[OPEN] Are there some aces up your sleeve? Have you no idea that you're in deep?

[totallytrustworthy]

Date & Time: 8/ 5
Location: a less than reputable local-run bar
Characters: Chloe Frazer and YOU POSSIBLY
Summary: Chloe's Exsilium birthday! One year spent in this place means it's a good time to get into a fight or two, right?
Warnings: Punching. So much punching.

Easy, big guy. Trust me, it's all just a misunderstand-- [Chloe clips her attempt at diplomacy short: opting for the more appealing route of keeping her head fixed firmly on her shoulders as she flattens herself-- palms pressed against the wood of an old, barely standing bar table and what scattered playing cards are left in unorganized heaps along its beer-soaked surface-- just as a glass bottle whizzes right past the top of her forehead to catch (and shatter) on the edge of the booth behind.] --ing.

[There's a pause. A beat for the bar's patrons to play a game of connect the dots where point A is Chloe Frazer, point B is a somewhat average game of cards and point C is a volatile meltdown resulting in one of the larger local sorts hurling insults and glass at a notoriously disreputable conwoman. Clearly she's the innocent party.] Or not.

[And from there on out, the booth and table are abandoned; barrier set aside in favor of mobility. Or more accurately, in favor of an all out brawl. Something Chloe's capable of holding all on her own, of course, but there's the matter of closed spaces and less than friendly faces and really, it's the right thing to do to lend a hand to a girl in need, isn't it? Come on. Chivalry can't be as dead as they say it is.

Besides, all things considered, it's technically her birthday.]



[ooc: Feel free to jump in and lend a hand or prod at her once she's bashed a few skulls and is cleaning up the mess, much to the dismay and disapproval of the locals! In fact, everything she does is just in poor taste. You should probably stay far, far away.]

Comments

[totallytrustworthy]

Okay. [There's no guarantee that he'll feel it, given how he's busy bristling in his usual fashion, but where Charlie turns sharp under the battered bus stop shelter-- rain strong enough to seep through plexiglass cracks-- Chloe goes soft, all rounded angles slumped up against his broad silhouette. Anything she manages to say (easier than it ought to be; no tightness in her throat) is filtered through the leather of his sleeve, converted to heat and muffled noise before it hits his skin.

After a year, there's hardly any room left for indecision. ]

Okay then, darling. I'm in.

[alittlesweptup]

[Surprised isn't really the term for it but there is a sudden flush of pleasure at the words that makes his stomach flop, heart high in his chest. Charlie's quiet for a moment, just a beat or two, then clears his throat roughly. He shifts against her - the press of her cheek and mouth.]

Well alright. [The back of his neck feels hot.] That's sorted then.

[totallytrustworthy]

Mostly, anyway. [They still need to find one that's not punched full of holes or rotted right to hell and back. Task for the ages, that.]

I was thinking of starting up the old business, you know. Shake off the rust before I go all soft and wind up dreaming of picket fences in my spare time.

Could use a partner though-- if you're interested.

[alittlesweptup]

[The very concept of Chloe being interested in any sort of fence that isn't electrified and around something expensive she wants to jack is so out of the realm of possibility that Charlie doesn't even really entertain the thought.

Instead he offers his hand out for a proper handshake. Might as well make it official.] Yeah, alright. I ought to stop dragging my feet anyway.

[He agrees without really questioning it - whether she has a solid sort of scheme or any kind of game plan whatsoever. If she tends to run jobs here or elsewhere. He doesn't really care, but the idea of doing some proper work is appealing. Doubly so if it means doing it with her.]

[totallytrustworthy]

And start charging those film fanatics for their tickets at the cinema? Absolutely. [As much of a joke as anything; her sights are set on larger targets, better payoffs. The sort of adventure and lofty goals that they've both sorely been missing and-- well, hey, if they manage to decorate their new flat with the sort of cargo they'd only dreamed of stocking back home, who could possibly blame them?

But she likes the fact that he's chomping at the bit over it - for a fair bit more than financial reasons at that.]

[alittlesweptup]

[Christ. He laughs, the sound of it sharp and loud over the hiss of the rain. Shifting his elbow, Charlie presses his arm against her. Shoves at her shoulder.] Yeah, yeah. Piss off, you nag.

[totallytrustworthy]

Oi. [Chloe shoves back. lifts her chin finally from the slope of his shoulder to give him a sharp (not so sincere) glare.] Remind me why I bothered to hire you on in the first place; I'm beginning to regret it.

[alittlesweptup]

Well to start, I'm a handsome bastard. [He says it without missing a beat, grin still in place. He shoves her again.] And can throw a proper punch. [Hand lingering at her shoulders, fingers catching in the collar of her jacket. There's a moment, click of rain on plexiglass, before his grin softens and he shifts in - bumps his nose against hers.] And because I'm terribly clever.

[totallytrustworthy]

Didn't know I was working with James Bond. [That broad, bent nose of his keeps a fair amount of distance between their profiles. It only takes a second or two for Chloe to shift hers to the side, catch her lips just barely against his.] Suppose I'll have to up our rate.

[alittlesweptup]

I won't put up a fuss about it if you think that's necessary. [He smiles against the brush of her mouth, knuckles scuffing against her neck. When he kisses her, it's simple. Brief.]

[totallytrustworthy]

You wouldn't anyway. [Muttered into the curve of his mouth-- his teeth-- before it gets in the way of that kiss and Chloe abandons the idea of carrying on their usual banter. What he keeps short, she does not: tail end of it all punctuated by a quick, light jab against the unflexed muscles of his belly.]

[alittlesweptup]

[He grumbles against her mouth, low 'Oof' noise as her knuckles thud against his midsection. Charlie slaps her hand away with a lazy turn of his wrist before he straightens up and away from her.] Oi, oi. Alright. I give.

[Tugging on his jacket to straighten nonexistent wrinkles, he then pats her knee. Squeezes her thigh.] I'll see what I can find tomorrow - see if I can't dig up a place that isn't falling through.

[totallytrustworthy]

Not without me you won't. [Chloe leans back, soaks up the space left in her little corner of the bus stop while she fixes him with a somewhat incredulous stare.

Honestly, Charlie. She's seen your London flat.]

[alittlesweptup]

[What's wrong with his flat? It's a perfectly nice place, he'll have you know. Respectably well equipped for the price and location, thank you.]

Christ, I can see why you're worried about the picket fence. You do realize you've just offered to go house hunting, don't you? [There's a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. It's terribly 'poking a bear with a stick' of him.]

[totallytrustworthy]

[The location is perfect, the flooring? Disaster.]

Say that again and you will be going alone, you ass. [Try not to flinch when she flicks up a sharp boot heel angled right at that outstretched shin, Charlie.]

[alittlesweptup]

[He does - and lets out a muffled squawking noise to... boot (not to put too fine a point on things, as the toe of Chloe's shoe is doing a perfectly good job at that all on its own).] Oi, oi - hey now, that's uncalled for.

[Pulling he leg up, he makes a show of rubbing the tender spot.] That's it. I'm redacting the offer. You're a hazard to my health.

[totallytrustworthy]

You don't need my help hurting yourself, you know.

[But Chloe caves-- or feigns at it, anyway-- leaning forward to set a hand over his in a show of sympathy.] Poor thing. Not sure you'll ever walk again.

wow look at that hideous typo i made up there

[alittlesweptup]

[Her hand is warm on his. He bumps his knuckles back against her palm.] That's right. Just look what you've done.

[But that's about as far as he can manage to take the charade before Charlie slides his hand out from under hers. He loops his fingers round her wrist, gentle and without much motivation beyond touching her.] Don't you have a storm to go wading through?

shhh no

[totallytrustworthy]

[She straightens a bit at that, glancing out towards the downpour before adding, lightly, fingers curling softly into the heart of her palm:] Really rather not, if it's all the same to you.

[alittlesweptup]

[He shrugs, fingers steady at her wrist. Against her skin.] Yeah, alright. [And Charlie pinches her gently, grins flashing momentarily wider before he releases her arm.]