"Hm." Good question. In some ways, Victor supposed. He shrugged and sat down across from Roman, looking him over as much as he could see, but quickly concluding that he hadn't been hurt. He had no suspicion of Roman hiding anything like that from him, he had heard the man whine about the tiniest injuries before. Or that one time he had had the flu and texted him about it nonstop. Riveting stuff.
"It's still standing." Less solidly though. "I found a place that does great milkshakes. I'll take you some time."
"I look forward to it. I'd love to be out of this dump. The people are weird here. Like seriously weird. They think I'm tweaked or something but seriously, these fucking weirdos." He was nothing next to them. "Between clown boy and the cannibal, I'm dying for sane and sensible conversation, you know? I even chatted sports with the guards. Urrrrgh, so boring."
But it filled his need to talk about something and have it make a little bit of sense. He was crazy, sure, but he wasn't that crazy. "So, tell me, what going on in Gotham? Who died? Who won the power struggle... is that even still happening?"
He didn't care, he knew he'd never win so it was pointless to care about.
"Maroni's gunning for it. He keeps hitting me up. Seriously needy." Reminded him of Roman sometimes, honestly, but he kept that thought to himself. "I'm staying out of it."
Because that was what Don Falcone had told him to do and because he could see his point. It was best to see who would come out on top. If Victor was to choose anyone, it'd likely catapult them right there. And, honestly, he wasn't hugely impressed by any of the potentials right now. "Always calls me Vic. Don't care for that."
"Of course I can. I'm special. I can do things no one else can cause we're like this." He crossed his fingers playfully and then leaned forward, ruffling his messy hair as he tried to work out what Victor was feeling. A fun yet impossible task. He never really showed feelings. "I've been trying to read you since school and it's just never happened, not once, but sometimes I can tell when things are ... wrong?"
Something was off, Victor seemed -- depressed? Maybe? Hard to tell. Seriously. There was no real strong emotion there.
This wasn't the first time he'd thought about it, but it was the first time he had been asked like this. Roman was always special, it was true. And Roman didn't just see him as what he was, which was special too. Given what he had become, very few ever saw the who past the what.
He lifted his shoulders a little and thought back, trying to figure out what bothered him, if he really was bothered. "He gave up. He could have kept going. I could have kept him going. But he sent me away."
It wasn't right. He was glad that his Don was still alive, but he was gone. It wasn't unlike his parents' death. What was left to care about now?
"No more stones in your pockets again, eh? Look, you gotta be happy for him, he's a smart guy. He's pushing it a bit with his age and he has the cash - why not retire? This city is a dump. If you can leave, you probably should." Not that Roman ever would but he could take a step back and thing that yeah, this place was awful and retiring elsewhere did seem delightful.
"You couldn't have kept him going, he lost the drive." He held up his hands, not wanting to be misunderstood by what he was saying. "This isn't me calling him weak, Zsaszy, I'd never do that. He's not soft or weak, he's just not that into it."
Sad but true. "He just didn't want to fight for something he didn't want. It wasn't worth your life for something lesser."
"I just expected to die." And now he hadn't. It wasn't as if he wanted to die, anyway, but the only way Don Falcone should ever have been toppled was by going through him first. Instead he had only escorted him out of the city and then followed the final order of staying out of it. Left him adrift.
Victor sighed and then shrugged. "Things are changing. Don Falcone said that the freaks are gonna be taking over."
And the Don was always right about Gotham. "Guess you are in the right place."
"Dunno about that. These morons couldn't do anything right."
They could barely fight properly, let alone take over a city. The city was going down hill but he doubted it was going downhill in that way. He predicted shitter bosses, not weirder bosses. "Look, you lived and it's fine. It's great even! You get to find a new way to have fun. You always did. Besides, if I ever get out of here, think of all we can do now you have time."
His mind probably should have gone to work but instead, his eyes lit up at the idea of play. "We haven't been to the Foxglove in forever."
Victor snorted, not bothering with hiding his amusement. Horny bastard. It was a fun thought though, admittedly. "I moved to a new place. Has a playroom." Of course it did. He didn't have much else to focus on than interior design, now that he had no reason to spend any time at the Falcone Mansion.
"I freelance now." He didn't like going too long without killing. "Anyone you want dead?"
"John Wentfall. Remember that fucker from school? I always hated him. Not sure what he does now or what he's like but I hated him. Go kill him." He once pushed him over and laughed in his face. He always wished he could have killed him back then so this was nice, very retro. "Oooh, so many people at school I wanted to kill. Maybe do a class reunion and we can get rid of a few."
He pondered who he hated but the list was almost never ending.
"You ever see anyone from school? I see like one or two people. One of 'em works for the Waynes. Now there's a weirdo."
"I work with Lin. You've seen her." But then, he also expected Roman to not remember who Lin was, since women seemed to mostly just fall into one or two categories for him, unless one stood out especially for some reason, and it was better for them to not stand out. "I can kill the John guy." If he could remember what the hell he looked like. Whatever, gave him something to do.
More importantly though... "Lucius Fox." Of course he actually knew that name. Rare for him. "I like weird." He liked Lucius. "I've seen him."
"I think he was fucking the Wayne guy. Thomas? Weird guy. Every time I met with the Waynes, he was around. He's like their tech genius. Wasn't he a genius or something when we were at school?" Roman frowned as he tried to remember but honestly, he didn't care so why would he remember. "You should kill him too. I dunno why, just do it."
He didn't really like anyone from school so whatever kept Victor busy and happy. "I hate when guys are too smart and they look at you like they know you. He always did that. It's creepy, right?"
"He wasn't fucking him. The Waynes didn't cheat." Victor basically knew more about the sex life of the Gotham elite than anyone should ever have to. Kind of came with the job. More importantly, he knew about Lucius, but that was more of a personal interest.
"I won't kill Lucius." He wouldn't even consider that for a moment. "I don't mind. It's not the worst. Being known."
Victor shrugged. "Lucius is a good man. Maybe the only one in Gotham. He is weird. I like it."
"Being a good man in Gotham is really stupid. You may as well kill him. Do the guy a favour, you know? That's why he got his ass kicked at school. No one likes a do-gooder." With a sigh, Roman leaned back in his chair and shook his head, not seeing whatever Victor did. He was always weird with who he gave a pass to and who he chose to like. "Do you just give him a pass cause he's kinda hot?"
He was Victor's type, he assumed. Or was that racist to say? He wasn't sure but Victor didn't often fuck white people. Maybe he was the exception?
"He is beautiful." That was just a fact. "His smile is like sunshine." Also a fact. Lucius made a room brighter by walking into it. Or maybe that was more subjective, but Victor didn't really care. His perception was usually what mattered to him almost exclusively. "Anyway. Lucius has nothing to do with you."
Seemed very important to compartmentalise the two. "He doesn't deal with our side of Gotham."
And that sucked, but keeping him away from Roman? That seemed to be for the best.
"He lives in Gotham and he's linked to the Waynes. It's bullshit to think he's not linked. Hell, your boss could have put out the hit for all we know. It's a rumour. Whether or not it's true, it sends a signal out to Gotham - no one is immune to our world." Roman thought it was only a matter of time before everyone here got dragged in so the idea of some pure sunshine boy was total nonsense.
And Roman already had the burning urge to prove it.
"Give it a year or two and he'll be as dirty as we are. Then maybe you stand a chance to bang him." Crude, sure, but he felt it was true.
"Don't talk about him." Victor felt that was the best way to move past this, because there was pressure in his chest and his heart was beating faster too. He didn't like Roman talking about Lucius at all, much less the way he was doing right now. It felt wrong to even think about Lucius while Roman was here.
"I brought you something." There, presents. That should distract him.
"I'll talk about what I want to talk about." It was weird, the way Victor shut him down like that. He didn't get it. They talked about everyone and he always tossed his opinions out there. Even with Falcone. He didn't enjoy being told what to do and it left a bad taste in his mouth. He would have lingered on it sooner but-- well, present.
He wanted a present.
Changing his tone a little, he gave Victor an attempt at a disinterested look. "Whatcha get me?"
Victor set the box onto the table and moved it over with his fingertips. "I made muffins." He was much less busy these days, he had time to bake. He was pretty good at it, honestly, and he knew what Roman liked, so hopefully that would serve as a worthy distraction. "What do you want next time? I know you have your money access."
So that made a lot of potential presents pretty pointless.
"Oooh, fancy. You know what you should learn? Crossiants. Oh! And Eclairs. Anything with choux pastry." Playfully, he winked at Victor and then pulled the box closer, opening it up to look at the muffins with awe. They looked really good actually. Victor was quite the baker. He pulled one out and started to eat, not wasting much time.
"OH! Blueberry. Nice." Grinning, he gave Victor a thumbs up. "Promise to come back and see me?"
"You know I will." He would get him out, but - honestly - he felt as if Roman was safer in here right now, not that he'd tell him. Once the city had sorted itself out again, then he could take care of his friend, get him situated. Not on top, that would never last long, but somewhere he could have fun. "Hm. One question. Do you know him? The Penguin guy. Oswald something."
"Yeah, Fish wants him dead last I heard. Kind of has weird emo hair and looks like a strong wind could pummel him?" Roman mused as he chewed his muffin, considering how much he knew of that Oswald guy. "Looks like a bird. Kinda. You know?" Small, weird hair and long nose - very birdy. No wonder people called him penguin.
"Don't have any strong feelings on him." He paused, considered it again before adding on excitedly: "Definitely gay though."
"Probably." Gay, asexual and gay, something disturbed and gay, definitely a sadist and a masochist too, if Victor was any judge. And he was a lot of a judge. "He is someone who makes things happen." And he hadn't made up his mind on him yet, but he was suspicious. Wondering what might happen next. Falcone had thought he was too much of a freak to get anywhere near the top, but now he had said it was time for the freaks to take over. So who knew?
"I think he's going places. I don't know if I'll go along."
"With Oswald? Ew. No. He's gross. You can do better."
He didn't like the idea of Victor with that weird little twink. He had some serious issues and no impulse control. "A guy like that will get you kill. I'd rather see you with Maroni. Or me but we both know that won't happen. You're too good for me."
Rolling his eyes, he tossed the empty muffin case over Victor's head. He knew by now that Victor didn't want to work with him, it was very clear. And very dumb.
"Maroni is too stupid to survive." And so was Roman. Well. Not stupid, per se, but off. Off in a way that couldn't sustain the city, could barely sustain himself. Victor knew. "Oswald knows stuff. Makes it happen." Like Don Falcone always had. "I don't know. I don't trust him. He's hard to read."
Very unlike Maroni. Or Roman. "I don't know what's gonna happen."
He got up suddenly, leaned forward and cupped the back of Roman's hair, fingers tangled in his hair as he kissed him. "I care for you."
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"It's still standing." Less solidly though. "I found a place that does great milkshakes. I'll take you some time."
He was a lot less busy now.
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But it filled his need to talk about something and have it make a little bit of sense. He was crazy, sure, but he wasn't that crazy. "So, tell me, what going on in Gotham? Who died? Who won the power struggle... is that even still happening?"
He didn't care, he knew he'd never win so it was pointless to care about.
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Because that was what Don Falcone had told him to do and because he could see his point. It was best to see who would come out on top. If Victor was to choose anyone, it'd likely catapult them right there. And, honestly, he wasn't hugely impressed by any of the potentials right now. "Always calls me Vic. Don't care for that."
Well. "You can do it."
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Something was off, Victor seemed -- depressed? Maybe? Hard to tell. Seriously. There was no real strong emotion there.
"What's in your head, Vic? Talk to me."
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He lifted his shoulders a little and thought back, trying to figure out what bothered him, if he really was bothered. "He gave up. He could have kept going. I could have kept him going. But he sent me away."
It wasn't right. He was glad that his Don was still alive, but he was gone. It wasn't unlike his parents' death. What was left to care about now?
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"You couldn't have kept him going, he lost the drive." He held up his hands, not wanting to be misunderstood by what he was saying. "This isn't me calling him weak, Zsaszy, I'd never do that. He's not soft or weak, he's just not that into it."
Sad but true. "He just didn't want to fight for something he didn't want. It wasn't worth your life for something lesser."
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Victor sighed and then shrugged. "Things are changing. Don Falcone said that the freaks are gonna be taking over."
And the Don was always right about Gotham. "Guess you are in the right place."
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They could barely fight properly, let alone take over a city. The city was going down hill but he doubted it was going downhill in that way. He predicted shitter bosses, not weirder bosses. "Look, you lived and it's fine. It's great even! You get to find a new way to have fun. You always did. Besides, if I ever get out of here, think of all we can do now you have time."
His mind probably should have gone to work but instead, his eyes lit up at the idea of play. "We haven't been to the Foxglove in forever."
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"I freelance now." He didn't like going too long without killing. "Anyone you want dead?"
Well. He got bored.
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He pondered who he hated but the list was almost never ending.
"You ever see anyone from school? I see like one or two people. One of 'em works for the Waynes. Now there's a weirdo."
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More importantly though... "Lucius Fox." Of course he actually knew that name. Rare for him. "I like weird." He liked Lucius. "I've seen him."
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He didn't really like anyone from school so whatever kept Victor busy and happy. "I hate when guys are too smart and they look at you like they know you. He always did that. It's creepy, right?"
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"I won't kill Lucius." He wouldn't even consider that for a moment. "I don't mind. It's not the worst. Being known."
Victor shrugged. "Lucius is a good man. Maybe the only one in Gotham. He is weird. I like it."
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He was Victor's type, he assumed. Or was that racist to say? He wasn't sure but Victor didn't often fuck white people. Maybe he was the exception?
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Seemed very important to compartmentalise the two. "He doesn't deal with our side of Gotham."
And that sucked, but keeping him away from Roman? That seemed to be for the best.
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And Roman already had the burning urge to prove it.
"Give it a year or two and he'll be as dirty as we are. Then maybe you stand a chance to bang him." Crude, sure, but he felt it was true.
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"I brought you something." There, presents. That should distract him.
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He wanted a present.
Changing his tone a little, he gave Victor an attempt at a disinterested look. "Whatcha get me?"
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So that made a lot of potential presents pretty pointless.
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"OH! Blueberry. Nice." Grinning, he gave Victor a thumbs up. "Promise to come back and see me?"
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"Don't have any strong feelings on him." He paused, considered it again before adding on excitedly: "Definitely gay though."
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"I think he's going places. I don't know if I'll go along."
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He didn't like the idea of Victor with that weird little twink. He had some serious issues and no impulse control. "A guy like that will get you kill. I'd rather see you with Maroni. Or me but we both know that won't happen. You're too good for me."
Rolling his eyes, he tossed the empty muffin case over Victor's head. He knew by now that Victor didn't want to work with him, it was very clear. And very dumb.
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Very unlike Maroni. Or Roman. "I don't know what's gonna happen."
He got up suddenly, leaned forward and cupped the back of Roman's hair, fingers tangled in his hair as he kissed him. "I care for you."
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