1412/Two Hands at the Teahouse.

Two Hands at the Teahouse.
Date of Scene:	27 April 2020
Location:	Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Chinatown
Synopsis:	Elektra and Colleen meet up and discuss what's been tormenting Colleen. Elektra decides to help. But what are her motives!?
Cast of Characters:	Colleen Wing, Elektra Natchios

---

Colleen Wing has posed:
She had not slept well since finding the letter from the Hand on her door. In fact, she half expected another visit every night she layed her head down. Would the next time she awake to find somoene perched on the edge of her bed? They had been watching her. They had never forgotten her. Again, she fully expeted this, but up until a few nights ago she had been left alone; or at least she thought.

There was one person she could go to this with. There was only one person she trusted with how to handle this. So, Elektra was contacted and asked to meet at a local tea shop in Chinatown called Nom Wah Tea Parlour, a place she often frequented. She had no idea exactly what she was going to say, but she knew what had to be done.

When Elektra would enter the tea parlour, she would see Colleen sitting by herself in a corner, a tea pot and a setting for two at her table. She is sitting cross legged on her chair in a pair of ripped jeans, red concerse shoes and her white hoodie, the hood up to slightly shield hersewlf from other patron's view.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
When it's said that some people are dressed to kill it normally means their clothing is impressive.. In Elektra's case though, it means a lot more, just as ready to kill as much as to impress. The door opens to reveal her elegant form by the frame, dark tight jeans encasing her legs, designer jeans of course, black boots without heel just in case there's a showdown tonight. As for her chest it's covered in a nice, snug shirt, leather jacket finishing the look. And with so many places to hide various manners of weapons.

The assassin's dark gaze surveys the room for a brief moment, taking in Colleen, then the rest. Safe enough. She walks inside, striding towards Colleen's corner table. No greeting pleasantries just yet, she simply sitting down first, adjusting herself to have an eye out on the room and then settles one elbow on the table.

Did she have an idea what this could be about? Maybe. Not that she'd open up just yet about the issue, letting Colleen take her time until she was ready. "Good evening, Colleen." she says in her refined accent.

Colleen Wing has posed:
Colleen raises her eyes from the table in greeting, a nod given as if to recognize the arrival of the assassin. A hand gesture is given to the tea pot in the middle of the table, a cup is already set before the spot in which Elektra took; a spot Colleen made sure did not make her keep her back to the rest of the parlour. "It's oolong. Was not feeling very adventurous today." She looks like hell. Tired and fatigued as a half smile is forced to her companion. "I suppose you are wondering why I have asked you here."

She leans over into a small one-strapped cross shoulder back on the floor and pulls a folded paper not out of it, sliding it acros the table. "What do you know about this? Don't bullshit me Elektra. Did you know...they had me on their radar still?" She folds her hands on the table before her, looking to the paper on the table. "Did you have anything to do with this?" Her gaze is now focused. It is quite clear she wants answers.

A hand moves to pick up her tea in front of her, taking a small sip and holding the cup before her, not putting it down. "I've no choice. It's blackmail. However, would I expect anything less of them?" She laughs somehwat nervously and rolls her eyes. "Apparently, you can never run fast enough to escape."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Those first words out of Colleen make Elektra rather amused, one of those finely-trimmed eyebrows curving up. "You were not feeling adventurous yet you called me." because isn't it always an adventure to get in touch with the Hand assassin?! An half-smirk is now on her expression though, she picking up the mug to fill her own cup. Her eyes go to the paper but she doesn't answer just yet, instead she bringing the cup up to her lips in that traditional manner, turning it slightly to one side and taking a sip.

"Do you really think you could escape their radar, Colleen. Noone does, specially not after the way you left them." she says slowly, thoughtful. "I knew they would reach for you sooner or later."

The question if she had anything to do with it has her raise her eyes to meet Colleen's. "If it was my doing I would not had sent a letter. I would had went to your dojo personally." a firmness there to her tone, as if she'd not accept any dispute to that. "There is always a choice though, even if it's not one you can act upon just yet."

Colleen Wing has posed:
Colleen has always felt like a little girl being scolded by her mother whenever she talked to Elektra, and her boldness in accusing her of having something to do with it quickly vanishes. Another small sip is taken, this time lowering the cup before her and moving to remove her hood, her hair falling freely. "No. I didn't think I could escape their radar. I just hoped they would..." She sighs and shakes her head a few times. "I don't know what I was thinking..alright?I just don't know." There is a long slow exhale and she tilts her head to the side, a strand of free hair falling over half her face. "There is always a choice. I am not going to argue that, but sometimes those choices are not really choices. When the Hand forces your own hand with threats of harming the students you care for...there is no choice."

Her hand sgo flat to the table in front of her in a matter-of-fact moment. "So. I am going to do it. I am going to clear out every ounce of competition they think they have in Chinatown. Every last location." Her eyes fixiate on the assassin's gaze directly, not veering. "I need your help. I am not one who usually asks for help, but this is not something I can go to too many people about. I mean...clear some drug gangs out of Chinatown, that seems like the right thing to do. I just..." She pauses and bites her lower lip. "I am simply waiting for the names of the locations..I know one of them. The others I am assuming I will be getting another visit...unless they have told you."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Hope? No such thing where the Hand are involved." Elektra states, perhaps in an harsher tone than she'd wish to. She had dared to hope in the past, yet it had led her down quite the dark path. But then she takes in a breath, controlling herself. A nod. "We all must learn one day." resignation on her tone, she reaching up to brush it over her hair, bringing her dark hair away from her face. "As for choices...., maybe for now you need to comply." a beat. "... but eventually you will be able to strike back."

"I will help you." Elektra then says, simple and direct, no need to beat around the bush, her eyes fixating back on Colleen's gaze, "You will owe me. But considering what we are involved in, I don't think it will matter. I am sure I will need your help just as much in the days to come."

She leans forward a touch, questioning. "Have you talked with the other Defenders about this?"

Colleen Wing has posed:
There is a quick shake of her head. "No. nobody knows about this at all. Only me and Bob...my plant. Robert Plant...it's a joke. Okay...moving on." She idly lets her fingers tap on the side of her tea cup, "You are right. For now I need to comply. Do what they say. I mean really...it's just a drug gang. Not like I am being asked to harm innocents."

A hand raises to tuck a strand back behind her ear. "You know all you need to do is ask Elektra and I would be there. In fact I am little hurt you do not ask more." There is a slight smirk that forms on her lips. "There is more to me than lessons and a fridge full of Chinese take-out." ANother small pause. "Not much more...but there is." Her fingers fold before her, forming a peak in front of her mouth. "I guess the next step is confirming all the locations and deciding a course of action and who else we want to bring in."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"The less people that know the better. So ..., maybe Bob needs to go." Is Elektra making a joke? Nah. Well, maybe since there was a faint, growing smile to the corner of her lips. Though she then brings her cup back to her lips, sipping from it. "Nothing is ever that simple. If it was but a drug gang why wouldn't they clean it themselves?" she lets that linger for a moment, setting the cup down, hands folding in front of her.

"That will be for you to decide. I may have someone who can help in a discreet manner. Though talking with Danny, and Daredevil, might be a good first step. Or second in this case, since you came to me first." she does grin at that.

"As for helping me ..., you know I mostly fly solo and sometimes it's good that there are no witnesses to what I must do." a rather serious reminder she is still an assassin, no matter how much she may want or not to change.

Colleen Wing has posed:
Colleen's eyes go wide at the comment about Bob. A smile coming to her lips and an excitment to her voice. "Did you just make a joke? Oh my god. This is a first. Man, I wish I had that on camera." She winks and then cafrelessly adds. "Bob aint going anywhere...he is deeply rooted in my life and I couldn't handle it if he had to leaf."

A more serious nod is given. "Yeah, it is much deeper than that I think. Or, they want me to handle their dirty work in what they deem to be my /turf/. I will speak with Danny, tho he has been hard to find as of late. Can you get ahold of Matt? I mean we may as well bring in the Defenders. Just not sure I want them to know right now /why/ we are doing this. You know?"

She raises a finger to waggle at Elektra playfully. "I know you work alone. I was giving you a hard time. Making up for time lost." A more solemn nod is given to the assassin, a dot tone to her voice. "Thank you. I knew I could count on you. I may actually be able to sleep now. Look at what it is doing to my face. I am hideous." She laughs lightly and pulls her hood back up.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra gives Colleen a -stare- at those words about Bob, specially at the leaf part. "Really, Colleen..?" but then she laughs out softly, taking another drink from her tea and shaking her head to herself in a slow manner. Shame on Colleen! Still, she is amused.

"They may not want to be directly involved if this group has ties to others they may be trying to take over. Yet it may be just fine, cleaning out drug dealers seems to be something you Defenders like to do." not that she hasn't done much of the same, even when working with some of the Defenders.. Then a shrug. "I don't think you can keep Matthew from knowing. He can read through bullshit." and she has quite the personal experience with it.

She then watches Colleen for a moment, lips pressed to a thin line, considering her. "In this life we lead, and have led in the past, it is hard to find those that can understand us." she says, "I believe we do understand each other, more than most could hope to."

Colleen Wing has posed:
She got the Assassin to smile. Her day is complete. She can go home and do nothing else for the day and it woud be considered a success. "I will speak to Danny and the other Defenders, if you wish to inform Matt. I am very careful whe my past comes in to haunt me Elektra. The last thing I want to do is drag my friends into something I would be responsible for."

Her tea is raised and she takes a long sip, letting the cup linger there a moment and speaking from behind the rim. "You do understand me. There is a lot more to me than A Sensei at a dojo that is a good storm away from being condemned. I have found that in this life I have regrets and at the same time regret nothing." There is meaning hidden somewhere in those words, but she does little to explain them. "My priorites now are to the streets of Chinatown and my students. And if they both are being threatened, then I will do what I can and help whoever I can to do so." She is silent a moment, watching Elektra a moment with a narrowed eye. "I only hope that by elimiating one dragon...we are not allowing a bigger and more firece dragon into the lair."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"I will make sure Matthew becomes aware of what is going on." A pause. "As for the brute..." She most likely means Luke! "Might be good for you to do the talking too." and then Elektra leans back a touch, propping her chin on one hand.

Eyes continue fixed on Colleen's though, watching her expressions and motions, faint smile remaining on her lips, "There is always more to all of us than meets the eye, doesn't it?" and she seems to understand what Colleen means about regret, nodding. "You do not let regret weigh you down." yes, she understands it well.

"I think that's exactly what is happening." She says about the bigger dragon. "Which is why you should then be ready to cut the bigger head away. If anything you don't seem the type to roll over, Colleen. Or at least, not to threats."

Colleen Wing has posed:
"I can talk to Luke, I can usually find him at his bar. He will want to be involved I am sure. It will not take much convincing at all. I can just tell him I need his help to clear out some unwanteds." Colleen looks down to her tea cup and then raises her eyes from beneath the white hood. "There is so much about both of us nobody else knows. There are things aout myself I am not sure I even know anymore. I follow the code, but sometimes what needs to be done pushes the boundaries of that following."

Her eyes drift to the other patrons, catchng the gance of an elderly main who apparently is a regular. "Mr. Zhang." A wave is given and she turns back to Elektra. "I am not afraid of a bigger dragon Elektra. My grandfather once told me..." Her voice goes old and manlike. "Chisai Doragon.... That's what he called me..his little dragon." The voice goes back to the older one. "The bigger dragon fights harder for his head has longer to fall when slain. But would you approach a smaller dragon any differently? No Colleen. You would approach them the same, for it is kill or be killed."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"There is always the need of those that do what needs to be done. That do not hesitate. You have been with the Hand. You know how that is." Not that Elektra was exactly sure on whether or not Colleen had ever killed for the Hand. Perhaps not. It does make her sigh but then she is starting to get up to her feet. She does allow a smile to grace her features at the tale. "Chisai Doragon." she then echoes.

"It suits you. And your grandfather was wise, no matter the size of the Dragon there is only one approach. Fight to survive. And live to fight another day. It is the way." One hand then reaches forward, slender fingertips brushing under the other woman's chin to lift it up (unless she draws herself away from her touch) "So chin up, Chisai Doragon. We will get through this. One way or another."

Colleen Wing has posed:
She does not pull away from the chin touch that raise her head, the gentle hands that have killed countless no showing a gin of compassion and concern. Her gaze falls on Elektra once more and it is then that how tired she really is becomes quite clear. "I know. Like I always have. In Japan, the sun is always rising. That is how I live. I will always rise and there will be another day. I am confident that in the end, we will be exactly where we want to be in this endeavour."

A server comes by and puts the check down on the table, a smile from the elderly Chinese woman. "Ah Ms. Wing. Whenever you are ready." She shuffles off as Colleen once more reaches into her bag and puts a ten down on the table.

"Thank you Elektra. There are not many people I trust...not at all. I can count my true friends on one hand. You are the thumb..completing the fist and making it possible to hold onto everything."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
No motion is made by Elektra to pay up the bill, she simply watching the exchange between the server and Colleen in silence. Not that she seems to be lacking money! Though she does note that tired look on Colleen. A consideration and then she suggests. "If in the future you need a safe place to rest contact me, I can make sure noone finds you. You will be safe." tone gentler, then she dropping her hand from the other woman's chin, reaching up to adjust her leather jacket.

The irony isn't lost on her though when Colleen mentions them being like a hand, and she being the thumb. "We will need to find a better analogy than a hand, Colleen. But .., thank you for those words." she then dips her head in a respectful, polite manner to her. As if regarding an equal.

"Sleep. Then let me know when you are ready to move in. In the meantime I will talk with a few people." And then Elektra is walking out the door, because she is not the type of woman to stay in the same place for long, soon she disappearing in the night.