( for the time being, he has power at the abandoned dorm but, given the rolling blackouts that have been happening, who knows for how long. he's in the process of hooking up a generator in the temporary "batcave" he has going for himself here, the small black lab pup laying on the floor, chewing on a toy bruce had picked up for him when he glances up to one of the monitors down there and catches sight of an unexpected β but not unwelcome β visitor. staring for a moment, he reaches up, finger touching at a button to an intercom of sorts so she can hear him. )
Give me a sec.
( bare feet pad their way across wooden flooring, small little paws tapping away beside him as he's followed throughout the still under construction dorm. still coming along, some improvements made since the last time diana had been here. pulling open the door, bruce greets diana there in a rather shirtless state, scars and bruises both old and new littered across his chest and arms. looking her over, he seems both curious and a little surprised with her being here. )
[ On Themyscira, clothing is more an afterthought than a necessity, but she's never found that to be the case here in Man's World. And while she's no stranger to a bare chest, it's been a while since anyone has been so casually disrobed in front of her. There's a flicker of her eyebrows when the door opens, and a quick glance over his marked skin before she meets his gaze and lifts the bag. ]
I wanted to supplement your supplies, since I partook of them before. And I thought...
[ He's lean. Scarred. Looks as though he hasn't slept. But Bruce has always been strong, and this one is no different. She's always admired that about him. ]
We should talk.
[ Claws on the floor and a shadow moving behind his ankles grabs her attention; she warms, visibly, in her surprise, as she smiles at the newcomer. ]
( the bag she lifts is met with a lazy stare and his face scrunches up some. it takes him a moment to put together everything she's saying, heel of his palm pressing into the doorframe, his weight leaning against it.
a glance down to the pup poking through between his legs with curiosity at rhe visitor, he rubs at his face with a couple fingers. )
I, uh... found him. On the side of the road.
( and bruce being bruce despite being batman, couldn't leave a stray behind who needed his help.
fingers dropping away from his face, he stares off for a moment, lips parting before he turns some back inside the dimly lit dormitory. )
You didn't... have to.
( replace what she'd used when she was here last, but. it doesn't genuinely look as if he's arguing that nor that he's turning her away, as he holds the door open for her to step inside, a gentle guiding of the pup inside more with a nudge of his foot.
when she's inside, he'll close the door, watching for a moment before he heads in with her. )
[ Amused, as β once inside β she hands him the bag and kneels down to greet the little black pup. She holds out her hand for the puppy to inspect, palm up, her smile warm and her eyes soft.
The pup looks bright and energetic, and carries himself boldly. A fine companion for Bruce. ]
Hello, little one. I'm Diana. Shall we be friends?
( when the bag is handed over, he takes it, watching the way in which she kneels down to greet the small pup. the small pup who, so earnestly sniffs and licks at her palm, tail wagging behind him as he does.
lingering there with her, he looks down to the bag he holds, taking a moment to swallow before he looks back over to her and his puppy pal. )
What did you want to talk about?
( she came over in person to do such a thing, he figures. )
[ She ignores him for a moment in favor of smoothing a gentle hand over the puppy's soft head and floppy ears. ]
He looks strong.
[ He certainly looks more vibrantly alive than his owner, though a glance up is enough to assure her that, though he isn't the physically imposing older man of her acquaintance yet, Bruce has his own lean strength.
The bruises are concerning. He needs better armor. Preferably something god-made, if anything is available. ]
I prefer speaking in person to typing on a communicator, and a question as complicated as time travel deserves due deliberation.
( It's said a little dryly and yet, something he also mentally notes and, for the most part, agrees with. most of his own communication is done in person. here and back within his own gotham. but he... sometimes tries to make an attempt when it comes to the kids here. even if he tends to leave a lot of the messages on read.
still, he had a feeling it was what she meant when mentioning wanting to talk and so, he makes his way for the kitchen with the bag, setting it down on the island countertop when he enters. the lights tend to flicker every now and then β a sign of how shaky the power grids are in excelsior at the moment. but the power seems to hold for the most part and bruce has already set himself up with a generator or two just in case.
disappearing for a moment, the pup following at diana's heels because who wouldn't be eager for some attention from her, bruce returns a moment later, pulling on a black long sleeved shirt as he does. arms folding in front of his chest, he leans back against the island there. )
[ The puppy goes trotting after his master, and Diana rises to follow, noting the little dog's loyalty and approving of it. Similarly, she's pleased to see the little dog sticking close to her, nosing at her heels. ]
Do you smell another world on me, little one? Your curiosity will serve you well. It is a sign of an open mind.
[ Lacking a toy, she uncoils a loop of the lasso and flicks it along the floor of the kitchen for the puppy to hunt while Bruce vanishes in his usual way. By the time he comes back, she's praising the small creature for its tenacity and ferocity, the end of the golden lasso shimmering as it dances across the floor for the puppy's amusement. ]
He is a good hunter. Most ferocious.
[ Said fondly as the puppy tangles itself in the lasso and worries at the rope with its small teeth, growling low in its chest. She's still smiling as she looks back at Bruce, leaning against the island, now a shadow in all black. ]
Has someone decided to go back? Is that why you asked if there was a way to contact them?
( because there being two of practically each kid here seems to be a sort of thing. granted, the reasoning for tim's volunteering is somewhat concerning, as the others had more or less dogpiled him for, save for the actual feeling as though someone[s] should head back to assist. )
Possibly Dick, also the older one.
( because any of them going alone is something they all disagree on at least, and despite dick having come to mind for bruce as well, there's some sort of way he seems to feel about that, if even shown for a fleeting second or two there on his face. )
Things of this nature are a little much to wrap your head around.
[ It would be so much easier to discuss all this while playing with the puppy, but easier for her is not what is needed, now. Diana loops the lasso over a chair back and allows the pup to continues playing with the end before turning to Bruce. ]
Nightwing is a good choice to send with Tim. He's well-trained and a formidable warrior.
[ She leans against the kitchen counter and considers him, them, the two of them here in this bare kitchen, watching each other. ]
The last time this happened... it was hard on Kyle. On all of us.
( "the last time this happened" is nothing bruce himself can claim to even begin to relate to. the closest he's had to dealing with the past, were the twisted monstrous versions of his parents who tried to kill him... who left him emotionally and physically paralyzed to the point where jason had to intervene... had to deal with it with a gun in hand. metas, time travel, different versions of yourself and others... none of these things are anything bruce has experience with and, before coming here, hadn't even considered as a possibility in dealing with at some point.
to say it's been an adjustment would be a bit of an understatement.
arms still folded there against his chest, he glances over to the small pup playing with the lasso she'd looped on the back of a chair, letting it fall a moment after. )
I don't want anyone going who doesn't think they can handle it. We'd be doing more harm than good in that case.
( there's a certain way he looks to diana, one which may seem familiar in the sense of how bruce comes off when he's mulling over something rather seriously β when he's overthinking it.
tim claiming he's expendable still there at the forefront of his mind.
arms staying folded there against his chest, he glances off to the side where the pup continues to play and roll around. )
[ Of course he will. Though he's from a different time, potentially a different universe, Bruce himself is a constant. Brave, determined, implacable. Although his expression is serious β as always β her smile in return shines out like the dawn breaking. ]
Very well. We go together.
[ Turning, she looks over at the puppy, now chewing contentedly on a length of the gleaming lasso. ]
He's been around Jason already. He'd probably be fine with him.
( even if he'd barked at him initially when jason had gone and punched bruce in the face for ditching them all for a couple weeks without a single word said, but. that's just how he is. just how this... family is.
cupping a hand over his mouth for a moment, he turns some β still leaning against the edge of the island β and reaches for his phone there on the countertop, soft clicks being heard as he types something out. )
I'll let Kyle know.
( messages sent, he sets the phone down again and sighs, rubbing a knuckle against the inside of an eye before he's lifting his head some as the lights dim suddenly... only to fill again after a moment. )
We need to find ways to keep in touch with the others. Likely to be more easy for us in the past to convey something to them in the future.
Perhaps this time, we should just find a place to leave a note.
[ Her tone is wry, thinking of the battles in long-ago Atlantis, of Kyle alone in the ring, waiting for the day when Bruce's reformed League might find him.
She lifts her head as the lights dim and flicker. The power here is still unsteady, unpredictable. ]
Perhaps some of the others would be willing to come to Excelsior while you're away.
( he says that while watching the pup make his way over to his food bowl where he plops himself down to have a snack, the crunching of the dry food filling the silence that seems to hang between them for a moment.
another brief flicker of the lights, he looks over to diana. )
I'm going to bring as much as I can with me. You should probably do the same.
( by as much as he can, he of course means weaponry and the like. )
( hence, his going to make sure his suit is fully stocked before he slips into the past... which is not exactly a thing he ever thought he'd be doing, never mind prepping for.
the planning part, at least β the overthinking strategy that comes with it all is something he's used to and something he can effortlessly slip into. so he does that. he lets himself be batman. )
We should decide on a meeting up point. Some sort of monument or place that would have existed back then. In case we get lost or separated when stepping through.
[ Grief such as the kind she felt in her dream can be destructive. She knows it; Bruce knows it even better. And, in her sorrow, Chaos Gate desires to break the world.
That sort of grief is familiar to her. But there's still a chance it can be soothed.
With an effort of will, she shifts her thoughts away from wondering if Themyscira even exists in this world, if she could go home if it did. ]
Well. I think we have our choice of those, depending on where we land. The Statue of Liberty, perhaps?
( a hum on his lips, he agrees with that thought. depending on where they land. he hasn't the first clue how this is going to work or what's going to happen. stepping through portals that take one to the past isn't anything he can claim to have crossed off on his vigilante bingo card thus far, but. here he is. about to do just that and he doesn't have a damn clue what to expect.
a nod, he looks over to the pup who's finished having a snack and is now licking his lips while looking up to the both of them. bruce silent. )
There's a chance this could be a one way trip, you know.
[ Teasing him with a straight face and smiling eyes before she relents. ]
More so for you than for me, I think. [ There's a moment as she studies him, how he watches the puppy, how there had been that flicker when he mentioned Tim. Dick. ]
( he thinks back to alfred β to the way he lies so still and lifeless in the hospital bed through the glass window that divides them. how there isn't anything he can do β not bruce wayne with all his money or batman with all his strength and determination. to be put in that position again as he had been with his parents... to be and feel utterly powerless...
gaze drifting away from the pup, he looks to her, licks over his lips, then grips the edge of the island counter behind him. )
I've already lost enough people in my life. I don't want to lose anymore.
[ Loss is inevitable. But she's never seen anyone fight harder against the inevitable β and, sometimes, win β than Bruce. ]
I understand.
[ Better than he knows, perhaps. With Themyscira lost to her, the gods absent and unreachable, her mother alone, the Amazons scattered... yes, she, too, would prefer to lose nothing and no one else. ]
Then we will work together to ensure you do not. But first β
[ She pushes off the edge of the counter and comes toward him β toward the island, reaching past him for the bag she'd brought and lifting it with a small smile. ]
You should probably put these in the refrigerator.
( there's a touch of something there in his eyes when she comes in towards him β when she goes and reaches past him and he finds himself blinking some. as if she herself were a warm light penetrating the shadows that continuously surround him β part of him β and bring to him a warmth he doesn't often feel. doesn't often let himself feel.
looking down to the bag, lips part and he sighs, slight tilt of his head to come as he looks to her there in front of him them. )
Think they're gonna last what with the upcoming road trip about to happen?
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Give me a sec.
( bare feet pad their way across wooden flooring, small little paws tapping away beside him as he's followed throughout the still under construction dorm. still coming along, some improvements made since the last time diana had been here. pulling open the door, bruce greets diana there in a rather shirtless state, scars and bruises both old and new littered across his chest and arms. looking her over, he seems both curious and a little surprised with her being here. )
Everything ok?
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I wanted to supplement your supplies, since I partook of them before. And I thought...
[ He's lean. Scarred. Looks as though he hasn't slept. But Bruce has always been strong, and this one is no different. She's always admired that about him. ]
We should talk.
[ Claws on the floor and a shadow moving behind his ankles grabs her attention; she warms, visibly, in her surprise, as she smiles at the newcomer. ]
Who's this? A new friend?
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a glance down to the pup poking through between his legs with curiosity at rhe visitor, he rubs at his face with a couple fingers. )
I, uh... found him. On the side of the road.
( and bruce being bruce despite being batman, couldn't leave a stray behind who needed his help.
fingers dropping away from his face, he stares off for a moment, lips parting before he turns some back inside the dimly lit dormitory. )
You didn't... have to.
( replace what she'd used when she was here last, but. it doesn't genuinely look as if he's arguing that nor that he's turning her away, as he holds the door open for her to step inside, a gentle guiding of the pup inside more with a nudge of his foot.
when she's inside, he'll close the door, watching for a moment before he heads in with her. )
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[ Amused, as β once inside β she hands him the bag and kneels down to greet the little black pup. She holds out her hand for the puppy to inspect, palm up, her smile warm and her eyes soft.
The pup looks bright and energetic, and carries himself boldly. A fine companion for Bruce. ]
Hello, little one. I'm Diana. Shall we be friends?
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lingering there with her, he looks down to the bag he holds, taking a moment to swallow before he looks back over to her and his puppy pal. )
What did you want to talk about?
( she came over in person to do such a thing, he figures. )
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He looks strong.
[ He certainly looks more vibrantly alive than his owner, though a glance up is enough to assure her that, though he isn't the physically imposing older man of her acquaintance yet, Bruce has his own lean strength.
The bruises are concerning. He needs better armor. Preferably something god-made, if anything is available. ]
I prefer speaking in person to typing on a communicator, and a question as complicated as time travel deserves due deliberation.
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( It's said a little dryly and yet, something he also mentally notes and, for the most part, agrees with. most of his own communication is done in person. here and back within his own gotham. but he... sometimes tries to make an attempt when it comes to the kids here. even if he tends to leave a lot of the messages on read.
still, he had a feeling it was what she meant when mentioning wanting to talk and so, he makes his way for the kitchen with the bag, setting it down on the island countertop when he enters. the lights tend to flicker every now and then β a sign of how shaky the power grids are in excelsior at the moment. but the power seems to hold for the most part and bruce has already set himself up with a generator or two just in case.
disappearing for a moment, the pup following at diana's heels because who wouldn't be eager for some attention from her, bruce returns a moment later, pulling on a black long sleeved shirt as he does. arms folding in front of his chest, he leans back against the island there. )
I'm listening.
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Do you smell another world on me, little one? Your curiosity will serve you well. It is a sign of an open mind.
[ Lacking a toy, she uncoils a loop of the lasso and flicks it along the floor of the kitchen for the puppy to hunt while Bruce vanishes in his usual way. By the time he comes back, she's praising the small creature for its tenacity and ferocity, the end of the golden lasso shimmering as it dances across the floor for the puppy's amusement. ]
He is a good hunter. Most ferocious.
[ Said fondly as the puppy tangles itself in the lasso and worries at the rope with its small teeth, growling low in its chest. She's still smiling as she looks back at Bruce, leaning against the island, now a shadow in all black. ]
Has someone decided to go back? Is that why you asked if there was a way to contact them?
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( because there being two of practically each kid here seems to be a sort of thing. granted, the reasoning for tim's volunteering is somewhat concerning, as the others had more or less dogpiled him for, save for the actual feeling as though someone[s] should head back to assist. )
Possibly Dick, also the older one.
( because any of them going alone is something they all disagree on at least, and despite dick having come to mind for bruce as well, there's some sort of way he seems to feel about that, if even shown for a fleeting second or two there on his face. )
Things of this nature are a little much to wrap your head around.
( for him to wrap his head around. )
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[ It would be so much easier to discuss all this while playing with the puppy, but easier for her is not what is needed, now. Diana loops the lasso over a chair back and allows the pup to continues playing with the end before turning to Bruce. ]
Nightwing is a good choice to send with Tim. He's well-trained and a formidable warrior.
[ She leans against the kitchen counter and considers him, them, the two of them here in this bare kitchen, watching each other. ]
The last time this happened... it was hard on Kyle. On all of us.
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to say it's been an adjustment would be a bit of an understatement.
arms still folded there against his chest, he glances over to the small pup playing with the lasso she'd looped on the back of a chair, letting it fall a moment after. )
I don't want anyone going who doesn't think they can handle it. We'd be doing more harm than good in that case.
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[ She still remembers the pain in her shoulder, the scent of blood and war all around them, and Bruce saying I trust him... crazy, but I do.
The rest... well. She meets this Bruce's gaze before any more of that memory drifts up into the light. Even without it, the offer is easy to make: ]
If you're concerned about Tim and Dick, I'll go.
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tim claiming he's expendable still there at the forefront of his mind.
arms staying folded there against his chest, he glances off to the side where the pup continues to play and roll around. )
Not alone.
( he says then, looking back to her. )
I'll go with you.
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Very well. We go together.
[ Turning, she looks over at the puppy, now chewing contentedly on a length of the gleaming lasso. ]
Who will watch your small friend?
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( even if he'd barked at him initially when jason had gone and punched bruce in the face for ditching them all for a couple weeks without a single word said, but. that's just how he is. just how this... family is.
cupping a hand over his mouth for a moment, he turns some β still leaning against the edge of the island β and reaches for his phone there on the countertop, soft clicks being heard as he types something out. )
I'll let Kyle know.
( messages sent, he sets the phone down again and sighs, rubbing a knuckle against the inside of an eye before he's lifting his head some as the lights dim suddenly... only to fill again after a moment. )
We need to find ways to keep in touch with the others. Likely to be more easy for us in the past to convey something to them in the future.
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[ Her tone is wry, thinking of the battles in long-ago Atlantis, of Kyle alone in the ring, waiting for the day when Bruce's reformed League might find him.
She lifts her head as the lights dim and flicker. The power here is still unsteady, unpredictable. ]
Perhaps some of the others would be willing to come to Excelsior while you're away.
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( he says that while watching the pup make his way over to his food bowl where he plops himself down to have a snack, the crunching of the dry food filling the silence that seems to hang between them for a moment.
another brief flicker of the lights, he looks over to diana. )
I'm going to bring as much as I can with me. You should probably do the same.
( by as much as he can, he of course means weaponry and the like. )
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[ The lasso at her hip. Bruce at her side. She might wish for Donna, or Kal, but she has done more with much less. ]
There may still be a way to fix this without doing battle.
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( hence, his going to make sure his suit is fully stocked before he slips into the past... which is not exactly a thing he ever thought he'd be doing, never mind prepping for.
the planning part, at least β the overthinking strategy that comes with it all is something he's used to and something he can effortlessly slip into. so he does that. he lets himself be batman. )
We should decide on a meeting up point. Some sort of monument or place that would have existed back then. In case we get lost or separated when stepping through.
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That sort of grief is familiar to her. But there's still a chance it can be soothed.
With an effort of will, she shifts her thoughts away from wondering if Themyscira even exists in this world, if she could go home if it did. ]
Well. I think we have our choice of those, depending on where we land. The Statue of Liberty, perhaps?
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a nod, he looks over to the pup who's finished having a snack and is now licking his lips while looking up to the both of them. bruce silent. )
There's a chance this could be a one way trip, you know.
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[ Teasing him with a straight face and smiling eyes before she relents. ]
More so for you than for me, I think. [ There's a moment as she studies him, how he watches the puppy, how there had been that flicker when he mentioned Tim. Dick. ]
If you wanted to stay, I would understand.
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gaze drifting away from the pup, he looks to her, licks over his lips, then grips the edge of the island counter behind him. )
I've already lost enough people in my life. I don't want to lose anymore.
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I understand.
[ Better than he knows, perhaps. With Themyscira lost to her, the gods absent and unreachable, her mother alone, the Amazons scattered... yes, she, too, would prefer to lose nothing and no one else. ]
Then we will work together to ensure you do not. But first β
[ She pushes off the edge of the counter and comes toward him β toward the island, reaching past him for the bag she'd brought and lifting it with a small smile. ]
You should probably put these in the refrigerator.
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looking down to the bag, lips part and he sighs, slight tilt of his head to come as he looks to her there in front of him them. )
Think they're gonna last what with the upcoming road trip about to happen?
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cw: blood and injury ig
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