4396/A Little Misunderstanding

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A Little Misunderstanding
Date of Scene: 13 December 2020
Location: A Busy Park In NYC
Synopsis: A little confusion, a little chaos, a shot in the park, two PIs working opposite each other - a basic recipe for disaster. (To Be Continued).
Cast of Characters: Eve Eden, Jamie Madrox




Eve Eden has posed:
The woman seated on a bench in the middle of the park (at the predetermined meeting point) is a tall statuesque figure. Her hair is bottle blonde, though one wouldn't tell except for the barest bit of gray showing through the top of her hair. Her age is difficult to tell, a great deal of work has gone into keeping the lines on her face taunt, her mouth full to Botox perfection. She wears a coat of thick sable fur, the hue is black and the hood is currently down.

She waits patiently enough on this cold, yet sunny, Sunday afternoon. Her purse is clutched tightly in her hands, pouted painted lips and sharp brown eyes scan the horizon as though trying to pick out from the crowd the person she's meeting.

Situated not far from the woman is a dark haired form who almost blends perfectly into the shadows of the tree she's standing next to. Dark blue eyes occasionally sweep about the area, shoulders shift slightly as a quiet 'click' of a hidden camera /might/ be heard. Today Eve Eden is on the hunt, she's been hired by the woman's husband, Larry Richmond, to 'dig up some dirt' on his wife. He needs evidence of her infidelity in order to stop her from taking half of his assets in the big divorce the two have going on, and Eve intends to do it. This clandestine moment is obviously with the woman's lover, and Eve is here to grab the photos. Thus, Eve keeps her gaze upon the woman, camera in a shadow hand on top of the tree waiting to snap, snap snap any would-be suitor to the woman's affections.

Jamie Madrox has posed:
One of the things that make this park such a great place to serve as a rendesvouz is how well public and populated it is. It's the sort of place that, yes, one can easily been seen and observed, but it's typically got so many joggers, dog-walkers, pigeon-feeders and lazy-day strollers about that anyone and everyone just sort of blends in to the background. No one pays any attention to anyone else, at least for the most part. Unless you're specifically looking for someone, one group of kids playing Frisbee is just the same as another playing tag. One old man reading the newspaper could easily be another old woman flipping through a fashion magazine.

So, despite the fact that the statuesque woman seated at the bench may look just a little out of place, she's no more so than anyone else crossing through the park's central plaza and it doesn't seem odd or suspicious or anything more than coincidence when a younger man with a scruffy haircut and a rumpled olive-colored trench-coat picks the same bench to sit down at, apparently giving his feet a rest as he pulls a bag of sunflower seeds out of his pocket to idly munch on the snack. He's looking straight ahead as he does so, not really focusing on anyone or anything specifically, it seems, though anyone who *does* pay a little closer attention to the brown-haired man may notice that he's talking as he's munching on the sunflower seeds. Or, from a distance it may *look* as if he's talking. Maybe he's just moving his mouth a lot as he chews? In either case - whether he's speaking words or a noisy eater, the woman next to him turns a bit in an apparent intent to address him, before she gets a slightly chagrined look on her features and looks straight ahead as well, though it might be hard to determine what it is, if anything, that she's suddenly looking at.

As this exchange goes on, the rest of the park and the majority of the people within go about their business - other benches have folks arriving to sit down, standing to leave, or just camped out for the duration. Joggers still jog. Children still play. Bird-watchers... watch birds. Just another week end in the park, it seems.

Eve Eden has posed:
"Gosh mom! Look at that black raven in the tree! I have never seen one so black!" The exclamation comes from a young girl dressed in green with a bright ribbon that states 'Campfire Girl', she has a pair of binoculars in one hand, a guide book in the other, and is excitedly pointing to the tree Eve is currently standing under. "What's it holdin... hey where'd it go!?"

As the girl lets out her pouted whine, while her mother patiently pats her on the head and quietly tells her they need to move to a different tree now... The figure /under/ said tree idly pockets a small camera, staring at the couple with an intensity that can only be described as 'REALLY ANNOYED'. "Who the hell are you, mister?" She intones, her voice low and quiet, speaking to the shadows themselves versus anyone else.

It isn't any coincidence that someone sat down, though now Eve's thinking this guy is less a suitor and more something -else-. Is it something good to take back to the client? Well, the only way to tell is to get closer.

Licking her lower lip once, then biting down upon it, Eve's mind whirls about the possibilities. Finally, she flicks her fingers as a pitch black shape takes form next to her, the shape is in the form of a drone complete with four propellers and on the bottom - Eve's camera which has now been set to 'video'.

Sometimes just out in the open is a great way to remain 'secretive', so the tall raven haired figure produces a black 'screen', and as she does the drone idly lifts upwards and flies straight into the sky, why it's nothing more than yet another drone operator idly taking pictures in the park.

The drone idly flies through the air while the dark haired woman pretends to navigate it here - and there - eyes on the 'screen' in front of her, which happens to be pitch black, but only someone close would see.

As for Heather Richmond, she coughs slightly, putting her hand up to her mouth in order to 'hide' her speaking. "Thank you for coming, Mr. Madrox. As you might know, I have many different people working for me, but my husband is far too slick, far too protected. I need evidence against him, and I need someone he wouldn't expect to go looking. Thus, I need you."

Jamie Madrox has posed:
At the park bench, one Jamie Madrox continues to munch idly on his sunflower seeds - Ranch flavored - deftly splitting the shells to keep the broken husks gathered on one side of his mouth while he chews and swallows the treasure within from the other side. Thus, one cheek puffs out just a little bit, though it's better than spitting the seed remnants out one-by-one as he eats them. He leans forward a bit, keeping his attention scanning the area in front of the bench and responds in a low but audible tone - audible, at least, to the other occupant of the bench. "Well, with the amount of money you're offering, I could hardly say no," he begins. "I have to say I was a bit surprised to have a client of your resources calling me. I mean, understand now, given your situation. But, regardless, you've made the right call."

Without turning or lowering his head, Jamie reaches into his trench-coat pocket to withdraw a small envelope, setting it down on the bench between himself and the woman, as casual and effortless as if he's just going about cleaning the interior of his coat and is planning on picking up the item later. "The full contract details are in the envelope. No digital trail like your representative asked. You can read it at length later, but there's no surprises." He pauses a beat then, adding, "I do ask for fifty percent up front, the rest upon completion of the assignment. I've included a PO Box address you can send the money to. Your husband won't be able to trace a thing."

As he speaks, Jamie appears completely unawares of the dark drone that hovers above the central plaza of the park, even despite the fact that the 'machine' is making a few suspicious passes over where the meeting is taking place. It's not the only such object in the sky today, though - a couple of kids are flying a kite not too far away, and at least one other drone operator is also sending a little rotored device up into the air. Or, trying to anyways - the poor soul can't seem to steer the thing very well yet and the little craft zooms up and down in spurts and fits before angling downwards to hit the grass with a whack.

Meanwhile, as the operator of the dark drone navigates her 'craft' with far more precision, focusing on the blank black screen as she is, she may not notice another individual walking quietly up behind her to stand there for just a brief moment before reaching out to tap the woman on the shoulder. "I don't know what I should ask you first - why you're spying on me or what's the deal with your video screen," he begins quietly, the tone of his voice slightly amused, slightly annoyed. "But why we don't start with the basics, like your name." Should the woman turn around, she'll easily be able to see that the individual talking to her is a dead ringer for the man on the bench, a veritable twin down to the drab olive trench-coat and the mussed mahogany coif of hair. He sports a thin-lipped smile as he speaks, his arms moving to cross over his chest and his eyebrows lifting up slightly in expectation of a response. And should one check? Jamie is still on the park bench talking with Heather Richmond. Or, at least, one of him is.

Eve Eden has posed:
"Just a little closer there.." Eve whispers to herself, mostly, though the shadow drone in the air does respond in kind, zooming a little close, then going out again - especially as the envelope gets set onto the bench next to the woman in the expensive Sable Fur coat.

Eve still can't help but wonder, idly, what is going on there. This is a transaction of some form or another, that much is now evident. This isn't a suitor, nor is this, perhaps, even something illegal, clandestine - yes. Illegal? Probably not. A distinct scowl creeps into Eve's expression then, she needs to find out who this guy with the woman is. Initially eyeing of him gives Eve the feeling of someone that you might miss in the crowd. Just another guy. A kind of 'guy next door' quality to him. Which, of course, draws all manner of suspicion from Eve. No one is ever the 'guy next door', nor is anyone ever the 'girl next door', so whoever this piece of sunflower snacking work is, he's got the disheveled every man look down pact.

So focused on getting the 'drone' to fly in the direction that she wants, Eve is duly startled by the tap on her shoulder, a distinct, 'OH' echoing from her lips, followed by a dark, black, shadow blade erupting from seemingly no where to jab (though not touch) lightly towards the man's lower midsection - and yes it is floating in mid-air.. "Frankly, fellow, I don't know what the hell you're trying to pull here, but I don't appreciate being questioned, and I really don't like being startled. Lets start off with, who are you first, and maybe I'll give you my name, though I'd recommend looking down first." Her sharp blue eyes lift upwards to show a startled expression to them, and yes - they do shift to one side, taking note of the fact there are now 'two' of these same men, in the same clothes. Clone? Twin? Sick and twisted illusion? (It could happen). Eve plays it not so cool.

Eve Eden has posed:
Meanwhile on the bench, the woman plucks up the envelope (which is snapped by Eve's camera) as she rises upwards without another word and begins walking away from Madrox a simple nod is all that she gives.

Jamie Madrox has posed:
Taking a brief step back as the shadowy knife is trust at him, Jamie unfurls his arms from his chest to raise both hands half-way upwards in the universal gesture of 'I'm not armed', though the expression on his features remains fairly calm and collected - as does the tone to his voice. "Hey now, no need to cause a scene," he counters. "I mean, it's not like I snuck up behind you and shouted 'Boo'. And, I think I have every right to question you, especially considering the way your skulking about over here taking pictures of me." And yes, he does say 'me'. Not 'my brother' or 'him' or 'that guy'. 'Me.' Which might not be so odd, except that the other individual that looks just like him is still plainly seated on the park bench in the center of the plaza.

"Which," he continues, "Is something I'm not to fond of and I'm sure my client wouldn't appreciate either." He purses his lips together in thought for a moment, apparently studying the woman who's drawn a shadow knife on him, then seems to come to a decision. "But, I'll extend a bit of an olive branch. My name's Jamie Madrox," he states, just as a somewhat peculiar set of events is taking place further out in the park.

That group playing frisbee? One of them - a young man just shy of six feet tall and sporting a messy crop of brown hair and a rumpled olive trench coat - tosses the flying disc with surprising aim towards the camera that's still hovering about above the plaza, striking the device with just enough force to knock it from the shadowy drone and send it plummeting towards the ground. Only, instead of landing on the hard pavement, the camera is caught by the sunflower-snacking Madrox, having stood up from the bench to stride across the plaza just in time to 'save' the camera from being dashed to pieces. He eyes the electronic device, turning it over in his hands with a grin, just as the duplicate who is speaking to Eve finishes his introduction.

"The Multiple Man."

Eve Eden has posed:
Standing quiet there for a long moment, even as everything transpires around her, Eve watches the young man next to her. Her sharp blue eyes scan his features, his face, his eyes. The shadow dagger next to him doesn't move, at least at first. When the Frisbee manages to hit the construct and send the camera plummeting down only to be caught by the one she was watching to begin with. Eve's face doesn't flinch, she doesn't try to grab it, nor does she move an inch away from where she currently stands.

Finally the name, though it doesn't ring a bell as far as recognization goes, it does cause Eve's right eyebrow to arch up ever so slightly.

The camera in Jamie's hands isn't anything special, nor is it anything cheap. If it had hit the ground, though the camera itself might have broken, the small memory card would still be in-tact. In fact, a slight shadow wraps itself around the Jamie holding the camera's hand and is gone just as quickly. It's nothing more than a slight darkness that forms, perhaps a faint click in the hand, and then the shadow is gone again. If the Jamie holding the camera takes a good look, the memory card within the camera is now gone.

All this happens while Eve's is still taking in everything that is going on, said, and what is presented in front of her. A wry, almost impish grin spreads itself across her features then, as Eve inclines her head. "Seems we're working on opposite ends of the spectrum, Mr. Madrox." She begins, her voice almost lilted in amusement.

The dagger floating towards Jamie's lower section disappears just like a shadow might dissipate when sunlight hits it. "And since you were so kind as to offer your name, I'm Eve Eden."

Jamie Madrox has posed:
As fate would have it, Jamie-the-sunflower-snacker is still turning the camera over in his hands as the tendril of shadow snakes its way up and onto the device, and he's just able to not only hear but see the memory card release from its moorings. Unfortunately, while he can tell what's happening he's not able to do much about it - one hand reaches for the side of the camera where the memory card is held, though his fingers grasp at empty space as both shadow and memory card are gone in a split second, leaving only the camera itself behind. Jamie mutters under his breath, though seems to take some solace in the quality of the camera itself, sliding the device into the outer pocket of his trenchcoat before bending down to pick up the frisbee from the ground and toss it back to the group that had been originally playing with it. The other Jamie that was in that group? He's oddly no longer there, having disappeared somewhere else for the moment...

Back under the tree, the Jamie that is talking with Eve there remains silent for as long as she does, letting the woman process things in her own speed. For his part, he seems fairly unflummoxed by the woman's ability to wield shadows and darkness as if they were extensions of herself, though he does give that menacing blade a couple of flicks of his gaze before it finally disappears at the woman's command. "You're kidding me," he answers at first, not taking long to figure out what she means by 'opposite ends'. "Her old man hired someone to dig up some dirt on *her*?" Jamie shakes his head once, his eyes lifting upwards with the motion. Hands that were previously raised part-way into the air lower, one stopping along the way to scratch at the back of his head, rufflign his hair even more than it was previously. "These people don't need investigators, they need marriage counseling..." He inclines his head at the return introduction then. "Eve Eden," he repeats, almost as if deciding whether or not the name is an assumed one. He does't say anything directly though, instead continuing. "I have to admit, this is the first time I've run into this situation. Are we allowed to share notes?"

Eve Eden has posed:
A faint furrowing of Eve's brows is given to the question at the end, mouth parting, then opening again as she ponders the implications. "I think it would be a breach of etiquette." She offers fairly simply enough, "Though I'll be honest, I am going to tell my client about you, so any secrecy you wanted is out the window. Duty. All that. And I do expect my camera back, or I will be getting it from you." She doesn't offer the 'forcibly' part, though it is expressed in the shifting of her eyes from blue - to white - and back again, followed by a grin that has absolutely no humor to it, at all.

"So, multiple man, huh? Great name. Clone wars have nothing on you. Do you name yourselves by number, use the alphabet, or go for the gusto like Boba Fett, Jango Fett, and so on?" Eve's dry sense of humor is only matched by the deadpan manner in which she delivers her words.

"As amusing and educational as this is, though." Eve begins, the smug smile on her features not leaving, "I need to.."

Events begin to transpire quickly at this point, like a slow motion video picture, Eve's about to head off and .. well, probably forcibly grab her camera from the Jamie that has it, when her attention is diverted to a red light that glitters faintly across the Jamie she's speaking to shoulders. The light flickers only an instant before a shot echoes outwards and Eve's pushing Jamie to the ground with a tackle that any linebacker would be proud of. The bullet slices through the air, Jamie and Eve begin to tumble towards the ground - and things get a whole lot more difficult.

Jamie Madrox has posed:
"Oh, you're one of *those* types," Jamie answers the whole 'duty' and 'etiquette' comment with exaggerated derision, as if adhering to those types of rules is absolutely no fun and is also terribly uncool. He lets out a small sigh then, also a bit put on, following the sound with a mild pursing of his lips. "Well. I suppose I'll have to do the same, then. Should make for some interesting conversation for them at the dinner table." He pauses a beat. "If they still eat dinner together. Which, judging from the whole dueling PI thing... Maybe not."

The attempted Star Wars humor isn't met with much approval by Jamie - he quirks one corner of his mouth inwards in response, the barest of horizontal movement to his head. "Funny," he answers, though the tone of his voice indicates anything but. "I name myself by name," he adds then, just as the Jamie from the plaza strides up to the conversation area, camera in hand. Somewhere along the way, he's dispensed with the sunflower seed husks that were in his cheek - hopefully in a trash can - and is holding out the camera as he speaks to complete the other Jamie's sentence. "Which, I already gave you. You also should be more careful with your camera - could have gotten broken pretty badly if I hadn't been there. Nice camera, too." The line is delivered *almost* completely straight, though there's just this little undercurrent of amusement to the words as Jamie knows full well he's the one that would have caused it to hit the pavement.

Just then, however, is when the proverbial cow manure impacts with the rotary blades of the air movement device. Screams echo out from across the spread of the nearby park as the shot is fired, other park-goers dropping to the ground or running away flailing their hands. Jamie (one of him, at least) is tackled soundly by Eve, hitting the ground *hard* with a thud and a light noise that almost sounds like the opening of a can of Pringles. *POK!* Where there was one Jamie Madrox, now there are two - both clutching their left shoulders with each appearing to have suffered a single gunshot that's now bleeding profusely. The other Jamie - the one that had been holding onto the camera - drops into a crouch to shield both Eve and the two injured duplicates, his head whipping around to find the source of the gunfire.

He's not the only Madrox on the case, however. Still out in the park proper, the frisbee-throwing Jamie is charging past a young girl attempting to corrall the half-dozen dogs she's being paid to take for a walk, sprinting feverishly towards where the gunfire had sounded from. He reaches the top of the small hill just in time to see a shadowy figure enter the chaotic crowd at the bottom of the other side, a dark cloak seen briefly amongst a sea of colorful outfits. A snap of his fingers and another *POK* later, one Jamie is left to collect the sniper rifle that was left behind by the shooter while another runs down the hill, making additional duplicates along the way. In a matter of seconds there's already about a dozen identical Madroxes by the time they reach the throng of people, already fanning out to look for the gunman. But the search is in vain - one of the Jamies finds the discarded cloak but no further sign of the shooter, the would-be assassin lost in the crowd and nowhere to be found...