12763/Three for lunch

Three for lunch
Date of Scene:	12 September 2022
Location:	Ramen Empire
Synopsis:	June and Elektra have ramen and an unexpected guest.
Cast of Characters:	June Connor, Elektra Natchios, Natasha Cranston

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June Connor has posed:
    "You know," June comments as she steps through the door to the Ramen Empire, "It wouldn't kill you to smile in a way that wasn't a smug grin occasionally. I know you gotta keep up your badass assassin vibe, but seriuosly? It's kinda grating." She wears very typical June attire, a Ramones T-shirt that was probably found at goodwill, and black jeans that have more holes than jeans to them.

    "So this place is just what you need. "It's got all the japanese shit and you can feel elite and stuff, and a good simple menu so you don't gotta think too hard on what you wanna eat." She gives a presenting hand at the cheaply constructed decor. Clearly she has an eye for...art?

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The two of them couldn't be more different for if June has that whole punk attitude (and attire to match), Elektra just seems to scream money, even when trying to downplay her clothing. A pair of leather pants. A nice sweater. Hair so neatly combed until it was perfectly straight and then up on a warrior's knot. And then she offers June that exact smug grin. "Whatever do you mean by it?"

Yet it's almost as if she was (gasp) joking!

The two make their way in and Elektra cases the place with her eyes. Looking over each person inside, the exits, the entrances. All those normal things that an elite assassin does, "I could tell you what I need, but I feel this would only bring about another discussion..." maybe because of the latest stuff she pulled out with the Shadow?

"So some ramen will do well." She does smile at June though and then gestures for some seats. "Why don't you choose for us today, mmm?" see? putting some responsibility on her apprentice. Baby steps.

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    "Sorry I'm late!" comes a cheerful call as the door opens behind them, and a moment later its owner - a young woman in her early twenties with blue-dyed hair wearing jogging pants - joins them in their booth.

    "Practice ran late, traffic was busy, you know how it goes..." she continues conversationally as she reaches for a menu.

June Connor has posed:
    "That!" June points at the smug grin accusingly. "Fucking..." she points a few more times as if she's going to come up with a soliloquy regarding the smile. "...That." Very nicely put.

    "Yeah they don't got waiters here," as if that wasn't obvious. She steps up to the counter, "Hey can we get a couple of the chicken ramen?" she asks, not bothering to articulate the full title. There's only one thing with chicken in the name on the sparse menu.

    She slides back into the booth across from Elektra. "Don't worry, it's pretty fire," she assures. And then arrives...wait, who just arrived?

    She looks at the new arrival sits next to Elektra across from her. "Uh..." June has the response that probably most people would have in this situation. A little dumbfounded regarding what is happening. "Babe I think you got mixed up. We don't know you." She looks at Elektra. "I don't know you at least," she says, seeming to expect that perhaps this is another training...something that Elektra has planned. Why does this girl look familiar? She glances over her again, that wrinkle in her expression one that says she's trying to place the face...

Elektra Natchios has posed:
No waiters but it's not as if Elektra makes the effort to go ask for food. Maybe *that* was the plan when she told June to pick for her. Perhaps she couldn't bear standing in line, "Fire..?" she arches a brow in light amusement and is going to talk again until that newcomer just sits and join them.

Elektra considers the situation. There is no way this woman confused them with some other people and as far as crazies go it didn't seem as if this is someone out of their mind. No, it's someone with a mission. A brief look over tells Elektra there aren't any weapons easy to reach on this 'Jenny' so whatever this may be doesn't seem as if it's an attack. Or at least not yet.

"As my daughter says..." Daughter? Slip of the tongue or Elektra trying to keep up a disguise, " ... I do not believe we have met. I am sure I would had remembered. Yet perhaps if you give us a name if might jolt our memories?" ever the socialite. No need to bring out the knives. Yet.

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    The girl makes a little moue with her mouth at June's comment. "Aw, don't tell me you've forgotten already?" She asks, the words entirely off-kilter with the cheerful tone of her voice. She lowers the menu again to give Elektra a smile. "You did say we needed to talk, after all..." she comments, cryptically, then turns to look June directly in the eye.

    "And besides..." she continues, and something in the tone of her voice and expression and body language just shifts between one word and the next and despite the hair and the fact that she looks almost a decade too young she's suddenly very familiar...

"... I did say we'd do lunch."

June Connor has posed:
    June's confusion isn't quite as assessing as Elektra as she confirms that she doesn't know this new arrival either. However, the comment puts it all together. "Fuck me with a rusty knife," she growls, and then her growl turns to her own smile. "You played up so smart, you don't even know who you're sittin' next to," she says, thinking that the Shadow has just made a critical mistake. "Someone get this bitch a shot and a sign. You think you're safe here because it's broad daylight or sumtin?" She glances over to Elektra for confirmation of her response.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra certainly remembered the last time she had said about meeting up with someone. Right when she had been doing a job for the hellfire getting rid of some vampires and came across the Shadow. And then there it is. Again that smug grin.

"I was wondering how long it was going to take until you came meet us." She says in that kind of manner that she sounds so nice and diplomatic. Because she is! (When she wants to).

"I do not believe there's a need for us to continue with our threats." This said to June, "For our friend did come here to talk, didn't she?" the last question spoken to 'Jenny'.

"My daughter suggests the chicken ramen." she then adds as an afterthought.

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    Natasha seems unperturbed by June's outburst. "Oh, I don't think. I know. As you pointed out in our last dicussion, that is how my reputation works, isn't it?"
        She nods at Elektra. "It seemed like the least I could do after the lengths your... daughter... went to to get my attention," she replies.

    She gives June another sunny smile. "I admit, it was something of a surprise to learn who your... mother... was, but since I already needed to speak with her as well it counted as a happy coincidence."

    She turns to Elektra again after the woman's remark. "And you trust her judgment? Fair enough, then so will I. Three chicken ramen, please," she asks the waitress, then turns back to the others. "Well. You wanted my attention; you have it. You wished to talk... Speak."

June Connor has posed:
    June looks at Elektra. She looks at Natasha. She looks at Elektra. Clearly there's much happening that she knows about. "Dammit," she huffs as the ramen is placed on the table. She doesn't look up at the young man who delivered it, she just pulls her bowl in front of her. She ignores the chopsticks in favor of the cheap metal fork, and stabs the mixture, twirling it in frustration. "Can we not use that 'mother-daughter' trope here?" she asks with exasperation. She can already tell this won't be her favorite conversation.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Urgh, metal forks with ramen. Elektra picks up the chopsticks, taking a moment to swirl them within the bowl. "She has her moments." It's what Elektra replies to first. About June's judgement of course. And also spoken as if she wasn't right there sitting at the same table. "We can all but try to show her the way." she exhales in that kind of way that it doesn't seem like an easy path.

Besides, she is being remembered again of that move of trying to blackmail the Shadow. So ..., June gets what she deserves! Sorta...

"It is true that we have figured out who you are, Natasha." A faint smile to the assassin's lips. "Our paths have crossed quite a few times in the past and I have always seen you work alone." a glance to June, "Perhaps with good reason.." a beat, "But I believe it's time that changed. What do you know about the Defenders?"

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    "I suppose 'teacher/student' might be used instead, but you may need to put a bit more effort into learning," Natasha replies to June. Clearly the young woman isn't going to be let off terribly easily today.

    She turns back to Elektra, her eyes turning coolly calculating. "Quite a bit. I take it from your question that you're one of their anonymous benefactors I hadn't been able to backtrace?"

June Connor has posed:
    Wasn't this supposed to be alow pressure lunch? June stuffs a fork full of ramen into her mouth, a great strategy to avoid having to speak. With all the table manners of a goat, she pulls the noodles up to her mouth rather than biting them off to chew like a civilized person, and makes her small. It's remarkable how adept she is at ninja principles like lack of presence when she really wants to avoid something. As long as Elektra and Natasha want to talk about superheroes, June can just...look at the door. Is there even a remote chance that she could slip out without Elektra noticing?

Elektra Natchios has posed:
June should know by now that Elektra has that sixth sense about those things. Like when people think they can pull one on her. So when June is looking to the door? She will be able to feel those intense eyes on her. Watching. Almost as if daring her to try it. Oh yes, Elektra is on to her. "I would advise you to participate on this, June. Could we begin with an apology, perhaps?" she suggests to her pupil.

Then back to Natasha, she offering the other woman a nod, "Maybe I am." her lips quirking with some amusement. Daredevil would certainly be amused at having her be called a benefactor of the Defenders. She had been many things to them after all. Rival, ally, enemy. It was always complicated where it came to Daredevil and Elektra. "You operate on the same grounds they do and right now? They are looking for those who may join them in their fight against their various enemies. You have had encounters with the Hand before. That's just one of their enemies.."

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    "Is that why you chose to take a would-be Finger under your wing?" Natasha asks, expertly twirling some noodles around her chopsticks and transferring them to her mouth with a minimum of noise and mess.

    "You're correct about one thing, though," she continues after swallowing. "The Hand isn't their only enemy. Or even their biggest. I've been following some leads, and the patterns suggest at least four more players, two of which don't realize that the third is pulling both their strings to maneuver them against the fourth..."

    And then the waiter arrives to take drink orders, and in the space it takes her to turn to face him her expression melts back into the cheerful young woman that has no bigger care in the world than her need for a refill of her green tea, please...

June Connor has posed:
    June pauses, her green eyes shifting back to Elektra when her name is spoken. Noodles haven't stopped a steady path into her mouth. Slurp. "I'm sorry. Apology?" she asks. "For what?" Certainly not for trying to blackmail her, that was a perfectly reasonable course of action.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"One of the various reasons." Elektra says about on why she took June as an apprentice. It doesn't seem to be a matter she will be delving much on. She listens and nods sharply when Natasha speaks of those other threats, "Which is why I believe it would do well for you to meet with them, and perhaps join their group."

And with June really not wanting to go with the apology it seems to get Elektra to just stare at her a second. Then a faint smile to her lips. Had she expected that exact response out of her apprentice? She does know her for a good long while now after all.

"As you can see, my student still has much to learn." She states. "Your secret will stay safe with us." she tells Natasha, "That I can guarantee you. Yet ..., it would certainly honor me and our association to be, if you could offer some of your teachings to her." a glance to June. "She could benefit from a fresh perspective."

That's what you get for being contrary, June!

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    "I prefer to work alone," Natasha replies. "... But you may have a point. I'll have to pay them a visit."

    She turns an almost innocuous smile at Elektra. "Would you be so kind as to let them know to expect me? A lot of people tend to react... Badly, when I drop in unannounced."

    At Elektra's request she turns to look at June with a more critical eye. "How much I'd be able to teach her depends a great deal on how willing she is to learn."

    Her eyes narrow, seeming to look straight through the younger woman. "... I have my doubts in that regard."

June Connor has posed:
    June's face pales when Elektra suggests Natasha train her. "The fuuuuuuck?" she moans. "I'm not some vigilante-superhero-bullshit-motherfurrrrr-" she trails off, knowing that her rage probably won't do her any good. Look, she stopped! It's sort of like learning.

    "Whose side you on anyway?" she asks Elektra with the protesting tone that only an adolescent can usually pull off. June seems to have retained the skill a bit longer than most. She looks back at Natasha, "See, don't even think I can do it," she folds her arms, as if somehow this makes Natasha now her ally? Don't ask for complex reason regarding her change in perspective on what Natasha says, she's flying more by the seat of her pants than usual.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"I can do so." Elektra tells Natasha, "Drop by Luke's bar, it's usually a good spot for a meet-up." she then suggests with a small nod of her head.

As for June's outburst? It goes mostly ignored by Elektra, "She is a willing student, and smart. Smarter than perhaps she gives herself credit for. Yet no harm done if she proves herself not good enough to learn from you..." there, a little poke on the ego to see if June just goes for it to be contrary. Reverse psychology!

"Just trying will be more than enough." And finally a look to June, "How is your ramen?"

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    "My lack of confidence isn't in your ability, but in your willingness, Natasha replies coolly. "You lack patience and discipline even within yourself, you let resentment and stubborn and misplaced pride overrule your better judgement, and when you're given sound advice from people you know are more experienced than you you'll do the opposite just to be contrarian."

    "If I had to guess I'd say I'm not the first would-be teacher who has pointed this out to you."A very, very thin smile. "If I had to guess."

June Connor has posed:
    June chews the inside of her cheek with a deadpan and her head hung forward non-commitally. It's like she's trying to decide whether punching Natasha will get her closer to her goal of getting out of this situation. Her eyes shift to Elektra. That's a no. Hard no. She shifts back to Natasha, then drops her attention to her ramen, forking another load of noodles up to her mouth, allowing a "Whatever," to escape her lips just before the food enters.

    "Itsh fire," she says around the noodles that hang from her teeth. "Jusht. Fire."