14432/Pho Gotham Worries

Pho Gotham Worries
Date of Scene:	16 March 2023
Location:	Pho Gedda Bout It
Synopsis:	The Furiae go to Gotham to talk some and try some Gotham noodles in a rare break from a mission.
Cast of Characters:	Jemma Simmons, Jane Foster, Daisy Johnson

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Jemma Simmons has posed:
It seemed like a good idea at the time. At least, that is what Jemma keeps telling herself.

Well, with the Trisk being rather limited in terms of sights and atmosphere, the idea to actually go somewhere else, anywhere else really, to have some down time and just enjoy company seemed to be a good plan. Broaden the horizons. Take in some sights.

It did seem like a good idea at the time.

So, the customary texts were sent. And a location picked. Completely random. After all, how often do the trio really go to Gotham? And, while the sights may be a little less than thrilling, it certainly beats the bland walls of the Trisk. And atmosphere? Oh, Gotham is absolutely rotten with atmosphere.

Figuratively and nearly literally.

The Thai restaurant certainly has atmosphere. Even the monochromatic decor is a treat to behold. No idea on the food, but if it tastes half as good as the restaurant looks, they should be in for a treat.

"Is this okay? I don't usually get out beyond New York much, unless we are on a mission."

Yes...Jemma is a bit of a recluse, from time to time.

Jane Foster has posed:
Noodles. Is that too much to ask for? Jane needs a bowlful of them for no reasons other than the calorie count would be welcome after a long, long week.

A long year. Maybe a long lifespan of un-living.

She throws back the delicious tea they offer as soon as they are seated, and the smile for Jemma burns with luminous intensity: "You realize I'll eat anywhere as long as the company is good. You're both all I need here."

Facts, all in all.

She nonetheless gives a gentle nudge to Jemma to encourage her all the same, shucking her camel-hued trenchcoat over her arm. Today she's dressed in a French style; blue stripes, slim jeans, enviably unaging. Only because the clock stopped.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
When in Gotham? Be a Gothamite.

Maybe that's why Daisy is arriving with a ball cap on her head. The logo? The Gotham Sirens. Admittedly perhaps a touch dangerous to be waving such around but if they are the Furiae aren't the Sirens the Gotham Furiae? .... Sort of? As for the rest of her clothing, jeans, a sweat shirt. A nice leather jacket. She almost doesn't look like a tourist.

"Ooooh yea, it's Pho Gotham time..." She rubs her hands together and nudges Jemma with an elbow when she asks if the place is ok. "It's great! Think we need a bit of this after all the ..., dark elves in our lives." she frowns a bit.

"This isn't where you brought Fitz, is it?" innocent question there. Not loaded at all.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
With both Jane and Daisy nudging, Jemma takes the hint. Yes, this place is just fine. "Okay, okay! I get the hint!" The tone is amusement, at the very least. Jemma is not offended at all at the physical prompting from the two of them. "It is that usually Daisy does the food selections. This was more trusting in the internet search engines to find something...and you know how easy it is to manipulate an algorithm."

And, despite the innocence of the question from Daisy, Jemma shoots her a smirk and a shake of the head. "One, I know what you are doing, Ms Johnson. And two, you know Fitz is a creature of habit. It would have been New York, if anywhere." Not to mention that it wasn't Jemma suggesting a place last time...but Fitz. But that's something that didn't need to be mentioned.

In the trio go, to locate a table. "Dark elves. Genetic bombs. Multiple reasons to step away for at least a moment or two."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
The cap comes off when they are properly inside the restaurant now, Daisy running her hand through her hair and letting out a sigh. "If it was up to him it would had been a meal in the Lab tent..." she grumbles briefly and then just shrugs ever-so-innocently when Jemma mentions she knows what Daisy is doing. Then a faint smile.

"Or three." She admits with a sigh, spinning the ball cap on a finger while they find a place to sit. When they finally do she relaxes a little. "Of course that you went and chose Gotham..." beat, "And what can go wrong in Gotham and having quiet dinners?"

Everything, if one believes the vigilante per capita ratio in this city!

"You should had brought Blackagar, Jane."

Jemma Simmons has posed:
"Oh, yes. There is the criminal element, isn't there?"

It really seems that Jemma didn't consider that part of the equation at all. She seems...rather non-plussed by the whole notion of a supervillian walking through the door or something similar. "I mean, I doubt there isn't anything that we three could not handle. I mean, considering the specific set of abilities between the three of us, I sincerely doubt that we would have much trouble at all."

An observant person, such as Jane and Daisy both are, would note that Jemma did not exclude herself in that particular commentary. It would seem that Jemma is getting more and more comfortable to the concept of a (somewhat) super-powered biochemist. Not that Jemma talks a lot about that aspect at all.

Like, never.

"Oh, though Blackagar would have been delightful. It might have convinced Fitz to leave his security tent." A parting shot to her lab partner? Of course....all the more easier when the statement is true.

Jane Foster has posed:
Jane checks her phone briefly when the screen pings and demands a reply or two. Nothing like monitoring her social media channels, though someone typically has that role on her support team. Nothing like verifying a response and getting a secondary line of support to ensure that she doesn't mess up in public.

Her hands lace together after slip-sliding the phone into her back pocket. "Sorry about that, I hate the interruptions, but sometimes work pops up unexpectedly."

Gotham is too much of an intriguing place not to admire though, the promise of soup and noodles too delicious not to turn down. Her voice rises in a laugh. "I should have. He enjoys our cuisine and exploring more of it. It would be a good option, given I pulled him away from work on a semi-permanent basis. So the more opportunities the better, as far as getting out goes."

She smiles despite herself, brushing her dark hair off her face. Daisy may be teasing and she receives that positively enough, unable to resist tugging gently on her necklace. "The next dark elf I see, I may slap out of habit. That makes me a terrible person. Can Fitz draw up something for us that just stops them from being awful? You know he'd be up for the challenge."

She skims over the menu, laughing under her breath.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"And what do we say to work?" This Daisy asks of Jane. Sorta rhetorically to be honest because she answers it right after, "Not today!" a beat, "Or at least not the next hour..." she sighs. One hour lunch breaks? Sounds about right. But Daisy is going to make the most of it. But the talk about Blackagar gets a grin going, "Jane. You have a mission, get me to see Blackagar wearing an apron. Or cooking. A picture would do. But would prefer live..."

Maybe she is working on some blackmail towards the Inhuman King! Max would love it for his campaign ...

As for the dark elves. "That's just their nature. Though the one we saved seemed .., sort of ok. A bit of a prick, but he had a cat so he gets a pass." she says with a raise of her shoulders.

That talk from Jemma certainly doesn't go unnoticed so Daisy leans forward on the table, elbows on it. "How are you adjusting to your powers? Any side-effects? Have you felt much difference ..? Besides the obvious.." some concern in her tone. Because considering the problems she had with her own powers it's only natural she worries.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
The powers question gets answered first. "Actually, adjusting rather well, considering. It really is rather subtle, the biokinesis. I didn't notice it in the beginning because, well, it is manipulation of biochemical elements. Which, really, is what I normally do anyways. Though, in retrospect, I could have been more cognizant of it, since my research did proceed easier than expected for certain aspects. I was altering chemical bonds on a subconscious level and the change was minute enough to where it did not tax my physiology. It was only after I realized what was happening and began to test limits that I noticed the tether between the size of the reaction and the drain to my own body."

Way to go, Daisy. Getting Jemma to wax scientific on what was supposed to be a casual lunch. It is only after a moment of silence does Jemma realize she is talking too much shop and clears her throat. "Hmm, yes, well, we shouldn't worry about that now, should we?"

Classic redirection of conversation from Jemma. Back to the dark elf issue. "A dark elf that is 'sort of okay?'" Jemma even does the air quotes for effect. "Are you just giving him a pass because of the cat?" Because, knowing Daisy, that is exactly the reasoning. "I mean, if a cat can tolerate him, then I suppose that would be the litmus test for tolerability. We all know the finnicky nature of the standard housecat."

Jane Foster has posed:
"Not today," Jane replies, though the issue is that her heart really doesn't believe that. Work, then again, defines her and probably chases her around by the tail. No point in telling them she's literally doing it /right/ now. Emma Frost would have a fit seeing all those echoes coming and going.

"You could just come over for dinner, the pair of you, and your better self. You do realize he and I have lived together long enough that the kitchen is essentially his domain?"

Because why interrupt success when the man clearly excels in smoking, grilling, baking, boiling, and not setting things on fire? Yes, lots of blackmail beyond the cryo pod hidden in the palace and the Genetic Council losing its very mind over her existence and influence. Max, bad!

Notice Max hasn't questioned her while she holds That Hammer. Maybe that needs to happen.

"It's beyond their nature, Daisy. I am certainly well aware of the way the majority think. I've /been/..." No more to be said there. Of course she's been among them, she was aboard a certain ship and also pillaging minds. "I care not to experience the hatred in that hive mind, for while Ms. Zatarra spared me from the worst, I still ended up stuck in the foul poison of it. Try to scrub myself clean." She glances at Jemma hopefully. A diversion!

"The cat is the mastermind," she adds. But talking science still remains relevant. "You do know where your limits lie when you are making those incremental adjustments, I hope? Have you pushed yourself too far?"

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Fingerguns Jemma's way. "Exactly!" Daisy grins, "If the cat tolerates him then it means he's not -too- bad. But Jane's right that it goes beyond nature. They have that connection of minds, a network where they share and talk between themselves. It's fascinating but also very, very disturbing..." she admits with a slow shake of her head.

"Yes." This said at Jane when she speaks of going chez Jane for dinner. "I will even bring Matt. Make it happen. Next week?" plans are already being made apparently.

"And Jemma your mission, if you choose to accept it, will be to drag Fitz along too. This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds..." quoting Mission Impossible? Daisy is such a nerd.

Jemma talking about all those details about her powers would be sleep-inducing for a less worried Daisy, but in this case she absorbs it, even nods. And Jane's question seems to be what's in her mind too. "It's important to know your limits. Or do you want us to get some limiting gauntlets strapped on your hands too?" like they did to Daisy!