True to Jay’s assumption, Seven made no denial nor confirmation about the bribe. He tipped a shoulder with the noncommittal shrug, a quip of a grin and a grandiose flourish that the way was open to them both. He had only once before been in Almaz, meeting a client for a deal that ended up saving the man from certain humiliation. Since then, Seven had been a name to grant admittance, and a running tab would go to the benefactor’s expenses. Seven did not make large wagers, but he tried to legitimately add to the expense more than he took away. It left him in good graces and gave him the opportunity to impress when the moment called for it. He’d never shared company with a tried and true soldier before, and honestly did not now if Jay would find the entertainment the kind of distraction he sought. If not, they could fall back on assuredly good food and even better liquor.
He loitered by the door while Jay plunged toward the bar. It was with no weak sense of amusement that he watched. Jay did everything with such intensity, it was somewhat fascinating to witness. He had to wonder if it was Jay’s training that gave him such singular focus or if he was a man born with passion since the beginning. Given what little he knew so far, he guessed the latter.
It gave him a moment to sweep the people in sight for anyone he knew. The bar goers were well-dressed as he recalled from his previous visit. Seven himself fit right in, wearing the designer charcoal blazer and matching waist coat. A collared plum shirt was swirled with an abstract pattern beneath that. It was open at the neck. A John Hardy dragonscale necklace roped silver against his skin. Two dragon heads met in the middle, the jaws of each clenching an 18k gold circle. A recent requisition that was from the Indonesian designer’s Naga Line.
At the bar, Seven leaned into the stone surface, one elbow propping him up. With a flourish, he toasted the shot of tequila with Jay, declaring the sentiment with a rowdy "skål", while meeting the other man’s eye and adding an abundant nod of the head.
“My pleasure,” he said in response. The holoscreens came to life about then, abuzz with news of the next fight.
“Are you a betting man, Jay?” he asked, gesturing at the screen. A timer ticked the countdown to the next one. Odds and ratios rippled statistics in the background.
He loitered by the door while Jay plunged toward the bar. It was with no weak sense of amusement that he watched. Jay did everything with such intensity, it was somewhat fascinating to witness. He had to wonder if it was Jay’s training that gave him such singular focus or if he was a man born with passion since the beginning. Given what little he knew so far, he guessed the latter.
It gave him a moment to sweep the people in sight for anyone he knew. The bar goers were well-dressed as he recalled from his previous visit. Seven himself fit right in, wearing the designer charcoal blazer and matching waist coat. A collared plum shirt was swirled with an abstract pattern beneath that. It was open at the neck. A John Hardy dragonscale necklace roped silver against his skin. Two dragon heads met in the middle, the jaws of each clenching an 18k gold circle. A recent requisition that was from the Indonesian designer’s Naga Line.
At the bar, Seven leaned into the stone surface, one elbow propping him up. With a flourish, he toasted the shot of tequila with Jay, declaring the sentiment with a rowdy "skål", while meeting the other man’s eye and adding an abundant nod of the head.
“My pleasure,” he said in response. The holoscreens came to life about then, abuzz with news of the next fight.
“Are you a betting man, Jay?” he asked, gesturing at the screen. A timer ticked the countdown to the next one. Odds and ratios rippled statistics in the background.