16474/Hellfire Seasonal Greetings

Hellfire Seasonal Greetings
Date of Scene:	03 December 2023
Location:	The Public House - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	A Blake, a Reporter, and a Talia talk at the Club.
Cast of Characters:	Talia al Ghul, Blake Riviere, April O'Neil

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Talia al Ghul has posed:
Deck the halls. Talia Al Ghul has come into the club, looking incredibly amused (and possibly mystified) as seasonal decorations are being put up. To her, it has a very high class taste and atmosphere.. Without quite having the seasonal edge of crass (blatant) commercialism (that was what the club was for). Even as the first tier of decorations were being put out, the waitresses and waiters would be in 'classy elf' style attire.

Blake Riviere has posed:
To be fair, Blake still remembered the old Yule traditions of her homeland thand had long since morphed into modern christmas, but well...she wasn't really the sort to start decorating the tree with any speed.

Still, her attachment to the club has Blake here, her form wrapped in a designer black backless dress, her hair up in an elegant bun and her makeup done in the minimalistic expert hand.

Moving through the space, her hand was currently occupied by the glass of wine that seemed mostly untouched as her gaze swept over the signs of seasonal celebration.

April O'Neil has posed:
The Hellfire Club is not usually a good place for a reporter to hang out. At least if that reporter wants to remain in one piece. April O'Neil does not seem to mind the danger though, as she is sitting at the bar of the Public House, watching the modestly -- for this establishment -- dressed women decorate. She has a small tablet open next to her, and is idly typing notes into it. When she spots Blake across the bar, she gives a small nod. Talia has not been noticed yet.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Reporters are tolerated here. Sometimes. Other times they're let in here like into the dragon's den. It can vary. Seeing her fellow member of the Inner Circle, Talia Al Ghul gives a low nod over to Blake. "Inspecting yourself in the mirrors as you pass by?" She would note drolly but in light amusement.

Talia is wearing something far, far more casual. Hoodie, jeans. SHe doesn't fit in the atmosphere at all. But given how little attention is being paid to her, either she's so unimportant that her presence doesn't matter, or she's so terrifying that everyone instinctively tries to avoid her. April is for now not noticed either.

Blake Riviere has posed:
The barb earns a little quirk of amusement. Of course, that particular trait didn't pass onto her, she could see herself fine in the mirror...but still she turns towards Tahlia with a little smirk. "Well, I would not want one telling stories now. You never know what we don't see about ourselves...."

April's nod? The redhead lifts a hand, a little finger-wave offered to the reporter. Did she know who April was? Well, if she didn't know by reputation she'd be a poor spymaster for the club...

April O'Neil has posed:
April O'Neil notes Talia a little later than she might otherwise, considering the outfit she's in. The reporter taps something into her tablet, surely a coincidence there, and then picks up her drink and takes a sip. What better way to fill twenty minutes of airtime than to mention who you saw out at a party the night before? April's gaze then scans through the club again, apparently searching for someone in particular.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would glance over at the redhead (Well the breathing one). "I'm sure that the stories get wild enough as they are without putting truth into them." She would turn over to April. "And you don't seem the type to normally be here. Out to join in the festivities?"

Blake Riviere has posed:
Blake exhales an amused little noise before gesturing to Talia's attire with a wave of her hand and offloading her glass onto the tray of a passing server. "You're not particularly blending in all that well yourself, even for the public house. Perhaps you are enjoying a 'relaxed' holiday?" Onwards to April, she tilts her head slightly. "Looking for a story amongst here? I'm afraid the better charity events are a little later in the month."

April O'Neil has posed:
"Maybe I'm just enjoying the ambiance and writing for my own interest." April says to Blake, grinning at her, before she turns her attention to Talia, "I'm not the type to normally be here, no. Sixty dollars to chase the ghost of an idea that I had is well worth it though, for the constant questioning I'm getting about being here, let me tell you. The twenty five dollar drink, and sixty dollar steak were very well done though, send my compliments to the chef." Like she's not going to expense all of this anyways.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would shrug, "Oh, one can find all sorts of interesting things here. And one must appreciate the decor. It's almost tasteful." Talia is more rleaxed than the last time she and Blake ran into one another (then again that was an Inner Circle meeting). "Have you considered simpler means to get in than by simply paying?"

Blake Riviere has posed:
"One might hope so," Blake muses to both words, leaning lightly forwards at the complement and Talia's baiting both. "Mmmn, and what might you be chasing? I am ever curious of the curiousities of others after all. It does make nights more exciting."

April O'Neil has posed:
"I have, but I don't have access to many men, or women, with memberships here. They tend to shy away from someone who might publish all their dirty secrets to get ahead." April replies cheerily to Talia's question. She then turns to Blake, for a moment she evaluates the woman, before she says, "I've been working on a novel. Something about the....gap between this, and everything else out there," she motions vaguely at New York City out the window, "There's something there I want to say, but I just haven't figured it out yet. Or how I want to say it."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would sigh, "That doesn't matter. All that matters is they -think- you do. Find someone in the room that looks like they know what they're doing and that belongs here. Say you're with them. If they make so much as a whimper tell them you'll have them thrown out, gutted, and whatever other random bits of suffering that the hired help can imagine."

Blake Riviere has posed:
"Ahh, between 'classes' and 'common' folk?" Blake muses, tilting her head to the side as she continues to speak in her accented tones. "Then perhaps the public house is indeed the right starting point."

She pauses, tilting her head to the side at Talia's comments before laughing lightly. "Ah yes...jounalism one-oh-one, I'm sure."

April O'Neil has posed:
"Are you regularly in the habit of giving out secrets for how to break into your club?" April asks, adding, "And, should I do this and get caught, will you be fine with me using your name in my defense? Well, Talia al Ghul told me it was alright to sneak my way into this conference room where you're keeping your plans for...oh...I don't know....rigging the stock market?" There's a gleam in her eye as she says this.

Blake is given a nod, "Yes, exactly. And, I think it is, yes. Thank you." But, as she says this she's packing up her tablet and other belongings into her bag. "Unfortunately, I must be off, lest I turn into a pumpkin."