#( ft; kathryn haringer. )

[ender-yilmaz1]

WHERE: The Black Rabbit WITH: @kathrynharinger

There was something charming about The Black Rabbit– even Ender could admit that. It was the way the speakeasy seemingly transported him back in time to a point in American history that he understandably knew very little about, but could still respect. Ender always appreciated any opportunity to educate himself, and despite his need to drive the Sons of Silence into the ground, he could still appreciate the space around him and the threads of nostalgia woven into every nook and cranny of the place. Seated at the bar, he finished off the drink in his hands and waved a hand at the blonde who passed. “You the owner?” He called out, knowing very well that she wasn’t. No, the devil he sought wore a reaper, but Ender had to suspect that this woman was entrusted with at least some of his secrets– why else would she be here, helping manage this bar, if Cole Monroe didn’t trust her? “Gotta pay my compliments to someone– this Old Fashioned is one of the best I’ve had,” he continued, keeping his tone light, carefree, and conversational. It was all part of the front he’d worked so hard to perfect over the years. No, he wasn’t undercover, but for now, he was virtually unknown within this town– he’d play that advantage for as long as he could.

[colemonroe]

WHERE: Two Kings Casino WITH: @kathrynharinger

It had been a few days since the vote passed, but Cole had yet to reach out to Kathryn to let her know it had swung in her favor. Between organizing gun runs and filtering through countless orders at Reaper Crew, he’d been somewhat distracted, but upon spotting her at the ball, Cole felt it was as good a time as any to make an approach. Grabbing two champagne flutes off a waiter’s tray as he passed by, he made his way over to her. Sidling up beside her, he casually offered one of the flutes her way, “Business or pleasure?” Her reason for being here, that was. In their brief encounters, he hadn’t quite figured out if this was Kathryn’s scene or not. But to be fair, it wasn’t Cole’s at all.

[nelliedecker]

who: @kathrynharinger where: the lost word

Nellie had never been book smart, so one could imagine just how out of place she felt in a book store. But Devon was and she was trying to find something to cheer him up. Something non-fiction about tech felt too on the head, and who wanted to read about work when you weren't working? But with a guilty feeling in her gut, she realized she hadn't much of a clue what else he was interested in these days, and felt in over her fucking head here, which was not a feeling she suffered well. Approaching the front, she figured she'd bite the bullet and ask for help. "Alright, I'm looking for a book for a computer nerd" affectionate, "But I don't wanna be too on the nose about it, so I'm thinking something fiction maybe? Nothing too Ender's Game, though, you know?" she asked without much of any type of greeting.

[colemonroe]

Cole didn’t miss how quickly she wrapped the shawl back around herself, or how she hesitated. For a moment, it made him regret even drawing attention to the scars he’d noticed, but in the next breath, he didn’t regret it solely because he wanted Kathryn to feel like she could speak openly with him. When it came to the nature of the business they shared together, trust was essential, and while he certainly didn’t expect her to share her life story with him, he at least wanted to cultivate the sort of environment that made her feel like she could, if she chose to. And, after everything she’d divulged previously, it’d become quite evident to him that she’d endured a lot, and Cole never wanted her to feel alone in that. Of course, the arrangement they had had started out purely in a business sense, but there was a genuine care for her as a person, largely because she’d sought him out and asked for his help. Cold couldn’t turn a blind eye to that, especially not now that he’d seen the scars firsthand.  “Jesus Christ,” he cursed beneath his breath, naturally just feeling his heart break for Kathryn for what she’d been forced to endure. “You’re not nothin’,” he countered, just wanting to make that clear. “And ya ain’t runnin’ away, darlin’– you’re survivin’.” To him, there’d always be a distinct difference, and he’d never fault anyone for what that looked like. Seeing the scars…he understood it all a bit more clearly now. “Ya don’t owe it to anyone to explain what that looks like.” He’d already agreed to help her– to teach her everything he knew– but now he felt like he understood why just a bit more. “Meet me at the clubhouse on Monday– early mornin’. We’ll figure all this shit out– I promise.”

Yes, it did. But her mouth blanked, her mind along with it. Kathryn stumbled, just slightly, as lips parted and her heart thundered in her chest. This was her own fault, because she'd actually forgotten...for once. For a moment. But she should've known.

"I, well" The shawl that'd been in her hands swiftly put back on. She never forgot, always kept that part of herself covered. Even in the dresses she'd chosen. She simply hadn't expected this heat. And even now, as she baked in the shawl, she knew others might ask — god, how did she say it? It wasn't something she broached, and she was thankful that most never asked the questions. But there were reasons he needed to know. Kathryn had asked for his help, begged — almost. Closing the space between where she'd span and where Cole stood, her arms folded over her midsection. It was her biggest insecurity, the one that hovered over her like an ugly reminder at all times. She trusted him, she did, so why did the alcohol in her stomach instantly curdle at the thought. "Yes...it was my punishment. Five hours of...torture. Literally." though the laugh that fell from her lips was anything but humoured.

Kathryn still remembered how her screams sounded, how at the thought, she could almost remember the pain. Phantom throbbing where they'd sliced and diced her like she was nothing more than a turkey for thanksgiving dinner. "I thought I was going to die. When he branded me...after he did the scars...the searing of my skin — " she could still smell it. Reaching up, she rubbed at her nose subconsciously. "He wanted me to remember that they owned me. That I was nothing." And the worst part of it all — she felt like they still had a hold on her. She avoided the mirror as much as possible. "I don't talk about it, I prefer to...I don't know, pretend that it never happened. Some would say I'm running away."

This was why she needed his help. Those people would kill her without a second thought and she no longer had Fender's connections, and while her own were vast...that kind of protection couldn't be brought.

[colemonroe]

WHERE: The Lost Word WITH: @kathrynharinger

Simply put, the elusive blonde better known as Kathryn was somewhat of an enigma to Cole, and any time the Sons President felt even an inkling of curiosity, he was almost catlike in the way he had to pursue it. At the Fourth of July celebration– before it all had gone to shit– she’d given him a business card, complete with a cryptic message he’d been all too eager to decode. But it was hard for Cole to do that when he wasn’t quite sure what the fuck he was looking at in the first place. Perhaps that was all part of the allure. Whatever it was, it had him striding into The Lost Word, a half-smoked Marlboro in one hand and her business card in the other. “Ain’t much of a reader,” he started, announcing his presence as though the bell in the doorway didn’t already do that for him. Still, he liked to think that shrill ring wasn’t quite as distinctive as his slow, southern drawl. “But you’ve got my attention, Har-” he paused, his brow wrinkling as he glanced down at her card, pretending to double check the name, “Haringer.”

[colemonroe]

Cole: Just don't piss her off and you're golden 😂 Cole: Oh...well, won't claim to know what happened there, but Sawyer's your best shot if you're in a pinch. Cole: I'd grin and fucking bear it before I went anywhere else. Freedom ain't exactly something to gamble. Cole: Of course. Where and when?

Kathryn: I'm thankful she knows who I am now, so there's at least that. 😂 she seems like a nice person, on my second assesment. Kathryn: Sawyer and I are not compatable to work with one another. I'm grateful for the help with the offer of her help, but I'd rather go elsewhere. 😂 We do not get along. She's def not my cuppa tea. Kathryn: Can you meet? Kathryn: It's not something I want to discuss over text, if that's okay with you.

[rowan-macnally]

Rowan wasn’t good at this– not really. And maybe that was because she wasn’t entirely used to backing down, but this time she could fully see how she’d been wrong, and she wanted to try and make that right for a whole host of reasons. One, she’d been an actual cunt with no facts to actually back her up. And two, this woman was in business with the club, which was far bigger than she was– no way she was going to cross over into that territory because it wasn’t her place to. So while her norm might have been to let those ill feelings remain or fuel the fire, there was no place for that in this scenario. 

She nodded as Kathryn started, just grateful she was taking the apology for what it was and not ragging on her, even if that would’ve been well within the blonde’s rights after the way Rowan had spoken to her. “Loyalty runs deep around here,” she continued, gesturing around the clubhouse, “Tends to get a little feral sometimes.” Though her tone was teasing when she said it, there was a deep level of truth in what she was saying. These people were her family and she’d leap at the chance to protect any of them, and Kathryn had unfortunately been on the receiving end of that, and wrongfully so. “No, no,” she murmured, head shaking quickly to dismiss her apology, “I came at you like a bat outta hell, you had every right to react the way you did.” 

Nodding, she gestured at the hangaround behind the bar then settled down on one of the vacant barstools. “It’s the cheap shit,” Rowan warned, not wanting to get the blonde’s hopes up, “Very few top shelf items on the menu here.” Though, judging by the look of the place, she hoped that was obvious. Turning towards her, Rowan studied her for a moment, knowing she couldn’t ask about what sort of business she had with the club, so she opted for something a little more normal, “So, you’re obviously not from here,” not a dig, just her noting the woman’s accent, “How the hell did you end up in our little shithole?”

Kathryn took a second, once Rowan had stopped talking to really take in her apology. It'd been unexpected, to say the least. She'd expected more fighting words, but she'd been stunned into a pleasant silence. She'd braced herself for some kind of confrontation, maybe even some hostility, but this? This was something else entirely. Rowan had some rough edges, that was evident, but even Kathryn knew that sometimes they were the best people. She'd been around the elite, and she'd been around those struggling to get by day to day. And she couldn't say the first were the nicest people she'd encountered, because they weren't.

Those more humbled, who had less, tended to give the most.

Protect the fiercest. So, with a nod of her head, she understood.

Kathryn couldn't help but respect someone who owned up to their mistakes without reservation, before she'd even got to say her own peace. It was a quality she valued and had for a long time. The world in which she'd come from hadn't seen much humility and rarely saw people who cared about what they did and said. It was beyond refreshing. Exiting the meeting with Cole, she'd felt on edge and, honestly, it was dissipating.

Maybe this situation wasn't as dire as she'd initially feared.

"I appreciate the apology," Kathryn started. "And I understand protecting those who you care for. If I had someone looking out for me that way, well, I'd be lucky to have a friend who stood her ground when it came down to it." Because she hadn't had many of those in her life, and it was part of the reason she was here. And although Cole had would want her to make it right, she wasn't doing it for him. "No hard feelings. And I'm sorry for...losing my cool. I should've just kept my mouth shut."

The offer of a beer caught her off guard, but Kathryn found herself nodding in agreement, without a care that they'd been swapping words on baseless facts only some forty minutes ago. But there was one thing that was clear to Kathryn — If she was going to settle, and make a life for herself, she truly couldn't be enemies with people he considered family. And not only that, she wanted to be a part of it, integrated. "Sure, yeah, a beer. I'd like that."

[colemonroe]

Cole had always been a better listener than talker, and that was partly the reason behind his silence now. That, and he didn’t want to distract Kathryn or knock her off course in any way while she was speaking her truth. The stage she was setting for him was shaping up to be a rather grim one, something he silently acknowledged as he held onto that same, stoic expression he’d been sporting from the moment she started speaking. There was only one slight shift in his features, one little lift of amusement when she essentially explained that most of this boiled down to money. Didn’t it always? But as Kathryn continued, that flicker of amusement he’d offered up vanished just as quickly as it’d come about, and was soon replaced by a furrowed brow and a hard frown. 

It went without saying that whatever had happened next had left a lasting impact on Kathryn– the way she cut herself off and didn’t elaborate on what them getting ahold of her meant was the dead giveaway. Cole swallowed thickly but didn’t speak, feeling quite sure she wasn’t looking for any sort of pity from him, just empathy– and that was something he knew he could show her. Spotting the stray tear that slid down her cheek, Cole stepped forward, hand raising so that his thumb could gently brush it away. Was it an overstep? He wasn’t sure, but he’d always been someone who communicated best through physical touch and so the gesture felt natural to him. “Ya did what ya had to do,” he murmured around his Marlboro, finally breaking his silence. “Shoulda never been put in that position– ‘m sorry that happened.” And he was– genuinely– even if didn’t know how to show that. Hearing what she needed from him, Cole nodded, finding it to be a rather easy ask, if he was being honest. When she’d first prompted the discussion, he hadn’t been sure where it was headed, but teaching her how to shoot and fight– how to defend herself? That was something Cole could do. Fighting was something he’d always been so passionate about– for him, it was a lifestyle, not just a hobby, and so he was happy to impart whatever knowledge he could. “I can do that,” he agreed, dusting the ash off the end of his cigarette. Smiling softly at her worry, Cole shook his head, hoping to stifle it however he could, “Don’t worry ‘bout me, darlin’.” What he had or hadn’t signed up for had a way of becoming completely irrelevant whenever someone close to him felt that their safety was at risk. That was a scenario Cole had never been able to turn a blind eye to. “If this blows back on us, we’ll meet it when it does, a’right?” It was his way of saying he wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was their deal. “In the meantime, I’ll teach ya everythin’ I know…first question– do ya even own a gun?”

Cole's straightforwardness somehow grounding her, even if she felt the peril of what she'd divulged to him harrowing. There wasn't much in Kathryn's life that she hadn't had full control over. But this had been something that spiralled so far out of her reach it'd pushed her off balance. "It was a deal gone wrong. They, The Bartello's kept cash that was meant to be ours, so we decided to steal it back. Stupid, I know. But we felt...invincible back then." She didn't speak of this, hadn't since the moment she'd found her way here, half alive in the back of Frank's truck. "My ex-partner and I knew a guy, told us he could get us in and out with what we needed. We'd done previous work for them, stealing art, planting evidence — anything that paid, really." the memories flashing to the forefront, eyes lining with silver in the process. It haunted her, both waking and asleep. Even if she felt she might never be truly ready to talk about the impact it'd left on her.

"He took off with the cash the moment, got a chance, left me behind. And then — they got a hold of me." She couldn't will herself to say more about what became of her in that room. Of the scars that reminded her every morning of the hell she'd lived through. "I killed their son to stop him from killing me." a single tear sliding down her cheek. She had never killed a man before.

There was fear there that Cole might toss their deal to the wind. If her secret destroyed the life she'd began to make here, she'd crumble. With Fender gone, her old life but a mirage in the distance now, and a new one within hand's reach: she panicked. Kathryn had always taught herself to read the room, to keep her emotions in check so they couldn't be used against her — cards close to her chest. So when her eyes found Cole, she took two deep breaths. "Mainly, I need you to teach me how to properly shoot a gun, defend myself in hand to hand...boxing, whatever it is." Brows furrowing, she paused another breath. "And to say that, I hope this won't affect our friendship. Business or otherwise. I know you didn't sign up for this."

[colemonroe]

Cole hummed low in agreement, knowing all too well that even the best laid plans had a way of blowing up at a moment’s notice, especially in a town like Tonopah. Though he tended to live his life spontaneously, when it came to the club, Cole’s paranoia wouldn’t allow for that same level of reckless abandon, and he found himself leaning on contingencies just as heavily as Kathryn seemed to. “Well, I don’t need to tell ya that the club’s under a lot of pressure right now– you’ve lived here long enough to figure that out,” he cautioned, figuring he owed it to her to be as transparent as he could about what was happening in town and how it could potentially impact business, “So hold those contingencies close– never know when they might come in handy.” 

Isaac’s death was just another example of a plan going awry. Even with protections in place, enemies of the club had a way of swooping in and knocking those defenses aside just enough to deliver a lethal blow. It was a painful reality, one Cole actually refused to accept because Isaac had deserved better, and this was something that would gnaw at the Sons President for the foreseeable. So when Kathryn mentioned her need for him to be in the best head space, he couldn’t help but snort of a soft laugh, head shaking gently as an amused smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Ain’t so sure I even know what that looks like, darlin’.” He wasn’t seeking sympathy in saying so, he was just being honest with her. Cole’s head space had never been outstanding, but he’d gotten eerily good at not processing his own grief and pushing it aside to focus on whatever task lay in front of him. Maybe it made him a ticking time bomb, but right now, he sided with the idea that it made him efficient. “‘ppreciate that, though,” her offer to listen to him talk, that was– even if he’d likely never take her up on it. He’d never been one to burden anyone else with his shit.

Shifting his focus back to the business side of the conversation, Cole nodded, finding it easy to agree with Kat and her idea of never resting on anyone. “Not a bad strategy– it’s about survival, ain’t about makin’ friends,” he supplied, even though he had a way of contradicting himself there in that he did see himself beginning to shift his opinion of Kathryn to that of so much more than a business partner– a friend. Some people didn’t have the ability to blur that line and serve each other’s interests, but Cole liked to think the two of them did. “Like to think maybe we could do both, though,” he offered, just to show her that he clearly thought the two of them were different, and maybe together they could do more than just survive. 

“Been learnin’ that one the hard way,” he muttered, exhaling a long sigh that was followed closely by a breathless chuckle. That rang true in so many ways– Cole failed to recognize not only the cost of life, but everything else until it was far too late. “Thank you,” he murmured, swallowing thickly. All he could do now was try and honor Isaac however he could. Keeping the speakeasy going was one way he planned on doing that.

“Sure,” he nodded, eager to compile those numbers and see what they could come up with together. Really, he wanted to try and keep the Black Rabbit running similarly to how Isaac had left it, but he wanted to silently tie it to the club as well and he couldn’t very well do that without another set of eyes and ears that he trusted. Kathryn made the most sense because she had just as much to lose as he did if shit went south– the possibility of losing everything tended to keep all parties honest to a fault. “Should we shake on it or what?” He teased, cracking a small smile as he leaned back in his seat. He knew Kathryn could bring a lot to the bar– far more than he could do on his own. This, in his mind, was a move that was not only good for the club, but good for honoring Isaac. His smile seemed to hitch at the edges because it hadn’t hit him until that moment that putting trust in a stranger really was what he’d done here with Kathryn. That wasn’t the norm for him, not with the way his paranoia tended to run fucking wild. And so the fact that she was standing there in his clubhouse office, acknowledging what he’d done? It spoke volumes, because was so slow to warm, so reluctant to trust. And now here he was, extending trust to someone he couldn’t claim to know all that well, but wanted to know more. “Look at that,” he chuckled, marveling at the idea, “Guess lightnin’ struck after all.” He’d done what had always felt so impossible for him, because she’d made him want to.

It felt like she should be over it by now, the constant need to have people around her so she didn't feel that all too familiar loneliness creep in and take a hold of her. Kathryn might've had brains, and the ability to talk herself in and out of everything, but there was this keen need to please. To be seen for what she could offer, then who she was as a person. In Cole's presence, there was the ability to look deeper at those concerns. Because he'd done nothing but welcome her with open arms since they'd agreed to do business together. And already it was growing into more, becoming bigger than she'd originally intended.

And the gratitude sang from her. It could be seen in the hours she worked, or the sweat on her brow as she ran over the paperwork for the seventh time. Kathryn could not, and would not, mess this up.

She didn't mean to have her eyes trained on him, watching every move, waiting, hoping that this might just be what she needed in order to live the life she so badly wanted: only once the delivery was done, would she know, she reminded herself.

Blowing out a long breath.

"I honestly believe special might be too simple of a word for what this could, and will become." If her parents could see her now, they'd be turning in their graves. Kathryn pushed off from where she stood, and walked into the center of the room, arms folded over her midsection. "Plans don't always work, so I like to be prepared. I've seen things with what we thought had every contingency in place go wrong. And I don't settle for things going wrong."

New York flooded to her mind, and so much blood. It flashed, and just as quickly as it'd came, it was gone. She'd been in charge that night and had watched everything they'd worked for set on fire. Her whole life had gone up in flames. Ever since then, she'd kind of felt like she'd been in the room with people, but had never really been there. She guessed she was just getting a little bit tired of life. She just hadn't realised it till she got to Tonopah.

Until she met Cole, and Nate, and Gaby.

Cole's words carried weight, so much so, she could feel settling in the room like a heavy shroud. No, this wasn't evil, or menacing as she'd been used too outside of this town. It'd been intimidation games and chess with people's lives. There was a raw honesty in how he spoke and maybe that's why she'd felt so drawn to him in regards to business, and maybe the budding friendship she was hoping was springing from their conversations.

There was vulnerability there, and although they worked towards the status of friends, she wasn't sure exactly how long to linger on such a topic, because she herself hadn't known him. But the guilt of loss, she knew it well. Had seen it wreak havoc on a life she'd once been so content with. She found herself nodding along the thin line they walked between trust and betrayal. Someone had stolen the life of his friend.

She took another step forward. "I might know you in a business capacity, but I know a lot of loss." Everyone she'd ever cared about. Dead, left, gone. "You can talk to me, because you being in the best head shape, of course, is better for me." It was a joke, but her face held a lick of sympathy, pursing lips into a sad smile.

A life of reaper granted no long life.

She admired Cole's dedication to the club, the unwavering loyalty, the constant need to fucking look after other people. It blew her away, because she'd never had someone got to bat that hard for her in her life. It reminded her of the kind she used to have, the ones she once held dear, before everything changed. Before she knew what true loneliness was. It looked like luxury hotel rooms, laying in the finest silk, only to realise as she turned her head, there was no friend there. There was no number on her phone. Maybe, just maybe, she could find a similar sense of belonging here.

Financial strategy, one of her forté's, thankfully. And where she'd excelled. "That's because I don't trust anyone enough to ever rest on them completely." Not yet, anyway. There was this sense of pride in Kathryn's eyes, an unmovable force. There was a reason she'd survived, that was for sure. The need for survival, that fight or flight, was imbedded into some people. It wasn't often that others recognized the effort she'd put in, into building something stable.

"We never truly anticipate the cost of this life until it's too late." Her words were laced with that undying, somber truth, a reminder of the fragility of their existence. That it wasn't at all secured. "I'm sorry about your friend, truly, Cole."

However, as they delved into deeper conversation regarding the black rabbit, she found somewhere to fit, arms resting upon her thighs as her brows pulled together in concentration. "I'll need time to put together blue prints of what it'd look like, but if you can get those numbers to be soon, I have a guy who can probably cut those prices in half." Andreas had been a long-term friend in business ventures, and one she'd kept on retainer. "Especially for artists, because without that, we'd just be another bar."

Jazz was her forté, and for that, she was grateful.

"I may be persistent, but you, Cole, learned how to put trust in a stranger."

[rowan-macnally]

After the recent sandstorm that had rolled through, Rowan was seeking peace in a way that usually only the clubhouse could afford her. Here, she was surrounded by family, and not by bullshit, and so it was a way to unwind after having to clean up the damage at the shop that the storm had left behind. And so here she was, trying to enjoy herself, or at least unwind after being in the shop all day and cleaning up what wreckage the storm had left behind. Pulled from her thoughts as a drink was extended towards her, Rowan looked towards Kathryn and accepted the drink with a soft snort of laughter, “You don’t need to keep making peace offerings with me,” she assured her, head shaking as she chuckled, “We’re good until there’s a reason not to be.” Rowan wasn’t one to keep beating a dead horse– she’d made her amends with Kathryn and that was enough, so really, she’d just settle for a little bit of normalcy, especially in a place where she felt most at home. “You escape the sandstorm or get caught up in it?” She asked, just trying to make casual conversation.

FOR: @rowan-macnally WHEN: July 24' WHERE: The Clubhouse. Int.

Kathryn hadn't been around much lately, business had been more time-consuming that she'd ever known in her life. This was what settling down looked like, but if anything, she was busier than ever before -- the past week when she was finalizing a particularly complicated order. There had been shipment problems, book mix-ups—everything that could go wrong seemed to have gone wrong. Which had brought her to the Clubhouse more and more as weeks had progressed. It wasn't just her in business alone anymore: there were others. But finally, everything was sorted. Tonight, for the first time in ages, she felt like she could relax. Finishing the drink in hand, she held out a second one to the brunette beside her, ready to enjoy a well-deserved break. "Consider it a second peace offering," Kathryn said.

[colemonroe]

“Panhead 1958– if ya wanna get into specifics,” Cole supplied with a coy shrug as a playful, crooked grin curved at the corner of his mouth. When the club wasn’t requiring his undivided attention, he was constantly in pursuit of a restoration project or a vintage build to set his hands to. Life always seemed simpler when Cole was fixing things. A soft sigh tinged with relief slipped past his nostrils and Cole’s shoulders visually relaxed. Lately, it felt like brick wall after brick wall, pushing them back five steps when all they wanted was just one step forward. Hearing that Kathryn could help with this was more than just a step— in light of all of their recent setbacks, it felt more like a leap in the right direction. “‘preciate that— know he will too,” he nodded, his small smiling warming just a fraction.

Blue eyes trailed after Kathryn as she wandered over to one of the shelves. “Good to know,” he murmured, mostly to himself. Right now, there was no need to smuggle in anything lethal, but if that day ever came, Cole was glad to know that Kathryn was on board. “Don’t think he’d mind,” Cole snorted, smiling briefly before his expression fell as his thoughts drifted back to his own time behind bars. “Speakin’ from experience…it is,” lonely, that was. He knew she’d meant it in a lighter context, but he couldn’t help the way his expression dipped with the weight of his own memories, “All too easy to go fuckin’ crazy in there.” It went without saying that Cole didn’t want that for Isaac. 

His smile softened, the winkles in his forehead smoothing out as his expression warmed and he shook his head. No matter what she told him, Cole still felt that he owed her for this. This was personal. “We are,” in this together. In the world they lived in, that was how it had to be in order for both of them to prosper. Friendship. Amusement flickered in his eyes at the word. Why the hell she wanted a friendship with him after the dance they’d done was beyond him, but oddly flattering. “I’m…” he paused, the sound of his laughter lifting his lips into a bit of a self-deprecating smile, “I ain’t easy to get to know– I know that,” he murmured, all too willing to acknowledge how complicated of a man he was. “You’ve hung in there, y'know? We’ve traded our riddles back and forth…I put a gun in your face,” Cole continued, as if listing off all the reasons she should keep her distance from him, “Ya still want a friendship with me after all that, consider it yours.” Instantly, a pinprick of guilt jabbed at his gut, that little voice inside his head reminding him of all the risks that came with getting closer to him— risks he’d just shoved right at Kathryn. How soon would they both regret it?

“Oughta come by the clubhouse sometime,” Cole suggested suddenly, doing his best to shove those thoughts aside before they managed to claw at his throat. At least the clubhouse was its own fortress, well protected and safe, and perhaps this was his own gesture of goodwill. “Just tell ‘em you’re a friend of mine, no one’ll think twice.”

Kathryn's smile widened, pushing to stand and walk around the table, as she leaned on the front and crossed her arms. "I can respect that," she said slowly, as her eyes landed directly on Cole, lips curving into that half smile. This was something she'd been searching for, business that felt like it meant something. She loved books, and they'd been her own saviour for many years. But to combine the two things she loved most, it was a dream come true. On top of that, maybe, just maybe, she was making a friend in the process.

"Vintage Harley manuals, huh? Think I can manage that. As for the rest, consider it done. I've got a few contacts who specialize in discreet deliveries, I can pull a favour in from said friend. The things people will offer for stealing something for them should be alarming." Kathryn couldn't help but laugh at the memory of a certain porcelain doll, worthless, but sentimental to the customer. He hadn't been able to pay in cash, so he'd paid in favours.

Pushing off from the table, she walked to the left hand side of the store, begining to take a few books from every couple of shelves. "Wouldn't have mattered either way," And she truly meant that, it wouldn't have. Illegal activies had long become a taboo subject for her, but it was night that he was letting her see. A glimpse into life for the club, that unshakable bound she'd been able to see from her eight months in the town. With a small smirk forming, she brought the books back to the table.

"Although, I might slip something spicy in there, just to give him the choice." Kathryn raised a brow, and a single shoulder. "I've heard the inside can be pretty lonely..." Unless he swung both ways, whatever floated his boat. Furrowing her brows for a moment, she thought of life behind bars. How easy it was to get caught if they weren't careful, and honestly, while it'd never frightened her.

Maybe it would, the gnawing of never wanting to leave. That she'd have something to fear losing.

She leaned forward, her tone becoming more conspiratorial. "No need to owe me anything, Cole. Consider it a gesture of goodwill, an investment in our partnership beyond just the business. After all, we're in this together, aren't we?" Kathryn extended her hand across the table. "Or maybe, consider this the begining of a potential friendship, as well as partnership."

[colemonroe]

( END. )

Kathryn chuckled softly, a smoky laugh escaping her lips as she nodded at Cole's words. His response showed a glimpse of his understanding, a recognition of the satisfaction that came from outwitting opponents, be it in chess or the boxing ring. She couldn't help but find herself intrigued by his parallel perspective.

"Boxing, huh?" Kathryn tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I can see the allure of that. The dance of strategy, finesse, delivering a knockout blow when they least expect it." Her admiration for the sport was evident as she imagined the intensity of the ring, the mind games played with every step and punch.

When she'd been younger, it was how her father had got her to channel that anger. Not that'd she'd had that much back then, it'd been mid-terms, and she'd need a release; it's what'd started her love for sport. It'd also been her dad's love for motorcycles that'd landed her here. At this very moment. Kathryn's smile deepened. It seemed they shared a common skill, a talent for peeling back the layers to see what lay beneath. She nodded appreciatively, acknowledging the dangers of trusting too easily.

"Survival instincts," she remarked, her voice lowering slightly. "They're crucial in certain lines of work, wouldn't you agree?" She knew the weight of deception and the cost of misplaced trust all too well. It was a dance of suspicion, a careful balance to navigate the treacherous waters they found themselves in. How many times had she found herself in the face of danger only to be saved by her own mind at the last second?

Because she wanted to live.

"Cole," Kathryn repeated his name, savoring the sound of it on her lips. "I do my homework when something gets my interest." She leaned back, her gaze shifting to the dimly lit surroundings once more, her mind working through the puzzle she hoped to solve. "Your interests, well, they seem multifaceted." Her voice held a note of conviction as she spoke, her eyes locking onto his, seeking to unravel the truth hidden.

She'd left crumbs, enough that he at least knew who she was now. A start.

His response to her playfulness brought a twinkle to Kathryn's eyes, and she chuckled softly, appreciating the banter. "Oh, you caught me," she admitted, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "Perhaps I enjoy the chase just as much as the catch." The words held a double meaning, hinting at her intentions while leaving room for interpretation.

Leaning forward, she pressed the remaining length of her cigarette into the ground, extinguishing it beside him. Her gaze locked onto his once more, her voice laced with intrigue. "Time and place shall remain a mystery for now," she replied, a sly smile playing on her lips. "But rest assured, Cole, when the moment presents itself, you won't be able to resist."

With that tantalizing promise left like a dangling secret, Kathryn stood up, smoothing out the wrinkles on her jacket, the cool of the night almost biting. Taking a step back, the azure orbs lingering on him for a moment longer before she turned away, her silhouette melting into the shadows of the night.

''I'll be seein' you, biker boy.''

As she walked away, her mind buzzed with possibilities and plans. Kathryn knew that unraveling Cole's layers would be no easy task, but the challenge only fueled her determination. She couldn't shake the feeling that their paths were destined to intertwine, and she intended to explore every twist and turn with calculated precision.

The game had begun, and Kathryn was ready to play.

- END.

[colemonroe]

“Seemed fittin’,” he shrugged, his lopsided grin on full display as she fired his choice of nicknames back at him. Chuckling, he raised his beer to his lips, “Well, if that’s the kinda tale you’re after, you’ve come to the right place.” Tonopah Valley, that was. It was perhaps the strangest small town he’d ever known, but it was so unlike any other place the open road had led him to. It had plenty of intrigue, at least, which seemed to be what Kathryn was craving, if their brief interaction had told him anything.

Warm laughter rumbled in his chest as he fixed his attention back on her. Why she seemed so interested in him remained a mystery to him, but it amused him nevertheless. “Maybe ya ain’t askin’ the right questions,” he suggested, feigning his best look of innocence, which was still riddled with mischief. Cole hadn’t known what innocence truly meant a day in his life. Still, the sentiment behind his statement was true enough– he’d always responded to more direct communication– to intent. He’d be more inclined to answer however he saw fit if he knew the reason behind the questions in the first place. Or, he’d simply slam the door shut and be on his way. Black and white– no room for gray. “Debatable,” he chuckled, matching her raised brow look with one of his own. Sharing parts of himself with others hadn’t gotten him very far over the years, hence his hesitancy to do so with a complete stranger. Barely resisting the urge to sprawl out across his back like a preening cat basking in a warm summer glow, he remained sitting upright, curious eyes lingering on Kathryn. Amusement pulled his lips into a crooked smirk as she used his trademark darlin’ against him– albeit with an accent that didn’t quite drawl as hard as his did. But he appreciated the effort, nevertheless. “And how’s that usually work out for ya?” He countered, more so out of curiosity than anything, “People typically open up like books or do they make ya work for it?”

''Riddler? Well, that's one I haven't heard before.'' Kathryn chuckled, the sound a melodic harmony amidst the lively atmosphere surrounding them. Eyes darting to the men that surrounded him like an entourage. It made her miss New York. Where she'd had her people, even if money had made them fickle. Come to think of it? Besides Fender, had she ever had a true friend? "Oh, trust me, sometimes even I like a tale that's a bit out there, Cole."

Eyes sparkling with amusement. "How else do I find out anything about you? I'm playing a guessin' game here?" She paused for a moment, contemplating her next words. "I said you were an interesting man the last time we met. That still stands. However, mystery and intrigue only last so long before I wanna know more."

She paused, arching a perfectly plucked brow.

"After all, isn't life more meaningful when we can share a part of ourselves with others?" Kathryn took a casual sip from her drink of whiskey. There was something in the liquid that had undertones of oak and musk that lingered perfectly. Her gaze never left his face. Even though she knew nothing of him yet, she was not deterred. There was a magnetism about him that drew her in, a mystery that intrigued her beyond measure. She'd always been captivated by people that left her questioning her thoughts whether they were about herself or them, and Cole seemed to be the embodiment of that allure. It was all business. That was what she wanted. An inn. A way to set roots and foundations.

''Just the way I am, Darlin,'' She replied, her attempt at his accent humorous, her British accent heard loud and clear. It was a good job that she had thick skin. In the past, it'd gotten under her skin. How people commented on her need to question, or her ability to talk a lot and extremely fast in a short space of time. But now? She took it in her stride.

[ender-yilmaz1]

Ender didn’t miss it– the way she eyed him the moment he said something even slightly cryptic. To anyone else, a mere comment about hoping whatever entity existed not watching him too closely might’ve passed by rather innocuously, but it wasn’t lost on him the way Kathryn appeared to take notice. It might’ve meant nothing, but considering her close ties to the Sons of Silence, nothing meant nothing to Ender, and so he just nodded, listening closely to her follow-up. There wasn’t anything particularly useful in her response, but it did shine a light on who she was, and where she placed stock– maybe it meant nothing now, but it might be something to played on later if she really was wrapped up with the Sons. “Good for you,” he supplied, and he genuinely meant it, “I’m still getting there,” when it came to getting good with the big man, that was. Despite growing up in a very traditional religious home, Ender had strayed quite a bit– by now, he was considered non-practicing at best, but he was still quite spiritual.  “I can appreciate that,” he chuckled, nodding as he raised his drink to his lips. He’d always appreciated anyone who could get straight to the point, regardless of what that looked like. “That’s fair,” Ender supplied, shrugging his shoulders, and in a rare moment of vulnerability, he divulged a little– just a little, “Right time, right person…people preach that over and over, but I’m not so sure. Stars have to practically align nowadays.” He’d thought he had both of those things once, but he’d been proven wrong much later than what he’d preferred. Lifting a brow, he chuckled, “Just five? Pretty sure we’ve been at it for at least ten, so if you’re beyond bored, feel free to let me know,” Ender teased, his way of just carrying on the conversation and keeping them both engaged.

Hopefully not too closely. It was enough to have Kathryn eyeing him over her drink. It was a momentary slip, watching like a hawk — searching for something tangible. Reading people wasn't like the movies. She couldn't figure out his thoughts by the way he moved his eyes or the tonal changes in his voice, but subtlety was an interesting part of the whole. "Everyone makes mistakes in life. I got good with the big man a long time ago." She hadn't. In fact, it was something she battled with often. Her faith. However, it'd often battled against her obvious love for space, and the science that came with it. Her father had been the exact same.

She missed her parents, she truly did. And it was something she was pretty sure she'd never fully overcome. She was pretty sure no one did. However, the notion that their love had inspired Ender to have his own — well, that was the silver lining, right?

"What can I say? I was never one to beat around the bush." Lie. There were many people who could contest to the contrary. However, she didn't hesitate to continue talking, as if it'd washed right off her back. "No, never married," the thought ludacris to Kathryn, unable to even comprehend. Her life had been so different from others, the chance of such a life had always seemed like a pipedream. "Never felt right for me. I never had enough stability." Until now, and even that was on shaky ground right now. "Or, I don't know. Maybe I just never met the right person." She shrugged, as if brushing away the topical conversation about the state of her life, or better yet, her love life. It had remained in dire straits for a good five years at this point. She wasn't one to divulge too much. Usually she spoke in riddles, half-truths and lies.

"Plus, small talk only interests me for five minutes."

[ender-yilmaz1]

Chuckling softly, Ender offered up a lazy, half-shrug, features warming with amusement, “Hopefully not watching too closely,” he mused aloud, tone light and teasing. He’d grown up in a traditional, religious household, but over time, he’d felt his belief system shift to the point where he wasn’t entirely sure where he stood anymore. He pushed that thought aside though, finding it much too heavy for the lighthearted mood they were enjoying. “They are,” he agreed to her descriptor of quite something, head nodding gently. Despite their struggles, Furkan and Nevin had truly tried to give Ender and his siblings every opportunity to succeed. “Thank you for saying that.” He knew that Kathryn didn’t really know him or his story, but he’d take any opportunity to praise his parents, whether someone knew them or not. 

“Work. That whole data analysis thing I was talking about,” he answered, sipping at his drink. She was right, Tonopah wasn’t exactly on his list when he thought about a change in scenery, but it could be way worse and Ender knew that. As long as Layla was content here, he could find a way to be up until they had to move again. “Starting off with all the personal questions, huh?” He teased, chuckling softly before shaking his head, “No– not married, never have been.” And it wasn’t due to him being opposed to the idea, it was just a leap of faith he hadn’t had the opportunity to take. For the last five years, the idea of marriage had fallen onto the back burner, with Layla being his first priority, and he was alright with that. “You?”

"When I moved here, the town helped me find my feet. I can only extend it forward — big man's watching us all, am I right?"

She rarely met someone who genuinely cared about something other than themself — this man had a rare earnestness about him. "Your parents must have been quite something," voice softer, almost wistful. "It's not easy raising a child, let alone teaching them values that stick. They did a good job." was it the con artist in her that made it so easy to speak to strangers or hospitality...or even yet, that she might not be such an awful person after all? That the contempt she held towards herself wasn't all that bad.

She took another sip of her drink, a pang of something she couldn't quite name — was it jealousy? Nostalgia? Her parents had long been gone, and there wasn't a day that went by where she didn't miss them. They'd turn in their graves if they saw the life she'd led. Sticklers for the law, always on the right side of it. Not much could be said in regards to their daughter in her later years.

She brushed it aside, refocusing. He was a puzzle, and Kathryn loved puzzles. Much like she loved her riddles, that she was yet to impart on him. "So, what brought you to Tonopah? It's not exactly the first place people think of when they want a change of scenery." Taking the stool a moment later. "It's a small place. People around here get...FBI qualifications when they want to find out who moved here." it was, of course, a joke. Finished off with that usual, girlish laugh.

"Married?"

[ender-yilmaz1]

“So I’ve been told,” he returned with a fleeting grin. There’d been a point, back in his university days, when Ender hadn’t quite known the meaning of that word– moderation. But in no time, he’d seen the danger in that when he’d witnessed classmates die at the hands of their overindulgence. Since then, Ender hadn’t strayed very far from moderation, but he wasn’t falting Kathryn for her sentiment, or judging her for it. To each their own and Ender wasn’t one to overstep and preach about his experiences. She was easy enough to talk to without all that and he preferred to keep it lighthearted. 

“It can be,” intense, that was, but not for the reasons he’d been leading her to believe. The kind of analysis he did often boiled down to whether or not he needed to pull a trigger– hence it being intense. Chuckling softly, he shook his head, “You know, I get that a lot, but…it’s probably not safe in there,” he supplied, reaching up to tap the side of his head. “I do enjoy it. There’s…parts that are difficult, parts that I hate, but…I like to think that even those parts are for the greater good,” he explained, falling quiet soon after in fear that he was already rambling.  Nodding, he raised his drink to his lips, “Sure, I might take you up on that.” Really, he wasn’t so sure he needed a guide in a town this size, but Ender wanted to be polite, and if he was honest, he wanted to be nosy. Kathryn was working for an outlaw, and even an establishment as nice as this one didn’t erase that or alter it in any way. “It is a fun age,” he continued on, happy to focus the conversation on his daughter, “She’s so full of life, into everything. I know she misses Phoenix, but she’s so open to getting to know this place too.” And that alone was his saving grace. Smiling warmly, he shrugged a shoulder, never really knowing how to take praise he wasn’t so sure he deserved, “It’s how my parents were,” he supplied, attributing any of his positive parenting traits to things he’d learned from their example. “Any good thing I’ve learned, I learned from them.”

"Moderation is for those that don't quite know how to enjoy life," a cheeky smile turning cheeks rosy, as she realised maybe she had overindulged herself.

No one is perfect. If she'd been interested in moderation, she would've never become a con artist. Kathryn took a moment to situate herself, leaning back against the bar where she could see the room and took a moment to study Ender. There was nothing wrong with self-confidence, and from the looks of it, the man before her was the kind of man who looked like he'd have it in the bucket loads, and yet, she couldn't quite figure him out. Who are you? That was the question she wanted to ask, but she'd only get a surface-level answer...so, she did what she did best.

"Data analysis, huh? Sounds pretty intense. Must take a lot of patience and attention to detail — I'd love to get a look into that brain of yours." Taking her drink, she took a prolonged sip, before her brow arched. "Do you enjoy it, or is it just a means to an end?" was that too invasive? She'd never been good a "small-talk" per say.

Honestly, she wondered if he knew what this place had to offer. "I doubt I'm the best person to offer, but...I could always give you a tour. Being new to town and all can be tough. Was me literally just over a year ago."

Kathryn softened momentarily, the crow's feet around her eyes smoothing out. The mention of his daughter caused such a happy feeling, yet such sadness followed in such a brief window. "Five? Such a wonderful age. They're always so full of curiosity and...unending energy, aren't they?"

"Tonopah's gotta couple of good spots for kids. There's a small park just a few blocks down, lots of green space, decent playground. Not too shabby at all." Pausing, her head tilted. "Making sure your daughter adjusts well shows a lot about your character. Not everyone would be that considerate."