15415/Some have No Style

Some have No Style
Date of Scene:	20 July 2023
Location:	Red Rose Cafe
Synopsis:	Thomas Blake invites Phoebe to a pre-gala lunch to follow up on the assassination attempt thwarted by Superboy (Jon Kent) and Scout (Gabby Kinney). her civilian friend Lindsay comes along for lunch. Nothing goes as expected.
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Blake, Phoebe Beacon

---

Thomas Blake has posed:
The Red Rose cafe has seen a few brawls. This was not a brawl, it was a one man war. The man was Catman and that explains a lot. He and another patron are standing, the rest are laid out. At the moment the door opens he decks the six foot six behemoth, who needs a little push to topple over.

Catman walks over to the barkeep, "Scotch, straight." The barkeep goes about setting him up.

"Word is... you're a good guy. That you left town scared of the Bat." He slides a drink over.

"If that's the case... you aren't the Bat. Neither were they, all together. This is not about good or bad," he says taking a sip.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    It may have seen more than a few brawls, but it was supposed to be a nice, good restaurant for dates, lunches, and the kind that was supposed to be where you could flash a WAYNE card and get a seat ahead of a reservation.

    And Phoebe had arrived with a friend from university, both wearing sundresses, Phoebe sporting aviators and her hair wrapped in a bright headscarf. Her friend, blonde and brown-eyed, looks to Thomas, looks to Phoebe, and squeaks out "Well at least your friends know how to clear a room!"

    DRAMATIC PAUSE.

    "Ohmigod is he your new bodyguard?!"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake gets off the stool. The barkeep doesn't start breathing till the cat-suited man walks away from him. He's very glad Phoebe came. The gift cards, invites and other bait he put out cost him some money. By way of greeting he walks up the Phoebe and gives her a hug the lifts her off the floor, putting her down gently. He raises an eyebrow to the friend then pulls her into the hug, lifting both off the floor.

"I'm glad you're all right. I came when I heard. I was doing some detective work. Oh." He sets them down and extends a hand to the friend. Hello, I'm Thomas Blake."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "No no no no--" Phoebe begins, squeaking as she's lifted up off the ground, her arms going stiff as she really contains herself, taking a deep breath and holding it as she flails inside. That tattoo on her left wrist glows as she struggles -- and when the friend is also lifted she gives a squeal of delight and throws an arm around Thomas!

    "I'm fine! It's all fine. Superboy stopped the thing from happening. It won't happen again, he's in jail!" Phoebe squeaks as she's set down, teetering on her heels slightly.

    The friend, however, seems SUPER ENTHUSED.

    "Ohmigod Hi My Name Is Lindsay Callahan And I'm Phoebe's Bestie From College hiiiii!" she states in a slight Southern accent, and bounces a little.

    "Isn't that the coolest?! Phoebe always gets into some weird stuff and she gets saved by some famous heroes but she's never been shot at before!" she squeaks.

    And Phoebe just gives a flat expression, looking to Thomas.

    "I see you've been working out."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake shrugs. "I thought these guys might know something. As it is the streets will know you have a high friend in low places. Superheroes can't be everywhere... you don't like my hugs. Ok. Not going to ask why. I think your friend wants another as she has me by the neck. And somehow manages to bounce." He obliges Lindsay. lifting her off her feet again. He whispers to Phoebe, "I said, next time someone gives you a problem, they're going to have to deal with me and Auntie's steady." He looks ceilingward. Maybe he means a flying man, or someone really large.

"Sweetie are you letting me go or am I going to have to tote you the whole meal?" he asks Lindsay. "Affectionate little thing. Aren't you?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
R    "Pretty sure my bodyguard and Superboy handled it perfectly. You can't be everywhere at once -- Linds, let the Catman go."

    "Nnoooooooo. You have a hot boytoy!"

    Phoebe's shoulders level out, and she raises her hand to the back of her head.

    Lindsay blinks. She releases Catman with a 'sorry, later!' and awkwardly reaches to put a hand on Phoebe's shoulder.

    "He's still cool, he punched that jerk-ass lawyer in the face." she states, and then goes "oh hey! We should... ah.. probably sit down. So that he can have a drink. Drinks! do they have Margs?"

    "... this is Italian, Lindsay." Phoebe corrects.

    "Right right -- BELLINI TIME! Bring me a bucket of bellini!"

    And Phoebe just :| to Thomas Blake.

    "She's a biological engineer. She just likes to be blonde when we're not in class."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake steps over a few people and holds chairs out for Phoebe and Lindsay. "Nice. Former felon, actor, producer on theme of the Crime, currently attempting writing. I have a computer to help me with the big words." He gets his drink brought over and mouths "later?" to Lindsay with a wink. Phoebe's friend hits the gym. Nothing wrong with that.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Phoebe's just jealous that I can do biolocial chemistry composition breakdowns and balancing in my head and she fell asleep during the tutor notes session." Lindsay gives a bright smile, and sits down in a chair.
    "So wait, you're a bad guy, but you're... a good guy, kinda, now?" she questions, looking over the flattened-out various people who tried to remove or convince Thomas to remove himself from the place. She raises her eyebrows a moment.

    Phoebe breathes out. "It's true. I fell asleep that lesson and it doesn't stick. Thank goodness I want to go into pediatrics and not pharmacy."

    "I'm gonna be SUCH A GOOD pharmacist!" Linds replies, dancing in her chair a little bit, and just gives a wink to Thomas.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake doffs the mask, displaying the rest of the goods, red hair, green eyes. He says, "I'm a man who did some bad things and went to jail for it. I did my time, got a pardon for my work during the Invasion. I don't know how good or bad I am. Phoebe's my friend and helped me and I don't like the idea of some skel trying to hurt her. Is that sufficient? I want these people to know Phoebe is a friend. I will take threats very seriously to her... Does she do that every time 'pharmacist' is mentioned? Pharmacist!" he asks indicating Lindsay.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Hey, I took that class on classical conditioning -- does the name Pavlov ring a bell, or would that only work if you were a dog-man?" Lindsay jokes brightly, accepting peach bellini in a very large glass, and Phoebe -- apparently a common fixture here, accepts fizzy water with a slice of lime.

    "Phoebe kinda had to get adopted. I mean, the poor girl! House burns down, then she's kidnapped, and rescued by like, GCPD and SHIELD, and then she has to leave Gotham and finished school in NYC and got stuck there for like, Eeevveeerrrr and then came back to Gotham and fast-tracked through half the Frosh classes before we can even find out why?" Lindsay states, her arms spreading out wide. "She's smart! And I mean, has great taste in men, obviously."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake shakes his head. "I'm the kind of guy you wake up next to and think maybe you made a mistake -but it takes three or four more tries to make sure. I'm not Phoebe's type. But she helped me through some rough spots. I'm glad to help her if I can. But she's a definite catch. As for me... I'm not just strong and good looking. I'm fast too..." He snuffs the candle on the table in a blink. You can't make assumptions about people. That's how you get blonde jokes."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I don't mind the blonde jokes. Makes it so much easier on me to escape a conversation to powder a nose or say something totally bonkers. Other people's assumptions are a pretty good armor!" Lindsay replies with a bright smile. "But I didn't mean you. Have you *seen* the guys she hangs out with?! Two of them have awesome classic cars, a bunch ride motorcycles, all of her 'brothers' emphasis-on-the-air-quotes and --" she pauses a moment, and Phoebe is looking a bit withdrawn, her arms crossed as she attempts to melt into the wall, clearly embarrassed -- but she can't bat-bolt because Thomas would catch her trying to escape.

    "You all right, Phoebe?" Lindsay asks, and then she tracks back and has the good grace to look embarrassed.

    "Lindsay adopted me as a best friend because that's how introverts get friends. An Extrovert adopts us and we just go along." Phoebe shrugs. And when Lindsay's not looking, the candle ignites again.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake reaches over to hold Phoebe's hand if she'll let him. "Sorry Phoebe, this is what happens when an intro gets between two extros. It's worse when one of them is well me. I find it hard to see you as an introvert having received a dopeslap from you, in public. Folksvangr I think it was. I was given with love. I think your friend would be my moll if I was still theme crime-ing. Sorry hun, I got a girl." He gets a wistful look when he mentions Megan.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe doesn't let Thomas hold her hand. Her hands are firmly on her lap beneath the table. And she looks confused a moment, trying to think back.

    "I don't know if I've ever dopeslapped you. As you sure it wasn't some other black girl who shows up at bars to bail you out of trouble?" she questions, actually scratching her neck a moment before Lindsay gets up to go to the ladies' room.

    And she leaves the two alone.

    "Sorry, Lindsay was insisting on helping me pick things out for the gala tonight, and she has far superior fashion sense to my own." she explains "I didn't anticipate her staying with me until Alfred picks me up."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake makes a note of Phoebe's body language and inaccessible hands. He slides closer to her and asks, "I thought that was you, but I was pretty hammered. Lindsay is delightful. No worries. Now. What's wrong? Let me help. Or don't. I'll help anyway but you might want plausible deniability." He gives her a look that might not be out of place on Batman. "What's with your hands? You've kept them to yourself... unlike Lindsay I may say." He gives a glance under the table.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... when I was kidnapped at sixteen I was nearly beaten to death. I don't like people touching me. And one of the guys responsible was harassing me lately until my as-until-lately boyfriend kinda socked him in the face and broke his nose." Phoebe's shoulders slump. "I'm a little on edge at the moment. Probably should see a psychologist about it." she pauses, "except the only one who worked well with heroes retired, you know? And also hated me."

    Her expression goes very much Wet Cat. "But hey, that's all just angsty teenager bull. Let's talk about me getting shot yesterday. Anything on the underworld circuit come up about a lead? Or possible ID Metropolis police have had him for twenty hours and nothing from him or their investigative unit."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake gestures to the bodies just now beginning to stir. "I been working on it. Sorry didn't know about the angsty touching thing. Did you try Harley? I've heard really great things about her... don't go myself. I don't get on well with hyenas but I mean try her." He takes a sip of scotch.

"So this jerk is bothering you again? Uhunh." He doesn't ask who. It should be a matter of public record or underworld gossip. "Sorry about the hug. You seem pretty normal to me."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I grew up terrified of Joker and Harley. I don't think that would help." Phoebe admits quietly, adn then gives a soft puff out. "And kevlar's not the only armor I wear. Just... count yourself lucky because my first reaction to 'surprise hugs' is typically 'judo backflip' or 'I cast fireball.'"

    The bodies begin to stir, and Lindsay steps over one on her way by, and primly sits down. "Fireball? Are we doing /shots/?"

    "This... isn't that kind of place, Linds?" Phoebe replies confusedly, and then she shakes her head.

    "No, i don't think Phillip Cupp is behind the shooting. He wants me to be his girlfriend, not be his court case." Phoebe remarks quietly. "He was actually pretty quiet since--"

    "SINCE YOUR EX PUNCHED HIS FACE IN!" Lindsay booms out, and excitedly takes out her phone "It's on TikTok! It's on Youtube! It's got an EDM Nightcore Remix!"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Phillip Cupp probably is not connected with the shooting. He still deserves a beat down, delivered by someone who knows how. He hurt Phoebe? A broken nose doesn't begin to cover it and before Tom is done he will have the names of the others involved. Slathering a man in barbecue sauce and throwing him to some big cats works wonders. Thomas ponders a moment.

"Father Kramer. He was affiliated with Arkham and Belle Reeve -he's a good joe. Or Doctor Leonard Samson. But I know Kramer is great to listen to you. And... you can't talk to Wayne and his pos... se?" The minor hesitation comes from a leg, that suddenly places a slim ankle on Thomas' thigh. But he's all Phoebe's right now.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "No." Phoebe states quietly. "They've all gone through so much. I just can't figure out what my problem is. They don't need to go through it. They just accept that I'm never going to be the touchy-feely sibling." Phoebe states dryly.

    "Aww Phoeeeeeeeeb." Lindsay states quietly "You can always go to the Uni psych department, you know. And c'mon Wayne has GOT TO have a psych on speed dial, 'cause of the kidnappings and assassination attepemps and he really does kinda get the short end of the stick when it comes to daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamnit I am an awful friend." she mutters.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake raises an eyebrow at that. Yes, he knows the story of the Waynes and the dark night. Yeah. Small wonder he surrounds himself with family, getting more all the time. he knows the idle rich can be as messed up as poor people. He's a case in point. He's not sure what else to say and so just offers, "I'll listen if you want." Lindsay gets her calf grabbed, a little hard. Try bugging a cat who doesn't want to be cuddled at the moment. Lindsay... might be a dog person.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Lindsay seems so surprised by the grab that she squeaks loudly, one arm coming out and nearly coming off her seat.

    Phoebe turns and looks at her, and whispers "Girl, you crazy? He took out this entire room of enforcers and you're playing footsie?" she states, and shakes her head "Look, Thomas, I'll be fine. Once the Metropolis Police or the detail from Gotham that no doubt was going to be there comes out --" because it's known Balm worked *extensively* with Batman and Red Robin over that ugly business in New York.

    "Once they have his name and a motive, they can put him in treatment and get whatever other information they need out of him." Phoebe comments quietly, and suddenly looks very tired.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake smirks at Lindsay, "Aww, she's okay. Like I could hurt such cuteness. Just needs to know who's boss. I have a tiger like that. Listen Phoebe, I don't open myself up to a lot of people, but you're one of them, okay. You want to come by, hang out on the boat, have a beer, play with my cat, you're welcome. Just call first." He gives a glance at Lindsay, "Bring your friend if you want." Just to prove no hard feelings, he gives Lindsay a pat.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I don't think Lindsay would like a visit where I open up like that." Phoebe comments, "Some things are better left a mystery, I guess."

    Phoebe is unphased about the tiger. She's met the tiger. Gabby cat-sat.

    However Lindsay looks entirely surprised. "Ah... wait, a literal tiger, or a tiger-tabb... you know what, it's Gotham, I'm going to accept you have a dangerous big cat and order lunch -- who's hungry?"