infomodder | ic contact 2 mask or menace

[ Robin extends his own hand for that handshake. It's tiny but firm! ]

Sounds good to me. I hope this [ he gestures to himself, the cape, all of it ] doesn't give you the wrong impression. But Crane's taken a special interest in me and mine, especially after what happened in August, and I have my own secrecy to maintain.

[ But, let's pause, because THERE IS A DOG and Robin is stopping to crouch and PET HIM. Down on one knee, and he's offering a gloved hand for a sniff. He's in his space, after all, and making friends with the guard dogs is never a bad idea. ]

Who's this distinguished gentleman?

[To which is the dog is all over this, hot damn, he will lick gloves and his whole outfit if it gets close enough, tail wagging furiously. Seems making friends with this guard dog is especially easy, big shock.]

Oh, that's Gunther. Don't let the facial hair fool you. He still licks his butt like any other dog. [That's one way to set the mood (the mood being casual and open) as he flips over the sign and watches the interaction between dog and caped hero. There is no need to worry about impressions with Will Graham; if he can accept dog bathing habits, he can accept anything.] If he's taken a special interest, as you say, I assume he's been harassing you? Off the Network.

[Moseying on to the back, he asks that without any hesitation. Like he's dealt with a bit of it himself. (Not that Will would call harassment, really; more of a nuisance than anything. Like construction work starting at the buttcrack of dawn, not actual danger.)]

Privately, yeah.

[ Robin gives Gunther a scratch behind the ears and follows Will to the back room. ]

He's from my world. Or— well, my city in a parallel world, I think. I know another version of him. I don't think he was interested in me until he realized my connection to Batman, but now he knows.

[Will thinks Batman is rather not together, too, which means two things. The whole connection to Batman is absorbed as notable due to the lack of bats in the belfry (at least regarding Crane)...and instead of using that as a basis to judge this Robin on (why connections to someone like that, what's that say about him?) Will readily accepts this and sees a potential for even footing if needs arise. Will Graham is also connected to someone with...less than ideal views. In a much worse direction, of course, but he'll take what he can get without having to dip into the whole pure empathy vat.]

He does that. [Will leans against the counter, arms crossed and ankles crossed. He does so with enough comfort and distance from the recently full coffee pot that if Robin picked up a cue to make himself at home, pour a cup if he wanted, he'd be exactly on the money.] Finds people who are connected and uses them to worm his way in. Tries to get a reaction, even when it's failed him before. Like if he keeps poking, he'll find the right nerve point.

[But for all the truth in that (as it has happened to Will), he realizes it's not quite the same. Still, perhaps that's some consolation for Robin. He isn't the only one seen for his relationship to someone else instead of who he is on his own, as some might take that insult.]

Imagine it's quite worse for you, since the connection is a more. Homey one. [Pardon the phrasing, his eyes say.] You have my condolences.

It kind of comes with the territory.

[ Robin shrugs. It isn't as if he isn't used to it, especially back in Gotham. Having to hide who he is, who Robin is friends with. Keeping people at arm's length so they can't be used for revenge or held hostage against him. It turns out that doesn't help as much as he'd like — caring about anyone, even a stranger, can be exploited. It's a lonely life. ]

It sounds like he's—

[ The tense moment is interrupted by Gunther padding into the room and sticking his head underneath Robin's cape for a sniff. He goes wide eyed and stumbles forward a step, the tips of his ears going pink. ]

Uh. [ Okay. Okay. Slightly awkward dog petting. All is well. (These things don't happen to Batman.) ] What I was saying is... it sounds like he's done the same to you. Am I right?

[As long as Robin doesn't panic or act like this is truly the worst thing to possibly happen, Will has no reason to step in. Gunther is just trying to get a doggie handshake, that's all. Memorizing that scent so he can recognize him later...the dog will be able to connect Robin and Dick before Will can. It's a hard knock life for a cannibal.

Overall, though, Will approves of Robin's response (a pink-eared robin, bless him) and the smile falls only for Will to pull a face. Thinking over how to best word it...]

Yes and no. He's made attempts more often than not. [Spoken with a mix of amusement and a small sigh that makes him sound quite done with the whole situation. A steak left on the grill too long who now wants nothing to do with grills or fire or coal or spatulas. Difficult to poke nerves when so many have been deadened.] Is that what's got you here today? His...refusal to respect the boundaries of others?

[SUPER POLITE]

Something like that.

[ It was the shove he needed to look more deeply into it, at least. Dick frowns, scratching Gunther under the chin. It is nice to have a dog around. Lowers his blood pressure a little. ]

I'm concerned that it's only a matter of time until he tries something else. He's shown no remorse for his actions. Honestly, I think he's still gloating about it. I know the two of you were in touch before he went to prison. And I know he falls into patterns with behavior, with people... has he said anything to you since the swear-in?

[Chicken soup is good for the soul. Confession is good for the soul. Neither of those are as good for the soul as a dog, though. That's an absolute truth Will has always known. But at the moment, he doesn't seem to interested in anything good. Can't really afford it, Robin talking about patterns, talking about unstable men, always eases him into that mood to think like them.]

We've spoken. I visited him in prison early on. [Facts, easily delivered. The rest, not so much. His voice grows graver, grimmer. More displeased.] There is a woman here named Sasha Blouse. I acted as a sort of guardian for her when she was young enough to need one. Legal matters, things she'd need someone of age for. He's attempted to use the relationship we have to rile me up, even when he can't properly understand it.

[Because Will knows who is his child and who is not, knows people of various ages can have relationships that tilt in such a way without truly considering each other father or mother, daughter or son. There's a line Will has always drawn in the sand; for someone to come along and pretend it doesn't exist only proves a pitiful nuisance akin to a loud gnat. And yet...]

Back in September, when I tried to get his focus off of her, he made an effort to publicly drag me through the mud with him. [Maybe it worked on some people, maybe it didn't. Will had bigger fish to fry, couldn't allow himself to be bothered by it. Shit happened. Anyone here long enough would know that, and they all had their own secrets. Had Robin followed along? Was he playing nice by not mentioning it, or giving Will a chance to be honest, a test to see if he was honest? Curious, as all birds were.] Made profiling him for RISE's tribunal less of a chore.

[More of a given, more of a desire, even if Edgeworth hadn't almost gotten to the guilt trip part.]

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