I Moderate (i_moderate) wrote in we_archive, @ 2006-03-24 12:54:00 |
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Entry tags: | bruce wayne, harvey dent, matt murdock |
i_prosecute Passing the bar [open to Bruce Wayne, Matt Murdock, other business types]
Harvey Dent had yet to master the navigation of the City, but he had a sixth sense when it came to finding the bars where business folk went to unwind.
This one, nestled at the foot of the City Industries Tower, was unimaginatively named "the Foot of the Tower." It was largely decorated in flat black and mirrored surfaces, and filled with all sorts of important-looking people. Harvey walked up to the bar, ordered a scotch on the rocks, and found a seat where he could see the people coming and going. There had to be someone here he recognized.
From: [info]i_object Date: 03/24/2006 14:57:22
Armed with the business card he found on his refridgerator, Matt had been on the hunt for his law office all day. He'd started in the morning - first wandering fairly close to his apartment, then eventually spreading out a few more blocks. By now, he'd managed to find what sounded like the financial district, which he gleaned from conversations around him. Always aware of the direction in which he was headed and where he had been, he was being more cautious than usual.
But being cautious had led to frustration. He needed to take a break from the search. Following the smell of food and stale alcohol, and the clatter of dishes, he found a bar. Dressed in his suit and tie, he was sure to fit in with the patrons. The only thing that made him stand out were his dark glasses and cane. He found the bar, ordered a martini, and remained there. Concentrating and listening, his cane folded and placed beside him on the bar as he sipped his drink, he scanned the room for conversations. There had to be someone in this bar discussing recent cases in the City...
From: [info]i_prosecute Date: 03/24/2006 15:31:47
Harvey was having no luck getting a foothold in this city. He'd have to find someone here he didn't know. The obvious choice was the blind gentleman at the bar. If he could make it here, there was certainly hope for Harvey.
He picked the empty seat next to the man's left and introduced himself.
"Hi. Harvey Dent. New in town. Used to be District Attorney in my home town."
He placed his right hand on the man's shoulder so he'd know where to reach, should he wish to shake hands.
From: [info]i_object Date: 03/24/2006 16:06:44
Matt had heard the man sit down next to him and turn towards him, but he wasn't expecting a hand on his shoulder. Or rather, your typical blind person might not dodge away from it due to sensing the air shift as the man brought his hand up, which Matt refrained himself from doing. Frowning slightly, he offered the man his right hand.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Dent. Matt Murdock, defense attorney." He paused. "You said you're new in town? How long have you been here in the City?"
From: [info]i_prosecute Date: 03/25/2006 14:41:25
Harvey took a swig of his scotch while he tried to come up with a decent answer.
"Not long enough to make any friends, but not long enough to make any enemies, either," he said with a wry smile. "Defense attorney, you say? What's your ..." he stopped abruptly.
Was that Bruce Wayne? Or was this another of this City's cruel tricks? He got up to investigate, excited at the prospect of finding someone he knew - outside the guards, doctors, and nutcases in Arkham, of course. He caught himself and remembered he was in the middle of a conversation.
"Would you excuse me, Mister Murdock? I think I found an old friend. Won't be two seconds."
From: [info]i_object Date: 03/25/2006 14:53:44
Matt nodded, taking a sip of his drink. The man seemed a bit overzealous to him. Like a used car salesman. There was something about that in his voice.
Turning to face the bar, he half contemplated making a quiet get-away. Instead, he remained where he was, listening in on the conversation taking place a few seats down from him.
From: [info]i_crusade Date: 03/25/2006 13:15:07
He'd put in his time at work. He had yet more Work to do, waiting at home. It was very strange that his footsteps took him to the bar on the first floor of City Industries Tower, and stranger still that he felt compelled to walk inside. He entered the darkened bar, shadows chasing over the wall before him as he did. Behind him, the sun was setting rapidly. A brief scan of the place set off no alar--
His eyes fell on the two figures at the bar. The second man's face in profile was. Familiar. The razors in his throat tasted like guilt; the ones in his heart were alarm, but they sharpened his senses, tensed his shoulders under that suit of his, and prepared him.
But it should be scarred... That side should be scarred.
Two-Face. No. Not Two-Face, not yet anyway. Harvey Dent. His old friend... The one lost to madness. The one lost to Bruce's own inability to keep him protected.
Was this the elusive Second Chance?
Bruce stepped forward, plastered on his perfected devil-may-care smile, and slid into a chair a few seats down from Harvey, just within his line of sight, should he turn and look over the shoulder of his drinking companion. He himself didn't glance over, pretended not to know that he was there.... He was just an average billionaire, ordering a drink.
"Martini, shaken, no olive."
From: [info]i_prosecute Date: 03/25/2006 14:40:10
Harvey practically bounded over to Bruce. Making sure he didn't disrupt his friend's drink, Harvey slapped him hard on the back.
"Bruce! My god, what the hell are you doing here?"
From: [info]i_crusade Date: 03/25/2006 15:13:19
Feigning surprise at the zealous pat on the back, Bruce set his drink down on the countertop, turned and --
"Harvey! You old rapscallion, I could ask you the same thing! It's good to see you! How long have you been here? When did you get here? You're coming to dinner tonight! Clear your schedule, clear your little dayplanner, throw out your Blackberry. You're coming over tonight, and I won't take 'no' for an answer!"
All of it feigned, but done in exactly the manner Bruce would have done, had it been years ago.... Had Two-Face not arrived yet. But the handshake he gave him, the slap on the shoulder, that was genuine enough.
The truth was, Harvey Dent was the first good thing that the City had shown him, to his recollection, the first twist in reality that he wanted to embrace whole-heartedly.
He didn't. There was still the possibility of danger. Still the possibility of betrayal. Harvey Dent wasn't Two-Face yet, but if there was such a thing as Fate, then they all had to work within it. No, he could not embrace this Harvey Dent with no qualms, no hesitation.
But he wanted to.
From: [info]i_prosecute Date: 04/02/2006 13:56:12
"Fair enough, Bruce. Fair enough," replied Harvey.
He knew Bruce well enough to tell when he had something on his mind. His smile seemed a little more forced, his voice a little louder. He never pushed Bruce to reveal anything, though, as he discovered long ago that his friend always did things on his own terms.
Maybe this dinner was an excuse to let him in on some personal matter. Maybe Bruce had some idea of what was going on in this city. Either way, Harvey had to know.
From: [info]i_crusade Date: 04/02/2006 20:14:23
"Perfect," he said, checking his watch. "It's five-twenty now. I imagine you're just winding down from work, and I'm sure you'll want to get out of those clothes and into something more comfortable. Casual dress, as always. I'd give you directions, but it seems that all you have to do here is think about where you want to be, and the streets lead you there. How's seven o'clock sound for you?"
It gave Bruce enough time to do some research before his guest arrived.