Philly, back again.

[fleet-feet.livejournal.com]

Wally West is unnerved.

He looks out over the City of Brotherly Love from the balcony of his... girlfriend, yeah, new girlfriend's place. Unbelievable view, watching the sun finish its setting.

Ivy's out there in the world again. With the same weapon she enslaved him with for a year.

His new girlfriend knew this and didn't tell him. He had to hear it from Batman, and Batman never tells anyone anything.

Brand new relationship... already a 'withholding the truth' problem developing.

Julia Roberts in "Flatliners" thought that was the same as lying.

So tired of being paranoid... not knowing who to trust.

It's a little cold. Hopefully, Jesse will get home soon and let him in.

He's not happy that they already need to have A Talk.

The Batcave

[-nightwing-.livejournal.com]

He doesn't particularly want to be here, but he's got a job to do. Though he's not going to leave the Cave tonight as Batman. Tonight he's Nightwing - a role in which he's far more comfortable. Personally, he doesn't want to wear it ever again, but Bruce is far from recovered. Still, he's got information to pass along on Selina, and he'd rather do it in person.

He kills the Ducati's engine and sets it easily on the kickstand as he dismounts.

After the scene in the Clocktower yesterday, it's not surprising that his disposition is decidedly stoic.

At Star City's Ritz-Carleton

[catalinareyes.livejournal.com]

The ballroom is dressed to the nines, as are those within it, for a formal gala to support literacy initiatives in the city. In addition to city luminaries such as the mayor and police commissioner, the governor and a handful of celebrities are in attendance. A placard near the front indicates that the gala is being presented by the Star City Youth Project.

Representing the university for the charity, Catalina Reyes - in red sequins with lustrous hair piled high - is maneuvering from person to person, shaking hands and greeting people, coaxing donations when possible. She is comfortable, elegant, and charming, as would be any successful fundraiser.

*New York City, the Marvel Universe.*

[doctorfatejsa.livejournal.com]

Fate leaves the Baxter Building and rises into the air. He doesn't know what it is, exactly, but something about this world has been making him edgy -- maybe it's just the proximity to Doom. The man radiates malevolence.

Or maybe it's the world itself -- tensions between humans and so-called "mutants" skyrocket, and a latent distrust of all superhumans percolates beneath the surface of the society. He lands on top of the Baxter Building and looks out at the skyline, pushing his mind to understand this world -- he sees the island nation of Genosha, destroyed by robots called sentinels. Of course, in his own world, cities like Coast City and Montevideo have been eradicated, also. He finds a love of heroes such as the Fantastic Four below him, but that lvoe doesn't translate to all this world's protectors. It frustrates him. The balance between order and chaos is different here. He is the alien, and he's not accustomed to it.

He pushes his mind further, looking for a trace of the missing T'Challa. He finds none, but can see other points where the transit between worlds has been interrupted. He's not sure, but they may all be arriving on the same world. Is someone not letting them back?

It's a puzzle, one of too many, lately. He dislikes this business, and wants it finished he wishes to return...

"Home?" says a woman's voice, behind him. It sounds familiar, but he cannot place it. He spins to see who is speaking to him.

Literacy Fundraiser Raises More Than One Million in CA

[lexcorp-media.livejournal.com]

STAR CITY: The famous Ritz-Carleton ballroom in Star City was the site of a gala benefitting literacy and the Star City Youth Project, raising approximately $1.4 million dollars for education. Over 80 people attended the fundraiser, including the governor and the mayor of Star City. (Story continues on page 2C; pictures on page 3C)

(The full-color spread that accompany the story shows couples, both the rich and the famous, having a good time and schmoozing in the name of charity. One photo, however, stands out: Oliver Queen, in a white tuxedo jacket, raising his glass to a dark-haired Hispanic woman in a red beaded gown. The two are touching champagne glasses in a toast and smiling at each other. The caption is: Millionaire Oliver Queen and Dr. Catalina Reyes celebrate the evening together in style.)