On a small corner in a sleepy neighborhood in Detroit you happen across a sign. It doesn't really jump and at dance naked in front of you, but it is there and you notice it all the same "Dion's Tea and Crumpets." What an interesting name you think to yourself, this is America. Who drinks tea and eats crumpets here? Still, curiosity peaks your interest and you step inside the door to give the place a once over. The place has is somewhat as you would expect, if you where British that is. There is a regal air about the place, as if it was a shop for royalty. Except there is no royalty here in the states so you wonder who on earth could this place be fore? There are small tables around the little room, seats are well cushioned well to allow for longer stays without customers becoming uncomfortable. Red and purple are the colors of the cushions, the chairs ornate in flashy gold. The walls have art, all of which look rather classy. Clearly the owner spent a pretty penny setting this place up.

As you continue to gape around wondering who this place is for, or why it is here in a small unknown corner of Detroit the man behind the counter at the back of the room notices your entrance and says, "Good day, what can I do for you?" He motions you towards one of the tables and steps out from behind the counter with pen and pad to take your order.

Frank walks in happy that he is alive and well, he walking into Dion's and took a seat and ordered green tea.  He sat back and lit his cigar the first puff was long and slow then with a smile blow out a circle of smoke the started small and expanded then he repeated that twice more.  Then he looked around and he knew he was at peace.  Then with a chuckle as he thought Frank-Dicaprio killed in a Tea and Crumpets joint.

Dion nodded his head as his first customer made his order. Returning to his counter he brewed up a fresh pot of Green tea and then poured up a glass. Having done this he walked back over to the man's table and placed a napkin down and the glass of tea on top. "There you are sir, will that be all?" he asked of his customer while standing at his left hands clasped behind his back.

After a long days reconnaissance mission of Detroit's civilian wannabe gangsters. Wrench was strolling towards his hotel, when he stumbled across the lavishly decorated coffee shop. He looked around to ensure he wasn't being trailed before entering the place. Upon entering he caught whiff of Frank-Dicaprio's smoke and decided to sit on the other end of the room facing Frank. 

Dion approached the large fellow and asked "what will you have having, sir?". With his jacket tassels swinging wrench motions some hand signs at Dion, who stood perplex. Wrench reached for the pen and pad that Dion carried, wrote down 'anything stronger than tea?' and handed back the pad to Dion. Wrench sat there waiting for Dion's response while staring towards Frank, who started to look paranoid. 

Esther had heard around the headquarters that one of her family members, a man named DionBrook, had opened a quaint tea and crumpet shop in the Detroit business district. Having recently arrived back home after traveling around the country for several business-related reasons, she decided to pay the spot a visit. Besides, who didn’t like a good cup of tea? America was a strange place that preferred this horrid liquid called coffee but Esther had grown up in a different culture where the value of tea was not lost.

Pushing open the door, the raven-haired woman stood inside the doorway and took a moment to let her eyes scan the room. There were small little tables with chairs that had cushioned seats. Fancy paintings were seen hanging from the walls. She stood, slightly frozen, as her mind flashed back to the night her life had changed, the mansion she’d been in awe of that had the same kinds of golden edged furniture.

Snapping back to the present, Esther let the door close behind her and searched the room again, this time looking for Dion himself. She wore a navy-blue dress that flared out at the bottom and was covered in small white polka dots. Her hair was pulled neatly back into a low pony tail and a handbag was slung over her shoulder. She could see a few other customers in the shop already and was glad to see the business seemed to be doing well. 

Dion read the writing on his pad as Wrench handed it back and then looked up at the man. He shook his head negatively at the man and said, "I'm sorry good sir, we only serve tea beverages here. Would you like some tea? We have all the popular blends, English breakfast tea, Irish breakfast tea, the Earl Grey just to name a few.

As Dion finishes saying this he hears the door open and looks over to see a raven haired woman standing in the doorway. She seems lost in thought for a second but quickly composes herself. Dion smiles at her and waved her inside sweeping the room with his left arm letting her know she could be seated anywhere she like, as he did this he said, "Please be seated Ms, I'll be with you in a moment."

Handed the pen and pad back to Wrench he waited for the man's response.

Wrench gave out a slight grunt at Dion's response, he took the pen and pad but took a few moments to appreciate and admire the pretty sight that was Esther. He snapped back to reality, almost forgetting what Dion had said. He jotted down 'Crumpet & Earl Grey' and handed it back to Dion. As he waited for his order, he pulled out his own note pad and pencil and immediately started to sketch something down, while occasionally glancing at Esther. 

Dion reads the words written on his pad and nods his head at Wrench. "Right away sir!" he says and heads back behind the counter. He pours a glass of Earl Grey and brings it back to the man settings a napkin down and placing the tea cup on top of it. Returning a moment later with a crumpet on a small plate he bows to Wrench and then approaches the table the raven haired girl chose to sit at. "Good day Ms, what can I get you today?"

The day after his rather public fallout with Seraph, Nikki_Swango had sent word that he was supposed to keep a low profile for the next few days. Maybe go out of town, let things cool off a bit. So he decided to head to Detroit. He hadn't seen Esther since the night in Philly. Things had taken a surprising turn when it came to her. It wasn't that he regretted all that had transpired, he simply wished they could talk and figure out if this new direction was something they wanted to explore further or let die in the ashes of Philly.

Coming to Detroit was always a strange experience for him, the city he had once called home, the city he had died in, the city he had setup in after his resurrection before Larry's death, never stood still. The streets though always, surging forward with new businesses were as friendly as ever. A few whispers in the right ears and coins in the right pockets later his search of Esther found him at this Tea spot . 

As he sat on a corner table and looked around. When he saw the guy taking orders he chuckled out loud. The last time he saw the man was at Degas heist in Philly. The Devious DionBrook had plotted with LuckyLucy and double-crossed him, something he had expected and planned for but had still mildly irked him. To find him serving tea here was something he had never imagined. Perhaps he was running a scam? Whatever the reason for his presence, Husky knew his visit had just got a lot more interesting. He may have to disappoint Nikki, keeping a low profile may prove to be impossible now.

Esther spotted Dion taking an order from a customer who was already seated. He seemed to be writing notes to Dion which she thought was rather odd, but she was sure had a purpose. Dion motioned for Esther to take a seat anywhere so she took the first empty table she spotted, not noticing HuskyRadhe2 sitting at a corner table, not yet at least.

While waiting patiently for Dion to come over to her table, Esther pulled a newspaper from her bag and began to scan through it. She found it rather boring to be quite honest – all about current news and the depression and war overseas, but nothing that really mattered to her, not in her line of work. What this world really needed was an underground newspaper, something more suited for criminals like her. She made a mental note to put some more thought into that when she got back home later that night.

When Dion approached her table, Esther smiled widely. “Stop calling me Miss as if I’m some total stranger Dion, it makes me feel old.” She folded up the newspaper and put it down on the table. “As for what I’ll have well….hmm. Do you have anything with a lemon flavor? And crumpets of course. I’m glad to see the place doing well for you, it really is quite beautiful in here.”

Dion chuckles at Esther before replying, "Yes of course we have lemon tea here. I'll go get you some with crumpets." As Dion returns with the tea and crumpets he spots a face out of the corner of his eye. A face he was hoping to not see again, especially not so soon after the heist. He was sure the man that face belonged to was not happy to see him at all. Glancing directly at the man he nodded curtly before placing the tea and crumpets down before Esther. Turning his back just slightly to the man but still keeping half an eye on him he said to Esther, "Here you are Esther, on the house for your first visit here. And yes the place is really starting to boom. Excuse me while I take care of my other customers."

Bowing to Esther slightly he approaches Huske and says, "Fancy seeing you here, don't imagine you came for the service."

Husky smiled to Dion and said "As much as I enjoy paying exorbitant amounts of money for tea, I think you robbing me in Philly was quite enough for one lifetime. Nevertheless, I see you invested your takings quite splendidly. This place has potential, Detroit has no shortage of snobs willing to shell out cash for suitable 'delicacies' . "

"I came her in search of someone, a local mobster named Esther. Perhaps you could set us up? I'll even buy some tea if you do." He teased as he pulled out a cigarette, then paused to look up at him to see if he disapproved. Nikki's words kept ringing in his head. 

Low profile. Don't cause trouble. Or atleast try not to. He could manage that couldn't he?

Dion smirked as Husky mentioned the heist, he had helped Lucy double cross the man he stood in front of that night. However, Dion himself bore no ill will towards the man, nor the cigarette he was about to light. Dion shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sure, I'll tell her you just picked up her tab and would like to meet. The rest is up to you hot shot." Dion wasted no time, walking away from Husky he stopped by the counter for another crumpet and walked up to Esther. Placing the crumpet on her empty plate he whispered to her, "The gentleman over there offered to pick up your tab if you'll share a few words with him." Gesturing towards Husky he stepped back a pace to give her a view of the man in question.

Wrench had finished with his sketch of Esther, he took a moment to examine the beautiful portrait. Taking the last sip from his tea he took the chance to look over and lip read HuskyRadhe2 conversation to DionBrook, he immediately realised that DionBrook was no ordinary barman and thought this HuskyRadhe2 had some clout about him, a familiar face, maybe a made man his seen back in Chicago. Wrench decided it was time he better get going, he had a feeling this could get nasty and didn't want to stick around to find out. He Took his last bite of the fresh crumpet, left a few cash notes on the table before walking pass DionBrook and tapping him on the shoulder and giving him a thumbs up as he departed the premises. 

Esther smiled warmly at Dion. “Perfect. Lemon tea and some crumpets please.” She crossed her legs and went back to reading her newspaper while Dion went and grabbed her tea and crumpets. He brought her the items she ordered after only a few moments, telling her it would be on the house for her first visit. “How darling of you Dion, thank you.” She sipped the tea slowly, so as not to burn herself. “And please, no worries. I’m starving anyways so I’m about to devour this crumpet.”

When he walked away she did just that, her focus being on satisfying her appetite instead of whoever else was in the shop at that moment. She read through the rest of her newspaper and by the time she was finished, Dion was already bringing her a second crumpet. “Oh you know me too well already sir.” She grinned, until he whispered to her about the man in the corner. Her face showed an intrigued expression as her eyes searched out the man in question, only to widen slightly when they fell on Husky. She hadn’t seen him since that day in Philly, when they had both been dealing with the mass destruction in their own ways.

She lingered for a few moments too long before she caught herself. Glancing at Dion, she smiled again. “Thank you, I’ll be sure to stop by and say hello.” She took a few moments to fold up the newspaper and put it back in her bag before taking her tea and newest crumpet over to where Huskey was sitting. Placing the plates down on the table, she slid into the seat across from him.

“Well, what a surprise. What brings you to Detroit Mr. Radhe?” The formality was more lighthearted then serious; her eyes searched out his and showed a genuine happiness to see him. She’d told him that he needed to stop disappearing from her life and sure enough here he was.

Capazzo was in Detroit today. Some associates of his had lost some bets so it was time to pay up. Capazzo didn't mind the traveling from city to city and state to state, it gave him a chance to check out the world he otherwise would've never known. After his last pickup he decided to check out the business district of Detroit.

He was in the mood for something, but not alcohol, as he was walking down the street he spotted the perfect thing.

'DION'S TEA AND CRUMPETS'

WTF is a crumpet Capazzo thought to himself. He shrugged and decided to enter the store.

Immediately Capazzo was surprised on how nice the place had been furnished. Red, purple and gold donned throughout the shop. The color of royalty no doubt.  On the wall hung, what must be, some pricey paintings. Capazzo would definitely get the decorator of this place to come furnish his club, whenever that day came that he could actually afford to buy one.

He walks in and looks at the menu, he really wasn't hungry. A nice tea would do the trick. 

"Can I have a tea please."

The man behind the counter took the order. Capazzo would have loved to sit down and relax but he couldn't, life these days consisted of him always being on the go. After a few moments the man gave him his tea. Capazzo nodded and left a $50 down on the counter.

"Keep the rest sir."

The man behind the counter's eyes lit up at the generous offer, he smiled and thanked Capazzo for coming. Capazzo took a sip of the tea, it was great, of course it was, look at this place...it was obvious it was being ran by a fine business person. He took one more sip as he began to head out the door and see what else Detroit had to offer.

"That would be enough, thank you. Hmm.. perhaps a simple black tea while I wait?" he said to Dion and lit his own cigarette after the man shrugged.

A few minutes later as Esther's eyes found his he raised his cup in acknowledgement and smiled. She walked over soon enough and sat next to him seemingly happy about meeting him again. "Do I need a reason? Is good tea and better company not enough in itself?" He said as he held her gaze. His thoughts , not for the first time lingered on how much he had missed her while he was in Chicago. 

"It's nice to see you can still tolerate me and my humour when not traumatised by the destruction of a city. I suppose the crumpets must help." he joked, though his eyes silently questioned hers. Trying to see if she regretted everything that had happened between them or if she ached for more.

"Destruction and chaos are a part of our lives. You see it, you mourn it, you move on." Cold perhaps, but Esther had been desensitized to death so young. Losing people close to her was still challenging, people like Romance and Petah, but mass carnage seemed almost normal by now.  

Without breaking her gaze, she lifted the crumpet from her plate and took a bite, savoring the taste. She ran her tongue over her lips to catch the crumbs and smiled. "The crumpets, however, really are divine. You should try one."

The words were so easy compared to what he was actually asking her. She saw the questioning look in his eyes and she wasn't quite sure how to respond. She regretted nothing and had thought about him often since their last encounter, but they were criminals and both ranked members in their families, separated by distance. She wondered if this would only end in heartbreak for one or both of them. 

"I would offer to give you a tour of my lovely city, but I suppose you already know it well, having once lived here yourself." Part of her was slightly annoyed at how easily he had run off to Chicago after the death of their Boss, LarryLongNeck. He hadn't even said goodbye, just disappeared while the rest of the family tried to sort through and figure out just what was happening and how they could stick together. She knew he'd likely had good reasons and maybe one day she would hear them. 

"I fear the crumpets, delicious though they maybe , wouldn't agree with my delicate constitution. I don't intend to spend my trip to Detroit stuck in my hotel room. Well I might, but an upset stomach might put a damper on other ..possibilities." He replied with a sly smile.

Flicking some of the ash off his cigarette he looked at her again and continued. "While it is true that I know the city well, only a fool would turn down a private tour delivered by you. Who knows, I may just learn about a new hiding spot or two. Somewhere to run to the mattresses in case things escalated so to speak." The invitation was obvious. Her decision was not and so he waited for her response.

As he saw Dion talk to some of the other customers he raised an eyebrow and said, "You keep some curious company. I wonder what's his story?"

Esther had to quickly swallow the bite she’d taken to keep from choking at his words, a laugh escaping her lips. The implications were indeed clear and a blush rose to her cheeks as she glanced around to see if anyone was close enough to overhear. The shop was small but Dion seemed occupied with someone at the counter and the man with the writing pad had left.

Glancing back at Husky, she shook her head slightly. "Whatever will I do with you?" It was a rhetorical question, and to be fair she could already think of a few answers herself, none of which she would speak out loud in public.

Skipping to his second question, Esther looked back towards the owner of the small shop and smiled. "Dion happened to be in the family I joined after Petah was killed. He's really a rather nice gentleman, you shouldn't hold that incident at the heist against him. He's one of the better people I've met in my time here." Her eyes lingered on Dion for a few moments before she turned back to Husky. 

"There are some new places that I've managed to stumble upon in my time here. I suppose the least I could do is show you one of my favorite hiding places, just in case." Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she took one last sip of her tea and motioned for the door. "Shall we?"