(no subject)
Eddie is back about two hours after the Joker's been captured. He slips into the apartment and begins sorting through his things, here, after hanging up his coat but not after saying anything.
It's both surprising and a little embarrassing to Geoffrey that he spent most of the time Eddie was gone actually worrying about him. He's not a man accustomed to worrying about anyone but himself. Still, going after the Joker with Batman just seems like a silly and dangerous thing to do. Just let the stupid bat do it on his own. It takes so long, too. Then, when Eddie finally comes back, he doesn't say anything? Shouldn't there be boasting? "Well....?"
"Hey, Geoffrey," he says, and he does smile. So probably that means his doctor's still alive. "We got him. You're in the clear, all right?" This isn't 'it was horrible and I can't think of anything to say' hesitation. This is 'I am anticipating an argument' hesitation. The sort with that sheepish enjoy-the-company-while-you-can smile. "Do you think you'll go back to your apartment?"
This isn't normal. If everything went well, Eddie should be 'up'. He should be on and damn near hyper active. That's the part Geoffrey was looking forward to. That thrilled, self-satisfied, celebratory attitude that would make up for the boredom and worry. Instead, he feels like he's about to be fired or broken up with. "Well, good. I assume by 'got him' you don't mean the Joker's dead, so that's a little disappointing, but I suppose I'll let it go...this time." He smirks, but it's a tentative thing; testing to see if Eddie will laugh, or play back...anything that results in breaking out of..whatever this is. "...I hadn't thought about if I'd go back or not. I thought, once all of this mess was taken care of, we might have fun. I mean...you've wanted me to play your games with you, right?" Right? He worries Eddie has changed his mind about that.
He wants to be happy and hyperactive. He deserves that, after pulling this off. "Haha, yeah, sorry, Batman still has a thing against capping the guy. Dr. McCoy's fine, too, which is awesome, plus now you can go down to the store without having to look out for clowns." He pauses to look over at him with an intensity that, if he's trying to break up with him, would be rather out of place. "Bless your heart, that gives me ideas... I have to go back to Arkham. Do you still want to help?"
"There is something very creepy between those two. It's gross and someone should do something about it." Why would anyone want to keep that madman alive? What good does it do anyone? Arkham clearly can't hold him. Not as it is, that's for sure. "I might still keep my eyes open...mostly because I just don't like clowns." That look from Eddie gets one of tense concern in response. Something is going on here. And then Eddie finally says it. "WHAT?! Eddie, darling, you're here, the police and the Bat-crazy are not. I hardly see how you have to do anything! Don't be silly. You just got out!" Geoffrey is not ready to go back to occasional visits or less.
Eddie winces. "Yeeeah, it is creepy. The fact is that the Joker -will- end up getting himself killed, possibly by something as simple as blowing himself up. He's too crazy and too reckless to stay alive for much longer." Then, yelling? Oh, god... He winces again. "Geoffrey, would I say that I had to do something if it were not -true-? I don't like the reasons, but they're there. The stakes are very high, right now. My goal is at risk, and this is how I can see it through. Do you -still want to help-?"
Geoffrey would like to believe that's true --and it should be-- but he's less bound by logic than Eddie and can see the Joker continuing to survive indefinitely 'just because'. He nods, but seems rather unconvinced. Then there are assurances that Eddie has good and valid reasons for going back to Arkham. The continued pouting suggests Geoffrey isn't buying it, or at least feels not at all comforted. "I don't know. I mean, I wanted to do this with you. Working for you while you let yourself get locked up again seems somehow less fun, Eddie." He turns away, crossing his arms over his chest. "And just how long are you going back for? Do you have any idea?"
"Until they let me out," he says, and leaves this stack of paperwork aside, to walk closer to Geoffrey and poke his shoulder. "It would be a lot of fun, until we both got caught... then I'd have a lot of fun busting us out, and we can keep on doing that over and over until I get sick again, and you get leave. Batman's able to track me down with increased accuracy. It was a necessary concession... of course, I can track -him-... If I go back, and work with them, enough to convince them I should be released legitimately, I can carry out my plan and win. It would be... exactly what I would want it to be, really... As impressive as it should be."
The answer is not only longer than he'd hoped or expected; the answer hurts. It sounds for all the world like 'I'm never getting out again' and that means he's losing his best and only friend --his one playmate in this stupid city or anywhere-- because he has something to prove. Geoffrey swallows the knot in his throat and reels on Eddie. "Until they let you out?!" The look he gives his friend suggests Arkham may be just the place for Eddie. "Have you lost your mind completely? Do you.... do you realize how long that could take? It might not even happen!" And he knows that's the wrong thing to say, but doesn't care. "And I just...what? Sit around waiting? Set up for things that might never happen and then wait? It all sounds so very appealing, Eddie, I just don't know how to contain myself!"
"Oh, for the love of Pete, are you done?" Now he folds his arms and will be irritated instead of concerned. "If you have that little confidence in my plans, you really don't have any place in them. I think you have a better idea of what I'm capable of, and you'd better show it if you want to justify being like this. You're the one who can't deal with me being sick. I'm the one who'd still make an exception and break out to break you out of jail. Shut. Up. Geoffrey."
Some of the fight seems to deflate from him. Geoffrey looks almost wounded. He's not even completely sure which part of it hurts so bad. The threat of rejection, being told to shut up, having Eddie seem as tired of his personality flaws as everyone else, or just that fear that he can't trust in Eddie's plans if this is where they're going. This is why he doesn't usually get close to people. It's annoying and upsetting in the end. Always. "I have every confidence in your plans and your capabilities..." He lowers his eyes, cheeks red with anger, but the fight in him seems defused. "I have no basis, however, to judge your acting skills by, and that's what you're going to need to do. You're going to have to convince them you've changed. That you're better. And on a believable time line. And 'better' denotes the kind of person with no sort of elaborate 'plans' for when you're released." And it strikes him, then, that he's afraid of Eddie actually getting better. Afraid of him being sane enough to be annoyed and angered by Geoffrey the way everyone else is. "And I can't deal with you being sick. You're right. I'm trying, but maybe I'll never get past that. I can't deal with losing things and having no say in it! And this...this is the same damn thing."
Eddie knows it always ends up being annoying and upsetting. People are ultimately disappointing, even if they're bright enough that they should at least be able to follow along. He is very disappointed, now, still showing more annoyance than hurt.
"I am well aware that it seems nearly impossible," he says. "So does plenty of what I've done. I am no less brilliant when you're not entertained. If you only want to stick around when I'm entertaining, that's your choice. Ultimately, I can't fault you for it. I like you, but whatever. Do -not- try to drag me into some obligation to your irrationality, because it's not worth that aggravation, and it's not worth screwing up everything I've worked for.
What the hell are you doing, anyway? This isn't worth your aggravation, either. If you'd calm down and trust me a little, you can not only watch how I pull this off but you can profit from it. If you want to argue about this, just go, all right? You really don't get it. Just go."
He had to deal with the only one who -does- get it proving to him that this is what needs to happen, and his ego can't take this, too. Geoffrey's selfishness is usually an amusing reflection of his own. Right now, it's making him seem stupid, and Eddie is only barely managing to refrain from saying so outright.
There is a very strong urge to call Eddie an asshole and to storm out. Storming out would feel so good. The trouble is, then Eddie would put himself in Arkham, so there would be no cooling off and coming back to talk things out rationally. It would just be ruining the last bit of time they have to be together. This is so lame. "I don't just want to stick around when I'm entertained! I just... Look..." He sighs and goes to sit down so he can stop himself from just leaving. That's what Eddie expects him to do. He can't go proving Eddie right when he's being an ass. "I believe you can do amazing things. I believe you can probably do this, too. That doesn't mean the waiting doesn't make me crazy. Do you like waiting, Eddie? When that's all you can do? When you can't make what you're waiting for happen any faster no matter what you do? It sucks. It sucks a lot. I am allowed to be annoyed, Eddie. Besides... I know whatever I say isn't going to change anything. You've already made your decision, right? Gave your word about it, too, I bet. So...this is what you're doing. It is still going to be very lame for a long time."
"Yes. It's going to suck so much." Well... that wasn't the reaction he expected out of him, no. Curious. He sits down next to him, and it takes him a moment to speak again. "I don't like waiting at all. Sometimes it's part of the plan, though, and then you have to go with it. You don't need me around for you to do anything, Geoffrey."
"I know I don't need you around." And that may have sounded harsher than necessary on purpose. It's easier than Geoffrey admitting he can't think of anything to do without Eddie around. "It's just that, when you're not around, I hate Gotham so much. But you wouldn't want me to move away when you're in Arkham." He sighs heavily and over dramatic. "I'm sure...I'm sure I'll think of something."
"If you don't want to wait, then leave. It's your choice." He shrugs, and leans forward, with his elbows propped up on his knees. He watches the wall across from them, but glances over at his friend after a moment. "This is my choice, and I'm not going to rag on you for bailing."
"Well....good. Because...if I get really bored, I am so justified in leaving." He fidgets, tugging at his gloves, then pushes them tightly back into place. Geoffrey wants to leave, but has nowhere to go. He wants to stop Eddie from going, but can't. He wants to abandon Eddie to make him feel bad too, but then he'd be alone. Stupid, jerk, villain asshole... "...I don't suppose I'd be allowed to visit you this time around, anyway. I mean...it wouldn't help you look like you're better, right?"
"I don't see why you wouldn't be allowed, this time, so don't worry about the excuse. If you feel like visiting, visit. If you don't, don't. If you feel like leaving town, leave." He sighs, highly annoyed, and leans back on the couch, flop. "If you're going to stay here, now, can you knock this off, already? Gawd. I'm the one who's going to go hang out in a cell."
"Hmm." Geoffrey decides it's better not to dwell on that sort of thing. Geoffrey knows he's awesome and a completely sensible person to be friends with and have visits from. If others don't think so, that's their problem and they're probably idiots. He isn't going to feel bad about all of this. He rarely lets himself feel bad about anything at all. "Right. Well. Let's just be done talking about all that, hmm? Do you want me to stay here, now? We could get to actually celebrating your victory, or I could go. ... Whatever."
Eddie rolls his eyes. He's not going to stop being annoyed just because the guy decided to act like 'shut up about it' was his own idea. "Great. Why don't you go?" That is either an invitation to leave, or a test. It is, after all, a question.
It's hard to get through a fight when no one is willing to be wrong or compromise. Geoffrey huffs and gets up, smoothing his shirt and hair, as if prepping to go, though he hasn't moved away from the couch. "I thought I could stay and we could at least enjoy the time left before you go back to Arkham. ...Since that's going to be boring for a while and...it's possible I might miss you." Though he can't imagine, now, why he would miss such a jerk. "But if you'd rather be alone, I won't stop you."
The game of 'make the other person conceed because they don't want to be alone' is pretty dumb. "Pff, really? You won't -stop- me, Geoffrey? This is my apartment. ~I'm~ not running off in a huff. Leave. I have things I need to take care of."
"Fine. You have fun with that." Geoffrey is just left feeling pathetic for admitting he even might miss Eddie. He's determined not to, now; however well that might go. He won't give Eddie the satisfaction of even looking wounded about all of this. He just calmly --if stiffly-- goes about collecting his bag and the few things that need to be returned to it. The idea that he's now going to be completely broke and without friends completely terrifies Geoffrey, but he won't dare show that. Not at risk of being mocked and still sent away. Not a chance. "You know where I'll be. And..well... I know exactly where you'll be."
"Yup. I'll arrange to have more funds sent to you before I go in." Because that... makes complete sense in light of the rest of how things are going? He said he would. He just doesn't want to deal with Geoffrey right now, not like this. "Aaaand you'd be welcome to continue to use this place, but at this point, the location is compromised." Logistics are much better to deal with, anyway. He's good at that part. It lets him keep his expression like this doesn't bother him at all.
The fact that Eddie still intends to give him money stops Geoffrey in his tracks. He's at a loss for words for a moment, not sure what that could even mean. Thankfully, they aren't going to dwell on it. It's just a statement of fact. "Mm. Well, with the clown put away again, I don't think I'll need to stay here. I'll take care of anything you need me to, though." Since...he's still getting money, he might as well. It is easier not to seem upset this way.
"I'll let you know." Giving him a project while annoyed is a bad idea, and maybe giving him a project in general is a bad idea, but money shouldn't be what's forcing whatever decision Geoffrey makes about whether or not to stay in Gotham. Anyway, why is he still here? Eddie smiles and looks at the door.
Oh. So it's like that. Geoffrey huffs and turns towards the door. "Alright, then. Goodbye, Eddie." He offers a tight lipped, unconvincing, forced smile and heads out the door to go call a cab home. This...is not at all the night he'd hoped for.
Geoffrey should work on that. It's obviously fake. See, Eddie has this down, pat. "Night!" He won't go back to scowling until Geoffrey's out the door, and then he's by himself to try to sort through whatever the hell just happened there. Conclusion: Geoffrey is a jerk, and that was all his fault. Great! Time to move on and... get ready to go back to Arkham.