Musings

[After talking to Oracle on the comms.]

[Call to K West's cellphone]
Ring

[Work email sent earlier this morning.]

Mr. Brandon,

I can see why you've placed me on the Board. I will reign them in as best I can. Taxes have been filed finally, though why your Board wanted to sit on them is beyond me. The test trials for one of our projects will be underway later today.

I'm not sure if you were aware, but I met with Mr. Henry a few days before our first meeting, primarily regarding Alfie, but he did mention he was taking classes at the University of Washington. He is a very bright young man with a good head on his shoulders, and I can't help but wonder what he would make of your board.

R. Todd

[Early morning, the day the article is being published]

[Isolated to Oracle]
How are the legs?

( The Seattle Times: I HAVE SEEN THE SAVIOR AND HE IS US ) 

[Phone call to A. Henderson]

Ring, Ring!

[Phone call to A. Gévaudan, late afternoon.]

Ring, Ring

[News agencies swiftly pick up the article's speculation on the identity of the Bat. It spreads like wildfire through the internet - through blogs, tumblrs, tweets. People text about it, they call each other and talk about it. Radio hosts spend the day taking callers about it. The outpouring of talk hints at a true split in opinion - some think that it's irrelevant who the Bat is, because he is looking out for the safety of the people. Some think he should be identified so he can be properly praised. Some feel that a billionaire can never be an emblem for a city meant to rise up and do good because what about the poor? They can't afford to not go to their jobs, to pay for an expensive suit and gadgets and take to the rooftops of the city.

Some disagree with the Masks out of hand, and praise Arakkis for exposing a criminal in their midst - a vigilante, no matter what the Chief of Police says, a nutjob who ought to be locked up. They cry, who does he answer to? There are no regulations for a billionaire in a bat costume, and some of the callers, the bloggers, the gossips, they think the police should storm into Monarch Industries and Thomas Inc. and arrest both men who have been fingered. See if the Bat stops then, and if he does, just lock them both up. Some even go so far as to say that someone ought to just gun them both down in the street, because you're not a real hero if you hide behind a mask, and nobody gets a fair trial after they've been fingered by the Bat. Some people have had their loved ones mangled and put in jail by him and other masks, and the flood of hatred from that sector of the city's population makes itself known in vitriolic calls to radio programs and profanity laden status updates.

Every other news item is wiped off the map. It's all anyone can talk about, at street corners and water coolers and waiting in line at the movies, strangers jumping into conversations with strangers to argue it through. If it is Thomas Brandon, then what is the city to do now? What happens next?

Somewhere, two men are planning the answer to that very question.]

[Aubade: There are currently mobs of reporters gathered around Aubade, as well as sightseers and paparazzi. They will aggressively try to interview anyone who goes into or comes out of the building and ask them if they know Thomas Brandon or Orin Monarch.]

[Bathos: There is a smaller contingent of reporters at this building, primarily looking for comments and pictures of the members and associates of the Monarch and Brandon families.]

[Relatives and friends of Orin Monarch and Thomas Brandon can be expected to be followed religiously by paparazzi and catcalled by people on the street. The relatives have it the worst, though the people employed by their companies and their friends also get this, though not as much. Those related to Thomas Brandon have it considerably worse than those related to Monarch - more paparazzi, more people recognizing them on the street as subsequent articles are published by other news organizations that profile both men (Articles with titles like 'Orin Monarch's ex-lover tells all' and 'Who is Thomas Brandon?' that rehash everything currently known about their lives, and people like Luke, Max, Audrey, Adam, Rowan, and Valerie) and name the people that are commonly recognized as being close to them. Their phones will be ringing off the hook for interviews with major news agencies - the closer they are to Orin or Thomas, the worse it is.]

[There is currently no violence taking place except the usual minor scuffles between paparazzi and people on the street. The paparazzi will be aggressive, but not violent without provocation.]

I can't believe that fucktard actually fucking went through with this! I could wring his scrawny neck! Where ever he is, I can get into it. If you want me to steal his computer or where ever he's got this information he's getting and stomp on it until all that's left is little chunks of fucking cheap Chinese plastic so help me I will do it and I may do it even if no one asks me to. He deserves to get the hell fucking beat out of him and then some.

[Email to A. Sparke.]

[Forwarding the link to the Arakkis article speculating on the identity of the Bat.] You weren't mentioned, but I've put PR on alert and heightened your security.

[Text to Shiloh.]

Don't come back to Bathos, it's a madhouse.

[Call to E. Pride.]

[Ring.]

[After reading the paper, and after security is forced to lock Monarch's front doors for security reasons. Will, he knows, is gone, but he finds a note on his desk indicating anything specifically damning isn't on the premises, and he makes a note to give the damn man a raise when he gets back.]

[Group email to A Main and H Radcliffe]
Will's on vacation, or I'd have him send this out. I'm not the damn Bat. Stay clear of the doors and make sure the guards escort you out of the building after work. I got a new guard starting tomorrow that should help with matters.

[Group text to V Anna, W Cooper-Delaney, R Morgenstern and A Morgenstern]
I'm suing for libel. Stay home for the day, if you can. A, don't damn argue with me.

[ Open Call on the Vigilante Communicator Network ]

[Rorschach - as Mike Caulfield - has just returned home after meeting the media circus face-to-face. After being asked by too many reporters if he knows Thomas Brandon, if they're neighbors, and - after noting his physique - if they ever go to the gym together, Rorschach gives his answer in the form of a broken camera. The comm starts with silence and heavy breathing, but soon a voice dripping with disdain comes in loud and clear.]

Filthy gutter trash. In way, out of place, spreading lies.

[Delivered to J. Arakkis at his desk at the Seattle Times and at his apartment.]

( Delivery )

[Locked to L. Henry.]

Mr. Henry,

I know we haven't spoken since our shared slice of pizza, but I thought I'd offer an open door and another slice if you ever need it. 

Sincerely,
Renard.

[Work e-mail to T. Brandon, after the article is posted.]

Mr. Brandon,

If there's anything I can do, let me know.  Thomas, Inc is in good hands, though I might be staying in my office more than usual. 

R. Todd

Are you somewhere safe? Is Amanda with you?

[To J Arakkis at his work email]
How does it feel, Arakkis?