Nigel.

'til death do us fucking part. An independent RP for the character Nigel in Charlie Countryman.

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

"She’s paid to do what I tell her," Nigel said, giving Gabi’s crotch a squeeze through her jeans, the bar concealing his hand. "She’ll be up when she’s fixed her make-up." He felt bad for Bambi - she was a good kid - but he didn’t have time to think about that when Gabi was so warm against him.

He kissed her neck again, and then pulled away, just a little bit. “They seem like good men,” he noted, his mind drifting back to Dragos and Pete. Good, weathered hands: they knew hard work. “Pete especially. He knows the lay of the land, knows the ins and outs.”

Nigel had trafficked drugs in Bucharest, never people. He didn’t know how ethical the trade was - were the girls kept well? Were they stolen from their homes in the dead of night, forced to fuck old, rich men? He held Gabi tighter. 

"You’ll be the voice of reason," he told her, "Believe it or not, I have a line to draw somewhere."

[themusicsavedhim]

A soft, breathy sigh fell from her lips and she had to quickly bite down on it before it gathered into a moan. She pressed her behind against Nigel’s crotch and shifted against him, her eyes holding a wicked light.

She was disappointed when Nigel pulled back a little, but really it was for the best. They couldn’t be humping like horny teenagers against the bar. Despite how much Gabi rather wanted to.

"Pete seems to have been in the business for a while. Dragos isn’t as green as he seems. I think the big innocent eyes is an act. He’d be a loyal one, but one to keep an eye on. That boy wants a throne."

Her hands moved back to slide down Nigel’s thighs, gripping his jeans and tugging him closer as he held her tighter.

"I’ll keep you all in line. Don’t you worry about that."

[fuckingis]

"He can have a throne," Nigel mumbled, "just not mine."

He gave her rump a slap and then began wiping down the bar again. After a while he went down into the basement, only to find Bambi had escaped through the trap door; he decided to let her go, seeing as Gabi was more help behind the bar anyway. Besides, the fawn needed to lick her wounds. 

His shift passed quickly in Gabi's company. The clients seemed friendlier, the tips more generous, but maybe that was just his own good mood passing judgement. Either way, seven o'clock came around sooner than he'd expected.

"Ready, gorgeous?" he asked as the clock tolled. Nigel grabbed his leather jacket, shrugging into it. "We can stop at the store on our way home. I'm a little short on groceries." Meaning he had none whatsoever. Assuming cigarettes and lube counted. 

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel watched the men leave. Opportunity was a funny thing, it could knock at your door any time, any day. He stood behind Gabi and wrapped one arm around her waist, using the other to feel up her thigh. “You don’t have to be there,” he whispered into her ear. The last thing he wanted was to get Gabi mixed up in this shit again, especially if it tore them apart. “You can go home.”

He pressed his mouth to the crook of her neck, kissing the warm skin there slowly. A couple of people looked, met Nigel’s challenging gaze, and looked away again. Maybe he just felt a little antsy after seeing the way Dragos had looked at her. No threat there, but he just needed to decompress.

"I mean, you can cook for me first, and then go," he continued, grinning against Gabi’s throat. 

[themusicsavedhim]

Gabi leaned back against him, cocking her head slightly to the side to give Nigel more access to her neck. Her eyes were heavy-lidded as his lips moved across her sensitive skin and a content little smile curled her mouth at the corners.

"If you’re going to do this, I’m going to make sure you’re doing it properly. If we’re going to be together, then we do this together."

She silently told herself that she wasn’t happy with the situation, but if she could keep him safe, then she would. If she could make everything look legal and above board, then  she would.

"If you are very lucky, I shall cook for you."

Her head turned so that she could press little kisses along his jawline, but stopped before going too far. The last thing this bar needed was a live sex show. Gabi paused and glanced around the room with a little smirk.

"Bambi ever coming back? She’s not paid to sit in a back room, you know."

[fuckingis]

"She's paid to do what I tell her," Nigel said, giving Gabi's crotch a squeeze through her jeans, the bar concealing his hand. "She'll be up when she's fixed her make-up." He felt bad for Bambi - she was a good kid - but he didn't have time to think about that when Gabi was so warm against him.

He kissed her neck again, and then pulled away, just a little bit. "They seem like good men," he noted, his mind drifting back to Dragos and Pete. Good, weathered hands: they knew hard work. "Pete especially. He knows the lay of the land, knows the ins and outs."

Nigel had trafficked drugs in Bucharest, never people. He didn't know how ethical the trade was - were the girls kept well? Were they stolen from their homes in the dead of night, forced to fuck old, rich men? He held Gabi tighter. 

"You'll be the voice of reason," he told her, "Believe it or not, I have a line to draw somewhere."

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel stared first at Dragos, then Pete, then Gabi: he watched her the longest. At first he wasn’t sure if he’d heard her correctly - this was around the time she cussed him out and stormed off. Yet here she was. Something unspoken passed between them, and then Nigel turned back to the men.

"Perhaps we should go somewhere a little quieter," he suggested to them all, "to discuss possible future business ventures." 

He wrapped his knuckles on the counter. This could be his beginning, his way back into power. Pete was a native, he knew the people, knew how things worked around here, and Dragos - well, he’d just be handy muscle to have around. Looked like he had a head on his shoulders too.

"I have an apartment around the corner from here," Nigel continued. "My shift ends at seven."

[themusicsavedhim]

Pete and Dragos looked at Gabi curiously and then cast their gaze upon Nigel. A strange couple, but both could share the throne. Pete knew that much. Could see the devotion that each had for the other, but there was something else there. Something that told him they could work together. If the man cooled down on his hot-headedness of course.

Dragos had only eyes for Gabi at first, but knew when he was beaten. He’d never seen a woman look at someone quite like that before. He’d lost before he’d even begun. Nigel seemed the good sort though, and Pete seemed to like him. Plus, money was money and a boss was a boss. If they were lucky then Nigel would be a decent one.

"We’ll be back at seven then.

Pete tapped once on the bar with the knuckle of his forefinger and finished his drink. Dragos nodded in agreement and shrugged his coat on. A cheeky little grin playing on his lips as he looked over to Gabi.

"Will the lady be cooking for us?"

"The lady will be cooking you if you don’t watch yourself…"

Gabi’s tone was sharp and she gave the man a stern look, but amusement crinkled the corners of her eyes. She watched the two men leave and sighed in relief. That had gone much better than expected.

[fuckingis]

Nigel watched the men leave. Opportunity was a funny thing, it could knock at your door any time, any day. He stood behind Gabi and wrapped one arm around her waist, using the other to feel up her thigh. "You don't have to be there," he whispered into her ear. The last thing he wanted was to get Gabi mixed up in this shit again, especially if it tore them apart. "You can go home."

He pressed his mouth to the crook of her neck, kissing the warm skin there slowly. A couple of people looked, met Nigel's challenging gaze, and looked away again. Maybe he just felt a little antsy after seeing the way Dragos had looked at her. No threat there, but he just needed to decompress.

"I mean, you can cook for me first, and then go," he continued, grinning against Gabi's throat. 

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel raised one eyebrow at Dragos. ‘

Lightweight.' He was smiling, though his gut tensed with the knowledge that these men weren't all they appeared to be.

He side-eyed Gabi, trying to gauge her reaction. Usually if she had a bad feeling about someone, Nigel would steer clear of them. Her intuition was rarely misguided. But she seemed to warm to both men, putting him at ease.

‘So, you’re trying to be a dentist,’ Nigel said, leaning over the bar. ‘Does that mean you’re looking for work in the meantime?’ His gaze passed between the two men.

[themusicsavedhim]

Dragos started a little, pride apparent in his dark eyes. But an amused sort and a sharp elbow to the ribs stopped his angry retort. He was young in this business, good as he was. And he knew that proving yourself was the first thing you had to do.

"I’m looking for work." 

"MmHmmm, lookin’ for work myself. Done a lot of independent… Dentistry in my time. Got a good little business behind me. But, I ain’t so good at the organisation part. Looking to expand the business."

Gabi looked between the three men and felt a little sick. Here it goes again. But something hardened in her and her brow furrowed slightly. If this was what her life was going to be, then she would take control as much as she could. She would direct her own life and take her share of whatever would come of this motley little crew.

"I am a good accountant if your little business is in need of one. I am very good at keeping the books."

She gave Nigel a sideways glance that clearly said speak now or not at all. Gabi approved of these men and doubted they’d find any better in this city. Her instincts told her they would be loyal if treated well.

[fuckingis]

Nigel stared first at Dragos, then Pete, then Gabi: he watched her the longest. At first he wasn't sure if he'd heard her correctly - this was around the time she cussed him out and stormed off. Yet here she was. Something unspoken passed between them, and then Nigel turned back to the men.

"Perhaps we should go somewhere a little quieter," he suggested to them all, "to discuss possible future business ventures." 

He wrapped his knuckles on the counter. This could be his beginning, his way back into power. Pete was a native, he knew the people, knew how things worked around here, and Dragos - well, he'd just be handy muscle to have around. Looked like he had a head on his shoulders too.

"I have an apartment around the corner from here," Nigel continued. "My shift ends at seven."

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel’s jaw visibly clenched. He stared Pete and Dragos down, searching their faces for the possibility that they were fucking with him. His hand curled around the handle of Gabi’s gun. “Darko,” Nigel recited quietly. “That so?”

He measured both men for some time before his hand slowly unfurled around the gun. “Well,” Nigel said, tone still cautious, “I’m glad you’re drinking at mine now.” Nigel pushed two more shot glasses towards them, feeling the old twinge of work satisfaction, and it had nothing to do with pouring drinks.

You had to wonder. Opportunity was a strange mistress - by nature she could walk through your dusty bar door at any moment. And when she did, you better be fucking ready for her. Nigel thought he was.

“What’s the longest game of chicken you’ve ever played?” Nigel asked Dragos, raising one eyebrow. Dentist my balls. They were four crooks spilling vodka together and Lady Opportunity fucking knew it.

[themusicsavedhim]

There was tension in the air and at the mention of Darko, Gabi felt sick. Her hand pressed hard to Nigel’s hip in warning as she felt his fingers curl around her gun. Attacking these men was not the answer. Not yet. She could tell by the look in Pete’s eyes that he’d noted the icy reaction from the both of them. Watched as he logged it in his memory but then relaxed slightly. From what Gabi could tell, neither man knew them. Didn’t know they had any connection to Darko.

But he was in this city too, good to know. Handy piece of information to have. At least it wouldn’t be sprung on them at a later date. Drinks were had and silence fell for a few moments as everyone digested that they were all dealing with something that they hadn’t expected, but were nevertheless curious about.

Dragos raised his eyebrows and shrugged slightly. He was like a panther unfurling from a nap. No longer hunched over and trying to look small and harmless. No point in trying to bullshit a bullshitter.

"Forty-eight hours. If not for mercy from the referee I could have played longer."

[fuckingis]

Nigel raised one eyebrow at Dragos. 'Lightweight.' He was smiling, though his gut tensed with the knowledge that these men weren't all they appeared to be.

He side-eyed Gabi, trying to gauge her reaction. Usually if she had a bad feeling about someone, Nigel would steer clear of them. Her intuition was rarely misguided. But she seemed to warm to both men, putting him at ease.

'So, you're trying to be a dentist,' Nigel said, leaning over the bar. 'Does that mean you're looking for work in the meantime?' His gaze passed between the two men.

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel warmed to Pete almost immediately, smiling at his paternal drop of kid. The smile quickly fell when itchy trigger fingers were mentioned, though. Nigel palmed Gabi’s gun, and was glad it was there.

The door opened noisily and Nigel started. But it was just a drunk customer stumbling outside. He exhaled through his nostrils and turned back to his company. “Lot of dirty bars out east,” Nigel remarked, sizing up the two men. Was it a coincidence new faces had shown up the day after his encounter with the East Chicago mafia? His eyes were sharp on Peter. “Wouldn’t you say?”

He poured them all another round of vodka. Alto would bust his balls about wasting the good stuff, but when the good stuff fell off the back of a truck to begin with you couldn’t really complain. 

[themusicsavedhim]

"Dentist?"

Gabi raised an eyebrow at Dragos and smirked. He didn’t look like any dentist she had ever seen. No dentist she knew watched people so intently And he had the exact same reaction as Nigel when the door suddenly burst open. A man more used to dodging bullets than working nine till five. If it wasn’t for the pub they had just happened to find themselves in, she would have said soldier. But he didn’t carry himself like one of those either.

"Dentist." 

His tone was firm and the look he gave her told Gabi to drop it and not ask anymore questions. Her lip quirked a little in amusement, but didn’t say anything else on the matter.

"Dirty bars run by young, stupid men. Wake up one morning and think anyone can do it. More to running a bar than youth and a can do attitude. I’m looking for something with a little more… Class.”

Pete turned to his younger companion and nudged him in the ribs.

"Who was that slimeball with the stupid name who wanted us to drink at his bar?"

"Darko."

"Yeah, that was it. Didn’t like the look of him one bit. Didn’t think much of his bar either."

[fuckingis]

Nigel's jaw visibly clenched. He stared Pete and Dragos down, searching their faces for the possibility that they were fucking with him. His hand curled around the handle of Gabi's gun. "Darko," Nigel recited quietly. "That so?"

He measured both men for some time before his hand slowly unfurled around the gun. "Well," Nigel said, tone still cautious, "I'm glad you're drinking at mine now." Nigel pushed two more shot glasses towards them, feeling the old twinge of work satisfaction, and it had nothing to do with pouring drinks.

You had to wonder. Opportunity was a strange mistress - by nature she could walk through your dusty bar door at any moment. And when she did, you better be fucking ready for her. Nigel thought he was.

"What's the longest game of chicken you've ever played?" Nigel asked Dragos, raising one eyebrow. Dentist my balls. They were four crooks spilling vodka together and Lady Opportunity fucking knew it.

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Bambi stared at Nigel, looking like her namesake then, a deer caught in the headlights, before she turned and ran back down to the cellar. He watched her go, leaning his frame against the bar. His gaze shifted to Dragos’ hand on Gabi’s wrist. He raised an eyebrow and then looked away. 

The clock teased midday. Fuck it, Nigel thought as he pulled down a bottle of top-shelf vodka and four shot glasses. He poured for Pete and Dragos and then himself and Gabi. One hand held the shot glass, the other rubbed at the small of her back. He could feel the gun, and knew it was the one he’d bought her. He pulled her a little closer against him.

Raising his shot glass, he proposed a short toast. “To love. Noroc.”

Nigel downed his shot, grimaced with satisfaction, and looked to Gabi. “I better be careful with you,” he told her, “you’re making this place look halfway respectable.” He regarded Pete and Dragos, one hand still curled around Gabi. “So how come I’ve never seen either of you in my bar before?”

[themusicsavedhim]

The grin of triumph on Gabi’s face was borderline vicious as Bambi rand back down to the cellar. But it was short-lived as a pang of guilt wriggled in her stomach. Bambi had no idea about Nigel or her, but Gabi had no idea whether or not Nigel had been leading her on. So she decided to simply leave it.

It seemed that Nigel was in a good mood at least, the drinks were poured and she gave a happy little sigh as she was pulled against him. The raised their glasses and even Pete parroted a cheery Noroc! She found herself wondering how much of her language he knew. He must know enough to be able to interact with Dragos. But then again… She didn’t believe one bit that the younger man didn’t speak any English.

"Well, someone has to. And I can’t see you doing that on your own. Your face will scare away all the customers."

There was good natured laughter from both the men which secured Gabi’s suspicion that Dragos understood English perfectly fine. She gave him a look and his eyes darkened in understanding before looking away.

"Cause we’ve never been in your bar before, kid. The ah… Bar scene is getting mighty dirty, been looking for somewhere clean to drink. Not many classy establishments round here these days. Too many goons with itchy trigger fingers, you get me?”

"I moved from my country to get a better job. I only landed a few days ago. I am a.. Dentist."

[fuckingis]

Nigel warmed to Pete almost immediately, smiling at his paternal drop of kid. The smile quickly fell when itchy trigger fingers were mentioned, though. Nigel palmed Gabi's gun, and was glad it was there.

The door opened noisily and Nigel started. But it was just a drunk customer stumbling outside. He exhaled through his nostrils and turned back to his company. "Lot of dirty bars out east," Nigel remarked, sizing up the two men. Was it a coincidence new faces had shown up the day after his encounter with the East Chicago mafia? His eyes were sharp on Peter. "Wouldn't you say?"

He poured them all another round of vodka. Alto would bust his balls about wasting the good stuff, but when the good stuff fell off the back of a truck to begin with you couldn't really complain. 

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Bambi squared up to Gabi, her perky breasts bouncing slightly. Here we go, Nigel thought to himself with a roll of his eyes. “Men come here to look at the eye candy, not some chewed-up piece of leather hag.”

"Hey!" Nigel snarled, putting a hand between them. "Watch your mouth. Gabi’s here because I asked her to be." 

"But Nigel,” Bambi simpered, turning to him, her index finger reaching out to play with a button on his shirt, “she shouldn’t be here. It’s like…illegal or something. And I’m not sharing my tips with her.”

“When people start tipping you, you can keep them,” Nigel said, removing Bambi’s hand, his gaze slipping past to Gabi. “But she stays.”

Between Bambi and the Romanian man still gawping at Gabi, Nigel began to feel as if his feet weren’t on the ground any more. Gabi had always been his constant, his point to focus on, but right now he didn’t know what they had, what they were to each other. All he knew is that his heart didn’t beat for anyone or anything else. 

He slung the dishcloth over his shoulder, curved one hand around Gabi’s waist, and pressed a firm kiss to her mouth, his lips parting slightly. His eyes were on Drago’s, and then they closed.

When he pulled away, Nigel gave Gabi a wink before heading back to the bar.

[themusicsavedhim]

Gabi bared her teeth in a feral snarl and looked like she was about to kill the younger woman. But Nigel stepped in and Gabi gave a slight nod and took a step back. A sign of respect and backing down to his better judgement, not something she did often. But to make up for the disaster of last night, Gabi was willing to bend to Nigel’s whims and play by the rules of this man’s world. As much as it irritated her.

The need to tear the woman’s hand away from Nigel’s chest mounted within her, but she stayed focussed. Stayed put. Allowed only her eyes to show the venom she felt. But when Nigel removed Bambi’s hand and stood up for her once again, Gabi felt warm.

The kiss was unexpected, but entirely welcome. She flinched a little as his fingers brushed over the gun, but knew he wouldn’t make a scene. Gabi wondered if he’d thought she’d gotten rid of it. The beautiful engraved gun that he’d bought for her engagement gift. Charlie had begged her to get rid of it, but she simply couldn’t.

Her kiss was a touch on the possessive side, her hands pressed against his hips as she sighed softly against his mouth. Dragos raised his eyebrows, but nodded in submission to Nigel and went back to his drink.

When Gabi went back over to the bar, Pete was grinning wide and Dragos was looking sheepishly into his drink.

"You broke his heart! You broke both our hearts! I think that deserves another drink, don’t you? Come on, sweet Gabriella! Take pity on the men you slay!

She laughed and poured their drinks but before she could move away, Dragos put his hand on her wrist.

"You and him, you serious?" 

"My one and only love."

"Looks like I’m shit out of luck then."

"Looks like. You are a pretty man, Dragos. But you’re not Nigel. Enjoy your drink."

[fuckingis]

Bambi stared at Nigel, looking like her namesake then, a deer caught in the headlights, before she turned and ran back down to the cellar. He watched her go, leaning his frame against the bar. His gaze shifted to Dragos' hand on Gabi's wrist. He raised an eyebrow and then looked away. 

The clock teased midday. Fuck it, Nigel thought as he pulled down a bottle of top-shelf vodka and four shot glasses. He poured for Pete and Dragos and then himself and Gabi. One hand held the shot glass, the other rubbed at the small of her back. He could feel the gun, and knew it was the one he'd bought her. He pulled her a little closer against him.

Raising his shot glass, he proposed a short toast. "To love. Noroc."

Nigel downed his shot, grimaced with satisfaction, and looked to Gabi. "I better be careful with you," he told her, "you're making this place look halfway respectable." He regarded Pete and Dragos, one hand still curled around Gabi. "So how come I've never seen either of you in my bar before?"

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

"A local man," Nigel nodded at Pete, "you poor thing." He grinned jovially before turning back to Dragos. "You’re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.” He caught the younger man admiring Gabi, but let it slide for now: Dragos had no way of knowing who Gabi was, and besides, Nigel wasn’t even sure if he had a right to be jealous any more.

Nigel knew better than to ask what the men did for a living. People in this bar didn’t carry solid jobs: they were crooks, every single one of them. Even Bambi sold counterfeit designer clothes on the sly - Nigel had even introduced her to cheap seamstresses and taken a cut of the profits. 

"Take it easy, gentlemen," Nigel said in farewell, tapping the counter, "enjoy the drinks."

He started collecting the first round of empty glasses, casting glances over at Gabi when he could. Mostly he was worried Moltasanti or one of his goons would walk in and shoot her in the face. It wasn’t a far-fetched concern. 

Bambi came up out of the cellar carrying a drum of salted peanuts. She slammed it on the floor next to him. “That’s one heavy motherfucker. Hey, who the fuck is that?” Bambi nodded at the bar, where Gabi was serving drinks. “Excuse me?” she called loudly to Gabi, “what the fuck are you doing behind the bar? You can’t be there.”

"It’s fine," Nigel told her, "that’s Gabi. She’s…helping me out."

[themusicsavedhim]

"Hey, it’s home. You’ll get used to it, young man."

"I can look after myself, friend. Have no worry about that." 

Gabi was back in her element, laughing and chatting with the customers and serving drinks like she’d never left Darko’s. Of course, even Darko’s place was a little classier than this. There was a sway to her hips as she remembered the thud and rush of the music that had played there. She missed it. Gabi wondered if perhaps one day she could get a club of her own. Perhaps she and Nigel could run it together.

A girl could dream 

It was Bambi’s annoyed, shrill little voice that pulled her from her thoughts. She gave the gentleman she’d been serving a sweet smile and a wink before she turned to the young woman. Gabi stalked towards her, a dangerous glint in her eye and her accent thickened to a seductive yet frightening purr.

"Keep your voice down, little girl. Men come here to drink. Not to hear a child crying."

[fuckingis]

Bambi squared up to Gabi, her perky breasts bouncing slightly. Here we go, Nigel thought to himself with a roll of his eyes. "Men come here to look at the eye candy, not some chewed-up piece of leather hag."

"Hey!" Nigel snarled, putting a hand between them. "Watch your mouth. Gabi's here because I asked her to be." 

"But Nigel," Bambi simpered, turning to him, her index finger reaching out to play with a button on his shirt, "she shouldn't be here. It's like...illegal or something. And I'm not sharing my tips with her."

"When people start tipping you, you can keep them," Nigel said, removing Bambi's hand, his gaze slipping past to Gabi. "But she stays."

Between Bambi and the Romanian man still gawping at Gabi, Nigel began to feel as if his feet weren't on the ground any more. Gabi had always been his constant, his point to focus on, but right now he didn't know what they had, what they were to each other. All he knew is that his heart didn't beat for anyone or anything else. 

He slung the dishcloth over his shoulder, curved one hand around Gabi's waist, and pressed a firm kiss to her mouth, his lips parting slightly. His eyes were on Drago's, and then they closed.

When he pulled away, Nigel gave Gabi a wink before heading back to the bar.

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel looked up from the counter, saw Gabi talking to two men, and smirked. He bent his head to the bar again, polishing the old wood. “Do me a favour,” he said to Bambi, still lingering by his side, “Go into the cellar and get some more bar snacks.”

"Fiiiine." Bambi huffed and heaved herself from the bar, slinking her way downstairs. Nigel looked up at the men again. He strained his ears long enough to hear them speaking Romanian. Immediately his gut tensed. The Romanian community in Chicago was growing, but memories of Darko still made him uneasy.

He walked across the bar with two small glasses of rye and set them down in front of the men. “For my fellow countrymen,” he said in his mother tongue. 

[themusicsavedhim]

Gabi smiled warmly at Nigel as he gave the men their free drinks. Dragos thanked him but looked between Nigel and Gabi curiously. Pete looked a little confused. With a kind smile, Gabi translated and the older man grinned.

"Ah, born and bred in Chicago, me. But I’ll take a free drink where I can get it. Thanks, buddy."

Gabi peeked at Nigel from out of the corner of her eye and subtly brushed the pad of her pinky finger down Nigel’s wrist. A few more words of banter with Pete and Dragos and before she began serving other customers. Dragos was more than happy to appreciate the view.

[fuckingis]

"A local man," Nigel nodded at Pete, "you poor thing." He grinned jovially before turning back to Dragos. "You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy." He caught the younger man admiring Gabi, but let it slide for now: Dragos had no way of knowing who Gabi was, and besides, Nigel wasn't even sure if he had a right to be jealous any more.

Nigel knew better than to ask what the men did for a living. People in this bar didn't carry solid jobs: they were crooks, every single one of them. Even Bambi sold counterfeit designer clothes on the sly - Nigel had even introduced her to cheap seamstresses and taken a cut of the profits. 

"Take it easy, gentlemen," Nigel said in farewell, tapping the counter, "enjoy the drinks."

He started collecting the first round of empty glasses, casting glances over at Gabi when he could. Mostly he was worried Moltasanti or one of his goons would walk in and shoot her in the face. It wasn't a far-fetched concern. 

Bambi came up out of the cellar carrying a drum of salted peanuts. She slammed it on the floor next to him. "That's one heavy motherfucker. Hey, who the fuck is that?" Bambi nodded at the bar, where Gabi was serving drinks. "Excuse me?" she called loudly to Gabi, "what the fuck are you doing behind the bar? You can't be there."

"It's fine," Nigel told her, "that's Gabi. She's...helping me out."

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel gathered all the broken glass and empty bottles and dumped them in the recycling dumpster outside, before righting all the tables and chairs. By the time he was done they were an hour behind opening. Fortunately the customers weren’t bothered, and they waited for him to lift the shutters and pour them their first drinks. 

With the regulars came Bambi, who’d forgotten her work keys again. She headed straight for the bar and crept up behind Nigel, placing her hands over his eyes. “Guess who?” she asked.

"Is it someone who forgot her keys again?" Nigel asked, taking Bambi’s hands off of him.

"Don’t be mad, I’m only thirty minutes late."

Nigel glanced over at Gabi, still cleaning the floor, making up for Bambi’s lost time. Something told him sparks were about to fly. He didn’t want to clean up the bar twice over. “Start pouring drinks,” he told the girl.

"You’re mad at me," Bambi pouted, tugging playfully at his belt buckle. 

Nigel turned and started wiping down the counter. “Start pouring drinks,” he said again. 

[themusicsavedhim]

All in all, Gabi was pretty pleased with herself. The barrels had been changed, all the spirits had been updated and all the labels were front-facing, the glass washer had finished its cycle and she’d put everything away in the correct place. She thanked her lucky stars that once you’ve worked in one bar, you’ve worked in them all. Everything was usually in the same place and easy to find.

Her smile faltered, however, when she saw the perky blond enter the bar. Gabi did not like the familiarity with which Bambi touched Nigel. Wanted to slap her hands away from him and drag her out of the bar by her hair. But she didn’t. The heavy pull of the gun hidden at her back was a temptation, but she ignored it. Of course she wouldn’t shoot the girl, but a gun was a pretty good scare tactic.

Gabi took a deep breath and turned away as Bambi came behind the bar. She would simply remove herself and go sit at the back or something. Ignore the blond little fluff and just try to forget about the way she looked at Nigel. He was in her bed last night. And would be there again tonight. She had no reason to feel threatened.

"Hey, sweetheart!"

She paused and just as she was leaving the bar area and looked towards the direction of the voice. An older man was waving her over, all wide smile and glittering eyes. His companion a younger man, could be no older than thirty with a shock of black hair and dark eyes. He reminded Gabi of home.

"C’mon, now! We been waiting ages, don’t just walk off like that!"

"So sorry, Sir. What can I get you both?"

Her smile was polite, but there was a tightness around her eyes that betrayed her worry. If she started doing Bambi’s job for her, there might be more trouble coming her way. But the blond seemed more interested in watching Nigel than pouring drinks. So Gabi leaned on the bar, eyes lowered in the slight flirtatious fashion she’d picked up in Darko’s club in Bucharest. The dark haired man perked up instantly. The older man grinned appreciatively. He knew a barmaid work when he saw one.

"Beer for me and a whisky for my friend here. Don’t think he’s rude or nothing, He don’t speak no English. He’s from Transylvania! Like Dracula!"

"Romania!"

It seemed that the dark haired man knew enough English to know to correct the older man. Gabi grinned wide at him as she poured their drinks. Suddenly she felt a little more light-hearted. They may not be from exactly the same place, but they were kin in her eyes.

"Very small world. I’m from Bucharest."

She had missed speaking her mother-tongue, English sounded awkward and strange in her mouth. But now her words flowed freely and without hesitation. Of course she and Nigel spoke their language between them, but out in public, it was nice. It was more freeing somehow.

"Ehhh, you both speak that weird wiggly stuff. I thought you had an accent. Lookit him, look how happy he is now."

And it was true, the dark haired man perked up further, practically leaning all the way over the bar in his excitement to speak with Gabi. When she passed him his drink their fingers brushed and the man grinned wider.

"Bucharest…. Had a lover who lived there once. Pretty… Not as pretty as you, mind… My name is Dragos." 

"Gabriella." 

"I’m Pete, if anyone cares…"

[fuckingis]

Nigel looked up from the counter, saw Gabi talking to two men, and smirked. He bent his head to the bar again, polishing the old wood. "Do me a favour," he said to Bambi, still lingering by his side, "Go into the cellar and get some more bar snacks."

"Fiiiine." Bambi huffed and heaved herself from the bar, slinking her way downstairs. Nigel looked up at the men again. He strained his ears long enough to hear them speaking Romanian. Immediately his gut tensed. The Romanian community in Chicago was growing, but memories of Darko still made him uneasy.

He walked across the bar with two small glasses of rye and set them down in front of the men. "For my fellow countrymen," he said in his mother tongue. 

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel watched Gabi steal a piece of bacon from his plate, but he didn’t mind, so long as she didn’t think about taking one of his soldiers. He ate the rest of his breakfast quickly, just in case. When his plate was cleared, Nigel patted his stomach, which felt a little fuller now, and drank down the rest of his coffee.

"I have to go," he said, standing up, sliding Gabi off of him. Nigel grabbed a piece of Gabi’s toast - to even out the playing field - and shoved the entire slice into his mouth. "I’ll open up,"  he said, still chewing. "Give me a hand when you’re ready."

He slipped into the bedroom long enough to grab his shirt and then opened up the front door, tossing Gabi a final look. He didn’t say anything. He just looked at her. And then he closed the door and headed downstairs.

The bar was empty, save for one person. His boss, Alto, was sat at the bar, his pointed face turned towards Nigel. “What the fuck happened last night?” Nigel opened his mouth to speak. “Shut the fuck up. I know what happened last night. You picking fights with Moltasanti now?”

Nigel considered his options. Just tell him that Gabi opened her big mouth again, he’ll take that. 

"Moltasanti’s a cunt. He pissed me off."

Silence. And then Alto laughed. “Yeah,” he said, nodding, “Moltasanti is a cunt. But now that cunt is going to want blood. You got a good gun, Nigel?”

"Yes."

"You a good shot?"

"The best."

"Well. You better clean up. I gotta smooth things over."

Nigel watched Alto go, and then he picked up a broom.

[themusicsavedhim]

Gabi watched him leave, their eyes meeting for a second before he closed the door behind him. It was only then that she allowed herself to cry. Great, heavy. heaving sobs as she pressed her hands to her face. She loved him. She loved him with everything she was. But they were doing it again. Falling back into the same old traps. Nigel fighting against anyone who so much as looked at her funny. Gabi causing trouble by refusing to back down. Nigel trying to climb the ranks of the criminal syndicates and Gabi being dragged along for the ride.

A part of her thought she should have stayed with Charlie. At least with him life would be safe. Boring. Miserable. full-filling. But safe. Now what was she going to do? There was no way in hell that Moltasanti and his goons were just going to let last night pass by. There would be retribution and they both had their heads on the chopping block.

She quickly dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and brushed her hair. No point in trying to look good if they were going to be cleaning. No point in wearing the disguise anymore. She doubted that anyone who had seen Charlie’s missing posters would be coming into the bar. Different crowds.

When she stepped into the bar, it was her beloved cello that she saw first, laying on its side among broken glass. Her bow a few feet away, the horse hair soaked in blood. A small part of her felt a flush of pride upon seeing the crimsons stained hair. It was proof that she wouldn’t go quietly. And she knew that when they came back, she’d fight them. She would lose, but she’d take some of them down with her.

The cello was carefully packed away into its case along with the bow. She replace the hair later, now was not the time. Tables and chairs were set right again and she picked up the larger pieces of glass and threw them in the bin. As if on autopilot, Gabi began collecting bottles and glasses and ashtrays and setting them behind the bar. Humming softly to herself, she began loading the glass washer and separated the bottles into the different bins. Clucking her tongue, she peered up at the bottles of spirits and began to change the ones that were down to the dregs.

[fuckingis]

Nigel gathered all the broken glass and empty bottles and dumped them in the recycling dumpster outside, before righting all the tables and chairs. By the time he was done they were an hour behind opening. Fortunately the customers weren't bothered, and they waited for him to lift the shutters and pour them their first drinks. 

With the regulars came Bambi, who'd forgotten her work keys again. She headed straight for the bar and crept up behind Nigel, placing her hands over his eyes. "Guess who?" she asked.

"Is it someone who forgot her keys again?" Nigel asked, taking Bambi's hands off of him.

"Don't be mad, I'm only thirty minutes late."

Nigel glanced over at Gabi, still cleaning the floor, making up for Bambi's lost time. Something told him sparks were about to fly. He didn't want to clean up the bar twice over. "Start pouring drinks," he told the girl.

"You're mad at me," Bambi pouted, tugging playfully at his belt buckle. 

Nigel turned and started wiping down the counter. "Start pouring drinks," he said again. 

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel stared down at his plate. She’d remembered. When he was man of the house back home, Nigel would fix eggs and dipping soldiers for his brother and sisters - he’d always take particular care to carve little helmets on the bread men. Nigel had told that story to Gabi early on in their relationship and so she’d started fixing him his soldiers. And she’d remembered.

He grabbed one of the soldiers by his boots and plunged him head-first into the runny yolk, eating him whole. Nigel’s jaw worked furiously as he ate, for a moment forgetting that Gabi was next to him.

When he was halfway through, he sat back and took a moment. “I’m not going to blame you, Gabi,” he told her. He would never do that. “I’ll tell them what happened and see where the dice falls.”

He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his lap, his free hand descending on breakfast again.

"We’ve got the Beatles in tonight. You’ll like them."

[themusicsavedhim]

Gabi lowered her gaze to her own small breakfast, secretly pleased that Nigel was enjoying his. But she refused to make a big deal out of it. The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass him. She finished her toast and was sipping her coffee when she was dragged onto Nigel’s lap. A little disapproving look was shot his way, but she didn’t say anything about it.

"The Beatles? Really? Let me guess, awful tribute band that we’re going to have to pretend is good and so much like the original?"

She grinned and stole a piece of bacon from his plate. Her eyes lowered in shame as she ate, not liking that she got Nigel into all this trouble and he wouldn’t even let her take the fall.

"If there’s anything I can do, I want you to tell me."

[fuckingis]

Nigel watched Gabi steal a piece of bacon from his plate, but he didn't mind, so long as she didn't think about taking one of his soldiers. He ate the rest of his breakfast quickly, just in case. When his plate was cleared, Nigel patted his stomach, which felt a little fuller now, and drank down the rest of his coffee.

"I have to go," he said, standing up, sliding Gabi off of him. Nigel grabbed a piece of Gabi's toast - to even out the playing field - and shoved the entire slice into his mouth. "I'll open up,"  he said, still chewing. "Give me a hand when you're ready."

He slipped into the bedroom long enough to grab his shirt and then opened up the front door, tossing Gabi a final look. He didn't say anything. He just looked at her. And then he closed the door and headed downstairs.

The bar was empty, save for one person. His boss, Alto, was sat at the bar, his pointed face turned towards Nigel. "What the fuck happened last night?" Nigel opened his mouth to speak. "Shut the fuck up. I know what happened last night. You picking fights with Moltasanti now?"

Nigel considered his options. Just tell him that Gabi opened her big mouth again, he'll take that. 

"Moltasanti's a cunt. He pissed me off."

Silence. And then Alto laughed. "Yeah," he said, nodding, "Moltasanti is a cunt. But now that cunt is going to want blood. You got a good gun, Nigel?"

"Yes."

"You a good shot?"

"The best."

"Well. You better clean up. I gotta smooth things over."

Nigel watched Alto go, and then he picked up a broom.

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

"Okay," Nigel said, sipping at his scalding coffee. He sighed and leaned back, the caffeine already making the day feel more manageable. The front of Gabi’s apartment backed onto a noisy market road; if he closed his eyes Nigel could almost believe he was back in Bucharest. 

He dug around in his back pocket and inspected his mobile. Three missed calls and an angry text from his boss asking why the bar was in tatters. Nigel grimaced and slid the phone across the table. He shouldn’t be here with Gabi, wasting time on breakfast. But there was no way he was leaving right now.

"You should keep me company tonight," Nigel called into the kitchen. "Assuming I still have a job at the bar."

[themusicsavedhim]

She threw bacon into the frying pan and after a few moments of thought, threw in some chopped mushrooms and tomatoes. If they had time, she would have wanted to make him something more traditional. Gabi wasn’t a great cook, but she could do breakfast. An old fashioned wife was what her father had called her once. More able to cook traditional Romanian cuisine than what was being offered by the young generation.

But this would do. She knew that Nigel had to clean up downstairs and Gabi would help. It was her fault too and she would take responsibility for that. The toast was buttered and cut into soldiers, her head lowered so that Nigel wouldn’t see her grinning at the sentiment. Her terrifying monster of a man eating eggs with dipping soldiers.

"You will have a job. We will both clean up the bar and explain what happened. You can always blame it on me. Say I didn’t keep my mouth shut and talked back. Which… Is true."

She handed him his plate before grabbing her own coffee and toast. There was a slight moment of hesitation before she sat down next to him. Memories were rushing back and Gabi found herself wondering if they could actually work this time. Probably not.

"I’ll keep you company tonight."

[fuckingis]

Nigel stared down at his plate. She'd remembered. When he was man of the house back home, Nigel would fix eggs and dipping soldiers for his brother and sisters - he'd always take particular care to carve little helmets on the bread men. Nigel had told that story to Gabi early on in their relationship and so she'd started fixing him his soldiers. And she'd remembered.

He grabbed one of the soldiers by his boots and plunged him head-first into the runny yolk, eating him whole. Nigel's jaw worked furiously as he ate, for a moment forgetting that Gabi was next to him.

When he was halfway through, he sat back and took a moment. "I'm not going to blame you, Gabi," he told her. He would never do that. "I'll tell them what happened and see where the dice falls."

He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his lap, his free hand descending on breakfast again.

"We've got the Beatles in tonight. You'll like them."

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

Nigel gave Gabi a sideways glance as she curled her arms around him. A cheeky grin spread across his lips, gaze following as she padded into the kitchen. He took one last drag of his cigarette before flicking it down into the alley.

After clambering into his jeans, Nigel stomped his way into the living room and sat down at the little dining table. The chair creaked under his weight. He watched Gabi in the kitchen, and smirked. She was still stark bollock naked. 

It had been a long, long time since he’d woken up to her. There was something special about being with Gabi in the morning, knowing his belly was about to be filled with good food after a rampant workout. 

"Got any coffee?" he asked her, taking advantage of the small apartment by reaching forwards and slapping her on the rump.

[themusicsavedhim]

She yelped at the slap and gave him a side-eyed glance of irritation that was softened by the curl of her mouth. She leaned over to kiss him before wandering to the bedroom to make the bed and pull on Nigel’s discarded shirt. By the time she came back, the coffee was bubbling in the pot. Automatically her hands moved over the two mugs, muscle memory doing its job. Black one sugar for Nigel and cream two sugars for her.

"Impatient man." 

His coffee was handed to him with another kiss before she padded back into the kitchen. The eggs were cooking (sunny-side up, just how he liked them) and the toast popped up ready to be buttered.

"There’s bacon too if you want some?"

[fuckingis]

"Okay," Nigel said, sipping at his scalding coffee. He sighed and leaned back, the caffeine already making the day feel more manageable. The front of Gabi's apartment backed onto a noisy market road; if he closed his eyes Nigel could almost believe he was back in Bucharest. 

He dug around in his back pocket and inspected his mobile. Three missed calls and an angry text from his boss asking why the bar was in tatters. Nigel grimaced and slid the phone across the table. He shouldn't be here with Gabi, wasting time on breakfast. But there was no way he was leaving right now.

"You should keep me company tonight," Nigel called into the kitchen. "Assuming I still have a job at the bar."

[inboxideas]

Our characters are playing strip poker and they’re both down to their underwear. How would your character react to seeing mine just played the winning hand?!

requested reversal of this meme.

[themusicsavedhim]

Soul For Sale || fuckingis

[fuckingis]

The morning was loud. Nigel woke in a groggy post-battle haze, his face scrunching against the sunlight filtering through. His hair was a mess. He gazed up at the ceiling and realised it wasn’t his own. Last night pieced itself back together in colourful lurches. First he remembered the good things - Gabi, Gabi, Gabi - and then the bad. 

He groaned to himself.

With care, Nigel disentangled himself from Gabi, practically sleeping on top of him, and went into the adjoining bathroom to piss. Afterwards, he grabbed a cigarette from Gabi’s packet and smoked it whilst leaning out of her bedroom window.

Down in the alley people milled about, though none thought to look up at him. 

[themusicsavedhim]

Gabi woke as soon as her body realised that something was missing. a large Nigel shaped thing. She jolted awake and looked around the room in panic, afraid that last night had been a dream and that Nigel was still uninterested in seeing her.

But she wasn’t worried for long as she soon spotted him by the window. Gabi let out a soft sigh and slipped out of bed, wincing as her aching muscles complained about last night’s activities. She tried not to think too hard about what had gone on in the bar. That was something they could sort out after they’d had coffee.

She moved up behind him, slipping her arms around his waist and pressing her lips between his shoulder-blades. A sleep heavy ‘good morning’ mumbled against his skin. Fingertips trailed down his spine as she moved away, wandering into the kitchen.

The kitchen was tiny, even by Gabi’s standards, but it would do for one person. She thanked her lucky stars that she’d been grocery shopping just a few days before as she took the eggs from the fridge, put bread in the toaster and switched on the coffee maker.

[fuckingis]

Nigel gave Gabi a sideways glance as she curled her arms around him. A cheeky grin spread across his lips, gaze following as she padded into the kitchen. He took one last drag of his cigarette before flicking it down into the alley.

After clambering into his jeans, Nigel stomped his way into the living room and sat down at the little dining table. The chair creaked under his weight. He watched Gabi in the kitchen, and smirked. She was still stark bollock naked. 

It had been a long, long time since he'd woken up to her. There was something special about being with Gabi in the morning, knowing his belly was about to be filled with good food after a rampant workout. 

"Got any coffee?" he asked her, taking advantage of the small apartment by reaching forwards and slapping her on the rump.