theansweris: (Mischief)
[personal profile] theansweris
[text ~ voice ~ video ~ in person]

Date: 2020-06-29 10:32 am (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 032)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
For a brief moment, Oswald watches Ed laugh with a kind of awestruck expression, like he'd never expected to hear that sound again. A slow smile spreads across his face in turn with a soft exhale of a chuckle, like he still can't quite believe this. And then there's the little kiss Ed dips in and out of, short and sweet and like a kind of reward for good behaviour. That's something else to get his head around--how different kisses can feel and convey different things, but so far they all carry that same pleasant dizzying sensation.

Oh. But he has to make his brain actually clock in and work again now.

Following a sort of bashful dip of his head and a short, muffled little laugh, Oswald nods slowly, trying to pull himself together.

"It's true there is a distinct lack of choice when it comes to refreshments here currently, baring ingredients from the Supermarket, but I'd honestly opt to not sample the wares at this point."

Reluctantly, he steps away from Ed and makes a gesture across the gutted space, back toward the stairs.

"I'd say I can take us somewhere good for lunch, however the best we can hope for here is--" his lips quirk down comically as his shoulders go up, "--meh."

And then the wide smile returns.

"But that's precisely what we want in this case."

He could suggest they return to Duplicity, but they still have a few hours on their collective timers and Oswald wants to give Ed a clearer lay of the land in person if they are to talk business.

Date: 2020-06-29 11:48 am (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 043)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
Unlike the sprawling mess of Duplicity, it's relatively easy and quick to traverse Insincerity. Oswald has tried to get through the gate as much as possible since the seed of this idea had been planted and started to sprout, though he's far from having a full lay of the land just yet.

It doesn't surprise Oswald one bit to hear Ed has been working on mapping the city either--it had been something he'd considered consulting and enlisting Ed on in terms of research and getting a firm grip on the terrain. Of course he's already working on it; of course he's almost completed that arm of the task. Ed never fails to meet those expectations.

The cafe-bar Oswald takes them to isn't far from the university, frequented by faculty and students and supplying mediocre but edible food and okay but not great wine at a price that's a little steep though not so much it's worth kicking a stink up over. Very on brand.

Once settled, Oswald props his cane against his chair and folds his hands upon the table, positively beaming even though under most circumstances he'd insist stopping somewhere like this would be entirely beneath him.

"Your initial assessment of the situation was pretty spot on, really. I suppose all there is to really cover is the micro and macro matters," he pauses to lean in a little, bright-eyed and excited, Oswald in one of his absolutebeyyrr states. "What do you need clarity on?"

Date: 2020-06-29 12:14 pm (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 053)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
"Duplicity is overstatured with night spots, that much is clear. There's less a need to find something that stands out then there is a need to find something that fits the general bill with space to spare. So the hook here needs to be two-fold: something that will be enticing enough to bring people over the threshold and will bring something different to the local residents to create two revenue streams."

He pauses, sips his glass and watches Ed's hands, what they do and don't do and with how much regularity.

"So, it needs a purpose, not a gimmick. Unique four hour experiences on rotation, six slots a day, with revolving and ever-changing cocktail menus tailored for each visit. We're not presenting a night that sprawls out without aim or direction, but something exclusive and highly specialised."

He draws one shoulder up in a light shrug.

"In essence, our currency is time."

Date: 2020-06-29 12:37 pm (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 032)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
Oswald shakes his head.

"No. Partnership with the Rubies will remain something very separate. This is our first claim to independent ground. No funding from them, no favours. It must be able to stand alone."

The particulars of each evenings event can wait until a later discussion really; until everything is secure it's like counting chickens before they've hatched.

"Currently, the space is under my possession through contract only. The funds are currently... a big question mark."

A small smile quirks Oswald's lips.

"And I happen to know big question marks are your speciality."

Date: 2020-06-29 01:13 pm (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 051)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
Oswald's expression falters a little, not overtly displeased or scornful so much as cautious and careful.

"Hm. Yes. John Doe."

He lets the name hang there for a moment, like a slow pendulum as he twists the neck of his glass a few times thoughtfully.

"I'll leave this in your ever-capable hands. Though I admit I have a particular degree of hesitation when it comes to this friend of yours."

Oswald and John have only met once thus far. Partly it's just down to Oswald having more pressing matter, but partly the idea of being around someone claiming to know Eddie and Riddler so well--a unique kind of bond--discomforts Oswald in more ways than one.

Date: 2020-06-29 01:40 pm (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 024)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
Hearing Riddler's sort of gleeful report on John doesn't do much to set Oswald's mind at ease, though he's not entirely sure that's the goal here. Reading between the lines of what John had said, it seems to make sense that there's a shared experience of personality split.

If nothing else though, this only confirms to Oswald that when it comes to John Doe, or Joker, or both, he needs to tread with care. In fact, probably anyone Ed has gotten caught up with in Duplicity is someone Oswald will need to approach with far more finesse than in the past; Oswald learns his lessons well.

He's quiet though, shifting a little in his seat as he tries to think of something to say that doesn't immediately convey some kind of over-extended jealousy or knee-jerk aggression. There are more options available, he just needs to let his initial emotions simmer down to pick through them.

"Well. At least you've been making friends and finding some fun for yourself."

Date: 2020-06-30 08:18 am (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 023)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
The take that Riddler gives Oswald on the complicated four-way-split connection going on with Doe lands a little strangely for Oswald and it's probably all for the best that he's in one of his more reasonable places overall. It doesn't stop 'he gets it' sounding all the more like a solid link and less like something Oswald shouldn't feel a tremendous amount of concern over.

He doesn't fully jump when Ed's hand folds over his own exactly, but it's an unfamiliar and distant kind of feeling. And in public, no less. For a short second, there's not only the sense of misgivings he has about Joker, but the chilling awareness that someone could see. And then it settles. No-one from Duplicity comes to Insincerity (yet). And even if they did, no-one in Duplicity seems to care about arbitrary combinations of genders.

He refocuses his attention onto what Riddler is saying after his brief flicker of panic, his brow creasing as he sort of belatedly catches up on the direction of the words and for a second he wonders if he's missed a step.

"He-- What?" he shakes his rapidly in confusion, vaguely recalling John's overall excitement about getting to meet 'Eddie's special friend' before. "Why would he want that?"

Date: 2020-06-30 08:47 am (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 057)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
Alien though it is, Oswald really would prefer that Ed's hand stay precisely where it is over his own. It's a gesture that makes his mind go through a few different ups and downs alongside some predictable spikes of paranoid questioning--all the what-ifs about whether something is a trick or a trap will take time to fully dissipate--but it also has a settling effect.

This shouldn't really be a surprise. Through the mayoral campaign, Ed was a thoroughly calming presence, able to apply just the right amount of pressure and clarity at just the right moments when Oswald needed to calm down, and also knowing when to be hands off when Oswald needed to be the very opposite of serene.

Tentatively, as Riddler talks, Oswald shifts his thumb in an experimental caress across the side of the other man's finger, down the length of the digit, across the elegant slope of knuckles, all with this sense that if he got even the slightest hint of displeasure that he'd stop immediately.

"He had indicated a certain familiarity with Arkham and anyone who has endured that hell hole in any form has my sympathies."

Reservations aside, this is really a question about how much Oswald trusts Ed and Riddler. It's a different question that is more about something to build than something that already exists in a fully formed state.

After a pause, he gives out a small sigh; nothing ventured and all that.

"And anyone that you would consider a true friend, I will extend the same offer to."

Maybe he can speak these feelings into existence and it'll chase off the prickly jealous insecurity. Hey, it's gotta be worth a shot, right?

Date: 2020-06-30 09:37 am (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 043)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
Strangely enough, it's that particular clarification that brings the smile back of Oswald's face too--not the comment of about Ed being taken advantage of, but the distinction of where the lines of friendship do and do not exist. There are some parallels there, definitely, but Oswald can willfully bracket that for now.

Placing his glass down for a moment, Oswald brings his newly freed hand over to clasp it briefly atop of Ed's already on his own. Somehow, that sort of gesture is more practiced and doesn't feel remotely so transgressive.

"Now, that is a formation of trust I can back with confidence!"

Date: 2020-06-30 10:13 am (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 031)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
Over the years, Oswald has come to appreciate small wins that he would like in time to extend into something that lasts just a fraction longer each time. Just a little bit longer. Bit by bit. Some of his aspirations really are ridiculously grand, while others are very small.

Here, to Oswald, the food doesn't really matter. It's not ever going to beat Chinese takeout straight from the box and wine in beakers, which remains one of his favourite meals to date, but it sort of doesn't matter how only passable the food is here. What matters is who he's with and how no weapons have been pulled yet.

The Ed-style outburst initially makes Oswald blink in surprise before a fond, warm little smile takes over his face. He lifts one hand in a mild shrug.

"And who I am to make you suffer so!" he says with a hint of a chuckle in his voice before reaching across to take up and drain the rest of his glass. Sure, it's not good wine, but he may as well finish it off and settle the bill.

"Fortunately, you and I have plenty we can do about the mediocrity in this city in the longer term."

Date: 2020-06-30 11:16 am (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 015)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
At a later point, if Oswald comes to understand a little more about what Ed has gone through since arriving at Duplicity, he may realise his misstep in this particular choice of venue and city--what is more than acceptable to him isn't what Ed needs.

But he doesn't know, or at least it only begins to dawn on him belatedly how the things Ed has told him are matching up. The episode, the self-medication, the weight loss, the pushing at his food. Ah. That would all make sense.

Pushing himself to a stand and gathering up his cane beneath his palm, he extends his other hand to Ed.

"You finding pleasure in whatever it is you're doing is something I think should become the chief goal in the vast majority of things we do together."

One day Oswald will learn to be a bit more discerning about that kind of phrasing in this place, but for now... it still escapes him.

"Forgive me for missing the mark this time around, but I am hopeful we can find a way to remedy that."

Date: 2020-06-30 11:44 am (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 018)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
In point of fact, it's not an inappropriate thing to point out and all it would take would be more Oswald to say that to the wrong (or right) person under the wrong (or right) circumstances.

The initial response he gets darkens Oswald's cheeks as he realises his oversight, his mouth opening and closing a few times before he clamps them shut and glances away. But surprisingly, it's not nearly as uncomfortable as all that. In fact, there's something kind of titillating in the game of it all.

"No, it--" he shakes his head and gives a coy little chuckle, "It's quite right. Very right indeed."

With a brief pause, his fingers flex slowly as he weighs something in his mind.

"But perhaps... I do not feel such a strong need to guard words like that with you," then, turning with one arm lifting in a shrug he adds, "Who is to say!"

Still fumbling a little, but like any muscle it will only get stronger with use.

Date: 2020-06-30 12:10 pm (UTC)
paxpenguina: (☂ 069)
From: [personal profile] paxpenguina
At this point, there's no reason to turn down the offered hand, so Oswald just takes it with a faint smile, which fades into a brief kind of shock as Ed's lips find the back of his palm and knuckles.

All these little gestures feel huge when they arrive so unexpectedly, though not unwelcome. There it is again--the feeling of the circuit connecting up, making his throat momentarily tight and his skin warm, rendering him momentarily unable to act. But he doesn't yank his hand back, doesn't try to tear his eyes away. Every time something like this happens the fear becomes less and less about the acts and more that he is just going to wake from it.

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E. Nygma

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