12871/Near Misses

Near Misses
Date of Scene:	23 September 2022
Location:	Columbia University, 2012
Synopsis:	In 2012, a chance at a connection was missed as Skye and Matt's timing didn't work out when she left the orphanage and he was in college.
Cast of Characters:	Matthew Murdock, Daisy Johnson

---

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Columbia University, in the year 2012...

"You're not planning to wear -that- are you?" Foggy Nelson asks, injecting enough extra into his tone to leave Matt Murdock unsure if his roommate is serious or is just having fun with him.

Turning from her he's buttoning his shirt in front of the closet, Matt faces Foggy and holds out his arms slightly. "What, it looks fine to me?" he replies.

"Blind guy humor. Always a hit with the girls. Keep that up and you'll do great tonight," Foggy replies to Matt.

Crossing over to where his wallet, keys, phone and other items are set, Matt says, "Yeah, about that Foggy. I appreciate you setting me up, but maybe this isn't the right time for me?" he says as he slips the personal items into his pockets.

Foggy moves over to clasp Matt on the shoulder. "You've sulked about Greek girl for too long. And Maria thinks you're cute. And her roommate thinks -I'm- cute. It's like it was meant to be. What do you call it when it adds up to more than the individual pieces?"

Matt lets out a soft sigh. "Synergy. You sure we could do somewhere more quiet? Pizza parlor maybe? I'm not a big fan of that particular fraternity."

Foggy Nelson shakes his head back to Matt, but knows his friend well enough to know he has to verbalize it too. "Nah, this is where Belinda and Maria wanted to go. Anyway you look great, this will turn out well."

Matt gives a resigned sigh. "Alright. Let's go pick them up."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"Are you going to only take that?" Sister Maggie's voice, echoing in the hallways near the dorms where Skye was preparing her Great Escape. So much for all that investment in stealth, youtube lied to her. Or maybe Sister Maggie is just that good. Skye lets out a deep sigh and turns to face the Sister.

She had always been that Sister who understood her in a way and even if she was severe she was never unkind. "I don't think I am missing anything..." her old jacket, backpack. Wallet with some money she's been scrounging from some odd jobs computer-related.

Sister Maggie approaches and gets a beanie hat on Skye's head, "You were leaving without your favorite. And it's cold these nights.." Skye opens her mouth to lie. To perhaps tell the sister that she is only going out, not leaving definitely. The Sister only smiles. "I know you'd be gone when you turned 18. This world is too small for you. It was just enough for me but you are going to fly. Go on ..., and if you ever need a place to come to you know the doors will always be open.."

---

Skye comes out to the streets. She was out by herself at last. A terrifying thought but also thrilling. She -could- just go and wander by herself but .., she's had unfinished business with an old friend. Or perhaps 'business' that never fully started. Regardless, she found her steps leading her to Columbia University. She knew Matt was attending. At least she hoped he still was. And where best to search but the boy's dorm.

Because really, it's not hard to find out info on where a Matt Murdock, blink man, has a room at in uni.

She gets to the dorms, then info about the room. Of course that no one opens the door but what's a door for someone like Skye?

A couple minutes later and she has lockpicked past the lock and nimbly makes her way in. She could wait inside, make it a surprise. A 'Hey, guess what I am out!'. Yes, that's a great idea for her 18 year-old brain. At least until she finds that flyer about the party. It's not that far from here...

And so a new plan forms.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Unaware that he and Foggy's room is even now being broken into by someone he hasn't seen in quite awhile, Matt Murdock walks down the street, tapping his cane back and forth. The joke about being Maria's literal blind date had gone over well. Now she walks at his side, engaging in small talk, while Foggy and Belinda are several steps ahead, talking louder and in Foggy's case, more animatedly as if to keep Belinda's attention.

"Well, we figure we can maybe do a lot of good as lawyers," Matt says in finish to Maria's question. "You know, fight the system from the inside. Make sure that people are looked out for."

Maria lets out a laugh which Matt finds to be just a bit piercing. "They can make a pretty good living too," she says.

"Well, yes, that too," Matt agrees, swallowing down the sigh that he wants to give.

Up ahead the sounds of music and voices can be heard, first by Matt and later by the other three as they draw nearer to Kappa Phi Kappa. The large fraternity house has a porch with columns, is three stories tall with a number of balconies that have people out on them drinking.

"Here we are, my lady," Foggy says to Belinda. "One roaring frat party, as promised!" The foursome walk up to the door, Matt stowing his cane as Maria takes his arm to help direct him. After the entryway the crowds start. There is more than one room on the ground floor, each with it's own bar. One has dancing going on, others have games like beer pong or quarters going on. There's loud music and people yelling in each other's ears to be heard. "Wonderful," Matt says with a forced smile that he turns towards Maria as they head in.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Skye slips out of the place and again her stealth fails her. "Hey, girls aren't allowed in these dorms.." the guy from the door in front of them quirking a brow. Skye opens her mouth to say something, closes it. "Uh, I was looking for Matthew. I mean, Matt. I know him, we are sort of a thing..." yep, digging her hole right there. Doesn't help that her cheeks feel like they are burning too. About being caught or because she's talking about Matt in a 'we are together' sort of way. It had never been a thing in the past. Or had it?

"Really? Sometimes I don't know what girls see in him..." maybe the guy is still frustrated about that time he was going out with Greek Girl. Because -that- girl looked hot. "Yea, I think they went to some party.." there! Now Skye is certain on where he went!

And off she goes, out the dorms and towards the party. She still holds the flyer which she uses to check the address and begin her way over. It sort of starts to dawn on her that she has never been in a college party. Well, how different will they be from the parties they did at the orphanage, right?

Turns out there's a lot of a difference because she can already hear the loud music and she isn't even that close to it just yet. But getting close! Why are her hands sweating though?

Matthew Murdock has posed:
The toughest thing for Matt was learning how to focus out the cacophony of sounds and other stimuli that he's often faced with on a regular basis. To just let through the one that he's interested in.

This party definitely makes for good practice there. The bass from the music is pounding so that everyone else can feel every beat. Which makes it even worse for Matt's sensitive hearing.

"What's that!?" Maria yells into his ear, leaning over close with a hand on his shoulder.

"Was just saying it's at least pretty good beer," he says, holding up his red Solo cup and taking a sip from it. Maria nods, which Matt realizes but plays dumb since blind people aren't supposed to be able to tell.

Matt can also tell when Foggy and Belinda keep glancing over to see how he and Maria are getting along. Sometimes injecting comments to try to make sure they keep talking. Not that that had been a problem. Maria has turned out to be quite fond of sharing her thoughts. All of her thoughts. Important ones. Trivial ones.

REALLY trivial ones.

"So I try to get home at least every other week," she yells to Matt, continuing her previous story. "I let my parents think it's to see them but really it's just to see my cat. Did you have any pets?" she calls into his ear.

"No, never really been a cat person. I can't imagine myself ever having one unfortunately. Sinuses and all, the pet hair you understand," Matt calls back to her, loud enough she'll be able to hear him.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Woah, this is wild.

That's Skye's first thoughts when she is getting into that party. Not that she is really dressed for it in her old sweater, the jacket. The jeans that are ripped in some parts (and not because it's the style now). Beanie hat in her head and even a backpack. She looks like she's leaning towards a punk look which .., turns out it might just be perfect for the party. At least considering how a visibly drunken guy approaches right as she is walking up the stairs..

"Hey, got a date?" burp. And ugh, she smells the alcohol from a distance. She just takes a step to the side, rolling her eyes as the guy just stumbles out to the garden, murmuring about cold bitches.

Hands rub together and she is -in-. Now this was sort of easy... And so she starts looking around, peeking here. Peeking there.

Another peek to the drinks area and she goes over to get some ponch. At least she thinks it's ponch. The red drink. She nearly spits it all out because it's not ponch but wine instead. Someone snickers nearby..

There goes her reputation. But then again she's always been a nerd. What reputation, eh?

Matthew Murdock has posed:
The party is about what you expect. Students celebrating their youth, that age of being an adult enough to do what they want to a large degree, but not yet worn down by the life out there that is waiting for them. People are talking, hooking up. A frat brother leads a girl upstairs by the hand while her friend frantically tries to hand signal her that she's making a mistake. The crowd erupts as a tough shot is made at beer pong.

"Your wish is my command!" a male student with slightly unkempt blondish hair calls back to someone, walking backwards and bumping right into Skye!

Foggy turns around, reaching out to grasp Skye's shoulders as if to right her so she doesn't fall. "So sorry about that. Entirely my fault," he tells her. He's slurring his words just a tiny bit. "Watch out for the wine, think they add extra alcohol. Because in ten thousand years man hasn't figured out how to make wine yet, right?"

He wanders on, off to get whatever for Belinda.

Out on the dance floor, Matt is standing with Maria and feeling just a little awkward. "I'm ok with the standing and wiggling part, but can't really see what's going on around me," he calls into her ear after she coerced him onto the dance floor.

"Oh, that's fine," Maria tells him, and she presses in close against Matt, leaving very little of her body that isn't pressed against him. "You can just stay close to me," she says, running a hand over his shoulder and then down his back. Surprised at the musculature she feels, his clothing not really doing a lot to accentuate it.

Matt keeps his face composed and neutral, though the extremely talkative coed hasn't really drawn his fancy today. He dances with her though, being a good wingman for Foggy. Maria seems to be having a good time though, leaning her head in under Matt's jaw to press a few kisses there.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Skye is still in recovery mode from that wine and it's probably good that Foggy is a good guy with good reflexes that stops her from just toppling over to the floor. She finds her balance at last and then chuckles. "Tell me about it..." she eyes the glass and puts it aside. "Sounds like more pure alcohol with a little color added in.."

She watches Foggy walk away with a faint smile. Now there's a nice guy. Hands brush against her jeans in that way she always does when she is nervous and murmurs to herself. "Alright, Skye." her eyes looking over Foggy's shoulder and to the dance floor. "He should be here.."

And that's right when she finds him. With an extra appendix apparently? With that appendix being a coed full on glued to him. Probably good she doesn't have that glass of wine in her hand anymore..

"Oh.." She stumbles a bit, in surprise perhaps and knocks the glass right over. So much for that. It smashes on the ground, the sound of it breaking heard. Some people look her way. "Sorry, sorry.." she murmurs, starting on her way out.

What was Skye thinking coming here? Matt has his life now, why would he want to meet with some orphan from his past? It's with that in mind that she starts walking away to the door.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Matt Murdock does his best to gently discourage the necking. He had never really sorted out his love life after things had gone as poorly with Elektra as they had. Most college students don't have relationships fall out over killing other people. Or lack there of. It had let Matt with a wound that was still healing. She'd affected him more than anyone else since-

The sound of glass shattering is one of those sounds that Matt notices even when he's trying to mentally filter out a loud crowd. Without thinking, he focuses his attention that way, making sure no one is hurt. And then he hears something familiar. The voice. That way of doubly apologizing.

"Skye?" he says aloud.

"Mmmm, whazhat?" Maria asks, lifting her head from where it was nuzzling against the whiskers on Matt's chin.

"Excuse me, think I hear someone," he says. Maria doesn't let go though as Matt tries to step away. It adds a few seconds more before he's able to gently lift her hands from him.

Turning, he tries to make his way through the crowd. There's so many sounds and the place reeks of alcohol, and bodies sweaty from dancing. The heat given off makes it difficult for him to make out details farther away than those right beside him. "Skye!?" he calls out softly, finally starting to push his way through the dancers.

He hits the four steps that lead down from the entryway into the sunken room where the dance floor is. Head turning about, listening, smelling. A faint scent, and then gone again as people passing back and forth stir the air.

"Skye?"

Daisy Johnson has posed:
The party turns into a jungle for those with sharper senses. The laughing, the drinking. All the conversations and people together create a navigational hazard to anyone that is trying to pinpoint a single person in there. Of course that there are signs of Skye's passage. Near the drinks area and even where Foggy is right now. As if she had been close to him. But no, not there anymore...

The young woman steps down the steps leading outside. It feels chillier tonight than she thought it would. And what was she thinking anyway? She had thought it would be like in those cheesy movies they liked watching in the orphanage. That big meeting and then who knows...?

You are such a fool, Skye.

Hands go up to get that beanie hat tighter on her head and then she is walking away, hands inside her pockets.

She should had known fairy tales only happen to other people. She needed to make her own way. Matt was already happy here.