Among the Gray Corps (Lupine)

[whiteraven]

((Sorry it took so long to start.))

Raven was out of jail at last. The month and a half she had spent in that tiny cell - cut off from her friends, her powers, and; thought she refused to admit it to herself - the people she loved. Now she was on her own again, reveling in her powers as she did when they were still new.

In pace with her promises, she flew to Gothem first thing. She had a deal to keep her side of. Landing in one of the worse districts, she hid herself well among the shadows - being seen by nobody. It had taken a long while before she found somebody who knew where she was going and was willing to spill. Once she had found the Headquarters, though, getting in was no problem.

Ghosting through walls and disabling the systems that would get in her way was no more than a knee jerk reaction now, for Raven. Finally when she was sure all was clear, she - rather dramatically - appered before a man who appered to be in a position of power. Before he had time to react with his gun, Raven froze his limbs to his body, telling him,

"I am an ally of your leader - one called Lupine. I have made a bargine with him and am here to uphold my part of it. You will lead me to a comfortable room, for I am tired after travelling, and you will bring him to me. You need only say the Bird is free, he will understand." Okay, so maybe the code was a bit much, but Raven wouldn't have put it past the government to have her or the building bugged. Paranoid? Not after fighting in WWIII.

It took a bit more 'persuasion' on Raven's part to get what she wanted, but in the end the man led her to a simple but comfortable room in which to wait. Raven seated herself akwardly in an armchair, pouring herself a cup of organic herbal tea, convieniently supplied after a bit more cajoling.

Sipping slowly, savoring the first tea she'de had in six weeks, her alert ears caught the sound of somebody walking down the hallway, the door swinging open. "I must applaud you on your armed faction. They are quite vigilant with their service. They have been trained well."

[Lupine]

Lupine looked down at where Raven was sitting, eyebrow raised. "Madame Raven, it would have been much simpler to call ahead and let me know you were arriving, so you would not have to deal with the guards. However, thank you for the compliment: I can afford good training, and they respect me. They fear me too, which makes a powerful combination."

Lupine pulled out a chair and sat down on it, and motioned to the valet who had come with him, who handed Lupine a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses. Those who looked carefully at the wine glasses would have noticed that they were slightly convex, as if they were made for a hand larger and stronger than a humans. Like most of his personal items, Lupine had had them tailor made for his use.

Lupine poured a small measure of the red wine into both glasses, put one down next to Raven and raised the other glass of wine to his snout and smelt the bouquet with his eyes closed. Lupine carefully raised the glass to his mouth and took a small sip, careful not to have his teeth touch the glass, and drank the wine slowly.

Lupine put the glass down by his side and spoke. "Do try some, Madame Raven. After the recent war, the true European wines have disappeared from the market. It is quite a rich taste; I hope you enjoy it."

Lupine looked at Raven: she did seem rather paler than usual, which was saying something, and her frame had diminished very slightly. "I do hope your brief stay in prison has fulfilled your sado-machosim, Madame Raven. Hopefully you will no longer be actively seeking to harm yourself outside of your work."

Lupine sat back and dismissed the valet with a flick of his hand, and decided to relax for once. It felt oddly pleasing.

[whiteraven]

"Simpler, maybe. But I realish a challange. I wished to see how tight security was on your home-base." and though she didn't say it, she had rewired the system to accept her unquestioningly.

Raven watched as Lupine settled in a chair near her and motioned his man to pour some wine. The glasses, she noticed, seemed different. She was hardely a connisuer, but she understood when Lupine picked up his. Made for him. "I hate to dissapoint," She said to the offer of wine, "But I'm afraid that I have neither the pallet nor the stomach." Makeing a sardonic toast with the china mug of tea, she ammended by saying "I am content."

She waited patiently while he sized her up. She was nothing to look at, that was for sure, and said nothing as he spoke. The tiniest smile might have gosted across her face at his words, but it was gone a second later. "It is obvious that we are not going to agree on the subject of my going to jail, so let us leave that in the past. I am free now and in your debt several times over. You have my word of self preservation."

Lupine settled more comfortable in his chair, and unconciously Raven did as well, loosing some of that nervousness that had kept her on edge for the past month and a half.

[Lupine]

Lupine sighed at Raven's refusal of the wine. "It is entirely your loss, Madame Raven. It is very rare:there is not much of its kind yet."

Lupine looked carefully at Raven. The guards had done their job well, he had to admit. When they had been holding Raven in custody they had implanted various recording items into her uniform: so far no truly useful information had been gained, but they were still there. Lupine smiled; it was strange to have a friend he did not really trust, but it was a good mental workout as well.

Lupine saw Raven's body relax slightly, losing some of its tenseness. Lupine spoke with mock concern. "Do be careful, Madame Raven. If you do not keep up your guard, you may even end up enjoying yourself. You must be as watchful as you usually are against that risk."

Lupine took another slow sip of the wine. "Well, Madame Raven, I do not know what you talk about when you relax. In fact, I am not sure if you have ever relaxed. I myself has had hardly any time in my life past the time I took charge of my company that I have not been working, so you will excuse me if my social imagination is strained. This is quite a mortifying lack for one who is a gentleman."

[whiteraven]

Raven tried to take the words to heart, she really did, but alchohol had never been high on her list of favorites. She just didn't like the taste, no matter how refined the drink. "I promise you," She said with another sip of tea, "this is one experiance I am quite willing to leave to those more suited.

The room they sat in was warm and comfortable - obviously used singly in the intertaining of guests. Raven closed her eyes and tried to use her powers to find the camera's that were obviously hidden in the room; looking as if she were simply very tired. She was, but not to the point of foolishness. When she opened her eyes again, Lupine was watching her closely, a smile on his lips. There was something in his eyes, making the Azarathian wonder what he knew that she didn't.

At his next words, she narrowed her eyes and watched him closely, trying to decipher what his jibe was aimed to do, how she was expected to react. As always when such words were passed, outwardly she became colder, waiting for the punch-line. However, to her immense surprise she felt a bubble of laughter welling up in her chest. He took another sip of wine and contenued speaking.

Raven didn't know what it was - parhaps she had finally snapped - but all that Lupine said only added to the hilarity of the moment. As he apologized for lack of a social imagination, of all things. As he finished, Raven could hold it in no longer. Having set her mug down, she rested her forhead in her hands, and laughed. It was a soft laughter, and hardely long lived, but as she once more came in control of herself she seemed much more at ease with herself and her surroundings.

"I must apologize for such an outburst." she said,"But you must understand how foolish that sounded to me, a person who has been reprimanded through no less than two life-times for having absolutly no social skills at all. I'm sure you're no less a gentleman for finding it hard to communicate with one like myself." Was that a bitter note in her last words? It was impossable to tell.

[Lupine]

It took Lupine a few moments to work out that the quiet sound coming from Raven was laughter. He gained his composure quite quickly, considering his surprise, and had stopped staring after merely three seconds. It was simply that laughter and Raven were not two mental images you expected to see together. Nevertheless, it wasn't unpleasant to see Raven look even remotely cheerful.

Lupine raised his wine glass. "Madame Raven, I am surprisingly glad to see that you are enjoying yourself. By all means, do not stop. Frankly, after your usual life of life and death decisions and risk, you should not be seeking more. Why is it that superheros find themselves unable to relax? Perhaps." Mused Lupine "It is simply people get used to the adrenaline in their system. Believe me, Madame Raven, I know how addicting battle can be."

Lupine paused, and shook his head. "You always sell yourself short. I am a businessman, and I know how much things are worth. You are intelligent and well-educated. I believe you can make conversation. And even if you cannot, it is a gentleman's duty to be good company."

Lupine lay back, taking yet another slow sip of his wine. It amused him to know that he drank about $470 dollars every time he raised his glass to his snout to drink. He gestured at his surroundings, speaking to Raven. "Madame Raven, what do you think of my rooms here? Is there anything here that interests you, or that you wish to comment on?"

Lupine looked around the room. He had had it furnished to his personal tastes, with one wall made entirely up of valuble bookshelves with leather-bound classics, and a few pieces of art, mainly Renaissance or earlier, fine oil paintings. Otherwise, the room was sparingly but expensively decorated: a few chairs and tables made out of rare woods that Lupine was helping drive to extinction, and with a chandelier in the center of the ceiling. Hopefully Raven might find something of interest there.

[whiteraven]

"As much as I hate to admit it, I fear you are right." Raven conceded with a dip of her head. "I tried not to let my adrenaline override my judgement - but it seems in recent years I have failed to keep it up." She shook her head, choose to let his next comment go unaswered. Raven had absolutly no wish to talk about herself.

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes as she sipped her tea. As Lupine commented about his room, Raven peeked on eye open and looked at her surroundings. It was a very fine room, that she had to admit. Looking at some of the woods that were used, she decided it would be better not to ask exactly where he got all his resources.

Then, her eyes fell upon the giant wall-length bookshelf. Raven opened her other eyes and took in the site of so many anciant thomes like a rich man staring at a safe full of gold and jewels. Setting her empty mug on the table she got up and strode gracefully towards the wall.

Running her fingers softly along the many bindings, she felt as if she were meeting old friends. Many of these books could be found in her rooms in Titans Tower. Pulling one out of it's place she looked mischeviously at her counterpart.

"The Prince?" She asked, showing him the brutal classic. "I'm beginning to see a corralation." Her face was serious but her words were joking. Replacing the book, she returned to her study of his miniture library. Finally pulling out an old leather bound copy of Tanglewood Tales.

Returning to her chair, she sat again - feeling comfortable with this 'buisness partner', as she had been comfortable with her friends. The feeling confused her and so she ignored, pushing it away to be analyzed later. Stroking the binding of the book but not opening it, she asked him.

"I must admit, I have been curious for some time. How did one of such obvious intellect come to be one of the most dangerous Crime Lords in the scummiest city on earth? The pieces just don't fit together the way they should."

[Lupine]

Lupine watched carefully as Raven examined the books. He was pleased at the way she handled them with the due care and attention their design and age deserved: he often had had to ignore his duty as a gentleman to ensure that his books did not get damaged. Lupine smiled as Raven drew out a book he much admired. He had thought that she would notice that one.

"Some say that The Prince was written as a clever and subversive satire. Myself, I find that that theory lacks both evidence and conviction. It is, as you guessed, one of my favorite books. I also enjoy The Art Of War, if you are looking for any more clues into my reading habits. What do you enjoy, Madame Raven?"

Lupine started to stand up and pick out a book of his own, but then Raven started asking him about how he had got into his current position. Lupine smiled wolfishly. There simply was no other word for it.

"Fishing for information, Madame Raven? Either way, I will tell you. The first thing you must understand that my 'gang' is in fact a legal company. Under my parents, it was comparatively ethical. But all that happened was that my economic tutors taught me perhaps a little better than they would have liked. It is simple: when my parents died I took over the company, and realized that it could make a lot of money, and I mean into the realms of millions, Madame Raven, if it simply dealt in illegal activities. Simply put, I made my company a legalized gang. Oh, we do plenty of research and development, but the bulk of our money is made in drugs, weapons, prostitution and other things of an unsavory nature. In the time we live in now, the government is hardly above bribery and turning a blind eye. Greed and economic intelligence changed the casual and moral young man I was into myself today. I think it was a good trade."

Lupine looked at Raven. "If you wish, you can return the favor, and tell me how you first met and joined the Titans. I know the official reports and a lot of other things beside, but I would like to hear your viewpoint."

[whiteraven]

Raven was hardly surprised to here Lupine's explanation of the Prince. It fit sure enough, that and his other favorite. The Art of War. How could she have guessed? Shivering a little at her new partner's wolfish smile, Raven was once again reminded that no matter how like a gentleman he strived to be, he was a dangerous advirsary. One whom she was not looking forward to facing, whenever it may happen.

However she leaned forward with pure interest and listened to Lupine tell his story. She didn't know what she had been expecting but somehow the tale he told - however much truth were in it - seemed right. Though picturing the man sitting across from her now as a young and law abiding hopeful was difficult.

And then he turned the tables on her. She supposed it was only fair - Raven had hardely expected to get her wish answered so genially. However, the thought of telling her life story left a bitter taste in her mouth. Standing up and walking around the room as if inspecting it's sparse furnishings.

Then after a pause she said in an unhurried manner, "I was young and I was being forced into a future that was cruel, inhumane, utterly against my nature, and I didn't like being forced to do it by a father who had left my mother to die on the streets. I came seeking help but was shouldered off by the adult heroes. I was too young to be of consequence and they had no time for me. The Titans took me in, I believe one of the current sidekicks was tipped off by their mentor in the JLA. I was given friends, a family, and in the end they saved the world from me. I died, came back, and am still 17 years old."

She looked back to Lupine for the first time since her narrative. Answering his previous question by saying,

"I have read many old books that were never printed, only written and lost throughout the ages. Many of them speek of old religions, customs, magics. However - I am sure you will have read 1984. Correct?"

[Lupine]

Lupine raised his eyebrow at Raven's story. He was not shocked by it: he himself had ultimately ordered crimes that had left people in straits as bad as Raven's. All he found different was a matter of scale.

He was, however, mildly worried. It is one thing to orphan or introduce to drugs a person you don't know nor care about, but hearing a story such as Raven's from Raven herself was another thing.

Perhaps, Madame Raven, I should not have asked you to tell this story. You are obviously not comfortable with it. It is odd that I feel emotion at this, for I have caused and seen far worse without emotion. But humans are not logical creatures, I am afraid."

Lupine smiled at Raven's favorite book. "Indeed, I have read it. What Orwell wrote about in the book was, in a sense, already happening in Communist Russia. Under Stalin it wasn't quite as efficient with it's propaganda as well as governance as Lenin, so it eventually fell. I can believe that you would enjoy such a dark book. I, for some reason, enjoy Wuthering Heights. Perhaps the Gothic theme, or perhaps after a lifetime in Gotham I merely yearn for the open spaces in the book."

Lupine shrugged, took another sip of his wine and looked at Raven. "Madame Raven, are you enjoying that tea? I most likely can get some more prepared. Trust me, it is extremely good, and I am talking as a gentleman who prefers wine."

[whiteraven]

Raven watched Lupine's reaction to her tale with no small amount of well hidden surprise. She had given her story as just that, and yet his emotions were confusing to say the least. For a few moments the silence was complete and Raven was relived when he spoke again.

Shrugging off his concern, Raven strolled to her chair and sat down rather heavily, saying, "You and I both live difficult lives that ask much of us in all catagories. Comfort was never an issue - as long as the job gets done. And no matter how different our respective jobs may be it is a sentiment that I know you can relate to." Then smiling she said "True - heart over mind, hope over reason. Human are nto always logical. It is there I suppose I may rejoyce in saying that I am only half one." In sooth she was hardely proud of her heritage Lupine's words - almost caring - unnerved her. She was still working out her feelings towards this man and she needed to know where she stood with him.

And then - Raven's favorite subject. Books. A tiny smile flitted across her face for a split second as her partner spoke. "I believe that's always been one of 1984's most intreguing factors - the fact that it isn't compleatly some man's depression, but almost the truth. Then listening to Lupine speek of another book she knew well, Raven said, "Oh aye. I can see how much you can relate to Heathcliff. Any tortured tales of young love you forgot to mention when telling your life story?" She quirked a laughing eyebrow in his direction. "If it's open spaces you're looking for, the Secret Garden has plenty of moors and open pastures."

then as talk turned to the tea, Raven answered, "I will admit it is superb - yes, more would be appreciated - and I am speaking as one who was raised on the real stuff. None of this 'organic weight loss' manure. You have no idea how hard it is to get good Chai shipped to a place like Titans Tower."

[Lupine]

Lupine sniffed. Any tales of young love? Hardly. I have had lust for money, for power, for knowledge but never it's base form. It appears the human form does not attract whatever I am." To illustrate his point Lupine runs one large claw down his fur. "What of you, Madame Raven? Actually, you do not have to answer that. It was impolite of me to ask."

Lupine pressed a button beside him and stood up on his cane and started walking towards the bookshelf and picked out a copy of Brave New World. As he sat down another valet appeared.

"Madame Raven would like some more tea. You can ask her what type. Thank you, James." Lupine motioned to Madame Raven and raised a questioning eyebrow at her, and then sat down. He placed the book beside him.

"Brave New World is, I find, a good book to read after Orwell's masterpiece. Both distopias, but run by very different means. Madame Raven, I would like to ask you: would you prefer a dictatorship to anarchy? This is a question I wondered after I read both Huxley and Orwell, and the answer will affect my plans."

Lupine lay back and poured himself another small measure of wine with a practiced hand, not looking at the glass. It was evident that he often had similar drinks from the routine with which he took every sip.

He raised the glass in a salute, and brought it to his snout with another slow sip. "I also have guiltier pleasures, let us say, that belies my reputation. Gilbert and Sullivan, as my words might have informed you when I was shot. Frankly, I am doubly glad you saved me, thus giving me a chance at more dignified final words later on. And also Oscar Wilde. Madame Raven, you should read books that contrast your personality sometime. It changes you for the better, and, if you will allow me to offer you some advice, you need change."

Lupine took another slow sip. "You will be pleased to know that I have already bribed or threatened various officials about the Titans. The application should come through soon."

[whiteraven]

Raven's mouth twitched at Lupine's words about love himself before answering as seriously as humanly possible "Yes, it was very uncouth of you, and I probably shoulnd't answer you, but I am afraid that is one part of my life that has been severly lacking. Hardly to my distress. You were at the jail," She said, refering to the time that both Lupine and her 'friend' Beast Boy had visited her. "Love is simply another emotion, as you know well, emotions are not my forte."

Raven watched him curiously as he walked to the shelf. When he returned he was holding a book she knew well. Absently handing the valet, John, her tea cup, saying, "Boe, Organic if you have it.", She leaned out of her seat to feel the binding of the book. It was an older copy and in exceptionally good condition. Raven had always held great respect for those who knew how to treat a book well.

"Brave New World." She murmered appreciatively, then louder, "A true masterpiece. A brilliant piece of work depicting both human fears and human hopes in one crazed halfhazard mess of - well - humanity at it's height." She looked Lupine back at the eye, and settled back to answer his question.

"Anarchy or Dictatorship." she repeated, thinking. Not half a minute later she had her answer. "Anarachy," Raven answered confidentally. "I may have seen, in my lives, a million some examples of the worst part of a human consuming them. I do know, however, that not all people react in such ways. I suppose the only thing that got me through the war was the belief that somewhere that single speck of human decency existed. In anarchy a person has the freedom to act in the best or the worst they can. In a Dictatorship, they may only act as is expected, as they are told to. Consequences may vary, but the results are always the same."

She watched him without looking it, he acted purely on instict. All his mannerisms were part of who he was. The walk from the chair to the bookshelf, pouring and drinking the wine, it was all as natural to him as healing was to Raven. A bare smile flitted across her face again when Lupine spoke of other - less refined enjoyments. Gilbert and Sullivan. She honestly never would have guessed, yet she could picture it easily. Oscar Wilde too seemed to fit in the strange pattern. But her smile faded when his words turned to her.

The valet entered with a steaming bone china cup of tea and she took the moment to stand quickly and accept the offered drink. Standing there with her back to Lupine she bit her lower lip and her free hand rubbed the back of her neck a little emberessed, mussing slightly with her short hair.

"Change," she started slowly, "Is not always easy, and not always welcome. Parharps you are right, parhaps you are not, but it is something that does not come easily to me-" She broke off abruptly, her eyes catching a book on the shelves. The Catcher In The Rye. She went to it in a stately way, singing softly under her breath,

"I want to sing and dance, I want to sing and dance, I want to sing and dance, with the Pirates of Penzance. To wear the shiney slippers and the, tight leather pants. I want to sing and dance."

[Lupine]

Lupine grinned as he listened to Raven's argument. He had enjoyed the debates he had had with his advisers, and Raven was just as intelligent as them, if not more. Putting his book to the side, he spoke.

"I have thought about this issue quite a lot. Myself, I'd prefer a Dictatorship, even if I would not be as successful as I am now. Because with Anarchy, there is no progress. There is no group of people together leading towards advancement of some kind. There is just entropy. And people may say they wish for fairness for all and justice, but what they want is truly stability; for tomorrow to be more or less like today. Look at what happens when a government tries to implant even a minor change, and you will know what I mean. You yourself even said that change is not often welcome."

Lupine lounged in his chair. "All of my ideological discussions have an effect on my plans. I want more for Gotham. Firstly, I plan to-"

Lupine's face suddenly shuts down, his expression turning blank, as he realizes what he was saying. He slowly shakes his head and speaks again. "Sorry, Madame Raven, but I do not trust you anywhere near enough to tell you about that. There are only a very few people I have told, and I will not give you their names, I am afraid."

Lupine's eyes smiled as Raven sung under her breath to herself. One of the many advantages of his form was that he had much better hearing than usual. He didn't recognize the song from anything he knew, but at least he knew Raven did not actively try to depress herself all the time.

Lupine sighed to himself. Godamned loyalty. He cared for an extremely small amount of people, and he was not keen to add to that number. He would just have to survive.

Lupine spoke again. "Madame Raven, I must warn you that my hearing is much better than you would be used to. Nevertheless, it is gratifying to hear that you at least have one song with an aim that is not to depress someone."

"Pardon me for this change of subject, but is there any particular piece of art that speaks to you? I, as you may have imagined, prefer anything that dates before the 19th century. The Death Of Socrates is one of my favorites."

[whiteraven]

Raven coulnd't help but return his smile as he spoke for dictatorship. It came out a little strangely but a smile was a smile - and that was quite rare enough. It ran out soon as she litened to his argument, nodded thoughtfully. "I agree with you in that it is one of human kind's greatest failing's in that we tend to fear change. Of course in wanting fairness and justice they are wishing to create a government that will hold everything stable. Making it happen - that is a compleatly different subject. One that few are able or willing to persue."

Lupine broke off abruptly - realising suddenly where the conversation had subconciously gone. Raven didn't pretned to hide the dissapointment in her face. One of the reasons she had been so willing to do her work for the Gray Corps was her curiousity of Lupine's plans. And yet she was confident that they would find their way to her. "Apology accepted, she said nonchalontly, brushing it away like an annoying bug. "I would be dissapointed in you if you were to reveal your plans to me in such a way. It is no matter."

As Raven looked at the books - the song dying on her lips she heard Lupine speek again from behind her. She spun quickly at his words, dropping the book she heald out of shock. A flush rose to her cheeks when she realised he had heard her. The song was a nonsense ditty that had come uncalled into her mind. She had a fair voice for all that she never used it.

Bending quickly to pick up the books and checking it for harm. Dismayed to see that the cloth on the binding - which had already been worn - was torn; Raven brushed a hand over the tear. The cloth turned black for a moment and a second later the wound was healed.

Placing it back in it's place - her emotions now under control and her face it's natural color - Raven turned to her counterpart saying. "What I do, what I am, is done compleatly for the natural balance of things to contenue. Should I wear myself on my sleeve like some I know There would be pieces of crockery shattering at my every thought." She shook her head, berating herself for her sharp words. "Forgive my manners." She then said, "I forget myself. And as for music, I would not have allowed that should I have relised you would hear. It is not something that will happen again."

The air was tense for a couple moments before he easily changed the subject to that of art. The healer was thankful the moment was gone and sat easily in her chair with her tea, more than willing to speek of something she such enjoyed. Hearing his favorite she droned,

"And you blame me for enjoying the depressing." But then mischivously ansewring, "No, my favorite is The Scream. A truely masterful piece of work - don't you agree? Perfectly portraying human horror."