"Harry has a knack for being difficult, so it might not be a walk in the park.  I suppose we should talk about your bill."

[Telepathy] Perhaps you can tell me about this predator?  At the very least, I would know what to guard for... and at the best, 'we' could face him down.

Jean glanced around to see if anyone was paying them more than casual attention.

[Telepathy] Ordinarily I would recommend you to Charles Xavier, but he's... unavailable.  Perhaps you'd be willing to learn from me instead?  I'm not promising the world, but maybe I can help you learn a few things.  Would you be interested?  Obviously I have my own ethics, but I don't believe that they would get in the way.

"If it helps, he likes to get into the trash... so that would be a good place to start looking.  I'd help, but my show starts fairly soon."

"My bill is reassuringly expensive" Monet said a tiny bit of amusement in her voice at the mix of the two conversations. One utterly riddiculous and the other so serious "Dumpster diving is the kind of thing it is easy to hire people for, but perhaps tempting him out would be more effective" it was clear that there was no way Monet would be involved in said 'dumpter diving'

[Telepathy]You are aware I trust that magic exists and is real?" Monet half asked [Telepathy]"That there are pacts to be made, bargains to be struck in exchange for power. The detailed story is complex, and too painful to tell but a simplified version is that my brother a gifted psychic made such deals. He gained enormous power, but the cost was high. He wears a gas mask partly to hide his now twisted features and partly because the air we breath is not fully enough to sustain him. And now he must predate on those with unusual talents to live"

"[Telepathy]I contemplated visited Mr Xavier's school. After a period of prayer and reflection,  I decided that such a place would attract predators like my brother. I cannot imagine living peacefully there without conflict, so I am trying a different path."

"[Telepathy]Oh and the only way your ethics are likely to get in the way is if you don't have any."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:37, Fri 07 July 2023.

Warren closed the door behind her and stepped over to the wall to his left. He took out a small glass and poured himself a drink, something to occupy him while he sifted through the thoughts running through his mind. He swirled the drink in the glass and walked over to the large windows that looked down onto the jazz club below, mirrored on the other side to provide the manager his privacy.

He stood at the one-way glass and took a drink. The occupants of the night club were enjoying Heaven, and that pleased Warren immensely. It wouldn't be appropriate for one of his visitors, especially one that had stuck her neck out for his employees, to be forced to leave. Warren was already set into taking care of things personally. Not tonight, but soon.

---

After finishing his drink and putting together his thoughts, Warren stepped out of his office and came downstairs onto the floor. He was immediately passed the information that someone was waiting for him. After a quick inquiry, he left the bar behind and made his way over to Anthony's table just as the waitress was bringing him his food, freshly prepared to his liking. He offered the girl a smile. She blushed, curtseyed and left. Warren looked back to Anthony. "You wished to have a word?"

As soon as Warren arrived, Taskmaster quickly stood up and extended a hand. Despite his reputation, he was not without manners it would seem. His grip was strong, sure, without trying to crush the other man's hand like some insecure people do in order to show off their strength.

"Bonne soirée, Mr. Worthington, please, sit," the masked man offered, voice friendly enough.

He did motion for the waitress to close the privacy partition behind her, so that the private table might truly be private.

"I hope you'll forgive me for starting dinner without you. It's been a long evening. Lot's of cutting and sawing. That will certainly build up an appetite. Have you dined yet? I can certainly wait for your staff to bring you something if you'd like to dine with me," the big man offered.

Reaching up to his bone-white mask, Taskmaster fiddled with something beneath his mask, before the lower teeth section of the mask slid out, revealing his real mouth. When he placed the "teeth" portion of the mask on the table, Warren could see that in addition to resembling a skull, it was also a cleverly designed miniature gas mask. Which would explain why he would need to take it off sometimes: to replace the filter. And as a result, a portion of his face could be seen, the the majority of it was still covered. This appeared to allow his to eat and drink while retaining his anonymity, as a side benefit of removing the gas mask.

What little of his face that Warren could see was not very informative. Taskmaster's skin was dark, obviously kissed by the sun over many years, and he bore a neat Chevron mustache in dark brown hair, which was popular in men's fashion today.

Taskmaster took a sip from his drink and began cutting up his steak while he waited for Warren to decide.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:54, Fri 07 July 2023.

The Angel reached out and took the hand as offered, shaking it in greeting. Warren studied the man across from him for a few seconds before shaking his head. "No, I've already eaten for the evening." He reached down and took the top of the chair on his side of the table and slid it backwards, giving him enough room to sit. He unbuttoned his jacket and lowered himself into the chair but didn't quite sit back all the way. "But don't let that stop you, of course. My chefs know their way around a kitchen."

Jean laughed at the talk of dumpster diving.

"Temptation is definitely the right approach... and I don't expect you will need to crawl through sewers or anything so dirty.  But retrieve my rabbit and we'll be friends for life."

[Telepathy]  As you may have guessed, Harry isn't missing... it just seemed the best excuse to have a talk.  I've heard rumors of true magic, but haven't seen any myself... yet.  As to your Brother, please accept my condolences.  Do you harbor any ambitions to help him recover?

Family was a powerful bond and Monet seemed like the sort to honor it.  And while she appreciated the warning, Jean was happy enough to table deeper discussions of this troubled brother.  There were other things to talk about...

"I'm sure we can work something out about our mutual friend Henry" Monet said her voice echoing the laughter in Jean's. She decided she liked Jean already.  A person that could laugh like that with joy over simple things was a long way from many of the people she more usually dealt with

"[Telepathy]I think the full answer to that question requires me to expose you to a level of pain and unpleasantness that you aren't ready to hear. Listening to the story would give you nightmares, and I don't want to subject you to them" Monet said after a moment's consideration "[Telepathy]But the short answer is 'no'. "

"[Telepathy]A longer answer is... Black magic exists. It is Haram* to learn or practice it.  I have seen black magic performed. The symbols, the summoning, the foul acts of 'worship', the sacrifice of human lives, the pact making. Consiously giving away the greatest gift that Allah has given us for the acquisition of power. It is Haram for a reason, and perhaps Allah can forgive such a perpetrator after watching human sacrifice after human sacrifice. But I cannot"

There was a conscious 'stepping away from dark images' in the way Monet's mental voice lightened

"[Telepathy]Your stage show is not Haram by the way. Neither is what we are doing now. What we do now does not come from foul creatures or satanic sources but from ourselves. We made no 'deal' at the cost of our souls to acquire this. There are three levels of the law. The law given to us by God himself. The words of Mohammed, and the words of scholars adjudicating matters not covered by the first two. Your show, and what we are doing now, is not covered by the first two at all. Training this is no different to training our speed, or strength, or scholarship."

"[Telepathy]If we were to train together, how do you see that working?"

OOC *Haram came with the feeling of 'utterly prohibited in the eyes of god and all good thinking people
This message was last edited by the player at 14:42, Sat 08 July 2023.

"That they do," Taskmaster agreed, after taking a bite of his steak and washing it down with his Old Fashioned.

"The reason I asked to bend your ear tonight is rather simple, but I need you to understand that nothing is official, so keep that in mind before you respond. How to explain...You even have a friend that asks to borrow money, but you know that he's never going to pay you back, and he knows he's never going to pay you back, but you go through through the same routine of polite assurances? Doesn't that get annoying after a while? Everyone knows what's going to happen, so why not cut through all the connerie? That is the kind of situation I find myself in, so I figured I'd cut this whole process off at the pass, so that it doesn't waste everyone's time, just to get to the same outcome," the big man continued, cutting more strips from the steaming meat.

"As you know, you've gotten people of all kinds enjoying your establishment. One of them, is a regular repeat customer of mine, has expressed his appreciation of your club to me. Twice. Now, no orders have been issued, but I can see where this is going. And what Lucky wants, Lucky gets. But the whole process can get so tedious. So, as I alluded to before, I'm trying to head this one off at the pass. If you want, you can consider it a courtesy from a jazz fan. Either start the ball rolling on transferring this place to Lucky, so the process is quick and painless when he eventually makes contact. Or, gather some leverage or so much attention that going after your club would be too high exposure for any Boss. You could also grab a ton of muscle to protect your interests, but if Lucky hires me, it would just be pissing your money away, and then I'd probably have to kill you. My final suggestion, is that you take your profits, shut this place down, and move it somewhere out of the reach of the Five Families. Atlanta or Miami would probably work. And you wouldn't have to worry about the cold..." he said as casually as a man discussing the weather.

"Do you suffer from Kyphosis?" the skull-masked man asked unexpectedly, putting down his fork and knife for a moment.

"I'm more worried about Harry getting hit by a car, but I shall leave the matter in your capable hands."

[Telepathy] I guess its good to know I'm not in trouble with Allah...offending deities is not my intention.  I'm still sorry for your brother, but if he is too far gone... then that is it.

Charles would have still made an attempt to 'save' Monet's brother, but he was idealistic to a tee... even greater than Jean herself.  If ever Monet was introduced to him, Jean would have to ease such things that could cause unintended friction.  As to the question of teaching...

[Telepathy] In terms of training, I was thinking a relaxed schedule that bends around our jobs and life commitments.  Ideally I could set you tasks for practicing in private... and we would meet to ascertain your progress, once I have an idea of your abilities.  Not every psychic is gifted in the same way so lessons aren't a one size fits all affair.

"Let's give a little toast to Harry then shall we?" Monet touched her glass of basically water to Jane's and made a mock toast "To Harry, may all his meals be of lettuce"

"[Telepathy]That sounds a good place to start." Monet thought agreeably. The toast had been her way of cementing the agreement

"[Telepathy]I have given this matter some significant reflection. When I was a child I would read people's thoughts as easily as hear their words. I could send them images or words. My sister's and I would craft dreamworlds for each other"

"[Telepathy]However to do that I had to be 'open'. It has taken me years of painful trial and error to learn to 'close down' enought to avoid surveillance and outside control. The needs of survival are a great teacher and my talent has changed to things needed for that survival, I now find it... difficult ... if not impossible to be that open. Occasionally when I touch someone's hand I receive a flash through my defences. I've not tried projecting for years. Indeed I find myself reacting to the thought of trying, the way you might the idea of putting your hand in a fire"

In reply to Anthony Masters (msg # 53):

Warren looked up at his left shoulder. "It's something I've struggled with ever since I was thirteen years old. I have extremely expensive, specially tailored suits in an attempt to hide my... deformity. That's why you'll never find me sitting pool side," he said with the slightest of shrugs.

You can tell that once he was done explaining what Mister Masters had asked of him that his mind went into concerted thought. Warren drummed his fingers on the table top a few times rythmically before patting the table. "Well, I certainly appreciate the heads up, but Heaven is going nowhere and neither is it's proprietor. I know that I haven't earned much in this life. Most of what I have was given to me from my father. This, though," he said, gesturing to the club around him, "this is all mine. I won't be giving it up."

Jean just settled back to listen to the ambient club music.

[Telepathy]  There is nothing wrong with developing some skills and ignoring others... specializing so to speak.  I'd encourage you to sample all aspects, but I won't teach anything that you wish not to study.

She glanced to a clock, noting that her show was growing ever closer.

"Where I might I find you to discuss our case, Ms Monet?  Your welcome to visit me whenever, but sometimes this place gets a bit busy."

"[Telepathy]Normally I would say 'my office'. But that's a little awkward right now. Some .. literal ... psychopath has decided that he's upset with me as I prevented him murdering some people." Monet gave a shrug "[Telepathy]I am reminded of the quote 'no good deed goes unpunished'. There is a responsibility on those of us with strength to protect the weak, but sometimes that comes at a cost. I suspect the management of this place will deal with the problem over the next few days, but until then I won't be visiting my office"

"[Telepathy]If you have a day or two when you are not doing your show would you be my guest? The invitation is extended to a significant other if they won't be upset at the training. The Hotel Taft is first class, and .. ah ... segregation friendly. We can take the steamliner to New Haven. There are some lovely beach walks which would be ideal for training on and the Schubert Theatre is showing 'Love me tonight' which I am informed is delightfully amusing."

[Telepathy] Perhaps the day after tomorrow?  What you outline sounds like fun and developing a closer bond (and understanding) will only help our lessons.

Jean glanced around to see which patrons were going to stay for her show.  Steven looked to be staying and maybe even the club boss and his costumed associate.

"Thank you for taking on this case, Ms Monet.  I have another engagement, but your welcome to stay.  If there are any developments, you know where to find me."

She extended a hand to shake.

[Telepathy] Would you mind keeping an eye on my new archeologist friend at the bar?  And if you want to take any work from him, I don't mind either.

Clearly Jean was referring to Steven (Marc).

"[Telepathy]I usually avoid shaking hands" Monet commented as she took Jeans "[Telepathy]Too often there is a flash moment. Sometimes embaressing. Perhaps with your help I will be able to get over that"

"Of course" she said aloud "I'm looking forward to your show."

"[Telepathy]I'll book the tickets. Is there a significant other that I should arrange things for as well?"

Taking her leave she moved over to the bar "Good evening Mr Archaeologist friend of Jean Gray" she said "She asked me to come over and chat. Is this seat taken? I do have a keen interest in archaeology, although perhaps my main interest historically speaking would be in the proto-history of the Yoruba people. She didn't fill in any details about your area of interest"

"Good evening," Steven replied, wresting control back away from Marc before the more volatile personality could take over. "Please, sit. However, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, miss...?"

He left enough of a pause for the young woman to fill in her name, and then continued.

"I'm also afraid I have given Miss Grey a slight misconception. I have spent time in archaeological pursuits, but I'm a dabbler, not an actual archaeologist. These days, I fund the true archaeologists, and then get to tag along. You could call me an Egyptologist, I suppose. That's a vague enough term to cover what I do.

"I have spent time in the 'Yorubaland' region of Africa as well, though not as much."

Most of his time in the countries that made up Yorubaland had been violent mercenary endeavors. Steven had little interest in remembering those days. Marc carried some scars from his work there, and not all were on his skin.

"I'm much more interested in learning about you, though. What is it that you do?"

"Not really. I don't know your name either" Monet said with an easy grace. "My card" she opened her silver card holder and extracted a a heavy embossed and lined with gold card with the name 'M Factor investigations' on it. On the back was her name 'Monet St Croix'. "I'm not working a case at the moment, or at least not here, but by profession I am a Private Investigator. I find for a lot of people that makes them go 'why are you investigating me', but actually I am just helping Miss Gray out. Her case involves a mysterious missing bunny rabbit called Henry" there was a hint of amusment in Monet's voice.

"An Egyptologist you say. I am very fond of Cairo. My mother used to take us to the Al-Azhar Reading Rooms when we were younger. Perhaps the finest place to get a modern view on Islamic Scholarship. So why might I ask is an Egyptologist in a speakeasy in New York instead of a Khamara in Cairo"

In reply to Warren Worthington III (msg # 56):

"It is of course your choice. Just know that I wouldn't bet on you if the odds were twenty-to-one. If it comes to it, and I am the one to pull the trigger, I will make it as painless as possible. And I will leave you intact enough for an open casket. Again, consider it a courtesy from one jazz fan to another," Taskmaster replied, saluting the other man with the remnants of his drink before downing them in one go.

"A new thought strikes me. You could always pay me to kill Lucky. That would send a message to the other Five Families that you are not to be messed with. Although, my fee would be extraordinarily high, and I'm not sure you have the means or stomach for that kind of bloodshed...but I've been wrong before. What say you?" he asked around another bite of steak.

In reply to Monet St. Croix (msg # 62):

"Oh, my apologies. I assumed that Miss Grey would not send you over to talk to me without at least supplying my name. I am Steven Grant." He couldn't help but smile at the phrase 'missing bunny rabbit' but he held back on any comments. "As for why I'm here, I have no more sinister intent than to have a jovial time with beautiful women, and perhaps to see a show."

It didn't take a telepath to hear the lie in his voice, but it did take a trained ear. Steven was, in fact, a very good liar.

He wondered why Miss Grey had sent the Investigator over to talk with him, but he chose not to ask. It felt rude to do so.

In reply to Anthony Masters (msg # 63):

He nodded as he followed the other's side of their conversation. "Yeah, I suppose killing Lucky would just solve all of those problems," Warren said, tapping his index finger on the table top once again. "But then again I have no idea that he actually has any sort of aims against my night club whatsoever. I could certainly pay you a lot of money to take care of this proposed problem, but I don't know that it's a legitimate problem. The entire story could be fabricated, and I could just be starting a war that I didn't need." Warren meant no offense in his statements and there was no hint of accusation in his voice. He was simply stating facts as he saw them. "You could very well simply want Lucky dead and see an opportunity to at least get paid for it."

"Oh you were introduced as her 'new Archaeologist friend'. Jean is going to get ready for her show now I think, so you should find it straight forward to accomplish the second of those goals" There was no indication on Monet's face that she had  'detected a lie' just 'casual chatting'. There was a 'thank you smile' and humour in the gesture she made with her cigarette holder "You are very charming Mr Grant. I am not immune to flattery and it's kind of you to say such nice things. I too am not here with sinister intent. I come here for meetings with clients, not to 'investigate people'."


Monet leaned back against the bar and looked around "I do find it curious why so many people are willing to risk a run in with the police in order to get intoxicated. We have no such places as these back home and alcohol is illegal there too. While I approve in principle of the Volstead act, I can't help but feel it is having the opposite effect to that which its creators intended"

"Prohibition was simply a bad idea," Steven said plainly. "I don't drink much myself, but there are enough people in this country who will refuse to do without that entire criminal enterprises have sprung up in order to supply them. But the worst part has yet to come.

"The way I figure it, new crimes and criminals require new law enforcement. We've seen that already. But when Prohibition is repealed — and it will be — what are all of these new agencies going to do with themselves? They'll have to find new battlegrounds on which to fight. And that will make a mess of everything. They'll criminalize something else, and make whole new classifications of criminal again... and so it will go."

---

Written with the benefit of a century of hindsight.

"You have been to Egypt, yes? So you are familiar with Muslim traditions?

"I think it is interesting that even the Quran does not outright ban the act of drinking alcohol. I used to wonder why? Given the harm that alcohol does: to society and the individual that over indulges, why does God not ban it outright? Now after coming to America I have the answer to that question. I think we can agree given this radical but foolish experiment that as you might expect the Quran took the path of Wisdom."

"Your words are insightful as well. Something I had not considered" Monet looked with more interest at Marc "It is good to talk to people with fresh views. Now you have said those words they are 'obvious'. Hmm... you are right it is not the way of organisations with power to give up that power"

"If you were to pick a country to live, Steven, where would it be? Which country do you think has the right balance in its legal system"

"I'll let you know as soon as I find it," Steven replied. He didn't believe that there was such a thing as a balanced legal system. At least, not one that anyone had figured out yet. "But New York is my home. I grew up here, and I'll probably always come back here."

At least, that's what it seemed like lately. There were plenty of places in the world where the Moon Knight could be useful, but Khonshu apparently liked having him here. Sooner or later, he supposed he'd figure out why.

"There's a lot of what you're describing in Judaism, too. I grew up Jewish, so it's my first reference point on matters of religion. And there's a lot of 'God doesn't forbid this... so we'll forbid it ourselves'. They call it 'fences within fences'. The idea is that you can't accidentally break God's laws if you make more restrictive laws and adhere to those instead."

"The 'people of the book'" Monet commented "That's what Muslims call Jews and Christians. I suppose you know that historically Muslims have never had a 'pogrom' against the Jews?" not like the christians who it seemed to her reading of history did it whenever a King needed money

"The nice thing about Islam, is is that we have clear levels of rules." she paused "I was talking about this with Jean too. It must be on my mind a lot at the moment. Anyway we have 'we forbid it ourselves' too, but they are lesser and can be challenged. And in this country I absolutely don't have to do do that. And I don't"

"We certainly don't have 'fences within fences'. But we do have a 'scholarship requirement'. If we don't study the Quran ourselves we can select an Iman and 'follow his way'. Allah prefers that we do it ourselves 'the prayers of a scholar are worth a hundred times a common man', but recognises many people cannot do that. If we accidentally break a law... well it's an accident. We all have accidents. So for example if I ask for a lettuce sandwich and someone sprinkled pork on it, and I didn't detect it, I haven't commit a sin. I would need to clean myself but that's different. I guess our 'fences within fences' are cleaning. Allah cannot hear our prayers when we are not clean, so we do that a lot"