Cass' smile lit her face as she grinned innocently at the camera, knowing she could add subtitles with Babs' help after. (She knew enough to not trust the autogenerated CC subtitles!)
She had Bruce translate her signs for anyone who didn't know ASL. "Today, we are doing a really special video. Dad is letting me give him a makeover--" he paused, acting shocked and surprised in the most over-the-top method possible. ">Gasp!< What have I agreed to?" he asked, pretending to clutch his heart in shock.
The grin turned a little more wicked as she held up a moodboard. It was labeled "Y2K fashion trend" and she carefully angled it towards the camera in a way he couldn't see while just winking at him and making a quick shushing gesture. "A deal's a deal!" she signed in delight, and he settled in.
Before long, he had his eyebrows laminated, his eyelashes long and fluttery (she'd gone slightly off in the spirit of fun, adding ultra long lashes with teeny tiny decorative colorful butterflies at the outside corners), along with a sunburn-bright blush high on the apples of his cheeks, a delightfully bright shade of purple lip color with a burgundy line around it, and enough eco-friendly glitter to look like he had been to a fairy rave.
She'd spiked his hair and added temporary color that washed out in 3-5 washes, as well as a few clip in extensions in a similar color with a tinsel (made by the same source as the glitter). His bangs were held back with multiple super small butterfly shaped claw clips in a row, and she'd dug out a couple of tank top shirts from Dick's closet that were similarly eye catching for the holographic shiny metallic effect. She'd also snatched one of Duke's golden colored "interview" ties so it would pop, along with a pair of Jason's Doc Martens that he insisted he didn't have and Tim's favorite skateboard (for the look. Bruce is Old. Bruce might Break Something. Hold only please!) The final touch? She got Damian's help recreating a tattoo armband that was popular then using waterproof eyeliner. (This part DID make Bruce nervous, because Damian was a little miffed at him for being grounded from patrol after he got caught trying to do so with a high fever a week ago.)
Steph had added a neon purple skinny belt to the jeans they'd found in the attic, along with a CD by Avril L'avigne about a sk8r boi.
In short? He was a grown man dressed in every stereotype of Y2K fashion they could think of, and they ad libbed the rest.
And if anyone noticed his black nail polish with more glitter? No they didn't! (Three guesses what Babs had contributed!)
Bruce looked a little mortified, but when Cass looked so proud, how could he feel anything other than acceptance and affection? "I should wear this for the next board meeting!" He joked in delight, and Cass couldn't help preening a little at the compliment, reading him enough to know he really seemed to enjoy it even if he never would admit it.
Then she turned to the camera.
"Next week, we are hosting what a friend tells me is called a Princess Tea Party, complete with tiaras. It will be very very silly, and maybe I could get my brother in to coach Bruce on tea party ettiquette. Jason, you in?" she signed, glancing towards her door.
As Bruce realized he had an audience snapping pictures from the doorway, he turned beet red. A cat call sounded in jest as the boy teased, "Only if Bruce agrees to a quick photo shoot. I wanna raffle off the pics to raise money for the bookmobile Gotham Library has going, since they said they can't technically accept any more of his money this year!"
Bruce blinked, slightly distracted by the lashes little butterflies. "But... I was planning another $10k donation next month for your birthday?" he queried in confusion.
"Nah, that's a cop out. Remember when you 'accidentally' spilled your tea on my copy of 'Persuasion' a week ago? You paid it back by donating $20k that you owed me in allowance from that time I was missing." Jason's face was smug, knowing B would never call him out on camera.
"Ah... I had... forgotten. Apologies." Brucie's smile had a strained quality that left his kids snickering before he shrugged in resignation and turned to Cass.
"Thank you, Cass. You did a lovely job, and it sounds like it's time for a photo shoot. I bet if you asked Tim really nice, you could give him a makeover too!"
From somewhere down the hall, a voice could be heard protesting. Brucie's grin matched Cass in mischievous glee as he added, "And Jason too. You really don't want him left out, right? I'd suggest the others, but they're busy right now."
When they posted it, the font was in open dyslexic and the end showed behind the scenes of Tim sitting in a chair for a makeover, eyes glued to the phone in his hand. Jason pouting while she spiked his hair, drinking a boba tea and chatting with Duke (who had practically fled the scene after seeing what was up). Dick looking ready to burst with excitement as he applied his own eyeliner (he'd found a lovely silver one that really popped with his blue eyes.) And Damian, taking a nap at his desk while Alfred the Cat lounged contentedly across his shoulders.
The final picture? All the makeover recipients, including Cass, hamming it up class photo style for a picture.
And if a copy of that picture was redrawn by Damian and framed in Bruce's office? That was no one's business but theirs!
