Video

[the_caped_crusader]

[Bruce had spent the afternoon wandering De Chima-- he found it odd. It fed off of the presence of imPorts, a title given to him unceremoniously upon arrival, while at the same time rebuffing their presence entirely. He judged the city critically; it was too bright, its grasses too green compared to the noisy, dirty, troubled city he called home. Even more uncomforting to him was seeing a skyscraper with a large "W" emblazoned on the side standing statuesque in the middle of the city proper. 

He had thought about just walking in, maybe taking his chances, but he was dressed in the wrong sort of suit for that and his cuff links were expensive. In the end, he settled for the only other option he had-- he pulled the small phone-like device from his pant pocket and considered it critically. Essentially, he didn't have a choice; the small screen illuminated with a projection of his face, and he addressed whatever-- whoever-- was on the other end.]

 

Wayne Enterprises has been a part of my family and Gotham's history for as far back as anybody can remember. I didn't grow up with an appreciation for that, but an understanding that it and Gotham's foundations were intrinsically connected since the beginning. It's why I'm so curious to see a building with my name on it in the middle of Virginia.

 

In the late 19th century my ancestor, Alan Wayne, along with other prominent families undertook the project of modernizing Gotham Township. It all started with Wayne Shipping, sometime during the early Industrial Revolution. In time, small businesses became large corporations bookended by my father, Thomas, who created the Wayne Foundation.

 

My point is that this company couldn't have continued to grow without the help of family. You do what you can to help an idea grow, but as time goes on, for that idea to survive, you have to let other people share your dream with you.

 

I think it's something I've had trouble accepting for a long time... even as my predecessors had been doing it for centuries before me. Eventually, the people that you care about carry your torch when you can't do it any longer.

 

I don't expect this story to matter to any of you. Gotham doesn't even exist here, but my company... does. My point was to talk about the importance of family. It's why my next question is so important...

 

I'm looking for mine.

Comments

Video

[liverletdie]

Aw.

[ Said with a slight twist of sarcasm. ]

You know, most people list names, when they're looking for people.

[the_caped_crusader]

[There's the slightest moment of dead air. In a part of him he doesn't like to admit to, his ego feeds off of people who think they're clever.]

You must be Tony Stark. I've heard a lot about you.

Video (slams it ALL down)

[viced]

Most of the time, when something is familiar, it normally means someone brought it over already -- either by you, or maybe your family already did the work for you.

But at the very least, the familiarity's gotta be nice, right?

[the_caped_crusader]

I don't like being unprepared. Regardless of who put this here, it saves me a lot of time.

video

[performance]

[ Dick wouldn't have gotten his hopes up this time — no, that's not true, of course he would have, because that's just who he is. But it's the word family that has him hoping for recognition he'd tried his best to train himself not to want.

So, cheerfully, doing his best to hide a dozen different worries and doing a pretty good job of it: ]

Do I get a prize for being first?

Re: video

[the_caped_crusader]

[He's surprised-- not something that happens often, Dick. He's not entirely shocked, though, as Ted had warned him about this earlier, but looking at Dick was like staring into very precious memories, and he can't help but feel a little nostalgic. He manages a tiny smirk.]

You've always been first, Dick. I think that's probably true for every world.

video;

[itistolaugh]

I can call you "daddy" if you want.

Re: video;

[the_caped_crusader]

Harley?

[Well, this is a surprise. Oh, Harley. Bruce hopes so much that you've been being good...]

video

[restingstitchface]

Protective.

[Small insights on behavior aside.]

I imagine everybody plucked here from Gotham is a family of sorts, Mr. Wayne.

[Including that side of the family nobody speaks about.]

Re: video

[the_caped_crusader]

Some families more than others, maybe... but true all the same, Mr...?

Video;

[exceptfebruary]

Just a few days shy of Labor Day. I wonder which Gotham you remember.

[ At this point, there are so few from his version of Gotham he's almost expecting disappointment. Not that the billionaire playboy was the top of his priorities, but Gotham was Gotham. ]

[the_caped_crusader]

[Julian Day. His day is just getting better and better-- no pun intended.]

I was hoping to come in a little closer to Halloween. It's always been more popular back home.

video;

[plucky]

I can't believe I came in second, but of course Dick got here first. Do over?

[the_caped_crusader]

[Like Dick, memories of Barbara when she was younger rush forth. Barbara was always amazing-- born to be Batgirl, unstoppable as Oracle-- she could do anything. Sometimes it scared even him.]

I learned a long time ago not to get between the two of you.

video;

[primadovea]

What?! How can you just be Ported in an already own a company, that's hardly fair!

[ owning a company = you're rich. At least, it does in Mint's mind. ]

[the_caped_crusader]

I was thinking the same thing.

[He says dryly. But Mint's instincts are correct-- Bruce is rich, but even though the company keeps him that way, Bruce is essentially old money.]

video

[canaria]

[Sara can understand the desire to want to find family.]

I haven't been here long, but I've been here long enough that I can tell you that people from different versions of similar universes get pulled here. I'd say there's a good chance of you finding some of your family here. Especially if someone's already been able to build up shop like that at some point. So, I hope you find some.

[She says that sincerely.]

I'm Sara Lance by the way. [An introduction is probably helpful.]

[the_caped_crusader]

Thanks, I think I'm starting to get that.

[Bruce says with a touch of dry sarcasm. He essentially has a bunch of teenagers he has to watch out for now. A decade ago he thought he was done with that. Fate sure was funny.

He stares for a minute. In a way, she reminds him of Dinah. Younger. He's not sure that he'd want to fight a younger Dinah.]

Bruce Wayne, it's a pleasure.

video

[juniberries]

This place takes many things from home, sometimes even making changes to it. Small changes. [and her wry look gives tell that she literally means small, but that's neither here nor there.] But I understand what you mean, about the importance of family.

I hope you find yours here. If they are here.

[the_caped_crusader]

I'm starting to get that. [He sounds tired about that.]

But, I've spoken to a few of them already.

video | ASSUMING THE TDM IS NON-GAME CANON lmk if that's not the case!!

[khajidont]

I think you'll find some family here, Mr. Wayne. And if not... you'll have family awfully soon.

[Does Dick know about this? Does this Bruce know Dick? He sure hopes so, if not only for poor Dick's sake. That guy deserves a family.]

Welcome to this world -- if you like, I think I can answer some of your questions about your company already being here. If you're lucky, maybe the boss-man will even give you an entry-level position.

[He's joking, of course. He has a funny feeling that Tim and Dick will be pushing this company onto Bruce in no time.]

No, we can start fresh!

[the_caped_crusader]

I think I'd like that, Jaime. Why don't you start by telling me who this 'boss man' is?

[Geez, do all of his interrogative questions sound so menacing?]

video; out of costume

[deadkord]

You know not every video on this thing has to be as wordy as some Wayne Enterprises press conference or magazine interview, right?

[ Forgive his teasing, he's still genuinely happy to see Bruce. ]

[the_caped_crusader]

You know, I usually have those written for me. I was on my own for this one. Too long?

video;

[heliophilic]

See, this place has a nasty habit of grabbing people from alternate timelines just to shake things up a bit. Can't have things go stale, after all. Sometimes it's the same timeline, only you just don't remember being here. I regret to inform you--some form of you--was here before.

Isn't that a fun thought?

[the_caped_crusader]

You're the first person to tell me that.

[Bruce sounds put-out; frustrated. It's not necessarily that he's ungrateful that whatever past version of him was here might have done all of this, but it makes things endlessly more complicated for him.

He's encountered parallel versions of himself-- not necessarily of Bruce Wayne, but of Batman-- in the past... and none of them were pleasant to deal with. This stranger tells him one thing and immediately he has to consider every possibility-- who he talked to, what he built here, what kind of precautionary measures were in place that he, and Dick and the others, don't know about.

It's not something he can't overcome, it's just frustrating.]

video;

[shifting]

Always nice to hear someone else sharin' your views. 'Specially on family. Too many people take each other for granted when at the end of the day, who we tie ourselves to's all we've really got in this world. [a pause.] Or any other.

I'm glad you seem to already have some people here for you.

[the_caped_crusader]

I've been guilty of that in the past-- being too proud. Do something for long enough and eventually you forget what's really important. But I think you're right.

video

[jacksonian]

[ Mark has lots of opinions on all that stuff about family - or, well, not opinions, but feelings - really strong feelings - but like hell he is going to let anyone know those feelings. Especially people on the network. So, instead, he offers a broad, smug smile, says: ]

There's another option, of course. You can always sell that company of yours.

[ This kid on the video looks like a junior businessman: fancy suit, slicked-back hair. He also looks insufferable. ]

[the_caped_crusader]

If you think that's an option then you haven't been listening.

[Bruce recognizes a rich little shit when he sees one. He's been around the block one too many times.]

[video]

[timecapture]

If I see them, I'll tell you. [She misses her mom and dad.]

What do they look like?

Re: [video] (backdated a bit earlier before they started responding)

[the_caped_crusader]

I guess that depends on when they're from, from what I've heard.

[He pauses. Gives it a little thought.]

A little like me, I guess. Black hair, blue eyes. I guess that's not a lot of help.

audio; private (network tag is Tim Drake-Wayne)

[alreadywon]

[Somewhere up in that tower with the familiar W emblazoned on it, Tim is having a quiet freak-out. His first instinct is to just run out the building and find Bruce in person, but his better instincts override that: slow down. He might not even know you. This could be a Bruce from another universe, or from earlier in the timeline, or it could even be Hush in disguise. (Maybe that last option is a little overly paranoid, but wasn't it Bruce that taught him not to just discard the possible worst-case scenario?)

Besides, he's a mess of conflicting emotions right now, and that's not really the first impression he wants to make no matter what Bruce this is. He ends up sitting and breathing and watching some other responses come in before he finally tries to talk.]

...Bruce? [It comes out way more cautious than he intended. He may be bracing himself internally for bad news, but it wasn't supposed to show.]

Re: audio; private (network tag is Tim Drake-Wayne)

[the_caped_crusader]

[His response is the polar opposite-- just as casual as he can possibly be.]

Hey, Tim.

private; id:Stephanie Brown

[ichoosefight]

Hi Bruce. 'Sup?

[ Yes, this is emotionally fraught and nothing will ever be the same! Except that kind of describes her whole life, so... ]

private; video

[the_caped_crusader]

Late as usual. No question you're the Stephanie I know.

video | id reads "karen starr"

[boobwindow]

[ Karen's seated in her very own office, a humble view of the city behind her. She offers Bruce a cheeky grin. ]

Look who the Porter dragged in.

video

[the_caped_crusader]

Hello, Karen.

[Bruce has seen enough of the city and talked to Ted, so while he doesn't know the extent of Starrware, he knows of it.]

I see you've been busy.

video »

[trigeminalheadache]

[ It's the end of her work day and usually that means she's out of there like she has Barry's superspeed. But she's also been out on medical leave for a month or so, and while she isn't 100% yet, she is lingering to take care of paperwork.

Okay, so this isn't paperwork, but she deserves breaks too. ]

It's entirely likely that you've been here before, and for a substantial amount of time, too, if previous you had established your company and built a sizable building like that. [ Pause. ] Wayne. I know a Tim Drake-Wayne, if that at all sounds familiar.

[the_caped_crusader]

Well, I suppose that's either disconcerting or fortunate, depending on how you look at it. But Tim is my son.

Private - video

[backinakidflash]

[ Bart is putting forth a real effort for this. Locked down - check. Street clothes - check. Double check, because he remembered to pocket the Flash ring. He's outside and in De Chima where he should be. He can't do anything about the red hair and yellow eyes.

It's not his fault Beetle-Mom called him Kid Flash in public, and he fully expects that has somehow already been noted. This is just him, officially checking in as an unofficial second cousin twice removed. ]

You'd prefer New Jersey?

[the_caped_crusader]

Not something you hear very often, is it?

[carrieskryptonite]

Bruce, what a surprise.

[Except, not really. Lex had been more surprised to see the man's company here without Wayne himself present. Doing well in his absence.

After all, for all that Bruce Wayne was shortsighted and self-indulgent, too focused on the next beautiful girl in his path, Lex would admit the man had business acumen.

And the man on the video is certainly older than the Bruce he is personally acquainted with. At least Lex's age, if not older.]

Virginia is quite the change of location for you, isn't it?

[the_caped_crusader]

Lex. [His tone is casual, in spite of his revulsion.]

It's a little bright, but what can I say? I'm always looking to expand.