The Owl and the Pussy-Cat

[meowminx]

WHO: Selina Kyle and Edward Nigma
WHERE: Pea Green Boat Coffee Shop
WHEN: March 23rd, noon
WARNINGS: Possible violence if Eddie doesn't learn to watch his mouth >.>;
FORMAT: Para

Comments

[enigmaestro]

It was a... Quaint rendezvous point. Charming in its own right, perhaps; something vaguely reminiscent of Selina's beloved East End. The detective withdrew his bowler, which had been nicely perched upon his head. Curtain up.

Edward liked his coffee black (well, sometimes occasionally with creamer, usually in the midst of company). This always surprised his barista, but then again, he was typically served by the type who expected something more flamboyant. It was beside the matter, really. Eddie loved to surprise. And when he strolled to her chosen table--ten minutes late, mind--Edward smirked. He was armed with a steaming up of coffee, just in case Selina extended her claws too soon. Or, at least, that's how he comforted himself.

"Selina. It's been too long." Eddie drawled as he took a seat, crossing one leg over the other. "But then, you've found yourself in a bit of a mess, haven't you? Messes are rather time consuming."

[meowminx]

Selina raised an eyebrow as she sipped the last of her tea. Of course the smug little bastard was determined to make an entrance. She busied herself pouring another cup from the teapot the barista had given her, ignoring Nigma as he took his seat.

"I've found myself in a mess?" she asked, recrossing her own legs. Might as well show him how to do it. "What are you doing here then, sightseeing?" She finally glanced up, eyes regarding him coolly over her glasses.

[enigmaestro]

Edward arched an eyebrow, matching the curve with a sneer of his lips. He shrugged leisurely at her rhetorical query, clearly unwilling to lose a moment of composed face.

"You should really work on that charm thing, Selina. I find it lacking." Edward fixed her with a green-eyed glare. "As much as I enjoy playing cat-and-mouse, I feel it's only fair to remind you of your position: you want information from me. Not vice versa." Eddie paused, chin between his forefinger and thumb. "Or rather, you will want information from me."

[meowminx]

She answered his sneer with an infuriating little smirk. "Really, Eddie. Trapped in a strange new city in a strange new reality, not quite sure who is a potential ally and who is a potential threat." She stirred a touch of sweetener into her tea. "And you expect me to believe you don't want any information from me?"

[enigmaestro]

The detective leveled his eyes, peering with a sardonic over purple sunglasses. Oh dear. She was going to be difficult, wasn't she? Well, truth be told, Edward expected as much. He'd probably have been disappointed if Selina didn't meet expectations. It was far more difficult to maneuver an unpredictable pawn.

"Do you suppose, even for a second, that I am without resource?" Edward met his lips with the coffee mug, still keeping his eyes locked. Pausing to sip, the white porcelain masked his smirk. "I've learned how to survive without friends, Selina. But I've also learned how to utilize human nature." He shrugged elegantly, resting the mug. "I won't lie; I do want a few questions answered. But I can get those anywhere. You can only get Gotham's up to date information from me." And smirk.

[meowminx]

A long steady sip of tea. "You already told me that Batman's missing, the sidekick army gave up, impostors are running around, and you're investigating." Selina set her cup down. "I already know about Elliot's little heart surgery and the fact I survived to wipe him out." The slightest smile. "Thanks for outing his associates, by the way."

Crossing her arms, Selina gave Nigma a once over. "I really doubt there's much else that I want to know."

[enigmaestro]

Edward shrugged. "I don't like what they did to you. Why reason would I have to hold back such information?" At her final comment, Edward chuckled to himself, a wry half-smirk betraying his utter amusement. "You think I wasn't saving the best for my own means? Really. Well, what does it matter? It's only your relationship with him. Well." He flickered his eyes at her before looking out a window.

[meowminx]

It was a good thing that Selina had an excellent poker face. That she was already used to the weight pressing down. "I don't have a relationship with him, Eddie." Her eyes narrowed, as if she was annoyed at the presumption.

In truth, it hurt saying those words in that tone. But like hell was she going to let him see that.

[enigmaestro]

"You certainly don't anymore," mused Edward idly. All signs of humor evaporated from his face; in fact, he practically matched Selina's serious expression. "You made quite certain of that, Selina." A pause hung in the air as Eddie turned his attention back to his cooling coffee. He waited. The Riddler didn't have to spell out his insinuation; Selina was apt enough to pick up on it. Batman's disappearance was somehow related to her. She was partially to blame. She did this.

Now, was such a thing truth? Really, it was a rather intricate riddle.

[meowminx]

Her eyes sharpened to a glare at that, fingers curling claw-like around her cup. "You're lying," she said, voice flat.

He had to be lying. Selina and Bruce had an understanding, didn't they? She'd made it crystal clear that she wouldn't be the chink in his armor. He was too damn important and she'd never been that big on responsibility.

Chinks. A sudden bit of memory struck her, her grip on the teacup suddenly white-knuckled.

"Elliot mentioned a funeral," she said, almost startled by how calm she sounded. "But I'd guess he was lying too."

[enigmaestro]

Edward stared back at her, his own face marked by an enigmatic twist of lips. Perhaps consoling, perhaps patronizing, perhaps neither.

"Why the sudden defense act, Selina? Is it because you're afraid of the truth? Because you're afraid you might be responsible for certain unappealing results?" Eddie sighed, staring up at the ceiling for but a moment. Searching for an answer etched in his mind. His gazed flickered to her fingers, those delicate, strong pieces of flesh so intent on tormenting that teacup. She was agitated, stressed. Vulnerable. Perfect.

"I can't say I approve of Hush's methods," the word left a sour taste on his tongue. "But when have you actually known him to outright lie? Deceive, well, that's a given. But lying to you? In this manner? When he could use Batman as a tool to tweak you? It's madness. More than that; it's useless. Stop hiding from the evidence, Selina. You're only doing yourself harm."

[meowminx]

For a long moment, Selina ignored him completely. Focused on draining the second cupful of tea. She just couldn't think about it now. Too big, too much. Too many possibilities. Later. She'd consider them later when she wasn't here.

Selina set down her cup ever so gingerly. Otherwise, she would have probably slammed it into the table. "I assume you actually want something aside from me making you eat that hideous hat." Her voice had taken on an rather icy tone.

[enigmaestro]

Tsk, tsk. She really wasn't making this easy for herself, was she? Then again, Eddie was counting on that. He knew the mechanisms in play, knew what chords to pull. And he did so without scruples. After all, empathy was never his virtue, was it?

At her remark, Edward was torn between amusement and indignation. He liked his hat. It was a personal trademark; how could she not appreciate that? Nevertheless... Better play the gracious winner, he decided. "Why Selina. How thoughtful of you," smiled Riddler. "I do want something, actually. We have a common enemy. I won't insult your intelligence and pinpoint who he is, but he's here. I'm seeking your alliance." One card on the table now; Eddie was too guarded to sacrifice anything else to truth.

"Yes we have our differences, that's quite obvious. But we can help each other, despite this."

[meowminx]

"A common enemy. Right." Selina doubted there was only one, but it was obviously who concerned Riddler the most. "Maybe next time you'll think twice before creating a monster."

The art-laden walls of the shop, always so charming before, were suddenly far too cloying. Too enclosed.

She rose from her seat and gazed down at Nigma, wanting nothing more than to wipe that smug little smile off his face with her fist. But the way things were going these days, could she really afford another enemy? Particularly one that has such insight into her life? Her future?

"I'll think about it," Selina told him before turning on her heel and strolling out of the shop. The words tasted bitter.

She had a lot to think about.

[enigmaestro]

"We all do things we regret. Don't we, Selina?" Edward shot her a pointed look. It was a conniving ploy, but one that typically yielded results. Rhetorical questions. Dangerous in the hands of those who could wield them properly.

He dropped it, not seeking that avenue. Why coax her claws out, anyway? Edward merely wanted to make a point. Standing to meet her gaze, Edward inclined his head as a way of goodbye. He watched her leave, confident in his influence. She knew she couldn't do without him, didn't she? She knew that?

"You most certainly will," murmured the Riddler to himself, green eyes watching that retreating silhouette.