cheap circus act

Independent RP blog for David, the weird nerd furry university student from The Batman. Interactions welcome.

[aislingoftheforest]

"Every human is bad. …Most of them. But the worst seem to be here," Aisling agrees. "So it’s extra stupid for you to not have weapons here. Or do you have to be? Are you one of the worst? And you’re being watched and defenseless because of it?” 

She honestly doubts it, but she wants to get a rise out of him.

[furrycollege]

He scowls immediately. She's succeeded in making him mad, but what he'll actually do about that remains to be seen.

"No!" He manages not to sound quite as petulant as usual, which is a bonus. "I'm just - some guy who a lot of people don't like right now. There are way worse people out there than me. I was just trying to make a change that people didn't like."

[aislingoftheforest]

Aisling notices, but she doesn’t respond to it. He’ll have to actually do something for her to acknowledge that it’s his. 

She swoops around to his other side. “Maaaaybe. There are a lot of bad people in this city,” she says, and there’s a flash of lightning and crack of thunder to punctuate the end of her sentence. (It startles her, and she ends up back on top of one of the counters, but she doesn’t know if David noticed her eyes getting a little bit wider.)

[furrycollege]

Sounds like she doesn't know, which he's assuming to be a good sign. He relaxes slightly, but he's still uncomfortable with her being in his space. This apartment is the only place in the city he considers safe. Having someone enter without permission has spooked him.

"Everyone in Gotham City is bad people. That's not exactly news."

He's not sure if he quite caught the look on her face shift, not when the lightning turned her into a silhouette for a moment, but... he's beginning to have his suspicions. Maybe.

[furrycollege]

[all] quirks my muse habitually has.

source :http://good-moods.tumblr.com/post/71337719034/all-quirks-my-muse-habitually-has

Writers, bold all of your character’s regular truths.

1. Smoking: the action or habit of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or a drug. 2. Binge drinking: the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. 3. Drug abuse: the habitual taking of illegal drugs. 4. Nail biting: a common body language sign of anxiety/tension. 5. Lip biting: a common body language sign of anxiety/tension. 6. Night Owl: a person who is habitually active or wakeful at night. 7. Early bird: a person who rises, arrives, or acts before the usual or expected time. 8. Negative attitudes: a philosophy of approaching life with criticism and pessimism. 9. Positive attitudes: a philosophy of approaching life with optimism and confidence. 10. Swearing: the use of offensive language. 11. Superstitious: an irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome. 12. Inspecting fingernails: a common body language sign of boredom. 13. Scratching your neck: a common body language sign of uncertainty. 14. Foot and finger tapping: a common body language sign of stress/impatience. 15. Nose touch: a subtle body language sign of deceit. 16. Flipping hair: a common body language sign of craving attention. 17. Twirling hair: a common body language sign of flirtation. 18. Cracking knuckles: a common body language sign of readiness. 19. Hands behind back: a common body language sign of confidence. 20. Finger pointing: a common body language sign of authority. 21. Hands on hips: a common body language sign of readiness. 22: Hands in pockets: a common body language sign of mistrust/reluctance. 23. Frequent touch: a common body language sign of warmth/familiarity. 24. Throat-clearing: a common body language sign of rejection/doubt. 25: Jaw-clenching: a common body language sign of hostility. 26: Eye-rolling: a common body language sign of irritation. 27: Head-tilt: a common body language sign of interest. 28. Whistling: to emit high-pitched sound by forcing breath through a small hole between one’s lips or teeth; usually to a tune. 29. Humming: make a low, steady continuous sound like that of a bee; usually to a tune. 30. Perfectionism: refusal to accept any standard short of perfection. 31. Photographic memory: the ability to remember information or visual images in great detail. 32. Paranoia: a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically worked into an organized system. 33. Exaggeration: a statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is. 34: Intuitive: using or based on what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning; instinctive. 35: Quick-witted: showing or characterized by an ability to think or respond quickly and effectively. 36: Interrupting: breaking the continuity of a conversation with one’s own statements. 37: Doodling: to scribble or make rough drawings, absent-mindedly. 38: Irritable: having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed. 39: Gambling: to play games of chance for money; bet. 40: Travel-sick: suffering from nausea caused by the motion of a moving vehicle, boat, or aircraft. 41: Sensitive: having or displaying a quick and delicate appreciation of others’ feelings. 42: Melancholy: a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause. 43: Chewing gum: the exercise of chewing flavoured gum which is not intended for swallowing. 44: Fidgeting: to make small movements, especially of the hands and feet, through nervousness or impatience. 45: Sceptical: not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations. 46: Neat-freak: compulsively obsessed with cleanliness. 47: Gossiping: divulging personal information about others. 48: Prim: feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper; stiffly correct. 49: Abbreviating: Giving others nicknames/shortening names/giving pet names. 50: Having a catchphrase: having a sentence or phrase typically associated with a specific person.

[volareacrobata-deactivated20141]

     ”Criminal?” His lips quirk in slight amusement at how jumpy the other seemed. There were tons of Gotham criminals he’s looked at — since Bruce told him to be alert and up to date — but he hadn’t read about this guy yet. Not surprising. He was still going through files on Joker. But he’s not entirely sure what the other is talking about.

     Until he could properly research it he’d have to believe him or trust him. No one just blurts that out unless they were worried. But, truth be told, he hadn’t meant to startle the other.

     ”What does that mean? That you were a criminal once before but you learned your lesson?” There’s an inquisitive look on his features as he shifts and hangs upside down from the fire escape, allowing his head to be near the other figure, with a large smile in place. He knows prison is supposed to help and, from what he’s learned, there were quite a few criminals who went and turned their lives around. So he was going to assume this guy did the same. Though he’s still a teensy bit cautious. “And sorry for scaring you. There was a robbery earlier and I wanted to make sure you were on guard just in case.”

[furrycollege]

He steps to the side instinctively, shoves his hands firmly into his pockets, and tries to look sullen instead of worried. It sort of works. Okay, not really, but he's trying.

"If you don't know who I am, then it means none of your business," he retorts sharply. "Tell Batman he should have at least sent the girl. Now I'm just insulted."

He's got a sneaking suspicion he's got the wrong idea here. If Robin is playing dumb, he's doing it a little too well. ...Which means Batman might not be having him followed.

"...I'm not looking for trouble," he mutters lamely, and avoids eye contact. He can at least be fairly certain he's not going to be arrested just for walking home.

[aislingoftheforest]

Of course not. She’s the scariest thing in her forest. At least now. She doubts there are rotten gods beneath Gotham, even though it’s pretty gross. Aisling is sure she can handle anything the city can throw at her.

"You should, because it’s true. I prefer the name of my people, though. Faerie can mean all kinds of things.”

And now she’s in his personal space again. It is pathetic, though her expression is anything but pitying. “Then you should get it before something meaner than me comes along.”

[furrycollege]

He tenses, just a little. But this is his apartment, his turf, and right now he's more aware than ever that it's all he has; and so he's starting to bristle.

"Are you saying something else is coming?" There's a flash of panic. Maybe he should go fetch the tennis racket from the cupboard.

[volareacrobata-deactivated20141]

+ 2

— furrycollege & deadly-russian-rubber

[volareacrobata-deactivated20141]

         ”You shouldn’t be out on the streets so late at night.”

[furrycollege]

He jumps a bit and stops in his tracks, because being noticed isn't his thing, then narrows his eyes upon seeing who did the noticing. He's seen Robin on the news, certainly knows who he is, but he wasn't involved... He's not sure yet whether to be insulted.

"I'm not a criminal any more," he insists quickly. And then - muttering quietly, this time: "Knew he was having me followed."

[llbwwb]

(via 500px / Making it Across by Jimmy Through My Looking Glass)

[aislingoftheforest]

"The Batman? I’ve heard of him, a little. That’s a dumb name, bats are tiny things that eat bugs and screech a lot. Wolfman would be better. And if you don’t have weapons, then what is your defense?”

Aisling is on the wall now, somehow. Just for a few seconds, then she scurries up onto the fridge again.

"I am of the Tuatha dé Danann!" And she sounds very proud of that, even if there’s no happiness in it. “My best friend says that humans call my kind faeries now.”

[furrycollege]

David goes quiet. He could tell her what he's heard about Man-Bat. Maybe that would scare her into the Gotham mentality. But he's got his doubts that she'd be afraid of anything he could tell her about. She's... confusing.

"Faeries." He blinks. "...Right. And I'm just gonna believe that." Some part of him wonders what difference do faeries make when you've turned into a fox monster but there's got to be a line somewhere, right? "...Whatever. My defense is... it's not here right now. You caught me at a bad time, okay?"

...Wow. That sounded even more pathetic out loud than it did in his head. He closes his eyes for a moment just to come to terms with that. Good job, idiot.

[aislingoftheforest]

"Good. Less of a chance of your being eaten. …At least by a worm monster." Aisling, what else could eat him in Gotham? (…Besides Aisling herself. And Killer Croc. But she doesn’t know him yet.)

"Really? You should keep your weapons closer. And you are to me, anyway.” She doesn’t quite stick her tongue out after that, but it’s implied.

[furrycollege]

"Nuh-uh. They say if you get known for carrying weapons around, he watches you. I'm not an idiot."

He's aware that he's probably watched, regardless. But he's not about to exacerbate that. Not yet.

"What are you? I'm guessing you didn't take a chemical bath or anything, if you're from Ireland." He can't help but sound a little doubtful.

[aislingoftheforest]

"Mostly. Your window was open, and you didn’t try to use a knife or those stupid banging things when you saw me."

And show she’s sitting on the counter, legs folded like she’s wearing a dress. “Were you trying to call magic? Sometimes nature-worshipers do that, but you don’t know what you’ll get. You might get me, you might get a worm monster.” 

[furrycollege]

"What?" He gives her an incredulous look, then rolls his eyes slightly. "No." He can't help being a little bit annoyed by the suggestion even if he's dealing with something so strange as a magic wolf girl. Why would he do that!

"I wasn't doing anything. And anyway, you took me by surprise. I'm not defenceless." That's a lie. But hopefully she doesn't know that, and anyway if he had -- ... ...He doesn't, though.

[aislingoftheforest]

The flinch was the correct response. Even though she still doesn’t like how frightened he is at home, she does enjoy it when humans know she’s scarier than them.

"Yes, it is. But I’m the only one in it, aside from my animals. So sometimes," Aisling’s suddenly standing on the kitchen counter again, "I go places when I know everything’s safe there. And I’m in your apartment because I knew it was going to rain and didn’t want to get caught in it." 

[furrycollege]

He leans back a little, one arm folded across his chest and the other still sort of awkwardly holding the sandwich he doesn't feel like finishing. This brings up the question he was trying to avoid, but he's feeling more confident (despite the teeth).

"You picked me at random? I mean, my place. You didn't come here for any other reason?" Great. Really smooth. Still, if she really is from Ireland, why would she care about his history?

[aislingoftheforest]

"David." Aisling’s met a few humans. She doesn’t think it’ll be a problem to keep their names straight, but she repeats it just in case.

And then she’s standing (on her tiptoes) in front of him.

"I’m Aisling. I’m the pri—the queen of my forest!" She looks very bold and glares, flashing still-sharp teeth for a moment before relaxing again. "…It’s in Ireland. I can get back whenever I want, though."

[furrycollege]

He blinks, and flinches backwards slightly at the sudden flicker of teeth. Then he's frowning again and trying his best to stay sullen-looking, despite the fact he was clearly just unsettled by a girl half his size.

Maybe adjusting his glasses again will make him seem less fidgety. Wait, no, that will do the opposite. ...Too late.

"Ireland is a long way away from here." ...He doesn't suppose she came here on a plane, somehow, but it probably doesn't matter much how she got here. "Why are you in my apartment?"

[aislingoftheforest]

The cheap food gets a sniff, and she does end up playing with a fork, holding the tines up to the light coming through the window.

Which wasn’t as much as it had been, and she scurried up to it and looked out. It was starting to rain. Drizzle, really, but she could feel it was going to get worse.

She actually pauses in her constant darting around the room to look at him hard. He’s jsut a little human. Not the smallest she’s seen, but not big. He’s not stupid, but not really smart. Not the kind that can use a name against her.

Good to be carefuly, though. “Tell me who you are first.”

[furrycollege]

"David." He stops himself from rattling out his student number. He doesn't go there any more and it would mean nothing to her anyway, most likely. "Just... David."

He feels like he should have some kind of title or some extra information to go with that, but he isn't David the university student so he just settles for, "I live here." Which is true. "No one important."

He sounds a little bitter about that. Okay, a lot bitter.

[aislingoftheforest]

This human is very, very jumpy. It’s kind of funny, but kind of not, because this is his home. Nobody should feel this scared in their home.

Not that it’ll make her calm or slow down at all. She is a little hungry, and the meat in the bread tastes better than raw. She mutters as much, although she doesn’t think David will catch it.

She’s done faster than he is, too, and she’s climbing and looking curious in the cupboards now.

[furrycollege]

David doesn't move to stop her. He's too confused right now to bother trying to save his apartment from being ransacked, and anyway all she'll find is cheap food and cutlery. He has his suspicions she wouldn't resort to knives and forks if she was actually going to try and attack him, anyway.

So, barely-touched sandwich in hand, he dares himself to start asking questions.

"Who are you?"

[aislingoftheforest]

Aisling stares at him impatiently until he finally moves and opens the door. 

Oh. There’s light in it. Like wires in the streetlights. She dips herself until she’s hanging upside-down, staring at the light and all the packages inside. She’s not very good at even reading normally, so upside-down text is impossible. Some of it’s colored brightly, though, so that’s interesting.

And then she’s sitting on a counter across the room. “Alright. I don’t think I’ve had one before.”

[furrycollege]

...He's not surprised. Everything else is surprising him but the thought that she might not have had a sandwich before is somehow the least surprising of the lot.

David glances over his shoulder, slightly alarmed (but... slowly becoming more resigned) and then just takes some butter and ham out of the fridge without another word.

It's a couple of minutes later before he tentatively slides a plate across the counter towards Aisling, and his hand retreats quickly. He's made his own, too, though more to keep himself busy and calm down than because he's actually hungry. He stands where he is and takes a bite even as he's subtly trying to watch Aisling without directly looking at her.

[aislingoftheforest]

Some of her hair gets pulled up away from in front of the refigerator door. Because yes, there’s just that much of it.

Aisling matches his disgruntled look. “I guess. It’s your fridge foodhouse, not mine.” And she’s not going to take everything if he doesn’t offer. That’s a rude human thing to do. Not that her tone is anything near ‘polite’.

[furrycollege]

...Right. He should be letting go of the kitchen doorway now. Should probably take a step or two towards the fridge, at least. Any minute now would be great.

...It takes him another ten seconds of convincing himself he can walk without crumpling to the floor before he finally steps out towards the fridge (towards the wolf girl oh god) and gingerly yanks the fridge door open.

"...Or... or would you rather have a sandwich?" Is she a girl or a wolf what do you feed a wolfgirl. He knows all he wanted after turning back was a sandwich. But, she was, like, a whole wolf. The full thing. Is that different? "...I'll make you a ham sandwich. You can pick it out if you don't like it."

[aislingoftheforest]

Aisling’s made friends with kids who’d done dumber things. (Trying to fend off a wolf with a twig. Really, Brendan.) And this one hasn’t even trespassed. She’s the one trespassing. Sort of. 

Ham? She doesn’t smell anything rotten coming from the fridge. She just smells a lot of different things.

Well. She can’t do it like this. And everything else is higher up than she can see well, even though she’s tall, for a wolf.

"I might want some, then," she tells him from atop the fridge. Hopefully he wasn’t storing anything important up there, because some of it’s probably on the floor or knocked behind it how.

[furrycollege]

David's brain stops working, just for a minute. That was a wolf, a few seconds ago, and now it's a little girl. ...He assumes.

Somehow he manages not to let his legs turn to jelly beneath him (because he is a brave Gotham citizen!! also because he is clutching the door frame very hard with one hand), and furrows his brow in a kind of disgruntled manner. Internally he is freaking out but externally he will look assertive if it kills him.

"...Right." Um. "It's inside the fridge. The ham. Can I-?" His eyes flicker to the fridge door and back up to the weird pale child now perched on top of it, but he doesn't trust himself to step forwards just yet.