9259/Quiet Holiday Eve in the Swordfish

From Heroes Assemble MUSH
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Quiet Holiday Eve in the Swordfish
Date of Scene: 24 December 2021
Location: Swordfish Bar (SHIELD)
Synopsis: Dane and May enjoy a drink and discuss the future.
Cast of Characters: Melinda May, Dane Whitman




Melinda May has posed:
The holidays are fast approaching. Though the official office parties are largely done, the SWORDFISH in December is something of an ongoing, if somewhat lowkey, holiday party. The bar is done up festively, with nods to all the holidays throughout the season, though Christmas does predominate.

Tonight, the pub is fairly quiet. Most of the agents who aren't pulling holiday duty are heading home to see friends and family. That Melinda May isn't among them isn't because she's working the holiday. It's because she can only handle so much 'friends and family' time. That said, she must be feeling somewhat willing to abide people, since she's here. The remains of a basket of wings sits beside her on the bartop and a half-empty glass of some sort of golden pilsner sits beside it, her fingertips on the side of it even now. She got her attention half on an old movie on one of the TVs and half on the ebb and flow of the agents enjoying themselves at the bar.

Dane Whitman has posed:
In strolls the resident swordsman of WAND, Dane Whitman, dressed in his usual casual manner. He's not disdainful of the formal fare, he's just...affable isn't quite the right word. It's his personal rebellion.

A weary eye notes the typical decor for the season. As his stride carries him to the bar near the Commander, he sighs in mute fashion then takes his seat,"My usual, if you will."

Yes, Dane has a usual. Scotch, on the rocks.

Melinda May has posed:
Scotch. Whiskey. Rocks optional. It's a pretty common 'usual' for a lot of agents. Especially those who've 'been around', as they say. May arches a brow at the swordsman's demeanor. She's dressed casually as well. The bar doesn't have the same dress code as duty hours, after all. So, there's a range of dress from tacsuits to businesswear to casual wear. Right now, May falls mostly into the casual category -- dark jeans, a burgundy top as a nod to the season, and black leather jacket that's seen better days.

Her head cants. "Long day?" she queries lightly, fingers tightening on her glass as she raises it for a sip. "Or just not a holiday guy?"

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane Whitman shrugs broadly in a deliberate manner before he notes who is addressing him. He then smiles and replies more appropriately, to his mind at least,"I'm just not a holiday guy. Haven't been for I couldn't say."

The glass is set before him and he smiles more easily and chuckles as he takes it up and adds,"Doesn't seem a popular attitude...anywhere."

Dane studies it approvingly as the ice cracks and settles. It's almost meditative as the condensation drips around his thick fingers, then he finishes,"And you? What's your stance on the subject?"

Melinda May has posed:
May gives a small shrug. "I like the lights. Some years are better than others." She almost smiles as she says it, a pull at the corner of her mouth. "I don't have much in the way of family, so it's not a big deal to me either way." She takes another sip of her beer, however. "Are you pulling duty shifts this weekend at all?"

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane listens as he takes his first sip of the golden liquid, the burn not phasing him in the slightest as it goes down. He regards her for a moment after the question,"I'm going to make a point of being available, yes. I'm not tied down, so might as well let the others catch a break. I've had mine this last week." He'll grin a bit at that conclusion.

Melinda May has posed:
May offers a dry chuckle. "Yeah. Look, I don't want to bore you with work, but since we're both here... Carter and I have chatted about your debrief. She's of the opinion, and I agree with her, that we need to move on this sooner rather than later -- make sure HYDRA can't use Weird World to its advantage or get their hands on that 084 you mentioned. We want to send a team in. Obviously, we need you on it."

Dane Whitman has posed:
The big man in suit and turtleneck holds his grin as he sips on his glass, then sets it down before him and arches a brow as he replies,"I can't say I'm disappointed to hear that. I had hoped that would be the response."

Dane then folds his hands before him, the glass nudged a little away from him as a gesture of distancing pleasure from himself in the face of momentary business,"It would be my honor. Who can I expect to have along?"

Melinda May has posed:
"We're still drawing up a roster," May admits, giving him a tight smile. "But, to be honest, I'm considering tapping the Secret Warriors for this one. They're a small team of enhanced individuals. Most of them, anyway. Weirdness is kinda their bread and butter." She swings around on her stool to face him better. "Daisy Johnson leads the team. Morse, Simmons, Foster, Drew and a couple of others rotate in and out." Herself included. "I'll probably come along for the ride. It'll depend on how assignments pan out."

Dane Whitman has posed:
A hrm escapes him at this revelation. He's not surprised such a thing exists, or that he hadn't heard of it in the year he'd been off the grid. Hell, he'd become aware of a lot of things he didn't know about since he came back. Even with him supposedly...relaxing. Does he even know the meaning of the word? One may wonder.

Dane replies after a couple of beats,"That's quite the hodgepodge crew there. I'm sort of surprised it has its own designation, I must confess."

Melinda May has posed:
May glances toward her beer and pushes it away. "If you knew its history, you wouldn't be." Though she doesn't divulge much about it. "It began as a direct response to several key HYDRA actions. It's changed somewhat since then." She shrugs mildly. "This mission, though, may require some specialization, so I won't limit participation to that unit alone. We'll pull in whoever suits the play."

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane's head tilts forward in a brief nod as he listens intently. That did explain things somewhat. He cants his head then in query,"I can think of a couple of individuals. I'll not presume upon protocol however, like I said about that being already quite the diverse cast of talent."

Melinda May has posed:
May nods. "You know the place. If there are people you think can help, just let me know." She'd rather they go in prepared. She looks around the bar. "Here and now isn't the time or place to get into this, but let's connect after the weekend sometime. You can give me an overview of what we can expect to face and we'll figure details out from there."%

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane Whitman now nods in turn. He purses his lips then, adopting something of a conspiratorial air as he assumes the tone of one sharing a confidence,"One in particular. You may wish to see her for yourself, as the subject is...notsomuch questionable as unusual. A young miss in Gotham. I had to do some digging around on her to find an alias as she seems to have speech problems. Goes by Orphan. You might find her interesting."

Melinda May has posed:
May arches a brow at that. "Orphan. Gotham. Okay. I'll need to look into her, but..." She gives another faint shrug. "We can evaluate it." She's not generally keen on bringing in outsiders. But he knows their destination better than she. She'll at least listen to his suggestions. "I'll want to meet her, before we make any final decisions."

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane Whitman cracks a fresh grin at that,"You won't be disappointed. Do catch the music scene while you're there, I was fretful over having not been informed of it sooner."

With that, he takes his glass up anew for a sip. He's appreciative of the chill it's gotten in the last several moments of discourse.

Melinda May has posed:
May reaches for her beer again as well. She nods to the swordsman, wry smile on her lips as she takes a sip. It's been a long time since she's taken in any live music. A long time since she's played any, either. "If I get the chance," she says, non-committal, regardless. Gotham is well-outside her usual stomping grounds.

But maybe that's what makes it perfect.

Dane Whitman has posed:
That brow cranes anew at the response, but he doesn't pursue that angle. He does show teeth as he chuckles this time though, and rests an elbow on the table as he admits,"It'll be good to be there with friends this time. I'm very curious now about that claw, now that I've had a chance to look into the name associated with it."

Melinda May has posed:
May nods to that. "In my experience, leaving magical artifacts laying around where HYDRA can find them is just asking for trouble. No matter who their attributed to." Her lips pull to one side again. "Satan's Claw. Gabriel's Trumpet. They're both trouble."

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane Whitman blinks at the second name, but doesn't bother asking. He figures he'll find out soon enough. He does admit,"HYDRA does seem to have an appreciation for tradition at least. Or so it would suggest to me if they really are going through trouble for some trinket of that dried up old Baron's."

Melinda May has posed:
"If I've learned nothing else in SHIELD after all these years," May says dryly now, "It's never assume any head of HYDRA, no matter how dessicated you think they are, is actually done and gone. They're like cockroaches." Her fingers twitch. "Reincarnating, supercloned cockroaches from hell."

Dane Whitman has posed:
Dane's grin twists to a smirk at that as he replies grimly,"Well. That's what boots are for. Every now and then a better bug zapper to check the corners with helps too."

Dane drains his glass in a go with that, and sets the glass before him with a thunk and nod to the tender for a refill.

Melinda May has posed:
E, the bartender, is quick enough to refill Dane's drink. May, however, isn't in a hurry to refill hers as she downs the last mouthful or two. Indeed, she's pulling out her credit card to pay for her meal. Even as she does, though, she snirks softly at Dane's words. "No argument here." She's gotten her hands on some pretty effective bug zappers over the years. But between time travel, alternate dimensions, and superscience... her initial opinion still stands.

Badguys always respawn.

"I should get going," she tells him, finally. "But it was good talking to you. We'll chat come more next week. Set up that mission. Maybe visit Gotham." She pauses, laying a hand briefly on his shoulder -- proof that the Cavalry's empath powers really are changing her. "Happy holidays, Whitman. Try not to let it get to you."