16283/Don't Shoot the Messenger

Don't Shoot the Messenger
Date of Scene:	08 November 2023
Location:	Main Foyer: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Matt is looking for Skye but instead meets Monica who drills him for information.
Cast of Characters:	Matthew Murdock, Monica Chang

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Matthew Murdock has posed:
    There are a myriad of difficulties that come along with being involved with a person who works for SHIELD. Anyone who has that particular challenge in their life will tell you that the most common difficulty has nothing to do with the fantastic or the dangerous. Though those situations can definitely be a drag. What is the most common problem for a SHIELD SO? It's dealing with all the security that is connected to their significant other, just from being part of the job.
    And Matthew Murdock is discovering that in detail today.
    He had had run ins with security in the past, usually when trying to get in contact with Daisy when she was in the field. But today was the first time he went on site at the Triskelion and found himself butting heads with the brick wall of SHIELD SECDEF Officers.
    "It's just... an Amazon package. I was bringing it by because she asked me to. Didn't she... leave a note or a message?" Matt Murdock had faced more forgiving Prosecuting Attorneys compared to these men with the dark helmets even as he stood in Checkpoint Beta-Three within the depths of the Triskelion. The package he had brought with him was no longer in his hands and was being held in 'custody' under a sensor array that was taking its measure. Nothing volatile or chemically active in that package, but still they needed a word from a receiver before they'd let it go past.
    So Matt was stuck waiting.
    << This is standard procedure, Mr. Murdock. >> The electronically modulated voice was heard from one of the security guards. Inflectionless, inhuman, and inaccessible, it was like arguing with a Speak and Spell.
    "Can you try calling her again?"
    << No, sir. >>

Monica Chang has posed:
Timing was everything. Right up there with location, location, location. The two keys to happiness. In this case, it was hopefully going to lead to something better for one Matthew Michael Murdock.

Coming toward the checkpoint from the interior was one Monica Chang. She was in her official SHIELD uniform, sans lab coat since she was outside the R&D area. She did have her drone companion floating a bit above her right shoulder. She'd gone through every bit of code after it had started acting out of expectations. Nothing seemed amiss. One of the challenges of working with A.I..

She had to pause because there were people at the checkpoint acting particularly official and that brought Monica's eyes up from the datapad she'd been staring at during her trip down the hall. She glanced to the agents working the gate, the man on the other side, then to the package they had singled out with the well known smiley face design indicating the source of the outside packaging at least.

"What's up?" she asked the masked agents as she pulled up the datapad and set the drone into action. It floated over near the shielded package and began running a diagnostic on the item within.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
    << Standard package declaration and acceptance protocol. >> The lead security officer said in answer to Monica's question. It was clear that the team of two guards at that checkpoint were sticking close and tight to the regulations for handling the flow of parcels and traffic. It was rare for the guards to break that illusion of the unassailable automaton. Though it had been known to happen in the past. Albeit rarely.
    But she likely also saw the package's owner, who was a man in a black business suit with a white cane and reddish glasses that had a hint of a mirror's sheen to them. He heard her voice and turned his head, smiling a little in her direction though not quite exactly so. It was a polite smile, just one of those given often between people standing in the same line at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
    But then the guard volunteered, << Agent Johnson is not within comms to receive the delivery. >>

Monica Chang has posed:
"Agent Daisy Johnson?" Just to confirm since there was more than one of them with that last name in the agency. There were at least ten in the Triskelion alone. When she got that confirmation as to which one he meant, Monica looked back to her datapad as the drone sent her the information from the scans. There was a tiny uptick at the corner of her lips. A quick turn as she raised the datapad for a facial recognition search of the visitor. Matt Murdock. Lawyer. Nothing in his record stood out as any sort of a safety concern for security either.

"I'll take responsibility for the messenger and the package. Agent Monica Chang, level 4." Which was also on the ID card she wore but just to cover all the security bases since they had /no/ sense of humor on this checkpoint. She'd learned that months ago. More's the pity.

Then she turned to look at Matt. "Did you want to deliver it to her in person or just leave it with me? She's actually my superior officer so worked out well, no?" Then she offered a smile. "Agent Chang, though you've already heard that but to make it an official introduction." She did not offer her hand as the file she'd seen after the search did indicate he was blind. Though if he raised his, she would take it for a proper handshake.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
    That declaration of responsibility had the guards moving to get the package finished and produced back upon the counter near the metal detector. One of them gives a nod toward Monica even as the man with those mirrored lenses steps through the security checkpoint. He turns to her, both his hands resting on the grip of his cane. "Oh I was hoping to catch her, if possible. Though if she's not available."
    One of the guards finishes typing behind his terminal then gives a short brisk nod toward Monica, signaling that the civilian is her baggage now. Likely they're assuming that he's unaware of their movements, and to be fair he gives no sign that he can perceive them. Instead he keeps speaking amiably.
    "Though thank you, I appreciate you stepping in." His lips then widen slightly, "A pleasure to meet you, Agent Chang." He does indeed extend his hand toward the sound of her voice, a touch off to the side slightly. "Matt Murdock. Daisy's... domestic partner." He smiles a little, that small hesitation in choosing the right term just making the slighest hitch in his rhythm.

Monica Chang has posed:
As his hand comes up, Monica reaches out to take it so that the greeting is done properly. Though when he mentioned that title, there was that tiniest of changes in her body to indicate her surprise. A brief tightening of the grip that was gone a moment later, a little intake of air that would've been silent to most anyone else around them, perhaps even a tiny pitter patter of the heart that immediately went right back to normal. "Oh I see! Then it is definitely a pleasure to meet you. Come with me and we can go to the lab at least. I'll send over a message to her that we'll be there if she gets to join us. I'm not sure what she's in the middle of," she admitted.

Then she started to turn then stopped. "Is it easier for you to use the cane or for me to take your arm and guide you? I apologize but I'm not sure what is considered polite or proper in this situation," she admitted.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
    "Oh I can manage," Matt says with a smile after that handshake. He starts to walk with her as she makes that subtle shift in her body language. "I can usually keep up, unless you break into a run or throw your voice." She'll see his lip curve up, a slight twitch of a smile that might give a hint of amusement.
    Shifting his cane to the other hand he does as he says, and he seems rather decently acclimated as they begin to move together along that long hallway. He even remembers to reclaim the package, reaching his free hand out and lightly touching the counter, running his fingers along it, then finding the paper wrapped article and tucking it under his arm.
    "Though I have to admit this is one of the more... labrynthine buildings I've been in." He gives a slow nod, biting his lower lip slightly as he offers that insight.

Monica Chang has posed:
"Definitely. I think it was designed to help should there ever be a hostile incursion. The intruders would get completely lost in a heartbeat while those of us who have been in the building have it down perfectly in our heads." Tactical advantage at its best there. Her boots made enough noise as they walked as well as the conversation so it wasn't difficult for him to keep up, even if he didn't have those super senses.

Though being Monica, she did have to circle back to the comment about running or throwing her voices. "Running you probably could still hear where I was going. But the voice throwing. I never actually thought about that. That would just be plain mean." Which is why she now was almost wishing she knew how to throw her voice. She really was a terrible person. Could she blame it all on the Red Room? For her own sanity, she opted to do so mentally.

Then back to the building. "Though I do admit that there are rumors of agents who disappeared into the building and were never seen again. We think we hear them crying off in the darkness at times but that's probably just our imagination." It was completely their imagination but it was amusing as well.

Then came the important stuff. "So you and Daisy, huh? I didn't even know she had a significant other. I mean, not like I should. She's my boss and it's a work relationship but still! How long have you two been seeing each other?"

Matthew Murdock has posed:
    As he's walking he's listening to her in a myriad of ways, detecting those slight hesitations, those micro-tremors in her voice, the shift of her focus at that moment as she considered throwing her voice. But when she offers her thoughts about the agents lost in th depths of the Triskelion, Matt sort of smirks slightly.
    "Somehow I imagine that you might be one who enjoys spreading those rumors, Agent Chang." As if he already had her number. But then when she gets to that important bit his eyebrows climb a bit. "Oh is that right?" He says in response to her not having known she was involved with someone. That gets a mental note to talk to Daisy about later. Hrmf.
    Then he says, "Oh a while now. A little over two years roughly."

Monica Chang has posed:
"So far long than I've been in the picture. Nice." Monica seems to feel he wants to know her opinion and thus shares it. Which likely gives him an indication of the type of person she is in normal circumstances.

As they reach the doors to the R&D lab, she opens it then steps through, turning to hold it open for him as well since it had required her keycard to enter. "I'm guessing you've been in here before, just with Daisy?" If she had brought him to visit her work at least. Or maybe she'd taken him to some spot other than the lab. If he had not been there, she would indicate which desk was Daisy's as she checked her datapad to see if the other agent was going to be able to join them or not. She typed out a message quickly and sent it along.

"I'm guessing you have a lot in common but in a weird way. Like opposite sides of the coin? SHe does the arresting and you do the lawyering. Got to make for fun dinner table conversation." Yes, she was fishing. Why? Because Monica was nosey. It was sort of a requirement for agents and reporters.

"You can have a seat if you like until we see if she can break free. Unless you need to go in which case I can escort you back?"

Matthew Murdock has posed:
    "Maybe!" Matt says as they enter the R&D area, he takes in a deep breath then exhales slightly before he shakes his head a little. He runs the tip of his cane along the side of the wall and finds that bank of three bench-seat chairs that rest there for observers or people to drag into the various cubicles when seats are needed. "I think so," As he seens to have found one of those chairs.
    After a moment he takes a seat and then speaks in her direction, his head not quite pointing in the exact direction of her. "We actually knew each other when we were young. But... yeah I suppose you could say that." Though she didn't quite know that with Daisy's history it was more like one of them going into law, and the other into crime...
    "And no, my time is my own right now. At least for now." He rests his hands on the top of the cane, sitting up straight in that seat. "I'll give it another thirty minutes and if she's still busy well then if you don't mind passing a message on for me that would be kind."

Monica Chang has posed:
"Not a problem. Glad to be able to help," Monica responded automatically as she sat in the rolling chair at her station. She pulled out a cable and plugged it into the floating drone, beginning to download information from his performance in the last four hours. It would take a moment so she turned back to the visitor.

"So like just kids together or childhood sweethearts who split up and found one another later in life for the perfect romcom situation?" Does Monica watch too many movies? Probably. It had been one of her favorite things when she as assigned in the United States undercover. It allowed her to see things and do things that were considered frivolous, thus why they appealed so much. Not that anyone else would know that. But suffice it to say, she apparently liked movies. Though not limited to those as she continued. "Or in a romance novel."

Thus they had both now been cast into their roles in her mind. The reality would probably be far less exciting. "Tell me all about yourself, Mr. Murdock. Things I wouldn't learn from a level four security scan," she added with a little giggle of amusement.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
    She asked her next question and she saw his smile broaden a little as he exhaled a breath that wasn't quite a laugh. He lowered his head slightly, as if dropping his gaze with a hint of embarrassment. But then he clears his throat, eyebrows raising as he gives a nod. "Something like that."
    The romcom or the romance novel.
    Then she asked him about himself and his lips tightened a little, a hint sardonic. He shook his head and said, "I imagine you have all of the relevant details in front of you on your monitor there." Of course he was probably just assuming she had a monitor there.
    "I have no idea what a level four security clearance grants. But the Reader's Digest version is fairly simple. I'm a defense lawyer. I work in Hell's Kitchen mostly." His words falter, then he says, "I'm.... a Sagitarius?" His lips curl up again.

Monica Chang has posed:
"Ohhhhh a Sagitarius!" Monica responded, as though that explained everything she could possibly ever want to know. But then she giggled again even as she shrugged. Not like he could see it but it was an automatic physical response as she said, "Not that I have any idea what that means. I'm a Cancer. Well like zodiac things, not like a bane on humanity." Since there were too many interpretations possible there.

"And that doesn't really tell me much. The file tells me about facts. It doesn't tell the essence of a person though. For example, my file says that I'm a highly trained SHIELD agent specializing in stealth, combat, and artificial intelligence. Doesn't mention my favorite color is red, I hate the beach cause I am very much Anakin Skywalker in that respect, and I cannot stand oysters. I think they are the nastiest thing in the world and I want to know who is the idiot that thought they should open this shell and go oh wonder what this snot like substance tastes like!"

Then she grinned, again something he couldn't see but was impossible not to do. "So... what is your opinion on oysters at least?"

Matthew Murdock has posed:
    "Most seafood was discovered on a dare, I'm convinced." Matt says off-handedly as he grabs onto that sentiment, clinging to it as he chooses to voice that opinion at least. But then he shakes his head slightly, smile broadening just a touch.
    "But really I've never been any good at these sorts of things. I was the kid that whenever the camp counsellors got to me asking me to talk about my favorite interests I'd sit there and blush until they'd move on." Though that small anecdote might well give her _some_ insight at the least.
    "But hm," He finally murmurs, "Well my favorite color is red, though sometimes yellow. I love the beach, but it really depends on which beach, where, and what time of the year."
    He lifts his chin a little, "Oh, I have my own law firm. So I've got that going for me." His lip twists upwards.

Monica Chang has posed:
"So financially viable as a partner, good taste in colors, hates seafood so I approve of this as well." She made a show of making typing noises but even to a non expert ear, it would be obvious Monica was just pretending to be taking notes of his details.

"And the most important detail. You blush. Or you used to. Which will now become a personal challenge for me in the future should we meet again. To confirm if you still do. For...science. Or something."

She waved a hand in the air as her datapad beeped. "She just got clear of a meeting and has a ten minute window. If you would follow me, we'll meet her halfway so you get more time?" And with that, she rose to her feet and moved to open the door for him.