320/Visiting An Old Friend

Visiting An Old Friend
Date of Scene:	08 May 2017
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Catwoman, Batman

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Catwoman has posed:
It has been a long time coming, this visit. Selina meant to check and see how Bruce is doing before now but she has only just recovered enough from her injuries to be out an about, her healing lengthened thanks to how she tried to do too much too soon, resulting in Doctor Thompkins having to put in new stitches. But here she is, finally, dressed nicely as one of her 'station' should be, all Channel and Louis Vuitton, looking like something out of an old movie.

The door is approached and the bell rung once the taxi driver is paid and then it is a matter of waiting for it to be answered.

Batman has posed:
Before too long, Alfred opens the door, his posture and dress perfect. "Miss Kyle," he says with a warm smile. "Please, come in." He gestures to the foyer with a slow sweep of his arm. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit today? I will alert Master Bruce at once."

Other than the creak of the door and Alfred's voice, the house seems otherwise silent.

Catwoman has posed:
With how big the stately Wayne Manor is the silence is not surprising. Each room is huge, putting a lot of distance between the door and wherever it is Bruce might be. "Alfred, my dear. How have you been?" Pause. "Oh, I've come to see Bruce. I've been wanting to check on how he is and found myself with the time to do so, today. Hopefully I didn't come by at a bad time." She didn't call or otherwise make her intentions known, so her arriving when the lord of the manor's not free is a possibility.

Stepping inside, the sound of heels clicking upon the floor is soon added to what little sound can be heard.

Batman has posed:
Alfred clears his throat. "My dear Ms. Kyle, you know well it is /never/ a bad time for you to stop by." He smiles again and leads her to a sitting room. "Master Bruce will be with you shortly. Might I offer a cool refreshment for you?"

He lingers for a moment to hear the response and then makes his way deeper into the manor, returning a minute or so later.

Before too much longer, Bruce emerges from a back room, closing the door quietly behind himself. He offers a wide grin. "Selina!" he calls cheerfully. "How are you?" As he approaches, he extends his arms out for a polite hug and cheek-peck. Bruce's eyes have heavy bags underneath them, and his dress is a bit more disheveled than usual.

"I didn't miss some engagement, I hope," he says with a laugh that's loud and clear, but perhaps a bit less mirthful than it could be.

Catwoman has posed:
"I would love a cup of proper English tea, if you wouldn't be too put out?" If there's one thing Selian's good at it is buttering a man up when she wants something and that's especially true when it comes to having the desire for a properly brewed cup of tea fulfilled. "I just can not seem to do it justice, I am afraid. I even tried to look up how to make a good cup of tea on YouTube." Judging by her expression, that hasn't gone over well at all.

Turning upon hearing Bruce's voice, Selina sighs in relief. He might not look like his normal, well-polished self, but it is still good to see him. Allowing the hug and returning the peck, she tries to let it linger although she does step back when it feels like he is ready for it to end. Hopefully he won't notice how she grits her teeth a little when her side begins to ache. "Bruce. It is lovely to see you... oh, no! No, no. You haven't missed anything. I was just coming to see how you're doing."

Batman has posed:
Not long after Bruce arrives, Alfred emerges from the direction of the kitchen with a cup of tea and a bowl of sugar cubes on a platter. "Luckily, miss, I had just been preparing some myself." He sets it down on a nearby table and stands near the door, poised and alert in service.

Bruce, meanwhile, sits down--drops himself, really--on a heavily cushioned, high-backed chair. "Well," he says with a soft chuckle. "It's been ... interesting. I haven't felt myself recently. You know what I mean?" Bruce asks, scrunching his face just a bit.

"Alfred," he adds, rubbing the side of his face that had been scrunched. "Could you.."

"Here you are, sir," Alfred replies, offering a glass of water and a small cup with medication in it.

"Ah. Thank you," Bruce says, downing both. Afterwards, he glances to Selina. "Haven't been sleeping much. Trying ... trying to get back to normal."

Catwoman has posed:
"Then my arrival was timely. Thank you, Alfred." Selina puts one cube of sugar in her tea, prefering it to be slightly sweetened, the drink left alone, otherwise. Why mess with perfection, after all. A sip is taken and a pleased sigh given, her expression sheer bliss. "Hmmm. Wonderful. Alfred, if I though I could, I'd steal you away from Bruce just so I could have this wonderful tea every day."

Bruce's own request for the gentleman butler and the items given to him has Sel raising a brow, the pleasure on her face shifting, turning to very open concern. "Are you alright? I mean... I know you went through a nasty ordeal..." Stammering, the woman who normally knows the right thing to say is positively stymmied and she eventually falls quiet.

Batman has posed:
Bruce inhales deeply, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, I'm sure you know how it is," Bruce says, shrugging. "Sometimes things seem so much safer at night. More comfortable. More familiar." He blinks a few times and stifles a yawn. "But I've got just so much to catch up on--it's hard to believe how much business piles up when everyone thinks you're dead. I don't recall anything so taxing when I'm on vacation."

"Master Bruce, if I may interject," Alfred offers, "you take vacations so frequently that it seems like a normal part of the business week."

"I guess so," Bruce grins, his eyes twinkling for just a moment. "They're just so /fun/, though."

"Indeed," replies Alfred.

Catwoman has posed:
Selina looks down and chuckles quietly. "Yes, Bruce. I know exactly what you mean." Glancing between the two men, now, she shakes her head, still amused. "I wish I had someone to go on vacation with. Am kind of tired of doing everything alone." That might be a bit shocking. Selina Kyle, Gotham's up and comine socialite, with no one to go on a trip with? "Perhaps someone will do me the kindness of going on one with me, someday." A hint might be given to Bruce in the form of a quick look as well as an equally-swift grin.

Returing to her tea, more is sipped as she listens, curious as to how Mister Wayne will react to her.

Batman has posed:
"Selina Kyle," Bruce says with feigned surprise, "you can't possibly be telling me you haven't had the chance for rest and relaxation recently?" He turns his head to gaze at her from the corner of his eye. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that was a suggestion to escape to Majorca. Or maybe Vail. Or perhaps Tierra del Fuego--it's nice this time of year."

While he grins, Bruce's eyes grow a bit sadder. "There are far worse places to be, after all. So why not? Why not?" he asks again, in a quieter voice. "It's sweet of you to offer to help get me out of Gotham, Selina. Don't think I don't recognize that..."

Catwoman has posed:
And there's the Bruce Selina remembers, in part if not wholly, and it makes her smile return, warm and kind. "I was thinking Monaco. Could do a little gambling, enjoy some time on the beach. Or maybe Bora Bora.I've never been there. We could rent a bungalow somewhere, do nothing but order room service and everything that entails." Those green eyes of hers sparkle, speaking well of her excitement of the idea.

The last said by her host has her blushing a bit, her playfulness swapped out with a bit of bashfulness, now. "Well, after all you've been through, I think you need some time away from here. Even if only for a few days, Bruce. Might help with the healing." The cup of tea is now finished and is set aside, left for Alfred to take.

Batman has posed:
"Bora Bora, eh?" Bruce rubs his chin and purses his lips. "Hmm ... hmm ..." he ponders, dragging out the act to an exaggerated degree. "Well," he finally says, "I suppose it /could/ be a useful distraction from all these legal documents I have piled on my desk."

As Selina calls attention to his need for healing, Bruce nods, casting his eyes downward briefly. "I suppose you're right," he says quietly. "While I've always got Alfred at my side here, sometimes it's hard to feel anything but ... alone." He sighs softly and offers a pained smile to Selina. "I didn't know you had any medical training."

Meanwhile, Alfred deftly scoops up the empty tea cup and platter, retiring to the kitchen with them.

Catwoman has posed:
Is Bruce just playing along or is he sincere in this? Selina can't tell and it has her boggled. Not enough to call him on it, but enough to have to sit and wonder about it a moment. "Then let's do it. I'll let you make the arrangements and I'll be sure to pack so I can be ready to be at your beck and call whenever you're ready to make good on it." There. It's in Bruce's hands, now. Selina will just wait and see if he'll go through with the trip or if he'll back out.

"Medical training? No, I haven't had any, save basic first aid. It more... emotional healing I'm talking about, Bruce. Mental." Clearing her throat, she pauses, wanting that to sink into his head some before she continues. "I've been through a lot of traumatic experiences when I was a girl," she explains gently, "and I know first hand how important it is to allow the mind and spirit to heal along with one's body."

Batman has posed:
Bruce leans back in his chair and chuckles softly. "You know, Selina, it might seem terrible to say, but ... this might be the first time I've ever had a beautiful lady waiting on /me/ for the dream date." He puts his hand over his face for a second as he composes himself.

"That said," Bruce adds, nodding, "I think you're on to something. I do need to get away, even for just a short while. It's just that there's always /so/ much work to do..." He sighs heavily and offers a thin smile. "How soon would you like to leave?"

Catwoman has posed:
"There's first time for everything. I am just glad I could be your first in that regards." Selina shifts in her seat some, causing her to wince ever so slightly, minutely enough for all but those with a keen eye to notice. Ouch. Will need to have Leslie deal with those darn stitches as soon as she can. "I am sure you'll be worth the wait, Bruce. And I hope you'll find me to be the same." The pain moving the wrong way brought into being ebbs, becoming a dull ache that she can easily ignore.

Selina can not help but to laugh, then, at the way Bruce agrees with her. "How about this weekend? We can plan for a few days and then play it by ear. See if life needs us to return home or if we can extend our trip by a few days." If there's one thing she loves to do it is to play footloose and fancy free when she is able to.

Batman has posed:
Bruce offers a slow nod in response. "Alright, then," he says, seemingly oblivious to Selina's wincing. "This weekend. Alfred!" Bruce calls, looking over his shoulder toward the kitchen. "We're going to Bora Bora this weekend!"

"Wonderful, sir," Alfred shouts in reply.

"I'll leave the post-arrival itinerary to you, Selina. I have the feeling I'd just want to lounge on the balcony." Bruce exhales deeply again. "I'm sure I need to get out more. Feel the air on my face."

Catwoman has posed:
Even if it was not something Selina had planned she can not help but to feel a little proud of herself, this an unexpected vitory for the socialite. Rising to her feet, she moves to where Bruce is sitting and a soft kiss is placed upon his cheek, a quick, chaste peck like the one they gave each other when they were saying their hellos. "I promise that you'll enjoy yourself, Bruce. And that you'll be able to relax." And she'll beat up anyone who tries to ruin the trip for him.

Straightening, then, she looks to her watch, taking note of the time. "I probably should go if we're going to be off this weekend. I got a few things I should buy for lounging on the beach." Like a one-piece bathingsuit that can cover the still-healing wound. "You have my number. Call me with the details, please."

Batman has posed:
Bruce stands with Selina, nodding and offering a kiss to the cheek in return. He squeezes her hand and smiles. "Thank you for this, Selina. I really can't wait for the chance to relax."

He walks with her to the door, Alfred following close behind until it's time to open the door, at which point he takes point.

"There's absolutely nothing in the world that can keep the two of us from a good time," Bruce says with a grin. "You'll be hearing from me later today."

Not long after Selina leaves, Bruce looks to Alfred. "Well," he says in a somber voice, "I'm not sure I can figure out an excuse from this one. Better make sure the extra suitcase is packed just in case the trip's not all for pleasure."