Peace and Quiet - a_carrion_crow

[heaven_helps]

Bernard and Monica Emory hosted a September party every year. In their younger days, it celebrated the return of their five children to boarding school. Now, with those children grown, it was merely held out of tradition. There was dinner and toasting and some dancing. While the separation was much more unofficial than at other parties Gotham's

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[a_carrion_crow]

Joshua Crane sulked in the upstairs hallway of the Emory house, caught between the different sets of partygoers. The younger people were insipid and boring and the older - well, they were much the same.

He wasn't sure why his mother had insisted they go. His father, bowing to her wishes as always, was there, downstairs, saying nothing and pretending not to notice the stares. Joshua enjoyed the attention; when they looked at Jonathan Crane some of them - most of them, actually - reacted with a surge of panic. Their faces rarely showed it, but Joshua could feel it. He'd had enough of those small jolts of fear to satisfy him for the evening. If he could leave now, he'd be able to enjoy the effects of it - but no, his parents were still milling about.

Even people as dimwitted as the Emorys ought to have books somewhere, he reasoned. All he needed to do was find a room to himself where he could relax with a book after his "meal."

With that in mind, he found a door with no noise or light coming from the room behind it, and slipped inside

[heaven_helps]

The lamp on the desk offered little light, but it made the room easy to navigate. The walls muted most of the sounds of both parties. All in all, Helena thought it a nice little hideaway, especially as the talking and music and cigar smoke made her feel almost overloaded. She didn't want absolute darkness, but... the quiet and the dim light helped her head pound a little less.

She didn't hear the door open, meaning she didn't rise from her reclined position on the couch. She knew she couldn't stay here for the rest of the night, but it would do for now. Just a few more minutes to collect herself, then she'd go back to trying to convince those stuffed shirts that they ought to part with some of their money to help the youth they always said should straighten up.

[a_carrion_crow]

The desk light lit up the walls of books, and there, in the corner seemed to be a couch. Joshua walked over to examine the books, intending to select one and settle himself in while he digested his snack.

[heaven_helps]

Someone upstairs decided to do something to the stereo system at that point, and the feedback could be heard even in the study. That made Helena react, still thinking she was alone.

It wasn't loud, not to most people, but she sat up, saying to herself, "Fuck."

[a_carrion_crow]

He turned from the shelves, book in had, and raised one eyebrow. "Here?"

[heaven_helps]

She looked over at the voice and, after the initial surprise of not being alone, she fought not to roll her eyes.

"That hurt," she muttered, making a gesture meant to indicate the sound of the feedback. She rested her head back on the arm of the couch. "Seems like this is a popular hiding place."

[a_carrion_crow]

Cocking his head in the general direction of the sound, he paused, then replied, "It is annoying, yes. I didn't realize this room was taken - I can leave you to it, if you like."

[heaven_helps]

Helena smiled slightly. "Are you going to tell me war stories?"

[a_carrion_crow]

"War stories?" he replied, clearly confused.

[heaven_helps]

She laughed a little. "Sorry. I just spent an hour in the billiard room, listening to old men tell greatly exaggerated war stories."

[a_carrion_crow]

"Oh." He shook his head. "No, I'm afraid I haven't been in any wars." He wasn't inclined to put himself in that kind of danger; the sheer terror from others in the area would almost certainly intoxicate him to the point of insensibility. "Not the sort of thing I'd be interested in."

[heaven_helps]

"Then you are more than welcome to stay," Helena replied, laughing a little. Though, she had to ask. "Why are you hiding?"

[a_carrion_crow]

"I was bored and decided to step out before I became boring." He smiled back. "And I've had enough to drink for the evening, so I thought I'd relax while I wait for my ride."

[heaven_helps]

"Always the best part about these parties," she said. "Deciding that you're going to leave soon."

[a_carrion_crow]

"Too bad I've decided but can't actually do it," he replied. "And why are you here if you're desperate to escape?"

[heaven_helps]

"I help with a charity program-- Laurel Lance Center for Disadvantaged Youths-- and if I don't show up here and play nice, people forget us when writing out those nice donor checks." It was brutal, but it was honest, and she'd say it to anyone who asked. Well... anyone of the younger crowd. She knew better than to say it to some of the elder ones.