#brooks mccoy ; ft. diana

[mjwritings]

closed starter ; for @richlust

brooks skirts around the rager, his pockets full of party favors that he's more than happy to hand out to attendees for the right price. not normally a people person, he puts on his facade and learns to play nice for the night, if only because there is a paycheck involved. catching sight of a familiar blonde on the back patio he can't help but want to bother, brooks snags a bottle of beer from the cooler before falling in step beside her. " well, well, what do we have here ? " he chides, giving the female an obvious once over. " i see princess diana kensington was able to escape her ivory tower for the evening. " the corners of brooks' mouth twitch in a rare smile. " come to play with us lowly peasants because you've finally realized we're more fun ? " not that this party strictly contained members of his gang affiliation, given it was on neutral ground, but she seemed too... uppity for a place like this.

[mjwritings]

brooks swears something resembling a smile flashes across diana's features, but before he can get confirmation, it's already gone. still, a prideful feeling wells up in his chest, knowing he's capable of melting the ice queen. even as short-lived and temporary as it was, it was something. " on aldridge, huh ? " his mouth flattens into a thin line, a ruse to appear as if he's truly contemplating her words. he knows they were intended as a jab, but he refuses to be affected by them. instead, he dishes it right back. " i'm pretty sure that's a titty bar, babe. seems more up your alley, if you ask me. " brooks gives a small nod, gesturing towards her chest with a brief flicker of his gaze. the look behind his irises saying he was wishing there was currently more of it to see. " now, now. " he tutted scoldingly, tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth. " i don't make a fool of myself soberly for just any woman, diana. " brooks takes another long sip from his beer, his eyes remaining on her from behind the neck of his bottle. " if you're wanting a show, you're going to have to have a drink with me where we can discuss exactly how you're going to make it worth my effort. i drive a steep bargain when it comes to taking off my clothes. " far from the truth, but brooks hopes she bites, if for no reason other than to appease his curiosity.

for a moment, diana cracks. amused by his response, a smile breaks loose against her features. although she's biting it back after a second or two passes, it's still too late for it not to be caught. everyone had themselves convinced that they knew the kensingtons, knew their minds, knew their hearts (or lack thereof). that wasn't the reality. although she's the latest generation born and bred to an affulent family, she and her brothers had worked hard to destroy the kensington name to spite their own neglectful and heartless parents. prior to nolan's effort, they'd been known as influential, wealthy and capable, finding it easy to hide all their skeletons within the confines of an antique closet - and by throwing money at every problem. now, however, the name was infamous for their crime affiliations, for being corrupt -- and that was all their doing. that didn't mean it was all they were, but it was safer that way. "…you are hilarious, brooks. perhaps you are in the wrong line of work. i hear the comedy club down aldridge road is looking for fresh meat." a brow curves, the corners of her mouth still raised upward. gaze falling with little shame towards his chest at the mention of him ripping off his shirt, "well, it might be slightly more entertaining…" trailing off, her oceanic hues raise to meet his own again. diana gave little away, she'd learned from the best and would be damned if she ever left herself exposed for the taking. "go on then. prove it. make this party a little less banal for me, i'll make it worth your effort."

[mjwritings]

it was like watching a fish flop around on dry land, seeing someone like diana at a party like this. brooks would have given her some semblance of credit for even showing her face at such a low-level event if he didn't think it would go straight to her head. given that he had been out on the streets since he was the ripe old age of thirteen, brooks has known of the kensington's a long time. long enough to know an extra ego boost was the last thing any of them needed. curious, dark brows shot up along his forehead, wordlessly asking for her thoughts on the party, while also knowing he was going to get them whether he wanted them or not. mouth hanging agape, brooks pretends to be offended, as if he hadn't already heard far worse from her in the past. " me not simple. me brooks. " he enunciated the syllables rather dumbly, timbre resembling that of a caveman. " is now the part where i rip my shirt right down the middle and start banging on my chest with my bare fists like i'm king kong ? that's the kind of party you want to see, isn't it ? a few more of these, " he waggles his beer bottle around between them, " and that can easily be arranged. "

diana loved her brothers, loved those that worked with them, too. however there were times where they treated her like she was a child, they acted as though she was incapable of defending herself and that only made her want to act out. how dare they, she was as capable -- if not more so -- than her brothers, than their stooges too, as it happened. this is the last place she should be, the blonde is very much aware of that. however, she saunters around the party as if she owns the place, which is how she tackles the majority of life. acting as though she is the most important person in any room. whether she believed it or not could be disputed, but how often did anyone actually question her really? eyes roll when she spots brooks, but there's a combination of unease and excitement that thrums against her stomach, making her feel giddy about the man's presence drawing closer to her, too. "i've come here because i'm curious about what you all consider to be fun." she raises her nose indiginantly, sipping at her far too strong vodka coke. "it's quite simple, isn't it? matches your mind perfectly, i'd suspect."