with 'em, an' everything in between.

( his grin turns--darker, because he knows this is junior being defensive. that he's going to work himself hard until he figures out how to take him down. that his stubborn streak works out for him often enough that quitting almost never feels like a viable option. )

You're not gonna win, 'cause the only way you will is if you really go for it. An' you won't, 'cause you know if you really hurt me, it'd leave you without them again.

[Jason just barely stops himself from taking a swing at his double. It's only because they're in Diana's home that he's trying to hold back]

I don't need them. I've been fine on my own for years.

( they're in bruce's home that diana's opted to move into - she's around, close enough that he knows if he were to throw a punch, they'd at minimum get her stepping all over them again. given they've got the kids flitting around, including tiny tim, jason's significantly less willing to throw the first hit. just the first one. the rest that follow can't be blamed on him.

doesn't mean he won't still open his mouth. )

Yeah? Prove it.

Still here aren’t I? Took over Gotham’s underworld by myself. Established myself here by myself. Not bad for a street rat and a two-bit thug.

[He knows the other Jason is trying to get him to throw in the first punch in a place that’ll get him in a lot more trouble than it’s worth. He’s trying to not give him the satisfaction]

Not 'cause you're functional.

( no, it's not too bad for a street rat. they've overcome a lot, fought hard, survived through sheer will and determination. not because they even particularly wanted to live, but -- )

'cause you had a goal an' to hell with everything else. You took over Gotham's underworld to show up Bruce. You did it 'cause you knew no one else was gonna fix Gotham, you thought you knew how, and you were gonna show him up. Show him how his methods are shit, look at how much better it'd be if he just killed off everyone in the upper ranks who wasn't going to stop any time soon.

( he could go on. he could dig into why he's betting junior pulled the same move here, what he's digging into, why he's doing it. but jason doesn't. his tone doesn't get any rougher, partially because he knows it's not necessary, mostly because he's trying not to get diana's attention. )

Take that away, an' all you've got is them and your kids. Back home? ( a pause, and jason's--clicking his tongue. ) You've got nothing. Just that anger, that's gonna eat through you 'til it destroys you.

[Jason can feel his temper further rising up. They've had this conversation before but it still makes him so angry. He doesn't want to really face how right his double is about him]

And what about you? Everything all rainbows and unicorns on your side now that you've given up and being leashed? Being one of the good little birds again and getting that little sliver of home again? The occasional holiday dinner?

Nevermind that you can never shake off how you might lose it at any moment. It only takes one fuck-up for them to turn against you again. But hey. You and I are used to struggling just for scraps so maybe it's not that new.

Did you forget why you were so angry in the first place? Forgetting that you weren't angry for just yourself?

( his chest rises and falls steadily, even as the rest of his body language reads two seconds away from jumping right into a fight. jason--takes a step forward, just one, until he's almost uncomfortably close to junior. leans into his space, white curls almost falling into his eyes. )

Were? I'm still angry. ( he's gone home, since the last time they'd had this conversation. spent months recovering from injuries bruce gave him, had to cope with roy's death, alfred's, his own, again, after the war. after the world shifted and everything changed. jason wouldn't call it growth, so much as--being proven right. ) An' I know who I am. Where I stand, how much trust I should put in any of it. ( voice lowering, and jason tips his head a little. looks junior over. ) Do you?

[Jason doesn't flinch when the older man moves in closer. It's an intimidation tactic. He knows not to give in. It'd be showing weakness]

I know just as well as you do.

[Or at least, that's what Jason's been telling himself. Most of the time he tries not to think deeper on all the traumas he's experienced and the scars they've left on him]

You only decided to settle.

I ain't settled.

( plays at it on occasion. definitely had been, before. shit's a little different now. )

Nor am I leashed.

Could've fooled me. Got a nice big tower for yourself. Idling away your days. Even showing up for the family. Seems almost nice, isn't it?

[Jason knows he's coming dangerously close to hitting even more sensitive topics but his self-control is keeps whittling away the longer they talk]

I'm giving you three weeks.

( it's--low, steady, even as his expression pinches tight. )

And a warning. Then I'm gonna take down your shit gang an' what you've built up in Central. Every safehouse, every stash, every lackey.

Cute. Not afraid of pissing off them then? Can’t imagine your little rampage will make good dinner conversation next time we’re all together like this.

[Jason’s fists are balled up but his voice doesn’t rise]

Jealousy never ends well you know.

You're the one who said he could handle himself an' didn't need anyone. Show me. I've given you plenty to go off of: a time table, a goal, what I'm gonna do. Stop me without any of 'em to back you up. And if you can't?

( a grin, but it doesn't reach his eyes. )

I was moving in on Central anyway.

[Jason narrows his eyes to a glare and responds without hesitation]

Deal. Maybe you’ll be less like the old man after all.

( junior knew what he was doing. and jason's held back long enough.

fuck it. his fist raises, arm swinging in for a rough right hook. )

[Jason knew what was going to happen the moment he mentioned Bruce. He catches the other man’s fist tries and tries to twist his wrist and push him off]

Like I said. Settled.

( they're done. they made it this long. fuck it being diana's place too, she'll be fine, they're not breaking anything aside from each other. fingers catch his fist, but jason's just using it to turn into junior to try and shove an elbow straight into his nose. )

This feel settled to you?

[Jason makes a loud grunt when he’s hit in the face. He’s forced to let go and puts a hand to his nose and mouth, feeling a bad bruise forming]

Fuck off.

( he feels the impact, and it's--it's not satisfying, not like how he wants it to be, but that's fine. jason'll get over it. they're not in neutral territory, there are people all around, and junior--isn't fighting back enough to justify going further. so he raises both his hands up in mock surrender.

starts off towards the door. )

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