3923/Go to bed, old man!

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Go to bed, old man!
Date of Scene: 20 February 2018
Location: Unknown
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Batman, Alfred Pennyworth




Batman has posed:
    The last 24 hours had been demanding. The city had been in turmoil, there was a tumult through several parts of the city but what had been the worst of it was the break out at Blackgate. What had seemingly been a small time attempt by a handful of thugs turned into something entirely beyond the ken of the perpetrators. For a time it almost seemed like chaos would reign with an untold number of villains escaping...
    But that is why there are heroes. Many defenders of justice set forth to try and stem the tide, and once matters had reached a critical point, a device malfunctioned and sent a shockwave throughout the large facility... rendering most of the escapees helpless. Yer more had to be done before the peace could return.
    The Dark Knight had arrived, moving amongst the gathered heroes like a spectre. He had been quiet as he secured some of the criminals, and had caught several other who had been able to evade part of the explosion. Though it would be hours before things could be considered under control.
    And it was only several hours after even that... that his silhouette once again darkened the Batcave, the engine of the batmobile whirring down as its jet exhaust cooled even as the turntable twisted it around for its next launch. His gait was steady, even. But then slowly, as he realized he was the only one there in the cave... he let himself slump slightly, to feel the weight of the fatigue. Or rather realized it was only him, and Alfred. For Alfred it was the only one for which it was acceptable for him to show weakness.

Alfred Pennyworth has posed:
     Stepping out from behind a pillar is that familiar face, Alfred Pennyworth. He's calm and collected as ever as he makes his way to intercept Bruce. In his hands there's a large tray at the center of which a ceramic pot holds the contents of a gourmet soup, bits of lobster and crab meat floating in the broth along with large noodles ready for slurping.

     "You know Master Bruce, with all the happenings of late you're do for a solid vacation." He pauses lifting the lid off of the pot atop the tray in his hands to show the contents and allow steam to waft up to the ceiling. "I hear Madripoor is always lovely this time of year, could make it a family affair." He sets the lid down onto the tray. "Bring masters Timmothy, Damian, and Dick along for a change of pace" He pauses. "You may like punching out criminals in a more tropical setting for a week or so." A slight smirk crossing his face.

Batman has posed:
    As the man walks he pushes the cowl back, blue eyes lifting towards Alfred's face then lowering to the soup upon the tray. A small grudging smile is given as he says, "Thank you, Alfred." He starts to lift a hand but then shakes his head as he starts to move past. "Let me get out of this, then I am going to eat all of that soup... and maybe another pot of it if you have it." Not often that he indulges so.
    But he stops in front of the armory as the storage vault hums open with a faint exhale of compressed air, the lights flickering on before the mannequin that provides a place for the Dark Knight to store his gear. He begins the slow methodical ritual of disarming even as he speaks to the other man over his shoulder. "Good sentiment, but that's unfortunately not in the cards." He twists the gauntlet and snaps it free of his wrist, the device disengaging as some of the LCD screens go dark.
    There's a pause as he looks off in the distance for a moment, "Though I had been thinking of visiting Latveria, actually." He offers this casually as he starts to work on the other gauntlet.

Alfred Pennyworth has posed:
     "Of course there's always more." Alfred assures pleasently surprised as he moves over to set down the bowl of food onto a rolling cart as opposed to carrying it himself for a moment longer. His attention falls on Bruce for a time before moving back to the cave at large. "I still say some quality time with the boys is well past due, perhaps you can all pay Dr.Doom a visit, it's been a while since the last time you toppled a dictatorship." Alfred calmly jokes as he stirs the bowl to make sure there's an even distribution of seafood throughout the mix.

     "You'll be pleased to know the internet has returned." Alfred adds as he moves over towards the bat-computer closing the window he'd been using to monitor the situation at Blackgate personally. "It seems for all their bravado the rising tide was more a puddle then an ocean."

Batman has posed:
    "Perhaps not as the Batman, but Bruce Wayne..." He gives a slow nod as if considering the matter, but then he turns his head to the side and smiles back at Alfred. He undoes the clasp of his cloak and then sweeps it back around into its place in the display case. The belt follows suit and once that's done he turns back around and advances on the man once again.
    "Did it resolve sufficiently to your opinion?" He asks the elder secret agent, his head tilting to the side as he silently asks the rest of that question, since Alfred was one that had been crossed rather poorly by those people.
    "Or should we take further steps?" It's only after he says that that he finally moves into a place near the batcomputer with his chair there and close enough to draw the cart towards himself. He takes up the spoon and begins to attack the delicacy gingerly at first, but as it proves to be sufficiently warm and yet temperate... he digs in.

Alfred Pennyworth has posed:
     "In my opinion the whole lot of them should have been lined up against the wall." Alfred comments as he flicks through their little announcement sent to the public. "Though I suppose I'll just have to settle for the majority of their arrests." He lets out a low tsking sigh. "I do suppose I should do something about Memento."

     This was the first time he'd even mentioned the name, which happened to be the alias of one of the people executed live on stream a few days prior. "I'm thinking about setting them loose in Narobia with nothing but the clothes on their backs." He lets out a bit of a low sigh. "To think I honestly thought I could take them all down myself." He chuckles.

     "I think the proper authorities have it well under control, as much as I'd like to say otherwise." He walks over towards the wall of uniforms on display looking into his own reflection. "I'm not nearly the same man I was in my prime." He waxes. "My place is better suited by your side, stitching you back together, and prattling on about how you should settle down, retire and raise a proper family."

Batman has posed:
    While Alfred speaks, Bruce takes his time eating, though he does so in an open way. There are no qualms about slurping, or visibly enjoying his food. Not that he's an uncultured heathen ill of manner, but it's clear when he's around Alfred that there is a subtle dropping of defenses that goes a long way.
    It's only near the end when the other man starts to speak to his proper place that Bruce half-smiles, looking up at him with half-lidded eyes as if expecting another of the butler's casual jibes. But instead there's the intimation as to what he /should/ be doing. So he responds to that, "That's not feasible, Alfred."
    He takes another slurp of soup, and then pushes around a noodle for a few moments before he adds, "Not for the next few years. When things settle down. Perhaps then." He says, the usual mantra, the usual answer. Putting things off for down the line as he tends to.

Alfred Pennyworth has posed:
     Alfred remains facing his own reflection having come to terms with the fact of his age a long time prior, even if he still wanted to ignore it. "I'm well aware we'll be doing this dance until the end comes Master Bruce," A light wishfull smile crossing his face. "However you can hardly fault me for wanting the best for you."

     He reaches a hand up to the glass holding a small handkerchief with a light motion he begins wiping clean the surface of the small flecks of dust on it. "After all you've been through you deserve a happily ever after." He pauses for a moment. "And I deserve to go at least one night without having to mop blood off the floor of the batcave." Just having to get that little jab in.

Batman has posed:
    For a time silence is heavy between them at that last, Bruce's eyes cast down upon the soup bowl as he continues to push that noodle around. His own thoughts held in check for now as he does not grant them voice. Then he sets the spoon down with a faint clink as he looks askance, across the way towards the row of display cases where various uniforms stand sentinel, looking upon the cave as if they were soldiers ready to march.
    His brow furrows, and Alfred likely can sense that steady train of thought the man has that leads to his later words. The idea of family, love, future. And then he looks back towards the bowl and says in that steady tone of his. "Damian is facing a difficult time, now."

Alfred Pennyworth has posed:
     Alfred turns back to face Bruce, having managed to polish the glass to a crystal clear shine with a little elbow grease. "Oh? What's the matter?" Spoken with a genuine curiosity as he walks back slowly from the wall of suits watching guard over the spoils of Bruce's lengthy career.

Batman has posed:
    The spoon is taken in hand again and he proceeds to push that same noodle around, only to push it against the lip of the bowl and slice it in half. He takes another sip, then continues to look some ways forwards, off into the distance. Shaking his head he replies, "We've had word of a splinter of the league of assassins operating in the city. Possibly some feelers being extended his way. Things are approaching a confrontation..."
    He leans forwards and rests his arms upon the edge of the cart, seemingly thoughtful for a time. Then he looks across the way towards Alfred. "My instincts are to step in, to make sure that nothing threatens or... tempts Damian. But I also need to trust him. And I feel he will make the right choices." He shakes his head and looks away. "I should not be fearful for him, however. I want to take this burden from him."
    He seems about to say something further, but instead cuts himself off and refocuses upon the meal before him.

Alfred Pennyworth has posed:
Alfred makes his way over towards Bruce setting a hand on his shoulder. "If you fight all a mans battles for him." He starts, looking down at the man. "When you're gone he'll have no way left to defend himself." He pats the shoulder lightly. "You're not going to be around for him forever, just as I won't be around for you forever." A light grip is held in place. "The only thing you can do between now and then is be the best influence you can, and do what you know is right in your heart."

Batman has posed:
    A slow controlled exhaled breath comes from the man as he sits there, looking ahead and off into a nebulous distant future even as he's consoled by the man who took over when the world stole from him his biological father. His brow is furrowed as he looks down, as if only now seeing the spoon as the broth swims around its bowl with the small twist of his wrist.
    "He has been dealt a difficult hand in life." For an instant it seems as if he might say something further, but instead does not. The spoon is set down and he lifts a hand to rest upon Alfred's. Just a small touch and then a nod.
    Then he rises from his seat, the soup half-eaten as he sets the napkin upon the cart. He turns back to the older man and smiles a little. "Thank you for the soup, Alfred. I'll have more later when I wake up if that's alright."

Alfred Pennyworth has posed:
     "That will prove no trouble at all Master Bruce" Alfred reaches down towards the tray to move it out of Bruce's way. "I believe you'll find when you do awaken I purposefully chose a microwave safe bowl." A genuine smile crossing Alfred's well worn down and aged Scottish face.

     "I will remind you however Master Bruce that we need not always play the hands we're dealt." Alfred speaking as he makes sure to prep the bowl so that it can go back into the refrigerator. "Why I lost my own parents, a long time ago, and thought for certain my life would never improve." He pauses.

     "However I worked hard, and fought back against the hand of cards life dealt me." As he wipes clean the edge of the bowl with a small bit of cloth. "It was never easy going against the plans life had for me, but I'm only here today because I was willing to stand up, and push back." He pauses yet again.

     "We Soldier on undaunted, you and I, Master Bruce, and if I may say so, sir" He looks over towards the now standing man, his smile still warm on his face. "I couldn't beg, borrow, or steal a finer way to live my life." A firm nod to confirm his own statement. "In time I'm sure young Master Damian will be able to claim the same with pride."

Batman has posed:
    A small smile touches the younger man's face as he steps around the cart and moves towards the elevator. But he pauses, resting a hand upon the console of the bat computer. He looks towards Alfred as he speaks and then gives a single slow nod in agreement at the last sentiment. "Those are kind words, Alfred." He says gently, then shakes his head. Usually the man handles such moments, where emotion intrudes upon his thoughts, by pushing them aside or ignoring them.
    With Alfred, he allows himself the gift of humor as he replies. "Remind me to give you a raise." He offers lightly, wryly with a twist of a smile. He continues towards the elevator, a hand lifting to touch the control panel and signal it to life. The tall tube that crawls up the side of the batcave illuminates and the doors open just as he's about to step in.