Raven loves waffles more than life itself (ofevilsfire) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2020-11-06 16:31:00 |
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Entry tags: | rachel roth (raven), tim drake (red robin) |
Who: Raven, her father and then Tim later
What: Getting information to help clear Dick's name
When: 6 November 2020
Where: Los Angeles
Warnings: TBD
Status: Thread | In Progress
There were certain lines Raven had sworn her entire life she would never cross when it came to her father. Such as anything related to the world in which he ran. The Russian mafia after all gave the Sicilian mafia a run for its money. And her father? Well.... he had built himself up from New York in the protection business of Brighton Beach to where he was now. And she had spent her entire life avoiding it. There had been the guards when she was younger to ensure her safety so she couldn't be kidnapped by an opposing family but otherwise? She avoided it. She emancipated herself. Moved. Had done everything she could to cut ties to a world she'd never wanted anything to do with.
Then Ruby had been murdered and she had leveraged her connection to her father to get information on who had put a hit on her since Dick had been in no shape to do so. But that was just leveraging her connection. It should have been enough. But it wasn't. Because now she had to actually go to her father and ask for his help. To step into that world in a way she had skirted earlier in the year.
For Dick she would do it though. Especially with the latest information from Clark and whatever it was Tim had found.
The empath steeled herself for what was bound to be an emotionally draining meeting despite the years of distance. Maybe it was thanks to the Dreams. Even awful parents care about their kids, I should know. The fact that Trigon had helped save the world by fighting Darkseid for eternity. Maybe it was...no, that had to be it. The Dreams like usual had brought up all sorts of complicated feelings she had for her father and now she actually needed to talk to him after years of saying nothing to him after she had moved out.
Arriving at the bar that served as a front, Raven closed her eyes, took a breath and then stepped inside.
"We're closed."
Rolling her eyes, the empath just looked at the muscle man in boredom, muttering in Russian the phrase that would let him know she wasn't some random walk in. She could also feel the prick of confusion and other such emotions from older members who knew her.
"Malen'kaya ptitsa," Hearing the familiar voice, Raven looked over to Sergei, who had always been kind to her. No wonder he was shocked, he had kept her shielded from the worst of things and knew she hadn't wanted anything to do with this world. But life had a weird way of working out. So instead she just gave a small nod and watched as he went to the back to get her father. As the man came out, Raven could feel the shock and curiosity that came from him even as he showed nothing. Just like how she tensed and yet made no sign of her discomfort and appeared completely calm and in control.
"Moya doch', what brings you here?"
And that let those who didn't know who she was in on the deference she had received from those who had known her since she was a child.
"Information."
"Is that so? And what sort of information would you be seeking?" He was toying with her. He knew she had called upon her connection to him back in February while in New York. It wasn't really something she could keep quiet even if it had been minor. But once again she was looking into crime family related issues and here she was coming to him because her poking around all week had come up short. Bits of information that didn't quite add up and just left her frustrated.
"The kind only someone of your position can know."
Now to see if he would grant her an audience. If he would help her or turn her away. Honestly, she wasn't sure what to expect from him and she hated that she had to hope he would help.
"Interesting." It felt like the minutes were ticking by and felt longer and longer as her father contemplated her. Before he finally nodded and ushered her to the back with Sergei. Waiting until she was given the signal, Raven then sat down and looked at her father. "And what exactly is it my daughter is looking into that she would come to me of all people for help?"
"The murder of a judge."
"Ah yes, your detective friend is locked up for that, is he not? The one who was engaged to the woman in New York who had the hit put on her by the Gambino family for exposing their human trafficking activities. Dreadful business all of that." Of course he knew and Raven wasn't sure if she should be bothered by the fact he had known so much of her connections even while she'd been in New York. That he knew that Dick and Ruby were...well no, Dick never got the chance to propose and yet... Yet it seemed like there was some remorse in her father, the tiniest sliver. Though if it were rivalry or disgust with human trafficking and so wanting Ruby to succeed... well, it was hard to say.
"Which he didn't do. And you know that."
A slight tilt of his head in acknowledgment of Raven's comment and the truth of it was all that was needed.
"And why precisely would I be interested in helping a cop? One who has poked into my business in the past?"
"Because I get the feeling that getting a rival family out of the way, or at least weakened, would be quite beneficial for you."
And a slight smirk. Raven hated playing this game. Hated knowing the argument would work. She would also know if her father were lying should he pretend to give her information. Yet it seemed it was more interesting to him that she was here at all and so he might just humor her. She could also pick up on Sergei's shock at how well she played the game. He probably still saw her as the quiet girl who sat in the corner and read, who put headphones on whenever business came to the house and avoided it all. But that little girl had grown up and as much as she hated it, she needed to be there because she couldn't track someone she never got a read on in terms of their energy.
"Yes, I did hear that his partner disappeared."
"Rather convient."
"It is. I've heard some names. Some locations. They might be of interest to you. Sergei?"
Looking to her once head bodyguard, Raven watched as he came forward with a folder.
".....You knew I'd show up...."
"The second I heard who it was taking the blame. You always were loyal." The unspoken words were that she'd never been loyal to him, to the family business. And yet he was still helping her, a fact Raven wasn't sure what to make of. Taking hold of the folder, the twenty one year old looked to her father.
"Spasibo."
Being dismissed, Raven started to leave when she felt a hand on her shoulder, worry coming off of Sergei as he led her to the door.
"Be careful and watch your back. The more you step into this world, the harder it is to get out."
Knowing he was right, Raven just gave a small nod.
"I will be. I'm tougher than I look." With that, she ducked into an alleyway and focused on Tim's energy. It was time to see what information he had, and if it lined up at all with what she had.