randomplaces | Futureknight verse: Wayne Manor: Different Bat-Time, Different Bat-Channel

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Futureknight verse: Wayne Manor: Different Bat-Time, Different Bat-Channel

Daylight filtered through the window, rousing Helena from her sleep. With a grumble, she pulled the covers up higher and attempted to bury her head in her pillow. She wouldn't exactly say she'd had a good night's rest--too many memories associated with the Manor--but she had slept about as well as anyone who sometimes kept odd hours could.

When it became clear that she was not going to be able to get back to sleep, she reluctantly came out from under the covers and gasped.

This was not the same room she'd gone to sleep in.

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Brenda stopped short and quirked an eyebrow, then finished reading the paragraph she'd been on and bookmarked her place on the ebook before looking up to note which hallway she was in.

-Guest wing. We don't have any guests. Mornbein? No, she doesn't gasp... or leave the door ajar when she's up to something.-

Any number of other bat-people would have gotten up and walked out like they owned the place (which, given where she was and who she was, she might actually be considered as being), but hers was a bit more careful approach.

Wish my gear didn't get left down in the Bat-Cave...

She settled for arming herself with the table lamp, and poked a careful head out into the hallway.

Slender black brows arched as Brenda wrinkled her forehead. "Helena?"

-Same one I met? Can't really tell yet....-

Another one...? Wait, I know her...

"Brenda?"

"Yeah... what are you doing here?" She shut down her reading glasses and took them off.

-Hmm, I think we're going to have to track Mornbein down after all. People don't just randomly wind up popping from their reality to this one without help.-

"That's... a good question. I'd already ended up in the wrong Gotham once--caught on the wrong end of some nasty shadow-power--and when I woke up, here I am."

She thought for a moment. "Hope Alfred and Bree don't worry too much..."

"Alfred and Bree?" She couldn't control her start at the names.

"People in that other Gotham. Alfred was, well, Alfred. Bree was apparently a six-year old female version of Dad, currently living with an adult female version of Dad..."

Who'd just eloped with Jim Gordon.

She shook her head. "That only made half as much sense as it should, didn't it?"

"Bree was also my nickname... and I'm a nineteen year old female version of your dad who's living in a reality where the original B. Wayne could have been your dad give or take a few years and realities, so... I'd say it made perfect sense." She arched one eyebrow.

-Alfred... how I miss you, old friend....-

Helena chuckled at that. "Okay, you have a point. All of which means I'm even father from home than I was when I started."

"Time-wise," she conceded, then turned her head as someone politely cleared their voice. "Hi, Prudence. This is the woman I told you about the other day, Helena." She turned back. "Helena, this is Prudence Pennyworth, Wayne family butler since the native Alfred retired."

-Over two hundred years ago.-

The red-haired woman inclined her head courteously, keen green eyes studying the visitor. "Miss Helena. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"And the same to you, Prudence," Helena replied. "Pennyworth? My Alfred's last name was Beagle."

The butler nodded. "I had heard of the difference in some realities. But this is not the place to speak of such things. You'll be wanting something else to wear? And breakfast?"

Brenda's chilly eyes actually danced as she looked at Helena.

"Yes, please, if it's no trouble..."

Helena smiled slightly, as she thought of her own Alfred. As much a member of the family as Dick or her parents, though he'd have always insisted that he was simply a loyal retainer. He'd left their service Selena had passed away, but she still kept in close contact with him. He'd even returned to his first love, the theater.

It had taken a little work, but finally a few moments later Helena would find herself seated in the familiar breakfast nook (though decorated differently), clad in a pair of khaki shorts and a polo shirt and facing a plate that contained a fragrant omelet. Brenda sat across from her, idly squeezing what looked like a huge powder blue caterpillar, which squeaked softly with each squeeze.

"May I bring you anything else?" asked Prudence.

"Just some orange juice, please," Helena replied.

"Very well." She brought a tall glassful, then looked around the immaculate kitchen thoughtfully.

"Take a load off," said Brenda without turning away from the window.

"I think not," said Prudence crisply, though the tone was tempered with affection.

"Hey, you heard the lady," Helena said, smiling.

It was strange, really. She had few problems with Uncle Bruce, had even spent one Christmas with him, and he was far more like her father than these counterparts she'd met. Yet... Yes, if she was forced to admit it, the idea of gender-reversed counterparts baffled her more than anything.

She took a bite of her food. "Mmmmm. This is good!"

"Thank you, Miss Helena." Prudence nodded her head in reinforcement to the verbal thanks, then glanced at Brenda before saying. "I will be in the conservatory if I should be needed."

Brenda watched her go, then rolled her eyes slightly and squeezed the big blue caterpillar. "She's not as straightlaced as she'd have you think. She does sit down sometimes."

Helena smiled. "It's got to be a genetic thing. Alfred could be the same way... And then he'd say something funny as hell."

"She's not actually genetically related to him... but she's just like him in all the ways that count." Brenda sighed and set the stress worm on the table, where it cooed and vibrated softly like a guinea pig. "I miss the old guy."

She looked down at the thing and blinked it surprise, trying to decide if it was actually alive or not, ultimately deciding that it was not.

"I don't see mine as often as I'd like... but I really couldn't take living in the manor after dad died."

"Yeah." She looked around, then crumbled her cookie and offered some crumbs to the worm. "If my family had spent much time at the Manor I'd feel like a ghost living here."

Oh maybe it was...? She was way too far into the future to be able to figure some of these things out.

"But he's happy heading up a Gotham-based Shakespeare company, I've got a nice apartment downtown, and Dick spends most of his time abroad with work for diplomatic corps."

"Shakespeare." She chuckled, then looked back at Helena quickly. "You've made a friend."

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Futureknight verse: Wayne Manor: Different Bat-Time, Different Bat-Channel

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