Night of the 22nd.
[22:06] edsidlemirth: Eddie's in a hotel room. It's not supposed to be a long-term location, but it's not a dive, either. He couldn't stand to be in a dive, especially not right now. So here he is, in some chain hotel in Gotham, with cheesy art on the walls, and the tv on just so there's noise, people talking. The phone calls have slowed enough that he's in the bathroom, trying to deal with his hand and his back.
[22:26] knight_so_dark: Bruce struggled with whether to come in armor or civilian clothing. The armor was conspicuous, but if something came up, the tools and protection would be welcome. In the end, he went for compromise. Scrubby civilian clothing, with a chestplate underneath a hoodie and good steel-toed boots, and the most essential instruments hidden on his person. He slips into the hotel without any trouble, and heads up to the room Nigma told him he was in. He considers letting himself in, but knows how that's typically received. And though he doesn't really care how the Riddler feels about him, this is a delicate situation. He knocks, and waits.
[22:31] edsidlemirth: Eddie gets the door a few moments later, with a shirt without the back torn up, at least. He's moving stiffly, but is still quick to move to the side to let the man enter, at which point, he'll shut and lock the door, before he'll say a word. He isn't in order, except for a hasty attempt at making himself look like it. There's a washcloth wrapped around his left hand. He looks relieved to see him, slumping against the wall beside him, instead of leaning back against the door, because, ow.
[22:55] knight_so_dark: Eddie lets him in, recognises him. And yes, that's the furthest thing from a surprise. But as a reinforcement of unpleasant truths, it's unwelcome. He watches the other man look relieved when he comes in, watches him slump, and thinks, with a sudden anxious jolt, that he should have come in costume. It would have been easier. He has no idea what to say, like this. Something either of his roles would say, maybe? To start? "How badly are you hurt?"
[23:04] edsidlemirth: He pauses for a moment. He doesn't really want to talk about that, not to him. "I tried to clean out the cut on my hand, and I haven't had enough time to look at my back. I'm going to get it checked out after we talk." He pushes himself away from the wall and limps into the room, to pull a chair out from under the desk in here, and push it toward Bruce. He sits on the arm chair, leaning forward.
[23:31] knight_so_dark: He makes a quiet sound, a little too gentle for a grunt, and doesn't sit, though the idea is appealing. He had a short breather back at his base, but that can't erase the events of the night. "If you're injured, it's going to slow you down. I know field medicine." It's the closest thing to 'let me help' he can make himself give.
[23:37] edsidlemirth: Eddie fidgets with the washcloth on his hand. "Do you know field medicine with nothing but hotel towels? I don't... have anywhere to be, really, that doesn't involve more than talking. I can talk just fine." But blood's soaking into the cloth.
[23:47] knight_so_dark: "You don't know for sure." The saying is 'it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you,' right? That has to apply right now. He reaches into a pocket on his cargo pants, and pulls out a small first aid kit in a matte grey tin. Holds it up to show Eddie, and then approaches him. "Let me see."
[23:51] edsidlemirth: "I suppose not. The only way the Joker or his people are going to find me right now, though, is if they followed you, and I -doubt that-." He pulls away the washcloth and holds out his hand. The cut's across the back and side of his hand, deepest near his thumb. "My cousin's safe, now?"
[00:09] knight_so_dark: Bruce tugs the chair he was offered before over to Eddie's armchair, and sits in it, taking the injured hand and examining it. "Mmn." He removes his gloves, and gets an antiseptic wipe and gauze out of the small kit. "Outside the apartment. Police arrived not long after I left. The closest hospital will be Gotham General." Talking about business. The case. That's good. That's easy. He can do that.
[00:13] edsidlemirth: "Yeah. Cool... we're going to have to keep a really close eye on them." He looks away from his hand, and winces, possibly more than the wound warents, but at least he's not carrying on about it. Yet. Maybe he's learned not to? "I called people. Called my mom, even, but I'm not the best contact for her, in all this. That's best handled through official channels, I think..."
[00:36] knight_so_dark: "Gordon got hold of me. I told him the basics. Enough for him to take protective action." He doesn't comment on the wincing. Or the lack of other complaint. He's concerned with the wound, right now, and not the person attached to it. Cleaning it the rest of the way, applying antibiotic ointment, and then dressing it, with efficient skill and speed. "Don't move it, if you can help it. It'll just re-open the wound. See someone with medical training when you can," he knows Eddie has to have a doctor or two in his rolodex, "see if it needs stitches." Got all that, Eddie?
[00:39] edsidlemirth: He nods, and holds his hand still as he can. "Like I said, I'm going to get it checked out, I promise." Oh, boy. Needles. His mood sinks all the lower. "Thank you."
[00:41] edsidlemirth: "There are a couple other people I'd be concerned about. Well, I don't know if Laughing Boy's going to go after Dr. House or not... but Dib, in the chat all the time, you know."
[00:45] knight_so_dark: Bruce shakes his head, at the thank you. Not looking up from his work, and hopefully not looking as uncomfortable with the gratitude as he feels. "Don't mention it. Membrane." Yeah, he knows Dib. "Have you already called him?" He pushes the chair back, and stands. But he's not done. "Stand up, and take off your shirt. Let me see your back."
[00:53] edsidlemirth: Another moment of hesitation, and he does as instructed, head slightly bowed. His back is pretty messed up, not terribly, but his jacket, which isn't anywhere to be seen, is probably a total gonner. He has a few deeper cuts, and hasn't managed to get them cleaned out properly. "Yeah, I have. I set it up so his phone's going to let me know it's still on, and prompt him to check in. I'm going to ask Peter about the same thing, when he can get hold of me. Geoffrey... is probably a high priority target..."
[01:14] knight_so_dark: "Membrane's going to panic." You don't need to be a master detective to know that. "Warden, probably. You've gotten in touch with him, too?" He hms quietly at Eddie's back, and considers his supplies. "Wait here." He's going into the bathroom, to get another washcloth, moisten it and bring it back out.
[01:17] edsidlemirth: "I know. I'm worried about him talking to too many people... Geoffrey, I can handle, though, and I want to get his help to come up with better ways to keep track of everyone. Or do you think it would be better to get him in contact with the police?" He stays put, shivvering and dwelling on the idea of Geoffrey ending up like... oh, god, don't think about that now.
[01:30] knight_so_dark: "The police may contact him." It's not like they don't know Nigma and Warden are close, after all. "Gordon's letting me vet the officers he puts on anyone." He moves behind Nigma, and starts cleaning the wounds on his back with the warm cloth. Careful, but not to the point of coddling. It will still hurt. "A few deep cuts. Maybe a couple stitches. Bandages for a while."
[01:36] edsidlemirth: "So I need to avoid him, now?" This is the kind of question he wouldn't even normally think of asking. He mumbles an 'ow' under his breath. "I had him leave his place, and I told him not to talk to anyone. He... he wouldn't handle this kind of thing like she did, you know, he'd just panic and get himself shot... he wouldn't..."
[01:51] knight_so_dark: "That depends on whether he accepts GCPD involvement. They can't make him." Annoyingly enough. "It might be wise." But that's his opinion. Eddie starts to ramble and he pauses, resting the cloth against Eddie's back. God, what does he do here? What would Batman -- no, that's not going to help anyone. What would Bruce do? "...hey." He's really glad that Eddie can't see his face, right now, because this is really kind of terrifying. "Deep breaths."
[02:00] edsidlemirth: He'll have to leave that up to Geoffrey, then. He's not sure how to deal with that one, but that's okay, he's starting to freak out, anyway. "I want to talk to him," he says, before he falls silent and tries to focus on his breathing. For a moment, anyway. Getting Eddie to stay quiet is often challenging. "If he's under police protection, and my -doctor's- being held prisoner, and you're... okay, okay, no, give me a minute, just give me a minute."
[02:18] knight_so_dark: He resigns himself to this not ending quickly, and starts back on cleaning the wounds. "I'm not going to take any action until the Joker's put away," he reminds Eddie. Because that, of course, has to be the issue here.
[02:20] edsidlemirth: "You already said that. I know. You're quite a skilled liar, though, I know that, too." He falls short of how smugly that would have normally been delivered. Now he's simply earnest.
[02:28] knight_so_dark: "I'm not lying about that." For the moment. "It's more efficient. Effective. Resources, abilities..." He sets the somewhat bloody rag on an arm of the armchair, and picks out a couple more alcohol towelettes from the first aid kit. "This is going to sting." He'll even give him a second or two, before he starts using them on the cuts.
[02:32] edsidlemirth: "And if I..." Pause, ok. It'll sting. "Ow... if I continue to be useful?"
[03:04] knight_so_dark: Bruce doesn't pause, even thinking. He just stays quiet, longer than might be expected. This is... the kind of opportunity he'd been hoping for, when he started working with Nigma. The chance to get him to use his skills for a better cause. But now, framed like this, without the tradeoff of a bill of clean mental health... but it's still an opportunity. "You should go back," he says eventually. "But you should go back now, technically." And instead, he's here helping him with his bomb-wounds. "Ask me after this is over."
[03:13] edsidlemirth: "We really should, once this is over. Listen. There was no indication of what we were going to find, out there. I expected a real trap, not... that, and I never intended to set a foot into the park. I saw an opportunity to make my move. This is all a conversation I'd rather have with you in different circumstances." He glances back over his shoulder, moving out of the way, for a moment, to turn to look at him. "I have never had any intention of revealing your identity once I puzzled it out, and that has not changed."
[20:42] knight_so_dark: Bruce sighs, looking... in less bad shape than most people would, in similar circumstances, but pretty worn, nonetheless. Tired and pained, in mind and body. He's failed to save a life tonight, failed to find people he was supposed to save, failed to even properly protect his own identity. It's not his proudest moment. "I'd like to believe that," he says, carefully. He doesn't want to ruin the opportunity by offending Nigma, but the circumstances... "I know you don't lie. But that kind of belief doesn't come easily for me." He still doesn't completely believe thathe doesn't lie.
[20:48] edsidlemirth: A dark look crosses his face, for a moment, but it passes, and he doesn't look away. "I'm not lying. I know exactly what allowing that information to become known would cause. Everything you do and care about would be placed at serious risk. More people than just the Joker would try to ruin you. Likely, you'd end up in Arkham, and people close to you would be targeted. You think I want that?"
[21:47] knight_so_dark: "I'm aware of the risks," he says. Painfully so. "I'd like to believe you wouldn't. But trust isn't something I have a lot of to spare." And he ontinues, before Eddie can get too offended, "I know that isn't the answer you want. But it's the honest one, and I hope that counts for something."
[21:55] edsidlemirth: "You think I would work this hard, just to give the answer away?" He might be a little offended, actually. "You think I'm dong this to ruin you, like the Joker, or Dr. Crane, and the rest of these idiots? Who go around -killing people-, wrecking people's lives for a few bucks, or sadism, or... whatever? Have I -ever- created a situation with no solution? Have I -ever- gone against my word?!"
[22:09] knight_so_dark: He does not have the patience for this. He... never has, really. But he's trying to be diplomatic, instead of dismissing Nigma, ignoring him. Which would be the usual response, but he doesn't need the man angry at him, especially right now. "I don't know what to think," he says, tightly. "This isn't a situation I've ever been in, before." Well, not... exactly. The incidents involving Ducard, and Coleman Reese, were both different. "Would you rather I lie to you? Would you like that?"
[22:22] edsidlemirth: "No. Thank you for your honesty," he says, voice going flat. "Along the lines of preserving your identity, there's the matter of your undercover association with me, which was a very clever investigative move. It almost threw me off. Dropping your ruse abruptly has the potential to draw suspicion. Would you like to get into some sort of petty argument, or simply come to the conclusion that I'm a crazy thug?"
[23:15] knight_so_dark: He does not have the patience for this. But it seems he's going to have to. At least.... one more try, for the sake of his identity, and finding McCoy. It had been going so well, and then as soon as he tried to be honest, tried to extend some demonstration of good faith -- why does he ever talk to people? He should have come in costume. "That's not necessary." The frustration is obvious on his face, the struggle for what to say next. Think, Wayne. Nigma's upset because... "You're upset because you think I should trust you," he hazards. And because of his narcissistic pride, pointing out he isn't a special exception wouldn't work... "You want that? Show me you can be trusted."
[23:27] edsidlemirth: He operates under the default assumption that he's a special exception, in pretty much every situation. Pointing out that he isn't is definitely not going to make him less upset. "Then tell me what else I need to do. Unless you want me to figure it out. I can do that."
[00:06] knight_so_dark: Thank goodness he didn't, then. Maybe he's better at this than he thinks he is. Marginally. "Nothing else. Give me time, and show me with your everyday behavior. If you feel like you can do more, feel free."
[00:12] edsidlemirth: He gets it, or thinks he does, because he almost smiles. "I do think I can. I can help you, show you what more you could do to keep people from figuring you out. Like I said, before..." He starts to shrug, then tenses and makes a face. Ow.
[00:42] knight_so_dark: "Discussion sounds familiar," he notes. And then looks more serious, concerned, when Eddie winces. "Turn back around." Let him finish that, okay?
[00:44] edsidlemirth: "Good, because we had it, except you were playing dumb." He turns around.
[01:17] knight_so_dark: "I know." Right, back to business. He gets to work cleaning out the rest of those wounds, and bandaging them up. "I should have kept that up, apparently."
[01:19] edsidlemirth: "It's only fun because I know you're not stupid. Ow... You put on a good act, really. Brilliant."
[01:45] knight_so_dark: "Stop, I'm blushing." He plays along for the hell of it, taking on the playboy tone for that long. "Not good enough."
[01:49] edsidlemirth: "The act is fine. You give a subtle impression of being smarter than you are but not caring enough to act smart. There are a few other things. We can talk about that."
[03:06] knight_so_dark: "Mmn," he grunts. Then, after a few more seconds, a grudging "An outside perspective -- would be useful. Apparently."
[03:11] edsidlemirth: "Apparently. Hey..." Wow, Bruce sucks at dealing with people. "Thanks for fixing up my back."
[03:25] knight_so_dark: He really, really does. For a lot of different reasons. At the thanks, he lowers his head a little, an awkward acknowledging nod. "Don't mention it. You need to be at full speed..." And it's still the night where one of his good friends got killed. Hell. More... emotions things. "You'll be okay?"
[03:27] edsidlemirth: "I could dodge the question, but, no, not really. I'll go get stitched up, and hide, and sleep, which is a good plan."
[04:07] knight_so_dark: Bruce nods. "Talk to someone, if you have someone to talk to." It's well-intentioned hypocrisy, at least.
[04:08] edsidlemirth: "... You don't want to talk about it."
[21:12] knight_so_dark: He manages not to look as surprised and confused as he feels. Just vaguely bewildered. "I'm not -- I could. But I'm not... trained. In that kind of thing."
[21:14] edsidlemirth: "The Joker -has- my therapist. I mean... I could go talk to Geoffrey."
[21:32] knight_so_dark: "I know. I'm just -- pretty sure I'm not the one to talk to about healthy coping with grief." He's at least that self-aware. Or he's heard it enough, from Alfred...
[21:35] edsidlemirth: "Like I'm going to cope with it healthily in the first place. No... we're already having the conversation I wanted to have with you." He turns around to face him, again, and takes a step back. "This shirt has blood all over it," he adds.
[21:35] edsidlemirth: He indicates what he'd been wearing before, which isn't all torn up, so it must have been a backup. So much for the backup.
[21:41] knight_so_dark: "If you say so." He'd really like you to stop moving, Eddie. "Turn back around. There's just one more." A beat. "Lay it on cold water, pour salt on top."
[21:43] edsidlemirth: "If I had salt lying around, I'd have a clean shirt to wear out of here..." He turns back around, sullenly. Standng still is -difficult-, man, seriously.
[21:48] knight_so_dark: And this is why he'll never be a ninja. He finishes with the final bandage, pressing the tape down firmly. "Get someone to bring you one."
[21:51] edsidlemirth: "Yeah, I'll probably get someone to pick me up and take me elsewhere. I'm leery of it, right now, that's all."
[21:52] edsidlemirth: "I have to get these checked out, too."
[21:57] knight_so_dark: "Mmhm." That's a grunt of agreement, as he puts things back in the little first aid kit. "When you aren't. Is there anything else?"
[22:00] edsidlemirth: "No. Keep me updated. I'll keep you updated."
[22:11] knight_so_dark: Bruce nods, and pushes himself out of the chair. He wants to go home, sleep... but he can't, not yet. "I'll go see Parker tomorrow morning."
[22:12] edsidlemirth: "Good. Get me contact information for him as soon as you can." He frowns.
[22:15] knight_so_dark: He nods again. There should be something else he should say here, right? Something. But he has no idea what it might be. So instead... "Goodnight." And he moves to go.
[22:16] edsidlemirth: "Goodnight, Bruce. We'll get him."
[22:24] knight_so_dark: He pauses, at the door. Just a second. "We will." And then he's gone.
[22:26] knight_so_dark: Bruce struggled with whether to come in armor or civilian clothing. The armor was conspicuous, but if something came up, the tools and protection would be welcome. In the end, he went for compromise. Scrubby civilian clothing, with a chestplate underneath a hoodie and good steel-toed boots, and the most essential instruments hidden on his person. He slips into the hotel without any trouble, and heads up to the room Nigma told him he was in. He considers letting himself in, but knows how that's typically received. And though he doesn't really care how the Riddler feels about him, this is a delicate situation. He knocks, and waits.
[22:31] edsidlemirth: Eddie gets the door a few moments later, with a shirt without the back torn up, at least. He's moving stiffly, but is still quick to move to the side to let the man enter, at which point, he'll shut and lock the door, before he'll say a word. He isn't in order, except for a hasty attempt at making himself look like it. There's a washcloth wrapped around his left hand. He looks relieved to see him, slumping against the wall beside him, instead of leaning back against the door, because, ow.
[22:55] knight_so_dark: Eddie lets him in, recognises him. And yes, that's the furthest thing from a surprise. But as a reinforcement of unpleasant truths, it's unwelcome. He watches the other man look relieved when he comes in, watches him slump, and thinks, with a sudden anxious jolt, that he should have come in costume. It would have been easier. He has no idea what to say, like this. Something either of his roles would say, maybe? To start? "How badly are you hurt?"
[23:04] edsidlemirth: He pauses for a moment. He doesn't really want to talk about that, not to him. "I tried to clean out the cut on my hand, and I haven't had enough time to look at my back. I'm going to get it checked out after we talk." He pushes himself away from the wall and limps into the room, to pull a chair out from under the desk in here, and push it toward Bruce. He sits on the arm chair, leaning forward.
[23:31] knight_so_dark: He makes a quiet sound, a little too gentle for a grunt, and doesn't sit, though the idea is appealing. He had a short breather back at his base, but that can't erase the events of the night. "If you're injured, it's going to slow you down. I know field medicine." It's the closest thing to 'let me help' he can make himself give.
[23:37] edsidlemirth: Eddie fidgets with the washcloth on his hand. "Do you know field medicine with nothing but hotel towels? I don't... have anywhere to be, really, that doesn't involve more than talking. I can talk just fine." But blood's soaking into the cloth.
[23:47] knight_so_dark: "You don't know for sure." The saying is 'it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you,' right? That has to apply right now. He reaches into a pocket on his cargo pants, and pulls out a small first aid kit in a matte grey tin. Holds it up to show Eddie, and then approaches him. "Let me see."
[23:51] edsidlemirth: "I suppose not. The only way the Joker or his people are going to find me right now, though, is if they followed you, and I -doubt that-." He pulls away the washcloth and holds out his hand. The cut's across the back and side of his hand, deepest near his thumb. "My cousin's safe, now?"
[00:09] knight_so_dark: Bruce tugs the chair he was offered before over to Eddie's armchair, and sits in it, taking the injured hand and examining it. "Mmn." He removes his gloves, and gets an antiseptic wipe and gauze out of the small kit. "Outside the apartment. Police arrived not long after I left. The closest hospital will be Gotham General." Talking about business. The case. That's good. That's easy. He can do that.
[00:13] edsidlemirth: "Yeah. Cool... we're going to have to keep a really close eye on them." He looks away from his hand, and winces, possibly more than the wound warents, but at least he's not carrying on about it. Yet. Maybe he's learned not to? "I called people. Called my mom, even, but I'm not the best contact for her, in all this. That's best handled through official channels, I think..."
[00:36] knight_so_dark: "Gordon got hold of me. I told him the basics. Enough for him to take protective action." He doesn't comment on the wincing. Or the lack of other complaint. He's concerned with the wound, right now, and not the person attached to it. Cleaning it the rest of the way, applying antibiotic ointment, and then dressing it, with efficient skill and speed. "Don't move it, if you can help it. It'll just re-open the wound. See someone with medical training when you can," he knows Eddie has to have a doctor or two in his rolodex, "see if it needs stitches." Got all that, Eddie?
[00:39] edsidlemirth: He nods, and holds his hand still as he can. "Like I said, I'm going to get it checked out, I promise." Oh, boy. Needles. His mood sinks all the lower. "Thank you."
[00:41] edsidlemirth: "There are a couple other people I'd be concerned about. Well, I don't know if Laughing Boy's going to go after Dr. House or not... but Dib, in the chat all the time, you know."
[00:45] knight_so_dark: Bruce shakes his head, at the thank you. Not looking up from his work, and hopefully not looking as uncomfortable with the gratitude as he feels. "Don't mention it. Membrane." Yeah, he knows Dib. "Have you already called him?" He pushes the chair back, and stands. But he's not done. "Stand up, and take off your shirt. Let me see your back."
[00:53] edsidlemirth: Another moment of hesitation, and he does as instructed, head slightly bowed. His back is pretty messed up, not terribly, but his jacket, which isn't anywhere to be seen, is probably a total gonner. He has a few deeper cuts, and hasn't managed to get them cleaned out properly. "Yeah, I have. I set it up so his phone's going to let me know it's still on, and prompt him to check in. I'm going to ask Peter about the same thing, when he can get hold of me. Geoffrey... is probably a high priority target..."
[01:14] knight_so_dark: "Membrane's going to panic." You don't need to be a master detective to know that. "Warden, probably. You've gotten in touch with him, too?" He hms quietly at Eddie's back, and considers his supplies. "Wait here." He's going into the bathroom, to get another washcloth, moisten it and bring it back out.
[01:17] edsidlemirth: "I know. I'm worried about him talking to too many people... Geoffrey, I can handle, though, and I want to get his help to come up with better ways to keep track of everyone. Or do you think it would be better to get him in contact with the police?" He stays put, shivvering and dwelling on the idea of Geoffrey ending up like... oh, god, don't think about that now.
[01:30] knight_so_dark: "The police may contact him." It's not like they don't know Nigma and Warden are close, after all. "Gordon's letting me vet the officers he puts on anyone." He moves behind Nigma, and starts cleaning the wounds on his back with the warm cloth. Careful, but not to the point of coddling. It will still hurt. "A few deep cuts. Maybe a couple stitches. Bandages for a while."
[01:36] edsidlemirth: "So I need to avoid him, now?" This is the kind of question he wouldn't even normally think of asking. He mumbles an 'ow' under his breath. "I had him leave his place, and I told him not to talk to anyone. He... he wouldn't handle this kind of thing like she did, you know, he'd just panic and get himself shot... he wouldn't..."
[01:51] knight_so_dark: "That depends on whether he accepts GCPD involvement. They can't make him." Annoyingly enough. "It might be wise." But that's his opinion. Eddie starts to ramble and he pauses, resting the cloth against Eddie's back. God, what does he do here? What would Batman -- no, that's not going to help anyone. What would Bruce do? "...hey." He's really glad that Eddie can't see his face, right now, because this is really kind of terrifying. "Deep breaths."
[02:00] edsidlemirth: He'll have to leave that up to Geoffrey, then. He's not sure how to deal with that one, but that's okay, he's starting to freak out, anyway. "I want to talk to him," he says, before he falls silent and tries to focus on his breathing. For a moment, anyway. Getting Eddie to stay quiet is often challenging. "If he's under police protection, and my -doctor's- being held prisoner, and you're... okay, okay, no, give me a minute, just give me a minute."
[02:18] knight_so_dark: He resigns himself to this not ending quickly, and starts back on cleaning the wounds. "I'm not going to take any action until the Joker's put away," he reminds Eddie. Because that, of course, has to be the issue here.
[02:20] edsidlemirth: "You already said that. I know. You're quite a skilled liar, though, I know that, too." He falls short of how smugly that would have normally been delivered. Now he's simply earnest.
[02:28] knight_so_dark: "I'm not lying about that." For the moment. "It's more efficient. Effective. Resources, abilities..." He sets the somewhat bloody rag on an arm of the armchair, and picks out a couple more alcohol towelettes from the first aid kit. "This is going to sting." He'll even give him a second or two, before he starts using them on the cuts.
[02:32] edsidlemirth: "And if I..." Pause, ok. It'll sting. "Ow... if I continue to be useful?"
[03:04] knight_so_dark: Bruce doesn't pause, even thinking. He just stays quiet, longer than might be expected. This is... the kind of opportunity he'd been hoping for, when he started working with Nigma. The chance to get him to use his skills for a better cause. But now, framed like this, without the tradeoff of a bill of clean mental health... but it's still an opportunity. "You should go back," he says eventually. "But you should go back now, technically." And instead, he's here helping him with his bomb-wounds. "Ask me after this is over."
[03:13] edsidlemirth: "We really should, once this is over. Listen. There was no indication of what we were going to find, out there. I expected a real trap, not... that, and I never intended to set a foot into the park. I saw an opportunity to make my move. This is all a conversation I'd rather have with you in different circumstances." He glances back over his shoulder, moving out of the way, for a moment, to turn to look at him. "I have never had any intention of revealing your identity once I puzzled it out, and that has not changed."
[20:42] knight_so_dark: Bruce sighs, looking... in less bad shape than most people would, in similar circumstances, but pretty worn, nonetheless. Tired and pained, in mind and body. He's failed to save a life tonight, failed to find people he was supposed to save, failed to even properly protect his own identity. It's not his proudest moment. "I'd like to believe that," he says, carefully. He doesn't want to ruin the opportunity by offending Nigma, but the circumstances... "I know you don't lie. But that kind of belief doesn't come easily for me." He still doesn't completely believe thathe doesn't lie.
[20:48] edsidlemirth: A dark look crosses his face, for a moment, but it passes, and he doesn't look away. "I'm not lying. I know exactly what allowing that information to become known would cause. Everything you do and care about would be placed at serious risk. More people than just the Joker would try to ruin you. Likely, you'd end up in Arkham, and people close to you would be targeted. You think I want that?"
[21:47] knight_so_dark: "I'm aware of the risks," he says. Painfully so. "I'd like to believe you wouldn't. But trust isn't something I have a lot of to spare." And he ontinues, before Eddie can get too offended, "I know that isn't the answer you want. But it's the honest one, and I hope that counts for something."
[21:55] edsidlemirth: "You think I would work this hard, just to give the answer away?" He might be a little offended, actually. "You think I'm dong this to ruin you, like the Joker, or Dr. Crane, and the rest of these idiots? Who go around -killing people-, wrecking people's lives for a few bucks, or sadism, or... whatever? Have I -ever- created a situation with no solution? Have I -ever- gone against my word?!"
[22:09] knight_so_dark: He does not have the patience for this. He... never has, really. But he's trying to be diplomatic, instead of dismissing Nigma, ignoring him. Which would be the usual response, but he doesn't need the man angry at him, especially right now. "I don't know what to think," he says, tightly. "This isn't a situation I've ever been in, before." Well, not... exactly. The incidents involving Ducard, and Coleman Reese, were both different. "Would you rather I lie to you? Would you like that?"
[22:22] edsidlemirth: "No. Thank you for your honesty," he says, voice going flat. "Along the lines of preserving your identity, there's the matter of your undercover association with me, which was a very clever investigative move. It almost threw me off. Dropping your ruse abruptly has the potential to draw suspicion. Would you like to get into some sort of petty argument, or simply come to the conclusion that I'm a crazy thug?"
[23:15] knight_so_dark: He does not have the patience for this. But it seems he's going to have to. At least.... one more try, for the sake of his identity, and finding McCoy. It had been going so well, and then as soon as he tried to be honest, tried to extend some demonstration of good faith -- why does he ever talk to people? He should have come in costume. "That's not necessary." The frustration is obvious on his face, the struggle for what to say next. Think, Wayne. Nigma's upset because... "You're upset because you think I should trust you," he hazards. And because of his narcissistic pride, pointing out he isn't a special exception wouldn't work... "You want that? Show me you can be trusted."
[23:27] edsidlemirth: He operates under the default assumption that he's a special exception, in pretty much every situation. Pointing out that he isn't is definitely not going to make him less upset. "Then tell me what else I need to do. Unless you want me to figure it out. I can do that."
[00:06] knight_so_dark: Thank goodness he didn't, then. Maybe he's better at this than he thinks he is. Marginally. "Nothing else. Give me time, and show me with your everyday behavior. If you feel like you can do more, feel free."
[00:12] edsidlemirth: He gets it, or thinks he does, because he almost smiles. "I do think I can. I can help you, show you what more you could do to keep people from figuring you out. Like I said, before..." He starts to shrug, then tenses and makes a face. Ow.
[00:42] knight_so_dark: "Discussion sounds familiar," he notes. And then looks more serious, concerned, when Eddie winces. "Turn back around." Let him finish that, okay?
[00:44] edsidlemirth: "Good, because we had it, except you were playing dumb." He turns around.
[01:17] knight_so_dark: "I know." Right, back to business. He gets to work cleaning out the rest of those wounds, and bandaging them up. "I should have kept that up, apparently."
[01:19] edsidlemirth: "It's only fun because I know you're not stupid. Ow... You put on a good act, really. Brilliant."
[01:45] knight_so_dark: "Stop, I'm blushing." He plays along for the hell of it, taking on the playboy tone for that long. "Not good enough."
[01:49] edsidlemirth: "The act is fine. You give a subtle impression of being smarter than you are but not caring enough to act smart. There are a few other things. We can talk about that."
[03:06] knight_so_dark: "Mmn," he grunts. Then, after a few more seconds, a grudging "An outside perspective -- would be useful. Apparently."
[03:11] edsidlemirth: "Apparently. Hey..." Wow, Bruce sucks at dealing with people. "Thanks for fixing up my back."
[03:25] knight_so_dark: He really, really does. For a lot of different reasons. At the thanks, he lowers his head a little, an awkward acknowledging nod. "Don't mention it. You need to be at full speed..." And it's still the night where one of his good friends got killed. Hell. More... emotions things. "You'll be okay?"
[03:27] edsidlemirth: "I could dodge the question, but, no, not really. I'll go get stitched up, and hide, and sleep, which is a good plan."
[04:07] knight_so_dark: Bruce nods. "Talk to someone, if you have someone to talk to." It's well-intentioned hypocrisy, at least.
[04:08] edsidlemirth: "... You don't want to talk about it."
[21:12] knight_so_dark: He manages not to look as surprised and confused as he feels. Just vaguely bewildered. "I'm not -- I could. But I'm not... trained. In that kind of thing."
[21:14] edsidlemirth: "The Joker -has- my therapist. I mean... I could go talk to Geoffrey."
[21:32] knight_so_dark: "I know. I'm just -- pretty sure I'm not the one to talk to about healthy coping with grief." He's at least that self-aware. Or he's heard it enough, from Alfred...
[21:35] edsidlemirth: "Like I'm going to cope with it healthily in the first place. No... we're already having the conversation I wanted to have with you." He turns around to face him, again, and takes a step back. "This shirt has blood all over it," he adds.
[21:35] edsidlemirth: He indicates what he'd been wearing before, which isn't all torn up, so it must have been a backup. So much for the backup.
[21:41] knight_so_dark: "If you say so." He'd really like you to stop moving, Eddie. "Turn back around. There's just one more." A beat. "Lay it on cold water, pour salt on top."
[21:43] edsidlemirth: "If I had salt lying around, I'd have a clean shirt to wear out of here..." He turns back around, sullenly. Standng still is -difficult-, man, seriously.
[21:48] knight_so_dark: And this is why he'll never be a ninja. He finishes with the final bandage, pressing the tape down firmly. "Get someone to bring you one."
[21:51] edsidlemirth: "Yeah, I'll probably get someone to pick me up and take me elsewhere. I'm leery of it, right now, that's all."
[21:52] edsidlemirth: "I have to get these checked out, too."
[21:57] knight_so_dark: "Mmhm." That's a grunt of agreement, as he puts things back in the little first aid kit. "When you aren't. Is there anything else?"
[22:00] edsidlemirth: "No. Keep me updated. I'll keep you updated."
[22:11] knight_so_dark: Bruce nods, and pushes himself out of the chair. He wants to go home, sleep... but he can't, not yet. "I'll go see Parker tomorrow morning."
[22:12] edsidlemirth: "Good. Get me contact information for him as soon as you can." He frowns.
[22:15] knight_so_dark: He nods again. There should be something else he should say here, right? Something. But he has no idea what it might be. So instead... "Goodnight." And he moves to go.
[22:16] edsidlemirth: "Goodnight, Bruce. We'll get him."
[22:24] knight_so_dark: He pauses, at the door. Just a second. "We will." And then he's gone.