sunday_reveries 8.16-22 - "Are you insane?"

[take_mychances]

Also serves as an RP thread for arkhams_dr, questionorigin and a_carrion_crow.

Why am I doing this again? Dalia had been asking herself the question all day. Now it was finally time for her to leave work and head over to Crane House for dinner with Duela and Jonathan (and presumably Joshua, who never missed out on an opportunity to condescend to her) and she was still questioning

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[arkhams_dr]

Crane reappeared in the room, looking around for Duela. He opened the kitchen door to announce "Joshua claims he's not hungry, but he'll be social if that's what you want. He says he's found some interesting connections in that particular volume."

[questionorigin]

"One of many posterboys for police brutality," Duela said coolly, sipping at her water.

[arkhams_dr]

"Indeed. Your mother offered to press charges against him for that. I considered suing the city."

[take_mychances]

Dalia cleared her throat. "Well, his son was a beloved ADA who was killed on the eve of his election to the District Attorney's seat. The Mayor himself is very dedicated to cleaning up the streets of Gotham." She looked across the table at Duela. "I have faith in his efforts, that's all."

[questionorigin]

"Be careful." Duela frowned slightly. "Crusaders have a way of drawing people in... and those people get hurt, and the crusade's never won."

[take_mychances]

"It's not like that," Dalia shook her head. "He's not strong-arming people or being foolish." She sighed. "You wouldn't understand, anyhow."

[questionorigin]

"I'm just... Just be careful. We don't need anything else happening to someone in this family," Duela said, offering her sister a smile.

[take_mychances]

"I'm fine," Dalia said with a frown, jaw clenched as she cut a piece of meat with a particular edge that was reminiscent of her father. "I might not be a super-genius, but I know a thing or two." It was being here, in this house, that made her feel inadequate, that's what it was, she thought. She'd never be as smart as Joshua, or as able to isolate herself from everything in Gotham like Duela had.

[arkhams_dr]

"I'm sure everyone here realizes the futility of attempting to control circumstances or the actions of others." Crane had picked apart a small portion of his meal, and was now simply watching Dalia and his wife.

[questionorigin]

Duela smiled slightly at Jonathan's words. "All we can really do is control our reaction to things. How much we let ourselves be affected." She glanced up at him briefly before returning most of her attention to her food.

[take_mychances]

Dalia ate in silence, a bit annoyed at her sister and not quite knowing what to say to Jonathan.

[arkhams_dr]

Again, Crane smiled at Duela. "Absolutely correct. It's all a matter of the choices you make." His hand closed around hers. "Speaking of choices, I think perhaps I'll go with you the next time you travel to London. I haven't seen our family in quite some time."

[questionorigin]

She turned her hand slightly, gripping his lightly. "You know I'd love that." She hated being that far from her husband, even if she always enjoyed herself. Perhaps, Duela considered, that made her too much like her mother. At least Jonathan never complained.

She smiled at Dalia. "Perhaps sometime you'd like to come?" Probably when Jonathan and Joshua felt like staying home. She'd love to show Dalia around Europe.

[take_mychances]

"...maybe," Dalia said, eating her food. "I do get paid vacation time now."

[questionorigin]

Duela smiled. "We'll go sometime, just you and me. Little shopping in Paris, maybe?"

[take_mychances]

"I'm not a fashion horse like you are," Dalia smirked. "But it would be fun to see the sights."