checking in

[searchingfordistraction]

There's so much to do and see in Gotham, why waste his time tracking down a phone number when Bryce Wayne's penthouse is the most well-known private residence in the city?

The security is also an infinite improvement over some of what he's encountered lately. He examines it from afar for a little before he decides to just do this the polite way.

Well. The relatively polite way. He's not exactly immaculate after three days' wandering. Easier to let himself get spotted openly scoping out the security than to try to talk his way into the building.

Comments

[gothamscitizens]

The bottom half of the building houses the offices of several different corporations, including a few branches of the Wayne business empire; the top half is condos, and the very top is the Wayne penthouse.

The security guard at the front desk -- a big man with close-cropped hair and an impassive expression -- eyes Jim sidelong.

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim meets his eye and glances away, the very picture of someone trying just a little too hard to seem completely casual. Nothing to see here!

[gothamscitizens]

Uh-huh.

The guard glances around the lobby of the building, gets up, and strolls towards Jim.

"Afternoon, sir."

[searchingfordistraction]

He straightens up, his expression just that tiny bit too innocent.

"Hi."

[gothamscitizens]

"Can I help you with something?"

[searchingfordistraction]

"Oh, uh, no."

He plays up his Irish accent, thickening it almost - but not quite - to the point where American ears might have difficulty deciphering it.

"I've just got a bit turned around. Can you tell me where, uh -" He produces a cellphone from his suit pocket and holds it up, squinting at the display and - did he just take a picture of the guard?

It rather looks like he did.

[gothamscitizens]

. . . The guard looks thoroughly unimpressed.

"We don't allow photography in here," he rumbles. "So how about you let me see you delete that picture and I'll show you the door."

[searchingfordistraction]

"I didn't -"

Someone is finding too late that he's in a bit over his head.

[gothamscitizens]

"Yeah, okay, buddy--"

The brief chase, scuffle, and inevitable frog-marching of Jim down to the security office is more Three Stooges than Dirty Harry.

[searchingfordistraction]

He's allowed himself to be captured by worse. At least the guard isn't so inept as to make this whole thing embarrassing for everyone involved, but then Jim had expected the security here to be a cut above the standard accepted level of competence.

Once definitively caught, he is entirely meek and not a little sulky. Whatever he'd signed up for, his body language strongly implies, this is not it.

[gothamsheiress]

That afternoon, when Bryce finally makes it home, she stops by the front desk as a matter of routine.

"Hey, Nick, how's it going?"

[gothamscitizens]

"'Nother day another dollar, Miss Wayne."

[gothamsheiress]

"Anything I should know about?"

[gothamscitizens]

Nick shrugs.

"Eh, one guy this afternoon causin' a ruckus in here. Nothing for you to worry about."

[gothamsheiress]

Her eyebrows go up.

"What kind of a ruckus?"

[gothamscitizens]

"Ah, nothing we couldn't handle," he says with a wave of dismissal. "Some crazy little Irish guy."

[gothamsheiress]

Bryce blinks.


Demanding to see a detained intruder is somewhat unusual behavior, but she does own most of the building; it doesn't take long for her to convince Nick to take her back to the security office.

[searchingfordistraction]

He's still slumped sulkily where he was left. He's been unforthcoming with any kind of information, but he's also not any kind of threat, so he's mostly been left to stew.

The only reaction he offers when Bryce comes in is to meet her eyes briefly with a look only she can know is on the conspiratorial side.

[gothamsheiress]

She rolls her eyes and folds her arms.

"Well."

[searchingfordistraction]

He lets the sheepish persona drop and grins up at her.

"I forgot to get your number," he says.

[gothamsheiress]

The head of security -- an older man who looks like he's going to need a cigarette after this -- looks between them suspiciously.

Bryce sighs. "He's a friend of mine." Lowering her voice: "He's not totally well. I'll take charge of him and make sure he gets back to where he needs to be."

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim looks oblivious to this description. He also looks perfectly harmless, blinking under the head of security's scrutiny.

[gothamsheiress]

It takes a little more convincing than that, but eventually Bryce turns back to Jim.

"Okay, Jim, come on upstairs and you can get cleaned up."

[searchingfordistraction]

He brightens and gets to his feet.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble," he says, soft-spoken and clear, to the head of security.

[gothamsheiress]

"Yeah, well, keep your nose clean," he replies, and shows them the door.

Bryce takes Jim's elbow as they head for the elevators.

"Having a good time?"