17606/Just a Head's Up

Just a Head's Up
Date of Scene:	08 April 2024
Location:	Luke's Bar
Synopsis:	Barbara swings by Luke's to warn him that the Russians are keen on some revenge; Luke is non-plussed.
Cast of Characters:	Luke Cage, Barbara Gordon

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Luke Cage has posed:
It's nearing closing time and Luke isn't the only one working for once. There's another bartender --a young guy in his twenties-- helping out, though they are mostly cleaning up by now.

Luke is in one of his yellow t-shirts, currently cleaning glasses while his employee takes the orders from a group of four young women who are, at this point, incredibly tipsy and driving him a little bit up the wall with their indecisiveness as to their drink orders.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Outside the front of the bar, a rather noisey black motorcycle roars up on scene. A sport bike, sleek and expensive looking, with a bright LED headlight shining down the street. It kills its engine, and from it a rider in black steps off on to the sidewalk. A female form, she turns to the bar, and moves toward it, the helmet pulled from her head, and dangled at her side as she made her way to the front door.

Luke would likely see who it was right away, brilliant red hair kind of giving her away, even if it is tied up in to a bun on the crown of her head. She pulls the bar door open, and strides inside. Dressed in black leather pants, a black denim jacket and boots equally as dark as the rest, the woman has a soft smile on her visage as she spies those within the place. She eyes the women, but ignores them for the most part, as she moves toward the bar, and places her helmet down upon it. The young bartender gets a smile, but her green eyes of course go to Luke.

Luke Cage has posed:
The motorcycle was all he needed to know to look up when someone came in, and the red hair was a dead giveaway as soon as he saw it. It's not that he doesn't know other redheads, but this one sticks to the mind. Plus, he's been hoping she'd swing by again.

"Barbara Gordon. You're a sight for sore eyes. Thought you'd forgotten about us." Us. Him. He's smiling pretty big.

Barbara Gordon has posed:
"AS if I could." Barbara replies back to the big guy across the bar. She has a smile touching her expression, but with another glance toward the drunken girls night out, and the other tender, Babs places a hand on her helmet and slides it down the bar to walk closer to where Luke is, her expression growing a bit more serious.

When she gets a little more space between the others, and Luke, she makes eye contact with him again. "Something has come across my info network." She says in a lower tone of voice, once she believes the others aren't keyed in to their conversation. "Remember the Russians from the weapons meet? Word is that they're planning something, against you, and against Jess. Daredevil too, but they aren't as keen on how to get at him easily."

Luke Cage has posed:
Luke leans against the bar top on his elbows, raising a brow at Babs as she comes nearer. When she warns him about the Russians, he gives a little snort and bobs his head. "Yeah, no surprise there. Someone's already out to kill Jess for some case she's working on." He wipes the bar and tosses the rag aside, nodding to a booth in the back as he starts walking to it.

"Nothing new, really. But thanks for the warning."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
When Luke indicates the booth, Babs slides her helmet off of the bar, and moves to join him. At his right side now, she glances over at him, noting his non-chalant demeanor about it. She seems less than inclined to shrug it off, however, and as she steps to the booth, she shakes her head softly. "They know that you're tough, Luke. they know that you're not really easily injured with bullets or bats. The info I got is that they want to hit you where you are weak, and ... well... they're looking for people who you care about."

She slips in to the booth, and glances toward the bar again. "They might even make a shot at this place." She says, her voice still soft as her helmet is set down upon the table's surface.

Luke Cage has posed:
"Yeah, I figured." Luke sits down and smiles at her. "Most people who come here, they know, Babs. This is Harlem. Even them drunk girls down the bar come here because it's a dangerous 'might get wild' place. It's not my preference, but what am I supposed to do? Not have a business?" He leans back in his seat, smiling at her.

"I gotta make a living somehow and I ain't letting Danny Rand be my sugar daddy just cuz we besties."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Another glance is given to the drunk girl gang at the other side of the bar, before Barbara regards Luke again. She's quiet for a couple seconds before she nods her head softly. "I realize this isn't your first rodeo, as they say, but I had to at least let you know it was something brewing around here." She takes in a breath, her hands on the edge of the table, as she quietly considers something for a moment. "Do you want to tell Jess about it? I have her address, but I'm not sure how she'd react to me showing up at it. I don't know a lot about her, admittedly. I've already told the Daredevil, as he's a lot more... my speed, when it comes to style and behavior." She states, showing a sly grin to him.

Luke Cage has posed:
"Oh, what. You sayin' I'm not your speed?" Luke looks cheeky for a moment and then says, "Kept up with you just fine last time, if I recall." His smile is broad and friendly. "But yeah. I can tell Jess if you want. No problem. She ain't as friendly as I am to surprise callers, so I get the hesitancy."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
The playful nature of that response has Barbara showing Luke a growing grin, that slowly turns in to a little laugh. "You, and Jess, both approach all of this much more similarly to how it is treated where I'm from. I actually wondered if the Daredevil was from Botham, but I've yet to get an answer to that question." She's left smirking softly, before she nods her head ever so slightly.

"I got the impression Jessica wasn't the type to enjoy someone keeping tabs on her, even if it is related to keeping her safe. I have a... protective nature to those who help me, specifically if they're women. I know that sounds weird, but, it can be challenging for a woman vigilante, in ways that is different from male counterparts. I've dedicated a lot of my time, and funds, to helping them in the cause, in hopes of keeping them safe as possible in such a ridiculous choice of lifestyle." She smirks faintly again.

"I'll text you the information I get on this, however, and maybe we can cut it off before they enact anything at all. Hit them first, if you're up for it."

Luke Cage has posed:
"Devil of Hell's Kitchen, baby. He's a New Yorker, born and bred, that much I can tell you." Luke isn't worried about that being a tell-tale sign for Barbara. He's sure if she wanted to know Daredevil's identity, she'd figure it out. She's a smart one.

"You ain't gonna get no pushback from me. Sisters looking out for each other is a cornerstone of my philosophy. Why I hang out with people like Jess and Misty and Colleen. They know I got their backs, but I also know they can handle themselves." He smiles, this time a bit softer, head tilting. "Like you."

At the idea of hitting them first, he spreads his hands. "Point me at'em. I'll run through."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
A small smile touches Babs' expression again, as she shakes her head lightly. "I don't imagine Jessica would be the type to really get in to the 'sisterhood stick together' speeches. But, if I do manage to spend a bit more time around her, she might end up hearing them regardless. you might have to protect me from her, if I bother her too much."

She takes a breath in through her nose, and glances toward the loud drunk girls giggling at everything the cute young bartender says. She smirks at the sight of it, before she looks back to Luke again. "I'll get you what information I have, though I'm still not quite as good at what I do here in Manhattan, as I am back home."

Luke Cage has posed:
"Jessica takes a while to warm up to people, but if you turn up and show reliable, she'll learn to appreciate you." Luke shrugs. "Maybe not as much as I do, but that's a tough bar to clear right now." It's like he can't turn it off.

He follows her glance and then looks back at her. "Sounds good." Then: "You sticking around? I got some steaks defrosting upstairs and Bailey over there's set to close up tonight anyway."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
Another small laugh escapes Barbara's lips as she nods her head two small times to the last bit about Jess, before she glances toward the bar again. When the compliment, and question come her way, she regards him again. A slow smile shows on her face, as she is quiet for a moment. "I hadn't planned on taking up too much of your time tonight, but if you're offering, then I don't see a reason why I can't stick around."

"though this is my second time showing up here unannounced, and you not expressing how rude of a habbit that is to form. Feel free to let me know if I need to hit the road, and learn how to call ahead."

Luke Cage has posed:
Luke smiles at her. "Yeah. I really hate it when you show up unannounced and brighten my night," he tells her, sarcasm sharp, but friendly. He shifts and slides out of the booth, standing up.

"Bailey, close up yeah?"

"Sure, Luke, I gotcha."

"Cool." He turns to Babs, holding a hand out. "Come on."

Barbara Gordon has posed:
The kind bravado from the big man has the redhead smiling toward him again. "Duely noted. My bad behavior shall continue." She states back, as she collects her helmet up once more, and rises up from the booth bench. With her hand in his, she stands up to her full height once more, letting her helmet hang at her side in her other hand.

"How long have you had this place, anyway?" She asks, as she offers a smile toward the other bartender, seeing the women whispering something to themselves, likely about Babs and Luke... those damn little minxes.

Luke Cage has posed:
"Coupla years now," Luke admits, heading towards the backdoor that leads up to his apartment across the complex. It's a weird little backdoor, but it works well for him. He pops the door open and lets her hand go so he can slide it onto the small of her back and let her through first.

"Y'all behave!"

"//Yes, Luke!//"

He rolls his eyes and shakes his head, stepping through the door after Babs, and closing it behind him.