video;

[the_caped_crusader]

[ a familiar face to some, bespoke and sitting in an immaculate and impressive office overlooking the city of de chima. he looks incredible, of course, but anybody familiar with him-- really familiar with him-- will notice the dark lines under his eyes. ]

Good afternoon, everyone. Some of you may know me already, but for those of you who are new, my name is Bruce Wayne, CEO of Wayne Enterprises in De Chima. Usually, I only ever use this thing as a way to announce some significant work that you should be expecting to see in the following months, and this is no different from any of those. If you'll bear with me, I'll only take a few minutes of your time.

In my home city of Gotham, we have a rather... antiquated opinion on mental health in our community. In particular, the most egregious of this idea is Arkham Asylum, once known as Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane. I won't bore you with specifics, but from the name alone, you can conceive an idea about how a practice like this operates, Gothic and looming on the outskirts of my city. I've always taken a particular... interest in the area of mental health, and we all understand that mental illness is not specific to any one city, but exists as a constant all around the world, and one that we need to stay vigilant in recognizing and nurturing.

For the past year, my company has also been expanding into Maurtia Falls, through careful planning with its mayor Peter Baelish when he was here. In that past year, we've seen a significant decrease in crime and poverty as we bring new jobs and healthcare to the city without any of the controversies accompanied by gentrified displacement. My company will continue to work hard to sustain that effort in all of the imPort cities, especially to fill the economic void left by Mr. Stark, but I digress. During my visits there, I was inspired by The Maurtia Falls Psychiatric Hospital for Abnormal Conditions founded by Frederick Chilton years ago. In particular, his focus on community engagement caught my notice. As Dr. Chilton is no longer here, I'm inspired to continue his work and bring something like it to De Chima in the form of The Wayne Behavioral Health Clinic. My vision for this is a state of the art mental health clinic that is open to both imPorts and the native community, in the hopes that all of us can understand each other in a greater, more empathetic capacity. As we establish ourselves, I also hope to be able to work with other imPort run health facilities, like Dr. Chilton's aforementioned clinic, and The O'Malley Research Hospital and Clinic in De Chima run by the very talented Iris West.

Additionally, it's important to note that while this is a place of healing, we will also be outfitting it safely with power dampeners manufactured through The Justice League, so that metahumans-- imPorts-- with both mental health issues and superpowers will have little to fear from a session with our psychiatrists that may cause them sudden distress, or any subsequent and unintentional use of abilities. I like to work fast, so if we're able to stay on track with our estimated timeline, you can all expect this to be available to any of you who require it within the next few months. If you have questions or concerns regarding anything I've had to say thus far, please don't hesitate to respond to me here. That is, after all, what this is here for.

Comments

voice;

[batricide]

[ oh come on. damian reads this and feels that sharp, stabbing feeling of rage that usually precedes a stupid decision or a fight. ]

Great. And what are you going to do when you don't screen thoroughly enough and some lunatic starts messing with all these vulnerable people? Or when someone checks themselves in specifically to break the system?

[the_caped_crusader]

Power dampeners aren't a system, Damian. They're complicated devices, and even if they managed to disable one, the others around the facility would more than suffice to keep their abilities in check until they could be subdued.

[hatestrashcans]

I'm not a freaking metahuman. I'm human. Full stop.

And yeah, I have a question: Are you going to make any of this research available or are you just going to expect us to trust you and your hiring process? How are you going to account for the fact that imPorts not only have substantially different life experiences but also in a lot of cases different cultural backgrounds or even biology?

Also as a member of the fucked up imPort contingent, I'm not sharing my vulnerabilities in a place where my morphing doesn't work. I don't see how removal of agency and powerlessness is supposed to make us feel more at ease.

[the_caped_crusader]

This is a mental health clinic, not a general hospital, but you can expect that inpatient care will be supervised by trained psychiatrists, and provided by psychiatric nurses and group therapists.

If your abilities are a necessity for your survival, that will be determined and accounted for during your initial consult, but if you use them counterproductively or as maladaptive coping, then the clinic exists to help you use them in a more broadly effective way.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Well now you've definitely gotten some attention here, Mr. Wayne. Very thoughtful attention.]

I find myself compelled to ask a series of questions here, Mr. Wayne. First and foremost being the means by which you're seeking to dampen powers. Are we talking localized regions within the facility via means of anchored devices, or more individualized suppression devices worn about the individual's person.

Secondly, when you discuss the concept of mental health issues you specifically speak to the employment of psychiatrists. Will these individuals be encouraged to address problems with traditional psychotherapy as well, or are you seeking to serve the needs of the community through focus on administration of medication alone? In the long term there is much to be said for the value of talk therapy in opposition or addition to medication, but there have always been those parts of the psychiatrist community that have put a heavy weight upon medicating problems and not addressing the stressors that come along with conditions.

Thirdly, using the term Metahuman is exclusive toward those to whom the term does not properly apply, such as myself, who was born a mutant. The terms by which one self-identifies is important in the healing process. While I do applaud your correction to the term imPort, I advise caution in the Future if you wish to avoid potential issues with future patients and interested parties.

Finally, are you hiring?

[the_caped_crusader]

Both. Primarily, anchored devices will be installed throughout the facility, but for imPorts who require their abilities to live, individual devices will be networked so that they don't interfere with any necessary biologic processes.

As to your second concern, medication is typically used in an assistive role to traditional counseling, especially in regards to opiate addiction and generalized anxiety, and we'll be using a medication-assisted treatment program. Research shows that medication and therapy can successfully treat many disorders, but we're not here to use them as some lazy fix-all.

You'll have to excuse me, then. Metahuman is often a term used to describe those with superhuman abilities on my world, but I'll keep it in mind to be more careful with my choice of language in the future. And while we will be hiring, as you might expect, the hiring process will be a little more discerning than it is with many of my other businesses. Let's speak a little later on about it, if you'd like.

[Private video]

[mysterioisthetruth]

I have some technology that would be very useful to your facility.

I never met the Tony Stark here, however the one I knew from my world put extensive funding into my project and used it for personal therapy. It could help many people here, I'm certain of that.

[the_caped_crusader]

Care to elaborate, mister...?

video

[solarcharged]

[ Hm. Hmmm. The majority of this was absolutely fine until that one small detail... ]

You have access to power dampeners?

[the_caped_crusader]

That's right.

[ video ] »

[divaricate]

[ Blah blah rich people doin' rich things, as noble as the efforts may be; sure, the name Bruce Wayne doesn't make her internally hiss like the name Tony Stark does.

The irony is that even though Tony had been from a different-but-similar universe than her own, and was probably as much of a shitheel there as he was in hers, he'd been here A Fucking Long Time ... and in a weird way, it is very disconcerting to know he is not any more, just because of the years he'd spent here. And the fact that they had maybe, like, three civil conversations here, which was an impressive feat for them. Making her feel disconcerted about her feelings of being disconcerted was probably his way of a final 'fuck you and your magic and especially your crazy ass family' to her. Thanks, iron asshole.

So, obviously Wanda is here to focus on the part Bruce said he wasn't focusing on: ]

Seriously? 'Asylum for the Criminally Insane' absolutely sounds like a place where they do trepanation to let out the evil spirits that obviously — [ note the heavy sarcasm in her tone ] — cause mental health issues, and then maybe slap a leech on you to cleanse your blood after.

[ FOR REAL. ]

[the_caped_crusader]

It's not that bad, Wanda. It's just not very good either. Unfortunately, the Arkhams are as old and established a family as the Waynes or Kanes are on my world. Over time, it's become as much as an institution in Gotham as my family's company. And as one of the only still-standing psychiatric hospitals primarily used for superpowered, mentally ill criminals, the government and the public are wary of doing much about it.

[restingstitchface]

[Well, this is interesting.

Never will he admit his own considerations for his mental health, but if he did he couldn't imagine anyone better to do that little chit-chat.]

Congratulations, Mr. Wayne.

[Coming from him, that's a lot.]

[the_caped_crusader]

Thank you, Jonathan.

[criminallysane]

Typical. Everyone's going back and forth with all this faux-philosophical PR nonsense, but nobody's asking the really important questions!

Like: Will it have a pool?

[hatestrashcans]

Betting or swimming?

[Video, Private]

[mem0ry]

Will there be... could you maybe tell me if there will be people there to help, ah, younger imPorts with problems? I'm...

[Lain curls up into herself, clutching her stuffed toy dog closer. She's 12, but in moments like these, pale and small and uncertain, she looks younger.]

I have schizophrenia. I think. And I had a therapist, back home, but here, I don't know where to go.

[the_caped_crusader]

Absolutely.

[ a pause. ]

Are you... alright? Is there someone you're seeing now?

Video

[choosetruth]

[On the one hand, mental health care is an important and honestly a better way to fight crime than punching. Not that Georgia plans to participate, of course, but she can acknowledge it’s a good idea and still not do it.

On the other hand, she lives on the internet. She knows who Bruce Wayne is. She’s not sure the guy who dresses up like a bat and punches people should be the one to talk about mental health.

Her biases inevitably will color her opinion, but that won’t stop her from getting all the facts. She adjusts her sunglasses and fixes Bruce with a sharp look.]

Is power dampening necessary? Considering how many people’s issues may be with those powers specifically, it seems counterproductive.

[the_caped_crusader]

Whether it be an addiction or repulsion to them, it's possible to discuss their issues with them without their presence. Considering the alternative, a psychotic episode that causes an outburst of someone's power, especially one with the possibility of injuring many people, I'm much more comfortable with the former.

Action

[adultwonder]

[You know Dick was trained by the world’s greatest detective because he’s managed to track Bruce down. To his office that he’s very visibly sitting in. Whatever works.]

This what you’ve been so busy with?

[He’s in costume, lurking in the shadows. He learned that trick from Bruce.]

[the_caped_crusader]

[ bruce is relaxing back in his chair, rubbing his forehead; his tie and the top button of his shirt are undone. ]

Your point?

Encrypted Video

[bodilesswarrior]

[Dammit, Bruce. She's spent like a week stewing in bitter exasperation, completely unsure what exactly to do with it, and then you pull this?

Her smile is wry, but it's also deeply admiring. This is the part of Bruce that she's missed so desperately.] First of all, you need to stop making it so hard for me to be mad at you.

Second, what about imPorts who need help coming to terms with their powers?

Third, the government's dampening tech doesn't work on the native metahumans. You'd need something else, if any of them came to the clinic.

[the_caped_crusader]

[ he rubs his forehead. ]

I stand by my opinion that around others, their abilities may bring a greater danger to those around them should they be used uncontrolled. But... [ he shakes his head. ] A lot of you feel strongly about this. Maybe I can add a separate location on site. A reinforced therapeutic unit for individual cases. Something similar to the reinforcements I used to construct the Hall of Justice.

As far as native metahumans are concerned, the League already has that covered. Cisco Ramon and I were able to construct separate devices some time ago based off of the existing imPort nullifiers.

Video

[drivesadesk]

Yeah, mental health facilities sound great. Not sure about the power dampening when some of us have powers like 'being the species we already were', but I get why you'd want that for some of the people with more dangerous powers.

Anyway, about that comment on filling the economic void left by Mr. Stark...are you open to hiring his former employees? Not for the mental hospital stuff, just in general.

[the_caped_crusader]

As I mentioned, they wouldn't be necessary for any imPort or native metahuman who require their powers for their identity or livelihood, and after some discussion with a colleague of mine, I think I may be able to compromise on that.

As for your second question, we're always hiring. Whether it be for Wayne Enterprises or one of it's subsidiaries. What is it you do exactly, Mr. Walsh?

video;

[redcosmedic]

A truly inspiring speech, though it does gloss over the whole problem of those which are most likely to need the help are among the least likely to seek it voluntarily.

[the_caped_crusader]

As with any mental health program, unfortunately. Informed consent and a qualified right to refuse treatment is a very important protection of human rights.

video

[am_i_a_monster]

The dampener thing is messed up. For people who've gone through trauma, being made to feel vulnerable is really scary. Having their powers taken, even if it's just for a session, would make it even harder to get the help they need.

[the_caped_crusader]

We're working with an idea of a secured unit on site that would allow for individual sessions without dampeners, but in the main facility, the concern is keeping everybody safe first and foremost.

[madlove]

Surely there’s a spot for someone with my expertise, you big hunk o’burning hot money.

orz for the late response

[the_caped_crusader]

That depends, am I talking to Harleen or am I talking to Harley right now?

encrypted video;

[cassassin]

... It's a good idea. [ cass definitely needs a new therapist, too. there's no resentment or anything else bubbling to the surface, she's just not sure where they stand. ]

Are you still at Wayne Tower?

[ translation: do you have time to meet ]

[the_caped_crusader]

Here until the sun sets. You know the drill.

[bifroster]

[Bruce Wayne. Oh god, she really was in a comic book world. Batman was here! Superboy was here! Who else was going to show up? She's already aware she missed Tony Stark, but there was a high chance that he was from a different timeline if the histories and records were to be believed.]

I have a number of questions, if you don't mind.

How much would the sessions cost? I haven't seen anyone mention health insurance since coming here.

And I am pretty sure that there are going to be a lot of questions about the power dampeners and what specific disciplines of psychology your psychiatrists will be using. Might you consider a FAQ page?

And finally, are there any official government boards that you will be associated with? Someone to provide standards, oversight, and a place to contact in the event of malpractice or other concerns?

[Because someone always dealing with this stuff in-house is ... concerning.]

[the_caped_crusader]

The clinic will operate as a non-profit, although all medical staff will be paid by my company personally to retain them as employees.

As to your second question, imPorts are welcome to join so long as they're able to pass an extensive vetting process. Any other clinic staff will be privately scouted through my company from accredited hospitals around the world. A FAQ is reasonable, but you likely won't see anything until well into the construction process.

Considering the clinic will be imPort run and partially employeed, the government here will be keeping a close eye on our operation, though we're answerable to QIOs and the Joint Commission like any other health care institution would be. Malpractice, likewise, would be handled through the medical board and the individual's attorney.

[fridgeflower]

Oh, good. I've been thinking about going back to therapy.

[ A little dry. It's probably not a terrible consideration, but also? Pfffft.

Not that she'd say that out loud. Or raspberry it, rather. ]

We're a tough community to accommodate. I'm glad you're giving it a shot, and that you're listening to people here.

[the_caped_crusader]

So I've gathered. I'm no doctor, so in the end the best thing I can do is take my advice from the community itself and the medical staff who will be supporting them.

[ maybe not a doctor on paper, i mean... ]