The Rogues of Gotham

[eddie_nygma]

The invitations have gone out to the proper sources - anyone who's anyone in the Arkham Alumni, plus a few of the more mundane but reasonably reliable 'sane' Gotham villains might expect an invitation. Anyone with that certain sense of flashy panache that distinguishes them from the common thug

Comments

[flightlessfelon]

There is so much to do, so much to do. If only good help weren't so hard to find he wouldn't have to worry himself with these petty last minute details. This was Nygma's party but it was his club, and Cobblepot takes pride in his club. Besides, he was rather proud of Eddie and his new turn of leaf. It would never last, but that wasn't the point really. And, Nygma could always be a good tool for future use.

Of course no one would ever know that his mind was racing, that he was casually handling a thousand little emergencies every minute. Externally he is the calm cool host that everyone has come to know. This calm portion of his mind finds itself idley wondering if Selina was going to eventually come in and join them. He wonders what game Crane is playing with Nygma, pretending to reform and why Nygma can't see that he is being played. He wonders who allowed firefly to keep his torch upon his entry to the club!

Damn and blast, another situation he needed to take care of.

[eddie_nygma]

"Dear, dear Ozzie. I thank you for providing the roof over our heads this evening. And rest assured, if any of our felonious associates gets a little out of control, I will make good the damages."

The Riddler seems downright chipper this evening.

[jla_villains]

"Get outta the way," snarls a green hulk on entering. "Where's the beer in this shindig?"

[eddie_nygma]

"Croc, old pal. We have a few kegs with your name on them, right over by the buffet table. Good to see you in the proverbial pink."

Truth be told, Croc was not one of his favorite people - more a thug than a true master criminal - but it can be useful to befriend thugs now and then.

[jla_villains]

A snort of disdain meets Nygma's comment. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Not even sure what I'm doing here. Socializing when we could be doing something useful." But he does go to the buffet table for said kegs, muttering on the way.

[eddie_nygma]

Nygma follows along, just for a moment, if only to respond to the implicit assertion that tonight's gathering wasn't useful.

"Dear boy, what is more useful in today's world than networking? I may be giving up a life of crime, but you've all been my friends and colleagues for a very long time, and I still think we have common interests. Black Mask, for instance, overstepping his bounds and going after dear Selina.."

[scream_and_cry]

As if on cue, Crane uses that moment to smash a glass on the side of the table. A furious look on his face. "Black Mask... All the while I was a guest at Arkham, I dreamed, I fantasised, about wiping off his big skeletal grin and turning it into an expression of pure horror. How dare he attack on of us?" He smiles his crooked smile. "We're Gotham alumni, after all."

[jla_villains]

"Oh, stuff it," Croc growls at Crane while tapping the first keg. "We don't exactly have chats around the campfire and sing 'Kumbaya,' do we? Each of us has screwed over the other any number of times. But this ain't good for business, is it? Black Mask is a greedy and smug son of a bitch, and yeah, we should take him down a few notches."

[eddie_nygma]

"While is true we've had a number of mutual betrayals, we very seldom try to kill one another, or extend vengeance to friends and family. Harvey's revenge-shooting of the Joker notwithstanding."

[mistahjay]

"I prefer to think of those as 'love bites', really, Nygma old sport

[flightlessfelon]

"Qwak Ha! Joker, my lad, you couldn't offend me on your worst day."

Penguin was probably one of the few people who genuinly liked the Joker. He didn't trust him as far as he could throw him, but he liked him.

"But Black Mask has gone too far. Something should be done. We are losing respect my friends. Now, I am a business man. I have left the life behind for more...stable pastures (and by the way Jonathan, I will be placing the cost of that boken crystal glass on your tab). But I am more than happy to lend an ear to troubled talk, and...any other assistance that a legitimate businessman like myself might be able to afford my fellows.

The Black Mask, Thorne, the others in the so called business of "organized crime" have been allowed to walk into what was once quite firmly our territory. And even though I may have gone legit, my loyalties run deep. We can not let things like the attack on Selina stand."

[eddie_nygma]

As loathe as he would be to admit it, Nygma bears a certain fondness for the Joker as well. There was poetry in the man's madness, to be admired - from a safe distance.

"Glad you could make it, Joker. I think you'll appreciate the footage of Batman being pummeled by a talking French gorilla. It has a sort of absurdist bent to it."

[jla_villains]

Right, like Croc is going to catch Joker when he falls. Especially if it means spilling his beer. Eh. Just requires a hand, and Joker's not someone to make an enemy. Plus he doesn't have to drop his beer. "Bet if he'd set me on fire, not a one of you would pee on me to put out the flames. Yeah, Black Mask is a pain in the ass, but you're all pissed because it was her. Protective asswipes."

[femme_du_chat]

"Really, Croc. You of all people should know I can take care of myself."

Selina is, in fact, still up a floor, looking out over the proceedings. Right now, she's standing above and behind where this conversation is taking place. She looks faintly amused by Croc's comment.

"Even in heels."

[jla_villains]

"Yeah, I know that. Question is if they do." Croc jerks his head toward the cartoonish collection around him. "Me, I don't care. You know that."

He belches and refills his cup.

[eddie_nygma]

"Croc, let me say with all honesty that if Black Mask had made it his life's work to hunt you down and destroy you and everything that was precious to you, I would be advocating the same thing I am now - that we freaks of Gotham need to support each other against mundane upstarts."

Eddie smiles.

"The fact that it is dear Selina simply means that she has the agility and cleverness to stay alive to enjoy the fruits of our efforts."