A Philanthropic Appeal

[not_a_wonder]

Vanessa Kapatelis is not a woman to give up easily.

Perhaps that's what the people at the Wayne Foundation were hoping for, when they informed her in no uncertain terms that their donations budget was set and none of them had the authority to increase the amounts. Perhaps that's what the secretaries at Wayne Enterprises were hoping for, as she worked her way up the corporate ladder in an elaborate game of phone tag, looking for someone to speak to regarding the Wayne Foundation and the shortfall that social services would be dealing with this year.

When an Amazon fights, she identifies the best place to strike, and goes for that first. When slaying a monster, you don't hack at its feet -- you aim for the head.

This wasn't a monster or a physical fight, but the principles could still apply. Aim for the head -- that's why Nessie drove out of the city proper on her day off, looking as put together and professional as she could, and headed up to the most exclusive neighborhood still considered part of Gotham. Her destination -- Wayne Manor, ancestral home of the Wayne Family, currently housing (most of) the children of Bruce Wayne. It wasn't very likely that she'd get a chance to speak with the acting head of Wayne Enterprises, but she had a presentation to give, or at least the materials to drop off.



Vanessa spent what remained of her downtime, after all those calls, to put the presentation together. It was a collection of the financial data for her department and information on the ongoing opioid crisis -- she even used the color printer in her own apartment and put it together in a slim, sturdy binder with plastic sleeves for the pages. And if she could make a good impression on whoever she spoke with, it could get passed on to Timothy Drake-Wayne with a good word for the social services department.

(She hadn't forgotten her initial reason for wanting a way into Wayne Manor. But her visit had to look legitimate, and the looming trouble of ongoing fallout from the widespread malpractice of the nineties was definitely real. She had to treat it with all the seriousness it deserved, for its own sake as well as making sure that she appeared to have no ulterior motives for entering the manor.)

Nessie parked her car a short distance from the drive leading up to the manor. It was out of the way enough that she wouldn't block anyone else trying to get in, and shaded by a tree. She picked up her handbag and tucked her presentation binder under one arm, then locked up the car and walked away.

The walk up the drive was pretty long -- the rich enjoy their privacy -- but she'd walked further and in worse conditions while wearing heels before. She was determined. Finally, she made it to the main gate and pushed the button that would alert the house beyond that a visitor had arrived.

The low, grating buzz set her nerves going, and in the silence that followed, Nessie allowed herself a moment to worry about a bad outcome to this visit.

Comments

[soldier_on_undaunted]

The door swings open slowly, revealing the carefully composed expression of a butler greeting an unexpected arrival.

"Good day, miss," he says. "I'm afraid the masters are out."

[not_a_wonder]

"I thought that might be the case," she replies, "with how hard it is to get an appointment with Mr. Drake-Wayne these days. But I was hoping I might find someone willing to put in a good word with him for me and my cause, sir."

Nessie flashes him a smile, her best rendition of 'I am perfectly harmless and meant to be here'. She's not quite as good at is as Lupe, but Lupe has been doing this longer.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

Alfred raises an eyebrow ever so slightly.

"And what cause would that be, Miss...?"

[not_a_wonder]

"Kapatelis," Nessie supplies, "Vanessa Kapatelis. I'm with social services."

[soldier_on_undaunted]

There's a brief flicker of several emotions across Alfred's face, a strange mixture of suspicion, frustration, and sympathy.

"I see," he says. "Well, we are strong proponents of fostering and adoptions in this household."

[not_a_wonder]

Vanessa nods agreeably. ("You don't say," is on the tip of her tongue, but she bites the inside of her lip to keep it to herself. She's not talking to Jason or his people right now.)

"And believe me, the financial contributions through the Wayne Foundation are proof of that. Normally, that arrangement would be sufficient to close any funding gaps, but there's been a new... development to the city budget. No one I've spoken to at the Foundation seems to have the authority to assist, so I took it upon myself to... reach a little higher."

[soldier_on_undaunted]

Alfred remains unreadable enough that those in the know might wonder just where Bruce learned his own stonefaced mask as he thinks it over.

"I'm certain that Master Tim will want to help however he can," he finally says, stepping back from the door a fraction of an inch. "Please, come in. Would you care for some tea?"

[not_a_wonder]

Nessie is genuinely relieved that she is being allowed into the Manor, and lets that show on her face as her smile widens. "I do hope you're right, sir."

"And... as long as it's not any trouble, tea would be lovely."

She enters when he allows her to, and glances around the main foyer with some curiosity.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

The foyer of Wayne Manor is... well, the foyer of Wayne Manor. Still, it's seen some changes recently, with more pictures of the Graysons and Drakes and less of an emphasis on Martha and Thomas Wayne. Well kept. Rarely visited. Alfred moves towards the kitchen to start the kettle.

"How do you take your tea, Miss Kapatelis?"

[not_a_wonder]

Nessie makes note of the various photographs in the foyer, and all the people who are represented in them, as she follows after Alfred. She does her best to keep the click of her heels a little quieter against the floor.

"Usually with lemon and honey, though I'm willing to defer to more knowledgeable parties when it comes to specific tea blends."

[soldier_on_undaunted]

Once the kettle has come to a boil, Alfred pours it over the assam into the teapot, then brings it out to the parlor on a tray alongside a jar of honey and a sliced lemon.

"A personal favorite of mine, then," he says with a little bit of fondness.

[not_a_wonder]

"Thank you very much, sir," Nessie says politely as she accepts a cup and garnishes her tea with a slice of lemon and a drizzle of honey. "I appreciate your hospitality and your time."

She sets her handbag beside her in the chair, and lays the slim blue binder on the table beside the tea tray, before taking a sip of the assam tea.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"You are very welcome, Ms. Kapatelis," he says.

"Now, what is it you wish to discuss?"

[soldier_on_undaunted]

Some time later, Nessie's phone is ringing.

[not_a_wonder]

"Vanessa Kapatelis, case manager," she answers the phone, "How may I help you?"

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"Miss Kapatelis? This is Alfred Pennyworth. Would you be available to meet sometime today? Master Tim wishes to speak with you regarding your proposal."

[not_a_wonder]

"Hello, Mr. Pennyworth," Nessie says. "I do believe I will be free after four o'clock today... hold for just a moment, and I'll check to make sure no emergency meetings have come up..."

Nessie mutes the call, but keeps the receiver to her ear so she can hear any reply Alfred gives. Then she wiggles the mouse attached to her computer, bringing the screen back out of sleep mode, and scans the calendar feature of the email client. So far, so good. She uses one hand to type a direct message to her boss stating:

Meeting with Waynes today, details soon.

Felix responds a moment later with,

noted. best of luck

Nessie unmutes the line again and says, "Yes, four o'clock is the soonest I'll be available. When should I arrive?"

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"Four o'clock should be fine," he says. "Master Tim has no pressing commitments today."

[not_a_wonder]

Nessie asks a few questions, mostly if there's any other information that Tim Drake-Wayne needs to see before making his decision about whether to make a charitable contribution to social services. Once she hangs up with Alfred, she spends quite a bit of time collating the data on various outcomes to children who had therapy services versus those who didn't.

(She refrains from including anything about Jason in the data -- it's crass to do so. But the deadly consequences he faced aren't as much of an outlier as some might think. She has enough examples of a similar nature without involving him.)

Her lunch break is spent at her desk, drinking a shelf-stable smoothie from the pack she keeps in her bottom drawer for just such times. Her afternoon is spent arguing with a school administrator who keeps insisting that they don't have the resources for a disabled child to attend, and then following up with a single mother trying to get her kids back.

After that full day of work, Nessie drives to the north side and gets caught in some kind of traffic snarl on the bridge, before finally crossing into the neighborhood of Wayne Manor. She rushes up the walkway to the front gate, knowing that she's at least fifteen minutes late, clutching the manila folder with her latest report.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"Miss Kapatelis!" Alfred says as he opens the door, appearing ever-so-slightly frazzled himself. "Welcome back. Please, come inside."

[not_a_wonder]

"I apologize for my lateness, Mr. Pennyworth. The traffic was awful coming up here." She glances around the foyer -- it's the same as it was on her first visit, save the large dog seated at the foot of the stairs.

Aside from the animal, Alfred is the only one here to meet her. Nessie looks confused by that.

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"Oh, it's quite all right," Alfred says. "I'm afraid Master Tim has been, ah, delayed by the same traffic. Apparently there is something of an incident uptown. We're terribly sorry to leave you waiting."

Not that Alfred knows Nessie knows, but it's probably not too hard for her to guess what Tim is really doing at the moment.

[not_a_wonder]

She could hazard a guess, but honestly there are so many costumed criminals in Gotham City that she can't narrow the field down by much. She hopes that it's nothing to do with the Red Hoods, since they've been lying low in comparison to other elements of the criminal underground.

As it is, Nessie gives Alfred a small smile. "Well, at least the parlor has comfortable chairs, I suppose." She adjusts the strap of her handbag so that it sits more firmly on her shoulder. "What exactly is the incident, anyway? I've been driving and had no time to check the news app on my phone."

[soldier_on_undaunted]

"The news is somewhat light on the details," Alfred says. "But I believe it has something to do with a... 'Condiment King'?"

[not_a_wonder]

"Oh, gods..." Nessie sighs. "Why that man won't start up an actual union is beyond me. Restaurant workers could use one."

She glances at Alfred. "I'm surprised that Mr. Drake-Wayne was still in the city to get caught in traffic. When I spoke to his secretary before, she said he's usually off the clock before I am."