10353/Knightfall: On the Beach

Knightfall: On the Beach
Date of Scene:	07 December 2019
Location:	Kairos, Greece
Synopsis:	Diana and Bruce enjoy a weekend getaway in the Greek Islands.
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Wonder Woman

---

Batman has posed:
Bruce had been wanting to get out of Gotham with Diana for some time. Not a long trip - neither of their schedules would countenance that - but at least a chance to be away from it all. Bruce's Slipstream II - a private aircraft he himself had upgraded with decidedly non-stock components - had whisked them from Gotham to the Mediterranean in record time. A day or two soaking up the sunshine on the beach, and they could be back. Almost as though they never left.

The white-sand beach on the small Greek island is completely devoid of tourists. The locals have moved their stalls into the town proper given the slim pickings down here. As such, Bruce and Diana have the place mostly to themselves. The sun has begun to set out over the clear blue water, and the tide whispers in to crash against the sand. Bruce himself wears simple vacation attire - a dark grey button down with rolled up sleeves and khaki shorts. He no longer needs the cane or crutches anymore, and that limp he was sporting has completely disappeared. It's as though he were never harmed.

"It's not Themyscira," he admits, looking out over the water, "But it's a lot harder for me to get a visa for there."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana had been all too happy to get away from the city for a few days, especially with Bruce, she thought it would in-particular be good for his recovery. Not only does time away from home help one's spirit breath a frewh new energy, but it also makes the inevitable return home breath new life and energy into being back home in general.

So they'd set out, they'd enjoyed some time alone together and were continuing to do just that here on the beach. Where Bruce was dressed more beach casual, Diana had fully embraced it and is walking alongside him in a deep blue shaded bikini with golden trim around the edges of the bikini's material, and a matching sheer blue sarong that she's using to warp around her shoulders and hold on to it now as they walk together, side by side, her hair is loose and flowing about her barley covered shoulders and she's smiling, out at the sea, then over back at him.

"Themyscira is not too far away." She responds to him, leaning over to bump shoulders with him. "We could certainly try. I mean, it would ultimately end in shame and failure, but it is still something we -could- try." She states with a grin. "Mother would only bring half of the first cavalry to meet you with pointed sticks. You would have to take that as a compliment." She holds her grin over at him.

Batman has posed:
"That'd be a hell of a way to end a vacation," Bruce muses, looping his arm through Diana's and resting his hand atop hers, "Facing down a cavalry charge from my futur- from your mother."

He rather seamlessly cuts himself off, continuing to walk along the sand. He does look out to the sea, eyes squinting and creasing slightly at the corners - as though he could somehow spot the invisible island if he tried hard enough. But then his gaze turns back to Diana, fixated on her. The natural beauty of the Aegean can wait when it has her to contend with.

"Maybe another time," he muses, "I think here's just fine for now."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana's stare had gone forward to look ahead to where they are aimlessly walking - as one does on a beach - toward the far away.

But his little ceased comment there about the Queen of Themyscira makes her look back to him and she shows a growing grin aimed right for his eyes and into his spirit behind them. "She is Queen Grumpy." Diana then says. "I... used to call her that when I was little. My aunt would scold me every time she caught me saying it. Buuut, I could not help myself. My mother's scowl is the expression I most remember from her. Now, that being said--" Diana draws that last word out a little as she looks forward again. "I have seen her laugh and smile many times, more than could be easily counted and I would say it is the second most common expression I have seen her make. But... in her position, with the number of Earthly years that she has held it... much has crossed her path that required her decision to be made upon it, difficult decisions that would likely sour anyone's heart to some degree."

After a short pause, Diana looks back over and up to him. "I do not want to hold the position of Queen of Themyscira. It is one of many reasons I pray to our Goddesses that no harm befalls my mother, and... that is something I have never said out loud." Her gaze drops down and goes distant then as they walk together.

Batman has posed:
Displays of affection from Bruce Wayne are rare things. He's typically reserved, and even with Diana he can seem more subdued than his actual affections for her would suggest. But here on the beach there is no one around them, and he lifts an arm to wrap it about her shoulders and draw her close to him. He leans slightly to press his lips against the top of her head.

"I don't think there's any shame in that," he tells her earnestly, lightly squeezing her upper arm, "You've become so invested in the world. You've worked hard to keep it safe. I can't imagine you walking away from it all - not even for that."

They continue for a several more steps in silence, their only company the crashing of the waves about their feet.

"She'll be okay. If the women of Themyscira are half as strong as you, I imagine that island is unassailable. Even I'd think twice about trying to visit without an invitation."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana certainly doesn't shy away from them, she may not have the longest list of boyfriends or close relationships of any variety, but when she is in one she'll openly enjoy the affection from those she desires it from. Case in point she lenas into him and smiles as he kisses the crown of her head. She lays there against him as they walk, as best as one can in such a way at least.

"It is not impossible." She says then to what he just spoke of. "Superman has been there. My mother is quite fond of him in fact and has given him free reign to return at his leisure... which... well, it says a lot about her faith in him. Thor has been there as well, and though the reception was not quite as warm as Kal received, she did warm up more to him as the visit progressed... But that was setup due to what happened to Asgard and his people."

Diana pauses then and looks up to Bruce with a sly half grin. "Of course, now that I think about it... they are both men not of Earth. I realize now that she is biased against Earth's men, more than she is against the men of outlying societies beyond our solar system..."

She holds her grin and looks forward again. "Maybe it is impossible then..." Its just a tease, but its a well meant one and one not entirely serious. She doesn't really think her mother would be like that... but who knows.

Batman has posed:
"Maybe," Bruce murmurs, giving her another short kiss before turning his attention to the stretch of white sand and blue water that crawls away into the distance, "I would hope I'd merit reconsideration but, then, your people have dwelled a long time in seclusion and it's worked for them. I suppose it makes sense."

He stops walking for the moment, turning about and gently turning her along with him until they are facing one another. His hands rest on her hips, his head tilts slightly to lock eyes with her. There's a moment of silence as he takes her in, not only the beauty of her looks but that of her spirit as well - the endless well of kindness and compassion that springs at the core of her.

"My family likes you," he tells her, as though she couldn't already tell, "All of them. Even the ones who have been ... standoffish with everyone. They love you."

A pause.

"I love you."

Wonder Woman has posed:
"The trait that would qualify you most, I believe, beyond the nobility of trying to help heal a city plagued with so much plight... would be your desire not to kill your foes and enemies. My mother would respect that, even if she helps train an army of soldiers who are taught how to most efficiently kill their own. There's... a respect for one who would choose not to, at all odds and cost. She would respect that, I know she would."

When the stop though and he turns her about to face him, she places her hands onto his chest while the sun shines on her left side and the shade flows over her right. She looks up at him, has a smile crossing her red hued lips as he speaks of his family and then she lets that same smile blossom much larger when he speaks of his own personal feelings for her.

She drumbs her fingertips across his broad chest and she leans in to kiss him, but pauses before she does it. "I share that love for you, Bruce." She whispers it, tries to say it in a unique way that will be more meaningful as it comes in a way that is uniquely 'her' with her husky voice and that accent that fits in a lot more in this part of the world even if it is altered in ways that still make it foreign even to these shores.

Batman has posed:
"Khairo," Bruce says in a language familiar to Diana, a word not unlike the name of the island they're on - meaning 'to be happy, or content.' For a man who speaks over forty languages, it would be no surprise that he spoke Ancient Greek.

He does away with words, then. Leaning in close to kiss her, on arm wrapping about to splay between her shoulder blades and draw her close to him. There's nothing salacious about the kiss, though it is deep, and it lasts for some time. When he finally draws back from it, he doesn't go far, resting his forehead against Diana's and staring once more into her eyes.

"We took too long to get here," he tells her, his tone almost regretful - the man who dwells in the past, always thinking on what he could have done different. What he should have done, "I wish we'd found each other like this years ago. Imagine where we'd be now?"

Wonder Woman has posed:
The kiss is certainly returned, and with it comes soft touches from her hands and a deeper lean from the rest of herself into him. But when he parts it, she leans back and she shows a hint of a grin at his words. "Though I agree with all of that sentiment, we should remember that we did the best we could up to this point and... well... we are very busy people."

Her right hand ventures up to cup the side of his face so that her fingertips draw close to the base of his ear where she strokes them over the edge of his hairline. "Our responsibility now is to make each day matter in their own way, to build for our future now. For ourselves, and for all of those around us. We both will have a lot of challenges yet to face that will keep us apart, but our desire to return to each other will be ever present and... well... lets just say 'fun' too." She shows a hint of a grin then to the man before her.

Batman has posed:
"I can do that," Bruce answers, nodding his head as the corner of his mouth ticks up into a smile, "We can do that."

The mention of fun elicits and actual laugh from him - a sound that, while rare, is not unpleasant coming from him. There's no doubt there is a caring soul behind the stern exterior he often maintains, but with her there seems to be less and less reason to hide it.

"In that case," he tells her, reaching down in an effort to scoop her up in his arms - she may be far stronger than he is, but his own strength is formidable for a human being, "Why don't we head back to the house? They'll be around tomorrow morning at nine with the boat to bring us back to the mainland but until then we've got the place to ourselves."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana will turn with him then and host a grin upon her lips as she takes hold of his hand interlaces fingers with him then. "That... sounds like a wise plan, Mister Wayne." She says to him then as her hair sweeps out behind her in the ocean breezes and whips about in long curls that brush about behind her shoulders.

"I plan to make dinner tonight too, you know?" She states then, a grin spreading across her lips. "Alfred has inspired me ever since I witnessed his remarkable efforts to put together that extensive Thanksgiving meal." She smiles softly then to Bruce before looking forward again. "I am... admittedly not that great at it, but I'm starting small. If I can lasso and tie-up a Skandanese Hellbeast, I am very certain I put together 'lemon chicken'."

"I hope..." She softly laughs at this, before exhaling sharply. "No harsh judging, but I demand honesty!" Now she points her free hand index finger at him, super serious like. "I will not improve unless I get honest pointers."

Batman has posed:
"I've yet to find the thing you aren't at least proficient at," Bruce chides her, turning about to walk back up the beach the way they had come, "Lemon chicken? Sounds delicious. If you start cooking like Alfred, I may never let you out of my sight." He darts his head in once more to kiss her neck quickly, listening as they walk.

"I promise to be honest and forthright in my judgement of your cooking," he tells her, raising his chin as he adopts the overly formal way of speaking, "Do you want me to give you a star rating? Maybe I can write a review?"

He's playing with her, but it's all done in good fun and out of genuine affection. He sighs, looking her over once more with that same smitten expression, "I feel like I should do something for you, too."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana tilts her head to allow him to place the kiss more easily and she then laughs softly at his words, that little playful laugh that bubbles out of her and hints at her playful nature that comes so natural to her personality. She looks over at him then and mockingly rolls her eyes at him. "You need do nothing but sit, relax... watch some kind of a 'sport thing' on a television, maybe 'guzzle a beer' and just enjoy your evening. I will cook and we will eat our... HOPEfully delicious meal... and go from there." A mischievous grin is shown to the man with her then.

She raises her free hand up to stroke her hair out of her face that the wind sweeps across it. "Live like... sort of normal people? Sort of?" She motions then at the sunset and their unbelievably gorgeous surroundings. Depending on your defintion of 'what is normal' I guess."

Batman has posed:
"Watching sports and guzzling beer?" Bruce asks, raising his eyebrows, "I think you've got me confused for someone else - I haven't watched sports since Nygma hid the code for explosives in the Gotham Knights RBI."

Still, the talk of enjoying their evening prompts another smile from him and he just lets it go on by. Maybe a drink would be nice? He can't remember the last time he'd had one, and he'd never felt to at ease and able to 'let loose' as he did with Diana. Maybe it was time?

"Normal people," he repeats, closing his eyes for a moment and nodding his head, "I like the sound of that. Even if it is just for a night. Normal people."

Wonder Woman has posed:
"That is sinister..." Diana says with clear and evident repulsion that someone would hide such a thing inside of a baseball game's score. "You have more resolve than I do, Bruce." She says to him, glancing over at him. "I am not sure I could let people live who would threaten the lives of others in such heinous ways. Especially if they challenged me in a fight and attempted to 'finish me' along with their horrible plot." She draws in a breath and lets it back out sharply. "As a warrior, I am sworn to protect the innocent, and myself... and when confronted with a clear sign of disregard for innocent life, I would rather see them ended, then... preserved."

She offers him a light smile then. "Maybe I am being overly emotional though, as I often have spared people. Especially now that you are providing such a different viewpoint for me to gage my own decisions off of. I have to try to live up to that moral code of yours. This is why we are good together. You are finding ways to make me realize I need to further improve."