Sometimes, I feel like going down I'm so disconnected

[osreborn]

WHO: Norman Osborn and you!
WHERE: NoHoPE
WHEN: Visiting hours (let's say between 1 and 4) on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Specify the time and date in your comment.
WARNINGS: Hmm.
SUMMARY: Isn't it obvious?
FORMAT: Whatever is your pleasure.


It wasn't even a week since he'd been incarcerated in his hospital. Norman was far more stable than he had been when he was arrested thanks to the medications he was inundated with -- pills he tried not to swallow, injections that he couldn't avoid. He was calmer thanks to sedation, but the other affects would take longer to kick in fully. His body rebelled, trying to fight them.

He scratched at his neck, chewed his nails, slept poorly. One of the worst things about being here was the inability to have private conversations; Norman was missing them already.

The other things he might miss weren't things he would ever consciously admit to himself.

Comments

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

The impulse to hurt surged. He grinned, the corners of his eyes a bit too manic.

"I told my Thunderbolts to bring you down. None of them questioned -- they followed my orders easily."

[osreborn]

Blood dripped from Norman's palms, unnoticed by him. He kept his glare leveled at Eddie, though his smirk was ever present.

"I didn't care about the Thunderbolts anyway," he snapped.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

A heated beat followed. Eddie's eyes flickered at Norman's dripping palms. Hie eyebrow cocked.

"And Spider-Man? Did he follow my advice?"

[osreborn]

Norman raised his own eyebrow, frowning slightly. Spider-Man...? Another layer of slick outrage coated him, but he outwardly didn't show it save for opening his hands, lacerated palms smeared red.

"What do you think?"

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

"I just wanted to hear you say it."

He savored that color on Norman, that broken red. It was his triumph painted, his warm victory smeared.

"He's really not that bad of a fellow. Theatrical, you know I like that." Eddie tapped on the glass, mocking without words. The point was drilled, each second digging deeper. "And so willing to be guided."

[osreborn]

"Of course he isn't bad. He's a hero. He prides himself on his nobility and responsibility," Norman said, derisively. His teeth ground together.

"Manipulating him isn't hard if you know which buttons to push. And I'm probably his biggest button of all."

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

"Don't flatter yourself, Norman. I think he finds a few choice others more important than you."

Eddie could barely repress his giggle. His eyes glanced sharply at his watch, reminding him of the time.

"But don't take such things personally."

[osreborn]

Norman's eyes widened, and again he lunged for the glass. It trembled against the force, hands marring it crimson.

"It is personal. Trust me, Nygma. I'm the top of his priorities."

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Although he had jerked back when Norman rushed forward, Eddie took a moment to lean in, hands folded behind his back.

"Do you want me to tell you?" He hissed. "If that is true, or not?"

[osreborn]

Hissing back, teeth still bared, Norman relaxed away from the glass. His handprint remained.

"No. I know that it's true."

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

He merely smiled in return.

"Still clinging onto such ideas? It's nearly noble, your dedication, I must say."

He stepped away from the glass, watching Norman and his handprint. Watching with expectation.

"Well? Don't you have any parting words to a game well played?"

[osreborn]

"Just one question," Norman said, leaning forward, hands on his knees.

"About Harry."

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

"I'll humor you," came the sardonic reply. "Shoot."

[osreborn]

"Who enabled him toward sabotage? Harry is a lot of things, but resourceful is not one of them. Surely someone gave him the idea and the means with which to enact it," Norman said, deadpan.

"Wouldn't you think?"

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

"Is this what hurts you most?" Eddie adopted a mocking tone. "Surely not. Though no doubt that hypothetical someone was one clever fellow, to use your nearly-son so deftly."

He grinned again.

"Harry was instrumental in your fall."

[osreborn]

"I know what he did. He told me. He told me what he did." Norman narrowed his eyes, leaning forward.

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

"He told you." The disappointment dripped. "Really. He couldn't wait? You must have provoked him."

[osreborn]

"Alluded to it, more likely. But it wasn't hard to pick up what he was saying."

Norman's fingers dug into his palm again.

"So it was you."

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

Norman's words were met with cold candor.

"Naturally, Norman. Who else would be as capable as me? Or have the motivation? Who else deserved it as much as I did?"

[osreborn]

"Hm. I suppose he got his just deserts, all the same. I won't begrudge him for it -- it's far too pitiful."

Norman folded his hands in his lap.

"You must be proud of yourself."

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

"Did he?" Eddie inclined his head, looking thoughtful. "He should have been more careful, then. He ought to know better."

A smooth preen followed Norman's assertion.

"Who wouldn't be? I'm as pleased with myself as you're infuriated, surely."

[osreborn]

"He ought to, yes." Norman's expression didn't change. "Savor that feeling, Nygma. Because I can assure you, this isn't over. I can get at you even from here."

[enigmaestro.livejournal.com]

It didn't ring false. But he didn't flinch with this knowledge, not for curtain call.

"Game, set, match. Over. It was truly enjoyable, Norman, I'll grant you that," he said as he turned heel, his eyes set on the doors down the hall. "You were a fun opponent."

[osreborn]

"So long, Nygma. I'll see you later."

Norman smiled, as he waved.