that's how it always starts, she thinks; a conversation, words with double meanings, a hidden agenda carved out of silence. and cutting through it all, the sound of her sister's even tone as it buzzed through roxy like a shock from her switchboard. isolation hangs on her shoulders like her coat but she doesn't say much about it as she steps out from her building and onto a trolley. the underground system, only just recently opened, set roxy's nerves on edge from too many obtrusive thoughts and a finer understanding of just how tenuous the supports and engineering were set up and it all kept her from enjoying the hot new thing all her friends raved about. roxy rather liked the trolley, she thought; not only was it clean and shining, but she could see the sun as it set behind tall buildings, late afternoon rays reflected in the panes of glass that line the streets.
company wasn't too bad either, and roxy felt the way dirk's palm pressed to hers as she kept her tense attention out the window. "bee in your bonnet?" is the question posed to her, and "something's wrong," is the only answer she'll give. a gentle kiss to her half-brother's cheek leaves a smear of her black lipstick, and she hops off the trolley. it's all he needs to know for those gears in his mind to start turning. only one thing could get roxy so twisted up inside.
a stop-off at her father's hotel makes for a great place to change into something more comfortable for her evening romp; dark blue beads about her waist and a cloche hat pulled over her bright hair. it'll help her blend in as she makes her way down to the docks, a bottle of ginger ale in her hand.
there's a warehouse, several storeys tall and all but empty as roxy sets herself on the rooftop, gazing in through a ceiling pane. the brine from the ocean mixes with the distant jazz beats of the city's nightlife and even through her worry, roxy knows this city the best place in the world to be. she sips, bird-like and nervous as she watches the gathering inside — her sister, some men roxy doesn't recognize, and a few other women just as much strangers — play cards. she's not sure what game, and she can't hear what they're saying. smoke from cigars clouds the finer features of everyone's faces but even without many details to go on, roxy will stay. she has to stay.
that's her baby sister down there with a bunch of strangers. ]
[ News travels through every kind of line. It's just, sometimes, they're a little less above board, but no less talkative.
Samatoki gets updates throughout the day - Nemu kissing him on the cheek and whispering something in his ear when he brings her lunch; his boss sending one, two, three runners out to him with updates all through the afternoon; his police contact laughing derisively about superstitions and spooks; him following up on some information from one of the runners, slamming a veritable weasel against an alley wall to finally get the location he needs.
He takes the underground, blending in with the rest of the people that are excited for the ingenuity of this new transport - and he needs it, too, with his pale hair slicked back and his sharp eyes standing out amongst the crowd. A little extra coverage as everyone chatters, nerves and excitement alike, the sway of the train rocking bodies in seats and standing at the handholds alike. Instead of finding a seat, he stands near the doors, watching nothing but marker lights and stone pass by as he considers the job he's being given.
People who try to take a piece of what the mob owns? Don't make him laugh - they'll lose more than just their business if they keep trying.
But his time isn't spent under or on the ground for long.
Alone, he can get places without anyone interfering or drawing eyes their way. Climbing to the roof is easy enough with the fire escape, and he's agile with sure footing on each and every rung. With his jacket billowing slightly behind him as he climbs up higher and higher, he looks like some shapeless shadow scurrying up the side of the warehouse, taking care to not make much noise, just in case.
(Fuck Sasara and Juto both; he can take the subtle approach sometimes.)
Discovering that he's not about to be alone on the roof, however, gives him pause. Samatoki focuses on the girl peering down into the building, reaching into his inner pocket to pull out his cigarettes and matches. ]
Best not to lean much more'n that, else you're gonna find yourself spilling right through on top of their heads. [ The match catches in one swipe, letting him puff and light the cigarette he withdraws from its pack. ]
[ a surprised gasp violently rips from her throat, and roxy scrambles to her feet in a cascade of beads and the clip of her mary janes against the ceiling roof tiles. cool ocean air slips between all four of her limbs as she spreads her stance and lifts both fists to protect herself. ]
Who the devil are you? [ roxy relaxes a little around her hips but her shoulders stay tense, pink eyes searching over this handsome stranger's expression. ] If you're one of them, don't think your shiekish looks'll save you. I've a right mind to pop a few of your teeth out for sneakin up on me.
[ Red eyes snapping immediately to the opening, Samatoki waits before he says anything, slowly taking a drag off of his cigarette as he stands there, other hand flipping the bottom of his jacket out of the way so he can slide it into his pocket. No one seems to notice the commotion up top, leaving the two of them in their solitude above them for the time being.
At first he'd been thinking she might have been with the party below, considering how she's dressed. But taking another look at her, he's certain, now, that she's not. Different sort of wariness, definite gumption. ]
Right bearcat, ain'tcha. If you're looking to spy, well, better to keep a lookout on your backside. [ Double entendre. ] But I'm not with them, no - I'm here to crash their shindig.
[ and just like that, roxy lets her fists fall down to her sides, her entire frame relaxing. her eyes glance over him, brow furrowed for a moment before she clears her throat and leans forward to pick up her discarded bottle. ]
Nice innuendo, but the bank's closed. [ god, two seconds in already flirting. rose always said that roxy's a little too free with the fellas and it's gonna bring hell down on all of them one day.
roxy often tells her to mind her own manners.
she glances down at the gathering again, glad to see that no one has been alerted to their presence, but there's something that doesn't sit right with her. as roxy takes up her seat again, legs crossed, she gives this guy a curious look. ] What kinda business you here for? Crashing, sure, but why?
[ Watching her stand down, Samatoki's glad that he doesn't have to square off against a girl. Not because hw doesn't think that she's weak - on the contrary, if she's scrappy enough, he imagines she'd go down swinging and taking a chunk out of him - but because his mother taught him better, and his father taught him wrong. ]
Too bad. [ He takes a drag off his cigarette again as he meanders forward leisurely, exhaling a stream of smoke like a lazy dragon as he peers down into the cigar-misty room below them. ]
They've been moving into the wrong turf, causing the wrong kinda trouble. Someone needs to step in before somebody that doesn't deserve it gets hurt.
[ thankfully, roxy's not entirely run by her desire to flirt with anyone who'll look her way, and she's not as much of a dumb dora to get distracted by a cute face for too long. she can smell that cigarette smoke even from here, even with the wind blowing the opposite way, and her eye lingers on samatoki's expression more than those features. ]
You think they're bootleggers?
[ roxy prides herself at being able to read people fairly easily, and maybe it's the shadows cast by the moon above them and the lights around them, but she can't get a read on what's on this guy's mind.
one thing's for sure, roxy doesn't feel like rose would be spending her time with a bunch of rum runners. ]
Some of 'em. [ Eyes down, narrowing slowly like he can pierce through the haze that's made from cigars and cigarettes, Samatoki cocks his head slightly and brings his own cigarette back to his mouth. He's looking for familiar faces, hoping to catch them in the din - and instead, he sees a blonde little thing at one of the card tables. This angle doesn't allow him much, but he does slide a glance to his companion out of the corner of his eye. ]
Got the bigwigs and dames down there that wouldn't be caught dead at a bootlegger shindig. Heard one of the mayor's aids was gonna be here, but I ain't seen him yet.
[ Another stream of smoke, and he watches her through it as he asks: ] And what're you doing here, ready to come to blows like you are?
[ well... roxy supposes there's no use playing coy; she catches that look of comparison. if he's going to tell her his business, even if its not a complete truth, she can share a little about her own.
plus, if he is telling the truth and the mayor's aide shows up, things will have a very high chance of going pear-shaped once the police get involved. if she shares her side, maybe rose can come out the other side unharmed. ]
...My sister's down there. I wanted to see what bimbos she got herself surrounded by.
[ her suddenly somber tone communicates even to a stranger that usually rose is a lot smarter than this. ]
[ That explains that, then. With some measure of consideration, Samatoki straightens up and withdraws his other hand from his pocket. Juto wouldn't lie to him, and neither would Sasara. Anyone else is too scared of him to try it, or his sister, full of wide-eyed determination to make sure he comes home alive every night.
If she were down there, he wouldn't have even bothered with climbing to the roof - he'd be kicking in the goddamn door and threatening every single person in that room within an inch of their life. ]
No place for a sister. [ Some trace of respect, and also agreement. ] You just planning on tailing her, or you thinking of busting up the joint?
[ and gals. and if some of them are bootleggers then they absotively have mob connections, which means guns. which means more danger. roxy can feel her stomach twist itself into a knot.
but even through her worry, she catches that note in his voice, the sound of an understanding older sibling. dirk often sounded that way too when he worried he was spending too much time with his cars and not enough with dave. ]
Guess following was on the docket, seein what she was up to. Then... I dunno, fighting about it when she got back home.
[ For a lot of reasons, Samatoki knows he turns heads. He's foreign-looking - had some bird call him exotic, once - and striking, sharp angles to the point that even his long lashes look cutting. The white hair and red eyes, borderline albino but not quite, leave an impression when he's passing through a crowd.
East 4th street is a little out of his usual range. He passes through, trilby tipped down to shade his face from more than just the stubborn sun of 6 PM, actually trying to draw a few less glances than normal. But his walk, the air he gives off, his clothes, it can all have the same effect as someone seeing the shock of white.
A cigarette gets flicked to the side as he steps up to the building's entrance, hat tilting back as opposed to the propriety of taking it off indoors. Eyes scanning, looking for the exits, the faces in the lobby, he heads up to the reception desk and leans on it, addressing the wide-eyed girl behind it. ]
[ east 4th street is dripping with money. bright lights and tall buildings line the streets, giving this side of town a feeling of artificial daytime well past ten at night. there's a university surrounded by well-cared for grounds, and rich, spoiled kids eat their meals on finely designed blankets under the thoughtful curve of old tree branches. kitty corner to that is the Glowcrest Hotel, classical piano notes gently filling the lobby once samatoki walks through the doors. the feeling of the place is one of a getaway from the modern bustle of the city proper, a welcome quietness without worrying about flappers and the johns on their arms. a place like this is too expensive for the modern family, aiming instead for family monarchs and those tired by the kids these days.
deep reds and pale golds make up a majority of the design accents, offset by great swaths of grey and white and dark oak paneling.
the girl behind the desk is dressed in a uniform of the same dark red that decorate the walls, gold buttons in a line down her front. to say she is surprised to see a man like samatoki here in the hotel is underselling her reaction. she's so baffled that it takes her a moment to remember what room roxy had taken up in. ]
Um, Ms. Lalonde? There is a man here to see you— [ ... a, a shocked laugh?? and the girl looks at the phone as though its roxy's face at her ear. ] Miss, I don't think that's entirely appropriate. I'm sorry, but I am going to have to insist you meet him down here. No, I will not. Not even for you, miss. [ ... ] Goodbye.
[ hanging up the phone, the girl gives samatoki an uncomfortable smile. ]
She will be down in a minute.
[ but the hospitality stops there. no "make yourself at home," no "take a seat," just a quick nod before she goes back to the books in front of her. ]
[ To say that Samatoki is amused would likely be underselling his reaction. He knows what he looks like; first thoughts might not always go to the mob, but they certainly do go to thoughts and topics that aren't proper for polite company. And he'll lap that up, even give them reason to think what they think, because it doesn't matter to him any. Appearances are deceiving, but there's no interest in correcting this particular assumption.
This is not a man who belongs in this peaceful, ritzy light, with the ivories playing classical music in a calming quiet. He's not someone that would be sitting around on a picnic blanket with a whole park of people - not that he hasn't been on a picnic, mind, but he'd prefer private quiet as opposed to a public park. This is an above ground world meant for the rich, the influential, the public smiles and private issues.
Samatoki has always lived in the underbelly. He'll die in the underbelly. And all because his sister deserves the chance to live in a world more like this one. ]
I can wait. [ And he does.
Right there.
Because if the hospitality ends there, then he's not moving. She can do her work, and he won't interrupt her, but she'll have to deal with his presence right there as he waits for Roxy to come down. Lalonde, huh.
He files that away for later, adjusting his stance against the counter so that his back is to the receptionist. It takes the pressure off the just-so concealed holster and lets him survey the lobby proper. ]
[ the receptionist attempts to go back to her business, but the ever present hovering of samatoki over her work is... distracting. she tries nit to let it bother her, but after a few minutes, she taps him on the shoulder and tells him he must move. the information she is working with is sensitive, and she can't run the risk of anyone seeing it. with a nod, she draws attention to the high back of the desk and the inset of a work area in back where she's standing — as if to say "there's a reason it's all set up this way." she's not going to threaten with security just yet, but her look is stern.
thankfully for the both of them, roxy breezes into the lobby shortly after, dressed in a sleeveless dress with a dropped waist. the pale pink color almost blends with the skin on her shoulders, and the pleated skirt makes a slight swish sound as she walks. it's a more conservative dress than the one she was wearing when they first met, but it's no less stylish. ]
Samatoki! [ her voice is a mix of surprise and... well, mostly surprise. it'd be a lie to say she wasn't excited to see him: maybe he'd have some more info on her sister. not wanting to let onto the true nature of their relationship (given that roxy had told the receptionist to just "send him up"), roxy takes his arm in hers and flashes a sparkling smile up at him. ] Ready for our date?
[ Not reacting overly much to the tap, save for tilting his head to look over his shoulder at her out of the corner of one red eye, he keeps his expression fairly flat. The first thought he has is to dryly say something back (何でだよ?) but he doesn't get the chance to mess with her, his head turning the opposite way when he hears the swish of a skirt - and then sees the skirt wearing it.
His interest in bothering someone who was rude without being direct about it - if you're going to be impolite, just be impolite, a behavior he always misses when he slides towards this end of town - completely disappears as he straightens up. And rather than continue to leave his hat on, Samatoki plucks the trilby off his head and calmly smooths any of the disturbed hair back into place. He doesn't catch the wisps that stray onto his forehead, but they don't bother him as he presents his arm for her. ]
Surprise. [ The smile she gets in response is a little crooked, amused, almost a grin; but the left side of it causes a dimple. It's there and gone as he plants his hat back on his head, tipping it back this time so that his face isn't partially concealed. ] Figured we could take our time in getting there. S'nice night out already.
[ At least he can pick up what she's laying down. ]
[ though she tries not to notice too closely, roxy has to admit that this guy's got quite the appealing smile in this light. she can see more of him now, the slope of his nose, and the lines around his lips. he's more handsome here in the daytime, and for the first time roxy thinks that maybe rose was onto something about her eye for the fellas bringing hell down upon them all. ]
You got any cigarettes? [ she starts to lead him to the door while the receptionist rolls her eyes and heaves a beleaguered sigh. ] Cigarettes and coffee's always a good first detour.
Edited (I CAN READ I SWEAR) 2019-06-06 19:18 (UTC)
[ Hand free with his hat now atop his slicked back hair again, Samatoki snorts and reaches into the inner pocket of his jacket, withdrawing his pack easily. A flick of his wrist, and he gets one of them out to catch between his lips carelessly but practiced. ] Not sure our conversations are proper talk for coffee, but we can see where cigarettes take us.
[ Another flick, and he offers her a cigarette of her own, letting their feet take them out of the hotel and onto the street without much destination in mind right away. She looks much more modest, compared to their first meeting, so they blend in for the most part with his slick, dark suit mingling with rich businessmen rather easily. A part of him has always appreciated the way you can head into foot traffic and be lost to anyone looking for you quick enough, if you know how to duck into it, but right now... even with a bit of time since their first meeting, it's not enough time for him to forget that the people there likely can do the same goddamn thing. ]
[ the cigarette is taken easily between her fingers as they travel down the street, keeping an eye on the crowds of passers-by. roxy doesn't mind the crowds, she gets energy from people, but she would never presume to know any of them, even if they do patronize her father's hotel. there are so many people, so many easily forgotten, except for the one standing next to her. ]
How about to a park? We can smoke without any bozos yelling at us.
[ To any eavesdropper, this might come off as something more illicit. He supposes it is, in a way, but certainly now how they would expect it to be. This kind of information isn't something that would be shared in decent company, anyways. But Samatoki's learned over the past ten, eleven, twelve years that you watch who you say things around, because you never know who you can trust. Even if he can disappear into a crowd where need be, he's also not about to divulge anything in it.
To the right eavesdropper, their conversation is more risky. ]
Sounds fine by me. Lead the way, Miss Lalonde. [ Yeah, he caught that. But besides the amusement, he ignites a match to light her cigarette before his. Ladies first. ]
[ a slow inhale pairs with a quirk of her eyebrow, and roxy smartly releases that smoke with the wind. she's a social smoker, usually at jazz clubs when she's there to watch dirk enjoy himself; roxy tries not to make it a habit. ]
You got a problem with my last name? [ a flick of ash and the cigarette is placed between her lips again as she waves down a taxi, sequins glittering over her shoulders. ] After you.
Nope. [ Samatoki pops the P as he lights his cigarette next, shaking the match out and flicking it aside as he takes a drag. As a habitual smoker, there's always a tang of tobacco on his clothes, but at least his sister has gotten him to stop smoking indoors - which cuts down in general, since he complains about the cold or rain and won't go out to smoke outside with that rule. ]
Just an awful lot of information to be giving a stranger, intended or not. [ The taxi arrives, and he slips his arm free of her, stepping forward, opening the door and resting his arm on top of it to allow her in first. It also lets him take another drag and blow the smoke up, position of his cigarette between his fingers letting him tap out ash onto the street. ] Good thing that I'm not planning on using it.
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֎ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅs.
ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡs ɪs ʀɪsɪɴɢ.
that's how it always starts, she thinks; a conversation, words with double meanings, a hidden agenda carved out of silence. and cutting through it all, the sound of her sister's even tone as it buzzed through roxy like a shock from her switchboard. isolation hangs on her shoulders like her coat but she doesn't say much about it as she steps out from her building and onto a trolley. the underground system, only just recently opened, set roxy's nerves on edge from too many obtrusive thoughts and a finer understanding of just how tenuous the supports and engineering were set up and it all kept her from enjoying the hot new thing all her friends raved about. roxy rather liked the trolley, she thought; not only was it clean and shining, but she could see the sun as it set behind tall buildings, late afternoon rays reflected in the panes of glass that line the streets.
company wasn't too bad either, and roxy felt the way dirk's palm pressed to hers as she kept her tense attention out the window. "bee in your bonnet?" is the question posed to her, and "something's wrong," is the only answer she'll give. a gentle kiss to her half-brother's cheek leaves a smear of her black lipstick, and she hops off the trolley. it's all he needs to know for those gears in his mind to start turning. only one thing could get roxy so twisted up inside.
a stop-off at her father's hotel makes for a great place to change into something more comfortable for her evening romp; dark blue beads about her waist and a cloche hat pulled over her bright hair. it'll help her blend in as she makes her way down to the docks, a bottle of ginger ale in her hand.
there's a warehouse, several storeys tall and all but empty as roxy sets herself on the rooftop, gazing in through a ceiling pane. the brine from the ocean mixes with the distant jazz beats of the city's nightlife and even through her worry, roxy knows this city the best place in the world to be. she sips, bird-like and nervous as she watches the gathering inside — her sister, some men roxy doesn't recognize, and a few other women just as much strangers — play cards. she's not sure what game, and she can't hear what they're saying. smoke from cigars clouds the finer features of everyone's faces but even without many details to go on, roxy will stay. she has to stay.
that's her baby sister down there with a bunch of strangers. ]
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Samatoki gets updates throughout the day - Nemu kissing him on the cheek and whispering something in his ear when he brings her lunch; his boss sending one, two, three runners out to him with updates all through the afternoon; his police contact laughing derisively about superstitions and spooks; him following up on some information from one of the runners, slamming a veritable weasel against an alley wall to finally get the location he needs.
He takes the underground, blending in with the rest of the people that are excited for the ingenuity of this new transport - and he needs it, too, with his pale hair slicked back and his sharp eyes standing out amongst the crowd. A little extra coverage as everyone chatters, nerves and excitement alike, the sway of the train rocking bodies in seats and standing at the handholds alike. Instead of finding a seat, he stands near the doors, watching nothing but marker lights and stone pass by as he considers the job he's being given.
People who try to take a piece of what the mob owns? Don't make him laugh - they'll lose more than just their business if they keep trying.
But his time isn't spent under or on the ground for long.
Alone, he can get places without anyone interfering or drawing eyes their way. Climbing to the roof is easy enough with the fire escape, and he's agile with sure footing on each and every rung. With his jacket billowing slightly behind him as he climbs up higher and higher, he looks like some shapeless shadow scurrying up the side of the warehouse, taking care to not make much noise, just in case.
(Fuck Sasara and Juto both; he can take the subtle approach sometimes.)
Discovering that he's not about to be alone on the roof, however, gives him pause. Samatoki focuses on the girl peering down into the building, reaching into his inner pocket to pull out his cigarettes and matches. ]
Best not to lean much more'n that, else you're gonna find yourself spilling right through on top of their heads. [ The match catches in one swipe, letting him puff and light the cigarette he withdraws from its pack. ]
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Who the devil are you? [ roxy relaxes a little around her hips but her shoulders stay tense, pink eyes searching over this handsome stranger's expression. ] If you're one of them, don't think your shiekish looks'll save you. I've a right mind to pop a few of your teeth out for sneakin up on me.
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At first he'd been thinking she might have been with the party below, considering how she's dressed. But taking another look at her, he's certain, now, that she's not. Different sort of wariness, definite gumption. ]
Right bearcat, ain'tcha. If you're looking to spy, well, better to keep a lookout on your backside. [ Double entendre. ] But I'm not with them, no - I'm here to crash their shindig.
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[ and just like that, roxy lets her fists fall down to her sides, her entire frame relaxing. her eyes glance over him, brow furrowed for a moment before she clears her throat and leans forward to pick up her discarded bottle. ]
Nice innuendo, but the bank's closed. [ god, two seconds in already flirting. rose always said that roxy's a little too free with the fellas and it's gonna bring hell down on all of them one day.
roxy often tells her to mind her own manners.
she glances down at the gathering again, glad to see that no one has been alerted to their presence, but there's something that doesn't sit right with her. as roxy takes up her seat again, legs crossed, she gives this guy a curious look. ] What kinda business you here for? Crashing, sure, but why?
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Too bad. [ He takes a drag off his cigarette again as he meanders forward leisurely, exhaling a stream of smoke like a lazy dragon as he peers down into the cigar-misty room below them. ]
They've been moving into the wrong turf, causing the wrong kinda trouble. Someone needs to step in before somebody that doesn't deserve it gets hurt.
1/3
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You think they're bootleggers?
[ roxy prides herself at being able to read people fairly easily, and maybe it's the shadows cast by the moon above them and the lights around them, but she can't get a read on what's on this guy's mind.
one thing's for sure, roxy doesn't feel like rose would be spending her time with a bunch of rum runners. ]
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Got the bigwigs and dames down there that wouldn't be caught dead at a bootlegger shindig. Heard one of the mayor's aids was gonna be here, but I ain't seen him yet.
[ Another stream of smoke, and he watches her through it as he asks: ] And what're you doing here, ready to come to blows like you are?
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plus, if he is telling the truth and the mayor's aide shows up, things will have a very high chance of going pear-shaped once the police get involved. if she shares her side, maybe rose can come out the other side unharmed. ]
...My sister's down there. I wanted to see what bimbos she got herself surrounded by.
[ her suddenly somber tone communicates even to a stranger that usually rose is a lot smarter than this. ]
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If she were down there, he wouldn't have even bothered with climbing to the roof - he'd be kicking in the goddamn door and threatening every single person in that room within an inch of their life. ]
No place for a sister. [ Some trace of respect, and also agreement. ] You just planning on tailing her, or you thinking of busting up the joint?
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[ and gals. and if some of them are bootleggers then they absotively have mob connections, which means guns. which means more danger. roxy can feel her stomach twist itself into a knot.
but even through her worry, she catches that note in his voice, the sound of an understanding older sibling. dirk often sounded that way too when he worried he was spending too much time with his cars and not enough with dave. ]
Guess following was on the docket, seein what she was up to. Then... I dunno, fighting about it when she got back home.
[ even she realizes how weak that plan is. ]
You got any bright ideas?
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ɪ sᴀᴡ ᴛʜᴇ sɪɢɴ ᴏꜰ ʀᴜsᴛ.
East 4th street is a little out of his usual range. He passes through, trilby tipped down to shade his face from more than just the stubborn sun of 6 PM, actually trying to draw a few less glances than normal. But his walk, the air he gives off, his clothes, it can all have the same effect as someone seeing the shock of white.
A cigarette gets flicked to the side as he steps up to the building's entrance, hat tilting back as opposed to the propriety of taking it off indoors. Eyes scanning, looking for the exits, the faces in the lobby, he heads up to the reception desk and leans on it, addressing the wide-eyed girl behind it. ]
I'm here to see Roxy.
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deep reds and pale golds make up a majority of the design accents, offset by great swaths of grey and white and dark oak paneling.
the girl behind the desk is dressed in a uniform of the same dark red that decorate the walls, gold buttons in a line down her front. to say she is surprised to see a man like samatoki here in the hotel is underselling her reaction. she's so baffled that it takes her a moment to remember what room roxy had taken up in. ]
Um, Ms. Lalonde? There is a man here to see you— [ ... a, a shocked laugh?? and the girl looks at the phone as though its roxy's face at her ear. ] Miss, I don't think that's entirely appropriate. I'm sorry, but I am going to have to insist you meet him down here. No, I will not. Not even for you, miss. [ ... ] Goodbye.
[ hanging up the phone, the girl gives samatoki an uncomfortable smile. ]
She will be down in a minute.
[ but the hospitality stops there. no "make yourself at home," no "take a seat," just a quick nod before she goes back to the books in front of her. ]
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This is not a man who belongs in this peaceful, ritzy light, with the ivories playing classical music in a calming quiet. He's not someone that would be sitting around on a picnic blanket with a whole park of people - not that he hasn't been on a picnic, mind, but he'd prefer private quiet as opposed to a public park. This is an above ground world meant for the rich, the influential, the public smiles and private issues.
Samatoki has always lived in the underbelly. He'll die in the underbelly. And all because his sister deserves the chance to live in a world more like this one. ]
I can wait. [ And he does.
Right there.
Because if the hospitality ends there, then he's not moving. She can do her work, and he won't interrupt her, but she'll have to deal with his presence right there as he waits for Roxy to come down. Lalonde, huh.
He files that away for later, adjusting his stance against the counter so that his back is to the receptionist. It takes the pressure off the just-so concealed holster and lets him survey the lobby proper. ]
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thankfully for the both of them, roxy breezes into the lobby shortly after, dressed in a sleeveless dress with a dropped waist. the pale pink color almost blends with the skin on her shoulders, and the pleated skirt makes a slight swish sound as she walks. it's a more conservative dress than the one she was wearing when they first met, but it's no less stylish. ]
Samatoki! [ her voice is a mix of surprise and... well, mostly surprise. it'd be a lie to say she wasn't excited to see him: maybe he'd have some more info on her sister. not wanting to let onto the true nature of their relationship (given that roxy had told the receptionist to just "send him up"), roxy takes his arm in hers and flashes a sparkling smile up at him. ] Ready for our date?
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His interest in bothering someone who was rude without being direct about it - if you're going to be impolite, just be impolite, a behavior he always misses when he slides towards this end of town - completely disappears as he straightens up. And rather than continue to leave his hat on, Samatoki plucks the trilby off his head and calmly smooths any of the disturbed hair back into place. He doesn't catch the wisps that stray onto his forehead, but they don't bother him as he presents his arm for her. ]
Surprise. [ The smile she gets in response is a little crooked, amused, almost a grin; but the left side of it causes a dimple. It's there and gone as he plants his hat back on his head, tipping it back this time so that his face isn't partially concealed. ] Figured we could take our time in getting there. S'nice night out already.
[ At least he can pick up what she's laying down. ]
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[ though she tries not to notice too closely, roxy has to admit that this guy's got quite the appealing smile in this light. she can see more of him now, the slope of his nose, and the lines around his lips. he's more handsome here in the daytime, and for the first time roxy thinks that maybe rose was onto something about her eye for the fellas bringing hell down upon them all. ]
You got any cigarettes? [ she starts to lead him to the door while the receptionist rolls her eyes and heaves a beleaguered sigh. ] Cigarettes and coffee's always a good first detour.
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[ Another flick, and he offers her a cigarette of her own, letting their feet take them out of the hotel and onto the street without much destination in mind right away. She looks much more modest, compared to their first meeting, so they blend in for the most part with his slick, dark suit mingling with rich businessmen rather easily. A part of him has always appreciated the way you can head into foot traffic and be lost to anyone looking for you quick enough, if you know how to duck into it, but right now... even with a bit of time since their first meeting, it's not enough time for him to forget that the people there likely can do the same goddamn thing. ]
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How about to a park? We can smoke without any bozos yelling at us.
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To the right eavesdropper, their conversation is more risky. ]
Sounds fine by me. Lead the way, Miss Lalonde. [ Yeah, he caught that. But besides the amusement, he ignites a match to light her cigarette before his. Ladies first. ]
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You got a problem with my last name? [ a flick of ash and the cigarette is placed between her lips again as she waves down a taxi, sequins glittering over her shoulders. ] After you.
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Just an awful lot of information to be giving a stranger, intended or not. [ The taxi arrives, and he slips his arm free of her, stepping forward, opening the door and resting his arm on top of it to allow her in first. It also lets him take another drag and blow the smoke up, position of his cigarette between his fingers letting him tap out ash onto the street. ] Good thing that I'm not planning on using it.
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heh nice