John had begun work on Horatio's side of the cleaning, yet again taking to it well and doing a decent job for his first time. He approached the bar and froze in his place. He spotted Viktor, which he had expected to see, but also a 2nd figure he hadn't met.
The man had quite a classy outfit, a nice suit and a top hat. But there was also something strange, an air of familiarity hung around him. He took a sip of his drink and noticed the young man staring.
"May I... help you?" He questioned.
"Oh, my apologies" John would reply, shaking his head slightly to clear away his thoughts. "I just didn't expect there to be any customers here anymore."
"Ah, that's understandable. It is around the time this place would be closed. I get special treatment you see, old friend of Mitzi's."
"I see..." John would say beginning to stare again. Wick was, clearly uncomfortable but wouldn't say much else.
"I've seen you somewhere before..." John would mutter.
"Have you?"
"I remember now, I've seen you on newspapers. Sedgewick Sable, right?"
"Yes, that's me." Wick would say.
"I am John Doe, I'm a new employee here."
"I see, nice to meet you."
Wick and John politely shook hands. After which John began cleaning a few spots around the bar.
"I must say," John said to the gentleman, "I didn't expect someone like you around here."
"Yes I know," Wick would say, "An upstanding member of the community, here in a dingy speakeasy-"
"No that's not what I meant," John interjected. "I actually respect you being down here. You know what you like and you go and get it. That sort of behaviour is lost on some."
"Then what did you mean?"
"I meant, with your money you could be at a better speakeasy that isn't struggling to stand on it's own two feet. I understand Mrs May is 'an old friend' as you put it, but is that enough to sacrifice quality?"
"Well Mitzi and I are quite close, I wouldn't miss being here for the world."
"So you're romantically interested in her, got it."
Wick quickly shot John a surprised look. Not expecting to be read so easily.
"I-.... You-....." Wick would look a bit confused and flustered for a minute before clearing his throat and regaining composure. "Should you really be speaking about your place of employment in that way?"
"Well I guess this'll just have to remain between us... and Viktor." John would say. "I'm only kidding of course, I don't sugar-coat the truth. I made that aware to Mrs May when I told her upfront about what I thought of the state of her establishment."
"You did?" Wick asked, "You are... a brave man then. Not many would like Mitzi's reaction to an insult."
"I wouldn't call it an insult. Just an honest analysis. Plus, I don't dislike the current state of things, it's what helped me get this job."
"Is that so?"
Wick checked his watch and finished his drink, handing it over to Viktor for him to clean. Before getting up.
"As interested as I am in this conversation it's about time that I leaved. Pleasure to meet you 'Mr. Doe'."
The emphasis on the 'Mr. Doe' made it clear Wick saw through the alias. Though so many people have, one would think believability wasn't part of the selecting of the fake name.
"Pleasure was mine Mr. Sable." John said, waving to Wick as he left and cleaning where the gentleman once sat.
After another hour John had finished his first shift at the Lackadaisy. Saying goodbye to everyone he walked out the door.
Walking through alleyways trying to remain unseen, he noticed something. A white furred man, with plenty of wounds and scars. Teeth were missing and chipped in his mouth, his clothes ragged and worn. He was sat down leaning against a wall in the way of the alley he was about to go through.
John walked fast past the man, before freezing in place. He stood still for quite a few minutes. Thinking. Then turning around, reaching into his pocket and kneeling down next to the man. Out of his pocket he took out some money, a wad of a few notes, and handed it over to the man.
"Use it to get yourself some food... and maybe some new clothes. Don't you dare use it on whatever your vice is." John sniffed the air. "Based on the stench I'd assume alcohol. I will find out if you use it on anything that isn't needed for survival, and I will be very upset."
The man spoke as John stood back up, his words slurred, "Thank you."
John began walking away again. But freezing again, this time not because he was thinking. But because he heard a voice. A voice he immediately identified as Zib.
"Looks like being a new face at the Lackadaisy isn't the only thing that make you quite rare these days John. Not many people would end up giving Virgil over here money. Let alone a wad as big as the one you just handed over."
"That's all? You noticed me being a decent person?" John asked.
"What I find more interesting, is the sheer amount of money. Given the fact you got a job at the speakeasy and those oversized, clearly hand-me-down clothes, probably from an older brother, I expected you to not have a lot of money." Zib speculated
"The clothes were my grandfather's, and I sense you're trying to make a point so get to it. I'd like to get home soon." John said
"My point is, why did you go get a job at the Lackadaisy if money clearly isn't a motive?"
"Who says there needs to be a motive?"
"Does a mouse ever go into a trap without some cheese to lure it in?"
"What if the trap itself is lure enough?"
The two stood in silence for a while.
"Are you quite done Zib?" John asked.
"Sorry kid, just confused. Why did you choose to work at a rundown speakeasy?"
"I have my reasons and that's all you need to know."
"....fine, go on back home." Zib would say, turning around and going home, just as John did the same.
