002 [Audio]

[consultcriminal]

[Jim's going to pretend that he wasn't asleep for a while. That just makes things easier. And less weird...]

Who is really running this ship? I want to say schoolchildren, but honestly, I've seen children act better than this. And I was under the impression that wardens were supposed to be the "good guys."

It's just like being at home.

[Private to E. Nygma]

You didn't tell me what you learned.

[Private to Bruce]

One might think that a warden would want to contact his inmate. But...I could be wrong?

Comments

private;

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

I do.

Are you willing to meet me in your room, or would you rather the library?

private;

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

Already asking for permission. For what I want.

Tut tut. That's no way to assert your authority.

private;

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

I thought you are a civilized man, Mister Moriarty. [ Deliberate. I don't need to force you into anything to have authority over you. ]

I'm bothering to have manners. Indulge me.

private;

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

Hm. Bring the file to the library.

private;

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

Your room it is.

Don't bother stepping out. I'll meet you at the door.

[ And he cuts it off. Spam, bb? ]

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Jim left the door unlocked and slight ajar, not bothering really to make an effort. It was futile. But the location wasn't the important part. He just needed to see the file. Not even read it. But see it.]

[Spam forever!] i'm so sorry for the tl;dr

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ At least the man isn't bothering to play pretend-games with him. Bruce has done his homework; scoured the network and found where 'Jim' has introduced himself and spoken. It's an act he knows well, pretending to be slightly foppish, entirely harmless- and even before he

Still. Jim Moriarty. First Sherlock Holmes and himself as a comic book character, and now this. It's enough to start him on theories on alternate universes- but not right now. Right now, he's holding Moriarty's file in one hand, going up to his cabin - fifth floor, the second room. The numbers directly switched from his own.

It's almost enough to amuse, the coincidence- or lack of it. Almost.

He knocks on a door - he's being polite, isn't he? - before he swings the door open, closes it behind him. Cocks his head to the side, eyes sharp as a hawk. Analyzing both the room and the man inside. ]

You don't want me to tell the people here your full name. [ No preamble. His lips quirk upwards.

Waits for the reaction. ]

[Spam forever!] Never apologize for it!

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Jim, who was sitting at his desk, quite amused with the whole situation. He had his laptop open and, when Bruce entered, he raised a hand, one finger up in a gesture of "wait." Glee was playing on the screen in front of him and he wanted to wait for a more appropriate time to pause.

Once he found one, he pushed a button on the keyboard and turned to face the other man.]

I don't?

[He shrugged and returned his eyes to the screen, chuckling.] I just love this show.

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ He's fine with waiting. For now. When Jim speaks- about the TV show, of all things- he walks over to the desk, leaning slightly against it. Entirely casual, yet guarded. ]

Tell me why.

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

Just listen to them. [He reached out, setting the show to a different point and letting it play. The group sang out Tik Tok on the stage and Jim smirked, pointing, pausing just before disaster strikes.]

Now that. That is brilliant.

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

Pop music? You don't seem like someone who enjoys pop culture.

[ And he moves back, sitting fully on an edge of the table. Then, he swings his legs, the tips of his feet brushing very close to the other man as he scoots forward. It's all in one smooth motion, almost thoughtless.

But it's a show that he's putting on. He wonders what Moriarty will think of it. ]

What's the name of the show?

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Moriarty just turned back to the screen.] Glee. [It was an easy enough question to answer and he didn't even have to really think about it. He turned his attention back to the show.]

You don't know anything about me. I could like salsa. [Again, he paused and looked up to Bruce.] Or you could.

[He considered that for a moment before shaking his head.] Hm, no. That assumes you have rhythm. Do you have rhythm, Mister Wayne?

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

You're already assuming I don't. I'm curious. Why so?

[ He doesn't dispute the point about not knowing him - he knows what he's done, and he can conjecture from that. But in order to actually know him, it's going take a long more effort. A challenge, really. And one that he takes seriously.

In order to do anything useful with this man, Bruce needs to know how to thinks. ]

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[His attention returned to the laptop and he spoke over the sounds of their discussions and the cast getting into trouble by their principal. Or seemingly get into trouble.]

We all make assumptions. You made one as soon as you came in my door. Probably before you left your room.

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

That's not an answer.

[ His words are perfectly calm, and he doesn't move. Doesn't even take his eyes away from Jim. ]

I'm not asking about what kind of assumptions people make, or I make. I'm asking how you came to a conclusion about me.

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Jim just let his lips curl into a smirk as he looked up to the other man. The program was on pause again. It was so difficult to watch with his warden over his shoulder.]

Was I wrong?

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

You seem to be avoiding answering a very interesting question.

[ He leans back a little more against the air, balancing on the edge of the table. ]

Is it so particularly difficult, or do you enjoy acting like a petulant child?

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Jim turned and put a hand on his chest, looking wounded.]

We've only just met. Surely you can woo me better than that if you want information.

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ He's totally unfazed by that reaction. The Joker did worse to him. ]

If I am, then I'll actually try.

Answer, Mister Moriarty. Or is it too difficult a question for your vast intellect?

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

Moving to insults already. [Jim turned his attention back to his computer. He really didn't appreciate this meeting, but he wasn't annoyed yet. He found it simply...useless.]

Give me my file and I will answer your questions.

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

If you consider that an insult, your skin is remarkably thin.

No. [ Headtilts. ] And you just answered one of them.

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Jim didn't even look at him.] Then what is this meeting for? [He typed a few commands onto his laptop idly and brought up Solitaire. Bored. Bored. Bored.]

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ Very gently, he reaches over and presses a hand on top of Moriarty's laptop. Then, he slams it down hard enough that the sound echo around the room. ]

A getting-to-know you session. Let's not forget our manners.

Shall we set the terms, Jim, or would you rather we play another game of 'avoiding the question'?

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Jim pulled his hands away just in time and rose a brow, laughing.]

Well, well....warden's got some bite. GOOD. I like that. [He turned in his chair to finally face him, leaning his chair back and pressing his fingers together in his lap.]

Enlighten me with your terms, then. [He kept his smirk.]

[Spam forever!]

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ There's a long, quiet moment when Bruce pauses, watching Moriarty and doing nothing- before he leans in, in, trespassing into the other man's personal space. His smile is too sharp, and all the niceties fall away. Bruce falls away, and only the Bat is left behind, menace and danger clear in ice blue eyes, in every inch of his skin. Looking at his inmate like he's a prey just waiting to be swallowed.

When he speaks, it's almost- almost the Bat's growl. But not quite. ]

If you like bite, I'm sure you'll love me.

[ Then, abruptly, he leans back as if nothing happens. ]

First rule, under no circumstances are you allowed to take a life, whether directly or indirectly. Do you need a clarification on that?