14581/What's a girl like you...

What's a girl like you...
Date of Scene:	24 October 2022
Location:	East Harlem, Manhattan
Synopsis:	Svetlana goes looking for trouble. She finds a little in Harlem. She also finds Luke.
Cast of Characters:	Svetlana Kuznetsov, Luke Cage

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Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana is out wandering tonight. Alone. Again. Even though she's back in good graces with SHIELD, they are keeping her at arms' length. They want to keep tabs on her but don't quite trust her with a mission of her own.

Lana may only be in her early 20's (her fake SHIELD ID does say 21, at least), but she isn't stupid. What she is, however, is bored.

Hopping the subway, the girl dressed like a typical American girl her age (or at least what she thinks that would be) and gets off at Harlem. Up to the street level, she starts wandering and hoping that trouble will find her.

Luke Cage has posed:
Harlem is a fine enough place during the day. Just be smart about it. At night? Well the smart thing is to drive with the doors locked, only walk in a group. Or just stay home and don't go out.

Luke Cage resents that last point the most but all three are things but rub him the wrong way. Harlem is home and home should be safe. It is for that reason he is out, himself, looking to visit a small gang that has not yet come to understand they are not welcome in Harlem. Because Luke says so.

That gang wants to become big time but they have a ways to go. For now, they're just causing trouble for the innocent folk who live in Harlem. They mistake Svetlana for one of those. A large man steps out in front of her path with a sneer. "Nice night. Ain't it?"

Five more fill out around in a circle, seeking to block her escape.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana pulls up short when the big guy steps out in front of her. She's wearing designer jeans, leather jacket with matching boots, and a vintage 'Stones t-shirt. Definitely NOT from this neighborhood.

The girl sizes him up, head tilting to watch peripherally as the others encircle her. "Yes. At least it was." she replies, Russian accent still thick despite her best efforts. "Did you want my wallet or just to beat me up tonight? Maybe rape me?"

The girl shrugs, then, watching the big man's eyes. "I am not going to let you, of course. I am just curious what sort of neighborhood this is."

Luke Cage has posed:
The leader smirks. "Well why not the trifecta. We're _all inclusive_ around here.." he says with a low growl. He pulls out a length of chain, wrapping it around his knuckles on oen hand and stretching it to the other hand.

THe others pull out combinations of knives and a couple guns. Because why not? They all laugh and snicker, each imagining their chance with the pretty young woman.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana isn't shy, and she doesn't wait. The leader is still wrapping the chain around his knuckles when she steps in close, and much more quickly than any of them was expecting. A stomp of her booted foot on his instep snaps his body forward, right into the open-hand strike to his throat. The leader isn't going to think about anything except breathing for a few moments, which means the chain is now Lana's.

The others are still processing what just happened when she lashes out to wrap the chain around an ankle, pulling hard to topple the second.

Luke Cage has posed:
It's always the leader that holds cohesion in a group. When she attacks this one. The others lose some confidence but no courage, yet. They seek to move in on her. The guys with guns stand there relatively useless as they don't want to shoot their own buddies. That would be rude.

The three melee gangers move in but one is grabbed by the chain. THe other two try to tackle Svetlana before she can inflict any more damage.

As the three try to scuffle with her, the two with guns try to get clear shots. That is, until one of them has a large hand wrap around their gun and wrist. The hand squeezes like a vice, causing the ganger to cry out on pain, no longer able to effectively use his weapon.

The other gunner turns to aim at Luke who stares him down. "I wouldn't do that. Now wait your turn I'll be with you in a moment." His other fist balls up and punches his prey in the nose and mouth. The sound of birds circling the guy's head is almost tangible.

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana has other matters to worry about besides someone else joining in. She dodges one tackle and twists free of the second. The first is off-balance, but the second does manage to catch a hold of the girl's sleeve. With a twist and pirouette she reverses to grab -his- wrist, breaking it with a quick, outward twist. The pop is loud, as is his scream.

Lana lets him fall, although the toe of her boot connects with his solar plexus on the way down. Brows lift with open appreciation as Luke breaks one guy's nose.

"I think it is your turn now." she offers to the other.

Luke Cage has posed:
As Svetlana makes easy work of her three former attackers, Luke is watching her. He wants to know who she is and why she's in his burrough even as he finishes disarming the first gunman.

Letting the man fall to the ground, Luke looks to the other gunman who hesitates. Run? Stand his ground? He panics and shoots Luke.

**Pop! Pop!**

He doubletaps Luke in the chest. But it doesn't even slow him down. It does put holes in his shirt.

"Fuck that hurts." He steps up, "And you ruined my shirt." He grabs the last gunman by the face, his hand like a claw wrapping about the guy's jaw. Jerking him forward, Luke drives a knee into the man's stomach, then grabs him by the neck of his shirt. He begins to bitch slap the gunman - who hs dropped his weapon.

Slap

"I told you to wait your turn."

Slap

"Now I'm in a bad mood."

Slap Slap

Jerking the man forward, Luke gets right in his face. "You're going to crawl your way back to whatever hole you and your idiot friends are using and tell them that they aren't welcome in Harlem. There are enough concerned citizens that you're not going to get a toe hold. Get your boys and get the hell out of my burrough."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana just watches Luke work, dark brows lifting as he shrugs off the bullets in the chest. The guy who missed the tackle is trying to get up, at least until she grinds the heel of her boot into his hand. It's like she knows -just- how to make it hurt. Bones break like sticks, and the guy screams.

The leader has just about managed to figure out how to breathe again, and the girl barks out to him. "Nyet! No! You need to stay down, now. It would be bad for you to get up now."

Looking over to Luke, she waits until he's between slaps before asking simply. "Who are you?"

Luke Cage has posed:
Luke Cage tosses his messenger to the ground like a ragdoll. The guy rolls a few times before coming to a stop in a heap. With a whimper, he begins to crawl off. Luke stares hard at the guy then turns to look at Svetlana.

"Luke Cage. I live here." He looks her over, "First, are you alright?"

He looks down at his chest where one of the bullets still is stuck to his chest where it flattened out. He reaches down and peels it away with a sigh, tossing it after the crawling ganger. "You left something."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana squints, paying closer attention to the way Luke peels the bullet out of... no, OFF of... his chest. "That is good trick, Luke Cage." she replies. "Are you a superhero, like the Avengers?"

The girl looks like she is fine, although one of her boots is scuffed. She answers the question, then. "Yes, I am unharmed. And thank you for your help." The girl certainly didn't look like she needed it, but Lana has learned manners from somewhere.

Luke Cage has posed:
Luke Cage's chest still has a dimple from both slugs but the skin hasn't been broken.

He looks back, "I'm glad you're okay. I'm no Avenger. But something like that. I'm part of a more local group, the Defenders. We tend to keep to New York city for the most part. But mostly? I'm just a guy from Harlem who hates seeing assholes like these trying to move into an otherwise quiet burrough. They're not the first and they won't be the last unfortunately."

He looks at her curiously, "I didn't get your name?"

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana slips her hands into the jacket pockets, mouth twitching into a small smile. "You can call me Lana." she replies. "It is easier for most people to say than Svetlana Kuznetsov. I am no Avenger, either."

Lana steps up closer, then, leaning in a little and peering at the bullet-dimples in his chest. "I live in New York City now, and I very much dislike assholes."

Luke Cage has posed:
Luke Cage nods, "Lana. Svetlana. Whatever you prefer." He offers his hand. "Well welcome to NYC. WHere a lot of us aren't Avengers. If you ever find yourself in the neighborhood, stop in to my bar. Luke's." Jerking his head, he gestures, "It's three blocks over. First drink's on the house."

Svetlana Kuznetsov has posed:
Svetlana smiles, and it's a broad one as she takes that offered hand in her own. The girl's grip is strong, beyond just confident. Capable. "You own a bar." she repeats, unnecessarily, as she gazes in the direction of his gesture. "Three blocks." she adds with a single nod. "I will come to Harlem more often, Luke Cage. And thanks. It has been nice meeting you."