5505/Law Enforcement Convention

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Law Enforcement Convention
Date of Scene: 16 March 2021
Location: Gotham Convention Center
Synopsis: The National Law Enforcement Convention kicks off in Gotham City, with Commissioner Gordon doing the introduction, and Bruce Wayne speaking as corporate sponsor of the event.
Cast of Characters: Stephanie Brown, Sara Pezzini, Jovian Anderson, Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, Bobbi Morse, Dick Grayson, The Joker, Bruce Wayne




Stephanie Brown has posed:
The Gotham Convention Center is flying banners outside welcoming the 2021 National Law Enforcement Convention to Gotham City. Signs like, "Welcome Boys In Blue" and "America <3s First Responders" adorn the area with a patriot red, white and blue theme.

The Wayne Enterprises logo is also to be seen in a few places, kept smaller and lower key usually, as the welcome sign includes the news that the convention is sponsored by Wayne Enterprises.

The Center itself has many meeting rooms were talks on law enforcement topics of all varieties will take place over the coming week. The large convention floor itself is lined by all sorts of booths and exhibits of technologies, law enforcement software, and forensics advancements. Even a few crime and mystery authors are in attendance.

But for the opening address, chairs have been set out for all of the attendees in front of the main stage. Just outside an open area will host a reception after the opening address, with open bars set up along in multiple places around the room. A band waits to provide music, and a few entertainment acts are warming up in back as well.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
The opening of the convention. Sara had been exicted to see the new up and coming tools for police work since it was first announce and finally it was here. Wearing a dark grey tailored jacket, with matching slacks, a pale blue button front shirt and sensible laced shoes, she was dressed for the standard of a NYPD detective.

Despite being on leave from work now, her arrangements to attend had been made before her unfortunate accident, so here she was, at the opening. Her docket was full of seminars to attend and booths to check out, but this evening was about the opening. Arriving early, perhaps too early, she looks over the room with a smile, perhaps little more excited about it all than a person should be, but she was always up for learning new things. Seeking out a chair, she settles herself and waits.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson is theoretically supposed to be investigating an organized crime ring and participating in a global treasure hunt but given that there are literally mobs of people trying to find and mug anyone affiliated with said hunt, where better to lay low and think for a while than a convention full of police? His former federal credentials (Federal Marshal, not illusionary secret service memories) gets him in; and frankly, there are all kinds of useful and interesting things for his own career. He has the contacts to qualify as a security contractor to gain almost everything displayed in the exhibit hall; so he slowly wanders around looking at interesting things, mainly thinking of his next moves to counter insanity.

Harvey Dent has posed:
The District Attorney of Gotham has a seat upfront, certainly. His security (Which annoys him, but after a few death attempts, he's begrudgingly accepted them) stand in the wings, watching him and his surroundings...just in case. The handsome man smiles softly as he chats with a few people around him, the lanyard around his neck giving his name, position, and marking him as a VIP. The Golden Boy of Gotham. Since becoming DA a year ago he's mead large headway into rooting out corruption wherever he can find it in the system, and pursuing the kinds of criminals most law enforcement in Gotham are too careful or cowardly to go after. It's...given him a bit of a reputation.

Harvey grins and leans in, shaking somebodies hand before he leans back into his seat, turning to idly scan the area as he waits for Wayne's speech.

Jim Gordon has posed:
Jim Gordon steps up to the podium. He's not particularly fond of the public speaking aspects of his job. Not because he was shy or bad at it, but because it kept him from much more important job of actually policing the damn place. Still, this was actually worthwhile, more so than the usual gladhanding, so he doesn't look quite as irritated as he usually does behind the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues...members of the press..." he says with a slight grumble. Okay, maybe he's still a LITTLE irritated. "Welcome to the 2021 National Law Enforcement convention. For those of you from out of town, I'm Commissioner James Gordon of the Gotham Police Department. For more than thirty years, I've had the honor of being a member of the law enforcement community, first in my native Chicago and then here in my adopted home of Gotham City. I think I've done just about every job a cop can do, from walking a beat and handing out tickets to going undercover with the vice squad to being a part of SWAT team raids. In all of these various walks of life, I have found men and women of honor, dignity and dedication. I'm sure that extends to all of our various departments and agencies throughout the nation."

"This convention will be a chance for us to share our knowledge, our techniques, our technologies and our burdens. All of us have an opportunity to learn from one another. That means not just listening and learning, but teaching, too. Don't be afraid to talk about your own experiences and give your own perspectives. Your voice matters, too, no matter what your background in this noble profession. I am proud to be one of you. I am proud to be a cop."

"Now, with all that out of the way, I look forward to meeting many of you as the convention goes on. I'll be hosting the "Putting an End to Corruption" panel tomorrow night and will sit on several others, notably the 'Streamlining Bureaucracy' panel. Now, without further ado, allow me to introduce the generous benefactor of this convention. He's one of Gotham's favorite sons, a generous philanthropist, a corporate leader and, of course, one of the world's most eligible bachelors. One of his own sons is a cop and he's always stood behind the GCPD in times of trouble. Ladies and gentlemen: Bruce Wayne."

Bobbi Morse has posed:
    Bobbi walks in to the foyer and signs in to the convention. Lanyard donned over her suit top. She's not (seemingly) armed and her blonde hair is down. Pants and shiny shoes, and a pale blue blouse complete the ensemble. The lanyard reads 'Dr Barbara Morse PhD. CDC Contractor, Biochemistry'.

    It's been a long time since she's been to something like this as an actual attendee instead of crashing it in a SHIELD operation. It's a strange feeling. No backup - none needed. It is Gotham though, so she prepared. She looks at the map of talks and the different rooms they will be in, the schedule tells her to head to the main hall though for the opening of the event.

    But first she stops over to the cafe in the building and gets herself a coffee. It's strange how some of these faces she knows through reports and the news, some are a complete mystery to her. She's wearing glasses but not smart glasses because someone from the CDC doesn't want to stick out like a technological christmas light; so she will have to suffice with the old fashioned way of finding out identities - shmoozing.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Also up near the front, Dick is dressed in a nice, conservative suit. Per the norm for him, he's not flaunting his wealth. It's perhaps a little nicer than your normal detective would be wearing, but only a little, mainly showing in it's tailored fit. He's got a VIP lanyard as well, and slips into a seat as the Commissioner starts talking.

He nods to Harvey, a couple seats over, then settles in to give Jim his attention. He's got a coffee cup in one hand that he takes a sip from, and takes a small sip from time to time. Given his training, he's scanning tne surroundings as the convention begins, stage, floor and even up to the ceiling from time to time.

Harvey Dent has posed:
Harvey claps along with the crowd as Bruce is introduced. He adjusts his tie and lanyard and tries to focus on the stage and podium. He has trouble sitting still, and one knee bounces a bit as he sits there. Finally, to stop from fidgeting too much, the DA reaches into his pocket and fishes out a half dollar coin. It's older and a bit scuffed. The exact printing isn't made anymore. He rolls it between his fingers in a well-practiced way. His own personal fidget spinner. It lets him focus on the podum better, though, and push back his many thoughts of work for now. Those cases can wait for this. His secretary has told him many times how important this all is. Especially since this is the first time he's attending in his role.

He catches sight of Dick and offers a smile and a brief raise of his other hand, quietly returning the greeting.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini claps as Commissioner Gordon appears and quiets when he speaks, nothing but admiration in her eyes for the man. He'd given his entire life to service, a goal she had for herself. As Bruce Wayne is introduced, she claps again. She's heard numerous tales of this man, though never met him, but the Commissioner had summed him up rather succinctly.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
The attendees are a veritable Who's Who of law enforcement. Police chiefs from Chicago, San Francisco, LA and Detroit sit mixed in with higher ups from the DEA and the FBI. Detectives and forensic examiners take their seats to hear Jim Gordon, the crowd applauding as the irascible commissioner takes the stage.

At the back, a blond young woman in black pants and a white blouse arrives, pulling the lanyard for one of the convention name tags around her neck. The tag reads: "Stephanie Brown" above the words "Gotham University Forensics Exhibitor".

Stephanie moves to the back of the audience, finding an empty seat there. She peers about for familiar faces. One, of course, is on stage, and she smiles and claps for Jim Gordon as he comes out. Then again when Bruce Wayne is announced.

The Joker has posed:
Oberton Sexton is a public figure; a British true crime author, podcaster, and noted researcher into 'Mystery Man Syndrome', the proposed mental condition that leads relatively normal people to put on colorful costumes and strike out against 'crime' after an overwhelming trauma. Something of a controversial figure, Sexton is successful enough to get an invitation to legitimate events like this, largely specializing in cold cases long thought buried and some squabbles with Great Britian's bizarre supercrime community.

Sexton suffers from the condition himself, you see, consumed by a crime he cannot bring himself to solve: the disappearance of his wife. They call him the Gravedigger. Dressed in a modern funeral suit, complete with tails and white kid gloves, Sexton's face is covered by a simple black mask, a pair of blood red sunglass-goggles, and a top hat. Oberton stands rigidly but confidently, the picture of British composure and understatement. He has a cane, but had the good manners to leave it in the Hearse he parked outside.

Oberton claps a little for Jim Gordon, but otherwise does not take his attention from the stage.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson claps along with everyone else. He's being low key here. He recognizes one person but he can tell she is here on work so he simply chills. He finds the local drone stand fascinating. He wishes he could draw darkness to himself to be low key but...NOT drawing darkness to himself is more low key.

Bobbi Morse has posed:
    Bobbi takes a seat at the back of the hall. This is convention if really for the blues and she doesn't want to get in the way of that. She knows their procedures back to front and has posed as a police officer numerous times but she doesn't consider herself one of them. She knows who she is - she's a spy, through and through.

    Having missed the first part of Gordon's speech she claps when Mr. Wayne is being introduced, then takes a sip of her coffee. All together too many interesting faces for her to take in all at once. It's well known how much philanthropy the Wayne family does in this city. Seeing him in person will be interesting.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
The National Law Enforcement Convention. It is not the sort of social event that he usually makes appearances at. The rich and powerful of Gotham City have a 'circuit' of sorts, of parties for charities and other good causes that they regularly attend. Certainly there is a great deal of money raised. A few of them even care about the causes that they are contributing to. Mostly it is to see and be seen, to make sure that everyone knows how important they are, and sometimes to take care of other business. It is a necessary evil of his cover, something expected of Bruce Wayne. So he makes the rounds.

This is something a little different. This is more in his wheel house. More importantly, the motives of those present are ones that he has a little more connection to, a little more sympathy for. It does make a world of difference. He could play the indolent fool, or the bored billionaire. THose are two cards in his arsenal. But instead of slumping over in his seat pretending to have dozed off, or making a show of being off to the side, glad handing and playing to expectations, he actually listens attentively among the other dignitaries up on stage, only risind when introduced as he strides briskly over to the podium, extending his hand to Jim Gordon, giving it a firm shake and murmuring his thanks before stepping up to the microphone.

"My thanks for that warm introduction Commissioner Gordon. And for sharing the sentiments that bring most of us together here this week," he says with a smile, looking out over the crowd. "I will keep this brief. You are all here to do far more important things then listen to myself, and I applaud you all for that. The pursuit of justice and the drive to keep the streets of our cities as safe and crime free as possible is a noble pursuit. One that Wayne Enterprises is proud to stand behind. Whether it be our work with local law enforcement departments around the nation to develop new and innovative technology to help those ends, or the community outreach programs that we sponsor to attack the roots of crime in our communities. We are proud to work as a partner to all of you and will strive to continue to maintain this healthy, beneficial relationship in the years to come," he adds.

"This week you will all have the opportunity to look over the cutting edge in law enforcement technology. To meet and discuss the most important advances in criminology, in soociology and psychology. In police procedure, and of course our outstanding police commissioner's biggest priority -- the destruction of red tape by building a more effective bureaucracy. Gotham City and Wayne Enterprises is pleased to host you all at this conference. A salute, to all of you who make a difference in our community," he says as he steps back from the mic and claps for those assembled.

Harvey Dent has posed:
Harvey Dent continues idly rolling the coin on one hand, back and forth, then under, then reverse. It's all without him focusing on it. It's a long-practiced gesture to keep his hand busy. He listens to Wayne's speech, nodding a bit as he pays attention. Good, short speech. A lot of people took take lessons from the man. He pockets the coin and claps when the man finishes, smiling.

Jim Gordon has posed:
Jim Gordon takes a seat on the side as Bruce makes his speech, nodding to Harvey Dent when he makes momentary eye contact. He also takes a moment to check in on his radio, touching his earpiece briefly to put himself on the channel to his own officers working security.

"Anything to report?" he asks. Obviously, a gathering of this many cops in one place is a ripe target for terrorist or criminal attack and it's not as if Gotham is short on those, despite Gordon's best efforts. Well, with a little help from that Bat fellow and his cohorts.

Jovian Anderson has posed:
Jovian Anderson considers that. He had a degree in criminology but hadnt bothered to polish it in, literally years. The Psychology of the enemy was something that was easy to forget and while he had moved to (cough) greyer areas in recent years, he had to admit, here, surrounded by those in his former profession, it was easy to slip back into old mindsets. Frankly, the bending of the rules lead to things like the Nazca cartel. He took a look again at the schedule actually considering some of the panels rather than random gadgets he could use.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini watches the body language of the man on stage, how he presents himself as well as the presentation itself. There was a lot to learn from what is right there in the body, and this man exudes confidence. She listens intently to his speech, short though it is, and is grateful for Wayne Enterprises seeming devotion to law enforcement. If more were like them, life would be just touch easier for law enforcement. When the speech ends, she claps, smiling brightly.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
One of the people running the conference comes up after Bruce Wayne. "We'd like to thank Commissioner Jim Gordon for being our host for the evening. And also Wayne Enterprises, who are responsible for the open bar at the mixers, as well as sponsoring many of the talks that were underway, and assisting us with room arrangements for everyone."

After the applause for them dies down, he says, "We're going to keep the opening short and sweet. Networking is always one of the best parts of these conventions. Getting a chance to talk to peers around the nation, find out what they are doing and what is working for them. And what isn't working. The panels running all week will give you a chance to hear more of these stories. But the mixer tonight is a good chance to get to know your peers that you'll be seeing for the rest of the week. Thank you everyone. Food is being set out and the bars are now open," he says.

The Joker has posed:
"Humn." The Gravedigger says to himself as Wayne's speech...happens.

"Humn." Oberton says again, and starts to move like a dramatically motivated stork through the lower rungs of the convention, taking the occasional moment to look over a promising piece of technology, or run a finger along a report from throughout the Eastern Seaboard. What is he even looking for?

"Is it true?" Sexton speaks with a clipped, professional accent from...somewhere in London. Whitewall? Maybe a repressed Eton? Maybe he changes it. The point is, Gravedigger's just sort of appeared by Harvey Dent. "I realize it might be a bit of a personal case, Mister Dent, but you are the expert. It's all the buzz on the streets back home. Carmine Falcone, back from the dead, and running jobs across national borders even."

Dick Grayson has posed:
Unsurprisingly, the applause for Bruce is not forced, but honest admiration and agreement with his words. He looks around the crowd, eyes pausing at the somewhat eccentric figure of the Gravedigger surrounded by masses of variously clothed cops and crime specialists. Not a lot of hero types are obvious in the hall today. If they are here, they're staying pretty low key about it.

After his speech, he checks his event listing, trying to decide how best to spend his time here tonight. Looking over the latest toys is always fun, but a number of the panels also sound interesting.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown looks over to Bobbi Morse who is in the back with her. "Oh I need to get one of those," she says after the people are done on stage, with a nod towards Bobbi's coffee. "Don't imagine I'm likely to get served at the bars," she adds.

Assuming Bobbi has turned to face her during that, she offers her hand over. "I'm Stephanie Brown. Going to help out at a booth some professors from my university are running. I actually just chose forensics as a major. Well, double major. Forensics and Linguistics."

Harvey Dent has posed:
Dent turns when he is spoken to, blinking at Oberton and rising to his feet. "Oh, hello. Falcone?" He considers for a moment as he turns to offer a smile and nod to passing person before turning back. "Well, I wouldn't be able to talk about that, I'm afraid. Anything involving that man and issues around him are open cases, meaning I can't discuss details." His voice is deep and smooth and practiced.

Bobbi Morse has posed:
    Bobbi watches with interest at the energy Bruce gives out during his speech. He strongly believes in this; presumably because of his family tragedy as a child. But it's always good to see a donor not phoning it in. She hmms softly and turns her head to look to Stephanie. Lifting her coffee she says,

    "Oh coffee. Right. Under age still? you're not missing out on much. Alcohol is, by all definitions, one of the least interesting recreational drugs around. Consider that it's a depressant and that the come down is colloquially called a 'hangover' and puts people in to a sad state of affairs for half the day. No, you could do much better. Or not, no drugs is also good."

    She offers her hand back and shakes Stephanie's, "Morse, Bobbi Morse. Now that's a great set of majors. I dabble in languages because you never know which country you might get deployed to in an emergency. The CDC doesn't just cater to North America - we help the WHO when they need us. I take it you're at Gotham University?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Standing as the mixer part of the evening begins, Sara takes a moment to look around for coffee. Like any law enforcement officer, in any city, she runs on caffeine and hope. She has the hope in plenty right now, so all she needs is the caffeine.

Moving out of the row of chairs, she makes sure her lanyard is showing, and starts looking around at all the names and occupations present, while still in search of coffee. A wide variety of people and positions, students and doctors. It was an impressive turn out, and then her eyes settle on the oddly dressed man. He just stands right out in a room of suits.

"Huh," she mutters more to herself an anyone in particular.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown glances about the room now and then as she talks to Bobbi Morse. She spots Dick Grayson finally, up at the front while she's at the back. The large man in the unusual getup causes Stephanie's head to tilt for a moment as she takes in the sight of Oberton. His picture and name were in a list in the files she was made to memorize, but little more than a short synopsis, as someone she was not likely to run into anytime soon. So his full bio left for later.

The blond college student's attention is only gone for a moment though as she smiles to Bobbi and says, "Just finishing up my freshman year. Soon. Hopefully," she says, breaking out in a soft laugh, and a warm, likeable grin.

"I figure it might serve me well, the world is ending up such a small place. Though if I'm truthful? There's this lady that runs a dumpling place I go to a lot. And everyone that goes there speaks Cantonese with her, but me. And she's always got this flat look for me. It's not exactly a reason to make it a major," Stephanie says, chuckling. "But it goaded me enough I thought, I'd really like to be able to communicate fluently outside of the US."

Stephanie glances at Bobbi's badge, and gives a little nod when she mentions the CDC. "That's a line of work I have respect for, not sure I could do it. I'm a grouchy, sorry excuse of a person when I get a cold. Dealing with real illnesses? Ouch," she says, laughing gently at the end.

The Joker has posed:
The masked man's head tilts, like a dog catching a scent, or a Hollywood serial killer.

"How informative. Thank you, Mister Dent. You're right, of course, the city of Gotham does not maintain a contract with me like London does, so I have very little busniess asking this sort of thing. Oberton Sexton, by the way, I apologize for the directness. It's just a concern, after all."

"A lot of powerful people made their bones with what the world thought was the fall of the Roman Empire. Penguin, Batman, Joker. Suddenly these silly men in silly costumes were a force that had to be recognized. And of course, the Commissioner. Lot of dominos that could be knocked down by one man back from the dead." Oberton Sexton's body language is difficult to track, between the mask, the heavy clothes, and composed demeanor. He does look over to Sara, perhaps sensing her own glance, and tips his hat towards the woman.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
He will not lie. It is rather nice not to be doing one of the standard, rote little speeches that he normally pulls out of his jacket pocket at the mixers and events he normally attends. It is even nicer that no one is likely to take it admiss that Bruce Wayne has even signed up for some of the seminars and presentations being given during the course of the week. Just being a good, attentive host right? Truthfully, he's probably not going to learn anything, but sometimes reading other people's reactions can be even more informative in it's own way.

And he does love his information.

As one of the event coordinators kicks things off, Bruce only lingers up on the raised platform that serves as the stage for a few moments, pausing to have a few words with the Mayor. But then he too escapes, trotting down those handful of steps that lead down to the convention floor, beginning to mingle a little himself.

Harvey Dent has posed:
Harvey nods a bit to Oberton, offering a small smile. "It's fine. I understand the curiosity and everything. Unfortunatly, for now at least, I'd be breaking some pretty important rules if I talked to you about of this." He offers his hand to shake. "It was nice to meet you, though, Mr. Sexton. If you'll excuse me, though." Assuming the man lets him go, he turns and makes his way into the mixing crowd. He sighs softly and brushes his fingers back through his dark hair, scanning the crowd idly.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
The briefest of nods is offered to the masked man, because honestly Sara just can't wrap her head around that get up, then her search for coffee continues.

Spotting Bobbi with a cup of coffee gives her hope, so she idles her way toward the woman but pauses just a bit back so as not to interrupt the current conversation.

Jim Gordon has posed:
Jim Gordon makes his way around to do the requisite mingling, shaking a few hands. He really wants a smoke, mostly. That gum Barbara bought for him doesn't do a damn bit of good. What's he supposed to do with his hands? And he looks like a damn fool just sittin' there chewin' away like a cow.

He heads over to Harvey, at least one of the most familiar faces in the place, especially with his interaction with the stranger, "Who was that guy?" he asks, nodding towards Oberton as he offers his hand to the DA.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick Grayson stands and pauses a moment as the Gravedigger approaches Harvey, but as it appears that conversation is his goal, moves on into the crowd of law enforcement personnel, exchanging a greeting here, a handshake there. A gentle shake of his coffee cup reveals that it is nearly empty, so he heads for the nearest station that he can refill it at.
He nods as he sees Bruce join the crowd, but continues his quest for a refill on his coffee, passing near Sara on the way.

Bobbi Morse has posed:
    Bobbi's eyes flash over to Oberton and she says, "Quite the get up isn't it?" She has never come across him before. Crime enthusiast authors who wear strange outfits don't make it to her desk until they start attempting genocide. "Well. I'm not a medical doctor, though many of my colleagues are. I spend much of my time unlocking the mysteries of viral genetics and genetic variance that lead to medical conditions."

    She smiles and says, "Cantonese isn't an easy language. Good luck with that. Though, the vendor may simply not like you.." She grins suggesting it's just a tease. "If you want to talk more about my work some time I'd be happy to. I spend a lot of time working with machine learning models that speed up the time it takes to map the genome of bacteria and viruses.. and people for that matter. The technology has advanced in leaps and bounds since the discovery of the double helix."

    "Mostly I'm here because my boss suggested it'd be a good idea - for when the CDC needs to interface with different levels of law enforcement. From the LEO to the FBI and everything in between. When crisis hits, we all have to work together."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
There goes a cup of coffee, and Sara follows it, or rather follows Dick who has the cup. Surely he's going to get more coffee and that will allow her to get a cup. It could be said that police and coffee go hand in hand, it's not a lie. There are those who prefer tea or soda, those are for rookies, real cops drink coffee because nothing else keeps them up the long hours.

"Excuse me?" She says to Dick. "Are you getting more coffee by chance? I'd love a cup but don't see where to get it."

Harvey Dent has posed:
Harvey Dent posts up against a column in the room, offering smiles and nods to folks as they walk by or briefly greet him. He adjusts his tie a bit and shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He glances about and spots numerous conversations going on, and he smiles softly to himself.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown can't help but give a soft laugh about maybe the proprietor of Hot Dumplings just doesn't like her. "Quite possible. But I'm /so/ nice to her," Stephanie protests with a laugh.

As she hears more of what Bobbi claims to do, Stephanie motions with a finger towards her. "I should send my friend Gwen to meet you. She's studying genetics up at ESU. She's like another Stephen Hawking or something, I swear. Really big brain, sweet as can be," Stephanie tells Bobbi.

She sees the familiar face go by looking for coffee, though rather than head that way, Stephanie glances up towards where Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent are talking. "I'm going to wander over this way if you want to come along. Mr. Gordon... sorry, Commissioner Gordon, is the father of a woman who has helped tutor me in some of my classes," she says. "I'd like to say hello. And if I get a chance to tell Harvey Dent, that's our DA there, what a great job he seems to be doing, all the better."

Dick Grayson has posed:
He nods as Sara addresses him, "I am. The closest spot is over this way, you're quite welcome to tag along." He gives her a smile and what she will recognize as a professional once over look, then stops to offer his hand. "Richard Grayson, Gotham City Police Department. Nice to meet you."

Bobbi Morse has posed:
    Bobbi nods her head and smiles, "I'd be happy to talk to her. I'm always eager to spread STEAM amongst young women striking out in to professions unexplored." She takes from her coat jacket a business card. Email, phone, same title and name and position. It looks legit. She offers it to Stephanie. "Pass this on to her."

    She looks up and over to the commissioner of Gotham's police force. Probably best she not talk to him one on one, who knows if she'll ever have to interface with him as SHIELD. She smiles and says, "Oh you go ahead. I'm going to meander around. I'm excited to see all the new policing gadgets. It's like a James Bond movie but in real life."

The Joker has posed:
"Mister Wayne."

Sexton is rigidly, rigidly still as he politely offers a hand to Bruce. There's no sense of facial expression under that mask...maybe treated mateiral? The Gravedigger also doesn't carry any technology more complicated than a set of keys for his car, at least presently. Another slight tilt of the head. "It's always nice to see...this side of you in public. Inspiring. We're all fans of the Wayne Foundation back in town, of course, espeically after all the work your people did helping us recover from the Pearly Prince's last break out. You could call me a bit of a fan." There's a pause as if for a gentle, self-deferential laugh, but Gravedigger never laughs.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Now taking the time to look Dick over, Sara accepts the offered hand. "Sara Pezzini, New York city police department, detective. Nice to meet you." She glances in the direction he indicated, then offers a nod.

"I believe I will tag along. I got the luck of the draw to attend, though I think a few others from my department are around here, most obviously had to stay and to their jobs. I'm always grateful for opportunities like this."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Of course many of those same gadgets have rolled off Wayne Enterprises assembly lines. His company is into just about everything -- something that comes in handy when he needs prototypes to disappear from R&D labs into his personal and very, very private collection. Even still, a great deal of what gets released is interesting and useful. As the crowd that has started to look over all those displays would suggest. Of course, sponsor or not WayneTech is hardly the only purveyor of goods on display. It is a lucrative market -- even if that isn't really his priority.

Continuing to circulate some, his path takes him past the popular District Atorney, dipping his head towards the man. "An excellent turn out this year it would seem. Are you going to have a chance to attend any of the seminars or presentations Mr. Dent, or is your case load going to keep you too busy?" Gotham's foremost billionaire asks.

Jim Gordon has posed:
Jim Gordon has found his way to a cheese plate. He will not be distracted from the cheese plate easily. They didn't used to have cheese plates at these things, it was just donuts and coffee. "Thanks, Bruce Wayne," Jim mutters to himself through a mouthful of brie.

Harvey Dent has posed:
Harvey Dent smiles and nods to Bruce, straightening as the man approaches. "Right? I hope so, Mr. Wayne. I have some of the DA's working on the things that were keeping me busy so I can give the conference all the attention it needs." He offers his hand to shake the man's hand, smiling charismatically. "I know I can give a speech, but standing in front of a crowd is easier to me then standing in one. I'm more of a quiet conversation kind of guy, I guess. But, all the same, I'm happy to be here."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown takes the card from Bobbi. "Thank you, I'll pass this on to her," she says to the taller woman, offering a grateful smile. "Enjoy the convention. Feel free to stop by the Gotham U booth. They have some adhesives that can be used to retrieve footprints from normal flooring, which... ah. Really have nothing to do with disease control," Stephanie admits with a chuckle. "Nice meeting you, Ms. Morse," she says, before turning to make her way over across the room towards Jim Gordon.

"Commissioner Gordon," Stephanie says as she approaches him from behind. "It was a nice speech. Glad I got to hear it," she tells him. She motions towards her name tag. "I'm going to being helping at an exhibit by some of the forensics professors from Gotham U. Professor Einhoff and... ah... I just the met the other once. Kind of short, looks like George Costanza but with thicker glasses?" she says, thinking maybe he'll be familiar with the man.

The Joker has posed:
"Well." Sexton says, as he's blown off. "Clearly I need to work on my projection."

Sexton does a few silent vocal exercises until he seems to realize this is, perhaps, a bit too eccentric even for a consulting superhero. Tipping his hat, Sexton glides towards...the cheese place.

"Commissioner Gordon." Sexton says, hopefully, "I don't suppose you'd like to give me a quote on Carmine Falcone's alleged return from the dead? ...you really should try the brie with a little of that apricot jam, by the way."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
For Bruce, blending in really isn't difficult for him. Like a chameleon he takes on the traits that he needs. Sometimes that means confidently speaking in front of dozens or even hundreds of people, sometimes it means quiet reserve. It all depends on teh situation. Still, he smiles faintly at Gotham's Golden Boy and inclines his head ever so slightly in apparent understanding. "Mmmmm, I believe I know what you mean," he assures that other man. "Still, I find that it is never a bad thing to be fully up to date on just how your partners get the job done," he notes drily. You know, when he's not out clubbing with models, or sleeping through board meetings.

Jim Gordon has posed:
Jim Gordon turns towards Sexton slowly, finishing off the piece of cheese in his mouth and then carefully taking his time to pick up a napkin and wipe his lips, making sure to get any of those pesky mustache crumbs.

"You want a quote about Carmine Falcone?" he says with the raise of a bushy eyebrow. "Here's my quote about Falcone coming back from the dead - I didn't know the Grim Reaper took bribes. There ya go. Publish away," he says. "Who exactly are you, anyway?" he asks, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

Harvey Dent has posed:
Dent nods to Wayne and smiles. "I get it, trust me." He glances aside at one of his security and nods a bit, as if assuring 'I'm fine, really'. When he took over for the incredibly corrupt DA B. Loeb he made a lot of enemies, both inside and outside of law enforcement and the government. Such is the way of things.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie glances up at Oberon Sexton as he comes over to Jim Gordon. She isn't surprised when the man gets Gordon's focus, with the outfit. She manages to keep her inner voice an inner voice for once, thinking how she likes the color scheme, but the whole gravedigger look could use an overhaul.

Costumes are serious business.

The college freshman gets a piece of cheese to nibble while the Commissioner talks to Sexton. She makes a mental note to read the file on him in the Batcomputer tonight when she gets home.

The Joker has posed:
The Gravedigger's mask shifts, a little. "That was very funny. I think. I'm told I do not posess a functioning sense of humor. I think this is overstated I do know one really corking joke."

"My name is Oberton Sexton. You may be more familiar with my other name, 'the Gravedigger'. 'No crime sleeps easy'?" Sexton pauses a bit, hoping for a glimmer of recognition. "I solve crimes and write books about them. Do a little consulting work for Scotland Yard. I admit I mostly made the trip across the pond to see if I could get some direct insight into Gotham's efforts against a resurgent 'Roman Empire'."

"And, of course, the view. What other city has a building sized typewriter? Marvelous! Sprang school's a lost art."

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick Grayson smiles at Sara, "Well, New York's loss is Gotham's gain this week, I'd say. Is it ok if I call you Sara? Being a huge gathering of police officers, several of the big coffee chains are here. I'm pretty sure we can find you something that fits your tastes."

He winds his way through the crowd, leading her over to the nearest booth. "Grab whatever you like, it's on me." When the attendant gets to him, he offers his cup and tells the man, "Columbian blend, cream, one sugar."

Jim Gordon has posed:
Jim Gordon gives a nonplussed look to Sexton, setting aside a bit of cheese, "Sorry, don't have a lot of time to read books about crimesolving because I'm too busy solving crimes. I thought Gravedigger was a monster truck. As for the 'Roman empire', if being a two bit hood in an expensive suit makes him an emperor, I must be the King of Timbuktu," he says.

To Stephanie, he brightens, smiling, "I'm glad to see you pursuing the forensic path. I think you'll do well and we'll be glad to have you once you get your degree. If you need anything from me, just let me know. Or tell Barbara, she can usually twist my arm into just about anything," he says with a wink.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
It would appear that Harvey is slowly getting used to the added security that comes with the job of being one of Gotham's top targets, and Bruce's gaze flickers to them for just a moment, assessingly. But then that amiable, business-like smile is firmly fixed back in place. He's a little sorry for the man. It might be necessary, but he imagines it's a hassle. He went through quite the ordeal keeping his own Board from assigning a protective detail to him as well. It's something he has to fight back down every few years or so. It would cramp his style. In far more ways then just the one. "Good man," Bruce says, clasping Gotham's D.A. on the shoulder for a moment. "Well then, I hope you enjoy the conference. I plan on attending as many as I can as well. Networking and all that," he offers up with a smile and a brief shrug. "I am certain I will see you around."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara walks with Dick towards his chosen coffee place, she's not particular when it comes to coffee. "Oh, Sara is fine, makes it easier than Detective this, or Officer that. We know what we are, first names are just as good."

She offers the man a smile as they arrive and he offers to buy her coffee. She is not going to turn that down, one because her salary is not that large and she does through A LOT of clothing, and two, free coffee. "I'll have the same actually, double cream, and thank you. How can I possibly pass up free coffee?"

Harvey Dent has posed:
The DA grins at Bruce and nods. "I'm sure we will. For now, though, have a good night." He turns once the man is on his way, and starts towards the area where he, too, can get a coffee. Before long he is standing near Dick and Sara, and the man offers them both a smile as he waits for his turn to order.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown makes a mental note to check out Gravedigger's books, at least to see if they might be worth reading. She gives him a friendly enough smile, but doesn't try to engage Oberton in conversation. What she has to say about Carmine Falcone isn't anything that a college freshman should know or utter.

She grabs another piece of cheese, a little block of provolone. "Thank you, that's very kind," Stephanie says to Jim Gordon. "I definitely will. I was looking over the course catalog and planning out what I need then. Should be able to get most of the science basics done next year and then by my junior year will be in the more focused classes."

Stephanie takes a bite of the provolone, and remembers she hasn't gotten herself coffee yet. "Going to wander over in search of coffee," she says. She looks to Gravedigger and says, "Be sure to stop by the Gotham U forensics department's exhibit tomorrow, Mr. Sexton." He gets another smile and then she continues towards the coffee stand, spotting Dick and Sara there as she walks over to them.

The Joker has posed:
If Gravedigger is at all frustrated at his repeated rebuffing, there's no real sign. Then again that's one of the benefits of a creepy, faceless black mask.

He considers telling Gordon his little joke, but the girl's there, and that spoils things, just a little. Sexton has no interest in preforming for a crowd right now; he really is here for information and technology he can turn against his enemies, who are all getting a little too lucky for Sexton's liking.

"Thank you for the invitation, Ms. Brown." Sexton says, tipping his hat, "Forensics is a passion of mine, as it so happens. I'll be looking forward to it."

"Good evening...comissioner." The accent twists, just for a second, but Gravedigger is on his way to his strange car, presumably to sleep in a freshly dug grave or something equally eccentric.

Jim Gordon has posed:
Jim Gordon watches Sexton leave with a narrowing of the eyes. Something about that guy didn't feel right or good. Can't put his finger on it.

"Enjoy the coffee. I'll see you again soon!" he says to Stephanie, taking a moment to head towards the door himself, but not to leave for good, just to take advantage of the smoking area provided, aka the soggy patch of lawn next to the air conditioning unit around the back of the venue. At least with the noise from the fans, nobody would try to make conversation.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick grins a little at her, "For us? It's almost impossible to pass up, which is what I was counting on. You see, this way I get to monopolize a little more of your time before you have to head off to the next lecture." He takes a tiny sip of his new coffee, testing the temperature, then looks back to her.

"So Sara, did you have any specific panels or displays you were interested in? Maybe we'll have a few similar interests, or I might be able to get you a extended demonstration of one of the new toys."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown finishes the provolone on the way to the coffee stand. As she draws nearer she sees Dick and Sara seem to be conversing. She catches that grin he gives Sara. For someone who knows the Boy Wonder that's nearly as good as a "Man at Work" sign set out.

She gives a tiny shake of her head, passing behind Sara and slowly just a step as she looks up at Dick with an expression that suggests he's been spotted employing his game. Stephanie gives a teasing roll of her eyes towards him, but with a soft grin as she continues past them, not interrupting as she gets herself a cappuccino. She may not be able to enjoy free booze, but free coffee? Hell yeah.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Accepting the cup of coffee, necter of the Gods!, Sara takes a small sip and seems to relish the moment with a content sigh.

"Oh I see," she then laughs, having had her moment. "Monopolizing my time for free coffee? That's acceptable. In regards to panels. I know I can't get to them all, but I'm hoping to get to as many as I can. I'm primarily interest in the new techniques, new tools and gadgets, and possibly a way to not cripple my hand with reports, more efficient means for writing them. They should all be computerized by this point, but they aren't. What about you? What interests you at the convention?"

She seems to have no issues with her time being monopolized by a man with that butt... have you seen it? Well she did, dayum! Even as her thoughts are on that butt, she is still observing what is happening around. She takes note of the woman passing by her, nothing more, merely that she was close enough to be in almost arms reach then moved passed.

Dick Grayson has posed:
Taking another sip of his coffee, Dick's eyes focus for a moment on the girl passing behind Sara and he shrugs a little, then his focus returns to her. "Oh, a little of everything. I have to admit to being fond of a lot of the new gadgets though. Anything that makes our job a little easier is a bonus in my eyes,"

At her mention of reports he nods, "I know just the things, come with me. We can get that hand uncrippled in no time." He waves her to his side so he can guide her through the convention center to the display he has in mind. She'll probably notice that a lot of people seem to know him, or at least greet him like they want to get his attention.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Offering a nod, another sip of her coffee is taken before Sara begins to move with Dick through the convention center. It's not difficult to notice the number of people who wave or attempt to gain the man's attention, and she begins to wonder if there was a memo she missed on who this guy was.

"I plan to take notes back to my boss, since he couldn't make it, on suggested items that will never be purchased because there's not enough money in the budget, but I can at least try. I'd love to be able to use all the new toys and gadgets out there, just drop a few hundred on the department and go 'Have at it boys and girls, X-mas came early!' but that's not in my budget."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown gets her drink, turning over her shoulder to watch Dick head off in search of reporting software displays. She gives a tiny shake of her head. "So that's what Barbara meant," she says, not really having seen Dick around too many other than those in their circle of friends.

She wanders back over through the convention, the college freshman not quite fitting in with the age dynamic in the room. Though that doesn't stop a rather overweight guy in a trench coat and bristly mustache from stopping to talk to her. Stephanie makes polite conversation, finding out he's a detective in from Trenton, who promises he'll go see the Gotham U display. Stephanie eventually moves on. She didn't get to speak to Harvey Dent earlier, so when she spots him free she heads over that way.

"Mr. Dent? I just wanted to say thank you for the work you're doing," Stephanie says to Harvey when she gets his attention. "I know this isn't the easiest city when it comes to law and order. And, well, just you're an inspiration, sir. I wanted you to know it makes a difference."

Harvey Dent has posed:
Harvey Dent has finally gotten his own coffee, and he's seated in the little cafe area. He sips the coffee as he watches people come and go. He blinks as Stephanie approaches, and he straightens and flashes a smile. "Oh! Well, thank you, miss. It really isn't...but it's home. I was born and bred in Gotham, and I wouldn't want to be doing my thing anywhere else." He smiles softly at the compliments and chuckles. "That means a lot. Really. Thank you. A lot of people want my head.":

Dick Grayson has posed:
Dick leads Sara through the convention center until he reaches the booth he had in mind. It's a Wayne Enterprises booth, one of many that are displaying new Wayne tech for law enforcement. This particular one may strike near and dear to Sara's heart however. It's a small computer that can be worn on the wrist. It accepts voice commands and can be set up to interface with various police department networks. In addition, it has built in report writing and filing software, all of which can be done by voice.

Once the demonstration ends, Dick goes over to one of the presenters and tells him, "Rodney, give me one of the promotional models. We're helping the NYPD tonight." Rodney nods and pulled a boxed model out from under the display tables and hands it to him. He comes back over to Sara and offers it to her, "Here you go, no more hand cramps. Should be easy enough to set up, but I can give you a hand if needed."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
As she walks, Sara is looking at the other displays and booths, but she is also making sure not to lose Richard in the crowd, cause that crowd really seems interested in him as much as they are the booths.

Reaching the location he was headed to, she watches the demonstration with envy. Life would be a metric ton easier if every police offer had one of those, but she would settle for just one of her own.

As the demonstration comes to an end she turns toward Dick, but he is already moving over to the booth to speak to the man running it. He knows his name. He is giving the man orders... wait a minute.

Now Sara's brain starts to kick into gear. Richard Grayson... Richard... Dick... OH HOLY MOTHER OF ALL THINGS WAYNE! He's /THAT/ Dick Grayson!

Both of her eyes go wide as she finally realizes just who he is and she stares at him for a moment like a child who lost their parents in a crowded store. "I..." she blinks, stuttering once before getting it under control. "I will need assistance setting it up, yes, thank you." She clears her throat a little. "I just realized who you are."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
The young woman talking to Harvey Dent smiles at his reply. She offers him her hand saying, "I'm Stephanie Brown. Going to school at Gotham U. I decided a bit ago to go into forensics actually. Was in the department and saw a poster about people helping with their exhibit. Figured the opportunity to come see this was just too good to pass up," Stephanie tells him.

"I'm from town too. What part did you grow up in?" she asks. "We were in Coventry until we lost our home while the bridges were down," she says. Using a mild term for describing the days of No Man's Land. "Moved up to Bristol Township after. Mom's still living there."

Harvey Dent has posed:
Harvey Dent takes her hand and smiles. "Harvey Dent, but that...well, you know that, obviously." He chuckles and shakes his head at himself. "Forensics? Wow. I never had a head for that kind of thing. Not smart enough. I could argue like nobodies business, though, so I became a prosecutor." He grins and sips his coffee.

"I grew up in The Bowery." Oof. Talk about a bad part of town. "I was there until I managed to get out with college. Bristol Township? Nice! Well, wish your mom well for me."

Dick Grayson has posed:
He's somewhat used to the moment of realization, so it's a relief when she goes on talking about the computer and doesn't turn into one of the giggly ones various society matrons are always trying to set him up with. With a grin and a shrug, he nods, "Not a problem, and it's actually nice that it didn't happen until I basically dangled it in your face. As you probably saw on the walk over here, lots of people want to get my attention for one reason or another, usually related to money or Wayne Enterprises. It gets old."

He looks around, then says, "Why don't we hit one of the pubs and talk, there's no good panels tonight and all the displays will be here all week. You can tell me more about policing in New York. It's got to be pretty different from here, you've got a much more international populace there."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara Pezzini just stares at the box with the computer it in for a moment, inside she is like a kid who just got handed a really HUGE candy bar, but that could wait until later.

Looking back up at Dick, she offers a nod. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. I'm curious to hear more about policing in Gotham, aside from what I read in the news paper of course." She offers him a smile before she adds, "All the way over here I was trying to figure out why those people were all attracted to you like moths to a flame, come to find out it's because they are moths and you /are/ a flame, but I promise, I'm not a moth."