Wayne Ball [Site-Wide, Open]

[Bruce Wayne]

"Everyone wears a mask of some sort," Bruce told him, "But the best kinds of people are those who can withdraw that mask, who speak from their true face."

[Jeffery Thompson]

Jeff nodded. "As a lawyer I have plenty of experience trying to rip people's masks away. You need to, to get at the heart of the matter." "So what about you? Can you withdraw your mask?"

Jeff wasn't sure he could. When he was depressed he isolated himself and ran. He didn't really talk about it. People were looking for dirt on him. He needed to keep everything close to the chest. And more than that he was supposed to be as Jen put it 'the hopeless idealist'. Giving other people hope was more important than his own bitter resentments and frustrations. He needed to be strong for Gotham city. He couldn't fall apart. Too many people were trying to rip him to pieces. Too many people were relying on him for a brighter future.

[Bruce Wayne]

He gave a brief smile and walked out of the room ahead of Jeff, intending to lead him back to the event, "Sometimes I don't quite know...," he trailed off.

[Jeffery Thompson]

Jeff grabbed his briefcase and followed after Bruce. He chuckled. "An honest response. I like you." Most people would have quickly given an affirmative.

Jeff found himself wondering again what the real Harvey was like. He had seemed like the hopeless idealist too. Did he always feel that way? No, he couldn't could he? He must have had doubts and misgivings of his own. Did he talk to anyone about them when he felt depressed? Or did he hide them all to give people hope?

It wasn't like Jeff was always misleading. He did believe that Gotham could be saved and that they could restore the people's faith in the legal system. And he did think most people were good people just too terrified to do the right thing. It was just that...Fixing the situation...It was a lot harder than he made it sound. He had plenty of doubts. But he plugged forward.

"Cities need good masks to instill confidence and stability. I often wonder how much of a mask Harvey wore to give us hope and dreams. I know he believed in what he did. He died for his work, after all. Still, I can't help but wonder how lost he thought Gotham was." Harvey had Rachel Dawes. Hopefully he could talk to her about his misgivings. Jeff couldn't talk to Jen about it. He didn't want to give her anymore reason to be negative about Gotham's future. No, when he was feeling particularly lost and distressed he ran. He ran and ran and ran until he was too tired to move.

[Bruce Wayne]

"I don't think that Harvey wore a mask," Bruce told him, "I knew him. He seemed to be genuine, to be real. If he wore a mask, it was a mask that he'd put on a long time ago and never taken off. At least that's how he always seemed to me," Bruce told him.

[Jeffery Thompson]

Jeff brightened. "You knew him?!" he asked, excitedly. "You knew THE Harvey Dent? What was he like?" Harvey was somewhat of a role model to Jeff. He had stuck to his beliefs and done his best to clean up Gotham's streets. Jeff would often look to him and his cases for courage and inspiration when he was troubled.

Not wear a mask, though? Everyone wore some sort. Jeff's words were typically true and genuine, it was the parts he left out that made it a mask. It wasn't really a lie through omission, just a colorful shading over of the doubts. And Harvey seemed so cheerful. No one was cheerful 100% of the time.

[Bruce Wayne]

"I'll tell you about him another time. Now's not the day to rehash that," he told Jeff.

[Jeffery Thompson]

Jeff grinned. "I'll have to work extra hard to stay alive until I can hear that story."

Bruce was probably right. This was a ball, a festive occasion. Harvey's story hadn't ended well just as Jeff suspected his own story wouldn't. Some point down the line he'd push someone too far and if he was lucky he'd be killed immediately. Less lucky and he'd be abducted and tortured a good bit before he was killed. That was likely the way it would go. Couldn't be helped if you were trying to save a corrupt city like Gotham. Couldn't be helped if you were really doing your job right.

[Bruce Wayne]

"I'm sure you'll be fine," Bruce told him. He meant it; he knew it was foolish to just assume, but with himself and others out there like him, then his chances were increasing.

[Jeffery Thompson]

"Well I'll certainly give surviving my A game," he said cheerfully. He couldn't say he was sure he'd be fine. He didn't talk about it to anyone not even Jen but he wasn't confident in that department. He was in the same line of work as Harvey and everyone knew how that ended.

Being a prosecutor in a city like this...Jeff was well aware of the depths of Gotham's corruption. He was already antagonizing many people with his cases. He was a public face who put previous untouchables behind bars. He'd lost count of the number of attempted kidnappings by now. Thank goodness he was a fast runner who tried to keep his wits about him. And he typically had good intel. But fine? He was threatened daily, reminded of his limits. He hoped to survive long enough to do some real good in this town. Harvey did some real good but his time was so limited. Jeff hoped he could have a bit more, make a real difference.

[Bruce Wayne]

"I certainly hope you will," Bruce said, clasping him on the shoulder before going back to the party at hand to see to other guests.

[Jeffery Thompson]

Jeff wondered off to find Jen. He didn't expect her to wait with him but after she left he'd need to find some way to kill time until closing. He had a long night ahead of him.

[Alfred Pennyworth]

Alfred popped by Bruce when he returned, still carrying his tray of champagne. "Trouble?" he asked concerned.

[Bruce Wayne]

"Not entirely," he said, "A little, but it'll work out."

[Alfred Pennyworth]

"Let me know if you need anything Master Wayne." He gestured to the ball. "Everything seems to be running smoothly. We've raised quite a bit of money. I have time to slip away if my attention is required elsewhere."