maskormenace | video;

[ The video is accidental, and Bruce has no idea he's doing it or he'd be horrified. Well, More horrified, because this is not the face of a happy little boy. He's pale, wide eyed, shaking, and dressed in the most adorable tiny tuxedo. He's terrified, this child, shell-shocked, disoriented--he's been dropped in right in the middle of an empty street, in daytime, not night, in a city he's never seen, a world he doesn't know.

He's just watched his parents die, in front of him, and now this--this. He doesn't understand it, he's confused and lost, his eyes red and bloodshot, wet with tears as he paws at the device in his pocket, the only thing he has with him. It's like a phone, he realizes, quickly, but not that he's on video, far too frightened to think things through. ]

Hello? [ He bleated, sniffling, before pressing on again. ] I need... I need help. My mom and dad... I need to get back. They're... They can't be...

[ He rubs his dripping nose, then back the other way, scrubbing at his eyes. ]

Please, I don't know where I am. I want to go home.

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[ Ok, cue someone who's bad at kids but he knows what name that is and this is a bad situation. ]

Hey, hey. It'll be okay, uhhh, do you know anyone you can call?

[ Please say Alfred. Where the shit is Alfred? ]

[ There's a picture in the phone, and Bruce startles at the sight of it, the sobbing slowing as a result of his surprise. ]

I-I... [ He's really not very capable of thinking logically right now. He's learned his emergency numbers, but as far as actually using them goes, all the names and numbers have slipped his mind. ]

There's Alfred, [ he finally says, shakily. ] He's our butler.

[Oh no, the poor child. Euphie quickly picks up her communicator.] Sh... it's all right, it's all right. We're here to help.

I can come try to find you. Do you see anything interesting around you? A landmark?

Do you -- have you tried to call him? You can use your phone, and see if he's there...

[ Which is a lot less creepy than him pinging the network for it. ]

Do you -- Do you have any idea where you're at? Any landmarks you can point out so someone can get you?

[ This is all literally memorized from all those little speeches he had to give about safety to elementary school kids. ]

My--my phone?

[ Everything is very confusing, but this thing he's talking into now is sort of like a phone. Is that what he means? If so, Bruce isn't sure he knows quite how to dial a number into it. Mitch, you are much too used to Bruce Wayne knowing how to technology. This one thinks rocks are the best toys ever. ]

I don't know. [ So useful. ] I can smell doughnuts. It could be anywhere in Gotham, I don't know. [ But he picks the phone up, and squints at it wetly, and there's a view of an average De Chima street behind him. ]

It's a street. I don't know--I can smell doughnuts.

[ It's a legitimate landmark for a child, okay. Besides, a moment later he's shaking his head quickly, blinking tears out of his eyes to squint at the pretty young woman on the video. ]

It can't--it can't ever be alright. They're...

[ He can't even say it. If not for the communicator, and the weird city, and daytime, he wouldn't even be talking at all, but he's lost and scared, and trying very hard to get back, to get home. ]

It'll be okay, shh. [She tries to assure him. She doesn't know who "they" are, or what happened, but her first priority is to find this poor thing.] Do you see the doughnut store sign? Are there any street signs around you, that you can tell me what they say?

I'll be there as soon as I can.

No, it's --

I think you -- [ God this is going to sound creepy no matter what he does. ]

I think... from your street out there, you're by the "What you knead" donut place. It's not -- the city isn't Gotham, it's a place called De Chima. I can't really say "Don't freak out" but...

Don't freak out? We're all trapped here.

[ Oh, dear. ]

Where is "back"?

[ WHAT is the DEAL with all these weird babies all of a sudden? But the name is Bruce Wayne and even if they aren't pals, another version of him did right by her. And if weirdo baby Wayne is crying about his parents, well, that's a Gotham problem.

Plus, crying kids are really ... Really something. ]

Whoa, whoa. Remember to breathe. Hey. Hi. I'm Harley. I'm from Gotham.

Can you tell me where you are? Do you see any street signs?

Where are your mom and dad?

[Oh, no. Another child drawn into this mess? Max would do whatever she could to help.]

[ ~~Horrible.~~ ]

We were leaving the theater, there was a man there... I didn't mean for it to happen! I'll go back! I won't be afraid!

[ Boatload of denial, there. ]

You're--you're from Gotham?

[ She looks nice. Says the terrified child, who would attach himself to anyone who looked friendly at this very second, to be honest. He hiccups and breathes, and looks around. ]

I--I don't know. I can't see any. [ To be honest, he doesn't actually know where to look for street signs, he's eight, and closeted. And if she notices he doesn't really look when she asks him to, just sort of looks off in front of him for a second, then back again. ]

[ She pinches the bridge of her nose. Children are useless. ]

Okay. Okay, sweetie, just look around you and tell me what you see. Can you move the camera around, slowly, so I can see too? If we can figure out where you are, then I'll come to you. Alright?

[ Bruce goes very pale, and for a few seconds he doesn't say anything, and then--so very quietly: ]

They're...they're back in the alley.

[ Another long pause, and then quieter, with disbelief: ]

That man shot them.

[ Flynn gives him a reassuring smile. ] Hey, man. What's your name?

[Holy shit. Max's heart tears for the poor boy. What a horrible time to be brought here.]

Where are you? Are you hurt?

[She means injured, but...]

I've never even heard of De Chima, and I know all my state capitals!

[ His eyes only get wetter. Because really, Mitch? Don't freak out? He is really, really freaking out. It's like telling someone not to sneeze when they're on a roll. ]

I want my parents.

The man says it's called "What You Knead", but I've never heard of it. I've never heard of De Chima.

[ He wraps one of his arms around himself. Even in the spring sunshine, the shock is making him feel cold. His hands are shaking. ]

Who are you?

Okay.

[ He's reassured by that, and so very, very carefully he picks the camera up, raising it and turning it around, so that she can see. He's standing in the mouth of an alleyway, by a bright De Chima street, right in the middle of the CBD. There's a shoe shop and a laundrette on the opposite side of the road, all the storefront that is visible. ]

Is that--is that okay?

No, I'm... [ And suddenly he bursts thoroughly into tears, speaking through the sobs desperately. ] --I didn't get hurt at all!

It's my fault. I should be the one...

I...

[ Okay. Okay, he can try. He rallies a little. ]

Bruce. Bruce Wayne.

Hey, Bruce. My name's Flynn. Flynn Lambert.

Are you on your own? Do you want some company?

Well, uh -- it's different here, like...

Do you like sci-fi?

Edited 2016-03-28 19:27 (UTC)

Yes, that's great. That's perfect, you did a very good job. I can work with that.

[ Probably. ]

Alright, it's gonna take me a little bit but I will be there as soon as I can. If anybody you don't feel good about tries to make you go anywhere you don't want to, start screaming like crazy and hit 'em in the crotch as hard as you can. Got it?

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