16376/Business Lunch

Business Lunch
Date of Scene:	19 November 2023
Location:	Last Stop
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Jaina Hudson, Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne, Caleb Dykstra

---

Jaina Hudson has posed:
The Last Stop isn't busy...but it's not really quiet either at this time of day. A Sunday, the Knights playing on TV means that there aren't a lot of people out getting pizza at a hip spot like this. Sitting off to one side of the room is a woman dressed in formal-ish attire, business casual some might call it. Jaina Hudson has a few pages of paper sitting next to her, and an open laptop in front of her. She seems to be working on some sort of thing.

Across the room sits a woman in...much less formal attire. She's got bunny ears on her head, and is wearing barely enough to be considered decent in public. SHE seems to simply be enjoying the atmosphere of the place. A half-eaten pizza is in front of her, as is some sort of adult drink. She's watching the room, keeping an eye on those entering and leaving. Very attentive.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
It's not often she's taken out. At least not to such a place. And here with her son in an attempt for what passes as.. Family time. For Talia Al Ghul it's something that's very, very unique. She's not having to look over her shoulder for anyone watching her. She's not having to expect any sort of game from her father. She's not having to worry about Nyssa coming in with some sort of scheme.

It's a very, very strange experience for her - even for someone that has had so many experiences in life. So.. She arrives there with Damian, wearing a large hoodie with some darker makeup applied to her face and her hair tied up in a bun underneath a faded wig. Some habits never died.

Damian Wayne has posed:
There are times where Damian can be an attentive son. Having found some time off, the young man is in escort with his mother, a little bounce to his step. Ever since he discovered the place, it is one of his favorites to vistit - after the Hot Dumpling.

"The Korean BBQ pizza is quite excellent and I usually get it with the extra spicy red sauce." With his mother dressed down, he follows suit. A fashionable sweatshirt is worn over a t-shirt. Blue jeans and custom sneakers finish off his look as he looks aside to Talia. There's a little puff of a breath and some quiet words for her, but he gets her to one of the tables and moves to set in.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
He's here for the pizza.

Or more like, he's here because his kid sister, Sheila's been craving pizza every now and then, and the Last Spot is the place she wanted it from. Although personally, given his former ties to the Vittorelli branch of the Gotham mob, italian food would be the last thing on his mind.

But still.

In order to avoid being recognized, Caleb came all dressed up for the weather, and a hoodie covering his head. He's here to grab a bite, get himself an order to go, and bolt out of the city as fast as he can.

Walking in, and scanning around the room, his eyes fall upon Damian and the woman in a hoodie, Talia. He considers approaching...

He looks at the sophisticated business woman, Jaina with casual glance - just a business woman eating her meal while doing some work -, and then...

"Holy...", he mouths in a mutter as he sees her bunny-eared counterpart sitting elsewhere in the restaurant. Cosplay costume, Alice in Wonderland for a theme? Well, natuarally his glance catches for a couple extra seconds - teenager here -, before he regains focus. Ahem!

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Walking in wtih Damian, there's a covert survey of the place by Talia. "I'll defer to your judgement. Here isn't the type of place that I would normally go to. So please do order for us." She's reflexively not using names or identifying the nature of her interactions with him or her dynamic. It's just part of her life experiences and focus. She's intent on just being seen as another person coming here to get something to eat.

She would slide towards the table and take a seat with Damian while glancing over her shoulder. Caleb gets a brief glance - ah yes, the very brave but very stupid boy that gets in over his head. Jaina gets a quick nod and dismissal. SHe looks like she just came out of a casino and is having some time off duty.

Damian Wayne has posed:
"You should try different things, grandmother." Damian is clearly teasing Talia for wearing makeup that makes her look so much older than what she is. "But I can order for you, sure." He's already spied the White Rabbit out of the corner of his eye - not that there is much he can do about it in this situation. He can't really excuse himself to go outside and use a convienent phone booth.

He also makes note of Jaina, a tap of his fingers on the table as he gets settled in, allowing Talia to have the seat that allows her to watch around her and her back to the wall. He instead, will just have to play the part of a teenaged young man that has too much money and time on his hands.

Jaina Hudson has posed:
If Jaina gives more than a glance to any of the new(er) arrivals, that would be of note. She is immersed in her work it seems, though, at one point she does look sidelong at the young men who walk in. Talia is ignored, studiously. It's the other woman that seems to be of most interest to the teenage boys, and well, she's going to enjoy the attention. She stretches slowly, and then slides out of the booth and walks over to the counter to get a refill of her drink. She gives a little smirk to Damien. Perhaps she recognizes him from somewhere.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
With Damian ordering food, Talia goes to look about the room again. Jaina is mostly tuned out - the woman is clearly here settling in to relax and not interacting. Caleb she's identified as the brave, yet highly stupid one that goes charging into things when he shouldn't. Something far too common in the vigilante community, whether or not he's actually a member.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb approaches the counter and quickly makes an order.

Look again at the girl... and she's stretching.

And then she rises and walks over to the counter, where he's making his order.

It's at this point that he wonders if it was too much of a look. To himself, he shrugs - he's got eyes, and... Well, she's there, in plain view in a public space, right? What's she gonna do, sue him?

He makes his order: two slices of pizza now, with a fully complemented family-size pizza and sodas to go.

His trained demeanor - acquired from his tenure in the mob - keeps him under apparent calm. He takes a moment to catch a glimpse of the hooded Talia, and he narrows his eyes. Has he seen her somewhere before...?

Jaina Hudson has posed:
The lady with the bunny ears winks to Caleb, and then walks back to her booth. She leans back, and goes back to watching the room at large. A standoff it seems for now as nobody is speaking with anyone, and everyone is sizing each other up. Everyone except Jaina, who is typing away on her laptop.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
The order for pizza in, Talia Al Ghul nods over at Caleb and Jaina, then goes to work over on it. The pizzeria is quiet. There are no signs in the last five minutes that whatever highly ridiculous and convoluted local gang with a specific niche and gimmick is on the way to try and intervene in a relatively normal afternoon. No sounds of Kite Kid smashing through the ceiling. No bongs which might be Calendar Man being hit on the head with a frying pan. No mind control polka group.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Yeah, who expected a wink? Certainly wasn't Caleb...

And a woman who doesn't play the victim while filming herself and her surroundings, as keeping up with the current trends?

It seems just like... A normal day.

"...Huh. How about that?", he chuckles.

To the White Rabbit, he smiles with an embarassed shrug intent on meaning, 'Yeah. Ya got me.'

And it's normally at this time that all hell seems to break loose, somehow.

He approaches the woman who was with Damian, and he nods in greeting. "Hello." He tilts his head. "Are you here with Damian?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would turn her attention voer to Caleb while she would have a slice of pizza in hand while Damian would be eating. "Yes, I am. Just here to relax some before the next thing hits." By that she means the normal weirdness that is eternal penance to Gotham. Between the breakdancing Sharks and Jets themed gangs, the hordes of cloned Elvis impersonators, and the strange gang that targeted only people named Martha while chanting why did they say that name.

Jaina Hudson has posed:
It seems that the comment gets a glance from the woman with rabbit ears, but she just lounges in her seat, enjoying watching the people come and go. As Talia leaves, she hmms quietly to herself. Jaina looks up as she hears a name, but then is back to work, typing away, not paying much mind to anyone else. It's a quite afternoon.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb gets his order for the two slices of pizza, and is told that that the pizza is going to take a while to get ready. He nods, and tray in hand now, looks for a space where to sit. He looks at the bunny-eared girl, and he gestures asking if sitting is okay. Not so many spots where he can sit right now, so...

Hey, at least there was some conversation without words, right? Why not take the next step and actually meet and talk?

Jaina Hudson has posed:
The teen boy approaching her gets a slight smile from the woman with the bunny ears. She bites her lower lip, and then waves her lashes at him as she ducks her chin a bit. Is she flirting with him? Or just messing with him?

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Well, messing or flirting, Caleb approaches - his ultimate goal is the seat, after all. Otherwise, he'd have to stand, and though most days that would be okay, his feet could use some rest.

So, he takes a seat in front of the White Rabbit. "Hi there", he says as he sets the tray on the table.

Jaina Hudson has posed:
"Good afternoon," The White Rabbit lady replies, leaning back a little and arching her back, perhaps just enough to draw attention elsewhere. She smiles a cheshire cat smile, "Think you're going to join me?" she asks.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"If you don't mind the company, I will", Caleb clarifies. "Unless you're here with someone, and in that case I'm not intruding."

He rests his hands on the edge of the tray, waiting for an answer - and whether he'll stay or go.

Jaina Hudson has posed:
"It's a free country, despite what /some/ people think." The woman replies. And, does she shoot a dirty glance at someone across the room? Maybe. Either way, she motions to the seat across from her. "I'd say take your shot quick though, I have places to be in a little bit." The woman continues to smirk, seemingly enjoying that she's caught Caleb's attention, and that she's drawn the fly into her web.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Yeah well, freedom should never trample upon other people's right to their own freedom", Caleb says. "And that's why in a supposedly free world, people still don't get along." He smirks, shaking his head to himself. "Lemme guess... Someone he's got a black eye or a red hand on their face?" He discreetly looks around.

Jaina Hudson has posed:
"What?" The White Rabbit asks, seeming genuinely confused by what Caleb is saying, "I....what? No. What?" She sighs and shakes her head, "Someone with a black eye or red hand? You think someone tried to attack me? Come on, I'm a lover, not a fighter, can't you tell?" she asks sweetly.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
He chuckles at what she says. "In today's time, when self-defense classes are at an all-time high?", he replies back. "Uhhh, nope." He even chuckles loudly. "It's not that I don't buy it, it's just that it's statistically impossible." He gestures all around, "Because, you know... Gotham!"

Jaina Hudson has posed:
The woman hmms at that remark, "Well, trust me, I'm not the fighting type. At least not with my hands. Some pepper spray is all I usually need, even in big bad Gotham." Across the room, it seems Jaina has finished her work, and she closes her laptop and starts gathering her papers. She drops a couple of dollars on the table, and then walks out the door. The White Rabbit remains, but she watches the woman leave, before she says to Caleb, "But, aren't you a bit young to be shooting your shot with someone like me?"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
Caleb is eating one of his slices of pizza as they talk, taking a moment of silence after her question about their age difference. "That's assuming I would have a shot - or that I came to this table to only try my luck." He says, "I came to this pizza parlor for a couple of slices, and to get a family-size for tonight's family dinner. And, by chance, I'm eating and talking with a woman who was kind enough to let me sit at the same booth she's sitting." He looks around, "I don't know anyone here that would've granted me the same courtesy." A slight pause. "It is what it is. Pizza and conversation."

Jaina Hudson has posed:
"Well, I'd hate to keep you out past your curfew, then," White Rabbit replies. She finishes off her drink, and then stands up, "But, next time I'd say: come with a bit more game if you want to keep a gal's attention." And then, she saunters out of the restaurant. She takes her time though, and her hips sway more than enough to keep a teenage boy's attention as she walks out.