tushanshu | [video]

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[video]

Well, that was... quite the event, now wasn't it? I'd like to extend my thanks to anyone that helped clear out the infestation of those little creatures.

[Bruce tosses the camera a disarming smile, pushes a fountain pen out of the view of the camera. There's a slight shift in his demeanor, the sort that few people would be able to recognize much less understand. Batman has just hung up his Bruce Wayne hat.]

I'd actually like to address a matter that concerns us all. I notice there've been considerable tensions lately between the metahuman or powered individuals and those who are more commonly considered 'baseline'. It's my understanding that we're all here to help this world inasmuch as we can regardless of our abilities or beliefs. As with all things, there is always the potential for those with power to abuse that power, but it's my belief that the majority of individuals here deserve our trust equally as much as our respect.

[You owe him for this one, Clark. He coughs, and then brightens.]

Also, it's my understanding that the first wave of Foreigners began arriving a year and four days ago. I know many of you are missing your friends, your families, and others may have those friends or families with you. For better or worse, this place has been a prison, a home, a second chance to a variety of people, many of which are no longer with us. The community we've created here has been strong and each obstacle we've encountered we've overcome, together. And together is the only way we can move forward.

[He folds his hands on the desk in front of him, gives the camera a firm nod.]

On that note, Wayne Enterprises is always hiring, and my pharmecutical branch is available for anyone missing medications from their respective homes, so if you've any interest in working for or speaking with the longest-standing foreigner-run business on Tu Vishan, my office is in the Metal Sector, and I'm available between six AM and noon on Mondays and Tuesdays. Thank you for your time, Keeliai.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He's an easy man to find in the crowd. Tall, black hair, moving like he belongs here. From what she's learned, though, he certainly belongs amongst the elite. Here the longest, founding a business in an alien world (universe? plane of existence?) and if what Rikki said is true, possibly smart enough to help her.

She flashes him a smile as he pulls out her chair for her. She had to fight to keep herself from wearing her uniform beneath her dress, recognizing it as both the beginning of paranoia and a tactical error. Besides, it's unlikely anyone in the restaurant will try to shoot or electrocute her. Not yet, at any rate.

She nods to him. ] Mr. Wayne. [ She drops into her chair with all the grace she'd learned back home. ] Thank you for seeing me, especially on such short notice.

I'm never too busy that I can't make time for women in need.

[Well, he is a playboy. But his smile is all jest and very little serious consideration.]

So, what is it I can help you with?

[ She doesn't hide her smile. She hasn't been called a woman in need for a long time. But she understands that he's trying to be charming. She'll just have to try not to bite his head off for it. No biting off the heads of those who might be able to help her. ]

I heard that you've been here the longest of all the foreigners, and that you keep records of all the people who have disappeared. I was hoping you might be able to share that information with me, and I was hoping I could ask you questions about this place.

[ She wonders if she should have made idle chit-chat first but dismisses the thought as soon as it occurs. Idle chit-chat isn't one of her skills. ]

Not the longest, I'm afraid. But long enough.

[He taps a finger against his cheek in thought, chin resting in his palm.]

Almost a year, actually. It's been about what you might expect. I do miss my home.

[It's an uncalled for bit of information, but Bruce knows the art of telling people just enough information that they won't care to pry for more. Then he coughs and straightens up, seeming to come to his senses.]

I do have a list, although it's informal and as such rather incomplete. It's hard to keep track of everyone, some people come and go without so much as speaking to a single individual, and we have a lot of people who can be a little... clandestine or guarded about their identities. So that does make it quite difficult, but I'd be happy to give you a copy of what I have. And, of course, answer any questions I can.

[ A list from him, a list from Rikki, a list from Rayner... People here seem so happy to share.

If it couldn't potentially be useful, it might weird her out. ]

Thank you. I'd feel better having an informal and incomplete list rather than nothing at all. Some people I know have gone missing, and I'd rather have a little information than none at all.

[ She takes a sip of water as she considers what to ask next. ] Did anyone from your universe end up here, too?

I'm sorry to hear that. What were their names?

[He can guess, given network activities. But he'd hardly admit to being so efficient.]

Ah-- quite a few people, actually. Have you met or heard of 'Superman'?

[A laugh, meant to imply the absurdity of the situation. As if he still can't believe he's virtually rubbing shoulders with the man of steel himself.]

Several of my sons are here as well, and a few other people from my world. I hardly have time to keep track of them all, honestly. Most I know only by reputation or coincidence.

So far, it's just been Steve Rogers, but it was both the Steve Rogers from my universe and the Steve Rogers from my aunt's universe. But other than him, I... guess I'm lucky? My aunt is dead back home, but a version of her is alive here. I never got to know my cousin back home, but she's alive here. Not that I'm sure it's a good thing to have family here, what with all the mysteries, not knowing if they'll still be there in the morning, and if they aren't, if they're alive again or if they died for good and you weren't able to do anything.

I don't like being helpless.

[ Her eyes have fallen to her plate while she speaks, and she blinks as she finishes, seemingly realizing just how depressing she made things. She clears her throat and takes another sip of water. ]

Sorry. I... Yeah.

[ How about just changing the subject, Sharon? ]

Superman, huh? We had superheroes back home, but I've never heard of a Superman. He sounds... super, though.

I hope it's an accurate name, and not just some guy with a mutant gene and an inflated ego.

[That, like so many other details, gets filed away, but the conversational segue would be hard even for a man of his reputation. Bruce's smile turns apologetic, and he seizes on the opportunity to play Clark up a little bit.]

Mutant? No, he's from another planet entirely. He's-- what most people think of when they consider what abilities a god might have. But he's always stood for truth and justice, as long as I can remember.

[ Sharon lifts an eyebrow, and her lips curl at some joke only she seems to understand. ]

Truth, justice, and the American way?

[He winces.]

It sounds a little corny when you put it like that, doesn't it?

[ Sharon just grins. ]

You have no idea.

[ Her grin widens. ] At least Superman doesn't wear a red, white, and blue uniform.

[ Yes, she knows someone in her world who stands for truth, justice, and the American way and wears the flag. Idealistic sap.

Couldn't even be bothered to stick around.

God, she hopes he's alive somewhere. ]

Well, not white...

[Bruce trails off meaningfully, and then laughs.]

You're talking about Captain Rogers, yes? I met him a few times while he was here. He seemed like a good man.

He is a good man.

[ Her tone is fiercer than she'd intended, and her eyes fall to the table for a moment. She takes a breath. Take it easy, Sharon. This isn't a bad guy. Just some... enormously wealthy, possible ladies' man. ]

Sorry. I knew Steve back home. And here. Wherever he is, he's alive. I'm sure of it.

[ Not because she knows for sure, but because she has to be. ]

And if I get out of here and find he isn't alive... Well. [ Her grin is dark as she plays absently with her glass. ] Then I'll just have to find a way, won't I?

[ Wow. Dinner party conversation. Sure. She clears her throat and looks at Bruce anew, trying to relax and not think about where Steve might be at this instant. ]

You have someone like that in your life, Mr. Wayne, surely.

[Mildly,]

Good men? I've known a few.

[But that outburst is interesting. Steve, he knew, inspired loyalties galore. But the particular ferocity with which she speaks... hm.]

[ She continues to take measured breaths in an attempt to calm down. She's better now, but still not relaxed. ]

There always seem to be a few.

Too few, really.

[ And now one of them is gone. Once again.

She studies the rest of the restaurant to give herself something to do other than mope about Steve. ]

It's a lovely place. I have to admit, I hadn't expected to find something so familiar, seeing as how we're living on a turtle's back. [ She frowns faintly. ] Can it really be called living, though, if we're neither truly living nor dead?

[He pretends not to notice her outburst, instead focused on straightening a folded cloth napkin on the table.]

At the risk of sounding a little 'New Age', I believe that so long as we perceive ourselves as being alive, we must therefore be so.

[ She smiles at that. She's grateful that he isn't pushing the Steve issue. ]

Then are we dead when we're brainwashed?

That depends on the elements of our personality the theoretical brainwashing removes, I should think.

[He lifts his glass in a cheery almost-salute, takes a sip.]

But that's verging rather into the existential, isn't it?

[ Her lips twist at the corners, and she leans forward in her seat. ]

I'm game for it if you are.

Okay. Situation. Hypothetical, just for the discussion. A man is able to use a tool of almost limitless power to completely take over another man's mind. He doesn't appear to be aware of his actions, claims not to remember anything after, and yet, when his friend confesses a major, emotional secret - let's be cliched and say it's something about love - he breaks free of the brainwashing. It's sudden, more from shock than trying to fight.

Which aspects of her personality were removed? How aware could the man have been? Did they break free because of what personality traits were left, or was it a convenient twist in the plot?

[That is a very specific example he's willing to bet is no example at all.]

Well, having never been mind-controlled...

[Not quite true.]

It's difficult to say. But I believe that who we are can never fully be erased by-- I suppose this was magic? The imprint of our personalities, our 'souls' if you will... well, I'd expect that would always be there. Human nature is very resilient, on the whole. People can come back from almost anything, and the stronger a person is to begin with the less likely that any hypothetical brainwashing would stick. Perhaps this man was always aware on some level but needed something, a shock to his system to jolt him out of it.

[He shrugs.]

But then, it's hard to say for sure. I never have been much for science-fiction.

Isn't magic just science we don't understand yet? And science-fiction has inspired people to make some of its aspects a possibility, even a reality.

After all, we know more about outer space than we do about our own oceans, and we know more about our oceans than we know about our own brains. Isn't it possible that some scientist has found a shortcut to breaking a person and rebuilding them into something the scientist wants?

[ She taps a finger against the table with her fingerpad, keeping it light enough to not disturb anyone. ] Can people who are brainwashed be held accountable for their actions when they're aware enough to fight someone's hold on them but not enough to remember afterward?

You're asking questions of a remarkable depth for a simple dinner date, Ms. Carter. If I'd known these were the questions you planned to ask, I'd have done some light reading beforehand. I'm afraid I don't really have any answers for you.

[Because everything she says is theoretically a possibility, but Bruce Wayne would hardly be aware of it with anything more than a passing familiarity.]

Ah. Sorry. Most of the people I spent time with back home dealt with things like this rather often. I suppose I forget that other people don't. [ She bites her lip lightly. As a matter of fact, Sharon had rather dominated the conversation so far, hadn't she? For shame, for shame. ]

It's admirable that you've turned your stay here into an opportunity as you have. I imagine the people you've hired are also grateful.

[ One of the things she's learned as a spy is that people, when given the opportunity, will talk about themselves. Time for her to let go of the conversation and let him take the reins. After all, it isn't as if he'd be modest about his work. Sharon can count the number of modest businessmen she knows on one hand. ]

[He laughs, and leans back in his chair as one of the waiters finally arrives with a course.]

I hope they are, but I'm not really doing anything more or less than the rest of the people here.

[Oh, Sharon. People you haven't met before: Bruce Wayne.]

[ Sharon joins him in leaning back so the waiter has room to place their food. The meal looks delicious, and she smiles softly to herself. This place isn't as bad as it could be.

And damn you, Bruce. You couldn't do better to avoid talking about yourself if you'd done it on purpose. ]

So you don't think founding a business here and giving jobs to... how many people is impressive?

Why, Mr. Wayne. I wouldn't have figured you for humble.

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