14436/You Da Best

You Da Best
Date of Scene:	16 March 2023
Location:	<text>
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Barbara Gordon, Elektra Natchios

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Barbara Gordon has posed:
On the outskirts of bustling Budapest, Batgirl and Elektra stand outside an old, abandoned cathedral. They have reached out to Lucien, the notorious Lycan leader, in hopes of proposing a tentative alliance to storm a medical research laboratory across town. However, they are uncertain whether Lucien will agree to such a risky proposal.

The night is dark and rainy, with the sound of drops pattering against the stones surrounding them. Batgirl and Elektra remain vigilant, scanning their surroundings for any potential threats. They know that Lucien is a powerful and dangerous adversary, but they are willing to take the risk to achieve their mission.

As they wait, anticipation and uncertainty hang thick in the air. Will Lucien agree to meet them? Will he be open to their proposal? Only time will tell, but Batgirl and Elektra are determined to see this through. The rain continues to fall, casting an eerie atmosphere over the abandoned cathedral, as they wait for their meeting with the Lycan leader.

Earlier that day, Babs had stopped by a electronics hobby store, where she'd made a purchase of three drones from the supply of standard open market drones for sale. She'd then made a stop at a hardware store where she picked up a few more supplies. Within a few hours of that, she'd spray painted them matte black, and attached a number of personal portal camera equipment to them, built back in Gotham, and included in her supply shipment here to this far away land... Here and now, in the rainy night, Batgirl is firing those drones up. They are not 'bat shaped' mind you, but they are functional, if a bit louder than her normal drones back home.

"These should at least do the trick... for awhile." The caped crusader says, her cape and hair flowing freely behind her shoulders in the rainy Budapest night, as the three drones fan out and fly off in to the rain.... disappearing up in to the sky. Moments later, Babs' wrist computer is coming online with the camera feeds coming down from the sky above.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Rain. Darkness.

"So much for going to a new city. Seems like we are right back in Gotham." Elektra comments of the weather, the rain slicking down her black tight suit, sash around her waist holding her sais. On her back are a pair of blades, silver. And her wrists are also ladden with more utensils of death. The life of a ninja. She is looking up at the rain. "But at least we will always have the spas." or will they? They still have to go to one in their stay here. And it would be sinful if they skipped it. Of course that it all depends on the success of this mission.

And how alive they are in the end.

"I have always preferred the traditional ways." Elektra comments as those drones go airborne, "But I will admit they -do- come in handy." arms folded she watches them start the surveillance.

"How likely do you think they will want to go for our throats instead of striking a deal?"

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"It's great, isn't it?' Comes Batgirl's dry humored response, her eyes down on the wrist computer that shines up across her face, illuminating it in the dark corner of the cathedral's closed-down front facade. "I feel like I'm just in a new part of Gotham...." She adds with a smirk making a appearance on her visible lower face.

The drones are feeding Babs a view of the city around the cathedral, cobblestone streets, most buildings are closed off here as a wave of economic woes hit this side of town about half a decade ago, not all unlike Gotham's various rundown neighborhoods.

"Mmm... I'll admit, a spa does sound superior to this, and we're here because of you... I'll remind you. So when we go. you're paying." She glances over to Elektra, her green eyes sparkling with amusement at that before she looks back down to the part-screen part-holographic display on her gauntlet. "We're not impeding the Lycans, as far as I know. So if they turn on us, it's because they're in on all of this too... and benefit from your friend's demise."

On the wrist computer, Babs is watching rooftops, streets, and when she spots some motion from her computer surrounding it with white squares, she draws in a breath. "They're coming." She announces quietly. "Motion to the east, and south. No sign of Lucien yet, specifically, but I see six of them so far."

She raises her head up at the sound of something across the street, a metal can tipping over in an alleyway, followed by the classic yowl of a fat alleyway cat running off.

"Just like home..." Batgirl mutters...

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Just a few miles away ...." The assassin's smirk felt on her voice as she says it. Elektra's gaze is then felt on Barbara when she talks about the spas and she allows a touch of a snort to come down her nostrils. Which is pretty much all she has to say about who's paying for the spa. But there's amusement on those dark eyes too.

"We aren't in their way. But we killed quite a few of them back in Gotham. They may want revenge." she says, "Besides, we are talking about a Death Dealer, and Selene is one of their nemesis." she points out. "But at the same time Lucien had been wanting to help us somewhat so ..., it's complex enough."

And Elektra is here tonight. So she is betting on that they will at least want to hear them out. Which is something.

A sharp look to the source of that sound but then she focuses on the approaching lycans. Or at least the direction the drones point them to be coming from. Hand rests loosely on a Sai but she hasn't drawn it yet. Should count for something, right?

Barbara Gordon has posed:
As Lucien emerges from the alleyway that the cat has just fled from, he walks slowly toward the old cathedral with his hands in his long leather trench coat pockets. Rain drips down his face as he glances up toward the sky, before his gaze shifts across the street toward the building where Batgirl and Elektra are waiting. He stops on the sidewalk in front of the cathedral and stares up at the women, his eyes seemingly able to pierce through the shadows of the old abandoned church's facade entryway as if he knows precisely where they are. The rain continues to fall around him, adding to the tension of the moment, as Lucien stands motionless, waiting for the women to make their move.

Meanwhile, Batgirl's three drones fly high in the sky above, scanning the city block around the cathedral for any additional signs of Lycan movement. Suddenly, they detect eight shapes moving in the dark, setting up a perimeter around the church. Batgirl views the information on her gauntlet display, taking note of the potential danger. She looks up to see Lucien crossing toward them, and then over to Elektra to relay the information. "They're all around us, but seem to be holding. Looks like we're at least good for a civil chat to start off with," she says, a hint of caution in her voice. The tension in the air is palpable as they wait for Lucien to approach, unsure of what lies ahead.

The sound of a local police siren can be heard off in the distance of the rainy night, adding a bit of additional Gotham-like familiarity to this situation, though the type of siren is noteably different from those you'd find in the GCPD employ.

Lucien simply waits for the women, his penetrating eyes staring at where he seems to know they are.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The approach is followed by the assassin's gaze. Dramatic. Stating who's in charge. Yes, Elektra knows it well, making sure they know who's in charge here, and that this is their turf. She has done those kind of entrances in the past.

"They should had brought more than eight if they mean to hold us down." A bit of bravado. But also to ease the tension if there's any on Batgirl. she knows this isn't the usual Gotham fight. Nor is it usual for Elektra to be dealing with such forces, even if she has dealt with the supernatural before. Yet one wrong move here could mean death.

Just like Elektra likes it.

"Let's go to him." She says to Barbara, "This is his turf, he has earned that respect." she unfolds her arms and begins to approach.

"Good evening." She begins, "It's a long way from where we first met, but here we are again." she looks around, then up into the night sky. "You know why we are here, don't you?"

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Lucien watches intently as the two women emerge from the shadowy front of the cathedral, making their way down the steps to stand closer to him. The rain-scented wind whips his long leather trench coat around his lower legs as he looks upon Batgirl's gold and black cape fluttering around her body. He remains motionless, assessing the situation and taking in the sight of the women before him. Despite the tension in the air, Lucien remains calm and composed, his keen senses taking in every detail of the meeting. The rain continues to fall heavily around them, casting a surreal aura over the scene as the three of them stand silently, waiting for the conversation to begin.

The sounds of the city's ambient background noises fill the air, along with the droplets of rain falling across the pavement of the street, and stone columns.

When Elektra speaks up first, Lucien places his piercing brown eyes upon her, then upon hearing her words he shows her a reserved smile, upon his stubble-strewn face. "Your endless quest to return your Vampire to your arms." He says in his accented English. His eyes dance over to Batgirl. "Why you are here.. is far more curious to me. You put yourself at great risk coming to this city, Bat. Many of my people would love to see your suit covered in red, much like that lovely hair of yours." He speaks in a gentlemanly way, even if the subject matter is otherwise.

His eyes dance back over to Elektra though, and as he shifts his weight very slightly where he stands, he settles the intros and simply speaks again. "I assume you know where she is, but are too helpless to recover her on your own? So you wish to ... make a proposition."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The posturing from Lucien is expected, even welcomed. Elektra knows how this goes and she also knows Lucien can't just be seen helping the two of them without something in return, or being seen as superior to the rest of the lycans. Being a leader is hard like that. There's a brief exchange of gazes with Barbara before her focus is back on Lucien, her own posture firm but non-threatening.

Or at least as non-threatening as one of the world's most reknowned assassins can be.

"We did not come here for blood." A beat, "Not yours anyway. Or your people." a look around the dark streets, "You know what will happen if we are successful. The kind of .., retribution that will fall on them for what they did. This will help you as much as it will us."

"And all we would need? A distraction while we get through to the building. Semira's." Elektra reveals, "An open path to it would take their attention long enough for us to slip in unnoticed..." she then glancing at Barbara to see if she'd want to add anything to the deal.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Lucien's smile widens at Elektra's proposal of a simple distraction from the Lycans. He looks between Elektra and Batgirl before shaking his head and responding with a hint of weariness in his voice. "Normally, I would easily deny such a thing, but you should know something," he says. "Just before your messenger delivered his message to me, I spoke with a friend of yours... Kraven. He indicated you both would be here, and he... well, a double cross is what he desires. But I'm... I'm weary of this. I simply wish for one thing. Revenge. Revenge upon the Vampires, and their demise. I'm growing tired of working with Kraven and his underhanded methods of subterfuge and deception. I know he plans to deceive me, just as he does all of his own. He's a sniveling worm." Lucien pauses for a moment, his gaze moving from Batgirl to Elektra before he continues. "So, my choice then is the two of you... or him... or... neither, I suppose."

"We're not here to make a sales pitch." Batgirl speaks up, her cape and hair fluttering in the wind off to her right side, her hands down at her sides. "We've learned enough about this to know that if that is truly what you want, than releasing this 'Selene' is in your best interest too. Telling her the truth... of what they did to her, will benefit you in your cause." She motions to Elektra on her left. "Having her be the one who informs her of all of it too... could not make it a more convincing source, either. So yes, we may not be here to 'sell' this proposal to you, but the facts are what they are. These Vampires hid this Selene, for a reason... they fear her. Kraven fears her...."

Once more Lucien's chin lowers upon Batgirl saying these words, but his eyes remain up on them, as raindrops trace across his browline, and drip from his slick-backed hair, and cascade down from his thin beard.

"Compelling. Truths often are..." He finally says, in a more ghostly tone of his well mannered voice.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Kraven. That's a thorn in her side that still needs solving. The distaste is visible in the assassin's expression when Lucien speaks of the vampire traitor. And his conclusions on his traitorous nature seem to go hand to hand with what Elektra and Barbara already know. "Sooner or later that's what he will do. I know his type." she gestures, "I have no interest in the vampires' well being." she then says. "Only one."

"So as far as we are woking for that same objective you know I won't be double crossing you. And in return ..., " she nods at Barbara when she finishes telling Lucien how things are and what they have to gain.

The rain falling around them creates a pregnant pause as they want for Lucien to decide whether to help them or not. In truth Elektra knows that a refusal may very well dictate a fight. A fight that may not be ready to take. But the assassin has fought against harder odds. And considering who she is partnering with right now? She favors their chances..

"... the best argument in a world of lies and deception." She answers when Lucien start speaking of what truths are.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
When Elektra speaks of only 'one' vampire being of concern to her, Batgirl spares a look over at her companion on this journey. She stares at her for a lingering few seconds, because the implications of that statement... they're romantically beautiful. Endearing like few other moments Barbara Gordon has seen in the years of her bearing witness to so much ugly in the world. It's the kind of moments that make her want to do these things, to help people in need. Does Elektra deserve the help? Who's to say? Batgirl is indebted to her, and Batman indicated she'd be a useful ally, if worked with intelligently.

What about this Selene person though...? That part was still uncertain to Barbara.

When she looks back on to Lucien, he is simply taking in a light breath, his dark brows raised up, his chin slightly down. His eyes are switching between the two women on the steps of this abandoned cathedral. "We will help you with a distraction. Even the distraction alone will benefit my people, in some small way, afterall. However, we will not be rushing in to it without a measure of intelligent approach." He pauses then, his chin rising again to a level position.

"We will scout the laboratory. We know of it already, but ... due to it containing a fair number of Human workers, we have avoided it for a desire to keep their wrath out of our desires... But, those who will seek us ultimately do not care one way or another. My people will spend the next few nights watching the location, then we shall contact you to tell you when we are ready. From there, you wait... and when we strike, your chance will be on you to create. Selene's survival, through all of this, does not benefit me if she continues to murder my people in the name of her Coven. If she fails to see the error in her ways... then she will remain an enemy to us... and we will seek her end."

His eyes fall upon Elektra then, for obvious reaction observations to that statement.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
It's ironic that for an assassin that has taken so many lives she now is so intent in saving a single one. As if there was little else that mattered. As if redemption could be found at the end of this road. Or happiness. Does Elektra deserve such, though? Somehow it doesn't seem to matter to her for once in her life she is not thinking only of herself but also someone else. She is oblivious to that look from Barbara though, eyes ahead on Lucien, watching his expressions, listening to his words.

It's a dangerous gambit what he proposes. Rife with possibilities for betrayal, "You are taking a chance, like we are." she then taking her eyes from Lucien to look over to the darkness, where she knows the other lycans are. "Yet your war has been going on for centuries. And taking this gambit .., you know it could change the tide."

With unknown consequences if the lycans win. Would they try to conquer humanity? Go back to Gotham? Right now Elektra doesn't care. One problem at a time.

"We have a deal." She then says with a sharp nod. "We will wait a few nights. And we will be ready."

Finally her gaze turns to rest on Barbara and she nods at her.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
In the distance, the sound of the Budapest police is growing a little louder, the sirens getting a little closer. Things like this are things that Lucien is keenly aware of. What the women say just have the man silently listening, mulling over his options, and the threats to his life-long goals that could lay within. Ultimately though, standing here in the light rain, the infamous Lycan pack leader just nods very faintly.

"Three days." He says. "Expect a call."

And with that, he turns around, his hands having never left the pockets of his long leather coat, the brown leather shedding rain water as he steps back out in to the cobblestone streetway. There are no cars within sight, as this side of the city is rarely traveled less one absolutely must... but down in the distance, to the east, the visible lights of a police cruiser can be seen bouncing off the walls of a building.

Something went down just a handful of streets away... The Cops aren't headed here, most likely, but it's just another sign of something terrible always on the prowl in this area.

When Lucien steps back in to the alleyway, Babs gives a glance to her gauntlet screen, and then looks to Elektra. "That could've gone worse." She dryly says, with the rain dripping down her own face, her cape back around her shoulders to mostly conceal her formfitting bat-suit beneath. "His people are pulling back too. I think we're in the clear. What's our next move then?" She asks the assassin, the one seeking answers here.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Just like Gotham. There's always something terrible in the corner but unlike that city it doesn't have a host of vigilantes protecting it, maybe that's why it's such a sanctuary for vampires and werewolves. Elektra watches the lycan leader leave and soon enough it's only the sirens and the rain falling on them. The assassin lets out a breath, exhaling some of the tension away.

"Could had gone better too. Three days. Plenty of time for things to go wrong." Always the glass half-empty.

As for next moves. "We go back to our safehouse and get ready. Even with the distraction it won't be easy getting into the place so we should prepare." a moment of hesitation and then she finally tells Barbara.

"You know you don't have to go in if you don't want to. You have done more than enough already. I ..., do not know I will be able to repay you." she tells the other woman in a frank manner.

"Besides paying for the spas we will definitely be having one of these days."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Batgirl puts her eyes back down upon the gauntlet screen. She's watching her makeshift drones as they continue running the programmed AI patrol that had been installed in to them. One of them can be seen up in the air to the south, and its fanblades quietly heard as it sweeps over head to fly directly over the two women down below, up and over the church itself...

"The spas are payment enough." Batgirl says, lifting her head up and turning her cowl-covered face over to Elektra to show her a light smile on her shimmering wet skin exposed by the open face portion of the mask.

"And yes, I said spas, plural." She adds with a twinkle of added fun.

"Come on, lets get out of here. I have some research I want to do on the lab itself, see if we can't get some more modern floor plans, above and below ground levels..."

She turns back to the cathedral then, to make their way back to the alley where they parked the bikes that they purchased earlier that same day.