3530/Court of Owls: The Talon's Claws -- Catcall

Court of Owls: The Talon's Claws -- Catcall
Date of Scene:	23 September 2020
Location:	Kingston - Miagani Island
Synopsis:	The Batman hires the Catwoman for a job that may bring the Court's wrath upon her, with some moral lines definitely being skirted for the Dark Knight when it comes to payment.
Cast of Characters:	Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle

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Bruce Wayne has posed:
The Court of Owls have been a vexing mystery for Batman and his brood. A frustrating muddle of anachronisms and almost-taunting clues that have thus far added up to very little concrete progress as far as painting a real picture of their foe. But still...there have been enough tidbits to start modifying the multitude of information-searches that Oracle and the Bat-Computers are now-continually running, like casting out a vast multitude of lines into the see and seeing what just might get hooked.

And earlier today, something was....

It was on the image searches, of all things. Combining the Owl iconography with some of the symbols seen in the "ritual chamber" that Red Hood and Red Robin came across a couple of weeks ago. Information about an auction in the early 2000's, in Houston, Texas of all places. But the object sold at that auction now resides in Gotham once more. And now Batman wants to examine it...and that requires a theft.

It is, perhaps likely, that Batman could accomplish this on his own, but he likes to stack the deck, and there is at least one person in Gotham that he knows for a certainty is a better thief than he will ever be. And so the Catwoman has been summoned, to a high rooftop overlooking the Kingston neighborhood of Gotham City, where the Batman stands like a caped-and-cowled statue, waiting for the eminent master thief's arrival.

"You're late." He comments dryly, as he senses her approach. Just barely, though, and if he hadn't been expecting her and already been on high alert due to the Talon attacks, he might not have.

Speaking of changes due to Talon attacks, if Selina is looking about she just might catch a glimpse of one of Batman's many "family" members keeping watch from a nearby rooftop...not so much watch over Batman and Catwoman directly, but upon their surroundings...looking for signs of the Talons.

"Thank you for coming." Batman adds, turning to face Selina as she approaches.

Selina Kyle has posed:
    For all her bluster, Catwoman has kept relatively low key ever since she accepted a tracker from Batman like a dope. Gotta get rid of THAT as soon as possible, obviously. Still... he seemed worried.
    She had approached from behind, taking careful stealthy steps towards the caped crusader when he called out for her. Catwoman slumps her shoulders and heaves a theatrical sigh, "Haaaaah, of course." She says, before she steps past Batman and into view, waggling her finger and noting, "I'm gonna Catch you one of these days." with merry irony.
    Catwoman keeps her back to Batman, tilting her head slightly at the unexpected thanks. "... Well, I was curious." She says in a surprisingly normal tone of voice. The wry playfulness returns to her voice, and to her face, when she cranes her neck to look back at him and adds, "You usually only call me when I'm in trouble~"

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"Maybe." Batman replies to Selina's "vow" to catch him at some unspecified point in the future. There might even be the faintest hint of wry humor in his voice. "And there may be some trouble involved." Batman moves closer, though pausing a respectful distance away before he speaks once more.

"I need your help."

Has she EVER heard those words from him before? Possibly...it's been several years, after all, but even so, rarer than hen's teeth during a blue moon. "There's something I need. It will be a challenge to acquire and every moment you're in possession of it you might well be at risk. You could make powerful and resourceful enemies along the way. If it sounds like I'm being bleak, it's because I want to be honest with you about the risks, because I need you to trust me when I say Gotham itself might be endangered if we do not do this." He adds, "And so you can make an informed decision."

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Catwoman grins merrily when trouble is confirmed, turning around to face Batman and saying "Wouldn't be fun, otherwise."
    Those four words from Batman make her visibly reel, her eyes blinking rapidly as she tilts her head backward slightly. "Okay...?" She prompts, her sass escaping her for a moment from the sheer unfamiliarity of the situation - if he'd said it before, she probably had to wring it out of him as a condition for cooperation. She listens quietly, her head slowly tilting to the side curiously as he speaks, before peering to the side thoughtfully. "Huh. If I didn't know any better I'd say you're trying to talk me out of it."
    "Well..." she says, crossing her arms and sauntering slowly towards the Dark Knight, her tone downplaying the danger "... far be it from me to turn down a challenge..." Catwoman stops directly in front of Batman and looks up at the taller figure with a slight smirk on her face as she concludes, "... But you know I don't work for free."

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"Upon delivery, I'll give you three leads on items totaling no less than two and a half million dollars in value, currently being held by those that did not acquire them legally. Complete with as much intelligence as I have on the particular owners and their security arrangements." He adds, "Do with them as you will, though it'll require traveling outside Gotham." Not that that's ever been an impediment to her before.

But yes, Batman is advocating thievery now, apparently, or at least...thieving from thieves and black marketeers. It's a gray area? But still...a clear sign of this situation being...different.

"And you don't have to decide until you hear the job and the full risks involved." He concludes, his expression...well honestly no grimmer than usual, at least.

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Catwoman's expression shifts from bemusedly challenging, to incredulous, to disbelieving over the course of Batman's description of her reward; her brain practically spinning with what's on offer. "You're... *actually* serious." She says very softly, lifting her goggles up above her brow, exposing her green eyes and studying Batman's face as if her goggles had muddled with her ability to read him.
    After a moment, she turns her back to him, and takes a few short steps away. She's silent for a few moments, before she drops one arm to her side, and gestures to the right with her right arm, motioning for Batman to continue as she calmly asks, "What's the job?"

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"There is a pair of knives being kept in the vault of the Gotham Historical Society. I believe they are linked to the Court of Owls, and they may possess supernatural qualities. I have reason to believe that the Court is aware the knives are in Gotham, but not of their precise location. They've passed through a lot of hands between Houston and here. They seem to have departed Gotham with an expatriate who married a Texas oil magnate in the late 70's. Her children auctioned off a fair bit of her possessions after her and their father's deaths...murder/suicide. My suspicion is that she was either a loyal member of the Court entrusted with their care and something went awry between generations, or she snuck them out of Gotham without them realizing it was her."

"Regardless, they're in Gotham now, right under their noses, and I'd like to make sure I have them locked down and examined before they realize it." He pauses briefly, then notes, "The Security at the Gotham Historical Society is tight, and the vaults no less so than their displays. You'll have to get to the sub-levels, figure out precisely where they're stored, crack the security to get to them, and then get them to me, possibly with Owls on your tail. You...might be able to avoid them but the truth of the matter is I don't have a solid grasp of their capabilities beyond their information gathering being extensive, but more based on historical records and deduction than technological surveillance." But then he concludes with, "I cannot, however, rule out supernatural means of detection."

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Catwoman listens attentively without question or comment - say what you want about her, she IS a professional, and this is a matter of work now - though she does huff softly when Batman mentions the Court. She still can't quite buy into that one, but... Batman buys into it enough to literally hire a thief. Even if he IS paying her with more work. It's profitable work, at least!
    There's a moment of silence before Catwoman speaks up with a disapproving utterance of "Magic." She fiddles with the ring on her costume's zipper with one finger as she says, "I miss when the most mysterious ability in town was Harley squeezing into the jester costume." Though she's one to talk, with her previous purple outfit.
    She considers in silence for a few moments longer before she whirls around to face you and sweeps her arms out to her sides in a wide shrug. "I'll take it. What the hell." She brings her hands to her hips and asks, "What's the deadline?"

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"You're the professional. I'll work with your timetable, and I'll assume you'll want to do more recon yourself, but sooner is better than later." Batman reaches to his belt, extracting a thumb drive and offering it towards Selina, "This is what I have on the knives, the GHS, and their security measures. WayneTech donated a state-of-the-art system two years ago after some False Face Society members stole some items from them. The manifest of what was delivered is there, but I don't have much information on how they deployed it within the building." Still, having an idea of the tech you'll be facing is certainly a good head-start.

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Selina seems somewhat impressed as she takes the thumb drive and regards it with interest. "You *are* thoughtful. So much of the groundwork taken care of already." Catwoman slips it into a simple pouch tied to the belt of her costume, and looks back up at Bruce. "Any special requests? Extras I can pick up on the way~?" Catwoman looks slightly downcast and responsibly adds: "Particular restrictions?"

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"I would /prefer/ you not engage in any extracurricular activity as far as acquisitions while you're there." Batman admonishes lightly enough, though there might almost be the slightest hint of something approaching a smile when he says it, "Most of their artifacts aren't exceptionally valuable in any case." He does step a bit closer, looking down at Selina, "So my only special request is...be careful. And don't be afraid to use the beacon I gave you if you need it."

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Selina sighs breezily "Haaah, so strict all the time." before looking up at Batman when he steps closer, a slow smile coming to her face as she purrs, "Oh, don't worry..." Selina steps forward while turning 180 degrees in one graceful movement that ends with her leaning her back against Batman's chest, one leg bent so it's perpendicular to Batman's knee off the ground, and one hand raised to teasingly stroke Batman from neck to chin with one finger as she concludes, "... The boss is always right~"

Bruce Wayne has posed:
"That's right." Batman notes, and while he lets her play out her little half-embrace and cuddle he eventually...gently, puts her at arm's length, "And since I'm the boss, we'll just have to keep this relationship strictly professional." He says it with the straightest of faces, but his lip quirks slightly as he extends an arm with a grapnel launcher towards a taller building nearby.

"At least until it's done."

And with the "Bang" of the grapnel, Batman ascends into the night, heading off to rejoin his partner-on-patrol for the evening without another word.

Selina Kyle has posed:
    Catwoman pouts and shakes her head slowly, watching Batman recede into the distance. "... Almost got 'im."