Event | Turtle Dive | January 16 - 19 | Everything's better down where it's wetter~

[hazelwood]

Characters: Any and all PCs, plus an offering of Lieuen
Date: January 16th - 19th
Location: All Sectors
Situation: Tu Vishan begins to dive to the ocean floor and the city of Keeliai seems unbothered by the process. Bonfire funtimes are made available to all!
Warnings/Rating: Underwater situations; to be updated as noted

>See the comments of this post for various situations and areas available for tagging.
>Each header will be set for a date and/or area.
>A unique thread under the bonfires is available for discussions with Lieuen, should there be interested parties.
>Feel free to start your own header for specific situations.
>Refer to the two OOC posts for further details. 01 | 02

Comments

[cowled]

[Bruce makes a point of knowing every foreigner that arrives in Keeliai. He has a folder tucked away under the floor of his suite in a lead-lined box. The box has a lock that, if incorrectly primed, triggers a tiny localized detonation to destroy its contents.

And in that box there are detailed personnel files on everyone he's met, encountered, heard of or suspected as being present. Dangerous information, if you're anyone but the Batman.

And this girl? He's never seen her before.

She's obviously not a kedan, but she isn't anywhere near dazed enough to be brand new. Which means she's someone that's managed to escape his detection for several days at least, and that? That interests him.

So he piles a plate full of food, snags a glass (and an extra cup of cider, as a pretense) and heads over to say hello.]

You aren't exactly painting a picture of invitation, but do you mind if I join you?

[His tone and body language both suggest emphatically that if her answer is 'no' he'll leave.]

[tuskenlancer]

[CT glances up, frowning out of habit at the unfamiliar figure. She doesn't know him, and that instantly puts her on edge, but his posture's non-threatening enough that she relaxes slightly after a moment of looking him over.]

If you want.

[Her gaze flickers to the plate of food and the two glasses he's balancing, and then back to him, as she scoots over slightly to make plenty of room.]

[cowled]

Thanks. All the spots near the fire were taken, alas.

[But he flashes a charming smile as he takes the proffered spot, and carefully sets down his own glass so he can offer her the mug of cider without fuss.]

I took the liberty of bringing a sacrificial offering, in case asking nicely didn't work.

[tuskenlancer]

[She's not exactly charmed, not yet, but she does look at the mug with a mixture of amusement and interest, reaching her hands out to accept it.]

What if I'd asked you to kill a goat for me instead?

[cowled]

[He laughs.]

I'm squeamish about blood. Do you really want to see a grown man faint?

[tuskenlancer]

[WOW NOT TOO IMPRESSED. Civilian, she reminds herself, he's a civilian and they're allowed to be squeamish about blood. CT shrugs, still half-smiling in quiet amusement, but she glances away to set the cider carefully beside her on the bench. It may be an offering, but it's still a drink from a stranger, and she's not going to drink it just yet.]

I guess the cider will have to do.

[cowled]

[And he notes that caution with interest, though that interest is clandestine and covered by him plucking some small, deep-fried delicacy off his plate and popping it in his mouth.]

I'm Bruce. It's lovely to meet you.

[tuskenlancer]

Bruce.

[The name jogs a memory for her - she hasn't talked to too many people over the network, after all, considering how long she's been here, so it's not hard for her to remember individual conversations. Bruce had been asking her for a map of the mainland, back before she'd left, and another moment of studying his face confirms that yes, this is the same man.]

Bruce Wayne?

[cowled]

One and the same. You've caught me.

[He fetches his glass from where it was near his feet and gives a 'cheers' type gesture before he tosses a mouthful back. He doesn't seem particularly concerned at being recognized, given that as the resident Gothamite royalty, he can barely walk down the street unnoticed.]

[tuskenlancer]

I didn't realize you were hiding.

[She watches him, her own drink still untouched, still not quite sure what to make of him or of any of this. Bruce may be famous among the people from his world, but to CT, he's still just a guy she'd talked to on the network once, and who'd offered her a cider to be able to sit with her.

And who seems entirely unruffled at being recognized by who he should think is a complete stranger. CT frowns to herself.]

Nice to meet you too.

[cowled]

Hiding? Hardly. Not my style.

[Except when it is. Which is all the time. What's the best way to hide something? Put it in plain sight, dress it in Armani and rack up a reputation that would put the Hef to shame.]

So are you enjoying our little underwater adventure?

[tuskenlancer]

[Or go around in armor half the time, and delicately avoid giving any kind of name out whenever possible - which it seems she'd just managed to do. CT rolls her eyes a little, shaking her head as she glances around.]

I guess it could be worse.

At least there's no monsters this time.

[Yet.]

[cowled]

Or ghosts, or gangs.

[He says all that with an airy sort of indifference. He's been largely untouched by any such traumas, tyvm.]

I still think I'd prefer a yacht, in terms of aquatic transportation.

[tuskenlancer]

A yacht?

[Yeah this guy just screams spoiled civilian all over. CT has to fight not to roll her eyes.]

That wouldn't do you much good if the gangs or the monsters did attack.

[cowled]

Well, the plan is to be as far away from monsters or gangs as possible. Thus the yacht.

[He takes another drink, entertains a moment of brief pensivity.]

At least then we'd have control over our own fate in some small way.

[That 'we' implies that he'd be bringing people with him. Spoiled he may well be, but Bruce's public persona is very much a philanthropist as well.]

[tuskenlancer]

Until they catch up with you.

[And it's still you and not us, to her. She huddles slightly against the cold, and thinks longingly of her own cider, cooling beside her...but she's not ready to trust that drink just yet.

We doesn't make her think of philanthropy and rescue so much as this guy having some sort of an entourage, or assuming he wouldn't be alone, and she tilts her head at him, eyes narrowing just slightly.]

We?

[cowled]

[He smiles a little. It's unlike the ones he's used so far - this one actually seems quiet, genuine.]

I'm not in the habit of abandoning people.

[tuskenlancer]

[Hmm. CT notices that smile, watching him thoughtfully. Maybe he's worth reevaluating after all.

Maybe.]

Who are you planning to save?

[cowled]

Ideally, anyone who wants the help.

[But 'ideals' are rarely the reality. God knows he's seen it happen enough in the past.]

[tuskenlancer]

There's a lot of people here. That's a big yacht.

[It's a test, of course. What will you do, Bruce, if not everyone fits?]

[cowled]

[And he recognizes it for what it is, though he continues his feigned ignorance.]

I'm a rich man. The size wouldn't be a problem.

[tuskenlancer]

[Yeah that's avoidance, and she's done it herself enough to recognize it, but she's curious enough about his answer that she decides to pursue that instead. Rich? No one's rich here - they're all foreigners, and while it's certainly easy enough to make money, making a fortune is something else.]

How long have you been here?

[cowled]

I arrived about a month after the first 'foreigners' started showing up.

[Not true, but it was the first time he started announcing himself publicly as Bruce Wayne so he could distance himself from the concept of Batman.]

[tuskenlancer]

[Longer than CT's been here, then.]

So you've just been saving up for your yacht since then?

[cowled]

[A chuckle.]

Oh, you could say that, I suppose.