14246/Neighbors do right by neighbors

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Neighbors do right by neighbors
Date of Scene: 25 February 2023
Location: Mercy's Garage
Synopsis: Luke's search for a mechanic ends up in a planned bake-off between he and Mercy.
Cast of Characters: Luke Cage, Mercy Thompson




Luke Cage has posed:
It was early afternoon when Luke Cage arrived at Mercy's Garage. Wearing his trademark grey hoodie, Luke stepped inside as he knocked on the door, casting a gaze about to see who was within. He is alone, and seems to have just walked in from a stroll on the street.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy was in the garage part of the shop working on a car with a simple oil change when she hears the door open. Unknown scent, and heavy footfalls. Someone big! She calls out, "Just a moment." She doesn't remember hearing a car pull up either. Picking a small clean cloth she starts to wipe at her hands and walks to the main office area. "Hello, welcome to my garage."

Luke Cage has posed:
    Turning his gaze towards Mercy as she comes in, Luke offers a warm smile. "Thanks, I hope I'm not bothering you at all." He glances around for a moment before looking back to her. "Friend of mine has a Bug that's not running. Was trying to help him find a place to take a look, and I'd passed by here and figured I'd check you out first. You got any openings?"

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "It's a garage, if people did not come in to 'bother me' I would be out of business." Out of habit Mercy glances to the parking lot to see if anything is up there that maybe got pushed in instead of towed or just parked. "Sure thing, do you know the year of the bug and if it does anything at all when you try to turn it over?"

Luke Cage has posed:
    Luke laughs, and nods. "Fair point." he offers in that rumbling baritone. "No idea what the year is, it's a recent one, though, not vintage." He thinks for a moment. "Honestly, I don't know much. He parked it near the bar, and then came in and told me it was dead, and he had to leave it. Didn't have the cash to fix it, so he was going to let it get towed by the city, and I couldn't let that happen."
    He pauses, and then adds, "I'm gonna pick up the tab. Not asking you to do it for free."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "Well long as it isn't anything too fancy with the computer I can handle it. Even then I can maybe figure it out and tell them what to give to a dealer." She looks around and says, "It's close to lunch. If this bar has good food or at least nothing too vile. I could always follow you to it and see if it is something simple or not. Take a look since things are slow." She gets people can't always pay or need some help, "good to know I'm getting paid." Mercy offers a big grin and after checking her hand she offers it. "Mercy and nice to meet you. Seems like your a good friend. Where's the bar?"

Luke Cage has posed:
    "Well, that sounds good. Yeah, would hate to pour some money into something if it's not worth it." Luke laughs for a moment, and waggles his finger at her. "Now don't go letting them hear you say that around the bar, folks'd get offended." But that appears to be more joke than anything else, and he offers his hand to hers as she does to him. "Luke, nice to meet you." He nods his head back. "Just a few blocks away. Lunch'll be on me, and if you can tell from looking that it's something you can fix, I'll bring it back here after."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "I always am honest with my clients and do my best to work with them." She looks glad to see the big guy has a sense of humor. "Lunch is on you huh," looking up at him with a small smirk. "Some women may take that as a flirt, Luke" She then will move to turn off a few switches near the door to the garage and gets a sign out from behind the counter saying 'Off to lunch/Out on a call. Emergency call," with her phone number to hang in the door. "So are you -that- Luke or are there two guys as big as you named after apostles?" She will unzip her coveralls to show her clothes and fold them up. "Did you walk or drive here? I may need my tools," nodding to her car. Which is a VW van so NOT one of those tiny cars for poor Luke having to fold himself into. "I can take the Vanagon."

Luke Cage has posed:
    "Honesty's always the best policy," replies Luke with a nod, although he laughs a bit at her smirk. "What, a guy can't be nice and friendly these days?" He watches her as she sets about closing up the shop temporarily. "I mean, if you're going to come and check out the car, it's really the least I could do, whether you're an attractive woman or just some guy." He shrugs at that as he moves towards the door as Mercy advances on it. "That depends on what you think of -that- Luke," he says with a grin, as he opens the door and holds it for her, waving her through. "I hoofed it, but then I walk pretty much everywhere. If you're driving, happy to ride. But I can also carry whatever tools you want, it's not too far to walk."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "I like to think I rate well above 'just some guy' to be fair." She will lock up the shop when they are outside and see about finding the key for the van. "I think he's got to be something special if half the stories are true and he doesn't have the locals or the cops bad mouthing him too much. Then I'd be surprised we not met sooner given the trouble magnet I can be in my life." She nods to the van and says, "I keep a set a tools in the car I'm driving and need the vanagon just a bit ago to help me move a part. So come on in. Just... don't freak out okay? There's no nose to it so it looks like I may drive into someone's back seat. That's normal." She's got a relaxed smooth pace as she walks to the van in question and starts to unlock the passenger door with the key before circling to her side to open and get in.
    "So," asks Mercy as she looks over to Luke and once they are in the car. "I'll jimmy to get the hood and open her up. But if you don't have the keys only so much I can do legally. And I trust this guy isn't in any kind of trouble where I need to worry? Especially with you around." She has to ask the question she's is sure he hears a lot. "What do bullets feel like to you? Because for me they're mostly all just 'HOT OUCH' and pain you know?"

Luke Cage has posed:
    "You're the one who was questioning my offer of lunch." Luke flashes that grin again and waits for her to lead him to the van. "Oh, I got plenty of people bad mouthing me, they just aren't dumb enough to do it too close to my face." He shrugs. "Most of the fokks of Harlem have seen what I do for the community, and cops appreciate it even if they can't say it to anyone, face or not face. So I get to do my own thing." He takes a moment to look Mercy over, considering her. "What kind of trouble you a magnet for? If you're a trouble magnet in Harlem, damn straight I'm surprised we haven't run into each other before." He moves to get into the van, looking at her slightly skeptically at her caution, but doe snot seem too alarmed.

    "Oh, I got the key back at the bar, so I can unlock it for you. Shouldn't be a problem there." Luke shakes his head. "No trouble, just a guy low on cash right now, and doesn't feel like fighting an uphill battle."

    The question gets an upraised eyebrow from him. "Uh, kinda feels like getting hit with a ping pong ball?" He looks at Mercy again. "But what do you mean they are just 'hot ouch'? How many times you been shot?"

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "Usually the weird spooky kind of trouble if I am honest. I mean did you remember that news near fall or early winter of last year? Something caused a swarm of bugs to pour out of the sewers near my shop and swarm it." Mercy can't help it but visible shudder at that not so good memory. She doesn't like being scared of feeling helpless not not a lot that people can do against that sort of trouble. "It could also be because I been known to work on a certain tall woman's BMW at my shop sometimes who's main office is the Themyscirian Embassy." She doesn't like to name drop but it does help keep the common riff raff at bay.

    "I'll fix the guy's car as cheep and safely as I can. Depending on the year I may have the parts I need from an old parts car I have in storage and the like." She gives his question consideration as she pulls out into the street, seemingly guess the first turn without asking. "So where's my next turn?" Getting directions before answering.
    "Well shot at, not so sure. Actually shot at least three times. The first time was buckshot from a pissed off farmer as I was in the back country out west more. Technically I was on his property but my lawyers friend say legally I wasn't trespassing."

Luke Cage has posed:
    That gets a bit of sideeye from Luke. "Swarms of bugs ain't my idea of a good time," he says, before turning his gaze back towards the front and casually directing her with a finger. "Hope you were able to get that sorted out. I'd have burned down the bar if it got swarmed." The big man shivers. Apparently there is something that can get to him, after all. He laughs at the reference to her patron. "I had one of her friends, sisters, something, in the bar a few weeks ago. Made a big deal about it, and then this guy claiming to be Hercules was there, and it was a whole thing." He laughs. "Sometimes, you never know who's gonna show up there."

    He nods along as she tells her story of being shot, another point to indicate a turn. "That sounds painful." He sighs. "I'd been shot before, you know, the whole skin becoming hard thing happened. Didn't like the feel of it then, either."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "I got some friends who came and helped me clean up. Got rid of the stink and the yuck just fine." Mercy has to laugh and says, "It is one of this city's best features if you ask me. I mean I had to go to junk yard in queens and was trying to get a bumper off and Spider-man swings by to ask if I was trying to steal it." She laughs at that memory some. Casually maneuvering through traffic to get to Luke's bar.
    "Lots of people don't respect guns. My foster father made sure I knew how to shoot, but more importantly he taught me when and why to shoot when it came to that. I think that's more important then how by far." She was not wrong about the bumper thing. They hit a red light and it looks like she's going to ram the car in front, and maybe she's stopping short to mess with Luke a little bit. She's still a good six inches from the bumper, but with a van that has zero front end like some school busses, that means they are right on the car's tail.

Luke Cage has posed:
    "I mean, that guy is looking out for his folks. I'm sure he didn't come in swinging at you, though, right?" Luke glances at Mercy. "I worked with him once or twice, seems a good dude. That newspaper has a hard on for him, but I don't think that's his fault." He points off to the corner they are approaching. "Anywhere along here is good."

    "Gun culture is weird here. Folks think that having a gun is power, and they don't realize there is lots more to it than that." He does not appear to be too alarmed by Mercy's driving, although he does put up a hand to the oh shit bar, but keeps his face casual enough.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "Spider-man? No he was fine. Friendly and we talked. He was just checking it out because apparently there'd been a few crimes there recently. Recommended a really great sandwich shop in Queens." Far as meet ups go, hardly a bad one. When she gets the okay, Mercy goes looking for a spot to park. She has no problems parallel parking either.
    "Most of my people and myself saw guns as a way to protect ourselves or to help get food. Hunting I mean." She sees Luke going for the oh shit bar and says, "Can a car wreck even hurt you?" Sounding more amused the coitizing or anything. "You know I really should try to go to more bars. But I don't drink and being the Double Dee is not always fun." She nods by him and says, "Mind reaching to the back and grabbing that gray case for me?"

Luke Cage has posed:
    "Like I said, good dude, I think. Not enough of them around." Luke nods approvingly of that story and settles back in the seat to avoid making any distraction as Mercy scopes out a place to park.
    "Yeah. That's different the folks here on the streets, is the thing." He laughs as she calls him out, and shakes his head. "I'd be fine. Your car, if I went through it, not so much." He nods to her request, and starts to twist to reach back for the case. "I mean, nothing wrong with not frequenting bars. I won't get offended. ANd honestly, sometimes, you're better off avoiding them."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy will wait for traffic to be a bit lighter and then opens her door to slip out. "I made sure to know the local laws and my conceal carry permits were up to date before I moved to the city for good," as she looks around for a VW and will take the bag from him on the sidewalk. It's not light, mind you Luke probably didn't even notice it. Though Mercy seems to handle the weight better then one may think. "I'm all for being social and hanging out. I just prefer knowing the bar tender and not having to explain why I don't drink every time. Just give me a juice or something and let me hang with friends, you know?"

Luke Cage has posed:
    "Solid plan," rumbles Luke, moving to follow by getting out his side. There is an older, but not origina, VW Bug parked a little ways down. Easy to spot, but Luke points it out anyway. He looks over Mercy again, thinking to himself. "We never pressure anyone to drink, or give side-eye. DD's are important, and even if someone isn't a DD, there's always a seat at my bar for someone who doesn't want to be drinking. That's not all that it's about."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "Then I'll have to stop by sometime. Be nice to have a local place to hang out. Long as people don't mind the weird girl or that sometimes things go strange." She starts to walk to the car he points out and will hold out a hand along the way, "Got the keys?" She smiles up at the tall guy as she gets ready to work, once close. "So do you own, or work at this bar or just meet friends here?" She will also take a moment to try and subtly give the area, especially the car a careful coyote sniff over as it were. "If you got hot water for tea I'll be one happy mechanic."

Luke Cage has posed:
    "What makes you 'the weird girl'?" Luke asks. "I don't see anything all that strange about you." He digs into his pocket to pull out the key and hands it over as he steps back to watch Mercy at work. "I own it. Work it sometimes, when we're low on staff and getting hit hard." He watches her closely, but does not notice her sniff. There is nothing at all unusual about the car, other than perhaps some leaky fluids. "Yeah, we got some teas at the bar, if you want after this."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy says, "that's because I don't fit anyone's mold. That and the weird stuff that tends to show up around me more then most." She will take the keys and get the care open and star by popping the hood to just look at it. Not even trying to turn it on before she does some basic obvious stuff first. "Sure I'll take a cup with lunch." The first tool she pulls from the bag is a fresh set of coveralls and then she asks, "Mind giving it a quick turn over attempt?"

Luke Cage has posed:
    "Yeah, I know that feeling. I broke the mold so none are coming after me." Luke laughs a bit, and then moves to the driver seat to follow along with Mercy's instructions. "You got it." He settles back into the seat, and then nods, trying to turn the car on.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    She lets him try to turn it over and nothing. Not a click or a cough or anything. She pauses though and leans over the fuses to sniff again. "Your friend is in real luck, Luke." She pops open the small box, counts across them some and pulls one out. Getting a small pen light she clicks it on and will offer to show him. "Blown fuse for the starter. Super easy fix. Think I even got a spare with me. One sec." She will go back to the van and see about it. Coming back only a minute or so later. "Far as myself, since we're sharing. I'm the daughter of a barrel chaser and a Blackfoot that died before he knew mom was pregnant. Not a lot like me out there." More so then she lets on.

Luke Cage has posed:
    "That might be the first time Jackie's had real luck in years." Luke laughs for a moment and leans back in the seat before twisting to watch Mercy head to the van. "Sorry to hear that," he says, a real sound of empathy in his voice. "I had some...troubles with family, growing up. I know what it's like to not have good role models."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "No need for you to apologize, Luke. I'm just glad your friend is out a five dollar part at best." She slaps it in and doesn't even wait. She starts to close the hood, "Go ahead. She should turn right over for him." Looking to toss the dead fuse away later she pockets it and seems pleased she can help. "Oh my faster father was pretty great, and I had a really interesting extended foster family." She smiles at the mostly fond memories. "Save or or two members. My childhood is hardly something I can complain about and I still got to go to college. Just not had an easy time connecting with my father's people. They're a little scarce."

Luke Cage has posed:
    Following along with her instruction, Luke starts up the car and then laughs heartily. "Great. This way I don't have to carry it over to your place." He turns it off and then slides out, locking the car and sticking the key back in his pocket. He nods along as she talks about her past. "Yeah. I imagine that's rough, not having a connection to culture, or ancestors and stuff." He waves his hand around. "We may not have it great, but we have some great culture here in Harlem."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy blinks and looks at the car. "You could carry it? Wow... talk about saving for a tow." She believes him about what he can do. "Fuses rarely just blow so he may have an electrical short. Those take more time and work to solve. BUT I got a few extra fuses. You can tell him which ones. When he can get it into the shop I can look it over for him. But until then he should be fine." She has to grin at Luke's pride. "Part of why I picked this spot. Also the winds keep any of the really harsh smells away. I grew up in the woods and tend to trust my senses more then most." Putting the protective clothes back into the bag. "I believe I'm owed a meal, right?"

Luke Cage has posed:
    Glancing at the bug, and then back at Mercy, Luke shrugs. "I'd probably want to take a break a couple of times along the way, but..." He shrugs. "It's only a little car. You telling me you can't?" Now it's his turn to grin a bit. "Yeah, it's a good spot." He doesn't call out the idea of smell as something unusual, although he does consider her for a moment. "Yes, a meal and some tea, I believe." He offers an arm to escort her across the street to the bar. "And I'll tell Jackie to be extra thankful this week."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy looks at the bug and deadpans. "If I lifted from the front I bet I could get the front two wheels of the ground." Making it not easy to tell if she's joking or being serious. She seems surprised at the arm offer but takes it. "Why thank you, Luke. Is Jackie your friend and the owner?" Just because it isn't someone she knows personally. "I'll bet you a free dessert with the meal I can ask a question you not had before about the whole bulletproof skin thing. And it will be the last time /I/ bring it up on purpose."

Luke Cage has posed:
    That boast earns a look from Luke. "Huh. Well, maybe we'll have to put that to the test a little later," he says with another bit of a grin. He escorts her across the street, and then releases to pull open the door. "Nah, Jackie's just one of my regulars. I try to help the guy out when I can." He waves a hand in to indicate for her to go ahead of him. "And sure, I'll take that bet. I've heard most of 'em before, but I'm always willing to hear a new one."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy gives a soft thanks as she steps into the bar after the door is held open for her. "So does your skin make it easier or harder to shave? You know like on both you and the blades I mean." She gives the bar a slow look around and one slow deep breath to get a sense of the place. Luke may notice Mercy instinctively notes if and where the back door is. "You want me at the bar or shall we grab a booth? I can't imagine most chairs are comfortable for you."

Luke Cage has posed:
    Laughing, Luke shakes his head as he follows Mercy in. "So, sadly, no free dessert, because I have gotten that before. And it's a lot easier, before I can go to townwithout any care, the hair cuts off, the skin isn't bothered at all." He sees her mark the exits, and it's a behavior he does himself. "Wherever you'd be most comfortable. I can find a place anywhere here." He nods to a few of the regulars and the bartender Katie. "If you want, I'll give you another crack at the dessert if you have any more questions. I don't mind answering./"

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "Oh well. That's okay I'll just have to bake my own cookies later." She will head for one of the booths and gives Luke the seat that is the better 'visibility' one even if that puts her back to the door. "Not about your abilities, that's fine. I rather know about my neighbor hoody watch as a man." She settles in and says, "Though if you come by my place you may need to be sure you're safe from cat claws or my stubbed tail cat may be the end of you," clearly making another silly joke. "Feel free to ask what you want as well. I will tell you no lies."

Luke Cage has posed:
    "Yeah, but maybe my cookies are better," challenges Luke with a bit of a grin. He settles into the seat opposite her easily, and nods. "Any questions, I'll either answer or I won't. But I'll try to answer what I can." He arches an eyebrow. "I've yet to meet a cat that can put a scratch into me, but I'm certainly willing to give the cat a try." He considers her for a moment, thinking of questions he might ask. "You go first, and then I'll come up with one."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    Mercy leans over the table some and points, "Now that's fighting words. You just dissed my cookies and you never even smelled or tasted them." Mercy is true to her word and doesn't ask about his abilities. "Why would you think you could cook better desserts then a mechanic for German cars?" As if one qualifies for the other. Mercy seems to think so. "Or at least one who uses baking as a coping mechanism as well."

Luke Cage has posed:
    In turn, Luke leans over and points back. "I only said maybe. You're the one who is agreeing." He grins at her, tilting his head. "You realize that there is only way to settle this, don't you?"

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "Blind bake off. We'll have to see who says what is best." But Mercy is grinning at the idea. This should help her meet more people and may help her business. Also she likes knowing more about those who live around her. "You can name the dessert but it has to be a dessert that is baked, also you didn't say why you are a good baker. You have to be not good at something after all." People aren't that perfect.

Luke Cage has posed:
    "Exactly!" Luke smacks the table, the sound reverberating for a moment and getting a brief look from some of the patrons. He nods along with her. "Well,if it's anything, I'm gonna make my momma's peach cobbler, and you'll be done for." He leans back in his seat, eyeing her slowly. "There's a lot of things I'm not good at. I just happen to be good at all of the ones that count." Another grin on his face

Mercy Thompson has posed:
    "Oh hell. You're bringing in your mamma's recipe into this? I am doomed." But her smile hasn't gone away for a moment as Mercy sits with Luke. She doesn't seem worried she may loose this. "So what do you recommend for," and her phone sounds. "Sorry," as she fishes it out. "I may have to get that lunch to go," wilts Mercy. "That's my number on the door at the shop. And I know this number. One of my regulars that won't get rid of their lemon of a first car." She picks it up, "Hey Tony. Yeah i'm close. You got twenty? I can get my lunch boxed up and head back ASAP. What is it this time?" She nods as he answers. "We'll see what we can do. I'm telling you she's close to throwing a rod though. See ya." She hangs up then. "Sorry about that Luke. I really am."