1964-03-06 - Chinese Laundry
Summary: Zed comes to Janie's shop to get some clothing tailored. Then decides to stay overnight in Chinatown to clean some dirty laundry.
Related: None
Theme Song: None
zed janie 


Chinatown wasn't the sort of place non-Chinese speakers tended to spend much time. The community, in the early sixties, is somewhat closed off from the rest of New York City- largely by a language barrier. A great deal of the inhabitants don't speak English as a first language, and those who do, still tend to stay within Chinatown. Its easier that way.

Which is what makes Zed's interest in the community so very odd. He's known in the markets- the black man who speaks Chinese. Its an odd thing, really, very few of his people speak the language. His reputation, though, isn't exactly stellar- he's done *things* to certain citizens. Hurt them badly. Taken something from them. Left them shuddering, nightmare infested messes that start at every shadow. They're scared- and that fear has a way of spreading. It might be odd, then, that Zed steps into Janie's shop one lovely Monday morning, carrying a few freshly laundered shirts and pants- they seem to be cut up a little. In need of repair. He looks about the shop quietly, just curious and quiet.

*

*

While many ofthe inner core Chinese have the bad habbits of not speaking a word of English - or rathernot being caught dead speaking english as a lot ofthem do understand enough to get around somewhat. But on the other hand, mouth phone in Chinatown worked well - and even Janie had got the news, that some western Devil did badly hurt Mr. Li, but after all to some of the blabbermouthes even cars were western devils at times. So Fashion's Boutique at the edge of Chinatown was open as always, and as Zed entered, the bell called for Janie from behind. The curtain quickly opened as she stepped out, a light smile on the face. "What can I do for you? Something new or something changed?" she asked, then spotting the clean clothes, "or rather something fixed?"

*

Chow Zu Hau aka Zhuge Li- A former Chinese Military Commander who murdered several Korean nationals. Torched villages. The blood of men, women, and children alike were on his hands- and only a deal with the Americans got him out of big trouble when he was captured by the Korean government. He turned traitor, changed his name, and ended up in New York City.

"Yes, please." he says as Janie speaks, stepping forward to offer the clothing. Army surplus by the looks of it. Tears and holes, primarily. "I've gotten very attached to these old clothes, and I'd really rather like to keep them as long as possible."

*

"You don't look all that old, but sure, let me see…" Janie spoke as she places all the items on the counter to take a better look at them. "A cut, some holes… looks like rather agressive moths you have there. But nothing I can't fix in a few hours. Do you want to gather them tomorrow or do you need to have them fixed before your free day ends?" Something hints, she kind of expects him to be in the military. "I could fix it up in maybe two hours, and your commander will barely note it."

*

"No rush. I have a closet full." Zed replies, "My commander? The only time my commander calls me these days is for drinks and cigars." he says with a chuckle, "You just wear a particular outfit for a long time, and it sort of grows on you. You know?" he asks with a quiet smile. Friendly, in a way. "The name is Zed, by the way. A pleasure to meet you, Miss."

*

"Misses Wu. So I note down you retrieve them tomorrow? It will be about seven dollars, but that is still a third what new olives would cost." Janie says, as she folds them up, writing a note on a piece of paper to pin to the folded shirt and trousers. "You should get yourself something against these Moths though."

*

"I somehow doubt the kind of moths I encounter would be dissuaded by Mothballs, Mrs. Wu." Zed replies simply, "They tend to be somewhat insistent." he says with a chuckle, head cocking to the side as he looks over his shoulder. There's a shout from outside- some nut with a gun. Zed's eyes narrow quietly. He's shouting in Chinese- a local protection thug. "Looks like the Woo Sing Woo boys are strapped for cash." The dark-skinned man says as he raises the collar of his jacket. "Stay here, Misses Wu."

Zed then turns and steps towards the door to the shop as the Triad thug manages to get a payment out of Misses Wu's across the street neighbor- some little bakery. Zed stops, and then he speaks in Chinese- <Hey, Hun Dan (Scumbag Egg), looks like you're picking on the wrong people- what, need the cash to pay for your xiao bai lian? (his 'young male lover')> Even without a gun, Zed seems fearless- even as the punk turns and begins to posture- pointing the gun directly at Zed's chest as he shouts and screams.

*

Janie narrows her eyes as Zed starts to talk foul to the guy that did worked for the Triads. "Please, don't make a scene…" she muttered as she put the clothes she was given into a box with work for the evening, her eyes lingering on the scene out of the door.

*

BANG! The gun goes off. Zed stumbles back- but he doesn't fall. Another shot. A third. Persistent moths indeed- Zed stands still, and the bullets- flattened fall to the ground. Zed rushes forward then, grabbing the man's arm and with a thrust there was a break- a loud snap as the man's arm bends in a wholly unnatural direction- "You don't get it, do you, punk?" he asks, still speaking in Chinese- "I'm not afraid of you. I'm not afraid of *any* of you." The young man is screaming now- more in pain than anything else.

Zed looks back to JAnie. "Don't you worry." he says off to her. "This idiot won't be causing trouble for anyone for a good, long while." he looks to the punk, hand sliding back to the man's wrist- he just squeezes. His hand tightens. Crunch. A wrist completely shattered.

*

Janie pulls up the hand in front of her mouth as the gun goes off, Zed taking the bullets… and then just shrugging it off to break the arm of the Triadman! Moving to the door, she gestures Zed outside. "You know what that means?! They're gonna make us pay for what you did!"

*

Zed looks back to Janie, then looks to the thug. "Let me tell you something." he says to the punk, lifting him again- pulling his close. There's a flash of blue- as Zed breaths in- pulls something out of the criminal. "Tell them. Tell all the Woo Sing Woo. I'm coming for them. If a single shop keeper here is harmed in *any* way. I'm going right to the top." how he speaks, the words he says- all Chinese. All very angry. "I'm going to destroy you. All of you. And all of you will never forget."

Whatever Zed took from the man- whatever that flash of blue was? Its clearly done something to the punk- tears are streaming down his cheeks. Terror is on his face. He's taken *something* from the man. "You hear me. You tell them- you tell them all." He growls, anger contorting Zed's face as he throws the man down.

*

Janie just stares at the man shocked, but the old woman on the other street starts to make signs to fend of demons.

*

Zed lets the man go. He turns back to look at Janie. "I'll be back tomorrow." he says, "For my clothing. Thanks.." he says next, as he turns to walk further into Chinatown. "I got some work to do here tonight, it looks like. Can't have the Woo Sing Woo fucking with my tailor, wouldn't do."

As he goes, there's a shudder in Chinatown. Someone was going to get hurt this evening. Very hurt… and chances were it wasn't going to be Zed.

*

Janie shakes her head as she moves to work on the backlog of the day…

*

There isn't much to be said during the rest of the day. The night, though? The night is filled with terror. Attacks on the Sing Woo Sing. Attacks on their places of business. Casinos, laundering rackets, whore houses. In one night, tireless attacks. Dozens injured- all Sing Woo Sing. All by the 'Crazy Devil Foreigner'.

When Misses Wu's shop opens, Zed appears not soon after. His current outfit, apart from the jacket, torn up- axe marks. Bullet holes- but not a single mark on Zed himself.

*

Janie eyes the man carefully as he enters, having the fixed clothing on the counter. Not a single mark on them thattheyhave everbeen torn - but then again, they are just a tiny bit tighter where the material was taken from to fix the lost fabric. "You are what they tell in the rumor mill?" she asks without much a hello, pointing to the fixed clothing. "Some kind of posessed corpse? A western Demon?" she asks, to clarify what they say. "You can change in there if you want… And fixing that… might be a bitmore costly than seven dollars."

*

"Money isn't a problem." Zed replies simply as he collects some of the fixed clothing and disappears into the changing room, returning after a few moments in his fixed- if slightly more form fitting- clothing. "And no. I'm not a corpse. Got a heartbeat and everything. I'm just a guy who thinks a certain group of people need to remember that someday, somehow, Justice calls." he offers quietly. "Now that they're down about two dozen enforcers, three lieutenants, and one boss… they'll be a little more careful. And what's important- is that they'll stay scared."

Indeed, Zed had been busy. Tireless through the entire evening- its impossible that he slept at all, but he doesn't seem tired whatsoever. Not even a droop in his eyelids. Of particular note, though, is that no one died. Just very injured- some may never walk without a cane again. All were total wrecks. "That fear will spread. It'll make those I didn't collar a little more careful. Their protection racket is broken. Their gambling dens destroyed and their pimps are all in the hospital." he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out his wallet. A $10 dollar bill, and offers it over to Janie quietly.

*

Janie eyes the billasshe takes it, checking it carefully with her fingertips (and feeling the cotton in it), she nods slowly, opening her old register with the key. "That's ten… and here, one, two three…" she counts one dollar bills to the counter. "The leather… I will see what I can do to hide the cuts." gathering the pieces in the box for work again, she sighs. "I still believe you shouldn't have…"

*

"I understand." Zed offers quietly. "I understand completely." he says softly. "Unfortunately, I have to." he explains, "Otherwise, I might die. I need to eat." he offers softly. "I feed only on those who need to be reminded of Justice. That they are not immune to Justice. That they are not the only dark thing that lives in the shadows."

*

Janie lifts her eyebrows on that, but doesn't say something on it. Instead, she pulls out the notepad again to scribble a note. "Tomorrow again or do I have to rush on the other clothing?"

*

"Take your time." Zed offers once more- leaving the change on the table. "I have all the time in the world." he says softly. "Just stay safe, Missus Wu." he continues next, "There are a lot of mean people in this city. A lot of really bad men and women. I aim to make sure those bad people remember to walk in shadows with fear. You know on how old maps they put: Here be Monsters?" He grins quietly, "I'm the Monster, Missus Wu."

With that, he begins to turn and head for the door, walking slowly as he fishes a packet of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket. The JAcket, it seems, is staying with him- holes and all. "You just stay safe, Missus Wu."

*

Janie sighs a slight bit as she gathers she tip and put it into the counter again, eying him. "You keep the jacket as it is? It will likely not make it much longer if it is not fixed. I could make it almost invisible…"

*

Zed pauses quietly. "Naw. I'll fix it at home." he says simply, "Just another patch on the ole armor." he says with a chuckle. "If it gets to that point, though, I know who to see." he smiles over towards Janie quietly. "I appreciate it, though." he tugs at the jacket. "I'm just a little attached to it. Something to remember."

*

"I see. So till tomorrow." Janie said, giving a little wave.

*

Zed nods his head quietly, and off he goes- disappearing into the crowd.

*

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