576/Mr. Levinsky

Mr. Levinsky
Date of Scene:	17 March 2020
Location:	Al's Corner Store
Synopsis:	JD and Thor stop a crime
Cast of Characters:	Jessica Drew, Thor

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Jessica Drew has posed:
Most people's idea of a stroll down to the corner store is prosaic, list in your pocket, card in your wallet. Some people take the family dog, and in a neighborhood where people know you like Hell's Kitchen, they think nothing of leaving the dog tied up outside. Scratch that. Look up. Two stories up, a black silhouette hangs upside down between two dark windows. Unlikely that you would be able to look closer to see the dark mane of hair that frames the pale face covered in a half-mask.

The door opens and two dark-haired men, hair razored up high and slicked back, leave the store with their hands sunk deep in their leather jackets. Packing guns without a doubt.

Jessica debates until the smaller one of the two wheels around back into the store. The telltale sound of a silencer - Jessica races down the side of the building and bounds onto the shoulders of the thug outside.

Thor has posed:
    It is strange the way the people of the city interweave their lives and destinies together despite the world being such a large place and the paths of those who trod the streets should rarely if ever overlap. If one were to speak to those two thugs only five minutes ago, to tell them to beware for their efforts were likely to be witnessed by a young woman who had held sway and service to those known as Hydra.. Told them their scuffle would in turn be witnessed by one of the few Asgardians upon Earth? They would likely rail and roar and laugh, as well as put money down that such would never happen.
    They would not be privy to the time that the Panther had taken Thor to Hell's Kitchen to witness a gathering of worthies. Would not know that the Thunderer had struck up a conversation with a shop owner known simply as Mr. Levinsky. That in that conversation the Asgardian had laughed long at the wry humor of the old man and offered oath that indeed if he were ever to purchase Vladoff's Vodka it would be done in his store... for if they did they might not have chosen this particular store to prey upon.
    "What passes?" Two words lifted, hurled across the way as the tall man in the grey denim jacket and jeans calls out. Umbrella in hand he seems as little more than a civilian raising at least some semblance of alarm in this city.

Jessica Drew has posed:
A woman walking towards the store angrily turns on her heel and huffs back in the direction she came from. A man ducks into a doorway. No one wants to be caught in the fall out.

That suits Jessica fine. She catches the question that whispers like distant thunder from across the street but she is in free fall heading for the taller thug. Some premonition makes him look up, much too late. He splats to the ground under the force of her momentum. g = -9.8 m/s2 It's only two stories. The man is alive but not conscious. Rising, the black and red form races into the store but not before looking back for the source of the whispered thunder.

Thor has posed:
    She'll see him then, there in the halo of lamplight. The furrowed brow, the narrowed eyes. His mouth is open with puzzlement as he looks from the fallen man to now the dark-haired woman. Most would assuredly turn upon witnessing such almost casual violence, the way the man crumpled under the drop. But not this one, this tall man in the middle of the night.
    She rushes in, slipping from view. If she lets her gaze linger long enough she'll see him breaking forward into first a jog and then a run that leads him forward. Likely she's already inside, so quick and graceful. That by the time he reaches the door she may well be on the way to resolving whatever perfidy had passed.
    But eventually he will reach the door, pushing it open abruptly with his shoulder and appearing in the store, announcing his appearance with a resonant booming bombastic voice.
    "Levinsky! Speak if you are able!"

Jessica Drew has posed:
It is one of those odd moments where events move faster than considered thought. Jessica carries a perfect snapshot of the man from across the street, a frame built to carry the voice she'll hear, large shoulders - the type meant to carry armor and heavy weaponry, a handsome face made stern by a frown. She doesn't have the time to make any sense of it being fixed on the thug wielding a gun. He turns it on her. Fortunate, that he is faster than he is accurate. She leap kicks it out of his hand, then spins an elbow into the man's face knocking him head over heels into display of chips hanging from a revolving stand.

A voice booms: "Levinsky."

One foot on the man's chest, straight out of a sports hunter's photo diary, Jessica looks a question at the big man that followed her into the store.

Thor has posed:
    Into the small shop, stepping upon bag of chips that has the misfortune to be under foot. That tall man with the blond hair drawn back into a haphazard pony tail looks around the displays, the counter, the fallen. He looks down at the man now conquered by Jessica and his lip twists up a little. "Well done."
    Yet he moves further into the room quickly, looking around the place as he adjusts the grip he holds on that umbrella, a faint /whom/ heard from it somehow, perhaps adding to the curiousness along with the fact that he carries such and there's not a cloud in the sky.
    "Levinsky!" He calls out again, moving down the aisle, "He is the proprietor of this place, a good man." As he speaks there is something dour to the words.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica's mouth drops open in dismay. "Levinsky! The nice older man that owns the place?" The question might mark her as new to the neighborhood but the man that owns the store stands out as a mensch. A young man, dark skin blanched in fear rises from behind the counter. From the back of the store an older man's voice calls, "Jose? Jose, are you alright?"

Thor has posed:
    At first the tall man is pensive, scowling. But then he tilts is head and hears the voice of the elderly man. No hesitation. At the sound of the voice, the Thunderer breaks into a jog in the direction of the voice, his footfalls heavy as he turns and rounds the corner, pushing the doors open as he encounters them and lifts his voice, "Levisnky, it is I, Thor Odinson." He stands there looking for the man and then adds, "I am accompanied by another worthy who has fought on your behalf. She has felled two of those that dared raise hand against you..."
    But then he pauses to look back for her, expression puzzled.

Jessica Drew has posed:
The man's size, the aura of a grander age that hangs about him only confirm what Jessica suspected. The name clenches it. Another Asgardian. She seems to attract them having already met an aspirant Valkyrie. When Thor looks back at her puzzled she points to herself then looks behind her to make sure.

"Me?"

"Hello, Mr. Levinsky, how are you keeping?" The accent of rounded vowels and sharp consonants resounds with the distinct sound of the British upper class.

Thor has posed:
    The tall blond man smiles and claps his hand on the older man's shoulder, pleased that he is well. "You are fortunate to have this hero ready to must to your aid, my friend." He gestures to the side towards Jessica and gives a nod, blue eyes sweeping to her and his smile easily offered. "Would I say that it were my efforts that saved the day but is none other than this young woman."
    That having been said he steps away and turns to Jess, offering her his hand open and ready for a clasp. And should she take it his grip will be firm and yet not aggressive, taking her by the forearm and giving three good pumps before releasing. "You enjoy my thanks, my lady."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Accepting the arm hold, she has been broken in by the aspirant Valkyrie, she returns the grasp firmly with a bemused expression. "Please to meet you. I'm Jessica. Jessica Drew. I'm no hero. Really. Mr. Levinsky, is a good neighbor and a good man." The man on the ground stirs and Jessica, primly as stepping up a flight of stairs to be presented to the Queen, knocks his head hard against the floor effectively quieting him. Eyes narrow beneath the the white ovals of the mask. "But, I'm not so sure that Jose. Jose, right? Isn't in a spot of trouble." She looks at the clerk that had risen from behind the counter. "You should tell us about it so that you don't cause your employer any more problems."

Thor has posed:
    The tall man turns, standing beside Jessica and lending the weight of his gravitas to the Midgard hero's wishes by lending his voice to her cause. "Indeed." A pause so he can cross his arms over his broad chest, gaze narrowing sternly. "It would go well for you to do as Lady Drew so wishes, to do otherwise would be most unwise."
    He pauses to quirk an eyebrow at her as if to ask if that was sufficient, then he looks back towards poor Jose and affixes the youth with a most stern glare, considering it comes from seemingly just a man with an unseasonable umbrella.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Stammering, the young man looks between the three pairs of eyes then on tiptoes down at his would-be assassin. "I don't want to bother you, Mr. Levinsky. I'm real sorry. It's dangerous to talk about it here but I promise you, I'll take care of it...

The young woman crosses her arms, shaking her head, "Stop the nonsense, right now. Is it money or drugs, Jose? Or both? We know the Cartel." The broad sweeping 'we' seems to include Thor and Mr. Levinsky.

Thor has posed:
    This, likely goes over the Asgardian's head even as he looks between the people gathered. He watches Jose, then looks to Mr. Levinsky, then back towards Jose until finally Jessica says her piece.
    "Yes," Thor says with a slightly rushed measure of authority and assurance. He then adds with his eyebrows raising, "Lady Drew has been so kind as to inform me what has passed and I assure you I am most disappointed. Jose." The last word added almost as an afterthought. And, to be fair, for him that is a good attempt at subterfuge. Though he ruins it by tuning to look at Jess and cocking an eyebrow, as if making sure what he passed would serve.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica, already amused by the sobriquet of Lady Drew, laughs aloud, then manages to quash the grin. "Ahem. He's right! Tell us so you don't endanger Mr. Levinsky. Again."

Eyes still seeking escape, Jose visibly tries to lie but the adamant wall of faces facing him, even the kind-hearted Levinsky, convinces him to tell it straight. "Bail. I borrowed money for bail to get my little brother out of jail. I got behind paying. Now, they want me to deal drugs from the store. I said no, Mr. Levinsky. I thought they were going to let off, but he came back and shot at me." Jose points to the shattered display case of cigarettes behind

Thor has posed:
    Thor has the wherewithal to listen to poor Jose, then glances over at Jess, perhaps taking his lead from what he sees on her features. And that is... disapproval. "Ah," He looks back to Jose and affects a firm visage, expression so grim as he shakes his head and murmurs, "This is ill news, young Jose." he keeps his arms folded, umbrella tucked under a massive bicep as he looks again to Jessica. "I am sure we shall do what we can to aid you in this time, but you must take steps to be sure this does not happen again."
    With that he gives a single stern nod.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Call 911, Mr Levinsky and let them clean this debris up and bin them." Jessica indicates the man on the ground. Mouth pursed unhappily, "I /am/ sorry about the crisps."

Taking a step towards Jose, "You and I are going to have a chat after the police have left. Tell them that you don't know this riff-raff and then Mr. Odinson and myself will take care of the rest." The tilt of her face asks Thor a question.

After a pointed finger at Jose, "I will find you. If you both will excuse me." She turns with drawing room grace and leaves the store.