4141/A donation negotiation situation.

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A donation negotiation situation.
Date of Scene: 25 March 2018
Location: Nelson & Murdock, Hell's Kitchen, NY.
Synopsis: Claire and Matt make their pitch to Natasha Cranston
Cast of Characters: Daredevil, Claire Temple, Shadow




Daredevil has posed:
It was a busy day at the firm of Nelson and Murdock, the morning had been spent in court on the re-trail of Rodrigo Diaz, and when closing statements were done and the jury was sent to deliberate, Matt left Foggy and Karen to dash across the city back to Hell's Kitchen. Stop one, check on his house guest, then when that was done, Matt was on the run again, this time taking the rooftop route, to get to Nelson and Murdock before the meeting that had been set up between Claire and Ms. Cranston.

He's there just in time, coffee on, brushing a little bit of debris off his suit, and taking care to get his breathing down to a regular rate. Matt Murdock, attorney at law, didn't run anywhere, it was time to get back into character.

Claire Temple has posed:
Claire's morning was shorter than usual, since she had indulged in a little bit of sleeping in after her overnight workload. Nonetheless, she remembered her appointment, and she intended to keep it, if not necessarily to know all the proper words to say while asking for as much money as this clinic would take. She hums to herself and gives some thanks for having a lawyer at her elbow for the conversation, and quite frankly, having a lawyer with a vested interest is simply gravy. This'll be fine, Claire. Wait and see.

She arrives at Nelson and Murdock in time to smell some coffee from the hallway, and she smiles appreciatively before knocking on the office door. "Matt?" she asks. "You have coffee?" she goes on, for lack of anything better coming to her mind.

Shadow has posed:
    There are broadly speaking two schools of philosophy when it comes to negotiations in the business world. One of them, espoused and enunciated in such works as The Art of the Deal, is that when one has the better hand going in, the thing to do is emphasize the power you hold in every petty and subtle way possible, starting with arriving late in order to make everyone else wait anxiously and impress upon them just how much they are dependent on your whims.

    Natasha, however, follows the other school, which believes that punctuality is the politeness of kings, and unfailing courtesy is the mark of someone secure enough in their power not to /need/ to make petty displays.

    Hence, Matt can hear her heels - slightly more comfortable ones than the last time, but /again/ changing the rhythm slightly but noticeably to his senses shortly before she'd enter a normal person's hearing range - clicking on the stairwell a minute before the meeting is scheduled to start.

Daredevil has posed:
Matt is just enjoying the first cup from the machine and it tasted like sweet ambrosia. Not because it was particularly good, but damn he needed it. He is about to take his second sip when Claire enters, "Claire," he says cup almost to his lips, then he takes the sip and sets aside his cup. "Can I get you some?" he says, already turning to get her a cup down from the cupboard. He can hear Ms. Cranston moving through the building, she's still a bit of a ways off so he dispenses with the act for these last few moments to get down the cup and pull the pot out of the machine without all the feeling about. "And are you ready?" he asks. "Ms. Cranston, has seemed pretty fair so far, and I've given her the basics of what you're trying to do," by which he means the parts that didn't include patching up vigilantes at midnight. "Shouldn't be too much of a problem."

Claire Temple has posed:
"Coffee would be excellent, thanks. I think I've got a handle on it, but it's good to know that I don't have to describe everything cold," Claire replies while gratefully accepting the coffee cup. "It's just... if you'd have told me a month ago about meeting with anyone about this, I'd have told you to rest a week until your concussion healed," she says with a soft chuckle.

"Here, allow me," she says as her watch buzzes quietly to announce the meeting time. She pulls down another mug herself and prepares to sight her way around the office's break room to pour coffee for Ms. Cranston. She smiles nervously and rolls her ankles back and forth as she fidgets.

Shadow has posed:
    And at the exact time of the scheduled meeting, there is a polite knock at the door of Nelson and Murdock. "Mr. Murdock? I believe I'm expected..." Natasha addresses the intercom when it buzzes.

Daredevil has posed:
"Well, I'm not officially your attorney in this matter, or Ms. Cranston's now that her business is done, but I'll be happy to help smooth out any rough patches," he says before offering Claire a smile. "And I'd promise to do that," he says about the week of rest, the mirthful lilt to his words suggesting how much the promise would be worth. "Speaking of, our mutual friend is alright, thank you," he says.

Claire's alarm and the approaching sound of Ms. Cranston's footsteps give him the cue he needs to get back into the act. He reaches for his cane and steps with practiced awkwardness to get out of Claire's way when she goes for the cup.

The buzz of the intercom is met with a small flinch, but Matt makes his way over to the door, pulling open. "You are indeed," he says, moving his cane to his other hand to extend his right hand to be shaken. "You're right on time and Ms. Temple is here as well, come on in," he says. Yes, the offices of Nelson and Murdock were a lot less formal than those of CMS.

He steps inside and lets Natasha come in.

Shadow has posed:
    Natasha favours Matt with a smile and a nod of her head that she doesn't know he can actually perceive just fine, then waits until he steps aside to let her enter. She looks briefly around the room, more to refamiliarize herself with the surroundings she'd already seen, then walks over to Claire, smiling and extending a hand. "As you aren't Ms. Page, and last I heard Nelson and Murdock doesn't employ anyone else, I conclude you're Ms. Temple?" she asks. "Natasha Cranston; pleased to make your acquaintance..."

Claire Temple has posed:
"I am," Claire replies, smiling. "I'm pleased to meet you, too," she says as she fusses lightly with the coffee pot. "Could I interest you in a cup of coffee, Ms. Cranston?" she asks as she gestures toward the foyer of the office space.

Daredevil has posed:
Matt smiles into the little gap of interaction caused by the nod and his pretending to have missed it. Then he steps aside and let's the ladies get to know each other. "I can't promise it'll be as good as the coffee at your office, Ms. Cranston, but it's pretty good after a late night," he opines wandering over to try and 'find' his own cup where he set it down by the machine.

As he does, his is on Ms. Cranston, there were things in how she moved, how she took in the room and how her heartbeat that made him curious. It rung closer to the type of thing he saw in his other job than this one.

Shadow has posed:
    "Coffee would be delightful, thank you," Natasha replies, allowing Claire to fix her up, happy to defer further conversation until everyone's sitting comfortably, then pulls a certain file out of her handbag.

    As you're undoubtedly already aware, Mr. Murdock was kind enough to provide a copy of the proposal during our previous coversation. I took the liberty of reading it through on the way here. It's impressively well put together and makes a very good case, but..."

    She smiles. "Call me old-fashioned, but I've always found that what people have to say in person says more about their motivations and intentions than a rehearsed speech or carefully written-up proposal. So... You have my attention. You have my interest. Please tell me, in your own words, what you're hoping to acccomplish here, and why you believe it's important."

Claire Temple has posed:
Claire clears her throat lightly and folds her hands in her lap, cocking her head to give Ms. Cranston an even look. "I've become something of a resource to the community beyond my shiftwork at Metro-General, Ms. Cranston," she says. "Health care in and around Hell's Kitchen is not as readily accessible as it could be, and many people need help to get what they need.

"Occasionally," she says with a dip of her head, "someone will ask me for advice as to whether their needs are worth incurring the cost of treatment at the emergency room. I usually can't diagnose anyone, because I don't have the means at my disposal when I'm at home or in a hallway in my building. They may have injuries or illnesses that need treating, and insofar as I can, I help with those, but maintaining the supplies I need to be of help to anyone who asks is... not the easiest thing I could do.

"And yes," she says with a slight shrug, "I get frequent requests and visits. I get the pre-teens who sprain their ankles while they're playing basketball before the street lights are on. I get the toddlers with the flu. I get the abuela who falls in her living room and hits her head against the side of a radiator and needs stitches while her grandchildren are panicking. I've even had a young man who got into a fight and had bleeding wounds on his torso." At this last, she smiles softly and shakes her head. "What would be most useful is to have a place equipped to help the people who might not be better off waiting in the hospital, and it could provide help for the most patients possible by accepting any requests it's equipped to handle."

Daredevil has posed:
Matt nods in support of Claire's words. "A lot of the same people who come to Claire for medical help are the ones that come to us for legal aid. I have to say, I haven't heard anyone say a bad word about the work she does," he says before carrying on

"Beyond that, Hell's Kitchen is one of the more underserviced areas for health care in the city, Claire can tell you first hand what the waits can be like at Metro General, and most people who live here, don't have any or enough insurance, so having someone from the community, someone people trusts to help them, would make a real difference in making Hell's Kitchen better place."

Annd the defense rests your honour. Realizing he was getting a little speech-y there, he smiles self-effacingly, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry, still in court room mode," he says. "But it's true, I think with the right funding, Claire can really make a difference."

Shadow has posed:
    Natasha sits quietly, giving Claire her full and undivided attention as the woman explains the project dear to her heart. She nods at Matt's interjection; of course, wealth's privilege means that waiting for medical treatment has never been a problem she's had to deal with herself, but she *has* been paying attention and she's not unaware of the stories. Besides, a shrewd businesswoman knows the value of preventative maintenance to avoid expensive emergency repairs.

    When both are finished talking, she nods. "And, of course, an affordable clinic within easy reach could help to cheaply deal with minor complaints /before/ they become the kind of emergencies that require an immediate hospital visit and expensive procedure. Which, in turn, would keep people from falling into irrecoverable debt because of one bad spell, which would likely significantly improve the entire neighborhood..."

    She nods again, looking thoughtful. "Of course, medicine and equipment prices being as they are, you may wind up being dependent on donations not just to get the clinic set up, but to /keep/ it running as well..."

    She smiles. "Of course, a regularly scheduled donation is always a good opportunity for excellent PR; I'm fairly sure my public relations director will agree. I think we can come to an agreement..."

Claire Temple has posed:
Claire lets out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. She closes her eyes and nods deeply. "People being able to get the help they need would make a huge difference in many ways," she says.

"Thank you. An -- an agreement would be wonderful. Thank you."

Daredevil has posed:
Matt smiles, he'd left out the PR angle, but he was glad Natasha got there on her own, rather than being turned off by a sermon from Saint Matthew. He shifts his attention to Claire, "Congratulations," he says before adding a more amused note to his smile, "And if you need any help with the contracts, Nelson and Murdock are more than happy to donate their services," he says. "Well, the Murdock part anyhow, Nelson will come around."

Though he does, add, "Though as I've worked with Ms. Cranston in the past, if you feel there's a conflict of interest, or rather either of you do, then I am sure we can recommend someone else."

Shadow has posed:
    "At the moment, we're planning to enter a mutually beneficial agreement," Natasha points out. I don't think it would be a conflict of interest for a single lawyer to mediate the specifics." She smiles wrily. "Of course, I suspect my PR director will insist on at least one press conference, if not a symbolic breaking-of-ground ceremony. Please forgive him of he gets too officious; it is his job to attempt to see to it that Cranston Multinational gets the most PR possible out of the money we spend..."

Claire Temple has posed:
Claire nods and flicks a glance at Matt. "I don't see a conflict of interest, especially since Nelson and Murdock are already as aware as they are of the needs to be met. The arrangement sounds as though it will work well," she says.

"I... am not concerned by the PR that needs to be done," she says after a beat. "It may be that the PR helps to get better pricing for the supplies and equipment."

Daredevil has posed:
Matt nods, taking the PR piece in stride. "It's understandable that your company will want the most out of it's investment on the public relations front," he says before he nods to Claire. "And yes, the better known the project is the better leverage it gives you in getting supplies."

"As for my services, since we're in agreement I'll be happy to mediate the contracts for you both."

Shadow has posed:
    Natasha smiles again. "Then I believe we are in accord," she says, rising to her feet in one smooth movement with enough presence to bring an entire boardroom's worth of executives to attention. "Miss Temple, Mr. Murdock; it's been a pleasure. I'll inform Andy to get in touch with both of you as soon as possible. That shouldn't take too long; he's been almost insufferably cheerful these past few weeks. In the meantime, unless either of you have any further questions...?"

Claire Temple has posed:
Claire also stands up, and she offers her hand to Ms. Cranston with a smile. "No, no further questions. Thank you very much for your time, Ms. Cranston."

Daredevil has posed:
Matt nods, adding in his two cents. "All good here," he supplies with a smile. "And I'll look forward to hearing from Andy, cheerful or otherwise."

Shadow has posed:
    "In that case, I suspect I'll see you both at a signing ceremony or press conference quite soon," Natasha replies, shaking Claire's hand. "I'll see myself out; good day to you both."