closed

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» WHO? Karen & Elektra
» WHEN? Now
» WHERE? Somewhere
» WHAT? Things
» WARNINGS? Nah



[Karen's not an alcoholic, but it might be easy to think she is with how often she frequents the bar these days. It's become her favorite place to think and work for hours at a time, slowly sipping at a drink or two. She manages to miss a lot of people in the process, which is probably how she hasn't taken notice of a very specific person that drops in probably about as often as she does. It isn't until she takes a break and glances over at whoever's sitting in the seat next to hers that she realizes Frank isn't the only person from home here.

She definitely recognizes that face, remembers it clearly.

Shock is evident as she stares for a moment, struggling to find anything to say that isn't petty or childish.]

So, you finally managed to ditch Matt.

[That's a joke. Look at how she's smiling. Clearly, this is a great start to a conversation.]

Comments

[blacksky]

[Elektra is trying to enjoy her last days of flirting with alcoholism like any self-respecting rich girl. It's pretty clear her days are numbered on playing this role. She'll have to do something soon. The idea doesn't exactly please her after a lifetime of always going on some mission even if it was one planted in her head to keep her from leaving the Natchios the first chance she got.

Somehow she missed Karen all this time. She recognizes her too though more from voice and the color of her hair than anything else. That's the trouble with spy work. You can watch and listen, but there's little engagement. The only time they came close to it, she'd been on her deathbed. It was hardly the best first impression.

Karen is certainly making an interesting one. She can't help letting out a soft laugh of amusement. Well she has her attention. This is certainly better than the openings she might have suspected were coming if they ever properly met.] We had a disagreement. You know how he gets when that happens, I suspect.

[Like she didn't spy on that very situation. What a creep she is.] Let's just say I rather be doing this than dealing with his judgment for one more second. [She drinks to that.]

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[The laughter earns a smile from Karen, and she very nearly ends up choking on her drink the more she hears. ]

He's a lawyer. Hypocritical judgement is part of who he is.

[Her glass is raised in a cheers motion, and she takes another drink. Talking like this, far removed from the last time she had seen Elektra, it's easy. There isn't the feeling of betrayal and heartbreak anymore. She isn't angry at Matt, she doesn't want him any longer. This conversation wouldn't have happened if they had properly met that day she walked in on Elektra in his bed. It's better that it's happening now.]

[blacksky]

[Elektra wishes she could say the same. She's still hurt. It's impossible not to be when he offered a real chance at being a person at his side and ripped it away at first disagreement. She doesn't blame anyone, but Matthew for that. She's surprisingly honest for at least this particular moment.] You're smarter than me to have figured that out. He always came off as painfully sincere to me.

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[Karen goes still and quiet, thinking back to when she first met Matt and Foggy. She thinks of all that he's done for her, the chances he gave her. The protection he provided. The closeness that grew between them only to slowly die off as he became preoccupied with Daredevil over Frank's case and his practice.

Her thumb rubs along the rim of her glass and she glances down as she process all of the memories and tries to sound as genuine as possible.]

I think he has to make himself seem that way. With who he is, and what he does...

[There's a light, almost helpless shrug of her shoulders. She can't judge Matt for what he chooses to be, no matter how bitter she still is that he never told her.]

It's easier for him to make connections if he comes across as sincere. He never expects anyone to get close enough to figure out the truth.

[She's just guessing here, but it seems like there's more between her new friend and Matt than she assumed.]

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[Her words sink into her skin. Elektra feels so terribly heavy. She didn't realize until now just how badly she's been wounded by what happened. It's surprising really. Why else would she spend her days drinking and throwing herself into her play pretend role? For the first time since she got here, she feels like herself; whoever that is. She glances down at her drink, unable to hide her hurt any longer. Karen is telling her what she already knows, but never let herself acknowledge once he broke her heart.] It's my fault. I know him. I've always known who he is at his very best and terrible. I just thought...

[She takes a drink. She thought she could have a better side too. She thought maybe she could see what he sees when he looks at her with so much love. She can't voice that so she asks something somewhat related.] Did you ever dream you could be something more?

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[That's a slightly sensitive question, but she knows no harm was meant in asking it.]

I still dream that I might be something more than who I am.

[She's not qualified for the career she has now, at least not in the traditional sense. But being a journalist gives her a purpose, and she's proud of what she's able to accomplish. That doesn't mean she's perfectly content with her life and with who she is. She's constantly struggling with feeling inferior.]

Especially here. It feels like I'm never enough.

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[It's so painfully honest. Elektra looks at Karen with a surprising amount of vulnerability and thinks she was right about her. Maybe Matthew didn't care for what she had to say about herself and Frank Castle, but Elektra had respected it even if she had no business even having those private thoughts.

Maybe it's the alcohol or the loneliness, she finds herself being honest right back.] I had this dream that I could be whoever he saw when he looked at me.

[She shakes her head.] I couldn't live up to it. I don't know how to be anything other than what I am. What I am isn't very good.

[Maybe that would be okay if she didn't want to be better. She does. She has for so long it almost taste bitter on her tongue.]

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[Karen hasn't felt this raw or vulnerable in a long time, and it takes a lot for her to sit there and wallow a little in that feeling. ]

You shouldn't have to be anything other than who you are. I -

[I killed a man once. She hesitates when she thinks that. It probably would be dramatic to say that. So she doesn't. Instead, she reaches over and lightly touches at Elektra's arm. Support is an easier thing for her to do than to try and explain that she understands.]

I know that it's easy to think you're not good, and that you shouldn't be loved. But we're worthwhile and deserve happiness. You don't have to live up to anything that any man puts on you.

[Jesus, she's starting to sound like Frank. Next thing she knows, she's going to be telling Elektra to find love and hold onto it with everything she's worth.]

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[She glances down at the hand on her arm and thinks of Matthew. Neither the Natchios nor Stick were sentimental people. He always touched her, held her like she was precious. Whatever he saw is long gone. She wonders what Page would think of her now. What a strange turn of events. She made such a show of dismissing her. Now she wonders if this person may be the only one who can validate her pathetic life ruled by stupid and cruel men.]

Do you still believe that even when you have to do terrible things to survive? To keep the monsters at bay a little longer? [She scoffs at herself. How stupid she's been. She's spent her life ready to throw it away for a thankless role in an endless war.] That's my real job, you know. I hold them back as long as any of us can and keep them from getting any stronger than they already are. Not one of my better decisions.

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[At first, Karen assumes Elektra must be talking about metaphorical monsters. But then it sinks in that there's no metaphor here, and her new friend is just being bluntly honest.]

Yeah. I have to believe that, even if you have to do unspeakable things in order to survive.

[Of course, this is all hypothetical and at risk of being changed due to Karen's hypocritical changes in mood. ]

Sometimes the only choices we have to make are bad ones. I don't think that should always be held against you.

[Her hand squeezes at Elektra's arm, and she sighs.]

It's why I can't hold finding you in Matt's bed against you. Why were you there anyway?

[blacksky]

[She hangs on every word. Elektra needs to believe that. She's not a monster, she thinks. She is a soldier or at least she was one. She's sick of every decision she makes around Matthew being called into question as a test of morality. What good are Catholic morals when ancient beings will burn your city to the ground? She does what she has to.

... But then Karen finishes and all Elektra can do is laugh. She's probably being played right now, but honestly? It feels so good to talk freely. The answer Karen wants is one she's happy to share.] To be perfectly honest, I was trying not to die. I know what it looked like, but when I came into town I made it very clear that one of my rules when dealing with him was no sex. I was in his bed because the old man with us needed a place to treat my injuries. A hospital couldn't fix me.

[She unbuttons her jumpsuit shamelessly so she can show Karen the wound. It's not as bad as it should be. Stick taught her how to heal too. It's pretty clear someone slashed her with something very sharp not too long ago even if the gash is healing nicely.] Very sexy, don't you think?

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[O-Oh. She's not expecting to see that. Or hear that kind of answer really, though she guesses it makes sense. Always nosy, Karen reaches out to very lightly touch at the skin around the injury. It reminds her a little too much of Frank.]

Oh, I'd definitely say yes if you asked me out, now that I've seen it.

[It makes Karen laugh a little to be so stupid. It's nice to just have a genuine conversation with someone with no expectations of how she should act.]

Has someone here seen this? I'm not sure if there are any doctors, but I know someone that can help. He's from home. His name is Frank Castle.

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[Elektra makes no move to stop her. Really she's on the money. There's on a cut on the back of her neck to match this one. God only knows how well it's healed when she had to take out the stitches herself on the station. She openly scoffs at her questions.] You think I'd let one of these idiots touch me? As far as they're concerned the hardest thing I do all day is lift a glass to my lips. I'm keeping it that way as long as possible.

[Karen is obviously welcome to touch clearly. She buttons up her shirt as she mulls over the idea of letting him in on this. She does have leverage on him; both of them really. She doesn't see Karen tattling to anyone about her war wounds or Frank for that matter. Still it makes her feel in control so she proceeds like Karen is talking her into it.] I've met Frank the bartender. I wouldn't mind asking him for help if you reached out first.