( the handshake is equal parts a test, and a rather aggressive means to an end. firstly — a swift, but not entirely subtle opportunity to size up this foreign version of dick grayson that's well memorialized in the computer archives, but inconsistent with all of damian's memories of him. pointedly not the man who became his batman, nor who introduced him to the mindless enjoyment of old arcade games along the pier, but still undeniably the beginnings of what made him. it's disconcerting, but damian likewise masks any discomfort behind thinly pressed lips and the opaque shields of his domino mask.
and secondly — )
He's out.
( talking, even in roundabout not-answers buys him a few seconds to overshadow just how long their handshake has continued. past the initial shake of the wrists, and lingering through a slight adjustment to damian's grip before dick inevitably feels the slight prick of a needle stabbed through the seam between gauntlet and wristguard. it's an innocent jab. no fast-acting paralytic agent to follow, as had been the original design behind the advancement to his gloves. but it's enough to draw a few droplets of blood, just enough to be subsequently swabbed onto a lab disk and inserted into the computer desk behind damian.
a little underhanded? yes. literally. but while the large screen runs the marathon of in-depth blood tests, damian at least elaborates. )
Outside our atmosphere, actually. You really picked the worst time to fall out of your timeline.
no subject
and secondly — )
He's out.
( talking, even in roundabout not-answers buys him a few seconds to overshadow just how long their handshake has continued. past the initial shake of the wrists, and lingering through a slight adjustment to damian's grip before dick inevitably feels the slight prick of a needle stabbed through the seam between gauntlet and wristguard. it's an innocent jab. no fast-acting paralytic agent to follow, as had been the original design behind the advancement to his gloves. but it's enough to draw a few droplets of blood, just enough to be subsequently swabbed onto a lab disk and inserted into the computer desk behind damian.
a little underhanded? yes. literally. but while the large screen runs the marathon of in-depth blood tests, damian at least elaborates. )
Outside our atmosphere, actually. You really picked the worst time to fall out of your timeline.