15111/Something's Fishy at Baltimore Bubbles

Something's Fishy at Baltimore Bubbles
Date of Scene:	05 June 2023
Location:	Baltimore Bubbles Laundromat
Synopsis:	Mike runs into Phoebe at a Baltimore laundromat to tend to clothes that have experienced mishaps
Cast of Characters:	Michael Hannigan, Phoebe Beacon
Tinyplot:	The Count of Monte Cristo

---

Michael Hannigan has posed:
If Family Feud surveyed 200 persons at random about best places to spend a Monday, a laundromat would likely not be on the chart. And if it was, there would likely be several minutes of audience laughter as the host slowly looks to the board and gives a disgusted face.

And yet, there are people at the Baltimore Bubbles Laundromat. Granted, there are plenty of available machines still available, but the sound of dryers and washers are very much the soundtrack for those reading magazines while seated in the few chairs available in the establishment.

With the laundromat being near the aquarium, Mike is soon to join them. Dressed down in his cheaper attire, the musician is definitely not here as his stage persona. The rather heavy set shopping bag with a clear hint of water droplets clinging to the sides, is likely another hint to that as well.

There's a loud chime as the musician opens the door and glances in.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Well. In all the laundromats, in all of Baltimore, you just had to walk into mi-- the one I'm currently using." comes a familiar voice.

    Phoebe was sitting to the side, her hair underneath a headwrap and hidden from view, sans make-up and wearing jeans with the knees shredded out, a Baltimore Orioles T-shirt with a vintage feel to it and a pair of converse sneakers. She looks pretty incognito.

    But she does crack a smile, looking up over the old issue of Home and Garden that she was purusing.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Hearing a familiar voice nowhere near he would be expecting it, Mike's head spins to look to the source. Recognizing Phoebe, a brow raises. "...And now I'm wondering if your family owns laundromats." Mike comments, stepping a bit closer so he's not too lound.

The smile is mirrored. "So what brings you here?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Look, he has a hand in like, everything in Gotham and Metropolis and half a hand in New York City. It wouldn't surprise me if this was in a portfolio someplace. I don't think even Bruce knows what all he owns." Phoebe's brow rises up as she looks up at the ceiling, and then back over to Mike, giving a half smile.

    "Came on Wayne business for a charity this morning, and then got hit by a paint bomb by a well-intentioned protester." she admits, rubbing the back of her head "How about you?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"Chaperoning a field trip to the aquarium." Mike answers, holding up the bag. "Inattentive teen, the touch pool and a white shirt." Answer given, Mike glances back towards the machines to scout out the available ones. "Currently they're in a spare shirt but it's a bit too big so- just need to get it dried."

He looks back to Phoebe, "A paint bomb huh? What were they protesting?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Wayne Enterprises' association with the military." Phoebe replies breezily, and she gives a small smile to Mike. "Who wears a white shirt to anything having to do with water? That's just asking for trouble. Poor girl." Phoebe gives a soft snort, and then tilts her head back, and offers her deposit card for the dryer.

    "Two years ago I might have been the protester, so I can't really judge."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"An inattentive one." Mike answers regarding the type of student who would choose that outfit. "And she probably didn't realize there were hands on water exhibits. So I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt at that part. Also, heat index. Might have been more thinking about the weather."

Mike glances down to the offered card. The bag lowers as Mike reaches his free hand to take it. "Thanks."

Moving to an available dryer closest to where the conversation is going on, Mike quickly makes work of the shirt. Once the machine is running, he heads back offering the card back.

"It's interesting how quickly one's point of view can change with just a few years." Mike comments, revisiting the protestor comment, "How would the two years ago Phoebe react to news that she'd eventually be on the receiving end?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Probably crying. I mean, two years ago by now I was being chased down by my cousin who was intent on killing me. I kinda had bigger fish at the time." Phoebe cracks another grin as she accepts her card back, and slips it into her denim pocket.

    "Lot has happened in two years." Phoebe admits, and rubs her left shoulder absently.

    "That shirt shouldn't take long to dry up. You running right back to the Aquarium when it's done?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike pauses to the mention of the cousin. He's momentarily tempted to ask if there was any connection to that old warehouse but that'd be hard to ask. Mainly because Gotham is full of warehouses Phoebe's probably been too and- there's been a lot of things trying to kill people in the past few years. "Never fun when family turns on you." Mike allows. "But-"

What nugget of wisdom is Mike going to gift the younger laundromat patron? Oh wise Hannigan. What says ye?!

Mike closes his mouth.

Moth-

When the topic switches back to the shirt, he glances over to the machine, seemingly confirming the machine is still running. "Yeah. So she can change back into it before the trip back. Don't think she's going to be wanting to be swimming in an oversized shirt on a school bus surrounded by her classmates. Although less running and more...shortcut."

What?

He already paid for admission.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "It's not." Phoebe agrees quietly, drawing her knee up and setting her chin on it.

    "Nah, poor girl probably already feels that unique mortification that only happens when you're between the ages of ten and twenty and you have a clothing malfunction or wear two different colored socks." She raises her hand up and flashes the 'rock on' horns.

    "I've got a year left of *that* nonsense, hey." she smiles.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike nods, "Yeah. No need to add on to all that. She's suffered enough as is. Although maybe down the line she'll find it a funny story." Mike pauses, head tilting in thought. "So, you have a year left in college?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "No. A year left of being not-twenty." Phoebe gives a slight smile. "Though I did test out of a number of classes. Thanks, extra training in all the medical stuff ever and tutoring from Tim." she gives a small smile, drawing her other leg back up.

    "I'm only nineteen, y'know? Just wrapped up my freshman-ish year. Though credits wise I'm almost-a-senior-ish-type." she gives another shrug, helpless "Basically I get to go until i hit medical school, and then it's medical school time until residency. I think. It was explained, but I was exhausted after fighting the night before."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Hearing the explanation Mike gives a nod. "Ah ok. That's why I was a bit confused. When you said one year left I was thinking school and I knew you weren't High school. But I didn't think you were that far along though."

Finding an available seat, Mike flops down into it, leaning back in the seat. "Pretty appropriate that you're going into medical. Although, are you going to take a break from your night job when you get to that point?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "That's an excellent question. Will I be allowed to take a break from the night job when I get put on rotation? Should I pursue a speciality that allows me to not be on-call overnights?" Phoebe asks, almost rhetorically, and then she gives a snort.

    "Robbie did say I should pursue my original idea. I wanted to be a pediatrician."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike considers the possibility, "Pediatrician sounds good. They're probably mainly daytime hours but you might get an overzealous first time parent calling you after hours from time to time."

The mention of the ghost rider gets a nod. "How're the two of you doing?

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Heh, I mean that's what I wanted to be when I was a kid. Right after being Batman and being a ninja -- wanted to do the Doctors without Boarders thing and then work my own practice in Gotham up." she gives a quiet 'hm' before she rubs at the back of her neck. She's still wearing that wide black choker collar.

    "We're good. He's taking care of some stuff that came up on his side of things, so we haven't had the chance to hang out." she replies, and then she lifts her phone, "but we keep in touch. How's your Monte Cristo going?"

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Hearing the general explanation of the kid dreams of becoming a doctor. "It's nice that it looks like you'll get to pursue something you wanted growing up. I'm glad for you." The musician smiles, "And that seems like a very nice profession to aim for."

When the conversation gets redirected to the movie, Mike pauses, "Well- We've done most of the principal shooting. We're in the sound production stage of it. Orchestral and vocal recordings. We got another field trip scheduled for one of our lighter sessions for the music study students to get a glimpse of the inside of a different style studio. And..." There's a momentary hesitation. "That's it for now... Oh. Remember our mutual friend who was looking into moving out of the city?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "How could I forget?" Phoebe asks, leaning her head back.

    "I offered to move him temporarily to the Curio. On the sly, of course, since I wear so..." she pauses, and her eyes open

    "...many..." she droops her shoulders slightly

    "... /masks/." she adds in a very low voice. Does anyone actually know Phoebe behind all the different versions she keeps up?

    "... it'd be safe for him there. The building doesn't like letting people in."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"His concern's going to be with his sister." Mike replies, "So-" He shrugs, "But I do have good news regarding him. It appears he and his sister got into the place I had him look into. So- with luck they'll both get to finish school without further problems."

Not likely.

"...Well, when problems pop up, they'll be near people who are quite capable of handling it."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "He's a weird one. One car chase, one encounter with a supernatural creature even my ancestors never encountered, and trying to get him to sell me drugs at a coffee house and weirdly he's met all of me." she mutters, and then shakes her head.

    "Glad he's getting out of the city, though. He freaking hates Gotham."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike nods. "Yeah. Gotham is... an acquired taste, I guess. Honestly with the exception of the last few months, my time living there were the best ones of my childhood." He folds his arms, giving a sigh as he glances to the dryer, "But, I'm guessing his distaste for Gotham is kind of a similar level I have for Hell's Kitchen. Thank God I ran into Rod at the hospital. Not sure I'd have liked living there much longer."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... maybe I just have a love of the broken places." Phoebe comments quietly. "Living in Hell's Kitchen felt like 'home'. Even after everything else." Phoebe's eyes drop, and then she waves her hand "Aah but you don't wanna hear the obnoxious whining of a teenage girl when there's a younger more helpless teenage girl in a borrowed shirt somewheres."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
"It wasn't the place itself that made me hate it." Mike responds, shaking his head, "It was the people around me. Gotham was kinder. But... different experiences, different opinions."

Mike pulls out his phone to check the time. "Eh, she's probably still watching the Dolphin show at the moment. We'll wait until after all the splashing's done before we let her change back. The shirt we loaned her is mostly black with rainbow frogs on it so she just looks like a tourist. So, we've got time."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    DING.

    Phoebe hops up, and she checks a dryer, poking at some of the clothing to make sure it's all there.

    "You and the shirt have time. Me? I'm sure there's somewhere I'm needed somewhere other than Baltimore." she states, and looks down at her Orioles T-shirt.

    "... though this is hella amusing, not gonna lie." she adds, and then rolls her shoulder, rolls the now clean garment (that being it was a Wayne event is probably very expensive) under her arm, and offers a fist-dap to Mike.

    "Catch you around."