Ah, his favorite topic to discuss- the art of speech and how to wield it. "People are easier to read than you think, Bella," the King said. "It's not necessarily that I'm personable. It's that I understand the importance of keeping your friends and your enemies close at your side, and I've spent my years in this world honing that tool." That was what relationships were- tools. Leo did not have enough fingers to count how many friends he had- yet he would trust none with his life.
"Confidence, knowledge, likability- it can all be faked. Learn how and you won't even need me," The King cast a small smile at her. Was his lecturing even helpful? For all Leo knew, Bella's display of innocence and dependability could all be an act- one that even Leo found hard to resist. Her arms embracing him, him melting into that touch, feeling her sinewy bones. Her pulling away, closing herself off again, hugging her fingers tight towards herself, like she had sacrificed much to deliver him affection. He felt uneasy that it all could be one well-orchestrated script.
Leo nudged with his chin. "After you.". He slid out after the Ace, ensuring that Henry got a healthy tip. His gaze rested uneasily on the dog at her side, but he concluded that Sir Scratch would be quick and smart enough to not invite trouble from that beast.
The King led her from the restaurant, past one of the Velour's flashy and carpeted game floors and to the hallway where old-fashioned elevators operated- old fashion, in the sense that a pendulum swung over each mechanism, indicating with an ornate hand the floor the elevator had stopped on.
As they waited for the elevator, Leo filled the time with conversation. "How are you doing? he asked, his voice lowered. They were the sole inhabitants of the elevator lobby, but Leo still felt the need to soften his tone. "With.. everything that begets a new Ace, I would feel overwhelmed myself."
She couldn’t help but smile as she listened to him speak about something he was obviously somewhat passionate about. Bella knew how to fake her way through life, she had been doing it for quiet a while now…but she could always learn how to be better at it. ” I honestly don’t think I would ever be able to learn how to do any of that well enough to not need you.” She was good at her game but when it came down to it her personal barriers would probably always keep her from going any further with it than she was now. ” It’s hard to get close and be personable with a lot of people when even a handshake makes you want to retch” , she said with a laugh and a shrug, it was the truth, but she was ok with that.
She slid from the booth and moved out of Leo’s way, her dog was quick to jump down and stand at her side happily wagging his stub of a tail. After giving the dog a quick scratch on the top of the head she followed beside Leo taking in the sights along the way as if she hadn’t seen them a million times before. Bella had the highest confidence that her dog wouldn’t try to eat Sir Scratch…God she hoped he didn’t try to eat him. She stood quietly in front of the elevator for a moment brushing her hands over her shirt to brush the wrinkles from it, staring wearily down at the dog at her side as if silently communicating with it, warning it to be good with just a look.
His voice shattered the silence and soon she was looking up at him, a giant in height compared to her. ” I’m doing fine I suppose, it has been a fairly smooth transition so far. Honestly the hardest part was scraping the old Ace off the sidewalk.”, she said so nonchalantly that it was almost chilling, a subtle grin finding its way to her lips. She was close friends with the previous Ace, close enough that when she asked for them to meet her on the roof they didn’t hesitate, close enough that when she walked up on them, they didn’t question it, and close enough that when she shoved them with all her might to their death on the hard sidewalk below, she almost felt bad. Almost.
” I did expect a lot more pushback from the longtime members, like you.” Her innocence was starting to peel away, her voice seemed to hold a little less sweetness than it had before. She glanced up at him once again before looking back to the elevator doors, a soft hum leaving her before speaking. ” If we are being honest, I imagined you would be my biggest hurdle to deal with. Can’t say I’m not disappointed that you aren’t but also pleasantly surprised and very appreciative at the same time.”
"Honestly the hardest part was scraping the old Ace off the sidewalk/"
Was this a thinly veiled threat? A hint to the malevolence of her ascendancy? Leo laughed along with her, but he could not help stall the unease that crawled over him. Bella was as insidious as she was delightful. Murder was certainly not unheard of when it came to claiming the top position of Ace, and Leo had seen a lot of casual assault and killing over his now twenty-six years with the gang- five of them as the King. He thought he had grown easy with the idea, the necessity of it, but his throat grew noticeably tight as Bella shrugged off the comment like the flippant joke it presented itself to be.
"I've not the patience nor the desire to ever want to be in your position," Leo stated matter-of-factly, watching the ornate needle slowly arc left, denoting the descent of the elevator cart. His fingers tapped the side of his slacks. "If I think an Ace is capable, I'd accept and defend their position until I think them no longer fit to lead the Diamonds."
Those jittery fingers fished into the pocket of his dress shirt and pulled out a carefully handmade wooden instrument that extended into a pipe. "You'll find that as Ace, my intentions and ambitions are clear as day and that I have but one goal- to see the Diamonds become the kingpins of this fucked up city."
He fished into his other pocket, picked out a rolled up piece of parchment, to which loose leaves came tumbling out of into the end of his pipe. A lighter was produced, but before the flame was lit, the pipe poised before his mouth, his blue eyes flicked towards Bella. "May I?"
Just then, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open before them. Their reflections greeted them, as the upper half of the cart was lined in mirror, the lower half cushioned and carpeted.
She took quick note of the unease that had seemed to creep into Leo, only just realizing how her words may have come off. ” Oh Leo~ You have absolutely nothing to worry about! I’d never dream of doing something like that to you; can’t use the same trick twice, right?” Her tone was as light as ever as she tried to ease his nerves, totally oblivious to the fact that they came off just as bad as what she had said before. ” I assure you that your loyalty isn’t in question, on the contrary I need you more than you may realize.” Her rise to power was a bit sudden and not as well planned out as she would have liked to admit and because of that she had failed to put any safeguards in place to protect herself, that was where she expected Leo to come in.
” I quiet literally need you to be in my position, at least superficially.” , she started as she became a bit more serious about what she was saying. ” You see I come from a prominent military family, my father is a retired general, my brothers are both active-duty goody goody by the book types. I think you can see where I am going with this…” , she subconsciously rolled her eyes at the thought of her brothers, wet blankets the two of them, at least Alex had a bit of a fun streak to him. ” I need you to take on the guise of Ace, at least for now. Very few people know who I am, hell most of them still see me as some tag along, and I need to keep it that way for as long as possible. We are on a strictly need to know basis for now. Of course, I wouldn’t add anymore burden to your job I just need you to fend off the wolves when needed, I will handle all the usual business you just be the face.” , it was a lot to ask but she knew he was the only one up to the task.
Bella had plans for the Diamonds, big plans that may seem unattainable at first but given time she expected everything to fall in place. ” Give it some time and we will rule this city, we just have to move carefully and clean up some trash.” The other gangs were more of an annoyance to her thus far than anything, she was just waiting for them to take one another out so she could slink in and claim all that was rightfully hers. Everything. ” We need to get the right connections and make sure we have as much influence as possible over them.”
” Of course, it’s your house Leo I’m just a visitor no need to ask permission.” , she laughed just as soon as the elevator dinged. She stepped inside her dog rubbing its side against her leg as it settled in next to her. ” I can’t wait to see your cat; I hope he isn’t afraid of dogs though. This old man here might look scary but he is somewhat horrified of animals smaller than him, you will never see a dog retreat faster than him when something small and fluffy walks up.” It was funny when you thought about it, two menaces to society gushing over their animals, Bella was the absolute worse about this even in the most serious of situations.
His agile fingers surreptitiously taped the bowl of his pipe, as he and the Ace stepped out of the elevator cart and into the foyer of his penthouse. As modest as he sounded, relinquishing his power to Bella's, he would never neglect to himself the finer things in life. In a city that was dying, of thirst and hunger, Leo had a small fountain that spewed clear water in arcing streams at the center of the entrance and, nearby, a small table atop of which sat a plate over-spilling with various fruits. Though there were places flecked with dirt, the walls not nearly as stainless as his shoes, his penthouse boasted of wealth - wealth in knowledge, money, time. As if this penthouse were suspended in some sort of stasis, removed from the common struggle of humanity.
"Acquiring the position of Ace, with all its dangers and none of its rewards?" Leo sucked in a nicotine-laced breath. "It is a risk on my part. I have never been comfortable with being the 'face' of something, despite what the climb to my position may entail."
He removed the pipe from his mouth and exhaled, white smoke streaming past his lips and evaporating. "I will accept the responsibility, Ms. Geoff. But in doing so, I hope it will cement our relationship into one of trust and mutual gain. I can be the voice of the Diamonds -" past the smoke cloud, he peered at Bella, and despite the shallow crows feet creasing his eyes, they had remained the sharp and keen blue as he had possessed in his youth.
"But you must still choose the words."
Beautiful, young, bright-eyed Bella Geoff - what secrets lay hidden under that sweet smile?
A sharp, demanding meow resounded and, moments later, an orange tabby was weaving around Leo's legs. The cat was small, the size of a large kitten, but Leo insisted to many that Sir Scratch was an adult. In addition to its stunted size, the cat also bore something around its neck - a small, black tie, not unlike the one Leo was often seen in.
Leo let out a soft, adoring sound that most thought a grown man not capable of and, taking the pipe between his fingers, scooped the cat up in his hands and buried his nose in its flank. Sir Scratch smelled distinctly cat-like, with hints of nicotine and indoor cleanliness.
"Good evening, handsome," Leo crooned. The cat pawed playfully at Leo's cheek, causing a soft laugh to bubble from the King. "Now, Sir Scratch, behave. We have visitors."
Leo faced Bella, cat in hand, and he laughed, canting his hand in a "don't worry about it" motion. "Do not worry, Ms. Geoff. Sir Scratch is not scared of anything - in fact, I think he even gives Sledge a fright." He set the cat down, allowing Sir Scratch and Bella's hound to get acquainted. Then, the King stuck the pipe back in his mouth and, with his freed hands, began to pour the both of them a drink.
"He's small - but he's the fiercest little thing on this side of Stronghold."
Posted 10-06-2021, 12:49 PM
This post was last modified: 10-06-2021, 12:50 PM by Leander Wilkenson
I want it all
