859/Limos are for Bat Birthdays

Limos are for Bat Birthdays
Date of Scene:	30 March 2020
Location:	Gotham
Synopsis:	Bruce Wayne's birthday party. It ends about as well as one would expect. Not well.
Cast of Characters:	Bruce Wayne, Carrie Kelley, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown

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Bruce Wayne has posed:
"So no ideas for dinner," Bruce says, and sweeps his eyes around the back of the limo. It's a bit crowded with nearly the whole clan in there, save one or two faces. Personal styles all reflect different modes of dress; Bruce's classic double-breasted suit looks a little anachronistic, but it's what people would expect from a sensible, middle-aged(!) billionaire out for a quiet evening with his family.

"Private table at Le Cirque. Or Elaine's. Oxomoco."

A grey-haired head pokes in to the back of the limo at a stop light, and Alfred peers back at Bruce from under the brim of his driver's hat. "I voted for The Churchill, Master Bruce," he reminds his former ward.

"I'm not eating British food voluntarily, Alfed," Bruce says with grim resignation-- a conversation they've clearly had several times.

Alfred stares back at Bruce, then faces forward. "Very good sir," he says, stiffly. Then, under his breath: "...wouldn't know a good blood pudding from Jell-O..."

And the barrier lifts again, giving Alfred the last word.

Carrie Kelley has posed:
It was the month for birthdays apparently as the next in line was none other than the head of the bat clan himself: Bruce Wayne. Many ideas had been bandied about for dinner with no success. Carrie is seated in the limo actually dressed fairly nicely herself; a simple little black dress that fell to modest standards, and her hair swept back in a french braid.

"Too many different tastes," she has to admit with a sigh as she contemplates ideas. "Well, since we're driving anyway... If you don't mind Alfred," she calls up, "How about we just hit some takeout for where we all want and eat in the limo? *Carefully* eat in the limo," she adds quickly. The idea wasn't to make a mess for Alfred after all. "We all get what we want, and we can speak without having to worry about being overheard."

Tim Drake has posed:
Tim Drake is in one of the corners probably near the gadgets. He is in dress shirt and slacks, enough to be ok in fancy or casual. He looks over and says "I am good with most any place know deli, but would have to call them and have them meet us as they aint got a drive thru.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian didn't care where they ate. He had eaten year old field rations under the stars. He'd eaten bugs gathered up from the ground. "Just let Father pick. It's his birthday."

  The youngest of the clan seemed to have been watching his Switch as they all conversed. "This fucking raccoon wants thirty iron nuggets?!" He exclaims out of frustration, staring at the screen intently.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Babs is dressed pretty casual, not like slacker casual but she had little to no idea where they were going out for the birthday so she played it safe. Just expensive designer jeans and a dark red blouse with a black jacket. It looks good but could be anywhere from dumplings to a nicer place in a pinch.

She is sprawled in the back of the limo relaxed and really amused at the state of affairs at this point. "I also respect Alfred's driving skills, immensely but I am not sure I want to see the limo go through a Bat Burger drive through window setup... it is a bit of a hard turn I think in some of them. That said I am up for just about anything.. though the idea of having a takeout picnic in the limo is kind of fun in case we need to talk business.""

Her attention drifts to Damian now. "How is it, other than the capitolist raccoon?" yeah she hasn't got a chance to try it yet.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown got the invitation from one of the others. She showed up in a simple black dress and carrying a small gift wrapped in midnight blue with silver lace wrapped around it and tied in a bow. She greeted people normally, but has fallen mostly quiet since the arrival of the group's progenitor, figuratively if only in one case literally.

She stays somewhat near to Barbara, sitting beside her and resting her hands in her lap. The blond's eyes have gone to Damian now and then, this being near to the first time she's been around him, and definitely the one she's been around him the longest. She speaks up finally, but keeping her voice down to not interrupt the discussion about where to go. "Yeah, and he keeps asking for more the deeper in it goes," she tells him quietly.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce presses the button on the intercom. "Alfred, be so good as to call head to Lee's Kitchen, and let them know we'll take one of everything off the menu, food for seven. Then we'll find somewhere to sit and eat," he instructs the driver.

"Very good, sir," Alfred responds.

Bruce's eyes sweep to Damian, and the two older batlings peering with interest at the game in his hands. "Wouldn't think a raccoon of all things would make you lose your temper," Bruce says with a sly lack of emphasis. "I'd hate to think what it'd be like if you ran into one that could actually sass back at you."

"I'm trying to think of the last time we were all together," Bruce mulls. "Granted, we're short two faces, but even getting everyone here for Christmas is a challenge, let alone dinner out." He glances to Barbara, uplifts his chin fractionally. "How's your father holding up?" he inquires.

Carrie Kelley has posed:
"It's actually a Tanuki," Carrie corrects with a smile of amusement glancing to the console that Damian was holding while he waited for everyone to make a decision. At least Bruce does finally, and she nods with agreement at the choice. "That sounds like a good idea. I hope the Mapo tofu is authentic though," she adds with a wistful sigh. Oh she'd gotten hooked on that a long time ago.

A flash of a grin is cast toward Stephanie as well, and she adds, "I'm beginning to think I should get into this game too. I usually go for the tactical RPGs." Which could come off entirely wrong if someone didn't know they were talking about videogames to begin with.

Tim Drake has posed:
Tim Drake looks over and says "I have trouble finding time to play WoW, I don't see me adding anything to it. well it is time between expansions." He says and looks to the others "We should set a side a time each month to try this and get everyone together. It is good to see one another without the masks."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian's green eyes went from piercing the screen, to piercing at Babs, it was his normal, a side effect of such harrowingly bright eyes. "This game is supposed to calm me down, it is not working." He comments, placing the system down to his side and crossing his arms. Looking towards Bruce, the boy who bore such a resemblance just kept going. "He wants 30 of each wood and 30 iron nuggets for us to fund his store. That is not capitalism. That is forced slave labor bullshit."

  Clearly having had enough of Animal Crossing for now, he remains in his corner of the limo, watching everyone, but certainly giving Tim a glare every now and again.

  He was determined to still get that guy, somehow, some way.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"At this point my life is a video game and I haven't played an actual one in way to long." she smiles though and nods over to Bruce "Lee's is a fantastic choice, and I think you're right it has been since Christmas really."

The other question, while mundane makes her think a moment. "Dad is doing well, busy as always, though I make him do the family dinner night every Tuesday so I see him." she smirks. "Honestly I think you see my dad more than I do Bruce." amused verbal jab.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie gives Carrie a small smile back. "I've only toyed with it," she admits quietly and gives a tiny shrug of her shoulders. She glances over to Damian again as he puts the game aside. Bruce's biological son. The surprise of it still hasn't worn off since she found out about Damian more recently than the others.

The talk of their extended family gatherings brings about silence from Stephanie, her hands resting back in her lap and fidgeting with the bow on the present she has resting there. She looks up and over to Tim, glancing between he and Damian as one of the glares is given to the older Wayne ward. A small questioning expression is given towards Tim but she remains silent for now.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce almost smiles at Barbara's comment. It's expressed in a subtle flexion near his eyes and lips. "I'll tell him to stop turning the signal on with every emergency. Go home and spend more time with his daughter," he suggests. The dry wit makes it hard to tell if he's kidding or serious.

The limo banks and pulls into a parking lot; Alfred parks the vehicle and steps out, moving past the tinted windows at a brisk pace towards the diner. The smell of dim sung and fried noodles is tantalizingly near.

"Stephanie," Batman says, hailing the blonde Batling. "What's the status on college acceptance letters?" he presses her. "You mentioned you were expecting one or two; I expect they're starting to roll them out to everyone at this point in the spring."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley glances at Bruce as he continues to grill and speak directly to every single member of the family except Damian. Well, except for mention of him getting upset over the game. She considers a moment, then tips her head toward Damian with a grin once he sets it down. "Yeah, it would be nice to do this at least once a month. Even with our busy schedules I think we could swing it, don't you?"

Lightly clearing her throat she adds, "By the way, how did you enjoy your school's prom, Damian?" Hint. Hint. Brucie.

Tim Drake has posed:
Tim Drake looks over to Steph and shrugs a bit in answer to her unspoken question. He will look in the minifridge and says "Let me know what you want and will pass stuff out." He offers trying to help set things up. "Can go to Empire (Think thats the right one) SB is taking clases there. I am sure he could use a study buddy .

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Rolling down the window, Damian pokes his head out. "Hot oil with that." Then remembering Bruce's edict. "Please." At least he doesn't treat everyone like dirt. Almost.

  Damian's face grows a shade of pink that his normal olive complexion doesn't allow. "It was enjoyable." He comments, not that he had thought anyone cared.

  "Superboy who?" He says plain as day in regards to the Kryptonians. He knew full well who Superboy was, but it is obvious that he falls very short of the mark in Damian's eyes.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"It would be good to try to schedule monthly Carrie... I suppose if it is for Alfred's cooking we could lure people in for that." she pauses and looks to Bruce. "Well as long as it isn't the traditional British fare." teasing, very subtly.

The offer though gets a nod. "Well we no longer share a roof but if you can make sure he doesn't miss Tuesday family dinner I will count that a win. I hate it when the Riddler or someone plans a Tuesday caper."

"That reminds me... is anyone else surprised we don't have more food themed villains other than condiment king?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown seemed content to sit quietly, even if it meant a bit of mental effort to reinforce her faulty filter on her inner voice. But as Bruce addresses her, Stephanie looks up quickly and over to him. "College," she repeats, tongue touching her lips before she continues. "I did a few visits and applied to Gotham U, and to Coventry Community College," she says, mentioning a small school closer to her mother's place in the Coventry section of Gotham. "I haven't heard back from Gotham U, though Coventry accepted me," she tells him. "I have a friend whose mother is a professor of archeology at GU. Was going to meet her and, well, hoped she might be able to, you know. Help with things there, put in a good word," she says in a quiet tone.

Stephanie glances back down at the wrapped gift. Now that she knows they will be staying there in the limo for his birthday, she picks it up and offers it over to Bruce. "Here, this is... ah... happy birthday," she says, a tiny smile making it's way out before she sits back quietly again, her hands going back into her lap.

Barbara's comment about food-themed villains gets a soft smile from her. "There was probably a Spaghetti Man but he realized noodles don't tie people up very well."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"There was a weird phase for a while around Gotham," Bruce concedes. "A number of animalistic villains. Some of them were true hybrids, others were just... disturbed. Psychotic criminals like thematic associations," he says, dropping momentarily into Batman's voice. "It creates a sense of order and normalcy in their universe; they are the hero of their own story, and it justifies anything they want to do."

While he speaks, Bruce's fingers flick open the gift wrapping carefully and he unwraps a framed photo. It's all the Batlings in one photo; Carrie and Barbara, Cassandra, Dick and Tim.

"How'd you bribe Damian into standing still for a photo?" Bruce inquires of Stephanie and flips the image around for the others to see. It's passed over for anyone who wants to examine it, and Bruce focuses on Damian. "Superboy. Relative of Superman. It's a... complicated issue; there's a file in the library if you wish," Batman offers the youngest present Robin.

"My question is, though: who did you take to prom?" There's a little flickering amusement in Bruce's eyes. Of course he knows full well who Damian brought.

But the fun in it is making Damian squirm a little with the only topic that really makes him cringe!

Carrie Kelley has posed:
"Oh?" Damian's reaction earns an obvious hint of interest from Carrie. While Bruce might know everything, she didn't. And this was certainly a juicy topic. It wasn't as if she'd ever had a prom to be teased over. No, she'd opted for home study most of the time until it came time for college. Leaning forward she grins impishly. "Yeah, who'd you go with, Damian?"

Glancing over to Bruce when he holds out the photo she takes it next to examine it with a nod. "You took a good photo, Steph. Great job." It's held out then to the next in line if they wanted to see it as well.

Tim Drake has posed:
Tim Drake looks at the picture for a moment, but hands it over to the next. He looks over to Damian "SB's a friend of mine and moved in from Hawaii, had a bit of a by the pants starting but he is a good guy."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "It was for you. That's why." Damian admits plainly. That was before the test started to ask about his prom.

  He wasn't embarrassed, which is backed up by Damian's ease into this answer. "His name is Sam Morgan." Letting that sink in first, before moving into the rest. "He is a student, one who is advanced past high school levels." He admits.

  "I know full well who Superboy is. The dossier I had explained it enough. And I remain unimpressed." The vitriol just exudes from his blood.

  When the rest keep on about his date, he just keeps saying. "We danced, drank sugary water, and consumed overprocessed hors d'oeuvre. From what I am told, apart from the backflips, it was about how proms go."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"I definitely didn't have backflips at my prom." is all she adds to that, she isn't about to dig into it too much. Damian seems untroubled by it and the rest seem to be digging enough. "Haven't ever met Superboy, I do think I would like to meet Powergirl or Supergirl though." probably for her side project really.

She leans and snags a water out of the minifridge in the back, offering a bottle to Stephanie when she does. "Anyone else want a water with the incoming food?"

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown gives a nod at Damian's explanation. She's perhaps just starting to get a feeling for the type of interaction that Damian has with others. "He was really great about it," Stephanie says of Damian, looking over to him to give him a grateful look for his having participated.

Stephanie gives Carrie a grateful smile for the compliment on the photo. "Everyone looked great," she says of it. "Though I just realized someone is missing. I really should have had Alfred in there," she says, frowning slightly, the expression directed internally, and glancing towards the front of the limo where the divider is up. "Well, there's always next year I guess. Or... photoshop? Anyone have a good Alfred picture available?"

Stephanie takes the bottle of water and gives Barbara a grateful look. "So was that appearance at the rock-climbing gym a random coincidence, or came by to check up on who I was with?" Stephanie asks Barbara, her tone slipping back into the more good-natured demeanor she usually shows.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce accepts one of the waters when it's offered, then opens the door and steps out of the vehicle. Alfred sticks his head in. "Young master Wayne, would you be so kind as to pass these along?" Alfred inquires, and starts offering bags full of rich-smelling food to the occupants of the vehicle.

Bruce steps around to the side window, casually surveilling the area around the limo out of paranoid habit. Alfred picked a good place to stop; well lit, nose aimed at a street ramp, and with no easy places for people to approach quietly.

"You get the same lesson everyone else did," Bruce tells Damian. "Careful about spur-of-the-moment confessions about secret identities. It's a serious temptation with the amount of hormones teenagers have."

"How about you, Carrie? Was your prom what it was cracked up to be?"

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley grins broadly when a name is mentioned about who he went with. "Ooh. Sounds cute." She didn't know for sure, but hey, she wasn't sure what else to compliment there. It's taken in stride howeve as she sits back again. When Babs offers the bottle of water her hand stretches out to wiggle her fingers. "Please." At least she knew manners for that as well.

When the limo comes to a stop and people start to get out she shimmies over careful not to have her dress ride up in thep rocess. That was the problem sometimes with dressing up. Thankfully she manages. Just in time to hear Bruce's question causing her to pause regarding him with a difficult to read expression.

"I, ah, I didn't go to prom," she points out sounding a bit... Off. She chews on the inside of her cheek a moment, glancing to the side with a frown. "That was around the time that the Joker um... Nevermind. I was busy."

Tim Drake has posed:
Tim Drake smirks a bit when Bruce talks about keeping secret identities secret, Tim had taken that speech maybe a little to heart to much. He will wait for others to get out, if all are, since he was one of the first in, he does not want to step on anyone or such, mind you with this crowd catching someone's foot to step on might take some real trying to do.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian takes ahold of the food, and passes it in.

  "He knows my name." He admits to the car. "Everyone at school does. They do not know the..." He makes a stabbing motion with a chopstick. Then, continues to move in the food and looks a bit happy at the gathering.

  "There was one Teaching Assistant there, she tried to pitch me for the Titans." He says with a chuckle. "She found me...before I found out...who I was."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara takes a bag of food and passes it along to Stephanie and then takes another bag, starting to look through what surprises the bag she got might hold.

"I'll put in a good word for you at Gotham U if you would like Stephanie." whether she means a good word or just fix the admisssions system is a very solid question. Maybe toss in a Wayne Foundation merit scholarship too.

She looks up from the bag now. "Teaching assistant pitching the Titans?" curious tone before her attention bounces to Stephanie. "I came because I saw you were at the gym, figured I would check after the shooting incident the other night and also see your gym routine. I wasn't expecting a date to be interrupted. Sorry again." a smile though.

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie waits until it's her turn to slide across, carefully keeping the hem of her dress down. The blond slips out of the doorway and then stretches a bit. she ends up with one of the containers when Barbara passes it over, having no idea what it is. But after inhaling the scent, she seems satisfied enough with the contents. She moves over to stand next to Tim Drake as she uses a plastic fork to take a tentative bite.

Her first reaction is a smile. Her second, is her eyes widening. "Oh that's hot," she says, not talking about temperature as the spices kick in. She chases it with some water, which may not be the recommended beverage, but it's what she has and is momentary relief at least.

Stephanie tells Carrie, "If I do get in, you'll have to give me the scoop on the professors." She takes another, smaller bite, mindful of the spice but seeming willing to brave it. The blond looks to Barbara and smiles to her. "I... wouldn't mind some help there, honestly," she says with a nod. "I think my grades are ok but not really standout for such a good school." Her grades had been abysmal, but she'd turned things around the last year or so and was counting on that being noticed. Upwards trending and all. Stephanie shakes her head towards Barbara, "I didn't mind. Nice to have you meet him. And timely too."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
In short order, the occupants of the vehicle have spread out around the back end of the limosine. With the windows down and the low shelf of the trunk, there's enough room for everyone to make eye contact, talk, and spread out their fare on the back of the vehicle.

Bruce uses chopsticks quite dextrously, as he does everything. "Alfred, did you get the almond--" his search through the bags is cut off by the butler passing over the box. Bruce grimaces ruefully at Alfred's perpetual pre-escience.

"I'll trade you for your mu gu gai pan," Alfred offers.

"Done," Bruce says, and there's a busy moment of transferring food back and forth. One gets the sense that this is an old ritual with the two of them.

"Who is this teaching assistant?" Bruce inquires of the younger Batlings. "Someone at the school? I thought they were aiming for discretion. And last Richard told me, the Titans were defunct as a group."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley is rather glad that the topic doesn't return to that time period of her life. This was not the time to be bringing up bad memories. It was a birthday party. She glances over at Stephanie's dish only to raise her eyebrows. "Ah, that might be mine," she offers with a wry grin as she holds out the box she currently has. "I tend to like spice. This is a bit milder if you want."

A glance is cast back toward Bruce with a chuckle of amusement. "I told you to start paying attention more," she teases only to tip her head toward Damian. It was his story to tell at this point. Not hers. "How's the new Birds coming along by the way, Babs? I ran into a few that were interested potentially if you want to check them out."

Tim Drake has posed:
Tim Drake looks over and raises a brow a bit "Someone is recruiting for the titans? I got the impression Dick wanted one of us to take it up, and bring it back into business, had been thinking about heading out there, got the some of the guys back together and figured it was a good start.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "Her name is Colette O'Connail, and she is a thorn in the side. She thinks that after maybe a day of knowing me, that she has me figured out."

  The boy had found the barbecue pork lo mein, and took some out, in a small extra box, and putting a good spoonful of the hot chili oil on it.

  "She pitched me on my potential, and said I should consider being a Titan. I had to hold back my laughter, she has no idea who I am."

  "As usual Drake, you arrived late to the party. Not only have I been doing my own research on the Titans, I've been waiting to get out there and clean the place up. Apparently the one known as Raven has holed herself up there. Turned a headquarters into a mausoleum. If I had a suit I would go there myself." That last bit said with many thorns pointed in no real direction, he was just unsure of his status.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"I'd heard it was supposed to be very discrete, aren't there normal kids there too?" she sips her water and then starts to munch on a onion pancake.

She then fishes for some chicken, spicy, and adds it inside an onion pancake. Blasphemy.

"Roberto seems very nice Stephanie, would love to meet him again sometime not so happenstance. As for school no problem at all, if you want to go there I will see what I can do." which is a lot it turns out. Barbara can and will do a lot to setup Stephanie for some success here.

"Well at least that part of discretion is intact she must be pitching a bunch of students or others then, wonder what her connection to the Titans are." she frowns "Dick asked me to go talk to Raven.. I probably should."

Stephanie Brown has posed:
Stephanie Brown trades dishes with Carrie. "Thanks," she says, fanning her mouth with her hand. Not that that actually does anything. The breeze from it doesn't even make it into her mouth. More of a confirmation 'this is hot' than an actual helpful thing. Non-verbal communication can be weird like that.

Stephanie tentatively tries the food from the container, and gets an expression which suggests it is tasty enough. A grateful look is given to Barbara. Steph hadn't asked for any help in those areas, and the finances for a school like Gotham are something that Barbara would probably also suspect might be tough on Stephanie and her mother, though it doesn't seem to have stopped her from applying there.

Stephanie eyes the conversation going on about the Titans, but doesn't add any input.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce sets his chopsticks down, and his food, and addresses Damian-- and the group-- with a familiar look that invites no debate.

"Raven is one of the most dangerous individuals alive on Earth today," he explains. His tone is blunt and matter-of-fact. "The fact that she's keeping herself isolated in the Tower is one of the reasons that Dr. Strange and Kent Nelson have largely left her alone. It's not an overstatement to say she's a ticking time bomb, and if she loses control of her emotions then it unleashes something that could destroy our world. Maybe our universe. The mystics keep it pretty close to the vest, and Raven does not trust quickly. Or easily," he says, side-eying Barbara. One of the few to get to a chink in Raven's armor.

"If you go there, and you push her too far, she could disintegrate you into atoms with a gesture," he informs Damian.

Batman picks up his food again and there's a certain shifting of muscles as he slides back into his 'Bruce' mask. "And that would be her being relatively kind about it."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
"I never knew Raven myself personally. I wasn't a Titan." Nope. Dick never saw her for that. Carrie flicks up her own chopsticks to begin munching on the MaPoTofu not minding the spice level at all apparently. She barely even blinks while poor Steph was getting her mouth burnt on it. The mouthful is gulped down just as Bruce finishes his explaination of Raven.

"None the less, Dick asked Damian to take over the Titans. And they will need a base of operations." she pauses a moment to dab at her mouth with a paper napkin.

"Also, give your son a suit already before I do."

Tim Drake has posed:
Tim Drake hmms and looks over to Damian, and considers making a snide remark back, but holds his tongue just says "Gotta talk to dick about that." softly. He looks over to Steph and asks "Roberto?" Someone I need to make sure is treating my friend right?" He teases her a bit god naturedly.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "There are. Among them is Damian Wayne." He says, with a distinct wink.

  "Then we find her weakness and exploit it. No one is that powerful to not have one. I am not afraid of her. Nor anyone."

  Yup, that was Damian in a nutshell. As persistent as Bruce, but in a teeny tiny package. The boy himself, puts another spoonful of hot oil on his food, wonderful taste it has. That had been about the time he had heard Carrie give Bruce that ultimatum, and nearly aspirated chili flakes and garlic into his sinus, it's not a pleasant experience.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"I'm... yeah Raven and I are not close. Dick is hoping someone can talk sense into his friend is all and I am willing to very carefully talk to her. Maybe." she sighs and makes another onion pancake chicken spicy burrito over there.

"Which is not to say I think it may be a good idea at all though. My going to the Tower just because Dick isn't being very brave... but Bruce isn't wrong about Raven's threat level so maybe I'll cut him a bit of slack on this one."

She ooks at Damian and just shakes her head a little. "Be careful."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Batman's brows both lift at Carrie's imperative statement, and he gives her a flat look. The food's lowered and he looks around the little circle. "Carrie, I entrusted you with Damian's training," he tells her. "Helping him find his footing. Make friends. Become who he was born to be," he explains.

"No one here was 'given' anything except opportunities. Every one of you found your own way forward. Found an identity. A purpose."

The blunt end of the chopstick points at Barbara and Stephanie. "Homemade. Bike leather and surplus clothing." He points it at Tim. "Designed your own attire. Dick was the first to wear the Robin mask, but it was -his- idea to become something more than just a man."

He levels that look at Damian and, by extension, Carrie as well. "What lesson should Damian learn? That he deserves all the trappings the rest of you fought and worked hard to earn?" He picks up his food and eyes Carrie deliberately. There's clearly another point to be made, but it's delivered with a look of remonstration rather than a lecture.

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley breathes deep a single time. A single time which is held then she speaks. "I used to lead an army. Then I come here, and I start anew. Don't do things the way you were taught, do them my way. So I did." A small bite of food is tucked into her mouth, swallowed, and then she sticks her chopsticks in the container the way you most certainly aren't supposed to do.

"Then Jason died, and I was told 'I don't want you to get hurt too.' So I gave you time to grieve. Then you chose Tim to be your new Robin, and I had to wait again... Always these unspoken rules with you. Never actually telling people what you expect of them. And so I took my position as a 'spare Robin.'"

"And now, again, these unspoken rules. Rather than explaining. Oh, wait, you did explain. 'Talia wants us to clash that's why she brought him here, so he would learn to hate Batman.'" Her eyes open here, flashing with anger, and she swings her hand forward lobbing her Chinese food container at Bruce.

"Learn how to be someone that isn't hateable perhaps! Raise your son yourself, you coward!"

She turns away at that starting to storm off. Nevermind she'd have to walk. "Damian. If you're still interested in becoming anything, come with me. Otherwise... Good luck."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "You know, my entire life developing skills to lead an international 'environmental watchdog group' should have been enough of a prep for something like this..."

  Damian's eyes flare open wider than they ever had been before. Not at all having expected that from Carrie.

  The boy looks to everyone there, and is not sure on what to do, for the second time in his life. >tt< he exclaims, before he reaches to his chest, pulling a necklace out, a bat skull being the pendant on it. The skull brought to his lips, and a sharp SKREEEE! rings out from it.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Barbara ..well honestly it is like watching a slow train crash. Though to be fair this is Bruce's train crash and not hers right now. She stuffs another bite of food into her mouth and nearly chokes on it when Damian lets out that sharp SKREEE through a whistle on his necklace.

What .. The... Hell....

Coughing Barbara sets the food down on the trunk and looks ready to punch a ninja at this point, god knows what Damian has just done. I mean Babs fully intended to call Carrie and have her over later to deal with the fallout but god help everyone now.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce shifts his shoulders and pivots out of the way of the flung container. It's done quite smoothly and the box goes skittering along the pavement, discharging its contents along the pavement.

"I say! Sir!" Alfred's sputtering reaction is cut off by an uplfiting of Bruce's hand. "Leave it, Alfred," he says, and watches Carrie stomp off for two paces in her high huff before he turns to pick up the container with a napkin. He's two steps from the trash container when Damian blows that whistle; the noise makes even Bruce wince slightly.

"What is that for?" he inquires of Damian, as the explosive sound overrides all other immediate considerations.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     "It's to call my friend." The sound from the whistle is reported back from the distance. Massive leathery wings flapping in the night can be heard as well, coming closer and closer to the vehicle.

  A massive red creature, nine feet tall, and a wingspan to match soon circles the limo, wind blowing down with every flap of his bat-like wings until he sets down. The creature had a face not unlike a massive pug, but red as blood, and ears, pointed and listening to everyone. Goliath immediately walks up to Damian and nudges the boy with his snout. "I do not know what it is you all want me to do. I've tried to do what I thought you did. But that doesn't seem to be the right thing." He climbs the dragon and starts to get ready to just fly for a bit. "I will be back at the penthouse soon."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Well.

Not Ninjas.

Barbara pulls out a tablet from the inside of her jacket, she logs into the ORACLE array and starts to do, well a lot of stuff right here.

First off good luck getting a cellular signal to go anywhere useful if you aren't on her Bats and Birds whitelist.

Second she tags all phones nearby that may have problematic footage now or while that thing is taking off.

Finally she fires off a text to Carrie securely. <Not mad, come talk to me at the clocktower later okay>.

That all done she just looks up again to make sure she is actually seeing a giant Bat Dragon. "Welp." she asides to Stephanie who is evidently speechless, and nudges the young woman towards the doors to the limo.

Bruce Wayne has posed:
Bruce's reaction is to stumble backwards as the dragon lands, and interdict himself between Alfred and the monster 'friend' that comes flying to land a short distance away. At Damian's reassurances, though, Bruce relaxes, and glances apologetically behind him to make sure he didn't bruise the elderly butler in his sudden haste.

Batman watches Damian and Carrie leave, then ushers the remaining Batlings towards the limosine. "C'mon," he tells them, loosening his necktie as he goes. He tosses his jacket and tie into the trunk, and extracts a black duffle bag. "Alfred. Get everyone home," he requests of the butler. "Thanks for coming out for dinner," he bids Barbara, and Stephanie. Tim gets a nod-- civil and with a paternal respect-- and once the batlings are bundled into the car, Bruce steps into the shadows and starts tugging a hood into place.

Batman emerges from an alley a block over and disappears up into the night, making good pace towards Wayne Tower.