holdplease | ( closed to fightlikehell. )

[The establishment has glowing reviews. Yelp buzzing about reliable work, decent prices and charming setting. Matt tries to take these things with a grain of salt. The only low rating reviews were nitpicky. Clearly made by people never satisfied with anything. It checked all the boxes for Matt.

He moves the bag to the counter top and carefully palms over to ensure he won't be putting his items on anything. The clock is the first to come out.

Hearing the conversation, how can he not hear it he hears everything, Matt beams. Oh. That was a child. Probably one of the more well-behaved little persons he has ever come across.]

Hi. Matt Murdock.

[The hand is extended, best not to attempt to take his hand and let him do the pleasantries that way.]

I got a special case.

[A little laugh at himself. What else wold he have really?]

Edited 2019-08-12 00:47 (UTC)

[ Well, Tony does his best. Tries to stay humble about it. It's hard when people still have his face plastered all over the occasional TIME or various other magazine covers from way back.

His eyes follow the clock as it comes out, and his interest is already piqued. He loves being able to revamp old tech, at least, if that was okay with the person who wanted things fixed. He hasn't worked on anything precisely like that before, but he'll give anything a go. As far as Morgan is concerned? Tony knows he won the kid lottery with manners, even if she does slip up on the occasional curse word thanks to his slip ups. ]

Nice to meet you, Matt. [ He takes his hand to shake it. ] So, what do you have for me?

Great to meet you, Tony.

[Obviously the father to the darling child and the owner of this establishment. Matt has endless admiration for parents, for business owners, for everyday people. It's quite an assumption that Tony is just like any other person. It's the sort of air he puts on.

Both hands are on his strange, triangular phone.]

I must have got this in college. This is my alarm clock. It is supposed to talk and tell the time. It vocalizes but just...scrambles the time. I've been relying on my cellphone for now.

Likewise.

[ Wouldn't he be shocked to find out the last name? He probably will at some point. Most people do. Tony heads around the small counter as Morgan leans up on it to try and give her own discerning look. ]

Mind if I go ahead and take a quick look?

[ He grins at the mention of how old the alarm clock is. He's seen a couple of things like it, never got a chance to work on one. ] Got it.

So, are we wanting this fixed right off or some updating? [ He turns it on, and sure enough, we've got the voice, and then the time just ---well. It tried. ] It's definitely trying.

[A name like Tony all by itself in the city like New York doesn't set him apart from anyone. The last name though. That's the real kicker. For now Matt treats him with the everyday kindness that he would with any other Tony.

He can hear small feet scurrying.]

Please, go ahead.

[Matt is quiet as he hears the surface shifted and turned.]

If it could tell me the time that would be terrific. I'm not sure if it uh could be updated. I mean, it's easily six or seven years old.

[ That's the great thing about a name like his. It helps with the low profile he tries to keep. One of Matt's coworkers might clue him in at some point. ]

It got the time wrong. [ Comes Morgan's very discerning deduction. ] It sure did. Looks like I'm gonna have to fix that, huh? [ She gives a quiet uh huh. ]

I can definitely get that up and running for you. As far as the updates go, I can take a look. I'm pretty good in a pinch.

[ Tony doesn't really do this for the money. He doesn't have to. Which is probably why so many people stop in instead of calling the Geek Squad. ] I don't have anything going at the moment, so I could get it back to you in the next few days.

[Soon enough. For now though, basic human decency and Murdock charm are at work. His fingers are laced together as he leans against the counter. He smiles and nods at the young lady.]

You're a very smart young lady.

[Young to be sure. The deduction of the problem and crayons mean she must be at the very most seven.]

Thank you. I really appreciate it. I uh also have a little problem with my reader. This had happened before a few years ago. I dropped it. I think it just needs a few things tightened.

[The second object is long, flat with small holes that alter to let Matt read the Braille.]

[ The guy is definitely that. Tony's really hoping that Morgan isn't going to pick up on it. She and Pepper have been conspiring to get him a date. He's outnumbered. It's terrible. ]

Daddy's the smartest. [ There's a small scoff in jest and Tony frees up one hand to ruffle her hair gently. ] I'm pretty sure I know somebody smarter.

Of course. [ He sets the clock to the side so he can get a better look at the display. ] Yeah, I can definitely get these taken care of for you.

Do you need them soon? I can probably rush it. I just don't want to tell you inside a week and you need it in like a day.

[Daughter and father team, they really are just adorable. Matt smiles and pushes his glasses up on his nose.]

Maybe smarts just...run in the family.

[Happy medium. No one asked him. He wets his lips.]

Oh uh. I mean, I'd appreciate having them before the week is out if that's possible. I have other means. It is just easier to have separate devices verses relying on my phone for everything. The voice command isn't reliable.

[And the whole flat screen where he can press many things he doesn't need.]

[ He doesn't know the half of it. Tony offers a huff of a laugh in agreement. Humming a moment, he sets the refreshing display back down. ]

Could be, yeah.

[ He looks it over, and then mentally goes over his on hand inventory for a moment. He should have all the parts without having to call anything in. Even if he has to, he can talk to a few people he has pull with if he needs something else. Perks of being him, despite shunning the throne. ]

I can definitely do that. How about I give you a call tomorrow and I can let you know where I'm at with them? Just to keep you in the loop. I don't see me needing to have them here longer than Wednesday.

[ He said that even though the week's only just started. ]

[Not a clue no, though a capable tech minded fellow and an observant little girl. Quite the pair.]

Really? That's--thank you! [This is not at all the way he had thought this was going to go. Matt beams and feels so much more optimistic about how the rest of the week will roll. The suit makes him look stuffy and serious. When he smiles the way he does it peels back the layers.]

So you need a deposit now? Or I just pay upon pick up?

[One frustration is that it seemed like the pricing was all over with no posted fees.]

Edited 2019-08-12 22:11 (UTC)

Yeah, it's not a problem at all. [ The guy is just trying to get by. Tony appreciates that in people. It's part of why he's got this little place far away from the empire his family built.

It's better this way, he's sure. ]

I don't really do deposits, so yeah just pickup works. How's, uh, $200 sound?

[ Please, it's probably his favorite assclown who just didn't like him for making him pay the market price when he tried to take advantage of his good will. Tony doesn't appreciate that kind of bullshit. ]

[Matt shifts his stance to get his wallet out of his back pocket.]

So that's half now, half later?

[Really two hundred dollars for custom repair on two pieces of machinery? That's not done. Reasonable prices or not that is just insanity. This is New York City after all. The rent is ridiculous.]

Card okay?

[He can verify a check written. Matt doesn't carry that much cash ever.]

No, it can all be when you pick it up. I'd rather make sure it fits what you need before we do any kind of payment.

[ Tony reaches over Morgan to get to his actual clipboard for keeping client contact information. He pulls the pen from where it is behind his ear, and starts to write down the basics of the items dropped off. ]

Matt Murdock, right? Can I get a phone number so I can call you back?

[His expression still stays bright as he returns the wallet to his pocket.]

Certainly. Thank you. I've been having a devil of a time trying to find a place to take these. I'd just replace them but....

[A shoulder shrugs. That whole working internship is going to be a running leap into his future. Though that means that he is not making enough to have money to burn on new equipment with rent.]

Yes I only have a cellphone but you can reach me at this number almost all the time.

[Is that pouring it on thick? Matt clears his throat. Jeez. A little brains, a little sense of humor, a little tenderness and he's gone? How is he that easy?]

[ It's little things like that which make it easy to not change his policies on how he deals with the public. He knows he's helping here. Serving the public in a way that he doesn't believe he'd really be able to at Stark Industries. Charity wasn't really Obie's style. ]

I can't imagine there's a lot of places that would know the first place to start with them, honestly.

[ He writes down the number when he gives it to him, and tucks the pen back behind his ear. ]

Got it. I'll give you a call tomorrow, let you know how it's going.

Yeah. [He scratches the back of his head just thinking about the time he has had.] Google can find almost anything. I wasn't sure if this would be an option either.

[Don't you dare say thank you again Matt or else he's going to think that you're seriously poor or something.]

That's--wow. You must have a work force here.

[There are two heartbeats in this office outside of Matt's. Not true. Maybe they've got late hours? Maybe here is a machine that does the trick.]

That's for sure. I'm glad you found us, though.

[ He wouldn't think that. He'd only think you were grateful. Most people would be. ]

Nah, just me. I keep odd hours. Benefits of living above the shop if I can't sleep.

[Somewhere in the room is a very clean piece of electronics. It's a hum. Not very loud at all. Soothing and constant.]

Just you?

[His brow furrows in sympathy. A business with raising a kid that's a serious undertaking.]

I hope that your work ethic still allows you to rest and relax when an opportunity comes up.

Just me. It's all good though. I get to spend time with this one when she's not in school.

[ Plus there are the hours and hours of working on their own experiments outside of homework. Gotta get those science fair ribbons. She has high aspirations already. ]

It does. We make time for the important stuff. [ Like juice pops! ] Yeah, like juice pops.

Juice pops...do sound like they're pretty important.

[Not that he has had one. The exuberance from the little one cannot be denied.]

Well in that case. I look forward to your call. I uh...

[He remembers that he has business cards now and reaches for it.]

I don't know if you'd ever need any legal services but--[It feels like Tony is doing him an enormous favor.]

They are. This one's always got them on her mind. Pretty sure if I looked in her ear that's all I'd find. Juice pop sticks.

[ A giggle and a no! She gives a small smack to his arm. ] Oh, ow, hey. I don't know I might need some getting so viciously attacked here.

[ He takes the business card to tuck away with his files. Well, the files Pepper so graciously organizes and keeps. Obie would be seething if he knew Tony would rather work with someone outside of the company. ]

The brutality.

[He feigns surprise, complete with the hand to his chest. Matt is smiling all the while.]

Thank you, sir. Miss. You both have a wonderful day.

>[The cane extends and he feels over the counter top for his shoulder bag now empty of his broken electronics.]

[ Repairing those particular electronics had been a bit of a challenge, mostly cause Tony hadn't every worked on them before. He had to teach himself what he needed to know, and then there was making sure it did what Matt needed it to when he picked it up. Still, it only ended with running into him when it was time to give him back his stuff, and the few minutes it took to go over it all and make sure he was happy with it.

Tony can admit he wouldn't have minded just ---finding an excuse to talk with the man for any other reason.

Today is a new day, though, and he's at the Chelsea Water Park with Morgan cause it's too hot to be at a regular one or just cooped inside all day long. He's one of maybe a few adults that actually ever gets out there, chasing after her and being chased. It ends with both of them drenched from head to toe, but it's totally worth it. Daddy, can we go over there for lunch? They have cheeseburgers.]

Yeah, baby, let's find out shoes and head over, okay? You cooled off? Huh? Who won that splash fight. You? No way.

[Running across Tony was really a treat. Out and about with his items no less. Well, that was just kismet. A few moments of breezy conversation. It was just what he needed after a brutal day in court. The energy this man exudes is so refreshing. His positive nature and curiosity. They haven't known each other very long but he can say without hesitation that Tony is not like anyone else he has ever known.

The hot weather was challenging for everyone. He wasn't the type to stay indoors as it was. L and Z said go to Chelsea and see a client. On the way back he was hungry for stimulation, food and something easy going. A water park? Why not.

Kids laughing, clear and dirty water beat the stench of sweat in Hell's Kitchen. So he's waiting for his order. There's a small voice in the distance. It's...familiar. An adult voice answers.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject