Destiny Comes Calling

[Anthony]

destiny

comes

calling

- anthony zhao tsai-

<sub>Anthony raised his hand to shield his dark, squinted eyes from the piercing sun. Before him stood an unassuming building facade with a reasonable line of customers jettisoned from the door. His expression fell slightly from the ridiculous shop name causing him to shake his head ever so slightly. From the outside nobody would be able to see the financial trouble the business was currently drowning in. With a frown, he tossed a knowing look back to his partner, James, then double checked the address before heading inside.

The interior of the shop was chilly, yet cozy at the same time. Every corner seemed filled with dozens of patrons and rambunctious children darting here and there. One such juvenile coming within mere inches of a collision with anthony's steel-toed biker boots.

"Doesn't seem like they're having a hard time?" James asked rhetorically under his breath. Anthony was in no mind to argue with facts and simply nodded. Wheb it was their turn at the head of the line, anthony,Without any verbal introduction, presented the employee with a business card and a passive expression.

"Just a moment," she chimed nervously as she darted off to find the owner, leaving the pair looking like a couple of hooligans by the cash register.</sub>

Lucas Parker

[Lucas Parker]

Luke Tag: Anthony setting: The Inside Scoop timeline: tbd notes: First post!

Lucas wasn't entirely sure what he had gotten himself into. His conscience was clear though, knowing he was doing this to help a friend. In terms of investing money, and offering his knowledge of his own career path to aid in her endeavour. What Lucas was not expecting this day, was to be handed a card that made his eyes slightly widen before regaining himself. The women -- filling in for his friend -- didn't offer any more information, just saying that they were waiting out front. Well, best not keep them waiting for long. Lucas took a deep breath, and made his way out of the back office. His partner was currently away . . . unfortunately. The roles were meant to be reversed. She would be the face of this and deal with everything on the front, he would be behind the scenes. But alas, here he was and here she . . . wasn't. "Hi there," he greeted with a smile, extending his hand when he stood close enough them to reach. "My name is Lucas Parker, co owner of this establishment." He had been so caught up in his own thoughts, he belatedly took in their appearance. He'd watched enough movies to know just how much like mafia they looked. And that thought, was highly unsettling. "What can I do for you today?" Please let this be some sort of misunderstanding. Or . . . maybe they just came here to eat?! The nagging feeling told him otherwise but he tried to be optimistic where he could. Either way, something told him that they weren't here for ice cream.

[Anthony]

destiny

comes

calling

- anthony zhao tsai-

<sub>a gaggle of giggling teenage girls had distracted him enough that he hadn't heard the man walking towards him. upon his greeting, anthony turned his head furrowing his brows. if anthony and james looked completely out of place than the shop owner might have been from a different planet. the corners of anthony's mouth twitched while noticing the man's mussed mop of dark curls. They looked soft. The perfect length to run your fingers through, grab a fistful and pull. his face was friendly but he looked like he should be in an oversized suit taking tech calls and fixing fax machines or some shit like that.

An uncomfortable amount of time passed before anthony realized this man -- lucas as he called himself had been holding out his hand in awkward greeting without a response. TENTATIVELY, anthony took it, giving a brief shake before letting go. 

"Uh, my name is James and this is anthony," james interjected just to break the painful silence as he reached to shake Lucas's hand next. at the same time anthony reached for his back pocket and retrieved a neatly folded document. His dark eyes studying lucas carefully as he slowly passed it over.

Again james chimed in, "ah we're from blackwater collection agency.... sorry".</sub>

Lucas Parker

[Lucas Parker]

Luke Tag: Anthony setting: The Inside Scoop timeline: tbd notes: rambling Luke!

There was silence. Lucas didn't like silence. It was uncomfortable and awkward and . . . there was a tension in the air. These guys looked serious and that certainly wasn't helping. Suddenly, everything felt even more chilly than the bottom of the freezer where they keep the ice cream. Lucas wasn't sure how to respond to the greeting. Should he say, nice to meet you? Should he offer them some ice cream to lighten the mood? It didn't seem like he had to wait much longer since the introduction for they pulled out a document. Lucas braced himself, opened it and read it over. Enough to understand what was happening; enough to confirm his fear ever since he was handed that card. "Ok look, I have to admit that I'm not the one who bought this place. I'm a co-owner but I didn't handle the paperwork. And . . . we can't find the guy who we bought it from. It's like he disappeared into thin air. Which, from what I've seen of this town, is a pretty common thing. There are a lot of missing posters. A lot of disappearances. Weird for a ton this small don't you think?" He swiftly turned around grabbed a couple of cups of ice cream that were meant for other customers. But his nerves got the better of him and he extended one to each gentlemen. "Vanilla ice cream?" Yes. Lucas was rambling and nervous and . . . offering the men ice cream as if this entire problem was going to get fixed with a couple of delicious bites.

[Anthony]

destiny

comes

calling

- anthony zhao tsai-

<sub>ANTHONY'S BROWS FURROWED AS HE TOSSED A QUESTIONING GLANCE TO JAMES BEFORE BRINGING HIS ATTENTION BACK TO LUCAS. HE HAD OPENED HIS MOUTH TO INTERRUPT JUST BEFORE A CUP OF ICE CREAM HAD BEEN SHOVED IN HIS GENERAL VICINITY. ANTHONY'S DARK BROWN EYES HONED IN ON THE CREAMY HEAP TOPPED WITH SPRINKLES AND A THIN CURL OF CHOCOLATE. HE SIGHED. THE COLD TREAT WAS INDEED A KNOWN WEAKNESS. HE WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO TAKE IT, SAVOR IT AND FUCK THE REST OF THE WORLD, BUT DOING SO WOULD CREATE A DEBT AND HE REFUSED TO BE IN DEBT - ESPECIALLY TO SOMEONE HE JUST MET THAT COULDN'T HANDLE FINANCES. 

"LUCAS, RIGHT?" HE STARTED AS HE BROUGHT HIS HANDS UP IN SURRENDER. HIS VOICE WAS DEEPER THAN ONE MIGHT EXPECT AND IT FLOWED FROM HIM LIKE HONEY. "WE'RE JUST DELIVERING THE MESSAGE. YOU'VE GOT A MONTH TO PAY THE DEBT AND... WE DON'T TAKE BRIBES".

ANTHONY STUFFED HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS, INTERNALLY PROUD OF HIMSELF FOR RESISTING TEMPTATION. TURNING TO LEAVE, HE GLANCED AT JAMES, WHO GLANCED BACK WITH A WHITE SPOON IN HIS MOUTH AND A HALF EATEN CUP OF ICE CREAM IN HIS HAND. ANTHONY DIDN'T NEED TO SAY ANYTHING FOR JAMES TO UNDERSTAND THE PERCOLATING ANGER THE SLOWLY STARTED TO BOIL UNDER ANTHONY'S SKIN. MUTTERING AN INCOHERENT APOLOGY, JAMES ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE REST OF HIS TREAT AS ANTHONY GRUDGINGLY REACHED FOR HIS WALLET.</sub>

Lucas Parker

[Lucas Parker]

Luke Tag: Anthony setting: The Inside Scoop timeline: tbd notes: rambling Luke!

He said his name. "That's right," he confirmed quietly. He knew it wasn't a mistake to give his name, even if these guys looked like some sort of mafia. But still. He felt . . . unnerved. Then the guy said that they were just delivering the message, and that they only had a month?! And that they thought this was a bribe?! Oh, this wasn't going well at all! "No! It wasn't. I swear! I wouldn't bribe the authorities." He paused. "Are you even technically authority?" Was that rude. "I mean, either way, it was just a gift. A gesture. A . . . welcome to the Inside Scoop! First ones on the house." Ok, so he just made that up but anything to get out of additional charges being put on him. He took a deep breath and stepped closer to the guy . . . until he realized he was reaching into his pocket and Lucas abruptly stepped back, holding both of his hands out on either side of him, and eyes wide. "Woah, woah! I swear it wasn't a bribe!" This was it. He was going to shoot him wasn't he?!