2523/Time for Dumplings

Time for Dumplings
Date of Scene:	19 July 2020
Location:	Hot Dumpling Restaurant
Synopsis:	Joan depends on the kindness of a stranger named Cole
Cast of Characters:	Joan Wright, Cole Cash

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Joan Wright has posed:
While Joan lives on Long Island, she does have reason to visit Gotham. For today it's business related. After talking with a local contractor about great food to get she found herself wandering to this- interesting restaurant. Indeed the chicken display was a little offputting but OH GOSH THE SMELLS. Too bad all the tables are taken. "Dammit." Joan mutters, stepping to the rather cozy waiting area. "Knew I should have come earlier."

She stands, watching for the next table to open up.

Cole Cash has posed:
On the other hand Cole lives in Gotham, and not very far from the restaurant. It would be nice to say he is drawn to the good food, but actually he originally stumbled on the restaurant while looking for the cheapest place to have food. Good food keeps him returning, however.

He also does good business in Chinatown, despite his definitely non-oriental aspect. But he knows the language, that opens doors. Currently the blonde man has taken over a small table by the corner and is going over messages in his cellphone.

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan in particular is looking towards the table near Cole's as they appear like they're finishing up. And then another round of dumplings is brought to that table.

"Oh come on." She murmurs, giving a bit of a pout as it looks like everyone's eating. But wait. Her glance shifts up seeing Cole's table. There's a seat... She bites her lip, glancing to a passing plate before giving a nod. "Ok..."

With purpose, she walks over to Cole's table, coming to a stop next to the table. She pauses, seeing that he's doing something on his phone, and for the moment is hit speechless, standing next to the table dumbly.

Cole Cash has posed:
Said phone gets closed the second Joan steps into his mercenary-sense range, a dumpling halfway to his mouth. It is such an automatic reaction most people would think Cole just finished looking at his favorite chat, instead of... probably something illegal in most civilized nations.5r5rThe blonde man grabs a large beer (where did he got that in a Chinese place will remain a mystery for now) and sips, glancing up at Joan. Mostly checking if she is here to murder him. Because that happens too often.

Not murdering? Then he nods as greeting. "Place is full, yeah?" He leaves the mug back on the table. "Go head, I am not using that side of the table."

Joan Wright has posed:
As Joan stands there trying to remember what she was going to say, Cole takes care of the problem for her by correctly determining the cause of her disruption. The brown haired, pretty average looking girl, blinks, processing the offer before her expression brightens. "Oh thank you!"

Moving over, she slides into the seat, bringing the available seat count in the restaurant back to zero. "A colleague of mine suggested I try this place but he did not mention how few seats there would be."

Taking a menu, she starts to open it up. "Thanks ag-" She pauses, looking to the menu.

Cole Cash has posed:
"This is the worst time to come," points out Cole. Ah, but the woman is busy with the menu now. Which is only in Cantonese Chinese, mind you. But there are pictures for the dishes. Still, it is likely they are the only whites in the place. Gotham's Chinatown seems stuck seventy years in the past.

Joan Wright has posed:
"Ah but it was the only time to come." She replies, silently praising the gods that not only are there pictures but also numbers. Ah math. The universal language. "My day is mostly full and I don't know the next time I would be back. Right now the only excuse to come here is through my own work. And New York keeps me busy as is."

Cole Cash has posed:
That makes Cole smirk. "Don't come to Gotham only for food," because New York is crazy, but Gotham is evil. Hyperloop makes coming and going too easy.

"The dumplings are a must, if it is the first time here," he suggests. He has a bowl of them, mostly empty. "Keep a hand on your wallet, though. This is not really a tourist-safe area."

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan laughs a little at the advice, "That's what my colleague suggested." She glances over indicating that she is ready to order and glances back to Cole, "And thank you for the advice. I've definitely seen my share of crazy."

She pauses, turning to the server to give her order, gesturing to the picture of the dumplings and then to the logo depicting one of their soft drink options. "Thank you."

She sets the menu back to the side. "And the wallet advice applies to a lot of places in New York as well. If you ever feel inclined to go there."

Cole Cash has posed:
"It is not the same, Gotham is the most dangerous city in America," replies Cole, losing his smirk. "I travel a lot, I know New York, yeah. I am from Chicago. Cole Cash, pleasure to meet you." He manages to unentangle a hand from the messy side of the table to offer it if Joan wants to shake.

Joan Wright has posed:
"I can believe it." Joan replies, lifting up a hand to take the one Cole offers. "Joan Wright. Nice to meet you as well." She says in kind, "While my excuses to come here are fewer, it doesn't mean I haven't been to this city before."

Cole Cash has posed:
"You come here willingly? Tsk." Because that is not a healthy habit. Yes, he lives here, but Cole has few healthy habits. He turns to a passing waiter and tells him a few sentences in Chinese. "They will come to check up with you in a minute," he explains, "place is full, and usually they go to known customers first."

Joan Wright has posed:
"At times," Joan admits, "Usually to visit others. Sometimes for work. Almost always related to someone working."

She glances up, looking to the employee Cole speaks to, not quite sure what is being said. Her glance shifts back to the blonde as the explanation is given. She smirks, "How fortunate you speak the language. My communication skills are more pointing at pictures, looking at the numbers and making sure the amount charged matches up."

Cole Cash has posed:
"Yeah, that will end you with you hungry in places like this one," offers Cole with a smirk. "As I said, you are off the tourist-safe areas. Not that the cooks here couldn't find work at a much better place. But this is a family business. Plus Gotham." The chickens are probably smuggled or something.

If smuggling chickens is a thing. But in Gotham, chances are it is.

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan's brow raises, smirk fading as Cole counters with his own. Well played Cole...Well played. "Well, in that case it appears I'm in your debt. Would you like for me to get your beer?" As for the mystery for how he got the beer in a Chinese restaurant? Well... They're listed under the soda logos.

Cole Cash has posed:
Cole shakes his head, finishing his beer mug a second late. "Nah, actually I should get going. Business to run and people to see," he semi-explains. A last dumpling gets shoved into his mouth and he stands up. "Table is all yours. Leave a good tip and next time you won't need an interpreter. They have good memories here."

Joan Wright has posed:
Joan's smile returns to the man and getting up. "Thanks, I will. And it was a pleasure to speak with you."

Joan watches as Cole heads on out, smile still on her face before a blur of movement draws her attention away from the departing man and towards the plate and drink being set in front of her. Eyes widen at the sight. "Oooh. This looks amazing."