7838/Where We Go

Where We Go
Date of Scene:	15 September 2021
Location:	Josie's Bar
Synopsis:	Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came (to spend money).
Cast of Characters:	Meggan Puceanu, Matthew Murdock, Brunnhilde

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Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Meggan Puceanu has a known name. Not known like some people, but she has a preternatural gift for rousing interest from younger generations -- who thoroughly think she's one of them -- and building off the thriving associations with the environmental movement. Her followers all curiously watch as her somewhat quiet presence roars to life now and then, like nudging politicians a little too happy with development or burying lesser privileged parts of Gotham and New York in their idle fantasies that neglect people live there. People who need to breathe.

And after the past few months, she needs to be buried in something other than life's dizzying highs and lows.

Is it /pestering/ at Columbia when she sits in front of her advisor and asks for something meaningful to do? The environment ain't saving itself. The needs of the many and the few, and it's not like she knows the ins and outs of the justice system to pull levers where it matters.

Cue bedraggled paper, text messages, calls. Probably something to do with Foggy, along the lines of 'I don't even know what to do with this one. Have a friend.'

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Josie's Bar might as well be a second office for the firm of Nelson and Murdock and everyone in the neighbourhood knows that's where to look for them after their main office is closed for the night. Tonight's no different, with the day's business done, Matt's taking his meeting with the girl Foggy had been telling him about at Josie's so he can pair his evening scotch with this last little bit of business. Not conventional, but he had his other job later tonight and given how it'd been at the office today, a scotch is definitely required between the two, besides it's a much less formal space to meet new people and get a read on what they're about.

So scotch in hand Matt listens to the last of Foggy's message about the prospect, a referal from an old classmate at Columbia to prepare himself for the meeting.

The word has been passed to Josie to send anyone looking for him back to the table he's staked out by the pool table.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
As she's lived in this neighbourhood for most of her waking hours outside university for months -- has it been months -- Meggan doesn't need directions to where Josie's is. She pauses for a moment to peer in a shopfront window on the way there. The dim interior isn't saying much, but taking a few seconds to round out her ears and remove the sharp angularity brings a smile to her lips. Almost normal.

Not dressed up by any means, limited means and limited wardrobe mean a black dress and light fitted jacket will do for looking semi-professional. When she gets to Josie's front door, she tugs on the shoulder strap of her bag with one hand and nudges the other open. It takes a second to adjust to the various swirls of personality and personas within a new place; someone having a bad day stands out like a beacon. Another having the time of his life might precipitate her mood bouncing. Looking about, her best path is going for the bar. No one exactly told her whom to expect. A to B then.

"Hullo," makes a clear impression: Englishwoman. This she sings cheerfully to Josie up there. "Would you happen to know if Mr. Murdock's about?" Cue bright smile. "I'm supposed to meet up with him."

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Matt notes the woman as she enters the bar, Foggy would say of course he would, but it was more just the up beat demeanor he could sense through a dozen visceral tells that draws his attention to her. It's not the usual one in this sort of place, and her words spoken to Josie confirms his suspicions. "Over here,"he says raising his hand so Meggan can pick him out. "Grab something on my tab and come on over."

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
"That's awfully kind." A tick of a smile ignites the world, too bright by half, but fair. To the bartender, the wisdom of another often serving in the role. "Guinness'll do," Meggan says lightly, barely giving a glance to what is on tap. It's Hell's Kitchen. The day a place like this hasn't got Guiness is a sad, sad affair. She waits on the pour and then carries it Mattward.

Matt-side. He's a direction. The pale silvery-gold of her hair catching the faerie lights, she approaches his table with an unnaturally light step. The full weight of her body never touches down as she walks on her toes. "Mr. Murdock I presume? Meggan. Professor De Soto also sends along his regards and thanks for getting me out of his hair," she adds with a laugh.

Brunnhilde has posed:
The toilet flush echoes in the cramped single occupancy bathroom. Brunnhilde groans and, after splashing some cold water on her face, examines her reflection in the scummy mirror. She looks tired. "Fuck, I need a drink," she mumbles. She scrubs her face dry with the hem of her hoodie.

The Valkyrie doesn't quite stumble as she exits the toilet. She definitely needs drink -- needs another drink. She had a drink. But it's gone now. Oops. She approaches the bar, slides onto a stool, and leans toward the bartender. "Pint o' beer."

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Matt extends a hand when Meggan joins him at the table, smiling. "Well given all the trouble Foggy and I gave De Soto when we were there it only seemed fair," Matt jokes lightly. "Have a seat and tell me a little bit about yourself and why you want to work for New York's poorest lawfirm.

The woman coming from the bathroom is noticed and given a once over with his senses, sightless eyes covered by shades not leaving Meggan as he does so, still the momentary shift in attention is noticeable.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
Meggan puts the drink down first, and beside it, the folded, slightly crumpled note that definitely signals some kind of promissory 'I owe you' one for Foggy. Then she offers her hand, skin warm and fingers smooth. "Professor De Soto seems to recall those days fondly! Possibly the years have softened him up or he firmly believes that our minds are mush and we're all doomed. Can't trust young people," she vaguely imitates the firebrand professor from Columbia with at least a hint of his mannerisms.

She might be about to state her credentials, but someone emerging from the toilet for certain gains some notice. Those pale green eyes lift, their shocked rings around the edges brighter. A bit of a smile forms for Brunnhilde, a nod in that direction. "You wouldn't have to pay me, if that's any benefit?" she asides, bit wry under the Cumbrian accent. Summarizing is tough. She wets her lips with the tip of her tongue, and takes a breath. "I'm an environmental studies major at Columbia with experience in social activism and engagement with underprivileged communities. Come from one myself. Over the past year, I have been doing side jobs trying to help people after settling in New York but there comes a point when organizing a protest or letter writing campaign's only going so far. Especially here, there's a legal or legislative aspect that touches on people's lives. They suffer disproportionately when things turn sour -- a park's demolished, bad drinking water, the endless flooding every time it storms."

Brunnhilde has posed:
Sipping her pint, Brunnhilde takes in the rest of the bar's patrons. It's fairly empty, except for the shimmery girl and the suit in the sunglasses. That's an odd pair. Huh. Wonder what they're up to...She shakes her head gently and drinks down another gulp of beer.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
"Probably the latter," Matt jokes fondly of his old professor, smiling at the impression of the man's way of speaking. He takes a sip from his scotch and sets the glass down on the table again, taking in what she has to say. "Well we can at least share some of the pie we get paid in sometimes," Matt says lightly about the money. "Well we can definitely give you a view into the law and policy side of enviromental issues and we'd be happy to advise you on anything you've got going currently."

"Everything alright?" Matt asks as Meggan nods to the woman by the bar. He's still playing 'blind' here so it's as much as he can say without giving up the fact he can tell she seems to know the person.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
It's hard not to chew on her fingernails. Meggan tries, though, to keep her hands gently wrapped around her glass. The Guinness foams away, waiting for her to imbibe liquid bread like you do. "Oh, just making sure everyone round here is all right," she says with a bright tone, trying not to break into another smile when Matt asks. "Bartender habit, even when a customer. Old habit, watching out for patrons. I'm not familiar with the lovely lady up there, if that's what you mean." The bartender's confessional remains to Brunnhilde, at least, and whatever the empath thinks otherwise, she mostly keeps to herself with great interest and the transparency of a pane of glass.

"I like pie. Mostly I'm hoping to do better for people who need it. Not to law school yet, but De Soto seems to think this would be good experience." She huffs a sigh, but it's fond. "Better than waving signs or sitting on the courthouse steps. He might be right. What do you -need-, I guess that's the right question."

Brunnhilde has posed:
//A first date? No,// Brunnhilde muses. //Well, maybe...//she reconsiders as the girl smiles again. Idle speculation to pass the time. //Shimmer seems nervous. And just so earnest. Sunglasses is trying to put her at ease. Not a date, then. An interview? But who has an interview in a crummy bar? What the Hel are they up to? Not any of her business.// With a long steady swallow, Brunnhilde finishes her pint and signals for another.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
"Bartender huh?" Matt asks a wry smile on his lips. "No wonder Foggy was so excited about me meeting you," he says before adding. "We come here a lot," to explain that interest.

"Anyhow, those bartender habits will be a big help with the firm, we'll be looking to you to help manage our clients and make the whole process of seeing a lawyer less intimidating than it would be otherwise, so it'll call for picking out the ones that might need a bit of figurative or literal hand holding," he explains before his attention shifts in the direction of the woman. "Ah, well if you did she's welcome to join us, this is hardly a formal interview and I think you're going to fit in fine as is."

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
A first date like this? Ouch, poor Matt. Alas, not a chance of it! The musing up there isn't lost on her. "At a place in Gotham, then over at the Empire Club," she names a popular British expat's watering hole. "Occasionally at the Laughing Magician, once upon a time." Matt bringing up the bar of choice for himself and Foggy earns a nod. "I don't imagine you spread papers every which way out here, though, and like... go through everything on a table. Or do you?"

Oh, Prof, what have you done? Well, seeing the other facts through gets a quick nod out of her. "For sure. And anything that might be a bit on the green side, I can always put to the right people. I know a lot of people and groups trying to make a difference there." She waves in a friendly, utterly fearless fashion at Brunnhilde. Then it's time for the Guinness, which is basically water to her after the first half-sip when her body simply decides to attack the poison in the alcohol and batter it into ruthless submission. "Hullo, miss! If you feel like company, we're an open table."

Brunnhilde has posed:
The Valkyrie looks around at the deserted bar. Shimmer must be signaling to someone else.

But there isn't anyone else. Brunnhilde shrugs. Shimmer has questionable taste, but okay. Might as well. Maybe there'll be a free drink in it. She takes her fresh pint and saunters over to the table. Cheers!

Matthew Murdock has posed:
"Heard of the Empire Club, but what's that other bar? Don't get out to Gotham much," he says, before a wry smile crosses his lips. "Too many weirdos in costumes."

Shaking his head he says, "No, we keep that to the office, we mostly just end up here at the end of the workday to unwind, and hand over what little we make to Josie one drink at a time."

When Brunnhilde is invited over Matt gives a general nod, towards the sound of her feet, and extends a hand. "Matt Murdock," he says by way of greeting.

Meggan Puceanu has posed:
"Meggan," says the eponymous Tuath de Danaan masquerading as your everyday bartender. No pointy ears to see here, none at all. She breaks into that blithe grin. "Gotham's got its perks, though lately I find myself back in New York more. I worked at Paradise Limelight Karaoke. Don't knock it, the place coudl be straight out of Tokyo or Seoul, and it was definitely fun." She clearly feels quite fond of the place, though her gaze lifts up to watch Brunnhilde join them.

She, too, can do as in Hell's Kitchen and offer a greeting. "Is it that bad in the business? I imagine settling up with some of those really big companies would hopefully mean keeping the lights on?" Oh, child, what little do you know of law!

The Valkyrie gets her sunny grin anyway.

Brunnhilde has posed:
"Call me Val," Brunnhilde tells them. It's easier than trying to explain. Not that she wants to.

She raises her glass in salutation and drinks some of it down before sitting. She doesn't smile. But then, she can't remember the last time she smiled that didn't involve violence and mayhem. "Pleasure," she says brusquely.