11776/Smooth Jazz and Smoother Talking

Smooth Jazz and Smoother Talking
Date of Scene:	14 July 2020
Location:	Birdland Jazz Club, Midtown
Synopsis:	Grant and Bobbi beat the crap out of some gangsters. A good time is had.
Cast of Characters:	Aguila 6, Mockingbird, Duncan MacLeod

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Aguila 6 has posed:
The jazz club is a pretty classy joint. Many of the patrons are fairly well dressed for eating, drinking and listening to tunes over the speaker system as they wait for the live band to arrive. The atmosphere is fairly laid back, most of the patrons content to engage with the others seated at their table.

Over at the bar is Grant Washington, the man wearing a rather nice dark gray suit and taking his time enjoying a glass of whiskey. He appears alert but not anxious, doing some people watching from his bar stool. Nearby is a menu that he has yet to look through.

Servers bustle about quietly and efficiently taking orders, making sure everyone has something to eat or a full glass. Everything seems to be going swimmingly.

Mockingbird has posed:
Bobbi Morse, Dr. Morse, Ph.D is at a table in an evening gown. Oh, SHIELD is going to hear about this...shee's had her hair done, nails done and oh, hell no. Makeup...Makeup! C'mon SHIELD, just send Melinda May in...Mock feels less sociable than any of the bits of furniture. She's got herself in this mess, however...she's technically off the clock. Not that anyone'd know it given how uninterested in talking she is. Truth be told, this reminds her of college....not the good bits either.

Aguila 6 has posed:
The woman in the evening gown must be here by herself, or at least that's what Grant thinks. He'll order a drink for her, but otherwise leave them unbothered. Don't want to come off as a creeper, after all. Instead he takes a sip from his glass, enjoying the taste of the whiskey much more than the sense of intoxication. A cell phone comes out of his pocket for him to take a look at, pressing buttons with his gloved fingers to see if anything interesting is happening in the neighborhood.

Mockingbird has posed:
Bobbi glances up and looks over raising an eyebrow. Sure, she'll take a drink sure but, but...Bobbi's not picky. She'll take a soft drink. No sense in getting wasted in this club, right?

"Hey" she says and lifts a hand to wave to Grant, "You working here or something or you enjoying the atmosphere?"

What atmosphere, jazz, people getting progressively more drunk, huh?

Aguila 6 has posed:
"I'm waiting for someone," Grant swivels around to reply to the woman he's ordered a drink for, smiling at her. "I'm not sure this is my usual scene, but it's a nice enough place to get a drink and a bite to eat."

Folks come and go. More arriving than leaving since the live entertainment is scheduled to start in a little while. Among those showing up now is a group of three men who move to reserve a pair of tables near the stage. They're attentive, scanning the crowds constantly, looking quite like they're ready for anything. When Grant sees them he watches for a few seconds before returning his attention to the woman in the lovely gown, "How about you? Jazz fan?"

Mockingbird has posed:
Bobbi raises a hand to wave again and nods, "Yeah not totally my scene, I had enough of high class fakers in college" she admits, and she's not even drunk yet. "I mean, it wasn't this extravageant, but, hey, hey I like the decor, but I don't much like hte you need a 401K and a illion in your bank to be accepted here vibes" she stage whispers. Mockingbird is her codename and it fits perfectly/

"Do eithr of us meet that criteria? I don't care. I'm gonna sit here and be glad you bought me a drink. God, I want to get drunk and tell the snobby crowd what I really think"

Sure, morse. Start a high class sniping fest and somebody will throw the first moral insult, then it's on...and Bobbi can sit back and deny it all...

Aguila 6 has posed:
"No 401K over here," Grant says to woman with a shrug. "I don't know what the hell I'd do if I ever really retired, anyway." He brings his glass for another sip, not much more than a taste, clearly making the whiskey last. "You should go ahead and get lit. Doesn't look like you're working to me." Letting out a little chuckle he says, "It would entertain the hell out of me to see you tear some of these folks a new asshole."

Mockingbird has posed:
Bobbi looks pleased with the idea, "I intend to if they start shit" she mutters quietly. "Because I'd be doing the world a favor, right....putting some jumped up rich snobby SOB in their place"

Oh she is totally looking forward to it. Just need to solve the get lit and run her mouth thing....not that the first one is needed. Morse is mouthy at times. Now's one of those times, too..

Aguila 6 has posed:
A quartet of men enters, all wearing suits. They head towards the tables that the three other heavy dudes took over, greeting them with handshakes. One of that group that just entered is smaller than the others. An American of Irish descent named Sean "Apples" O'Malley. Apples has been indicted in a number of felonies but nothing's ever managed to stick to him. Either his lawyers are too good, evidence disappeared or the jury wouldn't convict.

Grant watches the newcomers for a few seconds, frowning slightly, before turning back to his conversation, "I don't know if you'd be helping the world or any of that crap, I doubt they'd learn whatever lesson you meant to teach."

Mockingbird has posed:
Apples gets a stern look from Bobbi for a moment. "Nah you're right" Morse says and sips her drink. "But you know what? Take those suit wearing guys, what, are those guys the ones with 401K, golf meetings on Tusedays and holy hell boring board meetings then?" she asks. Yeah she's gutsy trying to bait the mob guys into a fight. But given how godawful her last mission went...she could use something to liven up the club. "I mean, if I had to wear those suits for work I'd seriously think about hanging myself from my office ceiling fan" she says. True she's more at home in a tactical suit with SHIELD...

And wearing suits? That was her cover in the botched mission earlier. So...no thanks. No suits.

Another sip as Bobbi shrugs, "Nah, the world needs this lesson doesn't it?"

Aguila 6 has posed:
"What, you gotta problem wit' us, lady?" Apples asks Bobbi, starting to look a bit angry. "You got no idea who you're messin' wit', lady. Some of us work hard to make our money and don't go in for that golf crap and boardrooms."

Grant looks between Morse and her new acquaintance, then tells Apples, "Looks like your buddies do all the work for you, homie." The mercenary finishes off his whiskey, seeming quite relaxed, surprisingly. "You need them to satisfy your wife, too?"

Apples' mouth falls open and he looks at the six bigger guys around him, "I don't need anyone to handle stuff for me. You want to step outside and find out?" He lifts his chin at the woman, "You got a big mouth, too. You looking for trouble?"

Mockingbird has posed:
Bobbi giggling behind her glass is absolutely not helping. Not in the least. "Why, you threatening me with a good time? Sorry, suits and ties aren't my thing" she says as her voice has a biting tone to it now. "What's wrong with golf. You guys get to wave big sticks around, hit a little ball into a hole" she says, letting the insinuations go unsaid, but they are absolutely there. "Hey, if that guy needs his friends to pleasure his wife, then I'd say he's doing something wrong" Bobbi stage whispers to Grant. "What's his deal anyway?"

Oh she knows. She's fishing to see how much Grant knows. Bobbi's also on her second drink...which is rapidly getting into ah herr mouth's writing checks her brain refuses to cash territory.

Aguila 6 has posed:
"I imagine he thinks the female orgasm is something from Star Trek," Grant says back to Bobbi, not taking his eyes off of Apples and his goons.

"You two say one more god damn word and we're going outside." He points towards the side exit of the establishment, leading to an alley. "GOING OUTSIDE!" The gangster is super agitated. His boys are all puffed up and ready for violence. Other folks in the club have started giving them space. Even the bouncers don't want any trouble from the crew.

Grant smirks and looks over towards the lady in the fancy dress, then makes an 'after you' gesture towards her.

Mockingbird has posed:
Bobbi can't resist needling Apples. "One more goddamn word" she trills and makes a run for the exit. As in, a full on, SHIELD would be proud of getting outta the building, type run. "Keep up if you can, boys" Morse taunts and slides to a stop outside. She's taken the side exit, true, and is now waiting for them to join her. Problem for them is Morse is a. SHIELD agent, and b. expert in several forms of martial arts and c. She brought her staves to this fight. Who said Mockingbird fights fair, anyhow?

Aguila 6 has posed:
"Oh, a woman after my own heart," Grant says quietly as Bobbi runs out the door. He doesn't move as quickly, merely jogging. Apples and his gang follow, stomping loudly through the club on their way, trying to look big and imposing. The mercenary captain can't help but smirk as he holds the door open for them.

The alley is empty at ground level except for trash cans. There are fire escapes above. No ground floor windows on either side. Quite a private spot for an incident to occur. The crooks file out one at a time, one pushing Grant away from the door so that he can hold it instead. As Apples gets outside he shakes his head at Grant and Bobbi and grins, "We're going to mess you two up so bad your own mothers won't recognize you."

Captain Washington just starts to laugh, ready for the brawl to begin.

Mockingbird has posed:
Ah it's an alley. Bobbi is somehow more dangerous in confined spaces...and out come the staves that get clicked together to make a bo staff, as she's spinning it in her hands...expertly. "You sure you boys want to start this with me?" Bobbi asks sweetly. "I'm sure your mothers won't like hearing I kicked your asses back to the Hudson...I know who you are, Apples" Bobbi nods and gets into a fighting stance. Game on...as Morse is just waiting, the bo staff whirring as it spins through the air. Oh, and it has tasers, too..because Bobbi Morse. She doesn't give Grant a look, instead she gives the crew a taunting smile/ "If you guys survive I'll buy you drinks"

Aguila 6 has posed:
"Screw you, lady!" Apples yells at the staff wielding SHIELD agent. "Pat, Roberto, we'll handle the chick with the stick. You other fella's send Star Trek to the morgue."

"Morgue, eh? Based on the size of you guys and the death threats I should be in fear for my life," Grant keeps on laughing. "This is going to be a ton of fun."

Apples and his two heavies charge Bobbi, one going high, one going low, and Apples hanging back a little bit to wait until Morse is distracted to try to hit her. The other four approach Grant with a little more caution, one of them darting in to shoot for Grant's legs like a wrestler.

Mockingbird has posed:
"Screw me? You're not my type, guys" Bobbi says as she just sweeps a leg, and detatches the two staves again, one in each hand as the tasers come to life....and she ducks,sweeping one electric stave low, the other high at the two charging her. Oh and there's that leg sweep at crown jewel hight too. Try a kick to the nuts in heels...
Ah Bobbi's not playing around, as she lunges up from her crouch with her elbows out as she moves a little. Lead with your elbow, Morse/ Staves, elbow, leg sweep and kick, and....oh yeah.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" she calls over to Grant. "Hey maybe they just need a woman to explain how to really fight" she adds and focuses again on the movement, the fight and the two charging her. Hey if she can hit them with the stavees now hey are essentially fiant taser staves that are what...four feet in length, she's not playing nice.

Aguila 6 has posed:
Those fighting sticks pack a punch, doing a number on the two dudes attacking Bobbi. Apples starts to back away from her, pulling one of the guys off of the fight with Grant to put between himself and the woman. The guys she's already fighting start picking themselves up off the ground.

Grant looks like he's having a grand time, "I think you're right." When the guy goes low Grant plants a hand on the back of the man's head to brace himself and pushes the guy down to the ground, jumping over him and landing a drop kick on the dude behind him. There's enough force that the larger man ends up tipping over backwards. When the merc hits the ground he quickly performs a kip up to get back to his feet, right in the next attacker's face. Grant sends them to the ground with a palm strike to the chin, hard enough to take the thug out of the fight without actually killing him. There's a loud crack as the jawbone breaks.

Mockingbird has posed:
Bobbi's not done yet. She goes one stick one free hand and grabs for a wrist, she's trying to twist it till it makes that pop sound. Which to be fair, she could just have done that from the beginning, but the other stave is being used to fend anyone else off as her free hand goes to see if she can't put one of the guys elbows out of commission too, and....hey, no matter if that works or not, the other one? She's going for his knee, seeing just how flexible it is, starting with hacking away at the back of it, then twisting the entire ankle and knee around before seeing if she can dislodge the kneecap and put it at an angle that'd make math teachers green with both envy andd flee to the nearest trash can.

Apples? Oh he's got it coming too, as Morse has something lined up fo rhim. So, guy #1, trying to twiist the wrist till it pops then an lock the elbow in a horrifically painful position, and guy #2? Twist his ankle and go for his knees. Preferably both of them. She spies Grant outt the corner of her eye too and has a feeling he can handle himself...but if Morse gets an opening she'll go for Apples to take him down a peg or two, or however many fingers he needs to fight, maybe?

Aguila 6 has posed:
As Morse mangles her men, Apples starts looking quite upset, "Just mess them up! Stop letting them kick you asses!"

Grant doesn't bother grappling the larger opponents, concentrating on delivering powerful strikes to their faces while dodging and weaving away from their attempts to hit him. The criminals end up bloody and bruised and laid out on the ground soon enough.

The guy who'd been directed towards Bobbi and away from Grant attempts to grab Morse's weapons while she's messing up his friends. Apples looks over towards the mess Grant is making and starts reaching into his jacket, likely towards a weapon.

Grant just shakes his head at the bad guy boss.

Mockingbird has posed:
Grabbing /electric/ staves? That are essentially tasers? Sure, the guy can have them if he doesn't mind being shocked....and having a wild Bobbi leap at him and try twisting in mid air aiming stiletto heels first to land on the poor guy. Hey at this rate she could take off the shoe and beat the guy with it...while he's being all bzzzzzzt aieeeee taser... with the battle stave that's also a discount phone charger andf cattle prodd, apparently.
FMorse does give Apples a dirty glare. "Did anyone ever tell you it's rude to hit a lady?" she asks snidely.

Aguila 6 has posed:
The dude Morse lays into drops pretty fast.

That's when Apples produces a handgun. Apparently, he really, really hates losing. "You two are dead! DEAD!"

Grant keeps messing up the guys he was fighting for a moment, using his physical strength to keep one of them between himself and the gun. When he gets the opportunity he shoves the big human shield directly towards Apples even as he starts darting around to the side to try to get the jump on the gunman. The mercenary is incredibly fast as he moves towards his prey.

Mockingbird has posed:
Bobbi lunges for Apples, both staves a spinning whirling bo staff now as she moves. She's aiming for a running strike. Literally running, in heels, so she can get out of the alley, and call 911. She's SHIELD, sure but it's not her place to arrest petty criminals. So as she's running and thte staff's whirling, she angles slightly to ensure she lines up with Apples if he stays still. If he runs or moves, Bobbi can match that move to stay on course.

Aguila 6 has posed:
There's no in hell Apples is getting away from Bobbi, he's too fixated on getting hit by the guy Grant slammed into him. As a result that nasty staff will tune him up.

As the other guys are down Grant starts to chuckle again, looking at the mess he and Morse made. One of the crooks starts to get up, so Washington hits him in the jaw with a right hook, knocking him out cold. "Just stay down, fellas," he tells the group with a little laugh.

Duncan MacLeod has posed:
     Walking into the jazz club, Duncan seems to be in a mind to wind down some. A jazz club. That should do the trick. He walks in and reaches for his I.D. There's some irony.

     He pauses just inside the door and raises a brow. A shake of his head and he even laughs softly. There really is no place to go where things don't crazy off the rails. He's not necessarily a white knight or anything, but many against two rubs him wrong.