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maskormenace2015-01-20 10:22 pm
indenture) wrote in maskormenace2015-01-20 10:22 pm
◨ 2 | video ◧
[ The camera does not immediately focus on the face of the man holding it; it shakes a bit, the screen showing a white shirt, black suspenders, a right hand sporting two finger splints. Finally it levels to show Harvey's normally handsome face, except there a couple of things amiss:
One thing of note is the scar that goes down the left side of his face, from eye to jaw, a clean line of a cut through his plastic surgery that is not fresh but has not yet been "fixed." Another is his blackened right eye, and his lip swollen on the right side. He doesn't look particularly in pain -- or at least doesn't show it -- but what he does look is pissed off. ]
Too far. This has gone too far. Look at me -- look at this.
[ Harvey points to his face with his splinted fingers, still looking livid. His breathing is harsh, but even. ]
It's never enough, what I do. Bad enough I have to work with and against the system, "unsettled" and working the arms of law, but the big red weight on my shoulders sees to it I'll never see a moment's peace for the rest of my life. I'm no saint -- I know. Made mistakes. So now I wake up looking like a human punching bag.
Not to point fingers. But where's the justice in that?
[ He gestures, vaguely, with his splinted fingers as much as he can move them. He takes a sharp breath, exhaling slowly, looking like he's trying to calm down though his face is still red around the eyes, the temples, the forehead. His left eye looks particularly dead as it stares forward, his weary-but-professional expression making the fact it's a glass replica suddenly more obvious. It moves in not quite perfect synch with the right eye. ]
Just my two cents.
All that aside, I had something else to say. I was hoping to look my best for this announcement, but next time I'll know better than to put it off. Never mind the state of my face. My name's Harvey Dent, and for those of you that don't know me yet, I'm a Public Defender in Heropa. If you're ever in trouble and can't afford a representative, we might see more of each other. I won't rest until I see justice is served the way it's meant to be.
That's all. Good day to you.
One thing of note is the scar that goes down the left side of his face, from eye to jaw, a clean line of a cut through his plastic surgery that is not fresh but has not yet been "fixed." Another is his blackened right eye, and his lip swollen on the right side. He doesn't look particularly in pain -- or at least doesn't show it -- but what he does look is pissed off. ]
Too far. This has gone too far. Look at me -- look at this.
[ Harvey points to his face with his splinted fingers, still looking livid. His breathing is harsh, but even. ]
It's never enough, what I do. Bad enough I have to work with and against the system, "unsettled" and working the arms of law, but the big red weight on my shoulders sees to it I'll never see a moment's peace for the rest of my life. I'm no saint -- I know. Made mistakes. So now I wake up looking like a human punching bag.
Not to point fingers. But where's the justice in that?
[ He gestures, vaguely, with his splinted fingers as much as he can move them. He takes a sharp breath, exhaling slowly, looking like he's trying to calm down though his face is still red around the eyes, the temples, the forehead. His left eye looks particularly dead as it stares forward, his weary-but-professional expression making the fact it's a glass replica suddenly more obvious. It moves in not quite perfect synch with the right eye. ]
Just my two cents.
All that aside, I had something else to say. I was hoping to look my best for this announcement, but next time I'll know better than to put it off. Never mind the state of my face. My name's Harvey Dent, and for those of you that don't know me yet, I'm a Public Defender in Heropa. If you're ever in trouble and can't afford a representative, we might see more of each other. I won't rest until I see justice is served the way it's meant to be.
That's all. Good day to you.
no subject
[There's a little grin before it fades as she takes his hand. She's no expert in this outside of a first aid course that she had to take to became a teacher and random experiences out in the field with the Doctor. When being chased by aliens that want to kill you, injuries happen and she'd learned how to patch up minor ones.]
Mind's already made up and I'm stubborn as hell. So you're stuck with me.
[But she bites her lip as she sees the extent of his injuries. She can do a better job than he can, but this is a bit above her pay grade.]
Numbness. Probably not a good sign. I can patch these up, but you really ought to go to a proper doctor.
no subject
Broken fingers, though. Seeing a doctor is not an exciting prospect for Harvey, even if hearing it from Clara really lets the fact sink in that he hasn't got much choice if he ever wants to use those fingers again. He exhales slowly, but sharply. ]
Worse people to stuck with. At least I like you. [ He tries to smile at her and get some feeling back in his hand at the same time, his other fingers tensing in clumsy attempts to curl. ] Would you say it's good or bad odds there'll be any permanent damage from this? ... I know I'm not a young guy anymore, but I'm pretty resilient. Usually.
no subject
[She gives him a good once over. He's clearly not keen on the idea of doctors and she gets that. Outside of a particular alien one, she's not fond of them either. But this seems pretty serious. Even his face, which will heal, looks painful.]
I'd say, in my professional opinion, if we drag you to a proper doctor, you'll be back in the legal game in no time.
[And she tops it off with a reassuring smile for good measure.]
no subject
No, he needs to focus. ]
If you say so, I won't bother getting a second opinion. You're probably right -- no sense in tempting fate. [ That faint smile of his remains in place. ] I'll go -- I just want to have myself a stiff drink first, I think. But I promise I'll go. Uh... but you're welcome to join me, if you don't have somewhere better to be.
no subject
[She stands and motions for him to do the same.]
Come on. Up you go. Get that drink so you can be on your way. Best to get it over with rather than mulling over it until you convince yourself not to.
no subject
So we can be on our way, you mean? ... I'm just kidding. But if you want to stick around for at least one drink, I don't mind buying it. I don't expect you to come with me all the way to the doctor, though.
Unless you really wanted to.
[ If she doesn't trust him to go on his own, or something. ]
no subject
[She shrugs.]
Alright. One drink. Then the doctor.
no subject
[ Because this is still Harvey Dent, and old habits will always die hard. He says it in a way that sounds like he might be joking, though, so that there will be no arguing the point. ]
I appreciate the company. I'm not usually nervous around doctors, but-- [ He walks over to get his coat and carefully wrestle his arm into it. ] ... Well, you can probably understand why I might not be in the mood to hear a lot of questions from one.
no subject
[There she pats his arm gently and coaxingly.]
I can understand, yeah. [Then she licks her lips and asks the question she's been dying to ask.] What exactly happened?
no subject
I don't remember. I went to sleep, and-- [ He gestures idly, vaguely. ] Didn't hear anything, didn't see anyone. Once they got started, I must have lost consciousness pretty fast.
no subject
And they did this because of your job?
[Or is there more to the story?]
no subject
[ He can guess, though. ]
Seems most likely to have been one of two reasons: My job, or me. I haven't even represented any imPorts yet.
no subject
no subject
[ He says it neutrally enough, fishing for his keys. ]
I imagine it's personal.
no subject
[Because that just sounds rather strange. If it wasn't related to his job, what had Harvey done to make someone so cross. She tries to keep her tone neutral enough to keep him from getting cross at the prying but it was sort of hard to ask this one gently.]
no subject
[ Harvey shakes his head twice, quickly, and waves his good hand in a dismissive motion. ]
There's a bar just down the block.
no subject
[And a bit exciting. A life with someone that you've always got to be watching out for? Better than just a better life.]
Perfect. And I'm a cheap date at the pub, promise.
no subject
[ He wouldn't wish that drama on her, but it never fails to find him again. ]
I'm not worried about that, trust me. The company's worth it.
no subject
[She's curious. Still mighty curious. But she'll shelve it for now.]
Oh, I wasn't saying it to be polite. More than a few and I'm nearly asleep on the bench.
no subject
[ Harvey doesn't sound mightily eager or excited about that prospect. Not a single Gothamite here would have anything good to say about him, except maybe Batman. ]
Well, we can't have that. No beaches close enough. [ He's kidding. ] I promise -- two drinks and we'll be back out the door.
no subject
[She's never encountered anyone else from Gotham before. But he was right, if there were enough, she'd encounter them eventually.]
Don't think I've forgotten about our trip to the doctor.
no subject
[ He smirks in a way that sits on his face crookedly. It's not something he minds being a bit candid about -- in a guarded sort of way -- but there's a lot he won't talk about, too. The whole criminal thing, for one thing. ]
Oh, I haven't. How could I forget?
no subject
[The Doctor never forgets it. People never let you forget it. She gives him a pat on the shoulder.]
Just keeping you in line.
no subject
[ Harvey says it with a degree of solemnity and resignment, but not bitterness this time. ]
You're already good at it, don't worry. I'll behave.