yogen | ♛ A knife in my heart couldn't slow me down ♛

[The reply earned a roll of his eyes, and Childe was moving closer to cross the distance and sit beside Jason. Still enough room to react if an attack came his way, as he wasn’t exactly all that trusting of the guy just yet, but enough that they would be able to have a comfortable conversation without having to shout across the roof at each other.]

I’d be careful if I were you. It’s the little things like that they get you for breaking regs over. [His head turns to watch the darkened landscape below, drumming his fingers against the rooftop. Clearly agitated and worked up, although it’s entirely still over the trip to Morepesok and has nothing to do with Jason’s presence.] How’ve things been treatin’ ya, Stripes? Starting to get the hang of things?

I was never one to follow the rules.

[Lair, you were a straight A student once upon a time, theatre boy.]

More or less. Been getting to know some people, and my way around this place. Noah mentioned something about a Void, so I’ve been curious about that.

[Jason propped his knee up so he could rest his arm and head on it. He watched Childe for a couple of seconds, taking in just how wound up he was.]

What’s got you wound up so tight?

Me neither.

[Also a lie. He used to be a very good and obedient child before the Abyss.

He visibly perks up a bit at the mention of both Noah and the Void, and would have fixated on that talking point if Jason hadn’t turned the conversation focus onto him. Childe glances sideways at the other man through the corners of his eyes, fingers pausing for just a moment before they resume their drumming. His mouth twitches upwards in amusement, and he’s letting out a soft hum.]

That obvious, mm? [He lets out a chuckle, one that’s quiet enough to be barely more than a breath.] Exchange program happens tomorrow. Which means that for the next foreseeable future I get to be home again. Mostly it’s just anticipation.

[Yeah, he could see how someone might be excited for that, especially considering their circumstances. Jason kept his gaze on Childe, mostly now thrilled to have something to focus on other than the darknesses around them.]

Oh yeah, I heard about that. Got any plans?

[Honestly, he hadn’t gotten that far in his plans just yet. Childe’s focus had primarily been on just getting there in the first place, and this was the first time he’d actually stopped to consider what he was going to do upon arrival. He was supposed to be... Well, dead. So that was going to complicate things a bit, most likely.]

Mostly just to spend time with my family. [There’s a different kind of softness in his tone now, one that indicates just how much he cares for the people he’s discussing.] Play with the little ones, help my mother around the house, go on a fishing trip with my father... That sort of thing. The mundane stuff.

It’s been a bit since I’ve had a genuine vacation. I think I’ve earned one at this point.

Edited 2021-10-10 09:27 (UTC)

Yeah, I’d say you have.

[That made him think, though.

Did Jason miss Gotham and the Bats? The stubborn part of him said No Because why would he? He didn’t need any of them, and he’s been living his life for the past couple of years without them.

The other part of him said yes, though that voice was much softer. He did miss them, or some of them anyway. It was nice to finally have some semblance of a family, despite everything.

God damn it, he didn’t come up here to feel sad.]

That sounds nice at least. I wouldn’t have pegged you for a fisher, though.

[Childe laughs again, a proper laugh this time as he tilts his head to the side and finally looks back at Jason again.] Oh, absolutely. It’s one of the few hobbies I’ve held onto for the entirety of my life, actually. When you think about it, it’s all about laying a death trap for your prey, and then patiently waiting to see who you can outsmart enough to fall into it.

[He rolls his shoulder, reaching up with his hand to rub at a bit of sore muscle that gets revealed from the action.] That and... Well. Seafood is my favorite. Tastes better when you had a hand in conquering the dish.

[That's one way to put it, he supposed. He never really thought about fishing that way, but then again fishing in the Gotham Bay would either get you killed via crossfire from a nearby gang or you'd catch a fish that was toxic and die - of course there was always the possibility of it giving you superpowers.]

Never thought about it that way. Maybe I'll give it a shot next time.

[He gives Childe a small, playful grin]

Or make you some killer seafood.

You're welcome to come with me, if we somehow manage to find a pond of fish in this hell hole. Anything's possible.

[He's kicking his feet where they dangle off the roof, a gesture that's slightly too boyish and innocent for him to normally indulge in on the daily.] We can have a cooking contest. See who can make the better seafood dish.

[He pauses, and then he's flashing Jason one of those lopsided grins of his.] Oh, also. You can call me Tartaglia after dark, if you like. Technically it's just as much an alias as the first, but I'm not certain if the rules apply differently considering... Well. I use that one more.

I am a mean cook.

[His voice sounds teasing now, his grin slowly turning into a smirk as he watches Childe. Hearing the name though, he raises a brow and humming softly under his breath.]

Tartaglia? So if we go by other aliases, in theory, it should be fine?

In that case, I'd definitely love to test my strengths against yours. Sounds like it could be fun!

[He shrugs at the follow up question.] Supposedly. [He's not gonna stop calling Jason "Stripes" if he's presented with a new one to use though, sorry. He's chosen that one. It's not going away.] If not, we're dead anyway, so I can't imagine much will change.

I've never had someone in my life who can actually cook except for my.... Dad's butler. So i definitely want to see what you're made of.

[His smirk grows wider now and he's tilting his head back in thought.]

You can call me Red Hood if anything. That's my alias. Though I have a feeling that you've settled on Stripes.

It's catchy! And personalized. You'll get used to it, probably.

[He's stretching a bit before he's standing up, dusting his pants off before putting his hands onto his hips.] Anyway, we've got some free time, yeah? You mentioned wanting to learn more about the other school and the void. Wanna go?

[He's weird but in a good way. He was growing on him.]

Hell yeah.

[He pushed himself up, brushing off some dirt from his pants as well and walking off the edge of the roof where he had been sitting. He turned to face Childe, grinning from ear to ear in obvious excitement.]

[He's unwinding the bandage that he keeps wrapped around his left arm and hand, summoning forth one of his blades so that he can add another neat little scoremark into his palm; he needs to stop shifting dimensions or this is going to become a problem eventually.]

Here, come back a bit further from the edge. Just in case you stumble. [Then he's turning his hand over and letting the blood drip down onto the roof. Hopefully no one else had decided to come up for a night walk tonight. If so... Whoops?]

[Jason shoved his hands into his pocket and walked closer to Childe, standing a foot away now. He watched him carefully, always really fascinated by the way he wielded those daggers.]

You make a habit out of this?

[The moment the blood hit the ground, he was too distracted by the shifting of everything around them to pay much attention to Childe anymore.]

[He's reaching up to lick the blood off of his palm, smearing a bit across the left corner of his lips in the process. He doesn't bother wrapping it yet, pocketing the bandages for the time being to deal with once they leave. The dagger dissipates in a small shower of water, dripping down into a tiny puddle at his feet.]

I do, actually. I like it better here. Quieter. Reminds me of home.

[He's gone from that playful excitement to a more serious tone, a sort of sneer crossing his face as he nods towards the access leading back down into the school proper.] And it's easy to hide stuff here. Wanna see the void first?

[Jason's eyes settled on Childe again, that smirk slowly morphing into a grin that felt more dementedly curious than anything else]

Lead the way, Tartaglia.

[He could definitely see where Childe was coming from at least. There was something about this place that he felt as if Childe could let loose in here and stop hiding behind whatever mask he put up. He was curious to see it.]

[It's been... Well. Far too long since he's heard that out loud from someone other than himself. Granted that's his own fault, but it's... Nice. Feels right. Especially now, with his Vision back on its hip where it belongs. Like stepping back into his favorite pair of shoes.

He doesn't reply verbally yet, more content in simply doing his part and showing Jason around. Bypassing the rest of the school and making a beeline down to the first floor, where the Void has expanded past the confines of the auditorium and into the hallway. Once there he crouches down, staring into the direction of the heart.]

Beautiful, isn't she?

[As much as he wanted to explore a little more, he followed Childe closely. This place had a feeling to it, and it was something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Once they reached their destination, though, Jason snapped out of his thoughts and raised a brow at the void. He crouched down beside Childe, resting his elbows on his knees.]

That's a hell of a void. It's bigger than I thought.

[He nods a little, head cocked and gaze unmoving from the utter darkness of the maw before them.] Used to be smaller, though recently she's gotten a bit more temperamental.

[He pauses for a moment, silent and contemplative before he's smirking a bit to himself. Not now. He then decides to abruptly change the subject.] Would you be mad if I told you those scissors were a murder weapon that I planted on you? You can toss them in, if you like. No one will find them afterwards.

[That did catch him by surprise, though Jason did a pretty good job of not reacting to Childe's words. He glanced over at him, a small amused grin crossing his face.]

Somehow I'm not all that surprised.

[He never pegged Childe as the innocent one. He'd be more surprised if he would have told him that he's never killed anyone before.

Jason reached behind him and pulled out the scissors, twirling them in his hands but not doing anything else with them>]

Who'd you kill?

Oh c'mon, Stripes. If I just tell you, that defeats the fun of getting caught.

[He straightens up, twisting his torso with a soft grunt before he's pushing his hands back into his pockets and finally turning away from the void to look over at Jason properly. He'd taken the news very well, though. That was somehow just as surprising as it was expected.]

Tall, though. Put up a good fight.

Don't I know it.

[Jason scuffs softly, finally looking up at Childe. He holds up the scissors, pointing them at him though not moving otherwise.]

You don't seem like the type to suddenly confess. Suddenly got with hit of guilt, or are you just threatening me with a good time?

[He's laughing a little to himself at the question, shrugging in response.] Truthfully? I wanted to see what you'd say. [He narrows his eyes a bit, tilting his chin up. The display of amusement doesn't reach his face, expression impassive and completely unmoving, entirely nonplussed by the scissors now aimed in his direction.

Here he was at his strongest. Metal was nothing in comparison, no matter how sharp.]

You could turn me in, if you wanted to. I doubt it would be terribly difficult to convince people of, and they'd laude you as a hero.

♛ A knife in my heart couldn't slow me down ♛

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tw: some very mild self harm just for blood usage

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