2106/Exploring Gotham

Exploring Gotham
Date of Scene:	14 June 2020
Location:	Sub Rosa Lounge - Old Town
Synopsis:	Carrie, Hank and Jason meet for dinner and conversation. Nobody dies.
Cast of Characters:	Carrie Kelley, Henry McCoy, Jason Todd

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Carrie Kelley has posed:
A vacation to Gotham was what was requested, so Carrie had done some careful research. She knew what areas were crime ridden, and knew a few good spots otherwise, but she hadn't really ever set things up so that it would be a safe visit for an out of towner. Though she was sure Hank could handle himself she rather felt he might want to avoid the necessity to do so in the first place. This was about relaxing, exploring new places, and spending some time together.

Which is how she found the bodega. HOW she had not known about this... Well, she didn't have much of a social life outside of what Wayne connections she had. It sounded wonderful though. A nice little speak-easy styled club known for privacy and good food and drinks. It was perfect. She hoped.

She'd dressed rather nicely in a long red dress with spaghetti straps, and a pair of strappy heels that were surprisingly comfortable as she ducks through the cooler entrance into the club proper. She'd worn a simple enough jacket though it wasn't that chilly, and offers it over to the coat check with a grin. "Well this place is a first for me and you both," she explains to Hank as she looks over toward him with a grin. "I hope it's all it's talked up to be."

Henry McCoy has posed:
When the location was decided, he agreed without hesitation. Hank had even packed for various outfits, shockingly enough! For tonight's outting, he was dressed in an older style button-down shirt, along with pinstriped pants and two-tone wide shoes. He figured if they'd be at a speak-easy, he'd dress the part!

After stepping in, he takes a moment to glance around. "This... looks very promising. At the very least, I got to come here with you." A wry grin. "I am sure that I will be the envy of all the other men." A wink from the Beast. It's certainly not like he can blend in!

"Where'd you hear about this? I love the hidden and clandestine feel to the place." The man looks around again, before turning back to her. "Bar, booth?"

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley blushes a little in response to the compliment, as well as the question of how she'd found out about it. "Honestly? I kind of asked for suggestions for spots from the hotel. Some higher end stuff. Apparently it's a known secret among certain classes... Which shows you how much I get out in Gotham," she adds with a little chuckle. "Booth works. We're going to be meeting Jason here," she adds hesitantly. It wasn't meant to be sprung as a surprise, but... "He's one of the Wayne adoptees. He ran away before I was adopted, so we're not really siblings? I mean. It's complicated," she explains with a nervous chuckle. "But he's a good guy if a bit rough around the edges. I'm glad he's back in Gotham."

Jason Todd has posed:
Carrie's description of Jason is apt. Rough around the edges, but at least tonight he made an effort, a black button down and a pair of black designer jeans. Though of course he wears it with boots and his ever present leather jacket. However the whole thing, plus the little streak of white hair, gives him a neo James Dean thing going on which gets him past the bouncers, sans jacket, and lets him seek out the couple as he takes a long look around the place. Part of that look was tactical, scoping the exits, assessing threats, the usual Bat Stuff, but part of it was just taking in the place. Apparently it was new to Jason too, but then he didn't really do the social thing, so no shock there.

Scan complete his eyes fix on the couple and he makes his way over, "Carrie," he greets with a nod, before sizing up Hank and offering his hand. "And you must be Hank, good to put a face to the name."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Oh! A surprise meeting! Hank glances around, then looks to her. "Glad I dressed up, then?" He comments, after motioning to a booth for the meeting to occur in. A wry grin to Carrie after a moment. "Springing more surprises on me?" He wonders for a moment, clearly amused.

As Jason makes his way towards the table, Hank gets to his feet. The offered hand is shook in a friendly manner, though by the look of the Beast, he's focusing on the gesture. "Please to meet you, Jason. Absolutely thrilled to meet one of Carrie's family." A wide grin. "Sit, please?" He motions to the booth. "We hadn't ordered yet - we just arrived." The man explains, before settling into his seat again.

Carrie Kelley has posed:
"Well, got to keep you on your toes," Carrie offers back to Henry as they claim the booth and sit. Just in time to see Jason come in. A look of relief creeps over as she realizes he did indeed make an effort to dress up just a bit. Enough that he didn't look as if he were running with a biker gang at least. It was a start. Unlike them she stays seated. It was hard sliding in and out of a booth in a dress.

"Thanks for coming, Jason. I know you can be busy at times."

Leaning one elbow on the table she braces her chin in it watching the pair with a clearly amused grin. "I've heard the food here is good. And I'm covering tonight," she adds with a chuckle. Not that it was really an issue. "So order whatever you like, both of you."

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason's day to day clothes looks like he runs a fashionable motorcycle gang, thank you very much! Okay not really, but tonight at least he's dressed alright and isn't getting any dirty looks from the staff.

Jason shakes Hank's hand firml, "Good to meet one of Carrie's friends," he says with a grin. "Though she's starting you with me?" he asks when it seems he's the first member of the Family Hank is getting to meet. "Definitely starting you off on hard mode, well, other than /Him/," he says leaving little doubt that Him = Bruce Wayne.

A smile's given to Carrie then, "No problem, thanks for the invite, good to see you get to meet Hank," he says. "So what have you guys been up to lately?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
The blue furry guy is clearly amused at the turn of events, as well as the comment from Jason. "I tend to be one to meet challenges head on. Is Mr. Wayne that bad?" A glance to Carrie. "And apparently while on my toes." He chuckles. "Food sounds excellent - I wonder if it is catered to be from the times when speakeasies were a need as opposed to a luxury?"

There's a pause from Henry as Jason asks after what they've been up to. A deep breath is sucked in, the man breathing out slowly. "Had a bit of a run in with some nasty people, myself. Still recovering a bit from that." A slight shrug after that. "Other than that, trying to rest, relax and recouperate. It's been a heck of a year already, what with all the odd transformations that went around."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley reaches out to place a hand lightly over one of Hanks' at the question of what they'd been up to. She saw that hesitation in his response, and gives a good reassuring squeeze. "We're doing a bit of a mini vacation and exploring Gotham," she offers over to Jason in response, before lightly rolling her eyes at him. "And you are not hard mode. Damian, now, Damian would be hard mode. I need to catch up with him as it is though," she admits with a sigh of her own. She'd been a bit absent as of late due to so much going on.

"Eh, Dad can be..." She lifts her free hand to give a little side to side waggle. "Hard to judge at times is likely the easiest to put it. He's got a good heart but sometimes thinks he knows what's best and stubbornly sticks to it. Which worked when we were kids, but..." She shrugs again offering a faint smile.

"I'm not sure about the menu. That's a good question." And a good distraction as she glances between the pair, and plucks up her menu to look it over. "I wonder if they have mocktails. Those are always interesting."

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason nods approvingly when Hank says he likes to meet challenges head on, "Well you've found the right family for that then," he says, "And C's right about, Bruce, he tries to do good, he just doesn't always find the mark, as for stubborn that's not even the word, the man doesn't back down, ever, which you can probably guess gets old once you realize he's not always right," he says.

Though there is a nod of agreement and realization. "Right, forgot about Bio-Kid, yeah, he's definitely hard mode. Have fun with that," he says with a grin for that last part. "And yeah, need to catch up with him too, and the rest, oddly only person close to the family I've seen for a bit until tonight is Tim's old girlfriend, Stephanie."

A shrug there, like the last time he ran into Steph he hadn't tried to kidnap her to get at Tim. Ahh, Batfamily drama!

"Sorry to hear you had some trouble, anything we can do to help?" he asks, suddenly attentive. "And speaking of the transformations, I wanted to thank you, I understand you helped develop the cure that changed us back," he says with a nod. "I got hit with the gorilla stuff," he elaborates.

He glances down at the menu then, "Looks like mostly snackables for food, hopefully more of a modern take, not sure I want to know what a depression era take on tapas tastes like," he says wryly. "As for drinks, I'm going for a beer, but figure a place like this has to have mocktails."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Accepting the gentle touch from Carrie, he nods to her in appreciation. "Exactly that - a vacation in Gotham. See the sights, do some parkour - she's fantastic at it, honestly." He comments to Jason, with a grin. "Damian? Is he Mr. Wayne's biological son, then?" He asks after the comment of bio-kid. A grin to both. "No one is always right, and that's perhaps fortunate. I would imagine that would make a person insufferable."

An appreciative nod to Jason then. "Thank you - but right now it's all about getting my mental and emotional state back in balance. It was... traumatic to say the least." There's a slight shiver from the man. A nod as he mentions the gorilla morphing, the Beast smiling. "Oh! Glad I could afford you a cure and resolution to the problem! I had some help from some fantastic people in Gotham - I would have been missing some key elements to the puzzle, had two of the cities protectors not contacted me." A nod. "Hopefully you've not run into any odd after effects?"

As the menues are discussed, he finally takes a look at the one nearest him. "I suppose an iced tea for me, and definitely some food." A smirk. "And depression era most things would likely taste rather... rough, I imagine."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley resists the urge to kick Jason beneath the table as his talk gets relatively close to certain subjects. She keeps a smile on her face though trying not to seem as if she's the least bit tense around either of them. Instead her gaze is running over the menu while listening giving a nod here and there as she agrees with what is said. "Yes, Damian's the youngest. He's fifteen," she explains. "Appaently a one night stand between Bruce and the daughter of another family that we weren't aware of. At least until recently when his mom dumped him on Bruce's doorstep. Apparently she felt she'd done enough to raise him and it was Bruce's turn." There's a hint of sadness there, or perhaps irritation at the woman she speaks of.

"He's got some emotional issues. Tries very hard to fit in, but is also a bit too proud to admit when he needs help. Or company. His mom apparently never gave him the opportunity to socialize with anyone his age," she explains with a tired sigh before smiling at Hank apologetically.

"Sorry. I feel bad for him but am never quite sure how to help him either." Lightly clearing her throat she looks back to the menu. "Okay then. How about the Garlic and Goat Cheese platter with olives, the spicy sausage plate, and... Oh, just some sour dough to help cut all the grease."

There's a little hint of a smirk as she remarks, "Jason was a rather impressive silverback, even if he couldn't take a joke about it. I'm glad everything was resolved though."

Jason Todd has posed:
"Oh I know," Jason says about Carrie's parkour, "She helped me up my game when we were kids, where are you guys going to go running?" he says, taking that little kick and smirking. Though he doesn't push those boundaries. "And yeah, insufferable is definitely the word."

Which for some might sound like a segue to talking about Damian, but in Jason's case he liked what he saw of the kid. "Yeah, Squirt's a bit odd, but alright, blunt, no bullshit with him, which can be a bit much for some people."

There's a nod about the cure, but the bit about the city's protectors get what looks like genuine surprise, "Wait, you met some of the Bats?" he says, "What were they like? Some people around town still think they're a myth or some sort of Gotham PD stunt."

Though about the cure? Jason shakes his head, "No real side effects, besides never wanting to see a banana again, took a bit to get used to being me again, but otherwise, like you were saying about your own ordeal, most of the recovery was mental," he says.

He turns his attention to the menu. "Sure, sounds good," Jason says at the mention of the food, looking about for a server to call over.

"And jokes from you, I could take, Tim or Dick, not so much," Jason says with a small smirk.

Henry McCoy has posed:
A slight shrug and a smile from Hank. "I'm afraid my speciality lays outside of psychology of people, unfortunately." A wink to Carrie. "If only I knew someone studying such a topic." There's a sly chuckle, the man stretching a bit in the booth. "It sounds though, like he had a rough go of it. Hopefully with siblings and a strong father figure, he can turn things around."

"Blunt and straight-forward. I have quite a few friends like that." Hank muses. "They are always interesting to navigate - but quite solid friends regardless." A proud grin. "And yes... I met some of the bat family. Though, being an outsider my knowledge of them is quite lacking. They have some very dashing uniforms. I met Sparrow and Red X? I think? A woman and a man. They were quite to the point and direct. Their data helped immensely." He comments, nodding at the mention of the mental recovery.

A nod of agreement to the food choices before Henry sets down his menu. "Jokes? Word play?" He snickers. "I can understand the specific jesters being warranted - there are some people who I cannot accept jokes from. I suppose certain persons just don't have that sort of repoire with me."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
"So long as you don't go ape about it anymore," Carrie quips because she had to. It was a joke well past it's expiration date, but still a good one. Even if inaccurate as to the actual genus of a gorilla. She allows herself a rather broad, satisfied grin at being able to at least get that out of her system. "Honestly if you think I'm bad at the puns, Dick is so much worse. I think I picked it up from him most likely," she has to admit.

"Tim is just..." She waves a hand in the air searching for the right term. "Tim. Very nice, a bit of the head in the cloud sort. Doesn't always realize what he's saying at times, I think. Though he's better than he used to be." The talk goes to the Bat Family though which causes her to just allow the pair to chat over that. A little hint of a grin is offered over to Hank, and then she looks to Jason watching his own display of acting. At the very least she relaxes a bit more now that things are settled, as it were.

"I'm glad they were able to help. It was a rather stressful time for everyone."

Jason Todd has posed:
"You're studying psychology, C?" Jason asks, see how much he keeps up with the family? Though that ape joke definitely gets a kick under the table, but it's coupled with a grin.

He nods, "We'll see how it goes," he opines of Damian. "We've got his back regardless."

The assessment of Dick and Tim gets a smile. "Short version, Dick is a repository of Dad jokes and Tim is a major nerd," he adds to Carrie's words on the subject. "Though the person you really need to meet is Alfred. He basically keeps the whole show running and makes the best cookies in town," he offers with a bit of a grin.

The Bat Family stuff is met with a nod, "They do like their bird names don't they?" he asks about the Bat Family sidekicks. "I mean except for Red X. And yeah, like Carrie said, glad they were able to help, things were getting out of hand with all those dinosaurs and gorillas running around. I mean this is Gotham, we have enough problems with people dressing up as animals without having sentient ones roaming the streets as well."

"And I hear you about the jokes, some people, like this one," he points at Carrie. "I can take it from others, not so much."

There's a pause when their server arrives to take food and drink orders, Jason ordering a beer, before conversation starts up again. "So, besides the parkour thing, you guys have any big plans for the trip?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
Henry McCoy grins over to Carrie, always one for puns. "Well, I certainly don't want to upset people by monkeying around with puns." He grins, cheekily. He really cannot help it, it's in his blood! He takes in the descriptions of the family, as it were, smiling the whole time. "It sounds rather like an interesting group of people to be around. Variety is the spice of life, I've been told." A nod to Carrie and Jason both. "And yes, they were extremely helpful. I don't know how to reach out to them and pass on my gratitude - it was all very clandestine." A nod.

A grin to Jason. "Yes, I suppose this Red X is breaking from the flock, or the colony in this case." A chuckle. "Kind of a rebel edge to him - his commentary was provoking in the talk of violence. I am certain he was fired up to help the Gothamites who'd been affected." A nod of approval at that. A sly grin at the mention of dressing up as animals. "I can certainly see where that'd be a bit discomforting." A waggle of his brows. "I expect many teasing shots regarding a Ron Perlman television show..." He's clearly amused at the thought.

"I don't know where we might run for our parkour - or any other plans in the city. I admit, I'm winging it - relying on Carrie's knowledge of the good spots."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley orders something which sounds horribly fruity and decadent, and likely named after something of the era. Knowing her own preferences though it was likely non-alcoholic to begin with. With the orders placed she sits back comfortably to indulge further in the company and conversation. Hank's own pun gets a chuckle from her of apparent enjoyment. It never hurt to find someone with a similar sense of humor.

"There's a few parks good for it. I've already brought him on the run down by the dumpling shop in Chinatown. Though I thought we might sneak out to the manor and run the grounds at some point provided we're not going to interrupt anyone else around there." ie, avoid Bruce.

"I also thought we might see if anything is going on in the city theater-wise. Catch a show somewhere. Though I think New York probably has the better line up of constant shows going on," she has to admit. "Otherwise, as he said, just winging it to some extent. It's supposed to be relaxing not just one event after another."

Jason Todd has posed:
"They have their moments," Jason admits of his rather strange family before continuing, "How about you? What's your family like? As for the Bats? No clue how to reach them besides the big light on the top of the GCPD."

There's a smile at the reference to Beauty and the Beast. "Well, I wasn't going to say, it maybe hum the tune to the Disney song when C was around but I wasn't going to say it," Jason admits with a grin. "Though, all teasing aside, you guys seem like you have fun and that's all that really matters."

He looks to Carrie then, mock serious expression on his face, "Just remember Bruce's talk, alright?" he says needling Carrie. Yes, he means /that/ talk.

"Chinatown's good, lots of old and new buildings next to each other, so varied terrain, plus all those clotheslines to dodge," he says clearly having done some free running of his own around there. "Park Row is good too, but a little shadier," he adds.

"I'll leave the show side of things to you folks, haven't really gone more than a couple of times when Alfred dragged me along for some culture. But I can respect the no plans approach, mean you guys probably won't need a vacation from the vacation."

Henry McCoy has posed:
"The dumpling place was fantastic." Hank admits with a nod. "The run was exhilirating as well. Quite the landscape for jumps and maneuvers." Yes, he clearly enjoys his free-running! "A show would be lovely - I'm always a fan of theater." A glance to Jason after that. "My family... well, they were accepting of me at birth. After the changes..." He motions to his appearance. "they tended to check in a bit less. I understand, though." There is a hint of sadness in that. "But, I do have a surrogate family of sorts - they are fantastic. Issues like any other family, but fantastic." He chuckles.

His eyes go from Jason to Carrie when /the talk/ is brought up. Thank goodness for fur, and the masking of any embarrasing blushing. A laugh at the singing of the Disney song. "I had heard a bit of teasing was happening, truth be told."

Another nod. "Carrie mentioned Alfred - she brought me some of his chicken soup. It was perfect for bolstering my mood."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
Carrie Kelley gives a little groan at mention of the song, but her eyes roll back with a repressed grin. She took it in stride, even if it was a bit cliche. Chuckling she gestures to Jason going, "Just you wait. I'll get you back someday," she taunts. Of course, likely this would go on forever. It was a friendly banter with no real malice behind it. Her eyes do light a bit when Alfred is mentioned, and she nods in agreement.

"Alfred is Bruce's butler, though really he's far more than that. Alfred raised him after..." She hesitates a moment. It was well known among Gothamites what Bruce Wayne's history was. "After his parents were murdered as a child. We think that's why he's so keen on adopting," she hazards. "Or maybe I think that since, yes, I have been taking psychology courses. I already did those while I was away though. I couldn't figure out which subject I wanted to major in."

The talk. Oh god. Carrie drops her head down into her hand hiding the LIVID blush that breaks over her face. A mutter of 'definitely getting you back' is uttered if muffled by her hand. Apparently this was a subject that was one of mental torment among their group. "I probably had it worst of all. He never had to give it to a girl before me," she points out with a tense laugh.

"I am glad the soup helped though. There's just something about his home cooking that is ... well. Home."

Jason Todd has posed:
Jason seems to warm as the ice is broken and the talk flows more freely. "Yeah, that dumpling spot is a family favourite. Meet there almost more often than we do at the manor," he says, with a glance to Carrie for confirmation. "Maybe more."

"Shitty your family pulled back like that, once you changed, but glad you found a new one, where'd you meet them?" he asks.

"It's a good theory," Jason admits about Bruce and orphans. "And yeah, Alfred had a hand in rasing all of us to some level or another. He's alright, and good that you got to try his chicken soup, it's a cure all I swear." A genuine smile follows that, his own memories of having that soup coming to the fore.

Jason grins widely at Carrie's embarrassment, but without any cruelty to it, just impish amusement. "True," he says of Carrie's talk being the toughest. "Tim was probably the easiest, since his personality counts as a form of birth control."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Henry watches the banter between the siblings, grinning. There's clearly some admiration there! "Alfred sounds like a great friend and rolemodel." A nod, then a shrug regarding his family. "They need to sort things out, and I don't blame them. They aren't entirely as educated in the ways of genetics as I am - and they are fearful for their own safety, I am sure. Having ... a public persona in the business makes for scary times for loved ones."

He certianly does not broach the topic of the talk. Nope. Not at all.

"My surrogate family? I met Charles when I was finding out more about myself in College. My life took a turn, but I righted myself and reconnected with Charles and my friends after. Like mind and like people - mutants tend to hang around people who can understand what we've gone through."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
"That's true, we go there more than I can easily count. Damian seems to like it too. His mom fed him a lot of Asian food so I think it's a good way to help him relax some," she adds with a little grin of amusement. Odd that a primarily white family is all about the Chinese dumplings, but there you have it. "And that's how I know any Mandarin at all, too," comes last with a little chuckle. "Mama Cho is so patient and let me practice pronounding things so many times."

The talk of family earns a sympathetic look as well, though she chews on the inside of her cheek unsure if she ought to add into that or not. "Sometimes family is the ones we find along the way, and not the ones we're born to," she finally does come out with. It sounded very much like something she might have read in a placard somewehre, but... she seems sincere enough in it. "My original folks weren't exactly great. I'm glad you found somewhere good though. We all need that."

Jason Todd has posed:
"Definitely," is Jason's agreement on Alfred. "He taught me a lot, if it wasn't for him," a beat passes before he more grudgingly adds, "And Bruce, I'd still be thinking like a street kid and have missed out on a lot."

"Yeah, Mama Cho is great, she taught me a lot of my Mandarin too, which is a real pain in the ass sometimes, those tonal languages, one little slip of pronunciation and you've said something totally different than you meant to. Great for puns though."

"I get it," Jason says about Hank's family. "Mine wouldn't stand up for me either," he says, with shrug. "But C's right, the best families are the ones you find," he says before adding with a wry smile. "Which sounds like a huge compliment to Carrie and the other unless you've met the family I was born with."

Henry McCoy has posed:
There's a motion with Hank's hand - though it looks clumsy enough. Maybe he was trying to snap his fingers? "I still haven't looked into learning any of the Chinese dialects." He offers over, with a grimace. "I did take up Japanese, though that was more on a count of Logan and some of his dealings." A grin to them both. "I should start studying, so I can properly order dumplings if we go back."

"Indeed, found family is just as strong, if not stronger, than blood. You tend to gravitate towards people who compliment you, rather than relying on genetics to dictate your associations." A wry grin. "Loyalty to one's closest friends, seems much easier than that based on heritage."

Carrie Kelley has posed:
As luck would have it, it's during this talk that the food arrives. The arrangement of dishes meant to be shared are lain out on the table along with their drinks delivered. Carrie takes up hers, a tall glass with an umbrella and cherry, and lifts it in salute to the other to. "Well then. To good times, good friends, and great futures."