InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Candle Jack..."

_taliaalghul (_taliaalghul) wrote in newalliance,
@ 2017-01-22 10:05:00

Entry tags:

batman, nyssa raatko, talia al ghul, winter soldier

Who: Talia al Ghul, Batman, Nyssa Raatko, her second + NPCs
What: Talia and Nyssa settle the score
Where: Caverns beneath Gotham City
When: January 22nd, 2017

There was danger in revealing the location of the Lazarus Pit to Batman-- he was sure to take it upon himself to try to destroy it, and it was Talia's sworn duty to protect it, as she had been unable to protect so many others. She would even believe that he might try to handle this problem at the same time as he stood as her second; but that was a problem she would have to deal with when and if it reared its head. In the meantime, he had agreed to stand beside her as her second. As a noncombatant, his duty was to help negotiate a mutually beneficial peace-- if such a thing was at all possible; and if not, the twin katanas strapped to her back, the pistol on her thigh, and the steel in her eyes would serve. No matter who was the victor, Batman would serve to carry the verdict. If necessary, it would be him that would tell their son how his mother had finally died.

She skimmed one gloved hand over her belt to check the utility pockets again, scowling towards the cavern entrance as they waited for Nyssa's appearance. Almost as an afterthought, she reached into the unzipped collar of her cat suit and withdrew a letter that she'd kept close, near her heart. It was still warm. Without turning away from the small subterranean dock, she looked across at Batman, and held out the letter. It was seal with green wax, and addressed simply to 'My son'. Should this be her last living night on Earth, he would know what to do with such a letter. Perhaps he would wait and give it to him when he was old enough to understand, when emotions did not run so hot-- or perhaps, as a child whose parents hadn't had the opportunity to leave him a letter of goodbye, he would know the power of such a thing, and give it to him immediately. Either way, she was assured that in the event of her death, one day Damian would receive his letter from his mother-- Bruce would not deny her that-- and that would be enough.

Briefly, she caught his eye, simply looking at him for a moment before her men announced Nyssa's approach. She didn't look away, but lifted her chin, her shoulders straightening.

"How do I look?" She asked finally, waiting for his answer- and glad to have someone trustworthy at her side. She turned her attention to the docks where the boats carrying Nyssa and her men arrived, and kept her expression completely placid and neutral.

"Detective," Talia started, her eyes riveted on her opponent, "Would you be so kind as to greet my sister?" Then she added, lowly, "Perhaps you will have better luck talking some sense into her."

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darkknight_
2017-01-25 03:00 am UTC (link)

The Lazarus Pit was a problem, but one he would have to consider another time. Batman had set about destroying all he could find (with one exception even Talia knew nothing about), with the purpose of keeping Ra's from using them. Ra's was gone now, but that didn't make the Pits any less dangerous. It wasn't just Talia he had to take into account, it was the woman they were here to meet, as well as potential others.

Later. He had agreed to come and serve as Talia's second, and intended to serve that purpose. There were no illusions as to what his duties were, but Batman found himself extending his hubristic assumption of invincibility to Talia, considering the turn of events in which she might not survive to be ludicrous. He followed her movements, precise, and ever purposeful. Talia wasted motion as little as speech, so he waited, accepting what she eventually handed him.

Batman knew what it was the moment he held it in his hand, before he saw the address on the front. Something deep in his chest clenched as the part of him willfully denying the possibility of her death cracked open to reveal a glimpse of what might happen should his son lose his mother. Tucking the letter away into his belt, Batman looked away from her. "It won't be necessary," he told her firmly.

And that was why he was here. Whether she knew it or not, he wasn't leaving without her. Casting an eye sideways in her direction, keeping his focus on those arriving, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, one only she would be able to discern. "Like your father," he answered. Like the Demon's Head.

True to his word, Batman moved to meet Nyssa and her second, greeting them with a shallow, if respectful, bow. He spoke to the second, but kept his eyes on Nyssa. "Can we agree that duels are pointless and infantile?"

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demons_heir
2017-01-26 11:45 am UTC (link)

Nyssa stood regally as the boat reached the small pier. Al'akhir stepped off the boat first before Nyssa followed. When the Batman approached, she watched, wondering what her own second would say in reply. No, Nyssa's focus was only on her sister.

James knew this was an honor-bound duel. Yes he was Nyssa's second as Al'akhir, but Talia had promised to help him keep his mind safe from further tampering. So he had fed Talia the information he had gathered about Nyssa's forces that she might not otherwise be aware of while still maintaining his cover. It had proven tricky but here he was as Nyssa's second. He would do his duty as her second too. This fight had to be legitimate for the League to accept Talia as the new Demon's Head.

He wore the garb of a member of the League including his mask. At the question, he stared the Bat in the eye, mimicking the bow though it was a bit deeper (but his eyes never left Batman. Only a fool took their eyes off their opponent after all). He straightened. "My own thoughts on duels are irrelevant," James replied. "The Demon's Head will only forgo the duel if Talia lays down arms and accepts her as the leader of the League."

"A right I won fairly from our father," Nyssa finished, her eyes sliding from Talia to Wayne. "Or did she neglect to tell you that little fact?" Her gaze moved back to her half-sister. "I will not give up what is rightfully mine Talia. Will you finally accept my position or shall we fight to let the fates decide who should rule the League?"

Nyssa was confident she would be victor were that the case. Her best sword hung from her hip and several knives were secreted over her person. Her quiver and bow rested comfortably on her back. She was eager to settle this once and for all, whatever the outcome might be.

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_taliaalghul
2017-01-26 12:18 pm UTC (link)

It wasn't a compliment, she knew he certainly didn't mean it is as a compliment, to say that she looked like her father-- but he had smiled, in his own way, and so did she, in her own way. The smile as brief, it didn't touch her lips-- but he would see it in ther eyes, in the core of her, past her armor even on a day like today when she had built it up in anticipation of the duel. It was his gift and her weakness for him to see right through her.

Talia didn't comment when Nyssa and her second stepped ashore. Nyssa may try to taunt her, but Talia was traditional. This was the last moment for their seconds to reach an accord-- if such a thing were possible. It was the last chance to prevent bloodshed. No matter what Nyssa's-- or Barnes's-- intentions, it could not be said that Talia did not give every effort to a peaceable solution. She had even brought as her second a man who refused to kill and was already sour at the prospect of having to witness such a thing. If there was a way to prevent violence, Batman would find it.

And if not...

Nyssa was trying to shake Batman's faith in her-- and while it pricked a nerve, it was no more than annoyance. What Nyssa failed to realize was that everything here belonged to Talia. The League, the Pit, the title of the Demon's Head-- and not the least of which: Batman.

They were not lovers. They were not spouses. They were not even friends by the strictest definition of the term; but not only did she have his word that he would choose her over her sister, she knew that it was true. Whatever he might think of Nyssa, he knew that Talia was the better choice for leader of the League-- he knew that Ra's would have named her heir in an instant if only she had been born a man. He knew that Ra's cherished Talia over any of his other children-- that she was favored not simply for being the youngest, nor by being his only legitimate child with a wife he had adored, but by the virtues of her mind, her intellect, her capabilities. He knew because he had once been proclaimed as the heir to Ra's al Ghul instead of the Daughter of the Demon; who had been promised to him in marriage. More than that, Nyssa was trying to come between them; but she didn't realize how impossible that would be.

While they were no longer lovers-- perhaps they never were-- they were still inextricably tied together. Batman would not abandon the mother of his child when she came to him for aid-- just as she would for him, were their positions reversed. And nothing Nyssa could say or do would ever be capable of breaking that bond.

"The Detective will relay my wishes and I trust him to speak on my behalf." She said loudly enough that all present would hear, "If you do not trust your second to negotiate for you, dear sister, perhaps that says something about your capabilities as a leader."

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darkknight_
2017-01-28 09:52 pm UTC (link)

It was a compliment, in his own way. Whatever he had felt about Ra's beliefs, Batman had respected his abilities. Talia had his strength and perseverance. He didn't always agree with her philosophies either, but he did know for certain that there was only one Demon's Head, and it was not her opponent.

Whatever they were to one another, whatever they had been, there were simple politics involved here. Were Talia the greater evil, he would not be here supporting here. Were she as dangerous as all that, he would also not be allowing anyone but himself the opportunity to take her down. Lover, wife, friend or no, he claimed a measure of responsibility for her that had no basis in reason. Then again, most of their relationship ever did.

Batman still did not look to Buchanan, but he gave an acknowledging nod. "There are only two people in this room who can rightfully claim the role of Demon's Head," he stated evenly. "And she isn't one of them." Ra's had asked Batman to be his heir, an offer he'd refused, but which had never been retracted. He'd been offered the hand of Ra's only legitimate daughter, whose only failing was her sex. "She has earned nothing; all she has managed to do is have one good day. Something she is not the only one to have accomplished."

Then, he did turn to look at the second, exhibiting no fear of the woman claiming her late father's title. "Tell Ms Raatko to walk away. Give up her false claim. I have no desire to see her blood spilled today. Nor have I any interest in taking up arms against her should that be required. One of us, she or I, will be victorious this day."

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b_wintersoldier
2017-01-29 07:39 pm UTC (link)

James glanced at Nyssa before looking at Wayne. "The Demon's Head must be willing to do what is necessary to cleanse the world of evil. You lack the will to take life." The tenents of the League, of what the League should be, spoke to James. Perhaps Talia would let him stay in the League after this business was finished... After all, no one but Talia knew who he was given he was well masked and his metal arm was covered with prosthesis and a sleeve.

"The Demon's Head will not abdicate her title. She will duel with her sister for the title to the death. Is this acceptable or not?"

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