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Post by Bruce Wayne on Jan 4, 2009 23:41:10 GMT -5
As per usual, Bruce was looking over recent financial reports for Wayne Enterprises, sent here by Mr. Fox on a regular basis. How modern Gotham was able to Fedex important documents to 19th Century Paris was a mystery to him, but he'd long ago stopped questioning it. One could get used to strange living here.
It was late, though, him having also been spending his time doing research on the Joker.
No such luck--the man was a cypher, it seemed. There were no records of him except for criminal activities. He didn't even have a name other than Joker, or so reports said.
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Post by Lois Lane on Jan 5, 2009 13:40:24 GMT -5
*Lois knocked before entering. She had a fairly large stack of mail in her arms.*
"And all I ever get is junk mail," *she joked as she put everything on his desk.*
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Jan 5, 2009 13:46:46 GMT -5
He grinned at her remark, raising an eyebrow at the mess.
"At least they know you're here. People are still sending things to the old address in Gotham."
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Post by Lois Lane on Jan 5, 2009 13:53:01 GMT -5
*Lois laughed.*
"Somehow, I don't think the post office would know what to do if they saw '19th century Paris' on some of the mail."
*She reached out and looked through some of the stuff.*
"And yet these are post marked for 2008," *she said, completely confused.*
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Jan 5, 2009 14:00:39 GMT -5
He lifted his hand in the air in an "I have no idea" gesture.
"I stopped trying to figure it out. It's an extra headache I don't think we need, eh?"
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Post by Lois Lane on Jan 5, 2009 14:04:12 GMT -5
"Seriously. I'm going to leave it up to those nutty quantum physicists to theorize until their eyeballs pop out."
*Lois sat herself down on the chair across from his desk.*
"This all you do on your spare time?" *she asked casually. But it was obvious that she was purposely making small talk.*
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Jan 5, 2009 19:53:35 GMT -5
Well, I'm also Batman.
"Not all. Sometimes, I'm actually just being lazy and loafing around the house. Or, I'll be talking to Fearless Reporter Lois Lane."
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Post by Lois Lane on Jan 5, 2009 20:05:39 GMT -5
*Lois smiled half-heartedly. Not that what he said wasn't funny... it was just that there were a lot of things going through her mind.*
"Look..." *she started cautiously.* "To tell you the truth, I bumped into Alfred on the way up where and jacked all that mail from him so that I'd have an excuse to be here."
*She bit her lip self-consciously. God, she felt like an idiot.*
"Er... Okay, I'm really no good at this so just listen: I just wanted to say thanks for being there when I kinda lost it the other night." *she said rather quickly.*
*A deep, relieved sigh followed.*
"There. I said it."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Jan 5, 2009 20:18:11 GMT -5
The teasing expression softened.
"You don't have to have an excuse to come in, you know. You're free to come up and just knock. It gets a bit too lonely up here.
And...you're welcome. We didn't see each other at our best, but I'm glad I at least have someone around still who knows that, eh? I adore Alfred, but sometimes...Alfred isn't enough."
He was all sincerity--he really did mean it. Lois and Alfred were the only real comfort he had anymore, at least these days. And Lois...
Was his type, if he were being honest. Perhaps in another time or place, they could have been other than just friends.
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Post by Lois Lane on Jan 5, 2009 20:38:39 GMT -5
*She smiled a genuine smile. With all the crazy tabloid stuff put aside--which weren't true anyway, Lois had grown to really admire Bruce. Maybe even a bit more than admire... but she was sure circumstances wouldn't allow it. And besides... she wasn't up for another heartbreak.*
"This whole Joker business kinda put everything into perspective for me and after that stint in the shower, I realized that... that you're all I've got," *she said quietly.*
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Jan 5, 2009 20:47:18 GMT -5
He reached across the desk to clasp her hand in his.
"Without you and Alfred, I'd be alone."
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Post by Lois Lane on Jan 5, 2009 21:01:43 GMT -5
*It took her a moment to realized that his hands were on hers. When she finally did, her stomach did a flip and she froze, staring at him.*
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Jan 5, 2009 21:07:03 GMT -5
There was an awkward silence that stretched a bit too long before Bruce cleared his throat.
He slowly pulled his hand back.
"Yes. Well. You know you'll always have a place here."
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Post by Lois Lane on Jan 5, 2009 21:13:18 GMT -5
*Lois pulled her hand back as well and tucked her hair behind her ear.*
"Yeah, thanks. Appreciate it," *she said shortly.*
"Uh, I'm going to go and, uh, finish... something. I'll see you around."
*Awkwardly, she got with a very forced smile, turned and walked out of the room. Once outside, she cursed herself inwardly and speed walked to her room.*
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Jan 5, 2009 21:19:12 GMT -5
After Lois had gone, Bruce sank back in his chair, letting out a breath of frustration.
Stupid. He'd botched that one, somehow. Said too much, maybe. Hopefully it wouldn't be too awkward around her after this. With a bit of chagrin ((shutup)) Bruce started shuffling his papers together and putting them away.
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