14335/Another day in the Watchtower

Another day in the Watchtower
Date of Scene:	23 April 2022
Location:	Monitor Room, Watchtower
Synopsis:	Batman and Wonder Woman catch up on the Watchtower
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Wonder Woman

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Batman has posed:
The Watchtower. Symbol of Justice in the world and home of the Justice League. Well, less of a symbol of justice since much of the world has no idea of it's existence thanks to great pains meant to provide a secure location for the Justice League to meet. Now, every now and again, the Justice League slides shifts to perform monitor duty to send out heroes to where they would be needed most and keeps the Justice League on a regular activity.

It was Batman's turn today.

He had already sent Superman to Lagos to deal with a Godzilla-like creature. He sent Martian Manhunter to maintain a United Nations meeting's peace talks. Nightwing and Batgirl have been stationed in Gotham City with Robin and Red Robin covering Bludhaven. Batman has been hard at work.

He has coffee next to him on a counter while he's at the monitoring station, checking multiple locations via satelite imagery and monitoring police and military radio waves. Batman's eyes are narrowed and he shows no expressions. He even seems to be getting off of a conversation.

"Green Arrow, Mirror Master is in Starling City trying to steal experimental technology to enhance his abilities. Here are his coordinates, cut him off at 82nd and Howard."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana Prince wasn't on monitor duties but she was at the Watchtower as an available reserve should she be needed. It was a good day when she found herself actually bored. Not unlike the fire department, when the Justice League was not busy it meant there were no crisis to help avert. There were plenty of ways to pass the time.

Entering the monitoring hive, she looked to Batman as he gazed relentlessly at the displays. "Has it been busy?" Humanity often could not get out of its own way so that was more of a small talk conversation opener than it was a hope things were actually quiet.

Batman has posed:
Luckily, no event had cropped up that required Wonder Woman. Batman put the rookies and 'rank and file' heroes to good use. He assigns Plastic Man to bank robbery duty in Metropolis and Booster Gold to the world history museum. Batman would spare none of these heroes.

"Decently." Batman bluntly replies to Diana. "You look well. How isThenyscira? I understand the Embassy has been a positive influence in the city."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana Prince moved to sit in one of the chairs nearby. "Decently. Then it is a good day after all" she observed jovially. She smiles, "Thank you." She then looks to the displays as she replies. "Quiet there for now. But as with the rest of the world, it never seems to remain that way. Olympus. The Underworld. Ares. Any one or all of them seem intent on sowing some measure of dischord. Often at the most inopportune times. That is the way of things" she observes with a shrug. "But for now, quiet. The embassy has seemed to have a positive impact. It is reassuring."

Batman has posed:
Diana had sat down and Bruce was still quite looking at the monitors. "Booster Gold. Blue Beetle. There's trouble in Metropolis. Superman is in combat with Toyman, you two will need to stop Metallo from introducing Kryptonite into the water supply." Batman put 100% of himself into everything he did.

"You're welcome." Batman tells Diana, even as he starts to turn around. That was the last crisis to attend to. Unless they radio in for help, they're probably on their own! Batman approaches Diana, his cowl protects much of his face from sight.

"Anything can and will happen. Murphy's Law. I realize I haven't seen you in some time. It's...good, to see you Diana."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana Prince watches and listens quietly while Batman routes other JLA members to where their skills and talents are needed most. She admired his tactical prowess. When it came to anticipating the next half or fully dozen moves a criminal or super villain might employ; when it came to instantly knowing the best way to utilize team members in any given encounter. There were surely no others better than he and probably very few able to come close to his abilities.

She nods, "Mr. Murphy is rather universally disliked I have come to understand. I hope that he never came to take it personally." She smiles as she makes something of a joke. Perhaps she was just trying to test his intense stoney-faced exterior. Then another nod, "Thank you. We have all been busy with our responsibilities within the League, and without. It is good to see you again as well." She considers whether to ask then decides to, "How has Gotham been faring?"

Batman has posed:
Batman doesn't laugh. His sense of humor and lack thereof was notable amongst the Justice League. But Diana had that gentle touch that could make his lips tilt upwards just a tick. Just a slight hair. "He's probably making something short circuit somewhere." Batman tells Diana in a return-fire kind of joke. He ewasn't too good at them. He preferred situational humor opposed to shooting from the hip so to speak.

She asks about Gotham. She pushed the Gotham button. Normally there's something big that pushes back. It never happens. "Gotham's fine. While I'm away, Robin is in charge." The Robin that had long since come into his own as a capable hero who didn't require Batman's oversight.

"The world is getting crazier."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana Prince appreciated the effort. She offered a soft, almost child-like giggle at the idea that Mean Mr. Murphy was short circuiting something somewhere. It was an amusing notion to entertain.

She never tries to egg him on. It was an honest question with honest interest in the well-being of Gotham for, as Gotham goes, so goes The Batman. Even when the city somehow slumbers with relative peace, he is never relaxed. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, as the saying went.

She nods. "You have trained and taught them all very well." She meant it.

Batman has posed:
Batman trusted his proteges enough to let them watch over Gotham City when he was off-world. Recently, he went on a trip with the Avengers to discover new life - potentially even lost civilizations. But she giggled. He got her to laugh. Diana's laugh was the most beautiful sound on earth. Batman couldn't be convinced otherwise.

"I have." Batman knew it. He's trained half of them since they were small children. Dick was the youngest, the first. He trained him since he was nine. The rest have been older, closer to their teen years when they started.

And now they are the best operatives int he world if Batman is to be believed.

"I do my best."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana Prince smiled. He wasn't being arrogant or a braggart. It simply was the truth. No one could have prepared them better for their chosen lives in Gotham. Perhaps gentler, more patiently. But then would they have been able to stand up the darkness that ate away at the city's soul like a cancer? Perhaps. But being trained so rigidly was the best method for the circumstances.

"We all aspire to do no less." Thinking of her training with Cassie and Donna and the other Amazons. "It is difficult to accept that we each have done enough. But I do believe it is the truth. You. Clark. Myself. Each member of the League with a protege' following onward behind us."

Batman has posed:
"It won't be enough. What does Clark always call it? The never-ending battle?" The crime that eats at Gotham, the crime that eats at the world is something that cannot be ignored. That's why the Justice League was founded: to tackle threats that nobody else can on a scale unheard of. Batman taught them how to protect htemselves. Clark taught them how to hope. Diana taught them to be unmoving like the mountains.

Diana was always the heart o the team. Batman was the darkness, Superman was the light, but Diana was the balance between two extremes. "Makes me wonder how your protege is coming along, Diana. I've seen Wonder Girl in the field. You should be proud."

Wonder Woman has posed:
Diana Prince considered. Never ending battle. It was not only a depressing notion, it was soul crushing. The idea that there would never be peace or rest.

"It will be enough. We pass on our lessons learned. As much wisdom as we are able. We guide and we nuture. And in the end, Bruce, it is enough. Because it -must- be. To believe that there can never be enough good to end evil is to admit that evil has already won."

She looked over at him intently, "That is unacceptable. /I/ do not accept that."

But then he changes topics and she is willing to go there instead. "I am pleased. She has become a formidable warior. A wise woman. And a valued friend."

Batman has posed:
"Just the opposite." Batman counters Diana. "It doesn't imply evil's already won. It implies that Good reigns eternal, but evil is a cockroach that's hard to kill. Sometimes, Diana. It isn't." Bruce remembers the day he lost his world in that alley. He remembers the moment two bullets killed Gotham's best hope for recovery and a golden age. He remembers the day he became vengeance. The night.

The Batman. "You should be proud." A beeping is heard. "Go for Batman." He grunts. "I understand." He looks at Diana. "I have to go. We will continue this discussion another time. Don't be a stranger, Diana."

Batman turns on his heel, his cape flowing behind him.