2222/Music and Machinations

Music and Machinations
Date of Scene:	28 August 2017
Location:	Fifty/Fifty Club, Gotham City
Synopsis:	Talia meets with Catwoman to gauge her interest in a job.
Cast of Characters:	Catwoman, Talia al Ghul

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Catwoman has posed:
There are certain places around Gotham City that have a reputation as being...friendly toward some of those who operate outside the law. That's not to say there aren't conflicts that pop up from time to time, but by and large it seems they stay on the up and up. At least, they do outwardly. It wouldn't be good for business if things took place that drew the attention of the bat all the time, and for that reason alone there probably exist 'gentlemen's' agreements.

Tonight, Catwoman has taken up a private booth that allows her the chance to listen to some music without being accosted by random people. Word around the club operated by Two-Face has spread, however, and naturally there are as many eyes on her as there are on the band playing on the stage. She takes it all in and casually ignores the ones staring, sipping perhaps ironically from a glass of milk, of all things. As for her appearance, there's no doubt it's really her, or a damn good copy given the look of the costume.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Into the 50/50 Club comes Talia al Ghul, dressed in an evening gown, with a slit side and a deep neckline to allow ease of movement, though wearing a pair of heels that of course complicate things. She is accompanied by an intimidating man wearing an italian suit. She has that air not too uncommon in Gotham, the sort of person many folks generally defer to, or treat with respect.

Into the room Talia goes, her shadow accompanying her, and her path leading her towards the private booths as well, conveniently one right near where the Catwoman has found herself a perch to people watch.

Catwoman has posed:
It may be a rare night two people of the statures of Catwoman and Talia al Ghul end up here at the same time. No gown for the former, for such a thing would mean revealing who she truly was, and Selina Kyle might not fit in here quite as easily. Then again, the socialite might have reason to be there. For Catwoman, it's easier. There's no need to come up with an excuse.

For a song or two, no notice is taken of Talia's presence nearby. It's unclear she's even been recognized, if she would be. Not so in the case of the woman in the catsuit, for the whispers pick up again about the visitor to the club.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
It isn't long before Talia is approaching Catwoman's booth, a hand having been raised to indicate her shadow should remain away, and Talia moves to slip into Catwoman's booth.

"I hope you do not mind the company, for a bit, do you?" Talia asks as she settles, a slight smile offered to the catsuited one, a head nodding her way.

Catwoman has posed:
Catwoman's seen in everything people allege to have spotted her with: the whip, the claw-tipped gloves, the half-hood with the ears, the tinted goggles. Just setting down the glass of milk as another song comes to an end, she finds someone blocking her view of the stage. About to say something blunt, if her expression is a giveaway, she must be reconsidering. "And you are?" she begins, a brow sliding upward behind the goggles.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"You can call me Talia." The woman replies as she makes herself comfortable anyway, smoothing at her dress as she settles, leaning back in the booth just a bit and giving Catwoman an appraising look, and she offers a little gesture for one of the staff to come over and ordering a glass of expensive wine.

Catwoman has posed:
"Ah, yes. I thought so," Catwoman replies, and no doubt there are a few things going through her mind related to recent goings-on, none of which is otherwise hinted at yet. "So is this blind luck that you've found me here, or did you hear a whisper or two?" the catsuited woman wonders, keeping a casual way about her as she leans back, eyes on Talia now over anything else.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Would it matter much one way or another?" Talia asks, her brow arching ever so faintly at the woman in the catsuit, a hint of a smile flashing towards her. It isn't long before Talia's wine is delivered and placed on the table, the server moving off.

"I was curious." Talia says, "Are you still doing this solo thing of yours, Catwoman, or if you might consider trading a little favor for a little favor, you scratch my back, I scratch yours?"

Catwoman has posed:
Catwoman drums the fingers of her right hand against the tabletop, eyes sweeping past Talia just long enough to take note of any onlookers, as well as who's not paying attention at all. "No, I don't suppose it does, but you could have at least said you heard I was here and stroked my..ego a little bit," she rather purrs.

Then, "You don't waste any time getting right to the point, do you?" The hand wraps around the glass of milk for another sip. She's really playing up the whole 'cats love milk' thing, isn't she? It's healthier than wine! "I rarely go for team-ups. It'd have to be a really, really good reason. Even then, I don't make any promises."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"I've always been told that curiosity kills the cat, and I would hate for the suspense to cause you any harm waiting to know why I joined you, afterall." Talia counters with that slight smile of hers as she lounges back, sipping at her wine.

"Now, I didn't say we should team up or anything like that, but there's something I would like acquired for me, and you are of course the best in the business, aren't you?" she asks, shrugging ever so slightly at the woman. "If you were to help me out, I'd help you, like I said, and I'm rather good at scratching backs, you'll find."

Catwoman has posed:
"You shouldn't believe everything you hear, especially old wives' tales like that," Catwoman remarks, a slow shake of her head following. "All the things I've been curious about? I'm still here, aren't I?" She spares a moment to have a look at the wine Talia's had delivered for herself, then she goes back to focusing on the woman drinking it.

A small smile sprouts at the stroking of her ego. "I don't know anybody better than I am, so you've come to the right person if I'm in the mood to take a job for someone else. I don't do that for just anyone, though." She shifts positions to lean forward, arms resting atop the table. "It all depends on what you're looking for, where it is, what I get out of it, and all that."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Well that's the pickle, isn't it?" Talia says, "What do I want, and what do you get out of it. Hmmn?" she says with a little shrug of her shoulders, another sip of wine taken before she glances up, "Would you like a glass as well?" she offers, holding the wine up slightly.

"But, to answer your question, there is something at the Gotham Museum I would like to have.. of course it will be behind quite a bit of security, but I have faith in your skills.. now, what you get? What would you want?"

Catwoman has posed:
Catwoman wears a smile as the museum is brought up. "It's funny you should mention that. Not to give anything away, but I'm already working on some plans for the place. Don't tell Batman," she remarks with a dry humor that turns mildly sarcastic at the end. "He doesn't approve of my work." A hand is waved at the wine, the woman shaking her head. "And thank you, but not this time. What would I want out of this, though? That, I'd have to think about. But why should I help you?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"I won't tell The Bat your business." Talia says, waving a hand lightly at that, "He doesn't approve of my work either, anyway." She adds as she sits there and she shrugs her shoulders at the question, "Why should you help me? Well, I did ask politely, and I am quite good at repaying favors given me." She says, "For starters. I imagine there has to be something you would want in exchange, as well, that lays outside of your particular set of skills that I might be able to help provide."

Catwoman has posed:
"No, I'd heard he wasn't exactly a fan," Catwoman answers, then flashing a brief grin Talia's way at literally telling her she asked nicely. "And so you did," she adds with a short laugh, quietly done between them. "For me to know what sorts of skills you could offer me, I'd have to know them first. I don't think I'd need your help sneaking off with something, so what is it you specialize in?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Well, I have many skills, and a lot of resources at my disposal, I can make many things happen in repayment, Catwoman, you'll just have to decide something that you need done of equal value and investment and let me know. Do not worry about what skills I posess so much."

Catwoman has posed:
With another song playing in the background, Catwoman has to lean a few inches closer to keep up the quiet level of conversation between the pair. "Yes, you have a whole group working for you, don't you?" she asks, leaving the rest alone for the time being as far as skills go. "Is this one of those things where I have to say yes to find out what you're after, or do I get a few hints first?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul leans in herself to meet the motion, flashing a smile at Catwoman as she meets the costumed burglar's gaze, "Now, I think that would be impractical of me to tell you before we agree to any terms. It is easy to carry out, and you are already quite familiar with the security at the Museum I have to imagine, that should be enough for you to determine the investment you will need to put into the job to come up with a fair method of repayment."

Catwoman has posed:
Expecting to find out much up front may have been too wishful a thought, but can Catwoman be blamed? Getting down to it, she's the one who would be taking the risk. It's a big reason why she normally operates alone, for herself and nobody else. There's also, however, the small matter of Batman having warned her about this woman at one time. "I thought you might say that. What sort of timeframe are you looking for with this? I don't just go into a place unprepared."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"You can take as much time as you need, I wouldn't expect a professional to rush a job, it would be quite sloppy." Talia says with a nod of her head at the Catwoman, "I wouldn't want to tell you how to do your job, and you do not even need to share any details of when, or how, you plan to do it. I have confidence in your abilities, and would not think to tell you how to do your job. But if you need anything to make your plan work? I can offer resources."

Catwoman has posed:
"Not immediately urgent, then." Catwoman nods slowly, and it's clear she's weighing her options here beyond the simple yes or no. But, should she actually go through with it or not? What if the thing she'd be there to retrieve could bring with it dangerous consequences for others? Would ht be worth caring about as long as she gets her cut out of it? "I may be here in my 'work clothes,' Talia al Ghul, but this is not a decision I'm ready to make tonight. Let's just take some time for ourselves and enjoy a quiet, peaceful evening of music and forget about plots and plans for a time. I can have an answer to the rest soon."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"That is all I can ask, is that you consider it." Talia says with a oft laugh at that, flashing a smile at the Catwoman, "Do be in touch." She adds, producing a small card from somewhere on her person and sliding it over, "That is a number you can reach me at, just leave a message with whomever answers and it will get to me." she says, "Now, I suppose I should be out of your hair to let you enjoy your evening without any further disruptions, hmn?"

Catwoman has posed:
Catwoman guides a hand over to take the card, glancing at the number on it before she tucks it away someplace safe. "No promises, but I'll let you know. My own 'job' comes first though. You understand." Looking out for ol' number one, that's Catwoman. However, she gestures toward the band playing, the spot Talia's seated in. "Don't feel you need to leave so soon. If nothing else, we can surely enjoy a few more songs amid each other's company."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Why not?" Talia says at the invitation to stay, shrugging her shoulders lightly and offering a slight smile over towards Catwoman as well. "So, is this a frequent haunt of yours?" she asks, "The owner strikes me as a prone to a bit more senseless violence then you typically traffic in."

Catwoman has posed:
"If you want the honest truth, I don't trust most of the others here like me," Catwoman remarks, punctuating her reply with finger quotes for the last couple words, seeing herself as different from most of them. "So while I do like the music they play here, you could say I'm keeping an eye on the competition to see what they're up to. I'm not so naive to think we don't have at least half a dozen people paying close attention to us right now, either. But, I'm not giving them anything to work with. I'm just here to have a good time. Aren't you?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Well now that we're all done with business." Talia says, glancing out across the room a little as she takes the place in before looking back towards Catwoman, "I suppose it is time for a bit of pleasure now." She says with a nod of her head towards the masked Burglar, reaching for her wine once more and taking a sip from the glass.

Catwoman has posed:
Catwoman could just about purr with her response on the heels of Talia speaking about pleasure. "Now you're talking. Cheers." She holds up her glass of milk, adding, "This is a good spot to watch others from. Nobody can catch us by surprise from behind. They're all before us. That one over there?" She gestures somewhat lazily toward a waiter to the left of the stage. "Give it fifteen more seconds. He'll look our way then talk into his headset. He's reporting back on us to someone. Just look normal." Sure enough, a few more seconds after she finishes, the man steals a glance their way, just as she said. "It's all one big game of chess, and I don't play the pawn."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Oh, I've noticed their observation and practices." Talia says in response to Catwoman, "It's a fun game they play, but they're really rather amateur at it, if you ask me.." She says with a soft laugh, "And you can be assured any more encounters we might have will be in a more discrete location, at least when it's required.."

Catwoman has posed:
"Oh, I don't really think they're trying to hide it," Catwoman remarks. "If they were, like you said they aren't very good at it." The song ends and this time, the band leaves the stage. It must be the end of their set. "Is it that late already? I thought they had at least three more songs in them. Oh well." She comes off as vaguely disappointed, but it ends with a shrug before she returns her attention to the woman seated across from her. "Much more quiet and away from others, yes," she agrees.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Well, my condolonces on you not getting the songs you'd wished for." Talia says as the band begins packing up, her gaze drifting out towards the stage then back towards Catwoman with a smile, "So, where might you suggest we meet that is quiet, and away from others?"

Catwoman has posed:
Catwoman waves it off with a hand, shaking her head. "I heard enough to satisfy me for a night. There's no sense crying over spilled milk, after all." A very..cat thing to say, that. Others begin to leave the room to head back into the night and she considers this. "There are a number of perfectly good rooftops around, if you don't mind being outside."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Well, why don't you show me one of your favorite rooftops, then, Catwoman?" Talia suggests, "I do not have a problem being outside when the need arises." She glances out at the crowd, "The place seems to be closing down anyhow." She says, gesturing lightly out of the booth.

Catwoman has posed:
"Right now? If you like, then," She may find this an odd request out of the blue, but Catwoman finishes off her drink and slides out of the booth to her feet, leading the way with gracefully measured steps made to give the impression of a cat slinking sensually from one place to another. It's what she does. "The ones that give me the best views are my favorites."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Why not?" Talia says as she slips out of the booth as well, moving with an assured grace of her own, "And the roofs with the best views do seem to be the most popular ones." She agrees, "I've a change of clothes in my car I'll slip into then we can go." she says, ready to follow Catwoman out into the night.