here comes the flood

[lazarisen]

WHO: RA'S AL GHUL and TALIA AL GHUL
WHERE: Talia's office
WHEN: Wednesday evening
WARNINGS: Probably nothing? Talk of al Ghul-y things.
SUMMARY: Ra's returns to the City and catches up with his daughter.
FORMAT: Whatever!



Like usual, Ra's arrived by only a moment's notice, surrounding in a brief cloud of fog. It had been some time since he'd seen his daughter, or the City, and it was with mild disdain that he returned to it. There was cause, but the air was thick with pollution and smoke that always made him wrinkle his nose in distaste.

This time, he was dressed in a tailored suit, black with green accents around the collar and cuffs.

"Talia," he said, moments after he'd appeared in her office. "Things have been well with you?"

Comments

[daughterofthedemon]

Talia would never grow accustomed to her father's new method of entry, of that she was certain. It was a small grace she'd placed her tea cup down a moment before and thus spared the small pile of paperwork before her from being ruined by her start. She looked up at him over the desk, noting the change in attire.

"We've remained relatively unaffected by the recent troubles. So as well as can be hoped for."

[lazarisen]

"I wouldn't presume you managed to get a hold of any technological artifacts belonging to our invading friends," Ra's said, in a musing tone that was more thoughtful than accusatory. "Of course, if you had I should be very interested to get my hands upon it."

He paced a little in her office as he had done last time, before he stopped in front of her desk and looked at her.

"You should be aware that I'll be returning to the City. My business overseas is no longer quite so pressing."

[daughterofthedemon]

"The vultures struck swiftly enough to prevent any successes worth mentioning."

No to mention the still irritating fact one of her more reliable sources, whether he enjoyed it or not, turned out to be a member of the alien race's ranks rather early in the game. Beyond the details of the past, it did not seem a leap in logic to assume the recent alien infiltration may have streamlined her father's plans to return to the City.

"There will be more to collect from. I sincerely doubt this first gentle probe will be the final strike, no matter how the importance of vigilance seems to be swiftly forgotten by many in the wake of such a minor catharses as battle. Though, of course, not by you."

[lazarisen]

"Disappointing. But unsurprising. Do inform me if anything changes. I should very much like to know their intent for this planet if it goes anywhere beyond their presumed alliances. Our little friends Vulcanus."

Despite the dry annoyance in his tone, he seemed in relatively easy spirits. He smiled at Talia, his eyebrow raised.

"Not by me," he repeated, emphatically. "They lack the experience to keep themselves prepared. It's one of humanity's greatest flaws, no matter how it evolves itself to overcome past oversights. There are always more. They engineer their own extinction that way." If only, he thought. But, in theory.

"And then of course, there's my own business. It's political interests that have brought me back."

[daughterofthedemon]

"Or their own evolution. Vulcanus takes steps the common import will not."

Not cannot, as any man was capable of anything given the right pressure. Many of the imported population would be more likely to break rather than adjust, however. Any necessary actions that could have been taken to save them not accepted as needed until long past the point they would have been relevant.

"But you do not mean you've come to speak with them, do you Father."

[lazarisen]

"Vulcanus? No." Ra's crossed his arms, tapping one with his fingers. "If there's a time for them, their time will come. I'm returning to the City on diplomatic grounds. Savoletta has closed its ports to all due to a devastating attack upon their soil; she will not engage with the Americas, but I am here to be her voice."

He swept out his hand in a dramatic, sword-like gesture.

"For all its filth, the ground here is fertile for planting the right sorts of seeds."

[daughterofthedemon]

Talia suspected the source of such an attack, but the lives of the faceless were hardly her concern. Her father had made himself necessary through the means available to him. There was nothing to feel concerning that save pride.

"My connections remain primarily corporate or criminal. It seems the local political figures vastly prefer superhuman methods of insurance over typical means of corruption. If you have need of me in this sewing, however, my resources remain yours."

[lazarisen]

"Corporate and criminal both have their values. Perhaps you can tell me, Talia, if there is anything regarding either I need inform myself of further. What in our fair City has caught your eye?"

He had a few reasons for asking, of course. The obvious one was to make himself aware of the resources she had compiled, because he trusted Talia -- no matter their differences, he would always trust her to the fullest capacity that he was capable of trusting anyone. He wanted a better picture of the City; but he also wanted a better picture of what Talia herself was keeping busy with. Without the Detective around he expected her to stay focused, but any city was full of men.

[daughterofthedemon]

"Rossum is one of the few technological innovators not under the thumb of an icon renowned for their heroics in some universe or another. I've agreed to head their relations department for the time being. The latest favorite of the Batman's rogues is employed there as well, Mr. Holmes."

Her contempt for disloyalty was easily overridden by the convenience of having something for the asylum inmates to occupy their time with. Though she remained neutral at worst with the majority of them, idle hands tended to add chaos to carefully laid plans when their lot was factored in. If Sherlock Holmes managed to survive the encounters, it only made the spectacle more intriguing for the observer.

"As for crime, it is not so different here than any other place. Little lords carving out their own kingdoms. I hold stake in few of the more profitable or ideally placed. Smuggling of any nature shouldn't prove any more an issue here than at home."

The involvement of Jason in those operations was very consciously left unmentioned. Her involvement with the Robin had never been a point she and her father had ever managed to reach an agreement on.

[lazarisen]

"Mr. Holmes," Ra's repeated slowly, watching Talia's face as he did so. "No surprise it would be him that would catch interest, I suppose. No surprise at all. I am pleased you have been so proactive; continue as you are. Inform me of any changes and I would rather like more details on what this Rossum company does... those, I can acquire for myself. I shall not interfere."

He considered each thing she mentioned, pondering on how he might use them himself. Both resources would be pertinent, he knew, but in what way he would have to discover once his own plans furthered their mechanizations. First, Ra's needed to speak with the mayor himself to take a measure of him, to see if he was a thread worth pursuing.

[daughterofthedemon]

"My affections," she continued sharply, catching the look, "are hardly so malleable. I am sure he will sniff around you as well, father, should your presence become publicly known. No matter what game Arkhamites may play, however, he is no Batman. It will not be an issue."

For him or her, no matter how closely she may be keeping track of the man's movements.

[lazarisen]

Ra's smirked at her, waving his hand dismissively. "Suit yourself, daughter. Though it would befit you to move on from the Detective, should he fail to reappear and should you fail to leave. I will help you find someone worthy if that is what you'd prefer."

He briefly considered that man he'd killed and that had come back, in sheer defiance of Ra's's carefully laid plan on a permanent solution to Import resurrection. There were worst options, but he held his tongue.

"Regardless, if he pursues me, it will be at his own risk."

[daughterofthedemon]

"Perhaps by then someone will have taught him there are by far worse fates than death in such a world as this."

She gave a small wave of dismissel concerning the topic of the new detective. In the grand scheme of things, he hardly made an impact on the game. The first part of his advice, for the sake of sparring them an old argument rehashed yet again, she chose to overlook.

"The sentiment towards those openly 'imported' is hardly favorable at the moment at any level, business or political."

[lazarisen]

"If not..." He gestured vaguely with his hand, clenching it into a fist. Sherlock wasn't very important to him, nor did Ra's even consider thinking about him. He was a novel detective in the most literal sense of the word.

"Fear not. There are ways to use such a sentiment to our advantage. Or," he put his hands on his hips. "To mine. It's really rather simple and I intend to enjoy that fact."

[daughterofthedemon]

"History repeating itself yet again, yes."

Ra's al Ghul would certainly have had no lack of opportunities in his lifetime to deal with turning the tide of prejudice and paranoia in his favor. There was no reason this time would be any different.