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Wish Fulfillment Meme
(AKA a slightly different AU meme)

ROLL IT OR DON'T WHATEVER
THIS IS NOW AN ALTERNATE REALITY
(Disclaimer: Characters don't actually have to be aware anything's different and it probably works better if they're not anyway, this is wish fulfillment right here)

SUPERHERO WORLD: Put on your capes and keep your undies on the outside kids, it's time to save the world. Only those with the coolest names and the least crappy powers can survive in a world that doesn't understand. And something about responsibility I guess.
PIRATE WORLD: Because a whole meme dedicated to pirates isn't enough, it's never enough, never. Swash those buckles and put Errol Flynn to shame.
COWBOY WORLD: More lawless outlaws and people who don't need no stinkin' badges. Just make sure you're not the kind who wears flamboyant pink or you might mess up the timeline.
ROCK STAR WORLD: Sex, drugs, and stupid-looking outfits. From Gaga to Mercury to Richards to Jones, these proud innovators of the musical world (and other guys who played music I guess) pioneer new ways to look ridiculous and still get laid all the time. CATCH A PIECE OF THAT MAGIC AND BECOME A JUKE BOX HERO.
ROBOT WORLD: I don't even know anymore I'm just throwing this in here for the hell of it. You're robots. I guess do whatever robots do when they're not fantasizing about calculators.
DETECTIVE WORLD: Hard-boiled flatfoots chase crooked criminals in the black-and-white streets of a vaguely early 1900's America because that's the only place that ever had hard-boiled detectives, shut up, it's historical fact.
POTPOURRI WORLD: ROBOT COWBOY ROCK STARS. WHO ARE ALSO DINOSAURS.

I rescind the apology I was going to give for this meme because robot cowboy rock star dinosaurs.

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[For emphasis, Robin gives the guy a "you'd better answer this or I'll throw another Batarang" face.]

Uh, there was this one girl. Blonde, looks rich. 'scept she's not lookin' so rich anymore.

[They shared a glance. Jackpot.]

Tell us more about the girl.

Ain't much else to tell! She went the same way they all went. Got more desperate. Skinnier. Used to be a looker, 'till she finally let it get to her. Same ol' same ol'.

Where does she hang out?

Man, I don't know. I'm guessin' 46th street. Probably waiting for me.

[Shares a look with Zee. Ready to hunt down a wayward daughter?]

[Nod]

That'll do, pig. That'll do.

[She lets her thug go, brushing off her hands as she proceeds to ignore his groans of pain as he hits the ground. Turns to her partner.]

Shall we?

We shall.

[He tosses a Batarang and cuts the other guy down.]

[They walk off together.]

I've never been to that part of town before.

Yeah, it's not exactly a tourist hotspot. Just stick close; we don't want to get separated.

[She salutes]

Aye, aye, captain. I'm following your lead.

[And he leads the way to 46th street. The area just gets shadier and shadier until anyone who wasn't a badass superhero might get a little anxious.

At first, nobody's there. But then, they can just barely make out a thin figure in a hoodie nearby.]

Ready?

[Badass superheroine or not, even Zatanna was starting to feel a little anxious]

You sure that's her?

Not really. I can't get a good look at her from over here. But...she does kinda stick out. She seems nervous.

Gentle approach?

Yeah, but stay on your guard just in case.

Gotcha.

[She falls silent as they approach, lingering back and waiting for Robin to give her the signal. He was always better at the gentle approach than she was, especially when it came to females.]

[He nods and crosses the street. At first, the hooded figure seems startled, defensive. But Dick keeps smiling and his skills start to work. The girl starts opening up, gesturing a little. As she talks, she seems to get more distressed until you can hear sobbing even across the street.

It takes a few minutes, but she calms down enough to be able to talk.

Dick gestures Zatanna over.]

[She approaches the two of them cautiously, not wanting to scare the poor girl any further. Her words are awkward, but gentle.]

Hey. We just want to help, alright?

Y-you can't tell my dad! Please! He can't--

We won't tell anybody. I swear. Just gonna ask you a few questions, that's all. And if you don't want to answer them, just tell us.

[The girl hiccuped a few times, wiping at her eyes, before nodding]

[Gently:] Does your dad have any kind of association with the West Side gang?

[The girl seems startled, almost scared.] T-they...they financed his re-election campaign. He didn't know, not at first. But then he found out and they threatened to blackmail him. M-make him look dirty. [She hiccups again.]

['But he IS dirty' was what Zatanna wanted to say. She had to bite her tongue; comments like that probably wouldn't help things.]

How long ago did the blackmailing start?

[He shares a look with Zatanna. Daddy dearest seems to be hiding his shady dealings from his daughter.]

About six months ago. [She sniffles] I don't know what they want, or what they have as p-proof that he's "dirty." Daddy wouldn't do this! I swear!

[Gently:] We know. We're just trying to help. His safety deposit box was broken into. Any idea why?

No. He never even let me see what was in it. I had my own box for my jewelry and trust fund papers.

Which box was that?

I'd...rather not say, if you don't mind.

[She was retreating again. Zatanna eased off.]

I don't. It's probably not important anyway.

Is there anything else you can think of? A name. A face. Anything that might explain the sudden break-in?

[She thinks.] There...there was a man, last week. He called the house, said his name was Leo and that he wanted to talk to my dad. But Daddy wasn't home so I told him I'd take a message and he said "he knows why I'm calling.

I'm sorry, that's all I know.

[So now they had a name. For starting off with nothing, it was a pretty good lead.]

Thanks. You've helped us more than you realize.

[She motions with her head for Robin to follow her back the way they came.]

[Dick smiles] Thanks. And don't worry, it'll be okay.

[He walks along with Zatanna] Well, productive morning so far.

Stop me if this sounds familiar to you:

Dirty mayor, being blackmailed by a gang that allegedly contributed a hefty sum to his reelection campaign, has his safety deposit box broken into just days after some creepy guy named Leo calls and leaves an ominous message. A box which he wouldn't even let his own daughter have access to.

So, we need two things: we need to find Leo and find out what was in that safety deposit box. Those are the missing pieces.