Canon is Son of Batman movie. Robins, beware.

[son_of_talia]

This is an exercise in stupidity and your faulty reasoning is unbecoming if you truly want to play me. But at least you can get my tea right, so I'll indulge you enough to explain why you're wrong:

First off, I do not require icons of myself in the Robin outfit. It's only something I intend to use when on patrol, and I'm not working here without a very good reason. You shouldn't need to be told how stupid I find that ridiculous bit of clothing.

Secondly, you can't say this is a good way for me to spend quality time with Father when my entire animated 'canon' has me with him. He's beat you to the punch there. Besides, this place has no Pennyworth.

Third and most importantly, you see to have confused me for one of your muses from that sickeningly pastel equine show. I neither need nor require friends in order to continue to be a worthwhile addition to my parents' shared legacy. If they insist I will pursue a few strategic alliances with possible business associates, but your proposed plans offer no visible benefit whatsoever, and I doubt you have the intellect to have a hidden meaning behind your actions that would turn to a long-term benefit.

Now. Tea, and then I'll be going back home before I die of laughter looking at these past 'Robins'. And you wonder why I hate the outfit...

Comments

have an oc that has nothing to do with superheroes, oops?

[witchlord]

How do you spend your free time without friends? I typically read or experiment now, but I didn't at your age. I was under the impression most children spent their time with some group of peers.

Eh, works for me.

[son_of_talia]

I train. My swordsmanship skills have been slipping lately and Gotham City provides infinite possibilities to continue actively learning parkour while incorporating gymnastics and learning strategic locations within the city for later. It's also been interesting to access more texts on business and finances and get a solid grip of economics within the United States, since my inheritance is dependent upon smart business management.

[His voice is absolutely, incredibly serious, and a little smug and self-satisfied. Yeah, Damian isn't like a normal kid - and he is proud of that. Normal kids are idiotic and without skills.]

[witchlord]

[Arzti nods thoughtfully.] Sounds useful. Do you practice social skills as well? I can't think of a situation where it wouldn't be useful to have reliable allies. I understand most muses are rather short with their muns but... you are capable of inspiring allegiance?

[son_of_talia]

I inspire allegiance through competence. I am intelligent, skilled and resourceful. Social skills will be easy enough to fake as I continue to observe my Father. He's exceptionally good at such things.

[neverrobin]

Considering what happened to the old man when he pushed away his friends, you might want to reconsider the whole "Not needing friends" idea.

[son_of_talia]

[Damian whirls, because the stealth of the Batsuit may make it possible to sneak up on him, but he's still got years of League of Assassins training in him.]

Who are you and what do you know about my father's future? Talk.

[witchlord]

Competence alone? Can you be relied upon, can you inspire others to believe it? I've never been a "people-person" and my reputation as a human being isn't high, but I have still gathered allies when I needed them because they knew I wouldn't just abandon them should it suit me.

I'm not sure we're talking about the same set of skills. Does he actually use them to gain allies, or does he use them to "successfully" carry on conversations he has little interest in? The first type are invaluable. You simply won't live long without them. The second set are close to useless. [He thinks for a moment.] Unless you're spies, I suppose. They're probably useful for spies.

[son_of_talia]

I can be relied upon for any task given to me. Even the ones that go directly against my own feelings and ethical code. It's who I am. When I was four, my grandfather told me to climb a mountain, and I did. I don't quit. I am more dependable than those that I have had to deal with so far in this life. It's in my lineage. I'm incapable of failure.

He's very good at maintaining business partners and contacts among the people of Gotham. He has maintained a very good veneer of a stupid playboy to the general populace in order to obscure his true actions. Among those who know him as a superhero, he has several people who are close to him. More than he probably should. Closeness is weakness. My mother taught me that.

[witchlord]

Ah. So you're trained to be a tool, not a leader. My mistake.

I'm afraid I misspoke earlier. "Ally" implies a level of equality and autonomy I don't particularly trust. I may be with your mother on that, depending on what she said. What I meant to ask was: who does he know--besides you--who'd willingly follow him into hell?

[son_of_talia]

I am going to be a leader. I have been trained as I have in order to ensure my loyalties to the organization that is my birth right isn't lacking. And it isn't. I'm going to be the kind of leader my grandfather was - devoted and wise. But I'm also going to be like my father, and recognize murder is not a 'reply all' button to life's problems. I am meant to be the medium between two different schools of thought and all things considered I am doing a very good job. [He didn't kill anyone. Do you have any idea how much of an improvement that is over his normal behavior?]

...about twelve I can think of from going through his things and watching his interactions. [Notice it took all of a two second pause to calculate that. Batman's close friends are few, but the quality is greater than the quantity.]

[witchlord]

No, you are told you are going to be a leader. A leader is the one who commands loyalty. Your organization is the leader. You serve it now, you will serve it when you "lead". You have been trained to obey orders, not determine what orders should be issued. You will always have strings to pull. [What does not killing anyone have to do with anything? Unless you're at a fancy dress party or something...]

Twelve's a good number. [At the moment, Arzti has all of one, and he's not entirely sure why Malkez keeps sticking around. He nods again.] I do hope you realize that unless they believe in your organization the way they do your father, you're not going to get to keep them.

[son_of_talia]

I am learning how to issue orders by observing the actions of past and present leaders and gauging the global situation efficiently in order to understand the consequences and depths of actions. [Dude, Gotham IS one big fancy dress party. The parts that aren't on lease from Hell, anyway.] Inheriting the organization and using it to shape a better world is a destiny that takes time to understand and grasp fully. And it's something worth doing correctly. I admit my decisions to adopt some of my father's philosophies may put my leadership qualities in doubt, but I regret nothing.

The organization is run by my mother. My father has nothing to do with it. He is on the opposite side of the law from her most of the time. As such it would be foolish to assume any of them would be by my side in any situation. I cannot keep what I never had.

[witchlord]

A "better world"? Dear me, you've been trained to be an idealist? And here I thought that was something to train out of a child. Small comfort you've made a decision or two on your own.

[He snorts.] At least you're not being a fool about everything.

[son_of_talia]

One with order and regulation. Even if some people have to die along the way - even if a great number do - a place of honor is worth fighting for. People too weak to adhere to that don't deserve to see it. Idealism would be thinking even half the people alive would survive if held to standards. I don't think that. But my father would like it if the organization were disbanded altogether and people were never killed. It's his idea of an honorable way to live, and sometimes he makes it sound halfway convincing.

It's not wise to laugh at someone with this many ties to the League of Assassins, especially here, where you can die over and over again and always come back, meaning I wouldn't be in much trouble for anything I did to you.

[There's a sort of off-kilter grin to him, though. He likes fighting. He likes beating someone until they cower and their mocking words turn to fear in their eyes. Just give him a reason. His father isn't even here, he'd never have to know...]

Not that you look like someone of value regardless. Rather effeminate, aren't you?

[inmateincharge]

Well, at least there's one thing we can agree on - those uniforms are hilarious! [He zoned out throughout most of that - he doesn't particularly care about this kid babbling about his father.]

[son_of_talia]

I'm starting to believe that was the point of the designs. After all, if people only recall the outfits, they won't give a good physical description to law enforcement that wishes to crack down on vigilantes.

Not that I didn't try on the Batgirl outfit first. It was more manly, but unfortunately, also several sizes too small.

[neverrobin]

Didn't your family ever teach you to be polite? I mean, your grandfather could manage that much despite being a complete lunatic.

[witchlord]

So everyone is to be a good little tool, only popping out of the box when called for and quietly returning when no longer needed? No wonder you think you're leader material. Who is going to be making the decisions in this perfect world of yours? Note I did not say "issue orders"; any dog can yap orders.

[He smiles. It's a nasty, gleeful little thing.] It's not wise to challenge me, either. Especially here, where apparently letting you die doesn't mean I must stop having fun--thank you ever so for such a useful bit of information. [Fighting itself? Not a big thrill in Arzti's books--but crushing disrespect out of petty thugs? Ah.]

Here's a tip in return: the valueless ones are more dangerous. They have less to lose. Effeminate though? Really? [He chuckles.] I have never gotten that one before. What made you pick that one, out of all possible accusations?

[trainedbythebat]

(Besides getting an annoying headache whenever Tim's mun deigns to throw him at Damian, he does have some advice to impart on his half-notbrother.)

Ever hear of the phrase 'with friends like you, who needs enemies?' You might need those 'strategic alliances' or whatever you call them sooner than you think if you're going to a game.

...Which 'equine' do you share a room with? I see a rainbow-haired one zip by every 10 seconds or so.

[son_of_talia]

I will, once I'm older. Then my heir, be it blood heir or one chosen for skills.

I've been through worse than you can deal me. You have no idea what my training was like. By the sound of it, you don't even know the mechanics of this place. Anything that happens here, we don't remember out there, even if we meet again. I'm not afraid of you.

It's the hair. It reminds me of the harlots that swarm my father's city.

[son_of_talia]

They taught me to value and protect them. And if you value that tongue of yours, you'll quit using it to slander my grandfather before I cut it out of your mouth.

[His eyes glint in a less-than-healthy way. The thought is appealing. A second out from under Batman's wing this early into them knowing each other, Damian reverts to a level of cruelty not befitting Bruce's lineage.]

[son_of_talia]

With my mun's constant fear of botching applications, I have plenty of time to build myself up beyond the point of needing other people. [Hey! I resent that remark!] Shut up, it's true.

This headspace is home to an infuriatingly happy pink one that does not follow the rules of physics. Her continued energy is tiring. Can we trade them? Yours sounds much less... loud.

[neverrobin]

It's not slander if it's true. Only someone entirely off of his rocker would have, after finding out the Lazarus treatments stopped working on his body, choose to force his daughter's spirit out of her body and take it over himself.

[son_of_talia]

Grandfather would never do that, and I don't put stock in the words of cowards who lurk in shadows and refuse to give their names. You're nothing but a piece of some other world that has nothing to do with me!

[witchlord]

[He shakes his head.] So you say.

And you have no idea who I am. I'm Arzti the Witch. Why should I care if can remember you're a brat should we meet elsewhere? You're still going to be a brat. And if you don't remember me either? You'll still be a fool, and not know to fear the force of nature.

Your harlots keep their hair trimmed with pocketknives? Dear me, how disappointing for you.