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

[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.

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[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?

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[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?

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[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. ]

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[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.

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[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.

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[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?

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[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?

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[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.

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[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?

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[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.

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[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

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

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

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[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.]

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[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'?

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[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.]

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[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?

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[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Jim wasn't fazed by the threat. When Bruce leaned in, Moriarty stayed still, regarding him with a quiet, almost lazy, expression. He had done the same thing to many people before, though not usually in person. He never really had to.

The rule, though, wasn't difficult to follow. He had no intention of following it, of course. He merely shook his head.]

It seems clear enough. Tell me another rule.

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[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ Oh, he doesn't expect him to be intimidated so easily, or for him to follow Bruce's rules. That will be far too easy, won't it?

That's fine. Bruce already knows how to deal with that. Contingency plans, right? He smiles slightly. ]

Second rule, you'll meet me at the end of every day and tell me everything that happened. I want a full, complete report. The only exception is if you are in a Barge coma, or dead.

If you miss out anything, I will know.

[ He knows that Moriarty won't follow that either. He just wants to know what will he miss out. ]

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[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

Oh you will? That's a relief. [He also had no intention of doing that, either. He reported to no one. People reported to him. And there was no way he was going to do that to this man. Certainly not when some random "Admiral" had arbitrarily assigned them together.]

Next?

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[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

There's nothing else.

[ His smile slips right back to the Bat, and there's a pause before he cocks his head to the side. ]

I forgot to mention. For every infraction, I'll release to the public a portion of your file. Which portion and how much is my decision. When I'll release it, and the method, is also up to me.

If you don't break the two rules, you can stay Jim.

Are we clear?

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[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Something seemed to break, just a little, inside Jim. He stared up at Bruce coldly, if only briefly, before that smirk returned.]

You act as if I have a need to stay this way. As if I like being Jim. I do it because it's fun.

[And to keep his identity from Sherlock. At least for now. He turned towards his laptop.] My file. Show it to me.

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[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

[ At least that will ensure his obedience. At least for a little while - he's not so stupid to think that this will last forever. ]

I don't care if you follow the rules due to necessity or for the sake of keeping your entertainment, Jim. As long as you do.

[ He smirks a little, and spins the file in his hands until it's facing Moriarty, and he hands it over to him. ]

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Jiim took it from him idly before scanning the contents. He knew what it would say. There was nothing in it that's a surprise, but it's not that he wanted. It's not the information he was after. He just wanted the layout. If Eddie wanted a file, then Jim was going to give him one.

But that left one question. He wouldn't ask it outright, of course, but he would watch. Handing him back the file, Jim opened his laptop once more.]

I think we're finished here. [A clear dismissal.]

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[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

You must be used to ordering people around.

[ It's a casual remark as he reaches forward and very slowly closes the laptop again. ]

But so am I, and I say we're not done here. Come. [ He stands, turns and looks at Jim. ]

Let's take a walk.

[Spam forever!]

[consultcriminal.livejournal.com]

[Annoyed, he leaned back, weighing his options. He didn't want to go, but it seemed easier if he did. It would just be less hassle.]

I do have things that require my attention. [But he did stand and opened his laptop only to shut it down properly. He had valuable information there.]