closed

[the_caped_crusader]

WHO: Bruce Wayne & Jonathan Crane
WHERE: The Iceberg Lounge
WHEN: April 10th
WHAT: A GAME OF WITS
WARNINGS: Two assholes being assholes


[ bruce has very little patience to be doing this right now, but he knows that if he doesn't satisfy jonathan's needling he'll just pester him like a petulant child for the indeterminate future. he knows he's wearing very thin-- it's easily read on his face as he almost angrily brushes past the large security staff like they're not important enough to register and takes a seat across from his opponent, both literal and figurative, gesturing at the already immaculately prepared chessboard with impatience. ]

Black. As usual. Let's make this quick.

Comments

[the_caped_crusader]

[ queen to b4. ]

What's wrong? You've gotten quiet. Is this not fun anymore?

[restingstitchface]

That depends on what you mean by fun.

[Left bishop to d2. Then he looks down at something on the floor. Nothing in particular, really.]

[the_caped_crusader]

You think our talks are like this game of Chess. Some pretentious way for you to channel your intellectual superiority. But it's not fun when I don't want to play, is it?

[ queen takes pawn at b2. ]

[restingstitchface]

[Crane brings his hands together in his lap and folds them over. He inspects the board and moves his rook to b1, then appears to nervously let out some tired air. More theatre.]

No. But remind me again what it is you do at night.

[Point being: sometimes you do things you hate because they're necessary.]

[the_caped_crusader]

[ he doesn't respond to that. mostly because he's afraid that he may have reached the conclusion that he enjoys being batman. he pulls his queen back to f6. ]

[restingstitchface]

Silence is avoidance. Don't ignore the subject. Tell me what you're thinking.

[Rook to b6. He's closing in physically and psychologically.]

[the_caped_crusader]

No.

[ his flat stare is more a glare now, voice closer to batman than bruce. pawn to h6. ]

[restingstitchface]

[Pawn to a5.

He speaks sheepishly.]

Oh, Bruce. [Not Batman.] Don't be scared. It's not like I'll share your secrets.

[the_caped_crusader]

Do you think I'm scared, Jonathan? It's not exactly the world's greatest secret.

[ he castles his king to g8. ]

Half of Gotham knows who I am. Do you know why they don't say anything? Because I'm Batman.

[restingstitchface]

[A heavy sigh. He castles his king at g1.]

Question asked, question answered.

[And looks momentarily mad at the thought he's given up on night life.]

But, you know, you're leaning on your reputation a tad heavily. It doesn't sound like you regret your nights on the town.

[the_caped_crusader]

And if I did I wouldn't be able to enjoy such engaging small talk.

[ rook to e8. ]

[restingstitchface]

[Rook to e1.]

You're the one objecting to me engaging you in other ways. Think about it.

[the_caped_crusader]

But do you object to it? That's the part the matters. Otherwise what are we doing other than lying to each other.

[ knight to c6. ]

[restingstitchface]

It's a life I can do without. But that's a moot point.

[Pawn takes c6 knight.]

It's an easier life for you this way, isn't it?

[the_caped_crusader]

If I was looking for easy, I would have stopped years ago. What I want is for you to be better. Not because I want it, but because you do.

[ pawn takes pawn at c6. ]

[restingstitchface]

Bruce, the human mind doesn't work that way.

[Bishop moves to c4 while he contemplates "the human mind". A better phrase than "mental illness". He feels deeply that it isn't a problem for him.]

[the_caped_crusader]

Of course it does. It's called remorse, Jonathan.

[ rook takes rook at e1. ]

[restingstitchface]

Don't confuse remorse with regret. You're smarter than that.

[Queen takes e1 rook.]

[the_caped_crusader]

Don't be a pedant, you know exactly what I'm saying.

[ queen to e7. ]

[restingstitchface]

Yes, and you know exactly what I'm feeling. That I am happy when I am safe.

[Queen takes queen.]

I am sorry my work here finished the way it did. That's all I care about.

[the_caped_crusader]

Fear isn't safety, no matter how you consider it.

[ bishop takes queen. ]

[restingstitchface]

[Knight on f3 to e5.]

It's a survival mechanism. What about it doesn't keep people safe?