Pitch a Direction: Nightwing

[Pohzee]

I for one am not super hot on the idea of Dick owning a casino. I wouldn't take him to be the type of guys who would profit off of people's gambling addictions.

[dropkickjake]

I think Haley (is it really Haly?) would be perfect as the casino's head manager. He's obviously experienced enough to make it work and it'd be a great tie to Dick's youth. But I'd definitely make him a regular part of the supporting cast. If he's the guy running the casino for Dick he's gonna be around. Easy enough to prevent him from falling into the "Alfred" role too; just don't let him be involved in Dick's "other" life. Maybe he knows Dick gets up to.....something.....but doesn't know what, and doesn't want to. Closer to Lucius Fox in the Nolan films than Alfred. Or maybe he's just totally clueless about what Dick does when he's not at work. Either way, Dick could benefit from a supporting player like that and it wouldn't have to fall into "Alfred" territory any further than Haley also being an older guy who works for Dick.

As per my web search, it is indeed "Haly" but still pronounced with a long "a" sound. And I do agree that Haly wouldnt necessarily be Alfred round two. Borrowing from YJ (as is always wise and prudent), I like the idea that he has always known about Robin/Nightwing, but that he never brings it up. Like an open secret of sorts, where Haly will give him grandfatherly advice about something going on in Dick's personal life that just happens to be on the nose for Dick's costumed life.

I can see Dick pretending to just be an average worker because it allows him to be "among the people". It would allow him to keep track of his investment, but also allow him to ply someone he's trying to get information on as well.

Finally, I think it is playing with fire that Bruce is such a high profile alter-ego and that it would be safer for Dick to be just an average person to the general public.

So, granted I'm not a casino nut or anything, nor do I live in Vegas, but how many casino owners would you recognize walking a crowded street? I like the idea of Dick walking the floor as an employee (our boy does love going undercover afterall), but I don't think that owning the casino is particularly public.

I think Dick's not very comfortable with showings of wealth. He's a very humble guy, in his way. Confident of his ability and a showman, but not showoff-y in a "look at my money!" kinda way. Like, Dick rarely dresses like you'd expect a super rich Wayne kid to dress, right? It's all cheap t-shirts and hoodies unless he's forced to wear something nice for a gala or something. And growing up in a circus he was likely squeezed into a small trailer with his entire family and big, expansive houses like the manor might just feel unnaturally or needlessly big to him. And maybe its even a reminder of the loss that brought him to such lofty living conditions in the first place. In any case, he seems to prefer "cozy" to "spacious."

I dont think it's "intrinsic" to Nightwing. I think Dick lives where he has to live, and there's definitely a "wanderlust" to him that keeps him moving so he's always staying in different places anyway. But I think that, if he had his choice, Dick would rather be in a small-medium sized apartment than anything.

Regarding the casino, I'd say that Dick should be the owner, while Haley runs the operation. That covers any monetary needs Dick has (and being Nightwing ain't cheap!) without needing to dip into Bruce's money (Dick being self-reliant and self-sufficient is very important, I think). How ownership would end up in Dick's hands with Haley alive is.....details. I think Dick would have a suite apartment at the top floor (the smallest rooms, with the rest of the floor perhaps dedicated to his Nightwing gear), which would be spacious, but not half as large as the manor, and probably understated rather than opulent. He'd probably decorate with old circus posters rather than Rembrandt's, with furnishings not far off from what you'd find at Target rather than golden toilets and gilded bed stands. Well made, sturdy stuff, but practical more than anything. It would certainly be smaller than most people in his position and economic bracket would live in, and probably still bigger than Dick would really prefer.

This is a good take. Dick's relationship to wealth is one of the more interesting aspects of him. The kid who came from a circus tent trailer being uncomfortable with the glamour of a manor.

I do think that if Dick owns the casino, he should live there. If he lives there, I think it only makes sense for him to have a penthouse suite. Sparsely decorated, sure. He doesn't really care about decorating beyond putting up some posters and perhaps photos of his loved ones. I've toyed with the idea of him having the spacious top floor suite, but spending most of his down time where ever the actual performers live.

[Ascended]

I for one am not super hot on the idea of Dick owning a casino. I wouldn't take him to be the type of guys who would profit off of people's gambling addictions.

Yeah, I didnt warm to the idea immediately and I can't blame you for the same; Dick's not a businessman and he loves to travel, so being tied down to one place grates on him. But after rolling it around in my head I started to see it differently. You've got a good point, Dick is bleeding heart enough to feel some responsibility for other people's actions, but I don't think it would be a big barrier. He worked as a bartender, did he bitch and whine about giving alcoholics beer? And didn't he throw the alcoholics out when they came through the door?

It works nicely with his circus origins; it parallels and updates without being a slavish copy. It provides Dick a home base to return to as well as a reason to travel; Dick could use the excuse of searching for new talent to go practically anywhere. Imagine Nightwing flying to Paris, fighting Double Dare, and then the next day Dick Grayson walks into the prison, bails the girls out, and offers them a gig as performers in his casino. And while a casino might be a little skeezy, a little dangerous, a little morally dubious.....so are most of the places Dick has lived, worked, and enjoys being at. From the circus to Bludhaven to Gotham, from cop bartender to circus acrobat to Wayne Enterprises (business is evil plain and simple), from Huntress to Defacer (or whatever her name was) to Tarantula, Dick likes seedy places and questionable people. And its not like he's a stainless paragon of virtue, Dick's got a dark streak in him too. He's a rogue with a heart of gold, but a rogue nonetheless. The kind of people who frequent a casino are often people Dick would want to keep an eye on, so it provides solid local intel and surveillance. It's also a great cover for Spyral agents coming and going; with all the strange and weird people in and out of the casino no one will notice them. And he can put money back into the community, including programs for gambling addiction, as well as keep a black list of people who Dick knows gambles too much.

As per my web search, it is indeed "Haly" but still pronounced with a long "a" sound.

Well son of a bitch. Everything I know is a lie!

I do think that if Dick owns the casino, he should live there. If he lives there, I think it only makes sense for him to have a penthouse suite. Sparsely decorated, sure. He doesn't really care about decorating beyond putting up some posters and perhaps photos of his loved ones. I've toyed with the idea of him having the spacious top floor suite, but spending most of his down time where ever the actual performers live.

Oh, top floor penthouse rooms all the way (that's what I meant by suites. Wrong term?). I just think he'd take the smallest ones for his rooms, and the rest would be used for gear and tools. Carefully hidden and secreted away of course.

[Godlike13]

I still think they should explore Dick himself as a gambler.

[Ascended]

I wouldn't mind a little Mat Cauthon rubbed into Dick's character. Yeah, I can see him enjoying a gamble.

(Wheel of Time reference for those unfortunate souls who don't know who Mat bloody Cauthon bloody well is).

Man, Ive been sick and stuck home at this computer all day. I need to take a nap or something and stop cluttering up threads like they're my own conversation!

[oasis1313]

I still think they should explore Dick himself as a gambler.

Please, no. Hobo Ric already drinks enough; we don't need to add more any more vices.

[dropkickjake]

I for one am not super hot on the idea of Dick owning a casino. I wouldn't take him to be the type of guys who would profit off of people's gambling addictions.

Owning a casino need not be a sinister thing, but I see where you're coming from. I think that there should be frequent in view posters for gambling hotlines and such. Maybe even a stand alone fill in issue where Dick/Nightwing helps someone with the problem.

Please, no. Hobo Ric already drinks enough; we don't need to add more any more vices.

nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah

don't think like "Scuzzy guy spending his last dime on a loan from the mob so that he can make a bet on the ponies that is totally a sure thing and then I can pay you back, I swear."

Think like, classy guy at the table playing high stakes Texas Hold 'em, counting the odds of his hands vs whats on the table, vs what the others could possibly have to win. It takes bravado, showmanship, strategy, and has the thrill one might find from jumping out of a plane, swinging trapeze without a net, or jumping from roof top to roof top in tights and a mask.

[byrd156]

I still think they should explore Dick himself as a gambler.

I don't see Dick as much of a gambler. At least in terms of money.

[bearman]

With a circus background, Dick should be able to do card tricks, count cards, etc...and other sideshow-y things likethrow knives. He should have lots of little tricks that he didn’t get from Bruce, maybe that he’s kept kind of hidden.

[oasis1313]

I don't see Dick as much of a gambler. At least in terms of money.

He'd need some money to start gambling with and he's a homeless wino bum.

[Arsenal]

He'd need some money to start gambling with and he's a homeless wino bum.

Lucky for him, his little brother is about to own a casino so money ain’t an issue.

[dropkickjake]

Lucky for him, his little brother is about to own a casino so money ain’t an issue.

Whose little brother? huh?

[Arsenal]

Whose little brother? huh?

The homeless wino bum.

[Jackalope89]

Whose little brother? huh?

Jason. An upcoming arc has him taking over the Iceburg Lounge and Casino.

[dropkickjake]

Jason. An upcoming arc has him taking over the Iceburg Lounge and Casino.

...of course.