GIRL'S NIGHT

[can_fight_ugly]

WHO: Anne
WHERE: Anne's House
WHEN: Tonight
OPEN TO: OTA/Mingle
WARNINGS: Drinking, will edit as necessary

---

[The video opens to show Anne's living room with a subtle glowing decor of candles and greenery and red berries (though, to note, care has been taken so the two elements are not intersecting). Anne herself is sleek-haired and smiling, with a little kitten perched on her shoulder. She's got one hand up to steady him as he's the inquisitive type, trying to lean in to sniff at the device she's currently talking to.]

I received two surprises today. Little Lynn on my shoulder, here, and an obscene amount of wine. So, I am declaring Girl's Night. 'Girl' is up to your interpretation. If you want to hang out and enjoy some wine, you'll be welcome. Just, BYOG; bring your own glass. House 53.

Private to Franklin

I was gifted with way too much wine for one person, and am throwing a little get together at my house. You're more than welcome to come, and I also wanted to know if you want me to set a bottle aside for you?

Private to Tony

Bottle of wine with your name on it if you want it, as thanks for helping me deal with Eddie and Venom.

At The House

Anne has pulled out a selection of eight bottles and set them in the living room. She's stashed two for herself and the rest are in the kitchen just in case they somehow run through the first 6,000 millileters. She's not sure how much interest there will be or how many people will show up, but she's also aware that what she's got could be considered a hot commodity.

So why not barter with it, Anne? Why not trade it for favors, labor? She asks herself, but the answer is too bare and ready; I'm lonely. The idea of filling her house up for one night for something that's not related to survival, surrounding herself with friends, will make the truth she's facing a little easier to bear.

Hadn't those been the best Girl's Nights? Either sharing a celebration or gathering to commiserate? It's not something Anne did often - she wasn't usually the one organizing it - but with everything that's been happening lately, she'd felt she was in need of a little release and what a perfect sign it was to find the 'Crazy Single Cat Lady Starter Kit' on her doorstep. At least she can have a sense of humor about it.

She's got a dry red opened and a glass poured for herself as she waits for people to arrive.

Comments

[can_fight_ugly]

"Not a problem." They were all in this together, and they'd all survive it best by working with each other than against ... but even then not everyone is going to get along and she thinks about the scenario he's set up.

"Do you know Matt and Elektra from home, or are they friends you've made here? I'm sensing some history, but I don't want to assume.

[clouded_heart]

"Matt and I were college room mates. He was the other half of Nelson & Murdock..." Until it all exploded. "We were friends for over a decade." He takes a larger gulp of the wine than he means to. "Elektra and Matt were together back home. Sort of."

Generally, Foggy's good at hiding emotions. That is very rarely the case where Matt is involved.

[can_fight_ugly]

"Ah," No, she doesn't get the whole story from that generous take of wine, but she can definitely read there's tension. "Troublesome history, then? Is there anything you want to talk about?"

She floats the question carefully; on the one hand, it's helpful to talk about things, on the other; it's really none of her business considering this is really only the second time they've talked.

[clouded_heart]

Foggy sighs softly. "I thought he was dead. For five? Six? Months. And then I get here and he's alive. And I find out he's alive back home, as well. He just hasn't... let me know." There is so much more to it than that, but that's the current most open wound. "I'm not going to throw it all on you. I'm going to get some fo the rocket fuel home brew, drink with Karen and throw it all on her."

He gives Anne a small smile. "But thanks. For asking. Caring enough to ask."

[can_fight_ugly]

That is definitely some painful baggage. She knew how she'd felt those scant couple hours she couldn't get a hold of Eddie when she thought he was dying from a parasite. She couldn't even begin to fathom how she would have felt with the scenario Foggy had just presented.

"We help each other out here, right? That's how we survive. And, if you ever decide you need to throw it all down somewhere, the offer stands."

[clouded_heart]

"Thanks. But there's things I can't talk about. Secrets that aren't mine." Things Matt had done which hurt most in the context of his other work. Or that could only be justified by knowing about it.

"And I hate unloading on people. Especially lovely strangers who share their wine and have their own problems."

[can_fight_ugly]

Anne laughs, "Is it that obvious? I might need to air grievances at some point, but ... I can get not wanting to divulge personal information."

She looks at her glass for a moment before glancing back at him, "You're good, Foggy, you know that? You deserve good things. I'm glad you came out tonight."

[clouded_heart]

"Everyone has their own problems and given your toast and this place and... yeah." He gives her a warmer smile. "Well, I'm happy to listen and apply client privilege, even if you're not a client and we're not in business here."

He looks at the mug when she says that. "Thanks. I try to be a good person. I'm not sure how naturally it comes to me, but I try. You're good people too, Anne."

[can_fight_ugly]

Anne leans froward slightly, casting a little glance around the room. She's had just enough wine, and she trusts Foggy as a fellow lawyer in regards to confidentiality.

"My ex-fiancee is here. Not - here, at the party, but ... also a member of this fun little village." She takes a drink. It's been a challenge, trying to balance temptation and empathy.

[clouded_heart]

"Oh. Oh. I am so sorry, that's awful." The sheer mess of something like that must be more than anyone would want to deal with, let alone in this circumstance.

"Do you want to talk about it? Or what happened? Or should I just top up your wine?"

[can_fight_ugly]

"No, no wine, I should probably lay off for a little bit, but, let me just - I knew he was a handful but I loved him, you know? I loved him. But then he's an investigative reporter, and he had to interview a client that my firm was representing ..." She'd been willing - she had - put up with so much from Eddie.

"Can you imagine coming in for a normal day at work and halfway through being ushered into the office to sign a termination notice and 'clear out your desk' after they've confiscated your laptop and confidential materials because someone went through your email while you weren't aware?"

It is actually very good to talk about it, with someone who understands this level of confidentiality, because she's reminded of the hurt, and anger, and betrayal, which shove aside the clouds of Eddie's charm and their natural attraction. She sits back in her chair with a huff and looks at the wine in her glass. "So, there's that. We'd come to a point of maintaining a healthy friendship back home, but I also had a boyfriend who is sadly not here now and - I miss the buffer."

[clouded_heart]

"Oh fuck." Foggy barely whispers it, but yeah, he can begin to imagine that level of betrayal. It hasn't gone that far yet, but maybe it will.

"That is really, really shitty and you were right to kick his ass to the curb for doing that to you," he says softly. "I am so sorry you went through that. I can see why it must be super hard being here. Someone you love, but who betrays you like that and then being forced into close proximity again..."

It's too easy to forgive, to let the bad things get submerged. "How are you going with avoiding him here?"

[can_fight_ugly]

Anne winces. "I, uh. Haven't. The thing about him is, he ... sometimes needs a babysitter. And here? I'm the most qualified. I don't wish him ill, but I don't want to give him any false hopes. I also don't want him imploding here."

She finishes her wine and deliberately sets her glass down as a mental note to cut herself off for the moment. "It has been suggested I give more distance. But, I guess that's the hard part. He's a project and I like projects and here ... there's a lot of free time."

[clouded_heart]

Foggy gets it.

He had sworn he would tear Matt a new one after all the shit he had pulled, the amount of hurt and negligence. And yet-

Hugs. Tears Matt didn't know were there. Letting him take his arm and carefully mapping out the walk to him. Arranging to come over and help and-

He's done the exact same thing. The betrayal was much less. But he's done a worse job of separating because he doesn't want to.

"How about you introduce me to him? I'm pretty good with human disasters and people who need babysitting for their own good."

[can_fight_ugly]

"Oh, Foggy, I don't want to burden you with this." She had to admit, though; it was tempting. But Tony was helping and she was helping and, no, Eddie's an adult, he should be able to figure this out on his own.

"Maybe. Maybe. You shouldn't have cover his mess." She liked Foggy; she didn't want to inflict Eddie on Foggy, but mroe than that she didn't want to inflict Venom on Foggy. She didn't know if they would be coming public with Venom, or if they did when they would decide to do it, so for now that particular ... complication isn't getting introduced to this conversation.

[clouded_heart]

"It's not a burden." He's not deep enough in his cups to start unloading about Matt, but honestly, things to do are good. "And it's not covering his mess. I'm offering to help with possibly keeping him occupied and maybe some lessons on how to be a vaguely functional human being."

Anne's hiding Venom. Foggy's hiding Daredevil. It's great. "Promise me you'll consider it, at least."

[can_fight_ugly]

"Alright, I promise I will consider it." And she wasn't just saying this to move the conversation along; she would put some serious (sober) thought into it before she made a decision one way or another.

"How is it we became custodians of human dumpster fires? We are Columbia alumni; we are respectable people."

[clouded_heart]

"My human dumpster fire graduated from Columbia with more honors than I did." And he did pretty damn well. "He's just also incapable of making good life choices. The only thing slowing him down here is that he's blind and he hasn't learned his way around yet."

He would undoubtedly go back to terrible decisions as soon as the chance presented itself.

Foggy drinks more wine.

[can_fight_ugly]

Anne watches Foggy with his wine, sympathetic. She purses her lips in thought for a moment.

"Maybe we should introduce them to each other." She's joking, really, but the phrase 'fight fire with fire' existed for a reason.

[clouded_heart]

"Matt is very, very Catholic." Which a lot people find off putting. "I'm fairly sure it's a terrible idea and a good joke but... Another part of me..."

Wonders if they might not occupy one another.

[can_fight_ugly]

"What a coincidence; Eddie is Catholic too." The name sort of casually slips out, helped by wine and the ease of the conversation. "Should probably have you meet him first and we'll consider ... oh my gosh, we sound like two people trying to set up dogs for a playdate."

She can't help but giggle at the mental image, covering her mouth with her hand, laughing a little too long and little too hard. It was a needed laugh, though.

[clouded_heart]

"Oh hell."

They're a pair of lawyers from Columbia with Catholic human dumpster fires they love and hate and- "Are we the same person from different universes? Are you me?"

[can_fight_ugly]

"Maybe I am. What is your opinion on motorcycles?"

It's uncanny, but it's also comforting; to find someone who had this much in common and could understand the specific pains of care-taking their respective human disasters.

Oh, but how deeper would this rabbit hole go if they both realized they were looking after someone that was somehow advanced?

[clouded_heart]

"They look cool, but I am hyper aware of the fact that it's super easy to have all your skin torn off riding them," Foggy states.

The difference also is, Foggy loves Matt, he's family, but they've never been anything except family and best friends. Whereas Anne had that extra layer of complexity on top of it all.

"You're definitely prettier than me, though. And probably look better in a dress."

[can_fight_ugly]

"The risk is what makes them fun." One of the things that made Anne and Eddie work were that they were both impulsive people, but Anne had the sense to know when to reel; a better serve of self preservation.

"Oh, Foggy, you just haven't found the right dress yet."