15854/Down south dining in the Big Apple

Down south dining in the Big Apple
Date of Scene:	13 September 2023
Location:	Lafayette's Beau Cherie
Synopsis:	Jacen stopped in for some Cajun cuisine and encountered River stuck in a bad job interview. He enjoyed watching her chew out the would be employer.
Cast of Characters:	Jacen Knight, River Banks

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Jacen Knight has posed:
Jacen walks into the restaurant and looks around. He takes a slow inhale to judge the place a little. He nods approvingly and walks in to look for table. The place is busy, but the host finds a seat for him and gets a drink order.

Settling into a seat and takes his hat off. He settles it on his knee and starts to scan the menu. It is eerie how the thing doesn't slide off his leg. Almost like he's done it multiple tims that way.

River Banks has posed:
    She was supposed to meet someone here about a job interview. It turned out it was a multi-level marketing scheme, but upon learning that River was jobless AND single, it had turned from an job marketing meeting with the potential to earn HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS a year, but also a chance for Romeo Rush, who manages dozens of women selling cosmetics and home furnishings door-to-door or in parties to show off his rolex watch.

    "Anyway --" he leaves his arm over the booth, showing off the rolex. "I figured since you're so far up North -- could hear it in your accent, y'know, you're from way down South -- you might want some home cooking to remind you of, y'know... home."

    Meanwhile, across from Romeo, River had managed to pull her wavy blonde hair into a professional bun, she had dressed in a nice blouse and red skirt, she had worn tights AND THEY ITCH HORRIBLY and the only pair of heels she could find at Goodwill that weren't crazy colored or have weird stripper heels in black in close to her size (which were too tight in the toe box and she longed to put on the sneakers in her backpack) was staring at this man as if he were some sort of alien lifeform.

    And she shoots a look over to Jacen, watching him a moment, before she returns her gaze to Romeo.

    "Uh... Ah don't think this is actually catfish--"

Jacen Knight has posed:
His eyes wander over the restaurant because that's what he does. Paranoia? It's not paranoid if they really are out to get you. Either that or he's just trying to get a feel for the place he isn't familiar with.

His eyes settle on the sorta sleeze at the other table. The pair get consideration and then he looks back to his menu when the waitress approaches. He orders a bowl of gumbo and fried alligator.

Something is bothering him and he reaches down to touch the medicine pouch on his belt. For those with spirit sight, a ghostly bat appears to fly around his table.

"Shit..." he mutters softly and pulls his hat on his head and stands up. He takes a drink from his tea and moves like he might be heading to the bathroom, but that would take him right by the table.

River Banks has posed:
    "It has to be real catfish, you can taste it. Farm-raised catfish doesn't have as fishy a flavor--" which is true "Stick with me, River, and we're going to make sure you're taken care of, you know? Money, fancy cars, a house with a swimming pool, whatever you want. It's a lot better than living in a trailer park-"

    "Ah live in an apartment, thanks." River states, her voice getting a little icy. "But if you could jus' ask for the bill, Ah'll settle my half, I'm *really* not interested in the position--"

    "Well, I could hire you to be my secretary. Though the position comes with different... perks." he raises his eyebrows, and River's eyes go wide as her mouth downturns. And for a moment it looks like she might deck the guy.

Jacen Knight has posed:
A sigh before he can be heard and Jacen's general attitude slips a little. He draws to the table and looks at her,"Hey River! It's been a minute. Jacen Masters. Ya remember? Th' ambulance ride fr'm Hell. Imagine a grid locked New York." he meets her gaze. The eye away from the man winks.

His eyes move to the other man and his tone is a little cooler,"Who's y'r friend?" he asks flatly. While he isn't threatening, the guy is built like a tank. Looking back to her expectantly he adds,"You doin' ah'ight now?"

River Banks has posed:
    River looks up. She's normally the person playing bail out for strangers on bad dates, but this wasn't even a date. This was supposed to be a job interview.

    "/Jacen/!" she states with feigned enthusiasm. "Hiya, man. Been a dog's age. Ah'm doin' well. How's your pardner? Ah -- nah -- this guy, was a job interview. Which Ah'm exiting." she states, and gives a sweet smile to Romeo before she leaves a twenty -- enough to cover her half of the bill and a tip -- and grabs her bag to stand up.

    "Romeo Rush, CEO of Rush Marketing--" he begins, and River interrupts:

    "You bully little old ladies to sell Avon under yer name. Yer a scumbag." she states, shutting him down, and she gives a pleasant smile to Jacen before she gets up. "Ah think I gotta powder mah nose."

Jacen Knight has posed:
Her feigned excitement gets a half grin curling the left corner of his mouth a little. He nods as she gets into the flow he replies,"He's doin' ah'ight. Finally d'cided th' ambulance wasn' his cuppa tea no more'n went inta th' hospital exclusively. Cain' hate'm f'r that, but I dunno how he does it."

Looking at Romeo he repies,"Pleasure's yours I'm sure..."

When River cuts off Romeo, Jacen smirks a little and lets her have her say. His gaze on the other man settles again and as he listens to her describe the man, the smile fades to something decidedly less pleasant. His right eyebrow raises and he tells the man,"Hadda guy like that come 'long 'n almost got ahold of m' gramma's account. He lived ta regret it. Daily. F'r th' rest of his miserable life." he tells the man with not a little menace in his voice incase Romeo tries to intercept her.

River Banks has posed:
    Romeo decides that this probably has worn out many welcomes, and people are beginning to stare.

    He excuses himself, tosses a twenty to the table, and makes for the exit rather quickly. Their waitress comes over to check in quietly, but then it's business as usually.

    "Thanks. I'd ah... I'd ovver to cover a tab but that was kinna my last twenty." River states to Jacen, her eyebrows rising up as her lips purse.

    "Might not be the brightest bulb but my mama didn' raise a fool."

Jacen Knight has posed:
His eyes track the sleeze and then he turns to watch him go. A sigh and he shakes his head once the man is out the door,"Worst part is, been times when I w's that oblivious. Tryin' ta get better's I get older."

He turns his attention back to River and shakes his head,"Nah it's ah'ight. My pleasure. Might wanna hang in here for a few minutes ta make sure he leaves'r if ya need ta go I'll walk ya. I'm sure you c'n take care o' yourself, but it's kinda in th' genetics."

He tips his hat a little her direction,"It's nice ta meet ya River. I reckon th' fool population done dropped ta zero when that horse's ass headed out th' door."

River Banks has posed:
    "Yeah, but you didn't try to pick up artist a filly after she looked at ya like she wanted ta kick ya in the balls. I'm stickin around a little bit -- if you don't mind the company anyway." River states with a dry smile. "So, Jacen, you actually work with Ambulences or was that jus' a convenient line ta give for a connection?" she asks, going to sit back down at his table rather than her original seat, taking her catfish-bites-of-dubious-identity with her.

Jacen Knight has posed:
"Company's good." he replies and walks back to the table again. Once she is settled he does as well, setting the hat back on his knee,"Nah. I ain' quite that thick." he admits.

"Oh yeah. I rotate through mosta th' hospitals'n New York'n th' surroundin' areas." he replies,"Have been f'r a while. Pays th' bills's were. Lot easier on the body th'n th' last gig so..."

River Banks has posed:
    "Ah yeah? Bull riding your last gig?" River questions, giving an upnod to him. "Not that I was lookin', but I lived in Florida's panhandle for a while. You kin tell a lot about a fella by his belt buckles." she jokes with a slight grin.

    "I tend to spend more time in hospitals than workin' 'round 'em."

Jacen Knight has posed:
He laughs softly and after a drink of his tea he admits,"Technically I reckon m' last job w's walkin' round'n m' hat, jeans, an' boots getting pictures an' videos. Rather ride 'nother bull th' do any more jeans advertisin'." he admits.

He looks down at the buckle and nods,"Yeah. That w's me." He looks back at her and admits,"Y'r pertty perceptive. Not wrong about the buckle though. It's a dead give away mosta th' time."

"I used ta do that. Spend more in there rather'n workin' there. I c'n take a pertty good beatin', but sometimes th' bull won."

He considers for a long moment and asks,"You lookin' f'r steady work'r jus' somethin' ta fill some bills?"

River Banks has posed:
    "Ah! You did modlin' then? I dabble in that. Had a couple gigs in Gotham bein' a face for a toy company but ain't much money in it. An' I look a fright if I don't do my make-up. Not exactly the prettiest belle at the ball." she gives a sidelong smile to Jacen.

    "Don't think I'm good or calm 'nough to be working in anythin' carryin' a body to the hospital. An' I get queasy at the sight of blood." she lies, and takes a bite of her catfish.

    "An' if this is actually catfish I'd eat your hat."

Jacen Knight has posed:
"One Wrangler add campaign." he admits,"Paid f'r school'n putta down payment on th'r ranch I have up north." A shrug and he adds,"I dunno. I ain' exactly pertty ta look at an' I kinda got past th' pertty face phase. Justa pertty face's fun ta look at an' play with, not much use if their too dumb ta have a simple conversation." He gives her a long study and smirks,"I dunno. I 'spect y'r plenty nice ta look at."

He winks as he adds,"Don' get me wrong. I had m' fair share o' that can I get th' pertty girl t'night an' how 'bout that one in th' new town th' next night, just kinda out grew it I reckon. That'r I jus' ain' got th' time ta chase with work'n all that."

He nods and he tells her,"Well. I ain' really one c'n hire ya on't th' hospital, though there are jobs that don' involve that sorta thing. Security, house keepin', an' lab clean ups. That sorta thing." He studies her a second and admits,"I could use some help back home. It's 'bout an hour north o' th' city an' it's hard work. There's other people there, but we could use one more." he explains,"Work out there'n I could recommend you f'r other jobs I reckon."

He shakes his head at the food and stage whispers,"It doesn' even smell like catfish...at all. Noticed that when I walked in. Otherwise things smell pertty good."

River Banks has posed:
    "Hah, nah, I'm... I can't go much further. I'm based out of Gotham temporarily. Friends are helping me out. Had to take the hyperloop and then a subway here." River replies in honesty, and shakes her head.

    "An' you're a charmer, but trust me, wasn't lookin' for any opportunity aside from steady hours and an actual paycheck." she gives a smile, and then she leans in.

    "Thank Lord that you can tell the diff'rence too. It's definitely not catfish an' I was 'bout strangle the guy when he kept insistin' it was."

Jacen Knight has posed:
"OK. Figgered's much. That's too far out f'r most folks. Check th' hospitals, prolly find somethin' ta do. Go ta one'r two ya might be able ta get some on th' job trainin'. B'lieve me, there's worse things th' blood."

The waitress drops his meal off and he thanks her softly. Being called a charmer makes him laugh softly,"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Pertty sure Romeo out there'd argue th' point. I dunno many other jobs though. Paychecks're good."

He slides a business card to her with his name, ranch name and location, and phone number,"Change y'r mind gimme call. I gotta bunkhouse out there. It ain' much but it keeps the rain off ya." He shudders and adds,"Nah. Dedfinately not catfish. Back home'n Missouri we had catfish that'd eat these fish on principle."

River Banks has posed:
    "Catfish the size a' Volkswagons." River agrees and then leans over and checks the windows.

    "Thanks for the save, Jacen. I'm gonna call up one 'a my friends an' make sure that he knows I'm comin' through. Just in case Mr. Rush decides to try somethin'." she gives a small grin, and taps the table.

    She does, however, take the card. "PLeasure to meet you." she smiles, and then she stands, and tip-taps her way out of the restaurant, and back into the wider world.