I see a stairway so I follow it down;

[matt_murdock]

As he sidles up to the long, polished length of the Smoking Room's bar, Matt is distinctly aware of not being remotely good enough for this particular drinking establishment. Not good in the moral sense—Although that's certainly questionable—but in terms of wealth and entitlement. The floor is marble and the chandeliers have real crystal in them. He's a long, long way from Josie's comforting stench and pock-marked tabletops.

"Scotch and water," he orders as he settles onto a stool, white cane propped against the bar beside him. He sips, wondering how much this is going to cost him, and draws in a slow breath as he listens.

Lavish as this place may be, just like the hotel around it there is more diversity within its walls than most streets in Manhattan. Some patrons lounge with privilege, but just as many are roughly raucous or scented with cheap shampoo. A few lift their glasses with calloused fingers and drink with the deep resignation of the working class. Some, he thinks, may not even be human.

Comments

[matt_murdock]

"A pleasure to meet you, Chiana," Matt says and means it, if only because he can tell already that she's sharp, her first instinct to test him when most people would let their sympathy cloud their judgment. He watches her move in that hazy crimson place in his mind, but his gaze remains fixed and unseeing.

"That's an unusual name," he continues, and then reconsiders, smiling. "Perhaps not unusual for this place. I haven't been here long."

[nebaritralk]

"I'm an unusual girl," Chiana replies, and sits back on a stool. Some might think that the way she openly watches him is because she knows (assumes) that he can't see it, but the truth is, unless she's playing a part, she doesn't tend to hide her curiosity about people. "Even for this place," she adds, with a short laugh that isn't quite human.

[matt_murdock]

"How's that?" Matt easily asks, politely curious as he takes a sip from his glass. Knowing at least part of the answer does stop him from wanting to know the rest—Or, perhaps more to the point, what answer she might give when she knows he can't see her. It's amazing what people will do when they think they can get away with it.

[nebaritralk]

Chiana's definitely the sort to try and take advantage of anything to con people, but she doesn't see the point in lying about what she is. She likes to witness human reactions to her too much, anyway. "I'm not human," she answers with a smile. "Completely different colouring," she adds, helpfully.