RP With Oswald Cobblepot

[dawn_is_breaking]

To say that things work differently in Gotham is a bit of an understatement, that's not to say that Dawn can't handle it but it certainly took a little getting used to when she first moved here. Especially when she learned that the new mayor, one Oswald Cobblepot, used to be a criminal king pin and killer. The press seems to heavily emphasize the phrase "used to be" but as she heads into her meeting with him she has to wonder, old habits are hard to break and all that.

She enters the large and lavish office; a petite sized woman who is built like a music box ballerina, with hair so pale it almost looks white and deep brown eyes that meet Oswald's immediately with no hint of fear or nervousness.

"Mayor Cobblepot." She says with a polite yet genuine smile, "Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet me. I'm Dawn Granger."

Comments

[hobblepot]

[Irritable is how he’s feeling when his receptionist reminds him of his nine o'clock appointment, buzzing one Ms. Granger in before he has had the chance to finish wincing his way through a cup of black coffee. His knee is already bouncing under his desk - something he only notices and consciously stops when she steps into his office. He sets aside a thin stack of proposals and slides his pen into a stand, greeting her with the smile he reserves for charity balls and ceremonies and every other wearisome social function packing his calendar. ]

Ah, Ms. Dawn Granger. [It’s a name he has had his best men dig around for, and one that turned up nothing of value, thwarting his efforts to arm himself in advance.

Standing, he leans across his desk and offers a strong, fine-boned hand.]

Always willing to make time for the good people of Gotham, newcomers or otherwise.

[He then gestures to a chair across his desk, nodding over her shoulder at a burly gentleman who was clearly not hired for his social skills. The man takes his cue to exit.] 

Please.

[He can respect the easy confidence with which she holds his gaze, if nothing else; she's a far cry from his staff, many of whom squirm and hide behind the clipboards they hug to their chests, looking everywhere but at his face. Of course, first impressions can be deceiving - and it's with vague curiosity that he waits to hear whatever plea she has come to him with. Maybe she'd at least phrase it in a semi-interesting way.]

[dawn_is_breaking]

[Dawn grew up in high society so the smile Oswald gives her is very familiar, it's a 'charity' smile but she takes no offence to it and when he offers her his hand she accepts it, giving it a gentle shake before sitting down in the seat he gestures to.]

Willing to make time so I'll do you the courtesy of not wasting yours, I'll jump right in.

I'm here because I'm running into an issue with a particular piece of Gotham real estate. [She goes into her purse and pulls out a few documents which she lays on his desk.]

I plan on opening a women's shelter but every real estate agent I've dealt with has heavily suggested I look elsewhere since the building I want is apparently being used for....'other' business.

it WAS a larger tag, then I decided not everything needed to be there rn - BUT I can add if you want

[hobblepot]

[Fingers laced over his desk, he breaks eye contact only to spare a glance at the papers she lays out. The address on the property listing is instantly recognizable: 266 Richmond Street West, the decrepit haunt of strung-out pimps and low-tier drug peddlers with no interest in rehab programs or incentives.]

A noble endeavour. [There’s a slight uptick to his otherwise cool, static smile.] And what would amount to the first shelter of its kind in Gotham, if I am not mistaken.

Hahaha nah this is great as is <33

[dawn_is_breaking]

Correct.
Which is one of the reasons why I thought you might be interested in helping me secure the location.

If this is going to be the very first women's shelter in Gotham then it goes without saying that there will be a certain amount press surrounding it.

[She leans back in her seat, watching him calmly.]

a billion days late and several dollars short

[hobblepot]

[He snorts softly and cants his head, slanting her a pointed, condescending look as if he’s about to explain a simple concept to a child. The opportunist in him didn’t need her to point out the obvious – and she seems almost smug to him, now, as if her doing so was a clever play. At a glance, backing a woman’s shelter is an excellent PR move and another step towards securing his legacy as a great man and greater mayor. But he’s not in a rush, much less when he’s adamant on finding information about the person behind the project.]

Like you, Ms. Granger, I believe that all citizens of this city deserve to feel safe, especially the most vulnerable among us; you can rest assured that I remain fiercely committed to fulfilling the promises that drove my campaign. But what you are asking, respectable as it is, is not something that can be accomplished overnight, so to speak. [He gestures to a heap of paperwork he was skimming through prior to her arrival.] There are many issues deserving my consideration, and they must each be investigated and triaged accordingly.

<33

[dawn_is_breaking]

The crime rate in Gotham has gone down significantly since you became mayor which is something of a miracle, so you'll excuse me if I don't believe you when you say you can't make things happen overnight.

[She points out and then motions to the documents she handed him.]

But I understand the need for investigation and information, there's a copy of the proposal in that folder for you but since I'm the one heading it I'm sure you'll want information on me that your personnel couldn't find.

[A bold statement but she knows he's had his people look into her before this meeting, he'd be stupid not to and she can see a fierce type of intelligence in his eyes.]

So, here's your chance.
Ask me anything.