16220/What Do the French, Call French Toast

What Do the French, Call French Toast
Date of Scene:	30 October 2023
Location:	Blake House
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Blake, Rien D'Arqueness

---

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake was making French toast, aptly for a French lady he had met. He was considering how to juice the oranges he found for when there was a knock at the door. It's early. A knock at this time is rarely good news. A little disheveled and really not presentable (actually jailable in some locations he goes to the door. He makes a shush shush motion to his breakfast partner. From a hidey hole he acquires a knife. He opens the door with a jerk.

"... boss?"

"Tippy?! What the hell are you doing here?"

The visitor is abruptly dragged into a bro hug by the much stronger Thomas.

"Boss... either put some clothes on or let me go."

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien is sitting at the counter, watching Thomas cook with a faint grin. She's about to offer to juice the oranges when there's the knock at the door. Glancing to THomas, she lifts a brow, clearly curious if he was expecting company this morning.

GIving a nod to the shushing motion, she still lets the bone claws slide from the backs of her hands, the blue glow that outlines them casting a soft light on the countertop. She'll stay back, but she's also going to be staying ready.

The greeting between the two men has her laughing, however, and offering, "I believe that is my fault, mosnieur. But he is perhaps right, Thomas. Pants, at least, for his comfort?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake releases Tippy, to the latter's relief and goes to find pants. "Coffee's up. Help yourself Tip. This is Rien. Be out in a minute. Rien, behave!" He admonishes with no seriousness. He gives her feet a tickle as he goes by.

Tippy removes his cap as he comes into the kitchen for Rien. "Very sorry miss... I see the boss is still the same." He pours himself a cup of black coffee. Holds another mug up to see is Rien cares for a cup.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
"I make no promises, Thomas," she chuckles as he passes by, teasing him even as he tickles her. She turns back to Tippy and gives a smile, a dip of her head to nod to him. "Good morning. Please, don't be sorry. Of all the interruptions that could have happened, a friend and acquaintance of Thomas' is probably the best we could have hoped for."

SHaking her head at the offer of coffee, she slips from the seat and moves to the oranges, halving them before wrapping one half into a cheesecloth. She squeezes, putting that strength to good use, letting the juice drip out into a carafe. Working through each of the orange halves and looking back to Tippy, "I would hope so. He's delightful as he is." Chuckling, she tosses the used up orange rinds, rinses the cloth and lays it out to dry, then washes her hands before moving to pour herself a glass of orange juice.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake returns as Tippy and Rien are enjoying their beverages. Thomas brushes past Rien. Tippy gives her a wink and Thomas a thumbs up.

Thomas looks serious and asks bluntly, "Why are you here? I told you and the other idiots I was done with a gang and don't look for me."

Tippy flinches a little under that look. "I wasn't looking for you. I know better but... I heard you put out feelers for a trafficking ring. Looking for one in particular... she sounded like your type. So, I'm here... also... I wound up working with them -before I knew what it was about!" He shouts the last as Thomas grabs him by the shirt.

"Wait boss, wait! I was just guarding a door and watching them unload trucks... then I saw what and who they were unloading... I... was going to quit but they won't take a 'no' and going to the cops... I'd be dead." Thomas' strangle hold loosens as he listens.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien lifts a brow at Thomas' change in demeanor, flicking a glance to Tippy and returning the wink. He seems like a perfectly charming inside man!

THen Thomas is getting angry and reaching for Tippy, and even Tippy's explanation isn't getting him released. Rien sets her glass down and moves over to Thomas, resting a light hand on his arm, "Cher.. he's trying to make good. He didn't know going in what he was getting into, now he needs help getting out. Instead of killing him.. let's let him drink his coffee and fill us in on the issue."

She looks to Tippy, "And if you can help us, then we can help you get out. And maybe you can act as an informant and inside man when we need information? Tidy arrangement, good pay, and you'll have protection." She looks between the two men, "Does that sound amenable?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake releases Tippy. He lets out a relaxing breath. "He isn't muscle... he's the best safe cracker in Gotham. All right, relax. At the very least I'll help you get away for old times sake. What do you have for me?"

Tippy reaches for his phine, shooting Rien a silent thank you with his eyes. He dials through the phone until he shows Thomas and Rien a young lady under restraints, with feline features.

Thomas hisses looking at it. "Her name is Katya. I stopped some skells from bullying her and some other congenital Mutants. I heard she was abducted. I've been looking around," he explains.

"Well they got her, three others. They're just waiting for someone to meet their price. These are bad guys, boss. even if I gave them up to the cops, it'd do no good but... if I tell you..."

"They will have much bigger problems than you. I get it. Or their problems will be over. Well, these are your kin. You want in? Tippy is cool by the way if I didn't make this clear." He sits down, thinking furiously but sitll extends a leg for Rien.

Rien D'Arqueness has posed:
Rien flashes a quick smile towards Tippy, then looks at the picture on the phone. Frowning at the sight of the restraints, her eyes flick over to Thomas, "If we can get a location, I can get us in and out. I can portal the girls to a safehouse and we can wreak some major havoc."

She reclaims her glass, sipping on her juice as the two men talk back and forth. While not sitting fully on his lap, Rien leans in against Thomas, her head on his shoulder. "Oh, I assumed as much by the fact that you let him into the house." She curves a faint smile towards Thomas, "So. When do we get those girls out of there?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake drapes an arm around Rien. She looks so soft and vulnerable -if you didn't know her. the two men were now drawing plans on napkins. Thomas looks down at her and says, "I can get satellite imagery. Is that good enough? As for when, tonight is best. I can't believe these guys are right over the bridge! You know, the Bats really should be handling this crap."

Tippy nods, "Yeah. People say they can't be everywhere but then you boost a case of cigarettes and next thing you know one of them flying monkeys lands on your ass. I never even sawy which one hit me."

"Who were you boosting cigarettes for?"

"Penguin."

""Penguin? Ozzie is a good gig I hear. Why'd you leave?"

"Fucking dress code got on my nerves."

Thomas smirks. "I need to power up the robot, feed the tioger and check my gear. Do you have anyone you'd want for this?" He mimes a 'snikt' sort of move.