capencowl2020 | leave it to ya girl to take advantage of a bad situation

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!log

leave it to ya girl to take advantage of a bad situation

WHO: The Lioness and... YOU?
WHAT: Open prompts and a wildcard option
WHEN: For the duration of the event
WHERE: All over
WARNINGS: There's bound to be SOMETHING; will edit for proper warnings as necessary.

ONE: i got 'em asking 'what do she do?' i do everything. i move everything.
—for those who have business with the Lioness, those stupid enough to steal from her, or simply don't know any better.

[ The whip strapped to her hip is one of the last remnants of an old life. The Cat -- or what's left of her, skintight catsuit and diamond-tip claws -- sits in a vault along with all the other things she tries to keep out of sight but never quite out of mind. As the Lioness, she is more accustomed to the feeling of couture wool suits and silk dresses than the feeling of spandex or leather or vinyl -- whatever look of hers it was that you fancied the most. (If it's the Jim Balent catsuit I'm gonna throat punch you.) She's still got a thing for sparkly things and even the "modest" diamond stud earrings she wears tonight are worth more than some people earn in a year slaving away for the system, she has other ways of procuring such finery these days.

... nah, not these ones. She totally stole these ones. It was fun and the very uppity, entitled second wife she lifted them from was a real bitch.

But you're not focused on the earrings or the whip, are you? No. You're much more focused on the custom-made stiletto heel like a fuckin' dagger at your throat as you lie on the floor of what you thought was an abandoned warehouse. Or maybe you knew. Maybe you knew exactly what you'd find in here, you just weren't expecting her or the dozen men and women armed to the teeth that stand around her. Maybe you were taken by surprise, maybe you're at the end of a very long fight, maybe this is a complete misunderstanding, but one way or another, you're going down and it would serve you well to stay down. ]

Now, what do we have here?

TWO: oh baby, you know, she got them commas and them decimals.
—for associates, those who seek an audience with the Lioness, etc.

[ The Lioness sees very few guests at her estate, and by being in this place -- this fortress that she's built, nearly impenetrable to those she wishes to keep out -- you are here out of good faith and that doesn't come easily. Trust is a rare commodity in this life and even it does not afford one the luxury of walking into this place without the burning gaze of a dozen or so soldiers who'd all lay down their lives for their boss.

It can feel a little like being led to your death even if you've been here dozens of times. Maybe it's tall, Nordic, and menacing who seldom strays from her side or the leopard who lies his head in the lap of his mistress, seemingly as innocent as a kitten, but whose teeth never fail to remind you he would perhaps be the deadliest creature in this room. The key phrase 'would be,' because after all, she controls them both. ]

So lovely to see you. [ She strokes the leopard on the head, fingers scratching just behind his ear and to say he seems relaxed is an understatement. One might expect him to roll over like a giant house cat and present his belly to her to rub. ] To what do I owe the pleasure?

THREE: bailando aquí sola es mejor que con el diablo.
—for those who know her personally or with the means or pull to get this close to her.

[ She still leaps from the rooftops late at night from time to time -- another thing she hasn't quite let go of, one of the ones that she can't just stash away. It helps her sleep better, helps her clear her mind, and feel a little more like herself or the version of herself that she always liked the most. It's the only time that she's ever alone or close enough to it, because she's sure that Matthew is keeping a close eye on her; he can be a little overprotective like that.

Splitting her time between her estate upstate and the penthouse apartment in the heart of the city, she's spent the days since the Porter reactivated in the city to keep a close eye on things and maybe that's why she needs the breather. So much is changing so fast, all threatening to unbalance one of the many plates she has spinning just to make this work -- it all weighs heavily upon her now.

Her whip aiding her as she swings across from one rooftop to the next, her feet touch down in familiar territory soon enough, but she isn't quite ready to call it a night. She perches herself at the very edge of the rooftop, just taking a moment to realign with the sights and sounds of the city below her. It's not Gotham and because absence makes the heart grow fonder, it will never quite compare to Gotham, but her apartment does have a pretty sick view. ]

FOUR: wildcard.
—if you just ain't feelin' any of these.

[ Toss your own starter at me or hit me up at felinefatale and we'll plot a thing. ]

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Lioness.

[ he says it in the same way he used to call her catwoman in the beginning, though those memories never came back to him, and if it stings at all anymore, she's never let him know. still, they managed to find something new in this hell, just like they managed to find in the last one they lovingly called home, both on opposite sides of the law.

the light tapping of his cane announces him before she even needs to know that it's him, and he steps into her office wearing that same black trench coat the way she always used to find him wearing that cape in what seems a lifetime ago. his expression is serious as he approaches. ]

I'm here to take you in.

[ it's a joke. he's far too close to someone so dangerous to be that sloppy, and besides, his days of crusading were over now. instead he smiles as they both recognize that he didn't want anything from her other than to see her. ]

You're a wanted woman, you know.

[Yeah, overprotective is an understatement. Matthew doesn't really ever go off the clock; any time of day or night, no matter what he's doing, his first priority will always be his mistress. Unless he's been ordered away on business, he's there. Still, he's a well trained guard dog - he knows to respect her privacy.

He leaves her be for several minutes before he lands on the rooftop himself. He should look ungainly, a man of his size, but he moves with practised grace.]

You really gotta start telling me before you go out for a walk, Miz Kyle. I didn't even have time to change. [This is as close as he'll get to real complaining - whining that he's on a rooftop in his sweats.]

[ Bruce is another one of those things she can't put in a box and stash away and she's tried, but they never quite seem to escape each other's orbit. He's not a diamond ring from another lifetime or the memory of an oft-repeated argument about the very first time they met. In the years that have passed, they've made other memories -- experienced new triumphs and heartaches. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

There was a time when he moved silently, flitting between the shadows, but he's not as inconspicuous now. Her ears are indeed attuned to the tap and scrape of his cane against stone tile and the footfall the men escorting him, but the room goes silent when he speaks, save for the collective sound of eyes rolling as they exchange their usual banter. ]

Oh. I see. Well, it's been a good run. [ Selina sits up in her seat, gently rousing the leopard from his blissful nap. The creature lifts his head and eyes Bruce curiously before returning to his spot in her lap. He's seen enough of this nonsense, too, apparently. She holds her hands out in front of her. ] You planning on cuffing me, Commissioner? It's been a while since I've needed to pick the lock on a pair of handcuffs. Who's got their phone handy? Someone time me.

Do we still need the audience? I could do without the eye rolls this time.

[ he glances peripherally to the side at one in the group. despite his injuries, his senses are as sharp as ever. ]

Grace.

[ ... and there he is, right on time. She thought she saw him trailing after her, doing his very best not to interrupt, but still close enough to feel he is doing his duty as her bodyguard. She sighs when she hears him approach, but doesn't turn to acknowledge him, her eyes still locked on the view of the city below her. ]

You should be asleep right now, or, I don't know -- doing whatever it is you do in your alone time. I can manage myself long enough to go for a run.

[ She sounds ungrateful but she isn't; Selina isn't stupid enough to pretend that a lot of who she is today is because of Matthew, because he's so loyal to her and cause. He could have just as easily turned against her and claimed what he'd rightfully earned. Years have passed and there isn't a single person in this world that Selina trusts more than him, not even Bruce.

She turns her back to the city to face him, standing at the edge with no fear of falling. ]

Got your workout in, though. At least there's that.

[ She brings her hand beneath the leopard's chin, lifting his head so she can duck her head and press a kiss to his forehead as she babbles at him in baby talk that the animal seems to have no trouble understanding. Seems that the men and women standing on either side of the room have no trouble with it, either, filing out of the room with the cat following not far behind them.

Selina rises for her seat, too, instead making her way over to the desk in the center of the room and parks herself right on top of it. ]

You've got me alone. [ She smiles, mischievous, her head canting to the side. ] Is this just a social call, or...?

[ he steps closer to her, too close for anyone to consider this a strictly business relationship, and pauses for a long time to look at her before he reaches into his trench coat and pulls out manila folder. ]

The weekly routes of the hunters. Keep in mind that this could change at any time, but I'll keep you up-to-date to the best of my ability.

[ Oh, Bruce, somehow still managing to be a total let down after all these years. There's always that moment when the air is thick and charged between them where she thinks he might actually do something surprising, only for him to, well--

She chuckles under her breath and takes the folder from him, opening it to skim through the pages inside of it. ]

We have secure lines for this exact sort of thing, Bruce. You didn't have to come all this way.

[ But it's not the only reason he came. She knows that. ]

Awful lot going on out there, anything else I should be aware of?

I train in my alone time, Miz Kyle. [Come on, Selina, like he has a life. He shrugs, lifting up on the balls of his bare feet for a moment to stretch them.] I don't doubt you can manage yourself just fine. It's just that things are weird right now. Lots of new people around, and we don't know shit about most of them. I worry.

[The cold, slightly sullen mask of his face cracks into a grin that betrays the fact that he is in fact human and not a Terminator.] Yeah, you are good for workouts.

[His head tilts to the right, just slightly.] You worried?

We've really got to get you laid or something.

[ She's worried, he's worried -- none of this bodes well. She's managed balance on a fine line, built her empire in the chaos but the foundation was sturdy, and the Porter is a variable most had long counted out. New metas means an increase in patrols and taxing of already limited resources underground, it throws the whole thing off balance; people are going to start getting desperate and desperate can be dangerous.

Selina hops down from the parapet wall and takes a seat at the edge of it, her legs stretched out in front of her. She's quiet for a long time and that's normal. She's not every good at talking about her feelings, not good at admitting her weaknesses, but he already knows. There's no point in hiding anything from him. ]

I'm... not really sure what I am, really. Still waiting to see how this all plays out.

[He gives her A Look.] That's a complete waste of resources.

[He waits. He knows better than to rush her, better than to push. If she wants him to know something, she'll tell him eventually. When she does speak, he nods.]

I don't like it. Enforcers are out in droves. On the bright side, that means we'll have a bunch of wannabe rebel forces. That means weapon sales.

Still don't like it. It feels... I don't know. Wrong. I know that sounds stupid, but I don't care.

There's no telling what the Porter will bring in. Who. This place is hellscape, but it's a hellscape we've always been able to navigate. We know how each faction operates, we know how to work with them, how to grease the wheel...

I'm not so sure I want to flood the streets with more weapons, but the other players of this game? The families, the gangs, the sketchy motherfuckers with too many resources who refuse to take a side? They're not interested in what I want or what's best for this city. My city. They're interested in making money.

[He steps close enough to touch. He doesn't, of course, but his presence looms large.]

You're so gentle hearted. [Something not many people would say about her, but Matthew has a unique perspective.]

We're gonna survive it. Even if the City doesn't.

Sure I did. You have information. You don't have my information.

[ he's still as confident as he's always been, but now that he's given her the intel, he still hasn't stepped away. ]

Maybe I wanted to see you.

There's hardly any glory in ruling a city full of bullet holes and streets filled with blood. I've worked too hard for these people to come in here, cause a bunch of trouble, and muck it all up.

[ She rolls her neck from side to side, trying to relieve the tension that's been building there for days and she can look so small when you strip her of the six inch heels and shoulder pads. Selina cranes her neck, glancing up at him. ]

There are few things I couldn't survive. I've still got a few lives left. But I hope that it doesn't come to that.

[ A very amused eyeroll as she closes the folder and sets it off to the side. Selina slides forward to the very edge of the desk in a not-so-subtle move to get a little closer, her expression displaying her very sudden interest in the turn this conversation has taken. This is as close to emotional honesty as she generally expects to get from him. ]

Well, you've seen me. [ Her hands find the coat and her fingers curl around the layers of fabric, pressing just a bit more to see what else she can get out of him. Maybe he'll elaborate or something. ] Is that all?

[ he responds to her last question with a sudden kiss, firm enough to press her back against the edge of the table and for him to balance himself on it with a firm grip. ]

[He tilts his head and holds up his hands, flexing his fingers. You bet he gives massages.]

Okay, first of all... you'll survive as long as I'm breathing. Secondly, we just won't let this shit ruin all your hard work. We just need a plan. We can do plans.

[Almost a smile.] We have an army too, you know.

[ That's one way of responding, now, isn't it? Selina's hardly one to complain. No, she returns the sentiment by grabbing at his coat by the handful to pull him closer and licks into his mouth. It gets away from her quickly, it always does. Her hands move up the collar of his coat and any attempt to get it off of him would probably be a lot more effective if she weren't also using it to keep him from pulling away too soon. ]

Hey... [ The grip on his collar still firm as she exhales and pecks at his lips. She gives herself a moment, tries to shake off that lust-induced haze and think about anything other than how badly she wants him. ] I've missed you, too. I know-- I know that you've got a lot on your plate right now. There's a lot happening. If this is what you need right now, then...

[ She cocks her head and swings one of her legs back over the parapet wall, gesturing for him to take a seat beside her. You bet she takes advantage of his willingness to give massages and the fact he has big, strong hands whenever possible. ]

I want our best men and women out there, on the streets, keeping an eye on things. I don't want anyone using all the chaos and confusion to their advantage. I don't want to draw unnecessary attention, but this isn't a time to start getting sloppy.

In the meantime, you and I will be staying in the city for a little longer.

[He has a seat close behind her without crossing the boundary into anything inappropriate. Matthew's feelings for Selina are a lot closer to awe than just simple respect. The reasons for this are deeply ingrained and have never once been examined; introspection is not Matthew's forte.

He thinks, slowly and methodically, as he works the knots in her shoulders.]

I talked to Prodigy already - we'll have intel on the rumoured bioweapons we've been seeing pop up by the end of the week. I suspect that the sudden influx has a lot to do with the Porters working again. More imPorts means more metas taken directly into custody. That means an awful lot of subjects for gene testing. Probably still the same guy in charge of that as when I was on the payroll.

[His indifference to the lives of others remains the same as it always has. Human or meta, he doesn't really care what happens to them. In that way he is truly a complete monster. But if Selina cares, it's a different matter.]

Fine by me. I found a really good donut shop. Don't have that shit in the country.

[ It takes a moment for her to loosen up, but it all comes out at once, like releasing the steam valve on a pressure cooker, her head and shoulders dropping as she exhales. Her breathing slows as her eyes close and Selina leans into his touch, guiding him ever so slightly with the way her body moves. She's not so worried about what's inappropriate, she's inappropriate, but she's only ever trying to get a reaction out of him. Whatever they have, it runs deep, but it doesn't work like that. Maybe it's better that way. Maybe it's only a matter of time.

His line of thinking isn't far off from hers, though, and as hard as Selina tries to be there are things that eat at her Despite everything she's tried -- everything she's done -- that's one thing she can't seem to cut out and there isn't a single person she's removed that didn't deserve it, but her conscience isn't clean. ]

Only you can transition from gene testing to donuts so seamlessly. [ A beat, then: ] I expect donuts in the morning.

[ Well, the... later end of the morning. Afternoon. Her new life has done nothing to make her a morning person and she has no intention of changing that if she can help it. ]

All these years without so much as weird noise, a blinking light...

[Thoughts are not actions. A telepath would no doubt have some very interesting things to say about Matthew's feelings towards his boss.

He shrugs.] You know what I am, Miz Kyle. [He smiles as his fingers tease at hard knot where her neck meets her left shoulder.] I'll get coffee, too.

I know. Something is causing it. I don't like it. It feels like a threat. [He falls quiet again, not sure how to put his unease into words.] But I won't let it hurt you. When all this shit blows over, you're gonna be fine, and I'll still be right beside you.

[ He says it and, somehow, she actually finds herself believing -- the end of the world and it'll be them and the cockroaches. It's weird being able to trust someone like that -- to be someone who has never had anyone but themselves and find yourself in a position where dozens who have killed for her, who would die for her and somehow Matthew's more than that.

They linger in silence for a long time and Selina lets her head fall forward as he continues to work on her shoulder, her breathing slow and deep and even as though she were meditating-- but she has never been very good at that. Can't turn off her brain like that or at least not for any extended period of time. After a long moment she reached behind her back, her cold fingers finding his hand to silently relieve him of his duties as masseur. ]

Do you ever think about home?

[ She hasn't in a long time, but the Porter back online? She's been thinking about it a lot. ]

[He lets go of her shoulders and moves to be more to her side. He doesn't even have to think about his answer.]

No. I've thought about it probably... twice? Since I landed here years ago. I didn't realise I wasn't home for a while. Then after that, I only had reason to be reminded once.

[He never talks about why he left the enforcers. Most people assume he simply got tired of it. Selina would know more - he threw away a prominent position over a single incident. He's never specified what it was, but the clues all point to it having been sexual.

That's the last time he thought of home.]

You miss it?

[ That's the difference between the two of them, perhaps. He can say something like that and mean it but she could only ever pretend. It's something of an unspoken rule not to talk too much about the past. Selina's never been one to live in the past or get hung up on things she can't change, but she carries it with her hidden away like an old family quilt tucked away in a chest. That pain goes where she goes and she tries to keep it out of her mind, tries to live her life, but she can't ever truly rid her self of it. Talk about baggage.

But this is a world and a life that she's settled into. She's managed to be very comfortable here. She knows better than to long for something she can't have. ]

I miss my cats.

[ There's more there. She's holding back. She breathes in and breathes out, letting that silence linger. ]

I miss my sister. I miss Holly. I miss-- [ Him. God, she misses him, even when he's there. Even when she still has all the little marks and bruises from the last time he was here, even when they have a whole new convoluted history to replace what he lost. It won't ever really be the same. ] I didn't have a lot of people back home. You could count them on one hand and they were all better off without me. Black cats are a symbol of bad luck and that's all Catwoman ever brought them.

The Lioness is different, she protects her pride, and she gives me the power to do just that. I have more than a few people, I have a family. I have a city.

I shouldn't ever want to go back.

[ And, yet... ]

Edited (gently tweaks this) 2020-02-18 09:45 (UTC)

[Matthew listens. He may not be emotionally intelligent, but he does know how to listen. He feels a swell of pride when she talks of having people, of having family, because he is a part of that. Finally, after so many years, there is someone who cares about him beyond just the power he provides them.]

But you want to anyway.

[He shrugs, taking time to consider this fact.]

You know... Feelings don't usually make a lot of sense, Miz Kyle.

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leave it to ya girl to take advantage of a bad situation

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cw: allusions to sexual trauma

god feel free to ignore this i just realized i never came back to this thread

you know I don't mind