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

[gothamsheiress]

She can't help pointing out, "They're made for women."

[searchingfordistraction]

Honestly.

"And if I'd started out with that attitude, I'd look like this."

There's a subtle shift - his posture, his body language - and suddenly he looks exactly like a man uncomfortable in his female acquaintance's borrowed clothing.

Then he shrugs it off, continuing,

"A little openmindedness goes a long way."

[gothamsheiress]

"Well, I'm not in a position to argue with you about clothing and how it fits one's gender."

Not when people are still arguing over whether to call the Bat Bat-Man or Bat-Girl.

[searchingfordistraction]

"Certainly not," he says casually. "From what I'm gathered, Bruce outnumbers Bryce by a generous margin in the multiverse."

[gothamsheiress]

"Have you been keeping track?"

[searchingfordistraction]

"Well, I don't have an exact tally," he says, a touch dry, "the whole concept of 'infinite' makes that a bit physically impossible. But I've listened out for more specific references, that sort of thing."

That's technically accurate, if somewhat on the selective side as far as sharing the truth goes.

"Batman is a well-known story on any number of worlds, the Bat not nearly so much."

[gothamsheiress]

She nods. No need to mention the people she's met who know a Bruce Wayne. She's done giving Jim information freely, if she can possibly help it.

"And your adaptation? How well-known is that one?"

[searchingfordistraction]

"Not very," he says, "at least not in Milliways. I've only been recognized from it once."

And considering who it was, he doesn't think that counts.

"It's the name that causes trouble, but no doubt you've had that problem yourself once or twice by now."

[gothamsheiress]

Dry: "A few times. Roberta doesn't tip people off the same way, at least."

Speaking of names causing trouble--

She glances towards the kitchen.

"Alfred would like me to get you out of the house as quickly as possible, incidentally."

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim puts on a disappointed moue.

"Would he? I was really looking forward to that tea. There's no such thing as an American who knows how to make it properly."

[gothamsheiress]

Bryce snorts.

"Stay for tea. He thinks you're a criminal mastermind, or at least consider yourself one, but since you haven't shown any indication of burning this place down yet you're still doing all right."

[searchingfordistraction]

He lets the pout vanish in favor of amusement.

"I don't generally burn things down without good reason."

That may be an effective tactic on the road to becoming a criminal mastermind in Gotham, but in Jim's world it just annoys people.

[gothamsheiress]

It does seem to be a remarkably common theme in Gotham's underworld.

"So what do you do? Besides presumably antagonize some version of Sherlock Holmes."

[searchingfordistraction]

"Oh, I run an international criminal network."

He never said Alfred was wrong.

"It gets tedious now and then, but we all need to pay the bills somehow."

[gothamsheiress]

"Fulfilling work?"

[searchingfordistraction]

He smiles at her.

"It has its moments."

[gothamscitizens]

Alfred interrupts before Bryce can ask her next question, coming from the kitchen with a tea service complete with cookies.

"Miss Wayne." Coolly: "Mr. Moriarty."

He sets down the service between them and retreats, impeccably butler-ish the whole way.

[gothamsheiress]

Bryce sighs.

"Help yourself."

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim does just that, chuckling softly to himself.

He fills Bryce's cup as well before he sets the teapot down.

[gothamsheiress]

"Thanks."

She picks up her tea, adds sugar, and considers him.

"And where do you intend to stay, if you're staying in Gotham?"

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim gives her a brief, blank look over his cup.

It may, in fact, be almost genuine.

"Oh," he says, his tone one of realization, as he lowers his cup. "You mean wasting time sleeping." The way ordinary people do when they go on holiday.

[gothamsheiress]

"It's generally considered necessary."

[gothamscitizens]

(Alfred snorts from the kitchen.)

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim looks pained.

"So I've heard."

Frequently, with varying levels of resignation and/or exasperation depending on Seb's mood, as if Jim doesn't know exactly how far he can push himself before the deprivation hallucinations start to get out of hand.

[gothamsheiress]

"And eating?"

Jim seems like a resourceful sort; she's not terribly worried about him feeding himself, although she'd prefer he did it without indulging in anything illegal.