[Chiraptora: For Bryce Wayne]

[serinusniger]

The book launch Dinah so much wanted to go to is taking place in the ballroom of the Gotham Hilton, and the guest list is long and illustrious enough to warrant a large media presence in front of the hotel lobby, parting occasionally to let cars arrive.

It's into this crowd that Dinah, dressed to impress in red, with impressive slits up both sides, pulls her matching red Ferrari. She grins at the snapping photographers, pulls on her heels while still sitting in the convertible, and offers the keys to the valet who opens the door.

Then she offers a hand to her passenger, because coming out of this door will still be easier than fighting the other side.

Comments

[gothamsheiress]

"She's extraordinary. Who trained her?"

[serinusniger]

"Three guesses," Dinah says. "And the first two don't count.

"Actually, she's as much self-trained as any of us. I honestly didn't think she'd stick it out at first, but she's earned that cowl."

[gothamsheiress]

Bryce grins, shaking her head.

"So she's part of the family too."

[serinusniger]

"She's not one of my two daughters, if that's what you're thinking," Dinah says. "But for some definition of family? Yeah, she is."

[gothamsheiress]

"Hmm."

She gives Dinah a faint, rueful smile.

"You guys are lucky."

[serinusniger]

"I know," Dinah says. She would offer to get the door for Bryce, but she doesn't use one herself, getting into the drivers seat by coming up and over into the convertible, dumping her heels in the back seat.

"I'm reminded of that every day."

[gothamsheiress]

Bryce is a little more subdued in getting into the car -- although she follows Dinah's lead and takes off her shoes.

"I can see why."

She stretches. "So. The firebug?"

[serinusniger]

"Oh my god," Dinah says. "You spend one evening here and we get hit by one of the ridiculous circus clowns of the Gotham underworld. Garfield Lynns: Firefly. Pyromaniac and serial Blackgate resident. He's usually just into torching things for the sake of it, so robbery's a little out of his M.O."

[gothamsheiress]

Bryce rolls her eyes.

"I can see why. Arson is a terrible method for a robber to use. Creates too much panic."

[serinusniger]

"And you know what that says to me?"

Dinah drives fast and apparently recklessly, but with no shortage of skill, as far as she can in an inner city and without breaking any obvious laws.

"He's gotten involved in one of his ill-advised team ups, and that was a distraction. I assume Batgirl's got the same idea."

[gothamsheiress]

"Known associates?"

[serinusniger]

"Second stringers, mostly." She says. "Killer Moth, Lock-Up. Though he was in Black Mask's gang once. You have to be a special kind of crazy or stupid to team up with a loose cannon like him."

[gothamsheiress]

"Killer Moth?"

[serinusniger]

"Because the best name for a villain in this city is the Bat's natural prey," Dinah explains.

"I don't understand them, I just fight them. Except when it's my night off. Here we are."

Her apartment building is as you might expect; tall, extravagant, and large. With a valet that apparently magically appears when the Ferrari turns on to the street.

[gothamsheiress]

"Dear Lord," she mutters, shaking her head. Dealing with one crazily costumed criminal at a time has been bad enough. She can only hope the ridiculously named ones here are as bad at crime as they at publicity.

[serinusniger]

Believe Dinah, they are. Which is why she tends to leave the ridiculous ones alone, and only bothers with organized crime of the League of Assassins kind of level.

She tosses the keys to the valet, grins cheerfully at the doorman and presses the penthouse button on the elevator.

"I never get sick of pressing that button," she confides.

[gothamsheiress]

Bryce laughs, leaning against the wall of the elevator.

"It is something, isn't it. --That reminds me. What was all that about you being angry with Bruce?"

[serinusniger]

"Oh that?"

Dinah grins. "This is a private elevator, by the way. Nothing makes the building security that we don't approve."

So they can talk freely.

"Anyway, ugh. This whole thing where he decided to make the biggest step to compromising everyone's secret identity he could ever make, by announcing that he's been funding the Batman operation for the past ten years. Didn't consult me, of course. Just went straight to the press conference."

[gothamsheiress]

"He what? Why?"

[serinusniger]

Dinah shakes her head.

"Because it would let him be more upfront about financing. It also let him expand outside of Gotham. Turn the family into a business."

It's clear from her tone she's not on board, but that doesn't mean she doesn't understand.

[gothamsheiress]

"He's insane," Bryce says, puzzled. "What we do is illegal. Admitting he's financing it puts him at risk for a RICO charge, if nothing else."

[serinusniger]

Dinah shrugs. "It's only technically illegal really.

"Not saying he isn't insane, of course."

It was a quick ride up to the penthouse, and the elevator pings as it arrives. "Welcome home."

[gothamsheiress]

"I know it's the pot calling the kettle black, but really."

She sighs, takes off her heels, and follows Dinah into the penthouse.

"Glad to be here."

[serinusniger]

"Dinah!"

The babysitter is a teenage girl; blonde, cheerful, and sitting on the large couch in full view of the front door. Her feet on the armrest, a handheld computer game in her hands.

"Good night?"

Dinah grins. "It was great until Firefly crashed the party. Thanks, Cassie. Oh, this is Roberta. Roberta, Cassandra Sandsmark."

[gothamsheiress]

Roberta gives him a grin and a wave. "Good to meet you."