003 - Besides, by and large she was having a very good time.

[una_persson]

[AUDIO, public. Una sounds as composed and friendly as ever, her cut-glass accent as reassuring as a BBC news anchor's.]

To those of you I've not met before—hello. My name's Una Persson. I'd like to canvass the foreigner population here with just a brief question—who here is familiar with time travel, in the world from which they come? I'll be quite transparent: it's something with which I'm very familiar, and I'm curious to know who else is as well. Should you prefer to discuss this face-to-face, I live in the Wood sector. [A pause.] And if you're familiar with the technology behind it, I'd be especially interested in hearing from you.

---

[TEXT, separate messages sent privately to Bruce Wayne and Dorian Gray, basic encryption. Subsequent to her conversation with Iorveth, after his fail!private post.]

You may recall that there was a name in my notes that I showed you. Do not speak it out loud and be very careful with whom you share it.

Comments

action

[una_persson]

A few. This [she taps the seat of the bicycle] is what I'm most comfortable with, in the end. It requires the most skill, perhaps, but I've been doing this for quite a while now.

action

[cowled]

You know, I still find it a little difficult to believe.

[A wry shake of his head.]

Despite everything. This place, seeing some of what I've seen now. 'Time travel' somehow manages to fall outside the spectrum of 'normal'.

action

[una_persson]

It's not particularly normal for most people, and that's really just as well. I wouldn't even venture to say that I get it right one hundred percent of the time.

[A tiny smirk.] Unfortunately I can't offer a demonstration. Best I can figure, my instruments can't get a lock on the temporal currents they'd normally use to navigate, and while I have a fine track record of rash decisions, I'm not going to try and fly blind, not here.

action

[cowled]

[Eyebrow.]

What would the potential consequences be?

[Bruce Wayne is sometimes bad at pretending to be an idiot.]

Re: action

[una_persson]

[You get just a bit of a "really?" look for that, Bruce.]

Getting stranded in the far future or past or ending up marooned in some other timeline altogether isn't really my cup of tea.

action

[cowled]

[He snorts.]

I suppose not.

action

[una_persson]

So there it is. Crippled, but a time-machine nevertheless. [Teasing:] I hope it's not too anticlimactic.

action

[cowled]

[He makes a faint noise of amusement.]

I wish Harold were here. He's-- [he betrayed me once,] a friend of mine from back home. A genius with engineering components. He'd love this. A genuine time machine.

action

[una_persson]

He might be a little disappointed. Engineering is part of it, but only part. At least some of it depends on the user's innate talent, and there's part of it that at least a few people contend is nothing short of magic. [A slight eye-roll at that.]

action

[cowled]

Magic.

[He is oh-so-skeptical sounding about that little tidbit.]

Magic is one of those things I still have trouble wrapping my head around. Despite-- [handwave.] everything.

action

[una_persson]

Most of the time I prefer not to lose sight of Clarke's Law. Which I suppose applies in this case—although that hasn't stopped at least one person of my acquaintance from looking for a black goat every time something goes wrong.

[Miss Brunner is a pain in the arse like that.]

action

[cowled]

[Bruce laughs, shakes his head.]

Why goats, of all things?

action

[una_persson]

Because some people just can't let go of black-magic clichés, I suppose.

[A wry, slightly embarrassed look.]

It's arguable that adventuring in time isn't good for one's sanity, in the long run.

action

[cowled]

Then why do it?

[No, he is legitimately curious about that.]

Re: action

[una_persson]

Mm. Well, to a certain extent, I have no choice. Some of us, once we're loose in time, find it impossible to stay anywhere permanently. [She shrugs.] Don't feel sorry for me. Truth is, I enjoy it, hazards and all. I don't do well unless I have problems to solve.

action

[cowled]

Solution-oriented.

[He shifts, folding his arms.]

What do you change? Since I assume that's the purpose of the entire operation.

action

[una_persson]

Effecting change is only part of it. I have a weakness for revolutions and hopeless causes, and a distaste for authoritarians and fascists. That informs most of my decisions. [That self-deprecating look again.] But there's also research and exploration—I have colleagues with whom I share what I learn. And I also try to help people who get lost in Time.

action

[cowled]

[He tips his head, curious.]

Is it difficult for you, being here?

action

[una_persson]

Ask me in another six months. Or another year, if we're here so long. For now? No. Not so long as I can find myself some trouble to wade into. I flatter myself that I'm off to a decent start.

action

[cowled]

[He's been here for ten, although not publicly, and his thoughts are instantly with Gotham. The city is his heart and soul, and this is the longest he's ever spent involuntarily away from it, unless you count the year he was lost to time, fighting his way back through the eons.

He wonders briefly if that makes he and Una kindred spirits, and one lip quirks up in a sardonic smile.]

I'd think so, with those diary pages of yours. I've got no head for danger, personally.

[He waves his hand airily, almost dismissively. After all, he ran away from the quakes that decimated Gotham some years ago.]

But it does seem to find my friends with some regularity. Remind me later to introduce you to Lois Lane.

action

[una_persson]

[She grins.] I'm always glad to make new friends.

[And then her expression sobers.] About those diary pages. Be careful. I've learned that the name is one of those sorts of things that's not to be spoken aloud. I know that sounds decidedly fairy-tale, but I think I'd just as soon not tempt fate. Considering how many unlikely things have converged in this place.

action

[cowled]

I'll be careful, Una.

[And there's a sense of seriousness to the way he says that that suggests he's a little more used to the idea of being careful than a businessman strictly should be, and his smile is reassuring.]

action

[una_persson]

[That's a relief, even if it does add to her hunch that there's more to Bruce than meets the eye.]

Good. I'd hate for a vicious supernatural entity to show up and trash or flat, or whatever it is that it's supposed to do.

action

[cowled]

[He snorts.]

Trust me, if that happens I'll make every effort to hide behind you as soon as humanly possible.

action

[una_persson]

Your confidence in me is extremely flattering, Bruce.

[So amused.]