Beau blinked at him in disbelief as if he were an utter dumbass, "Tommy, I'd kill for you." She chuckled... really chuckled... and he had to marvel at her resilience as she added, "Obviously." 

Beau leaned her head on his shoulder, and felt him tremor with the cold. Shaking her head, she climbed silently into his lap, snaking her arms beneath his jacket and pull him close... her body warming as she snuggled in. It was a nifty trick Kovi had taught her. And one that was proving quite useful. Good thing she was a quick study... at everything, apparently. As she nuzzled the silk of his dress shirt she whispered softly... almost too softly to hear over the screeching winds and roar of the engine, "I like you, too." 

As port slipped into view, Beau straightened... sliding off his lap to one side. Suddenly, like flipping a switch, she was all business again... just as if she'd stepped on stage. And at least part of her hoped that he'd feel her change as keenly as she'd felt his earlier. ... just a little. 

Thomas shifted as she pulled away and was about to complain, but noting her demeanor he instead chuckled and stood without her stopping him this time. "Touche..." he said quietly as the boat was thrown into reverse to slow it's approach on the docks. Thomas lept onto the bow and grabbed a rope that was coiled, tossing it around one of the dock's many ties and hopped off the boat. Scat secured the back and joined him on the pier, then both men reached to offer Beau a hand up.

Once all on land, Thomas looked at Scat and signaled to the back of the boat. "Make sure this thing is washed from bow to stern, hi?" Scat nodded and moved to complete his task while Thomas turned to Beau. "You and me? We're on clean up of the office... I need that place clean on the double, before someone breaks through the door and realizes what happened to their boss. I know Scat locked the front gate, and we locked the doors to the office, but that doesn't mean people won't get curious." Thomas took Beau's hand and hurried toward the office.

As they moved away, he looked at her and whispered, "With Scat busy and out of the way for at least an hour of hosing that boat, we can use magic to clean this office up quickly and neatly, and they set it up for someone to come take it over for us... Unless you'd be interested? I think you're better suited to take care of your old friends in a new cabaret or something of that sort... But you'd never -have- to perform again. I'd like to see you in charge of it. You know better than anyone the things most of you girls went through. We can do it better. YOU, can do it better..."

He stopped and smiled at her... "I know I'm a calloused dick, and I realize I think my words stung you back at Scat's. I'm sorry for that, doll. I didn't mean nothin' bad by you do good work, ya know? I just meant that, well, we hadn't had enough time to -talk- about stuff, and about you makin' bones with the family... But, shit, that's out the window. I didn't want you wrapped up TOO much in the bullshit part of my life. I just wanted you to be part of the magic that happens... The good shit, ya know? But, I fucked that up, and I'm sorry doll... Too late to save that. So. Fuck it, right? Yeah, you're in... I'm gonna have to talk to Kat, but, you did this family a solid, did me a solid, and you'll be a Phoenix until we die love... Just gotta make it official and shit, hi?"

He kissed her hard on the lips and pulled back. "And, uh, yeah. Stay at my place... I'll get ya a charm that triggers the portal." He grinned, then dashed up the stairs to start working on cleaning without giving her much of a chance to respond really... More hoping he could have it almost done by the time she joined him...

Waving hands, swishing wand, closed eyes and foreign languages flowing from his mouth, the room began to take shape and almost clean itself... Stains washed away, broken items repaired, almost as if in rewind... Hopefully Beau wouldn't be too mad he'd started it before she'd followed him in.

Beau stood at the bottom of the stairs, stunned and breathless. For a long moment she simply watched him through the doorway... in awe of him, like she always was. Slipping silently into the office, she closed the door behind them; the latch clicking softly as it locked. With a wave of her hand, the desk straightened itself; everythig fallign into place at once like a synchronized choreography of perfection. With a sly smirk, she slinked past Thomas and hopped up onto the desk, the temperature in the room rising sharply as she shot him a coquettish glance. The office would be clean in mere minutes, but Scat wouldn't be ready for at least an hour. And she could always.... 

Beau winked at him, tossing her curls and roling her shoulders as she batted her lashes. The air turned electric, like poprocks crawling up his arms as time stretched out around them. The sunlight trickling through the window behind her slowed it's glittering dance as Beau giggled softly. 

"So I earned my 'bone'... hm?" She grinned wickedly, swinging her feet inncocently so that the hem of her short dress crept up just a teensy bit further. biting her bottom lip, she held his gaze for one long, intense moment before giggling gleefully and hoping off the desk; time snapping back to normal like a shockwave as she did. 

Sauntering over she tiptoed up and lightly - almost hesitantly - kissed his lips. "Don't you worry your darling head about it, love. I'm a big girl. And if I'm gonna be part of this thing... I want it all. I'm not one to settle for just the pretty parts. I know all too well, those are the superficial bits. You feel me?" Softly inhaling his scent, she leaned into him... knowing full well he'd 'feel' her. Grinning like the cheshire cat, she continue,  "When it comes to you, Thomas O'Malley, I want it to be real. You understand? I want every... hard... inch..." she twirled a dark curl around her finger, giving it a little tug with each word for playful emphasis, "of this long mile with you. It's my choice. And that's not on you. Ever."  

Beau reached for the latch as the last of the office righted itself. Stepping past him to open the door, she smiled over her choulder, "But I might be." 

Her heels echoed down the stairs as she slowly picked her way toward the main floor, making plenty of time for him to catch up... or watch her walk... whatever he preferred. Chuckling bashfully at her own brazenness, she shook her head - muttering softly, "I'm living in a dumpster...." 

Thomas chuckled as she teased, his body taught with excitement and a smirk across his features. He watched her slink to the door and make her way to the stairs, following to walk with her.

"I know I am interested, kitten... And hey, that dumpster ain't so bad, ya know? Keeps a face with street rats." He slipped his arm around Beau and waved his other hand, the rest of the boat seeming to wash itself when Scat wasn't looking. The younger cat, slightly confused at how quickly the boat had cleaned itself, crimped the hose he was using and moved to kill the water. "BOAT'S DONE!" he called up to the other two as he wrapped the hose and drained it.

"GOOD BOYO! LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE CLUB AFTER YOU GET THAT HOSE WRAPPED!"

Thomas turned back to Beau and continued to walk down the steps side by side. "I think I could get used to a moll like you, love." Thomas smirked as a sleek, black limousine pulled up on the curb. He didn't remember calling anyone, but Kat was usually good about keeping tabs on her family. He watched carefully as the window rolled down and a hand waved him over. Thomas stopped at the bottom of the stair case.

"Mi amor... wait here." He nodded to Beau, who he prayed would wait since he didn't recognize the gloved hand...

"Can I help ya?" he called out as he approached, hoping Scat would hear him and watch from the shadow like a good cat. Thomas got to the vehicle and leaned near. He talked quietly for a bit, but Beau saw him reach to his back, scratching just above where his gun rested...

However, Thomas started laughing and his hand returned to the edge of the car and he nodded. Turning his back he headed back to Beau. "Yea! That'd be great Tim... Appreciated!" Thomas looked at Beau and Scat, waving them over. "C'Mon, Tim's gonna give us a ride back to the club. He needs some help getting his limo service running. I'ma chat with him later about setting up a deal with the Order."

Thomas opened the door and waited for Beau and Scat to climb in before looking behind him, then following suit...

Beau was a pretty bright cookie. She wasn't ABOUT to move from the stairs. They were working... so if Tommy said stay, she was gonna stay. But that didn't mean she wasn't on point. As Thomas strode casually to the vehicle, Beau's hand strayed slowly to her handbag... clutching the 1903 with tense anticipation. 

She watched him like a hawk as he leaned into the vehicle... one hand on her pistol, the other poised to cast if need be. As he reached for his gun, she tensed... but quickly relaxed as he laughed. Sighing heavily, Beau slipped her hand from her purse nonchalantly, and made her way down to meet Thomas with a relieved smile. 

At the curb, Beau shoved Scat into the car first and then slid in next to him. She was the smallest so it only made sense that she take the midle... but also, there was that other thing. As Thomas closed the door behind them and the car pulled away from the corner, Beau reached into her bra and produced a small bundle of folded papers. Smoothing them on her lap, she passed them to Thomas; drawing his attention to a few lines on each sheet that all bore the same name.... Black. 

"I know we're gonna need to establish a public presence after all this. But when the dust settles, I think we need to pay your pal Harvey a little visit. Someone is moving in on our territory, and either it's your family... or it isn't." Reaching into Thomas' pocket, she fished out his cigarette case and lit one for each of them, puffing quietly for a moment before continuing, "It wouldn't be the first time I've seen street levels use a big n ame to pull clout. In fact, the girls do it all the time. ...throw around some hotshot's name they overheard while on an escort. Works real shiney as long as you don't use it with the wrong types... like you. I'll put my feelers out with my girls and see if anyone's been using these... or knows someone who has. And in the meantime, we can leverage your connections to make sure this isn't a legitimate threat." 

Beau puffed on her cigarette, exhalling the smoke toward the ceiling as to avoid blow it in anyone's face. "And I think I have an idea for the warehouse, too. But... we can discuss that later... when we have time." 

Thomas frowned and eyed the papers as he took a cigarette.

"Fuckin' Black... They wouldn't... Would they? Naaaah. Harvey wouldn't be that stupid."

Thomas sighed and puffed on the cigarette as he thumbed through the pages.

"We'll visit him tomorrow, and the library."

Thomas rolled the window down and perched his arm on it's seal, blowing smoke out of the car as they neared the club. It was obvious that he had a lot on his mind as his eyes stared vacantly at the world passing them by.

"Yeah," he said quietly... "Tomorrow..."

The car pulled into the club's alley and the trio exited. Thomas turned back and looked at Tim. "You comin' in? Or gonna stop by later?"

Tim smiled and shook his head. "Errands ta run, Mr. O'Malley, but I'll be back later to have a talk. I'll bring a less than conspicuous car as well."

The two nodded and the limo pulled away, leaving the trio of Scat, Beau, and Thomas with their backs to the club. It was time to go and change, then make sure it was known they'd been there the whole day.