Owner	Pose
Jason Todd	With the changes to the life of one Helena Bertinelli from teacher to Mafia Donna, the education aspect has had to be cast aside. Even if she wanted to, no school district would willingly hire someone now affiliated with crime in the city. Most of the year has now passed since her plan to bring down the Mafia went into motion and she had to step away from teaching. But not everything is as easily forgotten as credentials tossed into a drawer and ignored. Thanksgiving break is almost over. It is a brief respite for teachers and students alike before the push into finals and the full winter break in another month. FOr one family, Fall has been a nightmare that won't end. The Hegazy family should be one of those ideal immigration stories. Seeking a better life in America, they came from Jordan three years ago. They still don't have much, but they have a small apartment to call home and the two food karts that Nizar and Tasnim Hegazy operate have enabled them to begin saving a little each month. Their daughter Rana is an 8th grader this fall. She was supposed to be. Except she has been missing since the ten days before the school year was to begin. All efforts to find her have been unsuccessful and it has left her parent's life turned upside down. Desperate parents turn to desperate methods when the trusted methods fail them. Standing outside of the Bertinelli mansion compound, the bundled up forms of Nizar and Tisnam try to plead with the guards watching the entrance only to fail - at gun point - and again they get turned away. Security cameras capture them dejectedly turning and walking into the darkness before a beat up compact pickup truck lumbers past as they leave. At dinner the usual banter happens as the day shift guards get their hot meal and chatter about the day just as their Donna may pass within earshot. "... so he says to me - <<Plez! Plez! Vee only vish tew spek vith Miss 'Elayna! She vas our daughter's teacher..>>" the guard's mockery of the couples accent is no doubt far worse than reality. Isn't that the way stereotypes come about? "So Jimmie an' me, we kicked 'em in the ass and sent them packin'" the guard says, laughing again before slurping a drink of wine before diving into his dish of pasta. Stereotypes. The laughter and disbelief someone would have the guts to try and approach the Bertinelli compound are clearly shared among those present.
Helena Bertinelli	Tensions have been up and down amongst the famlia of the Costa Nostra. For the last few weeks there has been an uneasy peace, brokered by an outsider calling himself Matches Malone. For now, the peace is holding. Whether it will stay that way remains to be seen. While there are many things the guard say and Helena Bertinelli overhears, almost always it bears pretending she doesn't hear. The disrespectful comments? They're always addressed, and they've vanished in the months since she's taken the reigns -- either they do it well out of her earshot, or not at all. This, though? This makes the elegant Italian woman stop and turn to look. "Did you never watch the Godfather, Antonio? If you did, and didn't learn how valuable the requests of a desperate person is, then you must watch it again." Her gaze ticks down to his meal, then up to the guard. "You can go get Jimmy, and track down that couple you turned away. Then you can bring them back here for a meal." The Bertinelli Donna looks at him expectantly. Going hungry is the least of what she will do if she's ill pleased.
Jason Todd	The bravado of Antonio fades. He swallows nervously and then looks the others around the room. No one is going to help him. He sits like a roach in a spotlight uncertain which direction to try and scurry to safety. Mostly because he knows there is no safety if he doesn't follow orders. "...uh y-yes ma'am." Rising and giving an awkward bow toward Helena, Antonio can't be sure she won't just shoot him dead right there. Except she does seem to like this carpet more than the last one. Disappearing to get the aforementioned Jimmie, the others delve into their meals and try not to earn any more of Helena's attention. Hours past and it is close to midnight when the dispatched SUV returns with Antonio and Jimmie. Stopping at the front doors of the mansion, the two get out and open the rear doors to let Nizar and Tisnam exit. It isn't awkward at all how they have to act polite and mannerly to the couple they (Antonio) insulted and humiliated hours before. Escorted inside, Antiono tries to get Jimmie to notify Helena. But the discreet flashing of his Social Finger toward the other man sends an inward sigh through Antonio. While Jimmie leads the couple into the now reset dining room, Antonio heads to Helena's office. "Uh, Ms Bertinelli.. the Hegazy couple is here. They're, uh, down in the dining room."
Helena Bertinelli	For the others -- the ones who /didn't/ laugh -- they get a vague smile from Helena as she leaves. "I do hope you enjoy the sauce." She does miss cooking. Occasionally, she's snuck down here and cooked small batches of food. A few of the late night guards are in on it, but they keep quiet, because she's a good cook. And they want to keep their fingers on their hands, too. The office once, was her father's. The Don of Don's. Helena still has a memory of reaching up for the door handle, running in, and crawling into her father's lap. He put an arm around her even as he continued ordering the deaths of several people, as cool as anything. His son was to inherit the family business, but he never hid it from Helena, either. Helena's seated behind the same desk her father ruled from when Antonio walks in. In truth she's probably impressed he fronted up himself. "Good. You can eat when we're done. I made sure there was leftovers for you." She may be a Donna, but she's not a monster... and food is a great motivator. She rises, walking down to the dining room. Her father, she knows, would have brought them up to his office. Used the trappings to impress and intimdiate them. In so many ways she chooses the opposite of her father. "Mr and Mrs Hegazy? I'm sorry you were turned away earlier. Antonio, you can leave us now," she dismisses the guard, as she takes a seat at the table.
Jason Todd	In the dining room the couple sit where directed and they wait. That they are uncomfortable and nervous is entirely clear. Only when Helena appears do they show any sign of relief. They both start to rise then pause as Antiono is dismissed. They are not his biggest of fans, that is clear. Looking to Helena, Nizar offers a weak smile then looks to his wife and hugs her shoulders as the woman shakes silently. He tries to explain. "Ms Bertinelli, thank you for speaking with is. We have noone else to turn to. We.. do not have much. But what we have is yours if there is some way you can help us. Our daughter - Rana - she was one of your students at the beginning of the year? When you filled in for Ms Turneau on her maternity leave?" He pauses. His eyes turn glassy but no tears come. It seems that he has no more to shed at the moment, ".. Rana.. went missing just before the school year began. The police say she ran away. But she was happy here. In school. She couldn't wait for school to begin again. Something happened to her. But no one will help us..." He tries to reach out to clasp Helena's hands. "Please. We know that you quit teaching to..." well to take over the Family Business as it were. All of Gotham knows about that by now. ".. we didn't know who else would listen to us. But you know Rana! Please. If there is -anything- your" He pauses to think of a polite term, "organization could do.. we will repay whatever the price. We just want our Rana home." Beside him Tasnim is wiping her face with a handkerchief that was stained with tears months ago. It was once Rana's and smelled of her but now that scent is gone, replaced only with the salt of tears.
Helena Bertinelli	Miss Bertinelli -- the teacher -- was a different woman than Helena Bertinelli. Some part of it was the presence of the children, but it was also in part an act. She was warmer, more inclined to confidences and patience, less inclined to anger. Helena Bertinelli, the Mafia Don, is not those things. When he reaches for her hand, she keeps them clasped, merely looking at him. "I remember Rana," Helena says. "She was quick witted. A little inclined to be lead on by her classmates, but that's true of many." She leans forward, focusing on Nizar, rather than Tasnim's tears. "What you will owe me for this is a favor to be paid in future." Another thing learned at the knee of her father. Whether she ever intends to cash it in or not remains to be seen. "You will leave all the relevant information. When and where she was last seen. Her phone if you have it, or her number if you don't. A list of her friends and their contacts. Photographs. A list of any of your enemies. I shall make inquiries."