[ He rolls his eyes. He knows that tone all too well.
(And, Alfred never fails to remind him, used that tone. Constantly. More so than Tim and Jason combined. He had been the crown prince of petulance.
Damian pointedly recalls none of this. Alfred's mind is clearly slipping in his old age.)
Unfortunately for Dick, the eldest son isn't all that moved by sullen fits. Especially when he knows that Alfred has done his best to make Richard feel welcome, to help him personalize his space to his comfort. The boy's bed is springy, the room chosen for its large, sunny windows; repainted and refurnished to feel less 'hard and old.'
There's a beat of silence as the older man stares up, downturned lips pursed in contemplation, before he says, casually, shifting his weight to the other side of his hip: ]
I suppose there's nothing for it, then. We will have to construct a pulley system to lift food to you.
[ He thumbs his chin, as if a thought has occurred to him, straight-faced as ever. ]
Looks like you won't be able to partake of Alfred's baking when it's fresh out of the oven, either. I hear he's trying his hand at a new dish tonight. A kind of noodle pudding called pirogo.
[ His tone is devoid of any hint of suggestion, although Damian is undoubtedly being sly. If there's one thing he excels at (with Tim's help), it is research. And someone may have hinted to Alfred that the Romani dessert would not go unappreciated. Damian may not interact directly with his siblings much of the time, but it doesn't mean he's not thinking of them. He, like Bruce, just shows it in small, often unrecognized gestures. ]
no subject
(And, Alfred never fails to remind him, used that tone. Constantly. More so than Tim and Jason combined. He had been the crown prince of petulance.
Damian pointedly recalls none of this. Alfred's mind is clearly slipping in his old age.)
Unfortunately for Dick, the eldest son isn't all that moved by sullen fits. Especially when he knows that Alfred has done his best to make Richard feel welcome, to help him personalize his space to his comfort. The boy's bed is springy, the room chosen for its large, sunny windows; repainted and refurnished to feel less 'hard and old.'
There's a beat of silence as the older man stares up, downturned lips pursed in contemplation, before he says, casually, shifting his weight to the other side of his hip: ]
I suppose there's nothing for it, then. We will have to construct a pulley system to lift food to you.
[ He thumbs his chin, as if a thought has occurred to him, straight-faced as ever. ]
Looks like you won't be able to partake of Alfred's baking when it's fresh out of the oven, either. I hear he's trying his hand at a new dish tonight. A kind of noodle pudding called pirogo.
[ His tone is devoid of any hint of suggestion, although Damian is undoubtedly being sly. If there's one thing he excels at (with Tim's help), it is research. And someone may have hinted to Alfred that the Romani dessert would not go unappreciated. Damian may not interact directly with his siblings much of the time, but it doesn't mean he's not thinking of them. He, like Bruce, just shows it in small, often unrecognized gestures. ]