( there's a lift of his gaze as dick speaks. blue eyes peering through strands of dark hair there in front of his face. bruce isn't often one to divulge others in the demons he's facing β in the way he feels as if he's beginning to drown in everything, so it's difficult to convey what he's feeling or dealing with or how utterly defeated he sometimes feels because... he doesn't want to. yet there is always some small part of him that does. that longs for a sort of connection that makes him feel things outside of grief, anger, and a burning need for vengeance.
it must be the ten year old boy who lost his parents in him, he thinks.
sigh on his lips, he lifts his head then. takes a second to glance around before he's looking back over to dick there. )
Thank you.
( it means more to him than dick may ever really know. )
[The soft sigh, the gaze, they all mean so much more to Dick now than they would have previously when he was stuck in his own little pathetic bubble of self-woe and loathing. Looking outside of himself is a much better look, and he feels so much better for it. It lets him remember what it's like to sit around other people quietly, what little gestures mean. He's spent his life being trained in things like this-- but that's hardly a thing to think about here.
This is more about two people connecting on a deeper level. Dick thinks that's what it is, at least. He knows the sigh is hard, that Bruce is trying and all Dick can do is appreciate it for what it is. They've crossed a huge bridge today. Letting his darker eyes meet Bruce's light ones once more, he nods. ]
You're welcome, but it's what I'm here for. I've got sturdy shoulders, meant to lean against.
[He leans a little against Bruce with a soft smile, reminding the other man that Dick will lean back too. He knows that Bruce has more than his fair share dumped on him right now, and Dick will take all the burden that Bruce will allow, help him relax in any way the other needs, but there's a simple relief in knowing the other person exists in his world. It's a good thing.]
( the comment about leaning against him gets bruce to hum a little in thought. slowly, the sunglasses come off. set on the counter. fingers then going to card through his hair a little. )
Was wondering what they were for.
( it's a little dryly said, though clearly as a means to be playful more than anything else. just. you know. in a very bruce wayne sort of way.
he licks over his lips then. reaches out for a can and looks it over there in his hand. )
[Not having noticed where Bruce set the sunglasses earlier, he'd only known that they'd come off a while back, Dick watches as they hit the counter. He lays his head over onto Bruce's shoulder slightly with a wide grin.]
You've got pretty broad ones too. Might work well as a pillow.
[Lifting his head, he jousts slightly with his hip, following along in the same teasing manner, but upping it that little bit that makes it more Dick worthy. Leaning over, Dick follows Bruce's eyes as they scour the can. There's nothing too exciting about it, but a shared interest is better than nothing.
When he mentions the network, Dick chuckles.]
She mentioned it a while ago. Then sent me a note recently about some building. Real excited about it. The Oracle in my world is way different, got all shut down by my Barbara herself cause it was hacked. Guess this Oracle is some next level shit. I don't know. I take it she hit you up too...[pauses]... of course she would.
[Dick huffs, shaking his head. Bruce has said it before, and Dick's seeing it now, they really do all expect this whole Batman thing from him, and don't think of Bruce as his own person. To Dick it's a lot. It gives even more credence to what he said earlier.
He's not sure how he feels, but he's not going to discourage his friendship with Barbara anymore than he already has. That was another friendship he messed up early on, but it was complicated to begin with. At least he's got her treating him completely different now. ]
( can in hand, he moves around the kitchen. starts to... put some of this away because... it can't be left out on the counters like this. )
Yeah. She did.
( brought him out of his tower to go and see the thing which he hadn't been all too happy about. looking back on it now, maybe he shouldn't have bothered to go and see it, even if he did give her ten minutes as he said. their encounter hadn't gone the way she had wanted, he feels, and he gets the feeling she's a little upset with him for it. )
I didn't take her up on her offer.
( opening a cupboard door, he sets a couple cans in there. )
[Sitting for a few moments, he watches Bruce. Nothing has changed in the kitchen or pantries, so everything still has its place. Most of the groceries had been put away, but a few things still remained out when they started to talk.
Giving a slight roll of his eye, Dick isn't really truly surprised. When they'd first spoken about it, he'd been under the impression that there was more to this than met the eye and quite a bit more since Babs seemed couldn't speak about much-- at least that's what he gathered, or remembered. He'd been distracted, and not as interested in it as he probably should have been at the time.]
I probably will, but only for the sake of keeping my tentative friendship with her. I don't know why, but I feel like since she's my ex in my world and we started out really strangely, that I should ... try at least. This, this oracle thing. Fuck. I don't know. I say do what you want. You don't have to be a part of some weird network thing. If there's something important people can tell you.
[He pushes off and puts another can away, turning back to look at Bruce.]
It's better that way here, anyhow. This place is run by computers. Why trust any of it.
[Another can.]
She'll get over it and forgive you, I'm sure. Maybe you and I don't understand it all cause we aren't part of her universe, but she's got to understand that too.
( there's... something. he can't quite put his finger on it.
he watches as dick moves about. listens to what he has to say. there isn't much needing to be put away, but. bruce finds himself doing what he can with the few cans left out. it's only after a moment and another glance down to whatever can he has in his hand that he looks over to dick then. quiet. contemplative. )
[pausing, he looks over from where he was nods rather simply. He hadn't been for a long while, but Dick is feeling pretty good at the moment. He has a few worries, but there's not a lot he can do about them. They will straighten themselves out however they will. ]
I- I think I am. I am doing a lot better than I was when I got here. I've gone out, met a few people, made peace with not doing so hot at first. I'd trying to deal with hopefully not messing up a friendship, and now I'm doing better with you, here, now. Sorry if I was thinking aloud. Are you okay?
[it's a big question, and there are a lot of answers when the universe has take a rather large dump on them, but Dick has done his best to repair things. Maybe he misses one or two people in his life, but he figures he'll get them back eventually. Time is important in all things, even here when it's so very uncertain.]
[There's a small snort of a laugh, then a short nod. Dick has done well enough over the last little bit. He's hit rough patches and worked really hard on getting through them. ]
I've been working on thinking less. I'll let you know how that goes. I'm trying to talk to people more.
I know the feeling. I probably was the one to tell myself this, and forced myself out.
[There's a tiny shrug, because what can he do. He's trying. ]
I did make a pact with Clark to see him more. He's been a pretty good friend since I met him, really. He- he was the one who destroyed my plush thing.
[It wasn't easy, and yet they bonded pretty closely after. It was the first touch he'd had from a person in a long time and meant a lot from a friend. Dick realized then that he really needed to get out and see people. He had been more lonely than he thought.]
I'm glad you have Damian. It's good to have someone to be close to.
( it's been... something. to suddenly discover you have a kid. back in his own gotham, he's currently in no place to take one in β to take a young dick grayson in after the death of his parents. but here, he'd been given no real choice, damian forcing his way into his father's life whether he liked it or not. it's... been for the better. really. despite the ups and downs they've already been through and will likely continue to go through. but leaving bruce wayne to his own devices for too long is often a recipe for disaster. not just for himself but for others around him. it's just... made him think as of late. especially with having spent some time with clark recently. )
It's not fair to him.
( he looks down as he says that. pensive. )
To feel as though he needs to keep an eye on me. Even if I understand why.
( the trauma that had come from the twisted version of martha wayne trying to kill him had left bruce in a particularly bad spot for some time and damian had seldom left his side during that time. )
[If there's anything Dick thinks he knows about Damian it's that he's stubborn. Granted they've only spent so much time together, but it was pointed time. He hasn't seen the younger male since the labyrinth really-- maybe passing in a hallway? Beyond that, it's been radio silence, pointing to what Dick thinks is a stubborn heart.
Dick knows that he should reach out. It's his job. Really. He feels lost about it, and doesn't honestly know what to say. He feels a bit like the oil in this watery situation.
When it comes to Bruce, he just knows that there's so much there. When they fight, especially.]
I don't think he'll ever change though. I have a feeling he's as stubborn as all of us. I can't imagine he feels like it's a burden, you know? Maybe he wants to, maybe it helps him too. Sometimes it makes us feel better when we can take care of someone, or pretend to watch over them. We feel useful. Does that make sense? I know I did with the Titans. Hell, they didn't always need me.
[Nudging Bruce a little, Dick peers at him sideways, licking across his lips.]
Maybe with you having a couple of friends, it'll make him feel better? I don't know. I honestly don't know him well enough.
( there's a bit of a face he makes at that notion. having friends. he's been so lost within the gotham project back home β with being batman that he hasn't had time to do anything outside of that, much to alfred's dismay. here, however... it's a little more difficult to find his footing. to know what to do, what to tackle, how to handle... all of this. it's not so easy as falling into a nightly routine within gotham. here it's... difficult. )
I still don't trust the groupwork experiments Aurora sometimes puts us through here. Doesn't make sense. If we're here to make a case for our world to be considered.
( it bothers him. not necessarily the thought of socializingβ although with being as socially inept as he is, it is a little daunting at times, but. it's more her supposed curiosity in seeing how they interact with one another. all these comforts laid out for them in the form of familiar things and landmarks. )
Maybe I'm just waiting for the switch to be flipped and us forced to turn against each other.
[the face is just Bruce enough to make Dick smile. Dick already knows that coming here today has been a huge step. Hell, Dick wasn't even sure he'd get a response to his text, so this has been a plus on all fronts for him.
Maybe they're jumping from subject to subject, but that's fine. It's keeping the conversation going and Dick wholeheartedly agrees with this topic. He doesn't think that Aurora is putting them through their paces to be considered as heroes for their world. It's ridiculous. ]
Not only that, but why would some worlds get multiple people for their universe and others only one person that barely knows anything about fighting or even getting along. I can't see us being brought here for that reason alone, if we are even here for that reason.
[He gestures with his hands as he articulates. This has been weighing on him for some time, and he's put so many hours of thought into it. ]
I think that we will have to fight back if they try and force us against one another. I won't do it. I would rather die than try and kill someone else. That's who I am. That's who I was when I got here, and they won't change that part of me.
[Maybe they can take his mind, but then it won't be him-- it will be the city doing it. Then they can't make the case of them doing anything and their plan will obviously be a fake if they aren't at the helm of their own action.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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it must be the ten year old boy who lost his parents in him, he thinks.
sigh on his lips, he lifts his head then. takes a second to glance around before he's looking back over to dick there. )
Thank you.
( it means more to him than dick may ever really know. )
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This is more about two people connecting on a deeper level. Dick thinks that's what it is, at least. He knows the sigh is hard, that Bruce is trying and all Dick can do is appreciate it for what it is. They've crossed a huge bridge today. Letting his darker eyes meet Bruce's light ones once more, he nods. ]
You're welcome, but it's what I'm here for. I've got sturdy shoulders, meant to lean against.
[He leans a little against Bruce with a soft smile, reminding the other man that Dick will lean back too. He knows that Bruce has more than his fair share dumped on him right now, and Dick will take all the burden that Bruce will allow, help him relax in any way the other needs, but there's a simple relief in knowing the other person exists in his world. It's a good thing.]
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Was wondering what they were for.
( it's a little dryly said, though clearly as a means to be playful more than anything else. just. you know. in a very bruce wayne sort of way.
he licks over his lips then. reaches out for a can and looks it over there in his hand. )
Barbara reach out to you about her tower?
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You've got pretty broad ones too. Might work well as a pillow.
[Lifting his head, he jousts slightly with his hip, following along in the same teasing manner, but upping it that little bit that makes it more Dick worthy. Leaning over, Dick follows Bruce's eyes as they scour the can. There's nothing too exciting about it, but a shared interest is better than nothing.
When he mentions the network, Dick chuckles.]
She mentioned it a while ago. Then sent me a note recently about some building. Real excited about it. The Oracle in my world is way different, got all shut down by my Barbara herself cause it was hacked. Guess this Oracle is some next level shit. I don't know. I take it she hit you up too...[pauses]... of course she would.
[Dick huffs, shaking his head. Bruce has said it before, and Dick's seeing it now, they really do all expect this whole Batman thing from him, and don't think of Bruce as his own person. To Dick it's a lot. It gives even more credence to what he said earlier.
He's not sure how he feels, but he's not going to discourage his friendship with Barbara anymore than he already has. That was another friendship he messed up early on, but it was complicated to begin with. At least he's got her treating him completely different now. ]
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Yeah. She did.
( brought him out of his tower to go and see the thing which he hadn't been all too happy about. looking back on it now, maybe he shouldn't have bothered to go and see it, even if he did give her ten minutes as he said. their encounter hadn't gone the way she had wanted, he feels, and he gets the feeling she's a little upset with him for it. )
I didn't take her up on her offer.
( opening a cupboard door, he sets a couple cans in there. )
She didn't like that I didn't.
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Giving a slight roll of his eye, Dick isn't really truly surprised. When they'd first spoken about it, he'd been under the impression that there was more to this than met the eye and quite a bit more since Babs seemed couldn't speak about much-- at least that's what he gathered, or remembered. He'd been distracted, and not as interested in it as he probably should have been at the time.]
I probably will, but only for the sake of keeping my tentative friendship with her. I don't know why, but I feel like since she's my ex in my world and we started out really strangely, that I should ... try at least. This, this oracle thing. Fuck. I don't know. I say do what you want. You don't have to be a part of some weird network thing. If there's something important people can tell you.
[He pushes off and puts another can away, turning back to look at Bruce.]
It's better that way here, anyhow. This place is run by computers. Why trust any of it.
[Another can.]
She'll get over it and forgive you, I'm sure. Maybe you and I don't understand it all cause we aren't part of her universe, but she's got to understand that too.
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he watches as dick moves about. listens to what he has to say. there isn't much needing to be put away, but. bruce finds himself doing what he can with the few cans left out. it's only after a moment and another glance down to whatever can he has in his hand that he looks over to dick then. quiet. contemplative. )
Are you ok?
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I- I think I am. I am doing a lot better than I was when I got here. I've gone out, met a few people, made peace with not doing so hot at first. I'd trying to deal with hopefully not messing up a friendship, and now I'm doing better with you, here, now. Sorry if I was thinking aloud. Are you okay?
[it's a big question, and there are a lot of answers when the universe has take a rather large dump on them, but Dick has done his best to repair things. Maybe he misses one or two people in his life, but he figures he'll get them back eventually. Time is important in all things, even here when it's so very uncertain.]
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Had a lot of time to think I'm guessing?
( it's all bruce ever does. sometimes for the best. sometimes for the worst. )
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I've been working on thinking less. I'll let you know how that goes. I'm trying to talk to people more.
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Damian seems to think I spend too much time alone.
( he'd had his reasons, over the last few weeks. )
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[There's a tiny shrug, because what can he do. He's trying. ]
I did make a pact with Clark to see him more. He's been a pretty good friend since I met him, really. He- he was the one who destroyed my plush thing.
[It wasn't easy, and yet they bonded pretty closely after. It was the first touch he'd had from a person in a long time and meant a lot from a friend. Dick realized then that he really needed to get out and see people. He had been more lonely than he thought.]
I'm glad you have Damian. It's good to have someone to be close to.
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It's not fair to him.
( he looks down as he says that. pensive. )
To feel as though he needs to keep an eye on me. Even if I understand why.
( the trauma that had come from the twisted version of martha wayne trying to kill him had left bruce in a particularly bad spot for some time and damian had seldom left his side during that time. )
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Dick knows that he should reach out. It's his job. Really. He feels lost about it, and doesn't honestly know what to say. He feels a bit like the oil in this watery situation.
When it comes to Bruce, he just knows that there's so much there. When they fight, especially.]
I don't think he'll ever change though. I have a feeling he's as stubborn as all of us. I can't imagine he feels like it's a burden, you know? Maybe he wants to, maybe it helps him too. Sometimes it makes us feel better when we can take care of someone, or pretend to watch over them. We feel useful. Does that make sense? I know I did with the Titans. Hell, they didn't always need me.
[Nudging Bruce a little, Dick peers at him sideways, licking across his lips.]
Maybe with you having a couple of friends, it'll make him feel better? I don't know. I honestly don't know him well enough.
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I still don't trust the groupwork experiments Aurora sometimes puts us through here. Doesn't make sense. If we're here to make a case for our world to be considered.
( it bothers him. not necessarily the thought of socializingβ although with being as socially inept as he is, it is a little daunting at times, but. it's more her supposed curiosity in seeing how they interact with one another. all these comforts laid out for them in the form of familiar things and landmarks. )
Maybe I'm just waiting for the switch to be flipped and us forced to turn against each other.
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Maybe they're jumping from subject to subject, but that's fine. It's keeping the conversation going and Dick wholeheartedly agrees with this topic. He doesn't think that Aurora is putting them through their paces to be considered as heroes for their world. It's ridiculous. ]
Not only that, but why would some worlds get multiple people for their universe and others only one person that barely knows anything about fighting or even getting along. I can't see us being brought here for that reason alone, if we are even here for that reason.
[He gestures with his hands as he articulates. This has been weighing on him for some time, and he's put so many hours of thought into it. ]
I think that we will have to fight back if they try and force us against one another. I won't do it. I would rather die than try and kill someone else. That's who I am. That's who I was when I got here, and they won't change that part of me.
[Maybe they can take his mind, but then it won't be him-- it will be the city doing it. Then they can't make the case of them doing anything and their plan will obviously be a fake if they aren't at the helm of their own action.]