Noting the difference in his laugh, Dorota forced a grin onto her face- always match the tone of the room, her father had taught her.
“Nine indeed.” She pulled out a single card and handed it to him. “We can make a player out of you yet.”
Taking the card, he gave a slight nod. "Thank you," He said in a low-tone. There was already another nine, so he paired it with the one given and placed it down. Antony looked up at Dorota, smiling. "When it comes to certain games, I am quite the player," He nodded. Glimpsing back down at his cards, he bit his bottom lip. "Do you have any two's?"
Dorota made an appreciative sound. “Is that so? I’ll have to see about that.”
She handed him the pair of twos in her hand, eyeing the three fives right next to that. Hopefully Adrian could give her the fourth one. “I will not take your bait and will discover as we get to know each other the games in question you claim to be so adept at.”
Antony took the pair then placed them with the other card he took out. Briefly looking down at his cards, he scratched the side of his head. "Sevens?" He asked, thinking as he stared at the back of her cards. As she spoke, he chuckled. "I bet as time goes on you will. You are very skillful after all. Hopefully I will get to know my boss better too. Right, Miss Dorota?"
She shot him a not unfriendly look and shook her head. “No sevens here. Go fish.” Her goal with this game had indeed been to get to know him. She’d be spending a great deal of time with him from now on, after all, and something of a relationship would put her mind at ease. It was still important to her to strike a professional boundary in their relationship.
Gently, he took a card from the deck, sliding it back to him and placing it in his hand. A gentle sigh left him while he shook his head. "Whenever you are ready," He said. While he stared at his cards, he could not help but his thoughts wander for a mere second. Most, if not all, of his missions started out like this, they all had many moments such as now. They are critical, even if he is only playing cards with a target. He couldn't help but find it interesting, stressful, and fun at the same time.
Dorota was fully focused on her cards and asked Adrian for a five. She glanced down at her watch, then, and saw in surprise that they were five minutes behind. She quirked an eyebrow but didn't say anything. If he gave her a full suit she could claim a partial win for the unfinished round of Go Fish.
"Not to intimidate you, Adrian darling," she said sweetly, "but this defines the game."
At first he said nothing, instead just simply staring down at his cards. Briefly, his eyes flickered down at his watch. He nodded slowly. "A five…," He whispered to himself. Antony glimpsed up at Dorota then back at the deck in his hand. Shaking his head, he pulled out his five then handed it to her. "Here you go, boss. Well played." Relaxing back into the chair, he quietly applauded.
She made a little gesture as if to bow and set out the other three fives on the table before taking the card and putting it with the rest of them. "Plenty of time for you to ruminate and plot your vengeance, Adrian, don't you fret."
She pointed her watch in his direction, an old bronze accessory with delicately shaped hands. "I'm afraid our leisure time is up." She got to her feet slowly, indicating for him to just set his cards down anywhere. "It's now quarter to five. The evenings at Elyasia start at seven. Our pre-evening routine here starts with a quick run-through of the entertainment, which takes about forty minutes. Then, I oversee the guest list, any dietary requirements for the evening, just details to put my mind at ease. Yasmin and I will probably run you through your tasks and positions for the evening as well. By then, I usually have about an hour to get ready. We're half an hour behind schedule today, we got caught up in the game, so today just half an hour for my getting ready." She had walked over to the door, pulled it open and began towards the bar.
He playfully scoffed, still clapping a little before stopping after a couple seconds. "Oh, I'm afraid that I will have to plan my revenge later," He responded. "Defiently before our next game."
Antony placed his cards down across the desk. Right after, he stood up and turned to face Dorota. He stared at her as she spoke while writing in the air a few words. Once she was finished, he nodded. "Half an hour, got it." Swfitly he made his way over to the door. His hand reached the door handle. Before leaving, he took a quick glimpse around the room then left, following Dorota.
She led him to the bar, where voices were already collecting in the next room. They walked into the bar and theatre– the main room. The floor was still empty of tables, though beginning to be crowded with clumps of people here and there. Right next to the stage, a handful of men seemed to be stretching, and as Dorota watched a couple more women joined them. More people stood about chatting.
"Alright!" Dorota called out to them. Her voice had lost any of the light quality she used off-hours. She now sounded like a strict, organised leader. She pointed to the stage. "Dancers get off, stretch on the floor." She pointed at the group of chatty ones. "You all, there, get up on stage." They obeyed quickly. One by one they told her their act. A singer, a comedian, another singer. "We'll start, with singers, comedy, then dancers run their choreography so that the floor can be cleared for the tables to be set up. Sound good? Go!" she said with a clap of her hands.
Quickly, soft singing filled the room, and Dorota turned to Adrian. "Any questions so far?"
Antony gazed around as they walked. He observed some of the people they had passed by. Now that there were a lot of people in the places they passed, he felt like he had a better understanding of the place.
Standing a couple steps behind Dorota, he watched as she talked to the performers. His eyes lingered down to the floor for a second. Over to the side, he looked at the group who were talking before Dorota told them to get on the stage. Lifting his chin up, he looked at the preformers and listened along to what they told her.
Briefly, he kept glancing around and watching the others in the room. Hearing Dorota, he focused his attention back back her. At first, he just simply shook his head in response. Only after a couple of seconds, he held up his index finger. "Well, how close do you want me to be?" He asked. "Still three steps behind or should I just be off to the side?"
Dorota paused thoughtfully. "You're here because this place gets crowded and I've started not feeling safe here in the evenings. Rare are the nights where we're careful about who comes in. Tonight, we have to be, for the sake of a meeting Yasmin will be taking during the evening," she explained, her hands gesturing along as she went. "On that note–" she piped up, glancing around, smiled and waved, "I need Yasmin."
She'd been standing near the kitchen entrance talking to a cook. At Dorota's signal she made her way over, weaving her way slowly between people and performers.
Dorota turned to Adrian and with a professional wave reintroduced them. "She needs to run you through the schedule for tonight. I'm going to go check in on the performers."
Dorota left and Yanni stared at Adrian a moment before nodding at him.
As she spoke, he had to take a step forward as he noticed someone walking behind him. Briefly, he looked at the person before bringing his attention back to the target. Antony looked at Dorota, nodding along to what she was saying. His eyes glanced down, watching as her hands moved while she spoke.
He turned his head in the direction she was waving. It took him a moment to find Yanni amidst everyone else walking by. Biting the inside of his cheek for a moment, he let out a gentle sigh. His mind quickly replayed their first interaction, recalling what he has to do in order to fulfill his mission.
"Very well. If you need anything, Miss Dorota, just say my name," Antony said. He watched as she walked off. Carefully he looked at the others who were around her. Seeing that Yasmin was at his side, he glanced over and returned the nod, "Great to see you again."
Yanni gave a small honest smile. "And you. Now, as I'm sure Dorota told you, the evenings here start at 7." She waved to the stage. "The first act is a singing trio, then a short bit of dancing. Dorota will be sat in the first row at that time, with you beside her. After that, we have an official coming at around 7:50. I will seat him at a table where I will join him, and Dorota will have to move out of this room to settle herself backstage."
This man was too well connected to see Dorota's face. But, the pretense was that she would have to be ready to come on stage.
"Another dance after that, then Dorota comes on. At this point you'll have followed her backstage and you will need to be waiting in the wings to stay with her everywhere she goes from then on. Then, another singer, and the evening is done. Is that clear?"
Singing trio after seven and dancing, he went along with what was being told to him. At one point, he shook his wrists before going back to nodding along to Yanni's words. As usual, he also wrote on the side of his leg the times and other details he found to be important.
An official? He wondered who it could be. There was not even a handful of people, especially officials, who know him. Defiently not Sachs, even though he would be there this night. Despite his curiosity, his expression remained nonchalant as usual. He went on, focusing to what was being told to him.
Right away, he nodded his head in response. The corners of his lips curved up into a slight smile. Tilting his head up, he looked around for Dorota. "Crystal clear," Antony simply replied. "Is there anything else or is that all?"
(sorry I went on a trip and didn't realize I would be cut off from wifi! I would have warned you)
Yanni ran through the last of the information, which consisted of a couple suggestions on how to move through the crowd easily and what he may be looking for that could be a threat. She shook his hand, smiled again, pointed him to where Dorota was standing, and walked off towards the bar.
Dorota was deep in conversation with one of the acts. "Eddie Mathis is going to be here tonight. You know how important it is that he's comfortable and entertained. We need to make a good impression."
The young performer nodded, ran a hand through his hair. "Of course, Solene."
Dorota smiled kindly, squeezed his shoulder. "Great. I trust you. Relay the message to those who need to know." He took off.
Dorota glanced behind her and saw Yanni walking away from Adrian. She waved him over.
(It's okay, I appreciate you telling me though. I hope you had a great time on your trip!)
With a slight head bow, he lightly grinned as he shook Yanni's hand. He mumbled a small thank you then watched as she walked away. Taking a deep breath, he glimpsed over to where Dorota was.
Antony could not help but notice that she was talking to someone. He wondered what they were discussing. Could be anything, and yet, he felt as if he needed to know somehow. Every single word to him mattered, even if it is nothing of the importance to him.
He only took a few steps over before stopping himself. Maybe he should just wait till they were done. Clearing his throat, he lowered his head and glanced over to the right. Down towards the other side of the hallway, he saw Sachs. His handler was leaning against the wall, making eye contact with him briefly. The old man held up his phone for a second before walking off.
At the same time he watched Sachs walk off, his phone buzzed. Antony pulled it out to a message that said, "Familiar person of interest. Keep watch from your seat. Three o'clock to your right and up five rows."
Letting out another exhale, he responded with a period before placing his phone back in his jacket pocket. Turning to Dorota, he ambled over to her. He still wore the same gentle smile on him. "Shall we go take our seats now, Miss Solene?"
(sorry again I've started an internship so my time is all over the place, I'll try to get to this tonight :) )
(No worries, reply whenever you can. Congrats and good luck on your internship!)
She watched the young man go, thinking about the coming evening.
Dorota turned, surprised out of her thoughts, her expression widening at the nickname. She gave Adrian a side smile. "You don't have to call me that until seven, or anyone… sensitive is around."
She turned to face him fully. "I have to go get ready. You can hang around here if you like, I don't get up to anything interesting while I do my makeup or anything. I'll be in my room, the one I showed you this morning."
At first, he quirked a brow. Antony wondered what he had done or said to provoke such an expression. After making a small 'o' shape with his lips, he nodded. "Oh I see, my apologies, Miss Dorota," He said, bowing his head slowly. Looking back at her, he gave her a small smile. "I will be sure to remember that for later." Then he inclined his head. "Okay. I will just stand here and wait for you. If you need anything, just text me."
She nodded at him and took off. She made it to her room, sat down, dialled a number and waited for an answer.
A voice came up on the other end. Offer your number.
"33487."
A pause. Thank you. Offer your password.
"Purple."
Another pause. Thank you. An officer will be with you shortly.
Dorota faced her mirror and began applying makeup. Before long, a man's voice came on the other end of the line.
"Miss Solis?"
Dorota jumped slightly, smiled, and resumed applying her makeup. "Hey, Chris. A meeting tonight in the Hallinger Park area. About a dozen people. Guns will be brought, but I assume we'll be out of uniform."
Clicking on Chris's end. "Sure, Solis. Empty warehouse on the corner of Hallinger and Barker. Will that be alright?"
Dorota nodded. She scribbled down the address and thanked him and hung up quickly. After a quick text to Yanni she stood to pull on her dress then sat back down to arrange her hair.
He kept his eyes on her till she disappeared into the room. Afterwards, he moved so that he would be standing against the wall out of others' way. Antony let out a sigh before feeling his phone go off. He shook his head while taking it out. It was a call from Sachs, but it was labeled as "Dad"; he pressed the answer button. "Yes?"
"Not even a hello, Teddy?" The old man asked, chuckling. "Oh well, Seward picked up something and I thought I should tell you."
Antony laughed a little as he nodded his head. In the corner of his eye, he noticed a camera in the corner diagonally across from him. "Really? What did he get? Amethyst? Malachite?"
"Amethyst, Hans Parker picked it up for him at twelve. It is heavily decked out, but Hans and Basil took care of the rest. I will take you to there."
"Okay. I get off of work around eleven-thirty to midnight," He said, staring at his watch. Most of their conversations over the phone was all in code. Amethyst, for example, meant the Purple Infantry. Names for places were replaced with names of people, relations, or items. It was all to keep everything a secret and safe, though it did take him a moment to decode some terms.
"It will be fine, Teddy. You will be fine. See you later," Sachs said then hung up.
Before his handler hung up, he mumbled a goodbye. For a moment, he rested his head against the wall as he put the phone away. Another sign slipped through his lips. The enemies are going to be in in a ride tonight, that's all he can say. He continued to watch people as they passed by, regularly looking over at the door to Dorota's room every now and then.
(sorry!)
(ngl though you're super super fun to rp with)
A tight twenty minutes later, Dorota rejoined the bar area. Her complexion glowed, her hair was down in delicate curves, and ochre fabric hugged her curves. She was ready for the evening.
She spotted Adrian quickly enough, up against a wall out of the way.
She sauntered up to him with an exaggerated sway of her shoulders. "Mr. Bodyguard!" she called to him with a smile. "Solene is here for the party!"
The tables, now set up with cloth covers, candles and place settings, had Dorota weaving between them, her shoes clicking sharply on the panelled floor.
"It's nearly 7. Shall we take our seats?" She gestured to a table slightly set apart from the rest, but otherwise identical.