Birds Nest In Trees [Oswald, Open]

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

It's somewhat amusing to Poison Ivy that when the FBI first shut down this place she was blissfully unaware that the Iceberg Lounge even had a back entrance, but now that it's reopened she's not only on the list of people allowed here but also quite high on it. Her little stunt to help the FBI see the wisdom of leaving the city has been paying all sorts of lovely dividends like that.

And she must say that she's missed having somewhere nice to be. Her hideout is... well, it's more of a fortress than a palace. And while the FBI were around, shutting down any place suspected of catering to criminals, the only place to go for a drink and some gossip was the seediest of underground dive bars. Which she can tolerate, but never enjoy; she was born the daughter of multi-millionaires, and while she'll sacrifice her own comfort for her plants, she'll only do so if she has to. This is far more her style.

"And what would you like to drink, Miss Ivy?" asks the waitress as Poison Ivy sits. This being her first visit to the place, outside of having been brought here (on the public side) by a few dates during her socialite days, she's elected to sit at one of the quieter back booths where she can quietly get a feel for the place and enjoy the ambiance. That, and perhaps to not invite so many people to notice that she's here - while she's managed to make a name for herself now, she's still a 'new' rogue and hasn't met many of the others or the other such people who would patronize this part of the establishment. She doesn't want to make it so easy for someone to 'casually' introduce themselves. She's in the mood for a drink in pleasant surroundings, not a meet and greet.

"In the evenings I like absinthe, and at any other time I like an organic green tea," she replies, knowing that will end up noted down somewhere and then she'll forever be supplied with her preferred beverage without being asked or by simply saying 'the usual'. She knows and loves the benefits of exclusive places.

The waitress nods and leaves, probably to get her a tea since it's merely mid-afternoon. As she waits she starts to quietly people-watch, though she's polite and subtle about it. Mostly she simply wants to notice if anyone has noticed her. She's not been as flashy today as she could be - she left her full 'rogue outfit' at home, and instead opted for an elegant little white wrap dress that she hasn't had a nice enough place to wear to. However, rather than bringing the little thin vines that can be hidden beneath her clothing, as she's prone to while wearing something 'normal', she has the thicker ones that wrap around her on the surface, trailing down her right arm and left leg.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

Business as usual! Oswald was delighted, he hadn't even had to threaten to break the cleaning crew's arms for taking too long. Steadily the club was regaining it's popularity with Gotham's fashionable crowd and Oswald was loving it. It almost made rotting in jail for months worth it, particularly as he used the government's compensation to completely refit the lounge, though it was only fair as the FBI were the reason it had ended up in such a horrible state that it needed it at all.

He was sufficiently caught up with recent events that he felt the need to socialise, though naturally he was doing so on the public side of the club when one of the waiters relayed a message from security. Ivy of course wasn't considered a security risk but she was on Oswald's list of people to look out for. Using Nightwing of all people to escape from jail then her little stunt with the video and the FBI had raised her status from simply a random socialite to someone important.

Oswald excused himself with a polite farewell to those he was conversing with and claimed he had business to attention to before he made his way around to the back room. He appeared alone but if it was his club, if he kept bodyguards constantly following him around he wouldn't seem so strong in his position.

Ivy was spotted immediately and he headed for the woman, sweeping off his hat and bowing as he greeted her "Miss Isley, I had hoped you might grace us with your presence once more. Or do you prefer Miss Ivy now?" names are important for good impressions. Oswald has his charming small man routine perfectly down after all these years and replaces his hat just as smoothly as he removed it. She's a new rogue, he's keen to see if she will be a little easier to get on his side and control than the rest of them.

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

Her green eyes are quick to spot the approach of Mr. Cobblepot. And her expression immediately lifts into a warm smile. A completely faked one, if we're honest, as she hasn't given anyone a genuine warm smile in over three years. Still, she's easily talented enough at faked expressions for them to pass as the real thing. Nothing like growing up in high class society to teach you to appear to feel one way when you really feel another.

"Mr. Cobblepot, I'm honored!" she replies, "It's good to see you again, and in much better circumstances. Feel free to join me if you'd like to and can spare the time." She gives a vague wave toward the seat in the booth across from hers.

It's a strategic move, really. Though she knows that the man is supposed to know everything about everything, one ability of hers that she's managed to keep more under wraps is her pheromones. And this is one person she doesn't want to drug in such a way, because that would probably upset him and she doesn't want to have to kill him. On the other hand, if he's unaware of her pheromones then she doesn't wish to inform him that he ought to keep his distance. The other side of the booth is actually just within range, but only mildly - enough to make her seem that much more interesting without fogging up his mind too much, and probably not enough to upset him should he find out about it later. But if he accepts her invitation and she keeps herself leaning back in her seat in a relaxed fashion, it should keep him from getting too close without making her appear at all unfriendly. And she really would like to get better acquainted with the man. As long as he continues to treat her properly, anyway.

"And please, call me Poison Ivy," she adds with another smile, sounding for all the world like it's a special privilege. Though actually, the opposite is the case - while her given name is known by many, her rogue name is now known by many more. Being called by her given name, even the polite 'Miss Isley', sounds almost too familiar to her anymore. It's like a nickname that she's since outgrown, now only to be used by close friends. And the only friend that she has is Harley, who calls her 'Red'. Indeed, names are important.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

The only genuine smile Oswald has is the rather dark one that usually appears when he's backed someone into a corner and about or get very rich or sometimes when he's giving orders to kill someone. The pleasantries may be faked but that doesn't mean they're not important, his upbringing taught him just the same as hers. High society really does know how to hide the worst people.

He laughed casually as he accepted the invitation to have a seat "I would be delighted to and I wish I could say it was hard to improve upon the surroundings since I last saw you my dear but a door that opens was not hard to install. If only our federal hosts had been so courteous" he chuckles "Not that the lack of such a thing stops some people" he sounds impressed that she broke out but then he is trying to butter her up.

He glances back to the bar and snaps his fingers twice at the staff member tending it, ensuring a scotch will be added to Ivy's order before the waitress brings the tea over. His eyes return to Ivy again, truthfully Oswald doesn't need to be exposed to the mild pheromones he's currently getting to think she's interesting and attractive but he's never let such things get in his way before when someone's got in his way. How fortunate it is that he also wishes to become acquainted with her.

He's done his background research of course, his mind flicks through both more public information on her and her family and then the police reports. He remembers underlining the words 'poisonous lipstick' several times. Rogues all had their quirks to be wary of.

His false smile shows again and he nods once to her preferred name "A title you appear to have thoroughly earned, it is only right to use it. I believe this is your first visit to our little behind the scenes establishment?" he knows perfectly well it is but just because everyone knows the place is monitored doesn't mean he likes to admit to it.

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

Poison Ivy smiles easily when he alludes to her escape from the FBI's prison. "An unexpected, but quite welcome, reprieve. But having a vigilante under your thumb is the gift that keeps on giving. Pity that I had to let him go after that," she comments.

She doesn't know if Mr. Cobblepot is aware of the particulars of her escape or not, but she'll hardly pretend to claim full credit for it. It's so much to her advantage for the truth to be known anyway: being so new to the criminal world and yet able to manipulate a vigilante in such a way is a sure sign of strength. So would having escaped herself, but that would have shown a different kind of strength - hints to the others that she deserves some respect while still allowing them to underestimate her. Even taking the video into account, she's hidden enough of her strength to make herself appear weaker than she is. Probably comes across as more of a manipulative scientist type than someone who could also easily play the game the rest of them are playing, unless you're observant enough to see how carefully she plays her cards.

The waitress now appears with their drinks, and Poison Ivy offers a polite "Thank you," as she accepts her glass. And she sips it delicately and smiles as Mr. Cobblepot continues to compliment her. She knows what he's doing, of course, but she's not about to ask him to stop. "Yes it is," she replies, "I was delighted to hear that you reopened - naturally, the FBI took everything from me after I was arrested, though I managed to rescue a few things after I escaped - and I've found that I've greatly missed having the finer things that I'm accustomed to. The only advantage that the places I could find to go had over the federal accommodations was the ability to leave them at will. But they can cut down people like us as far as they want - we'll always grow back." If there's anything in the world better than a double sided compliment, Poison Ivy doesn't want to know what it is.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

So, Nightwing came without orders to rescue Ivy, or had orders from another but no longer works for her. Interesting. He supposes 'let him go' could be more literal but Oswald is sure he would have heard if Nightwing had been dropped to his death somewhere. Disappointing that he hadn't really. Oswald still wondered what it took to control such a man.

Naturally he smiled to the comment though "I can imagine, quite the useful assets. However did you come across such an arrangement?" he chuckles again "I wouldn't mind acquiring one myself though I'm sure they could be as troublesome as they are useful"

Oswald had police reports and a cell side seat, he knows as many details as he would consider relevant about her escape, the only thing he doesn't know is just how she was able to employ a vigilante, though of course there were those reports of Nightwing kidnapping her and killing a bunch of people, quite the unusual blip on his record. Everything about Nightwing's connection to Ivy was unusual but that just made it all the more interesting.

He accepts his scotch without a word to the waitress and gestured his hand in a sort of 'it's unfortunate' way when she talked of the FBI taking everything "A sad result of being discovered by the federal fools. Had I joined those on the outside as quickly I'm certain they would have got their claws into the lounge and tore it apart like everything else" his attention shifts briefly to the room. He really does like the lounge. The centre of his empire, his seat of power, his fortress. It ensures his place is kept in the world...Of course if someone were to destroy it he'd be collecting the insurance in minutes and rebuilding before long, probably burying the culprit under foundations in the process.

His eyes swiftly return to her and the smile is back, it's almost genuine too but that's because he's still thinking about burying people under buildings "They certainly didn't appear able to stop you once you were safely returned to the world, run off with their tails between their legs. A little more financial security in case the future should hold similar events and I'm certain they wouldn't even make an impact on one such as yourself my dear"

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

Poison Ivy disguises a brief pause to consider how she should answer his question about Nightwing with an overlong sip of her tea. There's really only two of them, and they're complete opposites: having heard his reputation, she knows that giving the man information can be dangerous. It might be wiser for her to give a polite but vague answer that simply indicates that she's not going to say. On the other hand, there are many ways in which giving him information could be useful, especially if he repeats it.

And as it happens, the answer to that question is nothing but dated information: since Nightwing is cured some of it doesn't matter, and the rest is months old - a very long time, given how quickly her powers are evolving. So none of it is really anything that she wouldn't mind everyone knowing. Nightwing might not appreciate the story getting around, but she certainly doesn't care about that. "Not long before the FBI came to Gotham, I had a quiet little scheme going on," she begins with a smirk, obviously greatly pleased with herself already, "You may remember a brief trend among Gotham's upper class of donating entire fortunes to various environmental causes? That was my fault." She smiles at the memory - that was a good time.

"But somehow, Nightwing managed to trace it back to me and started poking his nose into my business," she continues, "But I'd developed a certain large vine, an ancestor to this, if you will." She pauses to indicate the one wrapped around her right arm. "They lined the walls of my greenhouse, and proved quick enough to catch him for me," she explains, "Of course, having him all tied up like that, I had so many options. I thought to kill him, naturally, to solve that problem permanently. However, at the time I was still 'just a socialite' and my ability to do so without attracting attention was limited. I didn't know if any of his friends knew where he was, for example. So I did the next best thing."

And here's where she shows just how clever she is... "I poisoned him," she says, her pleased smirk reaching new heights, "But not with just anything - this poison was symptomless for a week before it finally killed. And it was very tamper proof - I always like to make sure that I'm the only one that can cure what I make whenever possible. But I had a formula that would extend that time for one more week at a time, so he was required to visit me weekly in order to remain alive. Which I couldn't do if I was arrested. So not only could he not stop me, he had to make sure nobody else did." She laughs lightly at that. "So, naturally, when I was arrested by the FBI, he had to help me escape. He would have died if he didn't - though he did insist that I fully cure him for that one. But as everyone already knew which side of the law I was on at that point, it was a small price to pay," she finishes, ending with one last pleased smirk.

His comment on the feds reaction if he'd escaped causes her to say, "That would have been such a shame! I've always liked this place. A few of my boyfriends took me here - to the other side, I mean. Though I think that I like this side better." She grins at her own double meaning. Sure being outed as a criminal has come with a heavy cost, but in exchange she has so much more freedom...

The freedom to blatantly threaten the FBI into leaving the city, for example, and she smiles when Mr. Cobblepot brings that up. "It was very difficult. And one can't do what I do with money - you need certain chemicals, supplies, special equipment. All of it was very difficult to come by with the embargo in place, but... Well, obviously I managed. And I've learned the value of backups," she says with a nod. Her new lab is much more hidden and better defended than the last one, but she's always one to learn from her mistakes and is even now carefully hiding supplies in a few hidden stashes she could draw from should the lab be taken from her. It won't take her months to respond next time, assuming there is one.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

Despite his great desire to hear Ivy's answer Oswald appeared so calm, he sipped at his scotch, comfortably rested back in his seat while she's deciding how much to tell him. Clever woman.

A look of interest is allowed to sneak through as she talks of her scheme with the upper class. That's one less mystery for his files. He fakes a look of surprise "I had heard some rumours but imagined it to be something to do with taxes or perhaps the latest fad, high society did always concern itself far too much with such things" both thoughts had been on his list of possibilities but if there was some way to cut his taxes further Oswald would know about it and there simply wasn't enough publicity to be the usual fad. He hadn't cared enough to look into that puzzle much, he just determined the causes were real and as he had no desire to donate money to any charity that wasn't a front for something else he simply decided that everyone else in high society was still idiots. As the answer has landed in his lap he's glad he didn't waste time with it.

This meant that somehow she convinced rich people to part with their money. Well she was pretty but Oswald didn't consider her enough to be worth millions. He makes a mental note of it, along with the fact that she specifically said 'environmental causes' though that's not so surprising for a botanist who threatened the FBI with plants.

He let her continue as he drank, his interest still showing in the hopes the attention would keep her talking. As talk turns to catching Nightwing he really is interested and he gives the vine around her arm a careful look when it's pointed out. She made vines that were fast enough to catch a vigilante and she was wearing one. That was going in the file. He immediately considered ways to fight such a thing, fire was the first thing to come to mind.

His smile grows at the news she poisoned Nightwing "No temptation for a quick peek under the mask?" that was the first thing he would have done but Oswald loves to know everything. He laughs a little darkly at her description of the poison "An ingenious solution, you clearly have quite the talent" He knew she was smart though, the methods she'd used against the FBI were proof enough of that. Between her poisons and her plants she's wonderfully dangerous, to Oswald that was something to be used, not feared.

He chuckles quietly, considering all her skills "So new to the scene and yet you seem to suit this side so well. Threatened the government after breaking out of jail by use of a vigilante you caught and placed under your control...My dear I cannot wait to see what you will do next" It was almost genuine, she really was proving to be interesting. If she caused as much trouble as this usually then she was playing with the big dogs and so far keeping up.

He sipped his drink again thoughtfully before going on "The temptation for the freedom to do what you wish is large, it's almost relaxing when the image shatters" Oswald speaks from experience of course. He's done it all before. The first time he went to jail a lot came out, after the next dozen times he had no connection to high society left aside from a family mansion and a disgraced name. He however had chosen to rebuild his image, he enjoyed the life style of a socialite too much to be seen as a common criminal. Besides which playing both sides had turned out to be incredibly profitable.

His smile returns again as she talks of things she had needed "Well, if you have heard of this place I'm certain you may have heard that often I have been known to have certain connections that could provide such things...Neither jail nor lock-down can stop the flow of items required, provided a suitable price is settled upon of course. I also have a great deal of experience in ensuring that no matter what happens the vast majority of wealth and belongings remains hidden from, say, the authorities" Even if the FBI had been able to make any charges stick they'd never have gotten all of his money.

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

Poison Ivy's smile grows just a little bit more at every compliment. She doesn't do what she does for fame or prestige, but she has always enjoyed the attention. She never quite trusts the attention, always suspecting that people have their insincere motives behind giving it to her - it could never be that they actually like her. Well, except perhaps in Harley's case... But just because she suspects that it's all fake doesn't mean that she doesn't like it.

His question about Nightwing's mask gets a slight shrug as she asks, "Why does it matter who he is?" Well, it clearly doesn't matter to her, at least. Unlike quite a few rogues, she has no obsessive need to figure these things out. The identities of vigilantes are all useless information to her. The only reason she might need to know is if she wanted to kill one - that would make the job easier. But she doesn't really care about them enough to want such a thing. All she really wants from them is to be left alone.

"I have some ideas..." she comments vaguely on her future plans, her smile somewhat teasing - a silent indication that she has no intention of saying anything more on that subject, "But I operated secretly for quite some time before an unfortunate series of events landed me in that prison. I thought that I might eventually be found out and had worked to ensure that I would be able to survive in that event. It wasn't as easy or as smooth as I expected but here I am anyway." That she was apparently so suddenly able to turn around and threaten the entire city wasn't as sudden as it appeared. She'd started researching Protothecosis before she was caught. She wasn't sure what she could do with it at the time, but she did known it might help her later.

And she smiles and nods at his comment about it being almost relaxing to not have to put up false front for society. Yet the situation that she's now in also has it's downside. "But now I find that I can't allow myself to become too deeply rooted anywhere for fear that the ground will be ripped out from under me at any moment," she comments somewhat sadly. Sure, having thrown off the shackles of society is freeing, but even with caches of supplies in the event that she needs to flee her hideout again there will be so many of her precious babies that would have to be left behind. And next time she might not be lucky enough to be able to make off with her car - the price for such freedom is the need to constantly be ready to run.

But her expression brightens again as he reminds her of something she had, indeed, learned about Mr. Cobblepot. She smiles as she says, "How could I have not heard about that? Your presence was sorely missed. I can only imagine that, had you been available, it would have been much easier for me to get what I needed. Not to mention much more pleasant." She gives him a smile. "As it happens, there are several things you could do for me, and that I could do for you. I could use a safe place to store some money for a rainy day or if I happen upon a large amount I won't use immediately, and there are several pieces of difficult-to-find laboratory equipment I need - either I've been making do without or I'd like multiples. And there are some chemicals I've had difficulty finding. But there are others that I have no difficulty making and would be happy to sell - the man I've been using for that doesn't have nearly as many connections as you do and is unable to give me a good price. The other things I make I'm less inclined to part with, but some of it, for the right price..." she continues, trailing off. Yes, clearly there is much business that they could discuss!

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

The woman clearly had no care for a good mystery, pity. Perhaps it meant her secrets wouldn't be too closely guarded though. Oswald had already come to know a good deal about her, the finer details would require more investigation but it was enough to likely satisfy anyone who came asking with the right price. He enjoyed how she behaved, he considered it akin to a good sword fight, beautiful but deadly. It didn't mean he was about to give her special treatment though.

If she wasn't interested in solving the mystery of who the vigilantes were though there was still one obvious reason to seek answers "They're not well liked by the boys here, some may be willing to buy such information, or better yet purchase the captured individual themselves, particularly the caped crusader himself of course" he can't imagine how much he could get out of the Gotham rogues if he could offer Batman in chains. He knew when a venture was too risky to attempt though, he had no desire for Batman to be anywhere near him. He was more than willing to try and give Ivy the idea though, he'd be interested to see how she matched up.

He smiles another fake smile when she teases him with mention of her plans but no details. He knows she's not going to share so easily but if she does business with him he does hope to get some clues. Very curious though he is he doesn't ask a question he knows she won't answer but instead assures himself he will find out, there was always a way to learn these things.

He moves on, for now. "Unfortunate indeed. Kidnapped by Nightwing, held prisoner but escaped only to run into a god fearing lunatic and his blind followers. At least a couple of them died for the inconvenience" Oswald doesn't let information slip accidentally. Perhaps it's just his need to show off a little that makes him mention something she has yet to tell him. He considers that one harmless enough anyway, the kidnapping made the papers and of course he knows what happened afterwards, he knows everything...and he read the police reports.

Oswald sips from his drink thoughtfully, her situation reminds him of himself several years back, of course he didn't threaten the city with a plague, though he's quite certain a good lawyer and some PR work could brush that under the rug as easily as everything he'd done in the past "You find yourself in the common position of a rogue. Operating outside the law, while freeing, does provide the unfortunate side effect of having to flee from said enforcement at times. It is, alas, simply part of the lifestyle" to his mind he's the only rogue who can actually list himself in the phone book without alerting the police, not that he would, the temptation to have a call centre or two in India mysteriously gassed for bothering him really wouldn't be worth the time or effort.

He has little advice for her current predicament, he solved it by changing and rebuilding. She's only just got out of hiding, it's better she enjoy the freedom. The true tests of whether she had what it took to be a rogue would be Batman and Arkham or Blackgate. Survive them and perhaps she would go far.

Apparently it was Oswald's turn to have his ego stroked though. He smiled, just like her he imagines it to be entirely fake but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy it, it is still true after all, he is far better than the other black-market traders if he does say so himself.

But she has business to talk of, she even has the good sense to offer something to sell, this pleased Oswald even more and from his pocket he pulled a small leather bound notepad and a rather nice gold fountain pen. He pushes both over towards her "Simply write what you need and what you have to offer and I shall see to it that arrangements are made and a suitable price arranged" Hiding money is easily a speciality of his, his knowledge of chemicals is less extensive. He pays more specialised people for such expertise, he knows more than the average man considering how many insane scientists he sells things to but business requires you to know what you're selling and buying, otherwise you may as well just pull prices out of thin air and that never ends well.

"Who have you been using?" Oswald idly asks, he is interested to know who's been taking his business, perhaps bring them into line. It's also good to know who the competition is anyway.

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

Unfortunately for Oswald, Poison Ivy only has so much interest in money. She misses the perks of her socialite lifestyle, true, but she'd found that it takes a lot more effort getting all those nice things when you're a criminal, and she has more important things to do. Money only matters because of what she can get with it, and what she's mainly interested in getting with it is what she needs to keep her lab running. What she needs is a continuous source of income, not sudden lump sums.

Of course, she knows better than to let Oswald know that so quickly. "I'll keep that in mind," she says with a smile, "Though if I do manage to catch Batman - well, I'm more inclined to keep him to myself." And her smile turns dangerous at whatever thought that prompts. The man broke into her car, grabbed her throat, and released a very foul smoke bomb when he left. Tempting as the idea is to hand him over to who knows what in exchange for money, she'd find it much more satisfying to make sure he gets what he deserves herself. "Though if Nightwing is fool enough to go round three with me, that's different," she adds with a smirk. As far as she's concerned, her and Nightwing are more or less even - at least until he does something else to her. She wouldn't mind handing him off to someone else.

And at no point as she talks so casually about catching vigilantes does she show any signs of doubting her ability to do so. At worst, she thinks that it might take her a few tries in catching Batman, but she learned a lot from their first meeting and she learned a lot about him by simply having that little chat with him. But she's a force of nature - if something proves to be too difficult, she need only adapt.

Her eyebrows raise slightly in mild surprise at his comments on how she was captured. "I see you've done your homework on me," she says with a smirk, though that's not really that unexpected given Oswald's reputation. "Though it wasn't really Nightwing who kidnapped me," she notes idly, "I would have let him die if it was. I could have found my own way out of that prison, if not so quickly." But she smirks at the thought of Agent Tiff and the agents who died examining her purse. "They should have known better than to go digging through a lady's things," she comments. Just because she didn't kill them intentionally doesn't mean that she isn't pleased that they died. If only Agent Tiff had decided to investigate her purse personally...

Her flattering words to Oswald are both just that, and also true. He was very missed, as was all the other links in the supply chain of the black market that got cut. Between the embargo and the captures, doing business on the black market was very difficult - she merely neglected to comment that Oswald was only one of many people who were missed. Though now that most have returned to business, it is a very sincere compliment that she was so quick to talk business with Oswald. Now that the black market is returning to as it was, she's been meaning to ditch the man she does business with and 'upgrade' to someone actually decent.

And based on what she's heard of him, Mr. Cobblepot would seem a good choice - he does a lot of business with other rogues, and given how eccentric many of them are she takes it as a good sign that none of them have killed him yet. It means he must not overstep his bounds very often - a frequent problem she's had with those she's worked with in the past.

She smiles as the accepts the pen and notebook, easily setting to work listing off her needs and offerings. When it comes to lab equipment, she's already managed to obtain all the 'easy' things - most of that part of the list are extremely specialized pieces that will be hard to come by simply because not many of them are made since so few people know how to use them. But if Oswald can get it, she'd be happy to pay what they're worth. She also notes down that she's interested in extremely rare and exotic plants, if Oswald happens upon any.

The chemicals she's wanting are all rather basic - many of them aren't even closely regulated since they have so many applications, but it's hard for a criminal to arrange to get them. The chemicals she's offering, on the other hand, are something else - poisons, most of them, though she can also make many of the more complex and often regulated or even illegal chemicals that chemists on the wrong side of the law would love to get their hands on. She smiles to herself as she underlines sarin - that ought to get his attention when he looks over the list, even if he doesn't know chemistry. "I'm more used to making any of these things I'm listing in small quantities, as I need them, though most I could offer on a larger scale with sufficient warning," she comments as she writes.

But she refrains from listing off any of her own creations and sticks with the more 'normal' ones, as she really is reluctant to part with her own work. The plants she's created are especially dear to her, though she's somewhat possessive of her poisons as well. Though she ends her list of offerings with 'other things upon request'. If the man knows she can do something for him and is offering a high enough price for it then she'd accept, but she's not about to go listing them off for him. What she has listed will only tell him so much about what she's up to - the lab equipment merely suggests that she's working with plants, DNA, hybridization, and basic chemistry. The chemicals she's asking for are all basic building blocks for... well, pretty much everything. And the poisons and other chemicals she's offering merely prove that she's extremely well-versed in many kinds of poisons and toxins - which shouldn't surprise anyone.

In all, it's a rather substantial list, and it's probably somewhat impressive that she can produce it all from memory. But she's not accustomed to keeping notes of things, and she's been doing a lot of such business lately and is quite familiar with what she needs and what she has. She's still writing as she answers his question about her previous supplier. "Sam. I don't have a last name, but he operates out of a small bar in east Gotham called Louie's," she answers easily, "It was my understanding that he was nobody much before the FBI came in, but managed to not get arrested when his competitors did. He was the best I could find while the FBI were in town." She shrugs to herself, not really caring what Mr. Cobblepot does with him. All she really cares about is that he can't give her what her offerings are worth or any of the equipment she's still lacking, and Oswald can if his reputation is even remotely deserved.

Several moments later she finally finishes writing, smiling as she slides the pen and notebook back over to him. It's nice to finally be able to do this sort of business on the level that she's actually capable of, rather than making do with whatever she can get away with under the FBI's nose. It's a part of the reason why she was so heavy-handed about getting them to leave.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

Oswald doesn't really believe in people who aren't interesting in money. As far as he's concerned everyone can be bought, it's simply a matter of finding the right price, sometimes the price isn't money itself but it can certainly be purchased with it. Of course anyone who requires more money to buy than they're worth may as well just be killed as far as Oswald is concerned.

He smiles when she seems to at least consider catching Batman. Give it a while and she'll probably have a larger grudge against the guy, he tends to stick his nose in where none of the rogues want it "If you can control him as you did Nightwing I think we would all love to see that" Oswald smirks a little, momentarily imagining the Bat being forced to sing and dance at the club, that's what he'd do if he had full control. Well, before selling him off for someone else to kill. It's entirely a fantasy though, for one he doesn't think Batman would bend to demands even under pain of death and then if Batman didn't die then Oswald would likely be made to wish he was dead himself. There's only two things in the world more important to Oswald than money, his birds and his life. Having the wrath of Batman after him would conflict with that second one.

Now Nightwing was far less terrifying and Oswald smirks back "Foolishness does go with their line of work. Should you happen to obtain him do feel free to call me" he selects a business card from his pocket and slides that across the table too "Directly. I'm sure we could see that such a thing would be highly beneficial for you" and of course for Oswald.

He doesn't question if she could do it, while he knows nothing of her meeting with Batman and believes him to be a far more dangerous thing she has been prove to handle Nightwing. While the vigilante was taken by surprise but perhaps she had a few more secrets up her sleeve to still give her an edge. Either way he didn't care, it wouldn't come back to Oswald, if she failed it would be on her head.

Oswald smiled at her little hint of surprise, sometimes it's good to show off information. It lets those new to the business know the reputation is well founded. Her news on Nightwing makes him show a little hint of interest again "I shall adjust our files accordingly" it certainly explained the inconsistency. A little chuckle at her words and he reminds himself never to dig through her purse without some precautions.

Cobblepot over steps boundaries all the time, usually not by too much but he just doesn't get caught a lot and if he does he's generally very good at getting out of it. He's a useful man to have on your side, Oswald owing someone a favour, for instance for not killing him, is as good as a get out of jail free card, several million dollars or some very rare, impossibly obtained items delivered for free. One time use but perfect for a though situation. Of course such a thing only comes up should he not have something that would stop or kill his opponent before they even get near him and he plans ahead for angry rogues a lot.

As she writes he removes his monocle and holds it out a little towards the notepad, he doesn't wear the thing just to go with the classy look, it is required. He recognises some of the things she's looking for, nothing difficult to get as far as he's concerned. He was still mentally running through his contacts that might help with the equipment when she finished and handed the list back.

It was quite clear when he gets to what she can offer. His eyebrows raise and he leans in towards the list a little, putting his monocle back in place. He recognises some of the poisons just thanks to his line of work, some of the more pricey chemicals too, sarin certainly. He can't help it, his dignified look his somewhat broken by a very dark and greedy grin that slowly spreads over his face as he reads. She could make large quantities, he could stockpile poisons, dangerous chemicals, overtake the competition entirely and of course use some of those things for his own plans.

Then of course she can make poisons, she's shown she could design specialised ones with Nightwing and the FBI virus. Perhaps if the situation called for one he could pay her to design it. The more he thought about it, the more money he could imagine.

He suddenly snaps out of it, looking back up at her with a more polite, but still large, smile though the greed doesn't leave his eyes "Miss Ivy, I do believe we can do a great deal of business indeed. I shall speak to my contacts, I'm certain all the items can be acquired for a suitable price and some people I know would be interested in some of the things you have listed here" he tucked away the notepad and pen "Allow me to make some calls and I shall contact you with the details" he has to work out what everything costs, decide what will be most profitable and what he'd like for himself. Contact people, run the ones he's unaware of past one of his scientists. In short he has to do the maths. If he makes even half as much money as he thinks he will he'll buy her some exotic plants just to keep her around.

As for Sam? Well, small fry. Oswald would look into him of course. If he was doing good business or stealing some of the Penguin's then the standard offer would be made, work for Oswald or don't work at all. If he turned out to be rubbish then Oswald didn't want him working for him and he'd be making the Penguin's business look good in comparison.

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

Poison Ivy can't help but smirk at the thought of being able to control Batman. But, having met the man, she now knows that it would take the challenge of controlling a vigilante well into the next level. "I'd love to see that too," she comments, but then her hand subconsciously moves to drift across her throat as she adds, "Though he's significantly more skilled. And yet... we'll see." Yes, she'll acknowledge that Batman would be very difficult, but she's either skilled enough or arrogant enough (or possibly a combination of the two) to not consider the idea an impossibility. She's actually working on several things just for Batman right now. And depending on how effective they are...

But she's guessing that she can pretty much assume that Nightwing would be a simple catch if he tried again. He may have learned some thing about her over their interactions, but she's improved herself significantly since. And since it's unlikely that the young vigilante has kept up with that, she doubts that it would be even as hard the next time. "I'd be happy to," she says with a smirk as she picks up the business card. Definitely something to hang onto.

And she really does appreciate his little show of information for what it is - indeed he must have some extra resource to know what he does. She'll have to keep that in mind, as that's both a good thing and a bad thing. And while she's quite good at finding out what everyone else knows, she's not so good at finding out what she's not supposed to know unless she has a solid need for it and is aware that it's out there.

When she finishes writing the list and slides it over to him, her expression is neutral as she gives him some time to peruse it. And it stays neutral even as Oswald's greedy expression appears. It's disgusting, really, but she has to admit that it really is worth it in the end dealing with people like him. He can move mountains for her that she can't manage.

And she recognizes that look for what it is: a weakness. She may like having nice things, but she's not very greedy - she's actually selflessly willing to give up everything for her plants. His greed, on the other hand, gives her power over him since it will make him want to continue their association on a friendly level even more than she does. Which will probably turn out to be annoying, yet it means that she holds the cards.

As he snaps out of his reverie, a pleased smile crosses her face - far less pleased than she actually is, but no need to give him cause to worry. "Very well," she replies after taking a sip of her tea, "Though unfortunately there isn't really any easy way of contacting me - I live very 'off the grid'. However, I believe that I'll become a regular here." She never has been a huge fan of technology, and after hearing about and then seeing the signs of the truth of Batman's skill with technology it's gotten even worse. Far better to rely on her plants, who serve only her. Of course, a plant can't replace a phone, but since it's so easy to 'borrow' someone's cellphone when she needs to make a call it's really only to Mr. Cobblepot's disadvantage. She can be sure to pay the lounge frequent visits though - it's nice enough that she'll hardly complain about the need to do that.

[Oswald Cobblepot - The Penguin]

Oswald quickly places the pieces together with the touch of her neck and how she speaks of Batman. He can remember exactly how many times the bat has hauled him around and crushed his neck. The man's personality was barbaric, there was no business to be had there.

"It sounds as though you may have already discovered his less than charming methods?" He carefully questioned. Curious though he was for any little bit of information on the bat and equally curious as he was to see how she matched up, Batman had the unfortunate effect of making criminals very angry. Oswald understood it of course, he hated the man himself but unlike some he wouldn't sometimes fly off into a rage at the mere mention of the man. Well perhaps sometimes he would. Of course it largely depended on how badly he had beaten the other, Ivy hadn't been to jail properly yet so it was clear Batman hadn't beaten her up to cart her away but still, an angry criminal with custom poisons and super fast vines on her arm is not something he has a desire to deal with today.

If he was careful he believed he could handle Nightwing without backlash. The connection between the various vigilantes was troublesome but if Batman had to go through Ivy first Oswald was quite certain he would have time to get rid of the evidence and pin anything on someone else anyway. At worst he might end up roughed up a little but to get a vigilante off the streets and potentially set Batman on someone he didn't like, that could be worth it. Of course that was if she could catch Nightwing to begin with, he would believe that when he saw it.

Oswald doesn't see his greed as a weakness, more of a guiding force. He enjoys being rich, with it comes power and with that respect, even if most of that is fake. He'll take people faking respect over idiotic little bullies who would believe him to be weak and an easy target. Oswald has come a long way with his greed but it's because he knows how to choose the appropriate action 90% of the time. His world is one big business deal, he searches for the most cost effective option, not just factoring in money but also his life, birds and image. Certainly he might treat her nicely but it will only be as long as it is in his interests to. Oswald doesn't have friends, just business associates.

An eyebrow is raised to her 'off the grid' comment. Plant women, silly things. He nods politely as he considers plans to have her or her car bugged and tracked down "As you wish my dear, I shall see to it that all the details are prepared by the next time you do us the honour of visiting" certainly eventually she would need to provide a location to have things delivered to but he wouldn't be Oswald if he didn't wish to find out where she was basing herself before then, besides, if she was smart she'd have them dropped off somewhere else then move them herself and that would never do.

[Pamela Isley - Poison Ivy]

"Once or twice," Poison Ivy says calmly, knowing that the man is no doubt curious about the details. In this case, however, she's more inclined to keep them to herself. But she does comment, "Apparently he objects when someone threatens to kill off most of Gotham." She shrugs lightly to that before taking another sip of her tea. Actually, she never believed that it would come to that - while she was certainly quite willing to carry out her threat if she'd been wrong, she'd thought it was a safe bet that enough people in positions of power would blink. And every one of them will be glad that they did when the final statistics come in - there's a very, very high demand for the cure and vaccine she created simply because that many people need them. With any luck, everyone will learn something from that.

She notes the raised eyebrow, but she's not about to change her mind about just how much care she's taking to keep her current hideout a strict secret. The only person (alive) who knows where it is besides herself is Harley, and she means to keep it that way. Having already suffered the loss of her estate, she's not about to risk having another garden taken from her. Unlike many other rogues she can't simply hire a bunch of men to take her things from one place to another - most plants simply can't be moved. Which means that she can't allow for even the vague possibility that her hideout may be compromised, and that means even 'business associates' are not allowed to know where it is or even something they could use to track it down. Indeed, arranging a drop off location for anything he gives her is precisely her plan.

"Then I'll come again soon," she promises, "The sooner we can get this all arranged, the better for us both, I'm sure." If he can get her the missing laboratory equipment especially, then she'll be able to increase both what she's able to do and how fast she's able to do it. And that means that she'll be able to expand not just the abilities of her plants but also herself. Now that she's given up the cure for her plague, she's no longer as untouchable to Batman as she was and she'll need to grow a bit before she'll be a true match for him.