eudio cuddlr.

[frightening]

B (44) The answer is probably no.

✓ <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#2EB82E;">✓</span>

✕ <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#CC0000;">✕</span>

** NOTE ** all threads are private!
( bats are annoyingly reclusive as well as nocturnal )

Comments

[frightening]

You don't think so?

[ Bruce knows Jason needs help, and he knows what happened to the younger man is his fault. There's no two ways about it. Had he never been Robin, he'd never have been taken.

But Jason became a supervillain. His actions killed people, endangered more, destroyed whole swathes of Gotham. He hurt Barbara. Bruce doesn't know how to treat him. ]

I'm not rehashing that just so you can enjoy it.

[jesses]

The people running things here are happy to leave me loose. That not good enough for you? I know you prefer locking away your problems.

I want to know what he showed you. I want to know what he said.

[ maybe it's better this is all text, so bruce doesn't have to hear the thinly buried emotions under that request. obsession still rides him hard. ]

[frightening]

No. Not ever.

[jesses]

You don't have the right to keep secrets from me.

[frightening]

[ There's a significant delay for this response. ]

What happened to you was my fault, and I am sorry. You're right to hate me. But I'm not giving you that. He's gone.

[jesses]

He's not. Don't you get it?

You brought him here.

[frightening]

You are aware that he cannot break me, and that all other things aside, it is impossible for me to be possessed here in this city. Enough, Jason.

[jesses]

And if you're not possessed? If he's just waiting under the surface? Letting you drive until it's convenient, until

[ that text ends mid-sentence. another one comes maybe a minute later. ]

It was a smart move, enlisting S as your bodyguard. He's probably with you right now, huh? Does he know?

[frightening]

Jason, you are describing possession.

What exactly do you think I need protecting from? And yes, Clark knows.

[jesses]

[ of course he does. why lie when you can use the truth more effectively. ]

Of course you told him. Told him to watch you for any sign, any hint, so that he'll know how much of a martyr you are. So he'll hold back if it does happen, desperately wanting to believe that you're still in there. Trading on his guilt.

Well played.

[frightening]

Why are you so desperate for me to be effected still? Do you want me to be sick? So you can see him again?

[jesses]

That's cute. 'Sick.' Like it's something that can be cured.

You of all people should know that once he gets in, you can't ever get him out.

[frightening]

[ Sighs at all the question evasion. You aren't sounding very sane, kid. ]

No, Jason. You're the only one who's still there. I can show you the way out.

[jesses]

You want to rescue me, Bruce? You're too fucking late.

How's Dr. Knutson doing, by the way? And the red-headed stepchild? I heard a fascinating story about what happened to him.

[frightening]

It isn't. It never is, not for you.

You can ask them yourself. I'm not blind.

[jesses]

It was too late the moment you crashed into my life. When you took me.

[ he says, like it had been bruce's fault that he and the joker had crashed into jason's neighborhood during one of their battles. like it had been bruce's fault jason pulled a gun and ensured the joker would remember his face.

it had been bruce's fault that he'd been stuffed into a squad car after, arrested as thanks for saving the batman's ungrateful ass, and set on the path for robin. bruce had orchestrated all that, plucked him out of what had been his normal, shitty life and then made sure he couldn't go back to it with all the promises of education, training, money. adoption. but it had already been too late by then. he'd fucked himself the moment he'd run towards the fight and not away. ]

Just indifferent. Maybe I should have thought of repainting your door first.

[frightening]

What are you trying to provoke me into?

[jesses]

[ anything. anything at all. ]

What did he want?

[frightening]

You won't answer any questions after I've been forthcoming, you try to manipulate me, and you think I'm going to play along with your attempts at an interrogation? You don't even know what the hell you want, Jason.

[jesses]

I know exactly what I want. These city reps are going to hand it to me on a silver platter.

Did you know he died? Threw himself on a bomb like a good little hero?

[frightening]

[ Unless you get kicked out for harassing people, s i g h.

Part of him wants to reply So what does that make you?, because part of him is unbelievably cruel. And it's not any possessed part, it's just him. Bruce is vaguely disgusted at himself, but that's all he can muster. ]

I'm not doing this with you. If you want to have a discussion like a rational human being, you obviously know where to find me. Until then, you're wasting your time.

[jesses]

[ shh don't worry he was trained by the best. ]

I've got nothing but time to waste.

I'll see you around.