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Bruce Wayne (capedcrusade) wrote in modernage,
@ 2010-05-01 08:34:00

Entry tags:

!plot 02: happy birthday mr wayne, atlee | terra, barbara gordon | oracle, clark kent | superman, damian wayne | rook, dinah lance | black canary, katherine kane | batwoman, ted kord | blue beetle, thomas elliot | hush, {alfred pennyworth}, {bruce wayne | batman}, {duela dent | harlequin}, {floyd lawton | deadshot}, {hiro okamura | toyman}, {karen starr | power girl}, {scandal}, {talia al ghul}, {zatanna zatara}, ∴ scenes: ongoing

Thread: Bruce Wayne's 36th Birthday Party
Who: Party Hosts and Guests, including Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Duela Dent, Dick Grayson, Zatanna Zatara, Kate Kane, Barbara Gordon, Tommy Elliot, Damian Wayne, Clark Kent, Dinah Lance, Karen Starr, Hiro Okamura, Atlee, Talia al Ghul, Ted Kord, Scandal Savage, Deadshot, and Harley Quinn.
Where: Wayne Manor, Gotham
When: Saturday 17 April 2010
Summary: Party! It's Bruce Wayne's 36th birthday party and everyone who's anyone is there.
Note: Need details? The plotting post is here. Start subthreads!

Alfred had been given permission to "outdo himself" and outdo himself he did. Wayne Manor was polished to a shine and decorated to the nines. The catering had been meticulously planned, with Alfred making several of the recipes himself. The ballroom had a stage that would have a live band with dancing for most of the evening and Zatanna's magic show at other times.

The only cause for complaint was due to the guest list. With all the plus ones, it was all a bit chaotic. While everyone either needed an invitation or to be with someone with an invitation to get in, it seemed that wasn't much of a barrier to entry.

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	Bruce and open capedcrusade 2010-05-01 12:43 pm UTC (link)
	The guest of honor himself was fluttering about and mingling as if having a gigantic party was the most splendid thing in the world. Shaking hands with the men, flirting with the ladies, and charming the reporters, Bruce Wayne lived up to his reputation on every level, the epitome of a Gotham socialite. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: Bruce and open

ex_themanofs74
2010-05-02 02:55 am UTC (link)

Clark felt as though he stuck out like a sore thumb here among the elite of Gotham. Perhaps if he had managed to have Lois accompany him he would have felt better about this whole thing, but then again, she could have been just as much a crutch as any help. With a little smirk, he thought of the myriad of ways she could embarrass him here, as if he had much of any shame left to lose around her.

A shake of his head, and he came out of his reverie in time to see the crowd part enough to catch a glimpse of the man of the hour himself: Bruce Wayne. Immaculate, as always. In many ways Clark looked upon Bruce as a polar opposite, and in that moment he realized he was relieved Lois was not here after all. Just the thought of her on his arm trying to get her story made him cringe involuntarily.

Taking the opportunity to approach the playboy billionaire, Clark stepped up to Bruce with a smile.

"Mr. Wayne, sir, I was wondering if you had any words for the Daily Planet on this occasion?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Bruce and open -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-02 04:00 am UTC

Re: Bruce and open -

ex_themanofs74, 2010-05-03 09:08 pm UTC

Bruce and Clark [and open?] -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-03 10:42 pm UTC

Re: Bruce and Clark [and open?] -

ex_themanofs74, 2010-05-05 04:58 am UTC

Re: Bruce and Clark [and open?] -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-06 03:20 am UTC

Bruce and Tommy

thequietcut
2010-05-02 04:24 am UTC (link)

Tommy gave one of the lovely ladies in the room an appreciative nod and a wink as he made his way over to Bruce Wayne. His exterior was all calm, cool facade. Inside, he soaked up his surrounds. Bruce had always had a penchant for these ridiculous displays of joviality and extravagance--ever since that mind-numbingly boring magic party the year Bruce was freed from his parents.

He had attended events with this crowd practically all his life, but they only ever seemed truly happy at a Bruce Wayne bash. He was the center of the Gotham social universe and seemed to have everyone wrapped around his finger at all times. That was one of the reasons he avoided Gotham--the nostalgia for the Thomas Wayne's of days gone by was practically sickening.

He sidled up to Bruce, darting his hand forward for a firm shake and one-armed hug. "So your liver held out another year. You obviously aren't trying hard enough, Bruce." He cracked a smile and a joke for his long-time friend. From under his arm, he produced a small flat package, wrapped in brown paper. "Now I know there's a table for this sort of thing, but I figured I had special priviledges since I've known you longer than anyone else in this room--excepting good old Alf, of course."

He handed over the gift, which was an old photograph from the Gotham archives. There was a gala event from the Gotham Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the photograph was of their mothers--both healthy, both alive, sharing a good laugh as they gazed at the artwork around them. "A very rare find, and for the man who has everything, I will impart the words of Aristotle--Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."

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Re: Bruce and Tommy -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-02 02:17 pm UTC

Re: Bruce and Tommy -

thequietcut, 2010-05-02 10:18 pm UTC

Re: Bruce and Tommy -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-02 11:36 pm UTC

Re: Bruce and Tommy -

thequietcut, 2010-05-03 12:43 am UTC

Re: Bruce and Tommy -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-03 10:17 pm UTC

Bruce, Kate, and Damian

capedcrusade
2010-05-01 01:11 pm UTC (link)

Bruce was looking forward to seeing Kate again. It seems that they didn't see each other very often and when they did, they were usually in costume. She didn't know that when she was talking to Batman, she was also talking to Bruce.

But now he could talk to her. Not as himself, since this was just as much a part he played as Batman, but at least he was allowed a certain amount of social skills as Bruce Wayne.

Though he did have an agenda this time. He'd been keeping the Damian situation quiet—-partly because he didn't want paparazzi going after the boy, partly because situation had been so volatile at the beginning. But now things had settled a little, and it seemed time to let Kate and Damian know they were cousins. With the al Ghul obsession with genetics, maybe it would help the boy adjust to know he had more blood relations. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on Bruce's part.

Regardless, he decided to collect Kate first. "Kate!" he said, bouncing up to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "You look amazing. I think your tuxedo is better than mine. Yes, I rather think it is. How are you? Enjoying yourself? Managing to avoid your stepmother?"

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Bruce, Kate, and Damian

awaytoserve
2010-05-01 11:38 pm UTC (link)

Despite evidence to the contrary, Kate did know how to wear a dress. But in many ways the tuxedo had appealed to her: comfortable, fitted like a glove and sure to make her stepmother raise an eyebrow. Besides, a tall redhead in a tux was bound to stand out a little.

She was looking forward to seeing the birthday boy. She rarely got a chance to hang out with Bruce these days. Something about taking on a costume and devoting your life to crime fighting made you a bit of a failure on the cousin department. It was time to do something about it.

“Happy birthday, Bruce!” she said with a smile as he greeted her. “So good to see you. And not even this tuxedo could top yours.” She looked around in admiration. “Everything looks great.” Which she knew was all thanks to Alfred.

“You know I live to annoy Catherine,” she admitted. “Is it too late to apologize to whatever extravagant gift she got you in our name? I swear neither me nor my father had anything to do with it.”

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Re: Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-02 03:39 am UTC

Re: Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

awaytoserve, 2010-05-02 03:57 pm UTC

Re: Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-02 10:47 pm UTC

Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

awaytoserve, 2010-05-02 11:17 pm UTC

Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

ibnalxuffasch, 2010-05-02 11:34 pm UTC

Re: Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-03 12:04 am UTC

Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

awaytoserve, 2010-05-03 12:45 am UTC

Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

ibnalxuffasch, 2010-05-08 10:19 pm UTC

Re: Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-08 11:01 pm UTC

Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

awaytoserve, 2010-05-09 01:46 am UTC

Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

ibnalxuffasch, 2010-05-09 02:43 am UTC

Re: Bruce, Kate, and Damian -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-09 04:00 am UTC

Bruce and Zatanna

capedcrusade
2010-05-01 01:14 pm UTC (link)

Zatanna smiled, bowing to the audience after the successful completion of one of her mainstay illusions. In fact, she was almost at a good resting point (which was a relief as her throat was starting to get a bit dry). She just had one more feat to perform, then she could have a little break (and maybe some food) before seeing if Alfred wanted a round two.

"For my next trick, I need some help from the audience," Zee announced with a smile. There were several eager faces in the crowd but there was only one that interested her. (It was his birthday, after all-- when else would she have the excuse?) "Bruce Wayne, I know you're out there. How about you bring your handsome self up here and help a lady out..?"

Once he'd heard Zee was performing, Bruce knew this was coming. Strangely, he found he didn't mind so much. It reminded him of their teenage days when he was learning from her father how to become an escape artist. "Me? Refuse the request of a beautiful lady? Perish the thought!" he called back, letting the other party guests goad him into accepting her invitation. He closed the distance between them and hopped up on the stage they'd set up for her, turning and waving to the audience to acknowledge the applause.

Then he turned back to Zee. "I place myself entirely in your capable hands, madam," he said with a bow and a not so innocent grin.

Zatanna's stomach did a little something but the cheeky grin on her face never faltered. "You may live to regret that, Mr. Wayne," she teased. Waving her wand (as a cue), two of her hunky male assistants wheeled out a table that had bindings designed to hold the average man (or woman). It wouldn't do much to hold the Batman but that was fine; he was playing Bruce Wayne that night anyway.

"If you don't mind?" she asked, gesturing for him to lay down. Mumbling a quick spell under her breath, several audience members gasped when a large weight with spikes protruding (only for show, of course) appeared above where Zatanna had asked him to lie. But then that was the rub, wasn't it? If there wasn't any danger, it wasn't much of a showstopper.

Ah. This trick. Bruce knew it well. As a teenager, he'd gotten so frustrated that he couldn't figure it out, only to find out that it used real magic. That was the first time he'd really understood that there was true magic in the world, a revelation he found he did not enjoy.

He wondered if this was the same table.

But that was on the inside. On the outside, Bruce's eyebrows raised at the sight of the rope table and spiked weight, but he amiably climbed onto the table and laid down. "It's more comfortable than it looks," he admitted, poking at the table a bit. Then he propped himself back up on one elbow and extended a hand out to her. "Care to join me, Ms. Zatara?"

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Re: Bruce and Zatanna

capedcrusade
2010-05-01 01:14 pm UTC (link)

"Ah-ah-ah." Zatanna wagged her finger and signaled the handsome help to strap him down. (There was something naughty about so many good-looking men handling each other at once. She stored the image away for future use.) "Your charms won't work on me, Mr. Wayne." Except they kind of did-- but only kind of. "Don't forget, I'm the magician here."

Once he was set in the trap, Zee made a show of walking around and tapping each tie with her wand. "As you can see, Mr. Wayne is thoroughly trapped." She grinned at the audience. "I bet more than one woman out there would love to get him in such a position, eh?" Several members of the crowd tittered. Looking down at Bruce, she added in a whisper: "I hope the bonds aren't too tight."

"Under the circumstances, I think you'd better call me Bruce," he teased her for her formality.

And then he was tied to a table underneath a giant spiked weight. It reminded him of one of the deathtraps Joker had put him in, the one where he was supposed to cut off his own hand to escape. Suddenly, this didn't seem as fun anymore. He took a deep breath, careful to keep it subtle. Calm down, Bruce, it's just a magic trick, there's no Joker gas, the audience is fine, the boys are fine...

Zee appeared above him then, worried that he was uncomfortable. He'd had more broken bones and bullet holes than he could keep track of, and Zee was worried that his wrists might get chafed. That was so... Zee. "I'm fine," he whispered back, and the grin he gave her was sincere.

His mental equilibrium restored, he then added louder for the audience to hear, "Really? There are? Why that's perfectly awful!" Bruce made a show of trying to sit up a little and look out at the audience, "Um, which ladies were those, exactly?" The audience chuckled at his obvious joke.

Pleased that he wasn't uncomfortable-- well, anymore than was expected, anyway-- she turned to face the audience again. "Oh, just the usual ones looking for frightful things like commitment," Zatanna shot back with a knowing wink for the audience. "Now, let's see if he can escape this deathtrap as easily as he has all long-term relationships!" They laughed again as she waved her wand (useless though it may be) and cried: "Flash! Bang! Alakazam!"

Two things happened then. The weight fell and crushed the table, eliciting a collective gasp from the audience. Meanwhile, the silent spell tied to those fake magic words that sent her would-be victim to the place of her thinking took hold and Bruce was teleported to the bar. (Complete with a drink appearing in his hand.)

Zatanna waited a beat, then gestured toward where he sat. "Good news, Gotham-- Bruce Wayne is still a free man!" There was more laughter, as well as applause and she bowed gracefully. "Thank you, you've been a wonderful audience! Mix and mingle. I'll be back again before midnight for a spell." After cake and whatever else Alfred had planned. She signaled for the help to clean up and then, with one last bow, exited the make-shift stage. She was really ready for that glass of water now.

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Bruce and Talia

capedcrusade
2010-05-01 01:20 pm UTC (link)

To say Bruce was displeased when he heard Talia al Ghul had been invited to his birthday party had been an understatement. He knew he'd given Alfred free reign with the invitations, but even so, inviting a member of the League of Assassins was a bit extreme. Bruce had even gone so far as to tell Alfred to retract the invitation, but Alfred had remained quite firm. Like it or not, she was the mother of Bruce's child. For Damian's sake, they were all going to have to learn to get along. Besides, if they didn't invite her, she was just going to show up anyway. Bruce had to admit, his valet had a point on both counts.

Bruce also had to admit that Talia had been very well-behaved so far, pleasantly chatting with the other guests. He'd been keeping an eye on her all evening—only to make sure she wasn't up to something, of course. Or so he kept telling himself. She looked beautiful. But then, she always did.

Alright. Time to make contact.

She was standing in a small group when Bruce walked up behind her and slid his hands possessively around her waist. "Sorry, this one's mine," he said cheerfully to the rest of the group. "Care for a dance, Talia?" he asked, pressing a playful kiss to the side of her neck. It was required, really. Everyone knew Bruce Wayne was a shameless flirt.

Had Talia found out about the party—and she probably would have—and not had an invitation, she would have come anyway. And she wouldn’t have bothered even pretending that she tolerated the upper echelons of Gotham society.

The bulk of them, even as she laughed and talked with them, irritated her. Still, this was the world Bruce pretended he belonged to, and he’d been kind enough—or Alfred had, she hadn’t entirely ruled out that possibility—to welcome her here. The least she could do was not kill anyone simply for annoying her. Had she had a contract to complete, all bets would have been off, but she didn’t.

For tonight, she could be Talia Head, one of many beautiful, exotic women here to wish Bruce Wayne well on his birthday.

Talia gave a light sound of feigned surprise when arms went around her from behind. After all, she could downplay her years of training. Most women wouldn’t have heard Bruce, seen him out of the corner of their eye.

“Bruce,” she said sweetly, glancing over her shoulder at him, “that sounds wonderful.”

"Great! Excuse us," Bruce answered, whisking Talia away from the group and onto the dance floor. The band was playing something slow and romantic, and Bruce pulled Talia close to lead her in the steps of the dance.

...alright, now what? They should talk. They had things to discuss. Important things. Though their 'discussions' never went well. Yet another round of 'you join me, no YOU join ME' seemed likely, and Bruce had to admit he was unenthusiastic about the prospect. How did they get so screwed up? It was a hypothetical question; Bruce knew exactly how they got so screwed up, and most of that blame could be laid at the door of Ra's al Ghul. But that didn't make it any easier.

"Thank you for coming," he said finally. By which he meant 'thank you for behaving,' but no need to rub her nose in it. Yet.

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Re: Bruce and Talia

capedcrusade
2010-05-01 01:21 pm UTC (link)

Talia fell into step with the music easily. If she were a woman given to sentiment, she might have ignored the rest of the party for as long as that music played and pretended that things were exactly how they should be. …And she might have done so for the briefest of moments.

But sentiment was weakness, as her father loved to remind her, and she could not afford weakness. Not even for Bruce Wayne.

When he spoke, she smiled. “Thank you for the invitation.” ‘Otherwise, there would have been trouble,’ her tone hinted. Hell hath no fury…

For now, she would neglect to mention that her father’s empire still waited for him, that he could still take his place by her side. What good would that do? He would merely talk about the merits of defending Gotham and not taking the lives of those who crossed him—or others. It was an argument they’d had so many times before and, Talia knew, would have so many times again. It could be left alone for now.

“I never have understood the fascination with celebrations like this,” Talia murmured. Despite the words, the tone was conversational. “Of course, it is an accomplishment for you, Beloved, but in general… Is it any great surprise that most people manage to live yet another year? Hardly something that bears rewarding with celebration and gifts.”

There it was, the thinly veiled threat. But unexpectedly, then she dropped it. And even more unexpectedly, what she said next resonated with him. Oh, not the pithy comment about the stupid party, but that his living another year really was cause for celebration. That he really could die at any time. He didn't kid himself about living to grow old, his life as Batman was too dangerous for that, but somehow hearing her say it so frankly got to him.

Of course, if he died, she'd probably just toss him into a Lazarus Pit, and he'd wake up just as crazy as Ra's. But enough of morbid thinking.

"Any excuse for a party," Bruce answered, matching her tone. Light conversation, that's what these events required. Tone carried further than words. If they kept the tone right, they should be able to speak freely. More freely, at least. Bruce never really spoke freely.

"It's expected. If I didn't throw one, people would wonder," he commented.

“Why care if they wonder or not? It isn’t as if you have anything to prove to them,” she replied.

That he bothered with them at all baffled her. They were pampered and spoiled, unable to do a thing for themselves. It did not occur to her that she was, in her own way, rather pampered and spoiled as well. They were ingrates who appreciated what Batman did for them until it proved the slightest inconvenience. Then? They turned against him, demanded law enforcement do something. Until he was once again in their good graces. On and on the cycle went, and it struck Talia that he should have abandoned them to the wolves—and themselves—long ago.

If he’d only come away with her…

She smiled and said, as sweetly as her nature would allow in public, “You deserve far better.”

"Do I?" he asked, looking around the room. Sure, most of these people were as fake as they came, but there were also people there he genuinely cared about. Dick. Alfred. Kate. Zee. Tommy.

Then his eyes fell on Barbara Gordon, and his muscles tensed as they always did when he saw her in her wheelchair. They reminded him of other people in his life, the ones he'd failed. Jason Todd. Stephanie Brown.

"Do I," he said again in a much darker tone.

She gripped his arm lightly and slid her hand to his shoulder. Quietly, she murmured, “You do.”

Her eyes found Damian, and a brief smile came to her face, more sincere than the expression she had before and after the moment. Why did Bruce want this world when she could offer him a family? A real, blood family?

Talia looked back at Bruce. “Ah well. Someday, Beloved, you’ll realize. Until then, I can wait.” She gave him a smile that, were it not for the look in her eyes, would have been teasing.

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Re: Bruce and Talia -

capedcrusade, 2010-05-01 01:22 pm UTC

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thevanguard, 2010-05-01 07:43 pm UTC

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capedcrusade, 2010-05-02 03:17 am UTC

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thevanguard, 2010-05-05 03:42 am UTC

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capedcrusade, 2010-05-06 01:55 pm UTC

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thevanguard, 2010-05-10 08:49 pm UTC

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capedcrusade, 2010-05-11 03:44 am UTC

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thevanguard, 2010-05-14 08:36 pm UTC

Talia and Damian

thevanguard
2010-05-01 07:50 pm UTC (link)

(Note: Takes place before this.)

She'd made eye contact with Bruce Wayne earlier in the night. Not too much so, as the festivities hadn't been underway long, but they'd seen each other. However, the host was still busy with several other guests-- greeting them, engaging in meaningless small talk... Giving several women a dashing smile.

To distract herself from any possible annoyance-- she had told herself that she wouldn't cause an incident tonight, not at a gathering like this-- she'd sought out a new target. Her son.

When she finally saw Damian amidst the crowd, she allowed herself a brief smile. He'd already grown up so much. She let herself blend into the crowd, covering the clicks of her boot heels with the movements around her. Even dressed as she was, her training was still that of an assassin and ninja. If she couldn't sneak up on a child, even one as well-trained as Damian, she was losing her touch.

Securely behind Damian, she reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. Without saying a word, she gave a small squeeze.

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Talia and Damian

ibnalxuffasch
2010-05-01 09:42 pm UTC (link)

Despite his talk with Grayson about the meaning this party, Damian still did not understand it. It seemed like a pointless waste of a night that could be spent doing other things, such as working toward his ultimate goal. What exactly that goal was, he did not have a clear idea, it shifted and changed shape with each new event in his hectic life. One thing that he was fairly sure of was that he knew that birthdays would not be a part to the deal.

Damian pulled on the sleeve cuff of his shirt, adjusting the lay of his jacket after a particularly effusive handshake from a man that smiled too much for it to be real. A part of him liked it, of course, these people were here to pay tribute to his father. It was the recognition that he deserved, and Damian wanted to be a part of it. The other part of him wanted something simpler than fake and forced socialization that made up the majority of this party.

He was behaving, though, by anyone's standards. All it took was smiling at all the right people and minimal words. He did not hear the person approach him until her hand was on his shoulder. When the lady gave his shoulder a squeeze, it too all of his training to not betray himself by showing the full force of his surprise and the slight undercurrent of fear. Still, even he could not stop the slight tensing and bunching of his muscles underneath her hand, an involuntary reaction. By the time he turned his head, he had a fairly good idea who it would be. There were few that could sneak up on him and fewer still who could do so and were female.

That did not stop him from feeling pleased, wary, shocked and uncertain all at once when his guess was proven correct. The feelings flickered over his face before he settled on a guarded expression. "Mother, what are you doing here?" He asked.

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Talia and Damian -

thevanguard, 2010-05-02 03:19 am UTC

Talia and Damian -

ibnalxuffasch, 2010-05-02 04:15 am UTC

Talia and Damian -

thevanguard, 2010-05-05 03:34 am UTC

Talia and Damian -

ibnalxuffasch, 2010-05-09 02:59 am UTC

Talia and Damian -

thevanguard, 2010-05-10 08:57 pm UTC

Talia and Damian -

ibnalxuffasch, 2010-05-10 09:29 pm UTC

Talia and Damian -

thevanguard, 2010-05-14 08:41 pm UTC

Talia and Damian -

ibnalxuffasch, 2010-05-17 05:10 am UTC

Duela and open

notquitestable
2010-05-02 02:58 am UTC (link)

Duela Dent had come to Bruce Wayne’s party with Jackie Carr’s invitation. She’d heard the woman in the supermarket, chatting loudly on her phone about how she’d just received the invitation and was so disappointed that her sister was getting married that day. She had to go to the reception, even if she’d so rather be at a Bruce Wayne party. When she’d left her purse in her basket, unattended while she browsed the overpriced fruit, Duela had helped herself to the invite.

A bit of stolen money had bought her the stylish but conservative green dress she now wore.

Really, she was surprised she’d gotten in. She’d been sure some sort of security would stop her, check her ID, something. But it hadn’t happened. If there were people checking the guests, she’d evaded them through no skill of her own. The atmosphere was slightly intimidating, especially for someone crashing, but Duela smiled at someone who spoke to her before scurrying away.

She wasn’t sure what had possessed her to come. First, she supposed, it was because it was a party for Bruce Wayne. She remembered him, even if he’d probably forgotten all about her. Besides, even if he remembered her, he’d never recognize her. Ten years was a long time to grow up, and she’d cut and dyed her hair. Still, the party reminded her a little of the events she’d sometimes been dragged to as a little girl while her father was campaigning. So much light and noise and so many people… There was also the promise that these people, at the top of their society, might be able to tell her more about her father, if the topic was brought up in the right way. So many of them were fascinated by crime. How difficult would it be to shift a conversation or two to the notorious Two-Face, the man who’d used to be the face of the battle against crime?

And then… beyond nostalgia and a desire for information, there was another reason.

Big parties like this promised an almost unlimited supply of small bits of food—finger sandwiches, meat and cheese trays, small sweets. There would be no real dinner, no sitting at a formal table, but Duela knew that there would be food enough to feed an army. No one would notice or care if she ate a bit more than most of the guests.

While nervous, Duela was mostly in control of herself. She hummed a bit of a ditty under her breath as she sipped from a glass of punch. At the buffet table, she glanced over her shoulder several times as she made two little sandwiches from the meat, cheese, and rolls available, took some carrots and dip, two little triangle cucumber sandwiches from another tray, and two cookies. That would do for the first course!

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Re: Duela and open

beetleblues
2010-05-03 02:00 pm UTC (link)

Ted’s desire to snack came from – well his desire to snack. It was a party, and Ted was here to mingle, and mix, and of course help himself to some of the food that was being served. Honestly, parties like this weren’t really Ted’s thing, but appearances had to be kept up, and he figured that he could maybe make some business contacts.

So far he had only made contact with a few of the waiters, and gotten the name of the company that they worked for. Hey, Ted thought the caterers were doing an awesome job, and if they had a Chicago branch he’d totally hire them for the next Kord Industries function!

Ted promised himself after he had one more cucumber sandwich, he’d start mingling. Honest. The cucumber sandwiches were just so good however. Maybe he’d have two more, and than move amongst the crowd and mingle.

“Oh excuse me.” He almost bumped into someone else who was at the refreshment table, and gave her a grin. “Sorry about that.”

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Duela and Ted -

notquitestable, 2010-05-05 03:53 am UTC

Re: Duela and Ted -

beetleblues, 2010-05-07 03:38 pm UTC

Re: Duela and Ted -

notquitestable, 2010-05-10 09:01 pm UTC

Re: Duela and Ted -

beetleblues, 2010-05-11 12:05 pm UTC

Re: Duela and Ted -

notquitestable, 2010-05-14 08:43 pm UTC

Barbara + Dinah + OPEN

knowsherstuff
2010-05-02 05:30 am UTC (link)

Few things could pry Barbara from her usual routine of monitoring at Clocktower, and with her systems not running at maximum capacity, she was feeling extra reclusive. Still, she found herself at Wayne Manor with Dinah in a nice dress with make up and hair done--the works. There were few people she'd go to these lengths for, but this was Bruce's birthday.

For a long time he had been the center of her universe, and every moment was lived for the next moment when she could fight by Batman's side. A lot had changed in the few years since then, but she still respected him and cared for him. And so if he could suffer through his own birthday party, she was going to be respectful and suffer through it with him. "Could you tell what were those little yellow things on the food trays were?"

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Re: Barbara + Dinah + OPEN

canarynoir
2010-05-03 01:20 am UTC (link)

Growing up in Gotham, Dinah had been aware of the family with the last name Wayne. She hadn't ever figured she'd be at a birthday party at Wayne Manor, but if Dinah had learned one thing over the years? It was that life was not predicable. And something else she had learned? Little yellow things served on trays were delicious. All right, maybe that was a life lesson that she had just learned.

"I have no idea, but that cute little waiter needs to get back here with his tray." Dinah glanced around the crowd of people, and than looked back at Barbara. Her voice took on a teasing tone as she asked; "So going throuhg computer withdrawal yet?"

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Re: Barbara + Dinah + OPEN -

knowsherstuff, 2010-05-03 01:28 am UTC

Barbara + Dinah + OPEN -

canarynoir, 2010-05-03 02:28 am UTC

Barbara + Dinah + Zatanna -

giftofthemagi, 2010-05-10 08:58 pm UTC

Karen Starr + Atlee [earlier in the eveining (out of order)]

pee_gee
2010-05-03 01:59 am UTC (link)

It had been quite the undertaking enumerating the many (important) reasons bras were a necessary commodity to her subterranean sidekick. Fortunately, she was able to circumvent the pantyhose discussion since Atlee's outfit didn't require that she wear them. Kara was not looking forward to the day that she was going to have discuss the finer points of woman's undergarments to the young lady. It gave cause for Kara to remember days gone by - had she been so fussy when she lived with Uncle Clark and Aunt Lois? Heh, probably worse...

If Kara thought getting Atlee into the dress and doing here hair was difficult, it was nothing compared to applying make-up to the brunette's flinching face. Now that had been an arduous task. It all paid off in the end because Atlee looked quite lovely, if Kara said so herself.

Now, at the party, Kara paused at the top of the grand staircase before descending to the ballroom bellow, where the party was in full swing, to talk to the Strataterean. "Oh, I forgot to mention... tonight, I'm Karen Starr." She leaned in before continuing, lowering her voice. "...not PG or Kara. Karen Star. Who are you tonight?"

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Karen Starr + Atlee

about_to_rock
2010-05-03 02:49 am UTC (link)

"Right. Karen. Got it!" Atlee repeated happily. No problem! Secret identities were important and Atlee wasn't about to disappoint Power Girl. "I was going to keep things simple," the girl said with what seemed to be a mangled Scottish brogue.

She extended a hand to Kara. "Ashley O'Connor! Exchange student from the old country! Top o' the evenin' to ye." Then she paused, waiting to see if Kara would guess which country.