14266/Vigilantes Incognito

Vigilantes Incognito
Date of Scene:	04 April 2022
Location:	Noonan's Sleazy Bar, Old Gotham
Synopsis:	Thea starts to track a human trafficker.
Cast of Characters:	Superman, Speedy (Queen)

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Superman has posed:
Clouds of cigarette smoke part like spreading thighs before one Eustace "Daddy Love" Kennedy, a local pimp with suspected but unprovable ties to human trafficking in the Tri-County region. He strides into Noonan's, flamboyant in his hat and decades-old style; it's an affectation, of course, the same as his swagger, something to hammer in the idea of who and what he is at a glance and reinforce his own self-image. And so Daddy Love dives deep into the low-lit bar, passing by an occupied pool table on his way toward a scarred table. He's meeting someone today: a young woman recommended by one of his current working girls. This isn't the usual place he'd meet such a girl, but... well, sometimes you're in the mood for a different venue. On the surface, this is a "date" with friends, but in truth, he's scouting new talent. He gets a few looks from the rough-and-tumble crowd, but those looks quickly pass; Daddy Love isn't a regular, but he's the right sort of person, and has some local reputation.

Clark Kent, meanwhile, does not belong here at all. What, then, brings him to the outside of the corner bar, watching traffic and bundled up warm in his jacket? Simple: he's been following Thea Queen surreptitiously. A favor to a friend. He knows she'll be coming here soon, though he doesn't know for what purpose.

Speedy (Queen) has posed:
     Through the clouds of smoke, Thea emerges, a grin playing on her lips with each heeled step she takes. Watching the other around her looking as she walks by in her heeled boots, black leather mini skirt and cropped vintage band t-shirt.
     Giving no notice to anyone else around her she walks up to the bar and leans against the bar top, "Gin and tonic. Twist of lime." she orders without the pleasantries. Moving her hand up to the side of her head she pulls back hair from her eyes and pins it behind her ear. Turning her head toward "Daddy Love" and focusing her attention. When he meets her gaze the grin becomes a shy smiles, before she looks away. When ever as Thea Queen been shy a day in her life? Obviously it was a play.

Superman has posed:
When Thea enters the joint, there's a moment where she passes by Clark Kent lurking near the entrance; he's an unfamiliar face, some giant lump of a man in a suit and overcoat, world-weary and anxious in bearing. He smiles and gives her a polite little wave, but then his head turns away, as if he's too afraid to stare... and moments later, she's vanished into the den of vice. "Have a nice day," he says as he waves her in, staring once more out into the streets. He's too awkward to seem predatory, and is probably waiting for someone on the corner.

Within the establishment, men's eyes turn one by one onto the dolled-up young woman. The air changes immediately; she's a lamb thrown into a pit full of jackals, receiving naught but hungry looks and a sense of ill intent. It's not that this bar has no women, but the women it does have need to be tough as nails or attached to a brute with clout enough to keep the would-be Casanovas at bay.

"I know you," rumbles one man, mid-twenties but looking a decade older from the stress of life. He eases himself down onto a stool near where she leans, resting his stubble-covered cheek on his knuckles. "Yeah, you were with Sugar, weren't you? I've got some cash, if you wanna get out of here..."

It seems he's mistaken her for a prostitute -- or he's treating her like one regardless. Daddy Love, aka Eustace, watches from his table, ring-covered fingers folded in front of his face. Almost like he's curious to see how she acts.

Speedy (Queen) has posed:
     The lips of of Thea curls back into a smile at the man that approaches her. "Keep dreaming buddy." her gin and tonic arrives. There is at least a lime in it but its not squeezed. Thats... irritating... but it happens. Dipping her fingers into her drink she takes out the lime and squeezes the juices into the glass. dropping the peel into the glass she sucks on the lime soaked fingers. Turning her body towards the man talking to her, "I'm not a prostitute... But thanks for playing." she waves her away in her royalty type way of dismissal.
     There is a smile and then a laugh as the man walks away from her disappointed and probably honry.

Superman has posed:
"You're not Sugar's friend?" The young man purses his lips and gives Thea a long look, head to toe, before squinting at her face. His breath smells like cheap beer and cigarettes -- a scent clinging to every person and surface in the building like a noxious cologne. It's so thick you can practically chew it. "Tch, guess not... but how about I buy you a drink? We could--"

It's at this point that Thea dismisses him in such a prompt and cold fashion. His weathered brow furrows. "You don't need to be such a bitch about it," he chides, turning around and wandering off. It could have been worse, but he's either too drunk or not drunk enough yet to escalate, opting to disengage and slouch back to a corner to drink and watch the television above the bar.

A little ways away, Eustace grins. He raises a hand and curls a finger, pushing out a chair with his foot.

"Hey, sweetheart. Over here."

Speedy (Queen) has posed:
     "oh, God... not again. Can a girl just drink a gin an tonic?" Thea answers sharply. Its a might show. But she wanted it to be. so that everyone heard it. But hen she sees the stool pushed out and she wonders... but she accepts and grins, "Thanks." she says she pull up the stool.

Superman has posed:
"A girl who wants to drink in peace doesn't come here dressed like that," Eustace remarks, giving the young woman a long and appraising glance. He's dressed like street money and urban royalty; this fella walked out of a blaxploitation film after going toe-to-toe with Black Dynamite and it shows. He's got the purple suit and the loud tie, more rings than knuckles on his fingers and diamond-crusted teeth. "But that's alright, baby girl, we all tell little fibs. What's your name?"

Speedy (Queen) has posed:
"You seem to know an awful lot about fashion." Thea smirks, turning to the side to lean her elbow against the bartop. Taking her time to look him over from head to toe. "What is your outfit trying to tell people?" A single eyebrow raises as she looks back up at him. "People call me Jazzy. And you?" No, that wasnt her name, but she wasnt about to give him her real one. Especially if he dint know who she was.

Superman has posed:
"It's telling people who I am," Eustace remarks, his smile sparkling. "A purveyor of fine goods and valuable member of society. And, I might add, a man with a great appreciation for the finer things in life." He leans in and looks up at Jazzy. "And let me say, Jazzy, you are one of the finer things. How about I buy you a drink, and you tell me what brings a girl like you here?"

Speedy (Queen) has posed:
"Considering you think I'm one of the finer things in life, shows you have exceptional taste." Thea or rather Jazzy glances at her drink she'd already ordered, picks it up and downs it in one. "That would be great." slamming the glass down on the bartop "Since I just finished my first one. I need round two." A smile brightens her features. "I came because I heard there might be some business options for me." wrinkling her nose, "word gets around."

Superman has posed:
Eustace laughs and raps his knuckles on the tabletop, calling out for another drink to wet Jazzy's whistle. "I'm all about business, baby," he remarks. "If you got the goods, I got the hookup; I'll handle all the dirty bits, all you gotta do is make money and entertain some big-shots now and then." Even in an environment like this, Daddy Love is vague enough to avoid direct confession but clear enough in context to get his point across. "You look a bit better-off than most, though. What's got you looking for business opportunities *here*? Daddy take away your credit card?"

Speedy (Queen) has posed:
"Daddy got arrested for embazzlement. Mother is dead. Not a dime to my name." Thea sighs dramaticly. Shaking her head, "A girl has to find other oppertunities to make things live in a way she is use to." Her drink is being made up and she is keeping an eye on it, just to make sure the bartender isnt within the hooks of this guy and slipping something in her drink. "You're going to have to lay it out flat for me though. I need to know exactly what this is all about."

Superman has posed:
The pimp leans back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest and staring Thea over. "I think you should enjoy that drink," he answers, "but I don't know what you're talking about." Put-together girl comes into a dive like this, the original girl's a no-show, and she wants him to be very specific? "So once you're done, you should get out of here, yeah? Because I don't like how you're acting."

Speedy (Queen) has posed:
Thea makes a face of true offense by his words. Her drink had not yet been delivered and she takes a step closer, putting her hand on his check and lifting her leg so that her thigh presses against his. "What did I say, Daddy? Did I say the wrong thing?" Her words are spoken softly and close to him ear before she moves her head back. That smile on her lips, "dont't tell me you'll throw me away just like my real daddy did?"