12713/Meeting of the Daughters

Meeting of the Daughters
Date of Scene:	07 September 2022
Location:	Gotham University
Synopsis:	Talia al Ghul journies to the seat of learning in Gotham City, seeking the 'adopted sister' of her son. Phoebe is mildly guarded, but sees in Talia's words similar ideas to her own approaches to her actions outside Gotham -- any action within reason for the Best Possible Outcome. Will Talia gather the gumption to reach out to Damian? Or will Phoebe alert the Bats to the Daughter of the Demon?
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Talia al Ghul

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Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe was certain she was going to be killed at some point this semester. Her trio of Good, Normal friends had gone abroad to their schools of choice (which she cheated and managed to get grants for them behind the scenes, the same way she strongly suspected Tim and Bruce had arranged for her schooling to be paid for last year), she was lonely during the day when she went to classes, fell asleep in biology and even past out snoring in philosophy, startling awake when someone dropped a book on Kant.

    Kant stand it.

    And now, she was hiding the fact that she had a cup of coffee, in a corner of the Solomon Wayne library, looking up at a portrait of another Wayne family member staring down at her.

    Her nose wrinkled. She didn't think he would have been a fan.

    So, the latest of the Wayne Spare Heirs flumped down in a seat at a reading desk, and began to open her notebooks.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
    She's not come to Gotham in awhile. Previous affairs of using the Hellfire Club as a way to increase her own level of influence at her father's behest. And for her own ends. The needs of the League of Assassins had been quiet as of late and delegated. Her personal pet project of Leviathan had been off the table, at least for anyone monitoring them.
    So now it was time to come to Gotham and to check up on her son and her self-declared 'Beloved'. Other members of the Bat-Family difficult to approach, indifferent, or hostile. By her personality profile Phoebe was kind, sympathetic, and wishing to make the world better. And approachable.
    But most of all without the innate paranoia that had been instilled by all those that Batman had personally trained. That makes her the weak link for gathering actual information to make her own plans to approach Damian and any others.
    She enters in to the library, a quick flick of her fingers having anyone else over in the area departing if not already gone thanks to the reputation of the 'Spare Heir'. And Talia al Ghul goes to approach Phoebe.
    A casual sway in her figure, a light approach of her form, a walk towards her of making her presence subtle but also announcing it so as to not approach stealthily.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Spare Heir's rep was considerably one of 'very weird circumstances'.

    Phoebe never illuminated on how weird her circumstances got, but she does get the feeling that she's being Watched.

    She gets those little tingles on the back of her neck, and she's been learning to trust her gut feeling. She leans over, withdrawing a water bottle and also opening her bag, putting some of her throwing daggers at hand's reach, but places her leg over it, taking a breath.

    The new sibling hadn't had the benefit of all the training under Bruce, but she'd been taken under a robin's wing, and sometimes when you work with The Weird Stuff, you gotta trust that gut feeling.

    So she's quietly looking around, subtle, her eyes unfocused on the text in front of her as she tries to pick up on anyone else in the room.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
    It's rather simple to note Talia. She's walking towards Phoebe in a calm manner and is the only other person in the room. Whether or not anyone else was in the area they've since vanished at her approach and departed if there was anyone else in nearby rooms.
    Talia goes to walk towards Phoebe, pausing over at the entryway to the reading room to make sure that she was seen and that she was acknowledged.
    "Phoebe Beacon. I presume you know who I am." Talia would make her general introduction without giving her name.
    She was known, after all. But still, courtesies must be maintained.
    "I'm in the city to check up on my son." A bit more direct than she would normally open with, but she wants to be point blank here in the hopes of defusing any built up paranioa that's instigated by the mere mention of her presence.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe had an inkling as she looked up. In Damian she could see a lot of Bruce, there was no doubt that he was a Wayne in blood. Talia, however, was equally as impossible to deny in him.

    And Phoebe felt her blood freeze for a moment as she raised her head, regarding Talia al Ghul with a measure of surprise -- and a little bit of fear. The teenager takes a deep breath, her shoulders rising as she introduces herself (who needs no intruction, really), and states her business.

    And Quietly, Phoebe's head tilts. Talia would be able to see the gauze around her throat, mostly hiddne under a fashionable silk choker, and she motions to the chair across from her for Talia to join her.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia would glance down over at the gauze bandage on PHoebe's throat, and go to slide down over next to her, "Hello. Do you need whomever was the cause of that.. Recently dealt with?" The wound was perhpas fresh if it was recently bandaged, so an offer was put over on the table. The highest ranking woman in the League of Assassins considered such a thing appropriate to lead in with.
    It was polite after all. Phoebe was a friend of Damian's and it would be doing her a favor if accepted. of course, said favor was obvious enough what the result would be if taken up.
    "And what method is easies tfor you to communicate with?" Yes, she knew what it was but it was still polite. Didn't want to freak the subject out.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe looks around, and then she brings her fingers to her left temple, and brushes them forward, towards Talia.

    It was a simple spell. Broadcasting her voice mentally through magic, in a small setting it worked best. Her eyebrows rise up, her lips pursing.

    <A literal demon, in this case. Thank you, though. How would you like to be addressed, madam? I can hear you fine, but unfortunately,> she motions to her throat <currently a little frogy.>

    Depreciating understatements, but she's forcing herself to be relaxed.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would slide in to the seat and hold her hands up and over on the table. Showing she had no weapons in them and keeping them visible so that she could not make a fast draw for a weapon without having to move them fully about.
    "As you see fit." She would reply back after a moment. "And yes, we have privacy. And please, do call me Talia. And demon or not such things can be dealt with." The offer stands over.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <I'm working on it, really, I think people rather enjoy me being quiet for once.> Phoebe replies with a small smile, <So, you are coming into Gotham to check on your son, I can tell y ou that he is doing well, and as happy as I have seen him. And been very supportive of my continued existence.> she replies, her dark eyes looking to Talia a moment, and she brings her fingers up.

    <I suspect you know all the rest of the family.>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would smile, "Good. I'm.. Sorry that I've not been a part of his life as I should have. I've not tended to him properly as his mother. But he has a better place with his father and all of you. He has friends and people whom treat him well." Empathy is not her thing.
    But she's long since practiced to feign it nearly flawlessly.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <He speaks highly of your skills and lessons. You cannot doubt that your influence has made him what he is, and his skill is something he should be proud of. And yes. He has friends, and people who treat him well. And watch out for him.> Phoebe replies, her calloused fingers curling over a page of her textbook.

    <I would like to think all those who have earned the title of parent did they best they could, with what they had.>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would nod over, "Yes, thank you. I still was not as attentive of my responsibilities to him as I should have. He has too much of his grandfather in him thanks to my deference." Whether or not that was truthful and her admitting a failure would be nearly impossible to tell by her facial inspections.
    "And don't bother lying in such a way. Quite a great many parents don't bother or treat children horribly."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <And in the circles of abandoned children and the foster system we call them 'genetic donors' not parents. Damian's has earned the title Father for him. Three of mine have died. I'm something of a bad luck charm.> Phoebe counters with her explaination, raising her eyebrows to Talia.

    <Have you earned the title?>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would lean in over and move to tap at her fingers. "That is part of what I'm here to find out. If he is doing far better here than he did in the years growing up with me emotinoally.. Then yes, I might have to consider that." That she has at least up front failed in her purpose.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <At least you're as honest as expected.> Phoebe comments, though she is very, very aware of how close Talia is, and the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Her shoulders and jaw clench with the close proximity of the deadly woman.

    Phoebe takes a breath, and she turns back to her book.

    <I consider him a brother to me. There are times he is happy. He shows concern for the people around him in his way.>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would nod gently, "That is better than when he was under my tutlage and that of his grandfather." She plays up a level of sadness here. Happiness that Damian is better. Sadness that it had to be at the expense of her own care of him which never let him be that.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <We are all formed by the environments that we have grown in, Talia.> Phoebe replies to the assassin, the Daughter of the Demon, and she looks over to her quietly. She has a softness to her eyes. This girl, who carried other names before it was changed to Wayne, curls her fingers against the table a moment as she regards the highly dangerous assassin, and she turns in her chair to face her a moment, studying her, trying to Read her in the same way that the other bats might.

    <Did you let him go with the knowledge he might choose to stay in Gotham?>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would fold her hands together now that since Phoebe would seemingly be relaxing to her an dopening up. She makes a show of twiddling her thumbs and pursing her lips. Light agitation and a show of consideration. After a few moments she would shake her head. "No, I did not. Perhaps for the best. If I had, then his grandfather probably would have not permitted his departure of his own initaitive."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <I see.> Phoebe replies, and she turns the page of her book a moment.

    <Very brave of you both; I would imagine your father is possibly even more terrifying than yourself.> she remarks, in a friendly manner, as she closes her eyes a moment.

    <Are you trying to win him back?>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would shake ehr head over, "No. What happened between us cannot be forgiven easily. Nor do I have any right to expect him to. Forgiveness must be earned and I have not done anything to begin such. I want to.. Make sure that he is okay>"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <He lives, and he is my brother by choice. And I would protect and watch over him if he was not so good at taking care of himself.> Phoebe replies in a friendly manner, shoulders forced down, smile on her lips, eyes closed. The window to the soul.

    <Any other communication to him or about him, I'm afraid, would probably be best put to him. Shall I let him know you were inquiring, Talia?>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul wuold chuckle, "And if he knew that you would I'm sure that he would deny the aid would be needed at all. That stubbornness he takes from his father." That would hopefully get a strong, strong laugh of agreement from Phoebe in whatever way she could.

"I would.. Like to approach him but it would be on his own terms."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <I'm affraid stubborness is a trait that is shared among his family, both blood and adopted.> Phoebe replies, her face getting a very Wet Cat expression as she lets out a sigh.

    She's including herself. She's stubborn. Ask any of her mentors.

    <In that case, Talia, is there anything this obviously very normal college freshman can do further for you?> she asks, and raises a hand <Polish a skull, perhaps?>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would just smile over, "I'm sure that the worst of it comes from his father. It's the thing that he's inherited the most. That and his independent streak. They're better served with you whom are his family in blood and spirit than with I. And no, nothing mere. I would ask for you to extend my well wishes to him but such things are best done in person or they come off as avoidance."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe narrows her eyes at Talia, and her head tilts back a little more, showing just the top of the gauze beneath her silk collar.

    <You are a very curious woman, Talia. And dangerous. I think under different circumstances we could have been friends.> she comments. Becuase, obviously, she doesn't hang around with other highly dangerous people.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would lean over, "Perhaps. Perhaps not. But now it is too late for those circumstances. And I care litlte for what might have been. I have regrets, yes.. But dwelling too much on what can never be merely leads one to lapse into permanent regret and guilt."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <Trust me. Life is far too short for that for someone like me, but your advice is heeded.> Phoebe states, and she stretches her fingers a moment, looking to the stern image of Solomon Wayne above them, and then back to Talia.

    <Well, I suppose if you ever want to get out of the assassin life and work in medical, I could lend a hand there. Otherwise my hands are somewhat tied.> she smiles.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would smile sadly, "Perhaps. My way of life is not one that for most fits. My means and ends are for the greater good. But I understand that for most they do not agree. And it is not something that we can leave as.. Agree to disagree on, I believe is the term. For that I am very sorry." There is true regret in her eyes.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe looks out over the library again a moment.

    <No, I understand. I've done things that most people would have called... well. Let's just say they're not things you're going to find in a yearbook.> Phoebe regards Talia with a strange sense of casualness, and for a moment she feels so much older than eighteen.

    Her fingers curled a moment, and she breathed out quietly as she curls fingers against the table again.

    <But like I said, we are the results of the environments. Sometimes, you need to dip into that gray area to get the job done. There's rarely any black or white, and sometimes you have to make the Bad Decision to get the Good Result. Complexities beyond just what we see, or experience.>

    She's quiet.

    <Different circumstances.>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would smile over, "Yes, sometimes it is that way. But I am not going to change my mind and my goals. They are for the greater good. I will take what penance and punishment I will for them,e ven if it will damn me in the end. It likely already is. But if my suffering will lead to a better world then there is no price that I would not be willing to pay. Do forgive me.>" She would add over after a few moments.
    "But it is what I have come to accept. It is not the path that Damian has chosen. If one does not have belief and faith in it.. IN our way.. Then it is not the one to take."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <Better words rarely spoken.> Phoebe gives a sad smile <Not so different in outlooks then, but methodology. To our suffering hearts then.> Phoebe jokingly offers her water bottle up for an imaginary toast to Talia.

    <Don't worry about being Damned, though. That's already a mess on the backend of things.>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would smile, "i can imagine. And I don't think that no matter the circumstance it's something htat would stay with me for long." That said vaguely.. Of course, it's whether Phoebe knwos about the Lazarus Pits or not.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    <Mmm.> Phoebe agrees. And she sips her water with her eyebrows raised.

    <Just don't be cavalier. Then you end up with no larynx.>

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would just smile, "Oh, I have lost many things. The capacity for speech is one that I shall not have to endure."