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Post by WildKnight on Jan 12, 2021 9:32:09 GMT -5
Gotham winters were always brutal. Terrible icy winds tore through the city from the harbor, and the snow never really settled into a nice white blanket like it did elsewhere; in Gotham it was always filthy slush or stinging ice driven by the winds. Before he'd managed to take the reins of crime in Gotham, Roman had always taken Selina down to Miami for a few weeks in the winter, to escape the weather but now there was less of Roman and more of the Black Mask, and he never left Gotham. In fact he rarely seemed to sleep, or do anything other than obsess about keeping complete control of every single aspect of his operations at all times. He laid plans and contingencies constantly, and flew into rages about The Joker and others who he felt were dangerous to his rule, even when they hadn't been heard from in weeks. All the signs were there; Roman was slipping. He'd killed more of his own men in the last year than he'd lost to The Batman and Harvey Dent and, increasingly, when he put the mask on, he was a different person.
All of this left Selina with time to pursue her own interests which, at the moment, included the Eye of Nanda Parbat, a massive uncut diamond in the collection of Helena Bertinelli herself, currently on loan to the Gotham Museum of Natural History. Normally such an item would be impossible to sell, but someone had put out the word through the usual channels that if the diamond could be stolen, no easy task, a more than fair price would be paid. Maybe more importantly to Selina, one's reputation could only benefit from achieving the impossible. Unfortunately the easiest way to discretely get her hands on the museum's security plans was to deal with the deplorable little man known as The Penguin. Cobblepott liked to pose himself as a gentlemen, but he was anything but chivalrous. She was sure she could strike a deal with him to get the plans, and The Penguin was businessman enough not to be curious as to why she wanted them or to sell her out to law enforcement or... other interested parties after the fact. On the other hand she could just break in after the museum closed and try her luck, it wasn't as if she was a rookie. Or she could find some other way to get the plans... maybe ask Roman, though that carried its own set of risks...
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Post by OurLadyWar on Jan 12, 2021 10:52:36 GMT -5
As another shouting match with another "son of a bitch" started over their telephone in the other room, Roman's prize pussycat was curled up on the settee, wrapped in his warm robe, and enjoying the morning paper with some coffee. The paper was like her own personal catalog, letting Selina know when all the latest exhibitions, priceless baubles, and shameless, easily swindled who's-whos were coming through Gotham, and this morning the Gazette did anything but disappoint. The spread boasting a picture of Helena Bertinelli -- looking so fit, must be an old picture -- and then another picture of the museum curator standing proudly next to the Eye of Nanda Parbat held her fast. So, this was the rock she had been hearing all the rumors about.
"And there you are," she purred before taking another sip of coffee. "Now we just need to bring you home..."
Another expletive of betrayal echoed through their penthouse, so the idea of approaching Roman -- even with a full and impressive pout going -- was looking more bleak by the second. Her stomach turned at the epiphany that the best man in town, the man with the plan as it were, was going to be Cobblepot. "That little gremlin," she muttered to herself, because it was not like she had a fiancé to talk to these days. And when she did, he sounded different, kissed different, touched different. It was like he was someone else, like the damn Mask never came off.
Perhaps a caper was just what she needed. Selina folded the paper and hopped with a spring to her step from the settee. His robe was off with a swift shrug of her shoulder and she was dressing for the day. She would need to stop by the Cat's Meow first, check on things, retrieve her gear, and head on to Cobblepot's from there as the Cat. Fleeced stockings, buttoned boots, long black dress, and green sweater were all wrapped up in long grey-blue suit jacket. As she tugged on her gloves, she leaned out of the armoire. "Roman dear," she called, in case he was off the phone, "I'm heading to the Cat's, I'll be late," she popped a knit cap over her unruly dark hair.
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 12, 2021 11:19:28 GMT -5
From the other room, she heard Roman say something in Sicilian, which may have been a response to her, or it may have been a threat to whomever he was talking to. It was going to be a long day for someone, but so far Roman had never turned his wrath on Selina.
Her ride through the city was uneventful. For the most part, unless the Joker or one of the other crazies was loose in the city, Roman's rule over Gotham's underworld had been peaceful, though that was likely to come to an end. Roman hadn't been paying attention to the news, but Selina had. Helena Bertinelli's conviction was likely to be overturned. Selina knew Helena Bertinelli, knew the woman had no interest in running crime in Gotham, but the media called her the Queen of Crime, and Roman, or more accurately, the Black Mask, could never let that stand. Soon enough there would be open war between Gotham's underworld and one of Gotham's wealthiest people, who also had her own share of underworld connections. Then there were the rumors that Lex Luthor, the "man who saved Metropolis" was visiting Gotham. Selina had heard enough whispers about how Lex rose to power in Metropolis to know that if he set his sights on Gotham, it would mean conflict with the Black Mask sooner or later.
The Meow was exactly as she'd expected to find it; quiet. One of her dedicated doormen, Anatoli, a mass of Russian muscle that nonetheless moved with shocking speed when the need arose, greeted her. "Greetings Miss Kyle," he opened in his thick accent. Immediately Selina knew something was wrong; Anatoli rarely spoke if he didn't have to. "A man from the Order of St. Dumas stopped by. A Mister Valley. He knew you by name, and he knew what your business here is. He wants you to stop selling booze." Selina could see that talking this much was paining the man, but he was doing his best to make sure she had all of the information. While Selina had never heard of a Mister Valley, she was quite familiar with The Order of St. Dumas, do-gooders who did a lot of positive things for Gotham, but who were also die-hard abolitionists, crusading against demon alcohol and its effects on society. It wasn't the first time they'd tried to force her to shut down, but apparently they were sending someone new to handle the discussion.
Inside, the place was running smoothly without her, though at this hour it was mostly her employees cleaning up and preparing for the rush that would happen later. Behind the bar, smartly dressed, was a bartender Selina vaguely remembered interviewing, a girl of maybe 20 years, pretty redhead, clearly a runaway, who called herself Ivy. Probably not her real name, but Ivy was a street kid, and Selina knew she was safer in here than out there. Ivy nervously nodded to Selina and went back to her work. The girl seemed at ease when dealing with men, but women, and especially Selina, seemed to make her very nervous
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Post by OurLadyWar on Jan 12, 2021 11:44:50 GMT -5
"Come by later, blow off some steam!" Selina had called over her shoulder, and was swiftly away, rattling down the streets in one of Gotham Cab's jalopies. A good time to sift through all those sordid rumors. In most cities, rumors were about as nutritious as a saltine, but here rumors were the fat of the land for the good, the bad, and every soul in between. Most rumors were true and most truths were just rumors, and the paradox carried on and on, much like the wheel churning and slicing through the street slush outside.
Her thoughts wound down as she paid the meter, tipped the driver, and went up the curb to her home away from home. This was her pride and joy. Between her brothers' scams and her own prowess, the Kyles were truly turning into a rags to riches story. Speaking of pride and joy, there was her Russian gladiator at the door.
"Greetings Miss Kyle," he opened in his thick accent.
"Mr. Anatoli," she greeted, but she could tell something was wrong instantly. He had a great jab, not a great poker face.
"A man from the Order of St. Dumas stopped by. A Mister Valley. He knew you by name, and he knew what your business here is. He wants you to stop selling booze."
Selina rolled her green eyes. "Those pigeons," she grumbled, waving a dismissive hand. "You did good," she said, offering him a cheroot before helping herself. "Come in for some coffee, warm up a bit, Mr. Anatoli." Selina went to the bar where she was surprised to see that Ivy girl had not only come back for another shift, but was holding the fort down rather well. Selina was only a few years older than her, just cracking her mid-twenties while Ivy was clearly still coming into her own. "There she is. Let me see a light, honey," she gestured with the cheroot before leaning over the bar with it. "Anatoli told me a 'Mister Valley' came by, do you know anything about that, my little rose bud?"
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 12, 2021 12:06:34 GMT -5
Anatoli did not, in fact, come inside. He never spoke of Russia or why he left, but it was clear he'd been a military man, and a life of rigid discipline suited him. He did however take the smoke. Like most military men, Anatoli smoked like a chimney. He was quiet, loyal, and efficient, but the mystery he posed was certainly tantalizing.
Ivy, on the other hand, was almost an open book for Selina. She knew a lot of girls like Ivy. Rough home life, bad enough that the streets were an improvement. Prohibition had probably made it worse, that was a common story. On the streets Ivy had learned to manipulate men, and it came to her with ease. The head bartender had also mentioned to Selina that Ivy was some sort of mixologist, creating new drinks for customers at the drop of a hat, most of which were met with rave reviews. Women, however, were an issue. Ivy was visibly uncomfortable in their presence, especially women like Selina who carried themselves in a manner some might call brazen. Suddenly, Ivy was a shrinking violet in their presence.
"Ah... Valley?" Ivy muttered, looking everywhere but at Selina, her pale cheeks blushing. "He... he's new. Not from here. Word on the streets is he pays working girls to not work the streets. You maybe heard Tony Two-Tones was beaten and left for dead in Crime Alley? Street says that was Valley. Saw Tony hittin' that little China girl that works the corner for him. The... they... the Order... they want the streets clean. Heard he's even got a sword under that coat." All of this was mumbled out quickly and barely audibly. When she finished, Ivy tried to make eye contact with Selina but lost her nerve, and instead just lowered her head and fell silent.
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Post by OurLadyWar on Jan 12, 2021 12:26:14 GMT -5
Instead of drawing attention to Ivy not grabbing the matches for Selina's cheroot, Selina scooped up one of the candles from the bartop and lit the tip of the snipped, slim cigar. She puffed away at the ember to get it smoldering as she listened to Ivy's report. Selina's pale emerald gaze scanned the girl through a veil of smoke as she spoke and a slight smile haunted the boss's expression.
"Ah... Valley?" Ivy muttered, looking everywhere but at Selina, her pale cheeks blushing. "He... he's new. Not from here. Word on the streets is he pays working girls to not work the streets. You maybe heard Tony Two-Tones was beaten and left for dead in Crime Alley?"
Selina nodded, but refrained from interrupting.
"Street says that was Valley. Saw Tony hittin' that little China girl that works the corner for him. The... they... the Order... they want the streets clean. Heard he's even got a sword under that coat."
"Bah," she waved her hand again. "If Tony weren't gonna get it from someone, it was gonna be from me. He's a boob," she exhaled through her nose and surveyed the bar thoughtfully as a dragon might account for their hoard. The Order was getting too froggy for Selina's taste. Now, she had some lousy do-gooder sniffing around her joint in earnest. It was good to know, but she had bigger fish to fry today.
Selina turned back in her seat just on time to catch the girl's eyes before they inevitably went to the floor. "Kid," she reached over and cupped the bottom of her chin to notch her gaze back up. "I heard a rumor, too. That you're killin' it back here. Keep it up and while you're at it: keep an ear out for me." Selina swerved off the barstool and took a drag on her cheroot as she strode for her office. "Thanks, doll!"
Selina bolted her office door and tugged up a floorboard under her desk. She pulled out the familiar mask with the pointed ears the way a pirate might admire their finest treasure. "Let's get to work..."
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 12, 2021 12:50:07 GMT -5
The trip to the Ice Box was more complicated; it was difficult not being seen in costume. The cops ignored a lot of things, but costumed types driving around town wasn't one of them. She'd learned from listening to stories to stay away from rooftops, though that was mostly at night. Those belonged to the Bat. Luckily she managed the trip without incident, though she did see a couple of very interesting cars parked in front of Wayne Tower, one of them seemingly guarded by a woman of extraordinary size, looked Greek, maybe, but her hair was cut in a man's style and so was her chauffeur's outfit. Obvious bulge under the left arm meant the girl was packing heat, too. No time for that now.
The Ice Box was a sure sign that The Penguin was now truly above the law. Everyone knew the opulent place in the center of town was a brothel, but the Penguin's joint was never raided by the police, and shipments of the booze he brazenly crafted here were only ever disrupted once they were several blocks away, if at all. The cops left The Penguin alone because his girls were treated well, his customers behaved themselves, his liquor never sent anyone to the hospital, and most of all, because all of the right people were getting paid.
Catwoman's skills made it easy for her to alight on the roof rather than going in through the front door and, since she was a paying customer for one of his other services, security knew not to try to eject her. As it happened Oswald was at his desk already, looking out over his panoramic view of downtown Gotham. The upper floor of the place was always kept ice cold, The Penguin seemed to like it that way.
"Well well my little chickadee..." Cobblepot said without turning to look at her. "We got business, love, or have you just finally come to confess your love for me? I have to tell you, my dance card is pretty full, but I'm sure I can squeeze you in..."
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Post by OurLadyWar on Jan 12, 2021 13:29:01 GMT -5
That hooded long jacket of hers certainly helped in some degree of subtlety and even now certainly helped in some lack of degrees -- the damn place was freezing. Then again, he liked it that way. Spring, summer, fall, or winter... the place was his own ever-growing ice palace. She popped the hood back and shrugged off the cold with a frigid shrill.
"Keep your squeezing to yourself, baby, I'm here on business," she said admiring the sharp tips of her claws as she made confident strides toward him. Selina did not completely loathe the wretch. His booze kept folks coming back to the Cat's Meow, all of them practically slobbering the newest password just to get a sip. Any of the girls that rolled through to moonlight at the burlesque had nothing but good things to say about him and his clientele. He also never opened his beak to the cops. Still, he always seemed to be pondering the arithmetic of her get-ups, whether she was the Cat or the owner of the Cat's Meow. "You heard about Helena's latest party favor for the museum, yes? Well, I have an itch I need to scratch, and I think you're just the man who can help me reach it." The Cat leaned on the edge of his desk, arms crossed over her chest, eyes bright with greed. "I want in."
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 12, 2021 15:25:12 GMT -5
The Penguin turned in his chair to face her, a smile on his face. Whatever else was true of the man, he knew how to dress. His suit was tailored perfectly for his frame, and he wore it well, every element was perfectly in place. That he barely rose to five feet with the help of risers in his shoes (risers that caused the characteristic waddle that gave him his nickname) had been, in his youth, an easy way to raise his ire, but the older, wiser Penguin was, pun pardoned, unflappable. His facial features were broad and flat, giving him an appearance that some might associate with a dullard, but Oswald Cobblepott was anything but.
He reached out to a vase of freshly cut flowers on his desk, and tossed one to Selena. "Have I ever told you, my delightful kitten, why I always carry an umbrella?"
The Penguin's umbrellas were notorious in the streets. At first, a decade ago, they were merely reinforced, allowing The Penguin to attack the unsuspecting with them, but they'd grown increasingly complex. Knives, then guns... rumor was that he even had an umbrella that could hypnotize people. In all, Selena was more than certain she didn't want to see The Penguin's umbrella collection.
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Post by OurLadyWar on Jan 12, 2021 17:52:58 GMT -5
As sharp and deadly as they were, she caught and cradled the flower precisely and softly in her claws. The gentle lips of the petals were stroked and prodded with nothing but admiration, even if her expression already looked beleaguered.
"Hmmm, you never know when it might rain..." Selina said in a droll drawl, despite being fully aware that "rain" could be anything to someone like him. She drew her attention back to him, because she was the one who came to him, and that meant willingly or haplessly enjoying the theatre he presented. "Contingency, contingency, contingency." Selina added as she gracefully turned the flower into a conductor's baton.
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 12, 2021 18:23:57 GMT -5
The Penguin smiled.
"You do get me. Most of the people around here think its clever to answer that I hide weapons in them, as if everyone doesn't know that. I like you Catwoman. TO BUSINESS!"
With that, he shot to his feet, adjusting his suit quickly as he did. "As it happens, I do have the security measures for that building, and I, too, have my eye on a prize." He waddled his way over to a naked statue that an unpracticed eye might see as classical art, but Selina saw it for the intentionally lewd forgery that it was... in fact she recognized it specifically as having once belonged to Carmine Falcone, she'd stolen from it in his home at least twice. It held a hidden safe, which The Penguin was now opening. He removed a single folder and waddled back over to her. "The security details are inside, as well as the item I'd like you to grab for me as payment." He held the file out to her, but just out of her reach. "Don't try to scam me on this one lady. If you do, I'll find you. You're smart, you know."
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Post by OurLadyWar on Jan 12, 2021 18:49:35 GMT -5
He was a goblin, but when he got excited, it was infectious. His "TO BUSINESS" brought a giggle from her and she sat fully on the edge of his desk now, legs crossed over each ankle by the time he returned to her.
"The security details are inside, as well as the item I'd like you to grab for me as payment." He held the file out to her, but just out of her reach.
Selina went for her it, and puffed her lower lip when he snatched it back. The act was practiced and she only pulled it because it was a favorite of his. In fact, that pucker turned into a grin, the very tip of her tongue stroking a canine as she chuckled at the inside joke of it all.
"Don't try to scam me on this one lady. If you do, I'll find you. You're smart, you know."
"Oh, now, Ozzy," she said, pinching that Windsor knot of his. "Wouldn't dream of it. By the way," she tugged on that knot and snatched the file at the same time, "love the new suit." And turned away, flipping open the file.
"Let's see what you're goo-goo over these days..."
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 12, 2021 20:44:30 GMT -5
Inside was what barely qualified as a description of the security details. If Selina weren't experienced at this, much of it would mean nothing to her, but since she recognized brand names and serial numbers, she knew shew dealing with protections that were in need of an update, but not badly behind the current norms. Pressure sensitive floors, alarms that go off if the case breaks, case made of bulletproof glass, and of course weight-sensitive stand holding the diamond.
The item Cobblepott was after was a bit more of a pickle. A stone tablet with indecipherable text, known as "the Demon's head" because of a vaguely demonic looking symbol carved in the center near the top, the exact origin of the tablet was unknown, and scholars argued widely over the language that was inscribed, though no one had come up with a viable translation as of yet. The tablet wasn't on public display. It was in the storage area beneath the museum, guarded by armed men, and held in a crate with only a packing number to help find it. Armed guards weren't necessarily a problem. They could be bribed, distracted, or evaded. Even knocked out if necessary. But it was going to take time to find the item, unless the warehouse was far better organized than any Selina had seen in the past. Perhaps she'd get lucky, or perhaps there was someone who knew the layout and could guide her to the right place. Involving someone else, someone high up enough to know what was stored where, was certainly risky, but otherwise the time could be a real problem. Risks all around.
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Post by OurLadyWar on Jan 13, 2021 0:56:55 GMT -5
"Mmmhmmm," Selina mused as she deftly tiptoed her claw through all the sordid details. "Ooooh, one of those," she wriggled delightfully. "And a bit of the new mustard, I like it," she flashed a devilish grin at some of the newest gadgets at play. Nothing she could not handle, but it was good to have a leg up. "Should be a fun night. Sometimes a girl needs to treat herself to a good time," she chuckled as she sucked in and nibbled on her lower lip.
Then she came to Cobblepot's apple. The more she read, the more her face began to fall. This was looking like more than a one night job. Selina would need a patsy and those took time, unless she create incentive in the moment, and that meant being caught by the right kind of person. Still, that dropped her plan to about thirty-six hours. At least.
"UGH!" The Cat slumped onto the desk, long legs dangling off the edge. "Ozzy," she groaned. "That's a tall order," she folded the file over her face. "And here I wanted a one night stand," she grumbled.
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 13, 2021 7:52:47 GMT -5
The Penguin, now in full business mode, merely spread his hands, unsympathetic. "You know the way it works, Cat. You can go to a lot of people for help in Gotham. You want the best, you pay The Penguin's price. I've been hearing for years about a more powerful kind of poppy, one that isn't available on American shores... yet. Acquiring that tablet is the first step in opening negotiations to become the exclusive distributor for the North American continent. That's strictly between you and I, of course. Get me that tablet, Cat."
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