milliways_bar | (no subject)

The blonde chick on her way to the bar cuts her eyes at the dude at the table. He's kinda geeky and kinda old, but not bad looking.

*Not that old. Early twenties really. And very geeky, true nough. Despite the current lack of magic, he feels the eyes upon him and turns slowly. He nods to her, invitingly.*

Early 20s? Dude, when you're 15, that is sooooooo old! But that's okay, she likes older guys. She plops herself down at his table, pops her gum and loftily says, "Okay, you can buy me a drink."

*Tim arches a brow, humor in his face. Said humor is also evident in his voice, along with british accent.*

First drink is on the house. What'll you have?

"A rum-n-coke sooper-sipper slushy. With real lime juice." Just in case he gets the idea that she's some kind of floozy.

*He peers at her.*

Aren't you a little young for alcohol?

She rolls her eyes. "There are drinking laws here? That sucks! I thought this place was gonna be fun!"

Oh it is fun. But there are laws for a reason. And a large one is that we don't want any younglings getting in trouble due to drinking. Or being taken advantage of.

*He's still smiling though.*

Plus, Bar herself doesn't serve minors alcohol. She picked it up from her Bartender.

She puts her elbows on the table, and her chin in her hands, and sulks. It is a Nuclear Powered Sulk. "We don't have lots of stupid laws where I come from. Well, some places do, so I don't go there."

California has no stupid laws?

*He grins at her.*

And it's okay, this place has very few actual laws. No under age drinking, No violence, no business and no sex or nudity in the bar proper, mainly because this is a family establishment.

She rolls her eyes again and sighs deeply. Those eyes sure do get a lot of exercise.

"Noooo, it doesn't. Duh. Only in the bits that the Feds have, and I only go there when I'm working or visiting my Mom. Everyplace else makes its own laws but they only work when you're there, they can't grab you for breaking a Hong Kong law in Narcolumbia, because that would be stupid."

Boy this guy is dumb.

*Tim blinks several times.*

Sounds like you're from a different world then me. Whats Narcolumbia?

((OOC:No problem))

"Narcolumbia? What are you from ,the dork ages? It's a franchulate, duh! It's, like, what used to be a country? But now it's a franchise. They don't have lame drinking laws, that's for sure!"

She pauses and considers. "You know, you should franchise this place. It would sure make it a lot easier to find. But you need a bigger sign. A waaaaaaay bigger sign!" She gestures hugely.

"And hey, where's my drink?"

*Tim walks over to the bar and brings back a coke slushie. No rum.*

What year did you say you were from hun?

She eyes the slushie morosely and takes a long, loud slurp through the straw.

"You haven't been listening. It depends on where you are. At Jihad Joe's it's 15-something and at Sabra-sonics it's 50-something. The Feds count from when whatzizname was elected but I don't pay attention to them. Most of the church places say it's 21-something. So does Uncle Enzo, and I guess he's usually right."

Ah, I'm only from 2011 myself. Your far beyond me.

*He shrugs.*

So, what brings you here?

"well, look who's on the outside!" It's a smiling Barry.

That would be me.

*He turns with a grin.*

Hiya Barry.

"Glad to see you're out. And thanks for handling Q. Naraht seems quite relieved to be Naraht again." He pulls up a seat.

"So what happens now to you?"

*Tim sips his tea.*

Well, now I'm on probation. I'm to keep my nose clean, stay out of bar business, and Bernard has control of my magic, only to be used if I'm needed as the heavy weaponry.

"Well, I guess that's a start," Barry says, but he then goes quiet.

He thinks.

"Tim, I understand the situation. And I'd be okay with this solution if it weren't for one thing...

"Security is a mess. Our chief is never around. Your replacement - who, please note, I really like and respect - seems in over her head. We have a staff of brawlers. And the only person that all of us seem to listen to is you.

"You were at the meeting. You saw what it was like.

"I know you're not getting your job back. But we need your help, at least to figure out what to do to not need your help."

*He sips his tea again with a bit of a smile.*

Well, of course, if any member of security comes to me for help I'd be more then happy to assist in my unoffcial manner. Despite my lack of magic, I still have quite a few magical items, many of which I created while in lock up.

*A bit of a shrug.*

I've been security longer then anyone, I was the first hire. I don't expect to just vanish from the scene, and I'm more then happy to help out.

*Then a sigh.*

I shouldn't have been so blindly loyal to Bigby. I just have this thing about authority, if I'm in a position of it, I find myself almost forced to support it. So, as long as I was deputy chief, and he didn't do anything horrible, I wouldn't speak out about him. But he really needs to be let go. And, not meaning to sound egotisitical, the only other person in this bar capable of riding herd on you cats is myself.

Barry is a bit surprised to hear the words about Bigby said out loud. But he knows he's been thinking it. He suspects Sara has as well.

"Hey, some of us cats really do try to be, er, herdable. But I get what you mean.

"I think part of the problem is that most of the staff don't care for authority. Raph, the Slayers, they're free agents. They can work with a team, but none of them like not being the boss. And I would guess some have had bad experiences with cops or the local version of cops.

"Sara and I, and Clarice, we ARE cops so we see things differently. But I know none of us really want to be in charge of much. Which leads me to wonder about this Nick Knight fellow. He said he used to be a cop in Chicago. Maybe he should be given a larger role, along with Alanna?"

*Tim shakes his head.*

I'd advise against it, for the reasons you just suggested. A lot of our people are free spirits, they don't like working with cops. And, despite the fact that we are the law, we're not cops either. There is no real need most of the time for us to have to do all sorts of research, or to hear stupid defenses about not guilty by reason of insanity. And all of us, even you and sara and clarice, are much more used to working alone. Yes, we need to stay on top of things, but organise only to a point. Try and force to much orginization on people like Raph, and we start losing some of the people we need the most.

Barry nods. "I see your point. Though in Sara's case, she is quite used to being part of a larger team. There must be 40 people in the CSI labs in Vegas. Even so, though, I can say with no doubt that she tried to call the shots when she could.

"It's just...well, we aren't cops, no, but we have to work well as a group. And I just don't see that yet.

"I'm wondering if the model I have in mind is the League. We managed - sometimes - to get a good number of heroes used to working on their own under the same roof and on the same page. And even though Supes was often the voice of the team, we didn't have a real leader.

"I just don't how to replicate that experience. Never mind that it didn't always work."

My idea security would have me as chief, with two deputy chiefs, probably Alanna and Faith, and then you in charge of the detectives. I would split security, make sure everyone had a specific person to report to in case of any troubles.

*Tim strokes his chin.*

I'd keep the notes, cause they work, but suggest everyone check in with thier direct superior at least twice a week, and the mid superiors would pass everything up to the boss man. And of course, the boss would be responsible for keeping Bernard informed.

"That does sound like a fairly intelligent method. We could even think about a day shift and a night shift, or odd days and even days, once we have a full staff again.

"It would also further formalize the detective team as a distinct staff. I think there's still a little confusion.

"But, even aside from the unlikelihood you'll be in charge, I don't quite see Faith as wanting that kind of job. Although I don't have any other ideas."

Barry almost sighs.

"It was a lot easier when I was just another face in the CCPD."

The orginization is the tough part.

*Tim shrugs.*

We just need a lot more communication. I know when I was security I went out of my way to try and talk to everyone a minimum of once a week. Bernard and bigby twice if I could.

"Agreed. And I think that Alanna is trying to do that, but she seems busy. And not just with the Bar.

"Which might be the biggest problem we have. Most of the staff are not Bound. Sooner or later, Alanna will leave for Trebold, Raph will have to go back to his world, Mel and Faith will go back to their missions. We need maybe a couple of more staffers who are Bound, one way or the other." Barry gets an idea.

"Tim, have you met Stephanie Brown yet?"

Despite my other world obligations, I'm almost a bound.

*He pauses, thinking.*

Daughter of Arthur Brown?

Barry smiles a little at that description, recalling that he didn't remember that name till Steph explains it. "That was her.

"But more importantly, she was a Robin. The fourth, I think. She died in the line of duty, and came here. She wants to help, and seems to have a good deal of training.

"She's a bit unpolished, I think, to be staff just yet, but I think as she is Bound and wants to finish what she started in life, she might make a good trainee.

"Any thoughts?"

*Tim nods slowly.*

A trainee program would be useful. Instead of backups.

*He frowns.*

Fourth Robin.... wasn't she the one that started that huge gang war in Gotham?

Barry nods sadly.

"That would seem to be the case. And it's part of why she wants to help. She wants to make amends.

"Though, between you and me, she was not completely to blame for that, I'm sure. There's too much of Bats' arrogance in how she was treated to make me think that at some level, that wasn't his mess as well."

*Tim frowns a moment.*

Well, yes, there was that whole mess with brother Eye....

*A shake of the head.*

It's a good idea.

Barry doesn't know about Brother Eye exactly - future history won't be thta specific - but he can guess that it involves Batman and was really egotistical.

"That's what I tihnk, at any rate. And as Stephanie and Mel have bonded a bit, I'm hoping that Mel will perhaps be willing to give her training.

"Balanced out by me getting her ready to be part of a team where she will be able to do things her way but also feel like she's a teammate and not an apprentice."

And about now Barry notices the time.

"I think I should head along. But it's good talking to you. Glad you're back, and still helping."

*Tim nods.*

See you Barry.