Don't Smile Just Yet! [Scathelocke x Myah]

[Scathelocke]

This is only temporary, Joseph Kerrings reminded himself. Being an enforcer paid good cash for a relatively easy job. Plus, being able to make people . . . "disappear" also provided side benefits for the start of his own business. Most times, Vinnie and the owners had him take care of those whose debts were impossible to pay off, or they were "convinced" to pay them back in full with interest. But sometimes, it was just to get rid of someone poking around in their affairs. Every once in a while, his eyes would look up from the deck of cards he held in his pale white hands to scan the room for any targets, shuffling them absentmindedly. For now, it was clear.

Joseph was leaning in a chair by the back room, the majority of his body and face bathed on shadows. It was clear, however, that he was dressed to kill; black shoes and slacks, a tucked in white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up halfway, and a neat, deep purple tie with a emerald green tip. On his head was a red-lined fedora, tilted halfway down, where his wide. menacing smile was visible from across the room.

A few minutes later, his gaze flickered upwards as Vinnie approached him, obviously ready to say something. "Listen, Jok-" the redhead was cut short by a hardened glare from Joseph's eyes. They knew his true name, yes, but his very specific instructions were to never say it in the vicinity of Spades. He didn't desire any unwanted attention from the authorities or - gods forbid - the Bat itself. "Joseph. I need you on the lookout for a blonde bitch by the name of Harleen, all right? She likes to mess in other people's business, especially mine, so she'll likely be here in the club tonight. So, uh . . . do what you hafta do, yeah?" requested Vinnie.

Joseph listened to him stammer on, his gaze catching something else across the room. He snorted loudly, before that snort morphed into a sickening stream of laughter, Joseph's smile even larger as he stood up, patting Vinnie on the shoulder. His laughter was calming down, but before it did, it scared the living shit out of everyone that could hear it.

"I got ya, Vinnie-boy! You just have fun, and I'll look for this, uh . . . 'dame'," he said, stepping out into the light, briefly allowing onlookers to catch a glimpse of his bright green, combed back hair and pale, milky skin. Making his way over to the security room, he borrowed access to the cameras so he could get a good look at everyone in sight. Was this Harleen broad on her way, or was she already here? Only time would tell as Joseph would lean back in the armchair, kicking his feet up as he scoured the live feeds.

 

[solacing]

"You left him?"

"Was never with him to begin with," The blonde grinned, shrugging a single shoulder. The thing with Harleen was that she was something most people would call a gold-digger, only instead of being with them purely for their money - she wasn't with them at all. She flirted her way inside their houses, stole a few things including money, and then left without a trace. Her latest victim? Some douche named Vinnie. It wasn't as simple as stealing from him, though. You see, his bitch or whatever he called her had caught the blonde, and almost immediately broke things off with the man himself.

And fuck, he was not happy.

Blowing out a breath, she turned her gaze to the woman standing behind her. "Then why are you here? At his club?"

"Because," Harleen started. "Where's the fun if you don't stay around and fuck with 'em some more?"

She was sporting a black-lace up dress, with black heels to match. Perfect attire for a club such as the one Vinnie owned. She wasn't a bitch - nor was she cold-hearted, this lifestyle was merely something she had picked up from her father a few months before he dipped. Her mother was a no-show pretty much her entire life and so she had nobody but herself. How else was she supposed to live? Besides it wasn't like they weren't getting anything out of it, they were being given attention by a beautiful female, somebody they probably would've never been able to catch the eye of in another lifetime. She was doing them a favor.

Allowing a small smile to curve at her lips she sauntered towards the bar, gaze trained on the bartender. "Whiskey please." Shifting herself onto the stool she rested her elbows on the table, placing her chin in the palm of her hand.

 

[Scathelocke]

Joseph drummed the tips of his fingers upon the dusty wooden desk, tapping the keyboard to flick past each screen in quick succession. This was the most boring part of a job: the search. Droning in and out of alertness and boredom while he did his work, it was almost enough to make the man kill himself! Fortunately, he had no such inclination, but who knows, maybe he would find a volunteer later! A rough snicker ripped through his throat, snorting deeply as he breathed, trying to calm himself. Fuck, it was too easy to make himself laugh.

The camera was on the bar for a half-second, and that was all Joseph needed to see what he was looking for. She was ordering a drink, a shot of whiskey it looked like, her body language and expression directed towards flirting with the bartender. Harleen's long, blonde hair cascaded down over her slender frame, and Joseph couldn't help but lean forward, drinking in her beauty for a moment more. Goodness, the gal was fuckin' gorgeous! Why the hell didn't Vinnie mention that little fact?! "Prick," he muttered, getting up from the chair and placing his hand behind the small of his back, playing with the handle of the knife he was tucked away in the waistband of his pants.

Time to get to work.

Leaving the office, he slowly made his way towards the bar, wading through the crowd while trying not to make a scene just yet. It wouldn't do to freak everyone out before the show got started, would it? He noticed Vinnie out of the corner of his eye, attempting and failing to watch the establishment for any sign of Harleen. He was a bona-fide idiot, unaware that his bitch was already here and having fun.

A moment later, the man arrived at the bar, taking a silent step behind Harleen. Joseph took off his hat with his right hand, gently setting the clean piece of headwear on the counter in front of her. "Evening, Harleen," he said softly. "Vinnie's been looking for you."

His other hand unclasped the sheath from his knife, drawing it from its confines. It was a long blade with a serrated edge; nothing to brag about to the next Crocodile Dundee or anything, but it did the job well. He placed the sharp tip against her side, applying just enough pressure to almost tear the beautiful dress that she had worn. Joseph glanced up and met the bartender's eyes, and silently told him to fuck off, and as he did, Joseph stepped closer to her, pressing his thin, wiry frame against her back, close enough to smell her. "You know why you're in trouble, yeah? Why the fuck would you come back to the business of someone who wants you dead? You got a death wish?" he inquired his free hand clutching the edge of the counter to make sure she couldn't go anywhere so easily.