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thejusticelounge2012-05-19 01:27 pm
bossymarmalade) wrote in thejusticelounge2012-05-19 01:27 pm
Entry tags:
gotham restrictions
Hey there, Alfred.
I need to talk to Bruce. Just one time, just about this one thing; if he decides after that to cut all ties, I’ll adhere to his decision.
But I need to talk to him and you’re my best shot at getting in to see him. I’d ordinarily just show up at the gate in civvies, but I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t even let me on the property.
Advice? Help? Magic wand?
Best,
Oliver Queen
Master Bruce was right, Master Oliver is indeed quite archaic when it came to technology. Alfred didn’t need a letter slid under his door, a simple phone call, page or text would have been more sufficient and would have had him respond much quicker.
Alfred had asked the Watchtower computer for Master Oliver’s location and immediately pursued him to give him a reply. He thought the best idea would be to have Bruce’s maternal figure to step in, not one of the very people that caused his seclusion.
Knocking on Mister Oliver Queen’s door, Alfred stood primly with his hands at his side and his face neutral, awaiting for the man to call for him inside.
Ollie opened the door and beckoned Alfred inside. “C’mon in, Alfred,” he said, offering a chair and then going around his desk to sit in his own. “I take it this is about my note? I realize the ol’ pen-and-paper’s not usual, but I wanted to circumvent any, ah, channels that might be remotely intercepted. Can’t be too careful when it comes to your boss, right?”
Frankly, Ollie was about 110% certain that Bruce had trackers and bugs on every single piece of equipment that any given member of his immediate circle carried on them at any given time of day. And Alfred counted.
He poured some tea for them both. “So have you come to aid, or dissuade?”
Alfred didn’t sit down, as a servant it was only right for him to stand straight and besides Queen in case he were to need anything. So he stood at the side of the desk, listening to the man.
“If I may, sir,” he paused, waiting for a nod or motion to continue before he did, “I am here to do both. I think you of all people will not be able to get through to him, I’m afraid,” once more he paused. “Unless we were to come at him unexpectedly. By this I mean if I may contact a dear friend and guardian of Master Bruce’s, she is also one of my closest friends, Miss Leslie Thompkins may be able to dissuade him of his strictness but if she fails, it may end up backing fire for her.”
He continued, “she feels it is her fault and lack of proper affection towards him that he has come to be this way, not accepting that I’m merely an enabler for my master. So rather than actually sending her to him, perhaps we could talk to Master J’onn, and see if he’s willing to sneak you both in under her disguise. It will help you achieve your goal of entering Wayne Manor without alerting any alarms and the illusion may work and get him to change his mind.
“I hope I’m not overstepping any lines, sir.”
“No, unless — please sit *down*, Alfred. We’re talking man to man, here, not in your employment capacity. I’m not Bruce, in any case, so it’s not like you’re under any professional obligations to tend to me.” There was a reason Ollie’d never been able to keep a butler or a valet, and it wasn’t the salary.
“I’m not terribly keen on the idea of ambushing Bruce like that,” he said thoughtfully. “He’s already on edge about me … prying into his affairs, so to sneak in under Dr. Thompkins’ guise, especially considering what she means to Bruce? And getting J’onn in on the scheme? I can’t help but feel that would just enrage him more.” Ollie rocked his chair a bit, frowning. “Bruce feels he has precious few people he can trust already, without me exploiting his emotions just for a meeting.”
Alfred unwillingly sat down, it seemed Master Oliver was quite uncomfortable with him standing, just as Alfred is uncomfortable with sitting. But being the servant amongst the two it was only proper to give into the master’s wish, so he did. Sitting upright, his back didn’t touch the seat because he was sitting on the edge of the chair to get up as soon as he was needed to attend to either Oliver or elsewhere in the compound.
“You asked for my opinion, sir, I gave you the only option I believe you have of even entering Gotham.” He paused and continued to look directly at Ollie, “Master Bruce will not be exploited so easily, he has become heavily guarded as you should know, and is a very wise man. His scans will pick up two heat signatures as opposed to one, and I do believe he will only lead you to believe that he doesn’t know. Also, he knows Dr. Thompkins wouldn’t be the sort to talk to him about this unless she wanted him to quit the hero and vigilante act. It is something she gravely disapproves of,” he paused, “she feels as if it is all her fault.”
“Okay, you’re right. I *did* ask you for a reason, and it’s because you surely know all of the ins and outs of Bruce’s mind better than I do. So if that’s what you say is the only avenue in, I’ll take you at your word, Alfred.”
Ollie drained off his cup of tea in one go, deep in thought. “Or, tell me this — do you think I should back off? Knowing me and knowing Bruce as you do. Clark mentioned that he wanted to try to get in to see Bruce. Maybe I should just leave this to him instead of running the risk of it looking like I’m … *meddling* in Bruce’s life. He’s got no reason to be sore at Clark, right? And he respects Clark, sees him and Diana as his only equals. I …” Ollie trailed off, rolling the cup between his hands, then looked over at Alfred. “I really don’t know what to do. I just want to make it better.”
Alfred let out an exasperated sigh, he wasn’t annoyed, it was actually quite the contrary, he was rather upset with the whole ordeal and this situation wasn’t making things better. He knew that he would greatly offend Mr. Queen if he were to say that ‘yes, indeed I believe Master Bruce would react far better if someone such as his best friend, Clark, were to speak to him. The fact that I’m suggesting the only way he’d even talk to you is via lying to him should have been quite evident that the entire scenario would biting you in the derrière.’
Taking a moment to figure out what to say exactly, he was well aware that Ollie was quite obviously upset as well. So his words would need to be calculated and not offend or possibly disturb him further. “Master Oliver, your statement about Master Clark and Miss Diana being his only equals is quite untrue. If you will allow me to elaborate,” he paused for a moment for a nod or wave of some sort before continuing.
“You are truly one of the few that can be called his equal and I understand that Master Bruce considers you as such. You had to work for your skill set, unlike the other two of whom were born with such strength and abilities. He thinks highly of you…sometimes, however he feels the way you deal with things are not the way he wishes to deal with them.” Oliver was indeed meddling, not he had some good intentions while doing so, problem is that Bruce doesn’t take it too well. Not after his parents died, it seemed that he was the one to take care of everyone and couldn’t have others caring for him.
“If you don’t mind me agreeing with you, I think it may be best to send in a third party that doesn’t quite understand why Master Bruce left. He may open up to Master Clark easier than he will around you despite your similarities. It may precisely be because you two are so similar that he wishes to avoid you for the time being.”
Ollie looked down into his teacup. “I appreciate the honesty, Alfred, old chap.”
That wasn’t all. It was a relief, after the stress and fighting and unsureness of the past while, to know that he hadn’t been wrong about his friendship with Bruce all this time. It was like something festering had been washed right out of him at Alfred’s words — leaving a wound, all right, but at least not one that would suppurate, a wellspring of sick feeling.
“I’m not so vain or bull-headed as to push this matter any further,” he told Alfred, who was still sitting on the edge of his chair like at any minute somebody might ring for cucumber sandwiches. “I’ll leave it in Clark’s capable hands.”
Alfred nods when Ollie concedes, it was for the best this way. Despite Bruce and Ollie having a longer friendship than the one he has with Clark, the two have hit too many bumps on the roads for them to be as close as Bruce is with Clark.
“Very well, sir. Allowing someone else to deal with the issue will be good from time to time, I’ve been trying to get Master Bruce to do that for quite sometime.” He quickly stood up and gave Ollie a bow, “is there anything I can do for you, sir?”
“Thank you, Alfred, I think I’m good for now. Except, let me know how Bruce is doing from time to time, if it’s not too much trouble? We’re all —” Ollie stopped, mouth pressing tight for a moment, and then looked at Alfred. “*I’m* very concerned about his well-being. When he isolates like this. He’s been there before and it’s never turned out good.”
I need to talk to Bruce. Just one time, just about this one thing; if he decides after that to cut all ties, I’ll adhere to his decision.
But I need to talk to him and you’re my best shot at getting in to see him. I’d ordinarily just show up at the gate in civvies, but I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t even let me on the property.
Advice? Help? Magic wand?
Best,
Oliver Queen
Master Bruce was right, Master Oliver is indeed quite archaic when it came to technology. Alfred didn’t need a letter slid under his door, a simple phone call, page or text would have been more sufficient and would have had him respond much quicker.
Alfred had asked the Watchtower computer for Master Oliver’s location and immediately pursued him to give him a reply. He thought the best idea would be to have Bruce’s maternal figure to step in, not one of the very people that caused his seclusion.
Knocking on Mister Oliver Queen’s door, Alfred stood primly with his hands at his side and his face neutral, awaiting for the man to call for him inside.
Ollie opened the door and beckoned Alfred inside. “C’mon in, Alfred,” he said, offering a chair and then going around his desk to sit in his own. “I take it this is about my note? I realize the ol’ pen-and-paper’s not usual, but I wanted to circumvent any, ah, channels that might be remotely intercepted. Can’t be too careful when it comes to your boss, right?”
Frankly, Ollie was about 110% certain that Bruce had trackers and bugs on every single piece of equipment that any given member of his immediate circle carried on them at any given time of day. And Alfred counted.
He poured some tea for them both. “So have you come to aid, or dissuade?”
Alfred didn’t sit down, as a servant it was only right for him to stand straight and besides Queen in case he were to need anything. So he stood at the side of the desk, listening to the man.
“If I may, sir,” he paused, waiting for a nod or motion to continue before he did, “I am here to do both. I think you of all people will not be able to get through to him, I’m afraid,” once more he paused. “Unless we were to come at him unexpectedly. By this I mean if I may contact a dear friend and guardian of Master Bruce’s, she is also one of my closest friends, Miss Leslie Thompkins may be able to dissuade him of his strictness but if she fails, it may end up backing fire for her.”
He continued, “she feels it is her fault and lack of proper affection towards him that he has come to be this way, not accepting that I’m merely an enabler for my master. So rather than actually sending her to him, perhaps we could talk to Master J’onn, and see if he’s willing to sneak you both in under her disguise. It will help you achieve your goal of entering Wayne Manor without alerting any alarms and the illusion may work and get him to change his mind.
“I hope I’m not overstepping any lines, sir.”
“No, unless — please sit *down*, Alfred. We’re talking man to man, here, not in your employment capacity. I’m not Bruce, in any case, so it’s not like you’re under any professional obligations to tend to me.” There was a reason Ollie’d never been able to keep a butler or a valet, and it wasn’t the salary.
“I’m not terribly keen on the idea of ambushing Bruce like that,” he said thoughtfully. “He’s already on edge about me … prying into his affairs, so to sneak in under Dr. Thompkins’ guise, especially considering what she means to Bruce? And getting J’onn in on the scheme? I can’t help but feel that would just enrage him more.” Ollie rocked his chair a bit, frowning. “Bruce feels he has precious few people he can trust already, without me exploiting his emotions just for a meeting.”
Alfred unwillingly sat down, it seemed Master Oliver was quite uncomfortable with him standing, just as Alfred is uncomfortable with sitting. But being the servant amongst the two it was only proper to give into the master’s wish, so he did. Sitting upright, his back didn’t touch the seat because he was sitting on the edge of the chair to get up as soon as he was needed to attend to either Oliver or elsewhere in the compound.
“You asked for my opinion, sir, I gave you the only option I believe you have of even entering Gotham.” He paused and continued to look directly at Ollie, “Master Bruce will not be exploited so easily, he has become heavily guarded as you should know, and is a very wise man. His scans will pick up two heat signatures as opposed to one, and I do believe he will only lead you to believe that he doesn’t know. Also, he knows Dr. Thompkins wouldn’t be the sort to talk to him about this unless she wanted him to quit the hero and vigilante act. It is something she gravely disapproves of,” he paused, “she feels as if it is all her fault.”
“Okay, you’re right. I *did* ask you for a reason, and it’s because you surely know all of the ins and outs of Bruce’s mind better than I do. So if that’s what you say is the only avenue in, I’ll take you at your word, Alfred.”
Ollie drained off his cup of tea in one go, deep in thought. “Or, tell me this — do you think I should back off? Knowing me and knowing Bruce as you do. Clark mentioned that he wanted to try to get in to see Bruce. Maybe I should just leave this to him instead of running the risk of it looking like I’m … *meddling* in Bruce’s life. He’s got no reason to be sore at Clark, right? And he respects Clark, sees him and Diana as his only equals. I …” Ollie trailed off, rolling the cup between his hands, then looked over at Alfred. “I really don’t know what to do. I just want to make it better.”
Alfred let out an exasperated sigh, he wasn’t annoyed, it was actually quite the contrary, he was rather upset with the whole ordeal and this situation wasn’t making things better. He knew that he would greatly offend Mr. Queen if he were to say that ‘yes, indeed I believe Master Bruce would react far better if someone such as his best friend, Clark, were to speak to him. The fact that I’m suggesting the only way he’d even talk to you is via lying to him should have been quite evident that the entire scenario would biting you in the derrière.’
Taking a moment to figure out what to say exactly, he was well aware that Ollie was quite obviously upset as well. So his words would need to be calculated and not offend or possibly disturb him further. “Master Oliver, your statement about Master Clark and Miss Diana being his only equals is quite untrue. If you will allow me to elaborate,” he paused for a moment for a nod or wave of some sort before continuing.
“You are truly one of the few that can be called his equal and I understand that Master Bruce considers you as such. You had to work for your skill set, unlike the other two of whom were born with such strength and abilities. He thinks highly of you…sometimes, however he feels the way you deal with things are not the way he wishes to deal with them.” Oliver was indeed meddling, not he had some good intentions while doing so, problem is that Bruce doesn’t take it too well. Not after his parents died, it seemed that he was the one to take care of everyone and couldn’t have others caring for him.
“If you don’t mind me agreeing with you, I think it may be best to send in a third party that doesn’t quite understand why Master Bruce left. He may open up to Master Clark easier than he will around you despite your similarities. It may precisely be because you two are so similar that he wishes to avoid you for the time being.”
Ollie looked down into his teacup. “I appreciate the honesty, Alfred, old chap.”
That wasn’t all. It was a relief, after the stress and fighting and unsureness of the past while, to know that he hadn’t been wrong about his friendship with Bruce all this time. It was like something festering had been washed right out of him at Alfred’s words — leaving a wound, all right, but at least not one that would suppurate, a wellspring of sick feeling.
“I’m not so vain or bull-headed as to push this matter any further,” he told Alfred, who was still sitting on the edge of his chair like at any minute somebody might ring for cucumber sandwiches. “I’ll leave it in Clark’s capable hands.”
Alfred nods when Ollie concedes, it was for the best this way. Despite Bruce and Ollie having a longer friendship than the one he has with Clark, the two have hit too many bumps on the roads for them to be as close as Bruce is with Clark.
“Very well, sir. Allowing someone else to deal with the issue will be good from time to time, I’ve been trying to get Master Bruce to do that for quite sometime.” He quickly stood up and gave Ollie a bow, “is there anything I can do for you, sir?”
“Thank you, Alfred, I think I’m good for now. Except, let me know how Bruce is doing from time to time, if it’s not too much trouble? We’re all —” Ollie stopped, mouth pressing tight for a moment, and then looked at Alfred. “*I’m* very concerned about his well-being. When he isolates like this. He’s been there before and it’s never turned out good.”