4305/Crossing Paths

Crossing Paths
Date of Scene:	20 April 2018
Location:	The Lux, New York City
Synopsis:	A bunch of folks meet at a bar owned by the devil. Drinks are had, bets are made, and swear words are spoken.
Cast of Characters:	Constantine, Elektra, Lara Croft, Jessica Jones

---

Constantine has posed:
Compared to the well-moneyed and well-dressed crowd in Club Lux's cocktail lounge, Constantine stuck out like a sore thumb with his rumpled tan trench coat, loose red tie and a button down and slacks combo that looked like it had been slept in. He got a few stares and a few whispers, he had the dissolute vibe of an aging rock star but no one could place him. Which suited John just fine while he knocked back his pint of lager taken with him from one of the other sections of the club.

"Bloody demons," John muttered as he set down his empty glass and checked his watch. His contact, a hybrid, part demon, part man, had stood him up, leaving him in the land of overpriced beers and stuck up sods. Oh there was going to be hell to pay for that he reckoned, but first, there were more important matters to attend to.

Rising from his table, he makes his way across the lounge to the bar, bumping into one o fthe well-to-do blighters and his lady friend as he passed. "'excuse me mate," he says before looking to the man's date and giving her a wink, "You too, luv," then carried on to the bar, with the man's wallet in his hands.

He cracked it open and grabs a few bills out of the wallet then promptly lets the purloined item slip down under his trench coat to the floor. "Thanks for the drink, mate," he says to the departing man as John grabs a bar stool and flags down the barkeep with a waved hundred-dollar bill. "Let's start us off with a Sazerac and we'll see where the night takes us, eh?"

The bill is snatched from John's hand checked against the light and then put away before the man makes John his drink, a mix of rye, bitters in an absinthe coated glass and garnished with a twisting lemon peel.

When the drink is set down in front of him he gives the man a nod, "Thankee, squire," he says jovially as he takes a sip and turns to survey the bar. There had to be some sort of trouble he could get into before they gave him the bum's rush.

Elektra has posed:
It wasn't her usual hole in the wall, but after the last visit to Josie's, and the resulting fiasco (read: ninja attack, and breakup with Matt, with a semi-cognizant Claire probably picking up on more than was good for any of them) Elektra had energy to burn and nowhere to burn it.

Though she'd learned her lesson: No drowning her frustrations in alcohol. A strict one drink limit, and a chaser to nurse. Totally as a shield. Something she could lift and show prospective suitors (if they could be called that) that she didn't need another and was fine, thank-you very much.

She wore a pantsuit tonight. Expensive, but without a designer label. If you needed labels, you were trying too hard. A blood red so deep it was almost black. Hair pulled back in a ponytail - a chignon if you wanted to be fancy. No accessories but a pair of gold bracelets. For reasons.

She stops at the bar to order a glass of wine while she looks about for a place to sit.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara Croft didn't go out very often. Pretty much never. But tonight? She'd given her friend Sam the benefit of the doubt on a 'blind date' proposal with a man that Sam works with at the film school she works at. Sam had talked the man up and down about how they'd be 'perfect together' and about how the man 'loved old stuff just like you!'. So here she was... wearing a fancy black dress that was sleeveless and backless down to her stomach-level, but otherwise fell down to past her knees and kept her front torso sufficiently covered. Her hair was simply tied back and she had a jacket draped over the back of her chair.

Lara had been here for an hour, she'd stopped getting any responses to texts from Sam two hours ago. With a sigh, she leans back in her chair and reaches for her third glass of water.

She'd been stood up. With a stroke of her hair out of her face, Lara moves to stand up and reach for her jacket.

Constantine has posed:
John surveys the bar taking another sip of his drink. The woman in the pant suit had a trouble sort of vibe to her and the woman getting up from the table looked familiar. He'd seen her somewhere but not dressed fancy like that. "Plenty of seats right here, if you don't mind a bit of company" he says to Elektra with a smile, nodding to the row stools around them. That's when it strikes him. "Croft," he says snapping his fingers before giving an apologetic, "Sorry luv, just placed a face," to Elektra.

Nodding to the bartender, he asks him to send one of the waiters to intercept the departing archeologist.

Elektra has posed:
The stranger, audacity and all, is given a look that says she could be amused if she exerted herself.. but so far hadn't. Still, Elektra murmurs, "It all depends on the company, now, doesn't it?"

Lara gets a barely perceptible nod of chin, and there is most definitely a twinkle in Elektra's eyes as she turns back to Constantine, "Of course I'd hate to interfere with your chances with the lovely Ms. Croft. Unless you're a betting sort?"

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara is pulling her black jacket on over her bare shoulders and arms, then sorting it out on her shoulders as the Club employee seeks her out at her table's side. Lara's eyes focus on the waiter as he indicates John and then her eyes sweep over to him and... well, Elektra who she knwos fairly well after their long chat a few nights back... Or was that a month ago? Its hard to keep track of these things sometimes.

All the same though, since she was summoned she walks toward them both with her hand slipping her phone away into her jacket's side pocket.

"Hello." Lara said as she approaches them both, and now that she's this close to John she recognizes him as well. "Mister, Constantine, correct?" She asks him then, showing a smile. "I never heard back from you about that job." And then she looks over to Ele. "Hey... how are things?" She says in a far more comfortable and friendly tone of voice, they're neighbors afterall!

Constantine has posed:
"Does indeed," offers John with a grin. "Can't say I'm the best sort of company, but I'm never boring," he says. He has the dead former acquaintances to prove both of those points.

Waiter sent to go fetch, he turns back to Elektra. "Work friend, bad form not to say hello," he says with a smile. Okay maybe he pitched a dangerous and nigh suicidal job before getting distracted. "As to being the betting sort, luv. Well, that depends entirely on the wager."

Lara's arrival is met with a nod and a raise of a glass, "Call me John, and sorry about the job, turned out someone got the item ahead of us, bloody mess that turned out to be. All the same feel free to join us for a drink, on me, call it amends for leaving you dangling."

Jessica Jones has posed:
Jessica steps into the Club Lux. Not that she loves luxury, not that she tends to hangout in posh places. But luxurious cocktails sometimes happen to be just what the doctor ordered. The club has spectacular bartending reputation, and she decided to sample it. Not because of a case, but because of alcohol. Sometimes Jessica has fancy nights, apparently.

She doesn't look like she fits, dressed the way she is, compared to the air of the locale she may well have been wearing rags. Though she considers her getup far above rags. Leather jacket, those are sturdy. Faded ripped jeans--not store bought holes, these are well and truly worn. Tough biker boots, and a touch of femininity thanks to an infinity scarf. High fashion where Jessica is concerned. She walks directly for the bar, assuming she's not stopped for looking too poor for the establishment. She pauses a moment when she thinks she may have walked past Elektra, but thinks better of it and doesn't even bother to double check, making the rest of her way to the bar. "I hear you make the best elixirs, hit me with fucking ambrosia," could be her language might get her kicked out. Who knows?

Elektra has posed:
Now Elektra allows herself an actual smile, even if it is a very controlled and measured thing. "Never boring? You realize I may have to keep you to your word on that."

Lara gets a slight arch of brow. "Work friend, hrm?" Though she has to shrug lightly, "Sadly, I do believe Lara here has made my possible wager moot. I was going to suggest we see who could pick her up first."

Her wine glass is lifted in acknowledgement of the pair, but not sipped from. "Alas and all that boring nonsense."

Which is about when Jessica's voice cuts through the air and grabs Elektra's attention. She knows that gravelly harshness with an almost intimacy, having been on the receiving end of it's appraisal of herself. Though as far as insults had gone that evening, Elektra had borne worse than those Jessica had thrown at her.

Elektra's lips bow over a smirk that no longer bears the edges of control. "Now there's another who isn't boring," she murmurs to Constantine and Lara, while taking a sip of her wine. "I can introduce you to her, though she has something of a potty mouth and speaks her mind. You have had due warning."

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara's eyes look to John and she shows him a soft smile while her hands rest together in front of her lap, her right hand clutching her left lightly. "I'm sorry that they got your item before you could." She tells him, her voice quiet and calming. "If you need any other help for such things, please let me know."

At the offer of joining them for a drink Lara shows a light smile and then glances down and shakes her head. "I... haven't had the most pleasant of evenings and I have an early morning, so I probably shouldn't stay any longer." She looks to Jessica then as the woman she doesn't know sits down at the bar, harsh language and a upset look on her face that mirrors how Lara feels internally at least.

To Elektra then, Lara shows her a grin. "You're sweet. But yeah... I should probably make my way home. Thank you though, both of you." She tells them, John and Ele.

Constantine has posed:
No one stops Jones on the way to the bar, since they let John in they may have given up on the whole idea of standards for the night. The bartender however is more than happy to hand over whatever ambrosia that is required.

"Do," John says of holding him to his word about never being boring. Though he laughs when she makes the terms of the bet known, lifting his glass in salute. "A woman after my own heart. Another time then."

"Going so, soon? Shame, but yeah, might have some work, the details you gave me last time still work?" he asks.

As for Jessica, "Invite her over then," he says to Elektra producing his extra purloined bills from his pocket. "Sounds like just the sort for our little gathering," He gives the bartender the bills, all hundreds, "Keep us going until it runs out, won't you, squire?" he asks and gets an emphatic nod in return.

Jessica Jones has posed:
Jessica continues to remain oblivious to all things non-alcohol-related, as she has a small discussion with the surprisingly knowledgable tender about different kinds of ingredients to the gold standard cocktail, before eventually allowing the woman to surprise her with something spectacular.

Judging by the first sip when she finally gets it, the rumours of Lux's mixology were true.

Elektra has posed:
Elektra mouths, "Another time" to Lara, even as she follows it with a louder, "Such a shame. I think you'd like her."

There's a negligent shrug from Elektra. No sense crying over spilt milk and all that.

Again Constantine is given a mostly amused look, "I generally don't go for the heart, but I could be convinced to make an exception. However, perhaps not for a first meeting. Messy and all that. I'd hate to be kicked out for blood on the floor when I just got here."

She says it so utterly calmly and sincerely...

"If you'll excuse me, I'll see if my friend is interested. I suspect," given that wad of 100's "that she may very well wish to meet you." And with that Elektra makes her way over to the bar, settling herself at Jessica's elbow. "Slumming? And if so, care to join myself and a man with more money than good sense for a couple of drinks? I am assured he isn't boring." Even if he says so himself.

Elektra has posed:
Elektra mouths, "Another time" to Lara, even as she follows it with a louder, "Such a shame. I think you'd like her."

There's a negligent shrug from Elektra. No sense crying over spilt milk and all that.

Again Constantine is given a mostly amused look, "I generally don't go for the heart, but I could be convinced to make an exception. However, perhaps not for a first meeting. Messy and all that. I'd hate to be kicked out for blood on the floor when I just got here."

She says it so utterly calmly and sincerely...

"If you'll excuse me, I'll see if my friend is interested. I suspect," given that wad of 100's "that she may very well wish to meet you."

And with that Elektra makes her way over to the bar, settling herself at Jessica's elbow. "Slumming? And if so, care to join myself and a man with more money than good sense for a couple of drinks? I am assured he isn't boring." Even if he says so himself.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara shows another understanding / apologetic smile to the two of them. She knows better than anyone 'how she is' and 'how she is' is very anti-social... especially on a night where she was trying to BE social and go on a blind date, only to get stood-up.

A nod is given toward John. "Yes, the same contact information. Though I've moved from my Greenwich Village place to my family's building here in Manhattan. Though that is only temporary until I find another place. The cell number is the same however." She flashes another quick smile before regarding Elektra again.

"We'll get a chance to talk again soon, I'm sure of it. Oh and you completely would've won the wager." She shows Ele a light grin and then nods to them both before she makes for the direction the Club's entrance/exit resides in. "Goodnight." She says back to them with a light little wave from her right hand.

Constantine has posed:
John doesn't seem shaken by the sincerity, he just nods, "Good policy, luv," he says. "You don't want to be in debt to the management. They can be the devil," he says with a smile like at some private joke.

"Sounds good," he says to Lara, before handing her one of his cards, those that catch the script might see it reads:



John Constantine
Exorcist, Demonologist, Master of the Dark Arts
201-555-7182

"In case you need to a specialist on some of your weirder acquisitions. Oh, and shame about the movie by the way."

After that he bids her goodnight.

To Elektra, he says, "Anyhow, go get this potty mouthed friend of yours, I'll make sure we don't run out of things to drink in the meantime.

Jessica Jones has posed:
Jessica is about to make her 'do not flirt' quip, accompanied by token 'will murder you' glower, when she feels someone slinking in besides her. But when she looks, and realizes it's Elektra, she spares the fun part. "Oh, it's you," is all Elektra gets for the time being as Jess has herself another sip of her golden standard cocktail. "There's a proposition I didn't anticipate..." she turns to look around, spying for Elektra's wouldbe man with more money than good sense. "I don't feel like taking advantage of someone, but fuck, if I can get a drink or two...that'll be a win."

Elektra has posed:
Elektra gives Jessica a mocking pout. "You take all the fun out of it."

It's a short-lived gesture, though, shrugged off easily. "Hardly taking advantage of someone when they make the offer. Though I didn't warn him you're a fish. The mouth, I did manage to bring into conversation."

She kindly points John out to Jessica. "That one. I just won a bet with him. Come."

And without waiting to see if Jessica follows or not, Elektra makes her way back to Constantine, looking at him expectantly, hand held out. "I do believe there's the small matter of a wager to settle?" Nevermind no actual forfeit was set, let alone the actual statement of the terms of the bet. Still, it's not only worth a try, Elektra isn't boring either. One might say she lives dangerously..

Constantine has posed:
Constantine gives the bartender the money, downs his drink and asks for another. While it's being made, he turns to Elektra, "Hm, fine you won. Drinks and dinner on me, you pick the place," he says as though those were the terms they'd set. "That was the bargain, wasn't it?" he asks.

Jessica gets a nod, "Welcome, got a tab going, sit, enjoy and swear all you fucking want to, don't think me or," and it occurs to him that he's never asked for Elektra's name. "Your friend, will mind."

Jessica Jones has posed:
"Yeah, because I'm so famously fun," Jessica notes what she feels is obvious about her, clearly not taking offense at Elektra's words. That is until she mentions she's a fish, which brings an automatic quip of, "fuck you, Ms. Natchos."

Jess casts a long look at John, before shrugging and taking her drink with her, as she follows Elektra back towards him. "So what was the wager...?" Jessica takes 'some' interest, "wasn't aware there was one."

When John speaks more to disclose how much Elektra shared, Jessica laughs, "you had me at 'got a tab'." She sits down at the table, before rolling her eyes, "for fuck's sake, Elektra, don't give me a rep! Fucking dude doesn't even know me, and you got him thinking I swear and shit? Fuck!"

Elektra has posed:
There's an actual titter of laughter from Elektra at Jessica's expletive. "Oh, I hardly think so, my dear. But it might be fun seeing you try to convince me."

She's still laughing when she slips into a seat at the table. "Dinner and drinks. On you? Hrm. Interesting. Have you heard of Georgian Creeds?" She waits for his answer, only to laugh again at Jessica's antics, telling him, "As my friend here says, I would be Elektra. And now I'm the one at a disadvantage." As though she hadn't read the card he passed to Lara. "My foul mouthed friend here - excuse me - She Who Speaks in Unicorn Glitter.. she'd be Jessica. Jessica Jones. And our friend here is John Constantine. Claims to be a Demonologist."

As an afterthought, "Oh, and not boring. He claims he's not boring. So far he's run of the mill. Dinner and drinks. Hardly a stretch out of the ordinarly."

All the while watching his reaction.

Jessica Jones has posed:
Just when something looks like it's too much of a good thing, Elektra has to remind Jess there isn't such a thing. "Demonologist?" With an arched brow, Jess doesn't seem impressed, "so this is all about getting me possessed, in a cult, or in a ponzi scheme? Sorry, I'm not buying," Jessica spits out with disdain, before downing her drink and slamming the glass on the table. "He's got tab," she points at Constantine as she makes a beeline for the exit.

Constantine has posed:
"Can't say that I have," John says. "Which probably means it's on the expensive side, innit?" he says.

Jessica is met with a grin, "Totally exaggerated, I can tell," he grins of the reputation Elektra had given her. "And the lady and I had a bet on who could pick up another lady of our mutual acquaintance, apparently she won." He does sound impressed.

"Ms Jones, a pleasure to meet you," he says before adding. "Also an exorcist and a /master/ of the Dark Arts, best not to leave that last bit out," he says with enough irony he could be joking.

John snorts, "Cut me to the quick, eh?" he says. "Fine, if you don't want boring, then you can tag along with me on an exorcism, should be fun, as long as we're both still alive at the end I'll even buy you that dinner."

When Jessica makes a sudden departure, he looks to Elektra. "Huh, well guess the promise of free booze and non-boring company wasn't enough to keep her around. Shame that."

Elektra has posed:
Elektra shrugs as Jessica flees. "Oh, I'm certain she'll be pleased enough to take you up on your offer another time." Remarking of Georgian Creeds, "If you have to ask, you likely can't afford it. Though I'm willing to be proven wrong on that count."

She considers him. "Does it count if I have to book the dinner locale on my own? Or is that some sort of side-stepp cheating? I mean, I'd hate to make it easy for you."

Her wine is sipped.

"I exorcize demons myself." Knowing full well they're not talking about the same thing, and making it sound like she's poking slight fun at what he *claims* to do.

Constantine has posed:
John smiles, "Ah one of those sorts of places, hmm," he says. "Well, I am always up for a challenge," he says. That does leave the challenge of booking the spot, but John's on a roll an so he with a sip of his drink, "No need, luv, I am sure I can make the arrangements." He doesn't have a clue.

A blonde brow raises above a slight smile, "Do you now," he could hear the pretended skepticism in her voice. "Wouldn't happen to be managed by stabbing them in the heart would it? Me I'm more of a traditionalist."

To punctuate his point he ignites a bit of flame from his finger tip and burns a sigil idly into a coaster.

Elektra has posed:
"Oh, you think so, do you?" Elektra merely chuckles at him. "I tell you what. If you can manage to get a reservation there, I'll go to dinner with you."

Of course, he sees through her play on words about exorcizing. "Possibly," she allows, watching his creation of the flame and sigil. "Interesting parlour trick, that. Does it really impress the girls?" Hastening to add, "You realize, I'm not a girl."

Constantine has posed:
"Sounds like a fair deal," John says with an easy nod, despite beginning to realize he bit off more than he can chew with this one. He tries to hide it though, behind a long pull from his drink that drains the glass.

"Noted, luv," he says of her not being a girl. "And it's been known to, with a more girlish audience," he says of the impressing. "I'd be more fancy, but I already own the management a debt and I'm not wanting to give them a reason to come collecting early. 'Sides by the sound of it I'm going to need all my unearthly powers to manage that reservation," he says with a grin.

Elektra has posed:
Elektra nods, clearly amused now. "Indeed, you may need all your unearthly powers. But don't be too disappointed if you can't manage it. It really is a difficult place to get into."

Which may or may not be even more incentive for him to try harder to accomplish the matter.

"However, like my friends before me, I do believe I should be calling it an evening. Long day at the office tomorrow."

Constantine has posed:
Never one to let the impossible daunt him, he says, "I specialize in the impossible," he says. "I'll manage."

It is definitely more incentive. Indeed, he's already formulating a plan.

When Elektra announces her impending departure he stands all gentleman like, "Work's murder, eh?" he says riffing on her previous comments about stabbing hearts. "Anyhow, got a card? Going to need to give you a call when I make that reservation," he asks handing her one of his.

Elektra has posed:
Seemingly from nowhere (no, really!) Elektra pulls a card out and hands it him:

Elektra Natchios, C.E.O.
Hellas International

With the requisite email and what is likely a businessness phone number. "We'll start there."

His card taken and tucked away.

"A pleasure, John. I do hope we meet again."

Constantine has posed:
John's brows raise at the sudden bit of prestidigitation, "A few tricks of your own, then," he says with a chuckle as he takes the card and tucks into his coat.

"I hope so too, Elektra, it certainly wasn't boring," he says of meeting her.