8245/The Keys to Success

The Keys to Success
Date of Scene:	10 July 2019
Location:	Birdland Jazz
Synopsis:	Jessica brings Frank his keys, surprise news and some help with investigating Trask.
Cast of Characters:	Spider-Woman (Drew), Frank Quaid

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Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
After a late night at Birdland, Jessica has had time to reflect on the ideas that Frank Quaid had put forth. And the long and short of it is...She likes the idea. She, of course, is up early, having retrieved Frank's keys from Jimmy's safe box at the bar after she dropped Frank off at home.

Early morning never bothered Jessica much, so she arrives, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with two cups of strong coffee. Whether he was ready for her or not. She stands outside the door of his apartment and knocks with the coffees in a drink carrier in her left hand. If he doesn't answer? Well, she has her ways of getting inside. But that probably isn't the best idea.

Frank Quaid has posed:
There is the sound of the television news coming from the other side of the apartment door. It cuts off when Jessica knocks. A moment later the door opens. Frank is standing there in jeans and a NYPD t-shirt. He has shaved but looks bagged.

"Good Lord, you weren't kidding," he says in obvious surprise. He moves aside so Jess can come in. "I was not expecting you."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Morning!" Jess grins, flashing a smile, and slips in past Frank, who looks...bagged. "I brought you some coffee to go with your keys. I nearly brought donuts, but I was kinda afraid you might uh..." She trails off, setting down the drink carrier on a table and offering him one of the cups. "I hope you like coffee?"

Jess is dressed in jeans and a fluttery blouse, with some sort of Asian design - butterflies. And something else. Dragons, maybe? Her hair is pulled up, twisted and pinned, but as always, a few dark tendrils escape. "Besides, how were you gonna go to work without theeese??" She dangles the keys out on a finger, for Frank to take.

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank grunts and shuts the door, unhelpfully aware of Jessica the moment she walks past him.

"I live on the stuff, thanks," he assures Jess.

"I appreciate the ride home last night. I didn't mean to drink that much... Like one of the kids," he says dryly. He slips the keys off Jessica's finger. "Let's not make a habit of SHIELD picking up after NYPD."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Not a word from me," vows Jessica. "I won't tell a soul. But Jimmy might think there were other things afoot..." She smirks as Frank takes the keys and the coffee. "Sometimes you hafta blow off some steam. Can't be helped. I don't blame you a bit. You were a perfect gentleman, Frank. Don't worry about a thing. Promise!"

Frank Quaid has posed:
"I hope I was, I don't remember all of it," he admits. Frank inhales the welcome aroma of the coffee before trying it.

"That's good. Have a seat?" he offers, gesturing to the table. If she does he takes a seat as well.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica seats herself at the table, looking around the apartment by daylight. "Y'know, you really need some flowers or something in here. Something to brighten the place up." Because Frank is such a bright and cheerful type of guy. "But yeah, you were totally a gentleman. Nothin' to worry about at all. I intend to forget all about the pole dance you did on the corner out there," she quips, jerking a thumb toward the front of the apartments.

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Brighten it up?" Frank asks incredulously. He glances around. "I'm never here," he says as if that explains the lack of decor.

"Pole dancing? That would be a first," Frank quips. "Don't buy that for a second. But I did enjoy having a drink with you. Even if you were in those hallowed halls without being a jazz fan."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica grins and raises her hands in defeat. "You got me there. No pole. No dance. Just a little leanin' on a car door." She winks. "But how am I ever gonna become a jazz fan if I'm not around good jazz, hmm?" She arches her brows. "And how am I gonna go enjoy a drink with Frank Quaid unless I enter those hallowed halls?" She shakes her head. "How's the head this morning, anyway? Headache? Hangover? Anything? Are you human?"

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank rolls his eyes. "There's a life goal, drink with Frank Quaid."

"I'm human, barely. This'll help," he says with a gesture of his coffee before he drinks some.

"You look none the worse for wear," he notes. "Still can't believe you went back for my keys. Did May put you up to this? Some kind of SHIELD plot?" he asks half-jokingly. Mostly jokingly.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I spend as little time as I have to around SHIELD, in all honesty," Jessica replies. "I told you I would go get your keys. I should've gotten them from Jimmy when we left, I just didn't think about it." She shrugs sheepishly.

"Alcohol just doesn't affect me that way. So I'm all chipper and annoying when others are hung over. Which is fun." She grins. "And just why wouldn't I want to go drink with Frank Quaid? Last I remember, that was the /express/ reason why I went to Birdland last night."

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Very suspicious," Frank says with a half-smile. "I'm not a hot ticket or I wouldn't be drinking alone at Birdland once a week. Come on, what did you really want to talk to me about?" he asks. He is cop suspicious, that much is evident, but not the least bit hostile. He is brazenly curious.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I told ya, Frank. I just wanted to let you know that you were doin' a really good job out there, and thank ya, since I feel like you don't hear it a lot. Besides, I figured it might be good if you had a confidant over in SHIELD to help you out when ya need it." Jessica takes a sip of her coffee. "But now I sorta think I might end up over in the NYPD."

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank shakes his head a smile and looks like he is about to call bullshit. Then his face goes slack.

"You're pulling my leg. We were just joking around last night. You wouldn't leave SHIELD to join us," he says, sounding relatively certain.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica pauses, mid-sip, and looks over at Frank. "Wouldn't I?" She arches a brow and continues her sip of coffee. "I don't know what I would or wouldn't do. It's a consideration. "What am I gonna do, miss out on one of their 'You go stand on the perimeter by yourself, while the big girls take care of the mission' missions?" She shrugs and sets down her coffee. "But if you were just joking, of course, I don't suppose it's a lead worth following up on."

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Hey, no, if you were serious it'd be a huge honour. You're /the/ Jessica Drew, it just didn't occur to me you might be serious."

Frank drinks more of his coffee to give himself a moment to recover.    
"I can't understand why they'd sideline /you/, but we've got more than enough going on to keep everyone and their dog busy."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"For the moment, I see no reason why I can't just help ya out. Y'know. THE Jessica Drew, helping out THE Frank Quaid. And I don't see the need to go anywhere. There's a little matter of a....matter...that we need to discuss, if we're even gonna consider this, though. She arches a brow, her expression taking on a more serious look.

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Ah, there's probably a lot to talk about if you want to help out regularly, even with the SHIELD memorandum in place now," he says. "I'm guessing this isn't about that though."

Frank tilts his head curiously.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
    Jessica shakes her head. "Y'know I have some abilities. You're gonna run up against one on the regular, if I'm around. I have these..." Jess gestures vaguely. "These pheromones that sometimes make men think things they wouldn't otherwise.'

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Pheromones? I don't..." Frank stops and realizes. He clears throat. "Oh. So it wasn't just the drinks. You're beautiful, but I don't usually get /that/ distracted. Is this something that just... Happens all the time?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Not a thing I can do to stop it," Jessica replies. "It can help sometimes, in some given situations. But it can hurt, too. Chicks do NOT dig it. They don't like me one bit, most of the time. And that can complicate matters." She shrugs slightly. And....thanks...." She replies belatedly to the compliment. "I'll try not to distract ya TOO much. Y'know....unless you just WANT to be distracted." At that, Jess grins mischievously.

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank laughs and shakes his head. "Don't let my partner Elaina hear you joke like that, I'll never hear the end of it!"

"Look, if it's not dangerous I'll survive. You wouldn't be the first woman I've worked with that I've found attractive. Can you work in the system though? SHIELD and the Avengers, they're pretty special outfits. Policing is a whole different beast. The stuff we do, people have to go to court and testify and do things the book way instead of the right way."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica shrugs. "I can play the game. I know it works differently. I just need to focus on the goal. Eyes on the prize and that sorta thing. Hell, I've giftwrapped enough perps and left them under the tree in my day, it'd be nice to see it through the other side of it for once. The real question would be whether it would be a problem if I do my thing off the clock. Ae they really going to want a Avenger out there wearing a badge, knowing what I do when the meter isn't running?"

Frank Quaid has posed:
"That you have," Frank agrees with a chuckle.

Frank considers the other question. "I don't know, it could either way. But my guess is they'd fall all over themselves to have you with us and work out whatever they needed to. You're an Avenger. Who's going to argue with that?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess shoots Frank a skeptical look, but she can only shrug again. "I guess it'll just be up to the brass to decide on that one. I'd respect their decision either way. I can see both sides of that coin. So...what are you up to today? Am I holding you up? Needing to put on a star and go chase bad guys?"

Frank Quaid has posed:
"I need to get into the office," he admits. "I was just gonna watch news, wake up and head out. That hospital attack is still a priority and we're trying to make ground on all the Sentinel fiascos before the next disaster. We're close to applying for warrants for Trask's offices in the city and his production facility across the river. That will raise hell, but maybe get us some answers. You? Aliens to stop?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Sentinels, most likely. Seems like they're stirring up more trouble every day. I'd like to see Trask searched and every last one of those monstrous things dismantled." Except for one, probably. But that is...different. They'll have /that/ conversation sooner than later. And definitely when there is appropriate time to address it.

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Well, if the Avengers have anything we can use to beef up the grounds on the warrants it would help," Frank says.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"We have some stuff for ya, most definitely," Jess assures him. "Between what SHIELD and the Avengers have, it should be a slam dunk. I'll make some calls..."