[ continued from here. ]
When Foggy heard the office door open, he put on a smile and stepped out to greet Karen, who looked like she had her arms full. "Glad to see you survived the drunken detective debacle of Hell's Kitchen. Hope it wasn't too much of an issue."
When Foggy heard the office door open, he put on a smile and stepped out to greet Karen, who looked like she had her arms full. "Glad to see you survived the drunken detective debacle of Hell's Kitchen. Hope it wasn't too much of an issue."
Karen is juggling a paper bag full of bagels and a tray with three coffees as she comes in through the door. "I sort of feel bad for her," she admits as she hands over the tray of coffee and sets the bag down on the desk. "The police were just turning up as I was leaving." She's not in for a fun day. Still, she recognizes the signs well: you can't help someone that doesn't want to help themselves.
She pulls a wrapped bagel from the bag and shows it to Foggy with an arch of her brow. "Any guesses?"
She pulls a wrapped bagel from the bag and shows it to Foggy with an arch of her brow. "Any guesses?"
Foggy happily takes the coffee tray and sets it on Karen's desk to join the bagels. A perfect New York breakfast.
"Shit. Well, hope she doesn't call us hoping for a defense. Best we can hope for, I think." He gives a tight smile.
When she pulls the bagel from the bag he leans in and squints, and even gives an exaggerated sniff, as if he could tell what it smelled like through the paper.
"Hm... Some sort of... torus-shaped baked good, I imagine. With some sort of... creamed dairy product?"
"Shit. Well, hope she doesn't call us hoping for a defense. Best we can hope for, I think." He gives a tight smile.
When she pulls the bagel from the bag he leans in and squints, and even gives an exaggerated sniff, as if he could tell what it smelled like through the paper.
"Hm... Some sort of... torus-shaped baked good, I imagine. With some sort of... creamed dairy product?"
"Isn't she still buddied up with Hogarth's firm? The new one? We probably won't be her first call," Karen points out. Small miracles.
There's a beat of silence after his guess, and then she lets out a laugh. "I would like it officially noted in the records that I object to your use of technical vagueries in your guesswork." Still, she hands the bagel over. "Cheddar."
She leans against the edge of her desk as she unwraps her own bagel and takes a bite. "Any interesting cases?"
There's a beat of silence after his guess, and then she lets out a laugh. "I would like it officially noted in the records that I object to your use of technical vagueries in your guesswork." Still, she hands the bagel over. "Cheddar."
She leans against the edge of her desk as she unwraps her own bagel and takes a bite. "Any interesting cases?"
"She is. I don't think she can afford Hogarth, though. Even when she's on her own, she's still expensive. Plus, she knows we work for charity cases like her." He grumbles a little, but his smile returns when she hands over the bagel.
"You're the best. I was trying out my best Matt. How'd I do?"
He unwraps his bagel and takes a bite. "Depends on what you call 'interesting'. There's a civil suit about what someone thinks is a stolen dog."
"You're the best. I was trying out my best Matt. How'd I do?"
He unwraps his bagel and takes a bite. "Depends on what you call 'interesting'. There's a civil suit about what someone thinks is a stolen dog."
"Yeah, but she strikes me as the type to very much enjoy having someone like Jessica in her debt," Karen points out with a frown. That's - probably not a rabbit hole that she wants to go down. Hogarth's been through enough in the past year without Karen targeting her for a piece for the Bulletin.
Her mouth quirks in an amused smile when he explains the reason behind his vagueries. "Oh, shockingly Mattlike. It's almost like he's in the room."
She chews thoughtfully as he elaborates on his cases, curious about his phrasing. "Thinks is a stolen dog. What do you think it actually is?"
Her mouth quirks in an amused smile when he explains the reason behind his vagueries. "Oh, shockingly Mattlike. It's almost like he's in the room."
She chews thoughtfully as he elaborates on his cases, curious about his phrasing. "Thinks is a stolen dog. What do you think it actually is?"
"You might be right. Hogarth does play nasty like that.." He shivers and reaches for his coffee.
"Well... I don't know yet. Hard to tell, you know? Lady's dog goes missing, a week later, one just like it is being walked by a neighbor. Real expensive one, you know? Neighbor says it's his, but the lady's not buying it." He shrugs. "Not great with animals so I dunno about that one. There's also someone being sued for rent after their building got destroyed. Had to be relocated, but apparently the landlord was still tallying up rent. Like I said, been a pretty slow morning so far."
"Well... I don't know yet. Hard to tell, you know? Lady's dog goes missing, a week later, one just like it is being walked by a neighbor. Real expensive one, you know? Neighbor says it's his, but the lady's not buying it." He shrugs. "Not great with animals so I dunno about that one. There's also someone being sued for rent after their building got destroyed. Had to be relocated, but apparently the landlord was still tallying up rent. Like I said, been a pretty slow morning so far."
Karen's brow furrows as she ponders the details of the case. "I mean, that one should be pretty open and shut, right? Most people chip their dogs now, especially expensive ones. You get a vet to scan the chip, find out what vet is responsible for the dog's care, and you have the dog's whole history on hand."
The second case is much more attention grabbing. She nods slowly, idly turning the coffee cup between her palms. "Yeah, but that one could have legs to go further. How many properties does that landlord manage? How many tenants does he have? Is this the only person being effected by their business practice?"
The second case is much more attention grabbing. She nods slowly, idly turning the coffee cup between her palms. "Yeah, but that one could have legs to go further. How many properties does that landlord manage? How many tenants does he have? Is this the only person being effected by their business practice?"
"That was my thought. Pretty easy to prove, not really worth our time with what we've been dealing with lately. But the other one could be more worthwhile."
Foggy sighs, sifting through the shallow memories of what he's looked through already. "8, maybe 10 properties? Properties ranging from 10-30 residents? Not exactly a real estate mogul, but in New York, that's no chump change, either. We haven't been reached out to by anyone else yet, but maybe we can reach out to other tenants of the building... but that might require a bit of digging -- literally. Who knows if the landlord would wanna give up the names of the other tenants." One corner of his mouth curls in a smile. "Sounds right up your alley, Ms. Investigative Journalist."
Foggy sighs, sifting through the shallow memories of what he's looked through already. "8, maybe 10 properties? Properties ranging from 10-30 residents? Not exactly a real estate mogul, but in New York, that's no chump change, either. We haven't been reached out to by anyone else yet, but maybe we can reach out to other tenants of the building... but that might require a bit of digging -- literally. Who knows if the landlord would wanna give up the names of the other tenants." One corner of his mouth curls in a smile. "Sounds right up your alley, Ms. Investigative Journalist."
Karen's nodding her head as he runs over the details. It's not a lot of people, all things considered, but like he said - apartments and condos in New York are expensive. They're looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars a year here, and if they can band enough of them together to file a class action law suit...yeah, they could definitely have something interesting on their hands.
She grins at him when he offers to bring her in on it. "I was already planning on digging when you gave me the numbers." Turning her wrist, she takes a quick glance down at her watch. She has a few leads she has to chase that morning, but she has time. "I can get on it this afternoon. I'll have names for you before the end of the business day."
She grins at him when he offers to bring her in on it. "I was already planning on digging when you gave me the numbers." Turning her wrist, she takes a quick glance down at her watch. She has a few leads she has to chase that morning, but she has time. "I can get on it this afternoon. I'll have names for you before the end of the business day."
Foggy can't help himself but to smile at her response. It was more than he had hoped for, but exactly what he wanted, somehow. Even though they'd spent some time apart and they'd both grown in their... fields? It still felt as though nothing had really changed at all, except that maybe Karen had some leads she could chase, and Foggy maybe had a little more clout than before. Still, he felt confident that this was something good.
"You sure? I've been told the property owner's kind of a brute. You sure you're up to the task?" His expression turns a bit more severe. "You feel like it's getting rough, you promise you'll give me or Matt a call? Or at least get out of there? I don't wanna sell you short but... you're important to us. We wanna help."
"You sure? I've been told the property owner's kind of a brute. You sure you're up to the task?" His expression turns a bit more severe. "You feel like it's getting rough, you promise you'll give me or Matt a call? Or at least get out of there? I don't wanna sell you short but... you're important to us. We wanna help."
Karen leans back and gives Foggy a fondly amused look as he lectures her. "If it's getting rough, I'm not going to be reaching into my bag for my cell phone," she reminds him. "Besides, I doubt I'll actually have to see the guy in person today. I've got a few different contacts I can reach out to that can probably help me out."
She offers a small smile before she continues. "I'll keep that in mind, but I'm not going anywhere. I told you." She tips her head to indicate the door. "Name on the sign."
She offers a small smile before she continues. "I'll keep that in mind, but I'm not going anywhere. I told you." She tips her head to indicate the door. "Name on the sign."
"See, that's why I like you," he says with a smile. "Dedicated, strongheaded, willing to get shit done. I mean... I wish you'd consult with us on legalities sometimes, but we seem to have been pretty good about finding loopholes so far. We'll keep doing that so long as you don't make us work too hard." He nods down to her bag. "That means using that as a last resort."
He takes another grateful bite of his bagel, happy to fill his stomach with something of substance after rushing out the door that morning. "I know. We're working on it. I hate it, but we've gotta build our base first. After your stint at the Bulletin, we have to work on divorcing your persona from the journalist. You're still integral to our firm, you know that, right?"
He takes another grateful bite of his bagel, happy to fill his stomach with something of substance after rushing out the door that morning. "I know. We're working on it. I hate it, but we've gotta build our base first. After your stint at the Bulletin, we have to work on divorcing your persona from the journalist. You're still integral to our firm, you know that, right?"
“You’re the only partner in this firm I’ll accept criticism on legalities from,” Karen answers promptly as her mouth curls into a fond smirk. Matt Murdock: vigilante at law. She pats the side of her bag in a way that would probably be more reassuring if they were talking about literally anything else. “Don’t worry, I’m not in any rush to use it. It’s strictly for self defense.”
She watches with an amused expression as he takes an impressive bite of his bagel. She takes a sip of her coffee, and quickly waves her hand at his apologetic return. “No, no, I don’t want you to put me up there until I’ve got my license. I’m just saying. That’s the goal.” She offers a smile as she gestures at the door with her coffee cup. “I know. Don’t get used to the bagel delivery, though.”
She watches with an amused expression as he takes an impressive bite of his bagel. She takes a sip of her coffee, and quickly waves her hand at his apologetic return. “No, no, I don’t want you to put me up there until I’ve got my license. I’m just saying. That’s the goal.” She offers a smile as she gestures at the door with her coffee cup. “I know. Don’t get used to the bagel delivery, though.”
Karen doesn’t know Jessica very well. She’s sort of (if she’s being generous) prickly, but she tends not to hold that against people. She’s tenacious enough to just look past those barbed exterior fences. In her experience, there's often a lot more to someone than those quick impressions, and she has a hunch that the same holds true for Jessica. It helps that Matt is undeniably delighted by her.
She picks up some pot brownies from her neighbor, and though it takes several minutes of searching, she finds the movie on YouTube for $2.99. The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars. It's paused and waiting on her TV screen. What a way to spend a Saturday night.
When she answers Jessica’s knock at the door, she’s wearing jeans and an oversized tee shirt, her blonde hair piled back in a haphazard attempt at a bun. She greets the other woman with a half smile. “Beer or whiskey?”
She picks up some pot brownies from her neighbor, and though it takes several minutes of searching, she finds the movie on YouTube for $2.99. The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars. It's paused and waiting on her TV screen. What a way to spend a Saturday night.
When she answers Jessica’s knock at the door, she’s wearing jeans and an oversized tee shirt, her blonde hair piled back in a haphazard attempt at a bun. She greets the other woman with a half smile. “Beer or whiskey?”
The summer heat has Jess in a tank top and jeans (however, her big black boots are still there). She has a bit of sweat on her forehead, her own hair back in a ponytail. She has a look on her face like she has no idea what she's getting into-- because Jessica wears her heart on her sleeve. Or in a holster in her boot, but that sounds cheesy so pretend I didn't write that.
When Karen answers the door, Jess looks a bit overwhelmed until the question comes. "Both."
When Karen answers the door, Jess looks a bit overwhelmed until the question comes. "Both."
Karen has a fair to decent poker face, when she needs it - honestly, it depends on the situation. Her eyes tend to give her away. But she's making no attempt to hide the gleam of sympathetic amusement at how overwhelmed Jessica looks. Lucky for her, it's not even Karen's second rodeo. She's thinking about publishing a book on the care and feeding of emotionally compromised enhanced people. "Can you close the door behind you?" she answers as she turns and makes her way back into the apartment.
In the kitchen, Karen lines up the drinks, popping the caps off the beer and filling the glasses halfway. When she hears Jess in the kitchen, she leans against the counter and holds a glass out for her. "The beer's cheap, but the whiskey's good."
In the kitchen, Karen lines up the drinks, popping the caps off the beer and filling the glasses halfway. When she hears Jess in the kitchen, she leans against the counter and holds a glass out for her. "The beer's cheap, but the whiskey's good."
Jess leaned back with one leg out and kicked the door close. She didn't use too much strength, lest she owe Karen a door. She follows Karen into the apartment and marvels at the fact that it's not a complete mess like hers is. How do people live that way?
Karen leans, Jess leans. Only against the vague doorway of the kitchen. Once a beer is in her hand, she guzzles it. No shame, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. "Do you want to get loaded and watch this or are we doing this sober? I don't do a lot of things sober, K-Pax."
Karen leans, Jess leans. Only against the vague doorway of the kitchen. Once a beer is in her hand, she guzzles it. No shame, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. "Do you want to get loaded and watch this or are we doing this sober? I don't do a lot of things sober, K-Pax."
Karen lets out a genuine laugh at the way she phrases the question. Picking up her bottle of beer, she points at Jess as she lifts the bottle to take a sip. "Yeah, you're not allowed to judge my taste in movies anymore. I can't believe you had a K-Pax reference locked and ready to go." An amused smirk curls her lips as she sets her drink down and pulls out another beer to hand to Jessica, along with the glass of whiskey. "Help yourself."
Karen's not one to quickly get loaded, but she's not about to judge someone for their vices. She'll drink at her own pace and enjoy the feverish stupidity of the movie. With her own drinks back in hand, she leads the way out to the living room and curls up on one end of the couch. "Ready?"
Karen's not one to quickly get loaded, but she's not about to judge someone for their vices. She'll drink at her own pace and enjoy the feverish stupidity of the movie. With her own drinks back in hand, she leads the way out to the living room and curls up on one end of the couch. "Ready?"
oh geez i switched to brackets, you don't have to match, i'm actually more used to the ohter way
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unpleasantly
2019-08-14 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
(Jessica makes a face, something like a smile.)
I was hoping there was another K character I could use. Don't really like Kevin Spacey.
(Oh, Jess, did we really need to? Karen sits on one end of the couch and Jess sits on the other. But she puts her de-booted feet up, pointed towards Karen. It feels kind of weird.)
As I'll ever be.
I was hoping there was another K character I could use. Don't really like Kevin Spacey.
(Oh, Jess, did we really need to? Karen sits on one end of the couch and Jess sits on the other. But she puts her de-booted feet up, pointed towards Karen. It feels kind of weird.)
As I'll ever be.
"Can't imagine why," she answers, absolutely bone dry. There's a pause as she considers the conundrum. "There really aren't many, huh? When that Pagemaster movie came out in the 90s though, that spawned some predictably inventive nicknames."
With an amused look, she leans forward to grab the remote and hits play, bringing the animation to life on screen.
With an amused look, she leans forward to grab the remote and hits play, bringing the animation to life on screen.
It's been a little more than a year since she last saw Frank. The few weeks after graduation before he shipped off had been a whirlwind - her job interviews and apartment search, his preparation. She'd written to him regularly as promised. Letters, emails, copies of her articles as they got published, care packages with snacks. One time she'd even slipped a picture of her in a bra into a letter. She looked forward to his replies.
So it had felt natural to offer to pick him up and let him stay at her place when he returned stateside for the first time. She's leaning on the hood of her beat up car watching the reunions with a smile on her face when she finally spots him emerging from the crowd. Her smile widens as she straightens up and walks through the parking lot to meet him in the middle. Her arms wrap around him, pulling him in close before she even says anything. "Look who's back in New York."
So it had felt natural to offer to pick him up and let him stay at her place when he returned stateside for the first time. She's leaning on the hood of her beat up car watching the reunions with a smile on her face when she finally spots him emerging from the crowd. Her smile widens as she straightens up and walks through the parking lot to meet him in the middle. Her arms wrap around him, pulling him in close before she even says anything. "Look who's back in New York."
A year of letters, emails, and the rare video call kept them in touch. Every time he heard from her, he wondered if the next time she'd tell him she'd met someone and was moving on, but it never happened. Frank was used to being ready for disaster, but for once, disaster didn't occur. The whole flight back, he figured the plane would have an engine malfunction or something crazy, but it landed safely and he was back in New York.
When he exited the terminal, he was in his fatigues and carrying a large duffel bag over his shoulder. It only took him a minute to spot her. Frank looked pretty good. He'd put on some more muscle in the last year and lost a bit of weight at the same time. Karen looked incredible.
As she approached, he smiled, and then her arms were around him. He dropped his bag and after a brief hesitation and put his arms around her, too. "I can hardly believe it." He just got off the plane, but the city felt both familiar and foreign at the same time.
When he exited the terminal, he was in his fatigues and carrying a large duffel bag over his shoulder. It only took him a minute to spot her. Frank looked pretty good. He'd put on some more muscle in the last year and lost a bit of weight at the same time. Karen looked incredible.
As she approached, he smiled, and then her arms were around him. He dropped his bag and after a brief hesitation and put his arms around her, too. "I can hardly believe it." He just got off the plane, but the city felt both familiar and foreign at the same time.
Karen had been asked out occasionally, and had even considered accepting a time or two. The problem was that a date with someone in the same city as her didn't hold a candle to even a letter from Frank. She knew he'd never ask her to wait for him. Though she wasn't sure she'd call it waiting - many days she was so busy that she couldn't think about anything other than work until she crashed on her couch well after dark.
Having him back in the city was a nice reprieve. She lingered with her arms around him, and her hands ran over his shoulders and down his arms as she finally pulled back. She didn't try to hide the fact that her eyes drifted over him. He looked good in fatigues.
"So, do you have big plans, or do you want to come put your stuff down in my apartment? Order a pizza?"
Having him back in the city was a nice reprieve. She lingered with her arms around him, and her hands ran over his shoulders and down his arms as she finally pulled back. She didn't try to hide the fact that her eyes drifted over him. He looked good in fatigues.
"So, do you have big plans, or do you want to come put your stuff down in my apartment? Order a pizza?"
If Karen weren't here to greet him, he'd probably head to a shitty hotel to crash. It's not as though he was close to family or had many friends in the city. Not anymore. Frank moved on from a lot when he decided to become a Marine. The only one he never wanted to move on from was Karen and some of his unit buddies.
"Those are the only plans I care about, but let's make it two pizzas." Will Frank really eat an entire pizza? Damn right. He hasn't had a good, New York style pizza in a year.
"Those are the only plans I care about, but let's make it two pizzas." Will Frank really eat an entire pizza? Damn right. He hasn't had a good, New York style pizza in a year.
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