(Untitled)

[master_wayne]

Bruce enters the bar backwards, dragging a bag that's obviously extremely heavy. He also obviously didn't intend to wind up here, seeing as he nearly bumps into the bar before he realises where he is (apparently he really never did learn to mind his surroundings

Comments

[isaysimplewords]

Yeah, Cal knows that feeling.

"Fucking tabloids." His tone is one of great sympathy.

[master_wayne]

'If the stories were true, I'd hold my hands up.'

He looks at the front of the paper.

'For that matter, if this paper was from my world, I'd hold my hands up. But I don't think it is.'

He does not sound impressed with this situation in general. But he does smile at the man, a little.

'Hi.'

[isaysimplewords]

"Mine usually were," Cal says easily.

As far as he knows, anyway. It's not like he was sober enough to remember most of the events the next day. But if they weren't true, they may as well have been.

He offers a hand to shake. "Cal Chandler, New York, 2008. 'This paper's from a different world' must be a nice excuse."

[master_wayne]

He takes the hand, the smile widening at the matter-of-fact layout of the information. And he responds in kind;

'Bruce Wayne, Gotham City, 2005.'

The paper gets another glare though.

'Nothing nice about it. Not if I have to explain it to the girl I'm dating.'

[isaysimplewords]

. . . Cal is getting really, really good at not reacting when he hears culturally iconic names in Milliways. It probably helps that it's been years since he watched any of the Batman movies.

"Nice to meet you, Bruce."

He winces sympathetically. "Yeah, that could be a problem."

[master_wayne]

'You too.'

He closes the paper.

'I hate this place, sometimes.'

Not true. But, y'know. He'd like to.

[isaysimplewords]

"It gets pretty complicated," Cal says wryly.

He could not even conceive of hating Milliways, but - damn, does it ever get complicated sometimes.

"Is she likely to take it badly?"

[master_wayne]

'I don't...know.'

He runs a hand through his hair and picks up his protein shake, taking a drink and leaving himself with something of a foamy moustache.

'I don't think so. Not if she knows it's not true.'

He almost said 'just a cover' there and had to catch himself.

'I just don't think she's had a lot of experience with papers being full of bull, you know?'

[isaysimplewords]

"Yeah." Cal nods. It had really weirded Tina out at first, he remembers. She'd known what she was getting into, being with a Chandler, but knowing and experiencing are two different things.

God, he hasn't thought about that in years. It isn't as hard as it once was, though, thinking of her. He's adjusting.

"That can get kinda rough. At least you get to practice with a paper from another world, though."

[master_wayne]

'Which means that when that sort of stuff gets written back home, she'll have to deal with actually being me.'

He'll have to do the playboy thing, he's resigned to it. Which means most of the stories will be true, only X will hopefully understand that it really is just a cover.

'What's your experience of it?'

[isaysimplewords]

"My family's kind of a big deal back home," Cal says. "I was Governor for a few years."

For kind of a big deal, read the Kennedys of his world. The most socially and politically prominent family in America for several decades.

"I basically grew up in the papers," he continues. "Any of the girls I was with knew it was pretty much part of the package."

And Cal wishes the things he'd been caught doing were as mild as throwing around champagne. He's changed a lot, since then.

[master_wayne]

'That's why this bothers me. The girl I'm dating is from here. She doesn't know what it's like out there.'

He nods towards the door. Cal is clearly someone who knows exactly what it's like then.

'Though maybe I'm not giving her enough credit. She's one of the X-Men. It's not like they don't have publicity of their own, by the sound of it.'

[isaysimplewords]

Cal doesn't have any experience with Milliways dating; it's been a while since he was interested in romance. He also has the luxury of having changed worlds and now lives a blessedly anonymous life. He can appreciate how difficult it would be, though, if neither of those things were the case.

That last remark gives him pause. He has one immediate association when it comes to discussing Milliways and female X-Men, but . . . X has never struck him as being the dating type.

Then again, much of the reason their friendship was on shaky ground for a while is because he started making too many assumptions. He has to be mindful of that.

"One of the X-Men?" he repeats. "Do you mind if I ask who?" He wouldn't ask ordinarily, and he won't mind if Bruce declines to answer - it is a little on the personal side, considering they just met.

[master_wayne]

Bruce shrugs a shoulder, obviously unconcerned. She's always been very upfront with people when they've been out on dates so he doesn't think she'll mind.

'Her name is X. Though she goes by Laura as well, sometimes.'

[isaysimplewords]

. . . huh. Cal nods slowly, taking this in.

"I know her," he says. "She's a friend of mine."

X is dating.

X is dating Bruce Wayne.

Once this information settles, Cal is going to be very proud of her. (And not a little relieved that he doesn't have to worry about whether she's chosen a decent guy.

Cal has something of a protective streak.)

[master_wayne]

(Bruce would be glad to know she has friends who care about her.)

'Yeah?'

He visibly perks up.

'She's great, isn't she?'