15134/Cats and Assassins with the Silver Spoon

Cats and Assassins with the Silver Spoon
Date of Scene:	12 June 2023
Location:	Library - Wayne Manor
Synopsis:	Selina and Talia talk.. And Cassandra comes in and works on reading.
Cast of Characters:	Talia al Ghul, Selina Kyle, Cassandra Cain

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Talia al Ghul has posed:
Sitting over in the Library is Talia Al Ghul. There is a teapot set out, and some small snacks. Talia has taken the point of making herself somewhat more visible around Stately Wayne Manor - though it's shown in a rising bit of irritation in her form the last few days. But still, the effort is there as she simply drinks and sulks.

Selina Kyle has posed:
Security monitors pick up a black Jaguar convertible pulling up to the Manor. Facial recognition matches Selina Kyle, cross-referencing a long rap sheet of her suspected activity for further perusal.

For all that, Alfred greets her warmly upon arrival. And he is a bit curious as to the stated nature of her visit.

A little while later, Alfred knocks on the door to the library. "Miss Kyle is here to see you, Miss al Ghul. Shall I freshen the tea, ladies?"

"Thank you, Alfred." Selina replies, with that coy smile of hers. She is dressed casually in close-fitting jeans, pumps, and a loose, silk top. Turning to address Talia, then, she adds. "I hope you don't mind the company."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would take a moment over to adjust from her position, "Oh, Ms. Kyle. It has been awhile. Ever since that little break and entering game we did.. What was it, six days ago? Maybe seven?" That dropped so cavalierly. The two had done nothing of the sort - but Talia did presume at every moment she was being watched and monitored so theleast she could do was engage in a little fun.

"Some company is greatly appreciated. I hope that you've been doing well when it comes to keeping yourself preoccupied lately?" She would inquire. "And it's always a pleasure to have you on hand."

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle lifts a slender brow at the question, but she rolls with it all the same. "Was it that long ago?" she replies, stepping up to settle smoothly across from Talia. Selina continues the conversation while Alfred takes away the teapot for a refill.

"Oh, you know me. A girl has to keep herself entertained somehow." Crossing one leg over the other, she doesn't comment on Talia's apparent mood. That's hardly girl-talk. "Hopefully you haven't been too bored in my absence."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
The things that she does for her small indulgences. If Bruce is going to be in his full watchful mode, the least she can do is keep him on his toes. A quick acknowledgement is given by the rapid shift o fher face. "Thank you Alfred, it's lovely to have company. And thank you again for letting me stay here." Talia has long come to the conclusion that Alfred is the one that makes the decisions on things at the home and that what he says Bruce will do.

"Oh, not bored. There's been osme things going on." HEr face goes to a frown. "Are you on good terms with Cassandra or not?"

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle's head tilts a little at the question. "We are acquainted, nothing more." she replies. "Not due to any contrivance on either part, to be sure. Circumstances just haven't permitted anything more." A moment to regard Talia, then she asks. "Is this the part where you tell me something heinous about her?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would nod and take a breath. "Her.. MOther has some sort of plans for her that she seems to be putting into activation." Her expression goes to something with an actual great deal of concern. She goes to elaborate after a second. "Shiva."

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle lifts both brows at that. "Shiva is her mother? That certainly complicates things, doesn't it? Our resident Dark Knight is filling his house with assassins. No wonder anyone hardly notices the cat burglar."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would close her eyes, "Yes. So we're not sure if it's Shiva directly or merely a byproduct of something else. But it's another complication for the girl who's had enough of them already." Cassandra's had by far the worst draw in lif eof anyone at the Manor. By a considerable margin

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle lets out an exaggerated sigh, then. "He can't help it, can he?" she asks. "Adopting all the strays, I mean. It's like he thinks he can personally save each and every one, one at a time."

Cassandra Cain has posed:
And that's when the girl in question walks in. She's topless, looking entirely bored, and glances at both of the ladies talking. Yes, topless.

She walks right past, not commenting, and goes to get a book from a shelf. The scars all up and down her back are almost epic all on their own.

However, she says nothing.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would nod gently, "It makes him a better man." Whehter or not he's always capable of handling them and giving them the structure they need. But bless him, his heart is always there. "I'm not exactly sure what is going about.. If there's anything in motion or we're just seeing what's built up in the girl." Sitting, having tea with Selina in the library, talking.

Looking over at Cassandra, "Ah, hello, care to join us for some tea?" She would inquire. Not phased at all by Cassandra's state (or lack thereof) attire

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle pauses for a moment, her gaze following Cassandra as the girl simply walks past. "Have I been away so long that no one mentioned the more relaxed dress code?" she muses aloud. "Alfred went to refresh the teapot, and I expect he'll bring more sustenance as well. We would love for you to join us." Perhaps Alfred will bring at least a doily as well.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cassandra turns her head when addressed. She turns it back, looking at the book she's pulled down, then says, "No." Not into tea, apparently. Or perhaps it's a more general refusal. However she does sit down a moment, pulling the book open.

To be fair, it's entirely possible that she just doesn't understand the issue. The book she's got is...a quick glance would make it clear. It's a children's reading guide.

She sits, hunching over it, and starts making little movements with her lips. Mouthing the words.

It...was...a...

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would look over at Cassandra softly and sadly. "Would you care to have us read to you?" Something about the broken girl just made Talia melt a little bit. She was messed up herself, and had in turn messed up her son. So there was that leevl of awareness for seeing the same sort of broken child.

"There will be ice cream. Chocolate." THere was no chocolate ice cream present.

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle simply watches for the moment, assessing Cassandra and also noting Talia's reaction. How surprisingly caring of her. Almost... maternal.

Selina has certainly seen her share of girls with problems. Growing up on the streets will do that. She also knows her limits, and has learned the hard way about jumping in without the full story.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cassandra Cain looks up from what she's doing when Talia speaks. She tracks the woman's mouth, clearly reading her lips. But she also glances at Selina, who made no sound. Her eyes flick between the two, back and forth, and then she picks up her book. Walks over, and sits down. She slips the book over toward them, then points to the part she's having trouble with.

Ah yes, three-syllable words. She's learning to read, then? The motion is easily understood. What is this word?

The word is 'beautiful'. Which she can't parse. Irony.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
There's a look given from Talia to Selina. A short one that speaks volumes - that's emotional in a way that Cassandra can track that has meaning and yet likely says more to Selina in the expression than Cassandra can quite grasp. As Talia sees it, the girl was abused in a way that Damian was. Raised as a weapon and all that entailed. Words and a narrative are condsened to a tensing and passing of pain and understanding. Before turning her attention over back to Cassandra.

An invitation over if she wishes for Selina to join the two.

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle scoots her chair around so that she sits on the other side of Cass than Talia. She definitely recognizes that Cass is a broken person. And with that simple shift of the chair, she is now engaged.

Selina points to the word, then looks directly at Cass, then speaks it slowly and clearly. "Bee-you-ti-ful." Perhaps a bit exaggerated, but still. Then she says it more normally. "Beautiful. Do you know what that means?"

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cass leans over and looks at the word, after she's been spoken the pronounciation. She pauses, then shakes her head. "Ugh," she states eloquently, shaking once more, before looking up.

She blinks, then stares past the two ladies. At the butler, who is standing very politely holding out a shirt.

"Your ironing, miss Cassandra, is now ready." He manages to make it sound like it was never her fault, and she'd clearly done nothing wrong. Yet it is also implacable and relentless.

She sighs, then takes the shirt and pulls it on. It even had been ironed...

When she returns to the reading lesson, she's a little more gentled. "I try?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul tries to help set Cassandra at ease. Her letting Selina pronounce it and extend it while her face goes to settle in and perform the emotions inherent to it. Cassandra has always been a girl of concepts and emotions. So Talia is attempting to meet the girl at her own level of association as Selina expresses the word to showcasing the way it feels, tha ti tintends, the way it chimes over in her expressions to reinforce it.

"It takes awhile to learn." A lifetime.

Selina Kyle has posed:
She wants to try, which is always the biggest step to take. Selina nods, fingertip moving slowly along the word to cover the three, distinctive syllables without saying them this time.

"You try." she replies, her voice low. Selina had picked up her own group of strays here and there, of course. There are still girls on the streets who she looks after and checks in on regularly as well. Yes, she definitely gets it. And this is part of the reason she offered to help Bruce again.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
"It, wass, a, beyoo.." Cass tries, and in the background the noble butler smiles proudly. Seeing her even trying is a huge step in the right direction, and he's very into this kind of thing happening in his library.

It takes several tries to get it, since the word is one of the weird ones in English, but she eventually stumbles it out. Beautiful. Then she immediately leans back in her chair, beaming with a mix of surprise that she got it and joy in being slightly more awesome.

All aimed inward, at this moment.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would nod over to Cassandra in agreement. You try. That's all the reason they need . And her.. Her face tightens for a moment. Internally reflective of the things that she's done in such a manner and how she knows how some degree of this was done in the first place. Of how Cassandra was -constructed-. The darkness is pressed away and internalized over.

It vanishes even as Cassandra goes to internalize the word. What it means, how iw reads. Wha tit sounds like. The equivalency then of a word, a picture, and an intent. All of her own agitation is smoothed over the very moment that Cassandra looks self satisfied.

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle smiles outwardly at Cassandra's success. "Very good." she offers softly. "Beautiful, even." Her smile softens a little, even. Selina looks to Alfred and inclines her head a little. He pours the tea with a small smile of his own.

"What are you reading, Cass?" Selina asks, then, looking over at the open book.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cass unfolds her arms and looks at the ladies. She shrugs, and then dog-ears the page she was on. It makes Alfred wince, but she didn't learn that from him. Then she closes it and points, not wording unless she has to. It's titled something that she can't actually read, but it's easy enough for the others.

First grade reading primer.

She says, "Am first!" proudly, not really entirely sure what the title means obviously. But as Alfred places a water for her to sip from, he nods.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Cassandra has the emotional experience of a child. For all the trauma she's been through. At least, tha'ts Talia's perspective. The girl has suffered and suppressed so much that's the depth of her emotional awareness of the greaterw orld. That's all schooled away in her expression. Such analysis is a world she's always been good at keeping hidden.

"Excellent job. Now.. What other sorts of things go with that word? What sorts of things do you find beautiful?" A primer.

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle's smile reaches her eyes and she nods. "Yes. First." she repeats. "You're doing well." Selina adds sugar and milk to her tea, taking a small sip. "Beautiful can mean many things." But she lets Cass decide how to use her new word.

Cassandra Cain has posed:
Cass sits down, putting the legs of the chair on the floor. She thinks a moment, her face calming and stopping the act. But when she looks back at the ladies, she opens her mouth...and then closes it again. She shakes her head. She looks...she looks frustrated. Her jaw clenches, and she looks away.

"If I may," Alfred says? "The question may be the issue. I've no doubt there are things that the lady finds to be...beautiful."

Cassandra points to him, nodding. Then she spreads her hands, unable to find the words to explain further.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
That's fair enough. When one is just grasping hte connections and concepts of words, they get it themselves. But finding a way to express it that others can grasp? That's much more difficult. Talia gives a low nod. "Thank you. Very well done Cassandra. Alfred, can you please get her some of her favorite ice cream and scones? She's earned them as far as I'm concerned."

A low smile is given to Selina. Every now and then someone goes through the worst of humanity and comes out all righ ton the other side.

Selina Kyle has posed:
Selina Kyle looks from Alfred to Cass before nodding. "It's a pretty broad concept." she agrees. "But I do think she gets it, generally speaking." After all, expression of subjective concepts is difficult enough with a broad vocabulary. Selina lifts a brow at the idea of Cass reading to earn ice cream.

Then again, Selina has seen a lot worse done for less.

"Things are never dull around here, are they?" she offers almost casually. "At least they aren't predictable."

Cassandra Cain has posed:
This is when Cassandra pauses. She tilts her head, almost like a dog hearing something off in the distance, and then...she dashes out of the room. No warning, no idea what caused her to do so, but yet she's clearly got someplace to be.

As she whips past Alfred she pauses, then leans up and hugs him super-quickly. And then she's gone, out of sight and it's difficult to tell that she was ever there, aside from the dog-eared page before them all.

It was a beautiful day, it reads. I am home, and safe.

Cassandra is gone.