12916/Al Ghul Family Time

Al Ghul Family Time
Date of Scene:	29 September 2022
Location:	Warehouses - Chinatown
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne, Phoebe Beacon

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Talia al Ghul has posed:
It had been a little simpler to setup a meeting this time. Once again delivered in the traditional way mid-patrol of simply a shuriken thrown over into a wall with a note upon it, giving a time and place with the Al Ghul family crest.
    It wasn't particularly necessary, but it was something that Talia was too conditioned to not do or simply had too much fun doing. So, on the rough evening in Gotham, she would be waiting for Damian's arrival, legs curled up underneaht her in a lotus position.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Of course Damian had received the 'note' from Talia. Though he was a little less than enthused about alerting the Family about the meeting. Due to the recent reports from Stephanie and Phoebe, he felt obligated to inform them all that there was something going on tonight at the Chinatown warehouses. Last meeting between the two was the old League of Assassins HQ. It was abandoned after Talia had revealed to Batman and himself that he was Bruce's son, after that ploy, the HQ had been abandoned, though there was no trace of what was once there left.

  Robin's uniform was lightly scuffed from a night on patrol, some minor scuffles tonight, and a local drug operation busted and kept from expanding further around Chinatown.

  He had been watching form afar, away from any other Family members that were going to show,she sat in the lotus position much like he did in moments of contemplation, trying to quell a stormy mind, which he is still attempting to figure out. After long enough, he leapt from the perch, extending his cape and gliding to the rooftop, landing softly on the roof. "Mother." He called, his hood pulled up and those glowing eyelets shining a soft white through the darkness of the night.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm had elected to accompany Damian this evening, relegated to 'light patrol' -- and given her good raport with Talia and her ability to spirit others away on the quick, she thought it may be worth her while.

    Someone had packed a 'for sibling drama' package for her, and as she brings herself on a good vantage point, her domino mask coming into the conversation. She crouches in the darkness, the blue of her optics dimmed as Robin receives a message.

    >In position. Be careful.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
She was sure they were expecting something. Not sure what it would be. That was part of her calculus. That obviously they knew she had some sort of agenda here. Some ulterior motive. But that wihtout any sort of intelligence on it, that they would have to let Damian go ahead anyways in teh hopes of ferreting out something more. And so, Talia Al Ghul would wait. Seeing if she could spot where her watchers were. The obvious ones, the decoy ones, and the hidden ones. It was all sort of a game. A back and forth routine of feints and jabs from the shadows.
    "Damian, it's good to see you my son. I've been reviewing reports of what you've been up to here in the city. Your skills have grown by leaps and bounds. Better than I or the League could ever have taught you." She leads with a normal Talia routine. Praise of performance. It's likely what they would be expecting. If they assumed she was here to play a role.. Then she would stick to it for now.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian was sure that Batman himself had a plan that he didn't revel to anyone as well, but that was the game they all played: Deceptions behind feints, behind jukes. It was a never-ending cycle between the al Ghul line and the Waynes.

  There was a small part of Damian that he barely let show that had hoped that he could bridge the gap between the two sides, to be 'normal' at least in some semblance, but there was no such progress where that was concerned.

  As he approached his mother, he tapped his forefinger and middle finger against the palm of his glove, a small keyboard setup was embedded in there to tap out a message. >She won't harm me. But there is at least a sniper out looking for you and the others. Stay low.

  "You wouldn't expect any less from me. But that is not why you asked me here, is it?" He answers, of course, the way he was raised by the League, you either excelled, or you perished.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The Batman may have a plan, but it was the siblings who might look out for one another.

    Phoebe shifts her weight a little as she breathes out, and raised her head, dimming her optics further and stretching her hands as she begins to peer through the darkness.

    She was expecting trouble. It's Gotham. There's always trouble.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to stand up and over now, moving to take her hands together to give a formal bow over to Damian. Was Talia playing a game here of her own? ALmost certainly. Would they know what her intents were? Perhpas. Was she here to test them? Almost certainly as well.
    But, ehre she was on their turf. No threats, no legion behind her, no taunts. Out in the open and speaking casually. She was mixing it up well past her normal psychological profile would indicate.
    "I wanted your permission to come to your father's birthday party."
    Cue Phoebe perhaps doing an epic spittake.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Nevermind Phoebe, Damian practically jumps back in shock at the question posited to Damian. His head rears back and the white covering his eyes is on full display.

  "Excuse me? You want to go to /Father's/ birthday?" Then there is the fact that his mother is asking the wrong person. "And you expect him to be fine with you there? No, you plan on catching him off-guard." He does take a moment to think about it, holding his hand open completely, showing that he isn't talking with anyone but himself.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm was takenentirely offguard by the idea of Talia asking permission to do something, and doubly so for attending Bruce's birthday party.

    She frowns a moment. There wasn't anyone else up here that she could sense, and she tilts her head, her fingers curling a moment as she sends a follow up text to Damian.

    >Did... she just ask to come to Batman's birthday bash? I heard that correctly. This is... kind of worrying actually.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would fold her hands together behind her back, "Yes, Damian. I want your permission for it. I understand that my presence could be.. Disruptive, and I wished for your assent to be there. If you feel it would be inappropriate for me to do so, then by all means say so. If you are unsure, if you could ask your father if he would permit it, then I would appreciate it. I.. Just wished to see you and your family all together enjoying yourselves."

Damian can see just a -little- of the wicked gleam over in her eyes as she would watch his head rearing back. She was.. Stiffling laughter.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian keeps looking at Talia as she explains herself. "You may come. But you will have to deal with Father. Either way, it would be an interesting night." The only thing he could type out in regards to Phoebe's questions is >Yes.

  "So, you have my personal blessing, Mother."

  It was probably the answer no one would have expected, but he knew Talia. Even so, the look on Jason's face when she shows up would be priceless, he'd have red on his face even without the helmet on his head.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Yeah, that made Phoebe lose the 'sibling drama package', probably dispatched by Stephanie, which consisted of a coke and popcorn.

    Damian giving Talia his blessing to come to the party. The party for Bruce Wayne, not Batman, where they all get to pretend to be normal people in the world's greatest improve performance.

    Luckily, pigeons love popcorn.

    Phoebe narrows her eyes though, stepping closer to the edge of the ledge, still shielded by chimneys from any light.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would fold her hands behind her back, waiting for her son to give his permission. "Thank you Damian. I will make sure to keep alow profile and cause no disruptions. I promise." She gives her word on it without prompting. No games, no back and forth on it. Then, perhaps to make the situation -even- stranger..
    Talia Al Ghul initiates a gentle hug over of her son.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     There was another shock there, enough to make his hood lower, his fresh crew cut on display, and his green BatTech mask now seen fully. Though he knew someone was watching, he pulled his arms around Talia for the moment, luckily the night's activities weren't too intense for Damian, only lightly smelling of sweat and hardly anything else. The Bats had been taught to not use things that were potent of scent, too many Rogues had heightened senses.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe is just sort of... staring. She is up on her perch, drawing down since it doesn't appear that Damian neeed any help, slowly letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Damian would be all right. Maybe Talia would be too. And who knows... maybe the birthday party will give them a chance to see Damian... well...

    ... is there *anyone* in the family who actually likes Gotham socialite duties?

Talia al Ghul has posed:
There would be another soft laugh from Talia. Then a gentle kiss is given to his cheek, "FOrgive me, my son." If Talia were anyone else at the moment, she might be going on abouth ow he was 'cute' or some such thing. "I have missed you. I'm sorry that this took so long to arrange."
    She would look up and over in Balm's direction. "And hello, quiet one. I do hope that you and your other friends are finding the night relaxing."

Damian Wayne has posed:
     >Not a word to anyone about this. And I will not say anything about being spotted.

  Damian's offering is merciful, at least. Moreso than he'd give any of the Robins before him. "At least you did not take three years this time to follow up." He does look up to where Balm had set up, it wasn't worth keeping up the charade.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm swings herself up and over one of the AC units. It's not unexpected. There's a reason why a Beacon makes a terrible bat. She silently just gives a raise of her hand in awkwardness, and settles.

    >What, surely there was just an attempt to stab one another that was so quick I missed it.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would just shake her head over and le tou t asigh, "I've missed you growing up to a man, my son. And that.. Is my own pain. And my own fault. And.. You've become a better man than you would have been if you stayed with me." And his grandfasther, by her admission.

Damian Wayne has posed:
     Damian looks back to his mother, and answers Balm's comment. "No, there was no stabbing."

  "So, I will see you at the party then, Mother." He adds, before raising up his hood again, there was affection in his voice, but there was also more to do tonight around Gotham. That was the constant in Gotham.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    >Thanks. Now your mom not only knows about my girlfriend, but that I was willing to lie and say you tried to stab one another. These things record, you know!

    Phoebe's text-based admonishings probably won't make too much of a difference as she, too, disappears over a roof top, and heads out on her own (light duty) patrol.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would laugh softly, "Good, then I'll look forwards to it, my son. GOod evening. And. . Happy hunting." Talia would move to disengage, starting to walk in the opposite direction.