Love Is Turning A Guy's Face Into A Belgian Waffle

Watching Bane try to cope with the difficulties of a first date last week, I was surprised by how awkward he seemed. Bane's always seemed at least fairly clever. Clever enough to devise a plan where Batman essentially beats himself, with Bane delivering the coup de grace. Somehow that added up in my head to him having more charm*. But I figured Gail Simone was just exaggerating for comedic effect, and it worked, because the whole sequence was pretty funny.

Then I remembered the credo Bane stuck to early in the series, that he would only do what was right. He didn't always hold to it, taking Venom after he'd repeatedly described it as immoral, but he had clear reasons in his head as to why he would do something wrong at that moment. He hasn't brought it up much lately, which is just as well, since it would have been tedious for him to be constantly reiterating that mantra, but I assume it's still in effect.

So what if Bane opted for the direct approach because he felt it was right? Maybe he regards "charm" as deceitful. Now some people are naturally charming, friendly, pleasant, and so on. Bane, not so much. Bane making sweeping romantic gestures like bowing and kissing hands, comparing her eyes to moonlight, whatever, that wouldn't really be him. Being deceitful may be the right thing at times, Bane's been fine with members of the team going undercover to complete missions, but he seems to prefer to be direct. Says what he feels, says what he thinks, deals with problems in a hands on fashion**. Maybe he figures there's more honor in that.

Regardless of his feelings towards Liana, Scandal likes her, and Bane cares about Scandal. And they've set him up with a friend and coworker of Liana's. That being the case, Bane might see his being open about his intentions and the purpose of the gifts as the most respectful approach. Spencer has a clear idea of Bane's intentions, at the least. If he behaved differently, it might give her a different first impression, and that might make things strange (or frightening) if he behaved more naturally later. Best to be clear about who he is from the start. He might have been a little too awkward for that explanation to carry the day, but it's worth considering.

* That and a vague recollection of a story where he worked with Ra's al Ghul for awhile, and it looked like he might get hitched to Talia. She was dead set against it, but I think he showed the sort of earnest kindness that Ronan showed to Crystal, that it'd be more than a show marriage. Suffice it to say, it never materialized, which is for the best. Bane deserves better than being hitched to Talia.

** Do you think he regrets how he went about breaking Batman? Maybe he wishes he'd strode into the light in front of Bats one night and simply challenged him.