[Fic] The Beginning of All Commotions - Act 4

[charlzway]

Title: The Beginning of All Commotions - Act 4
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Greece/Japan, mentions of other characters and minor pairings in later parts.
Rating/Genre: PG-15 for now, but may go up to M in later chapters / Mafia-AU, Humour, Action-Adventure
Warnings: Slight crack, gang warfare, language, booze & smoking.
In this act: In which messages are revealed during a visit to the bar and discussions get a little side-tracked.


~.*.~

iv.

February 14, 2kXX. 12:05 PM

The day began, as always, with her favourite tune playing from the old radio nestled in an abandoned corner of a wall-mounted shelf, home now to dust balls and hidden-from-view spiders' nests. It had been chilly earlier in the morning, the draught creeping in from underneath the door and snaking through a tiny gap in the window - Francis must have forgotten to check they were properly closed before going home last night.

Sunlight filtered through red-and-yellow patchwork drapes now, casting fuzzy fractals on linoleum tiles, as morning gradually eased into noon.

And like always, she hummed (it had always been Mother's favourite song) as she worked, dusting the cabinet shelves first, before turning to attack those stubborn stains on the counter with her trusty cleaning cloth. The stains blended into the dark wood of the counter too easily, putting up a tough fight against her via camouflage (but not to worry, she also had her other cleaning side-kick at hand, Super Dish Disinfectant Spray - she'd take them out before anyone could cry "Yahztee!")

There was an abrupt creak (those hinges need to be oiled), followed by the jangle of bells as the front door swung open, and then there was fast-approaching footsteps and-

"I'm sorry, we're not open for the day yet." Angeline said, without looking up. "Business only begins at a quarter past two."

Sometimes, like today, she would get people entering a tad bit too early (you'd think they would at least take a glance at sign on the door, stating very clearly, their operating hours). But she was, as always, the ever gracious bartender, so she remained courteous still.

"Apologies for the intrusion. We're not here for the usual, however…"

Unlike  always, that was one voice Angeline hadn't expected to hear.

She straightened her glasses, and turned to acknowledge the slender-built man who had just entered through the front door.

"Hello Mister Fox. What a …. surprise to see you here."

Angeline would have added "nice" to the "surprise", she really would. After all, Mister Fox wasn't un-nice. Neither was he particularly bad-looking (not quite her type though). Whenever he showed up in her bar, he was always polite and apologetic, and his visits were generally short, even if he was never upfront about what he needed.

But still, she could not bring herself to describe his visits as "nice". Not when she knew the kind of business Mister Fox was usually involved in.

Then again, it was almost similar to the kind of business she was involved in. For while Angeline Hippolyte Grimaldi was the proud owner of Moon and Sixpence by night, she too was one of Londinium's best information broker, also by night (and sometimes by day, for mysterious fellows like Mister Fox, who are often on irregular schedules). And for her to able to obtain certain information, Angeline herself had to be "not-very-nice", or even "not-nice-at-all".

You just couldn't be too nice if you wanted to stay in this business for long.

The man gave her a short bow. "You look well, Miss Angeline. I hope things have been good for you?"

"We've been doing pretty all right the last two months." Angeline said, putting away her cleaning spray and cloth below the counter, before she reached for a bottle of Scotch from the cabinet behind her. She poured a glass and offered it to the man, who accepted it with another gracious dip of his head and a soft thank you.

"There were a couple of bulls that came in few nights ago though. Said they were looking for a doll with gimp, and wondered if she'd ever visited." She reached for a deck of playing cards from a drawer, shuffling the cards loosely in her hands before squaring the deck once more.

"Apparently she's been missing for a week, and the poor bird's husband's a wreck now. And apparently, ever since she's gone missing, the number of alley brawls on this side seems to have increased."

Cutting the deck in half, she set aside the first stack on the counter before shuffling the second stack again, her fingers guiding each packet down one after another upon her palm.

Shuffle, shuffle, square.

Repeat.

The man watched her, sipping at his drink silently, before he finally said, "I've noticed the increase in brawls as well, the most recent one being among the Lafayettes themselves. I have to wonder though, if it was more than say, domestic difficulties among their ranks…"

A pause.

Angeline began laying out the cards across the counter, carefully placing them in a neat row. She let her hand hover over the cards, as if deciding on something, before she reached and turned over a card to reveal a Five of Diamonds.

"It does seem a little suspicious, doesn't it? But as we both know, Mister Fox, when there are monetary transactions involved-"

She turned the second card over (Five of Clubs).

"-even simple matters can get out of hand pretty fast."

The man gave her a wry smile. "Indeed."

"That said, what of you, if I may inquire? I hope business is blooming for your cousin."

Another sip, and then a quick brush of a gloved hand over a silk shirt.

"Things have been fairly well. We've made no real losses. There is however, the slight problem of a missing item, one of which my cousin is quite fond of."

"How unfortunate…" Angeline frowned as she crinkled her nose, but never took her gaze off the cards. She continued shuffling the cards each time before laying out a new row.

She turned the next two cards face-up (Nine and Ten of Diamonds).

"Word has it that the Väinämöinens have been bustling about excitably." she continued.

"It wouldn't matter much if it was just the Dane alone."

"The Dane? You mean Mister…?"

"Mister Suck-My-Dick Kohler? Yes, that fellow."

"Ah."

"A handsome, charming brute. Needs to work on his language, though. Anyway, I looked into it and it seems it wasn't just him making all the noise and fuss. It was the whole family in fact, but I checked and it seems like they do have a legitimate reason."

Angeline flipped the next third and fourth card over (King and Queen of Hearts). As she did so, she couldn't quite hold back the smile and the accompanying chuckle.

"Looks like Berwald finally proposed."

"That's good news indeed," the man agreed, beaming slightly. "I will remind my cousin to send his regards."

"Anyway, the Väinämöinens are accounted for. I can't say the same for the Braginskies though."

There was a tiny cough, and then a slight thunk as the man set his glass down on the counter with a little more force than Angeline was used to seeing.

"The Braginskies are accounted for as well."

Angeline only raised an eyebrow, uncertain if she wanted to hear the explanation. Not that she'd expected him to offer any.

"It's not exactly my place to say it now, but I ah, assure you they are in the clear." He said.

She shrugged, but decided not to push the question further and turned back to shuffling her cards again, and to continue with laying out new rows.

"So the Braginskies are out, and that leaves-"

Miau!

Caught by surprise, Angeline blinked several times, wondering if she'd just imagine the sou-

Miaaaau!!

Very well, so she didn't imagine it. The man gave her an apologetic look when she met his gaze, but when he said nothing, she glanced past his shoulder and only then did she realise there was another man in the bar with them.

She must have missed him earlier, though how she'd done so, she wasn't quite sure, since this man was much taller than Mister Fox and more broad-shouldered. The dark suit he wore hid most of his muscular physique, but Angeline guessed that he could hurt someone if he really wanted to, even if it was a little difficult to imagine him wanting to hurt anyone right this moment.

Not when he was in the middle of prying an angry cat off one of the wall-mounted shelves with one hand and trying to keep a picture from falling off the wall with another.

"Oh, uh… sorry," the man who Angeline didn't recognise said, his arms now full of Monet and vicious , feline fury. "She was just outside the bar, and I didn't notice she had followed us in as well. Also, I didn't mean to interrupt your discussion with Ki…uh, I mean, with Mister Fox."

The cat bristled, growling under her breath. He continued to stroke her gently behind her ears and after several flicks of the tail, she stopped, and began licking at one white paw instead.

Angeline could only stare wordlessly at both man and cat, before she straightened her glasses once more. "If she rips up the upholstery, I'm afraid I would have to charge you, Mister…?"

"Herakles. Just 'Herakles' is fine," the man said, giving her a sheepish grin. "I'll keep her away from the furniture, don't worry."

There were several minutes of silent awkwardness, as Angeline said nothing, scrutinizing Herakles with a slight frown, as if she were assessing the truth of his words in keeping the cat from vandalizing her bar.

"I didn't know your cousin hired someone new," she finally said, turning back to the man sitting at the counter, riffling through her cards.

"My cousin did not hire him," he replied simply, his gaze still fixed on his glass. "He is just… ah, returning a favour."

Another pause.

Shuffle, shuffle, square.

"So you finally got laid, Mister Fox. Congratulations."

A stifled cough.

"He's been laid before," Herakles added helpfully, as the cat purred from his arms.

A louder cough this time. "I really do not see how my preference in bedding positions fits into this discussion."

Angeline's lips tugged upwards humorously. "I never brought that up, my good sir. You did."

Mister Fox stared at his glass, seeming to have decided that, at this point, it was truly fascinating.

"Do you have a favourite spot?" Herakles asked, a faraway look within his green eyes, as if he'd reached an epiphany after a moment of quiet contemplation.

"I-I beg your pardon?"

"On the bed. Do you have a favourite sleeping spot?"

"Oh," Mister Fox flushed slightly. "Well, ahh…"

Angeline cleared her throat noticeably. "Gentlemen, please. I understand the amorous possibilities that may have occurred between you, but really, if you're going into details here, I would appreciate it if you just leave me to my daily duties. I am a little behind time as it is."

"Sorry," Herakles said. The cat in his arms only sniffed in disdain.

"I apologise for the distraction," Mister Fox said, contrite. "Please do continue."

The smirk still playing around the corner of her lips, Angeline finished laying out all the cards in the final row.

"Two have already been accounted for," she began, as she flipped one card over.

Two of Clubs.

"So that leaves us with…" She flipped the second and last card over.

Knave of Spades.

A pause.

"I see." Mister Fox finally said, and lifted the glass to his lips, finishing the last of his drink. He stood up then, dipping his head politely. "Thank you for your time and assistance, Miss Grimaldi. The check will be sent over within a week, as per the usual."

"It's always a pleasure doing business with you, Mister Fox." Angeline smiled, gathering the cards back slowly and stacking them back into a neat deck.

Glancing over at Herakles and the cat, she couldn't quite help but add, "Looking at you, I wouldn't have thought you preferred men instead."

"I actually like both men and women," Herakles said, unfazed. "Both is good."

Angeline didn't think she'd ever seen Mister Fox so flushed before, let alone having another expression other than his default pokerface. She chuckled again, good-naturedly.

"Have a good day, gentlemen. Be safe."

She put away her deck of cards, and reaching out for her cleaning things, resumed back to her usual schedule. When she glanced up once more from the counter, the two men were nowhere in sight - almost as if they had never been within the vicinity of the bar at all.

Angeline hummed softly to herself, turning her attention back to that ugly stain she'd just caught a glance of (the third table from the right side of the wall, possibly more than a day old and possibly remnants of burnt ketchup).

And the day continued on, as always, with the news coming on the radio at precisely half-past-noon.

next act

previous act

_____

Notes:

Angeline Hippolyte Grimaldi = Monaco.
It was a little tricky trying to figure out her character, considering there isn’t much of her in canon strips. But from what I could glean off Himaruya’s comics, she’s a very intelligent young woman, who sometimes acts and speaks like an elder lady and she like discussing about things like politics, economy, etc. Hence why I thought she’d suit the role of information-broker pretty well. Also, this AU is set in modern times (in the 21st century), but Angeline occasionally speaks in a 1920s slang, because she has a thing for the twenties and all the jazz (this may or may not be an odd headcanon of sorts).

Mister Suck-My-Dick Kohler = Matthias Kohler = Denmark.  His nickname was inspired by this fanart, lol

And just in case you’re  wondering, Mister Fox is one of Kiku’s aliases he goes by when dealing with different people.

*

1920’s slang speak:
bull - a policeman or law-enforcement official, including FBI
doll - an attractive woman
gimp - cripple; one who walks with a limp
bird - general term for a man or woman, sometimes meaning "odd”

Playing cards are often used in tarot readings, as each card (or combinations of cards) can represent several meanings. This can be used for delivering hidden messages.

Five of Diamonds - change of scenery, financial struggles
Five of Clubs - petty arguments
Nine and Ten of Diamonds - journey by sea
King and Queen of Hearts - possible wedding
Two of Clubs - intuition helps decisions
Knave of Spades - immature, cold, bossy, delinquent or gang leader

If you’re interested to read more card meanings, there's more information here.