testing a bb Bruce

[promisetokeep]

I'm...flattered.  That you would consider me an option.  

[The sounds of a child who wasn't flattered, but pretending to be for the sake of common courtesy.]  

But I simply don't have time right now. I have things to do. Important things.

And, besides, Alfred will worry.

Comments

just going to leave this here.

[audaciter]

He does little else.

[ alfred, that is. ]

oh. well then.

[promisetokeep]

[The response. This woman--who looked incredibly familiar for some reason--sounded so sure of herself. So utterly convinced that what she was saying was true. Far more than one who was a casual acquaintance, at best, could be.]

You know Alfred?

[...of course, it could have been a bluff. But there was little harm in making a reasonable assumption.]

i'm not sorry!

[audaciter]

Alfred's an old friend of mine.

[ there's no pause, no give to cause any real question. her words come with conviction, as his will, in time. ]

[promisetokeep]

[Later in life, such a statement might bring about suspicion. Wariness.]

[Right then? He could only smile. Hesitant and a touch nervous, but genuine. A friend of Alfred's was a friend of his.]

I'm not sure he's ever mentioned you.

[redandgoldjiminy]

Important things, huh? Liiiiiiike... homework?

[promisetokeep]

[There was minimal expressive reaction from him. Save for maybe a second glance at the costume. How...very odd.]

It is work. That I do at home.

So, in a way, I suppose so.

[redandgoldjiminy]

[You are so bitty and serious he just wants to ruffle your hair, Bruce.]

Yeah? What kind of work?

[promisetokeep]

[Don't touch the hair.]

Important work.

[Except...he had said that already. First impressions, and he was wasting his by stubbornly repeating himself.]

It's...something for my parents.

[unantichristly]

Maybe if you go somewhere, your friend'll wind up there with you.

[promisetokeep]

[A face Bruce doesn't recognize. But that's okay! His words were kind and clearly meant to be encouraging in the face of his current predicament.]

But I'm not going anywhere. So it doesn't matter.

[If he said it enough times, maybe it would even be true.]

[unantichristly]

Well, you're already here.. so it's usually only a little step from here to there. A game or somethin'. But games aren't always all bad, and most of the time, time stops back home while you're there. So 's not like you're missin' anything.

[ which is good, because letting his horsemen run amok while he's away is a bad idea. ]

[promisetokeep]

That's impossible. Time doesn't stop. It keeps moving forward.

[No matter how many times or how hard he might wish otherwise.]

[whipcracks]

[ Have a red-haired lady with a distinct drawl. ]

Haven't found a calendar yet that works for givin' you time off when you think you need it.

[promisetokeep]

[A very pretty red-haired lady with a distinct drawl.]

I'm not looking for time off.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

[whipcracks]

[ down boy ]

Sounds like you're ready to light quite the fire.

[promisetokeep]

Not necessarily.

But there's something that I can't just up and take a break from because I feel like it.

[trusthim]

I dare say my worrying hasn't managed to stop you in much yet, Master Bruce.

[promisetokeep]

Afred!

[The posture straightening was a reflexive habit. The smile, however, was all him.]

You're here too.

now with slightly improved icons!

[trusthim]

[He does his best to keep a more stern expression, but he's not entirely successful, closer to quietly, solemnly amused. It's the way Bruce goes from almost acting his age to something closer to fitting of his status in moments, as if he's got someone to impress besides the family valet, but then that's the Wayne way. Sort of the point of the whole thing, all steel when someone's watching.]

I've got eyes everywhere, haven't you caught on yet? Besides, someone's got to look out for you, haven't they?

[promisetokeep]

[There was also the part where Alfred was...sometimes slightly intimidating. Particularly when Bruce sensed a lecture coming on.]

I can always count on you for that.

[grapples]

If those other things are as important as you're saying, he'll probably worry about those, too.

[just sayin'.]

[promisetokeep]

[Not necessarily.]

Actually, I'm not entirely certain Alfred and I agree on this particular matter.

[wingsmakethebestcomforter]

[Can...can she keep you? She hopes that's not coming off as creepy, but she just wants to pick up and cuddle the dear boy. He just looks so...so...sad and lonely. (Actually, probably more distant and prickly than sad and lonely, but she's getting broody again and doesn't necessarily differentiate...)]

[promisetokeep]

[Considering that the last people who wanted to 'keep' him, in a matter of speaking, were essentially kidnappers. Bad people who'd wanted to hurt him. And Selena.]

[Maybe not creepy, per say, but it would certain raise an alarm.]

May I...help you?

[wingsmakethebestcomforter]

[She means it in a fluffy, mothering way, if that's any comfort at all? No kidnappers here, she swears!]

Are you lost? I...don't see your parents around at all...

[SORRY.]