13292/A Person of Interest: Condo Edition

A Person of Interest: Condo Edition
Date of Scene:	16 May 2021
Location:	Chinese Food Restaurant, Two Bridges
Synopsis:	Summary Needed
Cast of Characters:	Punisher, Winter Soldier
Tinyplot:	Digging Up The Past

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Punisher has posed:
In context, it was probably half surprising, half not that the Punisher reached out to James through Microchip earlier. The Punisher had a standing truce with SHIELD after he tried to kill James on multiple occasions for his past. Whether or not Frank knew about the complications involving the Winter Soldier programming, fact is he tried to assassinate James no less than three times, before Skye reached out to Microchip for a meeting. A meeting where the truce was negotiated; leave James alone, and SHIELD will turn a blind eye to the Punisher.

It's an agreement that the Punisher has upheld, even when he bungled into a SHIELD operation by accident. No shots were hired... but he did question a SHIELD agent at shotgun point, at least.

At the assigned near midnight time, a man sits in one of the corners of the Chinese restaurant meeting place, dressed casually with a beanie covering his face. He's pretty adept at blending in as he eats, waiting to see if James will show.

If James shows up... Frank sitting in that booth will be obvious, but would recognize his efforts at casual infiltration.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    James shows. Maybe because he was curious or maybe just because he had a hankering for some crab rangoon? He makes his way to that corner table and settles down across from Frank. "You're making me miss Jimmy Kimmel," he grouses.
    He raises his right hand toward the little old lady behind the counter up front. "Yes, James... one order of crab rangoon comin' soon," she offers cheerfully. Apparently he's a regular here? It is kinda close to 'home'.

Punisher has posed:
"Isn't that what DVR is for?" Frank almost quips back. From anyone else, that would have a humorous tone and a joke to it. From Frank? It sounds almost forced and very matter-of-fact.

"Microchip gives me the impression you were checking in on the kid in the condo. What's your interest?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "Touche'," James replies. Now if he could just figure out how to work his DVR. If it's not meant for killing things, he's not a very high tech guy.
    "He's a friend," simple, to the point.

Punisher has posed:
"Your friend is a bystander in some serious conspiracy shit. I've cleaned up some of it, but lives have been ruined. If you want to help stop anymore from being ruined, I figured that you'd be interested in comparing notes, as it were." Frank takes a bite of his food, his eyes locking on Bucky's own. "It's much easier to do research when you have context. Something is going on, with the amount of firepower they brought to take me on."

Winter Soldier has posed:
    James Barnes knows all about ruined lives, he's still trying to pick up the pieces of his own. "Ask away," he offers readily enough. Does that mean he'll be forthcoming with all the answers? It's truly hard to say. When he picks up his first crab rangoon, he bites the end with the good gooey stuff in it off and drops the rest back on the plate.

Punisher has posed:
"I've been checking out associates and the like around the DHS. I've been dealing with other matters while Micro handles investigation. Shall I show you what I have, then you show me what you have?" He asks.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    James raises his right hand to his mouth to cover a little snigger. So very unprofessional and 'unagent-y' of him, but... I'll show you mine if you show me yours... he can't help it. When he collects himself and lowers his hand, he's all surly, brow creased and appropriately gruff again. "Sure. I mean I can tell you if what I have matches what you have." He's not going to promise to show all the cards in his deck, particularly if any of them are detrimental to his friend.

Punisher has posed:
"Dealt with a murderer who cut a deal, and got a wildly abused undercover asset out of being between a rock and a hard place. I have a list of names around the operation that I still don't know what happened at the condo. I initially assumed they were there for me, but the firepower could just be repuation." Frank offers.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    "You were Colby's secondary objective," James replies as if he's telling the man that the sky's blue. He reaches into the pocket of his leather jacket and pulls out a large brown envelope that's been folded in two. "Burn these when you're done?" he asks. "...or use them as shit paper and flush'm? They just need to be gone." A beat and he adds, "Or you and me? We'll have problems."

Punisher has posed:
There's a mere nod from Frank as he takes the envelope. It was a condition he expected. "We have our own secure database, I can just transfer and that's that. I have a drive with all my relevant information as well."

Frank takes out a USB thumb drive and hands it over, "What was his primary?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
    James takes the thumb drive and tucks it away in a pocket. "Primary objective was your accomplice... who they apparently labeled as Nick. It was about damage control," he offers before pushing himself to his feet. "Next time, lets do afternoon brunch. All this midnight skulking reminds me of days I'd rather forget." He pushes the rest of his crab rangoons in Frank's direction. "...can't eat here and not try these." Seems he's ready to take his leave unless the Punisher has more questions.

Punisher has posed:
"As usual, they get it wrong to spite their nose. He's not an accomplice, he's a bystander I had to protect from their mess." Frank corrects him, but doesn't move.

Winter Soldier has posed:
    James raises his hands as if to say... hey, just know what I was told. He backs up his gesture with, "That's what came from Colby's mouth. It's all in those reports. My only involvement in this was looking out for a friend. I don't have many, I protect the ones I got."