Gilbert Kinkaid Walker (veryperceptive) wrote in dc_nextgen,
@ 2012-09-22 02:23:00

Entry tags:

Parties.
Nothing wrong with New Jersey, GK figured. Mom had been born there and all. She didn't have the nicest things to say about Gotham, but that was mostly because of the way Aunt Judy died. But the Walker clan would never, ever say no to a child welfare charity function. So here they were. Uncle Jed even had some of his stuff up for auction, both from his Shots of Gotham collection and some African Safari stuff for reasons of Uncle Jed.

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cantkeepmeout
2012-09-22 04:28 am UTC (link)

Thomas only managed to stifle a yawn due to years of experience of attending these things. The ever-present (at least somewhat) formal wear, the constant string of introductions, hand shaking, and needing to give out those automatic not-too-fake charming smiles everywhere. It was just plain tiring.

So he escapes from all the socializing to find the nearest snack (or preferably drink) table.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-22 04:38 am UTC (link)
	Guy near the hors d'oeurves wasn't bad looking. GK had better, but still, not bad looking. And then GK looked slightly too long. Some people want like candles. Some people want like forest fires. This was a five-alarm desire hitting across GK's eyes. BE GOOD ENOUGH. GK winced (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-22 04:43 am UTC (link)
	Thomas knows the feeling of being watched, though at these parties that wasn't a new sensation. So right after being nearly blinded, GK will have piercing blue eyes bore into him from across the room. Who was this guy? He hadn't seen him around before, and why stare so long then cringe like that? Odd. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-22 05:08 am UTC (link)
	GK does his best to shake it off. And get himself a devilled egg. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

zoe_torres
2012-09-22 11:22 pm UTC (link)

Zoe would never admit it, ever, but she was curious about how the other three quarters lived. GK and his family were an odd mixture, but they were now /hers/ so they didn't get count in her general disdain of rich people.

She was too accustomed to GK's reactions in a crowd to be fooled by his expression. He was trying to hide his reaction. Whether it was due to a cute guy or a blinding revelation of a soul was the question.

She followed him forgetting for a moment she was wearing heels. "GK...."

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	veryperceptive 2012-09-22 11:39 pm UTC (link)
	"I'm okay," he says quietly. "Guy just has forest fire letters. Didn't think there'd be anyone like that here outside you and the family; no one wants a new pair of Loubotins that much, you know?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-22 11:48 pm UTC (link)
	"Maybe he's a long lost relative,' Zoe muttered, close enough lend a supporting hand but not actually touching her friend. "He's a rich guy. They always want, especially what they can't have." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-22 11:54 pm UTC (link)
	He straightens himself up and smiles appreciatively at her concern. "Least it's nothing that should hurt anybody; he's just got major inadequacy issues." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-23 12:02 am UTC (link)
	"That's just about every guy in the room, GK. They'll only hurt themselves." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-09-23 12:13 am UTC (link)

Luckily for all parties involved, Thomas was mostly turned away during this conversation and thus, couldn't read their lips and bat glare at them across the room for claiming he had inadequacy issues. But of course, bat glares in public were on the secret-ID-screw-ups list so at least he was saved having to hold that in.

Deciding to find out who these staring people are, Thomas walks casually over to snag a deviled egg for himself. He offers a friendly smile as he bites into one.

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	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 12:15 am UTC (link)
	"Hi," GK said politely as he finished his own devilled egg. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-23 12:20 am UTC (link)
	"Hello," Zoe said, not quite as politely but clear she was trying. She didn't try the deviled eggs. They had fish eggs on them. Bleh. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-09-23 12:25 am UTC (link)

He doesn't bother trying to hide the amused look at the girl who clearly didn't want to be here. "Hey," he responds and raises a hand briefly in greeting. "Your friend convince you to come? Though he's right, this one isn't as dull as most. At least the auction stuff is decent this year." Best to be conversational, though at least these two were clearly not the type you needed to be ridiculously fake-nice to.

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	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 12:28 am UTC (link)
	"Correct pronoun. I did pick the right outfit," GK mutters to Zoe cheerily. Then, more to the guy. "Yeah, the auction stuff is pretty awesome." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-23 12:40 am UTC (link)
	Zoe only rolled her eyes a little at GK. Any more and his smirk would only get wider. "Never been to an auction where they didn't have police manning the gates." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-23 12:46 am UTC (link)
	The mutter isn't lost on him and Thomas raises an eyebrow. "Do people often get it wrong?" Part of him can't quite believe that people could be so...unobservant. The rest of him knows that he should expect that. "Well, Gotham does do things differently," he chuckles a little. That and little did they know he was the vigilante on duty for tonight. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 12:49 am UTC (link)
	A sheepish shrug. "A recurring bit of bad luck I have, that's all. Yeah, Mom says they do a lot of things differently in Gotham." Another sheepish shrug. "Course, some of that was about the murders being more colorful That's why they moved." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-23 12:52 am UTC (link)
	"Never been here," Zoe added. "Beginning to wonder if the sun ever shines in this part of the world." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-09-23 01:01 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, great for tourist agency brochures. Come to Gotham, our serial killers have bad fashion choices," he rolls his eyes. "So where'd you guys move to? Somewhere brighter?"

He turns to Zoe. "Well, welcome to Gotham. The night life defines it in more than one way. Though if you want brightness go to Metropolis. I swear there's never night there. They always keep those lights on full at all times." Incredibly annoying when you stuck to the shadows but that's part of why he didn't go there often.

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	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 01:04 am UTC (link)
	"Grandma moved the family back to Seattle after the whole, um... there was a thing. But I've been in Star City since I finished high school." He listens. "Well, y'know, good streetlights can be very convenient." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-23 01:10 am UTC (link)
	"I just want a clear shot... I mean, view. Clear view. I like to see what's in front of me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-23 01:15 am UTC (link)
	"Seattle then Star City huh?" He doesn't say it out loud but there's an implied 'that's not much of an improvement'. "So what brings you here?" Because this thing certainly wasn't as much of a draw as the organizers always thought. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 01:17 am UTC (link)
	"Family habit. And we dragged Zoe because we like to bring an even number and my boyfriend couldn't make it." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-23 01:25 am UTC (link)
	"Call me his security. I make sure people use the right pronoun." Her smile was a little more genuine now. The rich kid was actually being nice. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-23 01:50 am UTC (link)
	"Related to the photographer featured at the auction?" He says it casually, as if he hadn't been taking the guest list and going through it systematically in his head, eliminating all Gothamites, first timers and looking for any Seattle or Star City people. Zoe has him smirk though. "So what happens when they don't?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 01:51 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah, Uncle Jed's always happy to volunteer for these things. I'm GK." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-23 02:05 am UTC (link)
	"Zoe. I politely correct them." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-23 02:14 am UTC (link)
	"He's got a lot of good shots. I'm partial to the wildlife ones. Is GK short for anything interesting?" As he's been brought up to, Thomas offers them each his hand in turn. "Thomas. 'Politely' huh?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 02:26 am UTC (link)
	"Gilbert Kincaid. Old friend of my mom's--" Who was a real person, Rose swore. "And great-grandmother's maiden name. Plus the obvious Chesterton joke. And Zoe can ask politely just fine." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-23 12:37 pm UTC (link)
	"GK suits him," Zoe said. "So, how did you get roped into coming to an auction, Thomas?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-23 06:25 pm UTC (link)
	"Being named after people is pretty common, I'd just hate to have a Junior or II attached to mine is all. Though I didn't mean anything by the asking politely thing. I know I'd do the 'politely' pointing out they're wrong thing if it was me," he shrugged. "Family stuff. It was this or the gingivitis one." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 09:13 pm UTC (link)
	"...Not really a comparable problem, that," GK says, actually a little flatly for GK. The money raised here would prevent more people like Uncle Barnaby and Aunt Clarissa from getting their hands on kids. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-23 10:30 pm UTC (link)
	This was what too many fake smiles and handshaking in one night did to him. Messed up social situation reading abilities. "I meant they're on the same night," he says gently and tilts his head to indicate a direction. "Few blocks down. They usually do it on a different night but this year it was a scheduling issue." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

zoe_torres
2012-09-23 10:32 pm UTC (link)

"So it's a charity, so people come here to eat and drink and bid on stuff so the news reports what great human beings they are, when the money they spend doing this would be better going to the people they say they're trying to help." Zoe spoke a little more hotly than she intended, clearly somebody who'd always been on the other side of things. "They're helping, but they could be helping more if they could manage to do away with the publicity and just donate the cost of the evening."

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	veryperceptive 2012-09-23 10:34 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh." GK feathers unruffled. Then to Zoe. "Well, yeah, that's definitely true but... you've got to go with what works, right? More people'll get involved if there's a party." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

cantkeepmeout
2012-09-24 12:05 am UTC (link)

Thomas just smiles and waits out the mini-rant. He'd heard it before and he'd once put forth the idea to Bruce who'd explained to him just how one used the cut throat and fickle upper society to the charity's advantage.

"You'd think so at first. Take out the party, put the money to charity. If you did that you'd actually have far less money in the end to give than with the party. It's simple really. Other than for the obvious reasons of awareness, the parties serve other purposes."

Now he lowers his voice a little so it doesn't carry across the room. "It takes advantage of their showmanship. Because it's hard enough to seperate people from their money, but these are rich ones. They got rich by being very good at keeping their money, you've got to do more than show up at their door and ask. So the organizers use that. You think Mr. CEO of Wheaties over there would've spent even half as much on that shot of the tigress if this wasn't an auction and his rival wasn't right there? No way. The guest list is specifically for this. The wives want to show each other up, the husbands want to show each other up, hell the families want to do it.

You take advantage of it is all. Sell tickets at high prices and dangle them in front of the social climbers, give the highest bidder a plaque for it, name something after them if they donate enough, you name it. Because once you do those things that giant donation? It won't be a one time thing. They'll need to maintain it. To continue being the top donater, the best patron. And that's when they really empty their pockets. They could care less if this was the gingivities auction. What matters is reputation and showing everyone else up. And the ones that don't care about that? Well these things are easy tax breaks and good PR. You can switch out the cause for almost anything. But if you do the party right and have the right guest list, that's key, you can raise an incredible amount of money. Money that none of these people would've agreed to part with without all the pomp and circumstance."

He leans away now and puts his hands in his pockets with a shrug and a slight smirk. Hey, it was underhanded, pessimistic and rather cutthroat but you had to be when dealing with people like this. He continues at his normal volume with some false cheer in his voice, "Plus, everyone loves a good party right?"

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	zoe_torres 2012-09-24 12:15 am UTC (link)
	Zoe narrowed her eyes. She knew when she was being mocked. "Put it like that and I'm safer out on the street with the drug dealers, pimps and thieves," she told Thomas flatly. "But hey, at least they get their pictures, and they're /good/ pictures." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-24 12:35 am UTC (link)
	GK just listens and blinks awkwardly. He couldn't logically argue with anything said, but ...well, he just hadn't been brought up to be so cynical about things. So he seized on the part he could wholeheartedly concur with. "Yes, they are good pictures." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-24 01:00 am UTC (link)
	He hadn't been mocking her, just expressing his view on these things. "You probably are in some cases. Arrests for white collar crime aren't all that common either." "Front page quality," he says, easily matching Zoe's cynicism. Bats just didn't do optimism well. In or out of costume. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

zoe_torres
2012-09-24 01:08 am UTC (link)

GK's awkward cover for her behavior brought Zoe back to the here and now. Her mother hadn't raised her to be cynical. The Triangle had done that job very well.

Time to stop before she thoroughly embarrassed GK and his family. She liked them very much. It would be a poor way to pay them back for their wholehearted acceptance of Mom.

"Easily," she agreed. "I have an approved one on my wall and it's my favorite."

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	veryperceptive 2012-09-24 01:21 am UTC (link)
	And have a bright, prissy smile now, everyone. GK's grateful, Zoe. "So, Thomas. Got a day job, or just school and stuff? I work at the theater." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-24 01:24 am UTC (link)
	"Is it signed," he joked. "School and a part-time thing. Theater? What part of it?" He doesn't exclude Zoe, and turns to ask her too. "And you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-24 02:56 pm UTC (link)
	"School and a part-time thing," Zoe said, echoing back his answer. "And it's approved because it goes with the walls and the furniture. GK keeps me color coordinated." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	veryperceptive 2012-09-24 06:14 pm UTC (link)
	"Makeup artist." He grins at Zoe's explanation. "So I get a little Queer Eye for the Straight Girl sometimes." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	cantkeepmeout 2012-09-24 11:42 pm UTC (link)
	Thomas chuckles. "Nice. Looks like you two have got a whole system going." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	zoe_torres 2012-09-25 03:46 am UTC (link)
	"If it works, don't fix it. Right?" (Reply to this)(Parent)

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