[OPEN]

[shorttempered]

Characters: Mark Grayson and OPEN
Date: July after the event
Location: Various
Situation: Now that everything's returning back to normal, Mark's getting used to being Invincible again.
Warnings/Rating: None, but will update as necessary!

A - Mark
[Mark had felt guilty abandoning his job for as long as he had, even if the circumstances were totally understandable... So he decided to make up for this by diving wholeheartedly into his work. Depending on when you walk by the Wayne Enterprises construction site in the Water sector, you can come across Mark doing various tasks at the site: helping the other workers carry beams, looking over the schematics... just generally overseeing the construction like he's supposed to.

At one point a worker informs him they left a tool at another site in a different district and can't continue, though a few minutes later that same worker miraculously finds it after feeling a gust of wind at their back...]

B - Invincible
[It was weird getting into the costume again, but a good kind of weird. He's grown so used to being Invincible over the last few years it almost seems like he's not himself when he's just being "Mark." Not that he dislikes Mark, but it's getting so hard to hide who he truly is. Being powerless was a good reminder of exactly who he was before he tossed that garbage bag into orbit and that he had survived far longer without his Viltrumite powers as he had with it.

...That said, flying was still the most awesome thing in the world to do. He can be found zipping back and forth all around the turtle, testing himself to see just how back to normal things are. Some laps are definitely better than others, as he once dips and almost hits a building during one of them. He's also not going to let a crime pass him by, especially now that the rest of the kedan won't threaten him on sight.]

[OOC: If you want to roll with something other than those two, feel free to either PM me, reach out to me at redconfession, or just start a thread, your choice!!]

Comments

Hey, at least it's somebody who won't be announcing it publicly... probably?

[demon_brat]

In what way?

[... One way in which Damian is his age... mostly: curiosity.]

Better not!

[shorttempered]

[Oh let's see... he's half-Viltrumite, half-Thraxan, he's purple, and he's about 6 months old but is physically and mentally about 13.]

...Oh you know, it's just a thing adults say.

Shh, he's a bat.

[demon_brat]

[... Damian's eyes narrow, the displeasure - and anger - not in the least disguised.]

There is little that adults say that I would not understand. Science, engineering, military theory, and economics included.

[Don't patronize him, Mark. Just. Don't.]

That means /nothing/ to him

[shorttempered]

[Holds his hands up a little in surrender.]

I didn't mean it like you don't understand. All I meant by it was that it's something adults say because everyone wants their kid to be special. It's just a saying.

Yet!

[demon_brat]

[Damian blinks for a moment.]

I... see.

[Not something either of his parents would do. But still, he is aware Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul are not exactly... standard-issue adults.]

STILL!

[shorttempered]

My brother's one of the smartest kids I know. Quickest learner you'll ever meet. [Literally.

Mark smiles a little and fights the urge to ruffle his hair. Something tells him he'd get bitten if he tried.] And seeing as you remind me of him, I wouldn't dare try to treat you like an idiot. I know how much he'd hate it.

There's time!

[demon_brat]

[Damian stares.]

I do not know how you manage to both insult and flatter at the same time.

[Oddly enough, there is little to no poison in his voice. It's more like a semi-detached observation. Mostly.]

[shorttempered]

[Frowns at that. Here he thought he was being nothing but friendly.] How did I insult you?

[demon_brat]

[It's just that Damian considers himself a fast learner, and pretty much telling him somebody he hasn't met yet is the fastest? Well.]

[But the boy shakes his head.]

It is of no consequence. I do understand the sentiment behind what you said.

[(Then again, when it comes to people, Damian isn't a very fast learner at all.)]

[shorttempered]

[Mark has no doubts about that, but when your brother's race can literally learn things by seeing them, he's sort of got you beat.]

He's my brother. I have to dote a little, you know?

[demon_brat]

[Dat's cheatin'.]

[Though Damian's distracted - for a moment, his expression flickering almost through revelation.]

I... see.

[As in: no, he didn't know. But that makes some things make more sense.]

[shorttempered]

[Not when his brother's race also only lives about 9 months Earth time.]

Your brothers don't dote on you?

[demon_brat]

[Oh. Okay, granted, not then.]

... they have not known me very long.

[One of them has tried to kill him twice, the other Damian has tried to kill... twice. The third one, maybe? A little? But 'doting' is not something that has occurred to the boy, this far.]

[shorttempered]

But you're so... [He can just feel if he says "adorable" his hand is getting bitten off.] distinguished.

[demon_brat]

[... good instincts, Mark. Very good instincts. Damian actually nods, slightly, appeased by the word choice. It's almost a thank-you. But, then, he shrugs.]

I suspect distinguished, at least my variety of distinguished, does not exactly lead people to... doting?

[shorttempered]

I'm sure there's something your family's proud of you for.

[demon_brat]

Some of them. For some things.

[As far as he knows. Some of them will take him as he is, but he doesn't get that, yet.]

[shorttempered]

You're the type that just can't take a compliment, aren't you?

[demon_brat]

[Damian opens his mouth to retort... then closes it.]

Apparently not.

[Translated: you are not the first person who's remarked on that, since I came to Keeliai. After a moment's consideration, he adds,]

I suppose things I am good at, I assume that people will appreciate; the rest, I do not want to fool myself about.

[shorttempered]

[God, this kid needs to stop reminding him of his brother. Hell, at least Oliver eventually figured out what fun was.]

Well, I appreciate you bringing this to me. Thank you.

[demon_brat]

[He's working on it. He's not happy about the concept, but he is working on it.]

It is not a problem.

Fruitful rest of the day, ... Mr. Grayson.

[... nope. Can't just call him Grayson.]

[shorttempered]

Same to you...

And please, call me Mark. I don't even think my dad went by Mr. Grayson.

[demon_brat]

[Damian's already turned to go, but he tosses a near-smirk over his shoulder.]

We'll see.

[No, no he won't, probably. But Mark can keep trying. This kid calls the guy he first accepted as a brother by his surname, still. You just happen to share it.]