knightbynight: (76)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-20 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
And back to perplexed he goes - not only at that story, nor the 'audacity' of being spoken to 'that way' - but certainly of being spoken to that way.

That way being casually and seemingly comfortably.

He quite sincerely has not the first idea what to do with that. Particularly not with palpable shadows around him and his eyes doing that specific thing that they continue to do, now mostly just because he started.

"Help from somewhere," Or one, "would be the obvious answer." IMmediate answer, anyway. After this long? Less likely.
knightbynight: (43)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
He is absolutely, viscerally, deeply, repulsed by that sword. Which is of course weird enough in and of itself - yes, yes, he knows why he's having that reaction - that he creeps around a bit to squint faintly at it.

"You had that thing and you walked into Gotham without it?"

The fuck is wrong with this idiot.
knightbynight: (Default)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
"Did you come here to die?"

Again with the almost... over the top even for a devil aloofness.
knightbynight: (34)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
There is absolutely no part of him that is stupid enough to not recognize 'attack me' as a set up of some stripe. Especially not from an asshole with a holy avenger and a griffon.

Who is a healer, who wants to be in Gotham for Reasons and Bruce intends to let be in Gotham -also for reasons.

He's still going to do it.

He has a serious problem with curiosity.

So he draws back, those shadows solidify even more around him and then lash out, hard and fast at Zerxus with, for all intents and purposes as though they have taken physical, cutting, form.

Fire? Nah. He's much more into the dark. ...and just a touch safer.
Edited 2024-11-21 00:44 (UTC)
knightbynight: (pissed)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
Bruce is a stoic man - incredibly so.

That he does not react at all to his attack being changed and sent back to him, even cut (pun intended) in half is a sign. With any luck at all, it'll be written off as any of a dozen things that have nothing to do with reality. Like an instinctive desire to just fucking freeze in place, because there is a much bigger threat than Zerxus now.

"There's nothing quite as arrogant as an overly confident paladin. You haven't answered my question."

Gathering information and buying time to do it in. That's not a lie. It just cuts off before the 'end game'. He just wants to know and truthfully if Gotham benefits... good.
Edited 2024-11-21 01:10 (UTC)
knightbynight: (pissed)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
He waves his hand at the man. "Finish writing your letters, then." Snappish and a bit dismissive, before he settles back and continues to watch, just with a bit less overt curiosity.

The desire to help is a very easy thing to leverage over the course of a year. As is whatever's made him willing to leave his son.. End goal? Sure. It can be finding out what those connections are and how to turn the man himself into leverage. There's something more there.

He truly isn't an idiot.

...Helping Gotham is still not a terrible thing. He still wants to know more for the sake of knowing and because something about that level of audacity is compelling.

His end goal is still what works, here.
knightbynight: (72)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
Uh huh. Notice, write your letters and keep your mouth about noticing. Bruce is busy - though still keeping an eye on things and noting the length of that letter.

That's the one to whoever has his son..... That isn't exactly an intentionally directed thought, just an observational thought that he is aware will be heard. Pride. Arrogance. Desperation and something to prove.

Does he want Asmodeus to 'take' Zerxus? Absolutely not. He's been here for a long time. It would take a lot of investment and unlearning to even contemplate protesting. Not that he's never a... problem for his father, but when he is it certainly isn't casually.

He's also spoiled and generally expects to get what he wants.

Edited 2024-11-21 02:40 (UTC)
knightbynight: (pic#8240828)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
And attraction. He hadn't actually, truly, noticed on a conscious level, but that didn't mean he wasn't aware. Largely by default, in fairness. Bruce is attractive, knows he is, and is well acquainted with how to use that.

He's just also fascinated by this specific man. Still watching him as he writes as a matter of fact.

I'll find something for him to wear that will help him 'blend in'. It's an easy argument to make. Am I suggesting he send his armor home, or do you have some particular desire for it? to stay within Gotham or very specifically and personally.

Why would his father? ...because he can?
knightbynight: (4)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
I did ask if he was suicidal for a reason.

The willingness to walk into Gotham without the sword was that reason. The willingness to send it back is a bigger one. Even if it's denied, there's something... fundamental cracked, Bruce thinks. There has to be. The pieces don't fit, otherwise.

Meanwhile the writing stalling out has him wondering, and not at all realizing he's having any sort of personal response to the evidence of a more normal parental type bond. He is, but is oblivious to it.

Just puzzling out pieces and noting that he - they - have his son's name now. Or at least can likely puzzle it out.
knightbynight: (Default)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
It says he's an arrogant idiot, is what Bruce is pretty sure it says.

He waits out the letter writing with seemingly endless patience, and in truth that's not too far off the mark. He's sharp and spoiled and can be incredibly reactive, but he is capable of still for far, far longer than his general demeanor would imply.

Particularly when his father is an... active presence.

"Tell me."
knightbynight: (48)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
Asmodeus is slyly delighted.

Bruce is appalled and angry.

"You are an idiot." Yes, he would have used the son and his safety as... a point of bargaining for what he wanted. Yes, his safety for the time his father was gone could be more secure with this, but you don't just hand a devil that sort of opportunity with such clear willingness to give anything for it.

...he should not have said that aloud, and he realizes it only after the flare of temper and second the words are out of his mouth.

Anything you want.
knightbynight: (pissed)

[personal profile] knightbynight 2024-11-21 02:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, but then I'd have a permanent arrangement with, and soul of, what is apparently a blithering idiot.

His tone is not quite his father's snideness, but more something caught between disgust and confusion, as he watches that man's expression soften in response to very real anger.

"You attack no devils for two years. You attack no one at all in Gotham for the time you are here, though you are free to defend yourself. You obey me for the duration of that year." His verbal tone is more flat, but not quite recognizable as mostly recitation. Mostly because 'don't attack people in Gotham' is... likely unnecessary but also wholly his requirement.

And he's just still looking... pissy and confused. "You can start with sending your armor and sword back." The sword he already knew was going, but he doesn't need to admit he knew that and, well, he should reasonably want it gone.

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