Bruce steers him and Marcus has to swallow down a moment of alarm. Wait! isn't a good look and it won't be listened to, so he raises his eyebrows and gives into it. Fine. At least it means he can justify his continued presence at the party as not his fault. Which might be important, later, when trying to explain to Tim, you know how I promised I wouldn't pry.

He's already admitted that he wants to meet Alfred, though, and he relaxes, grinning, immediately much more comfortable with him than with Bruce, though he recognises the barb in his words. He didn't expect him to be English, except now he thinks about it of course he is, and he didn't expect him to look quite so much like he's popped out of a BBC drama, but again: of course that's the case. "Marcus," he says by way of introduction, sticking his hand out as Bruce gets swallowed up by the crowd. "Youth worker, actually, but I'm not gonna contest the compliment."