http://talonous.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] talonous.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] paradisalost2011-05-25 05:52 pm
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Who: Tim Drake and Bruce Wayne
What: Tim takes Bruce up on his invitation to the Batroom and tries to see if he can, in fact, lie to Batman in person.
When: A while after this post
Where: The Batroom
Rating: PG


Tim had taken his time getting a rough idea of the lay out of the castle before heading for Ira Tower - he'd spent a while in the room he'd arrived in, which he guessed he should really start calling his. It was where he was going to live while he was stuck here, he might as well make himself comfortable in it. And it was... disturbingly thoughtful of the castle to put his name on the door, although part of him wasn't too happy about being so easy to find. He'd gotten used to living under the radar and watching his back since Duela was murdered, and his arrival here had put an uncomfortable amount of attention right on him. At least none of the Bats were going to try killing him.

Well, maybe Damian would.

There was only so long he could delay his visit to see Bruce before it became suspicious, so here he was making his way up the stairs - trying not to be nervous. This was Batman, not Owlman, lying to him might be hard but it wouldn't carry so great a cost, so there was nothing to be worried about. Besides, it wasn't even that much of a lie; all he had to do was act like himself, just... a better version of himself. ... Okay, that wasn't as easy as it sounded, but it seemed to be working so far.

He reached the top of the tower and found the right door to knock on - which he did after an awkward pause.
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[identity profile] talonous.livejournal.com 2011-05-28 12:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'd say it's pretty good, although there's only so far training can go against telepathic control." Tim frowns right back - his training under Owlman had included a few harrowing sessions with Martian Manhunter's counterpart that he'd rather not think about, as useful as they had been. He's fairly certain he can weather psychic attacks, thanks to that, and resist control, but if this Legato is such a powerful telepath, it's better not to underestimate him.

"I get the feeling I'm going to be spending a while reading reports."

[identity profile] isthenight.livejournal.com 2011-05-29 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
Bruce nods. "More than likely, yes. Either writing or reading. There's only a few comprehensive reports so far - Lois Lane's report on the land of Paradisa and the World Beyond the castle, one in relation to a series of events involving a creature named Slenderman a few months ago and one relating to a series of kidnappings that happened in November, though that case is still unsolved. There's more loose ends and unknowns here than I've ever seen." And it can get really kind of frustrating.

[identity profile] talonous.livejournal.com 2011-05-29 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Ugh," Tim makes a face. He's used to writing reports, but they're not exactly the most thrilling part of his day, and the idea of having to leave loose ends and incomplete sections is just - frustrating. "I miss Gotham already. I guess I'd better start by reading Lois Lane's report, to get familiar with the surrounding area, before going over the case reports." It will be interesting to see how Bruce's style of investigation and report writing varies from Owlman's - Tim is guessing it won't be too different in methodology, except where it comes to dealing with the targets, and the reasons for going after them; to solve crime rather than to keep power or manipulate other criminals.

[identity profile] isthenight.livejournal.com 2011-05-30 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
Bruce turns partially in his chair and pulls up a few things on the giant Bat-puter behind him. "These are the digital copies of the reports. I'm running a chemical tests I shouldn't leave for too much longer if you want to get a start on the reading now. I can give you a tour later." A tour which would most likely include a view of the town from the rooftops.

He stands and looks back at Tim for a moment, a little fondly. Definitely not anything like his Tim, but... well. He's quickly discovering that it doesn't matter what universe they're from or if he's never met them before - he's got a giant soft spot for Gotham kids. "It's good to have you back," he says quietly, going in for a Manly Shoulder Pat™, which is pretty much the only sign of physical affection he ever lets himself give, outside of the occasional hair ruffle around Damian. (He's too short for the Shoulder Pat.)

I FEEL SO BAD RUINING THIS TOUCHING MOMENT FOR BRUCE

[identity profile] talonous.livejournal.com 2011-05-30 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
Tim tenses up the moment he feels Bruce's hand approaching his shoulder. It's not really a flinch, just sudden tension going through him, like the remnants of having the reflex to flinch trained out of him - it's a reaction he wouldn't have had to anyone else, but because it's Bruce, Batman, because of where they are - and within seconds he knows it was the wrong reaction to have, and there's no way Bruce missed it. Still, he steps away, brushing Bruce's hand off like breaking contact quickly will somehow stop Bruce from processing his reaction.

"I, um - I'll go do some reading, then."

kjalsdk NO DON'T

[identity profile] isthenight.livejournal.com 2011-05-30 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
The second Tim starts to tense like that, Bruce backs off, moving his hand back as if he was burned. He's startled by the reaction and suddenly very concerned. He knows what that tension means. He's seen it in victims before. But this is Tim and he shouldn't be almost flinching like that. But, then again, this is just another thing that doesn't add up. "Wait." He pauses, deliberately softens his voice just a little, "Tim..."

If he's honest with himself, he's not sure he wants to know what happened to this Tim. This Tim because he can't be Stephanie's Tim. But he needs to know, and needs to know why he's trying to make everyone think he's someone he's not. "Who are you, really?" Who did this to you, and can I break their face?

[identity profile] talonous.livejournal.com 2011-05-30 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, damn it. So the gig is up. And he was so close to pulling this off, to making everyone believe he really was the Tim they thought he was - it's always been a long shot, and not something he would have tried if not for the weird multidimensional melting pot that the castle is, but it almost, almost worked. And then he had to go and screw it up. At least Bruce doesn't seem angry - yet - but it's a little worse, in a way, to see him react like that instead.

"You got me," Tim answers wryly, and sighs. "I'm not from Steph's world, originally, and I was never Robin, so, you know. You're going to want to throw me out of your clubhouse. Which is a shame, it really is cool up here." And it was nice being invited, but there's no reason to think Batman is going to be nicer about his origins than the Teen Titans - so he might as well get it over with. "I'm Talon, and I used to work with Owlman and the Crime Society of America."

[identity profile] isthenight.livejournal.com 2011-05-31 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
It's just a little difficult to keep the stern look off his face when Tim says 'Crime Society.' It's not a name he's familiar with, neither is 'Owlman,' but he can guess what they're like. And the Justice Lords flashbacks start and make his stomach twist. (How long was that alternate universe going to haunt him? Were they ever going to escape it?) But there's something that makes him pause and think.

"Used to." Past tense. If this Crime Society of America is anything like the Justice Lords, Bruce really doubts that they'd just let someone let Tim walk away from their cause. "Explain."

[identity profile] talonous.livejournal.com 2011-05-31 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
The change from conversational to stern monosyllables is stark, if expected, and Tim bites the inside of his cheek as he decides how to answer - how much to give away to someone who, at best, will likely want nothing more to do with him.

"I quit." Not that it was that easy, but he hadn't exactly handed in a letter of resignation, or even given Owlman any notice that he was leaving. "I went to the heroes in my world, but they weren't happy to have me around, so me and Duela - my girlfriend, she had powers that let us run away to a different Earth. Steph's Earth. I tried to join the Teen Titans but they kicked me out when they learnt the truth about where I was from."

[identity profile] isthenight.livejournal.com 2011-05-31 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
That's not at all what he was expecting, especially the comment about the Titans. It doesn't seem like he's lying, though. "That's why you pretended to be Stephanie's Tim. Because you thought we would do the same thing." It all makes a horrible sort of sense.

Bruce doesn't say anything else for a long moment, and instead studies this other Tim. He has absolutely no reason to believe him other than the fact that this is the second reaction that doesn't seem off in any way. And the other one was completely involuntary. There's a few ways he could react to this, really, but there's really only one that seems smart. "Get to reading. When you're done, I want you type up a record of how you got involved with this Owlman and what drove you to leave. Then we'll talk."

[identity profile] talonous.livejournal.com 2011-05-31 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
To the first part, Tim just nods - of course he's expecting Bruce and the other Bats to kick him out. He still is, really; he's just a pretender, and a villain at that. He can't say he's a good person, just that he's trying to be, and that doesn't carry much weight compared to the years spent as a criminal enforcer.

To be honest, he's expecting Bruce to all but haul him out the door on the spot, but - that's not what happens, and he stands still in surprise for a second. Is this... is he really being given a chance, or is Bruce just using him to get information on how his Earth works, in case Owlman ever shows up here? It's not like he has much choice, either way. "I... okay. Sure."

[identity profile] isthenight.livejournal.com 2011-05-31 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
It would be a bit of a moot point to kick him out when he's already seen the Tower and learned enough about it. This way, at least, he can find some things out and set some ground rules. Make sure Tim knows he's going to be watching, and watching carefully.

"We'll talk more later. And I expect the truth this time." He raises an eyebrow and his body language gives off that 'or else,' feeling. Give him the cowl and he'd be looming menacingly. "For now, get to work."
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