240/Streets of Hell's Kitchen

Streets of Hell's Kitchen
Date of Scene:	02 March 2020
Location:	Hell's Kitchen
Synopsis:	Cartel Ambush at the Bagel Cart gets thwarted by a polite Asgardian, an incognito immortal, and Spider-Woman.
Cast of Characters:	Achilles, Jessica Drew, Heidi Ingerdottir, Sanjeev Bassi

---

Achilles has posed:
    Some returned to hotels, or apartments or whatever it is they are using. Time passes. Achilles has a shower, gets some sleep, then another shower. It's been a long day for sure.
    But he gets up in the morning and takes care of business things via his laptop. He might be an ancient Greek hero, but he understands the modern age and hasn't really come out in costume yet. But... after finishing his paperwork, he steps out onto the streets.
    This time, in bluejeans, a Pink Floyd teeshirt, and a windbreaker. It's a simple look and he heads back towards Hell's Kitchen to see if he can find that... super intriguing young woman from the night before. Or some fun. Whichever comes first.

Jessica Drew has posed:
The young black haired woman is feeling less than intriguing or ready to face a good looking human or superhero for that matter. It's a small question of having stayed up much too late. After waiting for a cheater to leave an apartment building where he does a double whammy of a sort on his wife by cheating with a younger man. Jessica flaunts her Goth look - black knee-high boots, black jeans, black leather jacket with a (you guessed it) black turtle neck underneath. Though she really dislikes being matchy-matchy, she has dark circles under here eyes assorted with her color scheme.

PShe stops at a stand that has decent hot bagels and coffee for breakfast. While waiting for the order she looks up and down the street.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
While her first trip to Midgard several years ago had been brief, her second promises to be much longer. This, of course, means that Heidi has entirely too much ground to cover, too much to see, too many things to try. So now, she's taking it in slowly. A slow pace, a slow gaze like she's drinking in every detail, as she practically is.

She steps down off of the curb, thankfully not getting in the way of any curbs as she makes her way down the block. She's not doing much to get in the way of others as she goes, although she does get the occasional glance simply for being taller than most are used to seeing on women.

Sanjeev Bassi has posed:
    Hell's Kitchen. Since his last two trips to Brooklyn at night to run down his hypotheses on his abilities had ended with first him getting tentacle-napped while a crazy "hero" broke someone's arm, and his second one ended with him getting caught up in a human trafficking fiasco, Sanjeev had decided that he may as well go somewhere that already had those things on a regular basis, but also had better topography.

    Though, because he also didn't want to be /insane,/ he thought he would try it during the day when it wasn't reputed to be a spawning ground for demons and other weird mystical phenomenon.

    Magic wasn't real, but on the off chance it was, what if it threw off his data?

    Walking out of nothingness onto a rooftop, Sanjeev's black long coat flared out behind him, revealing his dark hybrid armor on his torso before settling back around him. Chestnut brown eyes peered from behind his black domino mask as he glanced around. Rummaging in his inside coat pocket, he withdrew a digital voice recorder as he mentally began to consider the day's tests that needed to be run. He had been getting more used to his abilities after he had discovered that adrenaline tended to counter the nausea he felt after sliding through the fabric between dimensions, but he knew there was more he could do. It was just a matter of figuring out /how./

Achilles has posed:
    So, Hell's Kitchen. Nobody expects a demigod in bluejeans. Well they also never expect the Spanish Inquisition. But that is beside the point today. A hot dog stand is calling his name. One two stands down from a certain Bagel Cart.
    Ordering two of the local specials, and a can of coca cola, Achilles turns to find a place to sit and enjoy his impromptu breakfast / dinner.
    Conveniently enough right in front of Jessica's bagel cart. For the Valkyrie-to-be... it is reputed that the Valkyrior can sense impending death. But can they sense one who cannot die? That could be interesting for Heidi to pick up on with a casual scan of a crowd.

Jessica Drew has posed:
The first sip of coffee has Jessica occupied, the first bite into her bagel loaded with lox and cream cheese closes her eyes. Being unaware on a street where one has recently begun to make life difficult for drug dealers is generally not recommended in any world or dimension whether magic exists or not. It is a moot point for her a that moment.

Opening her eyes allows her to make a long lazy scan of the street which is having a lull after the initial frenetic morning rush. Nothing of import catches her attention until she turns to put her cup on the shelf provided for customers. She notices things like good looking men, her eyes rake over Achilles and then place him. Cup in hand, bagel in the other she saunters over to greet him just as she catches sight of a woman that is no less than majestic, "Good morning, Angelo!"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
What Heidi certainly has, however, is an eye for the /interesting/. Interesting places, interesting things, interesting people. She beelines in the direction of the bagel stand. She ducks and weaves gracefully through those walking by, moving past Jessica as she herself stops at the bagel stand. Fishing in her pocket, no purse, she pulls out a fistful of dollar bills and sticks it out towards the vendor.

"How many of these for one of those..." She backs up slightly to look at the sign. "... bagels?" To her credit, she's not shouting it, she's trying to order like someone from Midgard would do. She thinks.

Sanjeev Bassi has posed:
    Reviewing the agenda for the day in his mind, Sanjeev set to work. Look at him doing this on his /one/ day off he got in a blue moon. So responsible. Ugh. Sometimes, he wished that the experiment hadn't taken. That he hadn't given in to desperation. But, the knowledge he gleaned from testing his own abilities also led to publishable research which had gotten him where he was today.

    First, he needed to test his sight. Because it was the one thing that had saved him when he first was trapped in the fourth dimension, it was the one thing he always checked before he started anything else: like a warm-up for his abilities. Taking a slow, calming breath, Sanjeev let his vision move into his fourth-dimensional sight. The surface of the rooftop did not exist to his eyes as he began to see all angles, the area all around him looking like a two-dimensional map before him.

    It seemed like his sight range was starting to extend further as he continued to use it and understand it better. Now that he was focused, he picked up the pace of his breathing as he ran in place, trying to simulate an adrenaline rush to test the nausea after-effect. So far, so good. Were those people eating bagels down there? He should have eaten this morning before starting. Damn, those people were tall. That one woman especially. Yeesh.

Achilles has posed:
    The vendor glances to the cash in Heidi's hand, then up to her flawless nordic face, and then back to the cash. "Several. Say, eight?" he asks. "Do you really need that many bagels?" the man asks, trying to be helpful.
    On Achilles's side, he grins up to Jessica, "Ms. Drew. I could tell you that being here is a complete coincidence but..." he shrugs his shoulders, "I returned to Hell's Kitchen in hopes of bumping into you again." He quirks up one corner of his mouth, "Gods, that sounded creepy as hell, didn't it?" he asks as he shakes his head. "LEt me start again... I had hoped that I might get to enjoy your company again and... whoa, now that is a tall young woman!" he exclaims as his eyes notice Heidi over Jessica's shoulder.

Jessica Drew has posed:
One person's idea of interesting is another person's weird. Being weird oneself, weird in the sense that you possess mutant spider-powers, hones a woman's sense of things that fall just a point or two on the side of not normal. The tall blonde woman ticks the weird-meter over a few points towards the red. For the moment, she is in the category of intriguing.

The coffee kicks in, or maybe the amount of strange coincidence occurring collides with her paranoia. She scans the block for trouble coming back to Achille's with one-sided smile then to the woman that earned an exclamation from him. Jessica is not a New Yorker, so less inclined to let people find their own level of trouble. Nodding to the owner of the stand who knows her, she addresses the woman, "Depends on your appetite, I could eat two on a really hungry day, one with butter the other loaded with goodies. Do you like fish?"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi looks between the bagels, then the vendor, then towards Jessica. "Thank you, friend," she offers with a very genuine looking smile. "You have a good point. I should save room for lunch. Five should be enough." She looks at the dollars in her hand, then at the vendor. "Uh, can you count it out? I'm unsure of exactly how your currency system works as of yet." She looks towards the bagels again. "Fish? Fish are delightful. Certainly one of my favorites."

She spots Achilles from behind Jessica, tilting her head curiously. Well, he's certainly tall, barely taller than her. "Well, you don't look Asgardian." It's a statement, not really intended towards him or anyone, just a remark she's making before her attention turns to her new 'friend' Jessica. "So how do you dress these bagels? You said fish?"

Achilles has posed:
    While Achilles is blonde and such, yeah... he does not look Nordic at all. He stands back up to his full height and sets down his hot dog. Well, he finished one off before he spoke to Jessica. What? He eats quick. Either way, he chuckles softly at Heidi's antics and then her question makes him lift a brow.
    "Asgardian?" he asks in his faint English accent. "Well, that is certainly a bolt out of the blue, as it were. I am guessing that by your statement about money, and comment about me that you -are- from Asgard?"

Achilles has posed:
    And the Vendor glances about to the others before he nods, "Sure. It'll be eleven forty seven for five. You have..." and he glances down at the fistful of bills. "Twenty four dollars there. I only need twelve of them and you will get a few coins back."

Jessica Drew has posed:
With a satisfied lift of her chin, Jessica's gaze flickers between the two. She waits for the blonde woman to collect her change. "Knew it. Not the where..." Taking a step to align herself up with the blonde woman who makes her appear short, she gestures at the menu board with her bagel. "You can have butter or cream cheese. Then you can add lox which is smoked white fish and/or onions and a slice of tomato. He has great bagels and a classic kind of stand." This gives Jessica an opportunity to examine the woman's flawless complexion and blue eyes at closer range.

"You could be Asgardian with your looks or she could be...from wherever you're people are from. And I don't mean London."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Well, that's simple enough," Heidi hands the appropriate amount of cash to the vendor and stuffs the rest of the bills directly into her pocket. "Thank you, kind sir, for your patience with me. It has been rewarded. Monetarily." She sticks a dollar in the tip jar. With her transaction being processed, she looks over her shoulder in Achilles' direction. "Do you hail from one of the other Nine Realms or are you just... tall?"

She looks at the menu, then just confidently says, "Surprise me." She looks at the vendor... it almost sounds like a challenge. Just as she's done with that, her attention snaps back to Jessica. "Again, many thanks for the help, friend." With a fist clutched to her chest, she gives a bit of a half-bow in their direction.

"I am Heidi, daughter of Inger, keeper of Asgardian's winged horses, a warrior, and soon to be named a Valkyrie."

Achilles has posed:
    "Funny fact. Even in Scandinavia, only a small percentage of the people have blonde hair." offers Achilles with a tilt of his head. It's like a nervous response, citing weird trivia when caught off guard.
    "But blonde does not necessarily mean Swedish." he adds with a chuckle, "My lovely lady, I am nobody worthy of the attention of a Valkyrior to be." he says as he returns the bow the same way, "I am merely a man named Angelo. If anyone is worthy if your attention, it is this young lady here." he says, stepping back a half pace to make it appear that Jessica has stepped -forward-.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Heidi's introduction goes a long way towards putting a smile on Jessica's face. "Yes!" she exclaims, her weird-meter vindicated and takes a bite of bagel. The smile slides toward more neutral watchfulness as Angelo waxes eloquent and is not quite as forthcoming as she expected. Waving her bagel in denial, the black-haired woman swallows and sputters, "Ah, no. But heavens, you would think we were having a casting call with all the good looks."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi laughs. It's not an uproaring chuckle, but more of an honest laugh of someone genuinely enjoying themselves. "I have found, Angelo, that those who claim that they are not worthy know that they are, even if they do not say as much. Your humbleness is noted." She retrieves the bagels in a small brown paper bag, studies them, then gives a nod to the vendor. "I am indeed surprised, thank you." She pulls out one of the bagels as she looks to Jessica.

"He is right, though, your kindness has shown through when you helped a stranger with no thought of reward. You two are... friends, are you not?" She looks towards Achilles. "You have good taste in friends." Taking a bite of her bagel, she is careful about talking with her mouth full and takes her time to finish the bite before speaking again. "What may I call you? For if you do not name yourself I will have to come up with one for you."

Achilles has posed:
    Chuckling softly, Achilles shrugs his shoulders. He doesn't comment on worthiness any more. He has said what he had to say on the matter and is moving forward. He takes a large bite of his second hot dog as Heid bites into her bagel, and he chews slowly, savoring the interplay of the flavors.
    But once he swallows, he hears the comment about friends. "Well, I would like to think that we could be friends. I just met her last night. I thought I was helping to protect someone. It turned out that she didn't need protecting. Those hunting her needed it."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica's shoots Achilles a quick questioning look, pleased that he'd want to be friends and yet an older reflex puts her on guard. Despite herself, she has enough self-awareness to quash that moment of suspicion.

"We can all use friends. I...ah, yes. I seldom need help with the kind of trouble that rolls down the alleys here. Pardon me. Jessica Drew, I've just moved to New York. And the two of us just met last night. It is nice to make your acquaintance." The barest fraction of a smile lifts the corners of her mouth when she looks at Achilles. "Nice to see you again."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Friendships can form in even the strangest of circumstances," Heidi grins. "The only way that could be more interesting is if she turned the tide and saved you." She bites off a healthy chunk of the bagel and chews it as she looks between both of them, clearly studying each of them. Eventually, she speaks up again. "Ah, yes, New York. There are an awful lot of lights here. Hard to see the stars."

She chuckles lightly. "If the two of you wish to catch up and converse, please, do not let me stop you. I certainly am not one to stand in the way of pleasant conversation between two new friends." She steps back out of the way as if to physically facilitate their conversation.

Achilles has posed:
    "Well Heidi, daughter of Inger, I am pleased to meet you. And in all honesty, I would very much love to hear tales of Asgard while..."
    And while he is speaking, there is a sound... a squeal of automobile tires. The sound makes Achilles's head tilt to one side, and his green eyes flicker to his left. He strides forward out of some instinct of tactical expertise. Just as the driveby shooter begins spraying automatic fire towards Jessica and the carts but... Achilles's voice says, "Do what you can." to Jessica as his left bronze bracer grows into a Grecian style large phalanx shield just in time for Achilles to start blocking bullets heading for the vendors.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica's mouth had just opened to trade another social pleasantry. She has gotten much more accomplished with them in the last year when the screech of tires stops her. The next few seconds seem to slow into interminable moments, the young woman is strong and lightning-fast, but she does not stop bullets. The first shot has her flipping back into the air, coffee going in one direction, and the remains of her bagel in the other. She lands on her feet in a crouch behind the bagel cart, beside her the cart owner who she dragged down with her. Screams erupt along the street as people flee, stumbling in their panic.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Thankfully the Asgardian wasn't close enough to be hit by a stray bullet. She may be strong, "I didn't realize I'd need to bring my weapons with me everywhere," Heidi says as the bagels are abandoned, the bag thrown where she hopes to recover it later. She paid good money for those! Scanning the street and those on it, she moves forward, abruptly knocking tables onto their side and clearing chairs away with a quick movement of her arm. "Get behind these!" She yells at those not jumping into action, ushering them to safety before she straightens up and looks towards the car.

Her eyes scan the area--she needs something big to slow down the car, but she's not willing to throw the whole bagel cart in the way. That's someone's living, after all. "Someone find me something big!" She yells, charging forward to at least keep the car within her sights, even if it means in the direction of danger.

Achilles has posed:
    In the end, this is an escalation of force from earlier encounters. "These guys again?" asks Achilles as he lifts his right hand, the bracer on that hand manifesting his bronze spear. This is hurled at the vehicle.. ramming through the engine block and stabbing into the ground.
    "Parked cars!" he calls over his shoulder towards the Valkyrie. "Large item, parked car!"

Jessica Drew has posed:
After a quick pat on the cart owner's shoulder, Jessica springs from behind the cart onto the top of a parked car. She crouches like a runner taking off of a block and leaps onto the car that had fired on them, now pinned by a spear through its engine block. With a reach through the open back window she extracts a gun wielding man by the back of his coat then jerks the gun out of his hand. It clatters to the ground. Rising to her full height, the man kicking and yelling protests held straight out in front of her, she throws him down in disgust on the street.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Parked car? Parked car. Heidi makes a quick assessment of the situation and decides that the car would be overkill. This was being handled nicely. She steps forward, approaching the now stopped car. With the gunman nicely handled by Jessica, she moves to the driver's side and pulls open the locked door by sheet force. It's still mostly attached but it certainly won't close again.

"I am a kind and gentle soul and I would prefer it if you exited this vehicle of your own volition placed yourself on the ground somewhere around... there." She points nearby. "Otherwise I will have to show you the might of Asgard." She eyes the car door. "That's not even close to the might of Asgard."

Achilles has posed:
    Well, Achilles just stays in his position where he can use that shield to cover the bystanders and civilians. After all, now he's getting to see two women, two beautiful women.. fighting in such a magnificent manner.
    To himself, he mutters softly, "If I had only -not- killed the Amazons..." with a rueful shake of his head. But then he takes a breath and backs up towards the vendors and customers. "Stay down and stay behind me." he states. The weird guy in blue jeans and carrying a four and a half foot wide bronze shield. Not something you see every day. Either way, he debates and decides that this is not the time to go full Spartan, or Greek... or Myrmidon. Oh skip it.

Jessica Drew has posed:
The third man in the car riding shotgun opens his door and tries to run. Pivoting in place, Jessica leaps from the car and collars him, twisting his arm behind him and then pushing him around the back of the car to stand in front of Achilles. Police sirens can be heard a few blocks away. She shakes him like a rag doll before pushing him on to the side walk.

"Stay there. Don't move and life will be much better for you. Not that I care."

Clear admiration in the nod she gives Heidi, she cants her head questioningly at Achilles, "Think we should stick around or just let the police take care of them?"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Ah, your peace-keepers?" Heidi is unsure of if it's better to stay or leave at this point, so she leaves it to the other pair. "I am pleased, it appears as if no one was actually hurt." She scans the three men to make sure they're not making any moves to get up, then she looks back. "I imagine they will do the job of cleaning up this mess." She nods to both of them in turn.

"I appreciate the aid. You are both reliable allies."

Achilles has posed:
    Once things wind down, Achilles inclines his head and then the shield retracts into his wrist bracer. He strides forward and reaches for his spear. When he grips it, it shrinks down from 12 feet to a mere 6 feet in length. This withdraws it from the engine and then he retracts into his bracer once more. "Legend has it that Hephaestus himself made my family heirlooms." he says by way of a meager explanation.

Jessica Drew has posed:
The approaching sirens decide Jessica. "Let take a walk down the block. I wouldn't mind having a coffee in peace. You're both welcome to come."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi studies the weapons and shield, giving an appreciative nod of approval. "It sounds as if your Hephaestus did good work. If it has passed through your family line, I imagine it must be fine craftsmanship indeed."

The sirens are quite loud and annoying, so she does just that, starting off down the block. "Peaceful coffee sounds quite nice right about now." She does, however, stop to pick up her discarded bag of bagels, as no one's moved it.