Hello, my viewers! As you have seen, this is a mishmash of comics and our own way of figuring out the world of Gotham, with hints here and there to the modern world of our real world. This will be full of friendship, family, horror, action, humor, romance, fear, and more. I and Ackbar do hope you all enjoy our latest story, and so, please review if you could. Thank you! -Traveler.
It was a chilly Christmas season in Gotham City during the year of 1985. Mostly all of its residents were indoors, enjoying a break from the cold with furnaces, space heaters or fireplaces while the less fortunate of Gotham's homeless bundled in whatever cloth they could salvage and huddled around burning cans or anything that could be used as a fire to keep warm.
A sad sight that was obviously ignored by the upper crust of the city's society as almost a yearly trend there was some big gathering where Gotham's elite were at play; fraternizing and indulging in excess before they would go to wherever they normally would go or plan to be during Christmas day.
The party inside the Elliotts' mansion, one of Gotham's founding families, was something of the stuff of envy to any of those not normally immersed in the daily lifestyle, as many of the temporary help that had been hired would privately confess to. Wealthy family heads, local and even a few state political leaders, some well publicized celebrities were in attendance and all enjoying the evening.
"Come on... all on black!", Gotham's mayoral nominee who just won in almost a landslide just a month prior was at the roulette table that was brought to the party.
"So, I told Margaret that if her family was going to the Caymans in a few days for Christmas, you know I just had to get a one up on her and tell her that we were going to Tahiti!", one wealthy heiress was bragging to another.
"Bet your husband was a bit miffed at the idea... and the bill.", the other woman said with a delicate snort. "Please, what's a few million to him? Have you seen the stock market lately?", the first woman laughed.
The other woman replied, "Yes, I have, and I'm fortunate to have my further education at Harvard University, dear Felicia.", as the heiresses are part of the Elliot and Kane families.
Felicia replied, "You know, I would never understand why you would spare some of your family's money on the unfortunate. The stock market is a disaster on and off those days, it's better for you to spend your money on the university's programs, Martha.".
"By your logic, the stock market should be a disaster every day when the unfortunate struggle.", Martha Kane countered as Felicia Elliott took a swig of her champagne glass.
"I swear, the stuff you say sometimes makes me think your nanny was a closeted socialist or something. I know you certainly didn't get that from your parents.", Martha rolled her eyes at that snide comment. The woman always talked down to her in the past few years. One couldn't truly blame her with how she was brought up and was a good twenty years older than Martha.
"What can I say? Maybe I just like to feel a little bit better by being a bit more charitable.", Martha shrugged. "Please, I'm charitable, Martha!", Felicia argued.
That was a bit of a bold lie. Sure, she donated to some charities, but practically it was almost the bare minimum and usually had to be strong-armed by others for good PR just for it. Felicia was notoriously known for being skin-flint especially to those that would normally work for her. "Excuse me, I'd like another glass please!" She called out for one of the servers constantly weaving in and out of folks as she shook her glass.
Martha sighed to herself as she slightly shook her head, sipping her champagne glass. She is proud to be a Kane, yes, but sometimes, being Martha Rosalyn Kane is a hassle for her, especially when she has her youth and beauty compared to Felicia...
She is grateful for university as it's technically more refreshing since she isn't wildly famous for her family's name there, and politics were less gossiped there compared to education, but she is still noticed either way thanks to her quite attractive figure.
Her delicate yet angular features fit her bright brown eyes, almost like warm earth, while having auburn hair which is like medium reddish-brown, in lovely, lush locks, pinned back over her ears, and her skin is fair.
Some people say that she reminds them of her mother a lot, while having her father's eyes. Even without the high heels that is hinging on uncomfortable lately of the hour, she's fairly average compared to other women, about 5' 4".
Martha took another deep breath before she took a sip of her own drink, she was honestly on the verge of leaving the party all together at that moment. She walked over to the bar that was set up before placing the glass down, "Bartender, get me something a bit stronger, please."
"Not enjoying the evening?", he asked her as she nodded, "You could say that. I think I'm just going to have this last drink for the road before I call for my ride.".
The bartender nodded, "Yes, ma'am. What're you having?", and Martha replied, "Surprise me, but not too strong, eh? It's Christmas, after all, and Christmas is full of good surprises...", with a small smile, hoping that she isn't wrong.
This party may be draining on her, but perhaps a little trip to one of the local soup kitchens will do her good if she handles her driver's feelings correctly, maybe a little Christmas raise for him and his family if he kept it fairly quiet for a while, just until her parents find out. They always find out eventually sooner or later about her charitable activities.
"I'll have what she's having.", a voice said before she saw in her peripherals a man leaning forward onto the bar next to her. A sharp looking, young, 6'2 man with black hair and dark eyes and sporting a mustache. It took a moment before Martha recognized it was the young Wayne family heir, Thomas.
Despite their respective families, she actually had never really met him before, one on one at least. Sure, they spotted each other once or twice before at some gatherings but aside from maybe a single handshake or a brief nod as they politely passed by one another; this was pretty much the closest she was to him in her life.
"Not having fun yourself, Mr. Wayne?", Martha spoke while still keeping her head straight ahead and not looking at him. "Dr., Miss Kane.", Thomas corrected as she gave a small huff.
"Sorry, Dr. Wayne. Forgot that you were going to John Hopkins for your medical degree according to the social grapevine.", Martha said.
"Yeah.", he said as the bartender returned with their drinks. "And how's Harvard been treating you? One fellow alum to another asking.".
"Fine. Good marks, obviously not top though, I know when to admit that others are running circles around me there.", Martha replied with a slight roll of her eyes.
Thomas chuckled wryly, "I hear you, Miss Kane...even when I am 27 years old, there are still some old stiffs who doesn't think that a young man like me would be a doctor when I should take over the chair from my old man at this time if not already." with a hum as he sipped his drink.
Martha blinked softly, not still looking at him as she sipped her drink, "That's foolish of them. And I hear that your father has been testing you, Dr. Wayne...but you didn't hear that from me...Gossip, I'm afraid to say...".
"Oh, I know word travels... especially around here.", Thomas chuckled as he took another sip. "And to answer your earlier question; no not really enjoying the party. Not many folks to talk to, especially around our age.", He admitted.
"Yes, I think a bunch of the other young ones are probably out and about to other spots for their holiday vacations already.", Martha nodded slightly.
Thomas hummed, "I agree with you, Miss Kane...I couldn't help noticing earlier, but what has occurred back there with Mrs. Elliot?".
Martha sighed deeply as she sipped another bit of her drink, and replied, "Just another one of her arguments about my tendency to spend money on helping the unfortunate, if you must know, Dr. Wayne...", slightly shifting her glance in a slightly annoyed glare, though not fully turning her head to look at him.
"Apologies for offending you if I overstepped there, but I won't argue against you...Rather, I'm on your side.", Thomas replied, and Martha startled in surprise, turning her head to look at him fully, and she blinked, slightly breathless as she realized that Thomas's eyes wasn't actually dark up close, but rather a brilliant dark blue, and if she heard him right, he's only 27 compared to herself being 21...
Martha had to admit that he's rather handsome in his own way as it has been a few years since she last saw him in passing before recollecting herself as she replied, "Are you really?", slightly arching an eyebrow, keeping her expectations yet keeping wary. After all, some people are liars, having not truly keeping to a one-time promise or such to donate money to her favorite charities or such, and of course, some people just didn't care about the world below them.
Thomas nodded. "Yes... I... um, was in a few groups back in Harvard that were somewhat more... liberal than I'm sure most folks here would approve. Not to mention with all the time I was doing medical training and such... seeing so many faces coming through; all just wanting to live... to be better... it changes you.", he admitted.
"Were you getting some training at a free clinic?", Martha asked as he nodded, "Half the time there wasn't anything so serious but still, so many needed to be helped and couldn't afford much... if nothing at all.".
Martha exhaled deeply, sipping her drink a bit again, and then looked at him, "And you aren't offended by a woman who just wants to make a difference any way she does for the unfortunate, even if she may have seen and heard some difficult things that any man thinks she's too frail to know?", taking the chance as she somehow saw something, something she recognized all too much in soup kitchens and other places in those eyes of his, and she trusted her gut as he doesn't look to be lying...
"Is there something you want to tell me?", Thomas raised an eyebrow as Martha sighed. "Answer my question first.", she said as Thomas nodded, "Okay, my answer: not at all. If anything, I'm more impressed.".
Martha softly blushed at the compliment as her heart skipped a beat, delighted and smug on the inside that she got a minor win at gaining his respect and finding a hopefully aligned ally in him.
After glancing around to make sure that no one from the party is close by, and she knew the bartender is temporarily hired, Martha replied quietly, "Your word is well as much, but it's not enough. Would you prove that by becoming my assistant partner in helping me with the simple job of dishing up warm soup for the unfortunate in a dingy, if rustic and non-fancy soup kitchen?", with a slight raised eyebrow as she sipped again, seeing that she's almost done with her drink.
Her personal driver always made sure she was unharmed by appearing close, but not too close to reveal her true self, and occasionally, he helped out by being her assistant partner, even if Martha paid him with a Christmas raise for the past few years and so, on and off if he and his family are in trouble or not with things.
Thomas smiled when she offered that, "Any where's better than here tonight; and that might probably be the best place to be in at least making a decent difference for this time of year. Certainly isn't the case here...". He finished his drink as she chuckled.
"Careful, you can't be too tipsy when handling the soup. Don't want to spill it all over the place.", Martha teased him. "Well, alright then, you'll have to give me a few minutes to sober up a bit, Alfred's got a bit of a remedy to help.", Thomas said.
Martha asked in curiosity, "Alfred?", and Thomas smiled fondly, "My personal driver, through I'd like to think that he's one of my best friends. He isn't bad either at assisting in the kitchens with the head chef or assisting within household troubles with the butler back home.".
"You called him already?", Martha asked in slight surprise, and Thomas nodded, "Was doing it when I saw you leaving the roulette table.", admitting with a sheepish chuckle.
Martha blinked as she sipped the last of her drink, and then replied softly, "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for me to try this remedy of your Alfred if he has it in your car...My personal driver will understand as I never got to call him for a ride through I was planning to, when you came over...that is, if I am not overstepping too personally as you realize that our families would be gossiping sooner or later if not already by noticing us here?", seeing that Thomas had drawn out a hearty bit of tips for the bartender to her slight surprise, while her heart raced a bit as she wasn't usually this bold or forward, but there's something drawing Thomas to her, and in the back of her mind, she wondered if this was the good kind of a Christmas surprise.
"Oh, our folks will be the last ones gossiping... it'll get around through all the other families first, I'm sure. That a problem with you?", Thomas asked as she shook her head.
"Not a bit. Not the first time I've caught some heat doing these sorts of 'stunts'.", Martha smirked as Thomas motioned to her, "After you, mi'lady.".
Martha smiled as she left the bar, heading to the coatroom with a servant guarding it as she and Thomas left the ballroom of the Elliots' mansion, and the couple, after saying their names to the servant's list, got their coats and other warm accessories, and left the coatroom, thanking the servant.
The butler bowed, opening the front door for them, and after glancing around upon thanking the butler, a honk grabbed their attention, and Thomas replied, "That'd be Alfred.", offering his arm, and Martha blushed with a smile, taking it, and they left the outside steps, heading to the curb of the circular driveway, to one of the three limos.
Alfred was about to come out and such when he saw Thomas's subtle signal of shaking his head, and Alfred smiled, standing by, and Thomas then opened the back door, gesturing politely with a smile, "Ladies first, if you please, Miss Kane.", glad that his lessons on being a gentleman is working out for him.
"Why, thank you, Dr. Wayne.", Martha smiled warmly, taking his hand as he offered it, helping her in as she ducked into the comfortable, cushy, and warm interior of the back seat, and Thomas followed her in, with Alfred in quick time to close the door firmly yet politely before heading back to his seat while Martha and Thomas made themselves secure of the waist seatbelts, sitting considerably from each other on the same back seat, not too close to be intimate, but not too far to be standoffish.
"So, you know the address of this place?", Thomas asked as Martha chuckled, "Yes, give me a moment.". She undid her seat before going over to Alfred's seat at the other end of the limo and gave him the address. She then sat back down and buckled her belt again.
Thomas smiled as the car started off, turning into the open lane of the driveway, and replied, "Alfred's remedy is usually in one of the cabinets...Give me a moment...", reaching out to open a nearby cabinet, and then nodded with a chuckle, "Found it.", bringing out two glasses, and a homemade flask bottle.
He leaned back to sit back, handing one of the glasses to her, and with a pop of the flask bottle, he poured half into his glass, and then the last half into Martha's glass, and he replied, "Try to throw it back all at once. It's not the most appetizing drink, I have to admit, but it works good enough for a sober situation. I also got some water or some soda if you want to wash it down afterwards.".
"Any chance it might give me a headache?", Martha had to ask, and Thomas replied, "Only if you're really drunk out of your mind...Let's say I learned that lesson well enough when I was doing my last year at Gotham University before heading for John Hopkins for my medical degree...Wanted the stress out of my life from all that homework and all on Easter Break.", with an embarrassed look as he slightly blushed, waiting for her to laugh at his dismay.