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old_windbat (old_windbat) wrote in dc_nextgen,
@ 2010-09-10 19:11:00

Entry tags:

inactive - marissa wayne, npc - bruce wayne, npc - tim drake

Public Relations Control
There had been a lot of publicity around Marissa Wayne leaving for Star City, and it was something she couldn't maintain. Instead, Bruce had to calm the media storm surrounding the five individuals it affected the most; Bruce, Marissa, Tim Drake, Keith Queen, and Ollie Queen. Bruce had managed to remove the Queens from the equation and settle things down by explaining that he sent Marissa to live with Tim Drake for an extended period of time while Bruce was dealing with health issues. It wasn't true, of course, but news of Bruce with a concerning health condition kept the media at bay. Anything surrounding the name "Wayne" at that point was generally about who would take over Wayne Industries after he died.

It should be fairly quiet until Marissa finally returns home. Bruce knew full-well that Tim would be accompanying her.

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old_windbat
2010-09-11 02:39 am UTC (link)

There was no Alfred to get the door, and Bruce made sure that Terry wasn't around with Tim being over. Instead, Bruce himself came to the door. The cameras let him know when they had arrived. When he opened the door, Ace was at his side. They were both still, and Bruce just gave the both of them that look.

"Inside," he commanded. He left the door open and sat down in the living room. Ace curled lied down next to his chair. There, they waited for an explanation. Granted, Bruce already knew that Tim had been training Marissa-without Bruce's consent. There was no other reason for Marissa to be with him for that long.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	batdaughter 2010-09-11 02:47 am UTC (link)
	If Bruce expected Marissa to talk he would be disappointed. She just sat there and looked at him, half wondering when Ace was going to growl at her as he sometimes did. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

bloodred_robin
2010-09-11 03:19 am UTC (link)

Tim looked at Ace--he still couldn't believe the dog had stayed this long--and then between Bruce and Marissa. Bruce, of course, had to control the situation from the get-go; it was how he worked. He set the pace and made you follow it, whether or not you wanted to.

He watches the battle of wills between father and daughter, noting again, how much alike they were. The scowls were even identical, though Tim could also see Vicki's "I've had enough of this crap" look etched into Marissa's own.

After a good...ten minutes of waiting for someone to say something, Tim took the floor.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Bat-Family. Where we don't talk about our issues, we just scowl them out between clipped tones of resentment and judgment." Tim says. Alfred wouldn't have let this happen. Tim still missed him.

"As you can see, Bruce, she's safe, whole and in a lot better shape. I notice you didn't invite Batman to the party, so this whole thing isn't official. Fine. You and Marissa have issues you need to work out, so maybe I should leave you to it.

One of you is bound to stop scowling long enough to speak." Tim says, looking between them again.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-09-11 03:46 am UTC (link)

Bruce glances at Tim. It's not a momentary glance, either. "Enough," he commanded. He didn't look at Tim. He wasn't breaking his gaze on Marissa. It looked cold and hard, completely misleading to the fact that he was checking to see if she had visible injuries.

"You harbored my runaway daughter for months while the media ran rampant. They didn't seem to know who she was sleeping with--you and Keith Queen (and he didn't consider either one a good choice)--until I stepped in and handled it (in one out of two possible ways). And then we have this:"

Bruce grabbed the remote next to his chair and turned on the television. It was playing a recording of Robin and Red Robin teaming up during the nanotech fiasco. He didn't comment on it, but instead just paused it. He was glad to have upgraded Terry's suit with the camera to record live feeds.

"Then you," he said, addressing Marissa. He never stopped looking at her. "Did you even consider the consequences of running away? For a girl who hates the paparazzi, you seem to know just how to attract their attention." It couldn't have been a cry for Bruce's attention. She'd always had it.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

batdaughter
2010-09-11 03:55 am UTC (link)

"Leave Tim alone and save the concerned father speech. I went to see Tim because he's my family and frankly is the only person in this circus who treats me like I'm family. I didn't run away; I left. I'm only back because Tim brought me back."

She crossed her arms over her chest and sat back a bit.

"Is that what this is about for you? The media image? Gotta make it look like you care and everything's a-okay?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

bloodred_robin
2010-09-11 04:20 am UTC (link)

"Marissa, stop." Tim says simply. He doesn't like being commanded to do anything, not since he'd left.

"Bruce, if you were worried, you could have come out and seen her, or called. I made it really easy for you to figure out where I was if you wanted to know." Tim tells him.

The feed of them working together confirmed his suspicions that Batman had indeed informed Bruce. Whatever gear the new Batman was rocking, it was definitely high end.

"Marissa needed help. You and your new Batman didn't seem inclined to give it to her, and she sought me out because Vicki told her to. It was also most of the summer, so she didn't miss any school. I gave her the skills she needed to keep up with Batman since it seemed both of you were too busy to back her up." Tim says.

"Sleeping with your daughter isn't and never was in any of my plans, and while I /should/ be offended that you'd consider that, I'm not. I've got way too much work out in Star City to consider something like that." Tim says.

"Meanwhile, you've got some nutjob out there dressed like Jason Todd and you want to sit here and ream us up one side and down the other. How about working on getting that guy off the streets?" he says.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-09-11 05:04 am UTC (link)

He put off Marissa's comments. It was that simple. Bruce was more concerned with handling Tim at the moment. This time he fixed his gaze on Tim.

"None of the skills you gavaren't any different from what she was already being taught. The fact that she learned them from you just assured that she can't keep pace with Batman. The opportunity to learn to work together was taken out of the picture." What Marissa seemed to stuck up to notice was that Terry had a lot in common with her. If she'd stuck around to give him a chance, then maybe she would have actually learned something valuable.

"I'm well aware of the new Red Hood, and Batman and Beacon have both been looking into that matter." No, he wasn't going to say anything else about Beacon, aka, Maxine Gibson. "I'm sure things would be going much faster if there was a Robin around to help them out. But it seems that she was too busy learning how to keep her distance in Star City."

Bruce wasn't about to send Terry to fetch Marissa every time she decided she needed to run off on her own. And Bruce certainly wasn't going to call and check up on her if she was with Tim. Despite it seeming like he didn't care, he just knew Tim was taking care of her. Even if he didn't like it.

He looked at Marissa again. Ace eyed her, as he didn't like the tone in her voice. Neither did Bruce.

"Does it look like everything is okay, Marissa? You abandoned Gotham City and your duties at Robin (and Bruce). What makes you think you deserve the to still be Robin? Batman doesn't need a partner that runs away every time she mistakenly feels neglected." If Marissa were being neglected, she wouldn't even be living with Bruce. If Marissa were being neglected, Terry wouldn't even have given her the time of day.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

bloodred_robin
2010-09-11 05:28 am UTC (link)

"If I can keep pace with you, and she can keep pace with me, then she can keep pace with your Batman, who I can outwork any day of the week. She can hold her own now, which makes it easier for them to develop that teamwork you're talking about. Dick and I didn't have to work together to develop a rhythm; we were both taught by /you/.

The same thing happened here." Tim says. He has no clue why he's defending himself to Bruce. In fact, he thinks he should just leave right now and get back on the plane to Star City. He remembers why leaving Gotham was such a good idea in the first place.

"I think you're worried that she gave up your secret new Batman. She didn't. Dick was the one to tell me you'd picked up someone new, but I haven't gone digging because I don't care. I never asked Marissa to give him up and she never volunteered. When I want to know, I'll know." Tim says, and Bruce can be assured that Tim isn't boasting.

"I brought her back here because, despite her protests and your inability to admit you give a damn, you two need each other. Not just as Robin needs a mentor, but because she needs her /father/.

But I didn't come here to be spoken down to, so I'll let you two sort this out. Marissa, remember what you were taught and give Batman a chance this time around." Tim says, turning to go.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-09-12 01:11 am UTC (link)

"There is a clear difference between being taught by me, and being taught by you. There is no consistency. You don't have what it takes to give Marissa what I can." This time Bruce stood up as well, but he didn't move. His cane was planted firmly in front of him.

"If I was worried about Marissa revealing Batman's identity, I wouldn't have let her get to Star City. If I was worried about you learning his identity through your own devices, I'd have you worrying about how quickly I can publicize the Outsiders." He was bluffing, for the most part.

And at that point, Bruce was ready for Tim to leave. He didn't have to say anything, though. He was pretty good about making people want to leave, too.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

bloodred_robin
2010-09-12 01:28 am UTC (link)

"If you mean I don't have the heart of ice it takes to freeze my own kid out of things to play second to someone I barely know...yeah, Bruce, I agree. I don't have what it takes." Tim tells him.

He stops when Bruce talks about publicizing the Outsiders.

"Let's not play that game, Bruce. I'm not looking for enemies, but the Outsiders are off limits. Or we call go walking out into the light together and see how long we last." Tim fires back. He's not fully willing to go there with Bruce yet, unless the old man pushes him too far.

"I'll see you at the next Wayne Enterprises Shareholders Meeting, Bruce. I'll definitely want detailed information into how my investment is faring." Tim says, this time walking out the door.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	batdaughter 2010-09-12 01:55 am UTC (link)
	Tim's departure left Marissa alone with Bruce. "So." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-09-12 02:13 am UTC (link)

Bruce didn't dignify Tim with a response. He knew that Tim wouldn't risk publicizing him, or else he would also put Marissa in danger. But that was enough about Tim. Bruce turned his attention to Marissa again. he didn't speak until Tim had effectively closed the door and the car was driving off. Bruce didn't need him being anywhere near hearing Terry's name.

"You're grounded," he said. "You don't get to go out except on patrol with Terry, or when I say you can go out. I'm terminating your cell phone until your punishment is over. You will also go without training, television, the radio, your iPod, your CD player, and your diary."

Her turn.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

batdaughter
2010-09-12 02:17 am UTC (link)

Was he really serious? All of this bullshit from a man who barely noted that she existed? It was almost laughable, at least to Marissa, and quite insulting.

"I don't keep a diary, my iPod is broken anyway, and if I'm going to be on patrol the lack of continued training or at least practice is kind of a weirdly irresponsible decision but hey, your call. I just gotta know though...what the fuck did my mother ever see in you?"

His turn.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-09-12 02:23 am UTC (link)

"Batman," he replied coolly. He honestly couldn't say for sure what Vicki had seen in him. "I'm sure Tim trained you well enough to handle yourself on patrol, unless the help you asked him for wasn't any good?"

Check.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

batdaughter
2010-09-12 02:29 am UTC (link)

"Actually, her journals pretty much disprove the Batman theory. She thought it was a distraction in regards to the man underneath. That's who I'm curious about, though I'm starting to think Mom was nothing to you and I'm even less so let's just cut to the chase here: you don't like me. You don't want me. You can't get rid of me because it'd be a PR nightmare, but keeping me around pisses you off almost as much as Tim does.

"I get it, Bruce. I'm a nasty surprise and a living regret. Who's grounded. Do I have a bed in my room or have you taken that out yet?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-09-12 02:36 am UTC (link)

"I'm thinking about that one," he shot back. She needed to be quiet for a moment while Bruce took the opportunity to explain something to his daughter. "I could get rid of you without the slightest hint of a PR nightmare, Marissa. If I wanted you gone, you would be. On the matter of liking you--that depends on how you choose to act. I don't like you right now." But he still loves her.

He gave her The Stare.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	batdaughter 2010-09-12 02:44 am UTC (link)
	Marissa took it as a threat. If The Stare was supposed to intimidate her, it failed. Instead, sitting there she never felt so alone in all of her life. Her shoulders sagged a little and she stopped looking at Bruce. "I guess we're on the same page then." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-09-12 02:48 am UTC (link)

He could read her like a book. She hated him, and that was probably for the best. "No. We're not."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	batdaughter 2010-09-12 02:54 am UTC (link)
	"We're not?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

old_windbat
2010-09-12 03:01 am UTC (link)

"I'll let you think about that in your room."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	batdaughter 2010-09-12 03:04 am UTC (link)
	"Fine." She got up, went to retrieve her bag, and then head upstairs. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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