9408/The Troll Market: January

The Troll Market: January
Date of Scene:	24 January 2022
Location:	The Troll Market
Synopsis:	Jessica Drew and Jan de Wit experience the Troll Market for the first time for different reasons. Veira is just here for a pickup.
Cast of Characters:	Veira Lazarescu, Jan de Wit, Jessica Drew

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Veira Lazarescu has posed:
There's an unsuspecting space under the Brooklyn Bridge that sometimes gets overlooked and sometimes it shows the right people what might be found beneath it. Once past the steel barrel fires and the more shady looking characters there's a path that leads down towards a round door that seems to be guarded by an old woman with a shopping cart that is piled high with her gatherings of the day.

There's a look to each person that passes and a simple nod before being waved off towards the door and allowed into what lies behind it.

What lies behind that door is something that is offputting to those who haven't been there before and for those that haven't had contact with the Fae. There are creatures of all shapes and sizes, pixies that zip through the air and the smell is...a little off?

What comes across in any language or world is that this is a sprawling market place. There's humanoids hawking their wares and trying to entice those perusing into taking something home.

But at what price?

Jan de Wit has posed:
There was always a need to get fresh air, cold or not. Jan was often one to get out and about - parks, streets - he really had no set pattern. Tonight he was wandering in the rougher part of town, offering out some sandwiches and warm drinks. No need for anyone to go hungry, in his mind. There was also... something that itched in his mind about being here. Tonight. Right now.

Bundled up in his warm wool coat, he peered over at the odd door, scratching at his chin. Something about it was familiar, though he'd never been there.

Jessica Drew has posed:
The suspect that Jessica had been tailing went to ground under the Brooklyn Bridge. Hands in the deep pockets of her coat and scarf pulled up over her lower face, leaving her vivid green eyes and gleaming black hair exposed to the bone-deep cold, the agent figures that she hadn't been made but that her target had reached home.

She wished she had a hat, despite her spider metabolism, her hands and toes are going numb. Time for her to get going. A guy warming himself at an open fire gives her the stink-eye as she passes, recognizing her good clothes as out of place. Behind him, movement towards a door attracts her attention and she unthinkingly swerves in that direction.

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
The old lady with the cart gives a look over Jan when he keeps looking over to the door, that wave is given to him, "Go on in..." she rasps out. Because that was not a foreboding sentence. That's how people got on missing posters.

Even as the old lady is motioning Jan in, someone wearing a brown overcoat bustles past the man and opens the door, allowing some of the sounds of hustle and bustle to seep out into the mortal world.

Jessica might see her suspect in the corner of her eye and follow if she chooses!

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Whoa," Jess subvocalizes in shock when she catches a glimpse of her man. Instinctively, she ducks her head and turns away from the door toward the open fire. When she is sure he is gone, she walks to the door like she has business behind it. With a nod to the old woman she stands patiently, waiting for her to beckon her in.

Jan de Wit has posed:
'Go on in.' She said. In to where? Where would a door on the underside of a bridge lead? Friendly as always, Jan gives a polite nod to the woman before moving to step into the doorway. Thankfully, the bustling be-coatted person is avoided, letting them scurry into the doorway as well. No need to cause a collision!

Seeing another approach, he tries to hold the door open, giving a nod to the woman seeking entry. Poor form for the market, but good manners in life!

Jessica Drew has posed:
An aura about the older woman tells Jess that she can handle herself. Spider sense? Or a soldier recognizing another? She leaves her to sort out who enters and who doesn't, keeping a look out for the target.

The noise and bustle of people remind her of China Town on a busy day. A sniff brings her an odd odor, not unpleasant but enough out of the ordinary for her to remark on it. Just ahead 'brown coat' disappears, the agent has no time to puzzle out where she is but knows it is far from the ordinary.

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
There's a large figure that bustles past Jan and Jessica as they are entering. All long limbs and looking every bit like he's the model for Slenderman that all these creepy websites post about. Though there's no black suit or red tie that they are wearing. Instead they are dressed in quilted pants and a linen shirt under a quilted jacket.

The one thing that shifts in the atmosphere is the amount of eyes that settle on Jessica and Jan as they enter. New faces were rare and that was something of not. It's not just your regular two eyes, but those with multiples as well.

Maybe it was a bad acid trip? Or maybe it was just New York Weirdness at its finest.

Jan de Wit has posed:
Jan takes a moment to readjust to the lighting within the new space. After his eyes do acclimate, he pauses. That is Slenderman? Uh. The dancer quickly looks around, wondering if he'd stumbled into a mutant hideaway. "Evening." He offers, amiably. No need to disrupt the flow of things, and certainly no need to irritate the locals.

A glance over to Jessica as she makes her way into the place as well. "Seems like an interesting place, no?" He asks, wondering if she's seeing all of this too.

Jessica Drew has posed:
The back of Jess's neck prickles as an exaggeratedly thin man passes her. Though the air is warmer here than outside, she wants to pull her scarf up higher as the pressure of a hundred gazes weigh on her. Counterintuitively, she pulls the red scarf down and unbuttons the top of her coat, which invites someone to address her apparently.

Instantly on the alert, she measures the tenor of his voice and the question, before nodding, "Like no other, from what little I've seen. It doesn't look new either." She hesitates as she catches a glimpse of someone with too many eyes. "Do you come here often?"

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Jan might recognize the flutter of motion that happens down the row of merchants, a familiar hooded figure perusing wares that are offered. Veira looks like she's at home here and given the back and forth with one of the vendors she knows the ways. Atilla is also with her, the small black dragon hopping up to sit on a table while his claws click clack over something shiny, "We should see if they have those little fish I like." he tells the figure he's with.

"We'll do that before we leave. I wanted to see if my book was in before we leave." Veira states as she turns to look at him and a smile from the one eyed woman.

Slenderman looks like he's meeting up with another member of the Slender society that's dressed just about as horribly as they are. Closer to Jan and Jessica there is a rather round and squat looking creature that bops along whistling as his pockets jingle with things he has found. He gives a bow of his head to Jan and Jessica, "Excuse me." he tells them with a hearty chuckle as he squeezes by them.

Jan de Wit has posed:
So much hustle and bustle. Jan side-steps the squat fellow, giving him the path he needs to get by. "No worries at all." He grins to the short person, before looking to Jessica. "Never been. Have no idea what I've walked into." He admits, with a carefree shrug. "I just suppose I will have to wing it." Lunatic. "Were you expecting to come in here?"

And then he spots Veira and Atilla. "Ah! Friendly faces. They might be able to explain what's going on here." He motions to the dragon and the woman, nodding to Jessica. "Shall we go see if we can get some answers?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Check your wallet," Jess responds once the squat man is past. She does, touching the buttoned inner pocket of her coat that holds a credit card, lipstick and her SHIElD badge. Jess travels light. The ICER holster under her arm doesn't show.

"No, I was hoping to find someone and followed them here," she replies politely, her clipped British accent perhaps making her sound guarded. She cranes her head as he greets someone, eyes fastening on the black dragon which she drags to the woman he greeted. Her face is familiar enough to give Jessica pause as she tries to place her.

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira turns just as Jan is motioning down her way. The one eyed woman looks around and then back to Jan and Jessica by him before she looks down to Atilla, "Well, you can thank Jan for your sushi." she tells the dragon. She gives a wave to the two of them and then heads towards them. "You are not a face I'd expect to see in this place, Jan. Are you feeling alright?" she asks him. Then she gives a smile to Jessica, "Evening." she tells her.

"Were you two looking for something specific or did you wander in?" she asks with a grin. "The Troll Market does sometimes admit those that might be in need of things." she adds.

Jan de Wit has posed:
His hand goes to his inside jacket, checking his wallet. So far, so good. Jan offers a nod and a smile to Jessica, chuckling. "Probably a good call. Usually I notice things like that - but this place is wild." Still, his eyes try to take everything in - so much to see, so many odd things.

A smile to Veira as she greets them. "Me? I am fine. This is... just weird. I had no idea what was beyond the door, but." A slight shrug. "The lady at the front said to go in." He does offer smile and wave to Atilla. "Good seeing you, Atilla."

"Troll Market? What would I get here? What could I?" The mind boggles with possibilties.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica shakes her head at part of the question, returning a fainter rendition of the smile, "Evening. Troll Market? Are there any?" The question popping out of her mouth before she could stop it.

"I was actually looking for someone who looked like he had been here before." With a questioning tilt to her head, she asks the woman, "Have we met before? I feel like I've seen your face somewhere."

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira reaches out to touch Jan's arm gently, making sure he is there and there's a soft smile, "Yeah it's a lot to get used to sometimes. I've been coming here for a long time and I still find things that give me pause." she admits. "And she's on something tonight, maybe she knew you were friendly." she chuckles.

Atilla gives a look to the dancer, "Ah, Silver Fox, good seeing you too." he tells him. "The sushi you sent home the other night was delicious, thank you." he tells him. Then he turns his gaze to Jessica, "Good to meet you, my lady." he tells her.

"That's Atilla, sorry he's a bit winsome tonight." she chuckles. "And what can't you get here is the better question." she smiles. "There are actual Trolls that sometimes pop in, though I have seen Mister Wink in a few weeks." she frowns at that. She gives a look to Jessica and there's a smile, "I think we've passed each other in the Triskelion a few times. I'm Veira Lazarescu." she offers.

Jan de Wit has posed:
His face lights up when Atilla speaks to him. "I am very glad you approve. With any luck, I might be able to convince Veira to dine with me there again." Jan teases, looking to the woman with the dragon. "Jan de Wit, pleasure to meet you." The man offers to Jessica. Still, he's in awe of the place.

A look then to Veira. "What would you suggest I look for? And... what prices are we speaking of? I am guessing the American Express won't necessarily be of much use here."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Politely, Jessica remains quiet until addressed, the conversation between the man and woman cryptic. Though, something in both the stranger's manners loosens her professional caution. She buttons up the shock on her face when the dragon speaks, her eyes flicking from Jan to Veira to verify that it had indeed spoken.

Recovering, she dips her head, and manages a passable, "And you, sir."

Surprise follows on shock. She repeats with stunned delight, "The Trisk? I've seen you in the cafeteria though.... without your companion. I'm Jessica Drew. Nice to meet you, ma'am."

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
"Oh I'm sure you can." Veira tells Jan as she gives him a smile. There are more weird creatures that range from cartoonish to something that might be seen in a childrens bedtime story. "The market doesn't accept mortal forms of currency unless it's an odd day. But they take shiny things, baubles, memories. It depends on what you're looking for really." she admits. "This is more of the fae realm that comes through." she adds. Oh faeries? Right.

Then she looks back to Jessica and smiles, "Aha, the cafeteria unites us all in the end." she nods to that. "And no, Atilla doesn't keep himself visible around there too often. Though he is generally around if I'm in." she offers.

"I wish I could help with finding the culprit, but if they've ducked in here they probably have another way to get out." she admits.

Jan de Wit has posed:
It comes back around. "The Triskelion?" Jan looks at Veira, then Jessica. "Do I have enough security clearance to be near the two of you?" He chuckles, good-naturedly. "Faerie tales, trolls, markets. My eyes keep being opened day after day." A shake of his head, the man clearly amused and amazed.

A look around, perhaps for the culprit, perhaps just sight-seeing. "I think I need a few more discussions before I'm ready to offer up something of mine in here. I imagine the price is more than I would expect, in terms of item given and what is associated with those items."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Obviously dazed by the market, it takes Jessica a moment to regain her balance. She fixes her attention back on the silver-haired man. "Oh, I am sorry. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. de Wit. It's a bit overwhelming, isn't it? Not just your eyes. I'm not sure that this place is on anyone's map."She looks a question at Veira and shrugs.

"I'm not happy about losing him. There is a high probability that he is part of a far-right group running high tech guns."

Veira Lazarescu has posed:
Veira gives a look to Jan and there's a soft smile, "Yeah...the Triskelion." she tells him. "And I think you're fine." she gives a look to him. "We'll have to come back another day and I'll introduce you to some of the residents." she offers to that. "But yes, you'd probably want to learn about fae and their deals before trying to conduct business." she nods to that.

"It's vaguely on WAND's map, but we don't usually need to come in here for any thing untoward." she admits.

"Hmm, doesn't sound like the kind we'd want in here. If you have a description and a name I can leave it with the enforcers and if they spot him they can chase him out." she offers. "I'm starving so I'm going to head out for now. Did you want to join us or you sticking around?" she asks Jessica.

Jan de Wit has posed:
"Quite overwhelming. It's... breath-taking in all manner of sorts." Jan chuckles, offering a nod to Jessica. "Hopefully the security in the market can find your rogue and make certain he's run out." And hopefully not run Jan out!

Looking to Veira. "So many things to learn." He winks to her. "Dinner then? Atilla is welcome to come along, of course?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
With a twinkle in her eyes, she looks from Veira to Jan and shakes her head, "I have someone waiting for me for dinner. Though if you know of good sushi that doesn't require you to have a Gate's budget I'd love to have the address."

She looks around her for someone that would fit the description of an Enforcer,"Point me to Security and I will give them the description, ma'am."