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[cowled]

[The image opens on Bruce Wayne at his finest. He's wearing (1) new suit designed by Favrielle, and he's looking pretty swank. Because Bruce Wayne. And Reasons.]

All right, Keeliai, I have a business opportunity to propose. As of right now, I'm relaunching Wayne Enterprises. For those of you who've never heard the name before, it's a multi-national business conglomerate with a focus on humanitarian aid and the like, based out of Gotham City back home.

Anyway. For the duration of my stay here, I'm looking to start in pharmaceuticals - I'm sure you've all noticed the kedan have never even heard of ibuprofen - and work our way up from there. Essentially, I'm looking to better the quality of life for everyone on Tu Vishan, foreigner and local alike.

If anyone's interested in working for me, or if you have experience in a pharmaceutical field, feel free to contact me over the network. We can arrange a meeting in person if you'd prefer. Confidentiality is guaranteed in either case. I'm paying twice the rates the kedan offer, and I've arranged it with the local authorities such that any time you work towards me counts towards your overall work 'obligation' [can you hear the finger quotes falling around that word] here in Keeliai.

Thanks for your time.




[ooc; tags will be sketchy, but I wanted to get this up and get the ball rolling on this plot before I poofed from the internet. <3]

Comments

[whatfriendsdo]

[She shrugs.] I have my own ideas, but I wanted your opinion. You've done more work with the bureaucrats here than I feel like trying.

[cowled]

Mm. All right.

[He takes a seat at the table she's sitting on, steeples his fingers in front of him and presses his elbows against the dark stained wood.]

First of all, I'm not certain how successful you'd be. Evandau seems to want to keep the police force comprised entirely of Kedan. But if you do want to offer your services, be aggressive and confident but not so much so that you're threatening him. Honestly, it might be a better idea to go over his head and appeal straight to the Emperor herself. She's a little more... agreeable. As hard as that may be to believe.

If I may be frank, this is a political ground game. You're going to have to play it his way to get what you want, and even then... it's not a guarantee.

[whatfriendsdo]

I want to deal with him. There's aggressive and confident and then there's pissing in your station chief's pool by going to the mayor. [A crooked smile.] I'm going to bring redacted copies of the notes I've been keeping. Copies of the maps I've got. He probably has more information, but outsiders can see clearer sometimes.

[She picks at a spot on the wood.] I don't mind doing scut work, even, as long as I'm doing something. If I can get access to the kedan's law enforcement files maybe I can get some idea of what's happening with these people.

[cowled]

The hierarchy doesn't seem to exactly match that with which we're familiar, but I see your point.

[He leans forward a little bit, elbows and forearms flat against the table.]

Why not throw in with our growing vigilante population? They're more likely to have the 'foreigner' interests at heart than the kedan, frankly.

[whatfriendsdo]

[She laughs a little.] Don't think I haven't considered it. But I need the kedan who don't like us to trust me. Or at least ignore me. Say the things they won't in front of the Emperor's precious foreigners.

[Murphy crosses her arms.] Besides, if I'm convincing enough, maybe they'll let me consult on the vigilante activity our people have been doing. I won't lead them wrong, exactly, but I can keep up with how close they are to catching the individuals responsible.

[cowled]

I doubt you're very good at being unobtrusive, Karrin.

[He means it as a compliment, really.]

Hm. So you mentioned maps and the like. What other information have you collected so far?

[whatfriendsdo]

[She sticks her tongue out at him, though it's good-natured.] I can be good at it if I have to.

[A shrug.] I've managed to connect certain appearances, even gather nicknames for a few of the vigilantes, though whether they're self-titled or given by the locals I don't know. I've also traced the linked events back to the earliest appearances I can find and narrowed the pool of suspects based on the "foreigners" who appeared around or before those times. Not done with that - still trying to map out when people arrived based on when their apartments were occupied, since the network isn't really reliable there, and it's hard to find sure sources.

[Murphy tries to hide a grin, but it doesn't quite work.] It feels good to do straight cop work again.

[cowled]

[He raises a brow. 'Batman' arrived nearly a month prior to Bruce Wayne, but others in his retinue haven't been so careful. Stephanie. Damian. Tim was the only other one that put so much thought into secrecy, and he's gone now.]

If you keep that up, you'll sound just like the police chief back home in Gotham.

[He rolls his eyes. Bruce Wayne isn't terribly interested in vigilantes.]

[whatfriendsdo]

I'll take that as a compliment. [She elbows him lightly.] Cops are the ones who watch your ass when there aren't a half-dozen salon blondes around for the job.

[cowled]

A half dozen? Gracious, Karrin, you underestimate me at your peril.

[Gosh.]

[whatfriendsdo]

[Snort.] What, you mean you don't go for variety in your adoring gold diggers?

[cowled]

They do say blondes have more fun. I've witnessed this first-hand on more than one occasion.

[An air, 'c'est la vie' wave of the hand.]

[whatfriendsdo]

That I can't argue with. [A crooked smile.] The one blonde-cliche I'll stand behind.

[cowled]

I always found the others quite ridiculous, personally.

[Like he's one to talk about stereotypes, tho, lbr.]

[whatfriendsdo]

If you're trying to earn yourself brownie points, it's working. [A twinkle of amusement. She pushes herself down off the table and stretches.] Do you really think the Emperor would be inclined to listen, if push comes to shove?

[cowled]

I think that entirely depends on who's doing the pushing and how long they've been in the game.

[Back to being semi-serious. Which is the only kind of serious Bruce Wayne ever is.]

[whatfriendsdo]

[She stops mid-stretch.] And what does that mean?

[cowled]

[eyebrow.]

Do you honestly think it would be a good idea to send someone with no political savvy up against someone who's been the reigning monarch in this place for seventy years?

[whatfriendsdo]

[She grimaces. It's half pride and half principles.]

Let me think about it. Things might work out with Evandau.

[cowled]

[He nods.]

Don't overtax yourself, whatever you end up doing. This place could use people of a law enforcement bent who are willing to go to bat for the rest of us.

[He's not saying it to tell her to be careful, or imply that she can't handle herself. The 'foreigner' population needs cops, and right now Murphy is really all they have. Oh, there are others with experience in law enforcement of varying sorts, but Murphy's the only cop.]

[whatfriendsdo]

[Her expression softens into surprise, which turns into a genuine smile.] I'm in the business of overtaxing myself - bad coffee and more paperwork than hours in the day is my bread and butter, Wayne.

But thank you.

[cowled]

Don't thank me yet. All that was a devious prelude to asking you to dinner.

[A brief, playful smile.]

Which I will do at a later date.

[ie: probably never. since. maintaining the playboy reputation generally doesn't involve being a jackass to people he actually likes.]

Do you have any other questions for me?

[whatfriendsdo]

[The real smile is back.]

Will you have dinner with me? [And then a little bit of wickedness.] Because I really do have more fun.

[cowled]

[Bruce gives her an appraising look. His biggest concern at that moment is how she'll take rejection. All things considered, she's likely going to be a decent ally. Especially if she's so willing to put in all the necessary grunt work to stay on top of things. And he is curious as to the information she's gathered about the local vigilante population. Whether or not anyone he knows is in danger of having their identity blown.

Murphy is smart, competent, attractive-- any one of those points has been his Achilles' Heel in the past, but when combined they're practically a death sentence.

He thinks of Vicki, of Shondra -- of Selina. Even Talia. All of them fell into that profile in one way or another.

One way or another, this has the potential to be interesting.]

It's a very flattering offer, Karrin, but I'm certain you've noticed by now that you're considerably out of my league. Are you sure you want to be caught slumming?

[It's not a rebuttal, but he is giving her an out if she changes her mind. His tone is playful, casually self-deprecating. He doesn't have a problem poking fun at himself, though it's obvious by the confidence to his bearing that he's not at risk of believing his own slander.]

[whatfriendsdo]

It didn't completely escape my awesome detective skills. You can treat if it makes you feel more manly. [She crosses to the door, hand on the knob while she grins at him.]

Do you have any idea how hard it is to find an athletic-looking guy who really understands what 'casual' means? [Not khaki pants and polo shirts.] They all want to know why you're not pining for them after.