Summary:Bruce catches up with Emma at the Hellfire Club and they discuss the directions of their lives. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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The Wayne family's association with the Hellfire Club dated all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Thomas was more of a member than his son was. Bruce was too young to understand what the membership meant when he was a young child and became the sole Wayne family member. However, as Bruce grew, he realized the social and political impact of the Club, so maintained the membership to it - and brought in Selina when she was made part of the family, even with the social scandal that the pair of social climbers and wealthy individuals had a child out of wedlock.
The most times that Bruce had made his presence known in the Club was in the days after he had broken his back in an automobile accident in Morraco - it gave him the chance to work on the influence he needed to gather to form part of a powerful super-pac to bring down the idea of Registration. After Registration was abolished and overturned - Bruce didn't come back as much. But every year, like clockwork, he came to the Club to pay his family dues. Those in the know that his daughter turns 18 this year - old enough for a membership, but Bruce hasn't made mention of the young woman of yet, though he had never pushed any of his wards to join.
The car that pulls out in front of the Club is his chaffuered vehicle, as Alfred steps out in his uniform to come around to open the door. "Master Bruce, we've arrive."
"Thank you, Alfred, I'll olnly be a few minutes." he promises with a smile as he stretches himself. Dressed in a tailored suit of black with a silver undershirt, the physical regime that he undertook to heal himself after his injuries - for a forty year old, he looks much younger and stronger than many of his age group. He steps into the doors of the club when they're opened for him and he approaches the secretary's desk. "Good morning. Bruce Wayne, here to make my due payment for 2019."
While Emma's family was certainly well off, they didn't have quite the pedigree of the Waynes. She had to earn her membership, and that effort is one of the reasons she likes to show up occassionally, to make sure she's not being forgotten. And so she arrives just behind Bruce, her car just behind his, the doors held open for her as she makes her way to them, giving the older man just enough space to be courtious.
Once inside, however, she walks up next to the man she knows by reputation only and smirks at him, "And here I would have thought you'd have someone to handle the minutia of your membership for you, Mr Wayne."
When the beautiful blonde made her way up the stairs, Bruce was perhaps spatially aware of her presence, becuase he made sure to hold the door for her before he made his way in behind her. However, when she moves to stand next to him at the desk, it gives Bruce a better moment to size her up, and the smirk and comment from her draws a chuckle from the eldest Wayne.
"There's some things I prefer to handle in person. That and it lets others know that I'm about. See and be seen, I believe is the venicular?" he asks with a hint of amusement to his voice. "After I was absent for a few years, I thought it best to handle this one in person." The attractive blonde is given a dip of Bruce's head before he responds to her. "I did not know you were a member as well, Miss Frost?" he asks her politely. Whether or not he truly knew isn't immediately available for Emma to grasp. If anything, his surface thoughts always seem a little shallow and on the level.
The blonde does stand out, and knows how to make a statement as she stands there in her all white outfit, tight pants, knee-high boots, a bolero over her corsett, "I know exactly what you mean, believe it or not. I like to remind people I'm still around, especially after being out of the city so long." She adjusts her position a bit, turning to better face the other man, "I've been a member in relatively good standing for years, though recently I've been absorbed in my own pursuits. It's not surprising you've never seen me about. You, however, I'm surprised to see here. I wouldn't have thought this would be your kind of thing, Mr Wayne. From what I've read of you, I mean."
This brings a rise of a brow, and the amusement shows in his voice. "Clearly you didn't read enough society pages." The so-called exploits of Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy are very well known, he's been a known partier and had several girlfriends before Selina sorta settled him down. A smile, warm and playful is given to Emma as she turns to face him more, and he turns to face her in turn.
"I was actually rather active in my younger days. I suppose I eventually had to grow up. Well, not entirely." There's a smirk at that and a chuckle. "I suppose that the accident was someone's way of getting my attention though." he finally responds as he tucks his hands in his pockets in thought. "But it's not just the hedonism, and we both know that, Miss Frost." comes the response finally. It's the political side of it. He knows of more than one backdoor deal made behind these walls that have shaped and changed society - or even political lives.
"So is that why you are here today, Miss Frost? Exposure? I had heard you had stepped away from your duties as CEO of Frost. Decided to start early on enjoying the fruits of your labor?" he asks her with a grin. "I'm just starting to get the feel for my companies. They are what provided me with the ability to do what I wanted as I grew up, I found that it may be time to find out exactly what it is that I do."
"Who has time for that, Mr Wayne? And I like to think that I, much like yourself, would rather make the news than read about others who had." She shrugs, and lets out a little sigh, "In my younger years, it was easier to enjoy the hedonism. I maybe even reveled in it. But now? Now my tastes have matured, as have my ideas of just what sort of value I can get from coming here. Much as you have, it seems." She gives the man an appraising once over then, followed by another half shrug, "Exposure? Maybe. I suppose in the end I just wanted to see what sort of company is being kept here, now. And now that I'm no longer burdened by my responsibilities, I've begun to think of just what's next for me. And where better to find a new path?" She flashes a smile then, "Care to join me for a drink? Maybe you can help me brainstorm what's next for Emma Frost."
"I'm sure there were a great many complaints when you decided to step away." Bruce says with an amused chuckle. "And yes, it seems in time that it seems that the reasons and wants do change." he agrees with her. However, when Emma makes the offer to join her, he gives a slightly crooked smile. "I'm not sure my advice would be the best in the world, Miss Frost, but I am more than willing to share a drink and conversation with a charming and beautiful young woman."
"Flattery will get you everywhere, and please, you can call me Emma, at least in here." She makes her way through the club then, walking slowly, but confidently, her head swiveling from time to time to look at one member or another, even offering a few nods of greeting to those she's familiar with. When she finally stops, it's by a pair of large leather wingbacked chairs, and she's quick to drop herself into one, one leg crossing over the other as she does, "Now. What makes you think your advice wouldn't be the best, then? Have you made some poor choices lately? Maybe directed someone slightly off course?" She's smirking, amusement clear on her face.
Following after Emma, Bruce looks around, and certainetly admires the stride in Emma's step, if not lingering upon it. There's a few murmurs as the pair pass by before they move to settle in the chairs. Settling into the one across from Emma. "Then you can call me Bruce, Emma." he responds with ease as he takes his seat and settles in. His hands fold into his lap as he smirks. "I'm not sure that my recent moves would be called poor choices. Just making sure I set a prime example for my daughter, as she prepares for college. Now just saying that makes me feel about twenty years older than I actually am."
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his wallet, and opens it to flip through the pictures - yes, he's old-fashioned enough that he still carries printed pictures in the little plastic holder, even though he also has a smart phone. As he gets to the picture he wants, he leans over to offer it to her. A young brunette. It's easy to see what traits she got from her father - and from her mother as well. "Smart as a whip, but I get the feeling that like most teenagers, she wants out from under the shadow of her parents. It wasn't an option I was ever truly familiar with, so I find myself at a loss." After all, he no longer had parents to shadow over him after age eight.
"Bruce it is then." Emma say swith a smile before she places her hands on her knee, one over the other, "And I really can't relate to parenthood. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against children, and love being an educator, but kids of my own? I don't think even I would unleash -that- upon the world." She lets out a little laugh, then reaches out to take the offered picture, "She's beautiful, Bruce. And if her father is any indication, I can imagine she's quite a handful. I know I was at that age." She hands it back over and continues, "I'd love to tell you that it gets easier, but ESU is where I really came into myself. I was always fairly independant, but school is what really changed everything for me." her booted foot bounces ever so slightly as she sits there, watching the man, "Getting out from under the shadow of my father was perhaps one of the best choices I've ever made for myself, but her? Unless you're leading some dark double life, I think she's probably just eager to spread her wings a bit." A shrug, "But you don't seem anything like my father. For one, he never carried pictures of me, and if he did, I doubt he'd ever be so quick to show them off."
"I don't know why. You are a beautiful and talented woman. Any father should be proud to call you their daughter." But he's not gonna to press on that unless Emma wants to speak on it. Bruce takes back his wallet to put away, and then settles back down. "Dark double life?" That totally brings an amused smirk. "Emma, you know how it is up here - the more zeroes behind your name, the tighter the scrutiny of your life. I mean, I didn't even have Selina moved in good before the whole world knew I had taken in a wealthy mistress." he shrugs his shoulders at that.
"She can be a handful. Rebellious, but at the same time, I know that she is trying to grow into the woman that she wants to be - I can just hope that I guided her in the right directions. But you? I don't know, you're still young Emma, perhaps someday you'll change your mind. If not? I'm sure that your choice is valued regardless."
"You would think so, wouldn't you. Just between you and me though," she leans forward then, smiling still, "I wasn't always this beautiful or talented. I had to work at it. Now?" she sits back straight again, and her hands briefly gesture at herself before returning to her knees, "I'm everything he actually wanted. If only he was still alive so I could rub his face in it." Emma drums her perfectly painted nails on her knee as she sits there, "Rebellion is good though. I can't imagine what it's like hvaing a father like you. That's a lot to live up too. A lot of pressure, no matter how much you might wish otherwise. And you are, by all accounts, a good and decent person. Me? The sort of reputation that might follow my child around is not one I'd wish on anyone. And that's beside the fact that she'd likely be…gifted." She shakes her head, and makes a small tsk sound, "Maybe one day, but not today. Today I'm thinking again of being an educator. I think I'm happiest when I'm shaping young minds." That leaves her grinning, "Who knows, maybe one day I'll have your daughter in one of my classrooms."
"A father should love their child for who they are, not for what they aren't." However, when Emma mentions the child being gifted, Bruce reaches over and settles his hand on his for a moment. "What gifts you have, what gifts you pass - that shouldn't matter. It never should matter. It was why I was so against registration. There should be no place to check off a box that says 'Mutant'. It was no different than in the sixties with 'Race', or in the nineties with 'Sexual Orientation'." he points out to her, before starting to release her hand.
"I'm a billionaire playboy that was spending my parents money with none of the philanthropy or care that they had shared." he pauses. "That was a direct quote from the New York Times about twenty years ago. It made me sit up and take notice that perhaps I hadn't done things the way my parents had wanted me to. We all live in those shadows still at times. I still have the picture of my parents above my mantle, and I still ask them about decisions, when I know they can't answer." he chuckles a little at that. "I can only hope to live the type of legacy that they would have wanted me to have, while trying to guess what that legacy is."
"The best I can hope for is that I impart on Helena and the others - Dick, Tim…" She may know about Jason and his death, "…Stephanie, and hope that they find their way in all of this as well." he smiles. "I have a good partner in it with Selina. And of course, there's Alfred, as well."
"Love. That's a novel thought." Emma snorts a little laugh, "My father was interested in a Heir, not a child." She gives a little roll of her eyes, and lets the converation move on to other things, "It shouldn't, but it does. I've spent much of the last few years trying to change minds and championing our cause with various levels of success, and know where it left me? Exhausted. Frustrated. Maybe even a little bitter. It's made me become something other than who I wanted to be. It very nearly made me exactly what -they- are afraid of."
With her hand released, the blonde lets out a sigh, "Legacy. That's been on my mind a lot lately. Just what exactly will my legacy be. What will I be remembered for?" Her head cants to the side, "I have no family to speak of. No more ambition for business. I've been a hero and a villian and found neither really suited me. So what then? Find a partner? Make a family?" she flashes a wry little smile, "Actually, that's not a half bad idea." It might be hard not to think she doesn't mean that in exactly in the way it might sound.
"Perhaps, Emma. Or perhaps it will give you a chance on focusing on helping others. You've come across as an alturistic woman. You want to help those that can't help others. Schools, your own experiences. Others can learn from those. Not everyone has to wear a cape or a mask to make a difference." Bruce pauses, and then winks. "Not that masks can't be fun." But he'll leave that one sitting there, "You've made yourself into the woman you want to be. The question is now - what would you like to do with it?"
With that question, there's a small chime on his smart phone and he takes a look at it as he pulls it out of his pocket. And he chuckles. "The life of a philanthropist. I made a decision the other day, and want to make sure that it's taken care of. If you do not mind, it was a pleasure speaking with you." He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small card to offer to her. "Feel free to call me, perhaps we can speak in the future on your future."
Emma brings a hand to her face and taps at her white painted lips with a single finger, her eyes staring off into the room. She's clearly lost in thought, and after a second, a brief shake of her head brings her back to the present, "Perhaps a school is exactly what I need, after all. I had been toying with the idea of teaching, but perhaps I've been thinking much to small. It's certainly worth thinking about. A chance to do things my way. The right way." This leaves her smiling, and even as Bruce's phone rings, and he's ecusing himself, she's offering a little wave of her hand, "It's perfectly, Darling, I know how demanding life can be. I do hope your offer is genuine, too, as I find it refreshing to speak with other people of quality. It always makes for interesting, if unexpected, times."
Taking Emma's hand, Bruce lifts it to press a small kiss to her knuckles before he moves fully to his feet. "May you find your footing and climb higher, Emma." he offers to her, before Bruce is turning to head off, pressing a call to Alfred so that they may head on to his next appointment.