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Talia sipped her glass of wine as she watched the ballroom. For once the event she had been invited to was a proper ball in a proper ballroom. Which she was quite enjoying. Not only did it mean she was surrounded by elegance, it meant that for once she wasn't forced into a gown that hugged every inch of her figure. She was able to wear one that had a full skirt, which not only was better for concealing weapons, but she was able to wear pants underneath that would make it very possible to ditch the skirt and properly fight. As well as a bonus the corset she had made was much better support than the bras that she had to wear with other gowns.
She wasn't even there as part of a plot. She had been invited by an acquaintance she had met that knew Talia had an eye for historical fashion. It was well away from Gotham so there was none of those pesky children to bother her or other enemies to get into fights with. In fact she knew almost no one at the ball and the people she did know weren't ones that really knew her. They were just people that she had met in passing over the years at other events.
All of which was to say the evening was properly enjoyable for once. It was a night just for her and no one else. Something that she rarely got to enjoy. She pretty much always had some sort of agenda for everything she did.
The only part of the night that was getting a bit on her nerves was one of the other guests. He kept watching her with a look in his eyes that she did not particularly like. At least not from him. It was an appreciative look and it was obvious that he wanted something from her. From another man she would have liked it. But not from that man.
He was about her age yet his hair was completely grey. And while many men could pull off the low ponytail it was pulled back in and look very distinguished, on this man it just made him give off a skin crawling feeling. She did have to grudgingly admit he had good taste in costume though, with the deep emerald and gold of his ensemble. That did not make her distaste for the way he looked at her any less though.
Talia sighed and finished off her glass of wine when it seemed he had gathered his courage to come and talk to her. He had his eyes locked on her position and was walking in her direction. She was able to set her empty glass on an appropriate waiters tray just as the man reached where she stood.
"Good evening, my lady," he said with a shallow bow.
He had manners at least. Other than the fact he had been staring at her much more than was appropriate.
"Good evening," she replied, ice in her voice.
"I couldn't help but notice that you are the most beautiful woman here tonight," he said. "Your beauty is so striking that I nearly couldn't gather the courage to come and speak to you."
She wished he hadn't. The man's flattery of her wasn't making him any less distasteful.
"Thank you."
Talia really hoped that he would take the hint and leave her be. But the curt response didn't seem to deter him in the slightest. In fact it seemed to have the opposite effect.
"Oh, my manners. I seem to have skipped the important matter of introducing myself. I am Vlad Masters."
If her reactions were any less changed she would have done a double take. She knew that name and it changed everything. He was not just an ordinary man. For the name Vlad Masters had been appearing more and more in the magical community as a power to be reckoned with. He had magic coming from the Infinite Realms. A place that not even she and her father knew enough to harness that power.
Her night just got a lot more interesting. Because there was no way she was going to pass up an opportunity to try and learn more about this man and his power. Possibly even try to get him on her side.
So his interest in her may have its uses after all.
She shifted her expression slightly from fully annoyed to something that was starting to show a little interest in the man in front of her. It wouldn't do to just completely change at his name. That would arise too many suspicions in the man. If he had the intelligence to notice. She wasn't going to assume just because he had gained usage of great magic that he really knew that much about it.
"I am Talia al Ghul," she said.
It was as much a test as anything else. She wanted to know if he knew her name as well as she knew his.
Which it seemed to. There was the smallest widening of his eyes in surprise.
"I had no idea," he said. "I have heard stories of you, but none of them truly capture the magnificence that is you in person."
Oh he was going to play it that way? She could work with that.
"You flatter me," she said.
"Only with the truth."
The man was either a very good actor or he really was that enamored with her. Based on the looks he had been giving her even before Talia was pretty sure it was the latter. Vlad wore his emotions on his face. She would have to train that out of him if they were to work together later. And when had she started contemplating later? Maybe she wasn't as immune to his charms as she thought she was.
Vlad was getting into her head just by being near. His magic must be stronger than she thought. Or she was getting weaker.
"May I have this dance?" he asked with another shallow bow and outstretched hand.
She had somehow missed when the song had ended and switched to a new dance. This one was more modern than many of the other that had been played that night. And the people around the room were following it and doing a modern slow dance.
While Talia wanted to say no, she also did not want to be rude to Vlad. She couldn't risk the opportunity that she had.
So she took his hand.
"But of course."
Vlad led her to the dance floor and quickly settled them into the appropriate stance. His hand on her waist was warm enough for her to feel through the layers of fabric that made up her gown. Different than what she had expected but not all bad. Once in position they started to dance. He was a better dancer than she would have expected. Not as good as herself or her preferred partners but decent enough to not ruin the experience.
"So, what brings you to this part of the world?" Vlad asked her.
"I was invited to attend this ball," she said, daring to tell the truth.
Vlad gave her a skeptical look.
"Just to attend this ball? No other reason?"
"I chose to take some time for myself when I received this invitation. Meeting you here was merely a coincidence."
He shivered slightly at the chill in her voice. She did not take lightly to people doubting her. But the shiver didn't seem to be fear but anticipation. Interesting. Very interesting.
"It is a lovely ball," he said. "A worthy way to spend some time for yourself."
"It is turning out to be even more worth my time than I thought it would be."
He smiled slightly and she decided it suited his face. Better than the leers and fake smiles that he had been giving her. Though not as nice as the look of admiration.
"All because of me?'
Arrogant. But she would be lying if she said she didn't find some level of arrogance in her men. Because she had decided that would be the best way to get him on her side.
"Partly. I had been meaning to meet you at some point," she said. "But this is a much more lovely venue than I had expected as well."
Oh now that look of annoyance was delicious. She was going to have fun getting that look on his face as often as she could.
"So you do know who I am then."
A statement not a question.
The song came to an end and Talia led Vlad to the side of the room again. She did not want to finish the conversation on the dance floor. Because she had a plan.
"I do. As much as you know me."
She leaned in close to him.
"And I would like to know so much more. Which would be much better in private."
His pupils dilated and she knew just how the night would end. And that she was going to be the one coming out of it with the upper hand.