16105/Daughter and Son of the Demon

Daughter and Son of the Demon
Date of Scene:	18 October 2023
Location:	Library - Wayne Manor
Synopsis:	Talia talks with Damian after some time.
Cast of Characters:	Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne

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Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul is currently settled over in Wayne Library. She has a very, very old and bulky book over on her lap that's an ancient looking tome in a thick hardcover upon it. It's old enough or at least in the type of shape that she's wearing gloves while she handles it very, very gently, laid out over in some plastic storage wrap adn has moved to setup a sterile lamp as she reads it. She does so carefully, wearing a thin mask, having it on a braced surface, and soft lights about her that would not give glare issues to the book. The exact title of it is hard to transcribe, but by the lettering appears to be in an offshoot of old Sumerian. Talia's got a large tablet to the side of which she's taking notes on and looking up translations.

Damian Wayne has posed:
Damian had taken a bit of a vacation. Didn't really say where he was going or what he was doing. His father does it all the time, there's no room for any of his extended family to really say anything and he finally decided to return. After settling back in, and unpacking his gear in his room, Damian stopped when he found out Alfred was going to bring tea to the library.

Finding out who it was for, Damian decided that he would handle the delivery of the tea himself, as the doors to the cavernous room open and he slips inside. Respecting the silence of the place, it is only the quiet turn of the well-oiled wheels and gentle rattle of china on cloth on metal that announces the arrival of the service.

Damian stops some distance away, realizing the work that his mother is doing and his eyes study her. She looks... well. He had thought by now, Talia would look terribly out of place. Perhaps, she is willing to give it a chance. Or at least accept it for now.

A polite clearing of his throat. "Hello, Mother." he greets, and while he has grown a bit, he does stand on his tip-toes to try to get a better look at the book and it's contents. "Alfred has prepared tea. I decided to deliver it. You look well."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would glance over at Damian as he would arrive. Her face would soften for just a moment before going back to it's neutral expression. The change is very quick and very s ubtle, and is smoothed over quickly enough. Only a few would be good enough to make it out. Bruce, Damian, Ras.. The flash is there and gone and does seem to vanish as promptly as it was there. She moves to thenever, ever so carefully close the book she had been reading, puts it back in it's dark storage case, latches a set of thick cuffs upon the case, and goes to slide it over to a secured location. She then goes to peel off the gloves and other things she had, putting off the sterile lights.

"Hello Damian, I hope that things find you well. You're not interrupting." She would gesture over at the things out. "I was about to take a break anyways." A smooth lie, but talking with Damian would always take a higher precedence over whatever trivial things she was up to.

Damian Wayne has posed:
"You did not have to pause your research at my behest." Damian offers in gentle protest. "But if you wish to take a break, I would be pleased to have the time with you." A gentle admission as he takes a seat and starts to set up the service on a nearby table.

While he does so, he comments, almost at random,

"That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die."

"I am familiar with the book, especially after I was made to watch 'The Evil Dead' with some of the Titans one night. The inaccuracies mounted greatly." A small grumble as he starts to pour her cup first, remembering how she liked it as he works on the setup.

"Is this a book in father's library, or one from grandfather?" comes the question from son to mother. "Perhaps another path to making resurrection easier?" There is no judgement in his tone, if anything, it's a child's curiosity.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to fold her hands together upon sitting down and give a nod a thim, "Yes, this is the season where such things have more power and there are more willing to use it. I do not dare look at fragments myself." Only the crazed do. It has far too many terrifying components of it that even risking looking at it is to risk it breaking free.

"It is among the more dangerous tomes of darkness. Not the most powerful, or the most wretched.. But that it is alive. That it schemes, it works, it plans." Magcial, sentient books were a thing. Those with cunning and the ability to manipulate it were far worse.

"I'm sure that father has a copy." She means Ras. "That wasn't a translation, just a notation of things which happened when it was out and about in the days whem it was possibly first written. To tell the signs and the consequences."

Damian Wayne has posed:
After pouring the second cup, Damian gestures to the seat, an invitation to his mother to join him. When he sits, his hands fold in a manner that almost mirror hers after she is seated and considers her words.

"Those that are magically inclined do speak of the magical energies that increase between now and the rise of the Winter Equinox. Rachel, especially, seems sensitive to it. Have you considered a conversation with Phoebe about the veil of magic between life and death and undeath?" he asks her curiously.

There's a pause, as he takes a sip of his tea and considers, green eyes bright as he looks down, as if trying to read the tea leaves. "Or is this something you wish not to make Father aware of and worry that she would speak to him should she find out of your research?" Because Damian won't tell.

"I assume, by your words, you know where the real book resides." It's not even really a question. "Is it something that needs to be secured, or are you sure it is safe where it is now?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to take a step over to move to sit next to him, moving to fold her fingers together. "I'm familiar with many of the basics. And I don't require elaboration unless it effects me. I'm merely on guard, not wary or aware of oncoming events or threats." It's more of a precautionary thing. Because there were always spikes around this time of year. Of threats, of darkness, or at least those that had the isnpiration to try and make use of them.

"No, I'm sure that your father is aware I occasionally review such things. If not here, if he were discomfitted I would do it elsewhere. If he truly objected, I would not do so." SHe'd just ask someone else to summarize it for her. "And how are you doing, Damian? I hope that your recent patrols have been fruitful."

Damian Wayne has posed:
"I could talk to some of thee Titans. And I am sure Father has his contacts in the League." Justice, not Assassins, clearly. Damian sips from his tea again. "I am sure that if there is a need of a strengthening of the magicks that surround the Manor, they would have those that could easily do so. He sets down his cup again.

"We have faced threats, darkness and worse before Mother." Damian comments. "Despite the fact that we are not where we would usually find ourseleves at these times, we are here. And we are together." He doesn't add amongst friends or family. Talia is figuring that out for herself.

When asked about his patrols, he considers. "I have gained the confidence of the son of Superman. He and I are close." he comments, giving thought to the matters. "I am still learning how to become properly integrated with those that are considered siblings and family by my father. I am still on the hunt for Professor Pyg." Speaking of terrors that arise this time of year.

"And there will always be something in Gotham that calls for my attention. It is good to keep busy rather than staying at home and practicing my stitchwork." That's when his eyes rise to consider Talia. "And you? I know it is easy to become a ghost within the walls of this home. I hope you are taking advantage of the generosity of all of this to explore new boundries?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would shake her head, "It's not important, merely more of.. Sating a curiousity." If the book is going to show up anywhere, then half of the magical communityon the eastern seaboard will be reacting in numbers. It's one of thsoe things that are impossible to miss, after all.

"And I have no idea where any of the copies of it are. From what little I've gathered it can move under it's own power much of the time. Some of the theories are even stranger, that it's somewhat untethered from space and time. So a version which comes up may not be something that has happened yet, or already has." Outlandish, yes.

She would smile tentatively. "Good, I'm glad that you're making comrades." She's not sure whether to call them 'friends' or not. That's a statement that's moreso for Damian to decide if he wants to feel like he wants to put up or not.

"I have been. . Attempting to help myself focus. Occasionally working with the group at the Nook and Cradle." Where she'd get info on things if she needed it. "I.. Would like to think I am. I've not been reproached for what I've done yet." By Alfred, at least. Whom she fully considers the true lord and master of the house, and what he says goes.

Damian Wayne has posed:
There may be some that Damian would consider friend. Jon comes awfully close. "A book that travels at it's own whim must leave some type of signature that you would be able to follow." he says thoughtfully, his fingers drumming on the table, some random beat that he is making to help him concentrate.

"Perhaps a friend at the Candle, Booke, and Belle could assist you in tracking it down. And if you were to do so and require assistance, I would hope you would still rely upon my abilities to aid you." A son's love for their mother is still present, after all.

"I am glad to hear you have made acquaintances as well. With Grandfather..." he stops himself, it's not a subject he really wants to broach and he backs off. "...it is good to find those that we can rely on for the things we cannot take care of ourselves." That's where he decides to settle that.

"Yes, I am sure that you would have already been rebuffed should you have stepped out of line." Green eyes look down at the tea and then rise, to look into the eyes of the woman that graced him with them. Eyes the colors of polished, perfect emeralds. "I am glad that you are making the effort, Mother."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would nod, "Of course. Not something that I would have any affairs with. It sitll makes for a good theoretical discussion." Because even if one couldnot be prepared for such a thing, it never hurt to consider it. At least the logistics for how such a thing would work, at the very least. Or in theory how one would counter it.

"Of course. I would appreciate your aid no matter the circumstances. And if this thing did rear out I would leave it to specialists." She does not belabor on 'friends' or 'acquaintances'. They were things that were hard to define.

"Your father would not tolerate my actions if he felt they were out of line. For that I am grateful. He gives lines, and he acts upon them when they are crossed. Things are much simpler that way."

Damian Wayne has posed:
Now that Talia has given the definition, Damian can appreciate her acceptance of them properly. Finishing off his tea, he sets his cup to the side and stretches. He has finally grown a few inches. Enough that Stephanie had to stop making short jokes about him.

"Good, then you will only need to let me know." With that, he slips out of his chair. "With Father, he has set the boundry and he will allow you to test it. And he is forgiving should you cross it." He knows this from experience. "I hope that you and he find a better truce that makes the situation improved." Because he has no allusions about his mother and father connecting on any kind of romantic level. Probably why he sucks at any attempt at it.

"I should let you get back to your research. I have taken enough of your time. But I was happy to see you again. To see you here. And I hope that it will continue." And before she can protest and without asking permission, he steps into Talia's personal space and presses a hug to her, his arms around her as he squeezes her.

A moment later, it's ready to end and he starts to pull away, as if realizing the boundry he may have crossed. But in that moment, while they were close, the words he whispered are simple.

"I am proud of you, Mother."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
And it's not like she doesn't hav other outlets. That she can be reasonably sure will go under Bruce's radar. That she won't share with others and will expect those that know to not pass along. Her lifestyle had some benefits to it that she would take for as long as she could.

"I can never be forgiven, Damian. That is something I can never earn, nor am I worthy of." Her tone is with soft acceptance. "At some point in my life, father will draw me back into it." She means Ras. "Whether or not I have any preference in the matter. I know whereever I go, no matter what I do, that he follows it." At some oint in her stay in Gotham, something had happened that had shattered her solitude even without interruption to instill total terror of his presence.

The slide over of Damian to her and his wrapping his arms around her, she tenses - moreso ou tof surprise than resistance. "And I could not be proud of you more, Damian. You have found family here. So much meaning and despite what I did to you you have made your own path."

Damian Wayne has posed:
"It is not about forgiveness, Mother." Damian points out to her, and shakes his head, a splay of his hands. "It's about acceptance. That is what I have learned in my time with this family. With the Titans. Despite sometimes my best efforts to make the worst of it."

"We are both in his shadow. But we can do our best within it, after all. That is what we were trained best to do." There. She may see it. Noone else except his father could possibly catch that smile that touched his lips for a briefest of flicerking moments.

"And woe to those that attempt to bring you harm." His cheeks darken, a heat in them as Tallia gives him what is really high praise as he shakes his head. "You do not ask for my forgiveness. You did what you must as a Mother to make me the person I am today. I hold no regret. I hold no ill. I am the best I can be because of you." A closing of his eyes and a polite bow of his head. "I will be around, you only need ask."

And with that, he is moving to step out of the library and leave Talia to her research.