14941/Central Park Meet-Up and Blues

Central Park Meet-Up and Blues
Date of Scene:	17 May 2023
Location:	Central Park
Synopsis:	On a rainy day, Phoebe, Detective Chimp and Michael Hannigan enjoy some music and conversation.
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Detective Chimp, Michael Hannigan

---

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    It's a drizzly day in Manhattan. The gray clouds swirling off the Atlantic cause the city to be cloaked in damp gray, driving many indoors to warmer and drier persuits.

    Meanwhile, under one of the many pedestrian bridges in Central Park, someone's set up a temporary camp. The sound of acoustic guitar hums its way along the paths as a person sitting on an upside-down milk crate strums along to -- appropriately -- Bridge over Troubled Water. Though she's wearing Second Hand Chic, and a do-rag over her head, those who are In The Know would be able to feel Phoebe's presence, wreathed with the smoke of a cheap cigarette clinging between her lips as she looks over notebooks, laid out before her in an array of different notes.

    Her eyes seemed distant, somewhere between Simon and Garfunkle and Ancient Khemet.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp has been told Phoebe is one of the people he needs to talk to about a recent case he has gotten. So, Chimp set off to find the young lady. The first day out turned out that she was going to be a bit harder to find than he first assumed. So after a few days of looking he has found his most current lead. Maybe he should have called Bruce and asked him, he surely has lojacked the Robins by now, and while she may not be a Robin she is close enough. But no, he took the legit way, good to keep the skills sharp after all. So now there is a short guy walking up to the bridge area. He has his collar up against the rain, deerstalker cap covering his head, but it is Chimp, the fur, and smell of cigars a dead give away.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike has his share of strengths and weaknesses. As far as mystics are concerned, he's not quite as well tuned to the presence of other mystics. Some could argue that for being a massive weakness but, with the right spin, weaknesses can be considered strengths. For instance in this case-

...

Ok in this case it's still a weakness. But the what the musician lacks in that sense, he makes up for with his sense of hearing. Combined with the curiousity factor, it is enough to make the second hand clothing wearing musician wander on down to the underside of the bridge. A hand slides into his pocket as he approaches, glancing around for an open case.

"Sounds good." He greets.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The hard case behind the musician is closed. She's not playing for tips, but she gives a slight smile, plucking the cigarette from her lips and pinches the cherry off, letting it land in a muddle in front of her.

    "Not bad for 'learned to play campfire songs'." Phoebe gives a smile as she draws her gaze up to Mike, and offers a fist bump.

    "Imagine running into you here, Mike? Of all the bridges, in all the city, you had to come to... the one that I'm currently occupying because I chose the wrong day to get outta Gotham for the day." she jokes, and she pauses, tilting her head back a moment as she regards the shorter figure haunting the bridge area, and she shrugs one shoulder.

    "How goes it? Fully recovered from all the fast food at Batburger?" she asks with a rueful little smile to Mike.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp will continue walking up to the couple, he offers a nod to each in turn and is quiet for now. He does not want to interrupt at least not yet. He will shake his shoulders a bit before he gets to them to shed some of the rain, and pulls out a flask taking a sip to help shake off the cold. He offers it to see if either want a sip, even if it is after a chimp.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Once Phoebe speaks, Mike, pulls his hand out of his pocket. The hands are notably empty. Seeing the presented fist, Mike smirks slightly before stepping over to follow suit. When the odds of meeting are brought up, he tilts his head in thought, "Well, the odds are better than if you had instead decided to practice in one of the Gotham parks. Especially since I live around here."

Getting a sense Phoebe is looking to something else, Mike starts to turn his head. "Oh yes. I didn't order as many burgers as you guys did." Seeing Detective Chimp come up Mike nods to him. "Hey, how're you doing?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "The things I do in competition. Makes me feel like I'm *actually* a sibling." Phoebe confides in Mike quietly, and she gives a raised a hand after fist-dapping Mike in greeting.

    "Detective Chimp. Now it's a regular party." she gives a small grin, and almost reaches for the flask, and then drops her hand.

    Bad Pheeb. No booze when you've gotta drive, right?

    "Yeah, last time I practiced guitar in a Gotham park, I had to retrieve it from forty feet up in the Hanging Tree." she explains.

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp shrugs at neither taking the flask, and takes another swig before putting the cap on it and putting it away "Well, not so sure, about a party, am here more on a case, need to talk to you at some point when you have some free time." He tells her. The little info he has tells him she may not want to talk about this with others about and he is giving her that out. "You know Mich here? He is a pretty good guy to have around has a few useful skills." He says nodding again to Michael. "I'm doing pretty good, even if I had to listen to some cat complaining about the rain on my way here. " Did Chimp mean some guy or an actual cat. Who knows.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike tilts his head, "That's because you ARE a sibling. Having the same blood's not a requirement." The mention of the guitar's fate in Gotham gets a bit of a blink. "End result of a prank or things gone wrong?"

When Detective Chimp speaks up, the musician looks back to him. The mention of the skills gets a slight chuckle. "She's aware of some of them." He offers up, glancing between the two. "I think the three of us ended up working together for an event awhile ago."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "What, you, the Detective, and the Cat? Tell me more." Phoebe gives a wry grin to Mike as she strums the guitar a moment.

    "Incident with a speeding car." she states in regards to her poor guitar, which has been patched up.

    "And yeah, at least one incident with the Demon Metal Lizards at the Devil's Chair comes to mind." she purses her lips, going between Mike and Chimp.

    "So... uh... what... brings you two to the bridge?"

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp looks over and says "Well, as I said, was looking to speak to you, about a doubleganger." He clarifies a bit more than he did earlier, and puffs his cigar. He smirks and lets the other two joke around, but does not seem any more dour than he normally is tonight.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike rolls his eyes, but he leaves it be. "Let me give you some professional advice then. Guitars work better if you don't hit cars with them."

When Phoebe brings up the demon lizards, he nods. "That's the one. For me, I followed the music. I was partly expecting to find someone busking."

Mike considers Detective Chimp for a moment and looks to Phoebe, "How about I take a walk so you two can discuss matters?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "It's all right, Mike. You already know some of what went on." Phoebe states, and she looks a little nervous. "-- but maybe, Detective -- emet me at the Curio tonight? I have a couple of odds and ends to go through. I was waiting for Constantine, but... his wife makes me Hella Nervous." she explains to the chimp, and then leans back a moment, looking to Mike.

    "Guitars work better when they're not flung into the air to protect them, too." she replies in an amused tone. "Just like cars work better when you don't flying heel kick a guy for threatening the butler."

Detective Chimp has posed:
Detective Chimp 's brow raises a bit and says "I think you should have let the butler kick his ass." He offers seems he may know said butler. "Can do, and I get a long with most folks in the community but I understand what ya mean." He then stops, and puts a hand to his ear, and says "If you will excuse me, I need to check into some things.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike tilts his head. "His wife?" He pauses, not really being fully on the loop of the lives of the mystics he's run into. But, a bit of reflection allows for him to come up with one possibility. "Is it Meggan?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe, unfortunately, is relatively up to date. She's actually surprised she hasn't been sent pictures, mildly, but it might have slipped someone's mind.

    "Yeah. He's married to and has a kid with Granddaughter-of-the-Presence herself. We don't get on well, but that's relatively one-sided. Kinda happens when someone flips their shit and traps two people in their worst nightmares for a month of mental time." Phoebe, as Chimp walks off, withdraws a crumpled pack of cheap cigarettes and withdraws one. She extracts a BIC lighter with King Tut's mug -- the actual Pharoah, not the wanna-be bad guy -- and she lights her cigarette. She takes a deep inhale, and when she exhales it's all peacock blue and rose-gold sparkles.

    "But pretty sure she forgets I exist. Kinda like that one movie, y'know? 'For you this was a life-shaping event. For me it was Tuesday.'"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike blinks to the lengthy title and description. "Ah. Uh, I just call her Meggan." He lifts up his hand, scratching the back of his head. "...Although I guess that explains some things. For what it's worth I'm sure if you've worked with her before that she knows that you exist in some sense. Just not all the details of the interactions are readily available. It's just a lot of shit to keep track of. Some of those memories have to be stored in the attic."

He pauses, considering things. "... Although I don't think she's ever made me nervous."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe shrugs.

    "Pretty sure she'd prefer if I didn't. If I didn't keep healing Constantine's demon's lungs maybe they would have seen him sooner. Or he would have collapsed into a heap of rapidly dissolving necrotic bodyparts and puss. The fuck do I know. I'm just some kid with demonic piecemeal who people remember exists when a Titan needs to regrow a spleen or someone gets so mind-cursed they drop into a coma." Phoebe states, and she drops her head a moment.

    "No, no that's bull and I know it. The people who know me know I matter and I deserve the same I show others." she mumbles, calling herself out on the statement.

    "She should make you nervous. She even scares Constantine, but I think he just gets a... rise outta it."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The musician nods quietly as Phoebe speaks out, offering no interjection. Despite the silence, the pale eyes doesn't leave the younger being. Upon the cessation of the words, a pregnant pause sits between the two.

...

Mike shifts over, leaning near a support before looking back to Phoebe. "Well. That certainly is a lot to unpack, isn't it?" He comments, "Regarding what should or shouldn't be. I'm not very good on following through on expectations. If I was, I should be dead by now. But. I'm not. Also, I think a quirk of what I am makes me a little less sensitive to certain things than you and Constantine." He chuckles, "I'm guessing that's probably one reason why Chas was giving me weird looks after I told him about my conversation with Nya-" He pauses, remembering the whole name rule. "-nevermind. Uh. Anyways. I don't sense things like you guys do."

He brings his hands up, making a rewind motion with his fingers, "Either way, let's back it up to the other stuff you mentioned. You are correct. You do matter to others and I'm glad you recognize that."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Oh man if everyone was dead who was supposed to be dead the Justice League and Avengers would have 'HELP WANTED' signs on their doors my man. All the *time*. You know how often I should be 'dead'? I've got a revolving door. Even if I TRIED Death would probably be like 'nah fam, you've still got time on the rock'." Phoebe expresses her frustration, and she grumpily takes another couple puffs.

    "One: Chas abandoned me when I needed him most. So whatever look he gave you when discussing Nya-whole-name I can probably empathize because of all people The Batman was the only one to say 'I'm going to supervise you because you're a danger to yourself'. Not one of the people who wanted me to call him Dad." Phoebe remarks quietly, and she plays a couple absent minded chords on her guitar.

    "I mean, you've got someone who calls you out on bullshit, right? Seems like everyone does."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The smile that formed when chuckling fades as Mike considers the question. "Yes...Right now that'd be mostly Wade. We kind of...inherited each other. I try to do the same for him but lord knows he's got the lion's share of the work."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... not... a guy that wears a red outfit, right?" Phoebe inquires, and she makes a face, looking both surprise dand peturbed and a little disturbed about the idea forming in her head.

    "Because if he's got the lion share of that work I'm really curious about what your /life/ is like."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike gives Phoebe a look, which likely mirrored the one previously mentioned. "Wade Shaw." He clarifies, before adding more information just in case that's not enough. "Of Shaw Studios. We were in Silver Round together and now he manages..."

Too much detail.

"He prefers blue shirts."

Way too much detail.

"...No."

Better.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe's eyebrows go up higher and higher with each pause, and she purses her lips at the 'no'.

    And then the serious expression on her face breaks. She grins, removing the cig from her mouth and pinching off the cherry again to cast the lit bit of tobacco and paper into a puddle. Her shoulders give little shakes, and she grins brightly because her head tilts back and she just laughs at poor Wade Shaw.

    "Sorry, sorry, that's just... that's one of the best explainations, I think, I've ever received!" she laughs, wiping at her eyes with her left hand.

    "Wade Shaw. I hope he gets all the help he can."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike opens his mouth, starting to nod before he pauses, eyes narrowing at Phoebe. There's another pause but at least this is not followed up with a biographical summary of his friend or continued description of the man's clothing preferences.

"Well, I'm not sure about help with my quirks, but the s-"

HIT THE BRAKES.

"He's got help with other things."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Mike, it's twenty-twenty-three. I'm nineteen. If you don't come out and say something I'm going to think that you're probably 'spending quality time'" she air-quotes that, and Phoebe's eyebrows draw up even as her eyes lid. "And considering the amount of friends I have who are either positively spetacularly unsingle with a member of the same gender or otherwise, it would neither surprise me nor shock me." she picks out the beginning of Desperado on her guitar.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
And that leads to Mike's brows to widen.

FINE.

DETAIL AWAY.

"NO." Mike responds quickly, "That's NOT happening. He's the closest thing to a living brother I got now. That'd be like me suggesting something between you and Tim."

And they're both aware about how much Phoebe likes that assumption.

Mike sighs, "I was just trying not to overshare. I doubt you needed a detailed list of what problems are being dealt with or anything of that nature."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Yeah, the only reason that made me choke on my drink is because there's still a number of people who think there /is/." Phoeb gives a slightly sheepish smile. "And two years ago I woulda been wishing there was, admittedly, but that would have been /so bad/." she gives a little smile, kicking one foot out a little bit.

    "Look, you're already mildly pulled into the bullshittery that is my waking life, Mike. I may not be the strongest, wisest, or most competant mage on the block, but if there's a way I can help, I'd like to?" she asks, her eyes squinting slightly as she looks up to the shadows under the bridge.

    "You've shown up for me when I needed you."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Oh."

Well that example backfired.

"-Oh. Well, I don't think there was ever a point where either of us considered that. Although I'm sure there are some fans th- I'm redirecting because I can see the gutter from here with that topic path."

The offer of help is not ignored but the musician takes a moment to consider it. "...I don't think there's really much currently going on with me that you could help with beyond maybe the occasional conversation. Well..."

There is a change to the tone as the conversation redirects, the musician contemplating another situation. "Actually, you remember Caleb from the coffee shop, and batburger, right?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Rule thirty-four, Mike. If it exists --" Phoebe comments merrily, "which is why I do *not* look up any fan stories related to anyone in my family." she looks around, and pulls out another milk crate. She drops it down so that Mike can have a seat.

    "Keep in mind I'm also a healer, a talented exorcist, and a tattoo artist." she repeats the opening strains of Desperado again, and gives a small smile. "But even if it's a late night coffee gab to sort some thoughts, I'm down for it." she offers, and she gives a soft hum.

    "Yeah. He's going to find himself in a world of shit if he doesn't get his rear in gear and get his dad and sister out of Gotham, from what I understand, but I've been wrong before."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Late night coffee grab," Mike repeats, "Yeah, that one I'm likely to do. Sometimes some face time is all you need to make a shit day okay."

He folds his arms as Phoebe pretty much sums up what he's going to to bring up. "From what I've gotten that's pretty much an on the ball assessment. Whoever he's running away from does not appear to be above hurting family to get what they want. And he's very family motivated. Wade and I are trying to find a secure place that can handle both him and his sister but the age difference is causing for an issue. My concern is if we don't find a spot, what's going to happen is the sister, and possibly the father get relocated and Caleb ends up getting killed or arrested before he can get out. Which I'm not finding to be an agreeable option."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Caleb is also super against applying for any help through a Wayne foundation, our first conversation kinda almost made me wanna smack him, but I remember being like that." Phoebe admits as she tilts her head back a moment. "And I can't just flat-out tell him that I would just... pay for a place until he can get back on his feet. Away. He feels like he has to deal with the mob on his own which, lemmie tell you -- horrible idea, really, unless you've got the training." she states in thought.

    "He doesn't seem to care for me much."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"I don't know." Mike replies, looking over to Phoebe, "He seemed to care enough to break bread with you at the Batburger. Also, I might be reaching or projecting but I can kind of see the reluctance. Ask for help enough times without getting it and you eventually learn to stop asking for it and to not depend on it. It's a really hard habit to break. Trust is hard to build up once it's gone. And that also applies to institutions. Whiiiich the Wayne foundation is."

Mike sighs, "Doesn't make his refusal of help any less stupid though. I've introduced him to someone who isn't shy about pointing that out. Maybe she'll get through to him where I can't."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I was investigating him for selling drugs on campush--" Phoebe states, "Which is how I found the connection to the mob. Pushing drugs for them's a dangerous business. You tend to get hit with Bats." Phoebe leans over and retrieves a water bottle, and sips thoughtfully.

    "And taser bullets. Tend to get hit with taser bullets too. Electrified staves. Sticks. Fists." she's quiet for a minute as she seems to chew on that thought.

    "Oh? Who's that? Anyone I know."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
The mention of dealing gets a frown from Mike. Although, that would explain his being on the set that time Caleb got discovered. "A student at Happy Harbor." Mike admits, "I don't know if you know her, but once you see her, you won't forget her. She's- Well, bigger than me, probably could throw me across a football field and doesn't take kindly to people causing problems for her school. And she's got a knack for saying what she's thinking. No sugar coating. Which is probably what Caleb needs. Brutal honesty."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "mm. By someone more interested in the /honesty/ than the /brutality/ hopefully." Phoebe remarks quietly, and she leans her chin on her fingers, her lips pursing as her eyebrows rise up.

    "Definitely a quality I like in people... the honesty part. The Brutality not so much. A lot of people just wanna be mean without consequence."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Well, she's a bit rough around the edges. She's had a rough start. But cruelty is not her nature." Mike surmises, "And well, as you've said, everyone need someone who can call them out on their bullshit. I think she's properly equipped for that. Also she's closer in age to him so she might be able to connect with him a bit better."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Good call. Nice to have people call you on the bullshit. Even better when they can fling people across football fields. I would pay money to see that. As long as a safe landing is provided, /of course/." Phoebe gives a wry little smile over to Mike, and then breathes out.

    "So, what else do we both have going on?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike pauses, "Other than the Caleb thing... Not too much. We're in the music production stage of the movie process so that's mainly rehearsals and recording sessions. The school was short on chaperones for a few events so I'm doing that as well. Working on some new song ideas. But- other than that it's been-"

He almost said it.

"Well, I'd be jinxing us if I sad the rest of that statement."

He looks over to Phoebe, "And you?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Thinking my time in the Batfam might be coming to an end. Half the reason why Batman brought me in was because my mental state was kinda set to 'Self Destruct'. Plus side, means a return to my private life and can concentrate on college and Rrreeegular life." Phoebe's eyes go wide at that, and she purses her lips and taps her fingers.

    "... and it's kinna obvious I'm seeing someone, so. Y'know. There's that. I get to be a normal nineteen year old with like.. a date sometimes."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Well, good luck with college and trying to appear normal. Whatever that is." Mike chuckles, "So how's Robbie doing by the way?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "College is so weird. Everyone runs on stress and coffee." Phoebe remarks, sipping from her water bottle again, and she gives a smile, her ears darkening a little bit before she tilts her head back.

    "Ah, he's been busy with his night work. And his day work. And his brother, but he's doin' good. We usually kinda drive around after night work and sometimes eat carry-out super late at night." Phoebe gives a small nod, "Totally normal young people things. The demons thing was a minor bump is all."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"College sounds a lot like the Entertainment industry." Mike observes, "Only sometimes the coffee is replaced with hot tea and bottled water. Good to hear you guys are finding time to spend together even with the busy schedules. Although, considering the number of demon things encountered, you might need to be more specific than that."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I can't even imagine what goes into the coffee with you guys. Y'all're nuts." Phoebe gives a wry grin to Mike, and she smiles, tilting her head back a bit as she stretches her fingers out.

    "It's true. I do run into an awful lot of demons." she states, and then reaches back to grab her case.

    "Speaking of running into things, though, I should probably head back to Gotham to get ready for my night work."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"I usually don't add anything to mine. My nuttiness is just natural."

...

Shifting his weight, Mike steps forward away from the support, the arms unfolding. "Well, have a nice commute to work then. I probably should head on home as well. Only so much sleep time before the next round of rehearsals and recordings. Take care Phoebe."