11288/The Assassin and the Cat

The Assassin and the Cat
Date of Scene:	22 May 2022
Location:	Somewhere near The Atlas Mountains, Tunisia
Synopsis:	Endangered lions are saved by villains.
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Blake, Ra's al Ghul

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Thomas Blake has posed:
The ghost lions of the Atlas mountains are one of the rarest and dangerous species of cats left in the wild. Almost eradicated by man, they decided to return the favor and hunters, herdsmen and farmers fell prey to them in a war taking decades and largely unknown in the world at large.

Thomas Blake -Catman knew of them. He received an airline ticket to Africa (first class no less), then a phone call from the Demon. He'd used Red X in the past and was known to them. Not a huge surprise. He was a little relieved the call was to save big cats and not because he was screwing one of the higher up's women. In any case he went to Africa, meeting coordinates memorized and fell off the grid. He does that.

Iqbal Aseem knew little of lions of American costumed fools. He mainly knew obedience to the Great One and how to use a knife and AK. Iqbal looked at his fellow assassins, camped in a small valley in the foothills and spat.

"Great One, with all due respect and honor, this cat man is gone. We will find hime either under a whore or in a lion's belly. Send us out after the lions. We will not fail you," he says, bowing to the Demon's Head.

Ra's al Ghul has posed:
"You won't fail me, but you will deign to question the trust I've placed in another?" Ra's asks, voice level and quiet as usual.

He asks this of Iqbal as he steps out of his tent, smoothly folding the flap back closed once he's outside. He looks the very picture of a 20th century explorer, minus the pict hat. His hand comes to rest on the hilt of the saber fastened to his waist and his eyes study the man for a time. The valley itself seems hesitant to interrupt al Ghul's pause. "Thomas Blake is an effective tool when properly motivated. He may be a lecherous hothead, but his passion for conservation closely enough mirrors ours. I would not hire him to guard a governess, I would not hire him to rob a bank, but I have no doubt he will succeed in the task I have given him today. The right tool for the right job," Ra's finally speaks, moving to step over a downed tree that's serving as a makeshift bench and having a seat atop it.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake says softly, "I resent being referred to as a lion's dinner. I'd demand satisfaction f this came from anyone who's opinion I respected. No sudden movements please." Like that Thomas Blake is there, in his costume, the tattered supposedly magical cape fluttering in a light breeze. Surrounding him are five lionesses and a male, their coats a duskier hue than the more familiar lions most people know. They seem to just emerge from the gloom. One hand pulls his cowl back to reveal the ginger haired scoundrel. He looks to Ra's, "You're not the first person to call me a tool, by the way. Where is the special dinner you have prepared for my friends? I'd advise against using tranq guns. They'd kill us all before they go down."

The male steps forward, a low growl sounding, and changing to a purr as Thomas strokes his mane.

Ra's al Ghul has posed:
Ra's stands and regards the newly-arrived Thomas. He is not surprised. Ra's is rarely surprised. He makes a habit of picking the right tool for the right job, after all.

He steps towards Thomas and offers the man a nod of his head, snapping his fingers and gesturing with a small wave back at one of the assassins. The League member steps to attention and gathers a few helpers to drag out a few large coolers from a nearby tent. Their tops are popped and their contents spilled out onto the ground; ibex meat loaded with up with a generous helping of sedatives.

"Did you run into any trouble, Mister Blake?" Ra's asks, his attention returning to the man.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake steps into the male, nudging him half affectionately and half warningly. "Please stay still. My charisma has limits. Drop the food and everyone back away. After they've fed, I'll introduce them, Demon Head. Alternately, shoot that asshole with the tranq darts and let the lions eat him." He indicates Iqbal. "Catman is never found under a lover. Atop, yes."

Ra's al Ghul has posed:
"Cease your mewling, Mister Blake," Ra's says, shaking his head. "Iqbal will be punished in a way I see fitting, and that will be the end of it," Ra's says with an air of finality. It's no doubt less a punishment for wounding Blake's pride and more for stepping out of line, but the result will be the same.

Iqbal frowns, but offers a shallow bow to al Ghul all the same.

Ra's turns his eyes to rest on the feeding cats and he frowns. "Did you deal with the poachers as requested?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake nods.

"Yes. I found them. Thank you for that bonus. I should say, /we/ found the poachers. The pride is grateful, for cats anyway. Payback isn't always a bitch. Sometimes it's a kitty or six. Mind if I grab some water? I haven't had a drink in a day or so." He does keep an eye on the cats, and the men. Two predatory species in close proximity is never good. He grabs a water bottle (Pellegrino? Yum!) and sits down on the log.

Ra's al Ghul has posed:
"Of course," Ra's says. The proper motivation.

One of the assassins frowns as Thomas snatched up Ra's' water bottle and begins to step forward in confrontation, but Ra's raises a hand to him.

Ra's presses down on his hilt, the end of his sword swinging up so as to clear the log as he retakes his seat, now next to Thomas Blake. "The water this man drinks is not something I can claim ownership over, Rafael," he says, sounding very much like he's about to launch into a lecture to his people. "It is important that you look beyond me. Cast your eyes instead upon our cause. That water should have no owner. That water's purpose return wholly to what the Earth intended; the stimulation of life. Mr. Blake has worked up a thirst in pursuit of our vision. Should he be denied the succor of nature on the grounds that I was the last to drink from that bottle? That's shortsighted and a mindset that has no place in my League." Ra's' eyes move to rest on Thomas once more.

"Were he to raise a hand against me? I would expect you to splay him out as dinner for his lions, but he has greater sense than that, I think. Save your ire for graver offenses than a man growing thirsty in the Savannah."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake finishes the bottle and says, "Thank you for providing the water, nonetheless. And thank Mr. Pellegrino for me. I knew a fellow on safari, he got a severe infection from an insect bite. He was feverish from it. I poured this mineral water on it and said it was from Lourdes. Well the salts in the water drew all the pus and poison in the bite to the surface. It burst forth and his fever broke during the night. Oh, no charge for this. I am not a tool. I do this for love. A flight back is all I ask and I will do this again. You only have to ask."

Ra's al Ghul has posed:
"You will be compensated, Mr. Blake. It's no trouble," Ra's says, standing slowly and regarding the lions. They're already feeling the effects of the sedatives, their feasting slowing down. Ra's turns to his League and says, "Begin breaking camp. We'll begin their relocation in thirty minutes," Ra's says, before he looks down to Thomas.

"It is my fear that I will have to ask this of you many more times, Mr. Blake. Our species has corrupted itself from the inside out. Pouring water on the wound won't cure a thing, anymore," Ra's says, frowning and turning to step back over the log. "Thomas, see that our quarry is well taken care of," Ra's says, disappearing back into his tent to begin readying his things.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake sips from another bottle and says, "I'll o with you and help them settle. I would like to check on them. I'll co-operate with any security measures you have. It will do them and me some good. they will be antsy when they get up. I'll pet and coax, you'd need tasers and prods." He ignores Iqbal's glare, more concerned with the hand on his knife.