3085/Happy Birthday Jason, You're a Real Boy

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Happy Birthday Jason, You're a Real Boy
Date of Scene: 25 August 2020
Location: Kitchens - Wayne Manor
Synopsis: Jason comes home on his birthday to find Bruce waiting for him with a surprise he wasn't ready for.
Cast of Characters: Bruce Wayne, Jason Todd




Bruce Wayne has posed:
Well it's already been an interesting morning. A very unusual aerial track on the sensors, an even more interesting text message from one Sue Richards, and the World's Greatest Detective has determined that Jason Todd is already having an eventful Birthday. Bruce Wayne also knows that several of the other family members have given him gifts of varying types. Finally, he knows Jason's patterns. Long night out? Even if he's gotten breakfast, he's coming to raid the fridge.

So Bruce is seated at the small table adjacent to the massive kitchens, with all that remains from his own breakfast, which at this point is just a cup of tea that he occasionally sips from while perusing the day's news on a WayneTech tablet. Alfred is off somewhere else in the house, attending to usual matters. There is only one other oddity to be had: A legal-sized manila envelope resting on the table in Bruce's reach.

Bruce is, as they say, the picture of calm. He's so serene that he might even be missed depending on how vigilant one is being. The fact that his outfit blends somewhat with the background is...possibly not...purely coincidental.

Jason Todd has posed:
It had been an eventful birthday. Starting with waking in Four Freedoms plaza, hitting a middle with being threatened by one furious Sue Storm and wrapping up with a flight home in the Fantasticar. Which while looking lame, was actually more fun than he was willing to admit. It even made 'futuristic' Jetson noises.

Tired, and a little bit hungover just as Bruce had predicted, Jason raids the kitchen, planning to eat, /definitely/ find something to drink, grab whatever crap people gave him and hit the road before the house woke up at usual Bat hours.

That had been the plan, however like he learned last summer plans very rarely survived contact with Batman. He's most of the way into the kitchen before Jason notices the still steaming tea and the man sitting next to it. "Crap," he says, freezing in place. "Too much to hope you're just here to wish me happy birthday?"

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"In truth? Not really." Bruce replies to Jason, taking a sip from his tea and studying the younger man for a moment. "Valeria Richards?" Bruce seems to muse a few moments, "You're impressively skilled, admirably driven, frustratingly obstinate and in some regards understandably resentful." He looks to Jason directly now, "She's undeniably brilliant, obviously beautiful, incredibly arrogant, extremely entitled, and likely equally resentful at feeling sheltered." He manages the ghost of a smile, "I can see it. And both of you are old enough to make your own decisions on who you spend your time with. Sue is...very protective of her children, and Val in particular. But that's a hurdle a lot of young people in these situations have to deal with." A shrug of a shoulder, "So no, no lectures from me on that score."

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason straightens from his 'stealthy' crouch now that he's busted, squaring his shoulders like he's getting ready for a fight. A fight that never comes. Confusion is plain on his face along with a good deal of hearing him and Val so accurately described. The way Bruce says it makes it sound all so logical and predictable. Jason makes a face for a moment before rallying, and moving to the fridge for some juice.

"Okay, no lectures," he says. "Good, because 'protective' isn't even close to describing Sue when it comes to Val. So, to what do I owe this Bat-bush if it's not to wish me happy birthday, or to scold me for which adults I spend my time with?" He pulls the carton of OJ from the fridge and after an involuntary shoulder check for Alfred, drinks straight from the carton.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"Oh, it /was/ to wish you happy birthday. Or at least to give you this." He hefts the envelope now, it looks thick. "Not cash, sorry. But it might be the next best thing." He does the courtesy of rising to his feet and closing the distance to offer it to Jason personally. "I was worried it wouldn't come through in time, but maybe not too surprisingly our family has lawyers who are good with this particular thing." And yes, Bruce did just say "our" family. Whether Jason likes it or not.

Jason Todd has posed:
The envelope does get Jason's attention, brows raising above the carton before it is set down on the counter as he moves to meet Bruce and claim it for himself. "That's okay, I'm good with cash right now," it did always seem to be missing when Red Hood mixed it up with drug dealers or others earned cash through crime rather than stealing it from the innocent. "Lawyers?" he asks before just deciding to cut out the guessing games and open the envelope.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
It's a pile of documentation. Not the most exciting of things. But sparing Jason the trouble of going through the legalese, Bruce speaks:

"You'll have to sign several places. They're tabbed." He doesn't step closer, but doesn't step back, either, "Bringing someone back from the dead is something they've dealt with before. Most notably with me." Bruce notes, that ghost of a smile touching his face once more.

"Legal re-establishment, both as being alive and as a member of this family. The important documentation comes after you sign....licenses, passport...that sort of thing. No need to ask you for your fakes, I know they may still be useful to you. But you'll likely have to sit for a few pictures at a minimum."

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason looks down at the papers and then to Bruce, speechless for the moment with different parts of his brain warring over the right thing to say. Naturally the most combative one wins the battle. "Why?" he asks. "Why bring me back into the family? I get the detente, it made sense once you told us about the Owls, who needs a wild card in the middle fighting a hidden enemy who knows your secrets, but this?" he looks down at the envelope like it was some alien thing.

"I don't get this, I tried to kill most of you just last year," though it was debateable how hard he'd tried in some cases. "In your place, I'd be looking for ways to get me out of this city if not take me out entirely. Or are there plane tickets in here with the documents?" Jason was always one to look for the hidden strings especially when there weren't any to be found.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"You never /weren't/ part of the family, Jason. Family isn't something that goes away just because there are hard feelings, or confusion, or resentment." Bruce says simply. "I can understand why you feel I let you down. God only knows I've blamed myself for it every moment since. I'm sorry that I didn't reach you in time. I'm sorry for what you've been through...with the Pit. But God help me I am -not- sorry that the League did it...whatever their reasons."

Bruce glances away, frowning, "But regardless of your return, it doesn't erase my failure." He glances back to Jason, the corner of his mouth quirking in a wry expression, "But making you part of my family was never a mistake, and it's never something I'm going to give up on."

He pauses a moment and adds, "A Father doesn't have that luxury."

Jason Todd has posed:
The words are heard, it's anyone's guess if they're fully comprehended, Jason's face goes blank, as if his brain had locked up with the magnitude of what Bruce was saying and how different it was from what his earliest years had taught him to expect from life.

He's silent for a long moment, eyes fixed on the envelope in his hands, before he looks up at Bruce, a mostly stunned look still in his pale blue eyes. "So, just sign some forms and get some pictures done and I'm alive again, legally?" he asks, latching onto the manageable while the rest still tries to process in the back of his mind.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"That's about the sum of it, yes. All the t's are crossed and i's dotted." Bruce himself seems to, at least in some small way, welcome the reprieve of discussing things more tangible than feelings and emotion. "Alfred can either take the pictures here or you can get them done at just about any place that does copies and printing. The license and passport will take a trip to the DMV, which might make fighting Killer Croc seem preferable at first thought, but the Bristol office will make an appointment for you if you like, and even if not, they're rarely crowded." Because of course the rich folks have their own DMV Branch in the midst of their comparatively low-population-density area.

"The others left some gifts for you in the family room, as well." Bruce notes, "We won't subject you to any singing or surprise parties, but Alfred has made clear that if you want, he will bake a cake. Whether you want to share it with everyone or just cart it off."

Jason Todd has posed:
"Given the choice," Jason says wryly, "I'll make an appointment." Clearly growing more comfortable as the subject moves to more tangible things. He looks down at the papers again before looking up to Bruce. "Thanks for this," he says, before looking at the papers again. "Guess, I'll see what the others got me and then go track down Alfred about that cake. Can't pass up free food. Mind if I crash here while he makes it? I didn't get much sleep and it's already been a day."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"Wise decision." Bruce agrees, that glimmer of wry humor touching his eyes for a brief moment, before he nods to Jason, "It's the least I could do, and your room is always open to you if you need it."

No hugs, no claps on the shoulder or back, Bruce can read a room and they're not quite there yet. But he does venture the risk of extending a hand, "And Jason...Happy Birthday."

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason smirks, "It's not a Ferrari but it'll do," he says of the gift, glancing at the papers again, still clutched firmly in hand.

He swaps them to the other hand though to shake hands with Bruce. "Thanks, twenty-one," shakes his head. "Really takes the fun out of drinking. Anyhow, gonna go bug Alfred," he says letting go and putting the OJ carton in the fridge. "And Bruce, thanks for waiting up for me." And with that Jason heads out the way he came.