Do you want me to beat up your pimp?

Summer 2021, Week 4, Friday evening

Lucky Spades Casino, Downtown

Damian Eli

Text Message

To: Zeke
Hows your face? And make sure you lay low a few days. Get a hotel. Or go to the cops if that's your thing.. fucking cops.

Zeke Marlowe

Text Message

To: Damian
Still a bit fugly, and I am using cash for a room in the Raddison downtown. No cops for me, law enforcement doesn't like my family much, for some reason.

Damian Eli

Text Message

To: Zeke
I'm about to head into the lucky spade and lose some money in your honor. If those come after you again call me. And remember you can become invisible. Fuck fighting fair.

---

Damian Eli

The swelling in Damians right eye had gone down considerably if you thought about the fact he had been in a fight at least one day of every week for the past three. That being said the man still looked good in a three piece navy blue Burberry suit, he didn't drop money like that often.. not since his early gang days but damn it if he didn't love a good suit that was different from the office suits. His plans for the night were quite simple gamble like no tomorrow because after this his life as Cuervo was about to go up a notch and he wanted one more night as Damian the high end account before this truly consumed his life.
He started to make his way over to the blacjack table and bought five thousand dollars worth of chips and started to play he had mentioned to Zeke he loved blackjack. He didn't tell Zeke he could count cards with up to six decks. "Hit" his rough gravel voice said barely even looking at the hand before him as he took a drink fr his whiskey and coke.

Tiana Walker

She took a slow pull of her martini and watched as her cards were dealt out. With one leg crossed over the other, her slit dress showed off just enough leg—like it was intended to. Everything was as intended if she was honest. The choice in drink. The drawing but conservative accessories to show she cared but wasn’t spoiled—at least to the casual observer. The amount she bet, setting her up as someone who had money and wasn’t searching for it. I suppose that’s true in a certain sense. No like I need more money. Just want it. All of it was an image, an act, and one she put on brilliantly.
She wasn’t surprised by the man who sat next to her at the blackjack table. She had clocked him a minute ago with her compact mirror before. Decent suit. A fair stack of chips. He didn’t seem overly wealthy which meant he shouldn’t be overly cautious about someone like her. His voice was rough, like the old men from the Parish. “Hit, please.” She let her voice grow soft and supplied it with a heavy dose of her downtown Orleans accent. The more refined sort than her normal tone. “Just going to snag a seat and not even ask a girl what she’s drinking? Such a lack of manners.” Her tone was light, and the smile she sent showed she was joking as much as the brushing of her long ebony hair did. Another test. A toe in the water.

Damian Eli

"Social interaction breathe Damian. You can do this. Don't be weird. Don't be weird" ".... Am I is. Are you supposed to ask people what they drink? I mean..uh." And then he just stopped talking and looked at his cards along with the other cards on the table and started to do the math in his head.
" I'll hold at sixteen" he told the dealer his attention slowly turning to the woman again and fully taking her in. Toned muscular legs like a kickboxer... No a runner. Nice dress nothing ti fancy and a slight accent. "I uh. So... What are you drinking?" "Nailed it"

Tiana Walker

She let out a stifled giggle--like a fucking princess royal, who the fuck even giggles?--and signaled to hold at 20. "You're supposed to ask the beautiful woman you sit next to what they're drinking so that you, as a gentlemen, can be sure to order them their next round. That's how it works in polite society. And it serves as an ice breaker for casual conversation." Uncrossing her legs, she turned slightly to face him more. Her sunset colored eyes locking onto his, but the edges of her vision taking in the rest. Worn, a fighting like build. This wasn't a normal style rich man. Not someone who worked in an office or at a exchange. No, he made money in other ways. One point for interesting. Minus two for sucking at communicating. "Whatever you're drinking. I've had enough of the light stuff for one night." She held out her hand, palm down, for him to talk. "Tiana Thibodeax." Mother's maiden name, because Walker drew too much attention. "A pleasure."

Damian Eli

"Oh. Polite society... That explains why I don't know." He flagged down a worker and ordered another whiskey and coke before turning back. "I'm Damian Eli. Nice to meet you Tiana." As awkward as he was he held her gaze dark brown eyes that were almost black and a thin scar over his right eye. "So. I'm guessing you're not from here? Louisiana maybe? Just based on the accent maybe Mississippi?"

Tiana Walker

The edge of her mouth twitched in a smile as she pulled her hand back. This motherfucker. “I’m originally from NOLA. But I live here now. Can’t shake the accent, no matter how many times people wound me by thinking I’m from somewhere as terrible as Mississippi.” She took the last sip of her drink and pushed it aside, pulling in her chips from the hand she just won and signaling she’d go again. “And what about you, Damian. What’s your story. You don’t have the Virginian coast accent. But it’s too forced to come from somewhere neutral. So either west or Midwest urban I’m guessing. Or you’re a Floridian who managed to escape.”

Damian Eli

He took another drink from his glass and signaled for another. "I'm from Detroit. Moved here a little while ago. I'm an accountant. Figured this would be as good a place to set up shop as any. What about you? Why'd you leave?" "Oh my god. I forgot to shake her hand .. WHAT THE FUCK DAMAIN YOU CAN MULTI TASK TALK AND SHAKE TALK AND SHAKE WHAT THE FUCK!" He had to stop himself from face palming god he needed to get out more.

Tiana Walker

"An accountant hmm?" She had a light twinkle to her eye. "Anything I would have seen?" She let the joke linger for a moment while their drinks arrived. She took a sip and thought about the question. Haven't had to make up an answer for this before. "School. I went to California on an athletic scholarship. Then I transferred here. More opportunities and a place to get away from it all. Orleans is wonderful, but when you grow up in a place you have to escape." She stopped abruptly, realizing the answer was more honest than she wanted to get. Too much alcohol. "Why did you leave?"

Damian Eli

"I'm not sure. I mainly help large firms or construction sites boring stuff" He listend to her and nodded taking another drink. "I understand that. Michigan is great if you grow up in the right place. But i managed to get a scholarship to UofM and graduated this year. I uh. I left because in Detroit it doesn't matter how far you distance yourself from what you had to do to survive it catches up"
He stared off into the distance for a moment as memories started to roll in gunshots every night being shot at shooting back threatening people fir money. Using that money to get ahead just a little bit every day until he hated what he saw in the mirror. "I guess you can say this place is a chance to start fresh maybe even do something good" "And you've said to much dumbass this is why all your relationships suck!"

Tiana Walker

Tell me that went right over your head without telling me it went over your head. She thought to herself before he started into his explanation. It wasn't so much the words, but that distant look that caught her eye. Just enough that she let the mask slip for a moment and reached out to clink her drink with his. "To shitty pasts and places we have to escape. And to the people it made us into." She pulled the drink back to her lips and rained it in one go. That's definitely going to be too much alcohol. "So, what brings you here tonight? Trying to waste some money. Make a deal. Bag a hot date?" She leaned her head on her folded hands as she settled her eyes on him and waited for the answer.

Damian Eli

He clinked her glass in agreement and downed the rest of his glass. He was happy he didn't bring his bike and opted for his car but if he wanted to drive he'd have to stop drinking now. "Oh uh waste money I guess. What about you? Hot date waste money or make a deal? I'm sure if you were looking for somebody to bring home it wouldn't be difficult. You look good. I mean not that I'm staring I just. Your dress draws attention." "And. That's how you get a restraining order ass hole. Stick to beating people up"

Tiana Walker

"That's the whole point, hun. To draw attention. How else am I going to catch the eye of someone interesting." She smiled and ran a manicured finger up her leg along the slit of her dress as she spoke. "So you can say I'm spending money to make money. A little bit spent here will probably catch me a guy that'll spend at least five times that on me." There was no hesitation in her voice as she spoke, no regret or embarrassment. She was Tiana fucking Walker after all.

Damian Eli

Damian heard her words but due to his lack of social expirences the only women he'd ever heard say that were hookers. And the hookers he knew weren't treated well. After a moment of silence and few attempts to clear his throat he spoke his voice low and almost edged. "Do you want me to beat up your pimp?"
"Wait. What if she's not a hooker... And you've already said that."
As the thoughts flashed across his face Damian then prepared himself to be slapped and a drink thrown at him.

Tiana Walker

The silence that followed that comment extended past just the two of them, as a few sitting next to them either choked on their drink or failed to keep back a gasp. Perhaps they didn’t hear him correctly given it was almost whispered, but the straightening of Tiana’s posture let them know that they did in fact hear that right. They quickly found other things to do as Tiana looked over at Damian. “Excuse me?” She swiveled in her chair to face him, arm tensing with her strength and wanting to slap the living shit out of the man.
“You sweet man.” Her voice changed to a coo littered with the Orleans drawl. “Such a big, strong, intimidating man offering to save little old me from—how’d you put it—my pimp?” Her long nails traced their way down the front of his shirt as she leaned forward. “That’s sweet. And damn insulting to say.” Her nails glowed even more gold as her voice changed before the light rapidly disappeared. Keep it under wraps, girl. Shit. Composing herself, she finished her drink in one go. “Not the inference. I will fuck a man to get his money. Men are stupid, empty headed. But more than willing to leave a couple stacks if I rock their world. The insulting part was to imply that someone, anyone, could order me around.“

Damian Eli

For a long moment Damian didn't speak he just sat there rolling a chip from hand to the other. "I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry." His tone was low and soft almost like a scolded child. He didn't even flinch when she went to slap him. A few more moments passed before he stood up cracking his back. "Let me make it up to you? I can pay for your drinks or even stake you? Just for the night." The offer was genuine with no hints of expecting any sort of "favor" from her after. Sure he beat up people in alleyways and maybe even knew where some bodies were buried but he wasn't a dirt bag.

Tiana Walker

"I said I was insulted, not upset. Don't flatter yourself too much, hun. It takes more than a comment to upset me. I know what type of person I am and I enjoy my life." She had started to walk away from the table in the direction of another, higher bet, blackjack table. Tiana didn't answer his request, but did wait halfway there and turned her head around with a raise of her eyebrow. Which was basically the same as her shouting 'Well, are you coming?' across the room.

Damian Eli

Damian couldn't help the small smile that formed as he stood up walking to high stakes table. This woman was interesting a part of him maybe the smart part was telling him to run get away from her but the other part? It wanted to see where this went and besides when did he make good decisions.

Storyteller

The odd pairing moved through the Casino to a high roller blackjack table. Around the table were well dressed randoms ready to bet their lives away or win it big. Tiana waited, ordering a drink for her and Damien, who sat next to her, and watching a hand go through.

Tiana Walker

Taking out her chips, she placed a $10,000 bet on the table and got dealt her hand. “Your company will be good enough for right now. There’s some use in having a decent looking guy around. You can pose as my bodyguard or a boyfriend way out of his league. I might catch a bigger fish that way.”

Storyteller

Playing her hand, Tiana hit once and found herself standing at a solid 19. The dealer came up short and an 18, earning the young woman a pleasant stack of chips.

Tiana Walker

“Well. Maybe I’ll keep you around as a good luck charm.” She turned and smiled at the man, an honest to god genuine smile, as she collected her chips and bet a smaller amount for the next hand. “So why are you wasting your money? Usually people have a reason.” I know I do.

Damian Eli

He couldn't help but feel his face warm at her compliments he seemed to stand a little taller as he turned the question over in his head. The real reason? He was about to take a prototype suit and go to war on the most violent gang in the city and money can't be spent if you're dead. Instead he said "Guess I'm just looking for something more exciting than the office these days." The words came out easily and practiced sure he was awkward as hell but damn he could lie with the best of them even if he was intoxicated.
"What about you? Why the interest in money? It doesn't really change much. Trust me" He followed the statement with draining the last of his rum and coke and ordering another.

Tiana Walker

She won another hand to make up for the one prior she lost. She was still up $12,000 and enjoying herself. “Sweetie, if you work in an office then I’m saving myself for marriage.” She stood on her current hand and turned back to him while the rest of the table went. “I’ve been with office men, street men, street men posing as office men. It gets pretty easy to tell. Especially when you grew up close enough to the lot of them. So I’m guessing what maybe you meant was you were looking for something different than whatever the daily thing you do is?”
She didn’t pry any further, her mind distracted by his own question and statement. “It does. I don’t know about you, but I know what it’s like growing up without it. Sure, too much won’t change anything from having ‘enough.’ But when you’re without. Pfft. People can take your house from a dying mother. They can say they’ll give you her medicine in exchange for a fuck. They can do whatever they want. But when you have the money, and the power to back up your first offer, you’re in control. And they can’t do a damn thing about it.”

Damian Eli

He nodded at her comment about him not being "an office worker" but said nothing to dispute what she had said. After all she was sort of right.
"I grew up in and out orphanages in a shit part of Detroit that most people never leave. You grow up there have to many damn kids there and maybe even buy your own burnt out shitty house you share with the junkies next door"
There was no malice or hatred in his voice but his eyes burned with it as he spoke about his home town. " Kids join gangs just so they don't get jumped every night walking home. But to get in the gang you get thr worst beating of your young life. And for a while it's good. But that protection comes with a price. A heavy one and they never let you forget. Even if you're rolling in money they still own you"
After he spoke je was silent and just gazing into the distance before he looked back at her. "What makes you happy?" The question seemed random but it was the only thing he could think to ask.

Tiana Walker

"Freedom." She replied without missing a beat. "The freedom to not be owned by someone like you just described. The freedom to go where I want, when I want, and have no one tell me I don't belong. The freedom to walk away from my past and not give a shit. That's what I want." Another hand one, and she started to collect her chips. She couldn't count cards or read a table. No, she just had a good sense of when you had enough of good luck to dip out before it turned sour. She'd play small amount while they sat here for now, finding she sort of weirdly enjoyed the conversation.
"But freedom takes money. Before I got sponsored I had to work just to run. I couldn't go places since I didn't look the part. Beyond that it takes power. Enough to not get owned by someone. So that's why I want those two things. To fuse 'em together to get what I really want." Looking back at him, she asked, "Does that make me a bad person?"

Damian Eli

"Does that make you a bad person?" He flashed a smile that finally met his eyes. "The world is bad. And to get to the top you have to be worse. And besides. Bad or not I have no room to judge"
He looked at her hand and at the table. He hadn't been paying attention at the start and he still wasn't sure if every table played with the same amount of decks so he couldn't tell if she should hit or not. "I understand the need for money. God knows that. A . Hobby of mine is really expensive. But it's something I believe in.. so it's worth it. If you believe in your dream... Then do what you need to do to get to the top. Wether or not you take the advice from man who looks like he's built like a convict with his shirt off that's up to you"
A few moments passed before he realized the last sentence that passed his lips and that it wouldn't make any sense without context. "I have a lot of tattoos.. and I'm talking to much.... So. Uh. How about the Patriots.... "

Tiana Walker

"Got yourself a red room, huh? Heard those are pretty costly." She turned back to the table to finally close out, ending up $15,000. And none of it was my own money. Thanks Martin. Pushing the chips into her purse, she finished her drink and took out her phone. "Put your number in. Maybe I'll have you show me those tattoos some day. Maybe tomorrow if you're free, since I have some things to finish tonight."

Damian Eli

"..... A what?" He took the phone and put in his number in before handing it back. "I mean. Maybe? I don't really take my shirt off. Are we going to a pool or something?"

Tiana Walker

He's so stupid its adorable. "Don't worry about it sweetie. But no maybe allowed. If I call, you come. That's how it works. Or are you going to leave me all alone. What if my pimp tries something stupid?" She smirked at this and stood up, getting ready to leave. "It was actually nice meeting you, Damien."

Damian Eli

He offered her a mock salute before straighting his tie and looking toward the door. "It was nice to meet you as well Tiana" And with that he stood up and made his way towards the door almost disappearing into a crowd of people and then he was gone.

Type

Record, Historical

Medium

Digital Recording, Text