[Indira] ((Hi Lessa! Would you like a first post?))
to Marni
[Marni] (Oh! hello! *L* you can start. :) )
to Indira
[Indira] One thing Indira misses about the Brotherhood is that outside it, it’s much more difficult to find people to play games with. She can’t run down the hall and tag Joey for a basketball game or a snowball fight. That said, there are usually plenty of young men in the Spitfire neighborhood and others that are outside playing basketball or throwing a football around, and it’s usually these that she approaches. She’s athletic and cute, in a punk sort of way, and so usually they’re happy to oblige.
Today, though, it’s a bit too cold to find them out. So she’s on a court near the street by herself, shooting a worn basketball at a hoop that lost its net long ago, worn away by wind and rain and snow. A few strings hang, lonely, from the rim, and the fence is rusted and caved in at points; the court is cracked, with withered plants poking through. It’s not an unusual sight in the neighborhood.
Thud thud thudthudthud boing thud. She’s amazingly quick, at least, and has good aim – then again, that’s to be expected of any Ahroun. Her motions are quick and jerky, and they speak of Rage released in the best way she knows of: boundless energy, exerted alone on a cold night.
[Marni] Marni has always been a loner, really, despite her adoration of people in general, and a good cuddle. She never stayed at the brotherhood, and half the time she ducks in and out of the packhouse through her bedroom window.
Because she can.
And she does many things that are ‘unthinkable’ too – like right now, she’s wandering the streets, with a giant cold stone ice cream waffle bowl in her hand, despite the fact that it feels like it can snow any minute now. She wanders by the court, the familiar tug of pack leading her that direction, and soon she’s leaning against a lamp post, and munching on her ice cream as she watches.
[Indira] The basketball goes sailing neatly through the metal ring from almost halfway across the court, and it goes bouncing in Marni’s direction, rattling against the fence. Indira is not long after, long legs springing and striding, steel toed boots slamming against the cracked ground.
“Oh, hey, Marni,” Indira says, grinning at the other girl through the rhomboid holes in the fence.
“Cold for ice cream, ain’t it?” she asks, looking toward the bowl as she straightens after picking up her ball. She leaves it tucked in between the crook of her hip and elbow, evidently done for now. She’d rather socialize with a pack mate anyway.
[Marni] She dimples into a grin as Indira comes her way and takes another bite of her ice cream with a shrug of her shoulders. “Ain’t never too cold for ice cream! Wanna bite?”
She lifts the bowl with a grin. Marni’s cute – it’s undeniable. From the top of her curly mop of unruly hair, to her knowing little grin and dark eyes that always seem to sparkle with mischief. A little on the short side of average, and padded in all the right places.
“Ya ain’t too bad at that.” Basketball, she means. “Ya know what I always wanted to do? Be a Roller Derby Girl! Wouldn’t that be badass?!” Someone’s been watching Whip It again…
[Indira] “Hell yeah, what kind?” Indira asks, finding her way around to the hole in the fence that serves as a gate and crossing over to Marni. She leans in to whiff at the bowl, apparently unbothered by the thought of sharing a spoon. Bone Gnawers are all family, after all.
She had pulled her hood down in order to play ball, and now that she’s closer, her pink hair is clearly touseled, sticking out at all ends, and there’s a sheen of sweat on her forehead. She was playing for a while, evidently.
“I ain’t ever seen a roller derby,” she says. “Roller blades are fun, though. We used ta go ta this rink near where I grew up when I was a kid, an’ you could rent skates. They closed though.” With a jerk of her head toward the court, she asks, “You play?”
[Marni] “Chocolate peanut butter blast.” Grins, letting Indira share the spoon without a second thought. Family and pack mates, and if folks saw some of the shit that Marni eats on a regular basis? Sharing a spoon is likely the least of the Gnawer’s worries.
“Ain’t never rollerskated – but I think derby would be worth it. Ellen Page is my new hero.” She grins and then looks at the court and the ball and makes a face “Only when I want to embarrass myself REALLY bad. I suck.”
[Indira] “Fuckin’ score,” says the Ahroun, who is apparently a chocolate peanut butter enthusiast. Or just a food enthusiast. They’re Gnawers, she’d probably be happy even if it had contained cake flavored ice cream and gummi bears or something similarly bizarre. She cheerfully partakes of the ice cream.
She isn’t sure who Ellen Page is, and it draws a slightly blank look as she lets the ball drop, allowing it to settle between her feet. “Well, I suck at books,” Indira says, with a grin in Marni’s direction. She’s noticed how often the other girl reads – they share a house, how could she not? “I sorta miss the Brotherhood a little ’cause there was always somebody ta play with.”
[Ray Ostermann] ((Room for a barely played Kin?))
[Marni] She chuckles and takes another bite of the ice cream and shrugs “I like books. Spent a lot of time alone when I was growin up – and with books, I always had my fair share of friends to spend time with. Sure, they was imaginary, but don’t make them any less fun to hang with.” Her uncle was a Frankenweiler too. It’s sorta assumed she grew up reading.
She wrinkles her nose, and then grins. “Also – it’s good practice. I can memorize pages and pages of info and repeat it verbatim if I’m of a mind. S’good for passin messages and info along and such.”
[Marni] ((Of course! tag says open for a reason. :) ))
[Indira] ((Yep, feel free!))
[Indira] Marni says that she can memorize pages and pages of information, and this draws an incredulous look from her packmate. Incredulous and amazed. “Wow,” she says, reaching up to tug at the ring stuck through her lower lip, “you must be really smart.” Indira is smarter than she perhaps gives herself credit for, but it’s certainly outside the range of what she can accomplish.
“I grew up with lots a people. Like nine brothers an’ sisters an’ all their friends, so it was kinda weird ta come here an’ be alone,” she says, leaning one shoulder in against the fence. It creaks, the rusted edges rubbing together beneath her weight.
[Ray Ostermann] *Well tailored, that might be the best way to describe Ray as he walks down the street. Other way may be “easy mark.” Given that he looks completely out of his element, a finely tailored black suit and tie combo lay beneath a three quarter’s length great coat. His hair is styled just so and as he walks along the pavement, designer loafers padding gently through the snow.
He passes along side the court, looking about casually in search of something, or maybe somewhere, or who knows maybe someone, though you could wonder who a man like that would be looking for in a place like this. Despite all of the things going against him, his baring and stance speaks only of confidence, as does his face, where even now at this hour a small confident smile fits across his lips.*
[Marni] She wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. “Nah. It’s a gift. Made me useful back at home. Ain’t found much need for it round here though – but I practice so’s that if someone does need it I can whip it out all majestically impressive like.”
She chuckles and shrugs. “There was always folks around, but I always had to escape an’ sleep on my own somewhere, so’s I could listen to the city, and just unwind. I like people – specially boys that are cuddly, but, ya know.”
She catches sight of Ray, and arches a brow, quietly murmurs to Indira “But boys that are cuddly and carrying fat wallets are even better….” She hands the other gnawer her ice cream, scrubs her hands together, and ‘accidentally’ steps back and into Ray as he moves past…
“OH! Oh I’m sorry!” she says while…
[dex+stealth for liftin that wallet unawares…]
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 6 (Failure at target 6)
[Marni] …while making an apparently clumsy pat of his ass to see where he carries his wallet. Maybe he won’t notice.
[Ray Ostermann]
Dice Rolled:[ 5 d10 ] 1, 5, 6, 7, 9 (Success x 2 at target 6)
[Indira] “I like people too. Though there ain’t that many boys that cuddle aroun’ here…’least, not any that I’ve met yet.”
Indira looks, for lack of a better word, like a thug. The Bone Gnawer’s bright pink hair is clipped boyishly short, and piercings pock her face and ears; black tattoos can be seen crawling their way up her arms, beneath the sleeves of the black hooded sweatshirt she’s wearing. She’s tall for a woman, wiry, and moves in quick bursts of energy.
She accepts the ice cream as Marni hands it to her and watches the other girl, her packmate, approach the man. And pat him on the ass. Whereupon she smirks, rolling her shoulders back against the fence, and waits to see if Marni has any success in lifting the man’s wallet.
[Ray Ostermann] *Whatever he was thinking about is interrupted as the woman suddenly backs into him, and cups his ass all in one smooth motion. He doesnt stagger, or even seem flustered he smoothly steps sideways and turns his body to face Marni. He still has a smile on his face even though his eyes seem to know exactly what she was trying for.*
“Thats quite alright, no harm done. I can’t really say it the meeting was unpleasant.”
*His voice is friendly and calm, and as he speaks the smell of fine cigars, cologne and fine vintages roll off of him, mixing with the scent of soap and a touch of an office atmostphere. A regular working still maybe? Though all the evidence points toward someone who is likely anything but.*
[Marni] (yer boy got any PB?)
to Ray Ostermann
[Ray Ostermann] ((Newp))
[Marni] “YOU haven’t met Aaron yet have ya. Cute AND cuddly – and last for HOURS… has a twin -alas, the twin bats for the other team – cuz damn what I wouldn’t do to pull a double team there…”
And Poor Marni, that look in Ray’s eyes suggest he knows exactly what just transpired there. Marni though, shameless as always, just grins. “Liked it well enough myself, hot stuff. “Mmmm ya smell nice.” and by nice she means rich. “Aint ya a lil too nice to be slummin’ down here in the ‘Yards?”
Somehow, from Marni? It’s less thuglike, and more… friendly like a cuddly puppy friendly.
[Indira] “Nah, I ain’t met Aaron,” Indira says, tone regretful now that Marni has offered up these bits of information. She takes another spoonful of ice cream from the bowl Marni set in her hands, transferring it to her mouth while she watches the mark.
“Might wanna turn your ass aroun’ an take it back up Mileways, man,” is her suggestion to Ray.
[Ray Ostermann] *Ray laughs, its a warm laugh, hell he doesnt even seem to begrudge Marni what she tried to do, hell he might have tried to do it himself if the situation was reversed, at least thats what his laugh implies. He smooths his hands over his overcoat and looks briefly over to Indira, and he doesn’t seem at all put off by her appearance, he simply nods, acknowledging what she says before looking back to Marni*
“I would say I’m out of place yes….but the offer of money can take anyone to very strange places can’t it?” *His tone practically speaks of her going for his wallet, but still….not defensive in the least.*
“My only problem tonight…would be the fact that most of these buildings have no numbers on them. Hard to identify a potential asset when you cant locate it.”
[Marni] Indira says Ray might wanna take his ass back to the Mile, and Marni pouts, and makes a show of checking out the ass she got a handful of just a moment or two ago. “But… it’s not a BAD ass. Maybe we can just give him directions…”
Oh that grin, filled with mischief, matched in the darkness of her gaze. He confirms without actually saying so that she was well and truly caught, so she just hooks her arm through Ray’s and smiles up at him. Friendly like a puppy, Marni, and equally incorrigible. “Well, whatcha lookin for? Me and my girl, here, this is kinda our hangout. We can probably help…”
Now, Marni doesn’t have the amount of rage that others do, but here, this close, the warmth of it burns under her skin, and warms the contact, jump starts the heart a little. Coupled with Indira’s greater rage under the still full moon? Cute they may be… but they are dangerous too.
[Indira] “What’re you looking for?” Indira asks, tilting her head at the man. Her demeanor isn’t aggressive, it should be noted, though the aura of Rage that surrounds her could make it seem so anyway. “I wouldn’ think there’d be anything worth any money out this way.”
Yes, she knows what ‘assets’ means, though it’s kind of a stretch. She has a friendly, open grin, and it’s this she directs toward Ray, stabbing the spoon down into the mound of ice cream and letting it stand there like a flagpost as she walks over to the man and her friend in a few long strides.
[Ray Ostermann] *There is a brief hiccup in his step, and a brief faltering of his soft smile as he suddenly looks between Marni and Indira. His eyes take on a slightly more cautious look, more fitting for a suit in this neighbourhood. But its certainly not for the same reasons as most. Though that doesn’t stop his confidence from pushing through.*
“I’m looking for 478 Atlas Ave.” *He says casually, not like its important to them right?* “Everything is worth something, to some more then others. To my current client it would seem it is worth a fair bit.”
*Suddenly though he seems careful to keep eye contact to a minimum, not out of a lack of confidence surely…but born of a different reason entirely as he waits with Marni, watching Indira walk towards them*
[Marni] Indira joins them, and Marni steals the spoon back and a bite of her ice cream as she looks up at Ray, then back to Indira. “Hm… It sounds familiar. You know the spot?”
A tip of her head, her arm still hooked playfully in Ray, as she props the spoon back up in their shared ice cream bowl. “Client… hm. You a… Lawyer? Accountant?” Curiosity killed the cat, ya know…
And she doesn’t miss that sudden change in demeanor as he starts to put two and two together. She arches a brow at Indira, and grins.
[Indira] Indira picks up on the change in demeanor, on the way he suddenly appears uncomfortable, but she hasn’t yet made the connection that Marni has. A lot of people react that way to her no matter how friendly she tries to be: she simply moves with too much power, too much energy, for human beings to ever be fully comfortable.
“I ain’t sure where it is, but we could maybe go with you while you look aroun’, you know? Make sure you don’ get the shit beat outta you.”
[Ray Ostermann] *His gaze is drawn away from Indira as Marni speaks again and he takes a moment, his lips pucker slightly as he tries to decide how best to describe what it is he does, the moment is fleeting though, quick thinker this one*
“I’m a little bit of both, and more then either. The title on my desk says Broker, but if theres a deal to be made, regardless of its location or the troubles involved. I’m the man many turn to too.” *He chuckles briefly and shakes his head* “I’m certain I was just as clear as your slowly melting ice cream.”
*He then looks back to Indira as she offers, and he doesnt pause this time, odd perhaps given the question* “So long as you promise not to lead me down any dark alleyways.” *His face regaining some of that smile as he jokes.*
[Marni] “Aw, but my box is in a dark alleyway – I was gonna ask ya in for a cuddle…” Lips curve into a mock pout as she looks up at Ray. Marni’s adorable – there’s no two ways about it. And her eyes, dark and sparkling, shine with a sense of mischief and delight. She might be teasing. She might not.
“Alright, we’ll help you find this building. Wanna bite?” She takes another for herself – even if some think it’s too cold for ice cream.
[Indira] When Ray talks about being a broker it might as well be in a foreign language, for the expression Indira is giving him. It’s a look that suggests that she’s about as far removed from such a profession, such a lifestyle, as a serf would be from a lady of the court. She isn’t even sure what he means.
“Nah, I ain’t gonna take you down an alley,” she says, to the dark alley comment. And here she flashes another quick grin. “‘Least if I did, it wouldn’t be ta mug you.”
[Ray Ostermann] *Joking or not, Ray can’t help himself as he smiles down at her…but again he avoids eye contact for to long, and when he looks away, he always looks down first. When offered a share of ice cream, he accepts with little hesitation scooping a bit into his mouth before licking his lips for any traces, and then returns the small spoon to its bowl nodding his thanks.
“Very well then, I’ll amend my previous statement to allow for the inclusion of friendly trips down dark alleys.” *He chuckles once more, that rich warm voice and scent, but his eyes remain cautious* “So, where to?”
[Marni] Softly, when his eyes flit away again. “I ain’t gonna bite ya – not unless ya ask me too, of course. Why ya keep lookin away…”
The tone of her voice says she knows – she’s just asking him to put voice to it. Then she gestures. “I think Atlas Ave is down that way.” And she starts them moving in that direction.
[Indira] Indira follows, content to let Marni lead the way. She’s terrible when it comes to directions, and she isn’t that familiar with Chicago yet. It isn’t instinctively laid out the way Detroit used to be.
“What’s your name? I’m Indira,” she says, mostly for the sake of making conversation with the suit as they walk. And for putting him a little more at ease.
[Ray Ostermann] *He walks along with them, his arm still willingly in Marni’s grasp and takes a moment to think in silence.* “Out of respect, for any true-born.” *He looks her in the eyes now and his confident smile returns. It would almost seem like he was forcing himself to do so. Whatever this man does, hes certainly not used to not being the top of the pack* “And because I’m still learning the rules, and im still not quite sure what rules i can twist. You have no idea how aggravating that is.”
*He looks over to Indira’s question and gets a look on his face like he is a complete fool and his eyes ask for forgiveness at that.* “Twice in one day. I am definitely off my game…Ray, Ray Ostermann. It is a pleasure to meet you. Both of you.”
[Marni] She laughs when he says she has no idea.. “Wanna bet? Me an’ Indira here, are bottom of the Trueborn totempole, so to speak. I’m Marni, Bone Gnawer Raggie – and member of the Spitfire pack. Indira’s a packmate, and fellow tribemate of mine. And you…”
She gives him another once over… and wrinkles her nose…. “If I had to guess, since ya blood ain’t tellin me anything… Glass walker maybe… Maybe Lord though – ya got that dark powerful broody thing working for ya..”
Irreverent, always. “Whatcha think, Indira?”
[Indira] He calls them trueborn and a light of recognition suddenly lights in Indira’s brown eyes. Her grin widens at him, and she sidles up to his other side (the one opposite of Marni’s) and walks along in step with him, though she hasn’t claimed his arm the way Marni has.
“A Fang’d never be this nice an’ say he was sorry an’ shit, ‘specially not ta us,” she says, casting a look over Paul. “Like…huh. Yeah, Glasswalker maybe, but I ain’t very good at guessing games.”
And here she does pat his arm, since his hand is not free to shake. “Nice ta meet you too, Ray. Sorry we jerked your chain a little.”
[Ray Ostermann] *He smiles back to Indira as well, the relief is visible in his motions, glad thats out of the way and that hes not going to be torn asunder. He returns his gaze to Marni now and nods in verification, letting her know she’d guessed.* “You’ve hit on the money, I owe my heritage to the Shadow Lords….or so I am told. Though I’ve no reason to believe otherwise.”
*He looks between them briefly, looking for negative reactions, its certainly looks like its a regular look for him, always gauging the response of clients*
[Marni] She chuckles and shrugs. “Well, I won’t hold that against ya, unless ya give me reason too. Jus’ like I won’t hold myself against ya… unless ya want me too.” Oh Marni. Shameless. She winks up at him, with a chuckle.
“Ya met Mr. Tall Dark and Broody hisself yet? Lukas?”
[Indira] “Lukas is a pretty nice guy,” Indira says, thoughtfully. Well, other than…what apparently happened before the Moot, as she recalls from the stories. She was paying attention for once. She also seems unbothered by Ray’s revelation.
“He shacks up at the Brotherhood, which is near the Caern. Lotta our type aroun’ there, if you wanna go by an’ meet some people. Think Theron’s there too, he’s another one a your blood.” And here, she grins again, in an almost playful way. “He tried to room with me when he got there. Think he took one look at all my stuff an’ listened to my music a couple times an’ turned aroun’ an’ foun’ a different room.”
[Marni] .
to Marni
[Ray Ostermann] *He listens intently to both of the women’s opinions on Lukas drinking the information like water. His gaze moves steadily between each of them listening to both of them looking quite interested in what each of them have to say. When Marni speaks about him giving her a reason to hold it against him he laughs* “I certainly hope i won’t give you any reason. Not only would I consider it bad business, but I rather like you as yourself now…and not in a way where you would try to remove my arms.”
*He briefly looks away from the both of them, remembering his reason for being here, though from the look on his face it might be more of annoyance now then it was when he first came into the neighbourhood. Before looking to Indira once more.* “I have been to the Brotherhood, and I have looked for Lukas but so far..with little luck. Im hoping he will reach me at the number i left for him.” *He pauses briefly* “Is the Brotherhood where most live?”
[Marni] She grins up at him. “And I promise not to try and steal your wallet again.” A beat. “No promises for just grabbing your ass though.”
She finishes off what she wants of the ice cream, and hands the bowl back to her packmate so she can have the last bit. Share and share alike. “I wouldn’t say most, though quite a few stay there. I never did – though before we got our place I showered and used the laundry room.” A beat. “I don’t think it’s the best place to hole up for long, personally – too many mundanes about.”
[Indira] Indira takes the bowl and spoon up with a broad smile. “Thanks, Marni,” she says, popping another bite of ice cream into her mouth. She listens to her packmate’s opinion of the Brotherhood, a look of momentary confusion flashing across her dark features. Mundanes?
“I lived there for a couple months, an’ mos’ people who’re there are really nice, I think,” is what she says once her mouth is clear again. “Though it ain’t everyone in the city that’s there, by a long shot. Jus’ some that don’t have anywhere else ta live an’…I think there’s an entire pack that lives there. Sentinels.”
[Ray Ostermann] *He chuckles his shoulders shaking as he does, he seems to be thoroughly at ease, enjoying himself despite the fact that they are walking in one of the poorest and most dangerous parts of the city, but then…with the two of them, he wouldnt be better protected if he was in a armoured car. To Marni’s talk about ass grabbing he raises a brow through the chuckle*
“Only if this is a freely given two way street?” *He asks, bold once more.* “So do you and your pack share a house then?” *He asks both of them, curious as to how exactly it works for them* “It’s just… surprising. But then I suppose I take my home for granted.” *He gets the look of another revelation* “Ha, a few months ago….I probably wouldn’t have cared either.”
[Marni] Indira looks confused, and Marni clarifies. “Humans – not like us. That restaurant’s open to all, though lord knows I don’t get how, with all that rage upstairs. And don’t get me started on the packs that live there – without claiming territory or protectin it. Sure – they SAY they patrol round the Broho now… but before? they was just freeloading. It’s like a neon sign to the other side going “HEY! COME GET US RIGHT HERE!” don’tcha think?”
She wrinkles her nose and snorts, then just shrugs it off again. “to each their own. And yes – that includes grabbin my ass in return, Ray. I will expect cuddling after though, but lucky you, I’m a champion cuddler!”
She grins, and then nods. “Yeah, the Spitfire, we got our own place. Me and Indira even got our own rooms!” Considering she was living in a box before that – it’s practically decadent…
[Indira] Marni’s explanation draws a quick nod of understanding. Understanding and respect: Marni’s smart, Marni catches on to these things and thinks of things Indira never would. “Guess you’re prob’ly right. But I think there’s patrols that go aroun’ now.”
“I ain’t ever had a room to myself before. I always had to share with my sisters,” Indira says, a little wistfully, as she finishes off what’s left of the ice cream and crunches at a piece of the waffle bowl. “So it’s really nice. An’ it ain’t nearly as weird if people in your house wanna have somebody over for the night.” With a smirk in the direction of the other two.
[Ray Ostermann] “I remember sharing a room with my brother when we were younger, that was hard enough. I could only imagine what it would be like for a bunch of you trying to share the same space.” *He shakes his head, the look on his face tells them he finds such a situation unnacceptable* “I would have thought there would have been more effort to ensure space for everyone…though i suppose the brotherhood is a step in that direction.”
*They can see the gears working, hes planning, plotting, maybe he is a Shadow Lord afterall? But he looks back to Marni now with a debonaire smile, his mind back on more immediate things bright white teeth flashing* “I’ll remember that. You drive a hard bargain, but I will remember that.”
[Marni] “I like it hard.” She quips and chuckles. “You think sharing a room is bad? Try to convince someone a refrigerator box is the height of comfort!” Though it seems very likely that Marni gets what she want most times, no matter what it is at the time.
“Problem is – it’s like a beacon for the other side. Like you felt it with jus’ me an’ Indira here, all close and personal. Imagine all of us all in one place – a well placed attack, and they could clear us out. Spreading out, protecting more areas, is just smarter, really.
[Indira] “‘S hard anyway, livin’ with that many of us in one spot. I mean, even aside from the Wyrm, you got all these people runnin’ aroun’ pissin’ each other off. I saw a couple fights down in the kitchen an’ shit, an’ this one time, we were havin’ a snowball fight out back an’ a Rotagar hit another girl in the back a the head with a -snowball- an’ she about ripped her fuckin’ face off.”
Indira shakes her head, dropping the empty bowl in a trash can when they reach one. It’s overflowing with garbage, but at least she gave it the thought. “Jus’ don’t think that many a us are meant ta live in that small a spot, but it was better than livin’ on the street, so I wasn’t gonna complain.”
[Ray Ostermann] “It makes me think of my condo as practically palatial. Surely everyone realizes that it could be a danger, but on the other hand.. there is strength in numbers, maybe they believe they out number whatever could come at them…” *The look on his face takes a darker turn* “Though perhaps that is one of the reasons they allow regular humans to come so near….protection.”
*He shakes his head, clearing his head of such thoughts before briefly looking about for any sign of the location he wants. He even pulls out a very shiny looking Iphone to check the information again* “It must be around here somewhere.” *He says to himself….*
[Marni] “DUDE! You have an IPHONE! Does it have games? Can I see?” and she’s actively peering over his shoulder, fingers itching to just… touch…. it….
Completely distracted. Immediately.
[…SHINY…]
[Indira] “Oh, nice. It’s got maps an’ shit, doesn’t it?” Indira asks, also looking over Ray’s shoulder. She has an easier time of it than Marni: with her boots on, she’s only an inch or two shy of six feet tall.
“It looks like it’s prob’ly jus’ a street over,” she says, with a jerk of her pink-haired head in its direction.
[Ray Ostermann] *He smiles, pleased, as both women lean in to look at the gadget. He does nod his smile widening once more for Indira as she confirms what he was thinking* “This thing is worth the ridiculous price to keep it online.” *He shakes his head his smile turning somehow, a little darker once more* “And they call me a ruthless in my business practices.”
*He turns in the direction the phone suggests and leads them this time. And he actually passes the Iphone across to Marni* “Here, have fun…though I will need that back.” *He says, more then happy to allow her to take a look.*
[Marni] She wrinkles her nose. “What, I wasn’t gonna KEEP it…” well, not now that he told her she couldn’t anyway. “I need me a sugar daddy…”
She takes it and gleefully starts pressing buttons and flipping through the apps and looks, well, pleased as a kid with a new toy…
[Indira] Indira watches as Marni flips through it, with a slightly more detached interest than her packmate shows, but with an interest nonetheless. She shoves her hands in the pockets of her hoodie, only now realizing that she left her basketball behind at the court.
Oh well. She lifts her head, pointing toward a street sign. “Right over there.”
[Ray Ostermann] “At last…” *He says with obvious relief.* “The last thing I wanted to have to admit to tomorrow was the fact that i couldn’t find the location…” *He looks over to Marni as she flips through the apps and all the features* “If we still don’t find it, im going to say I was robbed by a disarmingly cute pair of young women.” *He winks playfully back at Indira as well, not excluding her from the fun of course.*
*They come at last to the property an old dilapidated four story building that’s certainly seen better days. Ray looks the building over for a few moments before grinning to himself, its not the most pleasant smile hes had, its definitely a smile of triumph however. He free’s his hands and pulls out a small pad of paper and begins to jot down a few notes onto it.*
[Marni] “I haven’t robbed you yet. But I’m tempted to strip search ya for your wallet, so you forget you have this OH MY GOD PACKMAN! Look Indira!”
And in seconds, while he takes notes, she’s happily wakawakawakaing.
[Indira] Indira grins back at him, then casts an eye over the dilapidated building that they’ve arrived in front of. Observing it, wondering what a guy like Ray could possibly want with it, and looking curiously at the notes he’s taking down.
“Shit, awesome. I ain’t seen Pacman in…” she says, momentarily distracted by the game Marni is playing. Then looking back at the building and Ray. “Somebody want to fix the place up or somethin’?”
[Ray Ostermann] *The notes all seem to be based on legality, though she does get the gist that hes formulating a plan for foreclosure on the building….and then repurchasing it after the current owner is out.*
“Somebody…wants to tear it down and start over.” *He says with a smile towards Indira, the darker smile fading, replaced again by the friendly warm smile. He touches the side of his nose and winks at her* “But you did not hear that from me.”
*He then looks over at Marni and her pac-man game.* “Should we leave you and the Iphone alone? I’d swear we were interrupting a private moment.”
[Marni] “Nah, I still have my clothes on – unless this has a vibrate option…” She shoots back with a grin, and reaches out to swat at Ray playfully.
“Shush you. Or I won’t give it back.”
A glance at the building. “Start over with what?” Curious..
[Indira] Indira doesn’t have much of a grasp on legalese, and nor does she have much of a grasp on the fact that what Ray is attempting is probably a bit outside the bounds of the law. It probably wouldn’t really matter to her if she did.
“D’you jus’ help with the Nation an’ Kin, or are the people that get stuff from you all kinds?” she asks. The question isn’t really probing, just curious; she’s still looking at the building and at the neighborhood that surrounds it. “…Sometimes rich people do that. Try an’ build new stuff in the neighborhood. Then they get pissed that you’re there.”
[Ray Ostermann] “Im eager to work for the nation actually.” *He says with a nod as he closes the pad and tucks it back in his pocket* “But as im so new the paint has barely dried…my clientele come from all walks of life, so long as they can pay for my services.”
*He pauses a beat to look over at Marni* “If you take a break from pac-man i think youd be pleasantly surprised to find the vibrate functions under the settings. Your welcome.” *He flashes her that debonaire smile again before looking back to the building* “As to what they intend to do with it. I’m not part of that end of the business, i was employed to get the property what they do with it afterwards…” *He shrugs nonchalantly, almost indifferently.*
“Though….i suppose i should start taking more of an interest in such things.”
[Marni] She grins up at him and arches a brow. “You sure you want me to find that? Because I really will keep it then… I’ve been every so lonely…”
Oh she is incorrigible… but she does flip through the settings with that same playful little grin. “And you might want to do that..” pay attention, he means. “Just to make sure you aren’t doing anything.. I mean, now that you know the nation exists and all…”
[Indira] “Yeah. I mean, never know who’s askin’ for your help, an’ I guess it ain’t always the righ’ people, if you wanna listen ta some a the others talk.” She’s been cautioned about such things – mainly by her brother – but she’s heard talk here in Chicago, too.
[Ray Ostermann] “Exactly my thoughts…my loyalty first and foremost is to the nation. I may have my superiors in the company, but….I don’t think they quite cut it in the hierarchy of power in my life. Especially since they don’t introduce me to beautiful women….at least not one’s they arn’t already sleeping with.” *He looks over at Marni, as shes getting close to finding the vibrate function.*
“As much as I want to see you use that like that, I am going to need that for when Lukas calls.”
[Marni] She peeks up at him, and lower lip pulls into a playful pout. “Awww…”
She winks at Indira, then back up at Ray. “I suppose I can’t stand in the way of Lukas calling you.” She offers the iPhone back, reluctantly.
She looks decidedly like the cat that got the canary as she does… likely because at some point while she was playing with it, she’d added quite a few notes that’ll pop up over the next few days… just to keep him on his toes. Shameless, Marni.
[Indira] Indira watches the play between the two of them, and a smirk appears on the other Gnawer’s face as she looks over her shoulder, toward the direction that they came. “Well, I can leave you two alone for a bit, if you want, an’ head back ta get my ball. Left it at the court,” she suggests.
[Ray Ostermann] “Are you sure it will even be there when you get back?” *He asks, not really believing it will be, it is Bronzeville after all. He then looks down at Marni again, and graciously places his Iphone back in his pocket*
“Thank you…id hate to make a bad first impression by not bothering to answer the phone when he calls.”
[Marni] She laughs and hooks her arm around Indiras. “I’m think he’d be scared if I dragged him into an alley here in Bronzeville on the very day we met. Next time though – I might. If he thinks he could handle the likes of me..”
Oh, she is quite the little tease, isn’t she?
[Indira] Indira grins, happily taking hold of Marni’s arm. “Yeah, well, we have more fun out here than everybody at the Brotherhood anyway. He’ll be back.” Another playful grin in Ray’s direction.
[Ray Ostermann] *He watches the two women as they link arms. He might be out of luck tonight…but does that phase him. Not one bit, he smiles warmly, his eyes dancing to the thoughts of things to come* “I’d never shy away from a challenge, especially one as….enticing. But…it might be easier to rise to the challenge, if I knew how to find you. Rather then walking the streets of Bronzeville hoping its one of you that jumps and drags me into a dark alley.”
[Marni] Oh he’s only out of luck because she doesn’t want to leave Indira feeling as a third wheel. And there are many other nights…
She chuckles as she wrinkles her nose, and thinks “Well, I don’t have a phone… sooo. Tell you what. I’ll find you.” a beat. “or we can just make a date for coffee..”
[Indira] Indira laughs, watching Ray, listening to Marni. “You can come down aroun’ this neighborhood anytime you want to find me. Or ask Marni here. I don’t think we got a phone in the house.”
[Ray Ostermann] “My schedule is erratic at the very best of times.” *He looks honestly dissappointed at that.* “So ill wait to see you pop up…or if that fails, I’m sure I can find you here.” *He says before pulling out a business card. Of course he would have a card.* “If all else fails….try this, I hear it works rather well.” *He says handing Marni his business card, his number, email, and fax number stylishly stenciled onto the fine paper*
[Marni] She chuckles softly, and with a wink at Indira, reaches to take the card, reads it and tucks it under her shirt – into her bra.
“Oh, I’ll find you. You can count on it.”
And she lets go of Indira only to move the rest of the way toward him, pressing close as she leans up on her tip toes to murmur across his ear. “I left you something on your phone… so you don’t forget about me.”
Sneaky, sneaky gnawer… She’d discovered the camera while playing, too. Then she turns back to Indira, and links arms with her friend and packmate again. Besides -if she makes him wait, it’ll be that much better. Anticipation, and all.
“Let’s go find your ball…”
[Indira] Indira grins, holding her arm out as Marni makes her way back, and lifting the other hand to give Ray a quick wave before she pinwheels them around to face the direction of the court. “Nice meeting ya, Ray. G’night,” she says.
And then the two Gnawers are off down the sidewalk in search of a worn basketball, leaving Ray standing on the cracked pavement in Bronzeville.
[Indira] ((Heh, sorry, didn’t realize I’d ghosted out. Thanks for the scene, you guys!))
to Marni, Ray Ostermann
[Ray Ostermann] *Ray blinks and an eager smile crosses his lips as she whispers in his ear, and he looks Marni in the face he looks down at his pocket where the phone is and just smiles and waves as the ladies walk away.* “See you soon…It WAS a pleasure.” *He says as he turns and heads out*
((Thank you both, it was alot of fun, hope to play with you both soon!))
[Marni] (thanks for the play! *grins*)
[Indira] ((‘Night!))