Scene #1153: Three Birds and a God go Into a Bar

Owner	Pose
Ares	The Knickerbocker Bar and Grill isn't the usual run of the mill towny bar that often sees the likes of a John Aaron or a Zinda Blake. It's an all night sort of place where the denizens that go there can observe all the different kinds of sports and events in the greater Manhattan area. You go inside, you see rows of booths, you see a pool table, and a rather elaborate sound system for people who want to overspend to make a computer play some out of date mp3s. Usually it's quiet this time of night, but with the boys of summer starting to play their games it's hopping right now. The Mets had a late game, a squeaker against Cincy that went into extra innings so the crowd's still there, still ordering beer, and still overflowing from one part of the bar to the other. But what drew John Aaron there tonight, so late during a time when he's normally working the overnight for his usual union gig? Well chances are part of the explanation is in the young woman at his side that he holds the door open for as they enter. John, for his part, is dressed in his jeans and work boots, looking rather normal. The only bit about him that is perhaps worthy of remark is that triple XL t-shirt he's wearing that's all black save for two words in green on the front of it that proclaim, "HULK SMASH!"
Black Canary	The young woman in question has paused on the trip over to retrieve a small duffel bag she uses for storing her less eye-catching civvie gear. Fishnets just don't blend in most bars, after all. It sends the wrong signal and gets all sorts of the wrong attention. Instead, Dinah has ducked into a restroom on the way over and switched into white cotton shorts with a thin black belt and a blue top that leaves her midriff bare, bordered in black with straps at the top cris crossing over her sternum. She's still wearing her normal short boots. Black goes with everyone, mostly, but fighting gloves, not so much. "Mmmm, this looks fun..." she says cheerfully, eyeing the crowd. "Fairly busy for this time of night, must be a game running long from the look of it."
Lady Blackhawk	Funny story, somone mentioned "Knickerbocker" and Zinda heard "Rickenbacker". You know the WW1 American flying ace, and well she was all too jazzed up to come down here. Only to find, well lets face it Zinda has made worse life decisions than this. The flight window back home wasn't for hours, and well Elliot had been promoted to full flight status making her the default designated flier. This, isn't a bad situation for Zinda obviously. One she felt all but obliged to take advantage of, because of course she did. This is Zinda. Ratty ballcap, flight jacket, "Fighter mafia" T-shirt and of course a short skirt. She's easily missed perhaps, though she's gone to great lengths to make certain the wait staff haven't missed Zinda and Elliot. She's on her third pitcher by now, giggling as she tells some story which is liable to offend everyone present if they paid the pair and their booth much attention. "And that, Sweetpea. That is why it's never a good idea to give Gin to a tiger, it just ends in tears for everyone involved."
Elliot	Elliot isn't actually of legaal drinking age and she has no fake ID. As ar esult her being designated flyer works out perfectly for all concerned. She seem to be content to listen to Zinda speak and nod emphatically, blue eyes thoughtful as they study the woman in front of her Periodically the girl looks around at the bar at large, leaning lightly against the wall beside their booth as her eyes find the various people nearby. Elliot is wearing a pleated blue skirt, black leggings, and a turtleneck sweater at the moment, a messenger bag resting against the seat beside her. The girl's shoes are perfectly serviceable black sneakers, polished but still somewhat worn. Well loved, some would call it. "RIght. No drunk tigers. Surprisingly few dead people though," Elliot agrees mildly to the story in question. She never has stories to share. They're ucky that Zinda has enough of them for both. "I'll be back in just a sec, kay? Drink a pitcher for me." Elliot slides out of the booth, alighting on the floor and making her way through the bar toward the counter. She's a diminutive girl in a bar full of people who are nearing- or past- drunk, dressed in a knee length skirt and relatively sheer blouse. She might be asking for trouble here.Time will tell.
Ares	"Yeah," The tall man stands beside Dinah as he looks sidelong at her, a wry smile settling on the corner of his mouth. "A bit crazy. Looks like they won too," But as he speaks he starts into the crowd, wending his way through it slowly, but there's something to be said about having a six and a half foot tall guy playing point guard on your break across the bar room floor. So people get out of their way as they cross, even as he's scanning the place for an empty table or a hostess or someone to make some sense of the chaos that is this particular bar. But then he catches sight of Zinda regaling her table with her tales as she is often wont to do. He draws up a little short and murmurs, "Bloody hell," As he smirks, perhaps just loud enough for Dinah to hear. But then he steps forwards. It takes a few moments to close the distance, but then his arrival is announced by the low rumbling growl of the man's baritone voice lifting to launch a few choice words at the aviator primarch. "Can I go /anywhere/ in this city without running into your ugly mug?" Rhetorical, obviously. "Zinda, this is Dinah. Dinah this is Zinda Blake, and... Elliot?" He scrunches an eye towards the other blackhawk, trying to place the name exactly.
Black Canary	Dinah doesn't mind having someone to part the crowd...sure, she could, but it's a bit more difficult for someone her height. Also there are roaming hands at times and she'd hate to cause breakage this early in the night. She raises a brow at John's words, standing on her tiptoes to peer around him, her expression turning to one of suprise, then a bit of delight. "Hey! Zinda Blake, the pilot Zinda Blake?" She steps around John a bit, elbowing deftly a larger man who's a bit too tipsy to make room so she can squeeze buy. "Pleasure to meet you both, really." she says cheerfully.
Lady Blackhawk	Zinda waves off Elliot, and then proceeds to endeavor to polish off a pitcher because well. It's nearly a dare, and Zinda doesn't back down from dares. So in the name of consistency, she's obviously obligated to snag yet another pitcher just as she empties the first. She does keep an eye on Elliot at least, because thats what Blackhawks do. Then of course John shows up, with some -other- Blonde and Zinda is distracted entirely. Offering a smile, and a wave towards the empty end of the booth. "Of fucking course not, I've got a duty to protect all of these people from this beer."She pauses, accepting that fresh pitcher and scooting over for Elliot preemptively. "Why any pint in America could be poisoned, it's only right I should drink it all so as to save poor souls from the perils of the devil's brew." "The Pilot Zinda Blake, oh honey I'm not just a pilot. I'm the best god damned aviatrix who ever lived, and the prettiest fighter pilot in all of god's creation."She lifts a hand, motioning already for another pitcher and more glasses. "Right pleasure there Miss Lance, now why don't you kids join us for a drink or two eh? Elliot's too young to hit the libations, so we've got to pick up the slack."
Elliot	Elliot soon returns to the table, carrying with her a glass bottle of coca-cola that has been labeled 'Made in Mexico'. She cradles it close to herself in the crook of her right arm, which is why she initially does not have a hand free when a man reaches out to attempt to grasp at her drunkenly. "Hey, hon-" Perhaps Elliot overreacted. Perhaps he didn't need his left hand. The man is left groaning, the nosie largely covered by the din of the bar, and the diminutive pilot soon rejoins Zinda at the table. The seat reserved for the girl is taken without hesitation, and then Ellie beings to sip at her drink. Blue eyes dart between the people present and then she offers a quiet smile. "Yes, sir. Elliot Reed," she affirms quietly. "It's great to meet you both." The girl shrugs her slender shoulders and then scoots a little further into the seat. "I think I broke a guy's hand," she murmurs to Zinda quietly. "He looks like he probably doesn't have any friends he didn't dream up at the bottom of a bottle, though. SHould be okay. I think."
Ares	It's clear from the man's expression that he is wise to the ways of Zinda and so as she offers for them to join, he'll turn slightly to caution Dinah. "If we're going to join them you should know some things." He rests a hand on one of the chairs at Zinda's table and smirks sidelong at her. "First off, we're going to drink. A lot." He meets Dinah's blue-eyed gaze and smiles a bit, but then he goes on as he looks to Zinda, "Secondly, we're going to have to listen to her stories, that she goes on and on about. And hear a ton of lies about how bad the infantry have it as opposed to the fliers with their heads in the clouds." He pulls out a chair and offers it with the sweep of one hand towards Dinah, "And finally," The tall man looks pointedly at Elliot and smirks, "Chances are, there'll be a fight." But with the facts presented there in front of her, the incognito Olympian gives the vigilante the final choice of damnation or salvation under the tender mercies of the Blakeatrix. But then, sidelong to Zinda, Ares tells her. "We already had a fight, by the bye. Mighta lost my job."
Black Canary	John's attitude towards Zinda says a lot of things about how comfortable he is speaking about her. And Dinah can't resist a bit of inner fangirling over meeting Zinda in person as it is! She's someone she's certainly read about and even looked up to when she was younger, being in a special military unit herself for a time. She snags the chair and gracefully seats herself as she leans forward on the table, grinning. It's one of those 'oh, this will be fun' grins. "I have no problem with any of this..." she says in the same cheerful tone. "I'm thirsty, I love stories, especially stories like hers, and I had a good warm up earlier." She lowers her voice. "Also, that fight wasn't his fault." She doesn't quite catch Elliot's murmur to Zinda over the bar noise, though she raises a brow at the quick conversation, looking her over. Her, she doesn't know. She'd say she was short for a pilot, but hey...glass houses and stones.
Lady Blackhawk	"Sweetpea, did the man touch you?"Zinda's got fairly simple ROE of course, and the question is asked without the expectation of an answer. "Elliot here, is my Wingman. First new Blackhawk since the band broke up in 61'."She offers Elliot a little nudge of the elbow, and a quiet little smile. "John you know I have work for you if you want it, and right now you have far more grave concerns. You're in a bar with three lovely blondes, a lot of booze and we're probably going to get into a fight sooner or later."She pours John and Dinah a pint, before sliding them over. "Live in the now man, I mean you probably haven't seen in a mirror in like -hours- so it'll be easy to delude yourself." Now though, stories are being requested. "oh man, stories. Ugh, alright. I already told the Tiger story, so I gotta let that one cool down."She Zinda pauses, sipping after her beer quietly for a moment. "Do we want something historical you can read about, or something nobody bothered to scribble up before. I mean Samar and stuff was kind of nuts, and that movie they did. The sixties one, is kind of bizarre and doesn't really get anything about it right. Nevermind that giving me a Marine as a love interest, is an insult I shall never live down."
Elliot	Elliot gives Zinda a dark look when she asks if the man touched her bu t doesn't atually respond. She soon relaxes itno her eat, wiggling slightly when Zinda elbows her. The girl takes a deep breath and then gives John a slow nod. To do it she tilts her head to the left and looks way up, her blue eyes considerate while they study the man's face. "I guess I need to be in a bar fight eventually to, um. Be a Black Hawk." After that statement Elliot actually relaxes slightly, flashing the group at large a sweet smile that shows off her perfect teeth. The girl takes a deep breath and then sips her drink again, carefully nursing it. When ZInda starts talking about having a marine as a love interest Elliot starts to laugh and nearly snorts coke down her nose. "A-ah. It burns," the girl complains briefly before shaking her head. "No marines. Got it." Zinda is favoured with a mock salute.
Ares	Another chair is turned to the side and John Aaron settles into it opposite Zinda as he leans back. At her offer he accepts one of the pints, but then quirks an eyebrow as if he were looking for a chaser. But he takes a moment to look seriously sidelong towards Zinda and tells her, "There was an attempt at the work site I mentioned. Armed men, something to do with the owners." He flares a hand to the side, brushing away his own words and offering in their place, "Dinah was there and disrupted their efforts. I helped a little. But the union chief doesn't like the idea of vigilantes or the like. Word gets to him that I interfered..." He grimaces slightly. But then it's story time and he'll glance over at Dinah with a small smile, always fun to introduce someone to Zinda. He takes a sip of the beer and then settles in for the long haul.
Black Canary	Dinah grins at that. "I always wondered about that, thought you'd go with an Air Force boy." She notes, then says. "But that's cool! You mean, there's a new Blackhawks now?" Dinah says with interest, looking between the two women. She glances towards John then waves it off. "I told you, your coworkers said they'd cover for you." she says, leaning back in her chair now. "It'll be fine, don't sweat it." She snags a glass of beer herself. "
Lady Blackhawk	Zinda leans in to deliver a smooch to Elliot's forehead for reassurance, before getting back into her beer. "Well I'm the only one who ever really had a tendency towards gettin rowdy, which is why I wasn't allowed to drink through most of the war. I'd just swagger on into a whole flight and pick a hell of a fight, thats fightin mean not smart. Mean goes a ways, but if theres one bad habit of mine you never pick up?" "hmmf, John you have a job with the 'Hawks any time you want it. We're in the black, and dear god man you've seen how rough that island is. It wouldn't be charity, cuz you don't need nothing of the sort. You wanna get some action and yaknow, contracting of a different sort? I got you covered any time, just let me know."And a pause as Zinda digs around in her jacket for smokes, coming up only with a pair of brass knucks and a deck of cards. Then a lightbulb goes off, and she settles with a frown. Quitting sucks. "Yeah, well. Blackhawks were getting old, and finding new pilots was rough. They got hit with the red scare, cuz Blackhawk was a Pollock which was behind the curtain. Chop was a Chinese feller, and China hadn't exactly been kind to us in Korea. Hans was German, and most of his family got stuck behind the curtain in the wrong part of Germany."Zinda sips her beer. "During the war we'd gotten parts, planes, guns, intel, cashola just by asking. Well now it's the cold war, and the 'hawks could be -reds-. They'd sat out Korea because they were tied up in Africa, but that just made them look all the more commie. So, the Hawks never really died. They just went, quiet." Zinda Shifts her gaze towards Dinah with a dopey, slightly drunken grin. "Well world ain't better since I came back, it's more of the same. Folks in places need help, and they ain't getting it. World still needs the Blackhawks, so we're getting active again. New recruits, new aircraft, new weapons. Same problems, a lot of the same places. Long as I have anything to say about it, the Blackhawks will never die. Too much in the world to do."
Elliot	"Yeah... We'd be glad to have you if anything follows through," Elliot agrees quietly, relaxing slightly when Zinda presses that kiss to her forehead. She looks up from her mostly empty bottle of coke and then takes a deep breath, twisting in her seat next to ZInda. "Dinah's right, though.. It'll probably be fine." The room is now being surveyed agian, this time past the rim of a bottle. Elliot's expression darkens slightly as she studies some of the people present but by and large she seems cotnent to people gaze. Even when she speaks the girl is quite softspoken though her voice does carry rather well. After a long moment Elliot breathes a quiet sigh and then glances down at her bottle. Empty. She tilts her head and then gives a slow shrug of her shoulders. "When I was a kid I always wanted to meet Zinda. I never thought anyone owuld let me be a pilot." Then there's a soft laugh. "And now all that's left is to change the world. S'a lot more interesting than school was. An' I liked school okay, honestly."
Ares	John tilts his drink back and takes a long pull from it, eyes closing as he can feel the beer giving that slow steady chill on the way down. He then sets the empty down and pushes it back for a refill as he leans upon the tabletop. He gives a short nod towards Dinah and murmurs, "You're probably right." Though his brow furrows as he still considers the matters beyond his control and scowls for a moment in reflection. Yet as quickly as that moodiness comes upon him, all it takes is the laughter around them and the jovial wild spirits of the people at the table with him. He crinkles his nose at Zinda and seems to grin a touch, but then he levels his eyes on her and says, "Much obliged, Zinda. I might take you up on that." But then Elliot offers her well wishes and he gives a smile in her direction as well. "And thank you, Elliot. You are kind and you're fortunate to be taking part of the Blackhawk dream." He eyes Zinda sidelong then adds, "Despite how crazy your boss seems to be."
Black Canary	Dinah has a thoughful look as she takes a deep quaff from her beer. "Well, school is overrated sometimes, compared to when you can do some good outside of it." She nods to Zinda. "Sure, they were from all over, right? Places the Axis took over. Dunno, you ask me, you were better off not getting involved in those wars." she says, frowning. "So...if you're hiring....what kind of people are you looking for?" she says, leanign forward, a gleam in her eye. "And is there an audition?"
Lady Blackhawk	"Heroes ain't made Elliot, they're born. You either have it or you don't, and you got it."She glances off towards Ares, an open solicitation for opinion. "Everyone always talks fancy, about rising to the occasion. That if you just stick it out, suddenly you'll be good at it. Well thats a damn lie, told to soldiers and Pilots who's primary purpose is to absorb enemy ammunition. Truth is, you default to your level of training and pure grunt ugly determination." And then suddenly, Dinah Lance has snared Zinda's attention. She does nudge Elliot, if only so she's paying attention. "It's a trial period kinda thing. Now you hear us offerin John a line in, but we know him. Know some measure of the man, we also appreciate any man who can fix the kind of disasters I tend to create. You though, you're an unknown quantity. Truth is basic aerial combat doctrine tells us, to deny ourselves individual action whenever possible. That means teams of two, now you don't mind flying solo for awhile? If we like you, and if you've got the knack for it? We vote, and thats how it goes. Now lets clear away any misunderstandings."Zinda leans in just a touch, and suddenly seems all the more sober. "Ya'll looking for a way in?"
Elliot	Elliot perks up as well when Dinah begins to speak. B:ue eyes are studying the other blonde intently. They actually look fairly similar, though Elliot certainly isn't exuding the same raw presence as Miss Lance. She is, however, carefully studying the people in front of her as if suddenly seeing everything in a new light. Elliot sits up straighter and gives Zinda a slow nod. "Well, that just means we need to find a proper hero or two," she comments then, tilting her head slightly to the left as she does. The girl raps her empty soda bottle agains the table out of raw habit. "I wouldn't mind giving Dinah a chance to try out at least," Elliot opines quietly. "Zinda has the only vote that matters for this bit though. I just..." A beat. "I think you'd make it." She shrugs then, lightly pursing her ips while she studies the two people in front of her. That's when the smallest blonde adds in a quiet voice that is almost too fond, if anything, "Zinda's my kind of crazy, though. Just- remember that, if you're wanting to fly with us..."
Ares	With his next beer in hand, John eyes Dinah sidelong as she asks Zinda about a possible audition. He looks back towards Zinda and says calmly, "Dinah is an exceptional martial artist. She was able to defeat several armed attackers, placed herself in danger to help others, and when she believed I was injured made sure to see that I was sufficiently well." He slouches in his chair and crosses a boot over his knee. "I would vouch for her if my word carries any weight with you, Zinda." But then he glances over towards Elliot before answering Zinda's thoughts as to heroes. "I would agree in part, your experiences shape you. If you have had... sufficient ones, then you could rise to the occasion. But trying to build yourself in that way, to step on that path..." He lifts a hand to scritch at the stubble along his jaw, "It could take a great act of willpower to force yourself to stand when you must."
Black Canary	Dinah lazily runs her index finger over the top of her glass as she leans forwards, meeting Zinda's gaze steadily. "Hmmmmm. I'm used to teamwork. Small teams. So that's no problem. I like having someone at my back." She grins a bit at Elliot's comment. "I can get into the right kind of crazy, too." She leans back again as John vouces for her, shooting a smile his way at that, then adds. "I'm also a pilot, if that helps. Military, civilian...I've flown quite a few airframes." Her face turns a bit more serious. "...and it's been a bit since I've been in a close team. Would be nice to be in one again." She knocks back the rest of her glass, draining it and then bringing it down with a solid clunk.
Lady Blackhawk	"Alright, Miss Lance. On John's good word, consider yourself vouched for. Until we can find you a partner, or we're on the ground you'll be taking something of a low tempo. Pay's not great, but it's a living. We got an island to ourselves, and room and board and so on. We'll hang together for awhile, presume we mesh? You're in."Zinda glances after watch, before glancing to Elliot. "Get'cher shit, our flight is in two hours. I don't care how well you think you can fly, until I've trained you myself? You can't, and thats for safety and harmony. We don't need no misunderstandings at altitude, Blackhawks don't fly like nobody else."
Elliot	"Close is right. We're basically a amily. You not going to find anything like the Blackhawks out there," Elliot responds quietly. She nods at Zinda then and comes toher feet, reaching down to scoop up that messenger bag and tuck it over her shoulder. "Yes, ma'am," the girl replies in a manner that is almost as formal as the military might expect bu then she is flashing the people situated around the table quick, sweet smiles. She's young and it still shwos in the exuberance with which she moves- even though the girl is pretty mellow in essentially every other way. "I would love to just- watch you fight, sometime. Or practice," Elliot confides to Dinah quietly. "I'm still learning but I'm a really quick study. I feel like it helps sometimes." After this Elliot is stepping out from the table and turning slightly to face John. "At least give us a call and let us know how you're doing, kay?" The girl murmurs. Then she reaches out to place a hand on John's arm. With that the smallest of the Blackhawks is starting toward the door. "Okay," she chirps. "I'm going to get my stuff stowed and warm the car." Then the young blonde is simply gone. No time to be wasted.
Ares	A low wry chuckle slips from John as he looks between Zinda and Dinah. He gives a small nod and then murmurs, "I am still at times impressed by how the fates manage to weave their threads together." He gives Zinda a nod, "You have my thanks, Zinda." He pushes himself to his feet slowly, and offers a few bills in payment for their shared bill. "If you are going to depart, I should see to making my way. I'll be there on Wednesday to finish the work you had me doing." But then he turns his head to the younger Blackhawk, "Elliot, it was a pleasure to meet you. Be so kind as to watch Zinda's back for me if you will." That having been said he then smiles to Dinah, "Dinah, I hope you call upon me again. Thank you again for your help earlier."
Black Canary	Dinah hmms, reaching up to idly play with a loose strand of her hair between her fingers. "Mmm, sensible. I wouldn't hire a pilot I couldn't see in action yet." She glances Elliot's way, a twinkle in her eyes. "Mm, as for fighting....well. I haven't had students in a while..but I'm pretty sure I haven't forgotten how to teach one. If you'd like some pointers." As John stands she looks over, pouting faintly. "Running off already?" She rests her chin on her hand, smiling. "Well. Don't be a stranger. You have the most interesting friends."
Lady Blackhawk	"I ain't much but a brawler, but I don't usually have cause to be. Tomarrow, we'll sit down and figure out how we map this out. "Pointing towards Dinah with a nod. "For now, I'm quite serious. Ya'll go fetch your things, get to the airport. Our window's tight, ya'll be spending the night on the island. Only three rules in all this. Conduct yourself as honorably as possible. Protect the Squadron, and protect the people who can't do it for themselves. John'll be along shortly, he's making some repairs. We'll cover the details of the island, when we get there." Zinda pauses to, well she pours and pounds. Clearing the rest of her glass, annnnd then the pitcher. That done she rises with a grin, tossing some bills on the table. "Give me a ring when you're ready to head back out, and do me a favor John? Take care of yourself, alright? You ain't alone, even if you do generate like fifty megawatts worth of dad-vibes. Use it responsibly, to get yourself laid and maybe to cook popcorn but with great power..."
Ares	"Woman, you make me tired." He scowls at Zinda for a moment, but then starts to step around the table. "You," John points casually at Dinah and says, "Have a lot to do before you head off to the island with the other Blackhawks." He rolls a shoulder slowly and winces slightly, probably due to that place the bullet cracked along that rib, "As for me, I'm going to go take a long shower, get a change of clothes, and call Alexander when he wakes up in the morning." As he starts to step away from the table he passes behind Zinda and pats her once on the shoulder, "Til next time, Ms. Blake." But as he says this he sort of gives her a /growly/ look, for truly she is sauntering across dangerous territory with a wink and a smile. Then to the Canary, "Dinah," But with that he heads into the crowd in the bar, wending his way towards the door and eventually slipping from view.
Black Canary	Dinah considers. "Right away, hmm?" She shrugs. "...what the hell. Sure. Let me make a call or two on the way to cover some things and grab my go bag, and I'll be good to go." She slides out her chair, getting back to her feet, watching Zinda a bit askance. Mostly to make sure she can make her way out of the pub under her own power. That's a lot of pitchers! She nods to John and smiles. "True enough. See you around, Mr. Brawny." she teases a bit, waving as he heads off, then picking up the duffel she came in with. "See you at the airfield then." she says simply, sauntering towards the door herself alongside Zinda.
Lady Blackhawk	Zinda just rolls her shoulders, and well. She has no trouble walkin, hell she's just gettin fightin sorts of drunk. Not yaknow, the kind of drunk where she's a mess and cries about whatever kind of special hell it takes to make a woman like Zinda come out of Alabama. "Awwww, no time to tarry here. No time to wait for you-u, no time to tarry here for we're on our journey home."Oh god, she sings. Badly...