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[flippin_peachy]

Well you know, you can be "well mannered" and still be a cunt.
Likewise.
Duly noted, and I'm never one to turn down a dive bar.

[pagekaren]

Hah, isn't that the truth?
What are you impressed by?
Josie's is the dive bar other dive bars hope they grow up to be one day.
Just don't let her talk you into trying any of the "special reserve."

[flippin_peachy]

By you, Miss Page.
Maybe ones in America but you haven't been to a pub in the East end of London so we'll have to see who takes the crown.
Got it.

[pagekaren]

Well, I guess that's my turn to say "likewise," then.
I've never even been out of the northeast of the states. You'll have to give me a live comparison against a London pub once you see Josie's.

ooc: shall we time skip to the next evening at the bar?

[flippin_peachy]

Sounds like fun, see you tomorrow then.

absolutely! i'll give us a little skip in my reply here

[pagekaren]

See you tomorrow.

-

Karen certainly hadn't expected Alfred to invite her out for drinks, but she's nevertheless pleased that he did. He's good company, after all. And despite doing her level best to warn him off with all the various and sundry problems she typically has, he's just been...intriguingly unfazed.

She heads over to Josie's early to finish reviewing information for a case they're working on, and claims one of the high top tables in the back. She sticks out like a sore thumb in the dive of dives, wearing a skirt, blouse, and flats. But she looks comfortable regardless, relaxed even, in a place where she knows the bartender and the locals.

When she feels someone approaching, she glances up, and then smiles genuinely at Alfred, closing the folder on the table. "Hey. Glad you found the place."

merci :)

[flippin_peachy]

It's not exactly something he was planning to do but Karen has been one of the more interesting and intelligent women he's met while being in the states and it would seem a shame not to get to know her better over drinks. And when he arrives at Josie's he also stands out, not because he looks uncomfortable but because his style of clothes are still rather European in comparison to the other patrons. He is dressed in a well fitted dark brown tweed suit with a tight black turtleneck underneath, his shoes are well polished black oxfords.

"I did." He says as he returns the smile and has a seat across from her. "Did I keep you waiting long?"

[pagekaren]

"No, no, I got here a bit early so I could finish up some case research I'm working on." Karen gives her hand a wave to brush away any concern about lateness, and then tucks the folder back into her oversized handbag. Without these plans, she would have gone back to her apartment and stayed up until 1 AM, doggedly pursuing every single thread. It's entirely likely she'll still end up doing that once they part ways.

"I like the suit, by the way," she adds with a smile. It's a good look for him. Tweed is a distinctly underrated fabric.

[flippin_peachy]

"What kind of case?" He doesn't expect her to give him a lot of details but there's no harm in asking, she might feel like sharing tonight. He looks down at his suit and then back into her eyes, giving her a little nod of thanks.

"Oh, thank you. You look nice as well."

[pagekaren]

"Corruption. I'm just looking into some shell companies right now." It's her bread and butter - the exact kind of investigating that she really excels at and sometimes even gets lost in. There's something immensely satisfying about finding just the right thread to pull to completely unravel something.

"We might both be overdressed for a dive," she answers, sounding entertained by the thought. No one's really paying them any mind regardless, because that's just not the vibe at Josie's. "So, what are you going to brave drinking here tonight?"

[flippin_peachy]

"I was probably just going to get a pint but I'm open to suggestions." He says, glancing at the bar to see if they have any specials on.

"You're obviously a regular so what do you usually get?"

[pagekaren]

"Well, you can't go wrong with cheap beer," Karen answers, smiling as she leans in towards the table, as if conspiring. "I'd suggest we do a pitcher. The price ends up just slightly north of dollar drafts. And if you're in the mood for whiskey or scotch, anything with the label turned out is a fair bet."

Meaning: there are a few bottles with the label turned towards the back. The last time she'd braved one of those, it had been the bottle with an eel in it she and Foggy killed after a terrible day.

[flippin_peachy]

He chuckles and leans in as well, "Oh trust me you can go wrong with cheap beer, if you drink enough of it. But a pitcher will do fine, how about we go a step up and get a lager so I won't spend all evening complaining about American beer?"

He STILL isn't used to that part, the strange insistence that Americans have that things like Budwiser and PBR is actually good tasting.

"I assume we just go up to the bar to order?"

[pagekaren]

"Yeah, but that's more the choice of quantity than the choice of beer. You might even be able to make an argument for getting shitfaced on a dime," Karen answers, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes as she lets out a little laugh.

Even so, her lips press together, and she's clearly trying not to dash his hopes. "Um, they usually have Red Stripe as their...most impressive lager. But Corona might be your best bet if you're looking for a better flavor."

With a smile, she slides off of her stool. "Yeah, it's just Josie herself that works behind the bar. I'll introduce you."

[flippin_peachy]

Consider his hopes dashed, Karen. And he sighs heavily as he slips off the bar stool to walk with her over to the bar.

"I suppose Red Stripe will do for the first round." But after that he might switch to whiskey, "But next time I'm taking you to a proper pub so you can have good beer."

[pagekaren]

"I tried to warn you," Karen answers when he sighs, clearly trying not to laugh as she leads the way over to the bar. "I don't even know if I'd recognize what good beer tastes like at this point. So...I'll look forward to it."

Josie gives Karen an up nod, walking over as they approach. "Who's the fancy man? You adopt another lawyer?"

With a grin, Karen puts her hand on Alfred's arm. "No, this is Alfred. Alfred, this is Josie. We're going to do a pitcher of Red Stripe."

[flippin_peachy]

"Alfred Pennyworth, pleased to meet you ma'am." He says, his accent making the word sound more like 'mum' and he offers Josie a charming side smile, she huffs a small laugh.

"A Brit are you?"

"Yes ma'am."

"That explains the manners."

[pagekaren]

Karen has to hide her smile behind her hand, turning her head to the side when Alfred greets Josie politely. Just as she'd expected, her response is to point out his British manners with her typical dry humor.

"Pretty sure you might be the first Brit to ever drink here," Karen points out, sounding amused as she lightly bumps her shoulder against his.

"About time we expand our demographic."

Josie finishes filling the pitcher and sets it on the bar with two glasses.

"Thanks, Josie. Add it to our tab?"

"Yeah, yeah."

[flippin_peachy]

"Really? Well that makes this evening more special, doesn't it?" He asks, turning his head to catch Karen's eye and tip her a wink.

"Cheers, Josie." He says as he grabs the pitcher, letting Karen get the glasses and lead the way back to their table.

[pagekaren]

She laughs a little, inclining her head in acknowledgment of his wink as she picks up the glasses so she can take them back over to the table.

"So, how does this measure up to your London dives?" she asks, sliding back into her seat as she sets the glasses down so he can pour.

[flippin_peachy]

"Well the beer selection is bloody awful but we've already established that." He muses as he sits down and begins to pour them each a glass.

"And there's not as many dart boards as I'm used to but other than that the ambience is pretty much the same."

[pagekaren]

"But can we even really call it a dive if it's got a great beer selection?" Karen points out, in the tone of someone that is clearly always game for a low stakes argument. She thanks him as he pours the beer, and lifts her glass towards him before taking a sip.

There's a contemplative look on her face as she considers his assessment of London vs. New York dives. "I'm weirdly pleased that we're making a good showing here," she decides after a moment. "And no, Josie took down all but one of the dart boards after a fight broke out using the darts. But I'll kick your ass at pool if you want to play a game." Somehow, she manages to make the offer innocently, even smiling despite the challenging gleam in her eyes.

[flippin_peachy]

"I'm not asking for a great beer, I'm just asking for something that isn't watered down piss." He counters but has a long sip of his drink regardless.

"Now a fight that involves darts, that sounds a bit more like a London dive. Extra points if someone got a dart stuck in their head."

Her offer at pool sounds innocent enough but he's not dumb, he catches the gleam in her eyes a lifts his brows at her.

"No thanks, I know a pool shark when I see one."

[pagekaren]

"Isn't that a problem with a lot of the beer here in the states? I'm not a beer connoisseur, but I feel like I've heard some micro-brewery bros saying that." Karen's not even sure she can call herself 'discerning' as regards to beer. It all tastes the same to her. Anytime someone has handed her a glass of something and described it as like 'aromatic' or 'with a fruity aftertaste,' she just finds it tastes the same as every other beer she's tried.

His assessment of the dart fight is met with a grin. "Someone did get a dart stuck in their head. He didn't notice, which was impressive enough to put a pause on the fight." That had certainly been one of the more colorful nights at Josie's in recent member.

She lifts her hands in mock surrender when he arches his eyebrows. "That barely counts as pool sharking. I didn't even try to convince you to put money on the game."

[flippin_peachy]

"It's one of many." Not only do Americans seem to think that beer should taste like water but they also seem to have never learned the art of a good dark beer, like a Guinness, something that sticks to your ribs and is almost a meal.

"Now the real question is did he pull it out and keep playing?"

He has another sip of beer and offers her a smirk, "Course you didn't. That would have been too obvious, you look like the type of shark to get the game going first and then make the offer of cash. Reel me in slowly."