Log:Revenge is a Dish..., Scene 2

Revenge is a Dish... 2006/11/20 Jack Valentine Amber and Azure|Jennifer and Jessica Shoro 2

It's an off-night at Serafina's, which still very busy, even at this hour of the evening. By now, only half of the tables are occupied with people enjoying soft conversation aided by deserts and good wine.

Shoro walks up to the host stand and waits to be addressed.

The host smiles. "Hernandez. Party of two? Right this way, please."

Shoro nods and follows the host.

The host leads the way to through the restaurant to a small romantic table by a window facing the piers. While moving across the dining room, it's impossible not to notice the people dining at the table in the center of the room. Collectively they give an air of power, of owning the restaurant: five men in expensive suits, aged in their forties to fifties, shooting the breeze over bottles of wine.

Shoro asks the Host, "Ay..whos that? Is that the bosses?"

Jennifer arrives a little late, in her usual casual clothes, and immediately encounters a problem when she is politely refused entry. Treating this as a challege Jennifer scouts for an alternate access.

Shoro also tells the host, "That's my date..let her in?" pointing at Jen.

The host glances over at the table, then back to Shoro. "No... But Mr. Congelosi has long been patron of this restaurant." The host looks back towards the entrance spying Jennifer briefly. To Shoro, he offers an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hernandez, we have a strict policy..."

Shoro waves a couple of hundreds and puts it in the hosts hand.."Come now..all rules are meant to be broken." he tries to say it softly but knowingly.

The host eyes the money, then glances towards the Congelosi table. He lowers his voice. "I'm sorry..."

Shoro raises an eyebrow.."Let me speak to the policy makers, maybe I can make a difference."

The host asks, "Do you mean the owner? I can have him come over."

Shoro shakes his head, and says softly, "Look, you and I both know who runs the show..you just showed me with that look. You keep that tip, thats for you, let me speak with the real powers that be."

The host says quietly. "I'm sure they would not want to be disturbed... I don't want to lose my job."

Shoro says softly, "Keep that tip." and then says in a raised voice, "Get me your manager!..NOW."

"Right away sir." The host quietly folds the money away and then goes to find the manager.

Shoro's outburst draws the attention of everyone that the big table.

The manager comes over to the table. "Yes, sir. What seems to be the problem?"

Shoro points to Jen outside, "My date isn't being allowed to sit. You tell me what the damn problem is."

"The problem," the manager says, is her attire. "When people come to dine at Serafina, they come with certain expectations and certain level of class and distinction. This policy is as much to ensure the experience of your meal as it is for the other patrons. Please understand, sir."

Shoro raises his eyebrow.."So you're discriminating her on her attire?" he focuses the word discrimination? "I would think that something like this would be much more damaging to your patron's meals than her attire would ever be!"

The manager reacts to Shoro's tone, in a raised whisper. "Sir, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps I could offer you a meal for you and your date at a later date, on the house."

Shoro looks indignant, "Do you think you can throw a comp in my face and make me go away?..If I needed a free meal, I wouldn't come here. I can pay my way..and hers!"

The manager says, "Sir, your voice..." he looks around at the other dining people, who are increasingly turning their attention in this direction.

Of those people, the men at the big table are looking over as well.

Shoro cocks his head to the side, "Why don't you get me someone who can make a decision?" his voice is still not soft.

The manager says, "Sir, the decision has been made. I'm afraid that you will have to dine alone or not at all." The manager seems increasingly irate.

Jessica enters from Yacht Club.

Jessica has arrived.

Meanwhile, back at Steel's Gym in their rooms, Jessica is changing her appearance, pinning up her hair, borrowing some cosmetics from a customer at the Gym which she overuses, and dressing in her biking leathers. Then she strolls along to the yacht club resturant and 'accidently' bumps into one of the heavies.

Outside of the restaurant, Jessica jostles a man while he tries to light his cigarette. "Whoa..." He reaches his arm to try and catch Jessica by waist, in an effort to help steady her, or at least that's his pretense. "Watch yourself, sweetie. You ok?"

Shoro stands and is in the managers face. He puts a hand on the man's shoulder squeezing with his (15) strength, he says in low tones, "Let me speak to one of the men at the center table." his voice only audible to the managers ear. His voice full of malice.

The manager says. "Sir, unhand me, or I'll call the police."

Jessica rears back and goes to slap the heavy in his face.

Shoro smiles, an unfriendly smile, and in the same low tone, "I suggust you speak to the men at that table first, the police may be the last thing they want here after that incident at the bank."

Jack Valentine pushes out his chair and stands. He looks like he's about to come over when one of his dinner companion speaks to him. "No, Jackie, let me handle this." This one is a pot bellied man in his fifties who in his prime was probably quite imposing. He stands up and walks over to Shoro.

Shoro looks over at the pot-bellied man. All smiles and daffodils

The heavy easily catches Jennifer's hand and holds onto it. "You've got spirit. Don't take no @$^ from no one. I like that." He smiles, leering at Jess.

Pot-belly walks over. "Angelo, what seems to be the problem?"

The manager says, "This man is being belligerent... I was about to call the police."

Jessica grips the wrist of the hand of the heavy holding her and flows into an akido throw aiming the heavy, if her throw succeeds, at the door keeper.

Shoro releases the manager. and turns to Pot Belly, saying softly so no one else can hear, "And that isn't something any of us want is it?" he implies that he has something.."Perhap Mr. Valentine and Mr. Cangelosi can talk about this policy?"

Pot-belly says, "Don't worry Angelo, I'll take care of this." He turns to Shoro. "Perhaps... you can go bite yourself."

Shoro smiles, "Perhaps you will find your boss frozen with his head in his lap?" again softly. "Better call him over."

Pot-belly says, "Get the hell out of here."

The heavy manages to pull his hand free of Jessica grasps. "I was wrong -- you're flipping crazy. What's your damage?"

Shoro raises an eyebrow.."I don't think so. I'll stand right here. You better tell your bosses that I know a whole lot more than they care for me to know, and that I'm a little more worried about their health than you seem to be."

Pot-belly tries to punch Shoro in the gut.

Shoro uses his Karate Kid II drum technique turns to the side and blocks the punch, he smiles, "We can do this all night long, maybe you'll lose some weight, but I really think you need to get your fat ass over to your bosses table so we can talk. That's all I'm asking for." his tones are low and controlled.

Jennifer utters an "Eeek!" of horror at the violence just behind her. Grabbing at the door keeper she pushes him in front of her if she manages the grab and backs away from the scuffle - into the resturant.

"Mother...," Paulie mutters. He's about to try to hti Shoro a second time when Jack speaks up. "Hold on... hold on. All you want to do is talk to me?" Jackie walks over. "Well, here I am."

Shoro smiles.."See..now was that so hard?" he steps back away from Paulie, "Mr. Valentine, I'm a friend, believe me when I say that, perhaps you..Mr. Cangelosi, and my date can sit and speak like gentlemen that we are?"

Jack says. "Paulie here is my friend. Angelo, the manager, is my friends. You, who are you? I don't know you, and you want to be my friend?"

Shoro shrugs, "Perhaps not a friend, perhaps just an allie..for now, you know what they say about the enemy of my enemy.."

Jack looks to Paulie. "'Enemy of my enemy...' Get a load of this guy. Just get to the point. My wife expects me back soon, and if I'm late, then I get into some *real* trouble."

Jennifer says, "steps back into the resturant and lets go of the door keeper, "Thank you for protecting me from those ruffians outside. I don't know what I would have done if a strong kind man like you hadn't been on hand. Really, the resturant shouldn't allow people like that to hand around, should it?" She's been watching, and although she doesn't recognize Shoror she can make an excellent guess at who he is after seeing his block technique, so she waves politely to him, "Sorry I'm late.""

Shoro leans in pulls his PDA showing him the drugs, the corpse, the name Matt Van Buren and says, "There's another one by the name of Jackie..you know her?..She's no friend of yours." he bluffs hoping his theory is right.

Shoro wins at Jen, "Its ok..you're just in time."

The first heavy and on of his friends follow Jessica inside the restaurant after she grabs the door keeper. The hover at the edge of the room and look on. The heavy makes eyes contact with Jack. Looking back, Jack seems to nod. "It's ok."

Jack looks over the material. "Tragic story. Is this supposed to mean something to me?

Shoro nods, "I think so, if not you, then your boss. Talk to me..tell me what you know, and I'll help you stay alive, because if not the fact that she's a psychopath, I could give 2 $h!ts about a mob boss getting his frozen ass handed to him." as with all parts of this conversation he keeps his side low and unheard to people who are outside of this immediate area.

Jack says to Shoro, "Like you said, you don't care. You have a badge? If not, I don't have to talk to you, in which case me and by friends are heading home."

Outside, after a few rounds of getting tossed to the ground by Jessica, the men outside start to regroup. There are four of them now, scuffed, scraped, with two of them standing hunched, catching their breath with hands on knees. The first heavy finally says, "Alright. I give up. Who the hell are you?"

Shoro shakes his head slowly, "You mobsters, just like the Yakuza, so full of pride, so full of fear, you put on this front. Only its going to be too late when you want some help. You think about this, and think about it hard, I'll be back tomorrow, maybe you'll have thought about this. Her name is Jacquiline Frost, and she will kill you..and everyone you care about. You folks made a mistake killing that preacher, I don't even know why it had to happen, but you made a mistake, and you don't have the power to stop her. Sleep well." he says to Valentine, does a head bow to Cangelosi, and puts a hundred on the table, "For any inconvenience."

Jessica grins at the first heavy, "They call me Dasher. Thanks for the exercise, guys, I've never seen the point of learning a skill and not using it, no matter what my ex-Sensi used to say."

Jack chuckles, "Mobster, you must have me confused with someone else. It's sad," he says to his buddies, "Sad, I say. When a someone sees a bunch of Italian men, dressed well, and eating in a five-star restaurant and automatically assumes that they are criminals." He turns back to Shoro. "I would be like my assuming that you, a Latino gentleman, in a nice suit, thrwoing money around, were in the drug trade. Maybe that's how you came up with all of this crazy talk. I don't now. I'm not the sort of person who leaps to conclusions."

First Heavy asks Jessica: "You know who I am?"

Jessica shakes her head. "I've never seen you before. You're not from Harrisburg or I'd probably know you."

Shoro nods, "Well..perhaps if I was latino..I'm done here. This was an offer, I hope you get another before its too late. And no, I don't have a badge, I don't need a badge...you know how that works...need to know who I am, I'm the one that brought the Yakuza to its knees the other week?..Remember the firefight in J-town?..Saved a couple of Oyabun that night." he moves out without further conversatoin, he taps Jen on the shoulder motioning for them to head out.

First Heavy says, "A long way from the neighborhood, huh? You don't look like a Hellion. Who do you run with up there?"

Jessica says, "Nobody now. I tagged along with Dark Coyote until he was run out of town. Then worked for the Count for a while but he went up-market. Replaced us with stinking metas. You don't stand a change against them."

First Heavy smirks, "Yeah. Metas -- unreliable if you ask me."

Jessica says, "Yeah. Take the jobs right out from under honest hard working guys. Whadda they know about sweating blood and guts for hours learning a skill. Get bitten by a radioactive toad and they're all set."

Jack says, joking. "If you'd let them die, it mighta been a real blow against crime in this town... Good evening, whoever you are. Drive safely, and don't come back here."

Shoro shrugs, "I'll be back tomorrow, remember the enemy your of your enemy.." he walks out the door and pushes the heavy out of the way, "You better protect your bosses, someone has them on a list."

Jennifer nods politely as she departs with Shoro, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr Valentine. I hope I get the chance to do so again. Try not to lose your head."

First Heavy asks, "You gotta name?"

Shoro says, "Shoro. Remember it."

Jessica says, "Dasher will do. Until I change it again."

Jack asks, "And to who to I owe the honor of this public service announcement?"

Shoro says, "Shoro. Remember it."

First Heavy says, "Dasher? Never heard of you."

Jessica grins, "Neither have the cops, not under that name anyways."

Jack says, "Shoro, eh?" He and his people what for Shoro and Jennifer to leave.

Shoro pushes the heavy out of the way, "Move. Dasher" he says "we're out."

First Heavy pushes Shoro back. "The hell?"

First Heavy tries to push Shoro back, but misses.

Shoro's fist glows blue.."I wouldn't..never know who's a meta.." he says, and again, "Dasher, we're out."

Jessica shakes her head at the first heavy. "Don't. He's a meta. Looked like he had hard words with the guys at the center table and now he's here looking to take it out on somebody."

First Heavy grumbles, "Flipping metas." He turns and spits on the pavement.

Shoro nods "Yeah..flippin metas.." he says as he walks past and doesn't look back.

Jessica says, "Their money spends as well as anyone elses. Hey, maybe see you around some time." She tells the heavy. Then looks back to Shoro, "Ok, ok, I'm coming. You bought my time not my soul."

First Heavy watches the heroes head off.

Shoro tells whichever twin is next to him, "We'll be back tomorrow. I'll bring the tights tomorrow. No more use for subterfuge. If they're smart, they'll think about what I said, If their pride is bigger than their intelligence, then someone else is dead before they talk."

Jessica hangs back a little as if wanting to disassicate herself from the others. Jennifer leans in to whisper to Shoro, "It's a plan. Sorry about the fuss at the door. I think I might be able to use that meeting with the bodyguards. I need to get SG to drop a CBPD file on Dasher, under a different name, in case they do some checking."

Shoro nods, "Sounds smart. We'll match notes better later as well, They're in trouble and they have no clue." he sighs.."Why are we saving organized crime?"

Jennifer says, "We're not. We're trying to find and stop someone who freezes people and cuts off their heads. The former I couldn't care less about. The latter is a worthwhile aim."

Shoro shakes his head, "Jackie boy was right about one thing..had we let those Oyabun die..we might have made a difference.." he shrugs, "Course we might not be able to live with ourselves.." he pauses, "Damn Dancing Coyote for planting this damned conscious."

Jennifer looks pained. "Maybe you didn't know. Shoro, I nearly got Fire killed. I spotted the assassins that were set up for that hit. I could have stopped it. But I felt like you and let it go ahead. Fire took a hit in the chest and if you hadn't been on hand... So now I'm working on the principal of saving all lives if I can even if it means saving the bad guys. Because that way I don't let any good guys go down."

Shoro looks at Jen.."I didn't know that. Its ok, we all learn our lessons somewhere. We're just lucky we didn't lose Fire. It was a cheap lesson. Lets just be happy it was."

Shoro claps Jen on the shoulder, "Good night Jen, sleep well knowing we did somethign good tonight."