Who: Jonathan and Matt What: chatting over a drink Where: The Wyrm When: backdated to April. 29th Warnings: none Status: g-doc
Despite being in Madison for nearly two weeks, Jonathon had done very little exploring. He had managed to get a job. Two actually. Though he was more excited about playing music three days a week and getting paid for it. He hoped maybe someday it would lead to a more full time gig playing music. However, he wasn’t sure that would happen in this place.
It was Saturday evening and he was in the mood for a drink. After checking out the local page of bars he’d decided The Wyrm was a place he wanted to check out. The place wasn’t too busy yet when he walked in. He went up to the bar and slipped into one of the empty chairs beside a man. Why not? He wasn’t antisocial or anything. When the bartender turned to ask him what he’d have, Jonathon ordered a beer. He grabbed a few of the peanuts from the bowl that was set down and munched on them.
A beer was set before him and Jonathon thanked the bartender then paid before taking a long swig.
Matt found himself at The Wyrm for a drink before he left to meet Jess. While the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen preferred The Wyrm, he knew his friend’s preference for Lou’s. Plus, he trusted the beer on tap more at The Wyrm than Lou’s. Call it a learned experience.
He sensed a man sitting next to him, which thankfully Matt didn’t have to pretend not to notice. A barstool moving certainly let Matt know someone sat next to him.
“Evening.” Matt offered the person a grin while wearing his sunglasses. So far only Eve saw him without the sunglasses in this place. He had about three quarters of a beer left.
He wasn’t expecting a greeting of any kind so soon. “Hi, good evening,” Jonathan replied, turning to look at the man beside him. ‘Come here often,’ was on the tip of his tongue to say in the most joking way, but he couldn’t know how it would be taken so he didn’t. He certainly didn’t want to offend the other have him think he was flirting when he wasn’t.
“I’m Jonathon, new arrival. I’ve been here about two weeks so any newbie jokes you have feel free to let them fly.” He chuckled and took another swig of his beer.
Matt saw no reason to be unfriendly while at a bar, especially not when someone sat beside him. His senses told him Matt hadn’t met this particular person, yet. If the other man asked him come here, often Matt would have chuckled. Foggy would certainly say something like that to Matt on occasion.
“Nice to meet you, Jonathan. I’d ask if you come here often, but you just told me you’re new, so I’ll guess no.” Matt grinned and huffed out a bit of laughter before he took another drink from his beer. “I’m Matt and I only arrived in February, so I don’t think I should be the one to throw newbie jokes at you. Although, hopefully your arrival sucked a little less than mine.” Hell’s Devil arrived mid-fight and landed on someone named Sylvie who threw him into Alyssa. That had been a comedy of errors, although he felt badly about landing on the young woman.
“Good to meet you, Matt,” he replied then laughed. “Are you a mind reader?” He eyed the other man then laughed again. “I was thinking that very line, but didn’t want it to come off the wrong way.” You never knew with people you just met. “I really haven’t done much exploring since I’ve been here. It’s strange being somewhere I don’t know anyone. I can ask anyone to go out and explore things, so I decided today I’d just go on my own and here I am for a drink.” That brought forward the fact that he’d never be able to see his family or friends again unless whoever sent him back home. According to others there was no rhyme or reason as to when or why someone left.
He drank some more. “I landed in the middle of town. Someone helped me and told me where to go to get more info. How did you arrive?” He kind of figured everyone arrived about the same way, but what did he know?
Now Matt laughed out loud. “Nope, not a mind reader, just channeling my best friend. He’d make a wisecrack and that seemed like the most innocent one. “I’m not one to judge anything a person says as long as it isn’t threatening someone.” He understood not wanting to upset someone you just met, though.
He understood not knowing people here. Sadly, Matt found people here knew a future him, but thankfully he and Jessica Jones formed a friendship. Jen Walters seemed like a nice person, but they hadn’t spent much time together.
“I decided to sit out this portal. The last one had me fighting flying monkeys and tagging along when my friend decided to steal a very late paperweight.” Matt’s no stealing rules didn’t extend towards the Wicked Witch of the West.
“Well, if you’re ever looking for someone to explore with you, let me know.” Matt knew how it felt to be the newbie. Honestly, he hadn’t complained about Jess signing him up for speed dating because it helped him meet people.
“I landed on one person who promptly threw me into a winged girl, so I had to apologize to her.” And avoid her and her boyfriend afterwards. “I definitely caused damage to Alyssa. I don’t think a pile of me being thrown full force into her was on either of our BINGO cards.”
"The Muppet portal? Yeah, I didn't go through it. Never cared much for them. I don't get why some people are so crazy about them. I've seen them and I don't think they're funny or anything. Different strokes for different folks." He shrugged and took another drink of beer. He huffed out a chuckle. "Flying monkeys. You're not making these portals sound any better."
"Yeah? That's nice of you to offer. I may take you up on that. It'd have to be the weekend. I recently got a job, two actually and I work Monday through Friday. What's your favorite place here...so far?"
His eyebrows raised. "That sounds like a rough landing or entrance if you will. I hope no one was hurt." A winged girl made him think of Alyssa, but he wasn't going to assume it was her. "So where are you from, Matt?"
“I’m sure the Muppet portal is fun, but I don’t think it’s for me.” Matt didn’t specifically want to turn into one and he couldn’t be sure what the noise would be like for him. “I like the Christmas Carol version and Animal, but…I didn’t watch them much before I lost my eyesight.”
He shrugged as Hell’s Devil took a pace from his beer. “I’ve heard a few were fun, but that one was the Wizard of Oz. Before the flying monkeys vendors sold exotic food.” Matt actually enjoyed trying new fruits in the portal.
“I work at the law firm, so I’m usually busy during the week too.’ And sometimes Saturdays depending on how busy they were, but Matt took off Sundays to attend church. He still believed in God and his Catholicism.
“I’m a fan of the Combat Therapy gym and Starbucks. Fancy coffee isn’t really my thing, but it’s close to work and the admin assistant generally brings us coffee from there.” The admin assistant whose mother Matt rather liked. “I think there are a few places that would be cool to visit, but with my eyesight, I’m hesitant to visit in case I run into something.” Like at the magic shop.
“Alyssa was…a bit shaken. I wanted to ensure she was okay but…it was suggested that I vanish before her vampire boyfriend showed up.” Matt hadn’t wanted to start his time here fighting a damn vampire. “New York City, specifically Hell’s Kitchen. You?”
That bit of information explained why the man was wearing sunglasses inside. "I've never seen any of the movies, but I have seen bits of the show. It's just not for me, but to each their own." He took a swig of beer. "Someone told me the Wizard of Oz portal was cool. I would have gone into that one," he smiled.
"Seems you are a very busy man with such a job." He leaned back a bit and finished off his beer. "I've never been a coffee snob or needed the fancy kind. I couldn't afford to be as a struggling musician in New York. I've only ever been inside a Starbucks once in my entire life. I didn't think there was anything that special about the coffee. It's so expensive and I don't see the point or appeal," he shrugged.
"You could go with someone to those places," Jonathon suggested. "I'm sure you're friends or someone you know would be happy to go with you." That's what friends were for after all. "I'm glad no one was seriously hurt by such a crazy landing here, for lack of a better term." Using that term made him grin a little. "I was living in New York City before coming here, but I grew up in Maine. Madison reminds me a bit of home. Anyway, I'd been living in New York for about nine years."
“Yeah, we’re usually pretty busy.” But, from Matt’s understanding, the firm ran better with more than Kristof working there. “With people showing up all of the time, we’re never without work.” Honestly, Matt didn’t care where he got his coffee, as long as it came hot and caffeinated. “I couldn’t afford it either. Usually, because I worked a lot of…my clients paid in food.” Matt shrugged, but couldn’t help laughing. “I received some delicious pies.”
He knew people would help him, but Matt hated to ask for help, especially not after what happened with Eve. She’d already helped him a lot. “I have to say, I did not love my introduction into this place.”
“I miss New York, but I…don’t mind this place.” Matt could…build a life. Nobody needed Hell’s Devil and, while parts of that made him sad and lost, it gave Matt a chance to maybe build a relationship and a life.
His drink finished, Matt offered the other man a grin. “I have to go meet a friend, but I appreciated talking to you. We should definitely do it again.”
"Yeah? Pies are pretty good," Jonathon grinned. He wasn't going to judge how someone paid for a service as long as it didn't hurt anyone. "I miss the city too which is odd considering the small town I grew up in, but New York...well, she is a city of dreams and so much more." Sure it had it's bad parts like any other place, but there was also magic and excitement. That's what he missed and his friends.
"I certainly don't want to keep you." He straightened up and smiled. "It was good meeting you, Matt. I'd be up for drinks or hanging out again if you'd like. Enjoy the rest of your evening."