inbox

[pearlstrings]

bruce wayne @ᴡᴀʏɴᴇ @ʙʀᴜᴄᴇ audio & text

PLEASE NOTE: Bruce has two inboxes.

His official user id for the network is Bruce and if you meet in person, in the unlikely event he gave you his contact details, this is the ID he would give you.

That said, his conversations on the network have largely been under the id of Wayne, as a way to keep his two identities separated.
This is the username he uses most often and he will answer replies to that handle- there just seems to be no physical person on the registry to link it to.

Comments

[evulsed]

But you might as well come anyway.

I need to find a theatre.

[ and he doesn't know what that looks like ]

[pearlstrings]

You've said you're going with someone else. If you'd rather I stay here, I'm sure they'll be able to help you find it.

[evulsed]

I didn't say that.

[pearlstrings]

So your plan is to first steal a film reel from Peter Parker.

[evulsed]

Shut up.

I found it too, it's not like it BELONGS to him.

[pearlstrings]

But it's not currently in your possession.

[evulsed]

I could take it if I wanted to.

[pearlstrings]

As I said, your plan is to first steal a film reel from Peter Parker.

1/2

[evulsed]

You

[evulsed]

[ Bastard. ]

Stop acting so smart and just come help me find the stupid theatre.

I don't know what it looks like.

Are you satisfied?

[pearlstrings]

I didn't want to intrude. It's your decision to make, Vanitas.

[evulsed]

What are you getting at?

[pearlstrings]

I won't come unless you invite me. I don't want to take that decision from you.

[evulsed]

That's stupid.

[pearlstrings]

Is it?

Why?

[evulsed]

You should just take what you want. Otherwise you'll never get anything.

[pearlstrings]

Perhaps.

But I'm willing to risk it.

[evulsed]

[ it makes him angry, to see this ]

That must be nice for you.

[pearlstrings]

I actually find it very uncomfortable.

Why are you reluctant to have control over this?

[evulsed]

[ He's never gotten anything he's ever asked for, he doesn't want to ask and hear the 'no'. So why not just cut it off at the head? ]

I'm not!

Just say you don't want to go!

I don't even care.

[pearlstrings]

Weren't you just telling me to go after what you want?

[evulsed]

Shut up

I

[ ...was trying. ]

I already asked so if you're not

Just forget it

I'll do it myself I don't need any of you

[pearlstrings]

[Vanitas is not particularly difficult to read. In someways it's almost childlike, the way in which he feels things aloud, as if he hasn't been conditioned socially to disguise what another might consider an 'ugly' response. Bruce likes this quality because it is direct and because, for better or worse, it is honest. Vanitas's reply comes in small pieces at a time and Bruce waits them out entirely, waits until the silence reigns- and then he considers his options.

It's possible that Vanitas will simply choose to lick his wounds in private, that this is all he may want to do. But Bruce suspects that it is a lack of experience that behind these actions- the inability to imagine a different outcome than his worst case scenario. Perhaps that is all he's ever known.

He climbs to his feet and makes the small trek to what is, on an unofficial level, Vanitas's room inside the museum. And hovers quietly at the entrance. One hand lifts and his knuckles tap against the doorframe, a kind of knock.]

[evulsed]

[ It's embarrassment.

Vanitas did ask, he convinces himself. This was him asking, and after Bruce pressed, he did, didn't he? Come right out and say it, despite the ways he didn't want to, expecting the rejection before it ever came?

Who cares, he tells himself, hot with humiliation. It didn't even matter, he'll just go and look for himself. How hard could finding a theatre be? Then he'll just go take the film reel, the way Bruce thought he would have. He'll have his answers—

The knock comes and the Unversed that have spilled out of him all jerk toward the noise in unison with his own, four pairs of slanted red eyes and one set of gold. Vanitas stands up quickly, like he's ready for a fight, hands in fists at his sides. ]

[pearlstrings]

I'm sorry that I upset you.

[There's a time for subterfuge and subtlety, and there's a time to do without. Bruce does not wear his heart on his sleeve. He hasn't for many, many years. But that doesn't mean he's careless with the feelings of others. Not when he can help it.

It's the reason he replies the way he does, with honesty and immediacy. That he doesn't turn away when five sets of eyes whirl on him and look- glowing unnaturally in the dark. That he doesn't flinch when Vanitas jolts to his feet, red faced, with both hands in a pair of fists. He looks prepared to fight. Bruce looks prepared to surrender.]

That wasn't my intention.