I Moderate (i_moderate) wrote in we_archive, @ 2006-01-24 19:48:00 |
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Entry tags: | alfred pennyworth, bruce wayne, death of the endless |
i_amjustme Better Late... [Bruce (and Alfred)]
There was a saying. Better late than never. Death had been around long enough to know that at certain times, it simply wasn't true. But this wasn't one of those times.
From the park, she'd hailed a cab, no longer certain if the button Bruce had given her was on or off. But with only a pair of pennies in her pocket and a single ten-dollar bill, she'd told the driver that he'd be paid at their destination.
Not much time had gone by before the front gate of the Wayne Manor buzzed. "Anyone there?" called a perplexed male voice. "I got this girl, she's saying someone here'll pay her fare?"
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/24/2006 16:57:35
Alfred's crips clear voice came over the intercom. "If you would be so kind as to get her to present herself to the gate cameras." The secondary camera panned around, looking. And Alfred was almost relieved to see the face that Bruce had been staring at since the hectic rush of the afternoon.
Still, he waited. Perhaps she would say something that would cement her identity further. Things had been strange this morning when it was simply Death coming to dinner. Now with mortal girls, and immortal beings out for killing and revenge, well, a gentleman's gentleman could never be too careful.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/24/2006 17:15:14
Didi was happy to oblige. She peeked out the windows at the camera and waved. "Hello, Mr. Alfred! I hope Bruce didn't give up on me. And that he remembered the apples."
So what if she was dressed a bit oddly, in a long dinner jacket and a top hat over her tank top and jeans. If they still wanted to go out, she was sure Bruce could find her something appropriate to wear.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/24/2006 19:14:00
The gate buzzed, there were several soft clicks and then it swung open. By the time the cab had made it all the way to the front door, Alfred was waiting there patiently, money in hand. She'd mentioned apples, and being held up. That was good enough for him.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/24/2006 19:20:29
Didi slid out of the cab, thanking the driver for the ride, and presented herself to the butler. "Hi. I'm late, I know, but people say that late is better than never. And I don't think I'd have a second chance at this. So, here I am!"
She gave him a bright smile. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Alfred," she said, holding out a hand.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/24/2006 19:30:12
The cab driver seemed, genuinely surprised at the current circumstances. Alfred paid him no mind. "It is nice to meet you under these circumstances, dear Lady." He turned to the cabbie. "How much my good man ?"
He nodded at the price, slipped out two bills and then turned to escort the young woman into the manor. "Well, given the lateness of the hour, I do hope we can find a way to let you take your apples with you."
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/24/2006 19:40:40
Didi chuckled. "There won't be much 'taking' involved. I'll just eat when I can while I'm here." She glanced at him. "I don't really have anyplace to go after this. Just... back to work as usual." Then Didi bit thoughtfully at her lip. "I hope they won't be wasted. Apples are much too utterly delicious to be wasted."
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/24/2006 19:42:51
"I have assured Master Bruce they will be put to good use." He opened the door for her and followed after.
"Now, I believe you are allowed into his private office, so please, if you will come this way. We can go find him."
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/24/2006 19:53:44
Didi clasped her hands behind her back, and stepped inside. "I hope he wasn't freaking out too much." She took the panic button out of her pocket now, examining it as she fell into step beside the butler. "And there really should be some way of telling when this thing is on or off. Because I can't tell at all."
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/24/2006 21:41:57
Alfred extended a hand out, as he led her through the house to the library. "Ah, yes, the tie pin. It clicks, miss. Depress once to turn on. Twice to turn off." He glanced from the pin to her. "The guide to its current status is heat. How warm the stone is."
He pushed open the door to library, waited for her, closed it behind him and proceeded to the clock. A quick unclasp, a touch to the face, a setting of the time and the clock swung open slightly.
Alfred extended a hand. "Please proceed, Miss. I shall be down shortly with the apples."
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/25/2006 11:21:04
Didi nodded and went through the clock, now toying with the tie pin, clicking and unclicking, feeling the warmth of the stone. Tricky little things, these bits of technology. Whatever happened to a light for on, no light for off?
Like the little hand-held computer thing that had appeared in her apartment this morning. Didi had giggled at it and then untimately ignored it. She'd seen Jesse with one as well, so they appeared useful. But after today, she'd have no use for it, so trying to learn it had seemed rather pointless.
She followed along the path, only paying the vaguest attention to where she was going, playing with the button in her hands like a child with a new toy.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/25/2006 20:43:22
Ordinary aspirin and ordinary tea. That was all Bruce was taking to deal with the thrumming headache behind his eyes. He sat ensconced in his chair, monitors flicking through the city, one screen showing the soft glowing beep of a beacon.
It clicked on, and off and on and off and on and off.
He turned, hearing footsteps on the stairs and taking a sip from his mug. "Nice day for an outing, Palehorse ?"
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/25/2006 20:51:13
Didi stuck out her tongue at him. "I have no idea when this thing is on or off. Why do people insist on making techie things smaller and more confusing?" Giving up, she dropped the button on his desk and sat down. resting her chin on her arms. "Sorry I missed our plans. I guess you heard by now?"
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/25/2006 21:05:59
He reached behind him, pressed a button and the fourteen screens in front of him lit up with feed from the exact moment the snatch had happened.
As it played, he reached over and clicked off the beacon. "It's one of mine. You know I tend to like, small, confusing tech." Bruce sipped again, casually giving her a once over, his eyes resting on the ankh.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/25/2006 21:24:25
She saw the screens, and wrinkled her nose, looking away. "I got cocky, I guess. But when, who really expects the Spanish Inquisition?"
She toyed with the ankh at her neck. "I... don't do very well without it. I forget things. It's only ever happened once before, and that was about two millenia ago. Very different circumstances."
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/25/2006 21:32:07
Bruce Wayne, set his cup down and flipped off the screens as she looked away. He swung his chair out, quietly offering his lap.
"Alfred still cooked dinner. But the symphony seats were canceled and I couldn't go anyway. I think your brother gave me a headache."
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/25/2006 21:36:58
She accepted the lap. Laps were nice things, and rare things as one's physical body grew. "Dinner would be nice. I've only had an apple and half a hot dog to eat this lifetime. That's not much."
She was about to apologize about the symphony when instead, she glanced at him, brow furrowed. "He gave you a headache? How?"
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/25/2006 21:41:27
"I tried to lucid dream." He blushed slightly and shrugged. "Something happened to you on my watch. I figured the other worried party should know. Maybe he could have done something." He bit down on asking if he had. Some things just weren't open for immediate discussion.
He rubbed her back slightly, like Alfred had done for him ages ago when he'd had particularly trying days. His other hand tapped the intercom.
"Alfred ?"
There was a pause and then came. "About to be on my way down with the meal, sir. Shall I bring the picnic blanket ?"
Bruce glanced at her and arched a brow.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/25/2006 21:48:17
She was leaning into the back rub, blissfully unaware that she was doing so, and chuckling to herself about Dream and Bruce. Her two brothers, one kin and younger, the other surrogate and somehow older, but both overly protective and proud.
Then Alfred's voice interuppted her thoughts, and Didi laughed out loud. "A picnic?" She beamed at Bruce. "We're having a picnic in the Batcave. Oh man, I am not going to forget this day."
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/25/2006 21:52:46
"I'll take that as a yes, sir and bring the basket too."
Bruce smiled and said nothing, just glad to be ab le to provide an upside to the day. And then, mischievously, he pouted a little.
"I ended up picking out a dress for you. It was a really pretty dress. I'm thinking of keeping it in the penthouse with a little tag saying 'Reserved for Death'." He shrugged a bit. "Bruce Wayne could stand to seem a little stranger."
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/26/2006 14:22:58
She laughed harder at his pout. "Do you want me to wear my dress to our picnic? I could. That might be nice."
Then Didi nudged him a bit. "If you do leave it, though, you might want to make sure you have a suit picked out for yourself. Otherwise someone might try and bury you in my dress."
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/26/2006 15:41:24
He arched a brow. "You definitely got the sense of humor." Behind her, his hand snuck around the side to tickle her.
"And maybe I'll add 'The Mistress Death' so they know it's not meant for me."
Through the cave came the low rumble of an elevator; Alfred being enterprising in bringing down what was needed.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/26/2006 15:53:27
Didi let out a bit of a shriek when he tickled her, and squirmed in his lap. "Either that, or they'll just have deeper suspicions. After all, what can you say about a man who dresses like a bat, and who has Death over for picnics, that would really stand out more?"
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/26/2006 16:00:58
"You would taunt the provider of apples ?" He tisked and reached to tickle her more, while pushing them both upright. "That's not very smart."
Alfred would have headed down to the underground lake, it would make a better picnic spot than being around all the equipment.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/26/2006 16:06:24
"EEK!" She squirmed more, edging just out of range of tickling fingers. "Never said I was the smart one. That's Destiny. And Del is the funny one." Once you got used to Delirium's particular sense of humor, that was.
She held up a finger, menacing behind her trying-not-to-laugh smile. "Would you taunt Death, Mister Wayne?"
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/26/2006 16:09:03
He grinned and wiggled his fingers. "Do it all the time. This way is more fun, though."
Bruce stood and nodded downwards. "Now, do you want your picnic ? We should go and meet up with Alfred before he decides a picnic blanket is far too common and tries to wrestle a table and linen down here."
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/26/2006 16:26:06
"Yes. Picnic." She hopped to her feet and waited for him to lead, though her eyes still watched his fingers with a wary expression.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/26/2006 16:32:33
Bruce chuckled and clasped his hands behind his back, looking as close to innocent as he could and he lead her away from the screens and down towards the elevators.
This wasn't his cave; which was basic and utilitarian and required unique housing for the computers and other equipment so nothing got wet, contiminated and shorted out. This was a state of the art, poured concrete, some kind of plasti-steel creation and looked like it could handle a 7.0 on the Richter scale and who knows what else besides.
He'd spent a couple of days when he'd first arrived, just staring at it, and trying to see how it would be possible to build something remotely close to it, with the kind of discretion that would be necessary.
He paused at the elevator, a hand pressing against a pillar almost lovingly. It was a good, solid, headquarters for the work he'd made his life's effort. And in the good mood he was in currently, he could take the time to appreciate it.
And use that appreciation as a distraction to sneak a hand out towards Death when she wasn't looking.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/27/2006 13:04:16
"Impressive," she said, looking over the place. She let her eyes wanter for a moment..
"EEK! Bruce!!" She pulled back, but met a wall behind her, and gave another giggle.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/29/2006 15:40:51
Smiling, Bruce punched in access for the elevator and bowed galantly, a twinkle in his eye. "After you."
A quick glance at the screen told him which level Alfred had gotten off on. A stop just above the lake.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/29/2006 16:25:37
Facing him, hands out and defensive, she backed into the elevator, watching him with every step.
"You're really not to be trusted. You know that?"
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/29/2006 16:45:41
He smiled innocently. "So they tell me." Stepping in, facing her, he smacked a hand on the button by the door and there was a small hitch, before they were traveling smoothly downward.
"But I am about to feed you." He smiled again. "So that must mean I'm one of the good guys."
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/29/2006 17:19:42
"Yes." She agreed. "That doesn't make you trustworthy."
And she considered.
"Well. At least not as far as fingers and flesh are involved." She wrinkled her nose at him. "I'll get back at you."
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/29/2006 17:50:24
Bruce arched a brow and said nothing. Fingers and flesh ? The elevator doors opened, and there, just above the lake, on a ledge, Alfred had laid out a picnic.
Down below, certain vehicles were hitched to moorings and light beamed under the water in pale greens and whites. But above, right in front of the stairs, in fact, lay a red and white checked blanket, two cushions, a basket, a bowl of apples, a bottle of champagne... and the scents of food. Split pea soup, fresh bread, roasted duck and the covered platters hinted at more.
Alfred bowed his head slightly and Bruce smiled.
"Excellent, Alfred, as always."
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/29/2006 17:57:49
Apples! And, wow LOTS of food.
Didi skipped out of the elevator, right up to Alfred, and placed a kiss on his cheek. "You," she said, "are definately one of the good guys."
She plopped herself down on a cushion and looked over the blanket. First choice was simple - her hand snaked into the bowl and pulled out an apple - but she munched on it, looking at the rest of the spread, trying to decide where to go next.
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/29/2006 18:27:36
"I do all the hard work. He gets all the kisses." Bruce sighed melodramatically. "I don't know how you do it, Alfred."
The butler smiled. "I believe Master Tim would say, I've got game, sir."
Bruce chuckled, plopping down to lounge on the basket and uncover a platter of cheese, steamed vegetables and a bowl of wild rice.
From: [info]i_amjustme Date: 01/29/2006 20:05:39
"Hey, give him credit. He set up the picnic. You drive a car and kick people's butts. You're both going good in the world."
Her apple was already half gone. And she still hadn't decided on what to have next. "What should I have?"
From: [info]i_walktheline Date: 01/29/2006 20:42:07
Bruce gave her an indulgent if slightly exasperated look and pulled out a warmed plate first, and began serving her, second. First a slice of the duck, and then a little rice, a few vegetables, a slice of cheese.
"There, you can mix and match those to your heart's content." He moved to pour the champagne. "Alfred, could you make sure Tim has had dinner ?"
The other man smiled. "Of course, sir. I'll check on you two in perhaps an hour or so." He nodded to the woman Master Bruce had signaled was 'Death'. "Again, it was most pleasant meeting you under these circumstances, but do understand when I say I hope to not see you again for many years to come ?"