i feel the earth

the skies tumbling down

[ofmarkov]

A sip and then a CRINGE. The taste would never truly getting any better but the burn was familiar and familiar was better then nothing. Currently she lacked the latter more then the former. "I really hope that isn't judgement on your face." She spoke, automatically defensive. "It's not illegal." Well, besides the fact she didn't pay for it. Or that she had been drinking since far before she was legally allowed.

[thedetectiverobin]

@ofmarkov from here

He looked easy enough. Yes, as a mark but at the given moment that wasn't what she was using him for. Maybe that would come later, but right now Tara needed somehow to throw the hound off her trail. She needed to look like she blended in, not that she was the off-key in a tight crowd. The guy tailing her, she was almost certain he was a cop. So, she needed someone to ground her so he wouldn't make a shit move that would end his life and cover her hands in red. "Pretty sure that guy is stalking me." Somehow Tara doubted the kid would recognize an undercover cop, and if he did well-- appearances would be considered deceiving.

The moment he glanced over to the man she was talking about, Tim felt a small bit of confusion overcome him. He felt quick to believe the girl but he was pretty sure he knew that guy from his nights as Robin. Sure... Cops could be corrupt. Especially in Gotham, but he was about 70% sure that wasn't the case this time. Detective Alvarez was a decent guy. Even if he was a bit of a serial cheater, he didn't seem like the type to stalk. He didn't want this girl thinking he didn't believe her either. "How long has he been tailing you?" He questioned. Trying not to seem to suspicious as he spoke to her. Keeping his tone gentle. This could be a misunderstanding, maybe? "Keep your head down. We can duck out of the crowd and try and lose him."

[ofmarkov]

“A decent amount of time to be creeped out by it.” She paused, having banked on his instant belief but he appeared more keen then Tara had initially counted on. “Listen, maybe I’m paranoid but,” a glance backward and there the cop remained. Tara wondered if Slade did something to make her wanted by the GCPD. Of course Tara had committed her fair of crimes but you would need to legally in the system for any kind of warrant and somehow she doubted Gotham had access to anything from Markovia. Not there was much on her to begin with. She had been set for failure from the beginning anymore. Sometimes Tara thought about how she didn’t exist on paper, she tried not to think about it too much. She had enough baggage weighing her down she needn’t another. “It’s just freaky okay? I’m scared if I go alone anywhere he’ll make a move.” Which wasn’t untrue. She was scared. Though more of what she would do to him then what he would do to her. Then there it was, those same reasons she chose him as a mark in the first place shining through. “You’d do that?” She spoke faking awe and admiration. “Thank you so much.”

[thedetectiverobin]

“Quick, pretend to look like you’re talking to me.” || TARA MARKOV

"But I am talking to you now?" He said, sounding a little confused as the blonde bounded up to him. Tim glanced from her to around her. Trying to figure out who she was escaping talking to before setting his sights only on her. "Are you okay? Is there a reason we're pretending to talk?" He asked her.If she was in trouble, then he was happy to get involved.

[ofmarkov]

He looked easy enough. Yes, as a mark but at the given moment that wasn't what she was using him for. Maybe that would come later, but right now Tara needed somehow to throw the hound off her trail. She needed to look like she blended in, not that she was the off-key in a tight crowd. The guy tailing her, she was almost certain he was a cop. So, she needed someone to ground her so he wouldn't make a shit move that would end his life and cover her hands in red. "Pretty sure that guy is stalking me." Somehow Tara doubted the kid would recognize an undercover cop, and if he did well-- appearances would be considered deceiving.

[ofmarkov]

@jestergirls

Ecco paused as she brought the glass up to her lips, and lowered it again. She turned to look at the young women, whom she recalled meeting at the Mayor's party. "You did?" she asked softly. She put the glass down on the bar, and felt a rush of cold and controlled anger. "Which guy?"

Echo. Tara was somewhat surprised at herself for even recalling the name as she did. She couldn't say what, but something about the blond had struck a cord with her. Enough so to speak up when she saw something troubling going on. "Back right corner." Tara told her. "His hat is weird. Can't miss him."

[jestergirls]

The other woman said that these people didn't want to pay for expensive wine, and Ecco laughed softly. "You're right, they don't." She had attended enough of these sorts of functions of Jeremiah's behalf to know that was true. Ply people with the nicest cheap wine you can buy, and they'll be happy. She took another sip.

She introduced herself, and the woman -- Tara -- gave her name. Ecco noticed, like her, she had only given a first name. Then the conversation moved to Jeremiah, and Ecco turned to look at him across the room.

Was Jeremiah a good boss? It was a fair question. Before he had changed, she would have said yes without a second thought. He had been kind. Gentle. But now? After a few seconds, she said, "He's better than most." It was all she could think to say. Suddenly, she changed the topic. "You just moved here? What brought you to Gotham?"

[ofmarkov]

.

Better then most. Tara mused the words. Briefly she wondered what she would have said, if someone had asked her that same question once upon a time when she'd been a piece in someone else's chess board. Then again, back then she thought she was the Queen. The most powerful piece, the one who should have been protected. Turns out, the truth was that Tara was nothing more then a pawn. "That's not much of a glowing endorsement." She noted duly, and took a sip of her wine that tasted less then stellar.

"Probably the same thing that brings most here," A death wish, maybe. Or maybe the want to live in a place that was constantly changing, that wasn't boring, that wasn't the same brick wall staring back at her for hours. "Morbid curiosity." Tara said, and though it wasn't a lie it was far from the whole truth. "And I'm guessing you came here for work?" The word was in tune with a inclination to where Ecco's eyes had previously gone to her boss.

[from-starbolts]

"I have definitely tasted better fermentations," Koriand'r agreed and set the glass of cheap red wine down on the nearest surface. She and Tara had an interesting relationship—Tara had betrayed her team and almost killed them all, but Kori blamed that all on Slade and decided that everyone deserves a second chance. She was still a little wary of the girl, though, because she wasn't stupid. "I am surprised to see you here, Tara. If I recall correctly, this is not exactly your 'scene'."

[ofmarkov]

There was a churning in her stomach from the sight of Koriand'r. The plan had been simple. Tara's mission had been simple. Infiltrate the Teen Titans and then watch them burn. Well, help them burn. Slade had been her savior, she had owed him many things and she hadn't thought twice about it. Yet, Tara couldn't deny being among them, being one of them, had changed her. In ways she had never conceived. It left her with the deep urge to FLEE. Whether it was from Koriand'r herself, or the guilt of what she'd done to her and the Titans, Tara couldn't say. Among the Titans, the woman before her had shown the brightest in kindness. She was the least likely to look for a fight, not unless Tara started one. "My scene," She echoed Kori's words. "Tell me-- what would that look like? Not enough skeletons here I'm guessing?" Tara couldn't help it. Biting and barking came as natural to air to her.

[cassiesandsmark-wondergirl]

“The wine?” cassie asked curiously. “I mean I can’t really argue that, I’m technically not old enough to drink at this party.” she shrugged. “But it can’t be that bad, that lady over there is on her third glass.” she said nodding over to the dark haired girl who’s lips were stained red from the liquid. 

[ofmarkov]

tara quirked an eyebrow at the girl's admission. "technically, you said?" a tilt of her head. "you know you can. i don't judge." briefly she wondered if this counted as peer pressure. then again they weren't peers and tara didn't care one way or another. glancing at the woman cassie had mentioned, tara remarked. "some how i don't think she cares about the taste. just that it goes down her throat."

[jestergirls]

Ecco had always been good at reading people, but working with Jeremiah -- after finally meeting him in person -- meant that she was especially talented at spotting someone anxious. The girl standing by herself, sipping red wine, was obviously uncomfortable. When she commented on the taste, Ecco replied.

"Yes, isn't it? I've been to lots of these events, but the wine is always awful." She swirled her own glass in one hand, before holding her free hand out for the girl to shake. "Ecco. I work for Mr. Wilde." She nodded her head towards where Jeremiah was standing, conversing with someone. It was still strange to see him above ground, talking to other people.

[ofmarkov]

Company. Tara wasn't sure what to do with that. Then again, all things considered, she was still not even sure what she was doing HERE. It probably would have been easier to stay hidden, if she was really desperate for information she could have planted a bug or something but-. But here she was. She made a choice, even if she wasn't quite sure why.

"That makes sense. These types never want to go all out for the wine." Though they were plenty of good at the other version of the word, whining and whining all they wanted. If they wanted to live better lives they needed to move, not whine about it. "Tara. I... just moved here." It was close enough to the truth. She pursed her lips, mind striking into familiar memory she didn't want to think about. "He's a good boss?" She asked.

[ofmarkov]

These events unnerved her. All these people so loud, all over each other, fake laughter filling the air. Tara didn’t trust it. It left her with the need to be on guard, as if they were soon to be attacked quite easily. Less ‘they’ more she. There was little else she cared about after all. She regretted coming out, but all the same she couldn’t allow herself to be unaware of what occurred in the city. Being clueless wasn’t something Tara could ever allow herself to be again. Taking a sip of red wine her face quickly churned. “This is awful.” She remarked.