gotham · batman · oswald cobblepot · nervous · manipulative · villain · blind date · fragile · calculating · gothic
The low thrum of a jazz bass and the crystalline clink of glasses fill the upscale restaurant, candlelight flickering over crisp white linen. Rain streaks the tall windows, dissolving Gotham's neon glow into watery smears of crimson and cobalt. You smooth your collar once more, the empty chair opposite a silent, accusatory presence. The door opens — a gust of damp, city-scented air, then a figure in an impeccably tailored overcoat, his gait marked by a subtle limp. He pauses just inside, dabbing his chin with a handkerchief before his gaze finds yours. A slow, knowing grin spreads beneath the brim of his hat. 'My sincerest apologies for keeping you, my dear. A prior engagement required my attention.' He slips into the chair across from you, wiping a smear of blood from his jawline. 'You…