what comes up when rain comes down?

[enigmaster]

Inter-Dimensional Pen Pals Omakes

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Dry the Tears from My Face

[agoodname]

[It's been almost six months since Oswald discovered that his mother (or, well, a version of his mother) is alive and well in Edward's dimension. Unfortunately, he's hardly had time for a visit, which is honestly an eternal frustration. At least once a month, true, but they've all been relatively short, usually lasting no longer than a few days at most. Now he's finally been able to come over for a bit longer. It's the second day of the week that he has, and Edward has gone out again, so...naturally, Oswald takes the opportunity to step out just before dusk while Edward works. Using his connection to Edward's internet, he's already done significant work in discovering several things about Gertrude Van Dahl--née Kapelput--in this dimension. She's the same age as his mother would be. She works as a cook at a nearby Hungarian restaurant. She and his father have been married for more than thirty years, though they have no children. They live approximately four blocks from Elijah's shop. They have two cats. All of these things he tallies off and repeats to himself as he returns to that bench to watch his father start to close up his shop. This time, when his mother arrives, he's not nearly as surprised, though her appearance still feels as though it knocks the wind out of him. She looks just as perfect as when he first saw her, a basket with what looks like some groceries tucked over her arm, which his father takes from her after kissing her in greeting. Oswald pushes to his feet, watching as they head off, and this time....he follows. He stays at a bit of a distance, granted, but follow he does, watching them walk arm and arm along the streets of Gotham until they reach their apartment building, at which point they disappear inside. Oswald's eyes flick over the rows of windows, waiting with baited breath until....there. One of the sets of lights goes on in an apartment about five floors up. He moves towards the alley that the building borders, sucking in a breath as he spots the fire escape. This is probably a horrible idea. Edward will probably chastise him for this. He walks to the fire escape, and starts to climb]

[enigmaster]

[Sometimes business takes a long time. And sometimes, well. Sometimes it turns out the contact you had got caught and dragged off to jail and now no one's happy. A waste of time AND money. Great. So, Edward returns home sooner than anticipated.

He's surprised, of course, to see that Oswald isn't there. Well, not that he necessarily has to stay put or anything ridiculous like that. But usually he has somewhat of an idea of where Oswald is headed. Not so much, this time.

It's idle curiosity that makes him check Oswald's location, certainly not concern. No, certainly not.

Edward pauses, as he tracks Oswald's phone. He recognizes the address, because he makes it his business to be informed. So. That's where he is. That's...

Well, that's Oswald's business. Not his. It's a terrible idea, but if he wants to play stalker, that's hardly Edward's problem. It isn't, he repeats to himself, as he puts his coat back on and heads out the door.

Getting where he needs to be doesn't take long. Not the same alley, of course. No, Edward stops in the next one over, pulling out not one, but two phones. One is for accessing a camera of his, which happens to have a good view of the alley Oswald is in. His surveillance covers most of Gotham and my, does that come in handy right about now.

Fire escape... Oh, honestly, Oswald.

The second phone is for a far simpler purpose. Hey, Ozzy, guess what? You're getting a text notif.]

If you were pushed down a flight of stairs, what would you fall against?

[Oh, it's just Edward sending you a riddle. He does that when he's bored.]

[agoodname]

[Yes, Edward, the fire escape. It was the easiest way to get close without being detected. In fact, he's sitting there, about five floors up, back pressed up against the wall under one of the windows. He's got one leg pulled up to hsi chest, the other stretched out in front of him so as not to aggravate his ankle. He's hunched forward a bit, chin resting on his knee, staring blankly at the other wall across the alley as he listens to his parent's voices, muffled, from inside.

He can't help but startle a bit, then, as his phone buzzes--and he reaches for it, frowning a bit in confusion--until he sees who it is. And Edward, from that camera, will be able to watch Oswald's expression go from something pensive and edging sad into an immediate fond smile as he flips open his phone to read the text. At which point, he blinks a bit, before looking just a bit exasperated. Fond, but exasperated. He shakes his head a little, leaning back agains the building, then, as he contemplates the answer. There's a slight crease between his eyebrows--before he shakes his head again, giving up, starting to text Edward back. Perhaps he might try harder another day, but right now he's just....yeah.]

I was going to make a comment about the floor, but somehow that doesn't sound correct. So, I don't know. What?

[enigmaster]

It's a decent guess.

Your will.

[agoodname]

[that response makes him smile, at least, and he shakes his head again, just a little] Very clever. How is the meeting going?

[enigmaster]

Oh, fine.

You know, someone might call the cops at this rate?

[agoodname]

[ A frown, now. Confusion. ]On what grounds, exactly?

[enigmaster]

The suspicious individual sitting on the fire escape.

[agoodname]

[ Oswald immediately sits up a bit at that, glancing around, trying to spot....no Edward, so it must be... his eyes narrow, now looking around for something different, until his attention lands on one of the cameras on an adjacent building, pointed towards him. At that point, he gives it a tight "fuck you" smile, and gives a sarcastic little finger-wave at it, before turning his attention back to his phone. ] Very clever.

[enigmaster]

Of course.

[He always is, Oswald.]

I don't have to say why this is a bad idea, do I?

[agoodname]

[ at that, his expression falls back into pensive, a furrow between his brows. Then, after a moment: ]

No. You don't.

[enigmaster]

And yet, there you are.

[agoodname]

[ That...he doesn't answer right away. He looks...troubled. But he isn't leaving. After a solid minute--] I'm being careful. Not everyone is checking the cameras to see if people are sitting on fire escapes, you know.

[enigmaster]

And if someone looks out the window?

[agoodname]

[ :/ ]

That's why I'm sitting under it, not in front of it.

If someone looks out, I'll make some excuse.

[enigmaster]

Oswald.

[Buddy.]

[agoodname]

[ At that, he turns his face away from the camera, giving Edward the back of his head and his ear, petulant. And doesn't answer. So there. ]

[enigmaster]

Now you're just being childish.

[agoodname]

[it's tempting to ignore that buzzing of his cell phone--but he won't, because he knows better. So he flicks it open to read it--before turning his head to petulantly stick his tongue out at the camera.]

[enigmaster]

Oh, really?

Honestly.

1/2

[agoodname]

[ He glances away from the camera again, then, lips pressing together. Finally he starts to type into his phone again]I just

2/2

[agoodname]

I want to hear for myself that they're happy.

[enigmaster]

[...]

I understand.




I still think this is a terrible idea.

[agoodname]

[he's quiet again for a minute, giving the camera his profile, brow furrowed...before he types out another response] I discovered why they've never had children.

[enigmaster]

[He really wants to keep encouraging Oswald to get down from there, but then he texts that and... damn it.]

And why is that?