This Thing of Ours - IC Options

[Lady Door]

After a few minutes, Lu seems to pull herself together.
Hey, whaddya say I show you around? Show you that all night party I was talking about?
Lucky stands up and dusts her pants off, giving Darius an inadvertent glimpse of the black lace thong she's wearing under those leather pants.

[fistandantilus4....]

Never one to pass up a pleasant view, Darius enjoys it while it lasts. The nhe stands, and puts his arm around Lucky.

You just said my favorite words darlin'. Where to first?

Darius starts leading them back to the car.

[Lady Door]

Lucky smiles and on impulse, leans forward and kisses Darius. It's sudden and hard enough to take him by a suprise. She tastes of cinnamon and Scotch, she must have been drinking before he showed up. It's over just as soon as it started.
Without another word, she walks off towards the car. Turning she looks at Darius,
You comin'?

[fistandantilus4....]

For a woman that tastes like cinnamon and scotch and smells like Versace and leather, I'll go anywhere.

Darius gets the car door for her again, but this time giving her a palyful swat on the rump. He smiles, trying to make it look innocently playful, then gets in the car on his side.

[Lady Door]

Smiling back, Lu reaches up and opens the sunroof. Directing him on which roads to take, they soon find themselves in the middle of a huge block party. Dueling bands play on either side of the street, laughing and throwing insults and the crowd cheers. Resteraunt kitchens are in full swing, and the scents of roast pork and chicken, gumbo, spicy jambalya and beer fill the air. Further down the street, voodoun fortune tellers throw the bones and cackle at passerby. Darius is amazed to see his first ghosts, transparent little girls dressed in matching pinafores that appear and disappear right before his very eyes. Lucky laughs and drags him into the maelstrom of music and flavor.
The band starts up a hot little number and Lucky begins to gyrate, dancing close to Darius. The crowd moves together, forcing bodies close. In between the swaying couples, joints are passed. Lucky takes one and inhales deeply, and then offers it to Darius.

[fistandantilus4....]

Darius takes a long drag then hands it back to Lucky.He opens his jacket takes off his tie, tossing it aside, and unbuttons his shirt. He puts his arm around Lucky's waist and pulls her in close against him.

[Lady Door]

For the next three songs, you and Lucky remain entwined. Your eyes and hers barely leave each other. By the end of the third song you are both so keyed up it's hard to focus on the music. Lucky suggests grabbing a drink and leads you to a street stand, ordering two beers. Popping the top of her bottle, she takes a long drink and looks around.
So where to now, tourist?She says, leaning against the pillar of a nearby resteraunt.

[fistandantilus4....]

Take me to where you want to go. Where ever the action is.
Darius looks Lucky up and down, obviously.

I want to see everything.

[Lady Door]

Smiling, Lucky takes you back to your car. Once inside, she gives you directions to a long and dark alleyway. Starting down the alley, wondering where in the hell she's taking you, you're startled by the figure of a man stepping out of the shadow.
What the frag you doin' here?Lucky steps up to the man and holds something out in her hand.
We're here to see Le Croix.
Yeah, yeah. Over there.The bum waves them over to a steel door set into a wall. Opening it, Lucky steps through and waits for Darius. She smiles mischeviously as he follows her through what seems like a mile of twisting tunnels until you emerge into the sound of a roaring crowd. You're standing on the top level of a huge underground arena. The arena itself is broken into seperate sections, with different rings in each section.
Lucky turns to you and waves a hand,
Welcome to the Arena. The bloodiest place in N'awlins. Come on.Lucky leads you down the stairs until you come to a level exclusively dedicated to private suites. Paying the man at the door, Lucky steps through one.
The suite offers a prime view of the Arena and the men who come to place their bets. The glass of the suite is one way, and the suite itself is decorated in black and grey. The suite also contains a fully stocked bar. Lucky loses her jacket and walks over to the bar and reaches over (there's the black lace again) to grab a bottle of Scotch.
What's your poison, my man?

[fistandantilus4....]

I'll take a Jack

While she pours, Darius takes a moment to enjoy watching her, not hiding it at all.

[Lady Door]

Noticing his look and enjoying it, Lucky poured his drink and brought it over.
So, tell me... what do you do for this other Santangelo?
Pushing Darius with a hand on his chest, she put him into one of the leather easy chairs. Flipping out the ottoman, she sat on it, one leg draped over each side.

[fistandantilus4....]

Frankly, whatever needs done. Most of the time it' basic bodyguarding. Others oit's more proactive. I was a merc since I was 14, the na runner for a few years. Gino found that I had many skills that he could put to good use against his rivals when things got a little too heated. Explosion here, a hit there, you know the score.

[Lady Door]

So, Gino's the kind of guy that needs your kind of protection? Who is he? I mean... who is my uncle?Lucky seems to find the whole thing rather ironic, and laughs, and then takes a drink.

[fistandantilus4....]

He's a business man. And I mean that. He does the shipping bit, extra virgin olive oil, all that. He's connected. Everyone in Greece is at some point or another, whether or not they know it. And that's part of why he needs a man like me. All the business in Greece want to get ahead. There isn't a lot of room to expand anymore, so if you wanna go up, someone else has to go down.

Well Gino is already up, and other people want to change that. It's my job to put 'em back in their place.

[Lady Door]

Is he... Lucky seems about to say something and then changes her mind.Did you tell him about me?

[fistandantilus4....]

Of course I did. He's anxious to meet you. He has a son and a daughter. AJ, his son, well, he's goinsome time and a lot of growing up right now. His daughter Apple is here in the states going to law school. His first wife died years ago. When he found out he might have more family, he sent me out as quick as he could.

Gino was raised by his mother. His father never knew he existed. he felt for your position.

[Lady Door]

Ahh, my position. You know, you don't have to feel sorry for me. I may have been an orphan but I was raised by sisters who loved me. They treated me well. I still see them every Christmas. I did well for myself.
Lucky seems to fold in on herself and gets up to stand by the window and watch the fights.
So, now what? You're done here, right? You go back and continue your whole boyguard/security thing?

[fistandantilus4....]

I'm not going anywhere until you are. Besdiesm this city is growing on me. I could do with spending little more time here.

Darius stands up and behind Lucky, watching her reflection in the glass.

I've still got a lot to see after all. And Gino will want his only neice looked after closely, I'm sure.

[Lady Door]

In the glasses reflection, Darius can see Lucky smile. She takes a drink and then turns.
So, you tell me then. What do you know about me? I'm sure you've done your own research.
Walking back over, she stands in front of Darius.

[fistandantilus4....]

if you really want to know everything, I'll tell you everything. But first, your word that you won't pry on how I know what I do know, or be upset about it.

Great. She had to ask that. Hope I don't lose her here.

[Lady Door]

Okay. Deal.Her voice is husky.
Lucky is still standing close, she's tall and in those heels she's almost eye level.

[fistandantilus4....]

Darius stpes up, and puts his arms around her. He looks her swuare in the eyes so she knows that he is telling the truth.

I know you grew up an orphan, and I be tyou send them money when you can. I know that you ahve family you odn't knwo about ,and you consider that a potential weakness, so you hide it. But you look anyway. I know that sometimes you feel out of place, but this is the only life you know. And besdes that, you enjoy it. Especially enjoying the fruits of your labor. I know that you're proud of the fact taht you started with nothing, and worked your way up. Nothing free, everything earned.

I know you cam from Seattle because of some heat up htere. The same reason you left New York. You came down with a friend. Or at least someone you still hoe is a friend.

I know that you're a mgae, and youre still learning. Like your family, you don't want anyone to know, because you're not very good at it yet. So until it becomes a strength, it's a weakness. I know you're learning from a spirit, but you're not sure on who's terms.

I know that there's a lot going on in your head right now. But the one thing that keeps coming up is that you want me, and you're not quite sure if you wnat to open up that much more.

I know that I feel the same way. And I am willing

Darius leans in and kisses her hard.

[fistandantilus4....]

Later, after many more fights, and a string of betting between them ,Darius ending up three grand in the hole, Darius leads Lucky back out of the Arena, and back to his car.

Where to now Darlin'?

[Lady Door]

Well, let's see... I think I can swing for breakfast considering how much you just went down.Lucky laughs and winks at Darius.
I know this great little place. C'mon.

[fistandantilus4....]

Yeah , breakfast would be good. I feel like I've been eating all night, but I'm not full. Proabaly just drank too much. Show me the way. Then I could use some rest. Mind if I crash at your place? All I have is a hotel suite, and they always smell strange.