15665/Putting On the Papps

Putting On the Papps
Date of Scene:	02 October 2023
Location:	The Fifty/Fifty Club
Synopsis:	Satana and Batman.
Cast of Characters:	Satana, Batman

---

Satana has posed:
Satana cleans up well. Clean in the physical sense, that is. The gown she's elected to go to the charity ball in, accompanying Bruce as his arm candy, is not clean in the metaphorical sense. It wraps her tightly revealing for those with good observational skills that she is unlikely to be wearing anything under it.

Bruce has excellent observational skills.

And while it does wrap her from ankle to neck and down to half her hand in glossy silk brocade, there's one flaw in this: the slit up the left leg. The front of the left leg. Letting her walk and purely by happenstance revealing its sculpted shape up to the very top of her thigh.

She's taking her job of attracting attention to her seriously.

"Oh, Bruce," she says in that breathless voice of a middle class bimbo getting her first taste of the (very) high life, getting the notes just right. "This is so beautiful! Look at all the ... decor. It feels like centuries of money!"

She pushes herself up against Bruce's arm as she hugs it, in ways that highlight her 'assets'. Just in time for the photographers lining the sidewalk with their telephoto lenses to get that picture.

Social pages presence guaranteed.

Batman has posed:
Given all of the questions that linger around his PA and just what she truly might be up to, it is fair to wonder if this is the smartest thing to do.

Still, for his part Bruce is full speed ahead. In part because conclusive answers of just what she might be up to are not his yet. And there is also the fact that rumors have already appeared in the tabloid press, detailing the fact that Bruce Wayne's personal asssitant spent the weekend at the Manor. The saliant point that she was attacked in the park seems to have been missed, but then that serves his purposes much better.

Rumors are, of course, one thing. Useful for his purposes. But part of the appeal of this little ploy is that rumors can be backed up with something better -- legitimate gossip. That always catches people's attention and while it might be something that Bruce does not entirely understand on one level, the student of psychology in him is more then happy to take advantage of that fact.

Whatever other suspicions he might have about just what Satana's up to, there is no denying that she plays the part extremely well. All eyes are definitely upon her, there is no mistaking that, and even Bruce -- knowing, or at least imagining, just how dangerous she might be -- can't help but look either.

He cleans up pretty well too, though that black tux doesn't offer quite the sight lines of his date's outfit. Still, as they make their way past the obvious photographers into the club proper, there is a seemingly neverending set of flashes going off, recording the entire thing for posterity.

He does pause with her before slipping inside, feeding that frenzy and letting her show off for the cameras as she clings to his arm and puts those many features on display.

"Oh, I'm certain we'll definitely find it a night to remember."

Satana has posed:
"Oh, I'm sure it will be, Bruce," Satana 'murmurs' just softly enough to be credible, but loudly enough to be overheard by prying ears. "And even more memorable afterward. I'm positively demonic after I've had a bit too much bubbly."

Satana supresses the urge to chuckle privately at her own joke, keeping that laugh internal.

"So who is the benefit for?" she wonders aloud, apparently missing the huge banner that talks about the Wayne Foundation's orphanage drive, the huge scale model of the orphanage with its name in front of it that she's standing at most two metres from, along with all the other subtle signs of the beneficiary.

"I do hope it's someone deserving like ... I don't know. Maybe that Senator fellow's re-election campaign?"

Batman has posed:
The club itself is decked out with the wealthy and beautiful of Gotham, so many of the familair faces that seem to spend most of their time going from one event or another like this.

While they might not be good for very much, their money still spends and if that is the only real contribution that they have to make, well, Bruce is happy to so. Of course, their presence is at least part of the reason he has drawn his personal assistant into this deception. It keeps them at bay while giving the tabloids something to focus on that isn't problematic to him. Win-win.

"I'm afraid not," Bruce says cheerily, that flippant manner out in all it's glory tonight as he leads her deeper into the club. And while the official photographers might be left outside, there are clearly a few 'unofficial' ones that have been allowed in to tkae more candid photos during the event. "It's orphans tonight. A cause near and dear to my heart," he points out.

Drinks are retrieved from a passing server and her tray, one handed to his date and the other kept -- helpfully full of ginger ale instead of the bubbly that will leave Satana a demon.

Maybe he doesn't trust himself with lowered inhabitions around her.

Satana has posed:
"Oh, right. I should have known, I'm sorry, Bruce." Satana looks contrite as she stands next to one of the signs talking about the orphanage. "I forgot you think politicians are scum." In earshot of one of the street rat reporters who somehow wrangled their way in. "So of course it's going to be something like orphans."

Well, that and Bruce is an orphan. But it looks like Bruce's latest eye candy isn't very B-R-I-T-E, as more than one social columnist is going to put it, such columnists being extraordinarily creative.

"We should mingle and get your orphans mroe money so they can buy a jet plane or something." Is she for real?! Of course she isn't. She's playing for the audience. The mischief in her eyes when she gets a chance to make eye contact with Bruce gives it away.

She spots a rotund, cigar-smoking man. "Oh, Senator Martinez!" she calls out. "Would you like to give some money to orphans?" That same wickedness she's been using to play to the press is now focused on the Senator. "I mean many of them are immigrants like you just begging to have the chance to become a success like you!"

Eyes swivel on the senator as Satana puts him on the spot with a friendly, vapid smile and a verbal trap, since he's a "boostrap" senator in his public rhetoric: whether he donates now or not, he's trapped into doing something that will play badly in the press.

Batman has posed:
Well, he wanted a spectacle right? It would appear that is exactly what he is going to get.

It is a pretty effective two-tiered assault really. Her appearance is certainy to attract one type of attention, one type of judgement from the rpess, and this particular side of her is likely to attract another. Clearly she doesn't mind looking a little less capable in front of the press.

Of course anyone delving into her results at work might come across a very different impression. Then again, any stories about her competence might just be brushed aside as an unwillingness to slag the bosses' little playtoy. It would seem that Satana has her own way to manipulate the press.

Not that Bruce is going to complain, not really. Oh, it might make his life a little more difficult with certain politicians present. But then few of them are truly good men. Certainly he doesn't seem to mind watching Senator Martinez squirm a little, trying to find a way of coming out of this without any bad press of his own.

"You'll have to excuse her senator. We might have gotten the party started a little early," Bruce says with a laugh, holding up that champagne flute and giving it a little waggle in the air to reinforce that particular point.

Satana has posed:
"I don't see how the two champagne cocktails I had before coming here have anything to do with anything," Satana giggles. "He's here for the same reason as the rest of us." She takes a quick, visible glance at the sign. "The Wayne Foundation Orphanage,' she says, now newly-certain of the cause. "A man with the Senator's well-known support of charity..." Martinez is a loud proponent of 'charity, not taxes'. "...will surely be here to visibly practice what he preaches."

And there's the lifeline. A way to do this without looking like a total hypocrite given his rhetoric of boot straps. Charity over taxes.

The senator, now visibly relaxing as he sees the path to the exit, opens his mouth as if to say something.

"I'm sure he'll get into a donation bidding war with all of the other benefactors," Satana continues. "Starting at maybe a million dollars?"

The senator looks astonished for what seems a microsecond before ...

... his face goes flacid. Relaxed. "Of course!" he says jovially, though something seems just a little off in his delivery. Satana's staring at him, eyes hard, is probably throwing him off his stride. That must be it. "A bidding war is perfect. I challenge all the others here to match my donation or be named and shamed. I'll start with a million dollars!"

Satana turns her head toward Bruce with an excited smile, hopping up and down in gleeful excitement next to him (giving the videographers something to record). "Did you hear that Bruce? A bidding war starting at a million!"

And behind her the senator stands, looking shocked at what he'd just said.

But Satana's display is tuned to ensure nobody watches that. Because nobody is looking anywhere but at the gorgeous woman in a tight gown hopping up and down, right...?

Batman has posed:
And there's that moment again.

It seems to come up on a fairly regular basis. Those moments when Bruce has to question if Satana Hellstrom is a little more then she appears to be. Certainly he can see the not so good senator reaching for a seeming escape from the little predicament he has found himself in. And while the man has no doubt turned his position in the US Government into a fairly considerable wealthy experience for himself, he is definitely not the sort of man to donate a million dollars to charity.

Stranger things have happened of course. Certainly Bruce has seen it many, many times. But this certainly feels... unlikely at best.

While he might shoot a veiled look towards his date, he does a good job of masking any sort of veiled assessment of her, of what she might be capable and instead joins in the applause of those that are nearby, an excited murmur rolling through that crowd at the politician's seeming generosity.

None of them seem to take the slightest interest in his change of expression, of tone, of temperment. But not very much slips past Bruce. It is not difinitive. Not something that he could ever take to court. But then the Dark Knight's Justice answers to a higher court. At least in Bruce's mind.

"Very impressive! And for such a good cause!" he agrees, letting her draw that attention, a few discrete photos taken by those discretely positioned photographers no doubt.

And Bruce Wayne suppresses his concerns over this latest moment, covered up in that Bruce Wayne mask he wears so well.

Satana has posed:
The rest of the gala proceeds without any further major events to draw Bruce's curiosity and suspicion.

Major. Events.

Satana is a charming companion, doing her job of attracting gossip well, but also being a good dancer, a genuinely interesting conversational partner both for Bruce and for some of the sycophants trying to get his time and attention (which she deflacts or directs his way according to how he responds to subtle questioning glances: ever the efficient PA). She plays the role of the bimbo with moments of 'accidental wisdom' well, but the senator aside she doesn't use that to humiliate or embarrass any other people.

"You picked a good one, Bruce old buddy!" one of Bruce's old schoolmates--Siegfried Starker--says, clapping Bruce too-hard between the shoulder blades. "What's she like in the sack? I may have to steal her away from you!"

Chortling at his own wit, Siegfried staggers off in search of more booze.

And that brings us to the minor incidents. Bruce slowly becomes aware that literally every time Satana finishes a drink, a server is always coincidentally right there for her to turn around, deposit a glass and snag another. She never has to wait. That seems a bit ... off.

Batman has posed:
Ahhhh Starker. A dirtbag back then, and not a significant amount has changed in the meantime.

Still Bruce laughs just as he is expected to, playing his role out for these old 'friends' and acquaintances. It is well worth the time in the end, no matter how tiresome it might be. It confirms what everyone thinks about his afterall, and the fact that he doesn't offer any denials only plays into the notion that he is just another spoiled rich kid who's banging the help.

Though it seems that at least the male contingent at the event doesn't hold that against him. Envy seems to be the more prevailing emotion in that particular respect.

While Satana may be a far more interesting date to these dreary sort of events then he is used to, it's hard not to count the minutes until he's free, until he can shed this disguise and take the city's rooftops, it's alleyways. Until he can put on his real face.

Until then at least he appears exactly what he is supposed to; a man who has had a bit too much to drink, one whom is more then a little handsy with his date, constantly leaning too close, his hand on her shoulder, her arm, the small of her back or the curve of her backside. If anyone had any doubts that the rumors were true, well, they shouldn't be the time the evening is down.

In all of that, the fact that there seems to constantly be a server closeby with another drink for her is... unusual. It is not something that he misses. But it is certainly nothing compared to the incident with the senator.

No doubt there are any number of young men present willing to do a whole lot more then serve Satana drinks to earn her attention.

Satana has posed:
As the party winds to a halt, and as Senator Martinez is publicly shamed into donating a lot more money than he'd intended--poisonous glances being darted Satana's way anytime he thinks he's unobserved; she's made a powerful enemy today (or is it the other way around?)--the event closes with a rousing success: a record for donations has been accomplished. And at the same time Bruce's playboy persona has been given an enormous bolstering as his date seems to not only endure, or even permit his grabby hands, she seems to encourage it with her body language, the little growling/purring sounds in her throat, and the 'secretive' smiles (soon to be plastered all over the society pages) directed his way when he gets more daring.

As they wait for the car, Satana quietly murmurs to her employer, "I don't know if I should fear or look forward to the car ride home after tonight." Beat. "I choose look forward to."

She smiles a sultry smile up at Bruce (more tabloid bait), with half-lidded eyes.

"You play the aggressive predator billionaire well, Bruce. Like you've practiced."

Batman has posed:
While his concerns about his personal assistant have not exactly been assauged, there is no denying that by any other standard that he might lay against the night, things could not have gone better.

A great deal of money has been raised for a worthy cause, the tabloids and those in his theoretical social circles have had their opinons of him reinforced and a few well deserving people have had very bad evenings.

Gotham's First Son could hardly ask for more, right?

And if he has had a few more questions raised over just what Satana might be capable of, well, that's half the reason that he's keeping her so close. He can't learn everything about her if he keeps her at a distance afterall.

Outside once again and fodder for the nearby photgraphers, Bruce keeps right on with his role, cheeks surprisingly flushed as if he has had a little too much to drink, an arm draped around his date -- to keep her warm you understand -- despite the mild temperatures of the evening. And if he smiles too brightly? If he leans in if just shy of pouncing on her? It certainly conveys the right message.

And lets them talk without being overheard.

"Thank you. Making the tabloids see what I want them to see has become something of an entertaining hobby," he murmurs lightly. "You've done a rather spectacular job of that as well, I should say. Though you were a little hard on Senator Martinez," he notes, though his tone suggests that the man certainly deserves it.

Either way, it is not a long wait for the car to pull up, and Bruce makes a show of helping her into the car, though he practically falls all over her just before the door closes behind them, those dark tinted windows sealing them away.

Satana has posed:
Satana does public squealing in delight as Bruce falls over her before the door closes. The squeal stops mid-screech once the door opens, but Satana makes no move to get out from under Bruce, keeping her position with the leg 'fortuitously' hooked behind his and staring up into his eyes.

"Shall we keep the act up for the help?" she asks with a slight smirk, her eyes flicking in the direction of the driver's compartment. "Or should we stop acting ... and just enjoy ourselves for our own benefit?"

Not on the menu she's offered: just riding peacefully home. Apparently.

Her amber eyes fill Bruce's head, as does the heat of her body, the soft pressing against him, and her subtle, undefineable scent. She becomes his world as she awaits his answer, expecting, or so it seems, Bruce to press on.

Temptation personified with something pushing Bruce toward a particular outcome. Can Bruce resist her? Tune in next week, same Bat-time! Same Bat-channel!

Or, you know, the answer can come now. This isn't TV after all.