14003/A Little Fun Never Harlemed Anyone

A Little Fun Never Harlemed Anyone
Date of Scene:	30 January 2023
Location:	Harlem
Synopsis:	Jessica watches Jason in action, and bums a ride.
Cast of Characters:	Jason Todd, Jessica Jones

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Jason Todd has posed:
Drugs. They're just as big a problem today as they were ten, twenty, even thirty years ago. In many ways the drug regime is worse today given the unending supply of new drugs that bring bigger highs and more deaths.

Red Hood has been tracking a new party drug that promises far more than the death it usually delivers. The trail leads to a dealer known as The Swede who seems to have made his distribution point in Hell's Kitchen. The run down brownstone has several men lingering outside, trying to come off like they're just loitering and failing to those who know what to look for. They're watching the building with intent to keep anyone from coming close to it.

In upstairs windows, heads show up randomly, looking outside to check on the area as well.

In the back is a small panel van backed up to the single car garage. The sounds of movement, of quiet conversation can be heard as some of The Swede's men are unloading product.

Jessica Jones has posed:
Janie was an aspiring actress while studying costume design at FIT. New York City was the perfect place for her to hone her craft, both of them, really. A sweet girl from the Midwest with a great eye for design, and knowing just the right way to complement herself. The acting she was not quite as good at, but she would have been content to be in the orbit of Hollywood or Broadway designing dresses. Until she talked to a guy who said that all she had to do was relax, and let the acting come naturally. Three weeks later she was a very convincing corpse in the East River. Whatever party drug had gotten into her system, it was a rapid descent, and one which her parents were unable to stop from afar. But they would be damned if any other kid would fall victim to it.

Enter Jessica Jones. She knew that this shit happened all the time, and if she stopped to try to stop every sob story she would never have any peace. Not that she had much to begin with. But when Janie's parents offered her $15k to find the source of the drugs that killed their daughter, it suddenly became a very interesting case to her. And so now she was perched on a fire escape, snapping photos of the base of operations for the Swede. That was her purpose, to document and provide the evidence to the police. Sure, she could go in there and try to bust some heads, but she wasn't being paid for that. And what kind of idiot runs into a drug warehouse to try to take them out themselves?

Jason Todd has posed:
What kind of idiot indeed.

It comes as a quiet rumble at first, the sound taking some effort to echo and bounce its way down the street. It continues to build - the sound of a very large motor, the rumble of custom exhaust - as the vehicle gets closer to this part of the street, causing the apparent loiterers outside the drug house to glance up curiously.

Just as quickly the motor falls quiet as the driver has made it home, it would seem.

From Jessica's vantage point, she can glimpse a blacked out Mustang Mach 1. There are no lights as the car drives, the finish is a non reflective matte black. Even where it passes under street lights it looks like just a shadow. The car silenty rolls into an alleyway and only a few moments later, a figure emerges. Despite the shadows, it is possible to determine the figure is relatively tall with broad shoulders and seems to be wearing a red mask.

Red Hood (he'll shoot anyone who asks why he wears a mask not a hood), moves silently down the side of a building several down from the drug house. Whether or not he has detected Jessica, he doens't seem to change course or actions.

He unholsters a pistol and attaches a device under it. Aiming toward the rooftops, a small grapple silently launches and then pulls him easily upward to the roof. From there he makes his way adjacent to the drug house. Dropping down on his haunches, he reaches up to tap the side of that mask and begins to slowly scan the building to track heat signatures.

Jessica Jones has posed:
*snapsnapsnap* Jessica gets all of the photos she needs to bring the info about the Swede to Janie's parents. And then maybe to justice. She stands up slowly and stretches to unlimber herself from the crouched stake out, white t-shirt riding up a bit from the waist of her low slung jeans to show off her toned abs before she lowers it back down, rolling her shoulders beneath the black leather jacket. She is almost ready to leave when the car pulls up and the Red Hood comes out. She rolls her eyes and mutters to herself. "You've gotta be kidding me."

She sighs and settles back into a crouch, taking another few photos of the new arrival. And waiting to see just what it is that he intends to do. She'll figure out how best to make some money out of documenting it later.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood starts to build a list of contacts inside the house. Enough that he can work with it. The rest he'll just make up as he goes.

Standing, he easily leaps across the gap, landing on the roof of the drug house. The scans showed that there are possibly five on the top floor. Lower down it was hard to say but there was nothing here that told him he was going to be in any sort of real trouble. Nothing over confidence and disdain for drug dealers can't overcome with a couple good pistols.

Moving to the back of the roof, the now shadowy form can be seen to pause there. Then it seems as if he just drops off the edge.

The muffled sound of protesting metal being hit by heavy boots can be heard. The Swede is going to have to file an insurance claim for the damage to his van. Assuming he pays for any.

The sound of voices raised in alarm is met with gunfire and return fire for a few seconds before it goes silent again.

Red Hood stands just inside the garage, the twitching bodies of four drug minions on the floor. Having cleared the van and garage, he moves up to the doorway, scanning for next contacts.

Jessica Jones has posed:
There were plenty of photos to be had of the figure in the red mask doing his best to be as little stealthy as possible while invading the drug den. Certainly, that would be enough for Jessica. She stands again and moves to slide down the fire escape. The Red Mask seems to be doing a capable enough job on his own.

And that's when she sees the van pull up outside, and four more guys roll out with submachine guns. She sighs to herself, and wonders just how much it is worth getting involved. She looks at the camera, and the $15k of images on it - possibly more - and then back at the house where the guy has it all under control. Totally. For now.

She looks skyward and just shakes her head. "Fuck me," she says, setting the camera down carefully inside of her bag, and then takes one giant leap from the fire escape to land just beside the van that pulled up. She sucker punches the driver before he has a chance to alert them, and starts walking into to follow the newcomers. Maybe the Red Mask guy can take care of them before she gets there and she won't get blood all over her jacket.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood isn't exactly worried about someone seeing him. It's proof he's out there and that he is going to hunt down criminals whereever they are. Granted, he isn't often in NYC. But...

The van that so quickly pulls up out front to unload its four gun men only add to the three would-be loiterers, who happen to also be armed. Seven on one? Some would call those bad odds. Perhaps fortunately, those three were busy running into the drug house at the sound of gunfire in the garage. And then there were only four gunmen for Jessica to deal with.

Inside Red Hood moves methodically through the house. The sound of muffled gunshots can be heard, as well as the reply of machine pistols. The rapid sound like sharp, brief BUZZ sounds from each burst. Bullets sling past his head and shoulder as the men fire wildly. He sees too it that they do not continue to fire, taking them down one at a time, his taser slugs leaving them twitching and out of the fight.

As he prepares to continue his one vigilante crusade against The Swede's production, he reloads quickly and spares a glance outside to see the van and additional gunmen.

"Figures." He pulls two small devices from his belt. The first is slapped to the wall against the stairway leading to the second floor. The next is slapped against the stairway leading down to what he expects to be the drug lab. He doesn't want to get shot in the back. Whether from the new arrivals or the remaining men in the house. It was certainly turning into a hornet's nest wasn't it?

As he fires on the first of the back up gunmen, he sees the shadow figure of someone he isn't familiar with as it takes out the driver. As a burst of gunfire rips up the door frame, he turns his attention to the next gunman, ducking behind the wall and turning to fire three taser rounds out the window at the man.

Jessica Jones has posed:
Following in behind the gunman, Jessica catches one of the four unawares as he pauses at the stairs. The other three charge up towards the sound of gunfire. She grabs the lingerer and tosses him hard against the wall beside her, enough to knock him out. Or crack his skull. One or the other.

She should probably hurry if she wants any of them for herself. But part of her wants to see how the Red Mask is going to handle the unevening of the odds. After all, this was his op. She was just here to snap some photos.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood drops two of the four gunmen as Jessica catches the last one as he pauses to fire at Red Hood.

That Red Mask peers out the door at the woman as she fells her man. "THey're using guns. I hope that top is bullet proof" he states with a hint of sarcasm. He doesn't doubt she can fight. Only why. And why she is unarmed.

He spares a glance to the rest of the house then back to her, "Thanks for the assist. I wasn't expecting interested by standers to step in. Probably safer for you if you don't." It's a little terse but only out of the intent to keep the woman alive and not hurt. Or dead.

Jessica Jones has posed:
Turning back towards Red Hood after dropping the man, Jessica arches an eyebrow. "It's not, but I am." Is she? There is definitely a smirk from her as she comes charging up the stairs towards him.

"I'm not at all innocent, thank you very much," she says as she reaches the landing, peering around him to see if he did, in fact, take out all of the men there. "Is that all of them?" she asks, looking back down at the one she dropped. "Because if so, I've got some shit to do."

Jason Todd has posed:
The brow arch is totally heard in the tone of his voice. "Right." He studies her only a moment longer then shrugs. "I use guns. It's usually safer behind me." Not that he'll tell her he's using taser rounds. They're not deadly. Usually.

"Didn't ask if you were innocent. Not many of us are." He glances back. "There were five upstairs. Can't confirm if they're armed but probably. I'm after the lab in the basement. The Swede has a date with law enforcement for his shit drugs and the deaths they're causing."

Jessica Jones has posed:
"Yeah, well, I ate Taco Bell tonight, so it's definitely NOT safer behind me." The smirk is visible on Jessica's face. The benefits of not wearing a mask. She glances at his gun, but does not seem to react whether she notices if they are tasers or not.

"Well, then, I'll leave you to that." She starts to head down the stairs. "Saves me the trouble, I got what I came for."

Jason Todd has posed:
A snort is given to the response from the woman.

"So you're just going show up and flirt and let me to all the heavy lifting. I see." He holsters his guns and watches her head back down the stairs. "Watch your step" meaning more that there could be others out there. He turns back and proceeds to sweep through the house, detaining and knocking out any stragglers. It takes him less than ten minutes to work through and zip tie off the drug dealer's hired guns for NYPD to pick up. The Swede gets special treatment, being hog tied. THe drugs and guns and criminals are left for the police. The Swede's laptop is taken. There will be more intel to glean from it. The Swede works with others of that there is no doubt.

Emerging from the house, the knocked out goons outside get their turn at being zip tied into place and with that Red Hood spares a final glance before turning, laptop under arm, to begin walking back to his car.

Jessica Jones has posed:
"What the /fuck/ about that looked like flirting to you?" Jessica looks up at him and makes a face, shaking her head. "Boys." And with that, she turns and walks out of the warehouse.

While the Red Hood is busy capturing and trussing up the villainous drug dealer, Jessica hops back up to her fire escape. She connects her camera to her phone and uploads the photos to the cloud - including the ones she snapped of the Red Hood - and then sends the photos she promised to Janie's family their way. Along with a message that the Swede was going to find himself in a heap of trouble tonight.

She puts away her camera and slings her backpack over her shoulder and turns to leave, but then glances back at the warehouse. "Fucking dumb ass boys."



When the Red Hood reaches his car, he'll find Jessica leaning back against the hood, eyeing him as he approaches. "Took you long enough."

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood got the reaction he was expecting when she gets peeved at the joke about flirting.

On his return to the car, seeing her leaning on it. Crossing his arms over his chest, he studies her. "I like to be thorough when I'm detaining criminals and looking for evidence. It would have gone faster with an extra pair of hands to cuff them all."

"So. There a reason you didn't go on your way? You have a name or should I pick one for you?:

Jessica Jones has posed:
"You didn't strike me as the thorough type. Not sure if I should be impressed or disappointed." Jessica does not make a move from the car, arms crossed under her chest as she watches the Red Hood approach. "And I had shit I had to do too, otherwise I'd still have to do that instead of chatting with you now." She makes a fake smile at him that fades almost immediately.

"I didn't feel like taking the subway home when you have this sweet car right here." She smirks at him again. "So, you feel like giving me a ride or not?"

She leaves the question of her name unanswered.

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason Todd says, "I haven't begun to disappoint you, lady."

He walks toward the car, "No rides. I'm not fucking Uber for unknown ladies of the night. You clearly can handle yourself." Kicked to the curb. What a heartless bastard.

Opening the door to get in, he looks to her, "Pretty ballsy leaning on someone's car. Lucky I didn't set it to stun on contact." The tone is almost joking."

Jessica Jones has posed:
"At this rate, you're not going to have the chance to." Jessica pushes herself off the car and moves out of the way as Jason approaches it. "And yeah, I can handle myself pretty fucking well. Better than you, I'd wager." She nods towards the warehouse. "You would have had a bunch of guys getting the drop on you and another one calling in backup if not for me."

She shifts the backpack on her shoulder, and shrugs again. "If you think your car could stun me, you really don't know shit, kid."

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood snorts again, "Maybe. But assuming they'd gotten a shot off, I'm pretty damned unkillable." He leans on the top of the doorframe. "Kid, huh? You're not making yourself any points for getting a ride when you're too busy telling me to get off your lawn and waving your cane."

He studies her. "Maybe I don't. But the people who matter think I do. And I know that my car could stun a charging bull elephant." Or at least a really... pissed off Bane or Solomon Grundy. Not that the car would be in great shape afterward.

Jessica Jones has posed:
Jessica eyes Red Hood up and down. "Unkillable, huh?" She flashes a grin. "Not about to put that to the test, but the body armor you're wearing tells me you're very much killable." The retort earns another grin. "That was almost a good one. Not bad."

She sniffs. "I meant about me, not about life in general. I'm sure you know /something/." The last part, though? She seems to take that as a challenge. "Wanna put it to a test? Friendly little wager?" She flashes another toothy grin. "I stay standing from your shocker, you give me a lift." A laugh. "Either way I get something fun out of it." She winks at him.

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood shakes his head, "Worse people than you have tried." To kill him. "I got better." Sure with some help. Otherwise he'd still be pushing up daisies, six feet under ground.

"You're right. I don't know about you. But not everyone is willing to kick the ass of armed drug muscle. Figure you can handle yourself, sure. Can you handle a full capacitor discharge? I've seen crazier shit." He sighs. "Fuck it." As he starts to fall into the driver's seat, he adds, "First ride's free. It's the next one that'll cost you."

The engine rumbles to life as he starts it up. If Jessica chooses to walk around and get in, the car looks like a cross between KITT and the fucking Batmobile. But then. (Bad) Apple. Tree.

The dash has all kinds of surveillance tech, computer displays, a HUD projected to the inside of the drivers window. The seats have five point harnesses and the passenger side comes complete with a Chicken Bar. The thing passengers who don't trust their drivers when hurtling down the road at speeds well exceeding the posted limits. It's a nicely padded horizontal bar for easy gripping comfort set just above the glove box.

The center of the steering wheel has a stylized "RH" superimposed on a red Bat logo like that on his armor.

"So where am I taking you? The YWCA? Community Center so you don't miss your cribbage tourney?"

Jessica Jones has posed:
While Jessica seems skeptical of his claim, she avoids making any overt statement about that. Instead, she moves around to the passenger side as he gets into the driver side. "That's usually my line," she says, about the first one being free.

She falls into the seat and leans back, eschewing the seat belt for the moment. Chicken bar? Hardly likely.

"As long as there is booze there, I don't give a shit where you take me." She flahes a grin at him. "If you don't have any other ideas, West 46th Street."

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood smirks. "Sounds like you're my kind of girl after all" he jokes.

Once she's in, buckled up or not, he buries the throttle and the car burns out in the alleyway. Off in the distance the sirens of NYPD can be heard by the neighbors.

"Booze? I didn't bring my clubbing togs along. Sorry." And so he heads toward West 46th Street. "So am I going to get a name?" Of course he's still not given his, not that it's so hard to guess with the Bat logo on his armor.

Jessica Jones has posed:
"You meet too many other girls who run into random warehouses to beat up guys with guns?" asks Jessica, smirking back at him.

She seems content to not buckle in, or grab the side, even as he pulls off at a high speed. Instead, she watches him intently.

"A bit far afield from Gotham, huh?" She turns a bit in the seat to face him. "Which one are you?"

Jason Todd has posed:
He glances over to her as he speeds down a side street to avoid the PD. Many girls who could beat up guys with guns?

"Lady, every girl I know runs into random warehouses to beat up guys with guns. And they do it better than a lot of the guys I know who do it." Not all. Probably.

Taking a sharp corner, he drifts across the intersection easily as he makes his way toward the given street.

"Red Hood. Gotham isn't immune from drugs getting trafficked and sold. Someone has to find the source and kill it." That someone is apparently Red Hood this time.

Jessica Jones has posed:
The movement of the car seems not to bother her at all. "Good for them, then. See, too many guys don't give us gals our fair shake." Jessica does not appear to be too committed to the female empowerment theme though.

She glances up as the approach the street, not exactly the cross street where her office is, but it won't be terribly far once they hit it. "Jessica. Pleased to meet you." She nods in agreement. "Scumbags in every city, really."

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason Todd doesn't seem bothered by it either. He hadn't buckled in himself. "I don't care who it is if they're kicking the ass of criminals. The PD needs all the help it can get."

A side glance, "Jessica. Better than what I was going to call you." He looks back to the road as he adds, "You seemed like a Merigold. A ray of warm and friendly sunshine." Okay now he's really laying it on.

"Scum everywhere. Drug dealers among the worst of them." The tone here implies he has a particular hatred of drug dealers.

Jessica Jones has posed:
"Yeah, well. Just be careful. You mess with them too much, the PD sometimes doesn't care who they best as long as it makes headlines."

Jessica watches Jason as he drives, and her smirk deepens. "No, please, call me Merigold. I kinda like that." Her tone seems to indicate the opposite.

She points towards an upcoming cross street. "You can let me out here, I can hoof it the rest of the way." She looks to him again. "Drug dealers take out someone you cared about, huh?"

Jason Todd has posed:
Red Hood smirks under that mask. "I'm always careful." As careful as he intends to be at least.

"Mary for short, then. Pretty Mary Sunlight." The reference could easily be missed. But it's a risk he'll take.

With a nod, he steers over to the curb and looks over, "Here you go then. Curbside service." He offers over a card. "Ever need a hand, you can reach me."

"Yeah. Everyone knows someone that's been hurt by the fuckers."

Jessica Jones has posed:
"Uh huh," replies Jessica, not believing that for a moment. She smirks back at the name, but lets it evolve into an actual smile. Briefly.

As the car rolls to a close, she reaches out to take the offered card, peering at it for a moment and then shoving it into her jeans pocket. "Thanks. Sometimes, I do need the super Uber. I'm a bit of a drinker."

She hops out of the car, slings her bag over her shoulder, and then leans back in. "Yeah. Fuck them."

She starts to straighten, but then pauses, and fixes Red Hood with a grin. "Speaking of. This was absolutely not the type of ride I was talking about earlier." She winks at him, and then closes the door as she steps to the sidewalk, wriggling her fingers at the window while smiling winsomely at him.