the wall between gods and monsters; catch all for Hernan and Old Man Bruce

[sonofzod]

WHO: Hernan Guerra ( Superman ), Bruce Wayne ( the old one ) and friends
WHEN: Middle to end of January
WHERE: Etraya + Potentially Tower of Justice
WHAT: Kryptonite discovery aftermath; Bruce hiding from avoiding his kids with varying degrees of success.
NOTES\WARNINGS: Talk about murder, death, and violence mention.

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There will be open starters for anyone to tag as well as a few closed ones. If you're interested in plotting or have an idea of your own feel free to hit me up! I'm in the game server or you can reach me on plurk @ tapsters

Comments

[sonofzod]

[ Ugh. Of course Kirk is right. Hernan still remembers Big Bear spitting in his face. He remembers Imperiex nearly bringing him to his knees, both times when he faced the threat solo. He was loathe and too proud to admit that he'd only gained the upper hand when he had support from Bekka and Kirk.

As strong as he was, as powerful as the sun made him, Superman was not invincible and it grated on his nerves to be reminded of it.

As for the news that a change in tactics had been his idea? Hernan nearly balks. Moments ago, he'd been ready to see Damian hit the ground. What happened to introduce such a a sudden change in heart? Those Metal Men definitely knocked out his brain.

His expression is. Not unfriendly, but there is nothing soft or tender about it. Their friendship would survive this disagreement. It's survived all the others. But right now, Hernan wanted to be angry. ]

You can trust me.

[godsandbats]

[There's still plenty of tension in Kirk's body but his heart rate relaxes just slightly. Hernan's reply is good enough for now. A lot has happened tonight and perhaps Hernan needs time to process everything. Kirk won't rush him on that front]

Thank you. Can you trust me?

[Kirk expects Hernan to still be angry at him for a little while longer but he would like to think their bond is stronger than that]

[sonofzod]

[ It would be petty to say no. Petty and untrue. Is Hernan feeling exceptionally petty? ]

I do, Kirk. I always will.

[ Suppose not. ]

[godsandbats]

[Kirk can almost breath a sigh of relief from that. Only almost though. It might have to depend on how badly Hernan's temper gets tested in Etraya and if Kirk wants to continue patiently cooling off that temper.

A decade is a long time and Kirk's more inclined to believe their friendship can survive]

Thank you.

[Then a pause. Kirk knows that his disobedience tonight isn't the only thing that pissed off Hernan]

Next time that rock comes around and if it's possible, I want to try and take it again. It should be studied then from there, we can build defenses from it. It's already clear it can't get past lead.

[sonofzod]

[ Etraya does seem hellbent on testing the limits of Hernan's patience. The well is not as deep as it could be. But he is so far not inclined to raze Etraya to the ground and impose his will on it. So that's got to account for something.

Though at the mention of that rock Hernan looks decidedly unhappy. He could live the rest of his life never setting eyes on it ever again. ]

So long as you keep it away from me, then fine.

[godsandbats]

I promise. I'll let you know ahead of time if it winds up in my lab.

[Though god, they really need to fix their security systems]

[sonofzod]

[ That, Hernan could accept. At any rate, he's had enough talking about his feelings. ]

Why are you standing there? Come and drink with me.

[godsandbats]

[At that offer, Kirk's body finally relaxes. They were going to be okay. Some nerves might still be tender for a bit but their bond survives another night. He walks over to the wet bar to make himself his usual blood drink. Then he sits next to Hernan with his glass. He softly sighs]

It seems alternate universe Gothamites like being a pain.

[sonofzod]

[ When Kirk sits, it doesn't feel like their world has been shaken up at all. It's all familiar enough that he can ignore that this isn't really their Tower. And that outside these walls, it is not Metropolis. That's the way Hernan likes it. ]

I don't think it has anything to do with alternate universes. [ a smirk ] It's definitely just a Gotham problem.

[godsandbats]

[Despite the tower being purposely sterile to intimidate outsiders and even without Bekka around, it feels very comfortable for Kirk to sit on the couch and drink with Hernan. They've been plenty of times when it was just the two of them just talking and enjoying each other's company. It's one of the few places where Kirk can relax.

He knows Hernan's teasing in a good-natured manner and his lips twice slightly in amusement]

Only the batty ones.

[He takes off his gloves to reveal his deathly pale hands before taking another sip of blood. He didn't get a chance to change out of his Batman suit when Hernan called him for help]

[sonofzod]

[ Hernan had always enjoyed Kirk's company, even in the earliest days of their friendship. Bekka's absence now is felt, perhaps even more so than he would have back home because there seemed to be a promise - a hope of her return. That doesn't exist in Etraya. At least, it was easy to exist with Kirk. ]

Not you, my friend. You are the only Bat that makes any sense.

[godsandbats]

[There are still plenty of times when Kirk feels like Hernan has faith in him more than Kirk does in himself. He doesn't really understand it because why would anyone trust a vampire? But in the end, Kirk deeply appreciates Hernan's belief in him. Kirk knows he wouldn't be where he is now if Hernan hadn't saved him on that faithful night at Gotham's docks]

I'm apparently also not as territorial. I got called a copycat by another Batman.

[sonofzod]

[ For Hernan, it was easy to trust Kirk. Even at the start, when he had no reason to. The man was hungry and Hernan had offered him a hand. There was nothing more to it than that. That he had gained a friend in the moments that followed was a bonus.

Hernan scoffs. This other Batman seemed. Juvenile. Silly. ]

Who cares what he thinks? He cannot put his name to his actions.

[godsandbats]

[Dryly]

If he and Damian are related, maybe bad behavior is a family trait. This other Batman seems to be just a human.

[Kirk sips again. For him, he was never interested in notoriety. He always just lets his actions speak for him. The Batman name started off as a private joke before his transformation. Then sensationalist media called him that for the attention-getting headlines. Kirk simply decided to run with it after that]

[sonofzod]

[ Then eat him. ]

That wouldn't surprise me. That boy did say there were others, right? Maybe we ought to find out how many.

[godsandbats]

[Batman cannibalism?]

I've been trying to look through the network. It does seem like there are others who might know what Kryptonians are.

[sonofzod]

[ just a little ]

Do they all seem as unhinged as that boy?

[ because he might have questions ]

[godsandbats]

Can't say for certain yet. That post from Nightwing seems to have potential. But then again, Damian seems to know him too.

[Though god, it's going to be a pain if there really is a whole family of unhinged Bat folks]

What was this other Lois Lane like?

[sonofzod]

She was different. Not biased. At least not against us. Almost seemed apologetic when I told her about Lois from our world.

[ It was strange not to be immediately judged or to have his motives questioned. ]

[godsandbats]

[Kirk takes another sip as he contemplates]

Maybe there's a little bit of hope after all. Theoretically there are countless alternate universes. They can't all have problems with Kryptonians or vampires.

[sonofzod]

Yes, but they're not us. And their Superman seems. Soft.

[ Vulnerable. He means vulnerable. Something Hernan refuses to be seen as. ]

[godsandbats]

More humble and more cautious too. A Superman who hides his identity is strange.

[It’s perhaps a deadpan light tease at Hernan or a slight dig at this other Superman]

[sonofzod]

[ It is strange and if Hernan ever meets this Superman, he's getting heckled. ]

I simply know my worth, my friend. If he wants to hide, let him.

[godsandbats]

[Kirk shrugs. It doesn't really bother him because he'd rather have Hernan as Superman anyway]

I can't imagine you ever doing it, not unless the situation is dire enough for it.

[sonofzod]

I have nothing to hide from.

[ Fair Play and kryptonite not withstanding. ]

There's no reason to.