4273/Dinner Interrupted

Dinner Interrupted
Date of Scene:	17 April 2018
Location:	Abandoned Restaurant, Brideshead, Gotham
Synopsis:	Jason has to cancel dinner with Talia to deal with some business - Talia decides to drop in.
Cast of Characters:	Red Hood, Talia al Ghul

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Red Hood has posed:
Anthony Capeoli always thought himself a big fish in a little pond. As one of the capos of Roman Bracuda, he had been on the ground floor of Bracuda's rise to power in the Brideshead neighborhood of Gotham City. While he acted loyal towards his boss, the capo had his own determined thoughts. He figured at somepoint, Bracuda would fall. When Catwoman was causing trouble, he had fought the woman. But not too much. He kept hoping that she would take down Bracuda, and then he'd have his chance to fill the vaccuum that would be left behind. When she left, he figured at some point, the Bat would show up to finish the job and ship Bracuda off to Blackgate with the other common rabble.

In his wildest nightmares, he never imagined he would be the one tied down to a chair in the middle of the abandoned . He had been taken as he was in the middle of a visit to one of the local ladies. Sure, his wife was a typical trophy girl, but he liked things a little.. exotic. So as he was wrapped up in a leather body suit, he never saw the person that came in the open window, and Tiffani offered no resistance. Probably was paid off to deliver him.

Swinging upside down from one of beams of the main floor, there was a table nearby that had been set up. There was a candle burning there, and a small meal had been set up. A cup of microwave pasta and a beer seems to be the meal of the evening. Sitting down at the table was one frustrated Jason Todd. "See, here's the problem I'm having tonight, Tony. It's alright if I call you Tony? Course it's all right. See, Tony, tonight I was supposed to be dressed up and having a meeting with a total MILF. You know what that is, right? I mean, she's drop dead gorgeous. But here I am, getting dressed up. Even picked out a nice tie, and my contact calls me and tells me you're out and about."

"So I have to stand up this woman tonight, because you, sir, are a priority target. See, there are those that think if you cut the head off a snake, the snake dies. Sure, that makes sense. But I've seen too many hydras. You know what those are, right?" He takes a bite of his ravioli, and chews on it. "They're these snake things. Cut off one head, two grow in it's place. Apparently real popular with the Star Spangled types. But it's worse with the mob. Cause you take down one, and there's always another one in it's place. So, I'm trying something different. I'm gonna prevent all the heads from growing, and leave the head without a body, so it can't nourish itself. Pretty cunning, don't you think?" he asks.

Anthony's body suit makes squeaky sounds as he struggles withing the leather stocking, only his mouth and nose exposed. "You're dead when I get out of here!"

"Been there. Done that."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul was expecting a nice dinner tonight. Some verbal sparring, perhaps, and witty banter. Definitely witty banter. For all his jaded remarks, Jason certainly excels in the banter department. Then the call came and shifting everything a bit sideways.

Jason isn't the only one with contacts on Gotham's streets, of course. And he certainly isn't the only strand in Talia's net. Other eyes have been watching Bracuda's people, and apparently Tiffani is a favorite of Mr. Capeoli's. The hooker has another visitor after Tony's sudden... departure. And once again she's well compensated for her time.

There's movement up towards the ceiling; a skylight opening. A long rope slithers down to the floor, the end weight clanking softly when it hits. It's the right size and shape of a batarang, but to someone who's -practiced- with the weapon it's just a good copy.

A moment later SHE descends the rope. No evening gown tonight, Talia has one leg curled around the rope like an acrobat as she slides down in a lazy spiral. She's clad in a black bodysuit and is well-armed, much like the was at their last meeting.

Red Hood has posed:
"So here's the thing, Tony. You're a pretty important cog in the machine. I mean, all your finagling to make yourself important? That's made you pretty invaluable to the boss, don't you think?" Jason asks between bites. Finally standing up, he set aside his utensils. "Cause you're that important? You need to go. Now, there are those that want you dead. Me? Dead doesn't help me much. I mean, it would, but it'd piss off you-know-who, and I don't want another Bat-lecture."

Taking the fancy Italian leather shoe off one of Tony's feet, Jason glanced at it. "Damn, these are nice. What? Three- four hundred dollars? Definetly a clothes horse. Figured that's why you wore them to bed while you were getting bagged up like a Christmas ham." The sock soon follows.

"What do you want? I can give you money, women.. whatever you ask for... as you said, I'm important!" Anthony is protesting. And realizing how much trouble that he's possibly in.

"Naw. I mean, money's nice. I'm gonna get that anyway. What I want, is for you to learn a lesson. And leave Gotham. See the world. You know. I was in New Orleans for a bit. When I was there? I learned how to schuck crawfish. They're like little lobsters. But a pain in the ass to schuck. Finally there was this gal, she showed me the way. You just slip your fingers where the thorax meets the abdomen, like so.." his fingers slip around the mobster's big toe. "And then you just twist and pull."

Snap, Jason easily dislocates Tony's big toe.

As Tony is screaming in pain, Jason hmms. "Maybe New Orleans isn't for you. Riverdale. I hear it's a pretty nice bedroom community."

And that's when he sees the new arrival. "Well, hell. Looks like my date didn't like me standing her up, after all. Tony, this is .. well, you don't need to know who she is. You just need to know that there's another vested party in this whole neighborhood cleanup program."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul slows her graceful descent, stopping just in time to *step* away from the rope to the floor. The swords across her back are curved, but the hilts are straight. With plenty of ornate gilting to offset the black. She smiles almost silkily, stepping over to Jason and dragging a finger along his shoulder. "You neglected your tie." she declares in a voice that's naturally sultry.

Walking slowly around the table, she clucks her tongue softly at Jason's choice of meal, shaking her head quietly. No, it's definitely not crawfish.

There's a soft *sching* from behind Tony as steel is drawn. The sharp point of Talia's sword pricks his ass, a twist of her wrist setting the dangling man to spin lazily and twist the rope. His rotation slows, and he begins to untwist the other way.

"Sorry for missing the prelude. Has he decided yet how many pieces of him will be leaving Gotham?" Apparently the lady doesn't share her dinner date's reluctance for bloodshed.

Red Hood has posed:
Oh, that touch and purr of the woman's voice does earn her a shudder from Jason, before she draws her blade and sticks it in the leather wrapped ham. Tony starts to scream and cuss, snot snorting from his nose as he drools and spittles about.

"Didn't want to ruin it so I had to put on my work clothes. Not exactly in a dress with a slit clear up the hip, yourself." he offers to Talia in return as he watches her ask her own question.

"Just let me go. I'll leave! I'll leave tonight!" Tony's promising.

"Heard that one before. I think you need more encouragement, Tony." comes the response from Jason as he moves and stops Tony's rotation. "This little piggy stayed home." And with a sharp twist, toe number two is broken. See, I have a thing with the girl here. She wants to kill you all. And funnily enough, it's only because of me she hasn't done that yet. That's a fucking trip, isn't it?" he asks curiously. "And ironic like noone's business."

With a glance towards Talia, Jason gives a shrug of his shoulders. "Not sure he's gotten the message loud and clear. What do you think?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul keeps her sword drawn, settling into Jason's chair and tipping it back just a little. "He doesn't need all of his toes." she declares simply. "He thinks to bargain with false promises. I have neither the time nor the inclination to play such games."

Turning towards Jason directly, the woman continues. "He also believes that his life holds some intrinsic value for me. You should educate him."

Red Hood has posed:
Jason rolls his eyes a little. "I'm not one of your pets to order around." he responds dryly. "That comes later." A smirk is offered as the vigilante shrugs. "So, you heard the lady, Tony. She says you're not valuable enough to keep around. Hell, I let you go right now, she'd probably have you dead before you left the place. Mainly because I know you're not wearing any damn clothes under there, and you're disgusting, man. What is it with you Italians and hair?" he asks blandly.

"So here's the deal. I'm going to break both of your legs. And then I'm going to call the police. Tell them you're here. And after they drag you off to be treated at Gotham's poorest hospital, you're going to have a choice. You can roll over on your boss, sing like a canary and pray that Gotham's not so finest aren't on his payroll."

"Ooooooooooor." he adds in a drawn out empathsis. "You can stay quiet. Get your shit together. Your pretty little wife, Lacy - wasn't it? She was a Miss Gotham runner up or something like that, right?" He rattles off the information - "See, I'm not one to go after families to encourage people to leave, but the lady? She'd totally leave you a widower and childless. So. Up to you? You ever read 'The Lady or the Tiger'? This is more 'The Lady or the Hood'."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul responds with a wry smile of her own, dark eyes bright. In a way she's enjoying this, although the mobster has very little to do with it. No, it's an opportunity to watch Jason work. And to see how far he'll go.

So when he lays things out for Tony she just watches and listens. Tony doesn't know who she is, but he knows she's still here. He also knows that Red Hood is the *nice* one. There are further, rather truthful, threats that she could offer but this isn't her show.

Red Hood has posed:
"What, you trying to impress her or something?" Tony lets out a pained laugh. "Pathetic. Expect her to be impressed? I ain't even -- GOD DAMMIT!"

That last part would be because Jason's hand just slammed into the man's hip, smashing it and sending the bag swinging. As it comes back in on the return, Jason's forearm catches the man's lower leg to snap the fibula.

"I don't have to impress anyone, you fat fuck. I do that just fine for myself." Gone is the cool and relaxed vigiante, instead, the anger's back - full force as he moves and pulls a baton from his belt to slam it into Tony's other leg.

Sure. Tony may be right.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul watches as Jason starts to get angry, and this is where she gets really interested. Of all the Detective's apprentices, Jason is really the only one she knows to lose control. Granted some of that might come from his death or the nature of his resurrection. But still.

Is she impressed? Perhaps. But not for the reasons Tony might think.

Red Hood has posed:
"Go to hell." Tony spits at Jason, clearly defiant in what should be his last moments.

Which is enough to break the remainder of Jason's tenious hold on his sanity.

"I've been there. Took a long vacation there in fact. Darker than advertised. But when you get there? Make sure to have a drink with your other friends I plan to send there. Gone is the confident and cool level-headed Jason. Instead is the spiteful, angry, and utterly mad Jason Todd.

The large calbre pistol is pulled from his holster and he smacks the side of the man with it before he sticks the gun to Tony's chin. "One more word, and I ruin your life."

And he probably looks like he'd do it too.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
This would be the part of the interrogation where the 'Good Cop' steps in, takes the gun away, and saves Tony from a certain, grisly death.

Talia al Ghul is not, or will she ever be the 'Good Cop'.

The woman hasn't spoken for a while, now, and only the lack of footsteps or closing door sounds would confirm that the's still in the room. "Oh, I don't know, Tony. I think he's bluffing. What do *you* think?" she offers casually.

Red Hood has posed:
"I don't think he's bluffing! I don't think he's bluffing at all!" Tony screams out, and then the pistol leaves Tony's side.

"Idiot." It's not immediately sure if Jason is referring to Tony, himself, or even Talia, but its with a shaking hand that the Hood starts to pull back the pistol, but not before commenting. "Leave. Don't come back." With that, he smashes the pistol against the side of the mobster's head to take him down and then holsters the pistol. He takes a few steps back, his whole frame trembling in anger.

He's still young. He's overwhelmed with the death, the moment and there's Talia, the closest he's had to a guiding female figure even before his death.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Through it all, Talia watches impassively. Not even when Jason hits the dangling mobster in the head does she react. Only afterward does she speak, and it's a single word.

"Interesting."

The woman rises, then, slow and controlled. As controlled as Jason is not. "I don't believe that tonight would be appropriate for a formal dinner, but I don't have any other plans."

It's not really an offer, but more of a statement.

Red Hood has posed:
"Huh. Figured I'd ruin your appetite." Jason rumbles as he tries to recover - but there's an emptiness there - she recognizes it well enough. It's that same Jason that was out in Gotham that she found and fed the soul back to at the Lazarus Pit. And he turns on Talia.

"Then if you're not in the mood for dinner, what is it that you want to do this evening, Talia?" he finally asks.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
"Not my appetite for food." Talia replies. Truth be told she HAS seen things far more cruel than this. But she recognizes the change in Jason. There's really only one person who understands the Lazarus Pit better than she does, after all.

Talia also knows that reaching out through tenderness or compassion isn't the way with him, either.

"I said a *formal* dinner. Can you recommend any good places for take-out?"

Red Hood has posed:
"Yeah. There's a 24 hour joint not too far from here that has all-day breakfast." Jason manages. He's starting to return to normalcy, but that edge is still there. He goes to put away the baton and other tools of his trade before he takes out a burner phone and dials it. "Yes. I'd like to report some strange noises at the old Wok Luck place. I think it might be a drug deal."

Snapping the phone in half, he turns to Talia. "Shall we?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul has seen what she wants to see tonight: she saw how close Jason gets to the edge. The woman in the tight black leather steps up closer as he makes the call, offering a smile that's more playful than friendly.

When he turns towards her, Talia slips her hand through his arm. "After you."