open;

[trifurcate]

Characters: Bryn Zethir and your character /o/
Date: April 7th to 13th
Location: Atam!
Situation: Bryn in various places on the mainland, see thread starters for details!
Warnings/Rating: None expected, will warn in subject lines if that changes...


[Having finished her mandatory quarantine, Bryn ventures into the city of Atam. Well, one of Bryn does anyway, having left a second version of herself behind in Keeliai to continue working both in the fields and for Wayne Enterprises as she has been for some weeks now.

Intending to both explore the city as well as shop for a variety of necessities, she pays for a week in advance at the communal housing establishment and heads into the city...]

Comments

[demon_brat]

[... surprise. Then, again, he doubts it's exactly what happened to her. But telling details to strangers - sword-wielding strangers, at that - doesn't seem prudent.]

How young?

[His hand also shows no effort or strain, at the prolonged weight of the sword.]

[trifurcate]

[Bryn tries to think back. It's hard to remember how old she was during certain moments and yet...]

I think I was six? Perhaps seven when my parents started teaching things. Once they thought I knew the basics of defending myself without weapons, they had me learn to use a knife. We went on from there as I grew older.

[demon_brat]

[Damian listens, then nods his head, in acknowledgement.]

I was three. My instructors... were rarely that careful. But they were thorough.

[trifurcate]

Three?

[What could be accomplished at so young an age? Bryn can't even remember being three...]

Why would they start so young? And you had instructors? It wasn't your parents?

[demon_brat]

[Damian shrugs, then shakes his head.]

I was not introduced to my Mother until my eighth birthday. I was not informed who my Father was until my tenth, and he did not know about me until then.

But I did have a lot of instructors.

[None of this is said in a way that suggests that he expects - or will tolerate - pity about any of this. He's simply stating facts.]

[trifurcate]

[It becomes clear off the bat how different their upbringings were. To not have known her parents until she was several years old...it seems unthinkable. And yet the way he talks about it, Bryn can tell that this is simply how things are for him.]

How fortunate you were provided with teachers.

[And...because she can't help but ask:]

Was there a reason it was so long before meeting your parents?

[demon_brat]

[There is a very small pause, before he answers. It's not that the discussion is making him uncomfortable, because he's way past that, but he doesn't want to misrepresent things... or give too much information. So he needs to figure out what's in between.]

Mother had some... misguided concepts about my upbringing. She has not explained to me why either of the waiting, but I assume it is because she did not find it necessary for me to know them sooner.

My dedication to her was very strong, for a long while, so I assume it was an effective tactic.

[trifurcate]

I see. Her motivations must have been quite different from most parents. Perhaps there were outside factors she didn't mean for you to know yet.

[Which is why she didn't explain? Bryn doesn't know. Certainly the whole situation seems rather...sketchy.]

[demon_brat]

I suppose.

[Damian finally slams the sword into its scabbard... and then places the scabbard carefully in place, immediately reasserting control over his... reactions.]

I have decided her plans for me are not to be trusted, in the end.

[trifurcate]

[Bryn isn't always terribly observant, and when she sees the way he slides the sword into its sheath, it finally hits her that perhaps he isn't as detached from this matter as she'd thought.]

That's very wise. Better to have your own plans, yes?

[demon_brat]

In this case, yes.

[His Mother is just... a very complicated subject. He owes her a lot, but, at the same time, she took from him a lot, turning him into a tool, an instrument for her own will, her own ambitions to rule the world.]

[He betrayed her. She disowned him. It should be a done thing... but he's, well. Eleven.]

However, I am still gathering enough information to build such plans in detail.

[trifurcate]

Is there any information in particular that you're missing?

[Perhaps she can provide the details he's missing for his plans, whatever they are.

And oh, don't think she's not curious, but she's also not asking what he's planning outright. Such things are likely personal.]

[demon_brat]

A lot, actually.

[Why is he even talking about it with a stranger?]

[The facts are that he is just beginning to comprehend how much information he is missing if he is to decide what to do with his life. Beyond the superheroing - which he won't mention - of course.]

[Conquering the world is a no-go. He wants to fix it, instead, but... how? Not his Grandfather's way, either. There have to be more options. He is aware he doesn't know more than a fraction of those. So the plans are very, very far from formed.]

[trifurcate]

[The boy seems deep in thought, and she half wonders if she ought to just leave him to them. Again, she tells herself this is none of her business, but her nosiness wins out more often than not.]

Any information we might be able to find with a little investigating? Perhaps I can help.

[Yes, she's butting into this whoops.]

[demon_brat]

[Damian's eyes narrow at the push, but he actually grits his teeth and doesn't snap back. The question sounds more like bored polite curiosity than a snarl, anyway.]

Did you know what you wanted to do, at the age of eleven?

[trifurcate]

[Noticing the tension, she draws back half a step, and to his question snorts inelegantly.]

I wish. I'm twenty-five and I still don't know what to do with my life. But then, you're young, enough that you shouldn't have to decide right now.

[In an ideal world, according to the optimist here.]

[demon_brat]

Well, then. That is how much information I am still missing, and you just admitted that you do not have it, yet.

[Grump grump grump. It's not your fault, Bryn, Talia just did a number on him.]

[trifurcate]

No, not yet. But since I cannot help you in that regard, you're still welcome to talk to me about it, if you ever want.

[It's the least she can offer.]

[demon_brat]

[His eyes narrow, for a moment. Then he recognizes that she is no longer pushing, and deigns to nod.]

Then that would be appreciated, if I ever want to do so.

[Aka: thank you.]

[trifurcate]

[Such an odd boy, more solemn than she's ever known, but she can't help but like him all the same.]

I think I'll leave you to your shopping now, but remember, the offer is open whenever.

[Inclining her head, she takes a couple steps back.]

[demon_brat]

[It takes him a long moment, and he watches her the entire time, but, in the end, he inclines his head in acknowledgment.]

Thank you.

[trifurcate]

You're welcome. It was nice meeting you.

[And with a bit of a wave, she retreats and leaves him to his task.]