Roper sat alone at the bar in the corner of his club. The place was quiet since he elected not to go on the last run, Cowluh would be leading the pack through its usual patrol through Manhatten. Roper looked around his club, most of the repairs had been carried out, He had attended to the various funerals throughout NY even the burial of his doorman. He was going to miss that Cankerous old git. Roper smiled in his moment of reverie.

Roper's gaze eventually drifted back to his old and now looking a battered cream flat cap. He felt the pressures of leadership around him, constant and like a vice, even the club he was sitting in was a testament to progress he had made within the New York criminal underbelly. He didn't know whether that was necessarily a good thing. He was slowly becoming the thing he avoided in his younger years, he found himself yearning for those younger years where the only person that relied on him, was himself.

He looked at the packet of cigarettes and the now empty scotch glass next to his flat cap. His thoughts lingering, he looked up at the one of his clubs jacket hanging on the wall. He suddenly felt very claustrophobic in here, He felt that he needed to go for a walk, a breath of fresh air, to smell the coffee that brewed every afternoon down 4th avenue.

He had to move, He retrieved his flat cap from the table and checked that his bike keys were still in his leather jacket. He got off the stool and turned while putting on his cap when roper realised he wasn't alone in the club. 

Madeline wasn't sure what drew her to Roper's clubhouse that night. The two hadn't been the closest of friends. In fact, when they'd first met, they had butted heads repeatedly. It was clear the man had an issue with authority and so it had amused her to watch him move up the ranks and take on that authority himself. She wondered how he balanced that internal struggle; holding the sort of power that he brustled against, and all of the responsibility that came with it. 

Still, despite their differences, Madeline understood how draining the leadership role could be for a free spirit. Madeline had fallen back into bad habits for awhile while working for Jemaine after an eventful trip to Texas had shaken her to her core. She hadn't been a very good example to anyone in New York during that time period; partying, drinking, doing drugs instead of selling them. The draw to that sort of lifestyle had been something she couldn't resist; it had drowned her memories and her fears. 

The recent war had reminded Madeline how quick life could end; she missed Shelley every day. Roper hadn't come away untouched - this clubhouse had been raided and burned. She saw how upset he had been that night when he'd arrived at NYNZoT, but also how he had spent time comforting Kamille and speaking with the others. No matter how arrogant the man could be, he was one of them. 

So here she was, entering the room and looking around just to realize that he was sitting alone. He didn't notice her at first, and she watched as he collected his items before turning to leave. Madeline could tell he was confused when he saw her and she tried to disarm him with a smile, something she'd learned to do as a little girl. 

"Sorry to just pop up. Was a bit bored, to be honest - it's easy to lose yourself with all the paperwork when you're in our positions. Thought maybe I'd swing by on the way to visit the pier. However, it seems I've caught you at a bad time."

Roper was taken by surprise when he saw Madeline behind him. He thought of all the people that might have paid him a visit, she was at the bottom of the list and felt puzzled and a little cautious and her presence, Especially in what would be considered his domain. Roper tilted his head a little to the side. Curious. 

Truth be told, Madeline & Himself never really saw eye to eye. From his younger days as a professional thief to his current days as the president of his very own club. Their relationship could be adequately described as strained, After the war though. He had come to respect her actions a little, even if he didn't like her personality. If it wasn't for the guards she had assigned to watch him, He probably would have died in his clubhouse on the night of the war.

He tried to suppress his previous thoughts and waved off her comment at arriving at a bad time  "No, Don't mind me, Madeline, I was just getting ready to leave" He began to explain "I just didn't expect to see you here, I expected a woman of your stature to be waist deep in city business considering the rebuild" He tried to give her a reassuring smile, it felt fake on his lips. His legs ached to get outside and away from the club and his thoughts, especially before his facade cracked in front of her.

The last part of her sentence, however, caught him a little off-guard, The Pier. It had gone into disrepair over the time he had spent here, He liked to head there when he was feeling suffocated from his current life. It was quiet and out of the way. He paused and considered his next action and silently stared at Madeline, He's expression distant. The next question felt strange coming out of his mouth "The Pier? Would you mind if I joined you, Miss Evans? I could use the fresh air" 

"I was waist deep in city business. Neck deep really; that's why I needed a break. It can consume you if you're not careful." Madeline could feel his awkwardness and his confusion over her presence. She had never really been quite sure why Roper didn't like her; it was almost an instantaneous dislike that started the moment they had met. What was it about Madeline that Roper was so turned off by? Maybe they were just too similar for their own good. 

Still, she was here to be the bigger person. To offer the olive branch and try to make peace with the man she had to work side by side with for the foreseeable future. And, surprisingly, he seemed open to accepting it, however tenuous it might be. 

"Not at all, I'd appreciate the company. I'm opening a new Southern Charm tour stop on the upper west side, right below the George Washington Bridge. I figure the views of the bridge alone would be a good draw and there's the Little Red Lighthouse over there too, a sort've hidden gem for people to see. Anyways, it's only half finished so as long as you don't mind a bit of a hike then you're welcome to join us."

Madeline herself was clearly prepared; she wore black boots instead of heels, her hair tied back in a high ponytail. A baby blue sweater was peeking out from her black jacket and she had gloves tucked into her bag in case the wind picked up and the weather turned any colder. Waiting outside was Stephen, who had replaced Nikolas as her head bodyguard. 

"Stephen, Anthony, Anthony, Stephen. Or Mr. Muscles number 2 if you prefer." 

Roper darts his eyes between Stephen and Madeline and back again. He wouldn't say it out loud but he prefered the old Mr Muscles, They didn't talk much during their brief encounters but it was his loyalty to Madeline that drew his respect. Roper even attended his funeral in secret, Roper, however, preferred the protection of his club mates, The Likes of Cowluh & Danny compared to the silent watching of the guards he hires now.

"A pleasure, Mr Replacement Muscles" Roper said to Stephen with a slight snicker. He noticed how Madeline dressed for the New York weather, He wondered if she was a local because she wrapped up tighter then most around these parts or Maybe it was just him. He was rarely seen out of his road leathers, He prefered it that way.

"Another enterprise Madeline?" Roper asked "Call me a little disappointed that it isn't a Motorcycle" Roper half-laughed and half-sighed. He had to import his out of Phillidalphia. "However, I'm not shy of a little hike Miss Evans. Lead the way" 

Stephen tipped his hat towards Roper but otherwise remained silent; he'd learned well from Nikolas. It had taken Madeline some time to adjust to having personal bodyguards, but after this long, they had become a sort of family to her, always around when she needed them. When she had lost Nikolas it was like she had lost her best friend and confidant; she'd sent a good chunk of money to his family to ensure they would never have to worry about their future. 

Shaking off the thought, Madeline smirked. "Hey, if you'd prefer to hop on a motorcycle we'd probably get there faster. I would drive, but I've learned that in this city you end just stuck in traffic. So lately I've taken a preference for walking everywhere. Besides, it means you can take shortcuts you couldn't take on the road."

Heading out of the club into the crisp fall air, Madeline headed uptown. "Anyways, I wouldn't say it's a new enterprise, just an expansion. When Southern Charm first launched I had boats going out of two docks - one in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. Since then I've steady been finding new docks to build or purchase for our use. We've been pushing uptown, and I even hope to go into the Bronx soon. This is just one step in the right direction. The more docks we have, the more businesses we can line them with, delivering clients to their doorstep on an hourly basis."

Madeline spoke confidently; it was clear that this was one of her fortes. She'd poured herself into Southern Charm over the years, despite the initial resistance in New York when it had launched. She'd even learned to drive the damn boats herself; not to mention learning more about New York City history than she ever thought possible.

"Honestly, you'd never imagine this little island has as much history as it does. I spend more time in a library now as an adult than I ever did as a child." 

She walked into Riverside Park, which would have paths that could lead them up to Fort Washington Park. The route was along the Hudson River, giving them a beautiful view even though the park was a bit of a tent city these days.

Roper gave Madeline a sidewards glance and cocked an eyebrow at her when she mentioned riding a bike "You, Miss Evans, Riding a bike?" He asked while looking at her like she had grown a second head. "I think I'd be safer for the both of us if we walk" He teased back although this time different from the tone he used when they first met. Out of respect and maybe his Sanity. 

He just nodded as she explained about the Southern Charm boat tours, he had even taken a ride on one of them. Not that he wouldn't tell Madeline that of course, He had too much pride for that but Roper was partial to the waves. If he hadn't taken the path he had now, He'd of probably landed up in the Navy. For a second he seemed to gaze far into the distance, his brain a 1000 miles from this place. He shook his head and brought himself back to reality and let out a barely audible sigh.

There was something about Madeline that Roper saw from the start, She was passionate about life. The sheer optimism in contrast to his own Cynicism. It was the Cynicism that made him so brash to be around. "Libraries," He said with a snort "I only used to go to them when I was a boy to stay warm in the New York winters or pinch a few books to throw into the fire back at home, I rarely actually cracked open a book to actually read it"

He walked into Riverside Park and could hear the grass crunch underneath his boots. "Where are we heading then Miss Evans? I wouldn't mind taking the path by the Hudson River. It's a path I've walked many times, You could almost say I've got a kinship with it" He folded his arms and looked at her, expecting her to answer.  

Madeline laughed at his surprise over the thought of her being on a motorcycle. She glanced over at him with a sly smirk as she responded "I think there's a lot of things about me that might surprise you. You just never cared to take the time to learn them." Her comment was lighthearted but accurate nonetheless. She didn't fault the man; whatever issues he had with her stemmed from somewhere more profound than just being about Madeline. 

He talked about staying warm in New York winters, which caused her to raise an eyebrow. "Did you grow up here in New York? I assumed you were a drifter, like most of us." A bad assumption to make, now that she thought back on it. "Maybe it's the bike, but for some reason, I just don't see you as a native New Yorker." She shrugged, hoping he wouldn't take offense. Madeline wasn't one to mince her words.

"And yes, that's exactly the path we'll take. I had intended to check on the progress of the docks that I'm building up there and then head downtown to do some business hoping, check in on some of the newer places that have opened since the war. Honestly, the city has just exploded with growth; it's hard to keep up with sometimes. How has your club been? All put back together since the war I hope?"

Roper eyed Madeline when she thought that he was a drifter and not a born and bred new-yorker. He didn't exactly hold it against her, She wasn't the first that assumed he came from out of town although she wasn't too far from the truth when it came to the drifter part. He spent a fair chunk of his teenage years drifting.

"Yeah, I grew up in new york. Although you wouldn't be far from the truth to say I was a drifter" He responded gruffly before following her lead up the trail of the Hudson River "We're all back together after the war Madeline although she isn't quite the same as she used to be. The renovations have been a bit like putting a broken mirror back together"

Roper could hear the crunch of the snow beneath his feet. It soothed him  "Wasn't a pretty penny either. There is something I want to say to you though Madeline about the war." He gave a few minutes pause and then in a low soft voice "Thank you"