[open!]

[cowled]

Characters: Bruce Wayne
Location: Whichever sector you fancy.
Situation: Bruce is braving the increasing hostility of the kedan radicals to be his usual arrogant, playboy self out in the public sector.
Warnings/Rating: None yet! To be updated if anything occurs.
Notes: I'll do action or prose with equal verve, so hit me with whatever you'd like. Just pop a note in your subject line about which Sector you want and off we go!






[Reconnaissance is more or less his superpower. He's reached the end of Devin Craig's immediate usefulness, and Batman can only do so much from the shadows. Sometimes, the man for the job is the one he feels least like being: Bruce Wayne.

The blood tests he took from the site of the executions were inconclusive. Hard to do much without the resources to run them through the proper battery of tests. The blood has abnormally low levels of albumin, but beyond that it's structurally similar to that of a human. Close cousins. It doesn't have any of the same markers in common with other shapeshifters he's encountered, and he can't do more without proper equipment.

What he does know is that the scraps of cloth he gathered from the bodies are congruent to fabric samples of the upper east side in the Fire Sector, which at least confirms their territory. A night's tracking lead him to the headquarters of the Black Kirin, formerly one of the most affluent presences in the sector. The place had been left in ruins, and was still a smouldering mess when he found it. Any insignia the gang had used to identify themselves had been smothered with graffiti, torn or burned.

Turf wars.

Not a thought he likes to entertain. Not when he doesn't know the locals, the customs, the movers and shakers of the underworld. Handling such events in Gotham takes every ounce of his not inconsiderable resources and the marshalling of everyone in his network. He has to operate differently here.

But that isn't why he's out here today. Today, he has business of a different sort to conduct. He needs to start amassing capital. Lieuen's little show of wealth wasn't impressive so much as tasteless and wasteful, and Bruce still hasn't abandoned the idea that the entire execution was staged between Lieuen and Evandau. But the question is - was it for the benefit of the kedan, or the 'foreigners'?

And what did they mean about saving? Everyone he's asked about it has been maddeningly vague, to the point that he's considering finding some unsavoury individual and holding them upside down off the tallest building in the Metal Sector.

Hm.

Still. For the time being, he's speaking with shop-owners, negotiating where necessary. He's chatty, amicable. If he happens across any foreigners, he'll smile and wave. Bruce Wayne, ladies and gentlemen. He's a charmer.]

Comments

[flawedgoods]

Where you're from, I gather.

[Favrielle looks over at him, trusting him to steer her out of the way of any obstacles for a moment.]

What is it like?

[cowled]

[Trust well placed. He's good at this sort of thing.]

Oh, it's...

[He laughs a little bit, a soft noise.]

Gotham, really. It's a beautiful city. I've lived there most of my life, and there isn't another place in the world I'd rather call home. But it's... sad, too. Sad and old. I-- ah, watch your step--

[There's a child's toy in the middle of the road, and he skirts them around it.]

Say what you will, it's certainly one of a kind. But it's not for everyone, and believe me when I say that I understand completely when other individuals would rather avoid it. It's something of an acquired taste.

[And he'll defend it to the death, if needs be.]

[flawedgoods]

[He doesn't say it outright, and perhaps her observations are subjective, but to Favrielle it seems as if he's saying he loves this city of his in spite of it's very obvious flaws. Perhaps even a little bit because of them, because she reasons as an acquired taste he's come to appreciate the things that aren't perfect and beautiful about it.

Of course, nostalgia and familiarity make people fond of things and consider them more positively than they deserve, so perhaps this is just her mind wandering away with her.

Still, she nods, giving quiet thanks as he steers her around something lying in the road. Favrielle watches where they're going more carefully as she replies.]

It sounds as if it has character, and no place is without its flaws. You must miss it a great deal, being here now.

[Elua knew she missed the City of Elua terribly and they'd only been gone days.]

[cowled]

A little, you might say.

[Oh look they are at that restaurant, how quaint. He holds the door open in a Most Gallant fashion and gestures for her to enter.]

But I travel a great deal in my line of work, so I'm used to being away from it.

[flawedgoods]

[Oh yes, very nicely done, Bruce. Favrielle responds with a smile and enters the restaurant. She's pleased to see that the kedan greet her with a smile, not any trace of hostility, and at their prompting, takes the seat at the table which puts her back to the wall.]

What is your line of work, exactly?

[cowled]

[And Bruce, with the aplomb that befits his station and belies none of his dislike at having his back to an open room, slides into the seat opposite her.]

I'm a businessman. You could say we don't have any one particular focus - my company does work in energy, medicine, agriculture--

[He leans back from the table as the kedan emerge with menus, and he smiles and thanks them graciously.]

-- And numerous other venues as well. It's a rewarding job.

[And he's not going to mention that it carries his last name just yet. His measure of Favrielle so far seems to imply that she wouldn't be able to stand being boastful.]

[flawedgoods]

[Ah. Favrielle knows somewhat of those with the means and influence to have their hands in several different areas. He calls himself a business man, but rather than saying "the man I work for" or "the company work for" he calls it his. It's not necessarily concrete proof that he's the owner, but it seems likely. Which, if true, would potentially make him a rich man back home, considering his company's interest in agriculture and medicine.

Favrielle takes her menu with a nod and thanks to the kedan and she opens it to browse, though half-heartedly as she considers Bruce longer.]

Very rewarding, I imagine, for you and those who work for you?

[She feels it's a safe bet to assume he's the man in charge, or high up enough to be wealthy. He carries himself with an assurance she's familiar with from the nobility and wealthy of the City of Elua. Of course, she's not intimidated. She may have neither wealth nor political influence, but she's seen them all stripped bare under her scrutinizing eye.]

[cowled]

[His smile is a little abashed, and he ducks his head.]

I like to think so.

[flawedgoods]

[She nods, expression showing perfect understanding.

Favrielle glances down at her menu before carefully setting it aside.]

The gentleman who held the festivals seemed open to the prospect of helping to facilitate those who would establish a business here in the city.

[cowled]

And I have considered that venue, but... I don't believe in taking shortcuts, Favrielle. There's no shortage of work to be done, and I've always found a cathartic sort of pleasure in being industrious with my own hands. I'd rather build something solid than borrow a house of cards from someone who may or may not prove trustworthy later. What do you think?

[He's not just asking her opinion for appearance's sake. He's genuinely curious in what she might have to say, and his body language is perfectly attentive.]

[flawedgoods]

[It's apparent from her expression that she's...rather surprised, and not unpleasantly so.]

I think you've managed to rather succinctly summarize my own thoughts on the matter. I had thought at one point to perhaps attempt to open my own shop here, as you've said, there's no shortage of existing work to do and my own strengths lie in things they might consider wasteful...

[Not to her of course, but Favrielle hardly wishes to antagonize the locals by putting out high quality gowns and outfits not suited for daily work.]

If I'm to reach that point again, better that I earn it. I've done so before and I could do so again.

[cowled]

I have every faith in your ability to do so.

[It's a genuine compliment, not the least bit patronizing.]

What is it you do, if I may be so bold?

[flawedgoods]

[He's talented indeed to say something like that and not get her hackles up. How the man can sound entirely genuine seems a bit of a mystery.]

I'm a clothier by trade, though my talents lie in finer, custom work for clients of my choice.

[She's that good that she can take her choice from among those who wish to commission a garment or wardrobe.]

[cowled]

That's marvellous.

[He puts one arm on the table and leans in just a touch.]

I have a particular fondness for well-made clothing. If I pass muster, might I interest you in taking me on as a client? Money is no object.

[Leaving the ball in her court? Most definitely.]

[flawedgoods]

[Favrielle wasn't entirely sure if this was just how he was normally, or if he was that good at sizing up people, but that he managed to be agreeable, flattering, without being obvious or obnoxious about it was a wonder. She thought absent-mindedly that he'd make a rather good Dowayne, if he'd been D'Angeline. He had the looks and social skills. Bryony, perhaps, or Dahlia.

Her gaze moved over him slowly, carefully. her eyes examined the lay of his clothing, the quality, the planes and contours she could distinguish beneath them, before moving up to his face. Her expression was calm, assessing, and neutral.]

I believe we could come to an agreement. What is it you'd require?

[cowled]

[He smooths his hands down over the lapels of his suit.]

Something in this style would be preferable, though I'd be perfectly willing to leave the finer design points to you. I don't mind the local custom, but-- I suppose I just prefer the familiarity of Armani.

[His smile is a little apologetic. He clearly doesn't like the idea of inconveniencing anyone on his behalf.]

[flawedgoods]

[Favrielle doesn't seem bothered by his preference in style, even if it is unfamiliar. Rather, it's exactly the kind of challenge she likes best.]

For something in that style, I'll likely need to borrow the garments for a time to get a sense of how they're constructed, but no more than a day or two.

[Her gaze moves from collar of his shirt, to the buttons, and then the cuffs. She nods.]

I could recreate other things from sketches as well, if you have a fair hand at drawing.

[cowled]

Oh, by all means. I can arrange to have them cleaned and sent to wherever is best to you at any time.

[He adjusts his cuffs, not quite self-consciously, though it may seem otherwise to a casual observer.]

I dabble a little in the arts. I'll see if I can manage something acceptable.

[flawedgoods]

[She nods as if that's precisely what he should offer. It wasn't as if she had her own staff to clean the garments for her while she attended to more important matters.

...not that she had more important matters to handle here, but she did prefer to stay focused on the larger tasks at hand.]

That would be fine, and what you lack in artistic detail you could make up for with descriptions and answers to any questions I have.

[Assertive? Yes.]

[cowled]

Of course. I'd be glad to.

[Oops, time to flag down a waiter to order, though he leaves it to her to go first. Manners and all.]

[flawedgoods]

[She orders, her usual actually, and offers her menu to the waiter after Bruce orders as well.]

Is it your goal to have replicas close to what you wear now? In style and material? I ask because it would influence my choices in design based on whether you're looking to stand out with what's native to your world, or blend in somewhat more with those from here.

[Clothing will make a statement, after all.]

[cowled]

I don't have any objections to standing out, but I'd rather not be ostentatious about it.

[Since. He stands out enough being 6'2 and as broad as he is.]

If you had no objection to marrying the two styles, I'd be interested in seeing the results.

[He lifts a glass of water in a sort of 'cheers' gesture and takes a small sip.]

[flawedgoods]

You prefer subtlety. [She nods with approval.] The locals might be curious to see a combination of their textiles and style combined with influence from your own clothing.

[Favrielle's fingers twitch. She wishes she had a pad of paper and some sort of drawing instrument with her.]

Do you have elsewhere you ought to be once we've eaten?

[cowled]

Nowhere pressing. What do you have in mind?

[He's all ears.]