Owner	Pose
Talia al Ghul	It was a dinner. At least an attempt at one. Talia was no Alfred, as far as quality went, and most of her culinary training came in the form of preparing poisons and other toxins. But stil, an attempt was made. Alfred deserved at least one meal off, didn't he? Every now and then.     So, keeping something simple, Talia had waited for a sign that Bruce was coming to the ballroom to take out a very, very quick and simple dinner - just a pot roast. Easier to hopefully corner him and in turn make it harder for him to evade casual conversation.
Bruce Wayne	Bruce didn't get a lot of dinners. Dinner happen in the early evening and that was when he was most awake. Preparing, getting focused, doing the work. Keeping his hand on the wheel. But tonight would be different. He had spent the previous evening in close combat with a gang of punks using a cheap Venom ripoff they got on the black market. Made them psychos. Batman had managed to eventually disable all three, but he had faced them alone and it wasn't without cost. Nothing broken but he was sore enough to man the homefront tonight. Probably. Unless something happened. Which it often did. This is Gotham, after all. He's got a clean white shirt with the cuffs rolled up, black slacks and shoes. All of them designer but he could only tell you the names because that's the way his brain works. Forgetting things isn't something he does, generally speaking. His only issue was finding the memory - now more than ever, so many years into the war. "Talia," he says, hair slicked back and still damp from the shower. "Thank you for this. I usually just order takeout if Alfred's not around."
Talia al Ghul	Talia al Ghul would smile, "You're welcome. I'm sure that he's about and ready, but that he could stand a break from cooking duties tonight. I'm sure that there will be plenty more opportunities for it. But let him relax for just a moment." Alfred was probably around and of course was busy with /numerous/ other things even if not making dinner. "I hope it's adequate." That'sa bout as far as it goes. Talia is a competent cook. Not gourmet. The food won't be winning awards but it's functional. "I want to thank you again for letting me stay here."
Bruce Wayne	Bruce Wayne nods, "I've never have to push Alfred to work. Quite the opposite. If you've convinced him to actually relax for a day or two, I'm thrilled about it, to ne honest. He deserves all the rest he can get. I only wish I could give him more, but it would only make him angry. He stays because he wants to, not because he works for me." "I've eaten scorpions and stale army rations. I once ate an alligator egg, when Croc almost drowned me in the jungle. It took me two weeks to find my way out," he shakes his head. "So, yes, I promise, pot roast is more than adequate. As for staying, you are welcome. Although I do admit it also allows me to keep an eye on you. At least this way I have some vague idea of what you might be up to," he says. Teasing. Maybe.
Talia al Ghul	Talia al Ghul would shake her head, "Oh, dearest no. I couldn't convince him of anything. If I had to guess he left dinner in the dining room for you." A -very- slight preemptive interception that would probably get her yelled at later by the House Head. "I can't imagine. Still, better the jungle than the Himalayas." SHe would speak of the broad region where to some degree she grew up in. "At least there's far more variety in what's trying to kill you there." At the 'keep an eye on you' she would laugh. "OF course it does. Just like home."
Bruce Wayne	Bruce will fill plates for both of you, sliding a generous portion on each place, sitting cattycornered, with Bruce at the head of the table. Subtle reminder or favorite chair? You decide. "I liked Himalayan food. Butter tea, yak, a bit of grain and roots. On second thought, you're right, the alligator eggs were probably better." "Yes, but I'n not your father. I don't want to control your life. And you don't owe me anything. I would appreciate your help sometimes. You are one of the must cunning humans I've ever known. I personally consider you much more dangerous than your father. I'm just lucky that you have a nicer temperament." "Yes, I have to watch you. It would be neglectful to do otherwise. But I'm not your warden either. You should be free for a while. Maybe try having a life without murder and intrigue. Okay, this isn't really the place for that, but baby steps."
Talia al Ghul	Talia al Ghul would shake her head, "Bruce, I.." Shw ould take a breath, "I've been controlled all my life. And that hasn't changed. Whatever my father's plans are.." Talia is still afraid that she's too much a part of them. And that her sidelining is just one more thing of Ras' grander scheme. Perhaps she gives him far too much credit, ceding the battleground without cause. But then she has seen her father outplay virtually everyone time and time again throughout her life. It is a well founded fear. "Thank you, that means much to me." She bites back a 'beloved' there. "I will do what I can to be assistance. I do.. Not want to make you all greater targets when you have given me a sanctuary."
Bruce Wayne	Bruce steeples his fingers, napkin clutched between them. "You're under my protection. I know your father's a very impressive man. Which should remind you that I've beaten him when the chips were down, every time we've clashed. You're more competent than most of the assassins he could send after you. As for his schemes, who would recognize them better than you?" He sighs, sitting back, "I don't want you to think I take Ra's lightly. I know what he's capable of. You may think otherwise, but I do my research. The man's a monster. That my son shares some of his genetics frankly frightens me. But he's also you and he's also me and so I still have hope, too." "Nothing is finished yet, you're right. Maybe you're not free. But you will be. That I will promise you. You do what you want with that freedom if you have it and maybe, someday, we end up on opposite sides again. I hope not. But, good or bad or anything in between, you deserve the right to make those choices for yourself, Talia." "But for now. Breathe. Live. When the time is right, we'll know."
Talia al Ghul	Talia al Ghul would close her eyes, "My father is a terrifying man." That's something she can say with oppenness and sincerity. SHe's still not able to fullyb reak away from that. Perhpas she never will be able to. but for now.. For now, at least, she is beyond his leash and choke chain. "I also fear I do not know what his schemes are or whatever plans he has going. OR what his assets are. He has purged any.. Within the League that would answer to me. or at least they fear him too much to. I know not what he or any of my.. Other family are doing." SHe's tense. And then she geos to do a very, very hard thing for Talia. She goes to try and timidly wrap her arms around Bruce in a hug. A weak one, leaving it open for him to push her away if he did not wish it.
Bruce Wayne	Bruce permits the hug, returning it very gently and even deepening it a little. Bruce was a hard man because he had to be. But that didn't mean he didn't care about people. And he had loved Talia and so he loved her still. Because, as he had learned, even if life moves on, the memories you have with someone, those matter. His memories of his parents mattered. His memories of his training mattered. His memories of his time with Talia mattered. Their love had been unexpected and almost painful, two souls both so wounded and jagged that they fit together only briefly now and again before cutting one another with some new, unexpected shard. But for now, the bleeding had stopped, at least. Maybe they still didn't fit. But at least they could not hurt each other. "If not for your sake, then for Damian's sake...I'm going to stop him," he says softly. "I won't let Ra's do to him what he did to you. He's done too much to him already."
Talia al Ghul	It's hard for Talia. To display emotion in a sense that's not controlled, not feigned, or not part of the role that she has to play for something. Honest emotion comes out very, very subtly and almost rarely. She would look over at Bruce for a moment, a hand going up to gently stroke at his cheek. "You were and still are a good man, Bruce. Never let the weight of the world drag you down and make you consider yourself otherwise." She would close her eyes. "And you will." He rotne soft. Timid. A very, very un-Talia like thing.