Not terrible

[Mikhail]

Doll was all kinds of in a hurry all of a sudden. Somehow, it just made him want to move more slowly. Ehh...not really. That was maybe a bit too childish. But he'd felt the impulse, anyway.

And of course she walked- maybe stalked was the better word- ahead of him. Not that he minded in the slightest. He rather enjoyed the view. Well, no rather about it.

So one way and another, he found himself walking into the hole with her. He was a regular, if only on certain nights. You couldn't learn everything by staying in one place, after all. Territory being what it was- and his jobs being what they were- he was lucky that he frequented dozens of places like this.

Being part of a former (and disgraced at that) family gave him all kind of freedom. Being ignored had its perks. He moved between areas well enough and had an easy time making acquaintances and small talk. And then the not-so-small talk as one drink became 5 became 10 and someone let slip stuff they shouldn't.

And he'd just nurse his vodka on the rocks, letting his speech and manner mirror theirs, a bit of a slur here, a bit of complaint there, slight stumble when hitting the head.

Gus caught his eye and raised an eyebrow, the hint of a frown barely showing. Mik smirked at him. Yeah yeah yeah. He knew. Doll face- Well Oriena, if he wanted to get technical about it- here was probably trouble.

But all the fun ones were. Not on the hot-crazy scale. Nah, not her. They needed the other chart. The hot-mean chart. Was more dangerous in some ways. Buuuuuut....less likely to try to break your windshield or walk up to a table when you were with a date and start screaming in your face or whatever.

But a gamble was a gamble. And he was Game.

As they walked to the bar and she ordered, he took a quick look around. Usual types, of course. Not exactly a bar for folks looking for craft beers or whatever. Heh....nope. He noted faces he knew and those he didn't, cataloging them. Mook. Chump. Pro. Tease. Mark. Unknown.

He'd keep an eye on the unknowns.

But two faces at the pool table jumped out at him and he started chuckling. "Well fuck me,"
he said quietly.

Ok. Yeah. The universe was a joke. But god-DAMN it was a good one. Not quite what he had in mind, at least for starters. But what an appetizer. Or a meal. All depended. That little prick Stanislav was over there with Valentin. Kolomovs.

And the pieces fell together. His chuckle became a small laugh. Dominoes all lined up pretty as you please. Alright. Alright alright alright. This could work. He glanced at Oriena. She was lounging back surveying whatever and Gus was waiting. "Just a chilled glass, filled with ice. Oh, and a lime."


Gus met his eye but slid the order over. Dick. Glass wasn't even chilled. Still, Mik took it and turned, partially facing the pool table and partially facing Dollface. Heh...he leaned in, his face closer, as she had done at the apartment, looking into those dangerous eyes with a tease of his own, as if he were making a move. He snaked his arm around her front, only to grab the bottle of vodka she'd left on the bar.

He leaned back onto the bar and poured himself a drink.
He held up his glass in salute. "Cheers."
Took a slow pull. Nah, he wasn't gonna get tanked. Not tonight. But he did like the ice cold chill slipping down his throat, the sharp tang mixed with lime on his tongue.

He looked at Oriena for a moment, savoring the experience- which? Well, all of it. His voice quiet, he said "So....to the Game. How would like to take down one of the families tonight?"



Edited by Mikhail, Feb 9 2018, 06:15 PM.