shadowovergotham

[shadowovergotham]

Bane sighed through his nose, but leaned in and kissed her hand in return. "No. I promised Tim I would be here, and he's merely a child. I just needed to make myself decent."

His eyes flicked to the books. "Plus. Wayne has given me permission to peruse his library before. I can spend the night reading, if nothing else. The ballroom is much warmer than I anticipated."

This entire night was already going off course.

It started with getting in. Tim Drake dragging him inside, past confused groups of people staring at what could easily be mistaken for Bane in a dress and a fake wig from Morgan's idea to drag him in here. Then trying not to burn from humiliation while the stupid wigs dug into him, driving his patience to pieces until he couldn't take it anymore. One dip into the bathroom and he was coming out in a suit. At least it fit better.

He fussed with the buttons, the tie, trying to look presentable and unflappable and all the things these high elites would expect. Not that he particularly cared about being seen that way, but these were Gotham's vigilantes, protectors. And Wayne's sponsors. Humiliating him would grant no favors.

And so he pulled this up - the deep green suit, cool brown pinstripe shirt to match it, the silver pocket square. He'd been studying. Subtle flashes of sparkle here and there, faint embroidery on the collar to match the shirt. Just enough flair to catch the right eyes and make the wrong ones nervous about causing a scene. But, so long as he could help it, there would be no chaos caused tonight - at least not involving him.

The moment the party started seeming too involved, Bane slipped off. Away from the crowds, away from the noise, the heat, the rabble. Instead he found himself heading towards the library. It was empty, as expected. The lack of people helped. Bane flicked on one of the lamps and quietly picked up one of the books he'd been halfway through the last time he'd been here. Not much left to it. Was it considered rude to read during a gala?

Maybe just a few pages wouldn't hurt. It wasn't like he was supposed to be at the party anyway.

[shadowovergotham]

Bane mirrored her action, then looked at her. "I'm here because you wanted me to be here. And I brought the backup outfit because I looked ridiculous. I appreciate your effort to share your experience with me, but I don't like it. The dresses, the makeup. It's uncomfortable."

He rolled his shoulders. Already, the suit felt better. No more scratchy lace. Now to get the rest of the gala over with.

Morgan stuffs another dozen tiny sandwiches into her bag while she waits for her plus one. She sent 'Bonnie' one of the makeup tutorials she had recorded with her friends from the Gotham University Drag Club all those years and another timeline ago and detailed pictographic instructions on how to make and put on the outfit that 'she' would need in order to get in. Morgan has confidence that 'Bonnie' is smart enough to pull this off, as long as 'she' takes this seriously.

A snobby rich socialite gives her a judgemental look about her 'takeout' behavior. Morgan makes it a point to lick the crumbs off her fingers while making intense eye contact. Let them watch. What're they going to do, tattle on the seriously injured traumatized young woman wearing a cheap loose-fitting blouse and a secondhand skirt? Go a-flipping-head. She's sure Bruce Wayne would love that.

Anyway, she hopes 'Bonnie' shows up soon. If she needs to touch up 'her' hair or makeup, then it better be before too many more people arrive and start forming gossip circles in the restrooms.

@shadowovergotham

[shadowovergotham]

Bane's head jerked upwards at the noise. Typically he was on top of himself better than this. But he fumbled the book in his hands and glared over his shoulder, only to register June standing there. He relaxed by degrees, then sighed and set the book down. He was at the author's note anyway.

"It was getting to me." He returned it to its shelf, pacing for a bit before sitting back down and forcing himself to breathe. He was all wound up. Humiliation did that, after all. He found he wasn't fond of the sensation. He sank down beside June, his hand extending for her. "The people, I mean. Its a bit much for my first formal gathering."

This entire night was already going off course.

It started with getting in. Tim Drake dragging him inside, past confused groups of people staring at what could easily be mistaken for Bane in a dress and a fake wig from Morgan's idea to drag him in here. Then trying not to burn from humiliation while the stupid wigs dug into him, driving his patience to pieces until he couldn't take it anymore. One dip into the bathroom and he was coming out in a suit. At least it fit better.

He fussed with the buttons, the tie, trying to look presentable and unflappable and all the things these high elites would expect. Not that he particularly cared about being seen that way, but these were Gotham's vigilantes, protectors. And Wayne's sponsors. Humiliating him would grant no favors.

And so he pulled this up - the deep green suit, cool brown pinstripe shirt to match it, the silver pocket square. He'd been studying. Subtle flashes of sparkle here and there, faint embroidery on the collar to match the shirt. Just enough flair to catch the right eyes and make the wrong ones nervous about causing a scene. But, so long as he could help it, there would be no chaos caused tonight - at least not involving him.

The moment the party started seeming too involved, Bane slipped off. Away from the crowds, away from the noise, the heat, the rabble. Instead he found himself heading towards the library. It was empty, as expected. The lack of people helped. Bane flicked on one of the lamps and quietly picked up one of the books he'd been halfway through the last time he'd been here. Not much left to it. Was it considered rude to read during a gala?

Maybe just a few pages wouldn't hurt. It wasn't like he was supposed to be at the party anyway.

[shadowovergotham]

This entire night was already going off course.

It started with getting in. Tim Drake dragging him inside, past confused groups of people staring at what could easily be mistaken for Bane in a dress and a fake wig from Morgan's idea to drag him in here. Then trying not to burn from humiliation while the stupid wigs dug into him, driving his patience to pieces until he couldn't take it anymore. One dip into the bathroom and he was coming out in a suit. At least it fit better.

He fussed with the buttons, the tie, trying to look presentable and unflappable and all the things these high elites would expect. Not that he particularly cared about being seen that way, but these were Gotham's vigilantes, protectors. And Wayne's sponsors. Humiliating him would grant no favors.

And so he pulled this up - the deep green suit, cool brown pinstripe shirt to match it, the silver pocket square. He'd been studying. Subtle flashes of sparkle here and there, faint embroidery on the collar to match the shirt. Just enough flair to catch the right eyes and make the wrong ones nervous about causing a scene. But, so long as he could help it, there would be no chaos caused tonight - at least not involving him.

The moment the party started seeming too involved, Bane slipped off. Away from the crowds, away from the noise, the heat, the rabble. Instead he found himself heading towards the library. It was empty, as expected. The lack of people helped. Bane flicked on one of the lamps and quietly picked up one of the books he'd been halfway through the last time he'd been here. Not much left to it. Was it considered rude to read during a gala?

Maybe just a few pages wouldn't hurt. It wasn't like he was supposed to be at the party anyway.

[shadowovergotham]

Bane eyed her. ". . . You want to sneak into the Batcave. In front of every vigilante in Gotham, not to mention Wayne's sponsors, family, children, and so on. While everyone is still sober."

He let out a long sigh through his nose, pinching the bridge of it. "Señorita - I say this patiently. Is it not best to simply. . . Wait? Until the gala is over? It is a single night. Once the rabble has left, we can simply ask for this. . . CT scan. This way, even if sneaking in is required, we can do so without any risk to Wayne and without riling Gotham's protectors. This is their home, by definition."

Morgan stuffs another dozen tiny sandwiches into her bag while she waits for her plus one. She sent 'Bonnie' one of the makeup tutorials she had recorded with her friends from the Gotham University Drag Club all those years and another timeline ago and detailed pictographic instructions on how to make and put on the outfit that 'she' would need in order to get in. Morgan has confidence that 'Bonnie' is smart enough to pull this off, as long as 'she' takes this seriously.

A snobby rich socialite gives her a judgemental look about her 'takeout' behavior. Morgan makes it a point to lick the crumbs off her fingers while making intense eye contact. Let them watch. What're they going to do, tattle on the seriously injured traumatized young woman wearing a cheap loose-fitting blouse and a secondhand skirt? Go a-flipping-head. She's sure Bruce Wayne would love that.

Anyway, she hopes 'Bonnie' shows up soon. If she needs to touch up 'her' hair or makeup, then it better be before too many more people arrive and start forming gossip circles in the restrooms.

@shadowovergotham

[shadowovergotham]

The gala was already in full swing when across the room, and certainly not invited was Bane. At least he'd followed the dress code. The suit, a deep shade of emerald green accentuating his skintone brilliantly and embroidered with silver, fit him perfectly despite the strain the suit was under. He'd done up his hair into a half-bun style, letting the rest fall over his back and around the tank - which had, itself, been decorated to appear more tasteful, with silver decorative shells lining the tubes. Armor, yes, but it looked nice. Bane looked nice. Even so, this was still Bane, and he wasn't in a place he belonged in. He looked out of place, holding a glass of what looked like champagne and simply staring at it as if it had offended him, before he let out a long sigh and set it down. The giant slunk to the edges of the room, until he found the door, quietly disappearing through it.

Jean-Paul Valley does not like suits. It wasn't about the material, the feel, or even the price. He couldn't stand how he looked in one.

Oh, it was tailored, drycleaned, the suit wasn't the problem, the problem was that Jean-Paul was a 6'2 brick wall of muscle. He looked intimidating. You really couldn't slouch in a suit, and he felt too aware of the width of his shoulders. Glasses on, hair in a neat bun, he looked like some tech investor here to kick puppies and deprive children.

But, he preserved. A difficult thing for someone so unused to parties, portraying the body language of a scared baby deer to those that could read such things.

He held an untouched glass of what he thought was wine to look normal, already deciding he would consume nothing tonight, just in case. Hanging around the edges, avoiding the main mingling.

[shadowovergotham]

Bane just sighed. He was over the itching and the wigs already. Following Morgan, he took the scratchy polyester off his head and reached up to take the mask off. "I see no reason for this. So few here know what my face looks like. It causes more trouble than it is worth."

He ducked behind a shower curtain and pulled a bag out from the frumpy dress he'd put himself into, stripping out of it and getting dressed.

When he stepped out, he was in a suit. Surprisingly, it fit, tailored to his measurements. His hair was another issue, but he put it up in a high ponytail as per usual and adjusted his attire until he fit the black tie attitude of the event. The suit was tailored around his tank, the tubes coated with decorative silver to dampen the sickly green constantly flowing into his body. Nothing he could do about it, but it wasn't exactly his highest priority, either. He looked good - perhaps good enough for a gala like this. "There."

Morgan stuffs another dozen tiny sandwiches into her bag while she waits for her plus one. She sent 'Bonnie' one of the makeup tutorials she had recorded with her friends from the Gotham University Drag Club all those years and another timeline ago and detailed pictographic instructions on how to make and put on the outfit that 'she' would need in order to get in. Morgan has confidence that 'Bonnie' is smart enough to pull this off, as long as 'she' takes this seriously.

A snobby rich socialite gives her a judgemental look about her 'takeout' behavior. Morgan makes it a point to lick the crumbs off her fingers while making intense eye contact. Let them watch. What're they going to do, tattle on the seriously injured traumatized young woman wearing a cheap loose-fitting blouse and a secondhand skirt? Go a-flipping-head. She's sure Bruce Wayne would love that.

Anyway, she hopes 'Bonnie' shows up soon. If she needs to touch up 'her' hair or makeup, then it better be before too many more people arrive and start forming gossip circles in the restrooms.

@shadowovergotham

[shadowovergotham]

Hm. Perhaps I will look into this more.

I need to know how much you eat for a reason. An important one. @teatimealfie

I have my meal plan listed here:

Breakfast:

1/2 cup canned fruit or a piece of fresh fruit

1 cup cold cereal

1 1/2 cup rice and beans mix

coffee as desired

Dinner

1 1/4 cup rice and meat

1 cup beans

2 pieces cornbread

2 1-tsp servings margarine

green tea as desired

I make small variations, but I keep my diet strict.

[shadowovergotham]

... I was fed an adult's portion as a child. It should not have changed. The books I have read quote a 2000 calorie diet.

I need to know how much you eat for a reason. An important one. @teatimealfie

I have my meal plan listed here:

Breakfast:

1/2 cup canned fruit or a piece of fresh fruit

1 cup cold cereal

1 1/2 cup rice and beans mix

coffee as desired

Dinner

1 1/4 cup rice and meat

1 cup beans

2 pieces cornbread

2 1-tsp servings margarine

green tea as desired

I make small variations, but I keep my diet strict.

[shadowovergotham]

I have eaten the same amount since I was a boy. It is the same standard meal for everyone as I grew. Why would I need more?

I need to know how much you eat for a reason. An important one. @teatimealfie

I have my meal plan listed here:

Breakfast:

1/2 cup canned fruit or a piece of fresh fruit

1 cup cold cereal

1 1/2 cup rice and beans mix

coffee as desired

Dinner

1 1/4 cup rice and meat

1 cup beans

2 pieces cornbread

2 1-tsp servings margarine

green tea as desired

I make small variations, but I keep my diet strict.

[shadowovergotham]

When the implants were put in my brain. I don't ever wish to be in the presence of medical professionals again.

I need to know how much you eat for a reason. An important one. @teatimealfie

I have my meal plan listed here:

Breakfast:

1/2 cup canned fruit or a piece of fresh fruit

1 cup cold cereal

1 1/2 cup rice and beans mix

coffee as desired

Dinner

1 1/4 cup rice and meat

1 cup beans

2 pieces cornbread

2 1-tsp servings margarine

green tea as desired

I make small variations, but I keep my diet strict.

[shadowovergotham]

This is what I was raised on. Eating more than this is luxury - it is something I cannot afford myself. I cannot let myself get distracted.

I need to know how much you eat for a reason. An important one. @teatimealfie

I have my meal plan listed here:

Breakfast:

1/2 cup canned fruit or a piece of fresh fruit

1 cup cold cereal

1 1/2 cup rice and beans mix

coffee as desired

Dinner

1 1/4 cup rice and meat

1 cup beans

2 pieces cornbread

2 1-tsp servings margarine

green tea as desired

I make small variations, but I keep my diet strict.

[shadowovergotham]

I need to know how much you eat for a reason. An important one. @teatimealfie

I have my meal plan listed here:

Breakfast:

1/2 cup canned fruit or a piece of fresh fruit

1 cup cold cereal

1 1/2 cup rice and beans mix

coffee as desired

Dinner

1 1/4 cup rice and meat

1 cup beans

2 pieces cornbread

2 1-tsp servings margarine

green tea as desired

I make small variations, but I keep my diet strict.

[shadowovergotham]

Bane, or Bonnie, shadowed behind Morgan shortly after.

The disguise... Didn't work as intended. Bane put the makeup on over the mask, and there were two separate wigs, one on top of his mask and one on top of the tank. It was. . . An attempt, at least.

Bane, despite this, seemed to take this immensely seriously, arms crossed and back straight.

Morgan stuffs another dozen tiny sandwiches into her bag while she waits for her plus one. She sent 'Bonnie' one of the makeup tutorials she had recorded with her friends from the Gotham University Drag Club all those years and another timeline ago and detailed pictographic instructions on how to make and put on the outfit that 'she' would need in order to get in. Morgan has confidence that 'Bonnie' is smart enough to pull this off, as long as 'she' takes this seriously.

A snobby rich socialite gives her a judgemental look about her 'takeout' behavior. Morgan makes it a point to lick the crumbs off her fingers while making intense eye contact. Let them watch. What're they going to do, tattle on the seriously injured traumatized young woman wearing a cheap loose-fitting blouse and a secondhand skirt? Go a-flipping-head. She's sure Bruce Wayne would love that.

Anyway, she hopes 'Bonnie' shows up soon. If she needs to touch up 'her' hair or makeup, then it better be before too many more people arrive and start forming gossip circles in the restrooms.

@shadowovergotham

[shadowovergotham]

Bruce appears from the shadows menacingly, he does not attempt to speak but approaches Bane and bites him. Hard.

@nightmare-vigilante

Bane blinks a few times, feeling teeth in his arm, and can't help but feel his face heat up. That. . . That would scar. The Batman would leave a scar. On him. If it didn't seem to already scar on its own, he would make it.

[shadowovergotham]

*throws a desk at you*

\\ good. good. thank you

[shadowovergotham]

Bane didn't batt an eye at the corpse, just watching it hit the ground and then looking up at the woman. "Is this your doing?" He glanced at the chemicals. It was a drug lab - he didn't care about it. But he did care about the chemicals potentially reaching water and harming the people nearby.

It was simple. A struggling chemical plant with a small drug lab in the basement to bring in extra cash. Bane had struck without warning the very night he heard of it, not expecting the crumbling walls or single night guard to put up much resistance. There was no way anyone should have been tipped off.

So why was the factory empty? And what was that trickling sound?

@processwoman

Bane frowned as he entered. This building had looked more renovated from the outside - it was odd. This looked like something from Old Gotham, as he'd seen underground as his territory expanded to take in the old tunnels and buildings beneath the city. Reaching for his shirt, he clicked on a flashlight attached to the sleeve. His men had been under command to stay outside - Bane had already felt something off, seeing the single nightguard. And he was right. This was a trap of some kind. He looked over the halls and paused, getting a feel for his situation first. Inhaling gave him a tip - the faintest hint of ozone. Perhaps had it been raining, or in the countryside, this wouldn't have been out of the ordinary. But this factory was towards the docks, and it wasn't raining, and this was Gotham. Meaning the alternative was magic of some kind. Bane steeled himself and moved forward into the dark.