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]

That prompts a laugh from Matt, who tilts his head in comfortable assent. "This is, in fact, my very first time watering down anything here," he answers, and then slightly more seriously, "A couple of days. I'm getting the impression that it's pretty obvious I'm a newbie."

[71st_victor]

"I wouldn't say that you're the most obvious, but I could've probably sold you a lie about this place and you'd have believed anything I said," she agrees, with a shrug of her shoulders like she'd considered it. "You're lucky I take sympathy on people who are here for the drinks, even if they're watering them down." She leans casually in her seat, used to owning the space around her. "So what's your name, newbie?"

[matt_murdock]

"Matt," he answers on a warm laugh and a resigned shake of his head. "This is how they drink scotch in Scotland, you know. The place where they make it. But I appreciate your generosity, even if you consider my drinking habits to be shameful." There are some arguments it's not worth getting into, and how people like their alcohol is definitely one of them.

"And your name, oh benevolent friend?"

[71st_victor]

"I don't know what a Scotland is, but to me that just sounds like a place where they don't know how to drink properly," she says, staring deep into her glass as she gives a huff. "Johanna," she introduces herself, still not sure what she thinks of the new guy, but she's been bored recently and why not make new friends? "And thinking I'm benevolent is your first mistake," she warns.

"No," she corrects herself. "Second. The first was watering down the alcohol."

[matt_murdock]

He has to laugh again at that, ducking his head, a man accepting defeat because he's got little other choice. Hard-ass women he's known before, but this one may just outstrip them all. "Tough crowd tonight," he says, amiable about it enough, and tips his glass in Johanna's general direction in deference to her tenacity.

"I'll be sure to remember that my current streak of luck is an anomaly."

[71st_victor]

She shrugs, even though she's getting the feeling there's no point in it because he's not exactly going to see it, but has to feel like she's putting on the show for someone. There's always someone to put a show on, for. "You'd better," she agrees, "I'm pretty good with a sharp edge," she notes wryly.

Tipping her head to him, she studies him over. "So where's Scotland?"