2983/Dine and Dine Again

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Dine and Dine Again
Date of Scene: 19 August 2020
Location: Rachel's Diner, Queens
Synopsis: There are no spies at this diner. Nope.
Cast of Characters: Nessa Donovan, Ben Reilly, Michael Hannigan




Nessa Donovan has posed:
Squished in between an old-fashioned barber shop and a hardware store, Rachel's Diner is a small hole-in-the-wall diner. The sign in the front is big enough that those looking for it might notice, but the entrance is unimpressive from the outside. It could probably use a coat of paint to liven it up. It is, however, a popular diner despite its size. The kind of place you find out about by word of mouth. The interior is clean and well-kept, some booths and tables a little dated but still maintained well--it's a labor of love.

The usual crowd has filtered out, leaving a small lull in business and a few tables and booths open for customers. Nessa, having hung up her apron to take a break, sits at one of the empty counter chairs, sipping a cup of coffee to fuel the next food rush. Her arms and hands are covered by a long sleeve shirt and gloves respectively, despite the heat of the kitchen. She keeps a careful eye on the door, just in case it gets busy again and her break needs to be cut short.

Ben Reilly has posed:
Ben is wearing a true blue sweatshirt with the hood up over his head and with his hands as deep as his thoughts, jammed into pockets and pushing downward still. He plops along slowly, lost in his own mind while trying to remember. He'd settle for remembering anything at this point.

He feels absolutely terrible.

Maybe it's because he hasn't eaten, he figures, and the diner across the street seems like a cheap option on his limited budget. Dodging traffic without ever taking his hands out of his pockets he skips across the road, up the sidewalk and into the diner. Sheepishly he takes his hood down, a reflexive move that he doesn't currently know the origin of.

"Hey." There's a nod toward Nessa who is seated at the end of counter chairs and Ben huddles into one of the seats at the bar.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
When you live in New York for years you end up developing favorite places to go. For Mike, that'd probably be closer to where he lives but sometimes a person needs to try something outside of their comfort zone. That serves up something IN their comfort zone. And Mike just happens to be over here and he just happens to want a cup of coffee. So in he goes.

The bell signifies another entrant into the relatively calm diner. From under the brim of the ballcap, he glances around, looking to the assortment of tables available. Upon seeing Ben and Nessa, he blinks. Small world.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa still observing the customers as they enter, she notes Ben in particular, mostly because he looks a bit... tired? She's not sure entirely, but there's enough there that a tiny bit of concern creeps up. Enough she feels the need to comment. "You alright there?" She sips from her coffee, but proceeds to set it down as she offers a smile. As Mike enters, she observes in her peripheral vision for a moment. While he does seem a bit familiar from somewhere, it's not enough that she makes any connections. Repeat customer? Maybe.

She looks ready to get off her seat and head back to the kitchen if she needs to. "I can make sure you get something quick." She doesn't know the scoop--but if there's one thing that makes her feel better, it's diner food.

Ben Reilly has posed:
"Yeah, uhm. I'm fine. Just a long week," Ben says to Nessa, not quite noticing the man from the other night, who entered behind him. He takes a look at one of the menus that sit pre-placed and puts his hands between his knees as he looks it over. Quantity is what is important here. Quantity and a lack of expense.

"I'll go with, uh, Big Russ' Quartet." This sounds like a meal that will make his dollars last.

Ben takes a look over his shoulder and raises his eyebrows. He seems to perk up quite a bit at noticing a friendly face from the other night. "Mike? Hey, I looked all over for you. You left your notebook back at the coffee shop."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Placing Nessa is slightly easier for Mike but only because Nessa was in the same form both times they were around each other. He doesn't really recall much at the top of the bridge other than the sunrise and the 'you did good' speech. Honestly he was exhausted. As for the other time well, she was in an ice palace with a snow bunny. And he... was a talking raven.

...Yeah maybe he should act like he doesn't recognize her.

He turns his attention to Ben just as he seems to have placed him. "Hey-" A brow lifts at the mention of the notebook. "Oh?" He replies, smile strengthening. "I've been looking all over that! Do you still have it?"

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa doesn't wait for any of the other staff to get the order. Instead, she yells it back to the kitchen. "Tony! One Quartet. If you do it doubletime I'll cover that shift you wanted off." There's a barked reply that almost sounds unintelligible, but Nessa nods like she gets it. With that covered, she glances between the two. There's clear recognition there, so she turns back to her coffee so as not to interrupt for the moment. Not that she's not idly listening. Diner conversations are always the most interesting.

Ben Reilly has posed:
Ben begins to nod and smile before he abruptly begins to shake his head.

"No, I mean, not with me. It's actually at the place I'm staying. You'll have to tell me where I can drop it off."

He nods over to where he's sitting, "Hey, come have a seat. He looks back over to Nessa, "I realize I should have ordered something to drink--can I get some coffee too?" He nods over to Mike, but keeps his eyes on Nessa, "This is Mike. He's cool."

"Mike this is..." Ben leans forward in his seat and tries to read Nessa's name tag.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike's smile falters slight but soon recovers. Dang it. But still it's safe. Which is good. "Oh sure," He reaches into his pocket, "I think I have a card here..." It's not that it's hard to find the card it's just sometimes those cards just stick together and it's a heckofatime getting them separated. But eventually he can feel the heavyset paper let loose.

Tugging out the business card to Shaw studios, he shifts over to the counter before reaching into his other pocket to pull out a pen, writing his cellphone and name on it. "Ok, I spend a lot of time here and so does my roommate. Just ask the first floor security guard, Larry for either Mike Hannigan or Wade Shaw."

Putting the pen up, he turns, offering Ben the card. "Thanks for picking that up for me."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa holds out her tag a bit, where the imprinted writing says 'nessa' with a piece of dark tape covering the first part of it. "It's just Nessa." Upon Ben's request, she slides off her seat in a smooth motion. Moving behind the counter, she retrieves a mug and the carafe of coffee. She moves over, depositing the mug down, pouring the coffee (and moving to refill her own) before depositing it back over the heat. "Nice to meet both of you, Mike and...?" She didn't catch Ben's name.

Ben Reilly has posed:
"Nessa," the young man finishes his sentence from earlier. "Mike, this is Nessa. She's cool too."

"Me? I'm Ben, and I'm about the hungriest customer you ever did have." Reilly takes the card and flicks it over between his two fingers before nodding at Mike. "Will do. I'll have it over tomorrow. I'm not doing anything better." He waves a hand dismissively at the thanks. "Not a problem, man."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Fate of the notebook secured, Mike looks over to Nessa, looking to the tag as she extends it out,. "Hi Nessa. NIce to meet you."

Wait. did he j- Yes. Emphasis on the wrong letter. Despite the intent earlier he just couldn't help it. Just. Move along.

"And, I'll be getting Ben's meal this time around. Any chance I could get a coffee?" He looks back over to Ben, giving a nod, "That'll work out great. I have some sessions there tomorrow afternoon."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
There's a chuckle from Nessa, something more to herself than anything. There's a small nod. "I've had a few customers that were pretty hungry, though. Maybe I can convince the owners to do one of those eating challenges or an all-you-can-eat pancake special. Then you'd really be covered." Her eyes slide to Mike for a long moment, eyeing him at the emphasis. Uh huh. She tugs at the cuff of her gloves. Familiar face but familiar in a different way. Mike is eyed for a second more before she turns to get the coffee.

The mug, once retrieved and filled, is carefully slid over towards Mike. "Say, you fond of the view from bridges? You seem like the type." Casual. You know, like you do.

Ben Reilly has posed:
"Yeah, that works, then," Ben says before he begin waves his hand again, "No, you don't have to pay for me man. I got this." But as they begin talking, Ben can tell something is up, but not quite what. They both look a bit older than him. Maybe that has something to do with it. The bridges comment specifically gets a raised eyebrow.

"If you do convince them, let me know. I'll start a gambling ring out back and put everyone to shame."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike looks down towards the mug as it is slid to him, already sliding over payment for both his coffee and what he assumes to be enough for Ben's meal over to 'Nessa. Essentially laying claim to the bill. "Too late."

He gives a bit of a smirk before he gives a bit more reason to his actions. "I know I don't HAVE to." Mike explains, "I WANT to. I thought I lost that notebook for good and it turns out I didn't. So, why not celebrate a little? Hmm?"

He didn't catch the glance from Nessa but he does see the coffee being slid towards him. "Ah thank you." It is a welcome sight. And then there's an odd question. Mike looks up to Nessa curiously. Looking to her expression. "Bridges? What?" He pauses.

What the-

.
.
.
FFFFF-THERE TOO?!

"I don't really go out of my way to go sightseeing on a bridge but I've been dragged along a few times. Last friend who did was a little bit strange about it though."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa grins at Ben. "Food gambling ring. I'm sure my boss would be thrilled." She gives a small shrug of her shoulders. "I'd bet on you, you seem like the kind of person who gets underestimated a lot. I know, cause that was me." The thought is ended as she hears the sound of a bell, then turns smoothly to head over and grab the plates of food. True enough, it is as Ben was hoping--a large amount of food for cheap. "I can't promise that those are the best scrambled eggs and bacon in town because I didn't make them, but Tony's a close second."

Nessa moves to set the coffee maker to brew a new pot before she idly looks to Mike with an amused expression. "Yeah, I've got a pretty strange friend too. He's a bit hard to understand sometimes." She feels like there's no more to add to that. She's got the picture, and she's pretty sure he did too. She quickly slides the money away so Ben doesn't have the chance to protest, and she moves to get the change.

Ben Reilly has posed:
"It doesn't matter," Ben says honestly as he digs all the way in. There's a comment in here about the best eggs and bacon he's ever had but that's really a reference to meatloaf and not apt in this situation. Suffice to say he gets busy and Tony's work will be fine for right now.

He's so hungry he forgets to protest Michael paying for it. But, mid bite, he begins to look back and forth between Mike and Nessa and does this about four times.

"Are you guys spies? You're talking like spies."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike gives a nod. Strange that. Strange Friends. Strange indeed. Strange.

Yes, they each get the point.

With the bit of quiet as Ben enjoys his food and Nessa turning to tend to her customers, the performer contents himself with the hot coffee for all of a second before Ben poses his question. Pale eyes look over towards Ben mid-sip but he doesn't gulp it down. He's not a madman. Sip completed, he sets the mug down, and shakes his head. "No. But I played one on TV once."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa returns with the change, sliding it over to Mike before replying to Ben. "Nah, this is my real job. Real cook, real best eggs and bacon in New York." She reaches over for her coffee casually. "Not a spy, just someone who gets unintentionally caught up in things a bit unexpected. Like ice palaces." She may be open with her information, but she's not going to rat out anyone who might keep their situation a bit more under wraps.

"Being a spy would be pretty cool, but I'd make a terrible one. I get mouthy. People remember that. People get /annoyed/ at that. Bit hard to fly under the radar." She shrugs a bit. "Spy would certainly get paid better, though. I don't get paid to get into trouble. That's purely for the joy and sorrow of it all. I must be an adrenline junkie or something."

Ben Reilly has posed:
"You know who would say all that?" Ben says with a tilted head towards Nessa. "A spy." And then a nod to Mike, "And you too. I think you guys are both full of it. But one thing that is no mistake is this food." It doesn't take him long at all to guzzle everything down. He reaches into his pocket for a tip--Mike will at least allow him to pay for that, won't he?

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Mike casts a glance towards Nessa at the mention of ice palaces before looking back to Ben when he says they're full of it. "About three years ago." Mike replies, setting a few more bills upon the counter, "Person of Intrigue. Two episodes. Stage name is Nick Drago. Look it up."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"Oh cool, I know two celebrities now," Nessa notes. "At this rate I'll collect them all, get a whole set. Not sure I can get everyone to sign autographs, but there's no sense in not trying." She fingerguns at Ben. "I'll take 'full of it' as a compliment and assure you that I absolutely am a spy and I've been working undercover as a diner cook to infiltrate the kitchens of the elite. One day I'll complete my mission." She can't help but grin.

Ben Reilly has posed:
Ben double, then triple takes at Nessa's explanation of her spy-life. He knew it. He knew it the whole time. "Toldya," he replies as he plops down the tip. He looks over to Mike--"Man, I loved that show." Or, at least he thinks he did. Once.

That's literally the first thing he's remembered before last week. Maybe he's starting to make a break through. Maybe he's starting to get better.

"Well guys, I've got to get going." The shelter fills up quick and if he doesn't get there early enough, he might not get to use the washer and dryer, or worse, he may not get a bed.

"I'll be back. Next time, you cook it," Ben says with a smile towards Nessa before popping Mike on the arm with an open hand farewell.

*

It's about six blocks later that it starts to happen. The hopes of getting better immediately go by the wayside as a pain hits Ben right in the chest. Is he having a heart attack? That's the first thing he thinks.

In an alleyway he hits his knees and before he knows it, he's puking, but it's not vomit. It's not the food, that was very good. It's something else. Something far worse.

Fluorescent green bile smacks the pavement as Ben hunches over in pain. He struggles to get back up to his feet, and as he does, the skin on his forehead splits open despite not suffering any trauma.

"Oh god..."