It was about time to get himself a decent coffee, Jason thought to himself. He saw this spot and decided to visit it. He walked in and looked around. The mood wasnt great but it was crowdy. Jason found himself a free table and sat there. Waitress came and Jason ordered a cup of cappuccino with some maple syrup. Also few donuts. He was hungry as wolf. She wrote it down and went to prepare the order. Jason pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lighted one up. He should have a pretty busy day today. He needed to find a free establishment for his business that he wanted to open but since he didnt had any money, he needed to come up with something.

Waitress came and brought his order, Jason thanked her and gave her some tip. She thanked and smiled. Jason made her day. Donuts were really tasty and cappuccino were delicious. He read some newspapers and all the front news were about great war that took place in recent days. So many people died during that war, including his own incle who had been linked with Las Vegas underworld. Now it was time for Jonas to take over his uncles business and continue his journey. But since he was a rookie het, it would take some time and effort. But he was a fast learner and withing few weeks everything should come to its place.

Jonas finished his drink and donuts, paid for it and continued his walk towards his office. 

Jackmalloy had just undergone a long day of selling used cars.  Possibly more unfortunate for him, was the fact that he would now have to go hoome to his family.  He was looking for something, ANYTHING to prevent him from doing that.  

He took a sip from his flask.  Then another, and another.  As he staggered down the street he noticed that Katerina had opened up a new business.  Thinking that it'd be nice to go in and waste some time before going home, he walked in and fell sideways into the lectern where the hostess was dealing with things.  He pulled himself back up and collapsed into a stool at the counter.

"Hey there, I'll take a coffee.  Don't mind if I spice it up a little, do you?"

Jack holds up the flask as he contorts his face awkwardly and waits for his coffee.

William Huddo Hudson was on his way home after reminding a few store keepers that Katerina was still running the show around here. The Cities may have been shaken to the core with the upsurge of gangland violence but Kat offered a service and that service required cash paid in brown paper bags to her crew on a timely manner.

Hudson was nearly to the HQ when he seen Kats Limo parked out the front of her Coffee shop bonus Hudson thought he could do with a coffee and some cake that would be nice he thought entering the store he approached the counter he was shocked to see Kat behind the counter but hey it was her store and even the boss needed time away from the HQ.

"Hey there Doll i will have a slice of that coffee cake and a coffee please" Hudson hands Kat a paper bag and  $20 bill for his cake and coffee.

It had been quite some time since Talia had been in the Smokey Row Coffee Shop. Last time she was about somethings went down upon leaving. Good people died, she herself was nearly one of them. It was a sad time, she lost a couple acquaintances, a couple people she was just getting to know. Lives cut down way too short. 

It wasn't the coffee house that caused the issue but it was a memory that she couldn't shake for sometime. That was until today, when she finally ventured back into the place. 

Mondays had a way of bringing out the need for coffee, the yearning for the caffeine influx in the system. It wasn't really a want but more of a need, she needed it. She had been making due brewing her own for the past couple weeks but it was nothing like the quality Katerina mastered. It was that quality that she needed back into her life, which is why she pushed aside all thoughts of that dreadful day and ventured back to the Smokey Row. 

Upon walking through the door, she was met with a warm smile from the barista. 

"Talia! Long time no see. The regular?" The barista inquired. 

With a slight smile and a simple nod back towards her, Talia went to find a table. She made sure to purposely not sit at her regular table but instead found one a couple feet away. Though she still positioned herself looking outward onto the streets, there was nothing better to accompany a cup of coffee then people watching. 

That's exactly what she did while patiently waiting for her order to arrive. 

Monday. The morning, the headache that came with it, and the fact that it was a new week of working people bustling about the city. Nothing about Monday was good. Coffee made it bearable though, which is why Lordian waited in line to place an order at Smokey Row.

"Just one large black coffee with some sugar please." It was a simple thing, and fast for the barista to make him too, nothing fancy, just coffee. She poured it straight from the pot and into a paper cup, handing it over, and he turned to make his way toward the window. He knew it wasn't the most advantageous place to sit in any given establishment, but it gave him something to do.

As he made his way to the only remaining open table near the window, he saw a woman sit there. He hadn't recognized her at first, but after a second look he knew he had seen her face around before, one of the other associated of Father Jack.

"Shit." He couldn't help but to curse the moment. He had been trying to just do his job and keep his head down and not make waves. He realized in that moment, he'd been paying more attention than he thought. Nothing for it now though, either he was going to sit near the window and get to know her, or he wasn't.

"Excuse me, miss? Is this seat taken?" He asked gingerly, gesturing to, but not touching the empty seat across from her at the table. "I won't be a bother to you, I just don't have a paper this morning, and so gazing out at the street is the next best thing." He put on his best smile then, hoping it did not come off as being too familiar.

While her cappuccino with a shot of espresso was still being made, Talia sat at the table aimlessly glaring outside. She wasn't looking at anything particular, was just zoning. Needless to say she needed the caffeine and needed it badly. Hell, even the sounds of the coffee shop weren't even resonating within her head, it was as if she was the only person there. 

That was until she heard a voice coming from her left side. 

"Excuse me, miss? Is this seat taken?" 

She didn't even look up, she wasn't in the mood. Only thing she was focused on right now was the incoming cappuccino. Where ever the hell it was at.

"Can't I just get my damn caffeine fix in peace?"

She could hear the slight unease in his voice as he began talking once more. 

"I won't be a bother to you, I just don't have a paper this morning, and so gazing out at the street is the next best thing."

Apparently he didn't get the hint... She was going to have to clearly spell it out for him. 

"I guess you just don't understand what...." She turned her head to gaze upon whomever was speaking, figuring it was just some random guy trying to make a move of some sort. It wasn't though, it was someone with a familiar face. Someone that she had seen before but where.... Pausing for a moment to give it a thought, she realized she had seen him around St. Clabberts. 

"You... look familiar. Who are you?"

If he worked for Jack as well like she was thinking he did, there was no way she could turn him down on the seat request. With a simple nod and gesture towards the chair, she gave him a non verbal approval to sit down.

Lordian slipped quietly into the proffered chair and extended a hand to shake hers.

"Name is Lordian. I didn't mean to bother, like I said, you won't even notice I'm here."

He made a point to turn and look out the window then so as not to bother her. He lifted the coffee cup to his lips and silently savored the nutty flavor. The sun had been up for long enough that the shadows on the ground were beginning to shorten. It was reprehensible that he stayed up so late, and got up so late into the mornings nowadays, but owning a restaurant and nightclub would do that to a man.

He took a cigar from his pocket for himself, and then left one, along with a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes and a lighter on the table in case his silent watchful companion needed nicotine company.

Extending her hand to meet his, she said nothing. Didn't divulge her name, didn't acknowledge him any other then that handshake. She did though watch as he turned around and then once again when he left a cigar and the pack of Lucky Strike on the table next to her. Her mind was still quite cloudy, the morning haze still prevalent. 

Glancing over her right shoulder to see if her beverage was close to being done, she noticed the barista walking in her direction. The glorious sight of the cappuccino cup within her grasps. A slight smile went upon her face as she knew she was about to get that caffeine that she desperately needed. 

"Sorry it took so long, was having issues with the espresso machine. This one and the next one is on the house." The barista said while placing the beverage down in front of her. 

"Thanks" Talia muttered as she picked up the mug. 

The smell of the beans and frothed milk send a wave of pleasure throughout her body. She hadn't even tasted it yet but was already starting to regain normalcy. With a subtle blow across the top, Talia brought the mug to her lips and took a sip. It was instantaneously that she felt alive, felt like herself once again. 

Her focus quickly shifted, from the cappuccino to the man sitting across from her but looking away then to the pack of smokes on the table. She took one more sip then placed the mug down in front of her. Reached for the pack of smokes, opened it up and pull one out. 

"Thanks for the smoke, care to light it for me?"

Putting the cigarette between her lips, Talia slide the lighter towards him. Of course it was something she could have done herself but this was her way of letting him know it was ok to engage with her.

Lordian picked up the lighter and flicked it to life. He waited as she drew a breath in before closing it once again.

"Mind if I ask you what coffee you got? I like the sound of a free beverage, even if I do have to wait for it."

He smiled, and then placed the cigar back into his pocket while he chewed on his. He made a habit of not lighting cigars inside. Cigarette smoke never seemed to bother people, but the cigars he got, they always had mysterious blends to them and it seemed to either put people off, or draw people to him. He was partial to neither of those things, so he only lit them outdoors, and mostly when he was alone.

He drew the coffee of his to his lips again and tasted deep, letting out the smallest of satisfactory sighs as the cup revisited the table.

"Nice day out there today, nice day in here too." He gestured with a single flick of his wrist at the woman next to him. "Could I bother you for your name miss? I don't like to be a complete stranger."

Talia took a pull from the cigarette, kept the smoke within her lungs while pulling the cigarette from between her lips. With elbow on the table, Talia held it up in the air. She held it inside her for another moment then opened the corner of her lips, exhaling the smoke upwards. 

"Cappuccino with a shot of espresso, it's the best drink in the house."

Talia brought the cigarette back to her lips and took another pull from it, this time not holding it in her lungs but quickly exhaling it. 

With cigarette in hand, Talia extended her arm out and placed the smoldering Lucky Strike into the ash tray. The lipstick coated cigarette had plenty of life left in it, was something she was soon to get back to but first another sip from her drink. 

That's exactly what she did, took a rather large sip this go around as the contents had cooled enough to not burn the piss out of her mouth. It was a rather satisfying gulp, the caffeine coupled with the nicotine was starting to do their jobs. She didn't feel so moody anymore. 

"Talia" She said with a somewhat docile tone.  

"It's nice to meet you Talia, officially at least." He smiled at her then and made to look out the window.

"Ah damn, thought I might be able to spot St. Clabbert's from here, but it's too far down the street I guess." He shrugged. "Haven't I seen you around there before?" He paused on a brief second before making a cover story for her. "Of course I have, woman like you must do a lot of charity work. You can see it in your eyes and your demeanor. Godly woman I bet, church every day, not just Sunday sort." He sipped at his coffee again and let the warmth stretch out what little it had left.

"I don't show up to help those folk as often as I should to be fair. I do my part, don't get me wrong, but I'm not the most holy of men." He shuffled his feet then and leaned back in the chair as he thought, stealing a glance toward Talia's ring finger as she set her cup back down.

It was good to know exactly what you were walking into, and if she was married, he would be keeping an eye over his shoulder just in case.

Talia damn near spit the cappuccino out of her mouth, the thought of her being there for charity work hit a sort of funny bones as she began laughing. It was a laugh that lasted only briefly ending in an eye roll and a smart ass comment. 

"Oh yeah, totally a church worshiping patron...."

She reached for and picked up the cigarette from the ashtray, brought it back to her lips and took a pull. Exhaling the smoke from the corner of her lips once again, Talia gave him a look.

"Can't you tell how holy I am? I've got my hands in all sorts of church going affairs..."

Rolling her eyes once more, Talia took another drag off the cigarette. 

She wasn't sure if he was being serious or not, sarcasm wasn't her strongest characteristic. So she decided to just come out with it. Adjusting herself in her chair, to face him, she began speaking. 

"Ok, let's not play this game. I'm not sure if you are being serious or not but I'm not a charity worker, never have been and never will be. Yeah I may dabble in some Fatherly services but it has nothing to do with the church itself and I know you've done the same. So lets drop the act, ok."

Talia half smiled, hoping he would understand what she was getting at.  

Lordian raised an eyebrow and glanced around the room.

"Uh, Omerta?" he whispered in response, but shrugged. if she wasn't worried about it, he wasn't particularly worried either. After all, nothing he did so far was technically illegal.

"Fair enough, no games. It's nice to meet you, Talia, the sinner who's clearly going to hell. i'm sorry to say I'll likely join you, though not for anything fun yet, that's for sure. That damned "Thou shalt not covet" one really gets to you, you know?" He made a very obvious point to look at the woman's legs, or what parts of them he could see without bending over, and then finished his coffee.

"So, no games, you got anything to do today for Jack? I've got nothing on my agenda, just keep making the guy money, and I'm starting to run out of ideas if I'm being honest."

He made as if to pick up a cigarette, but decided against it at the last moment and instead just tapped on the table and slid his hand forward as if using the table like an arm rest.

Talia gave the room a quick look around then directed her attention back to him. 

"For one we aren't close enough to another table for them to hear our conversation and secondly do you not know who owns this place?"

Talia had lived in Detroit her entire life and she had been in the business most of it. She knew the places that were safe to openly talk about it and knew the places to stay away from. This was one of the safest places, it's why she used to frequently visit it and it was why she came back to it. 

"Oh I'm for sure going to hell, I might even be the one driving the bus. Well either that or I'll be the hood ornament. Either way I'll be going for sure and it seems I'll see you there too, huh?" She gave him a half smirk and took another, the last pull from the cigarette. Making sure to put out the remaining little bit. 

"I've got some pickups to do today, nothing major but I have stops all around the city. It's a big city, so will probably take most of the day."

She shifted herself in her chair, making sure to cross her right left over her left. 

"By the way, I noticed the glare. Not too bad, huh?"

 "Secondly do you not know who owns this place?"

Lordian shook his head. "Not a clue, nor does it really matter. if I don't step out of line, I'm safe no matter who owns a joint." He snirked as Talia mentioned being a hood ornament and he thought back to the days when sailing ships use to put mermaids carved onto the front of their ships. Granted that was meant to ward off the evil spirits of the sea, namely sirens, but still, some of those mermaids were something to look at to be sure.

"By the way, I noticed the glare. Not too bad, huh?"

Lordian nodded. "I have zero complaints about the view, to the owner, or to the present company." He then turned to face Talia in earnest. "Pickups you say? You wouldn't want some extra company would you? You know, safety reasons and all that. nothing to do with anything else surely." He leaned in slightly and held up a finger to pause her reaction. "I'll buy you lunch, maybe take you to my restaurant for dinner too if we are out late enough."

He sat up straight again and slid the cigarettes and lighter back to his side of the table, offering her one more before getting ready to put them away.

If he didn't know who owned the joint then she wasn't going to say anything more then what she already did. There was no point in trying to explain it all. It wasn't worth the time of day for her nor did it bring anything else to the conversation. 

Instead she picked up her cappuccino and took another sip, followed by one more. The latter of the two draining the mug of it's delicious contents. She wanted another one but upon glaring down at the watch upon her wrist, she knew it wasn't the best of choices. It was already getting later in the morning, if she sat there too much longer she'd be doing those pickups into the evening and that was something she didn't want to do. 

"Zero complaints is a good thing but I wouldn't have expected anything less."

She waved off the cigarette offer, as much as she wanted another one that would just mean she'd waste more time lounging about. 

"Just so we are clear, I don't need anyone to protect me. I'm quite capable of handling myself. That being said, if you really want to make the round with me you're more then welcomed to come but don't act like you're my protector because that shit is not gonna work for me. Okay?"

Talia gave him a series of nods to make sure he knew she was serious. She then picked up her bag off the seat next to her and dugout a couple of bills for a tip.  

Lordian smiled. "Hey, if you're alright with just having me along because you need some eye-candy, I'm alright with that too."

He slipped the cigar from his mouth into his pocket, and then left a few bills on the table for a tip of his own. He followed Talia as she made her way to the door counting himself lucky for the day. He certainly wasn't going to be bored today, and he had woken up with nothing to do, so that was a worry a few hours ago. Not to mention that the leggy blonde woman in front of him, much as she had an icy demeanor, certainly wasn't afraid to make her desires known and she was nice to look at to boot. For a Monday today was starting to look halfway decent.

"So, you have a car, or are we walking? And where to first?"

"Eye candy... Yeah eye candy for you... you're welcome!"

She was slightly impressed with this guy, most people couldn't handle her demeanor nor her attitude but this one seemed to be able to roll with it. He either was just not easily offended or was so enamored with her that he was just dealing with it. It may have been a little bit of both, but knew it had to be more so the enamored aspect. One thing Talia knew was that she was quite easy on the eyes, it was a trait she often used to her advantage. 

"We are walking for the first couple spots, they are all within a couple of blocks. The first being a fish shop and restaurant. The ones later in the afternoon we will need to grab a cab or two. Can you handle the walk?"

She gave him a smirk then walked out the door.

"Also just so you know don't get used to walking behind me." 

ClassyLady walks into the coffee shop after following the overwhelming aroma of freshly brewed coffee grounds. She walked up to the gal taking orders for the customers and pulls out a twenty dollar bill, placing it on the counter.

"Hello. I'd like to have a large black coffee and two glazed doughnuts." 

After the barista tried returning the change, ClassyLady shook her head and handed the bills back. 

"The change is for you my dear. I'm in sort of a hurry to be heading home so I'll add on another $20 if you can have my order ready prior to the others ahead of me."

The barista nodded her head in agreement and whispered to the other staff informing them of the order change. ClassyLady slid the Barista another twenty dollar bill and smiled.

"Thanks doll. Much appreciated."

Brielle just recently arrived into Detroit, and she knew it was about to be the beginning of a long day. She decided to hit the streets of Detroit to look for a place to get a great cup of Joe. I come a cross a red brick business called Smokey Row Coffee Shop. It looked like the perfect spot. I found a nice corner booth towards the back and take a seat. I pick up the menu and see all the pastries available. It is definitely is going to be a hard choice, especially since this place smells so good. As the waitress comes over, Brielle makes her decision.

The waitress asks "What can I get you today?"

Brielle responds, "I would like a Large Americano, and a chocolate covered donut." The waitress scurries away to get started on the order. As she does, Brielle pulls up the newspaper and sees what is going on in the Detriot area. She notices a bank had been recently robbed, but not to much else of note.

The waitress arrives back to her with her coffee and donut. "Here is your order, please let me know if their is anything else I can help you with today."

Brielle starts eating the donut and can't believe how moist and delicious it is. Once she is done with the coffee and donut, she slides a tip on the table and heads out the door to her next stop.