video;

[chiroptophobic]

I happen to be a very private man. It tends to happen when you're brought up in the public eye. My parents-- [ He pauses. ] They were wonderful people, but their deaths caught the imagination of the world, and I grew up under that shadow.

You can imagine how difficult it must be for me to speak to you now. It isn't a subject I enjoy visiting, but it's come to my attention that I've been coming off as... Well, as aloof. It's not my intention. You're all so close, helping each other out when times are hard. It's a long way from what I'm used to. It's difficult to know how to--how to join in, when you've never really done it before.

I'm afraid I really don't have any applicable skills. I'm not a doctor, I know a little about science, I'm afraid to say I wouldn't be much use in a fight, but if there's anyone on board who wouldn't mind showing a closeted ex-billionaire the ropes, I'm willing to try to learn. I'll take anything.

It's Bruce Wayne, by the way.

[ A wary smile, and then the feed clicks off. ]

Comments

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

[Edgeworth is quiet a moment after that announcement. Then:]

Why tell us about that?

[voice]

[chiroptophobic]

It's been... On my mind a lot, recently.

[ Read: he's on month two of his detox from the mask, and he didn't volunteer for it. ]

Perhaps I was hoping it made me sound more human?

video

[intersection]

[ HOLD. THE. PHONE. ]

Did you just-- Did you say Bruce Wayne?

video

[chiroptophobic]

[ What are you looking at him like that for. ]

That's my name, yes. And you are?

video ]

[firms]

[ Mike must be freaking out. He must be sitting there and looking at this transmission and freaking the fuck out. Rachel, on the other hand, is calm and poised. And intrigued. Not just because this is Bruce Wayne and these are the kinds of people she interacts with, now, but because she gets it. Not the parental death but, the infamy. ]

I can relate when it comes to privacy.

Not in a closeted capacity... And my name is Rachel Zane.

video ]

[chiroptophobic]

Rachel--

[ You can imagine how that name caught his attention before. His smile is a degree of misery all in its own. ]

The same Rachel who was apologising for her friend a while back? The one with the Scottish family name.

video;

[darkholme]

I'm sure you could learn how to fight if you really wanted to. Anybody can.

[ t-trying to be supportive!! but yeah it's the one thing she can kind of maybe help with, sooo ]

video;

[chiroptophobic]

Learn to fight? No. No, that sounds like a disaster in the making.

[ A moment's hesitation. It seems like he's examining her on the screen particularly hard. ]

Do you? Fight, I mean.

video | catcrypts

[felinely]

[ Of course Selina isn't going to just outright ask: why the post. Instead she just looks at the screen; her expression could almost be considered soft for the briefest of moments, as she silently considers her words. ]

Bored, Mr. Wayne?

video | catcrypts

[chiroptophobic]

[ Good because if you hadn't catcrypted this he couldn't use any of his real expressions. The smile that doesn't reach his eyes, for example. ]

Keeping up appearances. It takes effort to hide in plain sight.

voice

[harriedosborn]

I know how you feel about -- well, actually, all of it, there's a pretty narrow scope of contribution up here and everything's... isolated. Even when you're not alone. [ He pauses. ] I know some chemistry, I could show you when I make it down to the labs if you wanted.

[ Whenever that is. After a moment he debates saying anything more, but adds finally: ]

Parents can cast long shadows.

voice

[chiroptophobic]

It sounds complicated.

[ But he considers Harry's next words for a moment longer, then nods. ]

I think that's something I could... So long as you don't think I'd get in your way. [ Delicately. ] Your parents?

video... ish........

[growling]

[ Well, almost video. He actually thinks better of it right after starting the feed, then drops his comms device in the effort to hang up, then actually manages to hang up. ]

[no reply]

[chiroptophobic]

[ If you weren't on his radar before, you are now. But as a suspect of many transgressions against the fourth wall, the appearance doesn't surprise Bruce much. ]

[video]

[falsehoods]

You say "aloof", I would say "secretive" and there is naught wrong with having secrets.

[video]

[chiroptophobic]

Only when they hurt someone else. [ But that isn't the effect he wanted to have, and he tilts his head ever so slightly. Loki knows the truth. ] You'd say 'secretive'? What gave you that impression?

voice;

[justamobster]

Bein' buddy-buddy with everyone ain't always someone's piece of pie, yeah?

Ain't nothin' wrong with that.

voice;

[chiroptophobic]

It's lonely.

[ That could be construed as being something wrong with it. In fact it tends to suit Bruce quite well. ]

[lawyer]

[holy batman on a cracker]

Lone warrior needing to be part of a team? Yeah, been there. If you're up for throwing a few punches, I could probably teach you some.

not here;

[fraud]

[ HE'S SO PISSED THAT YOU REPLIED TO THIS ]

not here; I'M SO SORRY REG

[fraud]

[ nope nope nope fourth walling nope nope nope he might cry at this point ]

also not here;

[firms]

[ god mike, get over it ]

audio.

[helpmeguideit]

[ you gave him a lot to take in - oh, rich boy woes]

I would be happy to show you the ropes, if you would like.

I'm Charles, by the way.

audio.

[chiroptophobic]

Show me the ropes--I hope you mean socially, rather than actual ropes?

[ It is a ship. ]

[culver]

Can you make pasta yet?

[chiroptophobic]

I can, actually. It was easier than I thought, though I mostly have you to thank for that.

[also not here SORRY]

[learnedtosmile]

[Blake is just watching the responses to this post very carefully.]

[also not here]

[chiroptophobic]

[ He's be disappointed if you didn't. ]

video|

[entrapments]

I'll be your Mister Miyagi.
We'll get you to wax-on-wax-off in no time.

video|

[chiroptophobic]

[ If only The Karate Kid had been made into an opera. ]

Mr. Miyagi?

private | video

[notmydiagnosis]

[ Bruce Wayne? From Gotham? Certainly things have changed. He pulls himself together before pressing the video feed--he's still got a bit of stubble and messy hair, long forgetting about simple matters like that courtesy of the kangaroo court in Gotham, but he's still retained that air of coolness. ]

It's rather nice to see someone else from Gotham aboard. Especially the great Bruce Wayne.

private | video - batcryptions

[chiroptophobic]

[ In ways, they both look terrible. Bruce has had to trim his own hair, and lack of product means it falls a little more loose about his face than he'd like. He looks pale, perhaps, but none the less steely sharp, even though he breaks it with a smile that leaves no amusement in his eyes.

The withdrawal is barely obvious, the slight edge of maniacal that he carries with him now, though, that's there. It's an edge to his laughter. There's too much of Ra's' hatred in him now. At times like this, it's almost too much to fight, and Bruce still has to at least maintain the act. ]

'Great'? [ He doesn't comment further on the descriptor, just laughs the word and carries on. ] I can't say I expected anyone else either. How long have you been here?