10508/Works of Art

Works of Art
Date of Scene:	22 December 2019
Location:	Grounds - Wayne Manor
Synopsis:	Bruce and Diana discuss their plans for the New Year.
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Wonder Woman

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Batman has posed:
Ever since Diana had come to speak to Bruce while he was working on the new batsuit in the Batcave, he seems to spend less time down there. One could probably count on one hand the amount of times he's ventured down into the subterranean levels of Wayne Manor, preferring to spend most of his time either up here or away entirely. There's no denying he is putting some distance between himself and the mantle of Batman. Even though he has completely healed now, he has made no effort to claim the role back from Dick nor to even venture out into Gotham in uniform.

It's the evening. Around the time he would usually be out putting the scare on criminals, but instead he's in the dimly lit gallery. He stands before the great glass case that contains a suit of samurai armor many centuries old, his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes shift focus for a moment, taking in the sight of himself in the glass and frowning.

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana had been on the hunt for finding Bruce, she was told he'd been last seen headed this way so she was on the hunt. Along the way she'd found something in the grand fancy dining hall... a hand held video game device had been on and beeping on the table. Out of curiosity Diana had gathered it up and started to investigate it while she walked the halls of Wayne Manor...

And because of this, dressed in a tight fitting white turtle neck sweater, some dark maroon loose fitting pants and simple heeled shoes, Diana Prince is gaming while walking...

At over 6 feet in height with her heels on, she doesn't look like your average gamer by any means, lithe and muscular, long legged and features clearly crafted by the Gods..

But she is grumbling all the same.

"No. Stupid!" She grumbles as she gets closer to where Bruce is. "I did not jump there, rabbit! You jumped there! Do not blame this on -me-." But the Cartoon Rabbit on the screen is pointing at the player and shaking its head, because Diana had fallen into the pit and the Rabbit was upset with her for it.

Batman has posed:
Whatever Bruce is thinking about, it's dark. His features are contorted into a frown, his hands clasp tightly behind his back and in his head, he hears a voice. A sinister voice.

This is your duty and you've abandoned it.

Staring back at him is no longer the reflection of Bruce Wayne, but of the Batman.

You swore an oath.

The reflection looms closer, taking up the whole glass case now. It's arms reach out for Bruce, and the man takes a sudden step backwards as though to evade ...

You don't get to rest. You don't get to cage /me/

The electronic beeping and Diana's voice dispel the vision. Bruce's eyes refocus and all that's staring back at him is himself. He shakes his head and turns around, stepping past one of the sculptures on display in time to spot the Amazon and the video game she's holding.

"I told Damian those will dampen his focus," Bruce tells her, in a mock-chiding voice, "If he catches you playing it, he'll never put it down."

Wonder Woman has posed:
The moment that the Batman's visage fades fro the glass and Bruce turns around, Diana's reflection grows more prominent in the sheen of the smoothly cleaned surface.

She's smiling, at Bruce, still holding the game in her hands that she looks down at for a moment and then back up to Bruce again with a smile that grows instead into a playful grin.

"I had meant to turn it off to save its poor battery. But when I did, the Rabbit pointed at me and said that he thought I could not complete his challenges." She reaches up to swipe the switch to cause the device to power down.

She sighs, way too dramatically for this situation. "The Rabbit was right. I will retract my application to the Justice League of Video Games."

She lowers the device down to her waist and walks toward Bruce then to lean in toward him, she sweeps in to press her red lips against his cheek and then linger her head beside his to whisper into his ear.

"I found you though." She states, then pulls back, but keeps close, to smile at him quite happily as she ever seems to be.

Batman has posed:
Bruce accepts the kiss with a smile, his eyes closing as he leans in to return it. As he comes away, however, he has surreptitiously taken the video game into his own hands. He glances it over for a moment, then glances back up at Diana.

"The problem with games like this," Bruce explains, waggling the device in the air, "Is that you're expected to play by the rules it sets out. That's why I was never very interested in them. I'd much prefer to set the paradigm myself."

He glances down at the machine, "Besides, what does the Rabbit know?"

Setting it down on a small table that holds an opened copy of an original Gutenberg bible suspended on a plastic mounting frame. The device out of the way, he lifts both hands to rest them on Diana's hips and smiles at her. Despite the Princess' impressive height, he is himself still a little taller.

"You found me."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana keeps her eyes on him after he takes the device from her and the further he explains his thoughts on video games on a broad spectrum, she just holds her grin focused right upon him.

Her eyes do break from him as he sets the device aside, but return when she feels his hands go to her hips, so she raises her own up to his shoulders to let them slip behind them to dangle just behind his neck.

The Princess tilts her head toward her right shoulder juuuust a little, her hair is loose about her shoulders this afternoon and lay in long dark locks against the pure white of the top she wears.

"Complete. Control." Diana says then to him, straightening her head again to stare more evenly at him. "That is why you do not like video games. That... and I imagine the sounds probably annoy you too. Or all the bright colors. You do not seem to be too interested in bright colors, so I have noted."

She's just playing with him a little, and it shows in her light hearted expression.

Batman has posed:
"Bright colors have their place," Bruce admits, "They're a good distraction. Though no, I never found that they fit me very well. But yes, I suppose you've got a pretty good bead on me. I'm not surprised. You've always had a talent for seeing to the core of people."

He sighs, enjoying the moment here away from the rest of the extended family who have taken up residence in the Manor of late. He doesn't draw away, content to stay close to her for now.

"You're always good at seeing the best in people and making it more obvious to them," he explains, before shaking his head and resting his forehead against hers, "I'm sure you want me explaining to you why people flock to you. Like you don't already know."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana just lets him talk about her and while he does so she gives him that big smile that makes her face light up, even going so far as to tilt her head to the right, then to the left. "Say more good things about me. My ego is not large enough yet." She teases back at him before she too leans her forehead against his.

"I am kidding. Of course." She states then, letting her expression fall more relaxed and neutral. "You feel off today." She tells him. "Are you in pain? Physical? Or mental?" She has to ask, she's observant and she could feel it in the air of this room.

She'd been in this very room a handful of days gone by, with Carrie, and it had not this brooding atmosphere within it as it does now upon finding Bruce here alone.

Batman has posed:
"It's nothing," Bruce assures her, giving her a slight squeeze but not drawing away - content with the closeness between them, "I've just been thinking."

He's never been very good at speaking what is on his mind, even when it is torturing him. Today seems to be no great exception to that rule. Instead, he tries to change the subject.

"After the holidays, I was thinking of taking a longer trip abroad. Get away from Gotham for a time. I know you have a lot to do with the League and in New York but ... I'd like you to come with me."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana continues to stare right at his face, he'll know what she's doing, she's carefully studying his musculature and observing what he says to gage his well being off of it all... because she cares about him, and she's damn good at it too.

She believes him though, mostly, she knows there's always more underneath those layers he piles up upon his soul.

At his explanation she smiles again, lightly. "A long trip?" She asks. "Mm, it is possible. It depends on where we would go. If I were to make public appearances here and there along it, then it helps spread the idea that the Justice League is here to help their regions as well. It is, after all, one of the greatest public relations issues we deal with, being based here in the United States."

The Princess draws a quick breath and then draws her right hand back to touch the nape of his neck with her fingers and thumb, where she brushes his hairline with them gently and affectionately.

"But, it is entirely doable." And she smiles contentedly again then and there.

Batman has posed:
"Whatever you need to do," Bruce says quietly, a faint smile crossing his lips as he does, "I'll just be happy to have you with me. If you want, I can have someone in the Entertainment division set up events for you along the way. They do good PR - and it'll save the League's budget."

When she looks into his eyes and examines his facial features, she'll see it there. He's good at hiding things, but Diana has gotten even better at reading him. There's a sense of guilt hanging about him. The idea that as long as he remains in Gotham, he'll feel as though he's abandoned the people he trained and is closest to.

Maybe he's running away?

"We'll make it happen."

Wonder Woman has posed:
"And _I_ will be happy to be there with _you_." Diana replies, punctuating her words with a little brief grin. "If your people come up with some fun and good things to do then I am all for hearing them and their ideas. If you trust them, then I trust them."

She places her left hand onto his right shoulder, then her right onto the left side of his neck, to then let her thumb work up and down his skin below his ear there. After another short stare of deducing his mood, Diana grins again.

"I know what is bothering you." She announces. "You have not hit anyone for awhile. You are having hit withdrawals." She turns then and lowers her hand down to take one of his. "Do you want to hit me?" She asks, in a playful sort of way. "Spaaaarring, I mean." She leans in toward him to say that part in a mocking tone. "Not in a domestic dispute manner. It would be good for you to get your therapy progressing."

Batman has posed:
"I don't think I'd take you on in a domestic dispute," Bruce says with a half-grin, "I've seen how you fight when you're in a good mood."

But, that said, he gives the offer a moment's consideration before nodding his head.

"Yeah, I think that sounds like a good idea. I suppose I lost interest in doing anything but maintenance once I got my strength back and everything was working the way it should have. I could probably stand to sharpen my skills a little bit, though."

He gives it another moment's thought before adding, "How about in the backyard? I always find the winter air to be kind of bracing."

Wonder Woman has posed:
With his hand in hers, Diana starts to lead him out of this viewing room and back out into the hallway, but she gathers the gaming device up before she goes so as to not let Damian lose track of it for forever.

Diana looks to her side toward him and holds a gently amused look for him. "We should probably change attire though, otherwise we might look a liiiittle out of place for such an exercise." Her eyes drop down to glance at herself, then over to him in his nice clothing. "But, I think it is time that you start to move a little more how you are supposed to... how you are used to... Kicks. Punches. Light at first, then we see where things go."

She raises the gaming device up. "If not, you will inevitably sink into these for the action thrills and then we will lose you forever, into the black mirror." And that is said with a hint of remorsefulness, even if she's just toying and being a little silly as she does.

Batman has posed:
Bruce nods his head, although he says nothing in immediate response. As they walk, he casts his eyes slightly downward and seems to focus on something not immediately visible or obvious. Deep in thought. He listens to what Diana says, but offers nothing of his own in return. Sometimes it's soothing just to hear her and listen to the encouragement she offers.

As they arrive at the foot of the grand staircase that leads up to the second floor and the majority of the family sleeping quarters, Bruce reaches out to take her hand and clasp it tightly. He says nothing straight away, standing there with her in silence at the bottom of the stairs.

"I - " he begins, something weighty on his mind, but then he presses on - abandoning that thought, "Let's get changed."

He turns and begins to head up towards the large master bedroom the pair of them share.

Wonder Woman has posed:
When Bruce pauses at the foot of the grand staircase, so does she and she looks to him, turns to face him and when he fails to speak what he wants to say she just lets a small smile spread across her lips. She then turns to put the gaming device down on the table beside the stairs where she knows it won't be overlooked there, and starts up the stairs with Bruce.

"I..." She pauses. "Plan to." She then grins at him as they proceed up to the second floor. "I got to spend time with Damian and... Batcow. I have to tell you all about that too."