on_thecouch : Pandora's Box : arkhams_dr

Apr 13, 2009 14:22

Duela Dent
Batman
457 words

Nine days in, Duela caved. She felt foolish, going to a doctor. After all, she really wasn't all that ill. A little nauseous every now and again but nothing to worry about. Still, the length of time it had continued made her worry just a bit. Really, the young woman supposed she could have spoken to Jonathan about it rather ( Read more... )

who: jonathan crane, comm: on_thecouch, what: fic, verse: carrion, what: rp

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Comments 31

arkhams_dr April 14 2009, 08:27:38 UTC
Crane put the final touches on his report regarding the chamber's formula and sent a notification to his contact. Once the Metropolis client sent the substantial second payment to a secure account, Crane would part with the months of work - and, of course, the extra touches involved. He was fairly confident those would escape the client's notice, resulting in a satisfyingly large third payment once his contribution to the chamber tested well. Work-for-hire might not be the most glamorous job, but the money and the connections were worth having.

With that done, he jotted a few more notes, then returned to his own work.

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questionorigin April 14 2009, 08:37:58 UTC
Today, Duela couldn't find it in herself to be patient. She'd planned to wait for Jonathan in the library, catch him on his way upstairs. However, she found herself walking down the steps into the basement. What should she say? How should she even start this conversation? She didn't have female friends to ask, and it wasn't like she could ask her mother for advice. She couldn't even imagine her mother's reaction if she knew her news!

She stood at the base of the stairs for some time, watching the man's back as he worked. After a moment, she took a breath in and said, "Jonathan?"

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arkhams_dr April 14 2009, 08:42:52 UTC
"Hmm?" He heard her say something, but wasn't sure what. He was already lost in his regular review of the last fear-gas formula, looking it over for areas that could use a little nuance.

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questionorigin April 14 2009, 08:44:46 UTC
She considered it for a moment and then, even though he wasn't looking at her, shook her head. "Nothing. It can wait. You're busy." She approached him nonetheless, coming up to stand beside him. "What are you working on?"

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arkhams_dr April 17 2009, 06:16:59 UTC
"Is that it? You're uncomfortable with this," he gestured at the mask, tossed carelessly in a corner. "I should have realized as much. Of course I'll curtail it if you want to have a child; you don't even need that reason. All you need to do is ask, just for your own sake."

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questionorigin April 17 2009, 06:26:10 UTC
"I know he didn't mean to leave." It was one of the few times she admitted that and the first time she went on. "It's just... it's easier for me to be mad at him than to... get upset. If I'm angry-- I don't know. It feels more productive. Like I have something to work against. If I accept-- truly accept-- that something happened to him, then it's just... Nothing can be done. Just like it's so much easier to be angry at her than accept that she-- always needed him. To admit that I'd be tempted by the same thing if... anything happened to you."

She fought back tears. She didn't like really talking about what she thought or felt. Anger was easier than grief, blame easier than chance. Her mother had grieved, and it had nearly killed her, nearly had her take her own life. Better to be angry, to fight. On some level, Duela knew her mother had only had so much fight in her. Even though she fought with him so much, he'd been her strength, her will to fight. It hurt, to know that she'd been more devoted to her husband than her daughter, but ( ... )

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arkhams_dr April 17 2009, 06:34:00 UTC
"Well then - if that's what you want, and what I want, how can you worry?" He moved a hand to her face, caressing it. "I think the two of us are capable of creating acceptable situations, with a common goal in mind. It's often not a matter of sacrifice so much as adaptation. And you know better than most that adapting is the key to survival."

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questionorigin April 17 2009, 06:41:32 UTC
She smiled, leaning forward to kiss him lightly. "As long as I don't have to adapt to life without you." Her tone indicated that she didn't think she'd have to do that. Duela nodded again, saying, more to herself than to him, "We'll make this work. Together. I couldn't ask for anything more or anyone better to share this with."

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