birthright_rpg | Wednesday night walk

Cian opened up the bike's throttle, the rubber biting into the black tarmac faster and faster as he sped along the deserted highway. The road up to Vegas was almost empty on nights like this, and it was one of the reasons he'd chosen to make Wednesdays his Saturday, making Thursday his day off. One of the casinos had an arrangement with the owner of the marina and sometimes Cian would stay up there overnight, usually not having to pay as he would do jobs for the casino owner from time to time on days he would stay in Vegas.

When he reached the parking basement he slipped the stand down and leaned the bike over, stepping off and removing helmet and gloves, and locking them in the pannier. Loosing the zip on his leather jacket he headed up the stairs and out onto the lane that soon emptied him onto the glitter strip. He looked left and right, then just went with his gut and turned right, walking along the pavement. At that time it was mainly tourists making their way back to their hotels, if they'd even ventured out from them in the first place. He glanced up at one of the glittering billboards, the promotional blurbs not even really registering as he read it.

Just another show, another enticement for people to spend their money to be entertained, and walk on through life as if they'd lived it.

His shoulders rolled a little as he felt an itch between his shoulder blades, and he turned to look across the road.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Posted by

noah_restic

Noah stood on the sidewalk, having just completed some business with his employer. He deliberated on whether to call a taxi and go home, or walk the street a little to burn off excess energy. He could feel his nerves protesting, and he opened and closed his hands several times. None of the old tricks were working. He'd have to walk.

The dark-haired man looked for a break in traffic, then crossed the street. When he stepped over the curb, he spotted the blond, quickly sizing him up. Noah passed him by, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head. As he did so, he accidentally sent the roll of cash in his pocket tumbling to the ground.

Edited on 2013-10-14 03:40 am (UTC)

Posted by

cian_oneill

Cian's reactions were quick, stopping the roll from falling into a rainwater drain. As he straightened and he saw the size of the roll an eyebrow rose a little.

"Don't think y' want t' see that go down the drain," he said, deadpan, holding the roll out to the hooded figure.

Posted by

noah_restic

"Huh," Noah said, watching the other man catch the wad of bills in the nick of time. "Neat trick. A lot better than the magic in some of these places." He tucked the money away in a safer spot.

"And yeah, thanks. It wouldn't do me any good in the gutter." He lowered his hood, studying the blond curiously. "You're a long way from home, aren't you?"

Posted by

cian_oneill

Cian shrugged, knowing the man was referring to Cian's accent, not Cottonwood Cove. "Y' might say that," he replied, trying to place the other man's accent. "If y' called y' place o' birth home." He rolled his shoulders slightly, as if adjusting his jacket back into place after having reached down to grab the money roll. "Y' don't sound like y' from around these parts y'self."

Posted by

noah_restic

Noah gave an ironic smile. No, he didn't consider place of birth home. "Not originally. But it is the land of opportunity, right? Bright lights, money, flashy costumes. What more can you ask for?"

It was a place where he was paid handsomely for his own particular skill set. That was fine with him. He didn't concern himself with the moral particulars.

There was something about the Irishman, something Noah couldn't quite key in on. Something different.

Posted by

cian_oneill

"Deeper pockets?" Cian joked, "t' keep safe y' takings. Prefer the open spaces m'self, and there's plenty of that round here," he said, tilting his head a little toward the end of the 'glitter strip' closest to the desert.

Posted by

noah_restic

"I wasn't thinking straight," he answered. "I'm usually more careful." Noah was always wired after work. It sometimes made concentrating difficult. But this man piqued his interest, and that allowed him to focus.

"Open spaces are good for some. But the quiet, it's too much for me. I like noise. Energy."

Posted by

cian_oneill

The sea of humanity that was washing along Vegas shores that night passed by the two men standing there like an ebbing tide.

"Y've come t' the right place then."

The wave passed, a small lull in between making it almost appear like a parting of the seas had occurred.

"Always plenty of both here."

Posted by

noah_restic

Noah watched the passersby with observant eyes. "I like the simplicity," he remarked. "People here fall into two categories. Victims and predators."

And you don't look like the former.

Posted by

cian_oneill

Cian eyed the man, interested to hear him name those two categories. He was pretty sure someone who used those as the options wouldn't be looking at themselves as being a victim.

Especially walking around with a wad of cash like that.

"So who do you prey on?" he asked, a smirk on his face as he looked at the faces pacing by, then the one in front of him.

Posted by

noah_restic

"I guess my answer would be the same as anyone's: those weaker than I am." Noah shrugged lightly. Las Vegas was full of people who fit that description. Debtors were everywhere, and pit bosses could be quite ruthless. That's where he fit in.

"There might be a third category, I haven't decided yet."

Posted by

cian_oneill

"Oh? And what might that be?" Cian asked, curious.

Posted by

noah_restic

"Whatever you happen to be," Noah answered conversationally. He was genuinely interested. He wouldn't have hung around to talk if he wasn't.

Posted by

cian_oneill

Now Cian did laugh. He hadn't expected that, and he had to respect the guy's up-front attitude in asking the question.

"Well they're your categories, so what do you think is mine?" he asked, hands sliding into his jean pockets as he eyed the other man, not looking away.

Posted by

noah_restic

The corner of Noah's mouth lifted. "I haven't figured that out. You aren't an easy read."

There was a tone of respect in his voice when he said this.

Posted by

cian_oneill

Cian could hear and see the respect, and he acknowledged it with a slight inclination of his head.

"Likewise," he admitted, again considering the man and pulling his hand out of his pocket and holding it out to him. "Cian," he said, "seeing as we're getting a little better acquainted."

Posted by

noah_restic

"Noah," he returned easily. He wasn't worried about having his name known; he could handle himself. Something told him Cian didn't run in his circles, anyway.

"What opportunities does Las Vegas hold for you?"

Posted by

cian_oneill

Cian considered this question, not sure how he should answer. "The opportunity t' be in broad sight, and still no' be seen," he replied, a smooth smile accompanying the statement.

Posted by

noah_restic

"You've come to the right place, I think." Noah gestured around them. "People here only see what's shoved in their faces. I think you'll be fine."

Noah knew of creatures who could appear human if they wished to. He wondered if that's what Cian meant.

Posted by

cian_oneill

Cian realised Noah had assumed he lived in Vegas, but for the time being figured it wasn't and idea he'd disavow him of. "Been providin' some distractions from time to time," he said, looking around them, nodding his head slowly.

Posted by

noah_restic

He zipped up his sweatshirt against the rapidly cooling night air. "What distracts you?" Noah tried to guess Cian's poison, but he had been correct before: the man was a hard read.

Posted by

cian_oneill

Cian inclined his head in the direction the two had been walking when Noah had arrived on the that side of the strip, starting to walk again, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket.

"Nothin' too hard t' find around these parts," he grinned. "A good meal, nice company, maybe a bout or two," he said, sidestepping a gaggle of giggling girls who were doing a poor job of hiding their glances at the two men.

Posted by

noah_restic

"You look more like the type to fight than to watch one," Noah observed. He walked along, nowhere in particular to go so he might as well. He didn't keep any specific schedule.

"I know a place that stages these fights. The atmosphere is a bit rough, though, if you don't know how to handle yourself."

Posted by

cian_oneill

For some reason Cian wasn't surprised at the revelation. The wad of bills was part of that reason, but he'd also picked up the scents of that environment when he'd been talking with the man now walking beside him. His only response to Noah's observation was a benign smile.

"Could be just the thing to pass the evening," he replied.

Posted by

noah_restic

Noah gave the blond a sidelong glance, the corners of his mouth lifting. "It's not too far from here, actually." He watched as traffic passed them by with a speed that made him feel as if he were standing still.

"If the good meal is a requirement, though, they don't really serve what would be considered palatable to humans."